Kyle Terada/US Presswire
Could Huston Street be the next A's veteran pitcher to be traded this year?
Sunday might have been a rather telling sign of just how far A's closer -- or should that read former closer -- Huston Street's stock has fallen.
He was called upon in the fifth inning, the earliest he has appeared in a game in his four-year career. The last time he came on earlier than the seventh: July 23, 2007, which was his first appearance after a two-month DL stint due to an elbow injury.
From a "best-reliever-in-key-spot" standpoint, it made a little sense. Trailing 1-0, with starter Greg Smith up to 95 pitches, Tigers on first and second with two outs and Gary Sheffield at the plate, the A's might have felt the game slipping away from them. Besides, Sheffield entered 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and two walks lifetime against Street.
More likely, though, it was merely an instance of the A's getting Street some work in an earlier-game spot, a sign that his days as closer -- at least in the short term -- are over. The post-game report on the team's Web site, in fact, specifically referred to Street's having "recently lost his job as the team's closer."
Either way, what wound up happening was that Street retired Sheffield ... then allowed three runs while recording two outs in the very next frame. He walked two batters and threw 18 of 34 pitches for strikes, most disconcerting.
All this hardly means Street won't reclaim the role in 2008, but the chances of it happening have decreased. The San Francisco Chronicle reported over the weekend that multiple American League teams placed waiver claims on him, and if that's true Street is stuck in Oakland through season's end, since the A's failed to work out a deal with the lowest-ranking claiming team. So if he wants his old role back, he'll have to earn it in Oakland, not be handed it elsewhere based on track record.
Brad Ziegler, owner of the modern-day record for consecutive scoreless innings to begin a big-league career with 37, becomes the favorite for saves, despite Bob Geren's interest in using him for multiple innings per appearance. Ziegler has been phenomenal; he has allowed only four of 18 inherited runners to score, has a 0.87 WHIP and .186 batting average allowed in 28 appearances and has yet to allow an extra-base hit. He's worth an immediate pickup in all formats, though he might not be available to pitch nightly unless Geren begins limiting him to one-inning, 15-pitch type outings. Either way, there should be a few scattered saves for the taking.
Rank Santiago Casilla and Joey Devine as the next two most likely candidates for those scattered saves. Casilla has a 1.23 ERA but has allowed seven walks in 7 1/3 innings in eight appearances since the All-Star break, while Devine has 3 2/3 scoreless, hitless frames in his past three games. In AL-only leagues, both could prove useful.
Of course, the point might be moot, should the A's not get their potential closers any save chances. They have lost 12 of their past 13 games and 19 of 22 since the All-Star break. That sure makes it tough to fill the category!
Past editions: 8/10: Lee, Hudson done for year | 8/9: Another CC gem | 8/8: Wainwright in closer mix?
Lance Berkman, Astros
With Carlos Lee out of the lineup with a broken finger, the Astros need the struggling Lance Berkman even more. Berkman delivered by hitting his first homer since June 30 to help rout the Reds.
Chris Young, Padres
Thankfully, Livan Hernandez got bombed in his Rockies debut, or else more people would've realized Young was roughed up for seven runs and nine hits in just four innings at Coors Field.
Brad Lidge was unavailable Sunday for the second straight day after admitting that his right shoulder has been feeling sluggish, according to the Phillies' official Web site. In his place, Ryan Madson notched his first save of the season, after Chad Durbin picked up his first Saturday. Lidge spent Sunday working on a mechanical flaw with pitching coach Rich Dubee, and hopes to be ready for Monday's game. If Lidge needs to miss more time, though, Durbin and Madson would probably alternate save chances. ... The Rays have promoted top pitching prospect David Price from Double-A Montgomery to Triple-A Durham, according to the Tampa Tribune. He was 7-0 with a 1.89 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in nine starts for Montgomery, after beginning the year 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in six starts for Class A Vero Beach. According to the Rays' official Web site, Price should get a look for the big club before season's end, though it's unclear whether it'll be as a starter. He might get the Joba Chamberlain treatment, working out of the bullpen. "That's not impossible," said manager Joe Maddon. "That's a possibility. We've discussed a variety of different ideas about him. We haven't talked specifically about it, but we've talked among ourselves, among minor league staff members, front-office people, everybody's been included in the conversation." ... In the bad news column for the Rays, Carl Crawford landed on the DL with a subluxation of his right middle finger tendon, and the team's official Web site reports his status for the remainder of the season is unclear. He said he heard something pop when he checked his swing in the 10th inning of Saturday's game. Crawford will visit with a hand specialist Monday, and will miss six to eight weeks if he doesn't need surgery, but the rest of the season if he does. ... Bartolo Colon went three shutout innings in his most recent rehabilitation start for Triple-A Pawtucket, allowing three hits while striking out three hitters. That's a nice bounce-back performance from his awful Aug. 5 outing (2/3 IP, 4 H's, 3 ERs), but we'd like to see him working deeper into the game. He's unlikely to be a serious rotation candidate for the Red Sox in the near future.
"So, [Barry Bonds] is 44 years old and unlikely to be employed for all of the 2008 season, and will go to trial next spring. The clock is ticking. But we know this now: He concedes nothing and he still believes he can impact games."
-- Buster Olney Full Story 
"Brandon Webb practically locked up his second Cy Young Award yesterday, right? He's now 17-4 with a 2.88 ERA. Aaron Cook's No. 2 in the National League with 14 wins, and his ERA's a run higher. For Webb to lose the Cy Young, he'd have to slump and somebody -- oddly enough, Ryan Dempster seems like the best candidate -- would have to finish in a rush. Meanwhile, after eight shutout innings yesterday, Cliff Lee's record is even better: 16-2, 2.45. But Lee's not quite in the clear yet, as Joe Saunders (14-5, 3.07) is still sort of within striking distance."
-- Rob Neyer Full Story
• The Blue Jays placed Scott Rolen on the 15-day disabled list with a sore left shoulder, and optioned Kevin Mench to Triple-A Syracuse, while activating Vernon Wells from the DL. Wells got the start at DH Sunday and was 0-for-4, while Marco Scutaro got the start at third base, with John McDonald at shortstop. Joe Inglett should see an increase in at-bats with Rolen sidelined.
• One day after he was pounded for five runs on nine hits in two innings, Ian Kennedy was demoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Billy Traber was recalled in his place, but he's only around to provide short-term bullpen depth. The Yankees will need a fifth starter on Wednesday, which could be Darrell Rasner or perhaps Alfredo Aceves. Dan Giese's hold on a rotation spot should be stronger for now.
• The White Sox officially placed Jose Contreras, out for the season with a ruptured Achilles' tendon, on the 15-day DL. In his place, the team recalled Lance Broadway from Triple-A Charlotte, while also summoning infielder Chris Getz and optioning Boone Logan there. Getz will provide infield depth, while the White Sox also announced Sunday that D.J. Carrasco will initially fill Contreras' vacant rotation spot.
• The Reds demoted Homer Bailey to Triple-A Louisville to clear a roster spot for Aaron Harang, while also designating David Ross for assignment. They'll have 10 days to trade, release or demote Ross to the minors. Ryan Hanigan was recalled from Louisville to replace Ross, and he went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs Sunday. He'll get the occasional start ahead of Paul Bako, but isn't much of a fantasy factor.
• Willie Bloomquist landed on the 15-day DL with a hamstring injury, allowing the Mariners to recall Tug Hulett from Triple-A Tacoma. Hulett should assume Bloomquist's old utility role, but one can only hope he'd be less apt to squeak into the lineup as often as Bloomquist did. If Hulett is used as a true reserve, it can only help the playing time -- and therefore fantasy potential -- of rookies Jeff Clement and Wladimir Balentien.
• Tom Gorzelanny -- remember him? -- went 5 2/3 innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits while striking out 10 hitters for Triple-A Indianapolis Sunday. He's now 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in six starts since being demoted by the Pirates, which could earn him another shot with the big club before season's end. That he's averaging 4 2/3 innings per start is a concern, but Gorzelanny at least is looking stronger than he did for the Pirates at the time of his demotion.
• Kendry Morales belted his 14th homer for Triple-A Salt Lake, giving him four in nine games in the month of August alone. He's batting .444 (16-for-36) with nine RBIs during that span. Not that Morales is a strong bet to make a fantasy impact this season, but his performance for Salt Lake should be closely monitored for the next month. After all, should Mark Teixeira depart the Angels as a free agent this winter, Morales would be the most likely in-house replacement, now that Casey Kotchman is in Atlanta.