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Friday, April 25, 2008

AP: Rangers continue roster juggling

The struggling Texas Rangers, beset by injuries, recalled catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia from Triple-A Oklahoma and activated left-handed reliever Eddie Guardado from the disabled list on Friday.

They replace right-hander Luis Mendoza, who went on the 15-day disabled list with an inflamed shoulder, and catcher Adam Melhuse, who broke a bone in the back of his right hand during Thursday’s game in Detroit and was given his release.
...
His release also clears a spot on the Rangers’ 40-man roster for right-hander Sidney Ponson, who was 1-2 with a 3.47 ERA at Oklahoma. Ponson has a clause in his contract that would allow him to become a free agent if he isn’t promoted to the majors by May 1.

Daniels said Ponson “most likely” would be brought up to start Saturday against Minnesota.

Salty and Sir Sweaty are making their returns to the big leagues!

NTNgod Posted: April 25, 2008 at 10:10 PM | 12 comment(s)
Related News: General, Texas

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1. The Most Interesting Man In The World Posted: April 25, 2008 at 10:21 PM (#2759368)

catcher Adam Melhuse, who broke a bone in the back of his right hand during Thursday’s game in Detroit and was given his release.

Hi I'm Billy Beane, and I'm interested.

2. Walt Davis Posted: April 26, 2008 at 02:06 AM (#2759615)

I thought injured players had to go on the DL and couldn't be released until healthy. Doesn't matter for his money (he gets paid either way) but would for ML service time. To free up a 40-man spot, they could put him on the 60-day DL.

3. Chase Utley, America's Favorite Robot (Joey Belle) Posted: April 26, 2008 at 03:30 AM (#2759629)

Why is Sidney Ponson still relevant? Does he meet the major leagues Aruban-born player quota? Or does every team have to have a 300 pounder on their 40 man roster?

4. MM1f Posted: April 26, 2008 at 03:36 AM (#2759631)

#2,
I thought so too. Maybe he just asked for his release instead of chilling on the 60-day and he and the team came to an agreement?

#3,
Hes about as bad as your typical AAA jouneyman callup, but not really any worse, and at least he does have some talent in his arm if he can ever get in shape and someone can get though to his head. Plus he was pretty useful for the Cards in the first half in 06.
I'm not saying he doesn't suck, but as far as replaceable AAA callups go hes not the worst guy to take a chance on

5. Gromit Posted: April 26, 2008 at 11:34 AM (#2759691)

Broke his bone and given a release.
How crappy is that? Can't you just put him on the DL until he heals and then decide?

6. rLr Shouldn't Have Drunk The Hot Mountain Dew Posted: April 26, 2008 at 12:36 PM (#2759710)

*Juggle Juggle Juggle*

Nope, team still sucks. Maybe if you ride a unicycle.

7. Aspiring One-Armed Economist (6 - 4 - 3) Posted: April 26, 2008 at 12:55 PM (#2759720)

My guess is that Melhuse isn't too upset with how things turned out. He signed a split-contract to be a NRI. When Texas added him to the major league roster, he was guaranteed $750k for the season. He plays 8 games, gets released, but gets to keep his $750k.

Had he not gotten an offer from Texas, he most likely would have retired. He knew all along that he was only on the roster until the Rangers decided to bring up Saltamacchia. The broken hand bone sucks, but $750k buys a lot of Vicodin and he's been a professional catcher for 15 years so I'm sure it isn't his first.

8. Boots Day Posted: April 26, 2008 at 01:58 PM (#2759774)

rLr, I love that handle. Another great handle would be "Whitey Herzog on the Moon."

9. NTNgod Posted: April 26, 2008 at 07:29 PM (#2760000)

The Texas Rangers continued to shuffle their struggling pitching staff, calling up right-hander Sidney Ponson from Triple-A Oklahoma to make Saturday night’s start against the Minnesota Twins.

To create a roster spot for Ponson, the Rangers sent right-handed reliever Kazuo Fukumori to Oklahoma. Fukumori was recalled from Oklahoma last Thurday, but has a 20.25 ERA in four appearances out of the bullpen.

The 31-year-old Ponson, 1-2 with a 3.47 ERA at Oklahoma, was making his first Major League start since May 12, 2007, for Minnesota against Detroit.

Ponson is pitching for his sixth team. He had a clause in his contract that would have allowed him to become a free agent if he hadn’t been promoted to the majors by May 1.

10. Crispix Attacks Posted: April 26, 2008 at 07:37 PM (#2760011)

Ponson has reached the point in his career where he is basically a perpetual free agent in my mind. I couldn't remember that he was on the Rangers, and can't be certain about any of the other five teams he's been with, except the Orioles.

Seriously, I cannot remember anything he's done since he was with the Orioles. From whom he was apparently traded for Kurt Ainsworth and Damian Moss five years ago.

Giant Sidney Ponson? Yankee Sidney Ponson? Cardinal Sidney Ponson? Twin Sidney Ponson? I had no idea. He just continues to be "underachieving pitcher Sidney Ponson".

11. NTNgod Posted: April 26, 2008 at 07:43 PM (#2760025)

He was actually a sought-after pitcher that 2003 trade deadline (before he got dealt to the Giants), but since, then... nah.

12. Petunia Posted: April 26, 2008 at 07:53 PM (#2760041)

"From whom he was apparently traded for Kurt Ainsworth and Damian Moss five years ago."

You know, I guess that was before Ponson became really awful, and actually '03 was his one good year, but that trade was spun by Sabeanites as a stretch-run acquisition of a "second ace" to pair with Schmidt. Which seemed a little silly at the time, but looks downright bananas in retrospect. Although to be fair he didn't pitch all that poorly in those 10 games. And Ainsworth immediately blew out his elbow or whatever and disappeared.

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Friday, April 25, 2008

AP: Rangers continue roster juggling

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