Tampa minor league P Matt White has retired. White was the former #1 pick of the Giants in 1996 who became a free agent when the Giants failed to tender him a contact in time, and who later signed with Tampa for a $10 million bonus. He'd been battling shoulder woes, and hadn't pitched in a game since 2003.

-- MWE

Buffalo (IL): 7/24 sent P Tom Mastny to Indians, received P Edward Mujica from Indians.

I've been looking forward to seeing Mastny pitch. I've seen wildly differing accounts of him: Anywhere from marginal soft-tosser to (in one case a few years ago) top prospect.

I expect something like "average-ish but ultimately fungible middle reliever".

Short-season news:

3B Matt Antonelli of Eugene (NWL), the Padres' 2006 #1 draft pick, is day-to-day with a hand injury; he's missed four consecutive games. Antonelli is hitting .309/.440/.381 in 29 games for the Emeralds.

Everett (NWL) added P Will Fenton to its roster. Fenton was a 2004 draft pick by the Cubs out of the University of Washington, who missed most of 2005 with shoulder trouble and who was released by the Cubs.

Batavia (NY-P) received P Mark Kelly from the GCL Phillies. Kelly's a 22-YO righty from Australia who is part of a large contingent of players in the Phils' system from Down Under.

Auburn (NY-P) received P Chase Lirette, Toronto's 16th-rounder out of USF. INF Wes Stone was sent to Pulaski (Appy).

Vancouver (NWL) received P Kevin Bunch from the AZL Athletics. The 19-YO Bunch was drafted in the seventh round in 2005 by Oakland out of Serrano HS; he was a catcher until switching to the mound as a HS senior. He threw only 10 innings in rookie ball before being shut down a year ago.

Boise (NWL) received P Kitt Kopach, the Cubs' 12th-round pick out of Illinois State. Kopach was promoted from the AZL Cubs.

Yakima (NWL) received C Justin Brashear from Missoula. Brashear was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 44th round this year out of Mississippi. Missoula received C Julio Parra from the Bears in exchange.

Kingsport (Appy) received P James Baxter from the GCL Mets. Baxter, a lefty, was drafted by Boston in 2005 out of Villanova, released by the Red Sox in June and picked up by the Mets.

Helena (Pio) sent P Mike Ramlow to the AZL Brewers. Ramlow was a 24th-round pick by the Brewers in 2005, who signed as a DFE out of Owens Community College in Toledo this spring.

-- MWE

Just saw this on BA's site under ROYALS transactions....
"Placed RHP Jonathan Griffin on voluntarily retired list "
Is this who I think it is being addressed by what might be his real first name?
I know Mike said he had rotator cuff surgery this year

I've been looking forward to seeing Mastny pitch. I've seen wildly differing accounts of him: Anywhere from marginal soft-tosser to (in one case a few years ago) top prospect.

Mastny throws 88-90, down in the zone. His secondary pitches aren't anything to write home about. I think that:

"average-ish but ultimately fungible middle reliever".

is a good bet.

-- MWE

Is this who I think it is being addressed by what might be his real first name?
I know Mike said he had rotator cuff surgery this year

Yes, 'tis he. Jonathan C Griffin.

-- MWE

Wooow, so thats how that saga ends...voluntary retirement. sheesh, if i could throw that hard i wouldn't give up til i was 30

Just saw this on BA's site under ROYALS transactions....
"Placed RHP Jonathan Griffin on voluntarily retired list "
Is this who I think it is being addressed by what might be his real first name?
I know Mike said he had rotator cuff surgery this year

Jonathan is his first name - and he's the only player by that name according to baseballcube - so I think you're probably right about Colt retiring.

Ouchie, so thats why Lee has been sitting out lately. Man, rough break for him. Hopefully he will get healthy soon and be back in the line-up. I really enjoy seeing him play.

Colt has indeed retired. Nice draft pick Allard.

P Steve Green has been MIA from the Toledo Mud Hens for the past two days, after being bombed for seven runs in the first inning during a spot start on Monday. The team is refusing comment on Green's status.

-- MWE

The Mudcats re-upped with the Marlins for two years.

-- MWE

Nashville also re-upped, with Milwaukee for four years.

-- MWE

Mike, what happened with that Reds pitcher that didn't come back from that funeral?

Mike, what happened with that Reds pitcher that didn't come back from that funeral?

Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette, you mean? He was removed from Dayton's player list on July 9, but he doesn't show up in the transaction list for the Dragons and he hasn't been assigned anywhere else in the organization that I can find, and searches for info on the Web have been fruitless.

-- MWE

A's to call up Shane Komine to start on Sunday.

posted this elsewhere (the Choo thread, really shouldve put it in the Snellings back thread) but oh well, i figured it fits best here...

ummmmm
wtf
now things have changed AGAIN
http://minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2006_07_27_nozaaa_tacaaa_1
That would be a box score saying Snelling hit third, DH'd and went 0-3 with 2 Ks and a walk in Tacomas 9-2 loss to New Orleans on the night of July 27...as in, last night when he was on the DL.

Did the Mariners somehow DL him and immediately send him to rehab? and if so would there be any point to this

i assume theres just some confusion w media outlets as far as what the Ms really did with him