Down On The Farm

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Unless someone gets hurt, the Red Sox are planning on keeping Wily Mo Pena (hand) at Triple-A Pawtucket through the weekend.
"At-bats are kind of at a premium. ...I know he's starting to get antsy down there," manager Terry Francona. "But 10, 12, 15 more at-bats will do him good, better than sitting here." Gabe Kapler stands to lose most of his playing time after Pena returns.

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Dodgers sent RHP Lance Carter outright to Triple-A Las Vegas.
He was already pitching at Vegas. Carter, who is on a one-year, $550,000 contract, was able to clear waivers even though there are a bunch of teams in need of bullpen help. It seems that no one felt he could have helped.

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Eli Iorg homered and doubled twice Wednesday for low Single-A Lexington(astros).
Iorg, the 38th overall pick in the 2005 draft, hasn't had many games like this in his first full pro season. The 23-year-old is hitting .236/.286/.404 in the South Atlantic League. He'll need to take a large step forward in 2007 in order to remain a prospect.

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Mariners optioned outfielder Shin-Soo Choo to Triple-A Tacoma.
It looks like the rumors about the Mariners calling up Adam Jones to play center fielder were true. Choo was likely to outproduce Jones, but the Mariners seem to believe that he just doesn't have the range to play center field in the majors. Choo was 1-for-11 in four games.

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Mariners sent catcher Luis Oliveros outright to Single-A Inland Empire.
Oliveros was only called up to serve as a No. 2 catcher in Sunday's game, which Kenji Johjima missed in order to return home to Japan. He may never see the majors again.

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Rangers recalled outfielder Freddy Guzman from Triple-A Oklahoma.
He takes Jason Botts' roster spot. Guzman got one plate appearance in 13 days with the Rangers before being sent down on July 3. Since manager Buck Showalter seems to like Jerry Hairston Jr. in the outfield, Guzman might not have a significant role at any point.

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Kameron Loe (elbow) allowed one hit in 2 2/3 scoreless innings in a rehab start for Double-A Frisco on Wednesday.
Loe didn't quite last the three innings he was scheduled for, but he was succeessful anyway. The Rangers plan to have him make three more rehab starts before they activate him.

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Jay Witasick (ankle) struck out two in a perfect inning of relief Wednesdayfor Single-A Stockton.
Witasick's next appearance is scheduled for Friday at Triple-A Sacramento. He might rejoin Oakland's pen next week.

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Jason Johnson gave up four runs and 10 hits in seven innings for Single-A Wilmington on Wednesday.
He reportedly had better movement on his sinker in the game, but it didn't show up in the results. Johnson will likely be left in the minors for now. If the Red Sox can upgrade their rotation through a trade, they might let Johnson go at some point.

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The Mariners confirmed that they'll call up Adam Jones to replace Shin-Soo Choo on the roster prior to Friday's game.
Also on the way up is Greg Dobbs, who will serve mostly as a pinch-hitter. Jones will get a look as the Mariners' regular center fielder. Unlike Choo, he's a right-handed hitter, meaning he won't be platooned with Willie Bloomquist. Jones was hitting .277/.332/.470 for Triple-A Tacoma. He's unlikely to hit for average and he could have a very poor OBP in the majors

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Both Alex Gordon and Billy Butler had grand slams against Midland starter Scott Olsen in Double-A Wichita's game Wednesday.
Wichita lost 11-10 in 15 innings anyway. Gordon finished 2-for-4 with three walks. The homer was his 12th. Butler was 2-for-7.

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The Astros sent Jason Lane to Triple-A Round Rock in order to make room for Aubrey Huff on the 40 man roster. Lane was struggling hitting .205 with 11 HR and 30 RBI's.

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Double-A Montgomery's Wes Bankston was told after Wednesday's game being promoted to Triple-A Durham and moved back to first base.
It's probably the first part that has Bankston more excited, but we're pleased to see him back at first base. The Rays moved him to third base back in March and he struggled defensively while hitting .263/.322/.389 in 167 at-bats for Montgomery. First base is where he belongs, and he might be ready to help the Rays by the second half of next year.

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2005 sixth-round pick Steve Hammond pitched a two-hit shutout Wednesday for Double-A Huntsville.
Hammond has a 0.69 ERA in four starts since moving up form the California League. The left-hander doesn't have the best strikeout rate, but he's turned himself into an intriguing prospect anyway. The Brewers might want to try him as a reliever before the end of the season.

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Mark Reynolds, playing left field, homered Wednesday in his debut for Double-A Tennessee.
Reynolds hit .337/.422/.670 with 23 homers and 77 RBI in 273 at-bats for Single-A Lancaster. He's never going to make an impact in Arizona as a corner outfielder, but he's versatile enough that he could be of use as a bench player.

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Red Sox transferred LHP Lenny DiNardo from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list.
Dinardo has been out since May 22 with a strained neck, so he's nearly eligible to return. His first rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket is scheduled for Friday.

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Red Sox purchased the contract of LHP Craig Breslow from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Breslow had a 3.40 ERA and a 50/17 K/BB ratio in 45 IP for Pawtucket. He'll be available out of the pen until Kyle Snyder is needed as a fifth starter on Monday.

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Reds recalled infielder William Bergolla from Triple-A Louisville.
Bergolla is probably up for just one day, as the Reds will add Royce Clayton to the active roster on Friday. If the Reds move Brandon Phillips to shortstop next year with Felipe Lopez gone, Bergolla and Ray Olmedo could battle for a starting job.

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Reds recalled outfielder Chris Denorfia from Triple-A Louisville.
Denorfia should be up for good this time after hitting .347/.409/.454 for Louisville. He'll probably share time with Ryan Freel in right field and he should hit at the top of the order when he's in the lineup. If he carries over most of his offense from Triple-A, he'll likely end the season as a regular.

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Pirates optioned RHP Jonah Bayliss to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Bayliss returns to Triple-A to make room for Victor Santos, who will come off the DL prior to Friday's game. He allowed three runs in five innings during his two weeks with the Pirates.

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Athletics optioned first baseman Dan Johnson to Triple-A Sacramento.
Johnson was hitting .291 with five homers, seven doubles, 17 RBI and 15 walks in 103 at-bats since the start of June. The A's will put out a significantly weaker lineup against right-handers with him in the minors, so the Rangers, Angels and Mariners should all be happy to see this

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Dallas McPherson (back) began a minor league rehab assignment Thursday at Triple-A.
McPherson has been sidelined since June 22, making him one of many Angels with injury problems this year.

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Casey Kotchman (mononucleosis) began a minor league rehab assignment Thursday at Triple-A.
Kotchman has been out since May 9 because of the lingering effects of mono, and it may take him significant rehab time to get back into playing shape.

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Jason Repko (high ankle sprain) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.
Repko will likely rejoin the Dodgers within the next couple weeks. He's been out since May 9.

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Dmitri Young (quadriceps) has moved up to Triple-A on his minor league rehab assignment.
Young went 2-for-13 at Double-A and the Tigers aren't guaranteeing that he'll be called back up unless he begins hitting well. "We’re not writing him off," manager Jim Leyland said. "I don’t want anybody to think that, but this is a place for production."

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Tomo Ohka (shoulder) pitched Thursday in the Arizona Rookie League, allowing seven hits and four runs - two earned - in three innings.
Ben Sheets is scheduled to pitch there on Friday. "If Ohka does OK, we may consider bringing him back next week in San Francisco," Melvin said. "Ben is one start behind Tomo." Milwaukee tried six pitchers in the rotation spots previously occupied by Sheets and Ohka and went 5-17 in those games.

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Joe Kennedy (shoulder) is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment early next week at Triple-A.
Kennedy has been slow to recover, but appears to be close to returning from the disabled list.

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Brian Bannister (hamstring) will pitch five innings in a simulated game with Class A Port St. Lucie on Saturday.
If that goes well, he could start a rehab assignment a week or so later. GM Omar Minaya said a return by Bannister to the starting rotation by Aug. 1 was a distinct possibility. "When I come back, I’ll be as fresh as I was in spring training. I know I’m better now than I was then," Bannister said.

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Washington is expected to purchase the contract of RHP Roy Corcoran from Triple-A New Orleans sometime Friday.
With relievers Gary Majewski and Bill Bray now with the Reds, Corcoran will be used in middle relief. He posted a 2-3 record with a 2.45 ERA in 16 appearances out of New Orleans' pen.

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Dodgers optioned outfielder Matt Kemp to Triple-A Las Vegas.
It's the best move for the player, although it leaves the Dodgers shorthanded against left-handed pitchers. With Andre Ethier playing well and Kenny Lofton healthy, the Dodgers weren't going to be able to find Kemp at-bats against righties, and they didn't want to play him just twice per week. Despite his recent struggles, the 21-year-old Kemp hit .279/.316/.500 in 122 at-bats for the Dodgers.

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Lenny DiNardo (neck) gave up four runs without recording an out Friday in his first rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket.
Still better than Jason Johnson. DiNardo won't be rejoining the Red Sox anytime soon.

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Sal Fasano (knee) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Saturday with Single-A Clearwater.
Fasano is eligible to return Tuesday and should be ready then. Carlos Ruiz will return to Triple-A to make room for him.

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Ben Sheets (shoulder) allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings for the Rookie AZL Brewers in his rehab start Friday.
Sheets struck out eight and topped out at 94 mph while throwing 87 pitches. "You can't go on the stats," pitching coach Mike Maddux said. "You have to go on the execution of pitches, which was very good. He had some four-out innings, five-out innings." Sheets is scheduled to make another start Wednesday. He could rejoin Milwaukee's rotation on July 24.

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The Diamondbacks are expected to call up Stephen Drew to take over at shortstop for the injured Craig Counsell.
Drew will probably start against righties, with Damion Easley handling shortstop chores versus lefties. Drew hasn't done a lot offensively since April

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Joe Saunders is reportedly expected to be recalled in time to start Tuesday.
Saunders, who is 10-3 with a 2.51 ERA at Triple-A, will be subbing for the injured Kelvim Escobar.

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Dallas McPherson (back) is reportedly at least one week away from returning from the disabled list.
McPherson, who has been out since June 22, is rehabbing at Triple-A.

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According to the Los Angeles Daily News, Casey Kotchman (mono) "is not nearly as close to returning as [Dallas] McPherson."
McPherson is said to be at least one week away, which pushes Kotchman's timetable back until at least the end of the month. He hasn't played since early May.

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Dustin Hermanson pitched a scoreless inning Thursday at Triple-A for the third straight game.
It's looking more likely that Hermanson will return this season, although the White Sox are understandably taking a cautious approach with his recovery.

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Danny Ardoin (knee) continued his minor league rehab assignment Friday by moving up to Triple-A.
Ardoin went 2-for-26 in seven games at Single-A, so he's unlikely to return soon unless he starts hitting a little bit.

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Octavio Dotel (elbow) is expected to make a minor league rehab appearance Saturday at Single-A.
General manager Brian Cashman said Friday that Dotel could return from the disabled list "in about two weeks" barring a setback.

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According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Jason Windsor may be called up from Triple-A to start Monday's game against Baltimore.
Windsor is 12-1 between Double-A and Triple-A this season. "He's kind of got a Joe Blanton style,'' pitching coach Curt Young said. "Good fastball, changeup, uses his breaking ball enough. He's been a winning pitcher.'' Windsor isn't a potential ace, but he should become a solid mid-rotation guy in time.

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Richie Robnett will miss the remainder of the season after breaking the hamate bone in his right hand.
A first-round pick in 2004, Robnett hit .264 with 12 homers and 40 RBI in 79 minor league games this year.

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B.J. Upton made his debut at third base Thursday at Triple-A.
"I didn't get a ground ball the first couple innings so I was a little antsy out there," Upton said. "But after the first one I felt fine. It got on me pretty quickly, but that's the way it is at third because it's a reaction position." Given that his range is a strength and most of his errors are of the throwing variety, a move to second base seemingly would have made more sense.