MLB
– Athletics’ LHP Dallas Braden threw a perfect game against the Rays on Sunday, striking out six. A great comeback to Yankees’ 3B Alex Rodriguez’s comment about Braden getting his “15 minutes of fame.” The final out came on a grounder to shortstop off the bat of Gabe Kapler. Braden tossed perfection against a team that entered the day 22-8. The perfect game is the major’s first since White Sox’ LHP Mark Buehrle did it last July.
– An MRI Saturday revealed that Padres’ RHP Chris Young (shoulder) has a strain. Young had an MRI earlier this week that revealed the same thing, so the Padres are probably ready to accept the diagnosis and get on to the rehab stages. He will be re-evaluated in two-to-three weeks.
– Braves’ RHP Jair Jurrjens (hamstring) told MLB.com Saturday that he expects to return from the disabled list and start next weekend against Arizona. Jurrjens was placed on the DL retroactive to April 30. He played catch and did some light running on Friday and will continue that pattern up until next Saturday. A bullpen session could take place on Wednesday.
– The Yankees have placed DH Nick Johnson (inflammed tendon in right wrist) on the 15-day DL. Johnson lasted a month before hitting the DL, but it was almost inevitable that he’d end up there at some point. He had an MRI Saturday back in New York to determine if the injury is related to the surgery he had on the same wrist in 2008, which it does not appear to be. He’ll still be out several weeks according to the team.
– The Brewers have placed RHP LaTory Hawkins (shoulder) on the 15-day DL. The normally reliable Hawkins has put up an ugly 9.26 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 11 2/3 innings (13 appearances) out of the Milwaukee bullpen this season.
– The Angels have placed INF Maicer Izturis (right shoulder inflammation) on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 6. Izturis suffered the injury early on this season and aggravated it this week. He shouldn’t be out longer than two weeks.
– Free agent OF Geoff Jenkins acknowledged Saturday that he’s likely going to retire soon. The 35-year-old drew little interest this offseason after managing no at-bats in 2009 and hitting just .246/.301/.392 in 2008. “There were some calls (in the spring) but they were to go to Triple-A. That just wasn’t in my heart.” He has yet to officially file retirement papers.
– The Phillies have transferred RHP Ryan Madson (toe surgery) from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL. This is mostly a procedural move as Madson was slated to miss at least eight weeks anyway after undergoing surgery.
– The Phillies have placed C Brian Schneider (strained Achilles) on the 15-day DL.
– The Mariners have fired hitting coach Alan Cockrell in an effort to spark their slumping lineup. The Mariners have scored the second lowest number of runs in baseball with just 94 going into Sunday’s game. They’re tied for the lowest batting average and have the second worst OPS, so it’s hard to argue that all they needed was time to make things right. Alonzo Powell has been named the hitting coach in Cockrell’s place.
NHL
– Red Wings’ F Johan Franzen tied a club record in the playoffs for Detroit with a 12-game scoring streak. He tied Hall-of-Fame F Gordie Howe for the achievement. Franzen posted a point in all 12 of the team’s postseason contests, while finishing with six goals and 12 helpers. He also beat F Steve Yzerman’s record of five points in a single playoff game, recording six in Game 4.
NFL
– Redskins’ WR Santana Moss (left knee) is sidelined for this weekend’s minicamp after undergoing arthroscopic surgery. Coach Mike Shanahan hinted that the procedure occurred three months ago. It’s just a minor scope to clean out a knee that has been bothering Moss for three years. He’s expected to be back for the June minicamp, which means he won’t fall too far behind while the ‘Skins learn their new offence. Moss remains the best bet to emerge as Donovan McNabb’s go-to receiver.
TNA
– Former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis has had discussions with TNA regarding joining the organization, but money is said to be the main hold up.
– TNA president Dixie Carter had a meeting with Lisa Marie Varon (a.k.a. Tara) last Monday concerning her recent blog post criticizing the organization. Varon was upset because she felt some people in TNA were bad mouthing her on the way out. Carter said she never said one bad word about her. Things were then settled as Varon apologized for her online remarks. Also note, there are still no plans for Varon to remain with the organization. Her contract expires on Friday, May 21.
Apparently in response to an online report indicating she has had backstage issues with The Beautiful People, Lisa Marie Varon (a/k/a Tara) wrote the following on her Twitter page:
“To clear up rumors.I enjoy wrestling Velvet and Madison. Some people love to stir up things. Have you ever played the game telephone?”
– TNA announcer Taz is pushing creative to bring Mike Knox in, who was recently released by WWE.
– According to 4FWOnline, Dixie Carter recently had her Twitter account flooded with a number of requests from fans to sign independent women’s wrestler Lizzy Valentine, who performed in the short-lived MTV series Wrestling Society X as a valet for Evan Bourne. The overwhelming number of requests caught the eye of the TNA president, as she’s expected to receive another tryout match soon. It cannot be said that Carter does not listen to the fans as Shannon Moore returned to the organization after she was besieged with requests to sign the tattooed grappler. Valentine took part in tryout dark match last December, defeating Amber O’Neal. She can be seen on Wrestlicious, performing under the name “Kandi Kisses.” This August will mark her ten-year anniversary in the wrestling industry, which has included lengthy stops in Mexico and Europe.
– Randy Ricci, a former production manager for TNA Wrestling, is claiming on his website — courtesy of an inside company source — that Madison Rayne missed a recent house show loop because she could not afford the transportation to attend the events.
“Madison Rayne missed some recent house shows because she couldn’t afford to make the events. This girl is talented, marketable, and “cute as all hell!” And she probably get’s paid $250 per night (if she works) with NO expenses. Is this what TNA sympathizers (fans) think that she’s worth? Does this make Dixie Carter “The Boss” as charming and classy as Kevin Eck from The Baltimore Sun likes to “paint” Mrs. Carter Salinas?”
It should be noted Ricci has been discussing the low pay of the company’s female performers long before it garnered widespread attention as a result of Awesome Kong and Tara’s recent contract disputes with the organization.
In response to the report, as well as rumors of there being heat in the women’s locker room, Rayne posted a blog on her MySpace account.
She wrote: “First of all, the reports about me “missing appearances” lately due to financial trouble are false. When Daffney and Angelina were both injured a few weeks ago, other girls needed to be put on the house shows that weekend. The reason I was not sent had nothing to do w/ money. I had been nursing a nagging injury of my own and everyone felt it would be in my best interst to take the 10 days I had off and let my body heal. Plain and simple
Nothing more to it. So please don’t fret… Mama Rayne is going to have a fantastic Mother’s Day and I’m still getting a pedicure and new pair of shoes tomorrow morning LoL!
“Aaand denn, those silly rumors about there being heat in the locker room… all i’m going to say to that is, i’ve been a cheerleader, i’ve done beauty pageants and fitness modeling… and if y’all want drama, check out one of those backstage areas LoL.”
VoV
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