redlegsfan21
07-06-2006, 06:49 PM
Encarnacion Activated, Ramirez to Dayton
CINCINNATI (AP) - The Cincinnati Reds activated third baseman Edwin Encarnacion and obtained outfielder Dewayne Wise from Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.
To make room, the Reds designated outfielder Quinton McCracken for assignment and shipped pitcher Elizardo Ramirez to Class-A Dayton so he can start on his regular turn Monday during the All-Star break.
Ramirez (3-6) gave up three runs in six innings in the Reds' 6-5, 13-inning loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Encarnacion, who completed a rehabilitation assignment with Louisville, had been on the disabled list since June 9 with an ankle injury. He was batting .270 with six home runs for the Reds.
Wise made a strong bid to make the Reds as a non-roster invitee in spring training before suffering an ankle injury. He played in 13 games for Double-A Chattanooga, batting .420 with three home runs; He hit .250 in 15 games with Louisville.
McCracken, signed as a free agent in spring, led the Reds with seven pinch hits. He grounded out in a pinch-hitting appearance Wednesday, and was batting .208.
Wise and Encarnacion were set to join the Reds for Thursday's game in Atlanta.
http://sports.myway.com/news/07062006/v9295.html
Reds Pitcher Brian Shackelford Arrested
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brian Shackelford was arrested early Thursday on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault.
The 29-year-old player was arrested shortly after midnight at Miller Park, where the Reds played the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night, police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said. She declined to provide details on the arrest other than to say it involved a woman Monday.
"It's an ongoing criminal investigation," she said.
Shackelford was ordered to appear at the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office on Aug. 21, Assistant District Attorney Ken Berg said. Prosecutors have not issued any charges, though the investigation will continue, he said. He was released from jail Thursday afternoon.
The Reds optioned the pitcher to the minors and said they will not discuss the case because of pending legal proceedings.
"We recognize the seriousness of the matter and do not condone behavior of the type alleged," the team said. The Reds left Milwaukee after the game and were in Atlanta on Thursday night.
Third-degree sexual assault is a felony in Wisconsin, carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine, said Assistant Attorney General Roy Korte.
The Reds sent Shackelford to Triple-A Louisville and brought up another left-handed pitcher, Mike Gosling. Team spokesman Rob Butcher declined to say if the move was related to the Milwaukee case.
Shackelford, a left-handed reliever, pitched to one batter in the bottom of the 12th inning Wednesday, striking out Prince Fielder. The Brewers wound up winning 6-5 in 13 innings.
In the middle of the 13th, Reds equipment manager Rick Stowe informed Reds manager Jerry Narron about Shackelford's situation. Narron went over to Shackelford, put his hand on the pitcher's shoulder and told him to wait on the bench after the game.
"I didn't tell him what was going on," Narron said before Thursday night's game at Atlanta.
"I honestly do not know what's happened since he left the ballpark," he said.
http://sports.myway.com/news/07062006/v9841.html
Reds Acquire LHP Guardado From Mariners
CINCINNATI (AP) - Trying to bolster their struggling bullpen, the Cincinnati Reds will turn to former All-Star closer Eddie Guardado.
The Reds obtained Guardado and cash from the Seattle Mariners for minor league pitcher Travis Chick on Thursday. The trade came hours after the latest in this season's series of bullpen meltdowns - blown leads in the 10th and 13th innings of a 6-5 loss at Milwaukee.
"He lives for the ninth inning. He loves the pressure of being in that situation, and we're going to give him that opportunity," Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said.
The Reds have been one of baseball's surprise teams this season. They began the day two games behind St. Louis in the NL Central despite losing five in a row - and their bullpen had been a major culprit.
Reds relievers have blown 13 of 32 save opportunities, and have the worst ERA (5.28), most homers allowed (43) and highest opponents' batting average (.292) in the league.
Krivsky was a former assistant general manager at Minnesota, where Guardado was an All-Star for two years. Guardado led the AL with 45 saves in 2002 and was second with 41 in 2003.
Guardado lost his closer's role at Seattle this season, but Krivsky said he'll get the chance to claim the job in Cincinnati. The 35-year-old lefty is expected to join the Reds in Atlanta on Friday.
"He's been in that role before," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "He has no fear of it ... The biggest thing is it gives us a chance to line up our bullpen in a way we haven't been able to in a while."
The Mariners exercised their 2006 option for Guardado for $6.25 million. Seattle sent about $2.5 million to the Reds.
This year, the normally reliable reliever known as "Everyday Eddie" struggled and was demoted in May after blowing three save chances. Guardado was 1-3 with five saves and a 5.48 ERA, and was serving as a setup man for J.J. Putz.
Guardado had 36 saves with a 2.72 ERA in 58 games for the Mariners last year.
"Eddie had some struggles early on this season that allowed some of our young guys to run the back of the game and they got that job and haven't let go," Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said.
Guardado had a 3.77 ERA in 19 games since losing his closer role.
"Lately, he's been doing a lot of what he does. He is back to the Eddie of old," Bavasi said.
"This guy battled. Hard," said Bavasi, noting that Guardado pitched through knee and shoulder troubles during his Seattle tenure.
The Reds have been shuffling their bullpen, last week designating veteran Chris Hammond for assignment and recalling Brian Shackelford from Triple-A Louisville.
After Wednesday night's game in Milwaukee, Shackelford was arrested on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault. The Reds later optioned him to Louisville and recalled pitcher Michael Gosling on Thursday.
The Reds have tried veteran David Weathers and then Todd Coffey as closers. Coffey blew a ninth-inning lead Monday in Milwaukee for an 8-7 loss and gave up a game-tying home run in the bottom of the 10th Wednesday before Jason Standridge, who joined the team last month from Louisville, allowed two runs in the 13th for the loss.
"I wanted to do something that made sense, and this deal makes sense to us," Krivsky said. He expects Guardado to bring "veteran influence that will settle down" the bullpen, "and we can start closing out these games."
Guardado's agent, Kevin Kohler, said the pitcher wanted the chance to close again.
"Wayne needed a closer, and Eddie wanted to be a closer," Kohler said. "Other teams were interested in Eddie, but not as a closer."
The 22-year-old Chick was 4-5 with a 4.61 ERA for Double-A Chattanooga. The Reds acquired the righty from the San Diego organization last July in a deal for third baseman Joe Randa. Chick will report to Double-A San Antonio.
In other moves Thursday, the Reds activated third baseman Edwin Encarnacion and obtained outfielder Dewayne Wise from Louisville.
To make room, the Reds designated outfielder Quinton McCracken for assignment and shipped pitcher Elizardo Ramirez to Class A Dayton so he can start on his regular turn Monday during the All-Star break.
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AP Sports Writers Gregg Bell in Seattle and Charles Odum in Atlanta contributed to this report.
CINCINNATI (AP) - The Cincinnati Reds activated third baseman Edwin Encarnacion and obtained outfielder Dewayne Wise from Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.
To make room, the Reds designated outfielder Quinton McCracken for assignment and shipped pitcher Elizardo Ramirez to Class-A Dayton so he can start on his regular turn Monday during the All-Star break.
Ramirez (3-6) gave up three runs in six innings in the Reds' 6-5, 13-inning loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Encarnacion, who completed a rehabilitation assignment with Louisville, had been on the disabled list since June 9 with an ankle injury. He was batting .270 with six home runs for the Reds.
Wise made a strong bid to make the Reds as a non-roster invitee in spring training before suffering an ankle injury. He played in 13 games for Double-A Chattanooga, batting .420 with three home runs; He hit .250 in 15 games with Louisville.
McCracken, signed as a free agent in spring, led the Reds with seven pinch hits. He grounded out in a pinch-hitting appearance Wednesday, and was batting .208.
Wise and Encarnacion were set to join the Reds for Thursday's game in Atlanta.
http://sports.myway.com/news/07062006/v9295.html
Reds Pitcher Brian Shackelford Arrested
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brian Shackelford was arrested early Thursday on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault.
The 29-year-old player was arrested shortly after midnight at Miller Park, where the Reds played the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night, police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said. She declined to provide details on the arrest other than to say it involved a woman Monday.
"It's an ongoing criminal investigation," she said.
Shackelford was ordered to appear at the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office on Aug. 21, Assistant District Attorney Ken Berg said. Prosecutors have not issued any charges, though the investigation will continue, he said. He was released from jail Thursday afternoon.
The Reds optioned the pitcher to the minors and said they will not discuss the case because of pending legal proceedings.
"We recognize the seriousness of the matter and do not condone behavior of the type alleged," the team said. The Reds left Milwaukee after the game and were in Atlanta on Thursday night.
Third-degree sexual assault is a felony in Wisconsin, carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine, said Assistant Attorney General Roy Korte.
The Reds sent Shackelford to Triple-A Louisville and brought up another left-handed pitcher, Mike Gosling. Team spokesman Rob Butcher declined to say if the move was related to the Milwaukee case.
Shackelford, a left-handed reliever, pitched to one batter in the bottom of the 12th inning Wednesday, striking out Prince Fielder. The Brewers wound up winning 6-5 in 13 innings.
In the middle of the 13th, Reds equipment manager Rick Stowe informed Reds manager Jerry Narron about Shackelford's situation. Narron went over to Shackelford, put his hand on the pitcher's shoulder and told him to wait on the bench after the game.
"I didn't tell him what was going on," Narron said before Thursday night's game at Atlanta.
"I honestly do not know what's happened since he left the ballpark," he said.
http://sports.myway.com/news/07062006/v9841.html
Reds Acquire LHP Guardado From Mariners
CINCINNATI (AP) - Trying to bolster their struggling bullpen, the Cincinnati Reds will turn to former All-Star closer Eddie Guardado.
The Reds obtained Guardado and cash from the Seattle Mariners for minor league pitcher Travis Chick on Thursday. The trade came hours after the latest in this season's series of bullpen meltdowns - blown leads in the 10th and 13th innings of a 6-5 loss at Milwaukee.
"He lives for the ninth inning. He loves the pressure of being in that situation, and we're going to give him that opportunity," Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said.
The Reds have been one of baseball's surprise teams this season. They began the day two games behind St. Louis in the NL Central despite losing five in a row - and their bullpen had been a major culprit.
Reds relievers have blown 13 of 32 save opportunities, and have the worst ERA (5.28), most homers allowed (43) and highest opponents' batting average (.292) in the league.
Krivsky was a former assistant general manager at Minnesota, where Guardado was an All-Star for two years. Guardado led the AL with 45 saves in 2002 and was second with 41 in 2003.
Guardado lost his closer's role at Seattle this season, but Krivsky said he'll get the chance to claim the job in Cincinnati. The 35-year-old lefty is expected to join the Reds in Atlanta on Friday.
"He's been in that role before," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "He has no fear of it ... The biggest thing is it gives us a chance to line up our bullpen in a way we haven't been able to in a while."
The Mariners exercised their 2006 option for Guardado for $6.25 million. Seattle sent about $2.5 million to the Reds.
This year, the normally reliable reliever known as "Everyday Eddie" struggled and was demoted in May after blowing three save chances. Guardado was 1-3 with five saves and a 5.48 ERA, and was serving as a setup man for J.J. Putz.
Guardado had 36 saves with a 2.72 ERA in 58 games for the Mariners last year.
"Eddie had some struggles early on this season that allowed some of our young guys to run the back of the game and they got that job and haven't let go," Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said.
Guardado had a 3.77 ERA in 19 games since losing his closer role.
"Lately, he's been doing a lot of what he does. He is back to the Eddie of old," Bavasi said.
"This guy battled. Hard," said Bavasi, noting that Guardado pitched through knee and shoulder troubles during his Seattle tenure.
The Reds have been shuffling their bullpen, last week designating veteran Chris Hammond for assignment and recalling Brian Shackelford from Triple-A Louisville.
After Wednesday night's game in Milwaukee, Shackelford was arrested on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault. The Reds later optioned him to Louisville and recalled pitcher Michael Gosling on Thursday.
The Reds have tried veteran David Weathers and then Todd Coffey as closers. Coffey blew a ninth-inning lead Monday in Milwaukee for an 8-7 loss and gave up a game-tying home run in the bottom of the 10th Wednesday before Jason Standridge, who joined the team last month from Louisville, allowed two runs in the 13th for the loss.
"I wanted to do something that made sense, and this deal makes sense to us," Krivsky said. He expects Guardado to bring "veteran influence that will settle down" the bullpen, "and we can start closing out these games."
Guardado's agent, Kevin Kohler, said the pitcher wanted the chance to close again.
"Wayne needed a closer, and Eddie wanted to be a closer," Kohler said. "Other teams were interested in Eddie, but not as a closer."
The 22-year-old Chick was 4-5 with a 4.61 ERA for Double-A Chattanooga. The Reds acquired the righty from the San Diego organization last July in a deal for third baseman Joe Randa. Chick will report to Double-A San Antonio.
In other moves Thursday, the Reds activated third baseman Edwin Encarnacion and obtained outfielder Dewayne Wise from Louisville.
To make room, the Reds designated outfielder Quinton McCracken for assignment and shipped pitcher Elizardo Ramirez to Class A Dayton so he can start on his regular turn Monday during the All-Star break.
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AP Sports Writers Gregg Bell in Seattle and Charles Odum in Atlanta contributed to this report.