Sunday, March 8, 2009

MLB Roundup Mar. 8

The biggest story going on right now has to be that A-Rod will have arthroscopic surgery to fix a torn labrum. This surgery will probably keep him out of the Yankees lineup for 6-9 weeks. He will have the surgery on Monday and will likely need more surgery after the season.

According to a Yahoo Sports report, the Boston Red Sox have signed LHP Jon Lester to a 5-year, $30 million extension. Lester was diagnosed with lymphoma as a rookie in 2006 but was declared cancer-free later that year. He went 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 33 starts last year in over 200 innings.

Let's move to the WBC news.

On Saturday I mentioned that Japan had won but the shock of the day had to be the Netherlands beating the Dominican Republic, 3-2. Sidney Ponson got the win for the Dutch team. The United States pulled it out against Canada 6-5 after Jason Bay flew out to Shane Victorino in right with a man on base. Cincinnati Red Joey Votto had a huge day, going 4-5 with a HR and two RBI's. Kevin Youkilis, Brian McCann, and Adam Dunn all hit HR's for the US team. In the other games on Saturday, Puerto Rico beat Panama 7-0 and Venezuela defeated Italy by the same margin.

On Sunday, Korea has beaten China by a whopping 14-0 score and Cuba took care of South Africa, 8-1 on the back of six HR's, a WBC record. As this post is being written the Domincan Repbublic is beating Panama 5-0 in the Top of the 5th. See, look at the BLBB giving you live, from the couch, coverage of the WBC. Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto is on the mound and is about to get pulled after reaching the pitch limit. Later on today the United States will take on Venezuela at 8:00 Eastern on ESPN. Roy Oswalt will get the nod for the US team and he will go against Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers. And finally, Australia takes on Mexico in the last game of the day.
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