Cliff Lee Impostor Drops Game One

Who the hell was that guy on the mound for the Texas Rangers Wednesday night?

No way was it Cliff Lee, who had never lost a postseason game in his short playoff career. Up until last night, the lefty was 7-0 with a 1.26 ERA in eight postseason ballgames between Philadelphia and Texas.

He's been so unhittable, teams like the New York Yankees, who aren't generally afraid of anyone, were tweaking their playoff rotation in order to avoid their own ace facing his total domination.

Freddy Sanchez nailed three doubles and Juan Uribe kicked down the door with a three-run bomb that provided joints on the house in San Francisco to help the Giants overcome Tim Lincecum’s less-than-solid start in the Giants' 11-7 victory.

Pirates Pay Freddy Sanchez

The Pittsburgh Pirates and second baseman Freddy Sanchez have come to an agreement on a two-year, $11 million deal with a club option for 2011 that could bring the total to $18.4 million.

The two-time All Star hit for a .304 average with 11 longballs and 81 RBIs over 147 games last season before undergoing shoulder surgery during the final week.

Sanchez, 30, hit .344 in 2006 as a third baseman, earning the NL batting title for the highest batting average for a Bucs regular since Roberto Clemente hit .345 in 1969. He is also the first Pirates infielder to hit .300 in back-to-back seasons since third baseman Bill Madlock did so in 1982-83.

[MLB]

Sanchez Has Something In His Eye

Speaking of players who were supposed to be awesome but keep raining on your fantasy baseball parade due to various injuries...

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez was scratched from Wednesday's lineup about an hour before gametime due to some irritation in his right eye. He had a visit to the doc's office earlier in the day to have unidentified debris removed from the eye.

Sanchez was last year's National League batting champion with a .344 average, and is a great player when there's nothing wrong with him. But he missed most of Spring Training and the club's first five games with a strained right knee, leading some to wonder how secure his health is.

The eye thing is not believed to be serious and he should return to the Pirates' lineup tomorrow afternoon against the Houston Astros.

[ESPN]

Freddy Sanchez Seeks Second Opinion

Reigning National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez, found a second opinion Monday that only confirmed the Pittsburgh Pirates' evaluation of a sprained right knee ligament.

The talented second baseman was hurt turning a double play on March 6th and is still unable to run the bases or make sharp cuts in the field without pain. An MRI taken revealed nothing new, which is great news for the Pirates. He is to resume his conditioning program on Tuesday and unless he sees significant improvement in the next week or so, he will start the season on the 15-day disabled list.

Losing Sanchez could be a setback for the club, if only for the first week of the season, as the Pirates are coming off consecutive 95-loss seasons. He became one of the NL's top hitters last season and led the league with a .344 average with 53 doubles - the highest average by a Pirate since Roberto Clemente hit .345 in 1969.

If Sanchez isn't ready to play Monday against the Houston Astros, Jose Castillo will temporarily replace him at second. Castillo played there the last three seasons, but was moved to third base so Sanchez and shortstop Jack Wilson - former youth-league teammates - could be reunited as a double-play combo. Expect Sanchez to return directly to second base as soon as he is healed.

[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Freddy Sanchez's Return Still Uncertain

The sweet-swinging Freddy Sanchez is still hindered by a strained right knee ligament. The injury happened on March 6th when he was turning a double play and was supposed to be a day-to-day thing. It's been 2 1/2 weeks and he's still not ready. He had this to say on Friday:

It's frustrating. It's very disappointing, and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't.

Still no word on when he is expected back and whether he'll even be ready for the Pittsburgh Pirates' opener on April 2nd in Houston.

Sanchez can still hit. He can still field grounders. All that's keeping him off the field is the inability to run at full speed. Until he's confident that he can try to stretch a single into a double or turn a DP without feeling any pain, he won't be playing.

[ABC News]

Freddy Sanchez Hurts Knee

Reigning National League batting champ Freddy Sanchez left the Pittsburgh Pirates' exhibition game against the Phillies on Tuesday, which the Bucs ended up losing 11-10 in extras, after hurting his right knee.

The All-Star second baseman was injured in the fourth inning when catcher Rod Barajas slid into his knee as he was turning what I assume was a sweet double play at second.

He stayed down for a few minutes, then walked off the field wincing, accompanied by a trainer. Then, he spent about half an hour in the trainer's room, before telling reporters that he was alright and was scheduled for an MRI exam.

[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Pirates Sign Freddy Sanchez, Dan Kolb

The Pittsburgh Pirates nearly have their arbitration cases wrapped up with the signing of NL batting champ Freddy Sanchez on Saturday. The two parties agreed to a $2.7 million, one-year contract with an opportunity for a $10,000 bonus after 650 at bats. Sanchez hit .344 last season with 200 hits and 85 RBIs.

The club also signed free-agent reliever Dan Kolb to a Minor League contract, with an invitation to Spring Training. Kolb will make $1.25 million if he makes the team and could earn another $1.3 million in incentives, otherwise he will return to free-agency. The right-hander held a 4.84 ERA last season with the Milwaukee Brewers in 48 innings pitched.

Second baseman Jose Castillo is the only remaining Pirate eligible for arbitration with a hearing scheduled for Feb. 14th.

[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]