Chamberlain to DL, will rest for a week

August 7, 2008

Joba Chamberlain was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday by the New York Yankees with rotator cuff tendinitis in his right pitching shoulder. The club said Chamberlain will rest for about a week before beginning a throwing program. Manager Joe Girardi said he had no specifics to report regarding Chamberlain's examination by noted orthopedic surgeon James Andrews in Alabama. Chamberlain was sent to see Andrews after undergoing an MRI Tuesday. Chamberlain, 22, was removed from Monday night's start against Texas in the fifth inning with stiffness in his shoulder. Ian Kennedy is expected to be called up from the minors to start tomorrow night against the Los Angeles Angels.

The Colorado Rockies acquired righthander Livan Hernandez off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. Hernandez, 33, a former World Series MVP and two-time All-Star, was 10-8 with a 5.48 ERA in 23 starts before the Twins designated him for assignment Friday . . . The Texas Rangers' new closer is Eddie Guardado, still getting hitters out at the age of 37. Guardado, who's been the Rangers' most consistent setup man, takes over for C.J. Wilson, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with bone spurs in his left elbow. Wilson had an MRI yesterday and will fly to Los Angeles today to be examined by Lewis Yocum, who performed Wilson's elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2004 . . . After the bullpen's latest struggles, the Cardinals have decided to go to a closer by committee. Closer Jason Isringhausen, who has a 1-5 record, 6.28 ERA, and seven blown saves in 19 chances, remained a member of the bullpen, although the role was not clear. Last night, hard-throwing righthander Chris Perez, who was recalled from Triple A Memphis, worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the save in the Cardinals' 9-6 win over the Dodgers. Still, manager Tony La Russa wasn't ready to anoint him the successor. "I don't think Chris needs to hear he's the next Bruce Sutter yet," La Russa said . . . Indians catcher Victor Martinez threw to the bases for the first time since being sidelined by an injured right elbow in mid-June and could start a minor league rehabilitation assignment next week . . . Braves pitcher Tim Hudson will undergo season-ending elbow surgery tomorrow.

A former University of Toledo player has been charged with fixing games, according to a federal indictment filed in US District Court in Detroit. Sammy Villegas, who played for four years at Toledo, is accused of shaving points in games during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. Villegas, a guard who finished his career in 2006, also paid money to another player who took part in the point-shaving scheme, prosecutors said. The other player was not charged or named in the indictment, which was filed June 30. Villegas intentionally missed two free throws in a game against Central State in 2006, the indictment said. The case comes a little more than a year after a Toledo football player was accused in a gambling scheme, though the charges against him were dropped. A university spokesman described the cases as isolated incidents . . . Bill Self, the Kansas coach who guided the Jayhawks to their first NCAA championship in 20 years, signed a 10-year, $30 million contract. The deal had been in the works since April, when Self's Jayhawks beat Memphis for the title . . . The Providence men's team will play Baylor for the first time in this year's Anaheim Classic. The Friars drew the Bears to open the tourney Nov. 27. The Friars will play three games against a field that includes Arizona State, Wake Forest, Charlotte, St. Mary's, UTEP, and Cal State-Fullerton.

Martin Truex Jr. finally agreed to a contract extension with Dale Earnhardt Inc. that keeps him in the No. 1 Chevrolet at least through 2009. The sides held a mutual option on the 2009 season, but Truex had been reluctant to commit even though DEI was eager to retain him. He tested the market, and had verbally agreed to stay with the team several weeks ago, but declined to sign anything . . . Brad Coleman, 20, will replace J.J. Yeley in the No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing Toyota beginning at the Aug. 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. Yeley, already set to sit out Sunday's Cup race at Watkins Glen in favor of road racing specialist P.J. Jones, was released by the team yesterday. The Michigan race will be the Cup debut for Coleman, who has made 42 Nationwide Series starts.

Sixth-seeded Mardy Fish came back strong after losing the first set to take a 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-0 win over Vince Spadea at the Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles. In a night match, No. 5 seed Marat Safin advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Wayne Odesnik . . . In the first day of international competition at the US Junior National Evaluation hockey camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., University of New Hampshire recruit Ryan Bourque (Boxford) scored to help the US team beat Finland, 4-1. In a 3-2 win over Sweden, UNH forward James van Riemsdyk, and defenseman David Warsofsky of Marshfield, a Boston University recruit, scored for the United States.