Sean Burnett's major-league debut today goes beyond playing in a game. Burnett, a former No. 1 pick for the Pirates who was twice named the organization's minor-league pitcher of the year, has waited a long time for this moment. "It'll probably be the best day of my life so far,'' he said. "Every kid wants to play in the major leagues. [Today], that dream's going to come true." His parents -- Rich and Annabelle -- also will savor the moment. His dad, a New York City policeman for 27 years, was diagnosed with a brain tumor right around the time the Pirates drafted his son in 2000. Burnett has a tattoo on his back "Against All Odds" to honor his father's battle through two surgeries. He said he had a tearful conversation with his dad when he got the news Thursday he was being called up for the spot start. "It's a special day for the whole family," said Burnett, who is 1-2 with an 4.83 ERA in Nashville this season. The Pirates have not announced what roster move they will make to clear a spot for Burnett, but speculation is that OF Ruben Mateo could be put on the disabled list with an injured left hand.
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In the first inning last night, Cliff Floyd thought back to the baseball Colorado's Jeromy Burnitz hit between himself and Mike Cameron at Shea last weekend, and told himself, "This one ain't going to drop."
It didn't fall. But Floyd and Cameron both did.
As Cameron tried to slip behind his teammate and avoid a collision on Jeff Conine's fly ball in the alley, the center fielder's left shoulder struck Floyd's left hip, sending both players to the ground. Floyd hung on to make the catch. Floyd and Cameron both lay on the warning track, receiving attention from trainers Scott Lawrenson and Mike Herbst, respectively. And if ever there were a symbol of the Mets' seemingly perpetual misfortune, this scene was it.
"I thought they both may be out of the game," Art Howe said. "They're two pretty good-sized men hitting each other."
Cameron, who initially was kneeling on the track, then sat upright as Herbst treated him, rose before Floyd and stayed in the game with a bruise. Floyd, grimacing while on his back as Lawrenson bent his left knee, finally got up and walked through an exit in the left-field corner. Shane Spencer replaced Floyd in left.
"God, you crushed me," Cameron told Floyd as the latter left the field.
Said Cameron: "It's like getting hit by a car."
"I didn't know what's hurting more - the ankle rolling over or my quad or my hip flexor," Floyd said.
Floyd, who suffered a deep bruise by the hip, doubted he would play in today's series finale and hoped he could return by tomorrow's series opener in Philadelphia, though that remains questionable.
At the very least, Floyd looks to have staved off another DL stint and a trip two hours north on I-95 to Port St. Lucie, which he had referred to as "that hole," creating a stir among local residents. Floyd spent nearly five weeks there after straining his right quadriceps in April.
"I wasn't going there," Floyd said. "I was going AWOL."
Floyd couldn't explain all his misfortune with injuries, insisting he's been an undeserving, solid citizen who is "not robbing people by day."
Said Floyd: "I haven't done anything. I swear to you I haven't."
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The way Paul Wilson sees it, a little precaution can go a long way.
That's why he's skipping his next start to rest a slightly strained right groin muscle.
"Hopefully, I'll miss one start and be done with it," he said.
The Reds called up Joe Valentine from Triple-A Louisville, and he'll start today against the Montreal Expos. That the Reds brought up Valentine indicates they think this is a short-term thing.
Valentine, a 24-year-old right-hander, will go to the bullpen after today's start. To make room for him, the Reds optioned Ryan Wagner to Louisville.
Wagner, 21, a right-hander, is 2-1 with a 6.75 ERA. He has allowed 37 baserunners in 14 2/3 innings.
Wilson slightly tweaked his groin Tuesday when he pitched seven innings to beat the Florida Marlins 5-2. The game was played in a steady downpour.
"I don't know if I slipped or what," Wilson said. "I was being pretty guarded because it was so wet. I felt a twinge, then it got tight."
It was tighter the next day.
"It's been feeling better every day since," Wilson said. "I'm encouraged by that."
But with a groin problem, the Reds will err on the side of caution.
"You don't want to take chances," Reds trainer Mark Mann said. "These things can linger."
If Wilson is out longer than one start, it will be a blow to the Reds. He is 7-0 with a 3.34 ERA, and the team has won nine of his 10 starts.
The Reds probably will put Wilson on the back end of the rotation when he returns; that would give him nine days between starts.
WHY VALENTINE? Valentine's numbers - he was 2-2 with a 6.21 ERA at Louisville - would not seem to merit a promotion.
But he has been used in a different role this year. Valentine is a closer by trade but has been used as a starter in an effort to develop his other pitches, which complement a mid-90s fastball.
"All the reports have been good," Reds manager Dave Miley said.
WAGNER SURPRISED: Wagner was not expecting to be the one sent down.
"I was surprised," he said. "I thought I was throwing well lately. But it's not my decision."
Part of the reason for his demotion is Wagner has options. Brian Reith (0-1, 6.88 ERA) doesn't.
But the Reds are convinced this is the best thing for Wagner.
"He needs regular work," Miley said. "He wasn't getting it here."
Said Wagner: "I want to pitch. I know I've got the stuff to do the job. I'll go down there and try to get more consistent."
KEARNS OUT: Austin Kearns was out of the starting lineup Saturday night and won't play today because of an open sore on his right thumb.
"It's basically a hole in my thumb," Kearns said.
Kearns was jammed on a pitch a few days ago, and the sore spot broke open.
"We've tried a number of different things," Mann said. "The only thing that's going to help it is rest."
Kearns could return Monday when the Reds open a three-game series in Florida.
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In the first inning last night, Cliff Floyd thought back to the baseball Colorado's Jeromy Burnitz hit between himself and Mike Cameron at Shea last weekend, and told himself, "This one ain't going to drop."
It didn't fall. But Floyd and Cameron both did.
As Cameron tried to slip behind his teammate and avoid a collision on Jeff Conine's fly ball in the alley, the center fielder's left shoulder struck Floyd's left hip, sending both players to the ground. Floyd hung on to make the catch. Floyd and Cameron both lay on the warning track, receiving attention from trainers Scott Lawrenson and Mike Herbst, respectively. And if ever there were a symbol of the Mets' seemingly perpetual misfortune, this scene was it.
"I thought they both may be out of the game," Art Howe said. "They're two pretty good-sized men hitting each other."
Cameron, who initially was kneeling on the track, then sat upright as Herbst treated him, rose before Floyd and stayed in the game with a bruise. Floyd, grimacing while on his back as Lawrenson bent his left knee, finally got up and walked through an exit in the left-field corner. Shane Spencer replaced Floyd in left.
"God, you crushed me," Cameron told Floyd as the latter left the field.
Said Cameron: "It's like getting hit by a car."
"I didn't know what's hurting more - the ankle rolling over or my quad or my hip flexor," Floyd said.
Floyd, who suffered a deep bruise by the hip, doubted he would play in today's series finale and hoped he could return by tomorrow's series opener in Philadelphia, though that remains questionable.
At the very least, Floyd looks to have staved off another DL stint and a trip two hours north on I-95 to Port St. Lucie, which he had referred to as "that hole," creating a stir among local residents. Floyd spent nearly five weeks there after straining his right quadriceps in April.
"I wasn't going there," Floyd said. "I was going AWOL."
Floyd couldn't explain all his misfortune with injuries, insisting he's been an undeserving, solid citizen who is "not robbing people by day."
Said Floyd: "I haven't done anything. I swear to you I haven't."
========
The way Paul Wilson sees it, a little precaution can go a long way.
That's why he's skipping his next start to rest a slightly strained right groin muscle.
"Hopefully, I'll miss one start and be done with it," he said.
The Reds called up Joe Valentine from Triple-A Louisville, and he'll start today against the Montreal Expos. That the Reds brought up Valentine indicates they think this is a short-term thing.
Valentine, a 24-year-old right-hander, will go to the bullpen after today's start. To make room for him, the Reds optioned Ryan Wagner to Louisville.
Wagner, 21, a right-hander, is 2-1 with a 6.75 ERA. He has allowed 37 baserunners in 14 2/3 innings.
Wilson slightly tweaked his groin Tuesday when he pitched seven innings to beat the Florida Marlins 5-2. The game was played in a steady downpour.
"I don't know if I slipped or what," Wilson said. "I was being pretty guarded because it was so wet. I felt a twinge, then it got tight."
It was tighter the next day.
"It's been feeling better every day since," Wilson said. "I'm encouraged by that."
But with a groin problem, the Reds will err on the side of caution.
"You don't want to take chances," Reds trainer Mark Mann said. "These things can linger."
If Wilson is out longer than one start, it will be a blow to the Reds. He is 7-0 with a 3.34 ERA, and the team has won nine of his 10 starts.
The Reds probably will put Wilson on the back end of the rotation when he returns; that would give him nine days between starts.
WHY VALENTINE? Valentine's numbers - he was 2-2 with a 6.21 ERA at Louisville - would not seem to merit a promotion.
But he has been used in a different role this year. Valentine is a closer by trade but has been used as a starter in an effort to develop his other pitches, which complement a mid-90s fastball.
"All the reports have been good," Reds manager Dave Miley said.
WAGNER SURPRISED: Wagner was not expecting to be the one sent down.
"I was surprised," he said. "I thought I was throwing well lately. But it's not my decision."
Part of the reason for his demotion is Wagner has options. Brian Reith (0-1, 6.88 ERA) doesn't.
But the Reds are convinced this is the best thing for Wagner.
"He needs regular work," Miley said. "He wasn't getting it here."
Said Wagner: "I want to pitch. I know I've got the stuff to do the job. I'll go down there and try to get more consistent."
KEARNS OUT: Austin Kearns was out of the starting lineup Saturday night and won't play today because of an open sore on his right thumb.
"It's basically a hole in my thumb," Kearns said.
Kearns was jammed on a pitch a few days ago, and the sore spot broke open.
"We've tried a number of different things," Mann said. "The only thing that's going to help it is rest."
Kearns could return Monday when the Reds open a three-game series in Florida.
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