Major leagues: July 2009 Archives

Corey Thurman noticed a dull ache in the palm of his right hand before he pitched July 3. He didn't want to alarm anyone. He wanted to play through the pain. He respects that trait in other players, so he didn't think much of it. He used a heating pad on his hand, swallowed some ibuprofen and -- as he would say later -- lasted seven innings on adrenaline.

He won. It would be his last victory of the month. Thurman hopes it won't be his last victory of the season.

The York Revolution starting pitcher and former Toronto Blue Jay will attempt to pitch again after undergoing a procedure at the Curtis National Hand Center in Baltimore last week. Diagnosed with a blood clot in the base of his right palm -- his pitching hand -- doctors determined the clot is not life-threatening or career threatening. It cannot, however, be removed from the ulnar artery without surgery.

Skipper Willie Upshaw had a trying first inning in his first game back as Bridgeport manager. Bridgeport starter Corey Lee threw exactly one pitch before leaving the game with an injury.

Upshaw (pictured above during his playing days in Toronto) is managing his first game for Bridgeport this season after Tommy John stepped down following Wednesday's game. John posted a two and a half year mark of 160-176 with Bridgeport, including a 33-37 last-place finish in the Liberty Division during the first half. Upshaw, meanwhile, has the best career winning percentage (.614) of any manager in league history. Upshaw compiled a 220-138 career record while managing the Fish from 1998-2000.

The Revs traded their onetime closer, Travis Hughes, to Calgary of the independent Golden League for future considerations or cash. If York does not receive a player, Calgary will complete the trade by sending cash to York. A former major leaguer, Hughes finished seven games for York this season. He went 1-2 with one save. He had a 5.93 ERA.

Lauded as a veteran presence in the bullpen upon his arrival, Hughes appeared in 24 games in the majors -- last appearing in the big leagues in 2006. He also pitched in Japan last season.

He looked solid during his first month with the team (six appearances, one earned run), but he suffered two outings in which he allowed four runs during June. Hughes suffered a hamstring injury in June. He tried to play through the injury, but he never looked the same. Obviously bothered by it when he pitched, York placed him on the disabled list. The Revs traded him after they activated him Tuesday.

The reason for trading Hughes is simple.

The Revs signed infielder Anthony Manuel today and placed center fielder Kennard Jones on the disabled list. Jones has nursed a tight hamstring in June, and he aggravated the injury last weekend in a series against the Somerset Patriots. He has been replaced in the lineup by Ryan Goleski and newly-acquired Carl Loadenthal.

The son of Mets skipper Jerry Manuel, Anthony has experience in the Mets system. But he has not played above Class A. He played just two games last season.

He started the season with the Newark Bears, batting .243 in 33 games. Manuel has actually improved greatly at the plate this season. He batted .333 in June (15 games), but his .184 average in May created a big hole. He played his last game for Newark on July 1. The Bears have had an incredible amount of player turnover and York has managed to sign two former Bears -- adding P.J. Rose last weekend.

One big benefit from the move will be added flexibility for York manager Chris Hoiles. Hoiles has been unable to sit Keoni DeRenne (sore hamstring) or Matt Rogelstad because of the lack of depth on the York bench in June.

Here's an interesting story from the New York Daily News about Atlantic League Executive Director Joe Klein and his attempt to land an up-and-coming Mariano Rivera in exchange for David Wells when Klein worked as the Detroit Tigers GM in 1995. The deal fell through after Yankees noticed a drastic improvement in Rivera's velocity. After resting a sore arm for two weeks, Rivera's velocity jumped from a top speed of 90 mph to 95-96 mph.

Talking to Klein at a recent Revs game, he said he was able to take a little piece of Tiger Stadium with him before the demolition of the old ballpark received final approval this year. One of Klein's former colleagues was able to snag a piece of Klein's old desk for him.

In other Atlantic League news: Former Cardinals slugger Jack Clark in a radio interview admits never being a fan of current Long Island Ducks manager Gary Carter.

Clark on Carter: "He wanted to be the one the whole game was about. ... "(H)e talked his way more into the Hall of Fame than deserving it."

The New York Times relays the story here.