Notes: Foppert to start Tuesday
Brower released; Alfonzo's injury delays second transaction
06/12/2005 5:13 PM ET
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants on Sunday released right-handed reliever Jim Brower, called up right-handed starter Jesse Foppert and announced Foppert will start Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series.
Earlier Sunday, before the Giants lost, 5-3, to the Indians, Giants general manager Brian Sabean said the team would be making two moves, one involving a pitcher and the other a callup for a position player.
But in the eighth inning Sunday, third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo strained his left quad muscle while running out a grounder. Now the Giants won't make the second planned move until they see the results of an MRI scheduled Sunday evening for Alfonzo.
Trainer Stan Conte said Alfonzo's injury "appears significant," a phrase which generally indicates at least a few days without baseball. Conte also said a trip to the disabled list is possible for Alfonzo.
Manager Felipe Alou said the team still plans to call up one position player from the Minors before starting the series in Minneapolis.
For Brower, the timing of his outright release couldn't have been worse. Brower grew up in Minnesota, attended his home state's university and still keeps a home in a suburb of Minneapolis, and before he knew of his release spoke eagerly about pitching in front of his hometown fans.
But Brower's less-than-stellar numbers this year -- he was 2-1 with a 6.53 ERA through 32 games, with 15 walks in 30 1/3 innings pitched -- made him the odd man out as the Giants looked to bolster their starting rotation.
"We know he is better than [his ERA suggests]," Alou said. "It is one of those things where you need to start making the moves, and if you are not getting the job done, moves will be made."
"I didn't expect it to happen, but I knew the way were playing, things weren't going to stay as is," Brower said.
"I did all I could from my end, but the results weren't what I wanted."
Brower, a six-year Major League veteran who joined the Giants before the 2003 season, has been a workhorse for San Francisco, pitching long relief, short relief, closing and even making five spot starts for the team his first year here.
In 2004, he tied the franchise record by appearing in 89 games and went 7-7 with a 3.29 ERA.
"I'm not making any excuses," he said. "This year, I had trouble finding a groove. I struggled early, but the last month I felt good, but the fact is the results haven't shown."
For Foppert, the results have shown, at least in the Minors. After going 8-9 in 21 starts in his rookie campaign in 2003, Foppert underwent Tommy John surgery on Sept. 16 that year.
He recovered ahead of schedule and pitched one scoreless inning of relief in the 2004 season finale against the Dodgers. In nine games with Triple-A Fresno this year and one with Class A San Jose, Foppert was 4-1 with a 3.78 ERA.
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/...ent_id=1087129&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf
Brower released; Alfonzo's injury delays second transaction
06/12/2005 5:13 PM ET
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants on Sunday released right-handed reliever Jim Brower, called up right-handed starter Jesse Foppert and announced Foppert will start Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series.
Earlier Sunday, before the Giants lost, 5-3, to the Indians, Giants general manager Brian Sabean said the team would be making two moves, one involving a pitcher and the other a callup for a position player.
But in the eighth inning Sunday, third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo strained his left quad muscle while running out a grounder. Now the Giants won't make the second planned move until they see the results of an MRI scheduled Sunday evening for Alfonzo.
Trainer Stan Conte said Alfonzo's injury "appears significant," a phrase which generally indicates at least a few days without baseball. Conte also said a trip to the disabled list is possible for Alfonzo.
Manager Felipe Alou said the team still plans to call up one position player from the Minors before starting the series in Minneapolis.
For Brower, the timing of his outright release couldn't have been worse. Brower grew up in Minnesota, attended his home state's university and still keeps a home in a suburb of Minneapolis, and before he knew of his release spoke eagerly about pitching in front of his hometown fans.
But Brower's less-than-stellar numbers this year -- he was 2-1 with a 6.53 ERA through 32 games, with 15 walks in 30 1/3 innings pitched -- made him the odd man out as the Giants looked to bolster their starting rotation.
"We know he is better than [his ERA suggests]," Alou said. "It is one of those things where you need to start making the moves, and if you are not getting the job done, moves will be made."
"I didn't expect it to happen, but I knew the way were playing, things weren't going to stay as is," Brower said.
"I did all I could from my end, but the results weren't what I wanted."
Brower, a six-year Major League veteran who joined the Giants before the 2003 season, has been a workhorse for San Francisco, pitching long relief, short relief, closing and even making five spot starts for the team his first year here.
In 2004, he tied the franchise record by appearing in 89 games and went 7-7 with a 3.29 ERA.
"I'm not making any excuses," he said. "This year, I had trouble finding a groove. I struggled early, but the last month I felt good, but the fact is the results haven't shown."
For Foppert, the results have shown, at least in the Minors. After going 8-9 in 21 starts in his rookie campaign in 2003, Foppert underwent Tommy John surgery on Sept. 16 that year.
He recovered ahead of schedule and pitched one scoreless inning of relief in the 2004 season finale against the Dodgers. In nine games with Triple-A Fresno this year and one with Class A San Jose, Foppert was 4-1 with a 3.78 ERA.
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/...ent_id=1087129&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf
