Friday Returns
By Editorial Staff
Several teams will welcome back starters tonight as teams prepare for weekend series.
Third baseman Ty Wigginton will rejoin the Colorado Rockies tonight when they host the San Diego Padres. Wigginton will move right back into the Rockies starting lineup.
Wigginton’s replacements at third, Jose Lopez and Ian Stewart, have been downright awful. Lopez has only managed a .155 average, but he’s still been the better of the two. Stewart has been able to reach a new level of futility, only hitting in 3 of his 47 at bats this season.
While Wigginton’s only contributed a line of .233/.309/.383, he looks like Albert Pujols compared to the others.
Another third baseman came off the DL Friday, Scott Rolen of the Cincinnati Reds. Rolen went to the DL hoping to get his stiff neck and shoulder back to good before returning.
The Reds have been solid offensively without Rolen, coming into Friday night’s game ranked 2nd in the majors in runs scored.
While the Phillies have their share of big names, one of their more underrated starters returns this weekend. Catcher Carlos Ruiz has recovered from his lower back problems and joins the team just in time to take fellow backstop Brian Schneider’s roster spot. Schneider hit the DL yesterday with a left hamstring strain.
Ruiz is known for his solid defense behind the plate. While his stats aren’t spectacular, Ruiz has a knack for coming up big in clutch situations.
Finally, the Twins have activated slugger Delmon Young. Young, sidelined with a strained oblique, was batting .228 before landing on the disabled list.
Minnesota could certainly use any help they can get at this point. The club has been especially offensive on offense, coming in last in the league in runs scored and at the bottom in several other team hitting categories.