Chicago White Sox
After losing to the Diamondbacks last week, manager Robin Ventura criticized his players. “It started from the first play of the game and continued on and it stunk, pretty much the whole thing,” Ventura told the Chicago Tribune. He suggested changes may be made soon. “I don’t know, they were just flat, couldn’t get anything going,” Ventura said. “Something is going to happen. I don’t know what yet, but something.” … OF Adam Eaton (strained right hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment last week with Triple-A Charlotte. Eaton was placed on the DL May 3.
Cleveland Indians
Is Cleveland big enough for Johnny Football and Tony Plush, the alter ego of Nyjer Morgan? … Nick Swisher stopped at a CVS store last week in St. Petersburg, Fla., and shelled out $50 for scissors, colored construction paper, glue, crayons and colored glitter. “I started making my (Mother’s Day) cards and next thing you know, guys are like, ‘Oh Swish, that’s a great idea!’ ” he told the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal. And before he knew it, a handful of his teammates joined him at a table in the corner of the visitor’s clubhouse, sharing glue and glitter while making large cards for their mothers and/or wives.
Detroit Tigers
RHP Anibal Sanchez (finger laceration) is scheduled to come off the DL to start today against Boston. … After being hit by Baltimore pitcher Bud Norris, Torii Hunter acknowledged that he got swept up by the emotion of the moment, and probably wasn’t going to charge the mound. “It’s like a pickup basketball game. There’s a foul and two guys argue,” he said. “There’s a lot of adrenalin going. Once you calm down and think about the situation… it doesn’t make sense. I’m too old for this stuff. I’ve got kids in college. I can’t be doing that.”
Kansas City Royals
Eric Hosmer gets off schneid with first home run. The 6-4, 225-pound first baseman hit 17 in 2013. … James Shields did not realize he had reached 1,500 career strikeouts. Catcher Salvador Perez popped to his feet behind the plate and demanded the ball. Shields raised his hands in utter confusion. “He was like, ‘What’s going on? This is a good ball. I like this ball,’ ” manager Ned Yost said, “ ‘and Salvy is making me throw the ball back in.’ ” Shields realized he reached that milestone when he looked at the scoreboard.
Minnesota Twins
GM Rob Antony said outfielder Josh Willingham, out since April 7 with a broken wrist, took early batting practice and could begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend. … Antony also said an MRI showed a re-aggravation of the wrist injury sustained by top prospect Byron Buxton late in spring training. Buxton will work out in Fort Myers, Fla., until the wrist feels better.
Compiled by Rick Crotts from wire reports.
