Diamondbacks
Manager Kirk Gibson said he has to treat the Tigers like any other club his team is facing, but he did admit to having a “soft spot” in his heart for his former team. Gibson played for the Tigers in 1979-87 and again in 1993-95. He also was a television analyst for the Tigers and later a bench coach under former Tigers teammate Alan Trammell, who is his bench coach with the Diamondbacks. “They’re a good club, we know that,” Gibson told the Detroit Free Press. “They’re in first place. They’re loaded. I follow the Tigers because I was a Tiger fan growing up as a young boy. Still have season tickets there since about 1980. When we’re not in the playoffs and they are, I go to the games.”
Dodgers
Hanley Ramirez has become the symbol of a Dodgers team that suddenly finds itself in need of an injection, and not the kind doctors have twice put into Ramirez’s AC joint. They look tired, the Los Angeles Times suggested. “Just one day,” Ramirez said quietly, “I’d like to play without pain.” More from the California paper: “If the Dodgers offense continues in this vein, even in the mediocre NL, their playoff hopes could eventually fall off. Despite ranking third in the league in runs scored, their bats have been wildly inconsistent. This is an offense that needs a burst of energy. This is an attack that needs another July jolt like last season.”
Giants
Manager Bruce Bochy on signing three-time All-Star 2B Dan Uggla to a minor league contract: “He’s excited and we are, too. He’ll get at-bats at Fresno and hopefully he can help us.” Uggla will cost the Giants only $500,000. The Braves are responsible for the $18 million he’s guaranteed over the rest of this season and next year. … Tim Lincecum earned his first career save.
Padres
Making his fifth major league start, Odrisamer Despaigne came within four outs of the first no-hitter in San Diego’s 46-year major league history. San Diego is the only active major league franchise without a no-hitter. Despaigne, a 27-year-old Cuban right-hander, signed as a minor league free agent on May 2. On the differences in scouting reports between Cuba and the United States, Despaigne told the New York Times: “The scouting reports are 10 times better than they were over there. If you’re able to execute, the scouting report will tell you exactly what you’ve got to do. That helps out a lot.” … Former Atlanta Brave RF Jeff Francoeur was called up by the Padres. The Padres are playing the Braves in Atlanta this weekend.
Rockies
LHP Boone Logan was placed on the DL with diverticulitis, a condition in which the inner lining of the intestine becomes inflamed or infected. … Reigning NL batting champion Michael Cuddyer (fractured left shoulder) is on target to return in mid-August.
Compiled by Rick Crotts from wire reports.
