A's call up Minors' strikeout leader for Friday start

By Jane Lee / MLB.com | 08/02/12 2:24 PM ET

A's pitching prospect Dan Straily, who leads all of baseball in strikeouts, will be added to the A's roster on Thursday and make his big league debut on Friday night against the Blue Jays.

According to a baseball source, infielder Adam Rosales will also be recalled alongside Straily, who has 175 strikeouts in 138 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A this year, to go along with a 1.36 ERA while at the latter level.

Overall, Straily's combined numbers this year include an 8-6 record, 2.60 ERA and just 97 hits and 37 walks spanning 22 starts.

The 23-year-old right-hander, who was wanted by several teams who engaged in trade talks with the A's, will start Friday in place of lefty Travis Blackley, who will presumably resume a long-relief role in the bullpen.

It's not yet clear whose roster spot Straily will take, though it's likely righty reliever Jim Miller could be headed out, after giving up runs in three of his past five outings.

Rosales, meanwhile, is expected to take the roster spot of Brandon Hicks or Eric Sogard.

Looks like the A's have something going.

Brennaman's haircut to come after Friday's game

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | 08/02/12 4:13 PM ET

CINCINNATI --

Beyond a big series opener between the first-place Reds and second-place Pirates on Friday that will have ramifications on the balance of the National League Central race, there will be much anticipation about something that has nothing to with the game itself.

Reds fans, players, staff and Planet Earth will be watching as Reds broadcasting legend Marty Brennaman is expected to have his head shaved on the field following the 7:10 p.m. ET game.

Brennaman will be paying off on a pledge he made earlier this season that he would cut his longtime poofy-white hairstyle if the Reds broke off a 10-game winning streak. Cincinnati did just that with a victory on Sunday at Colorado, and Brennaman agreed to make good on his declaration and to lose his locks.

There is one caveat, however. Brennaman will only have his hair cut on the field if the Reds Community Fund reaches a fundraising goal of $20,000 for the event. If it's not reached, Brennaman will have his cut privately before the game. According to a Reds spokesman, the Reds Community Fund is close to reaching its pledge goal. To make a donation, go to reds.com/community.

If they don't reach that goal, I wouldn't be surprised if Brandon Phillips makes up the difference just for the hell of watching Brennaman get his on the field haircut.

Who has the best name in the Minor Leagues?

Who will follow in the footsteps of Seth Schwindenhammer, Rowdy Hardy, Dusty Napoleon, Will Startup and Houston Summers and capture this year's MiLB.com Moniker Madness title?

You decide.

http://www.milb.com/milb/fans/moniker_m ... kermadness

Former Red Sox starter Lowe on Boston's radar

By Austin Laymance / MLB.com | 08/02/12 8:00 PM ET

BOSTON --

Former Red Sox starter Derek Lowe was designated for assignment by the Indians on Wednesday. Cleveland has 10 days to either trade or release the right-hander.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine was asked before Thursday's game against the Twins if Lowe is on the club's radar.

"If he's available and someone might think he can help our situation, I'll bet you he's being talked about and evaluated," Valentine said.

Lowe, 39, pitched for the Red Sox for eight seasons and helped the club to a World Series championship in 2004, his final year in Boston. Since then, he's bounced around between the Dodgers, Braves and Indians. Lowe was 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA in 21 starts this season.

"I haven't seen him pitch for a little while," Valentine said.

On Thursday, Lowe appeared on Boston sports radio station 98.5 and admitted that the Red Sox were at the top of his list.

With starter Josh Beckett questionable to make his next start Sunday (back spasms) and Aaron Cook struggling of late, Lowe could make some sense for the Sox.

Well, if the Bosox are serious, I'm asking for Junichi Tazawa.

There was a heckaof a girls fast pitch softball pitcher from West Salem Northwestern High School, maybe 10 yrs ago by the name of "Dusty Cover"

"Dusty Cover"............I like it!

Dusty Cover?

Duck and Cover.

I know someone cares about this guy. I forget who. Joe?


• Edward Salcedo, 3b, Braves: Salcedo was a league-average performer in the first half, batting .262/.306/.413 in the high Class A Carolina League, but the second half has not been kind to the 20-year-old. This week he struck out in more than half of his at-bats, including six straight. He mustered just three hits, though two were doubles, to sink his second half line to .224/.302/.353.

Salcedo was like "son of Manny" to Kenm

I've been checking in on Salcedo daily, Civ.

Salcedo is one of my favorite minor leaguers. He's only 20 years old and between the time we "signed" him, through the age fiasco, and since the Braves actually did sign him, he lost nearly 2 1/2 years of professional baseball experience.

He's still performing ok offensively and he appears to have improved on his defense although he is still making too many errors for a kid that was supposed to have "soft" hands. Last season, Salcedo committed over 40 errors. So far this season, he's commited 28.

2012 is the start of Salcedo's first full season with the Hillcats. He's hanging in there offensively although his defense is suspect. However, in a recent article that I read from the AJC, Salcedo makes the spectacular plays but blows a lot of the routine plays. Most of his errors are throwing errors, not fielding errors. If he improves his footwork, he should improve on his throwing.

Moving up rapidly on my list of favorite minor league players will be Jorge Soler and Yasiel Puig.

Also mine Seagull.

I kept in touch with Salcedo ever since we "signed" him and all through the years he was not permitted to play any professional baseball either in America or in the Dominican academies. The bulk of his experience the 2 1/2 years he was out of baseball was playing with retired major league veterans in pick up leagues.

I still follow his career on a daily basis.