5/4 Transactions

- Toronto placed starting pitcher Enrique Sojo on the 15-day disabled list today due to a stiff groin.

Sojo has been a strong pitcher since his promotion into the majors back in Season 8. He has posted a 3.70, 4.61, and 3.55 ERA in the past three seasons while holding opponents to .210, .278. and .239 batting average respectively.

Sojo was off to a slow start this season, posting a 7.25 ERA and allowing opponents to bat .308.

"I could tell something was wrong since the beginning of the season," Sojo said. "I wasn't feeling like myself... my groin wasn't right, but I thought I could battle through it."

Toronto called up AAA reliever D'Angelo Parra to replace Sojo on the roster.

5/3 Transactions

Transactions for 5/3:

- Chicago Maulers released relief pitcher Jeromy Steinbach after an altercation with owner "sharkyaz" after his dismal performance in the morning's game.

"We need someone who is going to stop blaming his issues on everyone else but himself," owner "sharkyaz" commented. "I'm sick and tired of his lip and his horrible performance. It's like any business... if he's not performing, and hasn't been performing, it's time for a change."

After the game, AAA reliever Benjamin Osborne was promoted to the majors to replace Steinbach.

- Anaheim placed reliever Alex Limon on waivers.

- Hutington signed free agent shortstop Victor McDowell.

- Huntington placed center fielder Archie Griffin on the 15-day disabled list.

5/2 Transactions

Transactions for 5/2:

- Dover Destroyers reinstate Reginald Fick from the inactive list. Fick was promoted to the majors.

- Jorge Ozuna claimed off of waivers by the Anaheim Rangers from Houston.

- El Paso placed Ugueth Tarasco on the 15-day DL. To replace him, the Drug Mules called up Alex Ramirez from AAA.

- Monterrey signed International Free Agent first baseman R.J. Espinosa to a minor league contract with a $50,000 signing bonus.

- Washington D.C. signed free agent catcher Andre Musial to a one-year, prorated $1,927,901 contract.

- Pawtucket signed International Free Agent pitcher Oswaldo Nunez to a minor league contract with a $1,600,000 signing bonus.

TOP 5 INDIVIDUAL PITCHING LEADERS 5/2

WINS
1) Robert Gil - Philadelphia (7)

Hardball Dynasty's

Robert Gil

2) Everett Knight - Arizona (5)
3) Archie Hines - Albuquerque (5)
4) Jim Barker - Arizona (5)
5) Erick Walters - Dover (5)


STRIKEOUTS
1) Robert Gil - Philadelphia (59)

Hardball Dynasty's

Robert Gil

2) Gene Stockton - Hartford (55)
3) Juan Montero - Salem (47)
4) Anthony George - Philadelphia (46)
5) Alex Adkinson - Philadelphia (46)


ERA
1) Gene Stockton - Hartford (1.15)

Hardball Dynasty's

Gene Stockton

2) Yamid Pena - Wichita (1.46)
3) Alan Locko - Wichita (1.53)
4) Don Aoki - Houston (1.64)
5) Valerio Ramirez - Kansas City (1.90)


SAVES
1) Gary Koch - Arizona (11)

Hardball Dynasty's

Gary Koch

2) Micah Smith - Hartford (10)
3) Gordon Richardson - Houston (10)
4) Al Johnson - New York (10)
5) Brady Moss - Santa Fe (9)


OPPONENT AVERAGE
1) Terrence Delaney - Las Vegas (.150)

Hardball Dynasty's

Terrence Delaney

2) Gene Stockton - Hartford (.167)
3) Al Sinclair - Chicago K (.186)
4) Yamid Pena - Wichita (.187)
4) Gerald Nation - Arizona (.197)

TOP 5 INDIVIDUAL BATTING LEADERS 5/2

HOME RUNS

1) Heathcliff McBride - Norfolk (17)

Hardball Dynasty's

Heathcliff McBride

2) D.T. Wagner - New York (17)
3) Corey Brush - Norfolk (16)
4) Grant Bradley - Dover (15)
5) Freddy Rollins - Nashville (15)


BATTING AVERAGE
1) Julian Castro - New York (.429)

Hardball Dynasty's

Julian Castro

2) Reagan Walker - Philadelphia (.398)
3) John Keeler - St. Louis (.389)
4) Valerio Calderon - Albuquerque (.387)
5) Freddy Finley - Las Vegas (.381)


RUNS
1) Valerio Calderon - Albuquerque (42)

Hardball Dynasty's

Valerio Calderon

2) D.T. Wagner - New York (40)
3) Bruce Dickens - Dover (39)
4) Corey Brush - Norfolk (39)
5) Brad Freeman - Philadelphia (38)


RBI
1) D.T. Wagner - New York (45)

Hardball Dynasty's

D.T. Wagner

2) Felipe Villafuerte - Norfolk (39)
3) Corey Brush - Norfolk (38)
4) Grant Bradley - Dover (37)
5) Freddy Rollins - Nashville (37)


STOLEN BASES
1) Craig Maduro - Pawtucket (30)

Hardball Dynasty's

Craig Maduro

2) Tito Aoki - Cincinnati Chili (23)
3) Chris Pedersen - Huntington (22)
4) Hipolito Rodriguez - Pawtucket (21)
5) Keith Ratliff - Monterrey (16)

Rumor Mill

Outburquerque? - It is believed that the Alburquerque Apaches have already decided to pack up for the season and look towards the next. My inside sources tell me that most of their team is on the block and that the team is looking for young starting pitching in return.

"The Apaches have had a very successful existence, having had winning seasons in seven out of the last eleven seasons," my source indicated. "They're playing just under .500 ball, so I wouldn't expect drastic changes just yet."

What owner "thedudeno7" will do remains to be seen.

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey - Rumor has it that the #1 prospect in the Chicago Maulers organization is on the trading block. Fonzie James apparently is log jammed at the LF position in the Maulers organization behind Spud Daly.

"We are deep at the left field position, and we feel that there are other needs within our organization that we need to take a look at," Maulers owner "sharkyaz" claims. "We are neither confirming or denying that James is on the block... but he really is..."

Take my money... PLEASE! - It's rumored that the Oklahoma City Cowboys are dangling Brandon Epstein, Emmanuel Valdes, and Cookie Rosado in an effort to get top tier young prospects.

"I'm told that the Cowboys are looking to take younger prospects that, in the long run, will ensure long-term success for the club," my source told me. "They're looking to lessen their payroll in order to get younger as well as go after higher paid free agents as they look towards next season."

5/1 Transactions

The Dover Destroyers claimed Ernie Mitchell off of waivers today from Pawtucket.

"We've been disapointed with the offensive output of our right field position all season," says owner "Mike999". "Mitchell still has some juice left in him, even at 34 years old."

OTHER TRANSACTIONS
Philadelphia removed Scooter Brock from the 15-day DL.

Oklahoma City removed Brandon Epstein from the 15-day DL.

Houston signed international free agent second baseman Cristobal Beltre.

Pawtucket promoted Dude Steele and Donnie Robinson from AAA to the big league club.