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The Giants gave us a night off from Barry Bonds Watch 2007 so we could catch Tom Glavine’s 300th (Congrats Tom). But more important to [tag]Chicago Cubs[/tag] fans, than their loss to the Mets, is the fact the [tag]Alfonso Soriano[/tag] came up lame trying to get to third from first last night. Early reports give Soriano owners the bad news of 2-4 weeks out due to the injury. It’s the second time this season Soriano has missed time due to a leg injury.

Rob, over at The Cub Reporter, has some interesting scenarios as to how the Cubs should handle this injury to Soriano.

*** UPDATE ***
Possible Soriano Replacements [Roto Authority]
Losing Soriano [Baseball Musings]

In an interview, this morning, on 790 The Zone’s Mayhem in the AM show, [tag]Chipper Jones[/tag] stated that he was at least a few weeks away from returning from the disabled list. Jones, who is eligible to come off the DL this Friday, hasn’t even been cleared to work out yet.

[tag]Philadelphia Phillies[/tag] closer, [tag]Tom Gordon[/tag], has left the team and returned to Philadelphia to get his right shoulder checked out. While he’s gone, the Phillies could use any of three guys to close out games. The candidates are [tag]Brett Myers[/tag], [tag]Antonio Alfonseca[/tag] and [tag]Geoff Geary[/tag]. Charlie Manuel has not named a new closer yet, he has only stated that Gordon would be away from the team throughout their next series in San Francisco.

The popular vote is probably on Myers taking over and that may be the way to go. Since becoming a reliever he’s got a 13:3 K:BB ratio, but he’s giving up a good number of hits… not the best trait in your closer. Geary’s k:BB is 12:7 and he’s giving up less hits per IP than Myers. Alfonseca might have been the front runner until he got touched up in Atlanta by an Andruw Jones walkoff homer. Plus Alfonseca’s k:bb is a horrid 4:6.

Keep an eye on how Manuel handles the bullpen this weekend. If Gordon goes on the DL, this weekend may tell us which one of these three guys is getting the job.

*** UPDATE *** Gordon was placed on the 15 DL and is eligible for a mid May return. Most people think he won’t have a closers job to come back to if Myers flourishes over the next few weeks.

[tag]Atlanta Braves[/tag] closer, [tag]Bob Wickman[/tag], has been placed on the 15 day disabled list with tendinitis in his upper right back.

“Rafael Soriano likely will fill in as closer, along with Mike Gonzalez, though manager Bobby Cox said he would play it by feel.”

It’s time to go grab Soriano and look at Gonzalez as well. As it stands right now, it’s only 15 days of save opportunities for the two of them, but remember, Wickman is 38. If this stint on the DL lasts longer, you’ll want some coverage.

For those of you who have had [tag]Chone Figgins[/tag] stashed on your DL, waiting patiently while your team flounders in the stolen base category, I’ve got good news for you. Figgins was activated off the DL Sunday after the Angels game against the White Sox and will be with the team as it starts its series in Kansas City.

I can feel the collective smiles of Figgins owners everywhere. Run Chone Run!!!

[tag]Atlanta Braves[/tag] reliever, [tag]Mike Gonzalez[/tag], was scheduled to have an MRI on his sore elbow this morning. No news out of Braves camp as to how that went, but Bobby Cox says he’s definitely resting Gonzo tonight against the Cubs. As of right now, nobody’s worried that this is related to elbow tendinitis that sidelined Gonzalez late last year.

Sit Gonzalez tonight, and keep an eye on this situation before deciding to put him back into your lineup.

*** Update *** - An MRI found inflammation, but no structural damage. Gonzalez plans to take a few more days and see if he’s ready to pitch after that.

With the chances of Indians starting catcher, [tag]Victor Martinez[/tag], growing that he’ll be placed on the DL, [tag]Kelly Shoppach[/tag] will become the catching answer in Cleveland for the duration of Martinez’ injury. But could that stay behind the plate be longer for Shoppach?

“Shoppach has more power, is better defensively, and has a much better arm than Martinez. He’ll never hit for average, but if the Indians want to keep Martinez at 1B to protect his legs then this could be a major development.”

If you plan on stashing Shoppach, in anticipation he’ll remain behind the plate once Martinex returns, beware that most projections show him as a one category guy.

PECOTA sees a .230/.308/.420 line from Shoppach, with 10 HR in 234 ABs. So he could threaten 20 bombs if he got 400 ABs. He’d be a one-category guy, but still. ZiPSs chimes in at .219/.291/.392 with 13 HR in 324 ABs.