Pitching recap - Tuesday night games

A follow-up on the night's best pitching matchups:

FLA 3 F
CIN 5
L: Hendrickson (5-2, 3.91) W: Volquez (6-1, 1.12)
...Eddie V gave up 1 run in the win, and his ERA rises .06!

NYY 1 F
TB 2 (11)
No dec.: Wang (6-1, 2.90) No dec.: TB: Jackson (2-3, 3.47)
...Both went 7, only run earned was Wang's. Both deserved to win, but neither got run support.

WSH 3 F
NYM 6
L: Lannan (3-4, 3.74) W: Maine (5-2, 2.81)
...Maine looked dominant & notches his 5th win. Lannan gave up 12 H, 4 ER in 6 IP.

SEA 2 F
TEX 5
L: Hernandez (2-4, 3.38) No dec.: Gabbard (1-0, 2.12)
...Both reached the 6th, both give up 2 earned.

CWS 0 F
LAA 2
No dec.: Danks (3-3, 2.74) No dec.: Weaver (2-5, 4.86)
...Danks reached the 7th, Weaver completed the 7th. Neither gave up a run.

Notables:

-Randy Johnson notched career win No. 287 as the D'backs beat Colorado, 8-4.

No, I'm 'Little Pedro'

Welcome late, ESPN, to the "name a Reds pitcher 'Little Pedro' party." Maybe you reserved this story until now for the fact that sometimes it's better to be the last one dishing out a nickname than it is to be the early bird eating the wrong worm. Johnny Cueto is that worm. He started off hot in spring training and then again in his first start against Arizona, but as the worm turns so did Cueto, and now he's stuggling to keep runs off the board (2-4, 5.91).

Edinson Volquez inherits Cueto's status as "The Next Pedro Martinez," according to ESPN. Coming off a less-than-impressive 2007 with the Texas Rangers, Volquez was dealt to Cincinnati for Josh Hamilton. Considered a top prospect who now carried baggage, some wondered whether Volquez would be able to turn things around at the Major League Level. Cueto's record was flawless because he'd never pitched a game in the big leagues before. That, coupled with Cueto's dominant spring left many to believe he was suddenly the better pitcher, let alone prospect. Things have changed. Now, through one-quarter of the year, Volquez inherits the monicker "staff ace." He enters tonight's game with Washington as the far better Reds pitching phenom, posting a 5-1 record with a 1.06 ERA. Volquez is striking out well over a batter an inning and has served up just one home run while Cueto's coughed up nine.

ESPN, which typically jumps the gun with its "Next" campaign, actually waited on this one. Now they're taking Cueto's nickname and pasting it on Volquez. While everyone else was diving in to relate one diminutive Dominican to his idol, ESPN waited back and delivered a change-up for a clean single through the box. Johnny C is no Eddie V. Not right now, anyway.

Tuesday's top tossers

Today's most intriguing pitching matchups:

FLA: Hendrickson (5-1, 3.86)
vs. CIN: Volquez (5-1, 1.06)
*Journeyman vs. phemon is this battle for win number six.

NYY: Wang (6-1, 3.12)
vs. TB: Jackson (2-3, 4.04)
*The top pitcher in the AL against the hot & cold former prospect.

WSH: Lannan (3-3, 3.40)
vs. NYM: Maine (4-2, 3.00)
*Is Lannan for real? Maine certainly seems to be.

SEA: Hernandez (2-3, 3.42)
vs. TEX: Gabbard (1-0, 1.85)
*Gabbard hasn't allowed a run in his last two (short) starts

CWS: Danks (3-3, 3.18)
vs. LAA: Weaver (2-5, 5.59)
*Weaver tries to right the ship like last year. Danks staying alfoat.

Morgan En(d)sberg?

What happened to Morgan Ensberg? The former Houston Astros 3rd baseman got off to a solid major league start in 2003 (.291 avg., 25 HR in 385 AB), and followed that up with a dynamic '05 (.283 avg., 36 HR, 101 RBI). Since then the California native's been in serious decline, including mustering just a .224 average with his hometown San Diego Padres at the end of last season.

Now that he's with the Yankees and Alex Rodriguez is out, Ensberg has been getting the lion's share at third base. After hitting just .222 through 19 games, however, the Yankees made an unlikely move on Monday night. Alberto Gonzalez, who is at most a middle-infield utilityman, got the start at 3rd instead.

Fantasy Impact: Ensberg's diminished value continues to erode. He's the kind of sleeper that's gifted enough for comeback player of the year potential, but not if he's losing at bats to a middle infielder.

Peace, Pie

It sounds like the Cubs' signing of recently released Jim Edmonds is imminent. Various media are reporting that the former Padre will be a Cub as soon as he clears waivers on Wednesday.

With Felix Pie getting optioned back to Triple-A you have to wonder if his time at Wrigley Field is over. The Cubs are in a playoff race, and with the addition of Edmonds they have five outfielders. Trade rumors of Pie leaving the organization for pitching will begin to swirl.

Kershaw pounded, may still get call

Clayton Kershaw seems to take a loss every time he climbs a Double-A mound. On Monday it was actually his fault. Typically plagued by poor run support, the 20-year-old Dodger farmhand struggled for the first time all year in the worst outing of his season to date, but it was the fact that Kershaw is back in the Double-A rotation that is most telling about his immediate future.

The Dodgers are rumored to consider starting Kershaw this coming Saturday. Kershaw had been dropped out of the Double-A rotation recently in order to limit his innings and keep the lefty flamethrower fresh for a potential late-season call-up. The fact that Kershaw was suddenly working Monday night, exactly five days before the Dodgers might need him at the major league level, suggests that Kershaw's first start in the big leagues may be imminent.

Then again, Dodgers manager Joe Torre said they might use him both out of the bullpen and then again in the rotation in Double-A to keep Kershaw fresh yet prepared for a later call-up. This is high drama.

Money bawl

That flushing sound is the 2008 Detroit Tigers season going down the toilet. Or is it that Flushing sound, as in Flushing, NY, the home of Shea Stadium and the many airplanes that whir overhead? It could be both. In last place in the American League Central heading into Tuesday play, the high-priced Tigers seem to have something in common with the 1992 Mets: they were retooled to win, but they're going down the drain.

After a 77-84 campaign in 1991 and tiring of a lineup made up of Rick Cerone, Kevin Elster, Vince Coleman and Hubie Brooks, the Mets bought what they though could win them the National League East. Enter six new starting position players in 1992: Todd Hundley, Willie Randolph, Dick Schofield, Eddie Murray, Darryl Boston and Bobby Bonilla. The Mets also brought in Bret Saberhagen to solidify the starting rotation. Many considered New York as talented as any team in baseball until they promptly imploded, losing 90 games to wind up back in 5th place just like the year before.

The Tigers made similar changes to their roster for 2008. Slugging 3rd baseman Miguel Cabrera was to become the anchor of the left side of the infield along with newly-acquired shortstop Edgar Renteria. Jacque Jones, brought in to stop what had been a revolving door of misfits in left, would be counted on as a steady offensive contributor. Dontrelle Willis, pried away from Florida in the Cabrera deal, was expected to regain his unorthodox form as one of the top lefties in baseball. It hasn't happened.

Cabrera's hitting .252, almost 60 points below his career average. Renteria's on base percentage is a paltry .295. Jones hit .152 and was cut. Willis is struggling to get healthy, having thrown just five innings this season. It's not just the newcomers' fault. Plenty of old hands like Gary Sheffield (.208 avg.) and Nate Robertson (1-4, 6.64 ERA) share the blame. But if the terrible Tigers are to continue down this miserable path, it is the big names they brought in who will feel the hottest white rays of a fading spotlight. Detroit is in the American League Central toilet, caught in a downward spiral while clunkers like Kansas City and Minnesota remain buoyantly optimistic for the long summer ahead.

Statistically speaking, the Tigers are more than likely to turn this around, but if it is history that serves as our guide then even the talented 1993 Mets -- the all-too-similar remnants of that '92 purchase party -- will tell you it doesn't always work out. Another year removed from trying to buy a championship New York took another step in the wrong direction, slumping to 103 losses and a last-place NL East finish, even with the addition of a talented, young Jeff Kent to the lineup. Thanks to those low flyovers in Flushing Meadows some of the booing din of Mets fans' was washed out below. Here's hoping there's an airport near Comerica.

Amazing & Ordinary

Cleveland 2nd baseman Asdrubal Cabrera turned an unassisted triple play against Toronto Monday night. Take a look.

Pretty good, considering it's only the 14th unassisted triple play in MLB history. That's rare company to be in, but then again as a hitter Cabrera made four outs for the Blue Jays, going 0-4 with a strikeout as Toronto won the game, 3-0. Cabrera is batting just .190 for the season. There are plenty of 2nd baseman that can do that.

Adenhart hearts W

W is for win, and therefore Nick Adenhart is for W's. The Angels rookie picked up the first of his career Monday night at the "Big A," which is a nickname for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's stadium, not Adenhart. Maybe they should call him "Big A," too. Not because of his long, lanky stature, but because of his ability to give up the big inning. Adenhart didn't win this one because he pitched well. He won because his team hit Mark Buerhle and the White Sox all over the yard.

Adenhart's statline on Monday night:

5.2 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, (9.00 ERA in 3 starts)

It looks like a losing pitcher's numbers, and yet somehow Adenhart gets the win. It wasn't his fault that he gets credited with a victory. Blame Vlad Guerrero for launching a 3-run moon shot in the 5th off Buehrle that made Adenhart the pitcher of record for one more inning. He couldn't get through the sixth, yielding to his bullpen after just 57 of his 98 pitches were thrown for strikes. This was an icky win.

Fantasy Impact: Much has been made of Adenhart's age. He's just 21 and now owns a career record of 1-0, but that's the nice part of the story. While he dominated in the minors this year to the tune of a .170 avg. against and 4-0 record, he walked nearly as many batters as he struck out. Adenhart's strikeout total of 19 in 31 minor league innings suggests he's not yet ready to dominate at that level let alone the big leagues. He's got time and room to grow, but with John Lackey getting set to come off the DL Adenhart's time at the major league level might be short for this year.