PHILLIES
Amaro apologizes to fans
NEW YORK -- Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. apologized Tuesday for comments critical of the team's fans, citing a poor choice of words in explaining the organization's conservative process with its top minor-league pitching prospects.
In an interview with CSNPhilly.com, Amaro said in response to a question about fans who want the Phillies to more aggressively promote their prospects: "They don't understand the game. They don't understand the process.
"There's a process," he continued. "And then they b---- and complain because we don't have a plan. There's a plan in place and we're sticking with the plan. We can't do what's best for the fan. We have to do what's best for the organization so the fan can reap the benefit of it later on. That's the truth."
Amaro apologized for the comments about fans while speaking Tuesday night before the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field.
"I'm a fan myself, and I understand the passion and the knowledge that our fans have for our game and the other major sports and all the sports in Philly," he said. "The comments weren't meant to disparage our fans by any stretch of the imagination. I probably used my words incorrectly or poorly. So I want to apologize for that."
He added: "Our job is to try to make sure that the fans love this club for a long time. We have to do what we can to put our team in a position for the fans to enjoy it."
The words from the much-maligned GM incited a firestorm on social media. The Phillies, in the first year of their roster rebuilding, are taking it slowly with their prospects, including 21-year-old right-handers Aaron Nola and Zach Eflin, both experiencing success with Class AA Reading.
"I'm as excited about seeing them in the big leagues as anybody else," Amaro said. "But there's a process they have to go through. There's a process and a plan in place. I think that was more the point. I understand why the fans would want [to see them] because we're not having a ton of success at the major-league level right now. But I think it's incumbent upon the organization to make sure we do it at the right time and do it with the right plan in place."
CARDINALS
Gonzales out with injury
ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals pitching prospect Marco Gonzales won't throw for about three weeks because of a shoulder injury.
St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday an MRI showed the 23-year-old left-hander has an impingement. Gonzales is on the roster of Class AAA Memphis, and he skipped a start in late April.
Mozeliak says Gonzales will be re-evaluated in a week to 10 days.
Selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2013 amateur draft, Gonzales was among the spring-training contenders for the fifth starting.
Gonzales was 4-2 with a 4.19 ERA in five starts for St. Louis last year and pitched in relief in the postseason. He is 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in six minor league starts this year.
MARLINS
Coaches on the move
PITTSBURGH -- The coaching shuffle with the Miami Marlins rolls on.
A week after firing Mike Redmond and replacing him with Dan Jennings, the Marlins reassigned third base coach Brett Butler on Tuesday and replaced him with assistant hitting coach Lenny Harris. Butler will now work in the dugout and serve as the outfield and base-running coach.
Jennings called any concerns over the decision making by Butler "an internal matter." Jennings said the plan is for Butler to help the Marlins "put the game in motion" while also helping read opposing pitchers.
Butler, who played 17 seasons in the majors as an outfielder, is in his second season with the Marlins after spending five years as manager of Class AAA Reno in the Arizona Diamondbacks system.
DIAMONDBACKS
Reliever out with tendinitis
ST. LOUIS -- The Arizona Diamondbacks placed rookie Enrique Burgos on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis on Tuesday, a day after the reliever faced two batters and gave up hits to both.
Left-hander Vidal Nuno was recalled from Class AAA Reno.
The 24-year-old Burgos had 25 strikeouts in 13 appearances over 13 2/3 innings, leading major league relievers with 16.46 strikeouts per nine innings. He is 0-2 with a 4.61 ERA.
Burgos met with team trainers and manager Chip Hale after throwing warmups Monday and stayed in the game, if briefly, to start the ninth inning of a 3-2, 10-inning loss.
ORIOLES
Clevenger called in as backup
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles have recalled catcher Steve Clevenger from Class AAA Norfolk to serve as the backup to Caleb Joseph.
Clevenger replaced Ryan Lavarnway, who was designated for assignment.
Clevenger hit .352 with two home runs and 14 RBI in 27 games with Norfolk. He played in 35 games with Baltimore last year and in 118 major league games overall.
The seldom-used Lavarnway was batting .107 in 10 games.
ROCKIES
Cut finger sidelines De La Rosa
CINCINNATI -- The Rockies scratched Jorge De La Rosa from his scheduled start against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night because of a cut finger on his pitching hand that has been bothering him.
The left-hander could be ready to start this weekend in Philadelphia. Manager Walt Weiss decided to give him more time to let the finger fully heal.
"We wanted to wait the last few days to see how that cut healed and make a decision," Weiss said. "We're going to push him back a couple of days."
The Rockies called up left-hander Chris Rusin from Class AAA Albuquerque. Rusin was claimed off waivers from the Cubs last September. He was 3-2 with a 6.29 ERA in 6 starts and 1 relief appearance in the minors.
Sports on 05/27/2015