Worrymeter says Rays are in trouble (cont.)

Around the Majors

• Rangers superstar Josh Hamilton broke his arm Tuesday on what he called a "stupid'' play to have him tag up after he was thrown out trying to score from third on a foul popout down the third-baseline. Tigers pitcher Brad Penny forgot to cover third, and Rangers third-base coach Dave Anderson saw an opening for Hamilton, telling him to go, but Tigers catcher Victor Martinez, who'd left home for the foul that was caught by third baseman Brandon Inge, got back in time to make the tag. It probably wasn't such a great idea for Hamilton to slide head first either, as Hamilton will now be out about six to eight weeks, according to the Rangers medical people. The headfirst slide generally is not a good plan, as @injuryexpert (aka Will Carroll) points out. And Hamilton is injury prone to begin with; it was his health reports that caused medical people in Cincinnati to strongly suggest he be traded, which is how the Rangers got him in the first place.

• Texas, it turns out, was extremely close to sending Michael Young to Colorado about a month before spring training but may need him more now that Hamilton is out. The Rangers have until May 15 to trade Young to one of a select group of eight teams on his no-trade list. That's when he becomes a 10-and-5 player and acquires full veto power. Word is, Young most wanted to go to Colorado or either of the two Los Angeles teams. The Rockies loved the way he fit.

• One competing GM said if he were in charge in Seattle he'd take young pitchers Ivan Nova, Dellin Betances and Manuel Banuelos plus catching prospect Jesus Montero from the Yankees for reigning AL Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez. The Mariners, though, have said King Felix is unavailable. Banuelos, a 20-year-old wunderkind, is in this year's plans for the Yankees.

• The A's did well to lock up Trevor Cahill for five years and $30.5 million (and have two team options on the end), though Cahill's first start after the deal, in which he lasted just 4 2/3 innings, didn't live up to that contract. Next up for the A's to sign may be strikeout specialist Gio Gonzalez.

• Rafael Furcal was likely just being "emotional'' according to a Dodger person when he suggested upon breaking his thumb that he might retire. Furcal, 33, has plenty left. He recanted the next night.

• It's funny how both trades involving Scott Kazmir have turned out to be regrettable. First it was the Mets doing the regretting after they traded him in a deal for Victor Zambrano and one other player in 2004. Now it has to be the Angels, who took Kazmir and what was left of his three-year, $28.5 million contract from Tampa Bay in 2009. Kazmir (27.00 ERA) is currently on the D.L. and has yet to show signs of his old form.

• Some aren't shocked by Russell Martin's early success with the Yankees, which includes a .300 batting average and three home runs. "When healthy, he is a very athletic catcher," one GM said.

• The White Sox have dropped five flyballs already this year, as Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune pointed out. Not so easy to do.

• Reliever and converted infielder Sergio Santos of the White Sox hit 97 on the gun Tuesday night in the win over the A's.

• Umpire C.B. Bucknor had some funny strikes on Tuesday, though the White Sox did not seem amused.

• Mariners young phenom Michael Pineda was clocked at 99 mph. That's even more impressive considering all the lowered velocities we're seeing this year.

• Talk about a swift reaction. Within hours after the Mets' Lucas Duda misplayed a fly ball into a double and Blaine Boyer gave up the game to the Nationals, Duda was optioned and Boyer designated. New GM Sandy Alderson would seem to have a honeymoon period, but no one likes to lose -- and as one competing GM says, "Being in New York is different.'' Veteran reliever Jason Isringhausen was brought up to the majors. He showed a decent cutter, and the hope is that he can be the seventh-inning man. Bobby Parnell, who has struggled, hasn't looked great in the eighth inning in a bullpen with a lot of issues, so Izzy might even take that role.

• Jeff Francis and Bruce Chen are off to nice starts with the Royals. As one GM put it, "(Royals GM) Dayton Moore did a good job bottom feeding this winter.''

• Fuld, a New Hampshire kid, had a spectacular Fenway debut before 30 friends and family. He already had a home run, triple and double when he lined one into the let field corner. Rather than stop at first base with a single in the blowout victory, Fuld legged it into a double.

• The Achilles injury of Andres Torres probably eliminates any chance the Giants would release Aaron Rowand anytime soon. They need centerfielders. Cody Ross is already on the shelf.

• There's been a lot of angst over the back end of the Yankees' rotation. But another rainout Tuesday pushed Freddy Garcia back again, and he has yet to start. Bartolo Colon, Kevin Millwood, Carlos Silva are candidates to start at some point, but the Yankees haven't even needed to use Garcia yet.

• New Pirates manager Clint Hurdle "has them playing hard,'' according to two competing scouts, in explanation for why the team that hasn't had a winning record since Barry Bonds left town after the 1992 season is starting so well.

• All the deliberation time in the Bonds case makes me wonder whether the trial could be headed for a hung jury. If so, that's $6 million the taxpayers should want back.