Around the AL: Inge finds unique path to DL

Major League Baseball doesn’t present an award for strangest injury. If it did, Brandon Inge would be cast in bronze.

Inge, the Detroit Tigers’ third baseman and perhaps the unluckiest player in the game, went on the 15-day disabled list last week with a strained oblique muscle. It’s a common injury, except for how it occurred.

Reaching for a line drive? Twisting away from a pitch?

Try adjusting his pillow.

"It was the stupidest, most freakish thing," Inge said. “I have a 3-year-old son who sleeps in the bed with my wife and me. I was trying to push the pillow down behind his head, and when I did, I re-popped it.”

Inge tweaked the muscle about 3 1/2 weeks earlier, but avoided the disabled list.

"You take swings in baseball,” Inge said, “and it's not as bad as pushing a pillow down."

Told of the injury’s origin, Tigers manager Jim Leyland said, “That’s a first.”

A flashback

Did the Toronto Blue Jays really fire Cito Gaston after the 1997, or was it a dream?

Check the shower.

It’s like Gaston never left. He’s back in the dugout, having replaced John Gibbons and bringing back memories of the two world championship teams he guided in 1992 and 1993.

In the sixth inning of Gaston’s first game, many in the crowd of 28,153 at Rogers Centre began chanting of "Ci-to, Gas-ton."

"It gave me goose bumps," he said. "It was a special night for me. It's just great to be back. I hope we have more games like that."

Back in 1989, Gaston replaced Jimy Williams with the Blue Jays at 12-24. They caught the Orioles on the next-to-last day of the season.

“I didn't change too much (in 1989)," Gaston said. "I tried to get guys to relax. This can be a really intense job if you let it. Relax and have some fun with it.”

Pitcher Roy Halladay referred to Gaston as “a different presence.”

"I know when I was young, coming in, I looked up to him, so he's kind of got that presence, which I think is nice,” Halladay said. “When you're losing, something's got to happen. We couldn't continue to play like we were. Sometimes a new manager brings different things and kind of helps you get over that hump. I think he's going to do a great job for us."

Life of a closer

It’s not easy, as Baltimore Orioles left-hander George Sherrill is finding out.

Sherrill had four major league saves before this season. Adversity for him was failing to carry a lead to Seattle Mariners closer J.J. Putz last season, or toiling in various independent leagues, waiting for a chance he wasn’t sure would ever arrive. But he’s learning about another side of the profession.

Sherrill blew save chances in consecutive games this week, allowing a two-run, walk-off homer to the Washington Nationals Ronnie Belliard in the 13th inning Sunday afternoon and a game-tying, solo shot to the Kansas City Royals Miguel Olivo in the ninth inning Monday night. Both times, Sherrill retired the first two batters. Both times, his slider didn’t slide.

"Same pitch, same spot," said Sherrill, who was 26-for-31 in save opportunities. "I was just trying to bounce it and both of them rolled. Neither of them felt good. You hope that maybe it just doesn't get to the plate. It's a thin line. It just got there and hung."

After walking off the mound in the top of the ninth Monday, Sherrill removed his gum and flung it to the ground. Then he fired his glove into the first row of seats behind the home dugout at Camden Yards, and kicked a plastic bucket onto the field, scattering pieces of chewing gum all over the grass.

“I’d rather see someone who cares than doesn’t,” manager Dave Trembley said.

First base umpire Larry Vanover retrieved the empty bucket and walked it to the Orioles dugout. Kevin Millar had a brief chat with him.

“Obviously, he saw a bucket of gum come out there,” Millar said. “He asked what that was about and I told him (Sherrill) missed the fence. Bad luck. And the bucket went through the hole. That's just a frustrating situation, and if you're in the arena, you know that feeling.”

Sherrill sure does.

Clear bases, clear mind

Tampa Bay right-hander Matt Garza strung together three impressive starts in a row heading into the weekend, including a complete-game one-hitter against the Florida Marlins. He posted a 2.05 ERA in games against the Marlins (two) and Houston Astros. But his success isn’t simply a product of what’s happening with his arm.

Try peaking inside his head. You wouldn’t be the first.

The Rays asked Garza to gain control of his emotions and focus after heated mound and dugout exchanges with catcher Dioner Navarro during a June 8 game in Texas. He’s met a few times with noted sports psychologist Ken Ravizza of Cal-State Fullerton.

“It’s not like there’s been this huge transformation in how he delivers the ball, how he throws the ball or pitch selection,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “What you’re seeing is, here’s a guy who’s much more under control, and now you’re seeing his true abilities.”

Big swings from Brendan

In two consecutive games, Brendan Harris gave the Minnesota Twins the lead with home runs.

How strange is that? Consider that Harris had two homers in his first 243 at-bats for the Twins. Then he connected twice in three trips to the plate.

And consider that the homers came against future Hall of Famers Trevor Hoffman and Greg Maddux, at San Diego’s Petco Park, which isn’t known for being kind to hitters.

"I'm not going to sit here and say those are just another couple home runs," Harris said. "There'll be stars next to those. Those will be pretty good memories."

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