The San Francisco Giants and Major League Baseball unveiled the All-Star Game logo for 2007.
No, it isn't a giant syringe, or the gradual increases in Barry Bonds' head size.
The decision to send down Orioles pitcher Daniel Cabrera came during a meeting with manager Sam Perlozzo and team executives Mike Flanagan and Jim Duquette. And I firmly believe it was the right one, given how despondent Cabrera was after last night's 15-1 loss.
"We just felt like Danny was going a little backward on us," Perlozzo said. "Mentally, the game was getting to him a little bit. We need him. We need this guy. We'd like to get him in a situation where he can relax a little bit, go back to basics and work on his breaking ball and changeup, and command of his fastball."
Cabrera looks good when warming up before games. Pitching coach Leo Mazzone informs Perlozzo that the right-hander is hitting his spots. But everything changes once the games begin.
Cabrera is 4-7 with a 5.25 ERA in 16 starts. Over his last six, he's 0-5 with a 7.02 ERA. He leads the American League with 75 walks and 13 wild pitches. And his confidence seems to be shattered at the moment.
Maybe he can pick up the pieces in Ottawa, the place he skipped while going from Double-A Bowie to the majors in 2004.
"We need to give Daniel a couple starts - two, three, four starts. It'll be up to him. And get him back on track and get him back up here, because we certainly need him," Perlozzo said.
Perlozzo said it became evident that Cabrera's inability to throw the ball over the plate was starting to show on him. His fastball was dropping from 97 to 92 mph as he tried to locate it.
"It think that's been wearing on him a little bit," Perlozzo said.
As for any concerns that the demotion will hurt Cabrera's confidence even more, Perlozzo noted how Adam Loewen was optioned to Ottawa and dominated, going 2-0 with a 1.27 ERA in three starts.
"We expect the same out of Daniel," Perlozzo said.
