Magglio Ordonez News

"The Tigers optioned Clete Thomas to Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday, clearing the way for star outfielder Magglio Ordoñez to return for tonight's series opener in Baltimore. Ordonez has not played since June 28 because of a pulled oblique muscle, and the Tigers are 7-7 without him. His absence was most evident in three one-run losses to Minnesota last week. The Tigers' offense was inconsistent throughout that series, and Ordonez's return could help revive the lineup. "Magglio is our (Albert) Pujols," manager Jim Leyland said Sunday. "Anytime you get those guys back, it's big.""

"Magglio Ordoñez may appear in a one-game injury rehabilitation assignment with the Class A West Michigan Whitecaps on Monday, Tigers manager Jim Leyland said today."

"Will he be an All-Star? And if he is, will his current injury affect his ability to play in the game? Magglio Ordonez went on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday because of a pulled oblique. He won't be able to play again for the Tigers, that means, until after the All-Star break. But he could be chosen by the players as an All-Star. What then? "Let Mother Nature take its course," Ordonez said, before not accompanying the Tigers to Minnesota and Seattle. "I'm thinking instead of not being able for a while to help my team win games." On Sunday, the Tigers started rookie Clete Thomas in right, and he responded with a pair of singles. There's more playing time in the offing for ..."

"The Tigers are going to be without Magglio Ordonez for a while. Because of a pulled oblique, Ordonez was placed on the 15-day disabled list before Sunday's game. After leaving Saturday night's game because of the problem, he said he also experienced discomfort overnight -- so the Tigers didn't hesitate in making a move. They recalled outfielder Matt Joyce from Toledo."

"Tigers rightfielder Magglio Ordonez left Saturday's game in the third with a spasm in the right side in his upper body, the club announced. Ordonez will be further examined Sunday. Manager Jim Leyland said earlier before tonight's game that Ordonez would rest Sunday, marking the first game this season he hasn't started. Ordonez left the game after he retreated slowly on Troy Tulowitzki's leadoff drive over his head in the third inning. Tulowitzki got a double. Ryan Raburn replaced Ordonez in right."

"Tigers right fielder Magglio Ordonez left the game against the Colorado Rockies early in the third inning Saturday night just after Troy Tulowitzki doubled over his head in right field. Ordonez, who ran off the field, had a spasm in the right oblique and latissimus dorsi muscle and will be further evaluated Sunday. The latissimus dorsi -- or lat as it frequently is referred to -- is the large flat muscle in the back that extends from just under the armpit to the lumbar area. The oblique is a lateral abdominal muscle."

"The Tigers had 11 previous All-Stars on their Opening Day roster. Three weeks from now, we will find out how many are still All-Stars. Detroit had five last year -- Carlos Guillen, Magglio Ordonez, Placido Polanco, Pudge Rodriguez and Justin Verlander -- in addition to manager Jim Leyland and the coaching staff. This season's delegation at Yankee Stadium on July 15 will be considerably smaller. For all their well-known players, the Tigers are in fourth place. The American League roster will probably reflect that."

"If you want to have a lifetime average well above .300, you've got to get hits off the tough pitchers sometimes. For Magglio Ordoñez, those times can be in the ninth inning or later. In compiling the .312 lifetime average he brought into Monday, Ordoñez has done superbly against some of the ace relievers whose job is to get saves. All these figures for Ordoñez's regular-season career are from STATS LLC and supplied by ESPN.com: • Ordoñez is 7-for-13 off the Yankees' Mariano Rivera. That's the Rivera who has more than 450 saves in the regular season and 34 more in the postseason. • Ordoñez is 3-for-4 off Kansas City's nasty Joakim Soria. • He's 4-for-5 off Cleveland's Joe ..."

"Magglio Ordoñez was 3-for-3 with two homers and six RBIs -- after four innings. On a night where every Detroit starter had at least one hit, Ordoñez was the star of stars when he tied a career high for RBIs in a game with six in the Tigers' 19-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. He finished 3-for-3 with a walk and four runs scored."