SIGNED: Urgueth Urbina to the Detroit Tigers

Even Eric Gagne (2003 NL Cy Young winner!!!) LOST* his arbitration case.

*That's right, LOST! Not settled, not negotiated, purely lost his case. LA never even countered.

April:
4.76 ERA
1.50 WHIP
.250 BAA

May
1.38 ERA
1.15 WHIP
.188 BAA

With Percival on the DL and the Tigers 10 games out in the AL Central, how long before Urbina goes to a division contender with closer problems.

(That's why he set up Percival last night!)

Machete attack linked to Urbina
The Phillies pitcher faces accusations of violent behavior in his native Venezuela.

By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer

Phillies relief pitcher Ugueth Urbina has been questioned about his role in a bloody brawl Sunday on family property in Venezuela, according to newspaper reports.

The incident occurred after a welcome-home party for the pitcher. Urbina went out to eat, then returned about 2 a.m. with several people to the farm in the town of Ocumare del Tuy, about 25 miles south of Caracas, several Venezuelan newspapers reported.

According to one of the farmworkers, Urbina started asking about a firearm that had disappeared. The worker, 21-year-old Ricardo Osal, told police that Urbina and others rounded up the workers, beat them, attacked them with a machete, then splattered gasoline and paint thinner on them and burned them.

At least five people were injured in the incident.
Urbina said that he was not involved, and that he was sleeping at the time, the newspapers reported. He has not been arrested.
Urbina, 31, voluntarily visited local authorities for questioning.
The Phillies said last night they had not heard about the incident and declined to comment until they knew more. Urbina's agent, Peter Greenberg, did not have any details but said Urbina is all right.
"I've been trying to find out a little more about that," Greenberg said. "I've left him a message, but right now I don't know much."
Osal reportedly suffered machete wounds on his hands and back, while another worker, Tony Rodriguez, was burned on his back and right arm.
Venezuela can be a dangerous place for wealthy athletes and their families.

Urbina's mother was kidnapped in September 2004 and held for ransom before finally being rescued in February after a police raid. Phillies rightfielder Bobby Abreu, also a native Venezuelan, and other high-profile athletes have armed guards at their homes and almost never leave without them.

Urbina, whom the Phillies acquired from the Detroit Tigers in a trade for Placido Polanco on June 8, is expected to become a free agent, and his future with the club is uncertain.

The Phillies are trying hard to re-sign closer Billy Wagner, to whom they made another contract offer yesterday. Urbina has said he would like to return to the closer's role.

Although it remains to be seen how potential legal problems in Venezuela may affect Urbina, the Phillies could look at him as an alternative if Wagner is not re-signed.

"We really haven't talked that through," Greenberg said. "I know he really liked playing in Philadelphia. Bobby [Abreu] is his best friend, and he loved being in that environment. Even though he wasn't a closer, he was happy."

As the Phillies' setup man, Urbina went 4-3 with a 4.13 ERA with one save in 56 appearances. He allowed four runs in one-third of an inning in his first Phillies appearance June 9, but had a 3.46 ERA after that.

Zoinks!