Twins are ridiculous on the road. Swept by the Injuns at home, could sweep them on the road.
-
Comment -
Kershaw with another gem tonight .Comment -
Corey Seager won’t be in the Dodgers starting lineup for what could be several games due to a mild right hamstring strain, as reported by Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times and other media. Seager suffered a Grade 1 strain, the lowest level of hamstring injury, and the team is hopeful Seager can avoid a DL stint; Seager said that this current issue isn’t nearly as bad as hamstring injuries he has suffered in the past. Manager Dave Roberts suggested Seager could be available for key pinch-hitting situations, and the team will wait until Tuesday or Wednesday before deciding if the disabled list is necessary for the star shortstop.
Here’s more from around baseball….
- Relief pitching will be a deadline priority for the Rangers at the deadline, though the team is still committed to Matt Bush as the closer, MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan writes. “We’ve got to continue to develop Matt in that spot. One of the challenges is finding him consistent work in different situations,” manager Jeff Banister said, noting that Bush is still pretty new to pitching in his professional career. The Rangers also want to see what they have in Ernesto Frieri and Tanner Scheppers before deciding on their specific deadline needs for the bullpen.
- Veteran right-hander Chris Young tells MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan that he intends to continue his career after being released by the Royals. “Physically, I feel good,” Young said. “My arm feels good. I don’t foresee this being the end. I’m still capable of competing at a high level. Possibly a change of scenery might help.” Young, who turned 38 last month, has suffered through a pair of rough seasons in 2016-17, posting a 6.52 ERA over 118 2/3 IP. Young also praised the K.C. fans and the Royals organization, noting that GM Dayton Moore told him the news of his release in person.
- Mike Morse is still suffering from lingering symptoms almost a month after going on the seven-day concussion DL, the veteran slugger tells Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. Morse has openly talked about this stint with the Giants being something of a last ride in his career, though what could potentially be his final season has been hampered by a hamstring injury and now this concussion. Morse has a .556 OPS over 40 PA for the Giants this year, and he isn’t sure when he’ll be healthy enough to return to action.
Comment -
They will choke in the playoffs like usual.Comment -
Elias notes that this is the first time that the Giants have been the first team in the majors to hit 50 losses since the 1976 season. They finished that season 74-88.Comment -
The Cardinals hit two consecutive Pirates batters with the bases loaded Saturday, first team since the Twins in 2015 to hit back-to-back batters with the bases loaded. Entering today, the Cardinals had not hit a batter with the bases loaded all season.Comment -
Cleveland just got swept at home by the twins .
Comment -
Mets, Tigers ready to discuss selling veterans at the deadline. With 2017 increasingly looking like a lost season for both teams, both Detroit and New York are reportedly open to moving some established stars to free up payroll space and acquire some young talent. Given some of the big names on both rosters, either team could definitely create some major noise at the deadline. For a longer look at who the Tigers might put on the block, Connor Byrne recently featured the team as part of MLBTR’s Taking Inventory series. Marlins may be on the verge of trading Adeiny Hechavarria. The Marlins are one team that has seemingly already turned towards selling, with trade rumors swirling around several relief pitchers and Hechavarria, the longtime Miami shortstop. A Hechavarria deal could be imminent, according to reports, with the Padres, Rays and possibly at least one mystery team in the mix.
Setbacks for young stars. Three of baseball’s most promising young players saw their development halted in different ways this past week. The least-serious but still surprising item of the three was the news that the Cubs demoted Kyle Schwarber to Triple-A, in an attempt to get the young slugger on track in the midst of a disappointing season. Of larger concern, 20-year-old Dodgers lefty Julio Urias will miss the next 12-to-14 months after undergoing anterior capsule surgery on his throwing shoulder, a major enough procedure that Urias’ future career status now faces a bit of doubt. Yankees infield prospect Gleyber Torres also saw his year end due to injury, as Torres will miss the rest of the 2017 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Torres’ status ends speculation that he would be promoted at some point this year to supplant the struggling Chase Headley as the Yankees’ third baseman.
Freddie Freeman will attempt a move to third base. In a development that would’ve seemed wholly unlikely just a month ago, the Braves first base cornerstone is planning to return to the field at the hot corner to create room for Matt Adams to stick at first. Freeman has never played third in his entire pro career and, more pressingly, is still recovering from a fractured wrist. The Braves acquired Adams in Freeman’s absence and Adams has been on fire ever since, entering play today with a stunning .991 OPS and 12 homers in 143 PA in an Atlanta uniform. There has been some trade buzz around Adams, though it appears the Braves and Freeman will first try this third base experiment.
Teams part ways with notable veterans. Several clubs are clearing room on their rosters for younger talent by letting go of underperforming veterans. The Tigers released former closer Francisco Rodriguez, the Phillies designated and then released Michael Saunders and Jeanmar Gomez, the Royals released veteran righty Chris Young, the Brewers released Neftali Feliz and the A’s designated catcher Stephen Vogt for assignment. It wouldn’t be surprising to see any of these names pop up on other rosters soon as clubs look for midseason help — already, Vogt was claimed by the Brewers and Feliz was signed by the Royals.Comment -
The Twins are 23-9 on the road .
Comment -
the Twins are doing an impressive job so far...can they sustain it?Comment -
Rockies blow 5-0 lead to Dodgers. LA unbeatable right nowComment -
Dusty Baker on the impact of possibly adding reliever Francisco Rodriguez, who's reportedly in talks with the Nats: "Depends if he's the same K-Rod. I'd take Sandy Koufax, but he might not be the same Sandy Koufax."
Man I hate Dusty. What a stupid comment!!!Comment -
same k-rod as what? as 10 years ago?[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
Let's go twinkles!Comment -
5:16pm: Both clubs have announced the deal, making it official.
2:26pm: The Rays and Marlins have reportedly agreed to a trade that will send shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria from Miami to Tampa Bay in exchange for minor league outfielder Braxton Lee and minor league right-hander Ethan Clark. The Rays will take on all of Hechavarria’s remaining salary.
Hechavarria, 27, has been out for more than a month due to a strained oblique muscle but is ready to return to the field. While he doesn’t bring much to the table from an offensive standpoint, he’ll dramatically improve the Rays’ infield defense whenever he’s on the field. The Rays have relied primarily upon Tim Beckham and Daniel Robertson at shortstop in 2017 due to the fact that projected starter Matt Duffy has missed the entire year to date with a heel injury that recently required minor surgery.
From 2015-16, Hechavarria posted excellent defensive marks at shortstop, grading out at +18 Defensive Runs Saved and a +24.1 Ultimate Zone Rating. However, while that superlative glovework was paired with a respectable .281/.315/.374 batting line in 2015, Hechavarria has slashed just .241/.283/.319 in 614 trips to the dish since that time. He’s also earning $4.35MM this season, which was reportedly the Marlins’ primary motivation for finding a trading partner.
The Rays will control Hechavarria for one more season via the arbitration process, if they’re so inclined. Retaining him would mean giving him a raise on that $4.35MM salary in arbitration, though his injury and lack of production at the plate will likely limit the size of the raise to a fairly nominal amount.
Exactly how Hechavarria fits into the mix for the Rays remains to be seen. While he looks like the clear favorite to play shortstop on an everyday basis for the time being, Tampa Bay will need to decide what to do with the combination of Backham, Robertson and, when he returns from the disabled list, Brad Miller — the latter of whom was the primary second baseman prior to getting injured. One of Beckham or Robertson seems likely to be sent out — Beckham is out of options, so Robertson seems likelier — but the eventual returns of Miller and Duffy will further crowd the infield mix.
As for the players that Miami will receive in return, neither Lee nor Clark entered the season rated among Tampa Bay’s top 30 prospects. Lee, a 12th-round pick out of the University of Mississippi back in 2014, is hitting .318/.387/.391 through 296 plate appearances in Double-A this season, although it’s his second season at that level and he’ll turn 24 in August, so he’s not especially young relative to the competition that he’s facing. That production has been buoyed by a .397 BABIP, though, and Clark has never shown any power, with just two homers in his pro career.
Clark, meanwhile, has a 3.11 ERA with 8.2 K/9, 2.9 BB/9 and a 39.9 percent ground-ball rate in 55 innings at Class-A Bowling Green. The former 15th-round pick (Crowder College, 2015) is 22 years of age, so he’s not young for the Class-A Midwest League, either.
For the Marlins, the move boils down to primarily a salary dump, as they’ll save $2.33MM by moving Hechavarria and the entirety of his contract. The trade likely opens up an everyday role for 25-year-old JT Riddle to attempt to establish himself as Miami’s new long-term shortstop, though Riddle has been mired in a dreadful slump at the plate and is currently batting just .230/.251/.354 with three homers, nine doubles and a triple through 173 big league plate appearances.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald first reported that Hechavarria was on the trade block, and Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports added that he was likely to be traded in the very near future (via Twitter). ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that the Rays had made significant strides in getting a deal worked out (Twitter link). MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro tweeted that the Rays were the front-runners. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweeted that Lee and Clark were involved in talks, and Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald broke the news (on Twitter) that the deal was done.Comment -
Early trades!!! Love it!Comment -
Neither Joe Girardi nor Starlin Castro were certain Castro's hamstring strain will land him on the DL. Castro will have an MRI Tuesday.Comment -
this was odd
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseb...-field/2328357
ST. PETERSBURG — C Derek Norris tied a career-high with three hits in Friday's 15-5 win against the Orioles then was designated for assignment after the game to make room on the 25-man roster for C Wilson Ramos.[quote=jjgold;5683305]I win again like usual
[/quote]
[quote=Whippit;7921056]miami won't lose a single eastern conference game through end of season[/quote]Comment -
Today marks the 15th anniversary of Cleveland trading Bartolo Colon to Montreal in return for Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore. It just can't get any better than that when you trade away a star player and hit on all 3 prospects you get in return.Comment -
Royals with 3 in the first off of Verlander.
Can Strahm hold the Tigers bats down?Comment -
The Giants are promoting infielder Jae-gyun Hwang from Triple-A Sacramento, reports Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News (via Twitter). The former Korea Baseball Organization star signed a minor league deal with San Francisco this offseason and was likely to exercise a July 1 opt-out clause if he was not brought up to the Majors in the next few days.
Through 279 Triple-A plate appearances, Hwang was hitting at a strong .287/.333/.476 clip with seven homers, 19 doubles, four triples and five steals (in five attempts). While that’s a fair ways off the eye-popping .335/.394/.570 batting line that Hwang posted in his final season in Korea, the 29-year-old’s very solid Triple-A performance certainly seems to merit a look at the big league level.
Eduardo Nunez has handled the majority of the Giants’ third base responsibilities in 2017, but he’s currently on the DL with a minor hamstring issue. Third base has been Hwang’s primary position, but he’s also played first base in the minors and seen a couple of games in left field. With veteran Aaron Hill recently being cut loose, there’s a bench opportunity for Hwang to claim, at the very least, and it’s possible that he could be entrusted with a larger role if the Giants ultimately trade Nunez.Comment -
Montero calling out Arrieta...party is over Cub's fans
Comment -
Since July 15, 2016, Atlanta's Ender Inciarte leads all big-leaguers with 200 hits.
I Never would have guess that!!!Comment -
Red Sox 9, Twins 2: Don't look now, but Drew Pomeranz has been Boston's second-best starting pitcher lately. Pomeranz waited out a 76-minute rain delay in second inning Tuesday night and stayed in the game to deliver five solid innings and save the bullpen.
In his last seven starts, Pomeranz is 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA, 44 strikeouts and 9 walks in 40 innings. Christian Vázquez and Chris Young homered for Red Sox, who reclaimed sole possession of first place in AL East.Comment -
In related news Cubs to DFA Miguel Montero: http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/1...rieta-commentsComment
