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ESPN going to layoff over 100 people...
Maybe because...http://awfulannouncing.com/2016/espn...per-month.htmlComment -
I rarely watch anything but a live game on ESPN .Comment -
Dbacks got bad luck w Miller and Greinke... talk about wasted $Comment -
Fernando Rodney blows his 1st save of the season...many more to come.Comment -
bullpens bullpens bullpens
great to see the first ever player born and raised on the entire continent of Africa make his MLB debut for the Pirates
hit in first about
Mmpho Gift NgeopeComment -
Adrian Beltre (calf) is not progressing as quickly the Rangers had hoped.
"It's getting better but not where we expect it to be," said manager Jeff Banister. "We're still in the rehab mode." The Rangers had been hoping to have Beltre back by the end of April but obviously that ship has already sailed. According to MLB.com's TR Sullivan, "May is starting to look murky too." Power-hitting Joey Gallo will continue to man the hot corner in Beltre's absence.
Source: TR Sullivan on TwitterComment -
NEW YORK -- The Mets have scratched Noah Syndergaard from Thursday's start against the Braves with what manager Terry Collins deemed a "tired arm." Matt Harvey will start in his place.
"We can't take a chance on this guy," Collins said.
Collins described the issue as discomfort in Syndergaard's right bicep. The hope is that he will miss only one start.Comment -
Not feeling good about the Jays doubleheader today vs the Cardinals. Mat Latos and Casey Lawrence will be the scheduled starters, yikes.
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Nineteen-year-old outfielder Luis Robert is the top international talent that is available on the amateur market and, after recently being declared a free agent by Major League Baseball, has already begun hosting private workouts with interested teams, according to Baseball America’s Ben Badler. The Athletics hosted a workout for Robert last Friday that was attended by GM David Forst, according to Badler, and Reds GM Dick Williams was on hand to watch him this past Tuesday in a workout. Prior to that, he’d worked out for the Astros, Badler adds.
Badler notes that Robert’s camp is also expected to set up private workouts with the Padres, Cardinals and White Sox in the coming weeks. It seems that of those three clubs, the heavy-spending Padres are up first, as Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union Tribune reports (via Twitter) that Robert will work out with the Pads tomorrow. To this point, the Padres have paced all 30 teams in terms of international spending during the current signing period, as their total investment (including luxury tax penalties for shattering their allotted bonus pool) is in the vicinity of $80MM.
The willingness to spend at such an aggressive level may be key for any club that wishes to sign Robert, as FanRag’s Jon Heyman writes in his latest Inside Baseball column that one source who closely follows the international market believes Robert already has a $25MM offer “in hand,” though Heyman notes that others have suggested to him no offers have been made to this point. There could, of course, be some semantics at play there in terms of what constitutes a formal offer. A price tag in the vicinity of $25MM for Robert would come with a 100 percent luxury tax attached to it, meaning he’d cost any team that signed him at that rate a total of roughly $50MM.
As Badler writes, though Robert has been declared a free agent, he won’t formally be cleared to sign until May 20. In the interim, he’ll host at least one more open showcase for teams, in addition to the remaining private workouts his camp will orchestrate.
It’s worth noting that of the teams linked to Robert, only the White Sox have yet to exceed their current international bonus pool. In other words, while other clubs would essentially only be parting with money in order to sign Robert, the ChiSox would need to determine if Robert is worth handcuffing themselves in each of the next two international signing periods; should the Sox decide to exceed their pool in the eleventh hour — the current signing period ends on June 15 — they’d be unable to sign any individual player for more than $300K in either the 2017-18 or 2018-19 signing periods.
In a similar vein, teams that are still in the metaphorical “penalty box” for crushing their allotted pools in previous signing periods won’t be able to compete for Robert’s services, as they’re each capped at that same $300K figure on individual signings. That eliminates the Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels, Blue Jays, Rays, Royals and Diamondbacks from serving as serious competition in the Robert market.
Though Robert is just 19 years of age, he’d already blossomed into a star, hitting a ridiculous .401/.526/.687 with 12 homers, 12 doubles, a pair of triples and 11 steals over the life of 53 games (232 plate appearances) in his final pro season in the Cuban National Series. Scouting reports on Robert note that he’s capable of playing center field right now, though he may ultimately wind up in a corner. Badler has previously written that both his bat speed and raw power are plus, and Heyman’s above-linked piece offers a number of favorable reviews of Robert’s skill set. Additionally, MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez has previously spoken to a number of international scouting directors who have heaped praise onto Robert, calling him the game’s best international prospect behind Japanese phenom Shohei Otani and labeling him one of the most talented young players on the planet.Comment -
Bullpens have been a bit shitty lately.
There are 6 teams with bullpen ERA's over 5.00
Toronto leads the majors with 7 blown saves.RK TEAM GP W L ERA SV CG SHO IP QS ER R BB SO BAA 1 Detroit 21 3 3 6.72 8 0 0 67.0 -- 50 56 38 67 .285 2 Washington 22 4 4 6.18 8 0 0 62.2 -- 43 45 18 53 .285 3 Seattle 23 3 5 6.05 3 0 0 74.1 -- 50 51 34 62 .276 4 Kansas City 21 2 6 5.83 3 0 0 63.1 -- 41 43 38 50 .254 5 San Diego 24 3 4 5.47 5 0 0 72.1 -- 44 47 31 74 .243 6 Arizona 23 4 1 5.01 6 0 0 70.0 -- 39 43 22 66 .256
There are four teams who have 5 blown saves: Detroit, Seattle, Texas, Tampa Bay.Comment -
Let's get some baseball today !Comment -
For the first time in 1,415 major-league games, all for the Red Sox, Dustin Pedroia will bat sixth for the first time. Shuffled batting order has Xander Bogaerts in leadoff spot.Comment -
A pair of struggling teams got the good news that they’ll have key hurlers taking the hill on Sunday. Noah Syndergaard is ready to go after some worry over his biceps, as Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports on Twitter. Syndergaard is said to have denied a request that he undergo an MRI, saying he feels fully healthy. Also, Aaron Sanchez will return for the Blue Jays, as Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca tweets.
Here’s more on the injury front:
- First baseman Lucas Duda is also nearing a return for the Mets. He started a rehab assignment this evening and played for six innings. Given the fairly limited duration of his layoff for a hyperextended elbow, it seems reasonable to think he’ll be back up in just a few days.
- It seems there’s forward momentum for Tigers star Miguel Cabrera, as MLB.com’s Jason Beck reports on Twitter. Cabrera, who was forced to the DL with a groin strain, was able to jog and take batting practice today at the park.
- The Angels are assessing another injury for lefty Tyler Skaggs. Per a club announcement, he left his outing tonight with “right side tightness.” Just that means for the 25-year-old isn’t clear at this time. Heading into the current season, Skaggs had made only 41 starts since debuting in 2012. Over his five starts and 29 1/3 innings in 2017, Skaggs has pitched to a 3.99 ERA with a strong 29:9 K/BB ratio.
- Orioles closer Zach Britton may also be back Sunday — or, if not, then after the team’s off-day on Monday — per Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (via Twitter). The southpaw is preparing to return rather quickly from an initially worrying forearm injury. He figures to step right back into the closer role for the O’s.
- The Rangers welcomed back Sam Dyson from his short DL stint. Though he jumped right back in and pitched in the ninth tonight, working a scoreless frame, that came in a losing effort. Unlike Britton, Dyson has likely been bypassed in the closer role, at least for the time being.
- While the Nationals are holding their breath over a new and potentially serious injury issue tonight, the team did get a bit of positive news earlier. An MRI came back clean for southpaw Sammy Solis, as Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com tweets. While there’s some inflammation present in his balky elbow, there’s no ligament issue.
- There are a few updates on some Reds hurlers who are working back from injury, as C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Homer Bailey will throw a pen session early next week — his first since having bone spurs removed over the offseason. Fellow righty Anthony DeSclafani, meanwhile, is unfortunately still not ready to start throwing. Doctors will reassess his sprained UCL after allowing it a few more weeks of rest. And lefty Brandon Finnegan, who’s dealing with an oblique issue, is still a week away even from being examined again by physicians. The club is allowing him plenty of rest before taking stock of his path back tot he rotation.
- Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts provided the latest on a few of his team’s ailing players, as Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times was among those to report (links to Twitter). “Mechanical” issues are still holding back lefty Scott Kazmir, who still doesn’t seem to have a clear path back to the majors. The club will soon activate several position players, though, with Franklin Gutierrez likely to be followed within a week or so by Joc Pederson and Logan Forsythe. That’ll likely mean dropping top prospect Cody Bellinger back to Triple-A, McCullough notes.
- Athletics southpaw Sean Manaea is likely to miss a start and may hit the 10-day DL, as Joe Stiglich of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets. But the overall news is good. Manaea, who came down with some shoulder stiffness in his most recent outing, is not expected to require an extended absence.
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Couldn't raise his arm the other day, but he's fine now?Noah Syndergaard is ready to go after some worry over his biceps, as Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports on Twitter. Syndergaard is said to have denied a request that he undergo an MRI, saying he feels fully healthy.
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Adam Eaton was forced to leave Friday's game against the Mets in the night inning due to an apparent leg injury.
Eaton hustled to beat out an infield single in the ninth inning but immediately collapsed after reaching the first base bag and had to be carried off of the field. He appeared to roll his left ankle on the base as he ran through. He'll undergo an MRI on Saturday to determine the full extent of the injury. Michael Taylor could see increased action in the outfield if Eaton is forced to miss any significant time with this injury. Look for an update on his status from the Nationals on Saturday.
Source: Jamal Collier on Twitter
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Byron Kerr of MASN Sports reports that the Nationals will recall outfield prospect Rafael Bautista from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday.
He'll take the place of the injured Adam Eaton, who is presumably heading to the disabled list after leaving Friday's game with an ankle injury. Bautista, 24, is hitting .291/.325/.354 with no homers, two RBI and three stolen bases in 19 games at Triple-A Syracuse. He has terrific speed and could be worth a look for speed-starved teams in deeper mixed leagues if he's going to see everyday at-bats in center field while Eaton is sidelined.
Source: MASN SportsComment -
It's a good thing the Rockies are on the road against the Diamondbacks this weekend, because conditions at Coors Field are not ideal for baseball. According to the Denver Post, the area is expected to get up to 12 inches of snow by Saturday afternoon.Comment -
Zimmerman just drove in his 25th RBI of the season.
That ties hime with league leaders and teammates Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy, each with 25 RBI's.
I hate the Nats, but that's a nice middle of tbe lineup, tbey may have overpaid for Eaton, but he's doing what they got him to do.
Brett Gardner just hit his second homer of the game, and it's only the 3rd inning.
Another one I have trouble liking, he's a snowflake for starters.
Chase Headly just made a diving catch for the ages.
Machado smoked a frozen rope, I mean he spanked the horsehide as hard as it can be spanked, Headly laid out the way only Nettles could lay out and snared that thing. One of the top five catches you'll see all season.
This is why I watch baseball, best game ever invented.Comment -
Eaton confirmed torn ACL. Shelby Miller getting Tommy John surgery.Comment -
According to Matt Holliday, Aaron Judge hits the ball harder than any player he has ever seen.
This coming from a guy who has played with Giambi, Pujols, etc. etc. who has played against Bonds and the rest, well that's some praise.
Oh by the way, Judge smoked a moon shot earlier today for his tenth homerun in April.
Only two other rookies have hit ten homeruns in April.
Oh by the way he's a beast 6' 7" 280 lbs.
Totally legit, the real deal.
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Just wish Judge didn't play for the evil empire.Comment
