In recent years, didn't ESPN have a lot more than Friday's two telecasts on their Fourth of July schedule?
No matter. I still got to watch parts of ESP's pair, plus two others -- Cubs-Nationals and Rangers-Mets. While out running errands, I also had a chance to hear a couple of innings of Phillies-Pirates on the car's satellite radio.
Cubs RHP Jason Hammel looked very good in beating Washington. Who knew then that by the end of the day he'd be Athletics RHP Jason Hammel?
Bigger news than victories by the Yankees over the Twins, or the Pirates over the Phillies, or the Mets over the Rangers, was Oakland's trade that picked up Hammel and RHP Jeff Samardzija for the low current price of RHP Dan Straily, prospects SS Addison Russell and OF Billy McKinney and a player to be named.
The Athletics already were the best team in the American League. By turning not enough able-bodied starters into what could be a surplus, they also have a chance to trade to improve themselves in other areas such as the outfield and middle infield.
The Cubs? Well, they'll muddle through another season. In the off-season, they'll hope their minor league prospects aren't overhyped in the way virtually all of the prospects have been in their recent history. And that at least two prospects from the Athletics organization haven't been oversold.
A couple of today's starters left their game early because of injury. Mets LHP Jonathan Niese went out in the first inning because of a back injury that is being considered minor. Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole left because of a strained latissimus muscle that could be more problematic.
Cole pitched five scoreless innings for the win over Philadelphia. That shouldn't be a surprise. I found out from the Phils' broadcast that it was the 25th time in their first 86 games that they've been held scoreless for at least the first five innings.
Another interesting tidbit from the Yankees-Twins game: Minnesota C Kurt Suzuki, a patient hitter, went more than 140 plate appearances last season without swinging at a first pitch. He apparently learned that patience while with the Athletics.
Showing posts with label Jonathan Niese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jonathan Niese. Show all posts
Friday, July 4, 2014
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Parade of pitchers trudging toward surgery
Bad news for the Diamondbacks. LHP Patrick Corbin will not be pitching in next weekend's two-game season-opening series in Australia -- and maybe not for quite a while after that. He has been diagnosed with a damaged ulnar collateral ligament.
For their opponents, the Dodgers, OF Carl Crawford will be on paternity leave. He and RHP Dan Haren will not go to Australia.
Corbin left Saturday's start -- expected to be his last before he would pitch the opening game Saturday, March 22 -- in the seventh inning because of a stiff forearm. The UCL is the ligament replaced in Tommy John surgery, and forearm pain is a symptom associated with TJ surgery, so you'll probably want to have a Plan B to replace Corbin on your fantasy team.
And LHP Jonathan Niese, the Mets' planned Opening Day starter, left Sunday's game because of elbow discomfort.
Athletics RHP Jarrod Parker has a tight forearm. By now, you should know the progression: tight forearm > sore elbow > Dr. James Andrews > Tommy John surgery. Parker is scheduled to see Dr. Andrews Monday. Oakland's rotation also will be without RHP A.J. Griffin, who has a strained muscle in his arm and won't throw at all for three weeks. He could return to the rotation in May. An MRI exam showed no structural damage in his elbow. LHP Tommy Milone could be a reasonable replacement for one of them -- but RHP Jesse Chavez, who hasn't been effective even as a reliever, is currently penciled in as the No. 5 starter. Look for a trade, especially if the prospect of Parker and Griffin's return appears bleak a month from now.
Braves RHPs Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy are expected to undergo Tommy John surgery and miss this season. That could put additional pressure on Mike Minor to return quickly despite a sore shoulder.
The Blue Jays expect RHP Casey Janssen, their closer, to be ready for Opening Day. He hasn't pitched in a game this spring because of a sore shoulder, but he is expected to resume throwing soon.
Tigers SS Jose Iglesias will begin the season on the disabled list because of a stress reaction in both shins. An ESPN report indicated that Iglesias has a stress fracture, which could keep him out until mid-season. The candidates to take his place are Hernan Perez, Eugenio Suarez and Danny Worth. A few days ago, I speculated that SS Jimmy Rollins, who apparently has outworn his welcome in Philadelphia, could be a trade target for Detroit. SS Freddy Galvis was in the Phillies' starting lineup Sunday.
The Phils have their own pitching injury problems. LHP Cole Hamels, sidelined by a sore shoulder, tossed 27 pitches in the bullpen Sunday, and could have another 'pen session Wednesday. LHP Cliff Lee, who pitched five scoreless innings against the Red Sox Saturday, could be Philadelphia's Opening Day starter.
Reds RHP Homer Bailey was scratched from Saturday's start because of a strained right groin muscle.
Could it get to the point where the majors use pitching machines, the way they do for T-ball graduates?
Remember when Angels OF Josh Hamilton was on crutches because of a strained calf muscle, but would be playing in a couple of weeks? Well, he still isn't playing. He's scheduled to make his exhibition debut Monday. He's saying he could be ready for Opening Day, but I'm not buying that.
Orioles 3B Manny Machado hasn't run in six days because of scar tissue from off-season surgery on his left knee. He said he could be ready to open the season, but don't expect that either.
Through Saturday, Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki hadn't played since being hit in the left calf by a pitch Wednesday. His injury history is cause for concern.
Playing in Panama, Mariano Rivera's native land, the Bronx Bombers were Bronx Bummers Saturday against four Marlins pitchers (of which you've probably heard of only RHP Steve Cishek, who pitched the sixth inning). They completed a no-hitter, against a lineup somewhat short of what New York will put on the field this season. Oh, and Miami won 5-0. Rod Carew Stadium, built in 1999, is much more luxurious than the stadium in Panama City where I saw the '71 Pirates, eventual World Series champions, lose to Pedro Ramos and the Panamanian All-Stars.
Marlins SS Rafael Furcal has a tight left hamstring.
* * *
Basketball. I covered UFC 171 Saturday night, which meant I finished writing after 1 a.m. and didn't get home until 3. Slept in this morning, but went with my game plan of picking up player(s) whose team is in action Sunday to help in whatever categories I needed for this last week of regular-season competition. I came up with Miles Plumlee (the one from Phoenix), who can get some of the rebounds and points I need, with a reasonable field goal percentage. I "signed" the free agent, and dropped Amar'e Stoudemire, because the Knicks aren't playing today. Then I looked at the lineup, and Plumlee was listed on my bench. Then I realized that it was the lineup for Monday. Because some games already had started by noon CDT, the lineup was locked until tomorrow.
Could be a case of snooze, I lose.
So I will have Plumlee Monday, and may be able to reacquire Stoudemire, who won't play again until Wednesday anyway.
This week's competition is 4-4. I trail by .0022 in field goal percentage, three 3-pointers, 27 rebounds and 21 points as I write this. I also lead by just five assists and six steals. I have seven active players to my opponent's six. My best players going are probably Chris Bosh and Serge Ibaka; it scares me a bit to be playing against James Harden.
Right now, I have the Duke-Virginia game on the TV. How many Plumlees are there, anyway?
* * *
Hockey. It's still kind of a back-and-forth situation, where I gain a point and then lose it back. Still mired in third place with 65 points. Oh, at the moment 65.5 because I picked up half a point in ATOI. On a daily basis, that's almost totally dependent on having more defensemen than forwards, and on not having someone get hurt early in a game.
The league leaders remain out of reach at 89. The second-place team is at 76, but I don't think totally out of reach because his skaters have played 76 games more than mine so he'll run out of games sooner than I will. I'm more concerned that the fourth-place team, currently at 56, could catch me.
I am really beginning to hate fantasy goalies. Steve Mason shut out the Penguins Saturday, and gave up only one goal in the first period Sunday. So I turned on the Flyers-Pittsburgh game, and in the Penguins' first rush up the ice they scored their third goal of the game against Mason. I also saw him in person giving up four goals in about four heartbeats against the Stars, which prompted me to drop him for a while. When Mason hasn't been on my roster, he has been spectacular. And of course, Tim Thomas won a game when I didn't start him, then gave up two third-period goals in a loss Friday when I did start him. Don't get me started on Ben Scrivens or any of the other half-dozen or dozen goalies who have disgraced my roster but played well when they weren't on my team. Hmmm. Let me check on Martin Brodeur again ... His save percentage is no better than the Texas Puckin Penguins', but his GAA is 2.50. I'll have to cogitate on this one.
For their opponents, the Dodgers, OF Carl Crawford will be on paternity leave. He and RHP Dan Haren will not go to Australia.
Corbin left Saturday's start -- expected to be his last before he would pitch the opening game Saturday, March 22 -- in the seventh inning because of a stiff forearm. The UCL is the ligament replaced in Tommy John surgery, and forearm pain is a symptom associated with TJ surgery, so you'll probably want to have a Plan B to replace Corbin on your fantasy team.
And LHP Jonathan Niese, the Mets' planned Opening Day starter, left Sunday's game because of elbow discomfort.
Athletics RHP Jarrod Parker has a tight forearm. By now, you should know the progression: tight forearm > sore elbow > Dr. James Andrews > Tommy John surgery. Parker is scheduled to see Dr. Andrews Monday. Oakland's rotation also will be without RHP A.J. Griffin, who has a strained muscle in his arm and won't throw at all for three weeks. He could return to the rotation in May. An MRI exam showed no structural damage in his elbow. LHP Tommy Milone could be a reasonable replacement for one of them -- but RHP Jesse Chavez, who hasn't been effective even as a reliever, is currently penciled in as the No. 5 starter. Look for a trade, especially if the prospect of Parker and Griffin's return appears bleak a month from now.
Braves RHPs Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy are expected to undergo Tommy John surgery and miss this season. That could put additional pressure on Mike Minor to return quickly despite a sore shoulder.
The Blue Jays expect RHP Casey Janssen, their closer, to be ready for Opening Day. He hasn't pitched in a game this spring because of a sore shoulder, but he is expected to resume throwing soon.
Tigers SS Jose Iglesias will begin the season on the disabled list because of a stress reaction in both shins. An ESPN report indicated that Iglesias has a stress fracture, which could keep him out until mid-season. The candidates to take his place are Hernan Perez, Eugenio Suarez and Danny Worth. A few days ago, I speculated that SS Jimmy Rollins, who apparently has outworn his welcome in Philadelphia, could be a trade target for Detroit. SS Freddy Galvis was in the Phillies' starting lineup Sunday.
The Phils have their own pitching injury problems. LHP Cole Hamels, sidelined by a sore shoulder, tossed 27 pitches in the bullpen Sunday, and could have another 'pen session Wednesday. LHP Cliff Lee, who pitched five scoreless innings against the Red Sox Saturday, could be Philadelphia's Opening Day starter.
Reds RHP Homer Bailey was scratched from Saturday's start because of a strained right groin muscle.
Could it get to the point where the majors use pitching machines, the way they do for T-ball graduates?
Remember when Angels OF Josh Hamilton was on crutches because of a strained calf muscle, but would be playing in a couple of weeks? Well, he still isn't playing. He's scheduled to make his exhibition debut Monday. He's saying he could be ready for Opening Day, but I'm not buying that.
Orioles 3B Manny Machado hasn't run in six days because of scar tissue from off-season surgery on his left knee. He said he could be ready to open the season, but don't expect that either.
Through Saturday, Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki hadn't played since being hit in the left calf by a pitch Wednesday. His injury history is cause for concern.
Playing in Panama, Mariano Rivera's native land, the Bronx Bombers were Bronx Bummers Saturday against four Marlins pitchers (of which you've probably heard of only RHP Steve Cishek, who pitched the sixth inning). They completed a no-hitter, against a lineup somewhat short of what New York will put on the field this season. Oh, and Miami won 5-0. Rod Carew Stadium, built in 1999, is much more luxurious than the stadium in Panama City where I saw the '71 Pirates, eventual World Series champions, lose to Pedro Ramos and the Panamanian All-Stars.
Marlins SS Rafael Furcal has a tight left hamstring.
* * *
Basketball. I covered UFC 171 Saturday night, which meant I finished writing after 1 a.m. and didn't get home until 3. Slept in this morning, but went with my game plan of picking up player(s) whose team is in action Sunday to help in whatever categories I needed for this last week of regular-season competition. I came up with Miles Plumlee (the one from Phoenix), who can get some of the rebounds and points I need, with a reasonable field goal percentage. I "signed" the free agent, and dropped Amar'e Stoudemire, because the Knicks aren't playing today. Then I looked at the lineup, and Plumlee was listed on my bench. Then I realized that it was the lineup for Monday. Because some games already had started by noon CDT, the lineup was locked until tomorrow.
Could be a case of snooze, I lose.
So I will have Plumlee Monday, and may be able to reacquire Stoudemire, who won't play again until Wednesday anyway.
This week's competition is 4-4. I trail by .0022 in field goal percentage, three 3-pointers, 27 rebounds and 21 points as I write this. I also lead by just five assists and six steals. I have seven active players to my opponent's six. My best players going are probably Chris Bosh and Serge Ibaka; it scares me a bit to be playing against James Harden.
Right now, I have the Duke-Virginia game on the TV. How many Plumlees are there, anyway?
* * *
Hockey. It's still kind of a back-and-forth situation, where I gain a point and then lose it back. Still mired in third place with 65 points. Oh, at the moment 65.5 because I picked up half a point in ATOI. On a daily basis, that's almost totally dependent on having more defensemen than forwards, and on not having someone get hurt early in a game.
The league leaders remain out of reach at 89. The second-place team is at 76, but I don't think totally out of reach because his skaters have played 76 games more than mine so he'll run out of games sooner than I will. I'm more concerned that the fourth-place team, currently at 56, could catch me.
I am really beginning to hate fantasy goalies. Steve Mason shut out the Penguins Saturday, and gave up only one goal in the first period Sunday. So I turned on the Flyers-Pittsburgh game, and in the Penguins' first rush up the ice they scored their third goal of the game against Mason. I also saw him in person giving up four goals in about four heartbeats against the Stars, which prompted me to drop him for a while. When Mason hasn't been on my roster, he has been spectacular. And of course, Tim Thomas won a game when I didn't start him, then gave up two third-period goals in a loss Friday when I did start him. Don't get me started on Ben Scrivens or any of the other half-dozen or dozen goalies who have disgraced my roster but played well when they weren't on my team. Hmmm. Let me check on Martin Brodeur again ... His save percentage is no better than the Texas Puckin Penguins', but his GAA is 2.50. I'll have to cogitate on this one.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Morse goes not-deep-enough twice
Day by day, we're getting closer to real major league baseball.
Five exhibition games Wednesday featured more-or-less major league teams against each other, and a team in Miami Marlins uniforms defeated the University of Miami.
-- There were highlights -- particularly in Scottsdale, Ariz.
There, Athletics RF Josh Reddick and Giants -- I don't know, OF? -- Michael Morse engaged in a form of deja vu. Reddick twice reached over the fence to catch balls that Morse drove to the opposite field. Instead of home runs, they became outs -- three, in fact, because Reddick doubled off a mentally dozing baserunner at second base after the second and less spectacular catch. Oakland took a 10-0 lead with a six-run fourth inning and went on to win 10-5. It appears that they have built some kind of pavilion beyond the right field fence in my favorite older park in Arizona.
-- There were hints of mid-season form.
Blue Jays OF Jose Bautista hit a home run in his first at-bat as Toronto defeated the Phillies 4-3 in a game stopped after seven innings because of rain in Clearwater, Fla.
Reds OF Billy Hamilton stole his first of no doubt many bases in an 8-3 victory over the Indians.
As leadoff batter, Yankees CF Jacoby Ellsbury walked and scored in each of the first two innings. However, the Pirates rallied to win 6-5. 1B Gaby Sanchez might have taken note when it was Sanchez -- C Tony Sanchez -- who hit a game-tying three-run homer and 1B Chris McGuiness, hoping to become the left-handed-batting part of a platoon, who followed with a single that delivered the deciding run.
-- There were examples of fast-and-loose rules in spring training.
It also rained near Disney World, where the Tigers took a 6-5 lead on Hernan Perez's two-run single in the top of the ninth inning. The Braves had a runner on base and two out when the game was called because of rain. Instead of reverting to the last completed inning, the game was ruled a 6-5 Detroit victory. For Atlanta, Matt Lipka -- McKinney (Texas) HS teammate of Dodgers prospect Zach Lee -- entered the game late. Lipka struck out in both at-bats, but threw out Perez at the plate in the ninth.
-- There was an example of a spring appearance that most likely meant virtually nothing.
The Diamondbacks defeated the Dodgers 4-1, scoring three runs in two innings against LHP Clayton Kershaw. See me in August to find out how Kershaw's doing then.
-- There were injury updates.
Angels fans might have breathed more easily when the team said OF Josh Hamilton, on crutches Tuesday, would miss just two weeks because of a strained calf muscle.
Mets LHP Jonathan Niese went back to New York to have an MRI exam on his shoulder.
Orioles 3B Manny Machado will have his injured left knee reevaluated March 18, two weeks before the season is scheduled to begin.
-- There was the retirement of a player we didn't even know still had been thinking about playing.
RHP Carl Pavano, who didn't pitch last season, announced that he has retired. Thanks. We'll all go and cross him off our fantasy draft lists.
-- There was a move that probably means nothing to either big-league team, or any fantasy team.
The White Sox claim RHP Maikel Cleto on waivers from the Royals.
-- There will be even more games Thursday.
Still, not every team will be in action. Nineteen major league extended rosters will be well used in 12 games. Those include a Red Sox doubleheader against first Northeastern University and then Boston College. The Diamondbacks will split into two squads, probably with at least 25 players each, going against the Cubs and Dodgers hordes. The Marlins also have a college opponent, meaning that they might have at least one two-game winning streak in 2014.
* * *
Hockey. The NHL came back! Part of my team did. I remained at 67 points, but moved two points closer to second place because the current second-place team dropped to 74. My players totaled minus-10. Now I love Jarome Iginla as a player, and he did have a power-play assist Wednesday, but he still managed to be minus-3 by himself.
* * *
Basketball. Team Fresh Prints moved into a 6-1-1 lead. Despite shooting better than 50 percent from the field, it still trails .5094-.5026 in field goal percentage. The tie is in blocks. My best hope there is Serge Ibaka, but he has just two games remaining this week. However, Carmelo Anthony, David West and potentially Raymond Felton are scheduled for three more.
Five exhibition games Wednesday featured more-or-less major league teams against each other, and a team in Miami Marlins uniforms defeated the University of Miami.
-- There were highlights -- particularly in Scottsdale, Ariz.
There, Athletics RF Josh Reddick and Giants -- I don't know, OF? -- Michael Morse engaged in a form of deja vu. Reddick twice reached over the fence to catch balls that Morse drove to the opposite field. Instead of home runs, they became outs -- three, in fact, because Reddick doubled off a mentally dozing baserunner at second base after the second and less spectacular catch. Oakland took a 10-0 lead with a six-run fourth inning and went on to win 10-5. It appears that they have built some kind of pavilion beyond the right field fence in my favorite older park in Arizona.
-- There were hints of mid-season form.
Blue Jays OF Jose Bautista hit a home run in his first at-bat as Toronto defeated the Phillies 4-3 in a game stopped after seven innings because of rain in Clearwater, Fla.
Reds OF Billy Hamilton stole his first of no doubt many bases in an 8-3 victory over the Indians.
As leadoff batter, Yankees CF Jacoby Ellsbury walked and scored in each of the first two innings. However, the Pirates rallied to win 6-5. 1B Gaby Sanchez might have taken note when it was Sanchez -- C Tony Sanchez -- who hit a game-tying three-run homer and 1B Chris McGuiness, hoping to become the left-handed-batting part of a platoon, who followed with a single that delivered the deciding run.
-- There were examples of fast-and-loose rules in spring training.
It also rained near Disney World, where the Tigers took a 6-5 lead on Hernan Perez's two-run single in the top of the ninth inning. The Braves had a runner on base and two out when the game was called because of rain. Instead of reverting to the last completed inning, the game was ruled a 6-5 Detroit victory. For Atlanta, Matt Lipka -- McKinney (Texas) HS teammate of Dodgers prospect Zach Lee -- entered the game late. Lipka struck out in both at-bats, but threw out Perez at the plate in the ninth.
-- There was an example of a spring appearance that most likely meant virtually nothing.
The Diamondbacks defeated the Dodgers 4-1, scoring three runs in two innings against LHP Clayton Kershaw. See me in August to find out how Kershaw's doing then.
-- There were injury updates.
Angels fans might have breathed more easily when the team said OF Josh Hamilton, on crutches Tuesday, would miss just two weeks because of a strained calf muscle.
Mets LHP Jonathan Niese went back to New York to have an MRI exam on his shoulder.
Orioles 3B Manny Machado will have his injured left knee reevaluated March 18, two weeks before the season is scheduled to begin.
-- There was the retirement of a player we didn't even know still had been thinking about playing.
RHP Carl Pavano, who didn't pitch last season, announced that he has retired. Thanks. We'll all go and cross him off our fantasy draft lists.
-- There was a move that probably means nothing to either big-league team, or any fantasy team.
The White Sox claim RHP Maikel Cleto on waivers from the Royals.
-- There will be even more games Thursday.
Still, not every team will be in action. Nineteen major league extended rosters will be well used in 12 games. Those include a Red Sox doubleheader against first Northeastern University and then Boston College. The Diamondbacks will split into two squads, probably with at least 25 players each, going against the Cubs and Dodgers hordes. The Marlins also have a college opponent, meaning that they might have at least one two-game winning streak in 2014.
* * *
Hockey. The NHL came back! Part of my team did. I remained at 67 points, but moved two points closer to second place because the current second-place team dropped to 74. My players totaled minus-10. Now I love Jarome Iginla as a player, and he did have a power-play assist Wednesday, but he still managed to be minus-3 by himself.
* * *
Basketball. Team Fresh Prints moved into a 6-1-1 lead. Despite shooting better than 50 percent from the field, it still trails .5094-.5026 in field goal percentage. The tie is in blocks. My best hope there is Serge Ibaka, but he has just two games remaining this week. However, Carmelo Anthony, David West and potentially Raymond Felton are scheduled for three more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)