Back in April, when Delmon Young received a seven game suspension for drunkenly walking around New York and yelling things at people, I was willing — perhaps naively — to believe that some of the suspension was for his public intoxication and that it meant that MLB was finally getting serious about alcohol-related incidents. Unless…
Mark Reynolds and Orioles manager Buck Showalter were both ejected from last night’s game against the Tigers following a controversial play at first base in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jhonny Peralta was initially ruled out after hitting a grounder to third base. However, Tigers manager Jim Leyland came out to argue and the…
At some point there was a little bit of optimism about Victor Martinez potentially returning from knee surgery to play this season, but two weeks ago the Tigers said that was unlikely and today they officially ruled it out. Team trainer Kevin Rand told Jason Beck of MLB.com that Martinez has run out of time…
Today’s minor moves, courtesy of Baseball America’s Matt Eddy..
The Diamondbacks signed right-hander Brett Tomko. The 39-year-old was released by the Reds earlier this month after posting a 3.78 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 in 12 Triple-A starts.
The Diamondbacks also signed third baseman Matt Mangini, who was recently released by the Rays. Mangini was with Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate but has been assigned to Double-A Mobile. The 26-year-old had a cup of coffee in the majors with the Mariners in 2010.
Tigers outfielder Don Kelly cleared waivers and accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Toledo. Kelly was outrighted after being DFA’d on August 3rd.
The Twins signed right-hander Eric Hurley, who elected free agency from the Angels last month. The 2004 first-round pick was once viewed as a high-ceiling prospect but has yet to appear in the majors since a five-game stint with the Rangers in 2008.
Keith Law is still catching hell from Cardinals fans over his 2009 Cy Young Award ballot which they (erroneously) believe screwed Adam Wainwright and/or Chris Carpenter out of the Cy Young Award. That’s not his problem. He’s wrongfully accused of hating every team’s fans at some time or another, but Keith votes his mind and…
It’ll be a short-lived lead, but Max Scherzer fanned 10 Twins over seven shutout innings Wednesday to move past teammate Justin Verlander for the major league lead with 178 strikeouts. He’s gotten there in just 140 2/3 innings, while Verlander has racked up his 174 strikeouts in 175 2/3 innings. If Scherzer maintains his current…
For the eighth time in his ten seasons, Miguel Cabrera reached the 30 home run mark. His shot Wednesday afternoon helped the Tigers to a 5-1 win over Minnesota. Miguel has never reached 40 homers in his career, but with about six weeks left in the season, he has a decent chance to reach that round number. His single season high stands at 38.
Miguel is not close to making the top ten list of home runs hit through seasonal age 29. You will notice that most of the top players through that age did not go on to set home run records. Only Henry Aaron, who is tied for seventh, went on to hit 700 dingers. The history of young hitters with big home run totals is that they burn out. I thought Alex Rodriguez might avoid that, simply because he was so far ahead of every one else. Injuries took their toll on him however, like they did on his former teammate Ken Griffey, Jr. Aaron’s teammate, Eddie Mathews, had more home runs than Aaron through age 29, but came no where near Ruth’s record.
My point is that Miguel’s career total of 307 home runs doesn’t look gaudy, but neither were the totals of Bonds, Aaron, or Ruth through that age. Miguel might be the kind of player that surprises at the end of his career.
Miguel Cabrera got to 100 RBI last night. On Wednesday, he reached 30 homers by taking Minnesota’s Cole De Vries deep in his first at-bat. In so doing, he became the first player in Tigers history to reach to hit 30 homers in five straight seasons. Surprisingly enough, just 18 different Tigers have had 30-homer…
I really like the lineup Jim Leyland is using for Detroit today. His top four hitters all hit for average, get on base, and hit for power. He uses a perfectly good lead-off hitter in the ninth slot. I’d probably switch Delmon Young and Omar Infante, but by batting Infante eighth, the Tigers restart the tough part of the order just as the pitcher thinks he’s going to get a break, and that gives the Tigers six good hitters in a row.
It was shutout Tuesday, apparently. Let’s tally the goose eggs: Yankees 3, Rangers 0: Hiroki Kuroda with the two-hit shutout. He was masterful, but man, there were a lot of ill-advised Texas swings in the parts of this one I watched. Either Kuroda had them more fooled than someone on the foolingest day of his life [...]
It was shutout Tuesday, apparently. Let’s tally the goose eggs: Yankees 3, Rangers 0: Hiroki Kuroda with the two-hit shutout. He was masterful, but man, there were a lot of ill-advised Texas swings in the parts of this one I watched. Either Kuroda had them more fooled than someone on the foolingest day of his life [...]
Tied with Josh Hamilton for the major league lead at 99 before tonight’s action, Miguel Cabrera struck first Tuesday, knocking in two runs in the Tigers’ 8-4 defeat of the Twins. Hamilton was held without an RBI as the Rangers were shutout by the Yankees. Still just 29 years old, Cabrera now has nine 100-RBI…
White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy has taken three complete-game losses on his way to going 9-8 with a 3.04 ERA this year. The only other pitcher in either league with more than one is Justin Verlander, and he has two. CSNChicago’s Chuck Garfien has the full rundown on Peavy’s string of bad luck this year, [...]
While right-hander Jacob Turner, the biggest piece the Marlins received from the Tigers in last month’s Anibal Sanchez-Omar Infante deal, continues to toil in the minors, the Marlins announced Sunday that they’re going to give his batterymate, Rob Brantly, an opportunity starting Tuesday. Brantly will be called up to replace fellow catcher Brett Hayes on…
Jesus Montero took the normally unbeatable Jered Weaver deep twice Sunday as the Mariners topped the Angels in Anaheim 4-1. Weaver entered the day having won nine straight starts. He was 8-0 with a 0.92 ERA at home this year and 15-1 with a 2.13 ERA overall. His only previous defeat came in Texas back…
Jesus Montero took the normally unbeatable Jered Weaver deep twice Sunday as the Mariners topped the Angels in Anaheim 4-1. Weaver entered the day having won nine straight starts. He was 8-0 with a 0.92 ERA at home this year and 15-1 with a 2.13 ERA overall. His only previous defeat came in Texas back…
Derek Holland got angry with himself after starting off poorly Saturday night, and ended up out-pitching Justin Verlander as the Rangers beat Detroit 2-1.
After not recording an out with his first nine pitches of the game, Holland recorded 23 outs with his next 93 pitches while attacking early and often with a perceptibly zippier and better-commanded fastball; it was, in fact, the best velocity he’s displayed in any home start (93.3 mph average; 95.7 mph max) since the beginning of April, and he coupled it with a more confident/aggressive approach in that he consistently attacked both left- and-right-handed hitters with up-and-in heat that the Tigers didn’t seem entirely prepared for. Yeah, he missed a few times over the middle of the plate and was fortunate that he didn’t get burned for those mistakes, but it was Holland at his very best (7.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 1 HR), and it was the sort of performance that tends to rejuvenate all manner of hope as far as Holland “figuring it out” and taking the next step forward.
Holland’s walks and strikeouts are fine, he just gives up too many home runs. If he can keep those to solo shots, like he did last night, he should be able to live with that.
Before the season, we identified 11 players who were entering “make or break” years. These guys had experienced ups and downs in their respective careers and were positioned to re-establish themselves as difference makers at the Major League level and set themselves up for nice paydays in the future. Now that we’re into August, let’s take a second to check in each player (all links go to MLBTR posts)…
Scott Baker, Twins — Baker, 30, had elbow surgery in April and will miss the entire season. Minnesota will likely decline his $9.25MM option for 2013 (no buyout).
Phil Hughes, Yankees — The 26-year-old right-hander owns a 4.10 ERA in 131 2/3 innings this year, including a 3.40 ERA since mid-May. He’s a safe bet to be tendered a contract for 2014, his final year as a arbitration-eligible player.
Jair Jurrjens, Braves — Jurrjens, 26, pitched so poorly earlier in the season that he had to be sent to the minors. He’s since resurfaced and owns 6.89 ERA in 48 1/3 innings, cementing his status as a non-tender candidate.
Adam Lind, Blue Jays — Lind has battled back problems and also been demoted to Triple-A this season, and he’s hit .227/.298/.394 while with the big league team. The 29-year-old continues to disappoint since signing his four-year, $18MM extension prior to 2010.
Francisco Liriano, White Sox — It’s been another up and down season for the 28-year-old southpaw, who owns a 5.03 ERA in 111 innings. The Twins traded Liriano to the ChiSox at the deadline.
James Loney, Dodgers — Loney, now 28, hasn’t helped himself at all this season, hitting just .251/.301/.330 in 327 plate appearances. He might have to settle for a minor league contract this coming offseason.
Kendrys Morales, Angels — The 29-year-old is hitting .282/.327/.455 with 14 homers on the year, well below the level he established prior to his leg injury in 2010. Morales figures to be both a trade and non-tender candidate after the season.
Mike Pelfrey, Mets — Pelfrey pitched to a 2.29 ERA in three starts before needing Tommy John surgery. The Mets are expected to non-tender the 28-year-old after the season.
Geovany Soto, Rangers — The 29-year-old backstop has continued to deal with injuries in 2012 and is hitting just .201/.289/.356. Soto is an obvious non-tender candidate.
Kevin Youkilis, White Sox — Youkilis lost his starting job with the Red Sox and was traded to the White Sox, who are likely to decline his $13MM option after the season. The 33-year-old has dealt with nagging injuries and is hitting .238/.339/.427 overall.
Delmon Young, Tigers — Young, 26, has had a below-average season at the plate (.266/.298/.402) and has dealt with some off-field problems. He hasn’t helped his free agent stock any.
Let’s keep track of the day’s minor transactions right here…
The Tigers have released Matt Young according to the International League transactions page. The 29-year-old had one double and nine strikeouts in ten at-bats with Detroit earlier this season, but they designated him for assignment and then outrighted him last month. Young hit .212/.363/.276 in 369 Triple-A plate appearances this season.
