There are currently 52 starting pitchers on the disabled list, and it’s costing teams money as well as production, Yahoo's Jeff Passan reports (Twitter links). Executives estimate teams will spend $500MM on injured players this year, so let’s hope they took out some insurance. Here are today’s links…
- Blue Jays infielder Omar Vizquel wants to manage at the MLB level next year, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports. The 45-year-old 11-time Gold Glove winner said he'd like to manager close to his Seattle area home or for a team with which he has pre-existing ties. As Morosi points out, Mike Matheny and Robin Ventura are doing just fine this year despite their relative inexperience managing professionally.
- Orioles outfielder Endy Chavez will report to Triple-A early next week, according to MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli (Twitter links). Chavez decided to stay in the organization instead of electing free agency, and the Orioles expect him to be back with the MLB team by the time rosters expand in September.
- ESPN.com’s Buster Olney wonders if Travis Hafner’s tenure with the Indians could be over now that he’s on the disabled list and his contract is about to expire.
Would be cool to see Vizquel manage the Indians. I don’t think the Mariners are going to fire Wedge, and the Giants aren’t going to get rid of Bochy.
Still would rather it was Sandy Alomar, Jr. myself.
Don’t get all the love for Alomar. Was a pretty terrible 1B coach last year.
I didn’t know it was possible to be bad as a first base coach. Isn’t he only responsible for taking batting gloves, elbow guards and reminding runners on first of the number of outs?
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reminding runners on first of the number of outs?”
Yet more times than one can count Indians players made outs on the basepaths last year for not knowing either the situation or how many outs there were. This year those errors have nearly been erased. Coincidence? Possibly, but not a big believer in that.
Tribe fired Dave Nelson back in 1997 because of how bad he was coaching at 1B (personally not sure what coach could reel in Manny Ramirez though).
Does Alomar being a bad 1B coach mean he can’t manage? No. But the Mets were content letting him walk (wouldn’t even make him a full-coach) and multiple teams have passed him over as manager already. Perhaps he will make a great manager though, we’ll see.
That’s all I was wondering. I didnt see enough tribe games to make judgement, but it seems like it should be a tough job for someone with 20+ years of professional ball to screw up. But those are valid reasons…
Valid points. I haven’t seen enough tribe games to see those mistakes (or improvements sine Alomar left). And I guess I was underestimating how bad a 20 year veteran could be at coaching first.
Thing with coaches is the best tend to be guys that weren’t the best players.
Eddie Murray is one of the greatest hitters in MLB history. One of only 4 players to ever hit 500 HRs and 3000 hits (Aaron, Mays, and Palmerio). Yet he was a terrible hitting coach with Cleveland and was fired. Then went on to the Dodgers and was fired.
Haven’t heard anything bad about Alomar as a bench coach though. Then again, who ever hear anything about a bench coach? lol
Mariners probably don’t fire Wedge…though they should.
not to bust on Buster but ‘Hafner done with Tribe?’: ya think? that’s like reporting Cubs/Angels looking to move Soriano/Wells contracts.
it’s like his article that says josh hamilton could be back in mvp race with trout, whose rangers are battling for first place with the angels.. try again buster, they’re not just battling with the angels
I think it would be silly to just dismiss the idea of him coming back at a much cheaper salary than what he is currently making. A million or two for a guy who has been a solid .800+ OPS DH isn’t a bad deal, even with the injury risk. His current contract doesn’t prohibit him from being a good value on his next one.
Agree Jason. I mean yes, it’s a 100% certainty that his option will be declined, but even if Hafner was healthy all year it was going to be declined. Team like Cleveland can’t give an aging DH-only $13M. I agree though that they could bring him back on a $1-2M deal. Tribe doesn’t really haven’t a lot of good options at DH next year.
I think they should resign Haf for maybe a couple million. Then they should re-sign Sizemore for 5 or 6 million, too. I’m really feeling like next year is the year, and it would be foolish to let them leave and finally be productive somewhere else. Then they can patch up their holes with Miguel Cairo at 3B and Marlon Byrd in LF and contend in 2013! No need to address pitching in the offseason because I hear Ubaldo plans to work with new pitching coach Niebla and regain a few ticks on the ol heater, and Carlos Carrasco had a few starts before Tommy John where he was looking like he might be that 15-20 win pitcher we need. And if not, don’t forget we still have David Huff.
What about Chisenhall at 3B?
I was being sardonic, but it’s revealing that in mocking the Indians, it was so in line with how they actually think that nobody even noticed.
Dude, lay off the kool-aid!!! Sizemore is gone. Hafner is gone. Byrd and Cairo? You don’t even know who they Indians are! Someone names Chisenhall ring a bell? And LF, I’d rather see LaPorta or Donald before Marlon Byrd! Carlos Carasco, the same Carlos who is 10-15 with a 4.90+ ERA in the bigs is going to be a 20 game winner? With the run production this team puts out there? Really? And no need to address pitching? Josh Tomlin has been destroyed this year, Jeanmar Gomez last half a season, Ubaldo Jimenez is maybe a #4 starter now. Justin Masterson has yet to show he is a staff ace. David Huff is 15-25 with a 5.50+ ERA as a starter. And Fausto, err… Roberto Hernandez is not coming back in 2013 unless he pitches Cy Young-esque to close out 2012. So… You have how many pitchers?
These “inexperienced” managers are doing well huh? I guess that throws out the theories on Ryne Sandberg, eh? I mean, afterall, he is just a Hall of Famer. I’m sure he has no idea how to run a baseball club. (Not)
By what criteria are Matheny and Ventura “doing just fine”? I’m not arguing the point, I just wonder what the standard is for a manager to being “doing just fine.”
If it’s a .500 record or better, then it seems seasons veteran managers Ozzie Guillen and Bobby Valentine are doing quite poorly. If it’s a lack of negative buzz from the clubhouse, one might imagine that Jim Tracy and Ned Yost are in the running for Manager of the Year.
Ventura took over a team that had a solid history and reputation, and is doing well in a fairly mediocre division. Matheny took over the World Series champions, so it’s hard to give him too much credit, especially when his team is in third place in another mediocre division.
I don’t know much about managing, but personally I can’t really stand watching Joe Girardi (especially his bullpen management), and yet his team is one of the best in the league.
Sorry. Done ranting.
It’s a good rant and a valid question. No qualms here. ;)
As a Royals fan, I would be more than okay with Vizquel managing Kansas City over Ned Yost.
Possible Vacancies: Kansas City and Houston (almost certainly one will be open), Cleveland (if the tribe finishes in fifth), Miami (maybe…), Philadelphia (if Manuel retires), Milwaukee (Ron is likely to get one more year, though), Colorado (If this four man rotation blows up in Tracy’s face), San Diego (Black likely has one or two more seasons, though).
Again, I could see him managing the Royals. Young core. Alcides Escobar to mentor. Losing franchise looking for a new leader. I could see it.
I have a feeling you’ll hear a LOT of Omar to Cleveland talk if the Tribe keeps struggling. Personally don’t think Acta has done a bad job (can’t win without talent), but if Omar wants to go to a team that he played for….well, SF isn’t getting rid of their manager, neither is Chicago or Toronto (just hired guys), nor are the Rangers…
Leaves Cleveland and Seattle (Wedge should be fired). Seattle is the team I think makes the most sense personally.
Vizquel would be a very good manager. He has a warm hearted personality highlighted by funny dance moves, can be a great mentor for young middle infielders, and is used to handling multiple personalities because he raised multiple livestock at his home.
Agree. In a way he’s a bit like Guillen….except without the crazy outburts/insensitive comments. lol