Here are the latest injury updates for two key NL players:
- Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager will miss the next one to two weeks with a sprained knee, tweets Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. While this is good news for the rookie, the club had originally hoped the injury was even more minor. They opted to perform an MRI earlier today after he showed up with continued pain. Seager’s availability for Opening Day isn’t expected to be affected. Per team president Andrew Friedman, he’ll return to action “as soon as he’s asymptomatic.” The Dodgers alternative shortstops are a weakness with Enrique Hernandez atop the depth chart. Last year, in limited work at second and third base, he was well below average. That doesn’t bode well for him succeeding at shortstop, although it’s fair to note the tiny samples involved.
- Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman isn’t expected to miss any time after leaving yesterday’s game with an apparent wrist injury, reports David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Freeman elaborated on the injury, saying that it was actually on top of his right hand rather than in the wrist. He felt a “twinge” on a checked swing but felt no pain when he tested it 20 minutes later. While this particular incident looks to be a non-issue, O’Brien did share a few worrisome details about Freeman’s offseason. He felt soreness in his wrist through the end of last season. To give it rest, he didn’t take any over-hand batting practice over the winter. Given his cautious approach over the offseason and this spring, Freeman’s wrist health does appear to be a story to watch.
10 days in and half the starting pitchers and half the infield is injured. They’ll need 40+ players to get through the season and probably 12 starting pitchers. The 25 man roster is becoming outdated. They’ll soon need to expand it.
I’ve always felt MLB should expand rosters to 30 with a 5 player inactive list. You can put whoever on that 5 player list as long as they’re on the 30 man active roster. You think an average game: 4 other starting pitchers don’t play, you use a max of 4 bullpen arms from a traditional 7 man bullpen so that’s another 3 pitchers not used. Maybe 3 (2 if using DH) bench players at the most to leave 2 (1) from a traditional bench not playing to leave the current “25 man active roster” only down to the absolute most for an average 9 inning game at 14. Give some of these pitchers who definitely won’t be used off days while still being able to have a true “25 man” supply of pitching available. I could see some teams hiding a 3rd catcher on this inactive list. A player gets the day off? Send him to the inactive list without shortening your roster. Service time is the same as long as you’re on the 30 man roster.
My brain hurts. If expanding the number of available players is so important, why not simply increase the active roster to 30? Not that it’s needed anyway.
I don’t think any MLB teams, especially the low budget teams, will agree to burn 20% more service time for the same amount of games. Teams with low budgets or no depth will have more young guys with their options burned with less than 400AB or 60IP over three seasons while playing defensive replacement/pinch runner or bullpen depth instead of developing in the minors. More guys would be hitting free agency with smaller track records. For most decent minor leaguers, that’s also less time playing everyday and more time watching the big boys from the bench. Calling up guys to be sixth OF, second/third UIF, fourth catcher or ninth bullpen guy is too much for me. Players will want the service time used(of course) whether they’re on the field or not, and teams will be wanting to add another minor league option to all players(or something to that effect) and I just don’t think there’s enough PAs at the big league level to justify opening that can of worms…
Kike is a SS by trade and played well at short. A majority of his starts were in the OF. Below average is a strong statement due to sample size. He’s a plus defensive player in his small sample size at SS and did a good job in center. If Seager is out for an extended period that will be a blow, but Kike did enough to earn more at bats
Why not tell the major leaguers to stop being sissies! If they put clauses in their contracts that they wouldn’t get paid unless something was torn or broken, then we might see players staying on the field! Of course it’s not all the players but come on!
And it’s certainly not these two either. Freemen’s injury was exasperated by his refusal to rest. You can’t be a very good batter with a wrist injury.
Seager still has the enthusiasm of a rookie that just got a starting job in the majors.
I know you said not all players are like this but it would have helped if your statement was made in an article that actually brought up a player who really IS like you said
It’s Spring Training dude.
too many crybaby rules being put it. roster is fine as it stands. stuff happens. mlb turning into an over 50 female 16 inch softball league. slide rules, protective netting, replay, speed up the game. stupid. according to mlb they set attendance records every year. billions coming from new tv deals. whats to fix.??
This is the first time I’ve seen someone moan about protective netting.
Really?
Ya that’s right. You aren’t a real sports fan of you can take a ball in the grape at over 80 mph.