Let’s check in on the latest from the AL Central:
- There’s good news for Twins starter Ervin Santana, as conveyed by Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press on Twitter. After putting a hold on his rehab assignment a week ago, Santana is now just about ready to begin throwing again and may do so as soon as tomorrow. The solid veteran hurler will still need to complete a full ramp-up before he returns to the majors, but it seems promising that his earlier setback has only required a brief respite.
- New Twins backstop Cameron Rupp has an opt-out opportunity on July 15th, per Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (via Twitter). That will give the team some time to assess its situation at the MLB level, and to get familiar with Rupp, before deciding whether to promote him. At the same time, it allows the backstop a chance to find a new opportunity before the trade deadline, if he doesn’t come up with the Twins.
- The White Sox are finally set to welcome back lefty Carlos Rodon, as Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets. It seems he’ll take a start this weekend, though it’s not yet clear who’ll end up being bumped from the rotation. Considered a can’t-miss prospect when he was drafted, Rodon zipped to the majors and has mostly been effective, with a 3.95 ERA over 373 2/3 career innings. While he surely could still iron some things out — in particular, limiting walks and long balls — the real question is his health after shoulder surgery late last year. Rodon has certainly bee in form on his rehab assignment, allowing three earned and carrying a 28:5 K/BB ratio in 17 2/3 innings.
- Indians lefty Andrew Miller seems to be making progress from the right knee problems that sent him to the DL. Per MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian, via Twitter, Miller will do some mound work today that will help with an assessment as to whether he needs a rehab stint. That seems generally to be a positive sign given the uncertainty when Miller was sidelined. Inflammation is hardly the most ominous diagnosis, to be sure, but in this case Miller has dealt with repeat problems in the same joint. He has also been unusually human on the mound this year, allowing seven earned runs and issuing an uncharacteristic ten walks over his 14 1/3 innings.
Is there something we don’t know about Cameron Rupp? It feels like he’s been banned from MLB.
He’s pretty awful behind the plate.
dWAR
Ever heard of it? Rupp is positive every season of his career.
Making friends as always. You have quite the way with words and being cordial while getting your point across.
At least Casey likes him, that’s something.
link to legacy.baseballprospectus.com I think the right word is horrendous. -13 framing runs is pathetic.
Because of their schedule, the White Sox have a bit of a conundrum when it comes to their rotation and who gets bumped to make room for Carlos Rodon. They had a scheduled off-day this past Monday and then played a doubleheader on Tuesday in Minnesota when Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito each pitched well. The White Sox do not have another scheduled off day until Monday June 25th which means they will be in a stretch that has them playing 21 games in 20 days.
Rodon made his last rehab start at AAA Charlotte this past Sunday and would not be in line for his next start until Friday in Boston versus Chris Sale. Dylan Covey is the scheduled starter but Saturday’s date is still listed as “undecided” when they face David Price. Covey has pitched pretty good in his three starts since being recalled from AAA on May 19th, allowing only 3 earned runs in 16.1 IP with 18 SO’s and 7 BB’s.
The starter who’s spot would appear most in jeopardy is Hector Santiago who pitches tonight in Minnesota. I’m guessing that his effectiveness will go a long way in determining who gets bumped from the rotation. If he pitches well the White Sox could go with a 6-man rotation for the time being with no scheduled off days for nearly 3 weeks. If Santiago pitches poorly then he could be bumped following this outing with everybody moving up one day starting with James Shields next Wednesday in Cleveland, all on normal rest.
If Santiago is ineffective or if the the White Sox simply choose to bump him anyway and go with a 5-man rotation when Rodon is added this weekend then their decision for its alignment will become clearer on Friday or Saturday. If they just let Rodon makes his first start this Saturday in the “undecided” slot then the rotation from that point on would be lined up as follows: Rodon, Lopez, Giolito, Shields, Covey. Their other option would be to have Rodon pitch on his normal 4 days rest and have him go on Friday night with Covey pushed back to Saturday. This would then align their rotation as: Rodon, Covey, Lopez, Giolito, Shields.
Either way, this could be their starting staff until July when Shields could potentially get traded to a contender if he continues to pitch effectively and when Michael Kopech might take his spot in the rotation, well beyond any concerns for him achieving Super Two status. Another scenario could also involve Carson Fulmer returning to the White Sox rotation. He’s pitched pretty effectively as a starter in AAA since he was optioned out last month when Covey was promoted.
Fables are supposed to be short and sweet. Good God Man.
Any real White Sox fan would appreciate detailed information as to the organization’s options relating to Carlos Rodon’s re-installment from the DL to the rotation and his impact on the current members, especially since nothing had been posted on their own official website when I made my initial comment.
If you are not a White Sox fan or just a troll I suggest you not read it. If you still insist and feel the need to dislike my comment and other quality ones on this site you could all f-off.
Oh believe me I didn’t, life is just to damn short…
Thanks for all the detail, I loved it!
That about covers it
And what happens when Miguel Gonzalez comes back?
Gonzalez had a setback from the inflammation in his right rotator cuff last month before he could begin making his rehab starts. He was subsequently transferred from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day DL on May 24th. His original stint was retroactive to April 19th which means he could potentially come off later this month. Even if his health improves, Gonzalez would still need sufficient time to go on a minor league rehab assignment which figures to be similar to that of Carlos Rodon considering all the time he has missed, likely 4 or 5 starts over a 2-3 week stretch.
Intelligent, detailed and civil observations about the White Sox are always more than welcome. At least by me. Please keep it up.
Pushing Rodon back from a major injury to have him debut in Boston seems like a very White Soxy thing to do.
Why not wait till Monday at home vs the Indians in the comfort of home?
Maybe because Carlos Rodon is the White Sox best starting pitcher on their 40-man roster. The organization has also been very conservative with his rehab since last September’s arthroscopic procedure on his shoulder, not rushing him during camp and letting him find his stride in Arizona extended spring training. He finally began his rehab assignment in the minors a few weeks ago, is sufficiently stretched out and has also been pitching extremely well in the process while employing all his pitches and with excellent command.
Is what way would that be characteristic of the White Sox? Care to share an example or two?
Andrew Miller…..fast becoming Cleveland’s version of Rich Hill.
Rich Hill was never overused nor creatively deployed like Andrew Miller. Nor has Andrew Miller ever spent months on the DL because of a blister. Miller has set the bar for this new wave of relief pitcher deployment, respect, and compensation. Show him the respect he deserves.
Miller hasn’t been overused in Cleveland, he’s pitched in less games than the several years prior to joining the Tribe. And Tito will never get him up to not use him, he only warms up if he’s going in; several times he warmed up in tight games and in the meantime they scored several runs, Tito still used him because that’s the agreement they have.
I was referring to going on and coming off and going right back on the DL.
Take a deep breath…..now exhale. Feel better now?
Buddy you knew what you were getting when you typed that comment. Troll
Great chance for Rodon to put the injury label behind him and build upon that front line pedigree. Pressure is off, and the starts are there for him to take. Looking forward to watching this young man develop into a dominant Pro.