Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka left his start against the Mets on Friday after five innings because of stiffness in both hamstrings. He’ll undergo an MRI on Saturday to determine the severity of the issue, though odds are he’ll require a stint on the disabled list, Randy Miller of NJ.com suggests. Tanaka suffered the injury on the bases, thus cutting short a performance in which he allowed one run on one hit and a walk and struck out eight. The 29-year-old’s amid a second straight underwhelming season from a run prevention standpoint (4.58 ERA), but losing him would still be a significant blow for the starter-needy Yankees, who already lost lefty Jordan Montgomery for the season (and some of 2019) earlier this week.
- Given that it’s likely in the market for a starter, New York has come up as a speculative fit for Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. However, if Hamels’ home run issues don’t subside, the Rangers will have trouble getting much back for him in a trade, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News observes. The 34-year-old is currently yielding 1.93 homers per nine, well above his career mark (1.04) and the American League average for starters (1.23). Hamels has still logged a respectable 3.86 ERA, but his secondary numbers are less encouraging. He’s not exactly teeming with trade value, then, especially considering Hamels’ ability to block deals to 20 teams and his $22.5MM salary this season (plus either a $20MM club option or a $6MM buyout in 2019).
- Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier expects to return from the disabled list around June 20, according to Bill Chastain of MLB.com. The defensive standout has been on the shelf since suffering a torn ligament in his right thumb on April 15, thus limiting him to 48 plate appearances so far. Fill-in Mallex Smith has performed respectably in the aggregate (.271/.340/.351 with 11 steals in 211 PAs), but his production has dropped off a cliff this month. The Rays, meanwhile, have lost eight in a row since May 31 to fall six games below .500.
- The Orioles will activate reliever Darren O’Day from the DL on Saturday, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. O’Day has been out for over a month with a hyperextended right elbow. With Baltimore well out of contention, the 35-year-old O’Day could spend the next several weeks auditioning for other teams as the deadline nears, though he’s still under contract at $9MM for next season. Meanwhile, teammate and impending free-agent reliever Zach Britton could return as early as Monday, Matheson notes. Britton hasn’t pitched at all this season after suffering a ruptured Achilles during the winter.
But the strategy of having the pitcher hit… ridiculous why anyone would want to have the pitcher hit
National League team owners.
the boy ain’t right
Nice name.
It’s ridiculous. Fans don’t pay money to watch a pitcher look like a fool in the box. I don’t care about strategy. When I go to the ballpark I want to see offense not a pitcher create a category 5 hurricane on a swing and miss
Sheev Palpatine…..There are some of us who believe a baseball player, especially a pro, should be required to field, throw, run and hit……all players. There are position players throughout MLB and MiLB who can’t hit a lick but they are still required to step up to the plate. Pitchers should do the same.
Yeah then why don’t they let the pitchers hit the minors?
“Yeah then why don’t they let the pitchers hit the minors?”
I will repeat what I said….”There are some of us who believe a baseball player, especially a pro…”. Last time I checked MiLB players got paid and are professional ballplayer….they should be required to hit. I know the AL teams will never get rid of the ridiculous DH. I just hope the NL never caves in and adopts it. If you want to play the game…play the whole game.
They do
It just depends on two factors
One, are they playing against the national league team or an American League team
Two, the dh is an abomination and should be removed
“If you want to play the game…play the whole game” so by this logic position players should be able to pitch as well.
“so by this logic position players should be able to pitch as well.”
Ahhhh…..resorting to reductio ad absurdum. It’s not a good look.
I never said that nor does my statement lend to that “logic”. I said “should be required to field, throw, run and hit”. I never said players should be interchangeable, In no way shape or form can that be construed as suggesting all players should pitch.
Have a nice day
Cat I agree with ya. I’d rather watch pitchers hit in both leagues. MLB will never drop the DH in the AL, as you pointed out. NL games are more interesting. AL games would end quicker which is something MLB is trying to combat (length of games). Again, it would never happen. But you nailed it; guys should be able to hit, run, throw/pitch and field.
You non Dh idiots should read this:
amazinavenue.com/2013/5/9/4306744/designated-hitte…
Amen
You’re being obtuse. No one expects a CF to pitch. Or a 1B to play SS. But some of do expect batters to play the field and field players to bat.
Nice try though with the straw man thing.
Whatever. With every pitcher that gets hurt swinging the bat and running the bases, the closer we are to having a DH in the NL
Yes because it’s so interesting watching a pitcher strike out
If the NL doesn’t use the DH that’s fine, but don’t have interleague games. Really not fair for AL pitchers to suddenly have to bat and run when they’re not used to it.
I just wish the rules were the same in both leaves .
Sorry, leagues !
Myself, I don’t like the idea of trying to shorten the game! I say the longer the better. I once saw a Cards game go 19 innings
and it was incredible . Yes, I know it was very hard on both teams
Really the purity of the game argument? So by that logic we should judge a pitcher by how they hit and teams should decide if these guys are major league ready by the way they hit.
Hold on we don’t do that, why? Because pitching is a rare skill and overrides what anyone can do with a bat in there hands. Thus the DH so you can value a pitcher properly and still not watch him hit. Also the argument that a SS can’t hit but is still in the majors is a 20 year old argument. Sabermetrics has proven that fielding means much less then hitting so SS’s that hit 200 don’t last in the majors anymore. Get out of your WWII bunker. The world had changed a lot.
Well said
jellbuc….You and Sheev sure have a hard time with logic. Not a thing I said suggests “we should judge a pitcher by how they hit and teams should decide if these guys are major league ready by the way they hit.” Not one thing. My opinions do suggest that you take the good with the bad.
Every position in baseball at the pro level is a rare skill in case you hadn’t noticed or there would be 500 guys slashing 325/400/600.
Nowhere did I mention SS either there are OF’s, catchers etc valued for their gloves etc who still play most every day.
Really, the age argument. You are a cute as cazarmlbrumers and his idiots comment.
I, and many others have an opinion that ballplayers should be required to play all aspects of the game. It is a plain and simple opinion held by many, young and old…deal with it and refrain from put downs unless you would like to start a s–tstorm of back and forth.
Sheev made a statement “ridiculous why anyone would want to have the pitcher hit” and I provide one of several reasons yet it seems that those in favor of one dimensional players take it personally. Sounds like a maturity problem to me.
Have a nice day, I’m done playing in the kiddie pool.
Are you threatening me Master Cat Mando?
Oh I love people that question maturity then make comments of the exact same ilk. And by your offense to the age question you definitely confirmed your answer to that question.
And your getting caught up in your own bs. I’m not saying you said any of those arguments I’m saying that would be the argument if anything you said made sense. No one enjoys a pitcher hitting. That’s just time off for the opposing pitcher and time to get a beer for everyone else.
Yea, this argument is a closed case. We can all agree that the DH is bad for baseball and be abolished in North America.
Oday has a good veteran track record but his trade would probably be more about shedding the remaining salary than bringing back something of value. Britton is the wildcard because if he comes back dominating he could be worth Chapman deal range but if he struggles to command that sinker the Os will have to take a chance on a mid level prospect.
Kevin Keirmaier, the most over rated player in baseball.
Well he’s no Jon Jay
Oh, that’s a hornets nest that you’ve stirred up now! LoL
Hamels will return more than people think.. He is a proven commodity.. He was NLCS MVP, he’s pitched in big games, he competes. Teams value that crap..I think he brings 2 top 100 prospects. One in the 40-60 range and one in the 75-100 range..
No way in hell he does. He’s owed 20 mil for the year and is having an average season. Nobody looks at stuff like NLCS from 2008 or 2009 in 2018 that doesn’t apply.
Then the Yankees can shop elsewhere. Cheapskates. You want Hamels? Blow the Rangers. Away.
You wanna get something for him or nothing?
The Yankees aren’t the only team that thinks his way. Hamels FIP is almost 5.50 his B.B./9 is the highest in his career at 2.0. Hes allowing more hrs than ever in his career. He’s making 20 million with a 6 million opt out and he is 34 years old. His ERA vs Advanced metrics show he has been extremely lucky to have a 3.60 era and he’s really closer to a 5 ERA pitcher. But yeah here’s a few top 100 prospects cause he’s a real “gamer.”
Sorry B.B./9 is 3.3*
I think teams will really value that. Yu Darvish brought back a top 80 player but what did he accomplish 9 years ago? I think teams are taking a look at Hanley Ramirez as a speed option off the bench as well. 27 Sbs in 2009.
speed?
It was sarcasm him saying looking at hamels performance in ‘09 is like looking at Hanley in ‘09 stealing bases. It’s irrelevant to the here and now.
Yup, 10 years ago!
No. Handle won’t get the Rangers the haul they think they’ll get. He’s owed too much money. He’s haven’t a mediocre season, at best. And he’s giving up a ton of home runs, which in Yankee Stadium, would only go up. So, no, he won’t bring back more than a couple of middle-of-the-road prospects, unless they want to throw some cash in with Hamels.
If the Rangers would be willing to take on Jacoby Ellsbury’s contract or at least a large chunk of it in a trade with the Yankees I’m sure they would be willing to give up a couple solid prospects for Hamels
I’m a Yankees fan and that’s just crazy talk. Texas shouldn’t have to and in no way will.
Then they should only expect a couple mediocre prospects in return for Hamels. Taking on another teams bad contract or packaging Hamels with another player are the only ways the Rangers will get a decent return
You’ll very surprised what they’ll get cause they pretty much have a few teams over a barrel.
Then no Hamels for you. Come back…never.
The Rangers only received one good prospect in return for Darvish last year who was several years younger than Hamels and a better overall pitcher. Hamels by himself probably only nets 2 of a teams 10-15th ranked prospects
I’m not sure if it wouldn’t be in a team’s best interest to find the best 12 pitchers and group them into “teams” of 3-4 and then use them to pitch. Each pitcher could go 2-3 innings, and you wouldn’t have to deal with innings limits, pitch counts, etc. Just come in, blaze away for 2-3 innings, etc. I’m sure there’s some team thinking about it somewhere. Kind of how I set up my high school rotation…just my opinion. “Starters” and “Closers ” may not like sharing duties, but aren’t those just labels?
Dude, like the Orioles pitching has been phenomenal the past couple weeks. Question is where has their offense been? Isn’t this the team that’s usually hitting 200 jacks a year? Who is their hitting coach and, so yeah, he’s probably the most incompetent coach they got. Can’t blame Showalter. By the way I’m an Angels fan.