Congrats to all the players who were named 2018 All-Stars tonight, including 14 players who will be making their first-ever appearances at the exhibition game! The Red Sox, Astros and Indians lead the way with five All-Stars apiece, while Mike Trout, Craig Kimbrel, Chris Sale and Justin Verlander lead all players in this years cast in experience; it’s the seventh selection for each of those veterans.
The All-Star selections aren’t the only news of tonight, though. Here are a few other quick hits to take note of…
- Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig departed tonight’s game after experiencing pain in his side during an at-bat. According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group, the team is calling it a “right intercostal oblique strain.” It’s not clear yet how much time Puig will miss (particularly since the intercostals and obliques are completely different muscles), but he seems likely to require a DL stint. There’s no firm news yet on the teams plans, though.
- The Giants got some good news and some bad news today regarding a pair of players who were hurt in today’s game; Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group was among those to tweet the specifics. The bad news is that Pablo Sandoval is believed to have suffered a thumb sprain. He’s set to be evaluated tomorrow in order to determine the extent. of the injury. The good news, however, is that Gorkys Hernandez’ situation is being described as simply a “tight left calf”. The club doesn’t think it’s anything serious, so it’s likely he’ll miss little time, if any.
- Center field and right field for the Indians have been “somewhat of a mess, a revolving door without much consistency,” writes Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal. Lewis notes the injury situations of Bradley Zimmer and Lonnie Chisenhall in particular, and lists external options such as Adam Jones, Nick Castellanos, Billy Hamilton and Adam Duvall as theoretical trade targets for the Tribe. Manny Machado has also been on the club’s radar, and could theoretically push Jason Kipnis into the outfield mix, as he has some experience there.
- David Lennon of Newsday has some strongly-worded opinions about what he thinks the Mets ought to do with Jacob DeGrom and Noah Syndergaard prior to the trade deadline, writing that, “To stand pat with this group, in a market nearly devoid of reliable starters, would make the Mets guilty of criminal negligence in their efforts to put this debacle of a season behind them.” Though Lennon’s phrasing seems a bit hysterical, he does make a solid point in noting that the emergence of Zack Wheeler and Steven Matz makes it easier to part with either of their more established (and less controllable) starters.
Sad Betances missed ASG, after making it last 4 years.
He has not been scored on over past 18 games, and leads AL with 15.83 K rate per nine innings. Perhaps if a pitcher is dropped, Betances could get the call.
Betances has a 2.56 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 17-68 K/BB in 38.2 IP.
Well Verlander was dropped, but Bauer got his spot. The yanks have enough Allstars as is so you should be alright.
Thank you Appreciate the update!
I lost all hope. Especially many those were inherited runners Chase Shreve allowed to score.
Blake Snell, Charlie Morton and Colin McHugh would be ahead of Betances if a pitcher needs to be replaced for the AL.
Definitely agree on Snell. That’s a head scratcher.
Eh, It wasn’t on his throwing arm so maybe he won’t go on the DL. After all he hit a bomb today with the hurt thumb
PABLO IS THE BEST CRIPPLE HITTER I HAVE EVER SEEN.
ya he rules. best bad ball hitter since vlad
Bold prediction: Austin Jackson traded from Texas to Cleveland.
I agree with this suggestion…cheap and he was liked in Cleveland
Was going to post the same suggestion.
And just who goes to make room for him?
In that scenario, Guyer. Which I’m okay with. He needs to be gone yesterday.
No thanks, already have the Rajhi reclamation project there and the Napoli one failed.
If they didn’t already have Rajai Davis on the roster I’d agree with you. Tribe needs someone in that OF besides Brantley who can hit.
Uh, Naquin is having a good season. Why does it seem that he’s overlooked all the time?
Batting .260 with no pop at all is not that great. Heck for a Punch & Judy hitter like that they could put Yandi out there… 😉
Sandoval still raked even after the injury.. I think he’ll be alright
I was at the game with a perfect view of Pablo at the hot
Corner. Not only did he rake post thumb jam, he made two very good fielding plays. Fun day at the yard, except that the rookie Black got destroyed!
I was there too! Yeah Black got rocked but it was fun to see him throw!
He looked visibly nervous and jittery even from tv, I think he’ll be alright with a few more big league innings under his belt.
Lennon never mentioned which pitchers are more controlled than others. In fact, it is Wheeler with the least controllable years left, only having this year and next. DeGrom has this year and two more, and Matz and Syndergaard have this year and three more. So, the least controlled is Wheeler. Also, the quote you use doesn’t offer the point of the article, which is that the Mets have very little talent in the farm system and the other trade chips they have wouldn’t bring the talent necessary to retool.
You have to start somewhere, though. Every additional year of team control for both aces makes that retool/rebuild period that much shorter.
I think they absolutely have to trade deGrom. He’s at the height of his value and while it would be tough for fans, he is already 30 a full 6 years older than Syndergaard. The problem becomes finding him a home as most of the contending clubs don’t need an ace. The one that stands out to me is the Yankees, and they have the prospects but I’m not sure they could come together on a deal of that magnitude.
Yup. I say it everyday. Branch Rickey once said that its better to trade a player a year too early than a year too late. The Yankees have the prospects, but they want to play games in the press. Now they’re after Machado, because, their lineup needs work. Here’s a team that is hoping its starting pitching holds up, and they are in on Machado. LOL. Anyway, JDG is the best out there, and whoever wants to recognize that can have him.
So many issues with this post. I’ll just point out the mistake in the last sentence where he says Zach Wheeler is more controllable than deGrom or Syndergaard.
Pablo might actually be underrated for the first time in his career. Many casual fans still think he’s garbage, but he’s been raking, could be the best bench bat in the NL once Longoria comes and takes his job (which I hope never happens)
That’s funny
What’s funny?
Last few deadlines is the same. Mets will not trade these starters…but if they do its only 1.
You might as well forget about Billy Hamilton or Adam Duvall going to Cleveland unless they go somewhere else first. The Reds owner will not deal players to the Indians because he doesn’t want them starring in Ohio with another team. It’s a foolish position to take, but even the Reds announcers have mentioned it. And before anyone asks, no I do not have a link because I heard it on a Reds broadcast.
They’re hours apart and they don’t even play in the same league. I believe what you said, but that’s just a crazy reason to not trade with someone. Especially if their hypothetical offer would be the best.
Totally agree with Michael Chaney as a red fan if the haul is good enough why not
I agree completely with you. But Bob Castellini has said that he doesn’t want Reds stars ending up as stars so close to the Reds. In a way, it makes sense. Small market owners realize they have to sell off players more often than their big market counterparts. Castellini is afraid that Reds fans in central Ohio (Columbus, for example) could start following the Indians if their favorite player were traded there. It’s paranoid for sure, but you can’t sort of see the logic behind the thought.
That’s a funny stance to take especially since they basically stole Brandon Phillips from the Tribe.
Wait, a worn out arm and bucket of BP balls is stealing him?
I thought the Reds and Indians made a Shin Soo Choo trade not so long ago? If it’s been done once it can be done again.
True, but that was a three way deal where the Reds players were sent to Arizona instead of Cleveland. Well except for Drew Stubbs and he was never a star in Cincy. The owner just doesn’t want Reds star players in Cleveland. Billy Hamilton qualifies as a star in Cincy, Duvall might also but if either were traded it would be him. This whole thing was talked about almost daily when the Reds were shopping Jay Bruce a couple years back. The Indians really wanted him, but the Reds refused to even talk. I totally agree that this is foolhardy, especially since they are in different leagues. But everyone has their bugaboos including MLB owners.
Don’t want Hamilton in Cleveland anyway.
Why not? It’s the hottest show on Broadway!
Ditto.
You want Jay Bruce back? We can cut you a good deal…:-))
The Reds owner will never have to worry about either of those players being stars.
Will the Mets get back the haul that this guy obviously expects? I don’t want to trade them unless the Mets get back an overpay and/or someone mlb ready. I just don’t see the rush to force a trade
The tribe certainly would be better suited with Jackson then going after Castellanos (as the post suggests). Castellanos’ awful defense is the kind of thing that is easily exposed in the playoffs, just look at how much they ran on a declining Jose Bautista a few years back.
Every article/post that is either for or against trading Degrom but that doesn’t at least provide the reader with some sense of what the writer thinks the Mets could get back is worthless.
If I’m the Mets, Chris Sale is the closest comp to what I’m looking at. Which contending team can/will make that kind of offer? (Doesn’t help that of the 14 or so teams that might look for a big upgrade 3 are in the Mets division and the 4th plays across town).
I agree with that. Don’t make the trade unless a team overpays
Never, ever, ever, ever would I think anyone would be concerned about Gorkys Hernandez being unavailable to play.