A quick look around the East Coast…
- Nationals ace Max Scherzer is eligible to come off the injured list Monday, though that’s unlikely to happen, per Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com. Back troubles have limited Scherzer to one start since July 6, but he is making progress in his recovery. The three-time Cy Young winner began a throwing program Friday, tossing 25 balls at 70 feet on flat ground.
- One of Scherzer’s new Nationals teammates, just-acquired reliever Roenis Elias, suffered a right leg injury running down the first base line Friday, as Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post was among those to cover. “He was told not to swing, about as many times as I could tell him in Spanish and English,” manager David Martinez stated. “But he’s competitive, you know? He said sorry to me.” While Elias suggested it’s not a serious ailment, he’s unsure if he suffered a hamstring pull or just a cramp. The Nationals will re-evaluate him Saturday. In better news, the left-hander did contribute to the Nationals’ victory over the Diamondbacks where he’s supposed to – on the mound – as he retired both batters he faced.
- This has been an injury-ravaged year for Blue Jays left-hander Ryan Borucki, whom elbow issues prevented from making his 2019 debut until July 22. Borucki’s season is only two starts old, but he’s already back on the IL with elbow inflammation. The Blue Jays now plan to consult with famed orthopedist Dr. James Andrews in regards to Borucki, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet writes. Andrews performed Tommy John surgery on Borucki in 2013, and the hurler required another procedure to remove bone spurs from the joint in 2015. The 25-year-old’s latest injury has stopped him from building on a solid 2018 in which he pitched to a 3.87 ERA/3.80 FIP in his 17-start, 97 2/3-inning major league debut.
- The Mets had been considering using shortstop Amed Rosario in center field, but that’s off the table for the time being, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. Rosario will stick at short because his recent performance at the position has encouraged the club, manager Mickey Callaway said Friday. Fielding metrics haven’t liked Rosario dating back to last year, his first full campaign in the majors, as the former top prospect has combined for minus-31 Defensive Runs Saved (minus-15 in 2019) and a minus-11.2 Ultimate Zone Rating (minus-6.0 this season). The 23-year-old Rosario has at least upped his offensive production this season, though, having hit a respectable .276/.316/.438 (99 wRC+) with 11 home runs and 12 steals (18 attempts) in 432 plate appearances.
Rosario is awful on D. the worst in MLB and it isn’t close. Can’t steal, not much of a HR or OBP threat. Please upgrade over the winter
I have no statistics in front of me but the worst and it isn’t even close seems like a stretch.
Agreed
Did you not read through to the end or the article? Stat line is there in case you missed it. .316 on base is steadily going up for a 23 year old, 11 home runs and 12 sb. Don’t post about a player you don’t know about if your not even willing to make it to the end of the article
Rosario is still awful defensively and still isn’t much of a HR or OBP threat. Those comments still stand. However, he is a good base runner.
Mets have 2 other SS in their system (GIMENEZ & MAURICIO) so until their ready Amed stays put!
Torres would be worse if he played ss everyday
SS always seems like a position guys grow into defensively
Look at Dansby he really turned it around
Maybe a little time & patience with the young kid
He’s looking better lately ( passing the eye test)
And to think, Rosario was one of the key players the Marlins wanted for Realmuto, and the Mets wouldn’t part with him (Nimmo for that matter too). That’s one the Mets will be kicking themselves over.
Hindsight is 20/20 my dude. Nimmo was a beast last year and they were counting on the same this year. I was not high on Rosario but he was their starting SS and idk if there was any clear upgrade that they could get at a reasonable cost.
Nimmo had a nice year last year, but despite his production there always was skepticism by many. I remember reading and hearing a lot about him being a 4th outfielder at best because he struggled against lefties. As for Rosario, he’s basically having the same season this year as he did last. His defense has always been question and the Mets seem to love Gimenez. They’ve been pumping him out for the past few seasons. We’ll never be sure exactly what the Marlins wanted from the Mets, but if those two were the headliners, it really makes you scratch your head.
You have little, to absolutely no, idea of what you’re talking about. Rosario was known as a glove first player coming through the system, much like Gimenez. Rosario was a top 2 prospect in baseball and you’d like to shove him aside for less than 2 full years. Imagine if the White Sox had the same idea with the man that sat as the top prospect ahead of him? He turned it around his 2nd full season… and go take a peak at Rosario the last few weeks.
This Nimmo skepticism is funny as well. It was never discussed among any Mets fans or front office during last year. His splits last year ended up being lopsided toward RHP, however, he hit for a better power and average against LH starters. His OBP was still a .351 vs all LHP last year.
It’s arguable that if Nimmo was healthy and didn’t have a major injury concern, he would start ahead of Conforto (you want to talk about an atrocity vs LHP).
Rosario was a top 2 prospect in baseball? I guess I missed that one. He may have shown flashes in recent weeks, but the fact remains he’s been dreadful defensively throughout his major league career. A hot week doesn’t change that.
As for Nimmo, I can recall plenty of skepticism of his ability to stick as an everyday outfielder. He was an upgrade to Conforto in CF defensively (although his defense was suspect) and he lacked the power of a corner outfielder. A lot of his value came as a pinch hitter because of his ability to get on base, especially to start an inning.
You’ve failed to address anything I said. I said Rosario was always a glove first prospect coming through the ranks to respond to your claim his defense was always in been in question. Young guys need to adjust and there’s no way you can write him off already. If you didn’t even know of his prospect rankings, how can you comment like you know the player well enough to tell us where his career is going?
Nimmo was not your prototypical power hitting corner OF, sure. He hit 17 HR in his first full year with an OPS+ of 148. There’s no way he could possibly improve his power to be a 20-25 HR guy. How awful of a player to have in your starting lineup!
I never said his defense has always been in question. I said since he has been in the majors his defense has been dreadful. I also never made any mention of writing him off. Sure, he could be successful, but if he was headlining the return to the Marlins for a trade for Realmuto, I think the Mets would’ve done pretty well. Especially, when the Mets were willing to deal two blue chip prospects for Edwin Diaz and Cano’s contract.
Bro, that’s exactly what you said! How could you possibly deny something that is right there in writing for everyone to see? Bizarre. You’re also – as the guy replying to you has stated – deeply misinformed. Quit while you’re ahead.
You got rid of the Expos, almost withdrew the deal, and now you’re not only having a team share its home games w Montreal. But you’re also having the formerly located club wear throwback uniforms. Ridiculous
credit to Roenis, he’s a competator. i woudlnt regret going hard for one second if i was a pitcher and injured myself running or hitting
It’s time for the DH to come to the NL
I am not a big fan of it but these pitchers are being forced to do something they have not done since high school/college
The risk of injury to these pitchers is to high to justify having the NL STRATEGY argument anymore.
You probably hate tanking in mlb right? He same people that hate teams for non competitive behaviours want Pitchers to not swing so they don’t get hurt… brilliant logic.
Have any of you been to a major league practice? What do you think pitchers do all practice? Do you think for 3 hours they all just throw bullpens? Here’s a possible idea? Maybe have them run a little bit so when they’re asked to run once a month they’re unathletic bodies don’t snap at every joint.
No professional sports league in the world has Pitchers hit except the NL
It’s over face it
They don’t do it thru the minors at all & by the time they get to the majors majority of them can’t even bunt
Rosario is 23. You can see him improving and maturing steadily – everyone should relax. The team knows if he’s working hard and has the right attitude – if so, this is how guys develop.
Remember that the Nats bullpen is still a black hole. Rizzo just throwing whatever he can come up with to close this hole. They will ultimately not make the wild card as their bullpen will be exhausted in September Sad. And then we have Rendon and Strasbourg to worry about
I am waiting to read where people give Mickey Callaway any credit. After all the first half was all his fault. Shouldn’t this run be credited to him.
People seem to think that the in game moves is how you evaluate a manager. When in reality, right or wrong about a move is based on results.
A manager is really held hostage to the players producing.
His real importance is in how he keeps a team together as they face the tough times.How he is able to meld together different personalities and work to help each face their own tough times.
I think many fans are so used to playing fantasy baseball they don’t realize the daily human element that goes into managing.
When players perceive their manager is looking out for them in the context of competing they are far more apt to stay together and produce like these Mets have done.
Good job Mickey