Astros relief ace Ryan Pressly was removed from tonight’s Game Six action after apparently re-aggravating his balky right knee while fielding a ball in the third inning. It was enough surely to make the Houston faithful hold their collective breath, since Pressly missed several weeks after having that same knee surgically repaired in August. For the time being, MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart relays that the righty is day-to-day with “right knee discomfort” (link).
With tonight’s game still hanging in the balance, it’s tough to know whether that “day-to-day” designation might be a moot point, as a win this evening would allow the reliever a few days to heal in advance of the World Series’ first game on Tuesday. Placement on the injured list, however, would likely force the team to turn to Wade Miley for their Fall Classic roster, who was left off the team’s ALCS roster after giving up two earned runs in a 2.2 IP appearance in the ALDS. The superlative Pressly pitched to a 2.32 ERA (2.66 FIP) in 54.1 innings in the 2019 regular season.
More notes from around the American League…
- In other ALCS-related news, Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that Masahiro Tanaka should be available for a potential Game 7 scenario, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (link). Tanaka, much-hyped heading into Game 4 due to his impressive postseason resume to that point, ground through a five-inning, three-run performance on Thursday night.
- How much is a home run worth, really? That’s a question that has become du jour in modern baseball, as the prevalence of longballs has seemed to diminish the on-field value–and off-field earning power–of power hitters like Joey Gallo of the Rangers. But, as Levi Weaver of The Athletic points out, Gallo is a player for whom it would be particularly difficult to draw up a contract extension. Gallo, the only player in MLB history to hit his 100th career homer before his 100th career single, presents a vexing extension case: he’s still young (26 on Opening Day 2020), unconventionally productive (recording a 144 wRC+ in 2019 despite a 38.4% strikeout rate), and he’s dealt with injury concerns (missing 92 games this past season with wrist issues). Perhaps, more than anything, Gallo’s meaty home run totals project to make him an expensive year-over-year arbitration case, further fueling the incentive to get a long-term deal done on the Rangers side of the negotiating table. In a courageous effort to pinpoint Gallo’s value, Weaver proposes a five-year, $85MM extension, perhaps with a sixth team option year valued at $25MM. For what it’s worth, the slugger is projected to earn $4.0MM in his first pass through arb this offseason, according to MLBTR’s projected arbitration models.
While Gallo is unconventional, that doesn’t mean there isn’t value to be had. He improved his walk rate to 17.5% this year, he made hard contact more than 50% of the time, he’s actually pretty fast for a guy like him, and has even shown he can handle a position that demands good defense, that being centerfield.
I love watching Gallo hit bombs but they would be fools to extend him. He’s Chris Davis with athleticism and that scares the hell out of me. I’d be more inclined to see what kind of trade value he has.
Good comparison, though Davis’s issues have ALOT to do with his effort and approach. At least, that’s my assuming take.
twitter.com/1TimMurray/status/999500579985641472
The link provides a clip that has Jim Palmer show Chris Davis not keeping his eyes on the ball during an live, official game. It also has him mention that during spring training prior to that seasons start, Davis claimed to have worked with the O’s hitting instructor. Palmer eventually asked said coach about this and…. Yeah, no.
I was a ballboy when Davis was coming through OKC back in the day, so I met him and watched him play 60 feet from me at 3B. Davis doesn’t have one tenth of Gallo’s grace or athletic ability. Gallo is really smooth and fast where Davis was clunky and akward. It doesn’t mean I don’t agree that exporing a Gallo trade isn’t worthwhile, but he is no Davis. There is a reason Gallo can play CF so well.
Sure hope Pressly gets better now that the New York Dodgers, errr, Yankers chocked again.
So funny. Astro fan i imagine. Yes the Yankees choke tell that to the 27 world series championships they have to the 1 the Astros got. Some ppl think cause their team wins 1 championship they can compare or put down the greatest franchise in American sports history.
They certainly have a history to boast, but to say more is better means that your fine with them not winning one since 2009.
I mean, memories are great but don’t you want to enjoy the moment as present as you can get it?
That’s why I like the Astros slogan “Never Settle” because it implies that regardless of how many rings you do or don’t win, you should never settle with what you have. Always fight to win the year before moving on to the next, regardless of the outcome.
That’s not to say the original poster didn’t show any subtlety in their comment, which they didn’t. The main point of their comment, “The Yankees Lost” is partially correct (lost the 2019 ALCS) if you look past their mannerisms and biased way of saying so.
well according to the New York press and chris Russo they were going to win in five, also the astros were afraid to play in yankee stadium, lol
Houston can celebrate the 2 best pitching rotations are playing still. But also they were both supposed to be their if houston doesn’t win it its a failure they are by far the better team. I knew as a Yankees fan our team wasn’t as good. I just cant understand why our front office dont see it we need an ace not just know but for many years now. If we dont sign Cole this ofseason then it will be a failure specially if houston keeps him. I dont believe that the yankees believed it was going to be a 5 game series. Plain and simple Cashman is way too smart to believe his pitching was better. Am also not one to settle with the 27 championships but name me any other team that would have won 100 games with the most injuries in mlb history they did an amazing job with what they had.
Greinke cant pitch in yankee stadium. He scared.
Yeah, so show your concern for him the Yankee way. Throw something at him on the field.
Lmao they have a 200 million dollar payroll
2 DHs that make 50 mill combined
27 championships.. you guys have been saying that for a long time. You sound like Celtic fans.
“Back in the day, there was a team that would spend more than any other team and they’d buy the best players in the league. They would have these great players and they would win quite a bit. They went through a span where they won almost half the championships in a 50 year period.
Not so much any more… but they still spend lots of money.”
Gotta love the greedy. Go Enron!!!!
What does “27 world series championships” have to do with 2019?
Yankees’ choke? Houston is clearly the better team in this series. A shame Yankees’ fans can’t admit that.
LOLOL, don’t forget that more than half of those vaunted 27 rings came when there were only 10 teams in the league.
It was amazing what money could buy before TV money controlled the game.
27 championships blahaha
You mean you count the ones where there were 16 teams in MLB and 8 in each league where winning the pennant was the equivalent of winning the division. Hilarious.
The Yankees didn’t choke. They were simply BEATEN by a better team.
If you are a fan of the Astros and think the Yankees choked (or chocked) you are giving your own team less credit.
Astros – best three pitchers, most wins, home field. They were favored. This is about how the series was scheduled to go. Saying the Yankees choked makes no sense.
Tanaka available.
Good thing Tanaka is available tomorrow.
hahahaha
Sanchez showed his defensive chops this series.
He could always be dh. .100 average 11 k’s no walks. NICE
Now that the Yankees’ season is over, as a Sox fan, I’m curious. Would Yankee fans objectively prefer Boone or Girardi for 2020, assuming it really matters today.
Boone really pressed all the right buttons this season with a roster in flux throughout the entire season. What the Yankees did was very impressive. The players selected for the ALCS roster, were highly questionable however. Can’t fault Boone for that.
I actually was happy with the rainout that forced consecutive games as the playoffs should be played the same way as the regular season if you really want to find the best team. Unfortunately the game is controlled by the networks and team upper management. I really don’t how many pressed buttons were from Boone’s brain or just from his finger, implementing orders like a military sergeant. Soon, the MLB video game will start with selecting a GM that get you a group of core players to start your roster with.
I think that both teams appreciated that rain out. You’d rather have a starting pitcher, and for both teams formidable ones, over this bullpen game nonsense. I miss the days where postseason teams had 4-5 starting pitchers they could rely on to start games. Now the majority of teams only have 3.
Agreed Ruben. The season is played one way but then the playoffs are scheduled differently so you can stockpile relievers even more than in the regular season. Part of determining the best team was that number starter be it Steve Avery after the Braves’ big three for example. Natural rainouts are part of the sport and back in 75 allowed Boston to change its rotation and bring back Tiant and then Lee. It was nice to see win without one of their big three starting. Confirms what most already thought, they are the best in the AL this year. Congratulations to their fans which were amazingly loud tonight.
Boone
Who won a World Series in their first year?
Not Boone or Girardi that’s for sure.
You’re so right, I’ll definitely take the loss on that one. Second Year Girardi..WS championship, Second year Boone..not even close.
I am not a Yankees fan, but I think that Boone could have done a much better job of putting a batting order together. For instance, DJ LeMahieu is the best hitter on the team, but Boone has him batting 1st. He should be batting 3rd. Judge should bat 4th, not 2nd. Encarnacion should bat 5th. Those 3 should have been set in stone.
He was in the MVP discussion before getting hurt
Congratulations to the city of Houston and its team and fans. The Yankees are good but the Astros were available little bit better. Great hand even if it didn’t go the way I wanted it to.
FIRE BRIAN CASHMAN!!!
Cashman has not won in ten years. When is he accountable
Did you just hear a whistle? I think I heard a whistle.
I’d like the Rangers to make sure this year wasn’t a career year for Gallo before signing him to a big extension. His previous seasons weren’t very good and we already have one bad extension with Odor.
I’m not picking on Gallo but I totally agree. Each team seems to have more breakout stars because of the juiced regular season ball and expensive mistakes can handcuff a team moving forward. Ask Theo and DD.
How can you justify paying a guy 4 million this year if you are willing to give him 25 mil as an option in a few years? That’s a huge difference and just shows you know he is worth much more than 4 mil right now.
No reason to extend Gallo at such an exorbitant rate – it’s all risk for the team, with little upside.
Do the math – 4m this year, maybe 7m next, and 13m the year after, IF health and production keep up. So, 24m and no risk, for 3 years. But to lock in an extra 2 years you pay an extra 61m, and hope everything keeps going great??? Why?
Gallo hits homers, but, Mike Trout/Mookie Betts he is not.
As i ranger fan, gallo perplexes me. On one hand if u dont extend him and he has another season or two of improvements like he did this year, hes gonna get real expensive real fast. But if u extend him now and it was a fluke u windup in another odor or even worst chris davis type situation
In other ALCS-related news, Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that Masahiro Tanaka should be available for opening day next season
Hes available for game 3. Cole will pitch the opener and Baumgartner will pitch game 2.
Stanton, Ellsbury, Andujar, Voit, Hicks, and newly acquired ryu will be on the IL..
They need to take Gallo year by year, he’s Chris Davis all over again.
The strikeouts still alarm me. Not exactly a finesse kind of hitter.
I would give Gallo one more year to learn bat control however he won’t make the rangers a winning club until he learns contact.
I find it really funny that the same meatheads that were chanting “F@¢k Gerrit Cole” in Game 3 are now hoping that the Yankees will sign him during the off-season.
The Rangers need Gallo’s bat in the mix. They dithered without him after the All Star break.
They still would have “dithered” with him. The strikeouts would have increased due to more pressing.
I don’t see anything in this story about Professor Toru Tanaka.
The headline was deceptive.
“Here is Sub-Zero. Now… Plain Zero.”