As the calendar flips to May, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Is Harper back?
Phillies superstar Bryce Harper is reportedly set to visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache today for evaluation with the possibility of Harper returning from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent back in November, on the table as soon as tomorrow. The former NL Rookie of the Year and two-time MVP provided the spark for Philadelphia’s improbable run to the NL pennant last year by launching 22 hits (including six homers) in 17 postseason games. The Phillies could certainly use the boost that Harper would provide, as the club has started the season just 15-14, good for fourth place in the NL East.
2. Will Judge avoid the IL?
After an MRI revealed reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge has a mild strain in his hip, the Yankees decided to be cautious with their captain, who has not played the last three games in order to rest the injury. The club has indicated that the final decision on a potential trip to the injured list is expected to come later today. If Judge is placed on the IL today, the Yankees will be able to backdate the move the maximum of three days, meaning Judge could miss as little as one more week. Still, even that much missed time would be a serious blow to the Yankees team that ranks just 23rd in the Majors in runs scored. New York is tied for last place in the AL East with a 15-14 record.
3. Miguel Rojas to return:
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated yesterday that shortstop Miguel Rojas is set to be activated from the 10-day IL today, so long as he feels good after his last rehab game. The Dodgers swung a deal with the Marlins for Rojas’s services this past offseason with the intention of using Rojas as a glove-first utility player, though Rojas’s initial role became far larger than that thanks to Gavin Lux’s torn ACL during spring training. As the club’s regular shortstop, Rojas scuffled badly to a .125/.200/.156 slash line in 35 plate appearances before going on the injured list. Upon his return, he’ll split time at short with Chris Taylor and Mookie Betts, who has spent more time in the infield in recent days and has passed the eye test so far defensively.
Judge will be fine, no one has ever had to give up playing sports due to a hip injury.
Umm. Remember Bo Jackson??
Sure, I always used him in Tecmo Bowl-Unstoppable.
Well, that hip injury certainly stopped him!
@rememberthecoop-It sure did. Bo was never the same, he was finished!!!
Great game. Wasted many a day when I should’ve been in college classes, playing those seasons. For whatever reason, the Packers had Bob Nelson, a nose tackle, that you could put in as a running back, and he was almost as good as Bo!
And so we’re the many squirrels he blew to bits.
Albert Belle.
A ton of hockey players have.
Probably some race horses too.
I’m honestly starting to think that we’ll soon have specialized players like the NFL in baseball, given that there is big money in guys like Judge, as he goes and slides on a steal attempt and hurts himself. Wouldn’t be surprised that we have a runner on the side waiting for the batter to hit and then the runner runs for the batter.
That would be ridiculous. Football and hockey are full contact sports, hence lots of changes. Basketball. soccer and baseball arent.
@RSmith
Of course it would be ridiculous, however, think how some of the old-time fans felt when the AL said we’re using a DH for the pitcher position when they made the switch. They probably thought it was ridiculous as well but here we are cheering for more DH positions.
Thats one change in 150 years, anot wasnt to protect a player from injury. It was instituted because a professional hitters are far more exciting to see, than a guys who’s job it is to pitch. No one wants to see a place kicker go out for passes either.
@RSmith
No one wants to see a pitcher bat? I saw many people on here alone, suggesting they don’t want the DH in the NL so I doubt your statement is correct, however, again, I’m saying it’s a change that was made by the league.
I actually do want to see pitchers bat. There are some that are good at hitting. Plus almost every club already has junk hitters batting 7-9 in their lineup anyway.
“No one wants to see a pitcher bat” Is not what Im saying.
Are you saying that it was done for safety reasons? One league changed for safety and the other league didnt for another 50 or 60 years? OHSA would not have been happy.
Fans disagree with everything. Nothing new there. But linking pitchers batting was done for safety reasons is incorrect.
Sure lots of fans like watching pitchers batting. Did they make the change due to safety reasons?
This is going to takeoff right away from the point isnt it.
@RSmith
My original point was that I wouldn’t be surprised if we have specialized players and you said it was ridiculous. Then I pointed out that people would have thought having a DH for a player on the field was ridiculous yet, somehow, we’re here. I don’t see why you’re having trouble understanding this.
Youre leaving out the part I thought was “ridiculous”.
Let me remind you:
“given that there is big money in guys like Judge, as he goes and slides on a steal attempt and hurts himself. Wouldn’t be surprised that we have a runner on the side waiting for the batter to hit and then the runner runs for the batter.”
A pinch runner for every/select batters would be ridiculous and the only reason to do it is for the safety of high priced players, when they already have insurance is ridiculous.
@RSmithThe extra innings runner on second isn’t as ridiculous as that, BUT, it’s still ridiculous and was done. And has no signs of being removed unfortunately
There is one that is “good at hitting”. And he plays DH. No other pitchers were “good at hitting”. Ken Brett, arguably the best hitting pitcher pre-Shohei, was 6% worse than the average hitter.
We already have the MLB testing a designated runner… so I guess the MLB doesn’t think of it as ridiculous as you would think.
mlbtraderumors.com/2023/04/mlb-to-experiment-with-…
Every team in the league would wheel out Dmitri Young and Prince Fielder types to bat. Then when they went to play the field it would be a bunch of Yu Changs. — That would be “ridiculous”.
‘extra innings runner’
That rule change is to ‘speed up’ the game not for safety. Follow the conversation.
eighty raw:
Are you using selective words in my quotes, just to dumb down my comments.
Did you just say:
“Ken Brett” is a “worse” hitter than “other pitcher”.
Ken Brett was a great pitcher who could hit. What are you talking about?
@RSmith
It’s not only to speed up the game. It’s to remove those extra long games to save the health of the players. The players supported the plan for safety reasons, yet it’s still a ridiculous rule from little league that is being used by professionals.
RSmith…………
I have always been against the DH and my favorite laughable argument from the other side has been “a guys who’s job it is to pitch.”. No….his job is to play baseball, just like every other member of the team…..ya know….the game…..the whole game……catch, throw, field, run and hit.
BTW….professional hitters are professional baseball players just like professional pitchers and should play the whole game, not DH.
Good for you. Does this relate to my point? Not once did I say I was in favor or against the DH. I didnt even bring the subject up.
My point for at least the 3rd or 4th time: That DH was added to create more offense, NOT to protect players from injury.
I don’t want the dh, period Players are treated like glass. If they were little things, like how not to trip over 1b, don’t slide head first, call for the ball, etc , we’d probably get to see more of the top players on the field.
RSmith. It wasn’t for safety reasons. It was to get more offense in the game. To hell with defense in manfred’s book.
Manfred is already toying with the idea of a pinch runner for anyone. Then the player who was subbed for gets to re-enter the game, just like they do in high school because there aren’t enough players on the team. I hate Manfred.
@brews: the zo.bie runner is straight out of softball. I’m waiting for Manfred to add a tenth player on defense: short center. Oh, wait. That would ad more defense and Manfred is totally against that.
You sure are jumpy, RSmith. You noticed I used quotes. So maybe I wasnt quoting you…or do you think that highly of yourself
Maybe I was replying to the person that said, “I actually do want to see pitchers bat. There are some that are good at hitting.”
Wouldnt that make a bit more sense?
And no, RSmith, I did not say whatever you are suggesting I said. Here are the three facts I shared: Ken Brett was a worse hitter than Shohei; Ken Brett was a better hitter than all other pitchers; Ken Brett’s career wRC+ was 94 – as a hitter he was 6% worse than the average hitter
Eighty Raw:
And I didnt say what you said I said. You took my words and butchered them to something I didnt say, and I did the same to you.
I didnt do anything to your words, RSmith! I was quoting the commentor “Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman” who said, “I actually do want to see pitchers bat. There are some that are good at hitting.” What do you not understand about this? They were not your words! You inserted yourself for no reason!
RSmith, Soccer is a pretty physical sport. And, for a non-contact sport, so is basketball.
avenger65 Soccer IS NOT as physical as Football or hockey. I dont know what your talking about.
Runners will be substituted and the player will be allowed to bat again, will be allowed in the Major Leagues in a few years according to “avenger65” “eightyraw” “catmando”.
I dont get it, why do you think its going to happen and how soon?
People just want to stay in their comfort zone. They heard “DH” and “changed” and went nuts. Who cares if its way off the mark of what the conversation’s about, let them have it.
RSmith, I only made 1 comment TO A DIFFERENT PERSON about pitchers being bad at hitting. It was not to you. It had nothing to do with you.
But since you are so badly wanting me to join your discussion, substitute runners are being trialed by MLB this season in the Atlantic League. I’m not against specialization in the sport. I want to see the best do what they are best at as often as possible.
Eighty Raw:
Are you new here? specify when you talk in a long thread, this system sucks and it makes everyones message seem directed to everyone in the thread, and theres no way to tell who its to.
One way to tell is if someone used quotes and you didnt say the thing quoted, the message probably wasnt about you. Wild, right?
And since we are giving orders here, don’t make everything about you.
I sure hope not. I get why you’re thinking that, but that would make a mockery of the sport, IMO. The casual fan already thinks that baseball players are “soft,” so we don’t need more fuel on that erroneous fire.
They’ve started using a DR in the minors to test this out already. Very sad
See the experimental rules being tried out in the Atlantic League this year. They include a designated pinch runner that can be inserted at any time.
There’s nothing more exciting than watching a pitcher bunt. Or watching a team walk the 8-hitter to get to the pitcher who can’t hit.
The Yankees have around 360 million reasons to find a technicality to void Aaron Judge’s contract and kick him off the team.
The Ace Inhibitor strikes again!
Looking for special pelvic clause in the Judge and agreement.
More like the ‘No Oversized Fragile Soon To Be 31 Year Old Playoff Chokers’ clause.
If you think the Yankees are trying to find a reason to void Judges contract, then congrats, you’re the only one. He passed a physical. Correa had several hang ups due to his leg. If Judge had any issues that would’ve put any clause like that in his contract, it’d of likely been reported on. Because the Yankees would’ve likely tried to rework his deal to either be shorter or have that clause, but either way, it wouldn’t have been finalized without a good delay from negotiations.
@Ace_
Need to get back to the days of if you ain’t playin’ you ain’t gettin’ paid.
Those days are over and ain’t coming back. Move into the 21st Century with the rest of us oldtimer.
Judge will heal. The Yankees will likely not. Terrible team construction by Cashman, and mediocre managing by Boone. There’s no excuse with this type of payroll to be rolling out a lineup with this many players who simply cannot hit. I don’t mind a couple of glove-first players. But too many on the roster are neither glove first or bat only. They just offer next to nothing.
Seven Clete Boyers in the lineup don’t get the job done.
I keep hearing about the situation in which Aaron Hicks either bunted or attempted to bunt with 2 outs last week. Anyone know the true details about that play?
It is May 1st guys, take it easy! Season has barely begun.
@notagain27
May 1st? That means we’re 92 days away from the trade deadline. The stove should be hot soon enough.
Trout & Ohtani to the Pirates!
I would normally agree but the Rays are off to such a hot start that it may be difficult for the Yankees to take the AL East… or any other team for that matter.
What do A’s fans dream about? They took away the Tanking team gets number 1 in the draft… When is the rule 5 draft?
They dream about if Jac Caglianone will be available at #1 overall in the 2024 Draft. Getting out of the Coliseum will instantly boost their offense.
Who thought signing Judge to a massive contract was a good idea?
Oh, Yankee fans. That explains it.
Melchez is a skipping record with his Yankee fan complaints. Guy lives for it. What a sorry life.
At this point, Bryce is the greatest Phillies player in history. It’s no longer Ryan Howard.
@Ace_
I thought the greatest Phillies player in history was Ed Delahanty? A.K.A. The GOAT. Judge, Ohtani & Ruth didn’t come close to this guy.
It’s the NEXT train stop, Eddie!!
I really hope that was sarcasm, Ace.
Mike Schmidt? Steve Carlton? Pete Rose? Jim Bunning?
Harper may pass them all except Lefty. But he’s not there yet.
And Mookie continues to amaze. What a player!
I would say Mike Schmidt still holds that distinction. Maybe Harper can get there but it will be difficult. It would probably take just one more lost season to doom the effort.
Mike Schmidt is the greatest Phillies player of all – time. It’s possible that Harper can surpass that in the future. Ryan Howard is not in the top 20 Phillies of all – time.
He averaged 50 HR and 143 RBI from 2006 – 2009 and also gave a huge hometown discount to stay in PHI. You’re welcome.
Hometown discount lol! It was a very player-friendly contract given to a one-dimensional overrated player.
Howard had a really amazing peak from 2006-2011 but his career didn’t last long passed that because his drop off was almost as impressive. I challenge you to compare Howard to Mike Schmidt. Im not trying to be combative because I really think you will change your mind if you do.
Schmidt didn’t ever hit 58 home runs in a season but he was successful consistently for much longer. On top of having one of the most potent bats in baseball he was also a great fielder. During his days it was almost a meer formality to have a team of judges decide who would get the third base gold glove. There really is no contest on this. Howard is far removed from Schmidt.
Ace………….
A 4 year stretch is your defense saying Howard is the Phillies GOAT? Really? Really?
Sorry but Howard will never even sniff the HoF. His WAR is 14.7 where as my childhood favorite Phillies player (also #6), Johnny Callison had a WAR of 39.4. and is #12 on the Phillies all time list.
All I can imagine is you are very, very young and know nothing about the history of the club to make such a ridiculous claim the Howard is the Phillies GOAT….SMH.
Raul Ibanez gets an honorable mention.
Now you are just being a “Summer’s Eve” on purpose, Ace. Raul get’s and mention as a pretty decent player and nice guy…that’s it.
Just wait until Anthony Rizzo lands on the IL next with a back issue within the next month.
If only Aaron Hicks and Israeli Diner-Falafel could get a back issue, then Yankees fans everywhere would rejoice!
I don’t think I’ve ever hated another Yankee more than Aaron Hicks in recent memory aside from Javier Vasquez lol