On the heels of the NL’s eighth-inning comeback in this year’s All-Star Game, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Romano exits:
Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano departed the All-Star Game yesterday in the seventh inning due to lower back tightness. As noted by Shi Davidi of Sportstnet, Romano is poised to meet with the club’s training staff today upon his return to Toronto. Blue Jays relievers currently rank fifth in the majors with a collective 3.68 ERA, thanks in no small part to Romano, who sports a 2.87 ERA, 3.07 FIP, and a majors-leading 26 saves. Left-hander Tim Mayza, right-hander Trevor Richards, and right-hander Erik Swanson are among the club’s other options to handle the late innings if Romano misses any time.
2. Robert scratched:
White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. was scratched from yesterday’s All-Star Game after feeling some tightness in his calf while participating in the Home Run Derby on Monday, the club announced yesterday. Robert defeated Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman 28-27 in the first round before falling to Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena in the semifinals 22-35. Per the White Sox, Robert will be reevaluated prior to Friday’s game against the Braves in Atlanta. The 25-year-old Robert has become one of the game’s brightest stars by combining strong defense in center field with a .271/.330/.569 slash line that’s good for a wRC+ of 143. Oscar Colas and Adam Haseley appear to be the club’s most likely options in center should Robert require time out of the lineup.
3. What’s next for Cruz?
After being designated for assignment earlier in the month, Padres DH Nelson Cruz has now been released. Despite that most recent setback in what has been a difficult few seasons for Cruz, ESPN’s Enrique Rojas indicates the now 43-year-old veteran has no plans to retire at the moment and would like to continue playing. Cruz struggled significantly with the Nationals last year, posting a .234/.313/.337 slash line with a wRC+ of just 85 that represented his first below-average figure since becoming an everyday player back in 2009. Cruz’s attempt to rebound with the Padres this year was similarly ill-fated, as his .245/.283/.399 slash line in 49 games this season made for an identical wRC+ of 85. Any club that signs Cruz at this point would only owe him the prorates league minimum for any time spent on the big league roster.
It sucks for your team when you get injured in an exhibition game.
Obvious WSox just playing out the schedule, but Robert should have brushed off his buddies lobbying to participate in HR derby given his injury history.
Stinks that he’s injured, but what is he playing for? They’re not trading him and what are they playing for this year? A good showing earns some cred on a national stage.
He’s playing for an MLB team paying him a lot of guaranteed money regardless of where they are in the standings. Lot of his tenure has been on IL. It also helps playoff contenders stockpile some cheap wins down the stretch if he were to miss time or play at a lesser version of himself during his strongest season by far.
I bet you’re really fun to have as a teammate in city league softball.
He’s playing because he’s a professional. What are the A’s playing for? The players on that team, who know they are likely going to finish with 100+ losses, still show up and play hard, from what ai can tell from the few games I’ve seen. The Sox, especially last year when LaRussa turned the Sox into a tense, demoralized team, had a player or two who didn’t exactly rush back from the IL.Grifol is not the man to get them to play cohesively. They should have hired A.J. Hinch when they had the chance (no replies from Tiger fans who are not happy with him).
HR Derby, playing the OF, tripping over 1b, slipping in the shower, a cramp on his right(throwing) hand from signing autographs, there is no end to the ways WSox players injure themselves. 26 HR, 50 or so RBI in his first real full season. I knew it had to be too good to be true.
It sucks for your team when you get injured.
It can happen any time, anywhere.
Dear Brewers
Sign Cruz NOW!!!
“…poised to meet with the club’s training staff…”
Love the dynamic action phrasing here.
But, but… if they didn’t play the All Star Game, Romano would never have been injured.
Time to ban MLB players from playing in the WBC, All Star Games, Spring Training, etc.
An injury such as his was waiting to happen if that’s how easily it happened.
I get the whole Diaz thing where he was injured doing a non baseball activity. But a baseball activity injury is likely to happen, even if it was throwing a couple warm up pitches at the cottage
Old York was kidding.
Not necessarily an injury “waiting to happen”.
I know I was adding on as I agree with him.
That’s the worst statement I’ve ever read if that was your intent.
Yeah! No more baseball players in the all-star game or spring training! Let’s “ban” them from participation!
I hope your posts are sarcasm. If not…eek.
@Sideline Redwine
It was. I was poking fun at those who cried about the WBC and injuries it caused and how we need to stop then until we started to see guys get injured in ST and so on and so on.
Don’t forget playing catch with their kid(s) in the backyard. There’s always the possibility of tripping over the garden hose or being attacked by a bird who thinks the ball is her egg or catching their hand on the screen door when it closes too soon. These guys are professional athletes. It’s their job. If it was me I’d be working out every day with personal trainers, taking yoga classes to stretch out, just doing things that would ensure I’d be able to do my job at the highest level I can get. Compare the players pre-1974, when there weren’t any players who made a million dollars to today’s players. They’ve got that money in they’re pocket and they’re not as worried about losing their jobs.
Or, along that line of thinking, put a clause in the contract that would financially penalize the player if he got injured in activities outside of playing for the team who signed him.
He lost 22-35?
Amen coop!!! This is American sports…you always lead with the winning score. This ranks high of my pet peeves when at a sporting event (usually lower level stuff, but have heard it a major college football and basketball games)
Yankees new LFer, Nelson Cruz.
Nelson, the writing’s on the wall. Kate has already sung. There is life after playing baseball.
Cruz had trouble with his eyesight last year or so. He got it fixed this off-season. .245/.283/.399 is better than a lot of players who can play defense but are batting .223. Are you listening, TA?
Can’t believe I’m longing for a Victor Reyes call up, but I am surprised that Adam Haseley keeps getting called up (he’s a fine JAG), when Victor Reyes is only a year older, has more MLB experience and is hitting .305/.360/.537 in AAA. Again, neither are long-term options, so why not bring up the better performer?
The elephant in the room. The Sox have zero depth.
Nick Castellanos played CF in the All Star game… pretty good for a guy who is “unplayable in the OF”.
Come on man, you’re using where he played in an exhibition game as an argument for your side? Castellanos has been, and will always be, a defensive liability… and that could be at third, or rf, or god forbid cf.
Yet… there he was… in CF with Soto in RF and Gurriel in left. Nick was in CF. I never said he was a gold glover or even a good defender… he’s just not “Unplayable in the OF”.
Can we at least agree that this is a BRUTAL defensive outfield?
He played CF because his manager only felt comfortable with using his own player out of position vs another teams
He played CF because he won a draw out of a hat.
Old take. Castellanos has been darn good in RF this season.
Rick Hahn the Con wants to sign him for 5 yrs $125m cuz we still got a chance
Waiting for the same people who complain about the WBC when a player gets injured to start complaining about the All Star game……
(see above)
I don’t like the rapid fire nature of the Home Run Derby and if i were a team i would be concerned with my guys participating in it. At least the old way was at a slower pace and you had 10 outs to hit as many HR’s as possible. Manfred has an unhealthy obsession with timing everything