Phillies manager Rob Thomson isn’t ruling out the possibility that Rhys Hoskins will play in the postseason. More specifically, the skipper told hosts on the WIP Morning Show that if Philadelphia makes it back to the World Series, Hoskins could be available to DH or pinch-hit.
The first baseman tore his ACL during spring training and has not played for the Phillies since last October. However, he’s taking batting practice and running the bases, and he appears to be progressing well. The possibility of his return remains a long shot – Philadelphia would have to make the World Series first, and even then, it’s no guarantee – but still, this is encouraging news for the club.
Hoskins has an .846 OPS and a 126 wRC+ in his career, both of which would rank second among qualified Phillies hitters this season. He was instrumental to the team’s postseason run last fall, clubbing six home runs and driving in 12 across 17 games.
In other National League injury news…
- J.D. Davis exited early on Tuesday night after a rough slide into third base. The Giants later informed reporters (including Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area) that the third baseman had suffered a shoulder strain, although the severity of the injury remains unclear. The 30-year-old has been San Francisco’s most durable player this season, leading the team in plate appearances and games played.
- Brewers rookie Garrett Mitchell was spotted on the field ahead of Tuesday night’s contest with the Cardinals. The outfield prospect has been on the injured list since mid-April, but he is hoping to return for the playoffs. The 25-year-old told reporters (including Adam McCalvy of MLB.com) that he could remain on the IL for the rest of the regular season but still make the postseason roster. He is awaiting one final medical appointment before he is fully cleared to return, and he seems optimistic about his chances to play some kind of role for the Brewers this October.
- Cubs manager David Ross spoke to reporters (including Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune) to provide an update on Jeimer Candelario. Chicago’s big addition at the trade deadline has been on the IL since September 11 with a lower back strain, but he could return as soon as this evening against the Braves. The Cubs could certainly use his switch-hitting bat in the lineup as they try to fend off their opponents in the Wild Card race over the final five days of the season. In other Cubs news, closer Adbert Alzolay is making progress in his attempt to return from a forearm strain. He is hoping to face live hitters in the next few days.
Has any study been done on increased shoulder injuries while sliding? The oven mitts they use to prevent finger injuries just cause shoulder injuries, from my limited observation
Or oversliding the base and trying to stop 200lbs of momentum with a last minute grab, in this case.
The one rule mlb needs to change is the rule that requires players to maintain contact with the bag on a slide. Players should be allowed to slide over the bag, but not off the bag.
Wait, You could be on to something here.. I just pulled a lasagne out and now I’m sore.
I can’t help thinking about Pete Rose. He used to dive into bases head first and, without any oven mitts, and never seemed to get hurt. It’s ironic that the only other player with 4,000+ career hits, Ty Cobb, also slid hard into bases, feet first and studs up. It got to the point where infielders didn’t want to stand in against either of them.
Idk if a recently rehabbed Hoskins is worth a WS roster spot tbh. Fully healthy, sure but you gotta expect some rust after a long layoff.
he hits lefties pretty well. if he is healthy enough, that might make him a valuable bench PH
Kyle Schwarber was dominant in the World Series after missing the entire year
drasco: I’ve never seen a power hitter like Schwarber bat first. Not a prototypical leadoff man, but he does get more AB and more chances to hit HRs.
The thing that’s missed here is he sees a ton of pitchers and walks. He is 2nd in walks this year. That makes Schwarber a decent leadoff man.
I think it’s more of a feel good story. I cannot imagine him being more valuable than their regular roster. A great pinch-hitting power threat at best.
Nearly the exact same situation as Schwarber with the Cubs in 2016, and I don’t know if the Cubs win the World Series without Schwarber that year.
Both Hoskins and Schwarbs can go on absolute tears. So I can definitely see something similar happening, but they’re both streaky. So I can see Hoskins struggling at the plate as well.
Hoskins will be the Giants big off season acquisition. 1 year, 20 million with a player option at the same price. Bet on it. They will come in second in the bidding for Shohei, Bellinger, Snell, and Nola.
Lucky to get $12mil
This sounds right.
And then Shohei, Bollinger, Snell and Nola will go onto not perform to their contract. You forgot that part of the pattern.
Judge barely played 100 games and was still more valuable than every Giants position player. That OPS of 1.007 sure would be terrible. Logan Webb knows Farhan has done nothing but fail at putting a compelling product on the field since he took over. Maybe you should listen to him instead of carrying water for the front office.
I took the liberty of using a bit of doomer exaggeration. You know, like what was in the post I responded too. Do yourself a favour and look at the players he went pretty hard for, and have gone on to be less than ideal. There’s a good Zaidi internet kick in the teeth there for you.
Webb. Does he ? I’ll have to do a google search and come back to you.
BTW, what’s with the “Farhan” ? Given up on “farthands” ?
Ok.
“(The Cy Young is) definitely something I would like to do, but to be honest with you, winning is more fun,” Webb said. “If we don’t do that, it’s kind of a waste. I’m tired. I’m tired of losing. It’s not fun. We’ve got to make some big changes in here to create that winning culture. We want to show up every single year and try to win the whole thing. I mean, I think we’re there. I don’t know what it is. I’m just sick of losing, to be honest. It’s never fun.”
The “in here” part. Not reasonable to assume that’s the clubhouse ? I read that and think it’s not aimed at the front office. Sounds to me like a few guys didn’t have the belief. That assumption gels with Kaplers recent comments about how he has to figure out a way to inspire better. I don’t think it’s about roster construction and therefore aimed directly at Farhan. I’ve got it as being about attitude. If you want to beat up on him for recruiting those attitudes…..go for your life.
Great I hope so
I hope they take Nola too. Get rid of those two as soon as possible
Would be just like Ross to use Alzolay with Alzolays arm still questionable, in order to make up for his season long questionable managerial skills. Cubs look like you can put the fork in them. They look worn out. Bullpen looks like they are done – especially without Alzolays presence. Not to mention Leiter.
Today’s laugh: On one of Chicago’s sports talk radio stations (ESPN, which broadcasts White Sox games and are loaded with self-proclaimed cub fans), think the cubs have a shot at signing Trout. These are the same morons who were certain that Ohtani would sign with the cubs. Perfect example of cubs fans who live in a fantasy world.
Agree avenger. After all the effort the Cubs have gone through to draft and develop players and then spend big money on Trout or Ohtani (the hitter), would be crazy. They have an abundance of promising young OFers. My main concern is whether Ross would give them opportunities. His track record doesn’t give me much hope.
The Cubs actually need to sign a middle of the order bat, anyone who thinks they do not is delusional, regardless of their “promising” prospects.
The fact is, guys who are supposed to “know” talent chose to go with Young over Mervis, that tells you a lot. PCA isn’t an impact bat, at his best he’s Swanson, which would be awesome but he isn’t moving the needle enough on offense. Unfortunately, Canario hasn’t been able to show us anything at the big league level to make any type of judgement call.
The Cubs have a lot of budding arms ready to crack the rotation which is what everyone should be excited about but the bats are lagging, with the potential impact makers still a few years off.
The bigger laugh is you think Trout is a free agent.
That the Cubs problem right there, Alzolay hit the IL, Fulmer hit the IL and Leiter hasn’t been used in how long? Those were the guys Ross road all year and now when the Cubs need them, they are all unavailable.
So a roster spot that should go to Rojas or Pache should go to another DH deeper in a playoff run. I don’t like Hoskins and I probably never will unless he plays crappy for a NL East team that sees the Phillies on a regular basis. But please spare me the aggravation. It’s like giving Tebow a roster spot on a AA or AAA team. Just does not deserve it
Rojas and/or Pache will definitely make the playoff roster. I’m not quite sure we need both. If Hoskins makes a playoff roster, and that’s a big if, he’ll likely replace someone like Castro.