Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around baseball this Memorial Day:
1. Astros to recall José Abreu
The Astros are set to recall veteran first baseman José Abreu from Triple-A ahead of their game with the Mariners this evening. Abreu himself first made the announcement, while manager Joe Espada later confirmed the news (per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle).
The former AL MVP agreed to be optioned to the Astros’ spring training facility in West Palm Beach after a dreadful performance this April (.099/.156/.113 in 22 games). Evidently, the team has decided that he showed enough improvement to warrant his return to the majors. Abreu himself called the demotion “the best thing I’ve ever gone through,” expressing gratitude for the opportunity to clear his head and fix his swing (per Chandler Rome of The Athletic).
The 37-year-old played a couple of games at Triple-A Sugar Land this weekend, and although he went 0-for-7, Astros GM Dana Brown said, “It’s not really about the hits. We want to make sure he’s getting quality at-bats. Sounds like he had a few quality at-bats” (as relayed by Rome).
2. Nationals to activate Lane Thomas:
Nationals manager Dave Martinez told reporters (including Mark Zuckerman of MASN) that right fielder Lane Thomas “should be ready” to return from the injured list in time for this afternoon’s game against the Braves at Truist Park. Thomas has not played since April 23, when he exited with a left knee sprain. He will likely take Jesse Winker’s spot in the lineup today, as Winker takes a day off with a cramp in his left quad (per Zuckerman), but Martinez did not comment on any potential transactions to open up a spot for Thomas on the Nationals’ 26-man roster.
Although Thomas was off to a slow start before his injury, slashing .184/.250/.253 in 22 games, Washington will surely be pleased to have him back on the active roster. The 28-year-old was the team’s most productive player in 2023, hitting 28 homers, swiping 20 bags, and scoring 101 runs while racking up 3.1 FanGraphs WAR. Even if he continues to struggle, Thomas is a sure bet to contribute with elite speed and a powerful arm in right field.
3. Jorge Polanco to undergo MRI:
Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco will undergo an MRI today after exiting with right hamstring tightness on Sunday, reports Shannon Dryer of Seattle Sports. The 30-year-old missed seven games earlier this month with a similar issue.
Polanco spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Twins, developing a reputation as a consistent, productive hitter. From 2019-23, the first five years of an extension he signed during the 2018-19 offseason, he hit 89 home runs with a 117 wRC+ over 544 games. However, he has struggled in his first season with the Mariners, slashing .195/.293/.302 with a 78 wRC+ in 46 games played. The M’s will hope his MRI comes back negative, and in a best-case scenario, perhaps a few games off his feet will help Polanco clear his head and break out of his uncharacteristic slump.
lol Abreu
A few quality at bats lol
So, in Rookie level, Abreu was crushing it and then went to AAA and slashed .000 / .125 / .000? Guy’s definitely cooked.
New day, same terrible take.
Let’s give a moment to remember what this day is about and thank those who gave their the ultimate sacrifice to protect the rest of us.
@trojan toss
Veterans Day is for the living soldiers that served our country.
Memorial Day is for remembering those who lost their lives
Look, we can all agree that those wars were stupid and pointless and yet still have the compassion to recognize those that died during those wars. They believed they were fighting for thir country and regardless of what we think of those wars, they did make the ultimate sacrifice.
The trojan toss — anytime someone says “that’s a fact” it’s definitely their opinion disguising their ignorance.
Your ignorance on the military is short bus material… THaT’s a fAcT
Lol I’m not a soldier. I’m just waiting on you to post some sources to back up your fAcTs… You’re just ignorant…and angry apparently. Go smoke some weed. Life will be tough for you with an outlook like this.
If the military were the so called bottom of the barrel, Trojan would still be looking up to see them
I agree with most of what trollinghorse is saying. But to pick today as the day to say it is low class garbage.
Blackpink have you served?
Numerous people in my family have.
It’s a complicating subject. I respect people who put their life on the line. But I don’t agree with war and the reasons we go to war. All the wars in my lifetime don’t make any sense to me including what we are doing now with Ukraine and Israel. In my opinion military should be for emergency only we shouldn’t be starting wars or getting involved in others business.
“Getting involved in others business”. So just like WW2 you think the Americans should just sit out these wars until some country decides to force them to take action. The Germans wouldn’t have been able to do what they did, had the Americans entered the war earlier. Just like Russia would be able to destroy Ukraine, had the Americans chosen to watch it happen
Hitler was trying to conquer the world.
The 911 terrorists were trying to send a message that capitalism and what goes on with the stock exchange is wrong.
We didn’t need to start a war over it. I still don’t know who terror is.
And I don’t care about Russia and Ukraine. Heck wasn’t the Ukraine part of the old USSR?
It’s not America’s job to be police to the world.
Actually it is, because it’s the job they signed up for along with NATO.
But keep showing both your ignorance and that you are a piece of donkey dung
Congrats, now we know why YOU joined trojan toss, because YOU had no options, and then January-February 2011… That’s it? Did you make it out of San Antonio or did you spend your 2 months with the 319th???
White boy? So now you’re racist too? Why bring race into something unless you have no where else to turn in your argument. You’re pathetic.
Also, if by joining for the benefits, you mean I am overseas when my first child is born, miss my daughter’s first Christmas, pay my bills on credit cards because $35k a year SSgt pay barely is enough to pay for daycare for an infant and toddler. 3 friends killed in action and 3 by suicide after they came back… Are these the “benefits” I signed up for?
You’re an ignorant, angry, troll who blames the world for your problems. Take some accountability for your life choices. YOU are the reason your life sucks trojan…
Thanks for the reminder. This will go down as the post of the day.
WW II Vets are the greatest generation
Very bold statement
[Checks notes on recent injury history of Polanco]
5/26/24
Hamstring
5/14/24
Hamstring
9/29/23
Ankle
6/8/23
Hamstring
5/17/23
Hamstring
Dear, Jorge Polanco,
Below, I have provided some advice on preventing hamstring injuries. Please review and contact me should you need further information or advice. I generally charge for my services and advice but I’ll give you my advice for free just this once…
#1: Strengthen your legs
Strong hamstrings can handle greater loads, so it’s important to spend some time doing exercises that isolate those muscles specifically. But don’t ignore your other leg muscles. When every muscle is strong and toned, they distribute the load more evenly for reduced risk of injury and better overall performance, too. Strength matters much more than stretching. Dr. Harris uses a world-renowned state-of-the-art program, called the Aspetar Program, which optimizes the balance between strength and stretch – Aspetar Hamstring Protocol.
#2: Stretch properly
Since many hamstring injuries are due to sudden excessive loads, warming up before working out is essential for preventing injuries. Warming up helps increase blood flow to the area so your muscles are ready for activity. The optimal warmup includes simply walking for 5 to 10 minutes before more activity. You can find a few stretching exercises here.
#3: Don’t overdo it
Muscles need exercise, but they also need rest to enable them to heal and rebuild. Muscle fatigue may be a primary cause of hamstring injuries. After a workout or play, give your muscles the rest they need to help prevent stress-related injuries.
#4: Recognize early signs of injury
If your hamstring muscles start to feel tired or achy, that’s a clear sign you need to call it quits for the day. Learning to recognize those signs — and pay attention to them — can go a long way toward preventing injuries.
Says the silly little boy that probably pulls a groin from getting up off of mommies couch in the basement
@MysteryWhiteBoy13
Mon’s basement has no rent and I get 3 square meals per day. Why would I live in the real world having to pay bills and constantly working…
And yet here you are…
MLB generated a record $11.6B in revenue last year and topped the 70M mark in attendance for the first time since 2017. I can totally see how the game is culturally irrelevant.
The Jays are gonna have to give their new GM some time to put his trade deadline plan into place, so I guess it’ll be tomorrows opener that tells us they let Atkins go
It’ll be a shock and wishful thinking if Atkins is fired.
Wishful thinking maybe, definitely not a shock
You haven’t paid much attention since Rogers took over ownership in 2000. Doing the right thing is a shock, and Atkins is Shapiro’s guy. Firing him in late-May is an absolute shock when the squad hasn’t hit rock bottom. Yet.
Rogers has given this front office everything they could have asked for. Going into the luxury tax was probably one of the most unexpected scenarios.
The Jays are currently last in the AL east, the only reason they aren’t rock bottom is because the league added extra wildcards.
Atkins has failed to sign a single player to an extension, and has failed to add any prospects that could realistically be added to the roster to help.
His off season was a failure on every level and he has a ton of free agents in the next 2 off seasons. He should have been fired this past off season.
Shapiro needs to show he has some balls
This is what happens when you don’t draft well, develop well, keep scouts and execs from the Ricciardi-era and not properly assemble a roster. Plus spending in odd areas.
Tomorrow was yesterday and Atkins has not been fired. Like I told you, it would have been a shock if he were fired in late-May. Atkins firing watch won’t bring until closer to All Star break.
0-7 at AAA with a walk. Yeah, Abreu ain’t cooked, he’s deep-fried.
Banal comment, as usual.
I’ll consider new material when I get my raise.
The Mariners are being wise with the management of player health, but important as that is, it only goes part way toward success. There is still a lot of baseball to be played, and luck will finally be a huge factor.
… that is to say luck will finally be a huge factor is success or failure.
So without a lot of bad luck, the Mariners will tough their way through and will be in the lead of AL West at the end of the season.
Go Mariners!
Let’s give a moment of thanks for the mute button.
monroe_says
AMEN!!!
All gave some, Some gave ALL!!
God Bless Everyone that Served, and their Families for keeping the daily grind of life moving forward without Them
Is Them God’s new pronoun?
When I see comments by trojan the old saying that there are always more horses asses than there are horses comes to mind
I’ll take the hate for this but how can you live in the U.S. for 10 years and still not speak English, I get tired of these athletes that live here but employ interpreters to make interviews needlessly longer
I always respect the athletes that come here and immediately are fluent enough to speak English like Juan Soto or Julio Rodriguez
Soto and Julio were the beneficiaries of the academy system in the Dominican Republic. They had the advantage of English lessons during their teen years in that system. It’s to their credit that they paid attention to that part of the program but not all foreign players are afforded the opportunity to learn English in a baseball academy.
“Abreu himself called the demotion ‘the best thing I’ve ever gone through,'”
Proof that demotion to the minors is better than playing 10 years for the White Sox.