Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:
1. Anthony exits with injury:
The Red Sox mounted an impressive comeback win in their game against the Guardians yesterday, but the mood was dampened by the fact that budding star Roman Anthony exited the game due to an oblique injury. After the game, Anthony spoke to reporters (including Tim Healey of the Boston Globe) and noted that this oblique injury is “definitely worse” than the day-to-day back injury he dealt with a few weeks ago. It’s unclear what sort of timeline for return to action Anthony might be facing. With a .292/.396/.463 batting line (138 wRC+) since being called up to the majors, Anthony has been the team’s most consistent hitter of the second half. Losing Anthony for any amount of time when the Sox are trying to erase a 2.5-game deficit to chase down the division-leading Blue Jays could be backbreaking for the team.
2. Judge pushes into Yankees history:
Aaron Judge rounded out the month of August in a big way by crushing his 43rd homer of the season on Sunday. That blast, as noted by MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, pushed Judge into a tie with Yogi Berra for fifth place in Yankees history. Judge’s next blast will not only give him sole possession of fifth place in franchise history — it’ll leave him just three homers shy of surpassing the great Joe DiMaggio, who sits fourth with 361 round-trippers. Though that fourth-place spot is within reach for Judge this season, he still has a long way to go before he can even think of cracking the top three. Lou Gehrig, currently third all-time in Yankee homers, finished his career with 493. For now, Judge will continue hunting for No. 359 against Astros righty Jason Alexander and his 4.61 ERA later today.
3. Tucker exits with injury:
After a lengthy slump that led to a brief benching, Kyle Tucker appears to be back to his usual self. Since returning to the Cubs’ lineup on Aug. 21, he’s batting .364/.462/.727 (227 wRC+) in 52 plate appearances, capping that stretch off by crushing a three-run homer against Atlanta last night. Unfortunately, he’s hit a bit of a speed bump in that turnaround. MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian notes that Tucker was pulled from yesterday’s game due to soreness in his calf.
Manager Craig Counsell said after the game that Tucker would be out of Wednesday’s lineup ahead of a Thursday off-day, thus giving him two full days to rest before he’s reevaluated Friday. The Cubs are virtual playoff locks — they’re five games back of the Brewers in the NL Central but ten games up on the Reds in the Wild Card scene — so they can afford to be a little more cautious than other contenders who are fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive.
I wonder if he’ll be pitching as George Costanza or his self?
Watch out for the cotton uniforms
Jason Alexander will give some hitting tips to the Yankees as well.
I like the “back breaking” pun, but realistically Roman’s potential absence the next 3-4 weeks will have zero impact on the Sox making the postseason. We will know more after the results of today’s MRI come in.
As long as he’s “back” for the postseason, no worries.
There’s a big difference between winning the division and landing in the 1 or 2 wild card spot, though.
css – I dunno, looking at all the WC teams that have made the WS …. there’s been a lot.
Yes, but if the Sox win the division, they have a good shot at a bye in round one. That is a big difference, IMO.
Anthony missing the Yankees series (which seems like a foregone conclusion) could be a big hit for seeding though. I think having home field or not in the WC round could be a major factor in the Sox making it through to the ALDS vs not.
Meow – The Sox have four dominant strikeout pitchers in the starting rotation and a bunch of great strikeout relievers, park shouldn’t matter. That’s how I look at it anyway ;O)
I worry about Crochet as his innings rack up (esp after that 6th inning last night), but also it’s not nothing that the Red Sox are 44-27 at home and 34-35 on the road.
FPG I think you underestimate Roman and his near .400 obp in the leadoff spot. This offense is going to be different without him fronting it if he’s out for while. There’s a reason why the team was 1 game below .500 before Roman arrived and 15 games over since he was promoted. I think he should have been up the entire season but that’s a different story.
Bruin – With all due respect I think you misunderstood my post.
Of course Roman has been the best position player on the team, no question about that. I posted as much in another thread this morning.
What I’m saying is the Sox will make the postseason even without him these next 22 games. This is not 2011, they will not cough up a 6-game lead over the Rangers or Royals.
FPG fair enough tbh haven’t even checked how far ahead they were since I thought they were going to win the division. This puts a damper on that though.
Not sure about zero impact as he’s only put 3.1 fWAR and a 138 OPS+ in less than half season of MVP-caliber play. He’s a big reason why the Red Sox are in their current standing. I’m as much concerned about the Yankees sliding out of a WC spot as catching the Jays. While Stanton is hitting really well, they’re playing with fire with him manning RF.
I’ve had the Yankees winning the division since Baltimore fell out of it and I still do. The last 2 weeks on the Yankees’ schedule looks so easy I’m expecting them to vault over the Jays (much to my consternation).
YBC – No chance of either the Yanks or Sox falling out of a playoff spot.
FPG: But you should worry. Oblique injuries often keep guys out for several months.
Jesse Winker suffered an oblique strain in early May that kept him out until mid-July.
I believe Winker is 36. Age definitely plays a role in healing.
Chicken: Winker is 32. And the severity of the injury plays a much bigger role.
A significant oblique injury probably ends Roman’s season. He’s been so good out of the leadoff spot, hopefully it just felt worse than it actually is. Abreu hasn’t been cleared to run yet either so the Sox may need to reset their Password and actually let him play this time around if he gets the call
Anthony will be ready for the post season. And I’m sure he wants to get back to it asap. He’s a gamer and will gut it out
You really can’t gut out oblique injuries.
See you got those 15 likes. Fewf! As a college coach I can tell you every athlete is different. Oblique injuries can range anywhere from minor and taking it easy to being done for 3 months. I’ve seen many different variations of the injury. It’s ok to be a fan of your team being optimistic for his quick return.
The point isn’t the 15 likes—the point is YOU used the term “gut it out”….. which would imply, in your FIRST post that he would still be hurt and try to play through that injury. That’s not something you can play through or “gut it out”. As the writer used Anthony’s own words of “definitely worse” the side of it being minor is probably a hope.
Absolutely he may be ready for the playoff and wants to get back asap—agree with you 100%…..
I’m not even a college coach and I can tell you every athlete, and injury, is different.
Good luck to him.
I am glad you understand every athlete is different. Just hoping the best for a player on my favorite team.
Implying is a broad term and in the neighborhood with opinion. If that’s your opinion on how you perceived the comment than it is what it is. Gutting it out also can mean taking some time off and knowing you are not 100%. Tons of athletes do that and come
Back for a run. We can agree to disagree but that’s what makes this site great
Quinnap89:
Says you because you’re not the one who has to deal with it. Obliques can be very very difficult. Either he’s going to be ready or not, and if he pushes it, he will be set back.
And 1 off balance swing and he’s done for the rest of the year…..do you know what an oblique injury really is?….you don’t “gut it out” and those injuries take longer to come back from when hitting that probably any other injury…..
Actually I do, quick judgments here today lol. Again as I stated responding to the other awesome comment. As a college coach I’ve seen many different variations of this injury. And again as a fan my hope is that he’s ready to go in 4-6 weeks like Cora said and the Sox are in the post season. We shall see
Everyone on here is so judgemental lol. Take a breather. This site is for opinions. Good lord. And you have no idea if I’m an athlete, former athlete, coach, doctor. Every athlete’s body is different. And here I am being the bigger man, I saw the report today, 4-6 weeks from Cora. It’s ok to be optimistic as a fan of the team.
But I love your take: either he’s going to be ready or not lol. Way to state the obvious fact
Quinnap89:
Opinions…which can also be judgments? Lol. I think you missed the most important part of that statement when I said either he’s ready or not… that if he pushes it, he will have a setback. Your implication is that he should “gut it out” which I’m saying will likely lead to a setback. Makes sense now?
Thank you for the lesson on opinions. This is what makes this site great. It is your opinion that he would have a setback haha. You don’t know that just like I don’t know if he would be a guy it out player. Enjoy the playoffs man
Quinnap89:
Not so much an opinion as a medical fact that someone who’s not ready to come back from an oblique injury is going to have a setback. I actually do know that. Pretty obvious stuff. You enjoy the playoffs too.
Must be obvious that you are a doctor and know every single athlete. Must have missed that lol. This site is great for things like
This. I’ve enjoyed the banter and not sure who you are a fan of but hope to see you in the playoffs. Off to offseason workouts
Quinnap89:
Enjoy the playoffs man sounded like a goodbye, but I guess you couldn’t help yourself. You actually need a doctor to tell you that if someone comes back from an injury before they’re ready, they’re going to get reinjured? I wouldn’t pay a doctor for that kind of information. I’m a Mets fan so I’m thinking we won’t see each other in the playoffs, but I would love it if we did.
I would love it too man, run it back to ‘86? Haha
Quinnap89:
Sounds good! With the same result! lol
I’m hoping for a different one this time around haha
😉
It’s a core injury. That can even effect lower body strength for running. Anyway, I hope he does make it back soon.
Fortunately for both injuries, it doesn’t appear that they’re life-threatening medical conditions so no thoughts and prayers from me.
My recommendation is that take some NMN supplements and stop eating junk food and drinking caffeinated beverages. The players will stay on the field for every game if they follow my recommendations.
Side note: I’m not a doctor. I only play one on the internet.
I come here for posts like this,
That’s nothing to brag about
Solid response….
Old York: Haven’t you also stayed at a Holiday Inn Express recently? 🤣
Anthony’s adjusting to majors alot better than i thought he would. Might develop into a very special player
Meanwhile judge is proving to be mvp again despite missing time with injury. Raleigh is having the most surprising power surge of all time but cant give mvp to a 240 hitter
@chandlerbing
Why not? We’re giving Cy Youngs to pitchers with losing records.
Didn’t realize the MVP award was actually a batting average award.
Batting Average
Where a single and a home run are equal. And walks don’t exist.
Great stat.
Classic chandlerbing…
It isn’t all about batting average….
…but Judge has a batting average 80 points higher, and OBP that’s 90 points higher, a slugging percentage 90 points higher, an OPS of 1.113 (compared to Raleigh’s .933) and an OPS+ of 204 (Raleigh: 164). Judge has over 40 HRs, is closing in on 100 RBIs and has scored 111 times (leads the AL).
W.A.R.? Judge 7.4 compared to Raleigh’s 5.7….almost 2 wins higher.
If a catcher hitting HRs/RBIs was the barometer for winning MVP how come Salvador Perez came in 7th during his 48 HR/120 RBI campaign in 2021???
Judge is the clear AL MVP right now unless he goes into a major slump or hits the IL again.
That’s baseball reference war, Fangraphs has them much closer at 7.9 (judge) to 7.3. I believe they take into account more catcher defense or something.
But anyways, Judge and Cal are having great seasons. I think what Cal is doing as a primary C is more impressive than Judge’s season. Just because of the wear and tear that catchers go through. Move Cal to a different position and give him the same exact stats, and it’s clearly Judge.
Couldn’t go wrong with either of them though.
Well stated, the MVP is exactly what it stands for. Most valuable player to their respective team. If you are looking for a BA award try the category of batting title
Will be interesting to see if Judge reaches 700+ HR (very good chance of at least 700). Chance of breaking the all time record.
Judge has averaged 13.6 PAs per HR. For him to hit 700, he would need to maintain that pace in another 4652 PAs. He’s at 4895 so far. It’s rather unlikely as he will slow down entering his mid-30s unless he plays into his 40s. Of course, we’d love to see him break the record.
Yeah. Both of which is highly unlikely to happen.
He has averaged 50 HR 2022-present. Only 8 more years of that will put him at the record.
He’s 34 next season but let’s go with it – 1,000 homeruns here we come!
Camden: “Will be interesting to see if Judge reaches 700+ HR (very good chance of at least 700).”
So you’re saying that you think he will reach 700 but you’re not sure he will hit 700+?
That doesn’t really make sense.
First Wyler, then Roman… chalk me up 1 for when everyone was worried about a crowded outfield and I said these things will work out themselves..Great!!! The one time I get something right is before playoff push!!! HOT!!! Ok seriously when is Wyler able to come back??
He was supposed to run yesterday but didn’t because his injury isn’t improving
This didn’t show up under my Boston Red Sox column in the app