Poll: Disappointing National League Teams
It wouldn’t have been far-fetched at the beginning of the season to expect any of the Brewers, Cubs, Rockies, Cardinals, Phillies or Mets to end up as part of this year’s National League playoff field. Three of those clubs – Milwaukee, Chicago and Colorado – earned postseason trips a year ago and continued to boast capable rosters coming into 2019. St. Louis won 88 games in 2018 and then made a couple aggressive offseason moves in an effort to get over the hump. Philadelphia and New York were sub-.500 teams last season, though the NL East rivals were among the majors’ busiest franchises over the winter.
With the regular season having reached its brief summer recess, it’s fair to say all of the above clubs have disappointed to varying degrees so far. The Cubs (47-43) and Brewers (47-44) do hold playoff spots at the moment, while the Redbirds (44-44) are just two back of those teams in the NL Central. However, they’ve each contributed to the general mediocrity of their division.
Cubs president Theo Epstein just voiced disgust over his team’s weeks-long slump. Their closest competitors, the Brewers, have gotten another otherworldly season from reigning NL MVP outfielder Christian Yelich. A thumb injury has helped lead to sizable steps back for 2018 outfield complement Lorenzo Cain, though, while first baseman Jesus Aguilar has a mere eight home runs after slugging 35 a season ago. Meanwhile, the Brew Crew’s pitching staff – like the Cubs’ and the Cardinals’ – has underwhelmed throughout the season. The Cards’ offense has also sputtered, in part because headlining offseason pickup and longtime superstar first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hasn’t resembled the player he was as a Diamondback.
The Rockies (44-45) reached the playoffs last year thanks largely to their starting pitching – something which has seldom been true about the team in its history. This season, though, reigning NL Cy Young candidate Kyle Freeland‘s output has been so dreadful that he has spent the past month-plus trying to regain form in the minors. Aside from German Marquez and Jon Gray, nobody else in the Rockies’ starting staff has stepped up to grab a stranglehold of a spot.
Shifting to the NL East, the Phillies are in wild-card position at 47-43, but a .522 winning percentage and a plus-2 run differential may not have been what they had in mind after an action-packed offseason. A record-setting contract for Bryce Harper was the Phillies’ largest strike, but they also grabbed J.T. Realmuto, Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura and David Robertson in other noteworthy transactions. However, at least offensively, Harper, Realmuto and Segura haven’t matched their 2018 production. McCutchen was enjoying another quality season before suffering a season-ending torn ACL a month ago, meanwhile, and Robertson got off to a terrible start in the year’s first couple weeks. The long-effective reliever has been on the injured list since mid-April with a flexor strain. Even with a healthy McCutchen and Robertson, the Phillies would still be riddled with problems in their pitching staff – including the rapidly declining Jake Arrieta, whose season may be in jeopardy because of a bone spur in his elbow.
The Mets are rife with concerns on and off the field, with recent behind-the-scenes drama involving GM Brodie Van Wagenen and manager Mickey Callaway the source of the franchise’s latest unwanted attention. Van Wagenen’s audacious offseason signings and trades were supposed to help the Mets snap a two-year playoff drought this season. Instead, the team’s an abysmal 40-50 through 90 games and on track to sell at the July 31 trade deadline. Trading for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz hasn’t worked out at all, while splashy free-agent additions Jeurys Familia, Jed Lowrie (injured all season and possibly out for the year), Wilson Ramos (a potential trade candidate just a few months into a two-year contract) and Justin Wilson have also failed to meet expectations.
In a league where only the Dodgers and Braves have truly stood out so far, all of these clubs still have at least some chance to earn playoff spots this season. They’re each no worse than seven back of postseason position at the All-Star break. Considering your preseason expectations, though, who’s the biggest disappointment to date?
(Poll link for app users)
Which NL team has been the biggest disappointment so far?
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Mets 28% (4,894)
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Phillies 24% (4,260)
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Cardinals 20% (3,564)
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Cubs 17% (3,018)
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Brewers 6% (1,139)
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Rockies 3% (535)
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Other 1% (242)
Total votes: 17,652
MLB Draft Signings: 7/2/19
Here’s a look at the latest noteworthy draft signings, with the newest moves at the top of the post. Click here for the full list of slot values and draft pool bonuses, and you can find prospect rankings and scouting reports from Baseball America’s Top 500, Fangraphs’ Top 200, MLB.com’s Top 200, and the Top 50 of ESPN.com’s Keith Law….
- The Rockies have agreed to sign sign second-round right-hander Karl Kauffmann, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. Kauffmann’s pick (No. 77) came with an assigned slot value of $805,600, and that’s just what he’ll receive, per MLB.com’s Jim Callis (via Twitter). Callis and colleague Jonathan Mayo ranked the 21-year-old Kauffmann as the 110th-best player available entering the draft, crediting the ex-Michigan standout with “one of the livelier fastballs in the college ranks.” His fastball sits between 91 and 94 mph, though it’s capable of hitting 96, and he showed an ability to maintain his velocity deep in games with the Wolverines. Kauffmann complements his heater with a good changeup and an inconsistent slider, per Callis and Mayo, who write he possesses “a relatively high floor.”
Health Notes: Story, Kluber, Tigers, Brewers, Royals, Jays
Rockies shortstop Trevor Story will start a Triple-A rehab assignment Saturday, Nick Groke of The Athletic relays. It’ll be a two-game rehab stint for Story, whom the Rockies placed on the injured list June 20 with a right thumb issue. It seems Colorado dodged a bullet in this instance with the all-important Story, who missed a large portion of the 2016 campaign with a torn UCL in his left thumb.
- Indians ace Corey Kluber has received clearance to begin a throwing program, per Mandy Bell of MLB.com. The venerable Kluber has been out since suffering a non-displaced fracture in his right forearm May 1. Kluber’s absence, not to mention the other adversity the Indians have faced this season, has left the three-time reigning AL Central champions out of the playoff picture at the 80-game mark. They’re eight games back of the division-leading Twins and a half-game out of a wild-card spot.
- The Tigers put righty Spencer Turnbull on the injured list Friday with shoulder fatigue after he departed Thursday’s start early. The team plans to welcome Turnbull back after the All-Star break, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. That Turnbull seemingly isn’t dealing with a serious injury is undoubtedly a relief to Detroit, which has seen the 26-year-old post terrific production as a rookie this season. Turnbull has pitched to a 3.31 ERA/3.91 FIP with 8.43 K/9, 3.41 BB/9 and a 49 percent groundball rate in 89 2/3 innings.
- The Brewers announced that they’ve placed Jimmy Nelson on the 10-day IL, retroactive to June 26, with a right elbow effusion. It’s an issue that has bothered Nelson since spring training, Robert Murray of The Athletic tweets, and may help explain his 2019 struggles. Nelson made his season debut June 5 after sitting out since September 2017, when he underwent surgery on a torn shoulder labrum. The 30-year-old has since allowed 13 earned runs on 18 hits and 14 walks (with 15 strikeouts) in 14 innings. The Brewers pulled Nelson from their rotation last weekend.
- Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi will begin a rehab assignment at the Double-A level Saturday, Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star tweets. Mondesi has been on the IL since June 19 with a groin injury. Prior to that, the 23-year-old batted .269/.302/.441 (91 wRC+) with six home runs, 27 stolen bases on 30 tries and 2.1 fWAR in 312 plate appearances.
- Blue Jays lefty Ryan Borucki will need at least three to four minor league rehab starts before making his 2019 major league debut, manager Charlie Montoyo said Friday (via Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com). Borucki’s not on track to rejoin Toronto until the end of July as a result. Elbow problems have kept the 25-year-old Borucki from building on an encouraging 2018 rookie campaign. The starter turned in a 3.87 ERA/3.80 FIP with 6.17 K/9, 3.04 BB/9 and a 46.8 percent grounder rate over 97 2/3 frames last year.
Rockies Could Pull Wade Davis From Closer’s Role
Rockies closer Wade Davis has struggled immensely of late, which has led the team to discuss whether to make changes at the back of its bullpen, manager Bud Black told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post and other reporters Friday.
The three-year, $52MM contract the Rockies gave Davis entering 2018 hasn’t gone as hoped for the club thus far. The former Ray, Royal and Cub earned that deal with lights-out seasons over the prior few campaigns, but Davis has been shaky as a Rockie. He logged a 4.13 ERA – his highest since 2013 – with 10.74 K/9 and 3.58 BB/9 in 65 1/3 innings last season and has come back with even worse numbers in 2019.
The 33-year-old right-hander blew up Thursday against the Dodgers, allowing four earned runs on three hits and a walk in an inning of work. Davis now owns a horrid 6.00 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 6.0 BB/9 over 24 frames this season. Black admitted Davis’ sky-high walk rate is “concerning.”
To this point, the Davis signing looks like the latest big-money acquisition that has gone haywire for the Rockies’ bullpen. Before the team signed Davis, it inked Jake McGee, Bryan Shaw and Mike Dunn for a combined $73MM in the preceding two offseasons. No one from that group has performed to expectations in Colorado, though McGee is enjoying a bounce-back season in 2019. McGee, Scott Oberg, Chad Bettis or Carlos Estevez could take over for Davis if the playoff contenders do make an end-of-game change.
Chi Chi Gonzalez To Start For Rockies On Tuesday
Right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez will start the Rockies’ game against the Giants on Tuesday, per Kyle Newman of the Denver Post. The Rockies will need to add Gonzalez to their 40-man roster, which does have an opening at the moment.
Gonzalez’s start will represent his first major league action since his 2015-16 run with the Rangers. Once a quality prospect, Gonzalez has pitched to a 4.54 ERA/5.06 FIP with unattractive strikeout and walk rates (4.31 K/9, 4.77 BB/9) in 77 1/3 major league innings. He underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2017, and has worked solely in the minors since returning last year.
A Ranger through last season, Gonzalez joined the Rockies on a minor league contract over the winter. The 27-year-old has since managed a below-average 5.66 ERA/5.79 FIP in 14 starts and 76 1/3 innings with the Rockies’ Triple-A club. Gonzalez has pitched in a tough environment in Albuquerque of the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, though, and has put up 8.14 K/9, 3.89 BB/9 and a 53.1 percent groundball rate.
Gonzalez’s promotion will come with the playoff-contending Rockies in need of answers in their starting rotation. The club boasted one of the majors’ best staffs last year, but 2018 Cy Young contender Kyle Freeland (now in the minors) and Tyler Anderson (possibly out for the season with a knee injury) have dropped off a cliff since then. German Marquez is amid another fine season, while Jon Gray has also fared well, though Antonio Senzatela, Jeff Hoffman and the recently promoted Peter Lambert have had difficulty preventing runs. The Rockies optioned Hoffman on Sunday, creating an opportunity for Gonzalez.
NL Notes: Cubs, Happ, Story, Newcomb, Cervelli
It’s been a while since the last update on the Cubs‘ Ian Happ, who has yet to appear in a Major League game this season after he was optioned to Triple-A out of spring training. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma, though, offers some insight into Happ’s mindset and process as he works towards rejoining the Cubs. Happ, 24, was a productive big-leaguer in his first two seasons with the Cubs, but was plagued by strikeouts and inconsistency, neither of which is an uncommon issue for a young player. During his time in Triple-A, Happ has focused on refining his approach and retooling his swing with an eye on contributing to a contending Cubs team in the second half. After striking out in 33.8% of his first 875 plate appearances, Happ has that number down to 27.3% in the minors this year, while increasing his ground ball rate as a result of a flattened swing designed to better cover elevated pitches. With Daniel Descalso and Addison Russell getting the majority of the second base reps and Albert Almora Jr. in center field, there looks to be an avenue for Happ to help to the Cubs in the near future, but it appears that the Cubs are content with a patient approach to Happ’s situation.
Here’s the latest on a handful of National League clubs…
- Good news for Rockies shortstop Trevor Story, who recently landed on the IL with a thumb injury that was said to keep Story out for “multiple weeks.” Per the Denver Post’s Patrick Saunders, however, Story is progressing faster than anticipated and could indeed return to the Rockies after the allotted 10 days on the injured list. That would put Story on track to rejoin his team on June 29, which is certainly a welcome turn of events in Colorado. Surely, that’s no guarantee and the Rockies won’t rush their star back, but it’s sure to inspire more optimism than the original timeline.
- The Braves’ bullpen will get a boost this week, with left-hander Sean Newcomb expected to return from the injured list ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Cubs, according to Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He showed promising signs in his most recent rehab outing and should be ready to pitch for the first time since taking a J.T. Realmuto liner to the neck last weekend. Though Mike Foltynewicz was demoted, thus leaving a void in the Braves’ starting rotation, that won’t be filled by Newcomb, who will remain in a relief role for the foreseeable future.
- Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli could rejoin the team as early as next weekend, tweets Adam Berry of MLB.com. The 33-year-old catcher, who has been on the injured list since May 25 after suffering a concussion, could start a rehab assignment in the next few days and return to action for the Bucs shortly thereafter. Certainly, the Pirates have kept their heads above water with a catching tandem of Elias Diaz and Jacob Stallings, both of whom have thus far outperformed Cervelli, who struggled in the season’s opening months.
Rockies Recall Garrett Hampson, Option Jeff Hoffman
The Rockies have optioned right-handed pitcher Jeff Hoffman to Triple-A Albuquerque, tweets Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. Infielder Garrett Hampson has been recalled and will replace Hoffman on the active roster.
After showing promise last season in a second-half call-up to the Major League team, Hampson struggled mightily out of the gates in 2019, posting a dismal .489 OPS in 105 plate appearances, including an ugly 6:27 ratio of walks to strikeouts. He was optioned to Triple-A and performed capably in 26 games, and now reclaims his spot on the active roster with Trevor Story on the injured list.
Hoffman, meanwhile, has made seven starts for the Rockies, working to a 6.75 ERA. The former first-round selection has managed to strike out 36 batters in 33 1/3 innings, but has been susceptible to the long ball, surrendering seven home runs in total. Hoffman, now 26, will look to iron things out in the minor leagues, but the organization’s patience may be running thin with the once-promising right-hander. With Hoffman’s spot in the rotation set to come up on Tuesday, the Rockies will need to find a replacement for him. Kyle Freeland, last year’s staff ace, has been in the minors since May 31 and is an obvious candidate to return to the Majors. However, as The Athletic’s Nick Groke notes, Freeland is starting today in Triple-A, so he won’t be ready to pitch in place of Hoffman on Tuesday.
Injury Notes: Arenado, Simmons, Ahmed, Montgomery
After fouling a ball off his left foot today, Nolan Arenado left the game with what the Rockies described as a contusion on his big toe. The injury occurred in the top of the eighth inning, and the third baseman took his position in the bottom half of the inning before being subbed out in the bottom of the ninth. The Rockies’ announcement specified that the move was made “for precautionary reasons,” noting that Arenado suffered a similar injury against the Padres last week. Arenado told the Athletic’s Nick Groke and other reporters that today’s foul ball exacerbated the injury, though x-rays didn’t reveal any damage. Particularly with Trevor Story hitting the IL earlier today, the absolute last thing the Rockies need is to lose their other superstar infielder to injury, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Arenado misses a game or two to fully heal up.
Some more injury situations from around baseball…
- There was some thought that Andrelton Simmons could return to the Angels roster this weekend, though manager Brad Ausmus told reporters (including Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times) that Simmons won’t be returning quite so soon after coming up limping during last night’s minor league rehab game. The shortstop could still potentially rejoin the club sometime next week, Ausmus said, and may not even play any more rehab games. A Grade 3 ankle sprain put Simmons on the injured list on May 22, so even pushing back a return until next week still represents a very quick recovery from such an injury.
- Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed suffered what the club termed as a left hand contusion after being hit by a Jeff Hoffman pitch in today’s game. The injury forced Ahmed out of the game in the fifth inning, though manager Torey Lovullo told MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert and other reporters that x-rays were negative and Ahmed could still potentially play tomorrow. The defensively-gifted Ahmed has started all but four of Arizona’s games this season, and Ketel Marte would likely move from center field to shortstop if Ahmed did need to miss any time.
- The Yankees have shut Jordan Montgomery down from throwing for two weeks, manager Aaron Boone told media (including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch). The southpaw felt soreness while throwing a batting practice session as part of his rehab from Tommy John surgery in June 2018, and an MRI revealed inflammation in Montgomery’s throwing shoulder. Despite the setback, Boone didn’t close the door on Montgomery potentially being able to return to the Yankees at some point this season.
Rockies Place Trevor Story On IL
7:23pm: Story’s injury won’t require surgery, though the shortstop will be out of action for “multiple weeks,” as per The Athletic’s Nick Groke (Twitter link).
1:45pm: Story is headed to the IL, per a club announcement, with Brendan Rodgers up to replace him on the active roster. The full outlook for the injury remains unknown at this time.
7:34am: Rockies shortstop Trevor Story left the team’s win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday with a right thumb injury. He’ll undergo an MRI on Thursday, Nick Groke of The Athletic was among those to report.
X-rays on Story’s thumb were negative Wednesday, but as Groke notes, that doesn’t guarantee he’s out of the woods. Despite a negative X-ray on a left thumb injury in August 2016, Story still had to undergo season-ending surgery on account of a torn UCL in the digit. The Rockies weren’t serious contenders at that point, though, whereas they’re in the hunt for their third straight playoff berth this season. After Wednesday’s win, the club sits 39-34 and tied with the Phillies for the National League’s second wild-card spot.
The Rockies’ success in recent years has come thanks in no small part to Story, who exploded on the scene as a big-hitting defensive standout in 2015. The 26-year-old is off to a .294/.360/.547 start this season with a 120 wRC+, 17 home runs, 12 stolen bases and 2.9 fWAR in 328 plate appearances. Story has also appeared in 72 of Colorado’s 73 games in 2019.
The Rockies replaced Story on Wednesday with Pat Valaika. However, the team could recall Brendan Rodgers or Garrett Hampson from Triple-A Albuquerque if it has to put Story on the injured list.
Rockies Sign First-Rounder Michael Toglia
The Rockies have signed first-round pick Michael Toglia, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports. Toglia’s pick (No. 23) came with a $2.93MM slot value, but the team gave him $2.725MM, per Jim Callis of MLB.com and Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter links).
The 20-year-old Toglia’s a first baseman from UCLA whom Callis and Jonathan Mayo ranked as the 40th-best prospect available entering the draft. They note the 6-foot-5, switch-hitting Toglia showed “huge raw power from both sides of the plate” during his tenure with the Bruins. However, it’s in question whether the 20-year-old will make enough contact to capitalize on his power going forward.
With Toglia under contract, the Rockies have now inked their top two picks of this year’s draft. They signed second-rounder Aaron Schunk for $1.1MM last week. The club entered the draft with just over $7MM to spend on its choices.