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After a brief hiatus last week, the NL East roundup is back, with much to cover. While there's been some minor action in the standings, with the Phillies briefly overtaking the Nats for second place only to concede it again days later, the big stories are the individual ones, the most notable of which concerns an outfielder in Philadelphia who really digs the long ball.
Atlanta Braves (39-25)
After a mid-spring lull, the Braves have fully regained their commanding lead, lording a seven-game advantage over the rest of the division -- the biggest margin between first and second place in the major leagues. Big bat Evan Gattis has tied Justin Upton, who's bat feel completely silent in the month of May, for the team lead in home runs with 14, and Dan Uggla has continued his all-or-nothing ways with 13 homers and a .195 average.
After tinkering with his swing a bit, B.J. Upton has "broken out" by upping his season totals to six home runs and a .165 average, a 20-point improvement since the dawn of June. His mate in the outfield, Jason Heyward, has begun to warm as well, raising his totals to five and .207, respectively. While they provide a boost to the offense (however long that may last), Atlanta's impressive rotation will benefit even further from the return of Brandon Beachy, set to come off the DL and make his season debut on June 18 in a doubleheader against the Mets -- barring any setbacks in his final rehab start in Triple-A Gwinnett between now and then.
Player of the Week: Heyward, OF: 6 R, 2 HR, 2 R, .414 AVG
Miami Marlins (18-45)
Speaking of players making their way back from injury, Giancarlo Stanton returned yesterday from a five-week DL stint to greatly increase the number of legitimate major leaguers on the Marlins' active roster. Another such player, Marcell Ozuna, owes his promotion partly to Stanton's balky hamstring, offering a silver lining to the most established star's absence and giving the fish a pair of promising bats in the outfield corners. The younger Ozuna leads the team -- for now, until Stanton heats up -- with 13 doubles, offering a possible glimpse at the nascent power the 22 year old is still developing.
As the weather starts to get hot with the onset of summer, members of the Marlins usually have more than one reason to sweat, as the July 31 trade deadline looms larger in South Beach than in most cities. This year, however, there are few useful players that won't be considered part of the Marlins' future, as veterans Placido Polanco, Greg Dobbs, Juan Pierre, and Justin Ruggiano aren't playing well enough to bring much in return. Starting pitchers Kevin Slowey and 'Risky' Ricky Nolasco remain the notable exceptions, as each is still pitching well enough to bolster the back end of a fringe contender's rotation.
Player of the Weak: Derek Dietrich, 2B: 4 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI, .192 AVG
New York Mets (23-35)
The biggest story in New York -- or at least, in Queens -- might be not what's happening on the field, but who isn't there anymore, and who might be on the way. First baseman Ike Davis, who wields a hammer capable of more than 30 home runs (he hit 32, with 90 RBI last season), was demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas to clear his head and work on his swing. The 26 year old former top prospect was more than struggling at the plate, hitting at just a .161 clip and often finding his way to the bench in the late innings of close games in favor of the lighter-hitting but more consistent Justin Turner (a career utility infielder probably best suited to second base).
On a more optimistic note, current top prospect Zack Wheeler finally looks to be making his way to the big leagues, with the Mets targeting June 17 as a possible debut. Matt Harvey, who remains perfect yet stuck on win number five, could use all the help he can get in the rotation, though Dillon Gee has turned in two stellar outings in a row, silencing the Yankees and Nationals en route to two wins and just two earned runs over his last 14.1 innings.
Player of the Week: Gee, SP: 1-0, 7 IP, 7 K, 1 ER, 1.42 WHIP
Philadelphia Phillies (31-33)
Domonic Brown. We're running out of useful adjectives and superlatives to describe just what the 25 year old outfielder has done in the last three weeks or so. In this space on May 28, I wrote that Brown:
"Is having a having a fine age-25 breakout season, leading the team in home runs (10) and RBI (29). Only his sub-.300 on base percentage has stemmed true rising-star talk. Learn to take a walk, Domonic. Then we'll talk."
Well, since that afternoon, Domonic has left the yard nine more times to rocket into the National League home run lead. He's also raised his average by 32 points and his on-base percentage by 35, taking four walks in the process (with a fifth that was issued intentionally). That's not quite the same as displaying true plate discipline, and it's certainly not the reason we're talking about him, but it's an encouraging sign that this power tear could be sustainable. Hats off to you, Dom, for ignoring the "bust" talk as best you could, and becoming the player most of baseball thought you would be. At least for now.
Player of the Week: Brown, OF: 5 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 SB, .273 AVG
100 comments:
Oh, great. Stanton is back with the Marlins ... just ahead of a series against us. Oh. Joy.
I don't think Bobby Carpenter is too pessimistic for you any more, Sunshine.
Chase, good job on the NL East. I wonder how Zach Wheeler will fare.
I also wonder what's changed in Dominic Brown who is en fuego. The competition better find a way to neutalize him.
Sunshine, let's see how healthy Stanton is. The guy carrying their team is Ozuna.
From WaPo: Bryce Harper underwent “no operative procedures” in his Monday visit with renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, his agent Scott Boras said.
Harper was seen wearing a bulky knee brace at the Atlanta airport in a photo uploaded to Twitter. Boras described the knee brace “precautionary” and in place “just to keep [the] knee immobile.”
Again BOOM! There's that word "immobile".
Here's a pic of the knee brace. UGH!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2013/06/11/bryce-harper-wearing-a-knee-brace/
Bowdenball,
I wonder what Haren's stat line would look like for this year if say we take away the Cinci game at the beginning of the year, the Mets game last week and maybe the San Diego game?
Not bad I bet.
Sunshine damn that's the same size of the brace Bonds used to wear on his elbow. Maybe a little smaller.
" Ghost Of Steve M. said...
Mick, my guess is they want complete mobilization of the knee and no activity on the knee until all swelling is gone. Keep in mind that Harper was still hitting and doing running while he was recovering.
I'm not a Doctor but the readings I did said bursitis of the knee requires rest and limiting activity in the movement of the knee while adding compression in the form of bracing.
I'm hoping that Dr. Andrews set the course to full recovery. Just a wild guess. Bryce will go on a rehab assignment in 7 to 10 days.
June 11, 2013 12:39 PM
NatsLady said...
Ghost, I think you meant complete "immobilization" and I agree.
June 11, 2013 12:42 PM
Eric said...
That's more than just a brace on Harper's knee...the whole leg is wrapped up...makes me think the inflamed bursae sac was removed.
But, who knows. I'm guessing we'll find out more tonight.
June 11, 2013 12:43 PM "
Once again we get rational views and those like Eric that jump to conclusions "guesses" based on a photo of a brace and nothing more.
Facts are great however to many want to jump out and be the first to say something just to be the first and they do no research. I did research and saw FlexLite knee braces that looked like that and are the same specifications for lineman for extra kneee support.
Ghost Of Steve M. said...
Again BOOM! There's that word "immobile".
If he's not supposed to flex it in normal day-to-day activities, how long is it going to be before he can subject it to normal baseball activities?
Let alone Bryce Harper baseball activities?
Nats 128,
You can quit being a Monday morning QB any time now. For the record I was one of many posters who wandered about Desmond's offensive game and I was wrong like the others. Similarly I thought Espinosa would progress to be an excellent MLB player and he still might.
I am pretty sure that I made some reasonable baseball points and some not so reasonable. So what? it's just a forum for discussion. No one here is on a fast track to an MLB GM's job.
Finally, last week you got all pissy when I mentioned you in the same sentence with Ghost whose opinions I do respect and with whom I often agree. Maybe I wouldn't do that if you wouldn't act like his lawyer and parrot his ideas.
Have a nice day.
That is the same kind of brace I have. You can walk and bend the knee but it gives you a lot of support.
JD, I just cant stand your holier than thou attitude. You always have to be the last word.
I was wrong about Ghost. I thought he was wrong all season with his cocky ways and then I found myself in Peric moment of being not open to listening and everything Ghost has said since Opening Day has been correct to the point of numbering them 1 to 6 of what would happen.
If you cant beat em join em. Im not to proud to due that.
So I guess the All Good! #FinishIt tweet was talking about the pizza he had for dinner last night.
NatsLady said...
That is the same kind of brace I have. You can walk and bend the knee but it gives you a lot of support.
Two questions, NL:
1. Can you hit the curveball with it?
2. How soon can you make it to Coors Field?
Does that knee brace have a beeper that goes off when you start getting close to the wall?
Nats128, its all good. JD and I have a long of history of agreeing and disagreeing. I used to be accussed of being a hater of both Lannan and Detwiler.
When a player shows real change, I am willing to change my views. Last July I saw a change in approach by Detwiler and he changed my opinion of him. Lannan came into camp in 2011 in great shape and showed he wanted to improve and did.
I respect that. Still hoping Espinosa, Tracy, Henry, and the rest can change my opinion. "Show me".
Candide said...
Ghost Of Steve M. said...
Again BOOM! There's that word "immobile".
------
If he's not supposed to flex it in normal day-to-day activities, how long is it going to be before he can subject it to normal baseball activities?
Let alone Bryce Harper baseball activities?
June 11, 2013 1:37 PM
When the pain goes away and there's no more swelling should be the only way to resume baseball activities since I think you need to be extra cautious this time. They say 10 to 14 days of limited activity so hopefully any day there is that special day he wakes up and feels back to normal.
I just have to wonder the protocol Dr. Wiemi had him under and if Bryce and the Nats were following it. He's probably going to lose 2 weeks or more because they rushed the process.
Nat 128,
How do I have a holier than thou attitude? I think that Ghost and I have a history of admitting we were wrong. As I said it doesn't bother me in the least to be wrong, I'm not Rizzo and my mistakes don't cost us games and championships.
Peric was the one who always trumpeted how he was always right (good thing we didn't keep score on him. no?)
BTW, my position on Rendon isn't that he wouldn't play 2nd base but that I didn't want him to based on 3 major ankle injuries. If he avoids injury he will be a wonderful 2nd baseman. You can already tell. Never mind that he'll be an offensive power house.
You guys are funny!!!
Ghost, I agree. I'm not a big fan of danny - going on 2 years - but I'm hopeful and would love to change my opinion of him as well as the others you mentioned.
Ghost,
That was my major complaint with the injury handling. rest for 2 days, play for 3 days, play for 3 days and it was the same with Werth and Ramos re injuring himself so soon after his return makes me think that he came back not completely healed.
In addition there was the messing around with Det before the DL and Stras, the fiasco with Danny and on and on. I know nothing about medicine but doesn't this whole year sound like amateur hour from the medical staff?
JD it does but remember something - these are young healthy guys who are worried about losing their jobs if unhealthy or viewed as injury prone. Not like sick days are appreciated at the MLB level. The information players give is most likely what they want to be happening more then is acually happening. Still it does seem that this staff misses as often as it hits.
Yeah, it adds up to a pattern you can't like. I can't blame them too much for letting Werth set his own return date - he's a veteran player, and those guys generally should know their own bodies enough to say if they're good to play. Young guys determined to prove something about themselves, not so much.
JD, I said in the off-season a key mistake last year was wearing down Werth and LaRoche. These guys need a day off here and there, and Bryce is your #1 player and needs to be treated differently in the future.
Also, good point on GMing from the cheap seats. Our GM posturing hasn't caused any games in the L column.
My view on Espinosa hasn't changed but I'm hoping the demotion causes him to refocus and realize that his "sense of entitlement" card was taken away. I recognize his defensive talent and if he decides to model his game offensively after someone, he can do that with Rendon. Make solid contact which is far different than power contact and that's what his approach needs to be.
This is a stats driven occupation and usually it's "what have you done for me lately" as Haren is finding out. The fans can turn on you in a second.
SCNatsFan,
Harper is worried about losing his job? Det? Ramos?
The only one in that category is Espi and I'm still not sure how you let a guy play with a torn rotator cuff and a broken wrist. I mean C'mon.
Anyone want to know who else is pretty hot right now?
Bernadina.
Last 11 games: .314/.358/.571 with 3 doubles and 2 homers. He has raised his slash line from .113/.191/.145 to .186/.255/.299. Still ugly for the year but he is showing marked improvement over that span.
Ghost,
I hope Espi resurrects his value if only as a trade chip asset. When you have a switch hitting 2nd baseman who plays sublime defense and hits 18 home runs it's hard not to be blinded by the potential.It would be a real shame for the Nats if he falls by the way side.
If I'm Boras I tell him to take care of his various injuries, come in next year and be the most coachable player there is even if that means playing half a year in the minors.
JD, as far as "messing around" with Det and Stras goes it is different for a starting pitcher vs a position player going on the DL. The team had off days and no need to immediately put either of them on the DL for an injury that EVERY player reacts differently to. Some times a guy can come back in 2 or 3 days from an injury like they have and some times it takes a month. Why rush to put either of them on the DL if you don't have to immediately?
I completely agree about Espinosa though and Harper should have been DLed 5 days before he was.
In the interest of re-starting the discussion about bursitis from a common base of understanding, I suggest that everybody consider the following:
http://www.knee1.com/EducationCenter/procedure_Details.cfm/28
PDowdy83,
I agree 100% about Bernie. He looks a lot more like last year's Brnie. He should start every game until Harper comes back and after that he should spell Werth and even Span playing at least a couple of times a week. I think he's a good player.
Bernadina . . . . Last 11 games: .314/.358/.571 with 3 doubles and 2 homers.
While you're digging up stats, could you also compute how many posts were written here criticizing (and insulting) Davey for penciling him into the lineup in the 2-hole on Sunday? (You know, right before he got on base four times?)
If your calculator goes that high ;-)
Not worried about losing their jobs, but not being seen as a team player is probably a concern for a lot of these guys. I can't find the article now, but one of the Post pieces about Morse this season mentioned that teammates "questioned" how long he took to return from hamstring injury last season. That culture of showing toughness can't really be undersold in terms of how it affects athletes' behavior.
Which is why it's on management to show more caution for them, generally.
Though FWIW, Ramos may wonder if his injuries will affect the org's long-term plans at catcher, as that injury-prone label doesn't tend to go away.
If I'm Boras I tell him to take care of his various injuries, come in next year and be the most coachable player there is even if that means playing half a year in the minors.
Indeed. Espi is aribtration eligible next year, and he ain't gonna get peanuts based on his performance.
If Espi won't listen to Davey and Eck, maybe he'll listen to Boras and $$$.
I have a feeling (or, at least I hope!) that getting sent to AAA will finally get his attention -- let him "start over" so to speak.
Not worried about losing their jobs, but not being seen as a team player is probably a concern for a lot of these guys. I can't find the article now, but one of the Post pieces about Morse this season mentioned that teammates "questioned" how long he took to return from hamstring injury last season. That culture of showing toughness can't really be undersold in terms of how it affects athletes' behavior.
Exactly. I've had hammy's before -- and sometimes you can do everything on them except sprint. So, here you have a guy in his prime (Ramos, Werth, whoever), and he's taking drills, and his blasting the ball in BP, and he's jogging around in the outfield, and the fans, the press, and management want him to play -- and the player has to say: gee, no, my hammy's not quite ready yet.
And then the same thing happens the next day.
And the next day.
Repeat and repeat and repeat.
OK, all: who here has played on a team sport in their 20's and came back a bit too soon on a hammy or similar injury?
(Put me down for about 10 yes votes on that).
Wonk,
But he's still playing with an injured shoulder and probably an injured wrist. What's wrong with doing a LaRoche and coming back to spring training healthy and fit?
Makes me think that his attention has still not been gotten.
"Eric said...
That's more than just a brace on Harper's knee...the whole leg is wrapped up...makes me think the inflamed bursae sac was removed.
But, who knows. I'm guessing we'll find out more tonight.
June 11, 2013 12:43 PM "
Once again we get rational views and those like Eric that jump to conclusions "guesses" based on a photo of a brace and nothing more."
OK, first of all, you take all of this way too seriously. I'm some random dude on the Internet whose insights are just laughably inconsequential.
Second of all, I wasn't asserting that he had it removed, I was saying it made me think he had. Phrases like "makes me think" and "But, who knows. I'm guessing we'll find out more tonight." generally convey a lack of certainty in one's own views.
But, you rock on with your regulatin' self. You've been tearing it up in here lately with this stuff. I hear Emilio and the Boyz are looking for some help in case you're interested.
Wonk I would need a super computer for that one...
I have never quite understood the people who were calling for his removal. I agreed with the ones who were saying Moore should go to AAA, Danny to the DL and Tracy be removed but Bernadina is a 4th outfielder with tons of speed, an above average glove, pretty solid arm, hits left handed and can play all 3 outfield positions. Those guys don't grow on trees. Is he a star? Of course not but he is a good guy to have on the bench.
Actually, I take it back. Who am I too say that you take these posts too seriously, Nats 128. I just find it...odd. But if it's fun, by all means, enjoy yourself!
Agreed re: Bernadina, PDowdy. Especially lately as he's actually been hitting a bit.
something Bos said did not make sense unless I read it wrong...he said Nats only have a 25% chance of making playoffs and that in the past 50 season's only 11 teams who won 90 plus the year before finished under 500 the next season...what is basing it on? it would be helpful he he added the number of teams the past 50 season's record the following year who had won 90 the year before, that would have been helpful
Rockies right fielder Michael Cuddyer missed his third contest in a row Sunday with a strain in his rib cage. However, he said after the Rockies' loss that he anticipates returning Tuesday.
"He had a bunch of treatment today, he had another day off tomorrow and we're hoping for Tuesday," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said before the game.
It does not seem like the ailment will force Cuddyer to the disabled list, where he spent some time earlier this season with an inflamed cervical disk.
mick, are you asking about the basis of the 25% chance stat?
"he had another day off tomorrow"
::: snicker :::
DC Wonk --
Espinosa, even if he spends the rest of the summer in Syracuse, will get much more than "peanuts" in arbitration, probably reaching seven figures.
Eric, Yes
Boras came out and said no surgical procedure was done on Harper, including no arthroscopic surgery, He could be lying, but I doubt it.
Regarding players wanting to play. A lot of these guys don't have much life outside of their sport--maybe a pretty girlfriend and a car... You see that when they are near retirement and they hang on and hang on even though they don't really need the money. I'm not saying Danny is like that. But fans want total dedication to the sport, and then they wonder why a guy who is totally dedicated to his sport can't take an injury or a demotion easily.
This is a big week as far as the wild card standings go for the Nationals. There are 3 teams ahead of them for the 2nd spot. They are playing head to head against 1 of those teams and the other 2 are playing each other. A sweep of the Rockies would catipult the Nats ahead of them. If the Giants take 2 out of 3 from the Pirates the Nationals would close to within 2.5 games. If the Pirates take 2 out of 3 from the Giants the Nats would be 4.5 behind the Pirates and only 1 game behind the Giants.
Obviously a sweep on the road is difficult but this would be an ideal time for one.
The playoff odds estimation comes from Baseball Prospectus - they run simulations of the rest of the season and the Nats make the playoffs in 25% of them, basically. Not certain, but the best estimate available. Though it'd be interesting to know if the most recent calculations are based on projections of the current roster, i.e. without Detwiler, Harper, Ramos or Strasburg; I'd imagine that would affect the team's projected performance quite a bit.
mick, he just cites "the numbers grinders":
"The number grinders say the Nats, who trail the Braves by 7½ games in the NL East and even trail the Pirates by 5½ games for the second wild-card spot, have about a 25 percent chance at the playoffs."
I'm guessing by that he means sites like Baseball Prospectus that project these sorts of things.
Incidentally, that site lists the Nats as having a 24.6% chance of making the postseason.
Seriously hoping we go 6 - 3 or better on this road trip....
Bernadina is fine and very useful. He went through an early slump, but bear in mind he was in the WBC and also with Span/Werth/Harper he did not get any playing time, other than as a pinchhitter/defensive replacement. There is no reason to call for him to be let go, none at all. Actually, probably the same for Lombo. He is limited, but useful as long as you don't expect too much. I'm getting to the end on Tracy, though, especially with Marrero up (for 1B) and Rendon for (3B).
Dash and Eric
Thank you, very helpful
I'll take 25% right now. Let's just improve it to 100% by the end of September.
PDowdy83,
Here's hoping but alas the pitching matchups aren't wonderful.
"Not certain, but the best estimate available."
IMO the Heisenberg principle applies to that stat, the non-physical nature of baseball odds notwithstanding ;).
NL,
Need that lefty off the bench though. Is Corey Brown good enough? I don't know.
JD I bet Detwiler is. Remember some of you had him in the pen when Vazquez was signing here. For years Det was overlooked, I bet in his mind he still isn't solid in this rotation.
Sorry - and Ramos, well, just look at Flores and see how quick an injury riddled catcher can become a nonfactor.
There is speculation in Atlanta that when Beechy comes back Medlen goes to the pen. Do you think they are stupid enough to do that? Medlen has been their 2nd best starter this year and best last year.
SCNatsfan,
maybe you are right. I just don't see why these guys should be insecure.
NL,
Tracy has been worse than Lombo but the difference is marginal.
Thanks for the medical link Theo. Sounds like surgery would be an extreme solution.
JD, in the short term Corry Brown is a huge upgrade. Long term doubtful. It's the theory of riding the hot hand when he's hot.
Also per the Twitterverse, Harper's apparently in DC now, so pretty unlikely to play in this series at least. That'd make Friday the best case scenario for his return. Team doesn't have another home game until the 20th, so I wonder if we'll see him before then.
EmDash, bingo June 20th.
Agreed JD. The only thing encouraging me are these numbers:
Zimmerman career vs Rockies - 190AB - .347/.404/.616 slash with 9 homers and 43 RBI with a .368/.422/.660! slash at Coors with 7 homers and 30 RBI in 106 ABs.
Desmond - .316/.337/.620 - 79 ABs with 4 homers and 11 RBI with a .327/.333/.653 slash at Coors with 2 homers, 8 doubles and 7 RBI in 49 ABs.
Werth - .301/.401/.506 in 176 ABs with 6 homers 16 doubles and 26 RBIs and a .313/.421/.594 line at coors with 5 homers, 10 doubles and 12 RBI in 96 ABs
Haren at Coors field - 5-2 with a 4.10 ERA over 52.2 innings. Not terrible all things considered.
BTW, Bernadina is a hot hand right now.
Bryce's sister tweeted out to Kilgore:
"from his sis... He's ALL good! #blessed"
Kind of odd. Getting tired of all the semi-cryptic tweets. We should find out in the next hour or two, I suppose.
Lombo puts the ball in play. Tracy does not. That is the biggest difference for me. If we have a runner on 3rd with 1 out and need a pinch hitter I go with Lombo over Tracy 10 out of 10 times. Lombo has 135 at bats yet is tied for the team lead with Desmond (who has 100 more at bats) for the team lead in Sac flys with 3.
PDowdy agreed which begs the question, why is Tracy here?
IIRC, Marrero did some good situational hitting two years ago. Had a bunch of sac flies.
Sammy Solis hurt back on DL at Potomac.
PDowdy83,
I don't disagree re. Lombo in the situation you described but you know if you have zero power and negligible speed and you only play so so defense you can't also have an OBP of .234. You have to walk more. Last years OBP of .317 is passable, barely but .234 is pretty bad.
Sac flies are better than unproductive outs but they are still outs. If you noticed on Sunday night ALR was upset with himself after getting a sac fly because he felt he missed a pitch with which he could do some damage rather than just bring in 1 run.
If you consider defense, you would never compare Tracy and Lombo. Tracy can make do in a pinch, with Lombo you might not have any falloff from your starter. Lombo has an incredible avg with risp. Not so Tracy.
Good question ghost. He has been living off of the first 2 months of last year. He is just a hair more useful than Matt Stairs was.
Section 222, I recall that too. He didn't hit for any power but he shortened up and put the ball in play when he needed to 2 years ago.
Baby steps JD, baby steps. I'll take productive outs over unproductive ones, especially when they score runs. ALR may have been upset with himself, but he still got high fives in the dugout.
Agreed JD, I was just looking at both being on the roster and how one needs to go. I keep Lombo because you can stash a middle infielder on your bench but when your "big" bench bat is doing nothing and serves no other purpose he should be replaced.
I agree a sac fly isn't the best thing in the world but with this teams proclivity for having runners on 2nd and 3rd with 0 or 1 out and not scoring runners I think it is magnified with someone actually pushes a run across.
Davey indicated Moore was only up so long because of all of the injuries. That might explain why Tracy's still here, too. Will be interesting to see what happens when Harper comes back.
I can't find any news about Solis other than he's on the 7 day DL. I hope it's not his elbow, the kid just came back from TJ.
Daniel Hudson who just came back from TJ re tore his elbow ligaments in a rehab start but has decided to try to do another TJ and try to come back one more time. Can you imagine the frustration level?
As far as I'm concerned Tracy is damn close to useless (-0.7 WAR which is incredibly bad considering how little he has played). I'd bring up Brown, heck what are you risking?
Is the 7 day DL an MiLB thing, or is it for concussions like in the MLB?
When Harper comes back it's likely Kobernus goes back unless of course you send a pitcher down. I think we have one too many at this time.
Eric,
It's an MILB thing.
Interesting Eric. But Ty-Mo played the outfield. Tracy's not doing anything in the field. I have a feeling he's on his last legs, but Davey and Rizzo stuck with Matt Stairs too long too.
I think I am in the Corey Brown camp for now. Time to try that out.
As NatsLady said with Rendon backing up 3rd and Marrero backing up 1st there is zero need for Tracy defensively. I think it's just a matter of no great great replacement choices.
I think that if we were really close to the hunt at the deadline you can try to swing a trade for someone like DeJesus or Schierholz from the Cubs or Duda from the Mets etc. for something like Rosenbaum or Skole.
We don't need a great replacement player, just better.
Like it or not, Tracy is on the roster for the same reason that he was on the roster opening day- Davey likes to have a LH pinch-hitter with some pop on his roster.
I hated the Tracy signing myself, I think it was sentimental, tied to what he did for us in key spots in 2012 rather than what he could reasonably be projected to produce in 2013.
But I also don't think Corey Brown is the answer, and I think it's weird that some of the people who always talk about putting the ball in play are advocating for Brown. Brown is a strikeout machine the likes of which we only see currently during Detwiler at-bats This year he's striking out at a 30% clip against AAA pitching. What do you think happens to that number when the guy 60 feet away is Matt Harvey or Cliff Lee instead of Chien-Ming Wang or Shairon Martis?
Completely different roles so it's unlikely, but I'd rather keep Kobernus in the majors than Tracy at this point. At least the kid will take a walk...
Nobody is pitching around Tracy and that is a clue that teams aren't fazed by him. I think they call him "an easy out"
I, too, am over C Tracy... Hoping to see a replacement player soon...
End of the turned hectic work day...
See ya at game time, peeps!
EmDash, I wouldn't be counting on Kobernus for many walks. His career walk rate is 4.9% for a total of 72 in 1468 plate appearances.
In the minors ^^^
What time does the media meet with Davey? I need info on Bryce!
Corey Brown have any home runs? I will take a few K's if there is power involved.
Theophilus T.S., thanks for that link on bursitis. That's the best description I've seen. I looked up several articles on bursitis and treatment for it, but none indicated whether the bursa sac would grow back. Now I know.
jD said:
Similarly I thought Espinosa would progress to be an excellent MLB player and he still might.
... U might regret saying that. He's a bust, and a sore loser.
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