Results tagged ‘ nationals ’
Walker reaches 100, Clement’s future, and Meek’s injury update
- Neil Walker hit his 100th hit this season during the fifth inning of Saturday’s game against the Nationals. Walker is just the sixth Pirates switch-hitter to reach the 100 hit plateau as a Rookie. The last time this feat was achieved was in 1982 when Johnny Ray had 182. He is followed by: Jim Russell (138 in ’43), Johnny Gooch (116 in ’22), Max Carey (110 in ’11) and Otis Clymer (108 in ’05). -Pirates.com
- Pitcher Joe Martinez was re-called from Triple-A Indy.
- After the Triple-A season ends on Tuesday, expect a few more guys to be called up. Brad Lincoln is still being considered.
“It depends on where Brad is and how he feels and what type of command he has,” Huntington said. “I don’t want to make [Monday's start] a do-or-die situation for Brad. It’s going to be dictated by his health, and then also the command of the stuff that he has coming out.”
Brandon Moss has had an outstanding year for the Indians this season. He is being considered as well, even though he is not currently on the 40-man.
“Brandon is the one that emotionally you would love to bring to the big leagues,” Huntington said. “Intellectually, you take a step back and how does he fit short term? How does he fit long term? How does he get an opportunity to show us what he’s done? Because there are some other guys that are going to continue to play.”
- While rehabbing his left knee in with Triple-A Indy, Jeff Clement pulled his left oblique muscle. Clement had an exam on Saturday and will be out the rest of the season.
It will be interesting to see what is in the future for Jeff. After losing the starting job at first-base this season, he batted just .201 with three doubles, seven home runs, 12 RBI’s in 54 games.
“There is still an opportunity, it’s just a matter of being healthy,” Russell said. “The main thing we’re concerned about now is being healthy. Coming into next year, we’ll see how he fits. If the guy goes out and does what he’s capable of doing, you make opportunities. That’s what we’re looking for out of Jeff next year.”
- Things are looking good for Evan Meek. He is expected to pitch out of the bullpen on Monday. Meek threw long toss on flat ground on Saturday and also thre off the mound on Sunday.
Pre-game Notes: Nationals @ Pirates 9/4
Is Garrett Jones’ slump over? As of right now, it sure looks like it. After having his worst statistical month of August with the Buccos, (15-for-104, .144 AVG) Jones went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI in Friday’s victory over the Nationals.
“Today it felt good to drive the ball,” Jones said. “I haven’t been feeling the way I wanted to feel — aggressive, under control and short to the ball where I can drive the ball to all fields. Just staying on the ball, driving through it, not thinking too much is the key. I just have to do it on a consistent basis.”
So far in the month of September, Jones is batting .286.
“August was a tough month. I was very inconsistent,” Jones said. “It’s something that I have to constantly work on, and just do drills to avoid getting in that funk where I start pulling off the ball and getting long with my swing.”
- The Pirates have hit 12 home runs in their past eight games.
- With Friday’s defeat over the Nats, the Pirates improve their home record to 31-36.
- Since Chris Resop has joined the Bucs he has a 2.25 ERA. In 12.2 Innigs pitched he has allowed seven hits, five walks and struck out 16.
- The Pirates had three consecutive batters in the 3, 4 and 5 spots in the lineups combine for seven RBI in Friday’s victory. This has only been done once this season for the Bucco’s, on opening day when Jones, Doumit and Milledge (4, 5 and 6 spots) had seven-RBI as well.
Saturday’s Pitching Matchup:
John Lannan 6-6, 4.95 ERA
VS
Paul Maholm 7-13, 5.18 ERA
Lannan was 4-1 with a 3.25 ERA in six stars in the month of August. He is coming off of a pretty great outing. He pitched 7.2 innings giving up just one run off eight hits, walked none and struck out four.
Maholm’s inconsistency has been a problem for the Pirates this season. He lasted just 3.1 innings against the Cubs on Monday, marking the fourth time this season he hasn’t completed four innings. Maholm is 0-2 with an 8.04 ERA in his last three starts.
Nationals Lineup:
Nyjer Morgan CF
Ian Desmond SS
Ryan Zimmerman 3B
Michael Morse 1B
Roger Bernadina LF
Ivan Rodriguez C
Danny Espinosa 2B
Justin Maxwell RF
John Lannan LHP
Pirates Lineup:
Andrew McCutchen CF
Jose Tabata LF
Neil Walker 2B
Garrett Jones 1B
Pedro Alvarez 3B
Lastings Milledge RF
Ronny Cedeno SS
Chris Snyder C
Paul Maholm LHP
Maz statue unveiling on Sunday, Nats @ Pirates 9/3
The Pirates will unveil the Bill Mazeroski statue on Sunday, at 12:45 prior to the Pirates game. The ceremony will take place on Mazeroski Way outside the right field gate. Also, Maz will take part of throwing out the first-pitch as well riding around the warning tracks of PNC Park in a 1960′s Bentley convertible while highlights of his career will be shown on the jumbotron.
- Starting tonight the Pirates will wear a JLB patch on their right sleeve in honor of Joe L. Brown on their home whites only.
- John Bowker will start in right field tonight, his home debut as a Pirate.
- Nyjer Morgan is appealing his eight-game suspension from the drama that went down with the Marlins. Morgan currently has an appeal on a seven-game suspension from a few weeks ago.
- Pirates president Frank Coonelly repeated to Bob Nightengale of USA Today that he is “extremely disappointed” in his team. Asked how safe GM Neal Huntington and manager John Russell are, Coonelly said he is “evaluating every aspect of [the team's] operation in order to determine how [to] get the club moving in the right direction immediately.”
Friday’s Pitching Matchup:
Livian Hernandez 9-9, 3.49 ERA
VS
Zach Duke 6-12, 5.17 ERA
Hernandez has been struggling of late. In his last 17.2 innings he is just 1-1 with a 7.13 ERA. In his last start against the Cardinals he pitched 6.1 innings giving up five runs on eight hits and struck out two.
Duke went 5.1 innings against the the Brewers his last trip to the mound. He allowed four runs on nine hits, walked one and struck out one. Zach left the game ahead, but the Bullpen couldn’t hold the lead and he got the no-decision.
Nationals Lineup:
Nyer Morgan CF
Ian Desmond SS
Ryan Zimmerman 3B
Adam Dunn 1B
Michael Morse RF
Ivan Rodriguez C
Justin Maxwell LF
Danny Espinosa 2B
Livan Hernandez P
Pirates Lineup:
Andrew McCutchen CF
Jose Tabata RF
Neil Walker 2B
Garrett Jones 1B
Pedro Alvarez 3B
Ryan Doumit C
John Bowker RF
Ronny Cedeno SS
Zach Duke P
Frank Coonelly Q&A other Bucco News
Pirates President Frank Coonelly participated in his monthly online chat with fans on Wednesday. Here are a few of the interesting questions that were answered:
Frank, What does the front office do during the month of September? Is it mainly evaluation?
Coonelly: Evaluation of the players on our roster is critical in September (as it is throughout the season) but the focus of the front office this September is to convince this young roster that it can play winning baseball and develop a winning attitude. We have had an extraordinarily disappointing season to date. It is critical that we finish this very poor season with a strong September. Several of our players will be playing into September for the first time but need to continue to work very hard and convince themselves that they can win at this level. In addition, the front office will be preparing for instructional league in Bradenton, Fla., and continuing to formulate offseason priorities and strategies that will provide us with the additional pieces necessary to build a winning team in 2011.
How does it feel to be president of the losingest team in baseball and what are you going to do to change it?
Coonelly: dj324, given that we have many young readers of this chat, I will keep my answer G-rated. It stinks. It is embarrassing, painful and incredibly aggravating. I never expected us to sit with just 44 wins on September 1, 2010. We have more talent than that and I expect us to play much better during this last month of the season. While the losing this year has been painful from a personal perspective, what hurts the most is to see the pain and disappointment on the faces of our great fans who rightfully expected much more from us. The losing is unacceptable and will change. While we will not deviate from a solid plan of building a winning organization through outstanding scouting, player development and significant investments in talented amateur players, we will look to add to a very talented core of young players currently in Pittsburgh and continue to evaluate everything that we do in order to finish strong in 2010 and make significant progress in the win/loss column in Pittsburgh in 2011
Mr. Coonelly, why can’t the Pirates be like the Rays?
Coonelly: I want to thank everyone for participating in today’s chat and for your support of the Pirates. believeinpirates, there is absolutely no reason why the Pirates cannot have the type of success the Rays are now enjoying. The plan that we are executing is identical to the plan that worked for the Rays. Much like the Pirates, the Rays had attempted to take shortcuts to winning for many years by signing veteran, well-past-their-prime free agents. Their efforts at shortcuts, while well-intentioned, were as unsuccessful as the Pirates similar efforts. Flooding a system with highly talented young players and refusing to rely on quick fixes will serve us as well as it served the Rays when they had their building process eight years ago. I often hear that success in markets like Tampa and Pittsburgh cannot be sustained but the Rays are doing a nice job of dispelling that notion. Clubs like the Pirates and the Rays, and most clubs in Major League Baseball for that matter, cannot retain every player for his entire career. That is why building a deep pipeline of talent is critical for sustained success. Minnesota and Tampa are enjoying that sustained success now and we expect to be giving Pirates fans the same type of sustained winning in the near future.
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The Pirates have changed the starting rotation for the weekend series against the Nationals. Charlie Morton who was scheduled to start on Saturday will be moved to Sunday. Paul Maholm will be bumped up to Saturday, keeping him on his usual four days of rest.
- Brad Lincoln is expected to throw around 50 pitches for the Triple-A Indians’ game on Wednesday while being montored by management. Linoln has been on the DL since Aug 18th with neck stiffness. His potential Septemeber call-up will be determined how how he responds to coming back.
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John Bowker made his Pirates debut on Wednesday against the Cubs when he pinched hit for James McDonald in the sixth inning. Although he struck out, Bowker can be a huge asset for the Pirates. He can play first-base and the corner outfield spots and also is a left-hand power bat.
“I’m just looking for an opportunity to play,” Bowker said. “The Giants gave me some good opportunities to go out there and play. They just wanted to go a different route. Now, over here, I’m just looking at it as a new opportunity for me.”
Rob Dibble: To female fans “There’s no talking in baseball!”
I’m sure by now, everyone has heard about what a big idiot Rob Dibble (Washington Nationals’ Analyst) is. If you didn’t hear about what he said about “Female Fans” here is exactly what he said on-air during the Nationals vs Marlins game on August 12th.
Those ladies right behind there, they haven’t stopped talking the whole game,” Rob Dibble said in the sixth inning of Wednesday night’s Nats broadcast. “They have some conversation going on. Right here,” he said, circling the offenders. “There must be a sale tomorrow going on here or something….Their husbands are going man, don’t bring your wife next time.”
“All right Bob, now they’re back there, they’re eating ice cream and talking at the same time,” Dibble noted in the top of the eighth.
“I just got an e-mail that said there’s a lot of women who come to the games — while their husbands are the ones at home — because they love this game,” Carpenter noted, briefly touching base with the 21st century. “Tread carefully, Mr. Dibble.”
“My wife loves to come to the game, but they’re right there, still talking,” Dibble countered.
This. Makes. Me. So. Angry!
After outrage from female fans and females that work in the business, Dibble did “apologize” saying this:
My mother was and continues to be my biggest fan. She has been there since I was eight years old playing Little League in Southington, Connecticut, shouting encouragement from the stands.
I’ll never forget 20 years ago during the NCLS; I thought I was on the top of my game, having played in my first All-Star game earlier that summer. But my mom said to me, “Rob you’ve got a good arsenal, but you still need a strikeout pitch.”
Mom was right, of course, and she remains as insightful a student of the game as I have ever known.
Likewise, my wife not only comes to every Nats game, but also scores every pitch, and genuinely feels it when her team makes an error or loses the game.
My 21-year-old daughter, who against my wishes, wears her Coco Crisp Red Sox Jersey to Yankee Stadium, does it to show pride and respect for her team.
That’s the great thing about baseball. No matter who you are or where you’re from, you can – and should – have a passion for the game and for the celebration of the game by its legions of fans in the stands. Those are the values I learned in Southington, and they are part of who I am today.
The game of baseball transcends race, sex, ethnicity, and economic status. Everyone can be a fan of this game and that’s why it remains our national pastime.
As a former player and a current broadcaster, I love baseball. Encouraging new fans and building upon our audience is essential to the future of the game. That’s why I host a national baseball radio show five days a week.
And it’s why I volunteer my time at various clinics and seminars throughout the year, to help bring baseball into the lives of new fans.
The other night I made an off-handed comment, the meaning of which may have been misconstrued beyond what was said. If any fan of this great game took offense, then he or she should know that this was neither my intention nor my history in the game.
I have had the privilege of knowing a great many fans of all backgrounds who are students of the game. Many of baseball’s most insightful fans, television viewers, and callers to my radio show are women.
And just like my mom in 1990, they know what they’re talking about.
I can’t help but bring this issue up and put my two sense in. Guys just don’t understand the issue woman have in the sports world. I have been a sports gal my whole entire life. Growing up I played softball and soccer year round. I also tried other sports but failed. (Gymnastics, Tennis, Track, Volleyball, etc.)
More importantly, I have LOVED watching Baseball, (my passion) football, hockey, soccer, tennis, golf. You name it, I watch it. Nothing compares to my love and passion for the game of baseball though. The most frustrating thing is that Rob Dibble said what most guys think. I know there are some guys out there that respect women in the industry. But sadly, a lot don’t.
I have a season ticket to the Pirates. I have only missed a handfull of games this season. I go early and watch both teams take batting pratice and warm-up. Out of 162 games, I’m at 150 of them. (That’s not even including road trips to other stadiums) I go to the game by myself. Most of my friends don’t really love baseball the way I do and to be honest I hate more than anything sitting next to someone who is talking and playing on their phone and not paying attention to the game. If I didn’t love this game, why on earth would I spend and arm and a leg for my seat? Why would I make it to at least 150 games a year? Why would I go to games alone if I didn’t understand the game of baseball?
It never fails, every game I get asked at least once what player I’m dating. Okay, maybe I get it a little. I sit a few rows behind the Pirates dugout, I’m alone, I’m a girl. And don’t get me wrong, it’s a compliment to be considered a ”baseball wife” but I’m not! Nor would I ever be! (No offense to the players.) Why can’t I just be a baseball fan, watching the game I love? I’m assumed to be either a wife/girlfriend or a Pro-Ho. (which I would never be either)
Normally, it’s men that ask the question. Then its followed by a few quiz style questions. ”Oh Yeah? Well, then who is the best hitter on the Padres? or, how long has Pedro been a Pirate? or, Who’s pitching against the Pirates tonight?” These are just a few of the questions I have to answer every single game. (Which I do, correctly. Then they feel like an idiot and I walk away.)
Then there are woman at games, that can be just as rude. (Aren’t we suppose to support each other?) Just because I’m an attractive girl doesn’t mean i’m going after your ballplayer or that I go to games just to try to snag one up. I know there are girls out there like that. Call me crazy but I want more out of my life than that.
To the women who are girlfriends, or wives. I hope to not have offended you. Some of the players are really great guys. Some of the ones I have gotten the oppurtunity to talk to and meet were really cool. And yes, I will admit that some of the players are very handsome and look very good in their uniform. But I’m not that kind of gal and I don’t want that kind of life. Some of the wives do great things with charity events and I have nothing but respect for that.
I just get so frustrated because I want to work in the industry. I want to be a part of this great, great game that I love. I hope that one day women like myself won’t be quizzed or assumed to be a girlfriend or a pro-ho.
Metsgrrl sums it up perfectly:
I wonder if Rob Dibble knows how many times women get looked at funny for keeping score. I wonder if Rob Dibble wonders how hard it is for female fans to have to continually defend their love of baseball as being about the game, and not about cute guys in tight uniforms. I wonder if Rob Dibble thought about what any teenage girls who were watching the game… and heard that. He just gave fuel to the fire of every sexist clod out there who thinks that women are dumb and can’t understand baseball and can’t possibly be at the game because they want to be. No one ever looks at a man and thinks “he must be here with his girlfriend”. It is hard enough to have a conversation with a guy at a game who assumes you are there because you are with a guy.
Here are some more comments:
Did you hear that, guys? Don’t bring your wife to baseball games! She might talk through the whole thing, which she probably doesn’t understand anyway, and like, spend all your money and stuff!
Thanks for the warning, Rob. It’s a good thing all the MALE corporate jerkoffs I see at Wrigley yakking on their Blackberries talk about nothing but OBP and the minor league draft, right? Hey, it’s a good thing they don’t let women work outside the home or drive cars or anything-imagine how much they’d have to talk about then.
Ultimately, though, I couldn’t ignore it. The fact is that this is my life. I am a woman who is a baseball fan. No, wait. I’m more than that. I am a woman who is a baseball writer. I’m a woman who is a baseball writer who runs the best and most successful Orioles blog on the internet. I am recognized by both local and out-of-town sports media as a knowledgeable source on the Baltimore Orioles.I am a woman who, if seated behind home plate at a Nationals game, would get circled by Rob Dibble and called out for gossiping about an upcoming sale while the men were trying to watch baseball.
Pirates can’t get Karstens a W in hometown debut
Jeff Karstens made his first career start in his home town of San Diego last night, unfortunately the Bucs couldn’t pull together enough runs to get Karstens the win he deserved. Jeff piched six innings, gave up three hits, two runs, struck out three batters and walked one. He threw 85 pitches, and retired his last 12 in a row. (The last hit given up was way back in the second inning by LeBlanc)
The Pirates have scored only 14 runs in the 45 1/3 innings Karstens has been on the mound this season.
“There are always a couple guys that it happens to, but it’s going to make me better, I believe,” Karstens said, giving the negative stat a 180-degree flip. “It’s helping my confidence knowing that even when games are like that, I know that I can pitch and keep my team in the ballgame.”
“We’ll come around. It’s just a matter of maturing and finding ourselves and finding who you are as a person. I think that’s what I’ve found this year. Last year, I was so worried about results and all this other stuff. This year, I said I was just going to be myself and whatever happens, happens.”
“It’s baseball,” he began. “It’s very humbling. It’s a little bit of a roller coaster ride this year. I think I’ve had some moments where I’ve shown some good stuff and I’ve had some moments where I look like last year, where it wasn’t so great.”
The long ball hurt the Pirates, Ryan Ludwick hit two on the night, his first and second as a Padre.
“I’m a firm believer in attacking pitches in your zone, and they both were in the area where I was looking,” said Ludwick, plenty familiar with Pirates pitching from his days in St. Louis. “I was fortunate to get them.”
LeBlanc pitched 5.2 innings giving up five hits, just one run, stuck out eight pirates and walked two. He threw 106 pitches, 66 for strikes and is now 6-10 on the season. The Padres bullpen were their normal dominant self giving up just two hits through 3.1 innings and stuck out three. Heath Bell picked up his 32nd save on the season.
Pirates lose 4-1.
Other News and Notes:
- Andrew Lambo has been on fire since being traded from the Dodgers. Hitting .406 at AA Altoona. 3-4 RBI, BB last night.
- John Bowker hitting .500 (12-24) for AAA Indy since he was traded from the Giants. He also hit his first Home Run last night since being a part of the Pirates organization.
- Nationals Pitcher, Drew Storen tweeted and shared an adorable picture yesterday.
@DrewStoren:Little compare and contrast. Shot from today rocking Expos Hat for BP vs. shot from me as an Expo’s bat boy.
@DrewStoren: In honor of Expos Night.
- Alex Presley 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, (.317 AVG)
- John Bowker 3-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
- Rudy Owens 5IP, 2H, 0ER, 3K, 2BB (ND)
- Zack Von Rosenberg 5IP, 8H, 2ER, 2K, 0BB (L 1-6)
- The Pirates drop to 13-43 on the road this season and are now 0-4 against the Padres.
- Padres- All about the Pitching (This season) Entering Tues.
MLB Rank
Record 64-46 3rd
ERA 3.28 1st
Strikeouts/9IP 7.93 2nd
Walks/9IP 3.15 3rd
XBH Allowed/Game 2.36 1st
Opp Avg. .235 1st
Ground Ball Pct 59.1 5th
- Padres Bullpen (This season) entering Tues.
MLB Ranks
ERA 2.77 1st
Opp Avg. .211 1st
Holds 71 1st
Strikeouts/9IP 9.8 1st
Walks/9IP 2.6 1st
Inherited Runners 20.2% 1st
- Ronny Cedeno hit his 20th double of the season last night.
- Run Support Average (Lowest in MLB) Entering Tues.
Roy Oswalt 2.48
Ted Lilly 2.63
Jeff Karstens 2.77
Wade LeBlanc 3.22
Johan Santana 3.28
–Minimum 100 IP
- RHP Steven Jackson has cleared waivers and accepted his assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis.
- Andy LaRoche second career start at first base last night; his first at that position since June 11, 2008 at San Diego (when he was a Dodger)
He spoke to FSN on Pre-Game on making his first start at first base since 2008:
Andy LaRoche: “It’s going to be interesting. Only career start at first base was here in San Diego, first game in 08. Hopefully it will pick up where I left off that day. As long as I stay relaxed out there I think I will be okay. Knowing where to go on certain plays, holding runners on, but as far as catching the ball and flipping it to the pitcher that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. I’m probally going to be thinking the whole game about if I’m in the right spot, and I’ll always be looking at the dugout to make sure I’m in the right spot.”
- Highest Batting Average by a Pirates Rookie:
2001- Craig Wilson .310
2006- Ronny Paulino .310
2010- Jose Tabata .306
2010- Neil Walker .303
1996- Jason Kendall .300
- The Pirates’ record on the year is now 39-73, just nine losses shy of clinching the 18th consecutive losing season.
- Pedro Alvarez hit in the clean-up spot for the first time in his Major League Career. He went 1-for-3 against SD with a RBI and a walk.
Today’s Pitching Matchup:
James McDonald 1-0 0.00 ERA
VS
Kevin Correia 8-7, 4.81 ERA
McDonald is coming off an outstanding debut as a Bucco. He pitched six shutout innings, struck out a career-high eight batters, which included six of seven in a row.
Correia in his last outing against the Dodgers, pitched 5.2 innings, gave up four hits, no runs, one walk. In his last three starts, 17.2 innings, Kevin has only managed to strike out four batters.
PETCO Park is easily one of my favorite ballparks. San Diego is just a very beautiful city in general. The stadium has open walk-ways, which give you a really cool beachy vibe. There are waterfalls at the entrance ways. It even has a sandbox in the outfield for the kids to play in during the game. You can also bring your blanket and watch the game from the outfield, they even have a huge TV you can see the game on as well. If you haven’t visted it before, I highly recommend it.
![DSC01628_thumb[2].jpg](http://mlblogskristylovesherbuccos.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/dsc01628_thumb5b25d1.jpg?w=418&h=320)
![DSC01662_thumb[2].jpg](http://mlblogskristylovesherbuccos.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/dsc01662_thumb5b25d1.jpg?w=421&h=323)
I haven’t been back to PETCO since 2008. I wish more of my friends loved baseball, I miss going on roadtrips to different stadiums.
Hansen is pitching again, Capps traded to the Twins
Some of you guys may have forgotten about Pitcher, Craig Hansen. He was part of the Red Sox, Dodgers deal when we sent Jason Bay and received; him, Brandon Moss and Andy LaRoche.
Hansen has been cleared to pitch for the first time since April of 2009 and has been added to the roster at High-A Bradenton. (In 2009, he only pitched five games, 6 1/3 innings)
In 2008, Hansen pitched in 48 games, 2-7, 46.1 IP, 40H, 37R, 32ER, 3HR, 43BB, 32K, 6.22 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP.
The 26-year-old right-hander, has had a long, uncertain recovery from an unusual ailment in which a nerve in his upper back lost the ability to send signals to his trapezius muscle. He was nearly set to return in early June, but elbow pain shut him down.
“We felt like it was time to get him out and see what he can do,” director of player development Kyle Stark said.
Hansen made his first start in over a year for the Marauders yesterday. He pitched 1/3 of an inning, giving up one hit, two runs; both earned, three walks, one strike out.
I found an old article that was published in August of 2009 on his recovery.
After about a month and a half of looking for an explanation for a “ghost injury,” as Hansen called it, doctors identified Hansen’s condition as Parsonage-Turner Syndrome, a rare disorder in which a nerve deteriorates and, as a result, the muscle in that area of the body weakens. For Hansen, the nerve affected was in the upper right side of his back and weakened the trapezius muscle, which is a critical muscle in his throwing motion.
The only cure for such an ailment is rest, though Hansen is undergoing nerve tests once a month to continue to look for signs of improvement. Hansen said that in his research he has read that recovery time can range from six months to five years. Medical research has shown that 75 percent of people affected with PTS recover fully in two years.
“It’s frustrating,” said Hansen, who still does not have a timetable for when he can pick up a baseball again. “It’s [about being] mentally tough more than anything. Right now, I’ve just got to keep myself busy and stay in shape so that when the nerve does come back and fully regenerate, I’ll be ready.”
How and exactly when Hansen initially suffered this paralysis of the nerve is still unknown. The best guess is that it was caused by a viral infection — something as seemingly innocuous as a common cold — and happened over the offseason. Hansen said that it was during Spring Training when he first noticed that he had lost significant strength in his pitching arm.
“All of a sudden you just notice that the strength gets significantly weaker,” Hansen said. “It’s been very challenging. It’s too hard for me to sit back and watch and not be given an opportunity to play right now.”
He has ruled out any attempt at trying to come back this season and is at this point looking to a return in 2010.
You can read the rest of the Article on MLB.com
Is this photo real? If so, it is a pretty sweet picture!
I will be keeping an eye on him and will continue to post any updates. If he stays healthy, and can fully recover he can be a pretty great arm for the Pirates. He was Boston’s 2nd pick in the first round (26th overall) in the 2005 draft.
In other news, Ex-Bucco, Matt Capps was traded from the Nationals to the Twins for catching prospect Wilson Ramos and Minor League left-hander Joe Testa.
Capps will take over as the Twins’ closer and Jon Rauch will shift back into a setup role. The Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that he’d already spoken to Rauch about the switch.
“He was very professional about it,” Gardenhire said. “He said, ‘Whatever it takes to win.’ It was the same thing he said to me when I told him he was the closer. He said, ‘Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do.’ He said he just wants to win and be on a winner.”
Capps has been very good this year, recording 26 saves in 30 opportunities and posted a 2.47 ERA in 47 games. He also was selected for his first All-Star game this year.
“This makes us a better club,” Twins general manager Bill Smith said. “Matt is a veteran closer, a veteran reliever and he’s going to be a very good fit for this club. We’ve had an interest in Matt Capps for a long time, and this was a good opportunity for us to acquire him. It gives us a better chance to win the division and hopefully advance to the World Series.”
@JeffFletcherAOL tweeted this last night: Wouldn’t it be funny if Capps, who was winning pitcher for NL in ASG, ended up in the WS for an AL team?
How weird would that be?
In honor of Matt Capper, click here to watch his “Big Bull Rider” entrance music when he was the Closer for the Pirates. Ah, memories.
Around the Ballparks 07/28
- The Indians traded Jhonny Peralta to the Tigers for LHP Giovanna Soto.
- The Angels Joel Pineiro will be out six to eight weeks (strained left oblique) He was a late scratch on Wed after sustaining a left oblique strain while warming up in the bullpen.
Noteable players on the DL this season (with abdominal or oblique injuries)
MIL – Yovanni Gallardo (RHP)
TEX – Tommy Hunter (RHP)
SD – Mat Latos (RHP)
TEX – Cliff Lee (LHP)
BAL – Brian Roberts (2B)
SD – Mike Adams (RHP)
SF – Jeremy Affeldt (LHP)
NYM – Rod Barajas (C)
PHI – Shane Victorino (CF)
- Derek Lee rejected a trade to the Angeles yesterday. Lee “agonized” over the decision about whether to accept the trade but he decided his family came first.
“When the trade was presented to me, I felt for me and my family the best thing to do was to stay here,” Lee said after the Cubs’ 8-1 loss to the Astros. “That was a decision we made. Jim and I had a great conversation about it. That was the decision.”
“It just shows the kind of guy he is,” pitcher Randy Wells said. “He’s a great guy, great teammate and a valuable asset. Without a guy like him on your team, you never know where you’re going to be, and not just on the field but in the clubhouse. He’s the guy everybody looks up to and he walks in the room and everybody perks up. As far as where we’re at right now, that’s huge that he stays.”
- The Nationals have placed Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list for shoulder stiffness.
“They’re taking every precaution with me,” he said. “It’s doing great already. [I'm] making big strides … and when the time comes, I’m going to be ready to go.”
- The Giants have won 17 of their last 21 games and Buster Posey extended his hitting streak to 21 games.
- Giants closer Brian Wilson was fined $1,000 for his orange cleats. They are the flashy (but cool in my opinion) he wore at the All-Star Game. Marlins Manager Rodriques complained about the cleats, calling them “a little too bright, too flashy.” During pregame Brian colored in 50 percent of the cleat black with a sharpie.
“I’m going to keep wearing them, but I’ve changed them to 50 percent black for the guidelines, and you guys can attest to that,” said Wilson, holding up one shoe. “I’ve got pretty good eyes. I can eyeball 50 percent. I don’t think they’re going to be nit-picky about 53 percent not black. I’m making an effort.”
“The fact that he thinks these shoes throw 97-100 with cut might be a little far-fetched,” Wilson said. “I guess we should probably have these checked for performance-enhancing cleats.”
- The Orioles hire Buck Showalter as their manager -MLB
- The Royals traded OF Scott Podsednik to the Dodgers for two minor leaguers, Lucas May (C) and Elisaul Pimentel (RHP)
- The Rangers placed Ian Kinsler on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin. The club called up (1B/OF) Mitch Moreland from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
- Ben Sheets in out for the remainder of the season with a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow.
“He’ll be missed both on the field and off the field,” Geren said. “He’s been a great teammate for a lot of the young guys. A lot of them looked up to him for his competitiveness and, off the field, he was just a pleasant guy to be around.”
“The whole year’s been frustrating,” Sheets said. “From where I was before spring, it’s never really taken any jumps you always hear about. To say I felt good for extended periods of time would be false. I felt good here and there — a couple innings here, a couple innings there, but nothing sustained throughout the year.”
- Dan Uggla hit his 143rd Career Home Run, ties Mike Lowell for Marlins franchise leading record. It is his sixth homerun in his last six games.
- Cardinals are 39-10 this season after scoring in the first inning.
- The Chicago White Sox are 17-1 at home since June 9th.
- Roy Halladay pitched his eigth complete game of the season. He gave up 6H, 1ER, 9K, 114 pitches. The Phillies have won seven straight games and 10 straight victories at home.
Doc (Last 5 home Starts) 4-0, 0.43 ERA, 38/4 K/BB, 0.83 WHIP
- The Tigers have lost nine straight road games.
- Joey Votto (last eight games) .471 AVG, .853 SLG, 4HR, 10RBI
Injuries a plenty
It seems like every time I turn the channel to watch a different game, there is a new injury. I’ve already posted about Bay, Strasburg, Haren, Burnett, Coghlan, Hernandez. Well, it seems like I missed a few more (all within the last day or two. It’s crazy!)
- The Phillies placed Shane Victorino on the 15-day DL with a strained left abdominal muscle. He had an MRI exam this morning, which revealed the severity of the injury. Philly fans shouldn’t fret as it is the beginning of the” Domonic Brown Era “. Brown was named the top prospect in baseball by Baseball America. Domonic hit a combined .327 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs in 93 games this season with Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
- Rockie’s Closer, Huston Street was hit in the lower right abdomen by a line drive during batting practice yesterday. Street was transported by ambulance to the hospital. He spent Tuesday night “at home resting comfortably” and was diagnosed with an abdominal contusion. Street is currently listed as “day to day”.
“I think his body actually kind of went into shock, because he actually said he wasn’t in much pain,” Dugger said. “The thing that was kind of alarming is that he said he had ringing in the ears. We don’t know. Sometimes it’s just a sign of shock. He could have held his breath and gotten this natural response.”
“I saw the whole thing,” said Stewart. “They’re playing catch out there, and I knew the ball was heading their way. I was just hoping it wouldn’t hit anybody.
“I want to say I might have even hit ‘Streeter’ before, like in the leg, in BP. But I can’t say for sure. It’s just a freak thing. You hardly ever see someone get hit in BP. They’re out there playing catch and supposed to be looking over between pitches, so I don’t know what happened there.
- What are the odds of two brothers, from two different teams, getting injured on the exact same day? Well, it happened. Bj and Justin Upton both left their games early due to injuries.
B.J. Upton left in the first inning with a left ankle sprain after running down a ball in center field. He is listed as day-to-day.
Justin Upton left in the fifth inning for precautionary reasons with right hip tightness. He did not require an MRI and is listed as day-to-day.
- Andre Ethier wasn’t injured, but was out of the lineup due to a sour stomach. But that didn’t keep him from playing later in the game. He came up to bat in the seventh with the bases loaded and hit a two-run pinch-hit single.
- Steven Strasburg update: MRI revealed inflammation, but nothing serious, no structual damage.
You know what is even more strange? Mid post, watching MLB Tonight, Angels starter Joel Pineiro was pulled during pre game warmup.
- Joel Pineiro was pulled from his start this afternoon with discomfort on his side. Scott Shields will make his first start since 2003.
I hope I don’t have to keep updating on the injuries. STAY SAFE BOYS!
Around the Ballparks:
- Nationals fans booed when Miguel Batista took the mound in Strasburg’s spot yesterday. His line: 5IP, 3H, 0ER, 6K – 83 pitches
“Imagine you go there to see miss universe and you end up having miss Iowa, you might get those kind of boos.” – Batista on fan reaction to Strasburg being scratched.
- Josh Tomlin dominated in hhis ML Debut VS the Yankees -MLB
It was Tomlin’s first career start and first career win.
Starter to defeat defending Champion in MLB Debut: (last five occurrences)
CLE- Josh Tomlin 2010 VS NYY
BAL- Jake Arrieta 2010 VS NYY
ATL- Kyle Davies 2005 VS BOS
TEX- Brian Sikorski 2000 VS NYY
CLE- Paul Rigdon 2000 VS NYY
- The Brewers were pummeled by the Reds yesterday, 12-4. Gallardo went just 2.2 IP, 10H, 5ER, 3K.
- Ryan Howard (Season Splits)
April/May June/July
Games 50 50
AVG .282 .323
HR 8 15
RBI 33 48 (Most in NL during this span)
Blown Call at HP, rough 4th, Bucs lose 5-3 to the Padres
In an instant, everything can change. The Bucs learned it the hard way last night as they lost to the Padres, 5-3.
In the first inning, with runners on first and third, Garrett Jones hit a grounder to first-baseman Adrian Gonzalez. He threw to home to try to get Jose Tabata at the plate. After a few seconds of waiting for the call by home plate umpire Bill Welke, Torrealba tagged Tabata and he signaled for the out. The replays clearly showed that Jose made a great play by touching home plate and avoiding the tag. John Rusell came out to argue the call, but it stood, no run. That ended the first inning for the Pirates, the momentum shifted.
It’s hard to really blame a loss on one call that happened in the first, but it definitly was a factor in what could have been an entirely different game.
“He didn’t see Jose’s hand go in there,” Russell said of Welke. “I think he’d know if he had to look at it on replay. But he didn’t see the hand go in there … and it did.”
Said Tabata, through his interpreter, first-base coach Carlos Garcia: “I was kind of surprised when he didn’t call anything at the beginning, because I know for sure my hand touched the plate. And I was kind of surprised that he saw that play the way he did, but I’m pretty sure he just told me that he didn’t see me touch the plate, and that’s why he didn’t make any call.”
Could’ve helped obviously,” Russell said of the run that wasn’t. “It’s a tie game. We score the three runs, we tie it up, [and] it might have changed the outcome a little bit. You hate for something like that to happen, because it is a run, and plays that cost you runs, they hurt, especially in a close game.”
The Pirates managed to only get six hits and two earned runs off Correia through six innings. (Correia’s ERA is 5.09, the worst of the staff of Padres starters. That tells you how good the arms have been.)
Paul Maholm, coming off arguably one of the best starts of his career, pitched six innings, giving up nine hits, four runs with two walks and two strikeouts. If it wasn’t for the rough second inning, Paul would have pitched a pretty good game. (He gave up four runs, four hits, faced eight batters and threw 28 pitches in the second.)
I really can’t say they hit a ball hard,” Maholm said of the second. “They found holes, broken-bat double — just the kind of inning that happens. But I felt good. I still felt like I could go out and throw my pitches when I wanted to, and try to keep us in the game. That was the biggest thing, is make sure it didn’t get any bigger.”
The Pirates cut the lead to two runs in the fourth inning when Pedro Alvarez single advanced two runners into scoring position thanks to a throwing error by Everth Cabrera. Lastings Milledge singled home both runners making the score, 4-2.
In the fifth inning, Tabata hit an RBI ground out to bring the game within one run.
Brendan Donnelly came in to pitch in the seventh inning. Throwing 13 pitches, 12 of them balls, he walked the bases loaded with no outs.
D.J. Carrasco came into the jam and continued to prove what a great asset he is to the Pirates. The Padres only managed to get one run, a Will Venable Sac Fly.
Heath Bell recorded his major-league leading 28th save of the season.
The Bucs have a challanging series on their hands, not only are the Padres first in the National League but a big part of that has been their stellar pitching this season. Entering Friday’s game the Padres leads MLB in Bullpen ERA (2.87), and second in Starting Pitching ERA (3.30) and rank third in Strikeouts (750).
Today’s Pitching Matchup:
Matt Latos 10-4, 2.45 ERA
VS
Jeff Karstens 2-5, 4.84 ERA
Latos just coming off the disabled list (strained left oblique) will start against the Pirates. He leads the Padres with 10 victories and will be making his first start since July 8th. Matt, who has proved to have one of the strongest arms in the NL in the first half of the season, has even impressed veteran Heath Bell.
“He’s showing what we all think he can do,” Bell said. “He’s not just a young kid with great, unbelievable stuff that doesn’t know what he’s doing. Every outing he’s learning.
“I told him, ‘You have the potential to be a No. 1. You have the potential, when we lose a few games, to be that stopper, that ace that we know we can ride.’ … With Mat, we have a chance to win every single outing.”
Karstens retired the first 12 batters he faced on 29 pitches his last outing. Although he did give up two long balls to both Fielder and Weeks he did mange to throw 53 of his 66 pitches for strikes. Jeff hasn’t picked up a win since June 19th, but has allowed just three runs or less in three of his five starts since.
I just felt I had a really good rhythm throwing strikes,” Karstens said. “And then, when I got ahead, I was expanding the zone a little bit, making them chase. Just doing what I’ve been doing while I’ve been here.”
Other Pirates News:
- To say Neil Walker has been hot is an understatement. In the Brewers series he went 11 for 17, with 4 2B, and 5 RB. Raised his AVG from .289 to .320, 51 points in the 2nd half alone. He’s been great since being called up on May 25th.
“What he went through, I think really made him a stronger player,” Russell said. “Fighting his way, struggling a little bit in Triple-A and finding it toward the end of the season last year. Came in, he knew Pedro [Alvarez] was going to play third, so I think it challenged him in another direction. We challenged him to play other positions and challenged him to try to find a spot that he could settle in.”
- Pirates promote 33rd round draft pick Justin Ennis (LHP) to Single-A West Virginia.
- Joel Hanrahan’s miserable six-run seventh inning against the Brewers three months ago is not a distant memory, not even close.
“I wouldn’t say that I put that outing behind me, I’d say I use it more as motivation,” Hanrahan said. “These guys, they’re coming up there trying to take food off your plate at all times, and you’ve got to go out there and take it personally and go out there and try to do your job, I guess. But I use that as motivation because, you can ask [Octavio] Dotel and [Brendan] Donnelly, we’ve all had games like that against Milwaukee, and we use that as motivation and try to work on it and try to get our numbers down as much as possible.”
Hanrahan has done just that, giving up just 10 earned runs in 37 2/3 innings (38 appearances) since, lowering his ERA from 15.75 to 3.67. Take away that April 22 outing, which came in a Pirates’ 20-0 loss, and Hanrahan’s ERA is 2.43.
The 28-year-old right-hander struck out two in the ninth Thursday against the Brewers and has now tossed four scoreless innings in four appearances since the All-Star break, striking out six, walking none and allowing just two hits.
With the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline fast approaching, Pirates manager John Russell has repeatedly said he likes what he has in his bullpen. Hanrahan isn’t oblivious to the chatter, but his mindset remains the same.
“This time of the year, obviously, there’s a lot of trade talks going on with everybody, and people joke about it and everything, and you got outside people coming in, like family members, asking questions,” Hanrahan said. “It’s nice not to see your name in there and then it is also flattering to see your name in trade rumors, too — that teams are interested in you and other teams feel like you can help them in the playoff race. That’s always fun, too, but it’s one of those things you can’t worry about. You just go out there and pitch.”
Around the Ballparks:
- Corey Hart’s x-ray on right wrist came up negative, his MRBI showed just a thumb bruise. Doesn’t appear to be DL, but he may be out few days
Ned Colletti says Dodgers are serious buyers–With the trade deadline nearing, general manager says he has been on the phone and actively trying to improve the team. -LATimes
In yesterday’s Mariners/Red Sox game, Chone Figgins got into a fight, not with the Sox but his own Manager, Don Wakamatsu. After he got pulled in the fifth inning for not hustling, they exchanged words and it got pretty heated. You can watch the video here if you missed it.
The long comeback of Rockies Pitcher Taylor Bucholz is almost complete. After undergoing Tommy John in 2008, he is set to be activated today before the game vs the Phillies.
Jim Leyland not excited to trade away Tigers’ prospects -freep.com
Roy Halladay- 8 scoreless innings last night is the 7th time Halladay has pitched 7+ innings & allowed 0 ER, most in majors.
Phillies have posted consecutive shutouts for 2nd time this season. Last time they had 2 such streaks in a season was 1986.
Joe Mauer: 1st HR since July 6. All 5 HR this season have come on road. Mauer hit his 5th HR in his 13th game last season.
Orlando Hudson diagnosed with strained right oblique, which tends to linger and send player to the DL.
The Nationals exercise team option and will Jim Riggleman as the manager for 2011.
The A’s sign catcher Kurt Suzuki to a four-year, $16.25 M extension.
Pedroia thinks he won’t need to make a minor league rehab stint. “The Red Sox need me more than the PawSox.” (via @ESPNJoeyMac)
Choo activated from the DL. Aaron Laffey onto 15-day DL with left shoulder fatigue.
Largest win pct improvement (NL) entering thurs:
2009 2010 Dif.
Padres .463 .591 .128
Mets .432 .516 .084
Reds .481 .552 .071
Nationals .364 .432 .068
Braves .531 .585 .054
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10 + Wins and ERA under 2.00 thru 20 starts:
2010- Josh Johnson 10W, 1.61 ERA
2000- Pedro Martinez 14W, 1.40 ERA
1998 Greg Maddux 12W, 1.57 ERA
1997- Pedro Martinez 12W, 1.80 ERA
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San Diego Padres Pitching Staff-MLB Rank(Entering Fri):
ERA- 3.30 (2nd)
Pen’ ERA- 2.87 (1st)
Shutouts- 12 (2nd)
Opp AVG- .239 (2nd)
Strikeouts- 750 (3rd)
Road ERA- 3.75 (3rd)
Here are some pictures I took from the game last night.
Heath Bell about to record his ML leading 28th Save.
Paul Maholm facing Adrian Gonzalez in the 1st inning.
Kristy Robinson
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