News Catch Up

June 7, 2015

Its been way too busy in the real world to blog this week, so here is a little catch up list with links to the stories we missed since Monday.

Yasiel Puig comes off the DL in a tear.

Red Sox Fan Seriously Injured by Broken Bat

King Felix gets his 9th Win 

A-Rod passes Bonds for 2nd on RBI List

Boston's Switch Pitcher makes MLB Debut

Mariners Trade for Mark Trumbo

TEXAS CALLS UP TOP PROSPECT GALLO

June 2, 2015

The Texas Rangers places Andre Beltre on the disabled list after spraining his left thumb. In the meantime the Rangers will call up their top prospect 3B JOEY GALLO. A Rangers spokesperson explained that the call up is for the expected three week period that Beltre is expected to be out. " There is not going to be any Quarterback controversy" they said, referring to a third base log jam.
However as other teams have found out, the problem is much harder if Gallo performs beyond expectations.

METS' WRIGHT SUFFERS ANOTHER SETBACK

May 23,2015

Mets all-star third baseman DAVID WRIGHT has suffered another setback in his attempt to come off the disabled List. Wright who has been on the DL since April 15 with hamstring tightness, has neen diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a tightening of the spinal column. The diagnosis comes after Wright suffered lower back pain that kept his rehabilitation from proceeding as scheduled.

The Mets released a statement that the condition does not appear to be degenerative and they will change their rehab to introduce strengthening exercises for the lower back to alleviate the problem. Needless to say, Wright will not be with the club anytime soon.

PENCE FRESH OFF DL, HAS BIG NIGHT

May 17,2015

HUNTER PENCE returned from the disabled list last night. He started the season on the DL after breaking his arm in spring training. The Giants have started the season at 19-18 have been missing the offensive power and spark usually provided by Pence. In his debut back, he provided just that. Pence went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk and scored 3 runs. Leading the Giants to an 11-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati.

METS CALL UP TOP PROSPECT SYNDERGAARD

The New York Mets will call up top pitching prospect, their number 1 prospect and the overall number 11 prospect in the major leagues, on Tuesday. Syndergaard will make a spot start on Tuesday at Wrigley field in Chicago. Dillon Gee was placed on the 15 day disabled list, retroactive to his last start, with a groin injury. Syndergaard is not expected to remain with the team after Gee comes back from the DL.

TANAKA Out for At Least One Month

The Yankees announced that after an MRI today the Yankees are placing MASHAHIRO TANAKA on the 15 day DL. He is expected to be out at leat one month with a grade 1 strain on his pitching elbow.

Numerous sources are reporting that its very likely to be extended beyond the one month announcement and might be much more serious.

Last July (2014) Tanaka partially tore the UCL in his pitching elbow, and elected to not have surgery.

NL EAST SIGNIFICANT INJURIES

NL EAST INJURIES

METS

VIC BLACK (RP)      Shoulder / Possible return late April
JERRY BLEVINS (RP) Fractured Arm / Mid-season at the earliest
JOSH EDGIN (RP)   Tommy John Surgery / Out til 2016
BOBBY PARNELL (RP) Tommy John Surgery / May
CESAR PUELLO (OF) Back Fracture / June at the earliest
ZACH WHEELER (SP) Tommy John Surgery / Out til 2016
TRAVIS D'ARNAUD (C) Fractured Hand / June

NATIONALS

ERIK DAVIS (RP)      Tommy John Surgery / September
NATE MCLOUTH (OF)            Shoulder / Late April
ANTHONY RENDON (3B)   Knee  /  May
CRAIG STAMMEN (RP)  Forearm Surgery / Out til 2016

MARLINS

AARON CROW (RP)    Tommy John Surgery  /  Out til 2016
JOSE FERNANDEZ (SP) Tommy John Surgery / Late June

BRAVES

MIKE MINOR (SP )     Shoulder  / Late May
SHAE STEVENS (RP) Tommy John Surgery / Out til 2016

PHILLIES

CHAD BILLINGSLY (SP)  Elbow Surgery / Late May
MARIO HOLLANDS (RP ) Tommy John Surgery / Out til 2016
CLIFF LEE (SP)    Flexor Tendon  /  August

Tanaka zeros in with 7 shutout innigs

From BRYAN HOCH @  MLB.com

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | @BryanHoch | 12:30 AM ET

ST. PETERSBURG -- From a distance of 60 feet and six inches, Brian McCann peered between the bars of his catcher's mask and saw the most encouraging thing that the Yankees could have put on display Saturday evening: a healthy and efficient Masahiro Tanaka.

Tanaka was not thrilled with his first two outings of the year, but even the harshest critic could not find much to be upset about in No. 3. Tanaka handcuffed the Rays to two hits over seven scoreless innings, striking out eight and walking none in a 9-0 victory at Tropicana Field.

"I feel like this is what he's been doing since he got over here. ... I really do," McCann said. "There's no questions in here about it. The guys that are in this clubhouse, that watch him prepare on a daily basis, that see him go about his business, he's ready to go."

After allowing a first-inning single to David DeJesus, Tanaka retired 15 straight until Brandon Guyer's double leading off the sixth. Tanaka pinned him there, setting down the last six batters he faced before handing over a big lead to the bullpen after 85 pitches.

"I'm happy with the results, happy with the way I pitched today," Tanaka said through an interpreter. "I have to get ready for the next game."

Tanaka caused a minor stir this week, mentioning that he is still building arm strength as a result of a light spring workload, but the right-hander was thrilled with his fastball on Saturday. He reared back for 28 four-seamers and 12 two-seamers, while showing off nasty sliders and splitters.

"I think it's all about the mechanics," Tanaka said. "The way that I was pitching, the mechanics were working well. That was probably the reason why I was able to pitch the way I pitched."

When the Yanks examined the radar gun, they found that Tanaka averaged 91.7 mph with his four-seamer and maxed at 93.9 mph; about 1 mph lower than where he was in his third start of the 2014 season.

"I think for him it's important; for all of us," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "But I think it's really important for him to see, 'When I have my stuff, I''m going to pitch extremely well,' and that's what he did tonight."

McCann said Tanaka seemed to have more tilt on his slider and could throw his curve for a strike at any time. Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tanaka worked differently than their expected game plan, noting that Tanaka used his two-seamer to lefties more than usual.

"He was better. The command of the fastball was better," Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "I thought he had a better downhill plane on it, and threw some fastballs down and away to the spot to right-handers very well. That means that he's getting through pitches pretty well."

Rothschild called it "a real good step in the right direction," and it was the kind of outing that allowed the Yankees to dream big about having that version of Tanaka on the mound for 30 to 32 starts. It's no overstatement to say that could be the difference between competing in October or heading home.

As such, the Yanks will protect their prize when possible; Girardi and Rothschild said there has been no decision on if Tanaka will pitch on four days' rest Thursday at Detroit, or perhaps giving him an extra day and pushing that start back to the next evening in New York.

"I felt pretty good about him once we got through Spring Training," Girardi said. "Obviously, the only question we probably need to answer is going every fifth day. That's the only question, how his body responds continually. He seemed to do OK with it last year, and it's going to happen this year. I feel pretty good about it."

Wright to get MRI after pulling right hamstring

Looks like DAVID WRIGHT will be heading to the DL after pulling his right hamstring on a funny slide into second base last night. Wright who successfully stole second on the play was able to walk off the field without assistance. However the severity of the injury is noticiable because the Mets flew ERIC CAMPBELL to NYC last night in an anticipated roster move. The Mets injury woes continue adding to the list containing front line players such as; ZACH WHEELER, BOBBY PARNELL, JENRRY MEJIA and both WILMUR FLORES and MICHAEL CUDDYER who are both day to day after getting struck in the hands by pitches thrown by the Phillies in last nights game.

ALEX RIOS FRACTURES HAND

It has been widely reported that Royals right fielder ALEX RIOS has fractured his hand and will be placed on the DL. The Royal who have started 2015 sizzling hot at 7-0, will miss Rios hot bat. He was batting .321 prior to the injury. 29 year old rookie PAULO ORLANDO will probably get the bulk of the playing tim ein Rios absence.

NATHAN SIDELINED FOR AT LEAST A WEEK

Bad news for the Detroit Tigers,JOE NATHAN says he will not even be picking up a baseball for a week because of right elbow problems.

Anytime a pitchers throwing elbow is the issue, you have to hold your breath. With the plague of Tommy John issues the past four years, you never know when a mild day to day problem becomes a season ender.

Marlins Pitcher AARON CROW had season ending Tommy John surgery today.

Twins Prospect has TJ Surgery

Twins pitching prospect B.J. Hermsen will undergo Tommy John surgery today.