Baseball Chatter 05/31

Last week Pete Mackanin benched Maikel Franco for two games, but didn’t talk to him or let him know why.

I’d like to see if he comes to me, rather than me going to himMackanin on benching Franco

He benches them, and then he waits for the player to come to him to find out why? WTF? Last year he benched Odubel Herrera three games because he was slumping and Odubel never showed up to the office because he just assumed he was getting a rest.

Can anyone blame Franco for refusing to play along? Now they are talking about sending him to Triple-A, and while we can all see his struggles, it is hard to believe that the demotion would be just about him struggling and not because he pissed off his manager by not begging for his job back.

They understand and I understand, you know? I’m not the guy to go into the manager’s office and say, ‘Why am I not in the lineup?

I want to play.’ He knows what he’s doing and I know what I’m capable of doing.

Every single day when I come in, I’m 100 percent mentally ready to be in the lineup and I’m ready to play. If I’m not in the lineup I have to get relaxed and just try to do everything I can to make an adjustment, and when I’m in the lineup, I’ll do my job.

If tomorrow I come in and I’m not in the lineup, I’m just going to go out there and do my job and do everything I can do to get better and help my team, It happens. I remember in Triple-A I got three days where I didn’t play to try to relax. And after that I did a good job.

And the Phillies just extended Mackanin’s contract. Oye Vey

Adam Frazier was not in the Pirates starting lineup for the second straight day after his 1-for-16 slump, but he did come in to pinch hit. Maybe Clint Hurdle is waiting in his office for Frazier to come kiss his ass like Mackanin… Just kidding.

Actually Hurdle thinks Frazier might have come back from injury a bit too soon.

He ran the bases so much, I think there was some fatigue. I’m being quite frank. Four games (in Atlanta), the length of time we were in that ballpark…I think he bounced back (from the DL) and played three games. Then he played seven straight.

I think we pushed it to the point that he got a little fatigued. Swing fatigue, run fatigue. It’s just part of growing up in this major league experience, the endurance levels and what you go through and what it encompasses. Plus, we’ve had him running around in the outfield. There’s more work to be done in the outfield than in the infield.Hurdle on Frazier

Robbie Ray has pitched 24 ⅔ innings without allowing a run, the third longest scoreless streak in Diamondbacks franchise history. Watch out when he gets back to Chase Field though:

• At Home: 1-2, 6.75 ERA, 5 GS

• On The Road: 4-1, 0.64 ERA, 6 GS

In seven games since moving to second in the batting order Giancarlo Stanton:

• .414 AVG
• 3 HR
• 7 RBI

Jose Altuve hits .491 in 57 at bats at Target Field, including at least three hits in five of the last six games he has played there.

Jose Quintana has given up 15 runs on 18 hits, including four homers over his last two starts. His ERA went from 3.92 to 5.60. The White Sox might regret not trading him when they had the chance

Parker Bridwell was called up to be the Angels 22nd pitcher and ninth starter so far this season.

The Mets hope Robert Gsellman will make a good closer.

Some say Matt Kemp will be a top target for contending teams at trade deadline. It makes no sense to me. Bob Nightengale listed his top 25 trade targets over at USA Today. Check it out.

The combo of Indians starting pitchers, Josh Tomlin, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer are 3-0 with a 2.35 ERA, 24 strikeouts and two walks over their last three, 23 innings.

Justin Verlander allowed less than two runs without getting the win for the ninth time in the past two seasons.

David Paulino was called up to start in place of Joe Musgrove today.

Cody Bellinger needs one more homer today to become the first rookie in Dodgers history to hit 10 in a calendar month. His next home run will match his dad, Clay Bellinger, who hit 12 home runs in 183 big-league games.

 

Team News

The Cardinals are nine for their last 51, batting .176 with runners in scoring position

The Mets have the best on base percentage with runners in scoring position, .394.

Wilmer Flores is batting .393 this month, good for 2nd highest in the majors with a minimum of 45 at-bats. #MetsFacts pic.twitter.com/eCpdWW4Lyj

— New York Mets (@Mets) May 30, 2017

The Dodgers are 24-9 since they promoted Cody Bellinger, April 25.

 

Injury Updates

James Paxton will be activated to pitch at home against the Rockies today

Francisco Liriano is penciled in to start Friday against the Yankees

Kolten Wong’s MRI showed no structural damage but Wong shouldn’t even be a topic of conversation unless you are in a 15-team only league…

Stephen Piscotty should return to the lineup today

Taijuan Walker felt fine after pitching three innings in a simulated game and expected to start Sunday in Miami.

Vince Velasquez hits the disabled list

Carlos Rodon will throw four or five innings in extended spring training on Friday. Nobody still knows when he is coming back though, and he is getting pretty frustrated with that.

For those of you who may have missed out on the drama last night, here it is in slow motion. It sounds like to only one who suffered any injuries was Mike Morse, who was accidentally body slammed by Jeff Samardzija