MLB Daily Balk 5/17

Where next for the big slugger?

Where Does Prince Fielder Go From Milwaukee?

A few weeks ago, Ryan Braun signed a long-term deal with the Brewers that will keep him in Milwaukee through at least the 2020 season. Braun expressed a desire to finish his career where he started and declared his love for Milwaukee.

Prince Fielder hasn’t signed a new contract and has not professed his desire to remain with the Brewers. Reading the baseball tea leaves, that isn’t going to change, either. Fielder is highly unlikely to remain with the Brewers for two related reasons. First, he hired Scott Boras to represent him and Boras ALWAYS takes his clients into free agency. Second, every Boras client goes on the auction block and signs with the highest bidder, period.

Click here to read the rest of this column

 

Best of Yesterday May 16

Last Night’s Games
American
New York 5	Tampa Bay 6
Toronto 4	Detroit 2
Baltimore 7	Boston 8
Texas 4	Chicago 0
Cleveland 19	Kansas City 1
Minnesota 2	Seattle 5
Los Angeles 4	Oakland 5 F/10
National
Philadelphia 1	St. Louis 3
Pittsburgh 2	Washington 4
Houston 2	Atlanta 3
Chicago 4	Cincinnati 7
Florida 2	New York 1 F/11
San Francisco 4	Colorado 7
San Diego 8	Arizona 4
Milwaukee 2	Los Angeles 1

 

Top Aces
Player	Team	Stats
Colby Lewis W (4-4)	TEX	9 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 7 K, BB
Michael Pineda W (5-2)	SEA	7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 7 K
Shawn Marcum W (5-1)	MIL	7 IP, ER, 5 H, 4 K, BB
Tommy Hanson W (5-3)	ATL	7 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 10 K, BB
Jake Westbrook W (3-3)	STL	7 IP, ER, 4 H, K, 3 BB

 

Hitting Heroes
Player	Team	Stats
Henry Blanco	ARI	2-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Matt LaPorta	CLE	4-4, 4 RBI, $
Michael Brantley	CLE	2-4, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R
Ryan Ludwick	SDP	2-3, HR, 3 RBI, R
Adrian Gonzalez	BOS	3-5, 3 RBI, R, GW 2B

 

 

What Happened (!!)Yesterday?

The Royals let Vin Mazzaro pitch long enough to give up 14 earned runs in only 2 1/3 innings. Mazzaro was the scheduled starter for Tuesday’s game but was called into action after Monday’s starter, Kyle Davies, left in the first inning with an injury. Evidentally, Royals manager Ned Yost didn’t think that 8 or 10 or 12 runs were enough to pull the plug on Mazzaro. Yost allowed the rookie to get hammered in a game that was over long before he pulled Mazzaro. Now the Royals have a severely scarred young pitcher on their hands who may never be the same. Better discretion was needed by Yost as the manager.

Cliff Lee had only allowed 7 walks all season before Monday’s game. He ended up walking 6 Cardinals to set a personal game-high for his career. His previous high walk total for a game was 5, most recently in 2009. Lee is now 2-4 for the Phillies and his teammates have only scored 4 runs in those losses.  

 

AL News/Notes

The Orioles lost Derrek Lee on Monday night with an oblique injury and Cesar Izturis was sent back to Baltimore to get a nerve problem checked.

John Lackey is headed to the DL for the Red Sox with a strained right elbow, but it’s probably as much the strain that his starts are putting on the bullpen that led the Sox to disable him. It’s safe to say that the Sox will take their time in bringing Lackey and his 8.01 ERA back.

Adam Lind was placed on the DL by the Blue Jays on Monday and they called up power hitting prospect Eric Thames to replace him. Thames, who was ranked by Baseball America as the Jays #12 prospect, will see time in LF and at DH.

The Royals sent Vin Mazzaro to AAA after his atrocious outing on Monday and called up left-hander Everett Teaford to replace him on the roster. Kyle Davies will be getting a MRI on his right shoulder on Tuesday and will likely head to the DL as well.

Joe Mauer is heading to extended spring training and the Twins hope that the warm weather will speed up his recovery time from his leg weakness.

  

NL News/Notes

According to Pirates GM Neal Huntington, there are no plans to send Pedro Alvarez to the minors. Also, Evan Meek pitched a perfect inning in a rehab appearance.

The Phillies Roy Oswalt comes off the DL to start on Tuesday against the Cardinals. Oswalt struggled with his velocity during his rehab outing last week. Placido Polanco got a day off on Monday because manager Charlie Manuel felt that he needed a day off.

Injured Cubs pitcher Andrew Cashner had a setback and is going to get another MRI on his shoulder. After Monday’s game, Tyler Colvin was optioned to AAA to get more consistent playing time.

Chipper Jones received two cortisone shots in his right knee and felt better on Monday. He could return to the lineup on Tuesday for the Braves.

Pablo Sandoval‘s rehab is going really well and he could be able to return to the Giants in a month from his broken hand.

 

Streaks of the Day

• Cubs Marlon Byrd extended his hitting streak to 16 games
• Marlins Logan Morrison hitting streak ended at 13 games
• The Twins lost their 9th straight game on Monday night
• Angels Erick Aybar ended his hitting streak to at 13 games

 

Top Tuesday Matchups

6:40 EDT Yankees (Nova 3-3, 4.70) at Rays (Shields 4-1, 2.08)

7:05 EDT Blue Jays (Litsch 4-2, 4.14) at Tigers (Porcello 3-2, 3.67)

7:10 EDT Cubs (Garza 2-4, 4.17) at Reds (Volquez 3-1, 5.74)

8:15 EDT Phillies (Oswalt 3-1, 3.33) at Cardinals (Garcia 5-0, 1.89) — MLB Network

10:05 EDT Angels (Chatwood 2-1, 3.67) at Athletics (Gonzalez 4-2, 2.68)

 

Yesterday’s Balks: 1

• Chris Richard of the Padres against the Diamondbacks