Rumors
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Mets Notes: Wheeler, Wright, Duda, Davis
The Mets have been one of baseball's worst teams thus far: they currently outpace only the Astros and Marlins with a 17-27 record. While the team's weak start hardly qualifies as a major surprise, the club certainly hoped to remain in contention and see more development from several promising youngsters. Already staring at a ten-game deficit in the NL East, attention has turned to the future ... The future could come early for one piece of the Mets' long-term plans, as we learned yesterday that top minor league arm Zack Wheeler is firmly expected to be called up sooner rather... -
Camden Riversharks Sign Wilson Valdez
The Camden Riversharks announced that they have signed infielder Wilson Valdez. The veteran is represented by Kinzer Management Group according to the MLBTR Agency Database.
Valdez, who celebrated his 35th birthday earlier this week, signed a minor league deal with the Marlins in March. His performance at Triple-A New Orleans wasn't enough to earn him a ticket up to the big leagues, however, as he hit .232/.275/.259 in 122 plate appearances. For his major league career, Valdez owns a slash line of .236/.281/.313 across seven seasons. While he has never shined at the plate, Valdez has a reputation for solid defense at second base, third base, and shortstop with a bit of outfield experience as well.
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White Sox Outright Angel Sanchez
1:54pm: The White Sox announced that they have outrighted Sanchez to Triple-A Charlotte. With the move, Chicago's 40-man roster now stands at 39.
12:53pm: Infielder Angel Sanchez, a Rule 5 pick who was waived on Thursday by the White Sox, cleared waivers and was offered back to the Angels, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. With a roster crunch at the major league and Triple-A level, however, DiGiovanna reports that the Angels declined to take Sanchez back.
Sanchez, 29, has been on the disabled list since April 10th with a lower back strain. He has appeared in just one game this season with the White Sox. In parts of five seasons at Triple-A, Sanchez owns a .294/.359/.388 slash line.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
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Rangers Claim Joe Benson
The Rangers have claimed 25-year-old outfielder Joe Benson off of waivers from the Twins, tweets MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. Apart from a brief call-up in 2011, Benson has spent his entire career in the minors.
Thus far, he has struggled to a .192/.256/.285 line in 164 plate appearances for the Twins' Triple-A affiliate. The claim enabled the Twins to free a 40-man roster spot for pitcher P.J. Walters to take the rotation spot of the scuffling Vance Worley.
The Rangers subsequently optioned Benson to Double-A, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter). To make space on the team's 40-man roster, Texas moved Matt Harrison to the 60-day DL, according to a tweet from Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
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Red Sox Notes: Lackey, Henry, Draft
If it is fair to label the Yankees' hot start as a surprise in spite of the team's history and payroll, then certainly the same should be said of the Red Sox. With a win today, the team noted in a press release, the Sox would move to an even 30-20, good for its best start since 2008. Let's check in on the team that sported the fourth-highest Opening Day payroll: Perhaps the biggest surprise in Boston is starter John Lackey, whose five-year, $82.5MM deal has long been viewed as a major drag on the organization. After a terrible 2011...
Blogs
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Bluebird Banter :: Blue Jays come back but fall short, lose to Orioles 6-5
On a sunny, but slightly nippy Saturday in Toronto, the Blue Jays lost their second straight to the Baltimore Orioles, despite a late-game rally. -
Bucs Dugout :: Gamethread: Jeff Locke takes on Brewers
Here's the lineup for the 4:10 matchup against Mike Fiers and the Brewers: Starling Marte LF Travis Snider RF Andrew McCutchen CF Garrett Jones 1B Russell Martin C Neil Walker 2B Pedro Alvarez 3B Clint Barmes SS Jeff Locke P Carson Cistulli -
Purple Row :: Rock Mining Week 8: Beating Lefties
While the Rockies started off the season strong, their weakness had been left-handed pitching. Patrick Corbin of the Diamondbacks, Travis Wood of the Cubs, and the San Francisco tandem of Madison Bumgarner and Barry Zito had all taken turns dominating the Rockies up until last weekend. A huge reason for this was the Rockies' lack of right-... -
South Side Sox :: White Sox infield notes: Gordon Beckham sore, Jeff Keppinger rebounding, Angel Sanchez outrighted
Gordon Beckham's return to the White Sox has been delayed by some soreness in his surgically repaired left hand. -
Reds Reporter :: A Cincinnati Reds Blog :: There's no debate about Joey Votto, actually
If you read an article on Sports Illustrated this week, you would have seen a local laughingstock trying to start a debate where there isn't one. Now, I have no idea what SI wants with Paul Daughtery, but I'm embarrassed for this city that he's representing us. Allow me to retort. -
Babe Ruth Upsets Honus Wagner in Classic Baseball Card Slugfest
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Miguel Cabrera: Tigers' Superstar on Track to Smash 'Untouchable' MLB Record
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The 10 Most Shocking Pennant-Winning Teams in MLB History
Entering the 2013 season, hardly anyone chose the Colorado Rockies or New York Yankees to contend for pennants. Both have shocked the baseball world by overcoming depth and injuries concerns, but we've seen plenty of that throughout MLB history.
The teams featured on this list made journeys all the way to the World Series despite being perceived as underdogs prior to Opening Day. Each slide reflects on previous seasons to explain why there was pessimism, identifies the difference-makers who made the pennant possible and states whether or not the team was victorious in the Fall Classic.
Every generation has had its unlikely successes.
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10 Best 'Failed' Starters in MLB History
Nobody likes to be labeled a failure.
Whether it's failing an exam in school, your first road test or not performing up to expectations in any of your endeavors, not finding success can be a deflating feeling, one that some people can move past more easily than others.
Professional athletes are no different.
Whether their failures came in the minor leagues or once they arrived in the big show, for the 10 pitchers that we are about to look at, failure was the best possible thing that could have happened for their careers.
For it was their ineptitude at the beginning of games that ultimately led to unthinkable levels of success pitching out of the bullpen, primarily in the ninth inning.
While there are a number of failed starting pitchers who were able to reinvent themselves as quality relievers, these 10 pitchers stand out from the pack.
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Ways the MLB Draft Can Improve to Be More Like the NFL Draft
When is the 2013 MLB Draft?
I'll give you the amount of time it takes for your eyes to cross the following ellipses to figure it out...June 6-8. Twelve days from today the top amateur baseball players from high schools and colleges around the country will be selected through one of 50 rounds in the MLB draft.
You read that right, 50 rounds.
I'll stop right here and state that the first way in which the MLB draft can mold itself to be more like its superior NFL brethren is to cut back some baggage; the chances of finding a professional-caliber player in rounds later than the 15th is like finding a needle in a haystack.
However, there are more pressing issues as to why the MLB draft pales in comparison to the media-crazed, and frankly over-hyped, NFL draft.
For one, the talent from the high school or college level to professional competition does not translate the same way between the two sports. An NFL-ready quarterback drafted in the first round can seamlessly step into the leadership role after participating in just a single preseason (See: Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, etc.).
On the other hand, a dominant college starting pitcher like Mark Appel — who was drafted eighth overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2012 and offered a $3.8 million initial contract before deciding to return to Stanford for his degree — may not reach a major league mound for one, three or even ten years. There are no guarantees in the MLB.
Without the instant gratification fans receive from NFL rookies, who can make an immediate impact on ones favorite team, the spectator interest is stunted, leaving a challenging hurdle for the MLB to overcome.
Let's consider a few scenarios that can increase the popularity of the MLB draft.
News
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Maddon sticking with Hernandez for next start
Despite Roberto Hernandez's two abysmal outings in back-to-back starts, Rays manager Joe Maddon said that the veteran right-hander will be the team's scheduled starter Wednesday night in Miami against the Marlins. -
Henderson's hamstring to be examined Saturday
Brewers closer Jim Henderson will be examined by doctors Saturday regarding the right hamstring strain he suffered in Friday's victory against the Pirates. -
Baseball thanks veterans for their service
Baseball and veterans are two of the most American institutions, and through many programs in the big leagues, soldiers are being honored and aided, including this Memorial Day weekend. -
Duffy to begin rehab assignment Sunday
Danny Duffy, who underwent Tommy John surgery last June 13, will start his Minor League rehab assignment on Sunday. Duffy will pitch four innings for Northwest Arkansas in San Antonio. -
Dyson hoping to begin running program this week
Center fielder Jarrod Dyson said Saturday his recovery from a high ankle sprain is progressing well. Dyson was injured May 15 against the Angels when he scaled the outfield wall attempting to grab a Mike Trout home run. -
Umps miss call in bizarre fashion
Umpires miss yet another call, this one Friday night in a strange play at first base during the Rangers-Mariners game. -
Mattingly Dodgers still lack determination
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Lynn deals as Cards blank Dodgers
Lance Lynn pitched two-hit ball over six innings, and David Freese and Allen Craig each homered and drove in three runs, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-0 on Friday night for their third win in a row. -
Anibal Sanchez loses no-hitter with 2 outs to go
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Sanchez loses no-no in 9th to Mauer
Despite entering 9th aiming for second career no-hitter, Anibal Sanchez should've known it was doomed once Joe Mauer came to plate.