I posted news of Brett Lawrie's callup yesterday but failed to mention that outfielder Travis Snider was sent down to AAA top open a spot for him. Snider went 0-5 with a run scored yesterday and is hitting just .225-.269-.348 with 3 HRs, 30 RBIs, 23 runs, 9 SBs and a horrible 56-9 K/BB rate in 186 big league at bats. The strikeouts are a big problem, and he will have to work to improve that aspect of his game in AAA.
I read yesterday that the Dodgers are giving prospect Jerry Sands a long look at first base in AAA now. He has played the last 3 games at first base, even with the trade of outfield prospect Trayvon Robinson last Sunday. I think Sands will be the Dodgers everyday first baseman next season as current first baseman James Loney will more than likely be non-tendered.
Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings is adjusting very well to the big leagues. He went 3-6 with a HR, RBI and run scored yesterday and is now hitting .354-.446-.708 with 3 HRs and 10 RBIs n his first 48 at bats. I said this yesterday, but its worth repeating. There have to be some in the Rays front office asking themselves why they waited so long to call him up.
Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz went 2-4 with a walk and a run scored on Thursday, and is now hitting .269-.318-.544 with 24 HRs, 72 RBIs and 6 SBs this season. After a very slow start to the season, a start which saw him hit .247 in April and .167 in May, Cruz has hit 13 HRs and driven in 45 since June 1.
Indians catcher Carlos Santana went 3-4 with a HR, 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs last night. Santana has underperformed expectations this year as he is hitting just .232-.352-.428 with 16 HRs, 50 RBIs and a solid 85-69 K/BB rate. He has been a bit unlucky this season though, as his BABIP is just .251 thus far, so he could just as easily outperform going forward.
If Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury won the AL MVP this season, would anyone be surprised. Ellsbury went 2-3 with a walk and a run scored. For the season, he is hitting .319-.376-.514 with 18 HRs, 65 RBIs, 83 runs, and 31 SBs in 41 attempts. He will be a first round pick next year in the majority of drafts. I may rank him ahead of Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun as well.
I don't know. How many hitters could break their wrist and return to hitting 95 mph fastballs in two weeks like Albert Pujols did? Not many. He either is a quick healer and knows some real good doctors. Last night, he went 3-4 with a HR and 3 runs scored. For the season, he is hitting .280-.347-.526 with 25 HRs and 66 RBIs. I questioned how much power he would have returning so quick from the wrist injury, but he hasn't missed a beat.
Yankees starter Ivan Nova held the White Sox to 1 run in 7.2 innings last night. He gave up just 6 hits, walked none and struck out 10 to win his 10th game of the season. He has a mediocre ERA of 3.81, WHIP of 1.39 and K/BB rate of 67-38 this far in 2011. Nova has been a pleasant surprise for the Yankees this season.
Royals outfielder Alex Gordon went 4-5 with 2 runs scored last night and is hitting .311-.382-.505 with 14 HRs and 58 RBIs thus far this season. Is he a top 20 outfielder in 2012? Are you buying the breakout?