NEWS/RUMORS/AROUND MLB Thread

I don't know about that... I tend to look more at Blanton's entire season of work last year more so than that last series, and I think if he replicates that season for the Nationals, they will be quite happy. Meanwhile, I'm not sure Romo+whoever can fully replace that.

 

blanton was great for the most part and i defended him as much as anyone
but i trust the nerds had their reasons for not pursuing him
hoping they also know something about romo we don't
and/or that honeycutt can get him in a groove [no homo]
as for blanton, no way we would have gotten as far without his contributions
that said, those two bombs he gave up against the cubs were absolute killers, and what he will be remembered for most




Jack Clark and Ozzie Smith like this... Tom Niedenfuer, not so much.

 

thompson supposedly 100% healthy per gurnick
more outfielders for less spots... a good problem to have

Thompson is 100 percent, ready to play
by Ken Gurnick | MLB.com — 81 minutes ago

GLENDALE. Ariz. -- Trayce Thompson has hit his goal of being 100 percent healthy by March 1, and his wait to play in a Cactus League game could be down to just days.

The Dodgers outfielder has finally recovered from two fractured vertebrae in his lower back that derailed his emergence last year as an impact player. When relievers Sergio Romo and Grant Dayton threw live batting practice on Tuesday, Thompson was one of the hitters.

"I've been medically cleared," Thompson said. "I have no issues, been running around. I even run from the field to the cage, just because I feel good. I wasn't able to run for five or six months, and I don't ever want to stop now, and I definitely won't take it for granted again."

With a predominantly left-handed lineup that struggled last season against left-handed pitching, Dodgers management can only hope the right-handed Thompson returns healthy from the back injury that he said began bothering him in May. He finished with a .225/.302/.436 slashline, but his numbers peaked at .307/.358/.613 on May 17. He had 10 homers by June 7, finished with 13 and played his last game on July 10.

Thompson has said Dodgers trainers suspect he might have unknowingly injured his back even before he was acquired a year ago from the White Sox. He said the discomfort started in May and varied in intensity until he ran into a wall in a game against the Orioles in July, leaving him with an irritated nerve.

"If you look back on my mechanics, you could definitely tell something was going on with my posture, and I have to make sure I don't lose it," Thompson said.

Without a normal offseason, Thompson has been building his conditioning the first two weeks of Spring Training. He said his training routine has changed dramatically.

"It's more fine tuning, more maintenance, doing specific exercises instead of throwing weights around, diligently working on each muscle," Thompson said. "[The training staff] is really progressive and smart about the stuff they have us do, all of us, but especially me now. I've definitely changed my routine 100 percent. I'm sure I could cold-turkey it and get out there and just stretch with the guys and go. But now I'm one of the first guys here every day to do all my stuff beforehand, and it's definitely worth it."

Thompson knows the late start has somewhat compromised his chances to make the Opening Day roster, especially with so many quality outfielders in camp. But that hasn't dampened his confidence.

"I know I belong in the Major Leagues," Thompson said. "I know it's a steep task from looking from the outside in, but I try not to think about it and just do what I can control each day. The next step is to play in a game and work on my swing and defense and baserunning, just trying to get ready to play a season."

 

fwiw...
http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/lad/video/...id-fire-questions-on-mlb-tonight/?team_id=119

 

He should take some at bats at 1B.
With Trayce healthy the Dodgers can do without Scott Van Slyke.
We have 4 spots on the team that should be platooned.
LF, CF, 3B, 1B.
Most nights Turner is going to play so that leaves 3.

 

asking a recovering player to learn a new position?
he's never played a game in the infield in his career, minors as well
not to mention it would be wasting his defense/speed
might as well have your boy puig take some reps there (sarcasm)
leave 1b alone
agon can keep it warm until bellinger is ready... which could be sooner rather than later
svs > puig
^kidding, but if puig keeps declining...

 

no chance he'll become addicted to painkillers, right?

Josh Hamilton has 11th knee surgery of career
Associated Press | Feb 27, 2017

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Josh Hamilton has had another surgery on his balky left knee, ending any chance of the 2010 AL MVP making the Texas Rangers' opening day roster.

The arthroscopic procedure Monday was to repair some damaged meniscus cartilage in his left knee. There were no issues with the surgically repaired ACL in that knee.

Hamilton, 35, had left spring training in Arizona and returned to Houston for the second time in less than a week to be examined by Dr. Walt Lowe, who also performed Hamilton's season-ending surgery last June.

The latest knee procedure is the 11th in Hamilton's career, and the third since the slugger last played in the majors in 2015.

Hamilton, in camp on a minor league contract, faces six weeks of rehabilitation before he will be able to start running again.

Hamilton was a five-time All-Star as an outfielder. He has been working out this spring at first base to put less wear and tear on the knee.

He has not played in more than 90 big league games in a single season since 2013.

In 2010, he hit .359 with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. In 2013, he hit 43 home runs with 128 RBIs.

Hamilton has a $24 million contract for 2017 and the Los Angeles Angels are obligated to pay the Rangers $22 million to cover most of it.

This is the final season of the $125 million, five-year deal he signed with the Angels as a free agent before the 2013 season, though they traded him back to Texas two years later.

 

^followed by...

Josh Hamilton's comeback attempt has hit a bump in the road, and the beneficiary could be James Loney.

The Texas Rangers confirmed Sunday that Hamilton will require arthroscopic surgery on his troublesome left knee, and will miss 4-6 weeks and require a minor league rehab assignment.

Loney, a veteran first baseman who was signed to a minor league contract, "becomes more significant for every day Hamilton is down," and "could emerge prominently in the Rangers' plans by the time spring training ends," writes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.

Loney, 32, could fit in as the backup first baseman and lefty-swinging complement behind recently-signed Mike Napoli. An 11-year veteran. Loney spent last season with the New York Mets, compiling a .265/.307/.397 slash line in 343 at-bats.

Hamilton, who missed the entire 2016 season with knee problems and was signed to a minor league deal, had been working out at first base after spending his entire major league career as an outfielder and a designated hitter.

- Doug Mittler/ESPN