Closing Time: Wait, the Pads scored how many runs? Wha-?
That would be San Diego outfielder Cameron Maybin pictured above, drilling a three-run double in the eighth inning of Wednesday's win at Milwaukee. Under normal circumstances, three runs is about what you can expect from the Padres' lineup over nine innings — they entered the day hitting just .219 as a team, dead-last in baseball. But Wednesday's circumstances were clearly not normal.
The Pads banged out 23 hits against the Brewers, one short of a team record, and they crossed the plate 13 times. So that's slightly unexpected. Milwaukee starter Randy Wolf had absolutely nothin', yielding 12 hits and two walks, failing to escape the fourth inning. Wolf's day began with a Chris Denorfia lead-off homer and ended with a Maybin single. Along the way, his ERA jumped from 3.37 to 4.11. (No need to thank me for the Wolf recommendation, by the way. Happy to assist. Your victory is all the thanks I need).
As bad as Wolf was, Kameron Loe was worse. He gave up three hits and four runs in one-third of an inning, taking the loss thanks to Maybin's double. It's tough to actually assign much blame to Loe, however, because he was thought to be unavailable on Wednesday, having pitched in the Brewers' prior two games (and in 20 of 37 so far this year).
Anyway, we were discussing the Padres, who don't generally hit like this, if they hit at all. The big days belonged to Denorfia (3-for-4, HR, 2 BB), Jason Bartlett (4-for-6, SB), Maybin (4-for-6) and Ryan Ludwick (3-for-6, HR). I can't really give any of them a strong endorsement for mixed league purposes, although my fondness for Maybin is well documented. Denorfia raised his average to .370 in the mauling of Milwaukee, but he's stuck on the wrong side of a platoon with Will Venable. It could take the Padres a week to score another 13 runs. Aside from Denorfia, no one on the roster is even hitting .260.
They're headed to Colorado for a weekend series against the Rockies, but it's tough to get behind this group, no matter where they play. The Pads will face De La Rosa, Chacin and Hammel, if you're interested. Seems like we should commemorate the 23-hit achievement here, however, so San Diego is your Closing Time headliner. And the first bullet is bad, bad news...
• Kendrys Morales will undergo another surgery on his ankle, and he'll be sidelined for the season. Worst case scenario, basically. This from the LA Times:
"The fracture has healed completely, but these are the consequences of a devastating injury," said Dr. Lewis Yocum, team physician. "One option was to continue the conservative course with therapy and rehabilitation, but we're trying to gear him up for next season."
Yocum said the second procedure will require a minimum of six months for recovery.
This is actually an easy thing to spin, fantasy-wise, since the widely available Mark Trumbo clearly benefits. He's hitting .270 at the moment with six home runs, having a nice May, and he was a beast in the PCL last season (36 HR, 122 RBIs, .301/.368/.577). Add as needed. Video hype here.
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Logan Morrison went 2-for-4 and belted a three-run homer for the Jupiter Hammerheads on Wednesday, so he appears ready to return to the Marlins. Expect to see Morrison back on Friday. Quite a blow to the Hammerheads, good news for the Fish.
• It's my great pleasure to bring you video of Eric Hosmer's first major league home run. Please enjoy. It was a bomb, a second-deck shot in New York. That was the only hit anyone managed off AJ Burnett, who delivered seven solid innings, striking out six, walking five.
• Andrew Bailey will throw in an extended spring game on Saturday, pitching one inning. If all goes well, presumably a rehab assignment will follow. And in other A's news, you've been asked to vote on the future of Coco Crisp's hair. Don't sit this one out, citizen. Your vote is your voice.
• In Dayan Viciedo's last 10 games at Triple-A Charlotte, the White Sox prospect is hitting .439/.489/.707 with five doubles, two homers and 13 RBIs. Not too shabby. The 22-year-old went 4-for-5 on Tuesday, raising his season line to .304/.343/.496. He's been playing the outfield lately, so we'll likely see Viciedo crack the lineup at various spots (1B, 3B, DH, RF) whenever he's recalled. He belongs on the watch list in deeper formats. Here are a few kind words on Viciedo from his general manager:
"If we didn't have Carlos Quentin out there [in right field], he would be out there right now, knocking the ball around," [Ken] Williams told MLB.com. "The ball doesn't come off anybody's bat that we have any harder than it comes off that kid's bat."
• Yeah, you're paying Mark Melancon to get saves, but he earned a win for your fake team on Wednesday. That's acceptable. Both he and Wilton Lopez tossed perfect innings for the Astros, then Hunter Pence made the home crowd happy with a walk-off double in the ninth.
• Ike Davis returned to New York for an MRI, which is brutal news for my fantasy portfolio. His calf is apparently fine, but the left ankle is sore. I might be willing to donate a ligament or two in this instance, if necessary.
• More potentially disastrous injury news, but this one doesn't impact me (as if you care): Grady Sizemore was sent for an MRI on his right knee — not the microfractured knee, for the record — but no one seems to be too worried just yet. Details here via the Plain Dealer:
"He jammed it on the bag when he slid Tuesday night," said manager Manny Acta. "Our medical staff doesn't think it's anything serious. For his peace of mind, we decided to send him to get [an MRI] of the knee."
[...]
"When he woke up, it was a little sore," said Acta. "When you jam your knee on the bag, it's not going to go right away. We did this to clear his head after what he's gone through with the other knee."
• Matt Capps took the loss on Wednesday against the Tigers, allowing three runs and three hits en route to his second blown save of the season. Those were the first runs Capps had allowed since April 18, so he's in no obvious trouble. But note that Joe Nathan hasn't been scored upon this month.
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Matt Joyce continued his multi-hit binge on Wednesday, going 2-for-5 and homering for the fourth time this season. The righty-killer is now hitting .358, and he's having a monstrous month. Splits here. The Rays are about to face a parade of right-handed starters — Masterson, Guthrie, Bergesen, Arrieta, Burnett, Nova — so this could be a nice little stretch for Joyce. (Masterson, as good as he's been, still hasn't figured out left-handed hitters. I'm willing to guarantee another two hits from Joyce. Book it. WHEN HAVE I EVER MISLED YOU? Forget that whole Randy Wolf incident. That was totally different).
• Hong-Chih Kuo hit the DL due to anxiety disorder, and the Dodgers have offered no timetable for his return:
Manager Don Mattingly, in a halting conversation with reporters, said he was reluctant to discuss specifics "out of respect for [Kuo] and the organization."
Asked if Kuo's status would fall under the category of mental health or depression, Mattingly said: "This wouldn't be the right time to talk about anything like that."
Hope for the best for Kuo, a terrific arm when healthy. This would seem to solidify Vicente Padilla's spot atop the bullpen hierarchy. Padilla earned his third save of the season on Wednesday, facing the Bucs. To me, that dude always looks near-death, but I can't really argue with the results.
• We close with a tip of the cap to Sam Fuld, a man mired in a miserable slump, battling to remain relevant (and still hoping to win a Wiggy). He went 3-for-4 against the Tribe with a double and another steal, his 11th.
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Photos via AP Images
