Daily Dose: Wright Down
It’s a move that probably should have been made a while ago, but the Mets finally made it official Tuesday, shutting David Wright down for the season.
Wright injured his left shoulder back on June 12 when he slid awkwardly on a rain-soaked field. Although he’s been cleared of any structural damage, he’s had what he described as “pretty constant” pain brought on by rotator cuff inflammation. Wright will be on a rest-and-rehab program for six weeks, so he should have a relatively normal offseason as long as he regains the necessary strength in the shoulder.
Wright’s numbers before the injury (.271/.329/.368 with four homers over 65 games) and after the injury (.267/.320/.380 with four homers over 69 games) were awfully similar. However, it’s a safe bet to assume a healthy Wright would have eventually righted the ship to post much better numbers in that second sample.
It’s also worth noting that Wright will turn 32 over the winter and has now missed significant time in three out of the last four seasons. When on the field from 2012-13, Wright batted .307/.391/.501. Chances are he’ll be productive next year if he can stay off the disabled list, but his recent track record suggests the latter isn’t a good proposition.
As far as what the Mets will do at third base for the rest of the season, that remains up in the air. Eric Campbell started at the hot corner Tuesday and could wind up seeing the bulk of the playing time there down the stretch. Manager Terry Collins said the club will discuss moving Daniel Murphy to third and installing Dilson Herrera at second, though they’d seem likely to do that only if Murphy isn’t in their long-term plans. Another option would be to shift Wilmer Flores to third and give Ruben Tejada back the shortstop job, but they seem intent on giving Flores a long look at short.
Surgery Possible for Pedroia
Wright isn’t the only superstar whose disappointing season is about to be cut short due to injury. The Red Sox are considering shutting Dustin Pedroia down, and, unlike Wright, Pedroia might need surgery.
Pedroia conceded Tuesday that he’s been playing with soreness in his left wrist/thumb area due to an injury suffered in early April. It’s the same thumb that he had surgically-repaired last winter, though if he has an operation this time it would be relatively minor.
“It’s one of those things that’s kind of a release or something to get the inflammation out of there,” Pedroia told WEEI.com. “If that were the case, I’d have a normal offseason and be able to lift weights, something that I didn’t get a chance to do very much last offseason.”
The second baseman also admitted that, not surprisingly, the ailment has affected his hitting, particularly in the power department.
“You don’t have your hand strength. You’re not able to follow through the way you normally do. That makes it tough. You’ve got to try to find ways in other areas to help your team win,” said Pedroia. “[Hands are] the most important part of my game. That’s the tough part. One little thing here and there can affect you. But you get through it, and I’ll be better for it. I’ve learned a lot.”
There’s no doubt that we’ve seen Pedroia’s numbers this year sabotaged by the injury, as he’s posted career-lows across the board with a .278/.337/.376 batting line and just seven homers, 53 RBI and six stolen bases. Even in 2013, while he ended up with a nice .301/.372/.415 line, his power dropped significantly due to the thumb ailment. Pedroia’s flyball rate plummeted nearly seven percent from 2012 to 2013, and it’s down another notch in 2014.
If the four-time All-Star is able to truly put his hand issues behind him following a minor operation (or rest and rehab), a big bounce-back season in 2015 is certainly possible. However, a guy who’s on the wrong side of 30 and coming off back-to-back years of surgery on the same hand isn’t exactly a safe bet.
Jemile Weeks started at second base Tuesday, but the Red Sox figure to use Brock Holt at the keystone once he's over his illness.
Hamilton’s Progress Stalled
The Angels had hoped to get Josh Hamilton back from his stiff right shoulder after just a couple days, but it hasn’t worked out that way and it sounds like there’s no return date in sight.
Manager Mike Scioscia told MLB.com that Hamilton “had been” progressing following a cortisone shot, but he said Tuesday that “it didn't look like it was going in the right direction" while the slugger was receiving treatment.
"When you're in a pennant race, these guys are out there and they're playing banged up, and for Josh not to be playing, he's hurting," Scioscia said. "He'd be out here if it was something he could play through. There's a concern with that."
Hamilton took some swings in the cage Tuesday but wasn’t feeling 100 percent and instead spent most of the day hooked up to an electrical nerve stimulation unit. When asked whether it was possible he’ll have his cleanup hitter before the series versus the Rangers ends on Thursday, Scioscia said, "We don't know. We just don't know."
Collin Cowgill has started the last two games in left field, but the Halos have also used Grant Green, Brennan Boesch and Efren Navarro at the position since Hamilton has been sidelined. It will likely continue to be a mix-and-match situation.
National League Quick Hits: Anthony Rizzo (back) hopes to return to the Cubs' lineup by the end of the week ... USA Today's Bob Nightengale has reported that the Marlins intend to offer Giancarlo Stanton a team record-breaking extension this offseason ... Ryan Braun didn’t start Tuesday due to his nagging thumb issue and admitted that the ailment is now in his entire hand ... Joe Panik went 5-for-5 with five singles in Tuesday’s win over the D’Backs ... Yusmeiro Petit required just 84 pitches to complete Tuesday’s gem, whiffing nine batters with no walks ... Casey McGehee singled and belted a go-ahead, two-run homer in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s win over the Brewers ... Devin Mesoraco went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored in a win over the Cardinals ... Drew Storen earned his third save in as many days with another 1-2-3 inning Tuesday ... Ian Desmond left Tuesday's game versus the Braves with lower back tightness but is hoping to play Wednesday ... Jacob deGrom hurled eight scoreless innings Tuesday as the Mets shut out the Rockies ... Brad Ziegler underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee Tuesday but is expected to be ready for spring training ... David Peralta (back) is hoping to return to the lineup Friday ... Michael Morse (oblique) will be sidelined at least until this weekend ... Evan Gattis (strep throat) is hoping to return to the Braves' lineup on Friday ... The Brewers have demoted Jimmy Nelson to the bullpen ... Casey Kelly (elbow) has been shut down for the season ...
American League Quick Hits: The Rays have shut down Drew Smyly after he reached his innings limit ... Josh Donaldson went 5-for-6 with four RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday’s victory over the White Sox ... Collin McHugh fired eight innings of one-run ball in Tuesday’s win over the Mariners ... With Chad Qualls (glute) unavailable, Josh Fields converted his second save in the last three days Tuesday ... Greg Holland (triceps) remained unavailable to pitch Tuesday ... J.J. Hardy (back) could return to action Friday after an MRI revealed no major structural damage ... Adrian Beltre went 3-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored in a loss to the Angels on Tuesday ... Huston Street wasn't available to pitch Tuesday due to right hamstring tightness but is expected to be ready Wednesday ... Alejandro De Aza hit two home runs and drove in three runs in a defeat of the Red Sox ... Xander Bogaerts went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run Tuesday and is now hitting .371 so far in September ... J.D. Martinez smacked his 20th homer and also had a sac fly Tuesday ... Craig Gentry was diagnosed with a concussion following his collision with White Sox second baseman Carlos Sanchez on Tuesday ... Koji Uehara could rejoin the Red Sox’ bullpen over the weekend but will be used in low-leverage situations initially ... Danny Santana (back) is expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday ... Dustin Ackley remains a few days away from a return after an MRI showed bone spurs in his left ankle ... Joakim Soria (oblique) will be activated Wednesday ... Glen Perkins (neck) is aiming to return Wednesday ...
