Yesterday, the Twins promoted outfielder Eddie Rosario from Triple-A Rochester, with Oswaldo Arcia headed to the disabled list due to a right hip flexor strain. (TwinsDaily.com’s Seth Stohs first tweeted word of Rosario’s promotion.) In Rosario, the Twins are recalling a former fourth-round pick that ranked in the organization’s Top 10 prospects per Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, MLB.com and ESPN’s Keith Law. Rosario, in fact, was considered a Top 100 prospect by B-Pro heading into the 2014 season, but he served a suspension for a drug of abuse and didn’t hit much in his return to Double-A. After a promising stint in the Arizona Fall League this past season, Rosario is off to a slow start in Triple-A, but he still, interestingly, gets the call over Aaron Hicks. The 25-year-old Hicks has spent parts of the past two seasons with the Twins in an attempt to establish himself as their everyday center fielder, but the former first-round pick and top 30 prospect has looked overmatched in the Majors. However, he’s hitting quite well to open the year in Triple-A, making it somewhat surprising to seem him passed over. It may only be a short-term look, though I’d think that given Jordan Schafer’s struggles, there’s at least a chance for Rosario to impress enough to stick on the roster once Arcia is healthy.
Here are some more notes from the American League…
- The Rays are increasingly concerned with righty Alex Cobb after he suffered a setback this weekend, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Cobb, 27, had started to throw again after suffering a forearm strain this spring. Now, per Topkin, Cobb will be shut down for several days and could eventually be a candidate for platelet-rich plasma treatment or even surgery. Cobb has contributed 309 2/3 innings of 2.82 ERA pitching over the last two seasons, making his fate critical to the team’s hopes this year.
- Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos says he does not expect any significant trade activity until after the draft, as Ben Nicholson-Smith reports on Twitter. That is obviously the usual course of events, in spite of some discussion that this year could see earlier activity. Toronto is looking up in a tightly-packed AL East after a rough start to the year from its pitching staff. While an early move holds some facial appeal, however, a significant addition would likely require a premium return.
- It is indeed early, but not too early for the White Sox to begin planning for a summer sale, Dave Cameron of Fangraphs opines. Chicago rode into the year on a wave of optimism, even if projection systems never bought the team as an obvious playoff club, but is off to a dreadful start. With multiple holes on the big league roster, says Cameron, GM Rick Hahn should be ready to be nimble in cashing in assets. In particular, Cameron suggests that marketing free agent-to-be Jeff Samardzija before other appealing arms join the market could be the best way to maximize his value.
Its too early for the white sox to sell their assets, we are barely out of april. And as for the blue jays, AA better rethink his strategy because our pitching has looked bad.
I agree. It’s one thing for teams like the Brewers or Phillies to look at selling…they were not likely to compete. It’s just a tad early to count the Sox, or any team that has.a reasonable shot out. Just an exaggerated assessment. Same type of logic that would crown the Astros AL West Champs right now.
Jerry refuses to fire Robin. This team will continue to play flat baseball until he leaves. Players feed off the emotions of a manager (to an extent) and he has none. If they’re not going to be competitive, they should be hoping that Ramirez, Danks, Samardzija, LaRoche and Cabrera are wanted commodities between now and the deadline.
Jerry is loyal that’s for sure. I’m just not sure I buy into the grand managerial effect. It’s just too soon. I mean, there’s some that didn’t want Robin to even start the season. I just view him as a placeholder until Konerko wants the job. But I’m not buying into any 3-4 week stretch from any team good or bad. Sox have had some notorious slow starts. I don’t see any team in the division as being more than wild card caliber… So the Sox have time.
Notorious slow starts that never lead to winning a division. They’ve won 3 division titles in the past 15 years. And I kind of think Thome will be manager next.
I can’t recall…where were they in 2005? I know one year they slow started then got really hot in June…like 23-3
They started out blazing that year so you can almost throw that one away when trying to count for slow starts. Other than that year, not a whole lot of success.
This is where the Royals consistency is going to nab the Tigers and the Sox potentially. Royals couldn’t win a division with a high end team in it most likely. They have a low ceiling win total-wise….but maybe enough to outlast the other teams in the central that fish tale in the standings.
I could also see an Cash/Ausmus/Matheny type of young manager with the Sox..but that’s not happening. That’s not how they run the team.
I see Cash and the Rays quite a bit….I think we’ll hear more about them…he can manage
Red_Line;
The young Royals have gotten stronger, Morales and Rios were added, now they can beat teams with power as well as speed, defense and pitching. And they are deep. They are easily the best team in the AL, and probably in MLB at this point. The Tigers are a lot more athletic then in past years, have a far better defense (kudos to Omar Visquel for working with the infielders) and they’ve patched their bullpen some – but now their stating pitching has taken a step back. You’d best keep an eye on those Twins. I liked what I saw in spring training, and love to see how Molitor has them playing well with the assistance of Tori Hunter. The defense is slowly getting better, a very good young bullpen is emerging, and a few starting pitchers are becoming established. And boy, can they hit! They wear pitchers down with their young depth. It would not surprise me to see them pass the Tigers this year if they stay on the path they’re on. For sure in 2016 they’re a playoff contender.
As for Ventura – I was skeptical of him in the offseason. The fact that his guys are yet again throwing the ball all over the field and are unprepared to play points to him.
I agree about the Royals. I don’t think it hurts them that traditional powers like the Yankees and Red Sox are in a transition. Their timing is good. Very good team..though I think putting huge stock in Rios and Morales to perform over an entire season is shaky…but what team isn’t shaky. Rios will have to entirely dispatch with his career m.o. to this point. But those guys do address that weakness they had against tough lefties.
Honestly, its a matter of health. I’m a KC area native… Been fun to see…they’ve addressed what it takes,to win..and that’s consistency. It’ll come down to the rotation… Either poor health or ineffectiveness will doom them…that bullpen will mean nothing if its used when they are down 6-3.
Just bringing up the reverse scenario…because I agree with you.
I’m a big believer in the environment a front office creates throughout their organization – major league team and minor league teams.. The Royals have created a Cardinals-like professional environment in which veterans coming over do not have to carry a team, they only have to do their job. For guys like Rios and Morales playing later in their careers, it is heaven. All they have to do is do what they do best.
Along those lines, a friend of mine remarked that last night Yunel Escobar went 5-for-5 leading the Nationals to a win. She mentioned that Yunel had come over to the Nationals with a bit of a bad rep. Yet in that environment, he has fit in seamlessly, his teammates love him, and he’s been producing (moved to 2B and then 3B with no complaints – just wants to help the team win). Below I wrote about Sox players losing focus, especially on the field. That doesn’t happen with the Nationals, Cardinals, Royals, Yankees or a number of other quality organizations. Players react well playing for the quality organizations that understand how the sport is to be played.
Completely agree with you, though it’s tough to make a claim that a bad month from the Sox implies a bad organization. Cardinals have had entire bad half seasons..or snuck in slightly above .500_to the playoffs.
I do agree….I think the Sox are a team waiting to gel. Teams have won like that before. The expanded playoffs help. A team can develop a consistent 86-89 game winner and have a shot. I grew up when the playoffs were 4 teams with most years possibly 3_of those being 100 game winners. Royals, Cardinals, nor anyone are building those kind of super talented teams. Thats OK…they are playing the game in 2015 not 1985.
For years I felt the Sox organization was one of the best in MLB. I respected their scouts and coaching staff (love Don Cooper – like McDowell on Atlanta…..terribly under-appreciated). But I did not understand plugging in Ventura as manager. Williams said it was cause he graded out as a guy that could be the CEO of a large corporation or a 4-star General. That’s nice. But those people make decisions on policy and work with upper level administrators that filter the word down. I don’t know what that has to with getting the best out of 25 ballplayers that you live with for 7 months a year.
With the way the Sox have played ball the past 3 years, I’m doing some re-assessing of their organization. Can’t let that sort of thing go on for 3 years. Hawk and Steve are forever railing about playing fundamentals – yet the team has been one of the worst in MLB doing that the past 3 years. To me, they’re the Cleveland Indians with more talent.
I honestly don’t put too much into what Hawk says. I’m not saying Ventura is a good manager or the right manager….but his value can be overstated. I’ve never seen a worse manager than Ned Yost last season…he likely kept them from an outright central pennant.
I have the Sox reversed from you. I believe they’ve been a bad organization living off the 2005 World Series title…and are finally getting some legs under Rick Hahn. Doesn’t mean it’ll work this season. I think the safest margin of error is to say that the Sox will end up being playoff contenders.
But yeah…Ventura isn’t my favorite.. I really like Kevin Cash down in tampa
I think at some point this season the Sox will be as hot as they are cold now. That’ll get them to .500….then it depends on if they can squeeze out 5-7_more wins someplace.
I see the Twins system on a regular basis. I think they will have an effect on the standings late in the season. They have bats and arms on the way. Maybe shades in a way of what we saw from Cleveland down the stretch last season.
Despite what the central standings are saying as of now….I still see this as a likely 3 team race into final weekend. I’m not ready to say which 3 teams it’ll be
.but the easiest claim could be KC.
I think KC will pull away. I can see the Tigers and Twins fighting for a wild card. If the Sox and Indians collapse – as I believe is possible – then with all the interdivision games I can see both teams taking a wild card.
I think you have the Twins too high for this season, and I think the Astros chances at at least a wild card slot have greatly effected teams outside the wests chances of those slots. Angels, Seattle, and Houston are strong while the other divisions beat up on themselves.
Royals are on a 103-104_win pace. I think it’s a stretch to project that as sustainable. I have them high ended at 95. Clearly enough to win the division… This pace still has Detroit ahead of them right now. We’ll see what happens, because I don’t think we’ve seen what will happen to the division yet. Its pretty typical to see upside down standings early. Every season has a Houston..last year it was Milwaukee. I don’t see the Royals pulling away..simply because I think the division has improved and will over the season.
Well….Adam LaRoche for most of his career was a split season hitter. He’d totally rake 2nd half…I’d always pick him up in my fantasy league toward the end of June.
Yeah….I’m not sold on the total roster composition… But I do know they can be a very good team. I wouldn’t be shocked to see them balance out this slow start.
Just the idea from this report that they’ll start selling is not logical… They will try and win with Sale and Abreu.
LaRoche is constantly inconsistent, the amount of off years he has after an above average one are well documented.
All a matter of timing when the hits come. Bad first half good second. He was a pretty solid move for them. I think it’s way too early to count the Sox or about 80% of teams out. Teams play unsustainable hot and cold for any given month. Watch..some team will be unbelievable hot in August and there won’t be this kind of talk since it doesn’t happen to start or close the season.
Thome is another easy going “Mayor of Chicago” type
Yeah I’d prefer it if they hired someone else whoever Hahn chooses but I kinda have this feeling that it will be him.
Blame Ventura on Ozzie I guess. They wanted to hire the anti-guillen
Nobody will want Danks.
Robin needs to go I agree. It was a stupid idea to hire him in the first place. Just because a guy knows the game it doesn’t mean he can manage a ball club. Hahn deserves the ability to hire his own guy.
Agree on both points. The first one was wishful thinking. And I’m almost 90% sure next Sox manager will be someone who is already on the Sox payroll (very similar to Brewers and Counsell).
Disagree with you. Brewers fully expected to compete. They picked up Aramis Ramirez’ $14 million option in the offseason. Still might despite their start too. There are 136 games left and they are starting to show life. On paper it’s a team that can compete when healthy. It’s way too early for teams like White Sox and Brewers to sell off assets when it’s unclear who the buyers will be. But pundits need to write about something this time of year so they look at meaningless early May standings and draw conclusions.
The standings become relevant about mid to late June. The Brewers have veterans on final years who could be attractive and I’m sure they’ll actively shop those guys and listen on higher price guys like K-Rod and Garza if the demand is there.. But I don’t expect them to surrender 2016 by selling off assets like Lucroy for a bunch of prospects.
I misspoke including the Brewers. They do have a chance in the division if they turn it around. But…it won’t take much for them to sell off….I think we’ll see a.reaction to where the Cubs are going. A few teams like the Brewers will start building to come up behind them. Not that I’m ceding the division now to Chicago. Brewers need a hot streak.
Absolutely, although the astros are a much better team than people give them credit for. That team got so much better with the bellpen signing of gregerson and neshek as well as gaining rasmus and gattis on the offensive.
Certainly better, but they aren’t likely to have the best record in baseball at seasons end. Kind of a lull media wise after opening day and before memorial day. Things typically balance out. Astros exceptional start has probably put them in a wild card hunt at least. Unless they go on a major skid.
If Cobb comes back soon and pitches like he has, and Archer continues his early success, then TB could probably win 85+ this season, which would be right in the thick of it. They need him to make the playoffs though
That’s fair. I like what I’m seeing from Kevin Cash. I think he’ll put them in a place to win. They’ll have to figure the Yankees out though. Some of it is out of their hands. The AL West is going to show up strong. Before the season we likely looking at a Seattle LA mix for the playoffs… But Houston has jumped in and likely at least put themselves in a wild card mix unless the wheels totally fall off. That’s one team from nowhere.
I think we will be lucky to see Cobb pitch at all this year. I hope i’m wrong. Haste ye back Matt Moore.
Cobb’s return would be great for Tampa, but offense is a bigger need for them. They’ve got a decent starting rotation and an improving bullpen but their offense is poor. If the Rays can’t approach 4 runs a game (right now they’re at 3.69 and 12th in the AL) Cobb’s return won’t mean much.
Decent starting rotation???
I think it is a pretty good rotation right now with a very good bullpen once McGee gets back
Yes, Archer, Odorizzi and Smyly are decent. Karns has strong stuff but needs work on his control.
Karns is AAA depth lol. He is 7th on the depth chart, who cares about Karns.
The Rays rotation is missing its 1 and 2. Steve was questioning your assessment of a HEALTHY Rays rotation. Cobb, Moore, Archer, Odorizzi, Smyly is more than decent.
Cobb looks poised for TJ anyway so it doesnt matter.
I would wait 1-2 months to see if Sox are still in the race and move Shark with the understanding that the Sox will make every effort possible to re-sign him to a long term contract as a free agent. I know its a gamble, but worth the risk as I believe the percentage of having him here next year will still be better than 50% weather they keep him or not.
I don’t follow White Sox at all … can someone who does tell me where these “multiple holes” are? They seem to have lots of pitching, and several good hitters. What’s the problem?
The manager and coaches. Sox also aren’t hitting. I wouldn’t call it holes as much as players underperforming to their capabilities. It points back to Robin Ventura and the coaches. They have the most talent in the division IMO.
Agree it’s the manager, maybe the coaches as well.
Don’t agree they have the most talent. The Royals have far more, and all their position players do D – 7 should be gold glove candidates this year. The Tigers compare favorably. And I love the Twins – they have a lot of players coming of age.
I didn’t like what I saw of the Sox in spring training – they appeared to have no focus. I wrote it off to most of the starters being veterans, and felt they would turn it on once the season began. They haven’t. Their games are painful to watch.
It’s easy to hit on the manager, but throwing the ball around is now in its 3rd year under Ventura (which is sort of interesting as he was a gold glove 3B). The baserunning has been questionable as well. They play like a station-to-station team waiting for the offense to catch fire. They don’t put pressure on the other team. If they pitch well or hit well that day, or if the other team is pitching poorly or hitting poorly that day – then they can win. Same as the Cleveland Indians. But the fact that Paul Molitor in his 1st year has the young Twins taking steps here and there to learn from their mistakes and not repeat them, points out how a manager can influence a team on the field.
Agree about it being the coaching staff at this point. I do not buy the argument ‘well they cannot hit/pitch/field for their players’, not after 4 seasons of much the same. Sure you could claim that the roster has not been there, but good managers know how to use their players, and it is clear this staff does not. Also apparently does not know how to position their fielders, call pitches to throw (which is strange consider Cooper is one of the best pitching coaches out there) and apparently those signs they send to batters before at bats just confuse them. No fire or desire it appears, and with the hitting of batters and the brawl with KC it appears no one is reigning in these players in the club house either. Just no sense of urgency or even being ready to play every day.
The problem is the longer the White Sox wait, this team that is ‘built to win now’ is further and further out of contention. I think the Sox also need to realize that with every bad loss you lose people that want to come to the park and buy a ticket to see them play. Who wants to spend 60-100 bucks for a fam of four to see a team play this badly?