Tigers fans braced for bad news after right-hander Jordan Zimmermann exited his first start since returning from the DL due to a potential lat injury, but an MRI came back clean, tweets MLB.com’s Jon Morosi. Detroit is optimistic that Zimmermann can avoid a return trip to the disabled list following the positive news, though yesterday’s six-run shellacking still comes with a fair amount of concern. Zimmermann now has a 7.30 ERA across his past 49 1/3 innings, which isn’t doing the Tigers any favors as they look to close a three-game gap for the division lead in the AL Central and a half-game deficit in the race for the second American League Wild Card slot.
A bit more from the division….
- Flying somewhat under the radar amid the considerable chatter surrounding Aaron Sanchez’s innings total is the workload of AL Rookie of the Year candidate Michael Fulmer, as MLB.com’s Jason Beck writes. In the case of Fulmer, however, his uncanny efficiency — he’d rank 10th in the league in terms of fewest pitches per inning if he qualified — has the Tigers more focused on limiting his pitch counts on a start-to-start basis than taking a more general approach and monitoring his innings. A 25 to 30 percent increase in innings would cap Fulmer, who has thrown 119 1/3 innings between Triple-A and the Majors, at between 155 and 162 innings, but his low pitch counts could allow him to exceed that count in the event of a lengthy postseason run for Detroit.
- Demoting struggling slugger Miguel Sano is a “real option” for the Twins, writes Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Twins will get Trevor Plouffe back from the disabled list after this weekend series, and Sano’s recent woes in the field have been difficult to ignore. Of course, the Twins certainly compounded the issue by moving Sano to the outfield in the first place when it was clear even after last season that he had some work to do on his defense at third base, and asking him to move back to third midseason after not taking many reps there since last year has indeed yielded ugly results. Sano has made 12 errors in 27 games at third base this year. “He’s trying to make the changes that he needs to make to where he can walk out of here every day saying he did what he could do that day to become a better player,” said manager Paul Molitor. “It doesn’t happen every day, I’m sure.”
What a mess the Twins have made of Sano. Between not clearing roster spots to accommodate his obvious defensive struggles, to the mind boggling outfield experiment that went on far too long, the whole ordeal is a misfire. Come on, Twins, get your act together. Makes one worry for Buxton and Berrios, too.
Couldn’t agree more. Additionally they’ve rushed prospects to the majors (Buxton most notably) and have interfered with the development of several potential core players. Signing the Korean (his name escapes me right now) DH/1B while failing to move Plouffe in the off season, which forced them to move Sano to the OF, was extremely suspect at the time and has unsurprisingly back fired. They have no one to blame (well, except Terry Ryan) but themselves for their position in the standings and failed player development (to this point).
Agreed. Signing Park and hanging on to Plouffe was clearly a bad idea. Truly a short-sighted offseason that continues to haunt the Twins. Frustrating.
For any Twins fans out there (or ball fans, for that matter), watch “Ballplayer: Pelotero,” a documentary on two prospects out of the Dominican (the documentary was on Netflix, not sure if it remains). One of the prospects followed is Miguel Sano. Worth a viewing.
From Vargas, Arcia and to Sano the Twins young hitters seem to be a roller coaster ride, Brunansky seemed to reach Arcia then lost him again, the problem seems to be some where in the lower level of their hitting development. With Mientkiewicz, Brunansky and Molitor all have been well renowned as coaches though.
Anyone see the Red Sox swooping up the next Big Papi?
No, not at all.
why can’t he DH?
I think Sano will end up being a great hitter in the majors, but unfortunately it looks like he will be headed to full time DH at a very young age.
As good as Fulmer’s turning out it might have been better long term if they hadn’t made the Cespedes trade, even if they wouldn’t have made the World Series last year. Maybe they’d still have Murphy then too, though I doubt it.
I don’t think that Cespedes and Murphy are quite as connected as some people think. They didn’t expect to sign either one. As for Fulmer, his future with the team was pretty much set in stone once Matz and Thor showed their readiness. It would be nice to have him in hindsight, and he might give the Tigers more long term value than Cespedes does for the Mets. But I don’t think he was likely to unseat any of the current starters in the organization’s eyes
For what team? Not the Tigers. One of the best trades since the one that brought us Cabrera. That kid will be the next Nolan Ryan
Twins were watching the Cubs/Kris Bryant scenario and went “anything you can do, I can do too” and thus moved Miguel Sano to the OF. Well, just because one team does it, does not mean all teams should do it. Ain’t that right Red Sox and Hanley Rameriz?
I hate how Molitor is stuck in that dumpster fire of a lineup that the Twins have, having to play the inept Sano in RF, I really feel bad for him
I know they had to do it but that Mauer contract is debilitating. 2 more years at $23m per.
Mauer has had a good year with a couple of hot streaks including the one he is in now. Like all players his numbers will improve as the players around him improve.