In welcome news, the Pirates have announced that right-hander Jameson Taillon will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A on Sunday, which should put him in position to return to the majors by late June. The 25-year-old Taillon underwent surgery for testicular cancer on May 8 and was cleared to resume baseball activities less than two weeks later.
More from the National League:
- Mets ownership has given no indication that manager Terry Collins is in danger of losing his job, but the skipper does have critics within the front office, reports Marc Carig of Newsday. After back-to-back playoff seasons – including a World Series berth in 2015 – injury-plagued New York has gotten off to a 20-26 start this year and Collins’ bullpen management “has left some Mets officials fuming” along the way, writes Carig. However, Collins has the full support of owner Fred Wilpon, according to Carig, and could survive the season. The 68-year-old Collins became the longest-tenured manager in Mets history last week, having taken the reins back in 2011. He’s in the final year of his contract.
- The Cubs have relegated left fielder Kyle Schwarber to a platoon role for the time being, meaning the lefty-swinger won’t face southpaws, manager Joe Maddon told reporters Friday (via Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune). “If he’s not swinging the bat well against righties, it’s a bad assumption he’s going to do well against lefties,” said Maddon, who sat Schwarber against Dodgers lefty Alex Wood on Friday. “I’m just putting him in a deeper hole by throwing him out there just based on really bad logic.” The powerful Schwarber, 24, entered the season with no shortage of hype after missing nearly all of last year with torn knee ligaments, but he has stumbled to a .183/.303/.356 line in 188 plate appearances (.147/.310/.265 in 42 tries versus lefties).
- Brewers first baseman Eric Thames has already been tested for performance-enhancing drugs at least five times this year, but the league isn’t conspiring against the slugger, writes FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. Rather, drug testing has gone up across the majors thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement, which likely explains Thames’ regular tests, posits Rosenthal. Thames was also tested “frequently” as a superstar with the Korea Baseball Organization from 2014-16, but there’s no account of a failed test there or with the Brewers, sources told Rosenthal.
Great news about Taillon.
Legal question. Is it harassment if they keep approaching Thames for drug testing?
I’m guessing all contracts must have a disclaimer protecting MLB from this.
Just a compliment that he’s tested so much
it’s the best compliment a player can get in my opinion. If they think that the only way you can be this good is if you’re cheating and you know you’re not, it’s gotta feel pretty good.
He probably doesn’t care either since he is clean
No kidding, he should be welcoming it
i doubt he’s enthused about it. everyone thinks the drug test is just pee in a cup and simple blood sample. there’s a million forms you have to fill out and it takes over an hour.
There are 2 forms you have to fill out if the HGH blood test is taken and it takes 10-15 minutes according to the JDA.
If he’s clean then it’s not a problem is it?
Terry Collins is brain dead when it comes to managing a bullpen.
Case in point last night:
Mets are up 8-1 late in the bottom of the 8th inning. Who is warming up in the bullpen. None other than Jerry Blevins (who leads relievers in appearances) and then proceeds to use Fernando Salas up 7 runs with two outs to get (who is 9th in MLB in appearances).
I know guys like Neil Ramirez and Josh Smoker blow, but why are they on the roster if you don’t trust them to get two outs up 7.
There are many, many more examples I could give when it comes to Collins and his bullpen management but I may need a strong one afterwards.
Fred Wilpon is steadfast in his support of “TC”, by commenting to reporters, I love our manager. Walter Alston is one of the best managers of all time. And though I don’t like Sandy Koufax’s long hair he’s a helluvah pitcher”.
I hope Taillon doesn’t get busted for some type of steroid that may of helped him with his cancer. I’m wondering if the league office has approached his doctors or vice versa. only reason I mention is because of lance armstrong. different sport, different person, but cancer. yeah lance was busted, but I’m pulling for taillion hoping this goes away for him and he’s back on a mound….
There would be a therapeutic use exemption if that was the case; and not all steroids are the same at all. There are creams for, like, acne and skin conditions you can buy in the drugstore OTC that contain steroids, for example.
The Lance Armstrong case is way different. The steroid/blood doping/etc. was all part of his life well before the cancer. As Greg LeMond tells it, he was with Lance at the cancer clinic where Lance was getting his cancer diagnosis and treatment options, and the doctors had to ask him what medications and treatments he was on or had recently taken. So he had to admit it then to the doctors, the laundry list of things he had been putting in his body.
The otc steroid creams you are referring to are not the anabolic type that are considered PEDs. They are corticosteroids and are synthetic cortisol and they basically suppress the immune system in a way and reduce inflammation. If Taillon needs to be put on anabolic steroids after removal of a testicle, it would be considered hormone replacement therapy to bring him back to normal testosterone/hormone levels, not go above and beyond like the “juicers” do
One, it is “may have” helped him and two, he is not doing chemo. He won’t do any chemo if they’ve determined the surgery got all of the cancer. Not all cancer requires chemo.
The steroids that my wife gets during chemo treatments is not to treat the cancer. It is to help lessen the side atects from taking the chemo drugs. Like the nausea and intense fatigue/weakness.. it does not help her run faster or throw harder. It only helps her to get up and walk across the room. Not thinking what he was given in treatment would get him suspended.
Best wishes to your wife.
Thanks, much appreciated.
The hype on Schwarber had become sickening. They should either send him down or quit whining about him. It’s not like he’s put up the numbers or played the defense others his age have. On another note..could Joe Buck get any worse with his hyperbole of him?
Derp
Babe effin Ruth
Ruth-Mantle-with a side of the natural!
Kyle may have a crappy regular season, but as he’s wont to do, he will kick ass in the Postseason. And yes, the Cubs will make it there.
Just picked up a new phrase?
Does that mean that he just coasts during the regular season and then turns a switch and becomes Superman in the playoffs?
Haha, noticed that too.
Maybe. He did it the last couple years. Nowhere but up for Kyle.
Interesting how all the Cubs fans that anointed Mr. Schwarber as a mix of Trout and Harper with a lot of Mantle thrown in are silent on his current struggles at the plate.
Throw in that he’s a defensive liability wherever you play him and I guess Maddons grand plan of batting him leadoff isn’t working too well.
He may turn out to be a very good major leaguer once he works out his issues at the plate, while being average in the field, and he probably will, but this is the reason that talk about greatness is based on a career not just one years playoff series when emotions run high.
I’m a huge Cubs fan and I think we should flip Schwarber to the AL for a starter sooner rather than later. I love his bat. I won’t say his defense is bad, but I cringe every time the ball is hit in his direction. Of course, you might have to let him rebuild his stock a bit at this point. I’m by no means saying this will even happen. Just my two cents.
How about trade Schwarber to the A’s for Sonny Gray. Just a thought but I’m sure the A’s would love to have him in the DH spot
Plus who else?
Gray plus for Schwarber?
No where near Trout and Harper. But the bar can be as good as Bryant a
Bat can be as good as Bryant and Rizzo in the near future. He’s worth keeping to find out.
Agreed
Look at it like this: Scwhaber is going through a sophomore slump this is year 2 it will pass he will adjust become the line drive hitter will get his homers.