As our thoughts remain with those affected by the events in El Paso tonight, a few collected injury notes from around the game of baseball…
- It’s been a season to forget for Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter, who, before being placed on the IL with a foot contusion on July 16th, was scuffling to the worst batting line of his accomplished career. Good news tonight, though, from Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who reports that Carpenter will rejoin his teammates on Saturday night in advance of a possible Sunday activation. Carpenter has some work to do in the season’s remaining months if he wants to end up with a more characteristic batting line–his .215/.321/.372 slash and 86 wRC+ are a far cry from the production Cardinal nation has become accustomed to over the years (129 career wRC+).
- As Jordan Bastian of MLB.com points out, the Cubs might have erred in trading defensive backstop extraordinaire Martin Maldonado in a deadline deal–with the hamstring injury endured by starter Willson Contreras on Saturday, Chicago’s catching depth is likely about to be tested. Contreras grabbed his right leg while running out a fly ball in the seventh inning, but manager Joe Maddon was unwilling to place a firm prognosis on the injury. “I really don’t know at this point,” said the manager. “We’ll just wait and see how it plays out.” While Contreras is scheduled for an MRI on Monday, the club will look to Victor Caratini to man the dish in his absence. The call-up of Triple-A Iowa’s Taylor Davis is a definite possibility in the event of an eventual injured list placement.
- Early in the day, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reported that Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons was a scratch from Saturday’s game due to “left foot soreness”. Fletcher later relayed that Simmons injured his foot in the batting cage before Saturday’s loss to the Indians and that an MRI was set to follow. Any extended loss of the defensively stingy Simmons would obviously be a blow to the beleaguered Los Angeles club, who turned to David Fletcher to man short in today’s action. Simmons had been hitting .274/.315/.382 on the year while turning in typically strong defensive marks.
Yeetus
Hmm should kept Maldonado…
Maldonado, aquí a Maldonadooooo
Maldonado, aquí a \\ REMIX DJ IN HOUSE
Yeahahahah party in the U S A
Look what you made me doo look what you made me doo, cause baby you’re a fireworks so come on, I’m beginning to feel like a rap god !! DJ KHALED !! I only love my bed and my mama I’m sorry
ElMagoN9ne
No. Contreas walked off on his own power. He’ll be fine. Maldonado isn’t that good of a defensive catcher
RoyalsFanAmongWolves
Maldonado does have a gold glove.
Yeetus
Ahhhhh hehehe gotdem
ElMagoN9ne
He was anything but gold glove for the Cubs.
justinept
He hasn’t rated any better than average as a pitch framer the past 2 seasons. If Contreras misses significant time, there will be someone on waivers as good as Maldonado who can back up Caratini.
chicagofan1978
Lucroy?
ElMagoN9ne
I dont think Contreas will miss more than 5 games to IL
chicagofan1978
It will be at least 10. He hasn’t even gotten an mri yet.
angels fan 3
He played in like 5 games ?
rondon
He was great defensively, for the Cubs. What are you talking about?
rocknwell
Good news that Carp is coming back? Eh. I sure hope so!
chicagofan1978
Noodle arm
troll
noodle bat
troll
noodle legs
Nick Stevens
Noodle brain.
troll
mo is the noodle brain
Nick Stevens
Him too.
live42day
That’s good news for the Cubs that Carpenter is coming back. I believe the Cards are 17-7 without him. Keep him in AAA
JFactor
They can’t.
And they are 17-7 not because of his backups, but because Goldschmidt went off, Wong and Martinez have been great, and the rotation and pen have been great.
Carpenter at his worst is still just as good as his backups at their best
Nick Stevens
If you think Carpenter’s worst is better than Edman’s best, then you aren’t paying attention. Edman runs circles around Carpenter on defense, running, and holds his own at the plate. I really hate how baseball is simply looked at offense only now, and Carpenter isn’t even good at that right now.
dewssox79
wow! a lot of mlbtr Doctors in here.
NGC
Simmons has looked hurt since he came back from the IL. No one will address it but it’s quite clear he is limping every single game. At this point just recover and don’t hurt yourself worse.
Geno55
Angela should shut Simmons down for the year why risk him
angels2020
agree…season is shot…focus on 2020.
Geno55
Angels should shut Simmons down for the year why risk him
OntariGro
Classic season-ender: “foot soreness.” Maybe wait ’til at least the MRI results.
And “why risk him?” Because he is a very good baseball player and, when medically cleared to do so, he should get to play more baseball. By arbitrarily deciding to shut him down for the remainder of the season:
-The Angels lose out on Simmons’ production in that time-span
-Simmons loses out on that production as well, affecting future earning potential/free agency.
Why risk hin? Bah!
stevebaratta
Rangers have DFA’d catcher Tim Federowicz, who was with the 2016 Cubs for a bit. If he’s released I hope the Cubs at least sign him to a minors deal.
greatd
Kinda curious but Darvish or Arrieta for the Cubbie fans now?
yourcubreporter
Right now? Today? Yu know the answer…
uncle mike
In other years past it would be a good thing that Matt Carpenter got back in the Cardinals line up. However, right now, that is the worst thing for 2019!! John Mozeliak will demand that Carpenter starts. The Cardinals recent charge to first in the NL Central was when Carpenter went on the Injured list!! Tommy Edmon supplies the spark at the top of the Cardinal line up and is also an upgrade at 3rd base. Thank you John Mozeliak for doing nothing at the trading deadline!! That was inexcusable.
Nick Stevens
But Mo says getting Ozuna and Carpenter back is better than any trade.
JFactor
Carpenter is better than Edman
Nick Stevens
Edman 0.9 WAR in limited time. Carpenter 0.4. This is 2019. It doesn’t matter about past seasons.
uncle mike
You are absolutely correct Nick Stevens!! I love what Matt Carpenter has done on and off the field in his history with the Cardinals. Just like the people in St. Louis loved what Stan Musial meant to the Cardinals and their city in 1962. He had a less productive season that year and he took a salary cut for 1963, his last season. You can’t live in the past with a player hitting the end of his trail. If I went with my heart, I’d want Carpenter in the line up every day for his past accomplishments for the Cardinals, Struggling individuals, his hometown plus St. Louis. I stated above in a comment, exactly what Mozeliak would mandate of Schildt when Carpenter came back. Well….it became reality. If I were Schildt, I’d play and pitch exactly who Mozeliak has provided him to start each game. Set Edmon. Set Munoz. Play Matt every game. Play Fowler every game (although he has been productive this season. And that’s a tribute to him). Get Cecil to the stadium and pitch him in relief. Etc Etc. Schildt should play all of Mozeliak’s “Very Good team” he’s amassed. Let the Owners se how fast that ship sails before it sinks. Wouldn’t be Schildt’s fault. He’d be playing players Mozeliak told him or gave him to start. Wake up Owners!!!! Without Ludlow, Mozeliak has the Cardinals on a downward spiral.