mlbfansite.com blog

Boston Red Sox ace Josh Beckett was scratched from his scheduled start Friday because of lingering numbness in his right elbow. Beckett was set to start the first of a three-game set against the Chicago White Sox Friday night at Fenway Park but instead will fly to Alabama to see renowned arm specialist Dr. James Andrews. While I’m sure Dr. Andrews is a great doctor and an outstanding individual, you never want to have any of your favorite players mentioned in the same sentence along with him. Meanwhile Beckett, a 20-game winner from a season ago, hasn’t pitched since August 17th and any prolonged absence would leave a massive hole in the heart of the Boston rotation. On the year, Beckett is 11-9 with a 4.34 ERA but sports 145 strikeouts with only 30 walks. The Red Sox enter Friday’s matchup with the South Siders three and a half games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the American League East.

For a franchise that’s never had a no-hitter, it’s been seven years since the New York Mets witnessed one of their pitchers throw two consecutive complete games. That drought came to an end last night as third-year starter Mike Pelfrey pitched a six-hit complete game en route to a Mets’ 9-1 victory over the Houston Astros. Pelfrey allowed only one earned run while striking out six to earn his sixth victory since the All-Star break and improve his record on the season to 13-8. Interim manager Jerry Manuel had spoken last week about trying to cut down on Pelfrey’s inning-count but when you’ve got a bullpen that’s as abysmal as the Mets’, you let a hot starter keep rolling. With the victory, the Mets improved to 73-59 on the year and now lead the Philadelphia Phillies by a half-game in the National League East.

When the reigning National League champion Colorado Rockies made it to the World Series last fall, they did so on the back of their homegrown young players. Guys like Matt Holliday and Troy Toluwitzki sparked the flames for a torrid offense blended with veterans like Todd Helton and Garrett Atkins. Now, despite the fact they’re likely to be home watching the playoffs, another young bat is rising to new heights. This time it’s infielder Ian Stewart, a former first round pick by the Rockies back in 2003, who’s making big-time waves with his hitting. The 22-year old is hitting .314 with nine home runs and 39 runs batted in in just 52 games this season. With Stewart emerging as a force at the Major League level, look for the Rockies to shop around third baseman Garrett Atkins either via the waiver wire or in the offseason to ensure Stewart will be given a chance to shine for a full 2009.

The Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and now the Chicago White Sox, it seems whomever the contender waiting to up-end the Tampa Bay Rays keeps waiting to show their cards. The Rays beat the Central-leading White Sox last night behind home runs from Carlos Pena and Rocco Baldelli to cruise to a 9-4 victory over the South Siders Friday night in Chicago. For Baldelli, an oft-injured outfielder with a wealth of natural talent, the night marked his first big league home run in over a year as the 27-year old is trying to make a return from a myriad of physical setbacks and limitations. For Carlos Pena and his big bat, it was just another night at the office. The Tampa Bay first baseman’s dinger in the top of the sixth was his club-leading 26th of the year. The Rays are now 78-49 and four-and-a-half games in front of the Red Sox in the American League East.

After injured closer Billy Wagner’s Monday return from the DL was pushed back for at least another seven days, the New York Mets have acquired releiver Luis Ayala from the Washington Nationals in exchange for slick-fielding second baseman Anderson Hernandez. Asking to be dealt for much of the year, Ayala might have earned the Mets’ hearts after pitching two scoreless innings against them in New York’s 12-0 romp of the Nats Wednesday evening. The 30-year old Ayala is 1-8 on the year with a 5.77 ERA in 62 appearances so far this season. In the end it’s a deal that works for both teams as the Mets fill a major need at the end of the bullpen while the Nationals get at least something for Ayala, who is a free agent at the end of the season.

San Diego Padres ace Jake Peavy returned to Cy Young quality for at least one start as the reigning award winner outpitched Ben Sheets on the way to a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday afternoon. Peavy surrendered only one run on four hits while improving his ERA to a microscopic 1.42 at San Diego’s PETCO Park. While Peavy earned his ninth win of the season and took over the National League’s lowest earned run average, the news was much less promising for fellow Padres’ starter Chris Young. Young landed on the 15-day DL for the second time this season after suffering a right forearm strain that’s expected to keep the 6′7 fireballer off the hill for at least two months. Young has already missed 12 starts this season recovering from a broken nose. Given his 4-4 record and 4.74 ERA might be better off taking the rest of the season off. Young wouldn’t be missing much, the Padres are 47-74 and find themselves in the basement of the abysmal National League West.

On an unforgettable, career-best hot streak, Texas Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd was rightfully named the American League Player of the Week for the week ending on August 10th. Last week, Byrd hit .571 while slapping out two home runs and collecting eight RBIs. The Rangers veteran capped the week off with a bang Sunday as he went 4-for-6 with a homer and four runs batted in as the Rangers stomped the Baltimore Orioles 15-7. Byrd, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler and the rest of those boys from the Lone Star State sure can hit, imagine if they had anything resembling a Major League starting rotation?

Trying to fight off the hard-charging Los Angeles Dodgers, the Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired free-swinging slugger Adam Dunn from the Cincinnati Reds for three minor league prospects. In exchange for the current Major League leader in home runs, the Reds will receive stud pitching prospect Dallas Buck and two unnamed minor leaguers. I’m not sure how this trade will work out long-term for Arizona. They already have a go-big-or-go-home type swinger in Chris Young. Young has 15 home runs, 57 runs batted in and nine stolen bases despite a miniscule .232 average. While they certainly don’t get more consistent with Dunn, they’re certainly better for the immediate future. With Los Angeles acquiring Manny Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline, the Diamondbacks have seen their once comfortable NL West lead shrink to a tight one and a half games. Dunn will likely debut for Arizona Tuesday as the D-Backs take on the reigning National League Champion Colorado Rockies.

If there was such an honor as “National League Surprise Player of the Year”, that award would be handed to St. Louis Cardinals slugger Ryan Ludwick. Tonight, Ludwick cranked a home run for a franchise-record fifth consecutive game while his 3-for-5 night raised his season-average to an impeccable .307. The Cardinals went on to a 9-6 victory while continuing to torture Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe. In his career against the Red Birds, Lowe is now 1-6 with a 6.69 ERA. Meanwhile, Ludwick is hitting a scorching .478 in his last six games with five home runs and eight runs batted in. The Cards look to complete a three-game sweep of the Dodgers tomorrow night as Kyle Lohse takes on L.A. rookie Clayton Kershaw.

C.C. Sabathia looks unstoppable. Billed as the ace that could lead the Milwaukee Brewers to their first postseason since 1982, Sabathia blew through 8.1 innings Saturday afternoon against the Atlanta Braves to earn his fifth consecutive victory since joining the Brew Crew just over three weeks ago. Since being traded for budding minor league slugger Matt LaPorta, Sabathia is 5-0 with a miniscule 1.88 ERA. The long term returns could be great for Milwaukee as C.C. seemingly goes deep into games week after week, both showing his utter dominance over National League Central hitters and preserving Milwaukee sometimes fragile bullpen.