Baseball Daily Dose: Tough Break For Teixeira
A lingering shin ailment ended up spelling the end of Mark Teixeira‘s season.
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The first baseman was diagnosed with a fracture in his right shin Friday, ruling him out for the remainder of the regular season and postseason. Teixeira will require a three-month recovery period from the fracture.
“I can’t really put into words how disappointed I am,” said Teixeira, who arrived at a news conference on a crutch that he has used the last week or so. “I feel like this team has a chance to win a World Series, I really do. Not to be able to be on the field during that run is really tough to take.”
It was a disappointing end to a frustrating few weeks for Teixeira, who initially hurt the shin when he fouled a ball off it on August 17. Teixeira missed a week’s worth of games with what he and the team thought was a bruise, but Teixeira actually returned for two games in late August.
Teixeira hasn’t played since August 26, and on September 4 the team placed him on the disabled list. When he wasn’t improving, the 35-year-old went for another MRI, which showed the fracture.
It’s a huge loss for the Yankees, who appear destined for a one-game playoff for their postseason lives. Teixeira was one of the most productive hitters in the American League prior to his injury, hitting 31 home runs — still ninth-best in the league, despite not having played in over two weeks — with 79 RBI and a .906 OPS. The season was Teixeira’s best since the 2011 season in which he recieved passing MVP consideration.
With Texeira out, the team will lean on rookie Greg Bird to fill in both offensively and at first base. Bird, 22, has batted .241/.316/.448 with five homers and 17 RBI in 25 games since being promoted. In his first official game as Teixeira’s replacement Friday, Bird went 1-for-4 with a run scored in a loss to the Blue Jays.
Stanton Done Til ’16?
Fantasy owners eagerly anticipating Giancarlo Stanton‘s return may be left waiting until next spring.
As hinted at last week by Miami Herald reporter Clark Spencer, the growing feeling is that Stanton “is not expecting to play again this year,” per CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. Stanton has been out since late June after having the hamate bone removed from his left hand.
Stanton had been making slow but steady progress in his return from the surgery, being cleared to hit off a tee in late July and eventually graduating to facing live pitching in mid-August. He set a goal for himself to be back with the Marlins on September 1, even embarking on a rehab assignment last week.
But after his first rehab appearance with High-A Jupiter, Stanton said his hand felt “not 100 percent” and he was again shut down. Now, with just a few weeks left in the season, there’s little reason for the 25-year-old to rush back to a team with no postseason aspirations.
The abbreviated season was already set to go down as another disappointing one for Stanton, the third time in the last four years that the outfielder would play fewer than 125 games. A consensus first-round pick in fantasy drafts this year, Stanton will finish the season batting .265/.346/.606 with 27 home runs and 67 RBI in 74 games overall, if in fact he’s done.
How he will return next year is an unknown. As our Bill Baer referenced in a recent Roundtable discussion, hamate bone injuries often sap power in hitters. Stanton’s September could have given some indication of what to expect from him next season; now, it’s anyone’s guess. He will surely be a lightning rod come draft time.
Suspension For Votto
Joey Votto‘s serious meltdown could have serious repercussions for his playing time in the coming days.
Votto was ejected from Wednesday’s game after losing his cool with home plate umpire Bill Welke, and on Friday MLB handed down a two-game suspension for Votto’s actions during the incident. Upon ejection, Votto slammed his helmet and got in the face of Welke, eventually being restrained by Reds coaches and members of the umpire crew.
Votto said later Friday that he will appeal what he believes is a bogus suspension.
“Did I overreact? Yeah, I did overreact,” Votto said. “But I felt so compelled and was in such an intense place. Who’s to decide how angry I’m allowed to get as long as I follow the rules? I didn’t touch him.
“I disagree with the suspension. I disagree with the ejection.”
Votto was allowed to play Friday while he waits for his appeal to be heard, walking three times and stealing two bases before play was suspended. Votto will continue to play until his appeal is considered.
National League Quick Hits: Matt Holliday, working his way back from a second quad injury, went through baserunning drills on Friday. With that hurdle cleared, Holliday could be activated from the disabled list at any time … Jorge Soler (oblique) began a rehab assignment with High-A Myrtle Beach on Friday. If things progress as expected, Soler will be activated Tuesday after missing nearly three weeks with the strained left oblique … Jonathan Lucroy (concussion) missed another game Friday, his third straight. Until he’s symptom-free, Lucroy will remain on the sidelines … after being hit by a pitch in the left shoulder Thursday, Starling Marte sat out of Friday’s game. It’s still a day-to-day injury and shouldn’t keep him out for long … Jose Reyes missed Friday’s game with a left Achilles strain, but it doesn’t appear to be anything terribly serious. He’s considered day-to-day for the time being … Kolten Wong (calf) was still out Friday. The second baseman did do some running before the game and reported feeling better, but it’s unclear when he’ll get back in there … Kyle Schwarber isn’t even the best rookie on his own team, but he’s one of the best in the entire league and he put on another show Friday. Schwarber hit two home runs, giving him 15 through 51 games this year, to help the Cubs take both ends of a doubleheader against the Phillies.
American League Quick Hits: Adam Jones, out since Monday with right shoulder soreness, returned to the Orioles’ lineup Friday. The outfielder went 1-for-5 with a run scored in a blowout win … Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said it’s likely not realistic that Devon Travis (shoulder) will return this season. Gibbons left the door open, though, saying “there’s still life there” … Steven Souza went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in his return Friday. Souza missed six weeks with a fractured left hand … Scott Feldman has been ruled out for the season after being diagnosed with a right shoulder sprain. He’ll avoid surgery, fortunately, and will aim at being ready for the start of the 2016 sason … Desmond Jennings (knee) ran the bases on Friday. Jennings aggravated a previous left knee injury last month but could return as early as next week’s series against the Yankees … Delino DeShields, making his first start since suffering a left knee strain on Monday, went 0-for-3 atop the Rangers’ lineup Friday … an MRI on Matt Wieters‘ left wrist came back negative. Wieters has been dealing with soreness in the wrist in recent days, missing Friday’s contest as a result, but he could be back as early as Saturday … Phil Hughes (back) will rejoin the Twins’ rotation on Tuesday … Colby Lewis had his bid for history ended in the eighth inning, as a Danny Valencia double broke up his perfect game. Lewis still had no problem finishing off the A’s, tossing a complete-game, two-hit shutout.
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