Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Slammin' Stanton
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It’s been a pretty good week for Giancarlo Stanton.
After being announced as the National League Player of the Week earlier in the day, Stanton on Monday put on a heck of a performance to win the 2016 T-Mobile Home Run Derby. He ripped 24 home runs in the first round, a total that’s been topped only by Josh Hamilton’s memorable 28 bombs at Yankee Stadium in 2008. After slugging 17 in the second round, Stanton bested returning champ Todd Frazier in the final round by blasting 20 home runs. The outfielder hit a total of 61 bombs on the night, which obliterated Bobby Abreu’s previous Derby record of 41 dingers.
It wasn’t just the total that Stanton put up that was mind-boggling. He launched 20 of the night’s 21 farthest home runs, routinely smacking 470+ foot bombs. His longest of the competition went 497 feet, and he hit that mark twice.
Stanton became the first Marlin to ever capture the Home Run Derby title. He’ll (likely) get to defend his title at Marlins Park in 2017.
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Sale, Cueto Tabbed to Start
All-Star managers Ned Yost and Terry Collins revealed their starting pitchers and starting lineups for Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic to media gathered in San Diego on Monday.
For the American League, left-hander Chris Sale will get the ball. Sale was actually pummeled in his last start by the offensively-challenged Braves, allowing eight runs on 10 hits and two walks over five innings of work. However, Yost correctly didn’t hold that against the southpaw too much. Sale had a heck of a first half despite the clunker against Atlanta, going 14-3 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 123/26 K//BB ratio over 125 innings. He was the obvious choice to start for the Junior Circuit and is the front-runner for the AL Cy Young award going into the break.
The choice to start for the National League wasn’t as clear cut. Clayton Kershaw, Stephen Strasburg and Madison Bumgarner were ruled out either due to injury or because they pitched on Sunday. Still, Collins had his options, chief among them Johnny Cueto, Jake Arrieta and Jose Fernandez. He wound up going with Cueto, who has looked like a fine free agent gamble by the Giants a half-season into the deal. The right-hander boasts a 13-1 record, 2.47 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 115/24 K/BB ratio through 131 1/3 first-half frames.
Yost and Collins also disclosed their starting lineups for the Midsummer Classic, and they will break down as follows:
American League
2B Jose Altuve
CF Mike Trout
DH David Ortiz
1B Eric Hosmer
RF Mookie Betts
LF Jackie Bradley Jr.
National League
2B Ben Zobrist
RF Bryce Harper
3B Kris Bryant
DH Wil Myers
Greinke Not Ready Yet
The Diamondbacks had been hoping to get Zack Greinke back from his strained left oblique at the start of the second half. It appears they’re going to have to wait a tad longer, but the good news is it shouldn’t be long before their ace is on a mound again.
“I don’t think that date is attainable because that was contingent on him throwing Friday,” manager Chip Hale said Sunday of Greinke being back for the start of the second half. “He’ll go back to Phoenix and hopefully throw in the next couple of days. He says he’s almost to the point where he can play catch, so it’s getting better.”
The D’Backs have two off days in the first week of the second half, so they can do without a fifth starter until July 24. It’s possible Greinke could be ready by that point (or even a bit sooner), although obviously that’s still up in the air since he’s not throwing yet. Zack Godley or perhaps Braden Shipley are options to fill the fifth spot in the rotation if Greinke isn’t ready when it comes up.
Quick Hits: Matt Carpenter (oblique) said Monday that he’s hoping to resume swinging a bat in 10 days and return from the disabled list in 3-4 weeks … C.J. Cron will miss 6-8 week after having surgery Tuesday to repair a fractured left hand … Chris Cotillo of SB Nation has reported that Brewers closer Jeremy Jeffress is “very much available” on the trade market. The Marlins reportedly talked to the Brewers about Jeffress before they traded for Fernando Rodney … Andrew Miller said Monday that the Yankees did not tell him he would not be traded. It contradicts a previous report from MLB.com’s Barry Bloom … Alex Cobb (elbow) topped out at 87 mph in his rehab start Monday, which is about four mph off what he was throwing pre-surgery … Kevin Kiermaier (hand) began a rehab assignment Monday and remains on track for activation Friday … Hector Olivera can begin a rehab assignment on Friday. Olivera is eligible to return from his domestic violence suspension on August 1, although David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution says it is “uncertain he’ll be brought back.” … The Twins officially released Kevin Jepsen on Monday. They’re still on the hook for what remains of his $5.31 million salary, but another team can now pick him up for a prorated portion of the veteran minimum … The Rays optioned Hank Conger to Triple-A Durham on Monday … Zach Putnam (elbow) will throw off a mound Saturday for the first time since landing on the disabled list … The Yankees released Vinnie Pestano on Monday …
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