Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Adios, Tex
After enduring the majority of a season marked by injury and ineffectiveness, Mark Teixeira announced Friday that this season will be his last.
“It’s time for me to do something else. After this season, I’m going to retire,” Teixeira said at a press conference Friday.
“I never had an end-date in mind. But this year, my neck started bothering me. Then I hurt my knee. As the season went on, I just realized that my body couldn’t do it anymore. If I’m going to grind through seasons not being healthy, I’d rather be home with my family.”
Teixeira was in the lineup for Friday night’s game and showed that he’s still got at least a few good swings left in him, notching two hits and scoring twice in a lopsided win over the Indians. Teixeira had also homered in Wednesday’s game, his 10th home run in 78 games this year.
But neck spasms began plaguing Teixeira in early May, forcing him to sit out sporadically throughout the month, and a cartilage tear in his right knee cost him most of the month of June. When he has been in the lineup, the 36-year-old has struggled to a .202/.292/.346 line in 272 at-bats. If the season ended tomorrow, his .627 OPS would be the worst of his career save for a 2013 season in which he played in just 15 games.
The first baseman’s numbers will fall short of the Hall of Fame, but Teixeira has a chance to end with more than 400 home runs, 1,300 RBI and 1,100 runs scored in his 14-year career. Teixeira has 404 homers, 1,281 RBI and 1,087 runs scored through Friday’s game.
“I just want to be known as a switch-hitter with power that played good defense and played the game the right way,” said Teixeira. “I always tried to play hard.”
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Ross (Shoulder) Has Rehab Stopped
Joe Ross‘ return to the Nationals is “just going to take a little bit longer than we expected.”
Those are the words of Nationals pitching coach Mike Maddux on Friday after Ross was pulled off his rehab assignment due to lingering soreness in his right shoulder. Ross remains on the disabled list, where he’s been since July 3 with right shoulder inflammation.
Ross pitched 4 2/3 innings in a rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Syracuse, allowing three runs. He was then slated to throw a bullpen with the Nationals before making a final rehab start.
The 23-year-old was having a strong season before the injury sidelined him. Ross was 7-4 with a 3.49 ERA in 16 starts and, despite two shaky starts prior to the injury, he hadn’t lost a game since May 21.
It’s anticipated that Ross will need a few more rehab starts — when he resumes his rehab — before returning. As far as the immediate future, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said he wasn’t sure when Ross might return to a mound.
“We’re trying to figure out what to do because sometimes he’s still a little sore, so we have to figure out exactly what to do,” Baker said. “I hate I don’t know, but I don’t know.”
National League Quick Hits: Zack Greinke (oblique) is expected to rejoin the Diamondbacks’ rotation on Tuesday against the Mets. Greinke allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks over five innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Reno on Thursday, but the pitcher says he’s “100 percent” and that’s really all that matters. The All-Star pitchers has been on the shelf for the last five and a half weeks due to a strained oblique … Gregory Polanco was not in the Pirates’ lineup for the second straight day due to left shoulder soreness. It’s something that’s bothered him on occasion in the past. Polanco was available off the bench and walked in a pinch-hit appearance. He should be back in the lineup soon … Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale announced Friday that A.J. Pollock (elbow) could return to the club before September 1. Pollock, who fractured his right elbow at the start of the season, has made a miraculous recovery and could actually be a factor in fantasy leagues over the final month of the season. He’ll play in his first minor league rehab game in the Arizona League on Friday … Cardinals activated 3B Matt Carpenter from the 15-day disabled list. Carpenter missed a month of action with a strained oblique. He’s expected to split his time between second and third base with Jhonny Peralta covering shortstop for Aledmys Diaz (thumb) … Arodys Vizcaino (oblique) threw a bullpen session on Friday. It’s the first time he’s been on the bump since he went down with a strained oblique three weeks ago. What the next step is is unclear, but Vizcaino shouldn’t be that far off from a return if he’s throwing off a mound with no issues … Dodgers pitching prospect Jose De Leon is an option to start on Saturday against the Red Sox. Bud Norris (back) is likely headed to the disabled list, leaving a vacancy in the Dodgers’ rotation. Saturday is De Leon’s day to pitch at Triple-A Oklahoma City, but he might make his major league debut that day instead. Slated to turn 24 on Sunday, De Leon holds a 3.83 ERA and 66/18 K/BB ratio over 51 2/3 innings at Oklahoma City this season … Colin Rea will undergo Tommy John surgery and is expected to miss the entire 2017 season. Rea was dealt to the Marlins in late July and then re-acquired after suffering the elbow injury in his first start with Miami. It’s a tough break for the young right-hander who will rehab and hope to come back strong for the start of the 2018 season … Cubs designated RHP Joe Nathan for assignment. The 41-year-old right-hander made a nice comeback from Tommy John surgery, hurling two scoreless innings in three outings with the Cubs. Their bullpen is just too loaded that there isn’t room for Nathan at this time. It’ll be interesting to see if he’s willing to accept a minor league assignment or will look to latch on elsewhere for the stretch run … Cubs activated OF Jorge Soler from the 15-day disabled list. Soler missed two months of action with a nagging hamstring issue. He started in the designated hitter spot and batting sixth Friday, and in his first at-bat he hit a three-run home run. Welcome back, indeed … Carlos Gonzalez (ankle) is back in the Rockies’ lineup Friday. CarGo sat out Thursday after leaving Wednesday’s game with a sprained left ankle, but he’s fine. He went 1-for-4 in his return … Ryan Zimmerman (wrist) remained out of the Nationals’ lineup Friday. He hasn’t played since taking a pitch off his left wrist on Sunday. The good news is Zimmerman is feeling better and there’s been no talk yet of putting him on the disabled list … Jameson Taillon tossed six innings of one-run baseball against the Reds on Friday night but had to settle for a no-decision as the Pirates won 3-2 in walk-off fashion. He struck out six batters and walked one in addition to the six base hits he allowed. The rookie has a nice 3.29 ERA after nine starts … Gio Gonzalez was on top of his game on Friday, giving up one run and striking out seven batters over seven innings to beat the Giants 5-1. He surrendered only two hits and one walk. The only damage came on a solo dinger by Angel Pagan in the fourth inning. The win improves his record to 7-9 with a 4.13 ERA … Zack Cozart (finger) was back in the Reds’ lineup Friday. Cozart missed the last three games with a bruised right ring finger but didn’t require a DL stay. He went 1-for-4 with a run scored in his return to the lineup.
American League Quick Hits: Dallas Keuchel rebounded beautifully from a disastrous start his last time out, shutting out the Rangers on three hits and a pair of walks on Friday night in Houston. Keuchel struck out seven in the masterful outing, needing just 111 pitches to complete his fourth career shutout. He has been far too hittable for much of the season, but looked like the Cy Young Award winner from 2015 in this start, keeping all of the Rangers hitters off-balance the entire night … An MRI on Jordan Zimmermann’s right lat came back clean. Zimmermann returned from his neck injury on Thursday against the White Sox but never looked right, getting hammered for six runs in 1 2/3 innings. However, it appears he doesn’t have any structural damage and the Tigers are optimistic he can avoid another DL stint. Zimmermann will throw a bullpen session Sunday … Tim Anderson (hand) was not in the White Sox’ lineup Friday. Anderson had to exit Thursday’s game after being hit on the hand with a pitch. X-rays came back negative, but he’s still sore and his hand is bandaged. Anderson is hoping to be back in there Saturday … Devon Travis hit two solo home runs on Friday to lead the Blue Jays over the Royals. He led off the game with a blast off Dillon Gee, then hit another homer in the top of the ninth inning that proved to be a game-winner. He is hitting a solid .290/.332/.479 with nine homers in 217 at-bats this year … Starlin Castro crushed a grand slam and scored three times as the Yankees’ offense came alive on Friday night. New York put 13 runs on the scoreboard tonight and Castro was a major reason why. His bases loaded homer off Josh Tomlin in the third inning was the key blow of the night. He finished the game 2-for-3 and added two walks. The fantastic game boosts his slash line to .258/.298/.398 with 11 homers … Justin Verlander piled up nine strikeouts over six innings of two-run ball as he defeated the Mets in Motown. Verlander scattered four hits and a walk on the evening. The only mistake that he made was a hanging changeup that Kelly Johnson banged out of the park for a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Verlander has been in vintage form the past few months, pitching to a 2.60 ERA over his last 17 starts … Athletics placed INF Jed Lowrie on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to August 4, with a bunion on his left foot. Lowrie has been bothered by the foot issue for a while now. He’ll be out for the season if he undergoes surgery, but a decision on that hasn’t been made yet. Max Muncy should handle second base while Lowrie is sidelined.
