MASH Report (8/6/15)

• I have been working on ways to better determine DL return times. Well, I have a BETA graphic I would like to use from now on. Let me know what you like or don’t like about. I have included another one to show the time Freddie Freeman is likely to miss.

Freddie Freeman is back on the DL with a high oblique strain.

Freeman had a similar injury during the beginning of the 2013 season, when he missed 13 games and also hit the disabled list. The Braves are optimistic this won’t be a prolonged is-sue because of where the strain is located.

“It’s not a high oblique,” Gonzalez said. “My understanding is if it’s higher, closer to the rib, it could be a prolonged thing. His is a little bit lower. He had something similar in 2013 early in the season. So we’re hoping it’s kind of the same type grade.”

Jason Kipnis is going to take some time off hoping his shoulder will get better.

Prior to Monday’s game against the Angels, the Indians placed Kipnis on the 15-day disabled list due to the inflammation in his shoulder and sent him back to Cleveland to begin a period of rest and recovery. The All-Star second baseman will receive a cortisone shot, and the team is hopeful that he can be activated when his two-week stint on the shelf is up.

“It’s something that’s lingered for a little while,” Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said. “We just thought it made sense at this point to place him on the DL and give him the time he needs to get back at full strength. We’re hopeful that he won’t be out too long and he’ll come back quickly and at full strength.”

• Jump pitcher Carter Capps goes on the DL with a balky elbow.

Marcus Stroman is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment on August 21st. The report says he may be ready to go this season. If he can pitch, it will be as a reliever.

Stroman, who was scheduled to partake in a light throwing session on Wednesday, is tentatively slated to begin a rehab assignment on Aug. 21, according to the club. Where he’ll pitch has not yet been determined.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said it’s still “far-fetched” to expect Stroman to return to the big leagues this season. But if the pitcher was to make his way back to the Majors in 2015, it would likely be in a relief role.

I really don’t know if he is worth a stash in re-draft leagues, but return is a nice chance to get a reading on him for 2016.

Michael Cuddyer may return from the DL not being 100% healthy so he can DH for three games.

Cuddyer told the St. Lucie News that he anticipates being active Friday for the start of a three-game series against the Rays in St. Petersburg. That would allow him to ease back into game action, serving as designated hitter for most, if not all, of that series, before returning to left field on a regular basis.
……
When Cuddyer does return, it will likely force the Mets to send No. 2 prospect Michael Conforto back to the Minors, due to a lack of available playing time at the big league level.

After the Rays series, the Mets have seven games in NL parks and then go to play at the Orioles on the 17th for a two-game set. I just don’t get why Cuddyer insists on playing hurt when it obviously affects his production.

Dustin Ackley was with the Yankees two days when his back started hurting which caused him to go on the DL.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Ackley had an MRI on Monday in an effort to be cautious, and the team soon discovered that Ackley had a herniated disk. He was given an epidural Tues-day, but Cashman and Ackley said that he had no issue with the Mariners.

“I didn’t feel this in Seattle, this particular thing,” Ackley said. “It definitely didn’t start until I was here. I had some lower back kind of stiffness, tightness, soreness, whatever you call it in Seattle, but nothing I haven’t played with or caused me to lose time or anything. I definitely didn’t feel this kind of achy feeling or whatever until the last few days.”

Did he Southwest into New York?

• Jason Hunt at Fake Teams gives his monthly update on some prospect injuries.

Velocity Readings

• I am somewhat interested in Derek Holland after reading this quote:

Holland, in his second rehab start, allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts. He faced four batters in the third inning, walking three and having one reach on an error before coming out of the game. His fastball was clocked at 93-95 mph.

A 93-95 mph fastball is quite a bit better than the 87 mph fastball he was throwing earlier in the season. The speed is right in line with his previous average fastball velocities, maybe even a bit higher. He seems to be dealing with some control issues in his minor league appearances, so I am not all in, but interested.

Jered Weaver is likely to return this weekend to the Angels rotation with an 83 mph fastball.

I am guessing not one player in the past MLB draft had an 83 mph fastball.

Christian Bergman’s average fastball velocity is fine

Nate Jones’ velocity is down ~2 mph compared to before he went on the DL.

Manny Parra’s velocity looks up a bit.

Players on the DL in 2015

The Red players have had updates since the last report. Click on the “Date” for a link to go to the latest article on the player.





Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.

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Jaboon
8 years ago

The lone hamstring guy with 166-180 – Was that Griffey when he tore it completely?