MASH Report (9/11/14)

• Reminder, the first table of players are ones who aren’t on the DL, but should be.

• The Phillies say Cliff Lee should be ready for the start of spring training.

Amaro was asked to rate his confidence level that Lee will be ready to contribute next season.

“High,” he said.

Lee was seen by top orthopedists James Andrews and David Altchek. Both agreed that the pitcher has a strain that can heal with rest and rehab. Lee was treated with a platelet-rich plasma injection and will begin throwing in November. If all goes well, he should be ready for Day 1 of spring training.

Or he may not be. I would at least ding Lee a couple weeks of production on next year’s production.

• Don’t put Paul Korerko in your lineup, even if he is starting. He admits he will be playing hurt.

Paul Konerko still plans on returning to action during the White Sox upcoming nine-game road trip to Kansas City, St. Petersburg and Detroit, despite dealing with the fractured sesamoid bone in his left hand. The worst-case scenario continues to be Konerko playing at some point during the final four home games of the season against the Royals, and the final four games of his 16-year-run with the White Sox.

There almost has to be a better option available.

• Josh Hamilton’s shoulder is getting worse instead of better.

Wednesday marked the sixth straight day that outfielder Josh Hamilton missed a game with a stiff right shoulder that has shown no signs of getting any better.

Hamilton, 33, took 40 to 50 swings in the batting cage early Tuesday afternoon, “felt OK,” then went outside to throw and “just having the glove on my hand, lifting it up, kind of set it off again, so I shut it down,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton took two more cortisone shots on Tuesday — in addition to the one he received when he exited Thursday’s game in the middle of the eighth inning — and spent most of Wednesday afternoon in severe pain, searching for any positive signs regarding an injury that began in his right AC joint and has since moved to his trapezius.

I think he would be shut down if he was on a non-contender.

• Dustin Pedroia will have surgery on his wrist and “The Red Sox are hoping Pedroia will be good to go for the start of Spring Training.” I am glad he is getting the problem fixed, but it will be interesting to see how ready he is to start the season.

• Sean Doolittle may return to the A’s bullpen this weekend.

Fastball speeds for pitchers returning from the DL

• Vic Black’s average fastball velocity was down considerably from his season average.

• Joakim Soria’s velocity was near a season high.

Players on the DL

(*) 15 Day Disabled List
(**) 60 Day Disabled List
(***) 7 Day Concussion List
(****) Free Agent
Red colored entries are updates since last report.

Unofficial Major League Report

Official Major League Report

Minor League