En Espanol
Feedback

Posts tagged JustinMasterson at FanHouse

FanHouse

Resources

Email our editors with your tips, corrections, complaints, inquiries, suggestions, etc.

Blog Roll

Injury Bug Takes Big Bite Out of Northeast

Andrew JohnsonPosted Aug 5th 2008 9:24PM by Andrew Johnson (author feed)
Filed under: Mets, Red Sox, Yankees, AL East, MLB Injuries



It wouldn't be the dog days of summer without a good old fashioned panic attack in the Northeast, where baseball fans live and die with the outcome of each night's game. In almost perfect symmetry, the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets all got bad news on the injury front Wednesday.

Considering where the big three sit in the standings, fans in New York and Boston have plenty to be concerned about. Let's look at each team's situation and try to assess how bad things are right now and how bleak they could get.

Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz has already missed almost two months this season with a torn tendon sheath in his wrist. Now the slugger is reporting that he's hearing a "clicking" sound in the wrist he injured back on May 31 in Baltimore. The good news for Boston fans is that, on its own, the clicking sound isn't a concern. Indeed, Ortiz was back in the lineup for Wednesday night's game against the Royals.

However, as injury guru Will Carroll points out, the problem could be more mental than anything. If Ortiz's swing gets less violent and vicious because he is afraid of getting injured, it could hurt his productivity -- a frightening proposition for Boston in the wake of the Manny Ramirez trade.
Continue Reading Injury Bug Takes Big Bite Out of Northeast

Rumor Mill Roundup: July 23

Andrew JohnsonPosted Jul 23rd 2008 9:00PM by Andrew Johnson (author feed)
Filed under: Athletics, Padres, Pirates, Red Sox, Reds, Rockies, Yankees, MLB Rumors

With the trade deadline right around the corner, our MLB editor brings you the top five rumors every day until July 31.

- So what are those pesky Yankees up to anyway? First things first: they are absolutely in the AL East race, just three games behind the Red Sox and 3 1/2 behind division-leading Tampa Bay. They've also got clear needs -- namely pitching depth and offensive help, either at catcher, now that Jorge Posada's season is in doubt, or at one of the corners.


New York's top brass will meet tomorrow in Tampa to discuss what, if any, moves they should make before the deadline, but indications are that the team is willing to deal prospects and make a run. The name with the most heat is Mariners left-hander Jarrod Washburn, who wouldn't be a flashy pickup, but would give the Yankees a reliable innings-eater to put at the back of their rotation. He'd certainly be an upgrade over Darrell Rasner or Sidney Ponson. Seattle is not impressed with center fielder Melky Cabrera, but has been scouting New York's Double-A affiliate Trenton. That's where the Yankees' top hitting prospect, Austin Jackson, has been playing all year.

- Concerns about Huston Street's performance and stuff don't seem to be scaring off teams. According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Reds have shown some interest in the Oakland closer. Cincinnati GM Walt Jocketty certainly can't consider his team a contender, but there is reason to think it can make a run as soon as next season, and Street isn't eligible to be a free agent for another three years. He also has two players with uncertain futures -- Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. Dunn is the type of player you'd figure A's GM Billy Beane would covet, but he might have to send more than Street to land the slugger.
Continue Reading Rumor Mill Roundup: July 23

Rumor Mill Roundup: July 21

Andrew JohnsonPosted Jul 21st 2008 4:22PM by Andrew Johnson (author feed)
Filed under: Cardinals, Cubs, Mets, Red Sox, Tigers, MLB Rumors

With the trade deadline right around the corner, our MLB editor brings you the top five rumors every day until July 31.

- The Mets have no idea what to expect from Ryan Church the rest of the way and the Fernando Tatis-Endy Chavez combination in left field probably isn't going to cut, so everyone, including manager Jerry Manuel, is expecting the team to add an outfielder before the trade deadline. Just don't expect that outfielder to be of the Adam Dunn or Matt Holliday variety -- they just don't have the chips. New York has one of the shallowest farm systems in baseball as a consequence of the Johan Santana trade, particularly in the coveted major-league ready category.

That leaves the Mets looking at players like Xavier Nady, Raul Ibanez and Casey Blake, which really is fine. They need an upgrade on what they currently have in left field and some insurance for their injured right fielder to win the NL East, not a star player.

- The Cubs have already added starter Rich Harden and reliever Chad Gaudin, but they're still looking for pitching. A high-ranking team official took in A.J. Burnett's last start for the Blue Jays. A looming DL trip for closer Kerry Wood could change the team's focus, though. Wood's injury is not believed to be serious, but the team's bullpen was heavily taxed over the first half, and now they're down their best arm. Suddenly Damaso Marte, Brian Fuentes and Huston Street have to be looking pretty good to GM Jim Hendry.
Continue Reading Rumor Mill Roundup: July 21

On Deck: Away With You, Interleague Play!

Tom FornelliPosted Jun 30th 2008 4:40PM by Tom Fornelli (author feed)
Filed under: Red Sox, Rays, Tigers, Twins, Angels, Athletics



On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

I don't know about most of you, but I know that I've grown tired of interleague play in baseball. When MLB implemented it, I loved it and I supported the move as a way to try and bring fans back to the game after the player's strike in 1994.

It's kind of like when you're in a new relationship with a girl and everytime you're hanging up the phone after talking to her you get into that "No I love you more!" debate. It's kind of cute and charming at first, but frankly, after a few months of it you're screaming at her "OKAY I GET IT! YOU LOVE ME MORE! SHUT THE [expletive] UP ABOUT IT ALREADY!"

I've reached that point with interleague play, and I'm ready to get back to some real baseball. Divisional baseball. The games that will actually play a part in deciding who is going to play in October, and who isn't. Three such matchups after the jump.
Continue Reading On Deck: Away With You, Interleague Play!

On Deck: Joba Mania!

Tom FornelliPosted Jun 3rd 2008 3:00PM by Tom Fornelli (author feed)
Filed under: Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays, Mets, Giants



On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

New York Yankees (28-29) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (31-28) - 7:05PM Est.

Today is the day that Yankees fans have been waiting for all season. After deciding against making a trade for Johan Santana this off-season, and instead choosing to go with youngsters Phillip Hughes and Ian Kennedy, the Yankees find themselves just trying to get back to .500.

You see, even though the merits of the decision to not go after Santana are still up for debate, there's no question that Hughes and Kennedy have sucked (the duo has combined to go 0-7 with a 7.99 ERA in 14 starts). The magnitude of their suck has been so great that it would take a very large man with a blazing fastball to counteract it.

That's where Joba Chamberlain comes in, as the starter turned set-up man turned starter again makes his first start as a member of the New York Yankees tonight at Yankee Stadium.
Continue Reading On Deck: Joba Mania!

Notes From the Clubhouse: The Red Sox Might Be in Some Serious Trouble

Andrew JohnsonPosted Jun 3rd 2008 2:34AM by Andrew Johnson (author feed)
Filed under: Red Sox, AL East, MLB Injuries

Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

Bad news for Boston fans Monday night. The Red Sox will place designated hitter David Ortiz on the disabled list after an MRI revealed the slugger had a torn tendon sheath in his extensor carpi ulnaris -- a muscle in the wrist. Ortiz is certain to miss at least a few weeks, though the Boston Herald has reported that he will miss at least a month and could face season-ending surgery.

Manager Terry Francona did not indicate the injury was quite that serious, though he will confer with Ortiz, GM Theo Epstein and the team's medical staff tomorrow in Boston.

Big Papi struggled in April, but he was his usual slugging self in May putting up a line of .318/.409/.617 (AVG/OBP/SLG) over the last month. No team in baseball is prepared to replace that kind of production, but the Red Sox are deeper than any other organization in the game and are prepared to make do while Ortiz gets healthy. Francona said after the game that reserve first baseman Sean Casey would likely see additional time while Ortiz is sidelined, but the most likely lineup Francona will put out there will probably feature Manny Ramirez at DH and Jacoby Ellsbury, Brandon Moss and maybe even Bobby Kielty or Kevin Youkilis splitting time in left field.

When asked about seeing more time as a designated hitter, Ramirez said "I love it. I love to DH," though he then went on to joke that if he played there too much it might hurt his chances at getting the Gold Glove he so covets. "It's nice to give him a blow and still keep his bat in the game," said Francona of playing Ramirez at DH.

If the Red Sox were merely losing Ortiz for a few weeks, there wouldn't be much to worry about, but Big Papi's injury is just at the top of a long list of concerns for the reigning champs.

Boston will miss Ortiz, but they'll do a very good job of filling the void in the short-term
Continue Reading Notes From the Clubhouse: The Red Sox Might Be in Some Serious Trouble

Daisuke Matsuzaka Placed on Disabled List

Josh AlperPosted May 30th 2008 6:15PM by Josh Alper (author feed)
Filed under: Boston, Red Sox, AL East, MLB Injuries

Good news and bad news out of Boston to end the week. We'll lead with the bad news. Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list this afternoon after leaving his start on Tuesday night with right shoulder fatigue. An MRI revealed a strain of the rotator cuff so Dice-K is headed to the DL for the first time.

The good news is that Terry Francona told the Associated Press that the MRI didn't reveal any structural damage to the shoulder.
"The best way we can see to attack this, we'll DL him, take the time down and get him ready to pitch the rest of the season. That's kind of where we are."
As we mentioned on Wednesday, Matsuzaka's arm has thrown an awful lot of pitches dating back to his days as a high schooler in Japan. Baseball Prospectus's Will Carrol points out Matsuzaka needed to wait two days for the swelling in his shoulder to go down enough for an effective MRI so it was clearly for the best that he be shut down. Best case scenario, a little rest will bring him back to normal but that heavy workload is a bit troublesome.

The Sox will likely call up the impressive rookie Justin Masterson for a spot start and then active Clay Buchholz if all goes well in his rehab start tonight.

On Deck: Colon Cleansing

Tom FornelliPosted May 21st 2008 2:02PM by Tom Fornelli (author feed)
Filed under: Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, Royals, Marlins, Diamondbacks



On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

Boston Red Sox (29-19) vs. Kansas City Royals (21-24) - 7:05PM Est.

Let's take a look at how the first two games of this series have gone for the Kansas City Royals. On Monday they were no-hit by Jon Lester, and on Tuesday they were beaten by rookie Justin Masterson as he picked up the first win of his Major League career.

Today things get no better as the Royals are preparing to uncomfortably bend over an examining table, and get their colon's checked by the Round Mound of...um...Pounds? That's right! Bartolo Colon is back, and he's ready to make his very first start as a member of Red Sox Nation.

Will he be responsible for the Royals leaving Boston walking uncomfortably, or will the Royals come out of their check-up with flying colors and salvage a game in Beantown?
Continue Reading On Deck: Colon Cleansing

Red Sox Officially in the Santana Sweepstakes

Matt WatsonPosted Nov 29th 2007 2:23PM by Matt Watson (author feed)
Filed under: Boston, Minnesota, Red Sox, Twins, AL East, AL Central, MLB Rumors

Johan SantanaIt looks like the Mets are dropping out of the race for Johan Santana, but that doesn't mean his situation got any more clear -- another team has swooped in to take their place, and according to Charley Waters of the Pioneer Press, they're the new favorite:
A little birdie says the Boston Red Sox have become the favorite in the Johan Santana trade sweepstakes.

The Twins would receive four players for the Twins' two-time Cy Young Award winner, including center fielder Coco Crisp, 28.

Others would be shortstop prospect Jed Lowry, 23; left-handed pitcher Jon Lester, 23; and right-handed pitcher Justin Masterson, 22.
Waters goes on to add that any deal would be contingent on Santana agreeing to a contract extension. While conventional logic suggests it's in Santana's best interest to play out next season and hit the open market, we are talking about the Red Sox here: really, only the Yankees could outbid them, and if they put nine figures in front of Santana, he may decide the open market isn't all it's cracked up to be.

The Rays just made a deal yesterday for Delmon Young and a package of players, including Jason Pridie, who looks like he might be a capable center fielder for the future. But in case he's not ready, getting a guy like Crisp, who has just one year left on his contract (correction: as pointed out in the comments, he's signed through 2009, club option for 2010), isn't a bad idea.

Previously on FanHouse:
Johan Santana Might Be Too Rich for Omar Minaya's Blood
What Would Rays/Twins Deal Mean for Johan Santana?
Johan Santana Is Can't Miss; Prospects Aren't

Is Jermaine Dye Staying In Chicago?

Tom FornelliPosted Jul 31st 2007 2:15PM by Tom Fornelli (author feed)
Filed under: Boston, Chicago, Red Sox, White Sox, AL East, AL Central, MLB Rumors

The White Sox and Red Sox were very close to completing a deal yesterday that would have sent Jermaine Dye to Boston for Wily Mo Pena, Manny Delcarmen, and a prospect. Word is that while the Red Sox had no qualms about parting with Pena, they weren't too keen on parting with Delcarmen or minor-leaguer Justin Masterson.

While there's a possibility the deal may still happen, only minus Delcarmen, there's also word that Dye and the White Sox could be on the verge of a contract extension.
The White Sox, according to an industry source, have made overtures about giving Dye an extension that wouldn't mortgage their long-term future. Dye can become a free agent after this season and seek a long-term extension elsewhere, even though he indicated last week that he wouldn't settle for a one-year contract.

A big issue will be the monetary value of the deal, although general manager Kenny Williams may wait until the 4 p.m. New York (3 p.m. Chicago) deadline to see if another team makes an offer that tops Boston's.
I'm hearing that the Sox are willing to go with a two-year extension, but that Dye would like it to be three-years. While I'll always love Jermaine Dye for what he's done for the White Sox, I don't think it would be wise to sign him to a three-year deal. I'm not even sure how happy I'd be with the two-year extension.

As for the Red Sox and their interest in Dye, I'm wondering what this means about David Ortiz's health. Dye has told the White Sox he doesn't want to be traded anywhere he'd be a reserve, and Boston's outfield is kind of set with Manny Ramirez, Coco Crisp, and J.D. Drew. So that means if Dye did get traded to Boston, if he were to get the playing time he wants it would have to be as a designated hitter. So maybe Big Papi is hurting a lot more than the Red Sox are willing to let on.

Previously at FanHouse:
Jermaine Dye Wants the Buehrle Treatment
ADVERTISEMENT
Play Fantasy Football
ADVERTISEMENT