Escobar Powers Royals Past White Sox

post from Royals Review on 14 July 2012 11:02:14 PM. © Royals Review

"Headlines no one expected to see last year for $500, please."

We probably need to have a discussion about Alcides Escobar's true talent level (I'm thinking Tuesday afternoon), but watching him hit this season has been incredibly enjoyable. Escobar hit two home runs tonight, the first time a Royals shortstop has done that since 1997.
Billy Butler, Mike Moustakas, Jeff Francoeur and Chris Getz all had multi-hit games. Francoeur, Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain each drove in a runner, while Escobar drove in three.
Luke Hochevar was adequate, allowing three runs over five innings. Hochevar gave up five hits and three walks while striking out four batters. Adam Dunn also crushed a 451 foot round-tripper against Luke.
The bullpen was solid tonight. Aaron Crow allowed an inherited runner to score, but Mijares and Holland pitched well. Jonathan Broxton had an uneventful ninth inning to pick up the save. Robert Ford said that the last time Broxton had a 1-2-3 save was June 1st

Read The Full Article:
http://www.royalsreview.com/2012/7/14/3160034/escobar-powers-royals-past-white-so
x

Digg this

The Fauxny Pages: Three Sheets For The Win

post from Talking Chop on 14 July 2012 11:02:11 PM. © Talking Chop

From the desk of the Unreal GM of the Atlanta Braves, @fauxfrankwren... we'll see if the Braves new starting pitcher can make the Mets stumble out of town. Sheets for the Sweep!

Read The Full Article:
http://www.talkingchop.com/2012/7/14/3160003/the-fauxny-pages-three-sheets-for-th
e-win

Digg this

BBDP July 14th: Smooth Santana hits a bomb and
two doubles

post from Bronx Baseball Daily on 14 July 2012 10:46:22 PM. © Bronx Baseball Daily

[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://bronxbaseballdaily.com/2012/07/bbdp-july-14th-smooth-santana-hits-a-bomb-a
nd-two-doubles/

Digg this

Lincecum vs. Harrell

post from The Crawfish Boxes on 14 July 2012 10:01:11 PM. © The Crawfish Boxes

Read The Full Article:
http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2012/7/14/3159930/lincecum-vs-harrell

Digg this

Braves Pull Off Comeback For Sixth Straight Win,
Defeat Mets 8-7

post from Talking Chop on 14 July 2012 09:01:33 PM. © Talking Chop

Winning games like this feels good, especially when they're against the Mets.

The Braves and Mets battled back and forth through the whole game, but Atlanta snatched victory away late to extend their winning streak to six games.

The seesaw battle began in the second when New York struck first on Josh Thole's RBI double off Tommy Hanson, but Atlanta answered right back against R.A. Dickey. With the bases loaded and one out, Eric Hinske drove a two-run double to left and Michael Bourn added a run-scoring single for the third run of the inning. A speedster Hinske is not, as he was thrown out at home on Bourn's hit.

Hanson took a 3-1 lead to the fourth when Ike Davis hit the first pitch he saw for a home run. Andres Torres singled home a run with two on and one out and suddenly the game was tied.

In the fifth, Martin Prado was at first with one out and Jason Heyward batting. Heyward hit a line drive to left that Mets outfielder Jordany Valdespin trapped, but was originally called a catch with Prado being doubled off. The call was overturned, and that resulted in Mets manager Terry Collins arguing and ultimately getting tossed from the game. That hit led to Freddie Freeman's two-run double to put the Braves back in the lead.

But the Mets would not stay away. Thole and Torres reached on consecutive one-out singles in the sixth before pinch-hitter Justin Turner singled in a run. Chad Durbin relieved Hanson, but he gave up two more singles. New York scored three runs on five straight hits in the inning and now had a one-run lead. Anthony Varvaro entered in the eighth and gave up a run-scoring single to Ruben Tejada, putting the Braves down 7-5.

Atlanta, though, still had some rally left in them. Brian McCann drew a leadoff walk in the eighth and Dan Uggla singled, but both Tyler Pastornicky and Juan Francisco struck out, leaving the Braves' hopes of a comeback on Michael Bourn and he delivered. Bourn, Prado and Heyward all singled in runs against Bobby Parnell, and gave a one-run lead to Craig Kimbrel in the ninth. Kimbrel showed no mercy to the Mets, striking out the side to preserve the win.

Luis Avilan made his MLB debut in the sixth, striking out Ike Davis. Varvaro earned the win, the first of his major-league career.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.talkingchop.com/2012/7/14/3159745/braves-pull-off-comeback-for-sixth-s
traight-win-defeat-mets-8-7

Digg this

2012 Rockies Game #87: Vance Worley vs. Jeremy
Guthrie

post from Purple Row on 14 July 2012 08:01:56 PM. © Purple Row

May 15, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie (15) during batting practice before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

Next Game

Philadelphia Phillies
@ Colorado Rockies

Saturday, Jul 14, 2012, 6:10 PM MDT
Coors Field

Vance Worley vs Jeremy Guthrie

Partly cloudy,rain. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 90.

Complete Coverage >

GO ROCKIES!!!

Read The Full Article:
http://www.purplerow.com/2012/7/14/3159541/2012-rockies-game-87-vance-worley-vs-j
eremy-guthrie

Digg this

Andre Dawson 1987 Fleer Update Autographed!!!

post from 30-Year Old Cardboard on 14 July 2012 07:55:36 PM. © 30-Year Old Cardboard

Andre Dawson 1987 Fleer Update – Autographed!!! I’ve always thought that it would be a fun challenge to try to get all of Andre Dawson’s cards issues during his playing days signed. Yes, a definite challenge! And while I have … Continue reading →

Read The Full Article:
http://bapple2286.wordpress.com/2012/07/14/andre-dawson-1987-fleer-update-autogra
phed/

Digg this

Four Pitchers Who Could be Traded

post from Beyond the Box Score on 14 July 2012 07:02:17 PM. © Beyond the Box Score

As we move past the all-star break and closer to the trade deadline, we will start hearing more and more rumors regarding potential players on the move. I thought it might be interesting to take a look at a few of the top pitchers who have been[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2012/7/14/3150981/four-pitchers-who-could-be-tra
ded

Digg this

Game 86 Open Thread: Chicago White Sox vs Kansas
City Royals

Jake Peavy (7-5, 2.85 ERA) vs Luke Hochevar (6-8, 5.15)

Peavy is the second straight White Sox pitcher with an ERA under three whose periphal stats suggest he is due for regression the second half of the season. Peavy has a 3.21 FIP, 3.52 xFIP and a 3.57 SIERA; all good numbers, but not as strong as his ERA.

It's fairly incredible the season Peavy is putting together. Along with fellow teammate Adam Dunn, Peavy is a candidate for Comeback Player of the Year. The right-handed starter has 2.9 fWAR this season, his highest total in a season since he accumulated 6.1 fWAR for the Padres in 2007. Peavy, Dunn and Alex Rios and A.J Pierzynski are three veterans who have drastically exceeded expectations and have helped the Chicago White Sox to their surprising 3.5 game lead in the Al Central.

Luke Hochevar takes the mound for the Royals, and future Cardinal great Chris Getz returns to the lineup. Ned Yost also says the entire bullpen is available tonight after last nights marathon.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.royalsreview.com/2012/7/14/3159646/game-86-open-thread-chicago-white-s
ox-vs-kansas-city-royals

Digg this

Raffy's Notebook: Rutledge's Dream Comes True,
Scutaro Consistent, Hernández Not Listening To Rumors

DENVER, CO - JULY 13: Josh Rutledge #14 of the Colorado Rockies bats in the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field on July 13, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. Rutledge made his Major League debut and went two-for-two on the day including two RBI's. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Josh Rutledge came in Friday afternoon. He already had a spot on the lineup placed for him. His new teammates received him with open arms.

What he didn't know was he would get a dream-like Major League Baseball debut, going 2-for-2 with a double, driving in two runs and becoming a major factor for the Rockies win over the Phillies 6-2 at Coors Field.

It was an interesting move for Colorado. Troy Tulowitzki is currently on the disabled list, and there seems to be a possibility Marco Scutaro is also on the trading block.

Rutledge was saying things you would expect from a 23-year-old kid getting his first taste of life in the Big Show. "This is a dream come true," he would repeat often. Common words, true, but heartfelt.

His gear was a combination of current and past Rockies premiership: Rutledge wore Carlos Gonzalez's shoes and Troy Tulowitzki's batting glove. He wore number 14, the same one Blake Street Bomber Andres Galarraga used during his tenure with the Rockies starting in the franchise's first season in 1993.

Scutaro Consistent Along The Way

Infielder Marco Scutaro was acquired by the Rockies last January in a trade that sent RHP Clayton Mortensen to the Boston Red Sox, aspiring that the 36-year-old veteran infielder could become a second baseman and that his productive offense would contribute.

Scutaro has been so far a reason for debate due to a defense which has contrasted at times with his stellar career of 11 MLB seasons and with the credentials he has in his native Venezuela, where he is considered one of the most influential players currently in the Show.

However, manager Jim Tracy will tell you he's no reason for concern.

"Personally, I feel this way. If there's been a lot of adjusting he's having or difficulties he's had to face, I haven't seen any signs of that," Tracy said. "Through the first half, Marco Scutaro would be near the top of at the top" among the Rockies most consistent players, according to the skipper.

Lately, Scutaro has been involved in several trade rumors. He is currently batting. 273, with 90 hits in 330 at-bats, with 13 doubles, 24 RBI and 4 homers.

Ramon Hernandez "Not Paying Attention" to Rumors

Catcher Ramon Hernandez was back in the Rockies lineup Friday afternoon after being away for 42 games on the Disabled List. And he was the same Hernandez fans are used to see: his battery work was crucial during Christian Friedrich's solid performance during 6.0 innings. He communicated with Scutaro and was able to get John Mayberry out. He also drove in a run and scored one after a triple by Michael Cuddyer.

It has been said Hernandez is also raising interest for a trade. There have been reports the Mets are interested in his services. This is not uncommon for a guy who has been in the Majors since 1999.

"I don't really pay attention to any of that," Hernandez said. He was resting after the wear-and-tear of a demanding day behind the plate. "I don't think about it. I'm here today. If any of those things happen, that's a part of baseball ever since it exists. Nobody lasts forever anywhere, you can't take the fact you're at a certain team for granted. I love being here. Every organization makes a trade for the better. So if they trade me, it will be because the Rockies will improve because of that".

"So far, I'm happy to be here. I'd love to stay here. Great group of teammates and coaches and yeah, I would be delighted to remain a Rockie. But if they decide to trade me, I will accept it as part of this business," Hernandez said.