This Week In Baseball: Shutdown and Own Up - 8/4/2020

 

This Week In Baseball: 8/4/2020 – Shutdown and Own Up

www.franchisesportsmedia.com

 

With baseball season in full effect, games getting postponed left and right, the year itself will be known for its unpredictability.

 

I have to say the American League looks to be taking most of my attention with a certain number of teams that seem to be igniting early. This could prove to be beneficial later on if they slump during the final stretch. Its been another great week of baseball, and it will be exciting to see if MLB can keep this momentum. The postponing of some games has sent journalists into a whirlwind, spreading the fear of stoppage. I have to repeat; if the players can stay safe, we can have our baseball. This leads us to the first topic…

 

Miami Marlins: Cause and effect

 

Last week, MLB canceled the Miami Marlins games through Sunday due to an outbreak of COVID-19 amongst the players and staff. The information has come to light after an internal investigation conducted by the MLB that revealed Marlins players weren’t following protocols. Instead, the players were going out on the town, and fraternizing at the hotel bar.

There were 29 positive cases last week, 20 players, and nine staff. Twenty-one of those cases were from the Marlins organization. This lapse of judgment can prove to be fatal for the MLB season, and a warning to all the other ballclubs if others follow down this wayward path. Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred told MLBPA executive director Tony Clark on Friday, that if baseball isn’t able to manage the virus, it may indeed shut down for the season.

The situation has since drawn the ire of players and coaches alike throughout MLB. It was Dave Roberts of the Dodgers  that summed up the case and his concern quite bluntly, reported by Bob Nightengale: “We’ve come so far to get to this point, and for it to be shut down because of people being irresponsible, is certainly unacceptable.”

The truth is that it only takes a bad seed to spoil the bunch. Thirty teams can follow all the protocols set in place, but the moment the caution seems to stray, the laziness will set in. Just check out the games on TV, the players are still huddled together in the dugout. If one player is infected, that risks the entire team. Good luck with that.

 

Now Introducing for the Kansas City Royals, Owner Patrick Mahomes!

 

Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback of the 2019 Super Bowl champions, The Kansas City Chiefs and Super Bowl MVP, has now become an owner of the Kansas City Royals by way of the team’s ownership group. The Royals released the news via twitter but then deleted it quickly. Most likely, they jumped the gun on the official announcement, which followed a few hours later.

Here is the official press release by the Kansas City Royals on Mahomes becoming apart of the organization:

The Kansas City Royals today welcomed the newest member of the team’s ownership group, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes.

“We are very proud and excited to have Patrick as our partner in the ownership group of this franchise,” said John Sherman, Chairman, and CEO and principal owner. “Along with the rest of Kansas City, I have watched Patrick complete and become an extraordinary leader, both on and off the football field.” Sherman noted that Mahomes spent a lot of time in clubhouses as a kid, as his dad, Pat, pitched for 11 seasons in Major League Baseball. “Consistent with the entirety of our ownership group, he has a deep commitment to Kansas City and a real passion for the game of baseball – dating back to his childhood.”

“I’m honored to become part-owner of the Kansas City Royals,“ said Patrick Mahomes. “I love this city and the people of this great town. This opportunity allows me to deepen my roots in this community, which is something I’m excited to do.”

“He’s proven himself to be one of the top professional athletes and competitors anywhere, and he’s built a championship culture,” Sherman concluded. “He loves football, but he also grew up loving the game of baseball. We look forward to many years of a winning partnership.”

Pat Mahomes Sr. was a right-handed pitcher that mainly pitched out of the bullpen in relief. He had an 11-year career in the major leagues from the years 1992 to 2003, playing for many ball big-time ball clubs, including the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

 

Corey Kluber, Jose Leclerc, and Justin Verlander are shutdown.

 

 

RHP Corey Kluber took the mound on opening weekend, his debut for the Texas Rangers, and threw 18 pitches that seemed to be the start of a solid outing. Unfortunately, he was taken out of the game due to shoulder tightness, but it was much more serious than that.

The Rangers executive vice president of communications announced that Kluber had suffered grade 2 tear of the Teres Major muscle in his right shoulder. The injury is supposed to put him on the shelf for four weeks, but it assumed that his 2020 season is over. 

Then it was announced that the Rangers Closer, RHP Jose Leclerc suffered a very similar injury to that of Corey Kluber. While the tear isn’t as severe, Leclerc will need the same injections, and length of time to heal. Given this shortened season, his chances of returning seem doubtful. Talk about a left, right hook combo; this could knock Texas down for the count, possibly.

Justin Verlander last week was the talk of social media for a hot minute when he had all the sportscasters reporting on his injury to his elbow. The news broke that his season was over, and he would likely need to have surgery. Panic ran through all the channels, and must have got to Verlander quick, causing him to release this statement via twitter:

“The report that I’m currently missing the rest of the season is not accurate. There is a forearm strain…I’m hopeful that with some rest, it will heal, and I’ll be able to return soon. Thank you for all the well wishes.”

Thirty-two pitchers in the league are out with either muscle or arm related injuries. The actual list of pitchers is jarring and maybe a sign of a severe problem. The Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw (back trouble), and Alex Wood (shoulder soreness), to The Astros pitchers Brad Peacock (shoulder), Austin Pruitt (Elbow), and Chris Devenski (elbow) are all battling different degrees of injury, to name a few. 

Maybe it’s the season’s abrupt restart, or the limbo of no training or baseball for three months had an overall effect. More teams have been digging into their bullpens early in games, where starters are barely making it through 5 innings. Again, this can be attributed to the fact that every team has access to a 30-man roster. (Giving teams the ability to load up on more relievers)

This season already has a lot riding against it in the form of the coronavirus; serious injuries add even more opposition that MLB does not need.

 

Whammy of the week:

 

There is only one person I can give this to from the last week, Joe West. Not funny in the slightest, he took a bat to the side of the head and had to leave the game in the first inning during the Washington Nationals and Toronto Blue Jays game. Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette was swinging his bat, and it slipped from his hands hitting West hard right near his ear. Despite drawing blood instantly, The 67-year-old umpire would return in the 3rd inning. Unbelievable.

 

 

Teams In the Oven This Week: 

• Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, and the San Diego Padres.

 

 

Teams on the Cold Front This Week:

•  Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, and Los Angeles Angels

 

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-Joshua Rushford – Franchise Sports Media

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