Charlie’s News At Five: 2nd June 2013

Charlie takes a look at five of the hottest stories currently in baseball. This week, three players make history, a usually solid pitching rotation that’s struggling and a preview of the 2013 MLB draft.

1. A triple–double as Navarro and Zimmermann blast 3 home runs each on the same day

On Wednesday 26th May, Dioner Navarro and Ryan Zimmerman not only made history individually, but made history together. Dioner’s big day led to a 9-3 victory for his Chicaco Cubs, against cross town rivals the Chicago White Sox. Navarro hit a solo home run in the second inning, had a two-run blast in the fourth, and a three-run blast in the seventh inning. In total, he recorded a career high six RBI’s. Zimmerman hit a home run in each of his first three at bats against Baltimore Orioles starter Chris Tillman. Unfortunately for Ryan, his highlight reel game was not enough, as his Washington Nationals fell 9-6 to Baltimore. For Washington, Zimmerman, became only the third player in Nationals franchise history to homer thrice in a single game.

Ryan and Dioner became only the fourteenth duo in baseball history to smash three dingers on the same day. The last time this happened, was on the final day of the 2012 season. Dan Johnson of the Chicago White Sox and Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays accomplished the feat then.

2. Cubs starting pitcher Travis Wood slams his way into the record books

On this week’s UKAmericanSportsFans.com MLB Podcast, my colleague Max Whittle talked about the prospect of the NL adopting the DH. I’m sure Travis Wood would very much disagree with the DH coming to any or all NL ballparks. On Thursday 27th May, Travis hit a bases loaded home run against the Cubs cross town nemesis, the Chicago White Sox.

The Cubs led, 2-1 going into the fourth inning. Wellington Castillo, Luis Valbuena and Darwin Barney were all on base for Wood’s bases clearing drive over the left centre field wall. Travis has shown himself to be very capable with a bat. He is 7-for-24 with a double and two home runs so far this year. Anthony Rizzo was the last Cub to hit a grand slam. This was on September 16th 2012 against the Pirates. The last Chicago Cubs pitcher to hit a bases loaded home run was Jason Marquis on September 22nd, 2008, on the road against the Mets. The last pitcher to hit a grand slam at Wrigley Field, was Burt Wooton on September 16th 1972.

Travis also continued his good run of pitching form, going six innings and only allowing two earned runs, to lower his ERA, to 2.75 and improving his win-loss record to 5-3 in 2013. The Cubs would ultimately win the game 8-3.

Woods’ history making shot

3. Ivan Nova pitches a perfect inning

Ivan Nova joined an elite club on Wednesday 26th May. He recorded the 50th immaculate inning in MLB history, by striking out three players in a row on nine pitches. Mets first baseman Ike Davis, left fielder Mike Baxter and short stop Ruben Tejada were the victims. Nova, achieved his landmark achievement in the eighth inning. He had come into the game in relief. The immaculate inning was the first for the Yankees since A.J. Burnett threw one for the pinstripes on June 20th 2009. Unfortunately, for Ivan and the Bronx bombers, the game would end with the Mets winning 9-4. With David Phelps struggling, Nova could possibly be also moving back into the Yankees starting pitching rotation in the near future.

4. The San Francisco Giants slowed by their starting pitching

Since 2009, the starting pitching rotation for the San Francisco Giants, has ranked at least 6th in MLB for cumulative starting rotation ERA. In 2012 they ranked 6th in baseball with a 3.73 ERA. 2013 has so far been a different story. The Giants’ rotation currently ranks a lowly 24th in MLB with a 4.77 ERA.

Only Madison Bumgarner (3.13) possesses an ERA below 3.80. Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum both possess ERA’s over 5.00, and before he was injured Ryan Vogelsong had an ERA of 7.17.

Bumgarner and Cain should be able to bounce back, as their problems have mostly stemmed from pitching too high in the strike zone. Lincecum, has failed, to adapt to his declining velocity. Sadly for Timmy and Giants fans everywhere, this is a problem that he has had since 2012. Barry Zito has pitched well at home, accruing a 7-0 record so far this season, but has struggled badly away from home.

Thankfully for the Giants, there are currently no runaway teams in the NL West right now, and over the past few years, SF have tended to be slow starters. Although the Giants have been linked to a possible move for Cliff Lee, SF GM, Brian Sabean is known more for under the radar moves. A move for a back end of the rotation, innings-eating, starting pitcher could be very likely.

5. The 2013 MLB Draft

The 2013 Major League Baseball draft takes place on June 6th–8th. To get an idea of how important it is you only have to look at the last two World Series champions.

Both the 2011 St. Louis and the 2012 San Francisco Giants had a core of very high quality players that had been acquired through the draft.

Rebuilding teams, such as the Houston Astros, Miami Marlins and the Chicago Cubs will be looking to make an impact for the future through acquiring some great talent through this year’s draft.

The team draft order from 1-10 is as follows: 1. Houston Astros, 2. Chicago Cubs, 3. Colorado Rockies, 4. Minnesota Twins, 5. Cleveland Indians, 6. Miami Marlins, 7. Boston Red Sox, 8. Kansas City Royals, 9. Pittsburgh Pirates and 10. Toronto Blue Jays.

Intriguingly, the New York Yankees find themselves with picks no. 26, no. 33 and no. 35. They get picks 33 and 35, as Nick Swisher and Rafael Soriano, both cost the respective teams (Rockies and Nationals) that signed them, a draft pick.

As for the prospects themselves, according to Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com, the top 3 looks set to be, Jonathan Gray a pitcher from Oklahoma, Mark Appel a pitcher from Stanford and Kris Bryant a third baseman from San Diego.

For those of you who would like further specific coverage of the MLB draft, a good site to check out can be found right here.

and one more thing…

I would like to extend my respects to the friends and family of Dr. Lewis Yocum who passed away at the age of 65 this past week. Dr. Yocum was not only the LA Angels orthopaedist, but he was also responsible for performing numerous Tommy John surgeries, and other arm/elbow/shoulder related surgeries, therefore extending the careers of a countless number of pitchers. He was also known as a true gentleman throughout the world of baseball.