THT Daily: Cooper is gone
by Dave StudemanSeptember 22, 2009
Major League News for September 22
Player News
Yesterday’s Results
Today’s Games
Standings
You can always find the most recent THT Daily at http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/content/thtdaily/
Player News
Player Headlines are courtesy of RotoworldAccording to Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur, impending free agent Jason Marquis "desperately wants to pitch for the Mets next season."
"He'd love to come here," said Francoeur. "He'd be a great fit. He's from Staten Island. He's a New York type of guy. He'll probably be coming off the best season he's ever had." The Mets showed no interest in Marquis when he was put on the trading block by the Cubs last year, but that has most definitely changed after a fine 2009. In 30 starts this season, the right-hander is 15-11 with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.
Freddy Sanchez left Sunday's game with an apparent knee injury.
Sanchez injured himself while making a relay throw in the first inning and limped badly off the field with a trainer. If he's done for the season, it could complicate the Giants' desire to pick up his $8.1 million option for 2010. He's spent a lot of time on the trainer's table since arriving in San Francisco.
Denard Span reported only a slight headache after being hit in the head with a pitch Monday and is considered day-to-day.
Carlos Gomez came on as his replacement and is likely to start Tuesday, but it appears the Twins and Span have avoided a major scare. He'll be monitored for the next 48 hours for signs of a concussion.
Jose Reyes (hamstring) took batting practice in an indoor cage Monday.
Reyes is still hoping to return for a game or two before the season ends, but we'd be surprise to see it. He's been out since May 20 and the Mets currently stand 23 games back in the NL East. If Reyes feels like he has something to prove health-wise, he can always participate in winter ball.
Ted Lilly has been scratched from his scheduled Wednesday start due to shoulder soreness.
Jeff Samardzija has been tabbed to take his place. Lilly spent close to a month on the disabled list earlier this season with a knee and shoulder injury, so the Cubs are likely to play it safe with him down the stretch. He currently holds a 3.02 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, but can't be relied on over the season's final few weeks. That said, neither can Samardzija.
According to ESPN.com, the MLB Players Association is considering filing a grievance to challenge the Cubs' suspension of Milton Bradley.
Bradley was sent home Saturday after a season full of battles with the media and fans in Chicago. The MLBPA will first confer with Bradley and his agents, Seth and Sam Levinson, and they'll have to OK the move. Either way, it appears the Cubs will try to move the disgruntled outfielder this offseason.
The Astros have fired manager Cecil Cooper, according to MLB.com's Mike Siano.
Cooper's second season at the helm did not go well, as the team with a $103 million payroll languished near the bottom of the National League with a 70-79 record. Injuries certainly played a roll in the underachieving, as stars Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt battled maladies throughout the season. Oswalt was recently shut down for the remainder of the season. Cooper's final record in two-plus seasons (he managed the final 31 games in 2007 in relief of the fired Phil Garner) with the Astros is 171-170. Third base coach Dave Clark will take over on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome on Monday.
Saltalamacchia's 2009 campaign is over, but he should be ready for spring training in 2010. Assuming Ivan Rodriguez is not re-signed in the off-season, Saltalamacchia will enter spring training as the club's starting catcher. The 24-year-old hit .233/.290/.371 with nine homers and 34 RBI in 283 at-bats this season.
Aroldis Chapman recently petitioned Major League Baseball for free-agency status and is probably within weeks of becoming a free agent, according to his agent Edwin Mejia.
The 21-year-old Chapman, who defected from Cuba a few months ago, is considered one of the top pitching prospects in the world. He has established residency in Andorra, a tiny country in Europe on the border of Spain and France. The move helps him avoid being subject to the amateur draft. Chapman is likely to draw interest from the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers and Angels, amongst others.
Yesterday’s Results
For the full scoop regarding yesterday's games, read "And That Happened" at Shysterball.American League TOR 9 BAL 2 (Recap and Boxscore) MIN 7 CHA 0 (Recap and Boxscore) KC 12 BOS 9 (Recap and Boxscore) LAA 5 NYA 2 (Recap and Boxscore) TEX 10 OAK 3 (Recap and Boxscore) National League ATL 11 NYN 3 (Recap and Boxscore) STL 7 HOU 3 (Recap and Boxscore) CHN 10 MIL 2 (Recap and Boxscore) SD 11 PIT 6 (Recap and Boxscore) SF 5 ARI 4 (Recap and Boxscore)Check out Fangraphs' scoreboard to see all the games in action.
Today’s Games
Tigers (79-70) @ Indians (61-88), 7:05pm
Edwin Jackson (25, RHP) vs. Aaron Laffey (24, LHP)
Orioles (60-90) @ Blue Jays (67-83), 7:07pm
Mark Hendrickson (35, LHP) vs. Brian Tallet (31, LHP)
Mariners (78-72) @ Rays (77-73), 7:08pm
Ryan Rowland-Smith (26, LHP) vs. Jeff Niemann (26, RHP)
RedSox (89-60) @ Royals (62-88), 8:10pm
Paul Byrd (38, RHP) vs. Zack Greinke (25, RHP)
Twins (77-73) @ WhiteSox (73-78), 8:11pm
Jeff Manship (24, RHP) vs. John Danks (24, LHP)
Rangers (82-67) @ Athletics (71-79), 10:05pm
Brandon McCarthy (25, RHP) vs. Trevor Cahill (21, RHP)
Yankees (95-56) @ Angels (90-60), 10:05pm
Chad Gaudin (26, RHP) vs. Ervin Santana (26, RHP)
Phillies (87-61) @ Marlins (80-70), 2nd Game
Jamie Moyer (46, LHP) vs. Anibal Sanchez (25, RHP)
Phillies (87-61) @ Marlins (80-70), 4:10pm
Joe Blanton (28, RHP) vs. Josh Johnson (25, RHP)
Dodgers (90-60) @ Nationals (51-98), 7:05pm
Hiroki Kuroda (34, RHP) vs. Livan Hernandez (34, RHP)
Reds (69-81) @ Pirates (56-92), 7:05pm
Johnny Cueto (23, RHP) vs. Zach Duke (26, LHP)
Braves (80-70) @ Mets (65-86), 7:10pm
Jair Jurrjens (23, RHP) vs. Nelson Figueroa (35, RHP)
Cardinals (88-63) @ Astros (70-80), 8:05pm
Joel Pineiro (30, RHP) vs. Yorman Bazardo (24, RHP)
Cubs (77-72) @ Brewers (74-76), 8:05pm
Randy Wells (26, RHP) vs. David Bush (29, RHP)
Padres (69-82) @ Rockies (85-65), 8:40pm
Edward Mujica (25, RHP) vs. Jorge de la Rosa (28, LHP)
Giants (81-69) @ D'backs (65-86), 9:40pm
Matt Cain (24, RHP) vs. Doug Davis (33, LHP)
Standings
The graphics next to each team are called "sparklines.” They depict each team’s performance over the last month. Each "up" bar is a victory and a "down" bar is a loss. There are horizontal lines for home games and red bars represent games decided by two runs or less. "PWins" is short for Projected Wins, based on each team’s Run Differential, and is often a better measure of a team’s true strength. Other team graphs and stats can be found on our Team Page.American League East Pwins Diff NYA 95 56 .629 0.0 89 6BOS 89 60 .597 5.0 88 1
TB 77 73 .513 17.5 81 -4
TOR 67 83 .447 27.5 76 -9
BAL 60 90 .400 34.5 63 -3
American League Central DET 79 70 .530 0.0 74 5
MIN 77 73 .513 2.5 78 -1
CHA 73 78 .483 7.0 74 -1
KC 62 88 .413 17.5 63 -1
CLE 61 88 .409 18.0 67 -6
American League West LAA 90 60 .600 0.0 85 5
TEX 82 67 .550 7.5 80 2
SEA 78 72 .520 12.0 69 9
OAK 71 79 .473 19.0 74 -3
National League East Pwins Diff PHI 87 61 .588 0.0 85 2
ATL 80 70 .533 8.0 84 -4
FLA 80 70 .533 8.0 76 4
NYN 65 86 .430 23.5 66 -1
WAS 51 98 .342 36.5 60 -9
National League Central STL 88 63 .583 0.0 85 3
CHN 77 72 .517 10.0 79 -2
MIL 74 76 .493 13.5 73 1
HOU 70 80 .467 17.5 65 5
CIN 69 81 .460 18.5 66 3
PIT 56 92 .378 30.5 62 -6
National League West LAN 90 60 .600 0.0 93 -3
COL 85 65 .567 5.0 84 1
SF 81 69 .540 9.0 79 2
SD 69 82 .457 21.5 61 8
ARI 65 86 .430 25.5 69 -4
Wildcard Standings American League BOS 89 60 .597 0.0 TEX 82 67 .550 7.0 SEA 78 72 .520 11.5 TB 77 73 .513 12.5 MIN 77 73 .513 12.5 National League COL 85 65 .567 0.0 SF 81 69 .540 4.0 ATL 80 70 .533 5.0 FLA 80 70 .533 5.0 CHN 77 72 .517 7.5
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Dave was called a "national treasure" by Rob Neyer. Seriously. Comments about this article can be sent to him through the miracle of e-mail.