MLB Movers and Shakers
By Ted Sevransky
D-backs winning under the radar
Just over a month ago, the Arizona Diamondbacks were sitting at 31-49; the second worst record in all of baseball. Their sluggish first half cost former manager Bob Melvin his job back in May. His replacement, AJ Hinch, has the team headed in the right direction.
Stephen Drew’s clutch eighth inning single capped a come-from-behind win at Pittsburgh on Wednesday, Arizona’s sixth win in its last seven games and 18th in its last 28.
All reports from the D-backs locker room indicate that this team has found its mojo.
“It feels like last year, where everybody’s together, and even though we’re down, it doesn’t seem like it anymore,” Drew said following Wednesday’s win. “We’re playing better, and it’s showing, and we’re having fun.”
Arizona suffered a blow when outfielder Justin Upton (second on the team with 20 home runs) strained his right oblique muscle against Pittsburgh; an injury that has the potential to result in a stint on the DL.
Despite the injury, the D-backs still have the look of a second half profit machine.
Slumping BoSox without Bay
Boston has gone 7-10 in its last 17 ballgames and they’ve fallen out of first place in the AL East.
The Red Sox sluggish offense has been a big part of the problem. Terry Francona’s club was held to three runs or less in seven of those last 10 losses.
Boston’s offensive production (or lack thereof) took another serious blow when Jason Bay went down with a strained hamstring earlier in the week. Bay leads the team in home runs (21) and RBIs (75).
He returned to the lineup on Wednesday, but aggravated the injury while running out a ground ball. Bay told reporters that he has “no idea” how much time he’s going to miss.
If Bay misses the entire series in the Bronx this weekend, expect the Yanks to get some payback from Boston’s domination earlier in the season.
Pedro’s comeback on track
The Phillies made a big move prior to the trading deadline, nabbing last year’s AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee from the Indians. Lee completes a solid five-man rotation of Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ and Jamie Moyer, but Philly supporters can’t wait to see Pedro Martinez join the party.
The three-time Cy Young winner won only eight games in his final two years with the Mets, while battling a series of serious ailments. Pedro has been rehabbing in the minors, and he recently produced an eye-catching start.
Against the Yankees Double A affiliate on Wednesday, Pedro struck out nine of the first 12 batters. He finished with 11 K’s and no walks, throwing first pitch strikes to 18 of the 23 batters that he faced. He needed only 82 pitches to get through his six inning stint.
“I'm making improvements as I go on, and that's what we want,” Martinez told reporters. “Health-wise, my shoulder is fine, my arm is fine. I'm responding good between starts.”
Philadelphia has been on cruise control for the last couple of weeks, in control of the NL East race. Pedro’s return could give them a bit of a spark, making a very good team even better.