Call to the Pen » Spencer Hendricks

Stanton to Return Thursday

Spencer Hendricks — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 02:03:22 +0000

Good news for what’s left of the Miami Marlin fans, as the team’s lone offensive threat should be back in the starting lineup tomorrow for Thursday’s matchup against the Reds. The Marlins, mired in a 3-12 funk to start the 2013 season, will need much more than Giancarlo Stanton‘s bat to make them relevant, but his return can’t hurt their chances any.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

After hitting 37 homers in just 123 games a year ago, Stanton has spent the early part of 2013 battling injuries and slumping to a .167/.342/.233 line without a long ball to this name thus far. The 23-year-old has been the source of all kinds of trade talks, and indeed it seems very possible he could be moved at some point in the near future for Miami to complete their latest fire sale.

Coming into today’s game, the team as a whole was hitting .209/.277/.273 with just three home runs in it’s first 14 games, a truly horrendous start. While things are bound to pick up a bit from this lack of production, the odds of a non-last place finish are already very low. As for Stanton, if he’s been cleared health-wise, it shouldn’t be long before he returns to his typical power-hitting ways. The only question is how long he’ll continue to do it in south Florida.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.

McCann May Begin Rehab Soon

Spencer Hendricks — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:53:54 +0000

Those who have Brian McCann on their fantasy baseball teams–or those who just like the Braves and want them to have their veteran backstop back in action–will be pleased to note that the 29-year-old could be starting a minor league rehab stint soon. McCann had surgery on his torn right labrum back in October and has spent the subsequent time period recovering. A recent wrist injury created possible additional complications, but the early reports are that this is a minor concern and shouldn’t affect the original timetable for a May 1 return too much.

Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

McCann, a .279/.351/.475 hitter in eight seasons with the Braves, has proven himself a valuable commodity in Atlanta by contributing 26.6 career WAR per FanGraphs, but his time with the club may be limited nonetheless after struggling with injuries of late and slumping to a .698 OPS last season. Considering the emergence of the surprising Evan Gattis and the fact that McCann (who is earning $12 million in 2013) is in the final year of his contract, it’s very possible he and the organization could be parting ways either via trade this summer or through the free agency process at season’s end.

In any case, both sides benefit from the player at full health, so getting him back on the field should be a definite lift, and even a team that starts off 12-1 needs all the good fortune it can get.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.

Rangers Won’t Rule Out Kyle Lohse

Spencer Hendricks — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 18:13:29 +0000

Kyle Lohse may not have found a team yet despite the calendar having flipped to March, but he may be eligible for the most potential suitors award of the offseason nonetheless. Count the Rangers as yet another team that, despite not having signed him, want to go on record as saying that they aren’t exactly ruling him out, either.

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

There isn’t a team among 30 that wouldn’t benefit from Lohse’s services, but the problems with the right-hander are significant: he’s 34, potentially overpriced due to coming off of a career year not everyone believes he can repeat this far past his prime, and may well cost the team that signs him its first round draft pick.

After being worth a career high 3.6 WAR per FanGraphs a season ago, it once seemed like a slam dunk that Lohse would cash in as a free agent and net a very lucrative deal despite his age, but it hasn’t ended up working out that way. At this point, his asking price will probably have to drop considerably from what he once expected, and the team who signs him will need to have recently determined the starting rotation isn’t as sound as once believed. It’s a tough pill to swallow for Lohse, a player who historically would have been a very wealthy man by this point — well, even more so than he already is.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.

Rafael Furcal May Miss Season Opener

Spencer Hendricks — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 18:04:13 +0000

It didn’t take long for Rafael Furcal‘s health to become an issue for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013. The elbow woes that ultimately ended the shortstop’s season in 2012 are still present, as both a torn ligament and bone spurs in his throwing arm have made healing all but impossible. The organization has shut him down from all hitting and throwing activities indefinitely, making it seem unlikely he’ll be ready to go by opening day.

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Furcal, 35, started off 2012 red hot, but slumped so badly down the stretch that he finished with just a .671 OPS in 121 games. The switch-hitting table setter, who eventually lost his job as the leadoff hitter to Jon Jay, is entering the second year of a two-year, $13 million deal given to him prior to the start of last season.

Despite Furcal’s health problems and obvious decline, he may still be the best man for the position in an organization completely deficient at shortstop. Without Furcal penciled into the lineup, shortstop duties may well fall to recently signed journeyman Ronny Cedeno, although he could wind up sharing the duties with the likes of Pete Kozma and Daniel Descalso.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.

Carlos Beltran Scratched from Lineup

Spencer Hendricks — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 21:11:47 +0000

Carlos Beltran won’t be in the Cardinal lineup today thanks to being struck in the toe by a pitch earlier in the week. The good news for Cardinal fans is that this move is purely a precaution, and Beltran’s health for the future does not appear in jeopardy. He is still expected to leave for Puerto Rico later today in preparation for the World Baseball Classic, and it’s highly unlikely the team would clear for him such a trip if there were serious concerns.

Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals will be taking great pains to keep Beltran healthy and rested throughout the spring and into the regular season as well. The switch-hitting outfielder will be 36 at the end of April, and has had a long history of injury setbacks over the course of a very successful career. After racking up 3.6 WAR per FanGraphs a season ago, Beltran will be looking to make good on the second year of a two-year, $26 million deal signed last offseason.

Replacing Beltran’s bat in the lineup today for St. Louis is highly regarded prospect Oscar Taveras, who is ironically slated to replace the former when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.

Yovani Gallardo Has Groin Injury

Spencer Hendricks — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 20:50:05 +0000

Yovani Gallardo won’t be making his next spring training start thanks to groin tightness according to a report from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. While this issue is not expected to linger, it may impact his participation in the World Baseball Classic depending on its severity. Doubtlessly, the Brewers are more concerned that their ace is fully recovered before opening day than they are about him pitching in the WBC.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Gallardo, 27, is coming off another very solid season atop the Brewers rotation, having finished 2012 with a 16-9 record and a 3.66 ERA in 204 innings of work. The right-hander struck out exactly a batter an inning for the second straight season, although his walk rate did spike back to career norms from what appears to be an abnormally low 2.6 per nine mark in 2011.

All told, Gallardo was still worth 2.7 WAR per FanGraphs, a mark he hasn’t failed to reach or best every season since 2008 when he made only four starts. The Mexican native is a big part of the Milwaukee rotation and will be counted on heavily this season; if he further complicates this injury trying to pitch in the WBC, the organization will feel the effects heavily.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.

Brewers Talking to Lohse

Spencer Hendricks — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 21:20:08 +0000

Thanks to the quirky new rule involving draft picks with players who were offered a qualifying offer by their former team, Kyle Lohse is still out of work despite coming off the best season of his professional career. The 34-year-old remains unsigned even as spring training marches steadily toward its second month, but Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com opines that the Brewers might be the best fit.

Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin confirms having spoken to Lohse about a possible contract with the team, but he seems determined to see what they already have in place first. This is understandable for the Brewers and any team, as Lohse is likely still looking to command a pretty hefty multi-year deal after going 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA for the Cardinals a year ago. The right-hander was also very stingy with free passes, walking just 38 in his 211 innings of work.

All told, it was a banner year for Lohse, who wound up being worth a career high 3.6 WAR per FanGraphs, but as solid as he is, he’s approaching his mid-thirties and it’s not clear whether last season’s performance is truly a new talent level or a modest aberration. If the Brewers can sign him without breaking the bank, he’s a welcome addition that solidifies the rotation, but there are plenty of good reasons why he has yet to find a home this offseason, recent success or not.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.

Granderson Out 10 Weeks

Spencer Hendricks — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 21:10:09 +0000

In the first genuinely impacting news of the spring, Curtis Granderson of the New York Yankees has suffered a forearm fracture and will be out of action for 10 weeks, ensuring the star center fielder won’t be taking any at bats until May. This is a very tough development for New York, although the good news is that this happened in late February instead of late March.

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Granderson, coming off something of disappointing season in 2012, figures prominently in the Yankees’ plans this year, and obviously missing a month of the schedule isn’t going to sit well with the organization or the fans. The incident took place earlier today while facing J.A. Happ of the Toronto Blue Jays; Happ drilled Granderson on the forearm in his first plate appearance of the spring.

This is a tough way to start things out for Granderson and the Yankees, but Brett Gardner is more than capable of filling in at center for the first month of the season. It’s never a good thing when a star-caliber player misses significant time due to a spring training injury, but in this particular instance, it could have been a lot worse.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.

Rockies Looking at Adding Niemann

Spencer Hendricks — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 20:29:07 +0000

It’s still speculation at this point, but the Colorado Rockies may be looking to acquire Tampa Bay’s Jeff Niemann in an attempt to bolster an extremely sub-par rotation according to a report from Buster Olney of ESPN.com. Niemann would definitely be a welcome addition to the staff, but he would not arrive without injury concerns — the 6’9″ hurler managed only 38 innings last season after throwing just 135.1 the season before that.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The 29-year-old burst onto the scene in 2009 with a very solid rookie campaign that saw him go 13-6 with a 3.94 ERA in the brutal AL East, and although he’s never topped the 2.9 WAR (per FanGraphs) that he posted that season, his peripherals have continued to get better and better all the while.

A season ago, Niemann posted a career high 8.1 K/9 rate and generated a 51.4 percent ground ball rate, both of which may have more to do with a small sample size rather than improved pitching ability. That said, he’s in the prime of his career at age 29, and if fully healthy he has the potential to settle into a solid two or (more likely) three starter, even for a team with a good rotation. For a team like the Rockies, he’d be that much more valuable.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.

Kemp to Sit Until March

Spencer Hendricks — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 20:18:29 +0000

The Dodgers have announced that star center fielder Matt Kemp will not be appearing in any spring training games until the start of March at the very earliest. This is hardly a big deal for team or player, as the games at this point in the spring are still largely focused on letting minor league invitees prove themselves. It’s safe to say that Kemp, a seven-year veteran with an .853 career OPS, does not need to worry about proving himself.

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In fact, the only thing the 28-year-old needs to worry about proving is his health, and sitting out the first few games of spring training can only help him in that department. While the Dodgers have been as active as any team in baseball this offseason when it comes to improving their roster, having Kemp in the lineup all year is a crucial component for a successful finish, and obviously the main goal is just to make sure he’s ready to go for opening day.

Kemp, who had a breakout season in 2011 and fell just one home run shy of a 40-40 season, was en route to another outstanding campaign a year ago before running into injury trouble that limited him to just 106 games. He was still very good when he did play, hitting .303/.367/.538 with 23 home runs. When healthy, he’s one of the game’s very best, and there’s no reason for Los Angeles to take any chances in this situation.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.