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Cuban Defection Connection
The Athletics and Dodgers each took a considerable risk when signing two raw-talented Cuban defectors in 2012. In March of 2012, the A’s inked YouTube sensation Yoenis Cespedes to a 4-year, $36 million contract. Cespedes would make his major-league debut on March 28 and hit a double in his second at-bat off Felix Hernandez. In his second game as a major leaguer, Cespedes would hit his first home run, a two run shot off Mariners reliever Shawn Kelley. The five-tool stud would go on to finish behind 20-year-old phenom Mike Trout in Rookie-of-the-Year honors with a .291 BA, 23 HR, 82 RBI and 16 SB in his first season.
The Dodgers signed Yasiel Puig Valdés to an even heftier seven-year, $42 million contract in June of 2012. We had to wait until Monday for Puig’s major-league debut, but oh boy has he ever made the wait worthwhile. Puig’s arrival to the bigs was marked by his first hit coming on his first at-bat on Monday and a ridiculous throw to double up a runner at first base to end the game. Eerily similar to Cespedes’ start, Puig would also homer for the first time on day two of his major league career. Puig, obviously a one-upper, took it to the next level and hit a second homer in the game Tuesday night while driving in five runs. Want more connection? Cespedes also homered twice on Tuesday in the Athletics win over the Brewers. It was Cespedes’s first career multi-homer game.
Puig is the second player in major-league history to have a two-homer, five-RBI game within the first two games of his career. He is the first Dodger to do so and the second Dodger to have a two-homer, five-RBI game from the leadoff spot. In Puig’s first 11 major-league swings he has: 1 foul ball, 2 swing and misses, 8 balls put in play (5 for base hits, 3 for XBH, 2 for HR). There’s my Vin Scully impersonation for the day.
Got Juice?
More information has apparently leaked in the Biogenesis scandal and it looks like that creep Tony Bosch is gonna give up everyone to save his own hide from a lawsuit. MLB is targeting big suspensions for big name guy:. A-Rod and Ryan Braun are among the names floating around, and each could be handed 100-game suspensions, which would likely be appealed. For all you fantasy gurus out there: does anyone else smell a huge buy-low opportunity??
Other names rumored to this point are Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, Yasmani Grandal, Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta, Everth Cabrera, Francisco Cervelli and Jesus Montero, among others. Gio Gonzalez and Robinson Cano have also been connected with the clinic, but they're not expected to face punishment because they evidently received only legal substances.
AL Hot Shots:
- Jake Peavy was removed from his start and will get an MRI on his ribs. How much fo’ one-of-them ribs?
- Asdrubal Cabrera indeed did land on the DL with a quad strain and Mike Aviles will man SS for the tribe.
- Yoenis Cespedes went 3-for-5 with his first career 2 HR game with 3 RBI.
- Mark Teixeira, after swatting a grand slam Monday, hit a three-run homer on Tuesday.
- Anibal Sanchez was filthy yet again going 7 strong innings, striking out nine, allowing only 4 hits and issuing just one walk. He improved to 6-5 on the year with a 2.65 ERA and 98 K over 78 IP.
- Jurickson Profar is making it tough on Rangers brass; they are considering ways to keep the #1 prospect up with the team even when Ian Kinsler returns from the DL.
- Josh Johnson allowed two runs (one earned) in his return from the DL vs. the Giants.
- Adrian Beltre will return to the Rangers lineup Wednesday after a few days of rest for his hamstring.
- Drew Stubbs hit a three-run homer off Joba Chamberlain for his 4th on the year
- Mike Carp (4), Jarrod Saltalamacchia (6), Stephen Drew (5) and Jackie Bradley Jr (1) all teed off on Tuesday.
- Mitch Moreland hit his 12th homer of the year, a two-run shot off Clay Mortenson. Nelson Cruz and Jeff Baker homered earlier for Texas off Ryan Dempster.
- Justin Grimm was shelled for 8 ER over 1.2 IP being replaced after only facing 15 batters.
NL Hot Shots:
- Anthony Rendon was called up before Tuesday’s game and got the night off to spectate as the Nats won in walk-off fashion. With Danny Espinosa on the DL with a wrist fracture, Rendon should see most starts at second base and possibly spell Ryan Zimmerman at 3B some nights.
- Sergio Romo notched his 16th save of the season Tuesday giving up a leadoff single before retiring the next three in order.
- Michael Wacha was less impressive against the DBacks on Tuesday. He was bashed by the snakes, allowing 6 ER on 10 hits and a homer to A.J. Pollock. Paul Goldschmidt was 3-for-6 with two doubles and two RBI in the game. Heath Bell converted save #10 with 2 K.
- John Mayberry Jr. played hero for the Phillies as his third and fourth homers of the season would tie the game in the 10th and then win the game in the 11th. The walk-off homer was of the bases juiced, 4-RBI variety.
- Troy Tulowitzki hit his 13th homer of the season in a Rockies win over the Reds. Rex Brothers secured save number two.
- Allen Craig hit his fourth homer for his only hit in seven at-bats Tuesday.
- Giancarlo Stanton was 0-for-3 in his first High-A rehab start and could join the club within the next week or two.
- B.J. Upton has come alive of late at the dish, he hit his 6th homer Tuesday.
- Brandon Phillips was fine hitting before the game Tuesday but had issues in the field, he will likely sit out until Friday to rest his bruised forearm.
- Marco Estrada will likely hit the DL due to a hamstring strain
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Follow Shawn Caswell on Twitter: @CasKnowsRoto
