Takeaways from MLB Week 11
Injuries, as they say, are part of the game. But we can all agree they're never the good part.
This week, the Pittsburgh Pirates placed pitcher Gerrit Cole and catcher Francisco Cervelli on the 15-day disabled list. The New York Mets announced third baseman David Wright would undergo surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back.
We want to see players, particularly of the caliber of the three aforementioned, play the game. Watching them rehab isn't entertaining.
But nonetheless, in their absence this week, MLB still wowed us. Care to see what those who played did this past week?
Pirates Place Gerrit Cole on DL; Francisco Cervelli Has Surgery
1 of 5
The Pittsburgh Pirates' playoff hopes were severely damaged this week.
Catcher Francisco Cervelli underwent surgery to repair a broken left hamate bone and will be permitted to return to baseball activity in four to six weeks, the team announced June 11.
Ace Gerrit Cole was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday retroactive to June 11 with a right triceps strain.
Cervelli, a nine-year veteran, has a .373 OBP this season for a Pirates offense that has been one of MLB's best. But his value is in how he handles the pitching staff. Cervelli's 4.4 Defensive Runs Above Average (Def) ranks seventh among catchers, according to FanGraphs.
Cole's 2.77 ERA is the best among Pirates starters this season.
Through Thursday's games, Pittsburgh was 12 games behind the Chicago Cubs for first place in the National League Central and 2.5 games out of the wild card.
Cole will likely need a rehab start before he returns, as such a long layoff for a starting pitcher requires that he get stretched out again. Considering Cervelli won't be able to return to baseball activity within the aforementioned window of time, his return to action could be even longer than six weeks.
David Wright to Have Surgery, Return TBD
2 of 5
The New York Mets announced in a press release Thursday that third baseman David Wright underwent surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck. Per the release, "the procedure was cervical discectomy and fusion."
There is no timetable for Wright's return to baseball activity. Doctors prescribed immediate rest and will evaluate the third baseman "in the weeks ahead."
Though it's expected Wright will attempt a return, this could mark the end of his storied career. Or minimally, the end of Wright as one of MLB's stars.
Now 33, Wright has dealt with back issues for some time. Last season, he was limited to only 38 games with a similar ailment, though he did hit a promising .289/.379/.434 during that span.
This season, he is hitting only .226.
Given the mechanics of a baseball swing, a back issue is among the most serious that can plague a hitter. With it necessary to twist his back and head, such an injury could make it difficult to sustain a high level of play.
Wright attempted to work through it with a series of treatments that included anti-inflammatory injections, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN.com. Rubin added Wright's statement regarding the decision to proceed with surgery:
"After trying every way to get back on the field, I've come to realize that it's best for me, my teammates and the organization to proceed with surgery at this time.
My neck simply did not respond to any of the treatments of the past few weeks. While incredibly frustrating and disappointing, I am determined to make a full recovery and get back on the field as soon as I can to help the Mets win. I greatly appreciate the support of my teammates and our fans throughout the last few weeks.
"
Ichiro Celebrated by MLB
3 of 5
With two hits Wednesday, Miami Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki passed Pete Rose's record for career hits with 4,257.
While MLB celebrated Ichiro's accomplishments, debate raged as to whether he should be considered baseball's "hit king."
Rose's career hit total spans only his MLB seasons. Recognizing Ichiro as baseball's career hits leader would require accounting for his career hits in Japan as well. Through Thursday's games, Ichiro had only 2,979 MLB hits. He has 1,278 in Japan's major leagues.
There's no questioning Ichiro is among MLB's best hitters ever. And had he gotten to MLB earlier than 2001, there may not be anything to debate.
But Ichiro's hits in Japan cannot be considered equal to those accrued in MLB.
Simply, MLB is a much tougher level of competition. We've seen players, like Kosuke Fukudome, star in Japan but struggle stateside. Players come from Japan to MLB because it's considered the highest level of the game.
If Ichiro is recognized as baseball's "hit king," it opens up debate as to whether or not a player's minor league hits should count in a career total. Would we do the same for home run totals? Pitchers' win totals?
There's a reason so few get to MLB. It's because it features the best of the sport. And records should only been considered if, in their totality, they are accomplished when facing the best the game has to offer.
.png?w=256)
Giants Win Six Straight to Increase NL West Lead
4 of 5
While the Chicago Cubs have been the toast of baseball with incredibly stellar play, the San Francisco Giants are quietly creeping up to the top of the National League and are slowly increasing their lead in the NL West.
San Francisco won six straight games this week, increasing their lead to seven games over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division.
Through Friday's games, the Giants were only three games back in the win column from the MLB-leading Cubs.
During San Francisco's most recently completed series against the rebuilding Milwaukee Brewers, the team scored 24 runs—a high total for any three-game series no matter how bad an opponent.
The Milwaukee series saw Giants catcher Buster Posey hit .500. Posey has at least one hit in all but three games so far in the month of June.
Starting pitcher Johnny Cueto, an offseason signee, continued to impress when he allowed only one earned run and struck out nine in a start that lasted seven innings Thursday. Cueto has pitched at least six innings in all but one of his 14 starts this season. He hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in a start since May 2.
Nationals Take Two of Three from Cubs
5 of 5
Perhaps it meant more to the Washington Nationals, whom the Chicago Cubs swept in a four-game series at Wrigley Field earlier this season.
But watching the Nationals take two of three from the Cubs in Washington, D.C., this week should provide caution to those Cubs fans who think the World Series is all but officially theirs.
With no evidence the Cubs will halt their winning ways, Chicago shouldn't care too much about one series in the middle of June. For the Nationals, though, it gives them a confidence boost against a team they'll likely have to face in October if they want to get to the World Series.
For the Cubs, it suggests anything could happen in any series. In October, the stakes are higher, but the game is no different.
The Cubs look as if they will end the 162-game regular season as baseball's best team. But playoff baseball is played in much shorter bursts. This week's series against the Nationals proved it is possible the Cubs could lose a series to one of the NL playoff teams.
Chicago will be favored against whichever team it faces. But the Nationals proved this week the NL might be a little more closely contested than the first two-plus months of the season may have indicated.
.png?w=480)
