JML update, weekend edition

Ryan Braun continues to put up his best numbers, hopefully disproving that he got any assistance at all from any PEDs he might have taken last season, for whatever reason. Braun was 5-14 with two runs scored. He hit home run #38, representing a career high, and drove in his 100th run, his fifth consecutive season of 100+ RBIs. I wonder if he’ll push himself to get those seven stolen bases he needs to be in the 30-30 club for the second straight year.

Ryan Kalish appeared in two games against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, going 1-2 with a run scored batting ninth as the DH in a 7-5 loss on Friday, then getting promoted to leadoff yesterday, where he was 1-2 with a walk in a 4-3 loss. (Toronto actually swept the three-game series.)

Ryan Lavarnway appeared in all three games, getting one double in six at bats, plus two walks.

Craig Breslow did not appear in the series. As an indication of how misleading statistics can be, I offer this: On Aug. 26, Breslow — who’s been having a pretty effective year — had an ERA of 1.69. On Aug. 31, he allowed four earned runs on three hits and a walk in 1/3 of an inning, exploding his ERA to 4.91. That came in a 20-2 debacle against the Oakland As. Breslow usually pitches one innign or less, so it’s going to take a while to deflate that number. But if you were looking at his baseball card next year and saw an ERA of 4.91, you would think he had a terrible year.

Ian Kinsler had just one hit in 12 at bats, walking once and striking out five times as the Texas Rangers dropped two of three to the host Tampa Bay Rays.

Scott Feldman did not pitch in the series. His next scheduled start is… well, it isn’t, at least through Sept. 15. he has lost five straight and has an ERA during that time of almost 6.5.

Sam Fuld appeared in all three games for the Rays, the finale as a defensive replacement. He was 1-7 with an RBI .

Ike Davis was 3-9 with an RBI as the NY Mets dropped their three-game set against the visiting Atlanta Braves, marking the end of the reign of terror by third baseman Chipper Jones, who will retire at the end of the season.

Kevin Youkilis missed the entire series between the Chicago White Sox and the visiting Kansas City Royals for a good reason: his wife gave birth to a boy on Friday. Mazal tov, Kevin.

Jason Marquis (San Diego Padres) is still on the disabled list but evidently making progress. From the Chicago Tribune on Saturday:

“RHP Jason Marquis had X-rays taken Friday on the broken bone as the base of his left thumb. Even though he didn’t have the results yet, the right-handed pitcher threw again “just in case” the doctors tell him he can pitch again this season. “I’ve thrown three times from the mound,” said Marquis, who uses a bullpen catcher to receive the return throw. “I’m going to be ready to pitch if they say it’s healed. My arm feels almost too good. I’m probably as strong right now as I have been all season.” Marquis said the final decision is, pardon the pun, out of his hands. “The doctors are going to have the first call about whether or not the bone is healed,” said Marquis. “Then it will be up to the club and I to see where I really am.”

 

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