A few weeks ago I mentioned how far Brad Hawpe has fallen in Colorado,
being dropped in the batting order and passed over in the lineup for
other left-handed bats late in games. So far in the postseason we’ve
seen more of the same, as manager Jim Tracy used three left-handed
pinch-hitters (Jason Giambi, Seth Smith and Ian Stewart) during
Thursday’s Game 2 win over the Phillies, while Hawpe collected dust on
the bench.
Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post thinks it could be a sign of things to come:
Not sure how this one will play out, but
Carlos Gonzalez will play every day next season and twice in day-night
double-headers. . . .
With dynamic and cheap outfielders
like Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler, Seth Smith, Ryan Spilborghs and Matt
Murton (remember him?) under team control for the foreseeable future,
general manager Dan O’Dowd could deal Hawpe over the winter. The
30-year-old outfielder is under contract for $7.5 million in 2010 and
$10 million with a $500,000 buyout for 2011. It’s worth mentioning that
if Hawpe is traded, he can void the option for 2011.
Just don’t look for Hawpe to get
much of a chance to turn the tide against the Phillies, with southpaws
J.A. Happ, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels likely lined up through a
potential Game 5.
Stanton, Donaldson, Kahnle activated by Yankees ahead of Dodgers series
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Tommy Kahnle were activated by the New York Yankees ahead of their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
New York cleared three roster spots after a 1-0 loss at Seattle, optioning infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook.
Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.
Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.
Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.
Aaron Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.
New York is missing centerfielder Harrison Bader, who strained his right hamstring against the Mariners and went on the injured list the next day.
Left-hander Carlos Rodón, sidelined since spring training by a sore left forearm and an ailing back, was transferred to the 60-day injured list.