Manfred: Security at parks top priority Another start for Peacock?
Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday that Major League Baseball will continue to be vigilant on ballpark security issues in the wake of the suicide bombing this week in Manchester.
Manfred, who was at Minute Maid Park for a pregame ceremony honoring former Astros player and general manager Bob Watson, said Major League Baseball had reviewed its security measures over the last 18 months and that the topic “is our utmost priority.”
“There have been a lot of changes in the ballparks in terms of magnetometers, access, number of security people, and we do believe that we are providing a safe environment for our fans,” he said.
Manfred, speaking on a variety of topics at a news conference prior to the ceremony honoring Watson, also said that while the Astros have expressed interest in hosting the city’s first All-Star Game since 2004, demand for the game is at an all-time high.
“I hope at some point in the future to be back here (for the game),” he said. “We think this is a firstclass facility. The Astros have worked hard to be sure this stadium has been maintained in immaculate condition. This is certainly a facility that would merit an All-Star Game.”
Astros president Reid Ryan said the Astros hope to attract another All-Star Game, “but it’s a matter of where we fall in line with the league’s initiatives. … At some point, we will get another one. It’s a matter of when.”
Manfred also said he hopes his decision to intervene in the Red Sox-Orioles beanball feud sent a message that while baseball will uphold its traditions, “we don’t get into situations where retaliation is creating a safety risk for any player.”
He said MLB will continue to pay attention to pace of play issues to avoid what he described as “backsliding” and will, at the behest of fans and TV networks, continue working on ways to eliminate dead time “without changing the way the game is played in any fundamental way.”
On another topic, Manfred said MLB wants to take regular-season games to Mexico as an experiment that will help owners determine whether the country could sustain a major league team.
“We are hopeful that what we see in Mexico will continue to encourage us that this is a possibility,” he said.
Correa scratched; Centano catches
Carlos Correa was a lineup scratch for Tuesday night’s game because he was not feeling well, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. Marwin Gonzalez got the start at shortstop.
“Correa came in a little sick today. He might have been a little sick yesterday. I’m not sure,” Hinch said. “I’m not going to have him play when he’s not feeling right.”
Also in the starting lineup Tuesday was catcher Juan Centano, who was added to the roster Sunday after splitting time with Max Stassi at Class AAA Fresno. It was the first start for Centano, who played in 55 games with the Twins in 2016.
“He’s had a quick study the last couple of days to get back up and running with our pitching staff, so I think he’ll be fine,” Hinch said.
Centano, a lefthanded hitter who was batting .368 and had a 16-game hitting streak with the Grizzlies, kept his hot bat going with a 2-for-3 performance that included a fourth-inning home run off the Tigers’ Jordan Zimmermann.
While Dallas Keuchel’s health will be among the determining factors for how the next few days will unfold, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said Brad Peacock pitched well enough Monday to earn consideration for another start.
Keuchel is eligible to return from the disabled list Saturday, and Peacock is recovering from Monday’s 41⁄3-inning, one-hit appearance, so Hinch said he has time to consider his options.
“The back end of our rotation has been good some days, not so good other days,” Hinch said. “(Peacock) certainly is making a case to be given another start.”
Keuchel, McCann making progress
Pitcher Dallas Keuchel and catcher Brian McCann continue to make progress toward returning to the active roster Saturday, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.
“Both are progressing nicely,” Hinch said. “Dallas is going to play catch; Brian is going to play catch in the next couple of days. Once that hurdle is made, we’ll be able to assess exactly when their availability will be later in the week.”
McCann, who is on the seven-day concussion disabled list, still must pass several on- and off-field tests dictated by Major League Baseball’s concussion recovery protocol before he can return to play.
Keuchel was placed on the 10-day disabled list last Saturday, retroactive to May 17, with a pinched nerve in his neck. He missed a scheduled start Monday.