Marisnick’s inability to bat costs him a shot at making roster
LOS ANGELES — Jake Marisnick’s surgically repaired right thumb has healed enough for him to play defense, but the fact he hasn’t yet been cleared to pick up a bat will prohibit him from making the Astros’ World Series roster.
Marisnick, who is five weeks removed from an operation that had a six-to-eight-week recovery timetable, would have been able to only play defense and run if included on the roster.
“I have talked to Jake. He’s not going to be on the roster,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said Monday before the Astros held their workout at Dodger Stadium. “He’ll be an injury fillin, if needed.
“Right now there’s not enough time to get him ready, enough for us to feel comfortable, especially in a National League game. His thumb is healed, he’s throwing, he’s feeling good. He hasn’t hit enough to be an option off the bench in a National League-style game. And if needed, we’re going to have to play four of those.”
The Astros and Dodgers don’t have to finalize their rosters until Tuesday. The Astros aren’t expected to make any significant changes from their American League Championship Series roster, as they will again carry 12 pitchers, as opposed to the 11 they had in the Division Series.
Morton, McCullers both likely to start
While the Dodgers have announced their starting pitchers for each of the first four games, Astros manager A.J. Hinch has committed to only the first two.
But behind Dallas Keuchel in Game 1 and Justin Verlander in Game 2, Hinch acknowledged Monday that Charlie Morton will start one of Game 3 or 4 and Lance McCullers Jr. will “very likely” start the other.
Committing to McCullers in the rotation, which is expected after his dominant performances in the ALCS, would allow Hinch to use Brad Peacock in relief beginning with Game 1.
Ex-GM Hunsicker on the opposite side
The general manager of the Astros during the most successful era in their history finds himself on the opposing side for the franchise’s second World Series appearance in 56 years.
Gerry Hunsicker, the architect of the Astros for nine seasons from 1996 through 2004, has worked as a senior adviser in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ baseball operations department since October 2012. He still resides in The Woodlands and follows the Astros closely. His worlds collide this week.
“I’m thrilled for the city for a lot of reasons, not just because I have ties to the organization, but it’s still my hometown,” Hunsicker said. “With the added challenges that the city has faced with the current flood, et cetera, it’s just another example of how baseball can really rally a community together. It was fun to see the city excited again.”
Hunsicker, 67, watched the Astros clinch the American League pennant on television at his home after returning from Chicago, where he celebrated the Dodgers’ clinching victory over the Cubs. He flew to Los Angeles on Monday morning ahead of his team’s afternoon workout at Dodger Stadium.
After resigning from his GM post with the Astros following the 2004 season, Hunsicker worked for the Tampa Bay Rays, where he was tasked with being the right-hand man to a 28-yearold first-time head of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman. Hunsicker and Friedman, a Houston native, reunited in Los Angeles when the Dodgers hired Friedman away from the Rays in October 2014.
Hunsicker joined the Dodgers a couple years ahead of Friedman. He was originally hired by Friedman’s predecessor, Ned Colletti, and team president Stan Kasten. He assists with various facets of baseball operations on the major league side, the minor league side and, come draft time, the amateur side.
“At this point in my career, I’m kind of winding things down,” Hunsicker said. “I’m in more of a support role now than I’ve been in the past. I’m just here as another set of eyes and ears, another resource that the entire baseball department can use as they see fit.”
Hunsicker said he hopes during the series to run into Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran, the link between the 2004 Astros that lost in Game 7 of the NLCS and this year’s Astros team.
“He’s quite a special person in my book,” Hunsicker said of Beltran. “Not just a baseball player but a very special person.”
Crew chief Davis heads umpire group
Gerry Davis, who has worked more postseason games than any umpire in baseball history, will be the crew chief for the World Series between the Astros and Dodgers, MLB announced Monday.
This will be Davis’ sixth World Series and his first since 2012. The 34-year major league umpire has worked 136 career games in the postseason and more than 4,500 career major league games overall. His crew for this Fall Classic will consist of Phil Cuzzi, Paul Nauert, Laz Diaz, Bill Miller, Dan Iassogna and Mark Wegner.
Cuzzi will be the home-plate umpire for Game 1 on Tuesday night. Tripp Gibson will be the replay assistant for the whole series.