American League notes
Baltimore: Larry Lucchino, who died last week at 78 after being a top executive for the Orioles, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox, is the one responsible for the construction of Camden Yards, Petco Park and the vast enhancements at Fenway Park. “One of the most accomplished executives that our industry has ever had,” Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said. The Baltimore stadium bucked the prevailing trend of generic, symmetrical multipurpose facilities by championing the incorporation of the brick-walled B&O Railroad warehouse in its design. The immediate glowing reviews for Oriole Park when it opened in 1992 jump-started a new era of modern ballparks built solely for baseball.
Boston: Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story’s nightmare continues with the latest injury: a dislocated left shoulder. Story has missed 187 games the past two seasons since signing a six-year, $140 million contract, and now he will be out for an indefinite period.
Chicago: The White Sox privately believe that prized center fielder Luis Robert Jr. could be out for 3 to 4 months with his Grade 2 hip flexor strain, another blow to an offense already without DH Eloy Jiménez. The White Sox will explore the market for reinforcements with free agent outfielder Tommy Pham still available and perhaps an ideal fit.
Cleveland: Shane Bieber is slated to undergo Tommy John surgery to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, complicating what was already a murky situation regarding his future with the Guardians. Bieber is in his last year of club control, and he certainly won’t be throwing another pitch this season. This winter, he’ll have options as to where he continues his rehab and for which team he eventually pitches once he’s recovered. That is, of course, barring the type of contract extension that hasn’t yet occurred between him and the team.
Detroit: When Tigers rookie Colt Keith reached second base in New York last week, he had an interesting conversation with Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. “I told Lindor, ‘You were on my wall when I was a kid,’ ” Keith said. Keith used to have a Fathead of the four-time All-Star on his bedroom wall. “He was like, ‘I’m humbled by that, appreciate it. If you need me to sign anything, just let Javy (Báez) know and I’ll send it over,’ ” Keith said. You forget what it is like for a young player to suddenly play against childhood heroes. Or even what it’s like to travel. Keith had never been to New York City. “I went out and got some pizza a couple of times,” he said. “Just walked around.”
Houston: Ronel Blanco followed up his no-hitter with six innings of one-hit scoreless ball April 7 in a 3-1 victory over the Rangers in Arlington, Texas. After no-hitting the Blue Jays in his first start, Blanco began against the Rangers with 52⁄3 hitless innings to raise his hitless innings stretch to 142⁄3. Texas’ Adolis Garcia ended the no-hit bid with a sharp single up the middle. Blanco then retired Evan Carter on a fly out to center to end the sixth and complete his 90-pitch outing. Blanco (2-0) struck out four and walked four in his ninth major league start. He said he never thought about throwing a second straight no-hitter. “No, I wasn’t thinking about it at all,” Blanco said during ESPN’s broadcast, with analyst Eduardo Perez serving as an interpreter. “I was thinking of competing and making better pitches.” The Rangers outscored Houston 17-4 over the first two games of the series.
Kansas City: The Royals rotation has been ridiculous in the early going, yielding a 1.60 ERA, with their starters giving up one or no runs in seven of the 10 starts entering the week.
Los Angeles: Angels GM Perry Minasian finally persuaded fan favorite Torii Hunter to join the organization as a special assistant. Hunter was offered the Angels’ first base coach job in November, but he passed. ... There was a loud cheer of sarcasm from the Angels’ crowd celebrating third baseman Anthony Rendon’s infield single, snapping his 278day hitless streak, even giving him a standing ovation.
Minnesota: This is the first time in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ franchise history they opened the season without Greg Schulte in the radio booth, and the first time in 40 years the Twins were without TV announcer Dick Bremer, each of whom retired.
New York: OF Juan Soto, who should be seeking a $500 million contract, is expected to create a free agent bidding war between the Yankees and Mets. Yet, with that high of a price tag, it’s unknown if there will be a surprise team that’ll get involved in the bidding. ... The Yankees have had a policy in place since George Steinbrenner bought the franchise in 1973 with no beards or hair below the collar, but apparently there is a rule on the number of necklaces a player can wear, too. OF Alex Verdugo said that he was told by manager Aaron Boone that he can wear only one chain per game.
Oakland: Athletics first baseman Ryan Noda expressed that he wants the team’s temporary home to be up to MLB standards playing at West Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park for the next three seasons. “Concerns?” he told the Oakland Tribune. “The field, the locker rooms, the dugouts, the surface, making sure all the safety protocols and everything is up to par. That field needs a lot of work, a lot of money put into it in order for it to be a big-league place.” The biggest concern may be the playing field at Sutter Health Park. If the Giants’ Triple-A Sacramento River Cats play there as well, the playing surface will take an absolute beating. The A’s and the city of Oakland were $80 million apart in their negotiations to remain at the Coliseum.
Seattle: The Mariners began the season 4-6, dropping four of five entering the week. However, an early bright spot might be reliever, Tayler Saucedo, who pitched a career-high 22⁄3 innings in an April 7 loss without allowing a hit or run to help keep the rest of the bullpen intact. “Ton of credit to Sauce,” manager Scott Servais said. “We’re up against it. We did not have a day off. We’re going to Toronto. So for him to give 22⁄3, I really appreciate the effort. It puts us in a position that gives a better chance to win the next series.”
Tampa Bay: RHP Ryan Pepiot pitched three-hit ball and struck out a careerhigh 11 batters in six scoreless innings in a 3-2 win April 7 at the Colorado Rockies. Pepiot (1-1) topped his previous high of nine strikeouts, which also came at Coors Field on Sept. 26, 2023, when he pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He didn’t walk a batter April 7 and bounced back from allowing six runs in 52⁄3 innings against Texas in his season debut. “Strikeouts are great. Efficient innings are better than striking out the world,” Pepiot said, according to MLB.com. “No walks, it’s the big one. That’s the biggest takeaway for me today.”
Texas: Manager Bruce Bochy was impressed with Justin Foscue’s pinch-hit, run-scoring single in the ninth inning off Josh Hader in a 3-1 April 7 loss the Astros. The hit was the first of Foscue’s major league career and came in his second atbat. “Great at-bat for the young kid,” Bochy said. “Had poise up there. He battled and got a big hit and an RBI. He got the tying run up to the plate. You have to like the way he handled himself as a pinch hitter.“The infielder was the 14th overall selection by the Rangers in the 2020 draft. Foscue played collegiately at Mississippi State.
Toronto: Following a season-opening 10-game trip, the Toronto Blue Jays returned to Rogers Centre, which received a $400 million renovation in the offseason, turning a multipurpose stadium into a ballpark. Field-level seats behind the plate have been added, the dugouts are closer to the field, and players will get a new turf playing surface and larger clubhouses. The Blue Jays could use a boost after going 4-6. They were batting .193, better than only Minnesota (.191) in the major leagues.