BATTER BANTER

Michael Brantley’s shoulder seems to be jacked up. Big time. According to Jeff Passan there is “serious concern” that Brantley could be out of action for a long time. Brantley’s season is shaping up to be an utter disaster. We need more data to know exactly what happened, but it sure seems like the Indians rushed Brantley back well before the time that he was ready to go. A lost season is growing more likely by the day though, according to Ken Rosenthal, the team is still trying to spin the situation. Here’s what Indians GM Chris Antonetti said. “Nothing really new. We are focused on working with Michael to help him get to the point where he’s not only healthy but strong enough to make a meaningful impact on the balance of our season. We don’t have a clear timetable for that yet but are encouraged by progress he continues to make.” Uh huh. As Rosenthal admitted, there is no reason the team need be honest when it comes to the health of Brantley at the moment.

Five guys caught got trying to steal $4,700 worth of Red Bull. Don’t they know you should only drink one a day, preferably with vodka, so you should be drinking them in the car?

Nick Castellanos hit .363 in April. That mark fell to .284 in May. It’s down to .267 in early June. Solid but nothing more at third base the rest of the way.

Maikel Franco has 10 homers and 31 RBI this season, a solid but unexciting follow up to last season’s impressive half season of work. Over 150 career games Franco is batting .259 with 24 homers, 86 RBI and 68 runs scored. Those are very much Kyle Seager numbers, are they not? Franco is just 23 years old, and those are impressive numbers for a guy his age, but he’s not ready to take the next step yet.

Why the Jurickson Profar love? I don’t get it.

Ben Zobrist is finally slowing as he’s gone hitless in 18 plate appearances (he still has five walks in that time). His current OPS is .938. The current 35 year old has only had one season with a mark over .848 and that was during his magical 2009 effort (.948 OPS). Can a guy who failed to post a mark of .760 the last two seasons post a mark over .900 this season? Can’t think so.

How will the situations play out in the 9th inning for the Astros and the Reds? Here are my thoughts

SANO OR STANTON?

I got a question on Twitter Sunday that was basically this – who do you want in a dynasty league, Giancarlo Stanton or Miguel Sano? Then there was some back and forth with a couple folks saying that was a laughable question since it’s obvious that you want Stanton. Is that the correct position to take, I mean, is it really so clear cut? Some facts. (1) Stanton has as many 40 homer seasons as Ben Revere. That would be none by the way. (2) Stanton has as many 80 runs seasons as Gerardo Parra. (3) Stanton has as many 90 RBI efforts as Jayson Werth. (4) Through 130 games Sano has a line of .255-29-79. What is the average effort of Stanton, over 130 games, in his career? Try on for size .266-33-85. The numbers certainly are nowhere near as far off as anyone seems to realize.

Evan Longoria is on an HR streak. Logan Morrison is also crushing bombs for the Rays. Carlos Gonzalez is one of the best performers in the outfield when healthy. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO.
 

SPLITS TO KNOW

The last two weeks Carlos Gonzalez has eight homers and 16 RBI. Corey Seager has seven homers and 12 RBI. Evan Longoria has six homers and 14 RBI. Mike Napoli has seven homers and 16 RBI. Don’t forget about Adam Duvall who has eight homers and 18 RBI.

The last two weeks Yadier Molina is batting .071 with a .071 SLG. Billy Burns has scored two runs. Prince Fielder is batting .132. Jordy Mercer, and why anyone believed in him is beyond me, is batting .143 with a .250 OBP. Hanley Ramirez hit .159 with no homers. Jean Segura hit .205 with a .500 OBP.

Adrian Gonzalez can’t hit at home this season with a mere .516 OPS. Dreadful. Others that aren’t hitting at home: Brian Dozier .543, Jason Heyward .568, Matt Kemp .592.

Four men are hitting over .400 against lefties with at least 40 plate appearances: Stephen Piscotty .417, Ian Kinsler .407, Steve Pearce .405 and Jose Altuve .400. No one is hitting .400 against righties with only Daniel Murphy (.396) over .361. More on Murphy and his remarkable start.

Murphy is batting .351 against lefties, .396 against righties.

Murphy is batting .366 on the road and .409 at home.

Murphy is batting .380 at night and .390 during the day.

Murphy hit .370 in April and .416 in May.

Like I wrote, remarkable.

Kevin Gausman remaining winless has been very unfortunate. Gerrit Cole’s declining strikeout rate is concerning. Eduardo Rodriguez is simply not that good. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO.
 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday, 7 PM EDT and Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 7 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).