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MLB News & Moments You Should Know – Aug. 6

Dodgers pay tribute to the legendary Vin Scully.

Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.

You realize the impact someone makes on a community when they pass away. It is a time for reflection on their entire career, on and off the field.

When Vin Scully died this week at age 94, you knew the tributes were going to endlessly pour out for the broadcasting great. Not only was he a great play-by-play announcer, working all by himself for most of his Los Angeles Dodgers career, but he was a better storyteller, which one needs to be when the game turns lopsided for or against the team you are responsible for.

Friday night marked the first game at Dodger Stadium since Scully passed and there is plenty of content to reflect on him. We take a small sample of that and present it in the Best Moments section below. The Los Angeles Times has also done an in-depth job of recollecting Scully’s career, his impact on the community, and what he has meant to not only Dodgers fans, but sports fans in general. His was a career that spanned from when the Dodgers called Ebbets Field in the New York City borough of the Bronx home up until retiring just a few years ago — 67 years with a single team, the longest tenure of an announcer in pro sports history. Scully went into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. If you want to purchase a copy of the Times’ special edition, visit shoplatimes.com.

He always had the perfect words that were delivered so eloquently at the right moment, including Hank Aaron’s 715th homer. His final call at Dodger Stadium came in the 2016 season when the Dodgers clinched the National League West on Charlie Culberson’s walk-off homer. His words are in the tribute video below.

In a game that often relishes itself as poetry, Vin Scully was its poet laureate. RIP, Vin.

 

Today’s Headlines

 

Tatis Closer To Return

The San Diego Padres headed north for a series against the Dodgers, but one of their players was traveling east to Texas. It all means things are going in the right direction for Fernando Tatis Jr. The Padres’ All-Star shortstop took live batting practice before heading to Double-A San Antonio for the first part of his rehabilitation assignment. Tatis has been out all season following surgery in March to repair a fractured left wrist, an injury that happened over the winter during the lockout. His first game with the Missions will be either Saturday or Sunday, with him rotating between playing shortstop, center field, and designated hitter.

Kershaw On IL Again

For the second time this season, Dodgers left-handed starter Clayton Kershaw’s cranky back has landed him on the injured list. Kershaw, who went on the 10-day IL, left his start Thursday against the San Francisco Giants while throwing warmup pitches before the fifth inning. Beginning in early May, the 34-year-old missed a month due to SI joint inflammation that caused lower back pain. He has also missed parts of four seasons due to back issues. Kershaw is 7-3 with a 2.64 ERA in 16 starts this year. Right-hander Reyes Moronta was recalled from Triple-A, while infielder-outfielder Chris Taylor (fractured left foot) was activated from the IL and outfielder James Outman was optioned to Triple-A.

Reds Rookie Greene Hits IL

On the other side of the experience spectrum is Cincinnati Reds rookie Hunter Greene, who hit the IL for the first time in his brief career. The flame-throwing right-hander has a strained throwing shoulder that cropped up after his start Monday. Greene, the second overall pick in the 2019 draft, was approaching his professional high of 106⅓ innings set last year between Double-A and Triple-A. He is 4-12 with a 5.26 ERA in 102⅔ innings, with 41 walks and 127 strikeouts. The rookie, who turned 23 Saturday, has allowed 23 homers, second-most in MLB. It is another blow to the Reds’ starting rotation following the trades of Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle in the last week. Starting against the Dodgers in his hometown of Los Angeles on April 16, Greene threw an MLB-record 39 pitches of 100 mph or more. He threw 38 against the Miami Marlins on July 26.

COVID Benches Astros’ Baker 

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker did not manage the series opener against the Cleveland Guardians after testing positive for COVID-19. Baker, 73, who is vaccinated, is a cancer survivor often seen wearing a mask in the dugout. He can return to his duties after 10 days or by having two consecutive negative tests. Bench coach Joe Espada, a candidate for managerial openings the last few seasons, will take over managerial duties until Baker returns.

Cease Sets Mark In White Sox Win

Things might not be going as expected for the Chicago White Sox, but don’t blame Dylan Cease. By allowing one run over six innings in a 2-1 win over the Texas Rangers, the right-hander set an MLB record with his 13th straight start of surrendering one earned run or less (non-opener category) since ERA became a stat in 1913. While improving to 12-4, Cease lowered his ERA to 1.98. In his last 76 innings, Cease has yielded just five earned runs. Liam Hendriks locked down the win with a perfect ninth for the closer’s 22nd save of the season and 200th of his career. The White Sox (54-52) are now tied for second with the Cleveland Guardians, two games behind the Minnesota Twins.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

Scully Tribute

Remembering Vin Scully and his historic career. Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke recaps the scene in the Dodgers’ 8-1 victory over the Padres.

Mancini, Take 2

If you are surprised that Trey Mancini homered in each of his first two starts with the Houston Astros, don’t be. He did that in his first two MLB starts of his career with the Baltimore Orioles, which makes him the first player in history to do that with each of his first two teams. Mancini hit a solo homer, then added this grand slam for his third blast in two games.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Humberto Castellanos, out since May 31 with a strained right elbow, will have Tommy John surgery. He likely won’t return until 2024.

Right-hander Dinelson Lamet, designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers following the Josh Hader trade with the Padres, was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies. The Brewers wanted to send Lamet to the minors, but Lamet was likely to refuse the assignment due to recently surpassing five years of MLB service time.

Right-handed Austin Adams, a workhorse reliever for the Padres who has pitched in only two games this season, had surgery to repair his right flexor tendon.

Outfielder Travis Jankowski, claimed off waivers from the New York Mets on Monday, was DFA’d by the Seattle Mariners to make room for third baseman Jake Lamb, acquired in a deadline deal from the Dodgers. Jankowski had one at-bat for Seattle. The Mariners also claimed outfielder Derek Hill off waivers from the Detroit Tigers.

New York Yankees minor-league second baseman Derek Dietrich, who has played in eight MLB seasons, has been suspended 50 games after testing positive for a banned stimulant.

Right-hander Luke Bard, DFA’d by the Tampa Bay Rays this week, was claimed by the Yankees and assigned to Triple-A.

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Phillies PA announcer Dan Baker, celebrating 50 years, made a phone call that changed a life — Matt Gelb, The Athletic

Trevor Bauer’s suspension appeal is affecting a well-known actor’s rape trial — Bill Shaikin, L.A. Times

Five things learned from the trade deadline — Jayson Stark, The Athletic

 

Fantasy Baseball Coverage

 

Starting Pitcher Roundup

Hitter Performances

Reliever Ranks

Starting Pitcher Streamers

 

Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)

Steve Drumwright

Steve Drumwright is a lifelong baseball fan who retired as a player before he had the chance to be cut from the freshman team in high school. He recovered to become a sportswriter and have a successful journalism career at newspapers in Wisconsin and California. Follow him on Twitter and Threads @DrummerWrites.

2 responses to “MLB News & Moments You Should Know – Aug. 6”

  1. iiJayBee says:

    “…since ERA became a stat in 2013.” I’m pretty sure ERA has been around more than 9 years.

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