While Winston-Salem had to say goodbye to Eloy Jiménez after just a few games, the Dash will get another boost this week, because. Luis Robert is cleared to start his rehab assignment in Winston-Salem on Wednesday.
High-A seems like a reasonable assignment, but the schedule might’ve determined it anyway, as the Dash are the only full-season affiliate that is playing a home series during the next week.
Robert says he thinks he feels fine, but testing his hip in games is the only way he can put it the apprehension past him.
“I’ve felt pretty good for the last two weeks,” Robert, announced Monday to be heading out on a rehab assignment with Class A Winston-Salem later this week, said through team interpreter Billy Russo. “At first, I was a little concerned or afraid because I wasn’t sure if I was going to be at full speed. But then I started feeling more comfortable, more secure about the leg, and right now I feel pretty good.
“I think the last test is going to be when I start a real game. That’s when I’m going to see if the fear is there or not. Right now, I’m just waiting for that game on Wednesday and see what happens and how it goes. Once I play there, I can tell you how the fear factor is.”
ACL Reds 7, ACL White Sox 1
- Elijjah Tatis went 1-for-4 with a K.
- Logan Glass wore the collar and silver sombrero.
- Jefferson Mendoza was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Anthony Espinoza went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Benyamin Bailey was 0-for-1 in a pinch-hitting appearance.
- Cristian Mena: 5 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 3 HR
DSL White Sox 4, DSL Reds 1 (8 innings)
- Dario Borrero went 1-for-3, and 1-for-2 on the basepaths.
- Alberto Bernal struck out as a pinch hitter.
- Randel Mondesi singled and struck out twice.
- Carlos Hinestroza: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
(Photo by David Banks/USA TODAY Sports)
When Eloy and Robert come back, who goes down? They are all performing! I’m going to assume Burger and Sheets, though Sheets lefty bat sure is nice.
I think they will have to decide whether it makes sense to keep Billy Hamilton. I’m not sure that guy has value if Robert and Engel are healthy. I guess if they want a speed guy off the bench in the playoffs he may have value.
I just want to see the Hamilton-Robert-Engel defensive alignment once
It would be like throwing a net in the outfield
Honestly? I think I’d rather keep Billy over Goodwin in this scenario. You know Tony is going to want to sub defense in for Vaughn/Jimenez late in close games.
I went through this exercise yesterday (including Lamb, who’s also on rehab), and came up with that there’s unfortunately no room for: Burger, Hamilton, and Lamb for me (I chose Sheets over him). They may choose Lamb over Sheets. To make it simple, assume Vaughn/Jimenez for LF/DH and Goodwin for RF, so with 13 guys my bench 4 are: Engel (to platoon with Goodwin), Sheets, backup C, and Mendick. It’s unfortunate that none of: Burger, Lamb, or Hamilton can play the middle infield (doubt they liked Burger at 2B), because it leads to having to keep Mendick on the roster. Adding a 2B helps the team, but doesn’t help make room for any of the 3 above, as it just means Leury replaces Mendick as the backup infielder. There are going to be useful players that they don’t have room for. I guess that’s a much better problem to have than usual.
I could see it play out this way. And yes, one of those good problems to have.
I think they’ll keep Hamilton around somehow. Maybe demote Sheets if he starts to struggle. Maybe Engel will get another IL stint if he continues to be unable to play two days in a row.
I don’t think they’ll be releasing anyone else this year, and there’s really no reason to. Send down Burger and Sheets for a few weeks, or keep playing the injury or “injury” shuffle and give a few guys 10 days off to rest.
In a season with so many injuries leaguewide, it really makes sense to try to hang onto anyone useful
For a split second, that picture made me think Robert had re-injured himself. Wheeeww, glad to see him back.
I noticed Naylor was helping him up. It wasn’t long after Naylor suffered a catastrophic injury himself.
I think roster decisions will be made with both eyes on flexibility. If that means sending Burger or Sheets down so they don’t risk jettisoning Lamb or Hamilton or whomever from the system, I think that’s what they’ll do. Later I think roster decisions will be based on fielding the most useful 26-man roster for the playoffs. For now, I think they’ll keep as many options as possible open.
Yes. And if Burger and Sheets are potential trading chips, they have already shown their value.
Yeah, this is smart, and probably why they will choose Lamb over Sheets for now, unlike my choice above. However, if all stay healthy, they will have to get rid of someone when Robert is ready (Burger and Sheets for Eloy and Lamb, but then need to drop someone for Robert, possibly Hamilton).
These are first-world problems, like having more vaccine doses than people willing to get them. It’s different being a first-world team for a change. I kind of like it.
One thing to consider, they might send down a reliever if they are going to prioritize giving Eloy and Robert frequent days off. Given their lead over Cleveland, I wouldn’t hate it if they treated them with kid gloves until the postseason.
And it not like the backend of the bullpen is providing a ton of value
Might Lopez provide them the flexibility to do this? He hasn’t embarrassed himself yet, and he can work multiple innings.
Sending down Sheets and Burger would bulk up prospects list….
Slightly off topic, but while there seems to be unanimity in the opinion that the WS need a lock down set up reliever, haven’t seen much in terms of names we should be pursuing. Paul Sullivan in the Trib suggested Kimbrel from the Cubs, but that seems unlikely.
When was the last time Sullivan suggested a trade from someone outside of the 312 area code?