Author: scott

By Ron Kaplan, contributor The Toronto  Blue Jays (18-14) and host Cleveland Indians played a wild doubleheader yesterday. The Jays won the opener, 13-11, in 14 innings, scoring four times in the last frame. The Indians came up just short, putting two over in their last ups. In the nightcap, though, the Indians prevailed in…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Kevin Pillar had one-third of the Toronto Blue Jays’ offense Wednesday, going 2-for-3 with a walk in a 4-0 loss to the host Minnesota Twins. It’s been a long time since we were treated to a defensive highlight from Pillar, so here you go: You just have to hope he didn’t hurt…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Kevin Pillar had two more doubles — he is second in the A.L. with 12 — a sacrifice fly, and a run scored as the Toronto Blue Jays (17-12) beat the host Minnesota Twins, 7-4, in 10 innings. His latest two-bagger led off the final inning. He immediately stole third base and scored…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Ryan Braun was 1-for-3 with two walks and his fourth stolen base as the Milwaukee Brewers (17-13) edged the host Cincinnati Reds, 6-5. Braun scored the game-tying run in the seventh. Here are his stats through the first two months of the 2018 season: Braun: March/April stats Games PA AB R H…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor MOT of the weekend honors goes to Kevin Pillar of the Toronto Blue Jays  (15-12, third place, AL East), who had another great series. On Friday, he doubled (#9) and tripled (#1) in four at-bats, driving in a run in a 6-4 loss. The next day he hit two solo homers…

By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your minor-league highlights from the week of April 23-29, 2018: Jewish Baseball News Hitter of the Week: None No standout performances worth noting last week. Jewish Baseball News Pitcher of the Week: Robert Stock P Robert Stock (Padres/AA) had 2 perfect relief appearances, yielding no hits or walks across…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Danny Valencia — batting seventh and playing third base — was 2-for-4 and hit his third home run, but the Baltimore Orioles (6-19) lost to the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, 9-5. Richard Bleier did not appear for the O’s. Kevin Pillar walked, doubled, and had a sacrifice fly in four plate appearances as the Toronto Blue Jays…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Jew vs. Jew: Alex Bregman had a bases-clearing double (see video below) in the fourth inning to give the Houston Astros (17-9) a 3-0 lead and all the runs they would need in a 5-2 win over the visiting LA Angels (16-9). Ian Kinsler was 0-for-4 in the losing cause. Ryan Braun shows signs of…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor In another meeting of MOTs, Ian Kinsler was 1-for-3 for the LA Angels (16-8), who edged out the host Houston Astros, 8-7. Kinsler also walked twice and scored two runs, including the one that tied the game at 5-5 in the seventh when the Angels scored four times for an 8-5 lead….

By Ron Kaplan, contributor In a meeting of MOTs on first-place teams. Ian Kinsler was 0-for-4 for the LA Angels (15-8), who beat the host Houston Astros, 2-0. Alex Bregman was 0-for-3 with a walk for the ‘Stros (16-8), ending his brief (five-game) hitting streak. Richard Bleier — one of the few bright spots for a dismal franchise — tossed…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Alex Bregman gets MOT of the Weekend honors. He had six hits in 13 at-bats plus two walks. Bregman had one double, scored twice, and drove in a pair as the Houston Astros (16-7, first in the AL West) swept the host Chicago White Sox — outscoring their opponents 27-2 — and extended their…

By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your minor-league highlights from the week of April 16-22, 2018: Jewish Baseball News Hitter of the Week: Zach Borenstein OF Zach Borenstein* (Mets/AAA) is making a strong case for a call-up this season. Last week, he hit .348 (8-for-23) with a home run, 5 doubles and 6 walks. For…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Ryan Braun is nursing a sore calf and so did not start for the Milwaukee Brewers (11-9), but he did deliver a pinch-hit, three-run home run in the sixth, part of the seven runs the Brew Crew put up in the frame (so he didn’t have to run very hard). It…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Danny Valencia, serving as the DH and batting fifth, drilled his second home run of the season, a solo shot in the second. But his Baltimore Orioles (5-13) lost again to the host Detroit Tigers, this time on a walk-off home run by Dixon Machado (his first of the year). Richard Bleier lowered…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor The Toronto Blue Jays (11-5, second in AL East) swept their doubleheader against the visiting Kansas City Royals, 11-3 and 5-4, the latter game taking 10 innings. In the opener — with both teams wearing uniform number ’42’ since they were rained out of the festivities on Jackie Robinson Day on…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Alex Bregman was 0-for-4 as the Houston Astros (10-7) dropped a tough one to the host Seattle Mariners, 2-1. Joc Pederson walked as a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning for the LA Dodgers (6-9) in their 10-4 win over the host San Diego Padres. He remained in the game and went 0-for-1 with…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor It’s always a dilemma when a Member of the Tribe plays against my Mets. On the one hand, I want him to do well. On the other hand, I want the Mets to win. I got the best of both worlds on Friday when Ryan Braun hit one out (see video), but his…

By Scott Barancik, Editor Welcome to the first edition of Minor-League Monday for the 2018 season. Here are your highlights from April 5–15, 2018: Jewish Baseball News Hitter of the Week: Cody Decker 1B Cody Decker* (Diamondbacks/AAA) began the season in Double-A but was wisely promoted. In 26 at-bats at the Triple-A level, he hit .269 with…

By Ron Kaplan, contributor Ian Kinsler returned to action in style as the LA Angels (11-3) defeated the host Kansas City Royals, 7-1. Kinsler — who had been on the disabled list with a pulled groin — launched the second pitch he saw into the stands for a lead-off home run, the 47th of his career…