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There may be bad news on the horizon for the Boston Red Sox. Starting pitcher Josh Beckett made an early departure from Tuesday night’s contest against Detroit.

Providence Journal’s Brian MacPherson reported on the situation:

Valentine calling for Mortensen. Beckett will leave with what looks like a lower-back injury.

— Brian MacPherson (@brianmacp) August 1, 2012

UPDATE: Tuesday, July 31, 9:05 p.m. ET by Eric Ball

Information is slowly coming out on the specific reason for Beckett’s early departure and Ian Browne of MLB.com confirms it was back spasms:

Back spasm was reason for Beckett’s exit.

— Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) August 1, 2012

Beckett threw 49 pitches in 2.2 innings while allowing one run before coming out of the game. After mowing down the first eight Detroit Tigers, Beckett surrendered a single, hit a batter and gave up back-to-back walks.

On the final pitch to Miguel Cabrera in the second walk, he motioned for the Sox training staff to come to the mound. The trainer appeared to be focusing on the left side of his lower back before deeming him unable to keep pitching.

No word yet on how severe the injury is and if he’ll make his next scheduled start. 

———End of Update——–

An injury would be disappointing to the Red Sox faithful, but it’s not surprising. Beckett has only cleared the 200 inning threshold three times in his 11-year career, and he’s seemingly always on the disabled list. 

Beckett has been healthy so far this season, but one injury could be the start of an excruciating process. His body is fragile, and with his increasing age, he can’t bounce back like he’d prefer. Any minor strain could potentially lead to time on the injured list.

On paper, Beckett may not seem like a big loss. He’s 5-9 this year with an ERA over 4.50. He’s not the pitcher he once was, and his consistency comes and goes. Sometimes he looks “lights out.” Other times he looks extremely hittable.

Nonetheless, Boston is 23rd in the league in team ERA and 25th in quality starts. As bad as Beckett has been at times, they can’t afford to lose any arms at this crucial point in the season.

Knowing Beckett’s injury-plagued past, this situation is worth keeping an eye on. When we know more about the gravity of Beckett’s injury, so will you.

Stay tuned for more information.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t land any of this year’s most coveted trade chips, but they approached the July 31 deadline with a level head and the necessary poise.

Pittsburgh added four players either at, or prior, to this year’s trade deadline. Check out NBC Sports’ Matthew Pouliot‘s overview of the Pirates new acquisitions:

They certainly got more interesting with Travis Snider in right field and Sanchez replacing Casey McGehee in the first base platoon. Snider hasn’t been quite as much of a disappointment as everyone thinks—he has a .248/.306/.429 line and 31 homers in 835 at-bats—and he’s just 24 years old. Sanchez is a career .298/.390/.488 hitter against lefties. He’s been way off this year, but if the Pirates can get him straightened out, he’ll be a nice part-timer. Again, I’m not sold on the moves—Brad Lincoln was looking pretty good since a switch to the pen—but factor in the Wandy Rodriguez pickup last week and they belong in the winners category.

The only move he doesn’t touch on involves the Pirates flipping McGehee to the Yankees for Chad Qualls. Qualls has been designated for assignment once this year, and he probably would have fallen victim to the same fate in New York. He is carrying a 4.89 ERA into PNC Park, but his career ERA (3.84) suggests a possible turnaround. 

None of these moves jump off of the page and shake you. None of these players are “star” players, and the Pirates didn’t improve exponentially, but each player provides stability to the Pirate roster.

Adding Snider allows Pittsburgh to move Alex Presley to a permanent bench role. This makes the Pirates’ lineup more versatile and adds more power to their home run-happy batting order.

Snider hasn’t proven himself this year. He’s hitting .250 with three home runs and eight RBI in 10 major-league games this season, but the potential is definitely there. His Triple-A numbers are excellent (.335, 13 home runs and 57 RBI in 61 games), and he gives the Pirates another piece for their future nucleus (under team control until 2016).

Sanchez doesn’t provide the same potential, but he is coming off two very solid seasons. He has the potential to hit 20 home runs, and he could flourish in a platoon role with Garrett Jones at first base. They only had to give up speed merchant and defensive outfielder Gorkys Hernandez who was no longer a valuable piece on the bench.

Qualls and Rodriguez both add stability to the stable of Pittsburgh’s overachieving arms. I mentioned Qualls’ struggles this season, but he’s a solid middle-innings option on a young squad. Rodriguez is an above-average lefty, and those don’t grow on trees.

Some Pittsburgh fans may groan at the thought of these moves. The Pirates didn’t make the big splash that everyone was hoping for, but they got the job done without sacrificing anything important for the future.

For this particular organization, that’s what’s important. They’ve worked too hard to get their farm system back to respectable status, and they’ve spent too much time developing their current nucleus, to blow it up in one year.

Small market clubs can’t throw dollars and prospects around like it’s nothing. Each move has to be calculated, and the future always has to be considered. 

Pittsburgh did an excellent job of making the moves necessary to continue their playoff run this year without diminishing their future plans. In Snider’s case, they actually added a potentially valuable piece.

Expect Pittsburgh’s new players to keep them in the thick of this year’s pennant race. They got stronger in important areas, and the added energy will give them the momentum they need down the stretch.

Neil Huntingdon was in unprecedented territory for any Pirate general manager in recent memory, but he showed an acuity that comes with experience.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Andrew McCutchen has been announced as Giancarlo Stanton’s replacement for the Home Run Derby just hours after Bryce Harper was named (h/t Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post) as Stanton’s replacement for the All-Star Game itself.

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced the news via their official Twitter account:

. @thecutch22 replaces Giancarlo Stanton in the MLB Home Run derby Monday night.

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 8, 2012

McCutchen has led a resurgence in the Steel City so far this season. He’s a top contender for the National League MVP award at this point because of his legitimate five-tool talents. He’s hitting .359 with 16 home runs and 56 RBI this far.

He isn’t your traditional Home Run Derby participant. He doesn’t have towering power, but his production has increased gradually over his career. He hit 12 home runs as a rookie in 2009, 16 in 2010 and 23 last season. Given that he already has 16 bombs this year you have to imagine he will clear his total from the 2011 campaign.

Fans outside of Pittsburgh may wrinkle their nose at McCutchen as a derby participant, but they shouldn’t. He is one of baseball’s rising stars, and this year’s production, coupled with the Pirates play, has vaulted him to superstar status.

When you look at McCutchen you don’t see a menacing hitter with prodigious power potential. You see an excellent all-around hitter who has home run capabilities but isn’t a consistent threat to go yard.

Don’t let McCutchen’s 5’10”, 185-pound frame fool you. He has one of the quickest bats in the league, and his bat speed gives him a chance to compete Monday night. He has an easily repeatable swing because of his discipline and rhythmic approach.

Stanton was a “sexy” pick to win this year because of his propensity for towering shots. His power has been well-documented since his days in the Marlins farm system.

McCutchen doesn’t bring that same reputation to the table, but his presence will be exciting. He’s the face of the up-and-coming Pirates franchise and one of baseball’s brightest young stars.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby is the best All-Star event in the sporting world.

There’s no other way to put it.

The long-ball extravaganza trumps the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Contest and Skills Challenge, and it’s certainly better than the contests the NHL has to offer.

This year’s ball-mashing blitz won’t disappoint. The American League and National League both bring quality sluggers to the table. All eight competitors are capable of setting off fireworks with each swing of the bat.

The challenges which take place on the All-Star weekends of other sports are exciting, but they just don’t quite measure up.

Let’s see why.

Most Difficult

I’m not saying that hitting a slap shot at 100-plus MPH is easy, but hitting a baseball is harder. Derby pitches may be coming much slower than normal, but you still have to square up a ball with a nine-inch circumference.

The same goes for dunking a basketball. Obviously it isn’t easy, but there are fewer factors to affect the outcome.

Baseball pitches, whether fast or slow, are difficult to hit. The slightest gust of wind can alter their paths, and a fraction of an inch can impact how far the ball will travel off the bat.

The batter has no control over the wind. He has no control over where his handpicked pitcher places the ball.

He just swings his bat in a repeatable manner and hopes his technique works.

The Home Run Derby doesn’t incorporate basketball’s creativity or hockey’s unique skill (skating), but it involves the most difficult skill in sports (hitting a baseball).

For that reason alone, it’s the best All-Star event in sports.

I don’t want to see All-Stars do things I know they can do. I know NBA players, if they are 5’8” or bigger, can dunk. It doesn’t have the same impact. On the other hand, baseball players, no matter how skilled, have to repeat a swing with many moving parts. It’s a technical issue, and those things are never easy to mimic on a regular basis.

Hitting a home run in game action is one thing, but the Derby’s marathon pace makes it more difficult in many ways.

No Judging

The NHL’s fastest-shot contest falls into this category as well, but it’s the only one that’s even comparable. I’m going to compare the Home Run Derby to the NBA Dunk Contest again for the most part, only because it’s the other most prominent All-Star event.

You can’t judge a home run. It’s impossible. I suppose you could judge “dingers” by the feet they travel, but a home run is a home run.

That’s not the case in the NBA Dunk Contest. A panel of judges is needed to appraise the value of each contestant’s performance.

That taints the event, at least for me.

Like I said, the NHL almost compares. A 100 MPH slap shot is a 100 MPH slap shot, but the Homer Run Derby has no quantitative justification for anything.

The ball either clears the wall, or it doesn’t. The number of feet (or miles per hour) don’t matter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Manny Ramirez has descended baseball’s ranks.

Since his release from the Red Sox in 2008, Ramirez has gone from feared slugger to a selfish waste of roster space.

The 12-time All Star was once one of baseball’s most intimidating presences at the dish. He had a flawless swing, ineffable approach and incredible raw ability.

There wasn’t a pitch Ramirez didn’t like, and there wasn’t an offering he couldn’t punish.

Now, Ramirez is worse than a washed-up veteran. On top of that, he is selfish, greedy and his usual lazy self. 

I’ll preface this by saying I am a long-time Ramirez supporter. I forgave him for his unforgivable baserunning errors on the 1997 Cleveland Indians, and I overlooked his unforgettable cut-off of Johnny Damon’s relay throw from left-center field of Fenway Park. 

Ramirez’s talent allowed for such oversights. Now, the nine-time Silver Slugger winner’s talent pales in comparison to his off-field atrocities. 

Any team thinking about approaching Ramirez in insane. It’s as simple as that. There’s nothing he could possibly offer any squad. 

He is a veteran lacking leadership and a hitter who’s lost a step. 

Besides leadership and a few timely hits, what could a player his age have to offer?

The answer is nothing. 

Ideally, the headline of this article provided obvious insight into the state of Ramirez’s career. If it didn’t, you are still living in the mid-1990s or early 2000s. 

Last year, Ramirez played for the Tampa Bay Rays. He went 1-17 at the plate, and fell way short of any one-year expectations riding on his $2.02 million deal. 

This year, he had 14 RBI in Triple A Sacramento, but Oakland couldn’t guarantee his promotion.

He obviously wants to make it back to the major leagues, but what value remains?

Is he a real piece for a contender, or is he a sideshow who’s sole use is ticket sales?

I vote for the latter.

Ramirez has always been tagged as a lazy, selfish player who’s lone intent relies upon personal gain and achievements. He hasn’t changed, and teams do not need his presence polluting their clubhouse.

Maybe Ramirez can find his stroke for a pennant race. Maybe he will put his self-absorbed leanings aside and help a team come together at the same time.

For anyone thinking this, I have one question. 

Have you watched Ramirez play? That just isn’t him. 

He is one of the best right-handed hitters to ever take a hack at the major league level. He is a lot of other things as well. 

But Ramirez will never be selfless, and he will never be a leader. Outside of prodigious ability, why else would any team pick up a 40-year-old outfielder who literally can’t, and won’t, play defense?

They shouldn’t, and I hope they wouldn’t. 

Baseball fans have heard “it’s just Manny being Manny” countless times. When he delivered at the plate with ruthless authority, that was fine. 

But now, Ramirez should be swathed in yellow caution tape as he toils in baseball purgatory.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Texas Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan does not expect a new contract for Josh Hamilton by the end of this season, according to ESPN.com.

The Rangers do not expect to approach a new deal for the 31-year-old Hamilton until late November or December, according to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com.

When asked about Hamilton’s willingness to stay in Texas, Ryan had this to say:

It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen with Josh. Things will have to play out. I truly think he would like to stay in Arlington, the Metroplex and be a member of the Texas Rangers. I think he’s very comfortable and his family is very comfortable. We are certainly in hopes that we’ll able to work a deal out with him. But I think [Hamilton and his agent] had the mindset they’ll go through the season and see what happens and see what the market is for Josh Hamilton. It’s hard to make any kind of prediction where that will go. I think it’s probably pretty much where we are.

The Rangers would certainly love to have Hamilton swinging in Arlington for a long, long time. He is one of the league’s true 5-tool players.

Let’s see why Ryan and Rangers management were smart to table contract negotiations until the 2012 season is over.

Team Distraction

The Rangers will likely be in the thick of a hotly contested AL West pennant race this summer, making Hamilton’s contract a blip on the radar. 

Hamilton, as a leader, should understand this.

The Rangers do not need anything distracting their players from the task at hand. A pennant race demands team chemistry, and top performances from your team’s top talents.

Hamilton’s contract would distract from all of these things.

Discussing a contract requires time, energy and focus that could be better spent on the field, improving your team’s World Series chances. Selflessness is required sometimes to take the next step as a professional franchise.

The Rangers front office is smart to put Hamilton’s contract away and make sure no one is bigger than the team itself.

Triple Crown Season

Hamilton currently has 18 home runs, 45 RBI and an .826 slugging percentage—all of these lead the major leagues.

Hamilton is also hitting an American League best .399 with the second-best AL hit total (55).

Needless to say, Hamilton is having an OK season. Granted, it is early, but Hamilton is hitting the ball with reckless abandon.

Whenever a player enjoys a torrid start like this, Triple Crown whispers spread like wildfire.

The Rangers and Hamilton do not need to distract him from his superhuman pace. He is in the zone, nearly impossible to keep off the bases and not looking to slow down anytime soon.

Hamilton’s focus needs to be on each at-bat and each ball hit his way, not on his bank account. He appears focused on the field, and claims to be off the field:

I wouldn’t be worried about free agency [because] I’m going to concentrate on the Rangers and play baseball for this year and that’s what I’m doing. I’m praying a lot about it; God will show up whether I’ll be here or somewhere else. It’s not about where I want to be — it’s where he wants me to be.

The Rangers need to make sure Hamilton’s attitude stays this way. He is going to get paid one way or the other. Whether it be with the Rangers next year or another high-budget club, Hamilton is going to get his money.

For now, he needs to focus on the Rangers’ American League pennant chances and his blistering pace at the plate.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Josh Hamilton is playing baseball like people used to play Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball on Nintendo 64. Hamilton is hitting .400 with 18 home runs and 44 RBI through 34 games this season.

No, you are not reading that wrong. Hamilton is throttling opposing pitchers on a nightly basis. He is focused, confident and extremely talented. Hamilton’s mind-blowing pace has him chasing an honor only fourteen players in baseball history have ever grabbed: the Major League Triple Crown.

Hamilton has been one of baseball’s best hitters for the past three years, but his health has been an issue. If Hamilton can stay healthy, he is a legitimate contender to snag baseball’s most coveted honor.

Hamilton’s Triple Crown chances hinge on his success and everyone else’s. He will need to stay healthy and perform at an extremely high level if he wants to claim this elusive honor.

Let’s take a look at Hamilton’s batting average, home runs and RBI. Then, we will see why Hamilton has a very real chance at the 2012 triple crown.

Batting Average

Hamilton’s torrid pace has resulted in a .400 average. He will not maintain this ridiculous average all season, and in all likelihood he will not need too.

The only player close to Hamilton’s absurd average is David Wright. Wright is hitting .398. Behind Wright’s mark are Derek Jeter’s .367, Rafael Furcal’s .359 and Matt Kemp’s .359 average. None of these players, outside of possibly Kemp, are talented enough to maintain their scorching pace.

Even Kemp, one of baseball’s true five-tool players, is not notorious for his contact hitting.

The AL West is a pitcher-friendly division with plenty of good pitchers available. Hamilton will be tested, and will cool off at some point, but has a very real shot at maintaining a .340-.350 average.

If he can do that, he will be right in the mix.

Home Runs

Hamilton’s 18 home runs are five ahead of the next closest mark so far this season. Carlos Beltran has 13. Adam Dunn, Curtis Granderson and Matt Kemp all have 12.

Hamilton’s four home run performance against the Orioles on May 8th was a huge part of his current long-ball total. However, he has legitimate 40-50 home run power because of his quick wrists, bat speed and fluid hips.

Hamilton gets his bat through the zone with precise accuracy and lightning-quick speed. he knows how to keep the barrel level all the way through the zone and reaches many good pitches. This makes him difficult to pitch around, or overpower, even for baseball’s best pitchers.

If Hamilton stays healthy, his home run total will not slow down. He has a flawless stroke, and could chase Barry Bonds’ single-season record, if he plays enough games.

Again, outside of Kemp’s 12 homers, no one should chase Hamilton in this department. Dunn has a ton of raw power, but is inconsistent. Beltran and Granderson are powerful, but not that powerful.

RBI

Hamilton’s 44 RBI lead baseball. This comes down to timely hitting and a potent supporting cast of players in the Ranger lineup.

Currently, no player is within 10 RBI of Hamilton’s current mark. Andre Ethier has 33 RBI. Carlos Beltran has 32, and Miguel Cabrera has 31.

Hamilton will benefit from the Rangers‘ lethal combination of hitters all season. He is just one of nine players hitting .270 or above, and powerful first baseman Mike Napoli is not one of those.

The Rangers will play meaningful baseball all season. Hamilton will have ample opportunities to deliver big hits and produce more runs for the Rangers offense.

Ethier has only had 100 RBI once in his career, and that was three years ago. Beltran’s scorching start will slow down some. Cabrera is the largest threat to Hamilton’s hopes of leading baseball in RBI.

What Does This Mean?

Right now, none of this really means anything. Major League Baseball’s 162-game season is a marathon of epic proportions. A hot 34-game stretch does not mean anything in the long run.

However, Hamilton is talented, and in a perfect situation to make a Triple Crown happen. He will get offensive support all season and hits in a hitter-friendly park.

Hamilton’s health is the biggest question mark moving forward. There is nothing, and no one, Hamilton is not capable of hitting, but he must stay on the field to do it.

All initial signs scream Triple Crown for Hamilton. Now he just has to make it happen.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The MLB season will see several young players blossom into stars.

Young players will cause below-average teams to look forward to their futures and make veterans expendable on current contenders.

These four players will stand above the rest of baseball’s blue-chip talents:

Eric Hosmer, 1B, Kansas City Royals

Hosmer will eventually be the best first baseman in baseball. That will not happen this year, but he will show he is destined for stardom.

Hosmer hits for average and power. He shows great patience at the place and will continue to develop as he sees more pitches.

Defensively, Hosmer is elite. He has excellent range and instincts.

The Royals have one of the best young crops of players in baseball. Hosmer is the centerpiece and should be coveted by fantasy baseball owners. 

He will eventually hit between 30 and 40 home runs and knock in 100 runs while hitting above .300.

Desmond Jennings, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

Jennings will make Rays fans forget Carl Crawford sooner rather than later.

Jennings has incredible speed and a solid all-around game at the dish. He lacks huge power but sprays the ball to all fields. His best asset is his speed because of his gap power.

Crawford is a bigger name at this point, but Jennings is cut from the same cloth. He will lead the Rays for years to come.

Fantasy owners will love Jennings’ speed. He will swipe at least 40 bases a year.

If Jennings develops more power, he will be a can’t-miss fantasy player. His speed and contact combination will make owners drool either way.

Matt Moore, P, Tampa Bay Rays

Moore will win a Cy Young in his career. He is among the premier left-handers in baseball, and he is just a rookie.

Moore’s power stuff from the left side is unparalleled. He throws in the high-90s and has a sharp, biting slider. If he develops his changeup, he will be unhittable.

The Rays boast one of the best young pitching staffs in the game today. Moore will be the staff ace once he polishes his dominant repertoire.

Moore became a pitcher instead of just a thrower over the course of his minor league career.

Fantasy owners need to jump on Moore now. He is a dream scenario for anyone controlling a keeper league team.

Dustin Ackley, 2B, Seattle Mariners

Ackley has excellent bat control and makes great contact at the plate because of it. The Mariners will be very happy with what he becomes and so will fantasy owners.

Defensively, Ackley is still developing his handle as a second baseman. He may never be an elite defensive player, but he will hit well enough to make fans forget any shortcomings.

Ackley just flat-out understands how to hit. He squares up the ball and can hit to any part of the field.

He has enough speed to hurt teams on balls in the gap, but not enough to steal a ton of bases.

Fantasy owners can expect Ackley to hit well over. 300, with 15-20 home runs. He will be a very capable option at the top of the Mariners’ order for a long time.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Neil Walker. Jose Tabata. Pedro Alvarez.

Three names Pittsburgh Pirates fans have probably been familiar with for the years leading up to their major league debuts in 2010. 

Whether it has been through trade or by evaluating talent and drafting the appropriate player, the Pirates have amassed some talent once again in their farm system. 

While some prospects are multiple years away from making an impact at the major-league level; others are primed to make their names known to the fans at PNC Park and around the city of Pittsburgh.

The prospects will not emerge as stars from day one, but they will find their niches on a struggling Pirates franchise. Combine the young nucleus that has leaked its way onto the Pirates opening day roster, with these five talented minor leaguers, and there may be a light at the end of the tunnel for Pirates players, management and faithful.

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Yes, the word optimism and the Pittsburgh Pirates does not ordinarily fit into the same sentence, but their are a few reasons for the city of Pittsburgh to look for the light at the end of an 18-year-long tunnel.

The Pirates are coming off a 105 loss season, but with the additions of some veteran players and the continued development of the young players in the current lineup, the Pirates could be better this season. 

I am not saying the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to win the NL Central and make a Tampa Bay Rays-like run to the World Series, but with the right mentality, timely call-ups, and an acquisition or two, the 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates could be the group that get the infamous monkey off the organizations’ back.

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