What do Trevor Story, Bo Jackson and eight others have in common?
Colorado shortstop Trevor Story is the 10th rookie since 1986 to have at least 18 homers before the All-Star break. The others: Jose Canseco, Wally Joyner, Bo Jackson, Mark McGwire, Mike Piazza, Albert Pujols, George Springer, Jose Abreu and Joc Pederson…. All eight runs in Monday’s Colorado Rockies-Miami Marlins game came via solo home run. It’s the most solo homers in a game in which the homers accounted for all the runs…. Nancy Seaver, the wife of Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, is upset that the New York Mets don’t have a statue of Tom outside their stadium. “It’s ridiculous. I’m embarrassed for the Mets, I really am,” she told the New York Daily News…. With the team challenging for a postseason berth, the Marlins are interested in trading for Tampa Bay starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi or San Diego starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz…. Alex Rodriguez to reporters this week on the decline of baseball’s popularity: “When I grew up, baseball was the No. 1 sport. I’m making a prediction that in the next five, 10 years we’re going to become No. 1 again.” … Oakland outfielder Andrew Lambo, who has divided time between the minors and majors the last few seasons, has left the team to deal with testicular cancer…. Arizona’s Brad Ziegler blew a save on Thursday, ending his streak of 43 consecutive saves…. Where will shortstop Jose Reyes end up when he clears waivers over the weekend? The leading candidate appears to be a reunion with the Mets, where he had his greatest success…. The Pittsburgh Pirates are struggling, but General Manager Neal Huntington told reporters he has no interest in trading either Andrew McCutchen or Gerrit Cole, so pay no attention to those rumors…. Minnesota closer Glen Perkins will miss the rest of the season because of a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Perkins appeared in only two games this season…. The 10 best players in the majors this season, according to baseball-reference.com’s “wins above replacement” stat: Clayton Kershaw, the Chicago Cubs’ Jake Arrieta, Toronto’s Josh Donaldson, Mike Trout, Houston’s Jose Altuve, Colorado’s Nolan Arenado, Boston’s Xander Bogaerts, Baltimore’s Manny Machado, the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard and Cleveland’s Danny Salazar. The worst player? Texas’ Prince Fielder.
MLB series of the week
New York Met at Washington Nationals
Monday through Wednesday
In a move more suited for September than late June, the fading Mets, in desperate need of an offensive boost, shuffled the rotation so Noah Syndergaard, who is 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals, will open series instead of Bartolo Colon.
Top tweets of the week
“Are we just here to suffer?”
--@DeepShoemaker, parody account of Matt Shoemaker, after Angels right-hander, who is 1-3 despite 2.09 ERA, 62 strikeouts, four walks in 51 2/3 innings of last seven starts, threw brilliantly again in 3-2 loss at Houston Wednesday.
“Michael Taylor might have just had the worst baseball game I’ve ever seen.”
--Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsblog), Washington Post columnist, after Nationals center fielder struck out five times and committed three-base error that allowed Dodgers to score tying and winning runs in ninth inning Wednesday.
“Dear Angels, thanks for sending Matt Thaiss to us. Sincerely, the Owls.”
--@OremOwls, official Twitter account of team’s Utah-based rookie-league affiliate, after recently signed first-round pick Matt Thaiss doubled twice and hit game-winning homer in professional debut Tuesday.
“Disappointed that for the umpteenth consecutive year, no baseball writers made ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue.”
--Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick), espn.com baseball writer.
Follow Houston Mitchell on Twitter @latimeshouston
