For a team expecting to play a playday in the postseason, it performed at its worst on Saturday.
Auckland announced that one of its top players, two-time Platinum Glove winner Matt Chapman, will miss the rest of the season after hip surgery, scheduled for Monday.
“It’s a big injury but they have a scrappy team that always comes together and plays hard and finds a way to win,” an American League scout said on Saturday. “It’s a big blow – but if someone can handle it, they can.”
Chapman met with renowned hip specialist Dr. Mark looked at the Philippines. Philip has had strong success with hip surgery, with most athletes returning to full strength, including Oakland outfielder Mark Kenha. Philip also repaired Buster Posey’s hip improvisation and torn lumbar spine, but Posey, the catcher, is having more difficulty regaining his previous form.
Chapman was batting .232 with 10 homers and 25 RBIs in 37 games, but hit .20 with 7 home runs from last Gust 7-23 and 18 RBI with 17 strikeouts in his last eight games after starting the .303 mark. He was 0-for-11 with 10 strikeouts in the San Diego series last week before leaving the game after the fourth inning, when he felt discomfort in the hip while making the game on the ground.
Auckland played a doubleheader at Houston on August 29 and then the team was on leave for five days, including two in quarantine, after testing positive COVID-19 in the team before the season resumed on September 4 against Pedres.
Playing seven games in Saturday’s doubleheader at Texas, the current A.L. Leads the West.
“That cushion is helpful because they won’t panic if they go into a little slide. “It’s a period of adjustment, but it will take this team less time than the other team, as they are very accustomed to moving people around. Bob Melvin can handle it – he’s a manager who knows how to fix problems. “
Team Chapman I.L. Outfielder Seth Brown was called back from the accompanying taxi crew. With Chapman out, A is likely to use Tommy La Stella, Vimel Machin and Chad Pinder on a third base. Sheldon News, the team’s alternate venue in San Jose, could also be an option at some point.
Another AL scout said they would somehow make way for this. “They’re always resilient.”
An NL scout said losing to Chapman is big, but I believe he still has as good a chance as any AL team. “There’s no clear front-runner, and whatever team he gets hot on will boil over.”
Chapman, 27, was an All-Star last season and has fought 8.3 fights in each of the past two years. Since his arrival in mid-June 2017, he has been a key figure in defensive defense, with 82, according to Fangrafs, six more than the Angels shortstop and Andrelton Simmons and 32 more than the third baseman on the list, Nolan Arena of Chapman’s former high school team.
Susan Sluser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] Twitter: susanslusser
