caulfield12

Great, a $13 million backup OF, $18.25 million backup catcher, Giolito, Lynn, Kelly, Hendriks, Leury, Moncada, etc. Brilliant. 4D chess that is.

CHICAGO -- When Nick Pratto stepped to the plate Friday night against the Padres, he was mired in an 0-for-21 slump. He had not had a hit in nearly two weeks, since Aug. 13. In the four games since, including Friday, the rookie first baseman is 8-for-17 with four doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs. The best game yet of Pratto’s young career came Tuesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field, when he went 4-for-5 with two home runs and a double, notching his first MLB multi-homer game and first four-hit game Pratto’s process has been key to his surge, even throughout his slump. That’s what’s been most encouraging for the Royals to see from the 23-year-old. “He had a plan on what he was trying to do, what he was seeing each day that wasn’t working and what he needed to do to make an adjustment,” manager Mike Matheny said. “If he can continue to do that and stay in that positive state of mind when things start heading in a tough direction … I think it leads you to being able to have a night like tonight.” Pratto’s second home run of the game set a new franchise record for rookie home runs in a season with 57. His first home run tied the 1969 club’s 56 rookie home runs ….. “It’s definitely a feeling of confidence, knowing that I can trust the work I’ve done and trust the homework and everything,” said Pratto, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Royals' No. 2 prospect. “Continuing to do that and dominating my process before the game.” anne rogers/mlb.com

His defense is definitely UNREAL…

That Griffey/Mantle was a "combined" two panel card....not the "real" rookie cards. Pujols unavailable. Judge unavailable. The Ohtani and Ichiro ones aren't the famously expensive ones, they're both under $25-30. Best Jeter around $1000. Tatis, lol, $120. I have been buying up the entire US supply of ONeil Cruz rookie cards, lol. Hopefully he'll pull a Hershiser/Benito Santiago cultural moment. Fernando-mania, right? Or at least Mark The Bird Fidrych. Roberto Clemente autographed baseball, individual and not entire Pirates' team signature. Shoeless Joe Jackson autographed "best wishes to Edward postcard" or actually more of an index card. There's another postcard autograph out there with his signature and date across the middle vertically that I didn't buy that was more expensive if you look for one online. Got some weird autographed ones like Jim Nantz, Barry Switzer, Walt Jocketty and Dick Vitale, haha, Aaron Judge and Trae Young. Fisk and Baines, Eric Dickerson, Barry Larkin, Mike Mussina, Jose Altuve, Mike Pepperoni Piazza, Adrian Peterson. Signed "framed pictures" of Stan Musial, Ted Williams, Billy Sims (long story), Frank Thomas, Dick Butkus, Jerry Rice, Tom Watson at the British Open. Late 1950's Al Kaline autographed.

50 something year old Jermaine Dye catches that...

Parkman is back for the non-tender discussion. Maybe they can take Hader for Giolito in a change of scenery trade for both players...Super Pen II, or is it Super Pen III?

PED's for managers? Amphetamines? Slip something in the drink that trips off the sensors in the testing lab?

Lucky he missed this one. DJ and McKnight said he was out there until 430-500, BP time, they did the pregame interview with him or were about to...then he suddenly didn't feel well. Shouldn't be a total surprise because of the disappointing and increasingly embarrassing last two weeks of pitifulness/ineptitude. LR missing tonight's game per fans' wishes

Can take a chance on Miguel Sano for free....doubt he gets tendered next season.

Sign Carlos Quentin.

Said the Guardians and Twins NEVER once this season...hmmm.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401437510 Blown tie https://www.espn.com/mlb/playbyplay/_/gameId/401354473 No blown save due to inherited ghost runner in bottom 10th, 4-3 lead transforms into 6-4 loss, Buxton walked it off Detroit, Cleve twice, Twins twice…3/4 actual blown saves led to losses plus these other two examples

Rodon is the best, lol. Thor? Manaea. Clevinger. deGrom won’t opt out. Wainright won’t leave St. Louis even for TLR. Martin Perez? Quintana? Good luck with that. The options are pretty much abysmal from a Sox standpoint.

Rachel Phelps from Major League might be better…

Miggy, Ichiro, Kershaw, Yadi, Greinke, Ortiz, Scherzer, Chipper Jones Desert Shield, MJ Upper Deck 91 baseball, Jeter, Arod, Griffey/Mantle, Mo Rivera, Adrian Beltre, Piazza, Pujols, Kirby Puckett, Devers, deGrom, Sal Perez, Machado, Harper, Trout, Judge, Verlander, Arenado, Betts, Altuve, G.Cole…Walter Payton rookie

Oneil Cruz hardest hit ball tracked by Statcast by highest exit velocity (mlb.com) Had another one tonight, his 11th. MASHED BASHED TRASHED. Oneil Cruz smashes 11th homer | 08/29/2022 | Pittsburgh Pirates (mlb.com) Has at least the TOP 3 all-time highest exit velocities already in MLB

Roald Dahl?

Madrigal up to .599 OPS, .253 BA.

Too much trust in Northwestern/Kellogg, Michigan Ann Arbor, Harvard Law brand names, lol.

Sounds like a preview of Hahn's offseason press conference before they proceed to add nobody on a contract with a total value of more than $20 million going forward into 2023.

6-2, then the long losing streak. We get to five games over and back in the race about two weeks ago and proceed to go 2-9 and plummeting backwards.

La Russa Expresses Anger After White Sox Get Swept - On Tap Sports Net “I don’t like frustration, discouragement. That’s loser crap,” said the White Sox manager in a very concise and at times terse postgame interview session. “Just seeps energy out of your body. I just get angry and want to do something about it.” “Last 11, I don't know how many it's been, but I know within some of those, we've been right there,” White Sox second baseman Josh Harrison said. “A bounce here or there, a pitch here or there. It's frustrating, because you want to win. We show up every day to win, and it hasn't gone our way. You've got to show up every day. We've had some chances to tie the game up, win the game, [and we’ve] fallen short. “You've got to ride the wave. Ebbs and flows,” Harrison said. “But at the same time, you've got to acknowledge where you are and be realistic, and know that we had a chance to win some of these games. Fell short, but if that doesn't light a fire under somebody, they've got to look in the mirror. I don't think it's a thing where me or anybody else has got to light a fire under anybody.” “Losing is always disappointing,” Cease said. “I think it would be an issue if there wasn’t some anger and some disappointment. We’ve got a lot of professionals in the clubhouse, and we’re not going to let our heads get down or stop fighting. That’s really the biggest thing.” White Sox swept by D-backs at home (mlb.com)

Milwaukee almost never gets taken…classic sell high buy low. White Sox would have the most expensive pen for sure. Then Rodon signed for Giolito? Absolutely have to part ways with Abreu…no choice with all the dead cat contracts.

A Hitchhiker's Guide to the AL Central/Rust Belt