caulfield12

Column: Wrigley Field’s drawing power means the Chicago Cubs need only the illusion of contending https://www.yahoo.com/sports/column-wrigley-field-drawing-power-183000430.html "Marcus Stroman, who is set to earn a nine-figure deal when he opts out of his contract, doesn’t seem to understand why the Cubs might trade him or Cody Bellinger by Aug. 1 if they’re seemingly out of contention. “Everyone is always putting this emphasis on ‘Oh, we need to play good in seven days, 10 days, and then we can be buyers,’” he said Saturday. “But I actually don’t believe in that. This division is wide open, and then if you even look deeper than that, as an organization why would you not want to be competitive for multiple years — year after year after year? “Belli is a guy who changed our lineup. Why would you want him to get away? Why would you want a guy like myself (to get away) who goes out there and gives you quality starts in a league that’s incredibly hard to do?” The answer is simple. The Cubs can replace Stroman and Bellinger with less expensive players, still play at a sub-.500 pace in a bad division and continue to draw just under 34,000 fans. Meanwhile, the hotel the Cubs owners built still can charge more than $2,000 a night for a series against an old rival (Cardinals)."

They desperately need the energy of O'Neil Cruz injected...but at least another month likely before he returns from the broken ankle.

Why not? Of course Lopez succeeding (finally) as a starter would just be around for the course. They should have started stretching him out weeks ago...though...when it became obvious it wasn't in the cards for him to close games out.

https://sports.yahoo.com/chaim-blooms-vision-red-sox-171459232.html Bloom Vision/Red Sox closing in on fourth playoff spot in AL East…Yankees falling into last

compared to any MLB "outfielder" "Based on the opportunities Acuña has seen -- here we're talking his position in the grass, the runner's speed and position, etc. -- an average outfielder would have expected runners to advance 38% of the time. Against Acuña, they only do it 32% of the time. (The other end of that: Chicago’s Gavin Sheets, who has seen similar opportunities, in that the expectation is a 36% advance rate, but has actually seen runners go 43% of the time on him.)" https://www.mlb.com/news/most-valuable-outfielder-throwing-arms-of-2023

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nightengales-notebook-end-road-clayton-104003063.html Reading about Craig Counsell...just goes to how far away from a great manager that Grifol is.

Forgot about Martin...but we know very well expecting much from a TJ recovery first year back is pretty unsound policy. And it's not like Martin was ever a can't miss guy in the first place. He outperformed nearly everyone's pretty minimal expectations.

See Dylan Cease and his yoga/Zen Buddhism...

See Carlos Quentin or Avisail Garcia... Another reason that Aaron Judge deal is so risky on the backend. Same with Trout even....the last 3-5 years, his GP average has been steadily declining.

Probably doesn't even know who he is....like Robert and Charlie Montoyo. Well, unlikely but not completely out of the realm of possibility with that guy.

Reds lost 5/6 to Brewers Fastest-tracked infield assists under Statcast (since 2015): Today, Elly De La Cruz: 97.9 mph July 14, 2022, Oneil Cruz: 97.8 mph Sept. 20, 2020, Fernando Tatis Jr.: 97.3 mph Sept. 18, 2021, Fernando Tatis Jr.: 96.8 mph June 20, 2022, Oneil Cruz: 96.7 mph However, it wasn't De La Cruz's fastest-tracked assist this year. In May for Triple-A Louisville, De La Cruz made a 99.2 mph throw to first base for an out.

Padres: C Ethan Salas (No. 2) Not that Salas matters all that much to the 2023 Padres. They aren’t trading him. He’s not going to impact the big league club anytime soon. But holy smokes, this kid is something else. The top international prospect in the most recent class, Salas went directly to the California League -- at 16 years old. He’s holding his own there, too, posting an .881 OPS with reports of solid defense and game management. Padres scouting director Chris Kemp recently called Salas the best young player he’d ever scouted. That statement looks less and less hyperbolic by the day. mlb.com

You realize Strider's almost at 180 Ks already? That's a Nolan Ryan or Randy Johnson number/pace.

Remillard is the perfect player for Ozzie or Renteria...or the 2014-15 Royals.

Did they stretcher him out so he doesn't have to ride a team bus and reaggravate his back?

Just trade them Jimenez before he gets hurt yet again. No way they pick up some of those more expensive option years.

57 pitches....in a rush to get out of the clubhouse for that steak dinner.

Was about to say don't go out and bet the house on the Sox....two great at bats from Harris and then Acuna down 0-2 battling back.

Not if he puts up 40+ homers and 80+ steals. Unreal. Lynn back to playoff quality opponent woes.

Only thing that can stop Acuna. Uh oh. Getting hit in the face/lip by his chain.

Only the Yankees of 2019 ahead of ATL at 31...homers in 28 consecutive games now.

23rd homer already surrendered? Somehow he's getting Ks at 92-93.

We shouldn't have called out Rosario lol.

Strider with four pitches at 100-101 there. Pitch count way too high to threaten Clemens Wood etc.

Now we have a game. 3-0. Two key hits flares off the end of the bat.