although i guess the NL Central winner will have the benefit of playing the NL East winner (most likely), while the wild card survival champion will have to play the Dodgers in round 1
― Z S - Amazon FC Ambassador (Karl Malone), Friday, 16 August 2019 14:53 (four years ago) link
pretty ugly exposé of turmoil in the pirate clubhouse today in the athletic. imo they should go hire mike matheny -- it would really help me jettison all fondness for the team
― mookieproof, Saturday, 17 August 2019 00:17 (four years ago) link
Let’s slow things down here, you don’t understand what you’re saying
― Karl Malone, Saturday, 17 August 2019 00:42 (four years ago) link
as the millennials say, step on my throat mike matheny
― mookieproof, Saturday, 17 August 2019 02:44 (four years ago) link
Well the Reds pretty much did what deep down I figured would happen sliding back. They have had a few starters get totally pounded in the last week.
Got to figure whoever was on the spot and picked up Aquino in their fantasy leagues are doing great in the playoff hunt. Anyone mashing 10 HRs in 16 games helps in that arena, but impressive to start in the bigs.
― earlnash, Saturday, 17 August 2019 12:53 (four years ago) link
alright, let's get real. which team is going to win the division, and which (if any) will nab a wild card spot?
― Karl Malone, Wednesday, 21 August 2019 20:32 (four years ago) link
i am going to be pessimistic and say that the cubs will win the division, cardinals will get one of the WC spots (along with the Nats), and the Brewers will just miss. but i think it's just as likely that no wild card teams come from the NL central this year.
i guess a lot of teams are frustrated with the lack of moves made at the trade deadline this year, but it seems bonkers that the cardinals didn't make a move for starting pitching, especially considering their OF surplus. here's who they have right now, either on the roster or on the cusp:
- marcell ozuna (starter, LF)- dexter fowler (starter, CF or RF)- harrison bader (CF, defensive wiz, just got called back from a short stint at AAA to learn how to hit the ball again)- jose martinez (RF, on the IL for another week or so. can't actually play RF, but plays there anyway)- tyler bro'neill (RF, on the IL for another week or so. may someday hit+ 40 HRs, great speed)- yairo munoz (an infielder who sometimes, inexplicably, gets asked to start at CF or sub in at RF, where he looks like an infielder trying to play outfield. 70 wRC+.- tommy edman (exhibit A of how doing really, really well in your first week can change the perception of your manager for the rest of the year, even if you don't deserve it. he is also an infielder that is now being asked to play RF. when he started playing there a few weeks ago, it was noted that he had not played outfield since high school. the announcers love him. mike shildt loves him and says that he is now an everyday player (mainly in the infield as a replacement for matt carpenter, but he also plays 2B). somehow, he starts in RF about twice a week. 85 wRC+, and that's after a recent hot streak.)- dylan carlson (#2 prospect in the system, now at AAA, shot up through multiple levels this year, is probably better than everyone else on this list except for Ozuna)- randy arozarena (yet another solid outfielder, just got his first promotion to MLB (he's back in AAA now).
so you have 7 outfielders competing for 3 spots. plus 2 weakass infielders that inexplicably are starting in outfield week after week.
i guess the trade market must have been reaaaaally weak
― Karl Malone, Wednesday, 21 August 2019 21:01 (four years ago) link
Brewers are kind of a dumpster fire right now, their offense is pretty good but their pitching staff is such a dumpster fire right now. It was pretty much the worst-case scenario there, the guys who were good in '18 fell apart and none of the new pitchers panned out. Not to mention Jimmy Nelson coming back with a massive thud, getting blown up in nearly every appearance so far. Maybe we shouldn't have put so much faith in a guy who led the league in walks AND hit batters a couple years ago. Zach Davies & Chase Anderson are okay but they rarely can go more than 5. And the relief pitching is a total mess; Hader suddenly turned into bad K-Rod, Jeffress can't get outs in key spots, and Knebel got hurt in Spring Training, so our go-to guy is....Mat Albers!!
so yeah, I'd be surprised if they made it, but they do have some of that "team that could surprise everyone" vibe to them
― frogbs, Wednesday, 21 August 2019 21:12 (four years ago) link
carlson should be ready by april 15 if not sooner. he's been in AAA for a week and has a 1.500 OPS (bader was also killing the ball in memphis tho)
yeah i think it's more the starters that were available. i don't think they could have pulled off greinke, which leaves . . . cashner? homer bailey? doesn't seem to be much point
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 21 August 2019 21:13 (four years ago) link
yeah, i guess it's true that there didn't seem to be much on the trade market...
it just seems odd that they can't flip some of these guys for some non-OF prospects, at least
― Karl Malone, Wednesday, 21 August 2019 21:20 (four years ago) link
just hope STL and CHC beat up on each other sufficiently to let the Mets sneak past one of them
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 21 August 2019 21:44 (four years ago) link
just so you all know, the cardinals were totally about to win that game
― Karl Malone, Thursday, 22 August 2019 04:02 (four years ago) link
That was a pretty fugly weekend in Pittsburgh by the Reds. They need to take those damn pajama uniforms and put them on the mound and set them alight.
― earlnash, Sunday, 25 August 2019 23:53 (four years ago) link
Walls seem to be closing in on the Brewers
― frogbs, Wednesday, 28 August 2019 01:37 (four years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/0uQd7cz.png
― i am also larry mullen jr (Karl Malone), Monday, 2 September 2019 15:17 (four years ago) link
The Pythagorean Reds would like their season back.
Record: 64-73, 4th place in NL_Central (Schedule and Results)
Pythagorean W-L: 70-67, 618 Runs, 604 Runs Allowed
― earlnash, Monday, 2 September 2019 18:28 (four years ago) link
I see Ben "Zobrist vs Zobrist" Zobrist is back and hitting
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Friday, 6 September 2019 01:58 (four years ago) link
The Brewers are... 5-5 last 10g10-10 last 20g15-15 last 30g20-20 last 40g25-25 last 50g30-30 last 60g— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) September 7, 2019
― mookieproof, Saturday, 7 September 2019 05:45 (four years ago) link
Well that’s odd
― I am also Harl (Karl Malone), Saturday, 7 September 2019 05:53 (four years ago) link
cubs are getting banged up at the worst time. they played david bote at ss yesterday bc addison russell got beaned in the face and javy is day-to-day but might not play any more this season. apparently they're calling up nico hoerner to play some ss even though he's never played above aa. kris bryant has also been in and out with knee issues and hasn't homered in a while. at least contreras is back.
― na (NA), Monday, 9 September 2019 16:26 (four years ago) link
i could not remember kris bryant's name yesterday and it was driving me batty. i refused to look it up. i woke up in the middle of the night and immediately thought "kris bryant". so don't worry, everything's all good now
― I am also Harl (Karl Malone), Monday, 9 September 2019 16:28 (four years ago) link
Darvish over his last ten games: 2.69 era with 4 walks and 79 strikeouts over 60.1 IP.
― Van Horn Street, Tuesday, 10 September 2019 16:58 (four years ago) link
since it's the NL central thread, i'll add Jack Flaherty's line over the last 10 games:
0.70 ERA with 14 walks and 81 strikeouts over 64.1 IP(his 96.3% LOB% and 5.3% HR/FB rates over that period might have contributed to his ERA success, too)
― I am also Harl (Karl Malone), Tuesday, 10 September 2019 17:01 (four years ago) link
With the way the ball is flying having a good HR/FB might just be a skill? For example, Darvish is still getting crushed in that aspect. I get it’s quite park dependant but I suppose if everyone is hitting the low pitches and going for HRs pitchers must figure at least try to find way to induce fly outs.
― Van Horn Street, Tuesday, 10 September 2019 17:10 (four years ago) link
btw don't miss that Pirates UZR in the chart
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-cardinals-great-and-boring-defense/
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 10 September 2019 17:49 (four years ago) link
just watched Steve Cishek spit the bit vs SD last night, a joy to behold
so much fun to hate the Cubs
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 11 September 2019 11:07 (four years ago) link
I didn’t realize he was still pitching!
― Mad Piratical (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 11 September 2019 22:46 (four years ago) link
technically he is
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 12 September 2019 01:46 (four years ago) link
oh no, the fucking Pirates visit Wrigley this weekend
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Friday, 13 September 2019 03:34 (four years ago) link
you get your 18 games against the marlins, they get theirs against the pirates
― mookieproof, Friday, 13 September 2019 03:57 (four years ago) link
Six of which are still to play!
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Friday, 13 September 2019 16:08 (four years ago) link
https://i.redd.it/g2fbp8nvs5m31.jpg
― frogbs, Friday, 13 September 2019 16:11 (four years ago) link
not so fast...
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Friday, 13 September 2019 17:23 (four years ago) link
BREAKING NEWS: Albert Almora Jr. cut his hair— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) September 13, 2019
― mookieproof, Friday, 13 September 2019 17:44 (four years ago) link
just the type of move the Cubs needed to make to shore up their outfield
― omar little, Friday, 13 September 2019 17:50 (four years ago) link
omg Pirates with 4 in the first
throwing error by newly shorn Almora
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Friday, 13 September 2019 20:34 (four years ago) link
two seconds after your post and it's 4-2
― mookieproof, Friday, 13 September 2019 20:36 (four years ago) link
4-3
this Brault guy must be good
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Friday, 13 September 2019 20:39 (four years ago) link
The Wind Is Blowing Out
― mookieproof, Friday, 13 September 2019 20:39 (four years ago) link
guess i won't rush home to watch on the laptop
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Friday, 13 September 2019 20:40 (four years ago) link
3rd dinger of the inning by the Cubs
done with this one
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Friday, 13 September 2019 20:42 (four years ago) link
4-5
lmao
― frogbs, Friday, 13 September 2019 20:42 (four years ago) link
lmao @ the last few posts, not the Cubs winning
brault had allowed five homers over his last 16 appearances going back to may 18. oh well!
― mookieproof, Friday, 13 September 2019 20:43 (four years ago) link
dear Mr Manfred
1) fix the ball2) blow up Wrigley Field
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Friday, 13 September 2019 20:44 (four years ago) link
The Cubs have hit three home runs in the first inning of a game for the first time since Sept. 17, 2006, also at Wrigley Field. Jacque Jones, Ronny Cedeño and Carlos Zambrano did the honors against Eric Milton and Sun-Woo Kim of the Reds.— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) September 13, 2019
― mookieproof, Friday, 13 September 2019 20:46 (four years ago) link
holy shit they're only in the fifth?
― mookieproof, Friday, 13 September 2019 22:57 (four years ago) link
― omar little, Friday, 13 September 2019 23:01 (four years ago) link
tbh should they get there i still expect the Cubs to make as much of an impact on the postseason as the O's, ultimately.
― omar little, Friday, 13 September 2019 23:02 (four years ago) link
quite a Bears-Steelers game
I shd've specified Wrigley should be imploded while the Rickettses are holding Trump fundraiser
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Friday, 13 September 2019 23:03 (four years ago) link