MLB 2024 Season

[Uncle Rico]

Despite a lot of inconsistency from the kids, Brewers have been fun through 5-15.

Chourio in striking out too much but the flashes of a 19 year-old figuring it out are fun.  Betting on a big 2nd half

Ortiz always had the glove.  If he keeps hitting like he is, he'll have been a big pickup in the Burnes trade and make the eventual Adames departure easier.

Turang plays steady defense and if he can keep that OBP at .350+ and steal bases, he's fine as your everyday 2B.

Frelick is probably not an everyday player but his glove makes it hard to take him out of the lineup.  If he can figure out a way to get on-base more, he'll be a good 3/4 type.

Gasser has two starts and is flashing why they're high on him.  We'll see where he is in a few weeks after facing tougher lineups and how he handles adversity but I'm pretty bullish on him as a good rotation piece.  Not an ace but definitely a solid innings eater in 2024 terms.

Finally, through this point in the season, William Contreras is a MVP candidate and making an argument as the best catcher in the game.  Kid has been an absolute stud

[PGsHeroes32]

Tigers

Woooooooooof

That team ain't winning the central with an offense like this. Just so bad.

[tower912]

Testify.  Whole team forgot how to hit.

[PGsHeroes32]

Testify.  Whole team forgot how to hit.

It's never good when Kyle Farmer and Manuel Margot could replace guys and improve production.

Tigers pitching is developing great tho. If they stay healthy.

[Pakuni]

Don't look now, but the mighty Chicago White Sox have won six of eight and are 9-5 this month.
Too soon to talk about playoffs?

[Lennys Tap]

Don't look now, but the mighty Chicago White Sox have won six of eight and are 9-5 this month.
Too soon to talk about playoffs?

And the Colorado Rockies have won 7 straight. What a World Series it will be!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

The Phillies have the best record in baseball.

But 44 games in they have played a grand total of 3 games against teams currently .500 or better.

Not only that, but those 3 games were against the Braves, which was their opening series back in March. So 41 straight games of sub .500 opponents.

Their next four games are against teams with sub .500 records so they should make it to at least 45 straight games (though the Padres and Nationals are close to .500 and could turn into .500 games for the Philies by then).

After the next four games, the Phillies play the 23-22 Rangers. If the Rangers lose their next series, they will also by sub .500. After that, the Phillies play the Rockies, Giants, and Cardinals, 3 more teams with sub .500 records. They will then finally play the Brewers a team that should have a solid winning record by that point.

Again, teams like the Padres, Nationals, Rangers, are all close to .500 so depending on how their next few weeks go, one or more of them could be a .500 team or better by the time they play the Brewers. But the Phillies have a real chance at playing 57 straight games against sub .500 opponents.

[jficke13]

The Phillies have the best record in baseball.

But 44 games in they have played a grand total of 3 games against teams currently .500 or better.

Not only that, but those 3 games were against the Braves, which was their opening series back in March. So 41 straight games of sub .500 opponents.

Their next four games are against teams with sub .500 records so they should make it to at least 45 straight games (though the Padres and Nationals are close to .500 and could turn into .500 games for the Philies by then).

After the next four games, the Phillies play the 23-22 Rangers. If the Rangers lose their next series, they will also by sub .500. After that, the Phillies play the Rockies, Giants, and Cardinals, 3 more teams with sub .500 records. They will then finally play the Brewers a team that should have a solid winning record by that point.

Again, teams like the Padres, Nationals, Rangers, are all close to .500 so depending on how their next few weeks go, one or more of them could be a .500 team or better by the time they play the Brewers. But the Phillies have a real chance at playing 57 straight games against sub .500 opponents.

That's absolutely wild. Consecutive Games Against Sub-.500 Opponents is not a streak I've ever paid attention to. I wonder how far of an outlier this streak is historically. I'd guess a huge outlier, but baseball has very strange number things in its long history.

[MU82]

This article makes a compelling argument for Javy Baez being literally the worst hitter in baseball.

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/javier_baez_still_being_on_the_tigers_is_an_indictment_against_team_owner/s1_13132_40367673?.tsrc=1317

But oh, what a slider and tagger!

[JWags85]

This article makes a compelling argument for Javy Baez being literally the worst hitter in baseball.

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/javier_baez_still_being_on_the_tigers_is_an_indictment_against_team_owner/s1_13132_40367673?.tsrc=1317

But oh, what a slider and tagger!

As one of the biggest Mago stans for most of the late 2010s, it bums me out to see how he's fallen apart, on both sides of the game.  He was a big part of the Cubs title and was a legitimate superstar in 2018-2019, so I'm happy he got paid and generationally set up his family.  But man oh man.  His dWAR stinks too, so its not even like he's providing value in the field.  He was always a high risk, high reward kind of player, but sheesh.

This is a guy who, regardless of his form, had a highlight worthy play that would show up on Twitter or SC every other week or so.  Now I can't remember the last time I saw Javy do something.  The tagging, the clever base running, the charisma...it was all very justified praise and differentiation from other good SS's...when he was playing great.  Like a flashy PG who throws a ton of no look dimes and wild layups (sup Kyrie).  But if that guy is now 1-12 from the floor and has a 1-1 assist to TO ratio, nobody is talking about that anymore.  Same for any reasonable Javy fan.

[Uncle Rico]

As one of the biggest Mago stans for most of the late 2010s, it bums me out to see how he's fallen apart, on both sides of the game.  He was a big part of the Cubs title and was a legitimate superstar in 2018-2019, so I'm happy he got paid and generationally set up his family.  But man oh man.  His dWAR stinks too, so its not even like he's providing value in the field.  He was always a high risk, high reward kind of player, but sheesh.

This is a guy who, regardless of his form, had a highlight worthy play that would show up on Twitter or SC every other week or so.  Now I can't remember the last time I saw Javy do something.  The tagging, the clever base running, the charisma...it was all very justified praise and differentiation from other good SS's...when he was playing great.  Like a flashy PG who throws a ton of no look dimes and wild layups (sup Kyrie).  But if that guy is now 1-12 from the floor and has a 1-1 assist to TO ratio, nobody is talking about that anymore.  Same for any reasonable Javy fan.

Saw a scout once say he's athletic and talented as anyone he'd ever seen.  But warned he didn't have a feel for the game.  Thinking about it, this makes some sense.  Athleticism and talent can take you far in any sport but if you can't adjust or pick up on nuance in sport, you'll only get so far.

[dgies9156]

Tigers

Woooooooooof

That team ain't winning the central with an offense like this. Just so bad.

If the Detroit Tigers are the definition of woooooof, then perhaps the St. Louis Cardinals need the Kristy Noem treatment!

Just take 'em out to a nearby quarry (there's got to be one somewhere in St. Louis), get a high-powered... well, you gun lovers know the rest. For the rest of you, think, e-t-e-r-n-a-l  r-e-w-a-r-d. Except, given the way the Cardinals have played baseball lately, their eternal reward may not be what they're hoping for!

[JWags85]

Saw a scout once say he's athletic and talented as anyone he'd ever seen.  But warned he didn't have a feel for the game.  Thinking about it, this makes some sense.  Athleticism and talent can take you far in any sport but if you can't adjust or pick up on nuance in sport, you'll only get so far.

I think thats pretty spot on.  He was/is a very intuitive player.  His instincts, especially defensively and on the base paths, were fantastic.  But there is so much nuance and strategy and feel when it comes to long term batting success.  Whether working counts, laying off certain hittable pitches that don't fit where you need to put the ball, working with the pitch instead of muscling it, etc...  And he just never seemed to get that and as there was endless plate appearances on tape, pitchers started taking him apart.

[The Sultan]

And/or a guy who gets the contract and works just a little less...

[PGsHeroes32]

Forgot twins played yanks this week

Speaking of woooooof offense

[Jockey]

As one of the biggest Mago stans for most of the late 2010s, it bums me out to see how he's fallen apart, on both sides of the game.  He was a big part of the Cubs title and was a legitimate superstar in 2018-2019, so I'm happy he got paid and generationally set up his family.  But man oh man.  His dWAR stinks too, so its not even like he's providing value in the field.  He was always a high risk, high reward kind of player, but sheesh.

This is a guy who, regardless of his form, had a highlight worthy play that would show up on Twitter or SC every other week or so.  Now I can't remember the last time I saw Javy do something.  The tagging, the clever base running, the charisma...it was all very justified praise and differentiation from other good SS's...when he was playing great.  Like a flashy PG who throws a ton of no look dimes and wild layups (sup Kyrie).  But if that guy is now 1-12 from the floor and has a 1-1 assist to TO ratio, nobody is talking about that anymore.  Same for any reasonable Javy fan.

I think if you go into the archives you'll see that I said it was the worst signing of the year. I thought then (and still do) that he is finished.

[DegenerateDish]

The end of Orioles/White Sox was an all time bad call. I've seen a ton of baseball in my life, and have never seen that interference called like that.

It was absolutely insane.

[The Sultan]

The end of Orioles/White Sox was an all time bad call. I've seen a ton of baseball in my life, and have never seen that interference called like that.

It was absolutely insane.

Brutal.

https://x.com/awfulannouncing/status/1793840566356398089?s=46&t=ppua9BCUAa7dWM9-SthPmg

[Hards Alumni]

Brutal.

https://x.com/awfulannouncing/status/1793840566356398089?s=46&t=ppua9BCUAa7dWM9-SthPmg

It's a good thing it happened in a meaningless game to a team 18.5 games out of first before June instead of the playoffs so it can be sure to never happen again.

[DegenerateDish]

It's a good thing it happened in a meaningless game to a team 18.5 games out of first before June instead of the playoffs so it can be sure to never happen again.

If I'm Gunnar Henderson and a situation like that happened again (especially in a playoff game), I'd try to initiate contact with a base runner every time.

[WhiteTrash]

If I'm Gunnar Henderson and a situation like that happened again (especially in a playoff game), I'd try to initiate contact with a base runner every time.

Without a doubt that what you do. You are not playing the game the right way if you're a fielder and you don't hunt baserunners for contact. 

[Hards Alumni]

If I'm Gunnar Henderson and a situation like that happened again (especially in a playoff game), I'd try to initiate contact with a base runner every time.

I don't disagree, which is why I hope baseball looks at this situation and clarifies.  I think it was Peter Bukowski (or some other Packers dude on Twitter) who said that baseball has too many stupid and confusing rules.  This is a perfect example.  For years, as a base runner it was fine to slide into a base and try to ruin a double play attempt.  Saying that what happened last night is not okay interference, but the slide thing is just fine... kinda silly.  The baserunner wasn't watching the ball, and shouldn't have to try to avoid the fielder.  Now, if he had grabbed him or whatever, then sure, make the interference argument... but where was the guy supposed to go?  Wait for the infielder to catch the ball and potentially throw him out to end the game?  He has to stay within the base lines as well.

Clarification from MLB should be swift.

[The Sultan]

On top of that, the infield fly rule was called so it didn't even matter that he caught it.

[PGsHeroes32]

On top of that, the infield fly rule was called so it didn't even matter that he caught it.

That's what I don't get. How can he even be called out when it's an auto out.

Maybe if he does actually interfere(he didn't) and it causes ball to kick away so him and guy on first advance then you make them go back.

But the out was always automatic. Crazy.

[WhiteTrash]

That's what I don't get. How can he even be called out when it's an auto out.

Maybe if he does actually interfere(he didn't) and it causes ball to kick away so him and guy on first advance then you make them go back.

But the out was always automatic. Crazy.

The reality is most restaurants will not hold your reservation past 10-15 minutes of the set time. These umps got places to go and people to see.