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MLB 2024

#1,022
Hi gang! Since the upgrade, I haven’t been receiving consistent notifications for some of my watched threads. So I had to find the thread to catch up.

As for my beloved Dodgers, the pitching continues to suck. Roberts continues to be Roberts, finding ways to lose otherwise winnable games. The trades they did haven’t worked out. The pitching is a nail biting disaster.

The mediocre Dodgers still lead the West. The good news is that the Phillies and Brewers haven’t exactly torn it up either since the break. In the NL west, the Pads and Snakes chipped away at the lead. It is looking to be a fun September!

We’re hitting the Ravine Tuesday to see Will’s @Gaolee Mariners. They’re dangerous, even though they’ve been on a bit of a slide.

Still, It’s GO DODGERS!
 
#1,023
Nature was kind enough to rain on Wrigley shortly after the game started and send Jays-Cubs into rain delay so I could watch most of Bears game without conflict (rain didn't bother Caleb Williams). Ian Happ's leadoff HR provided starting pitcher Justin Steele the lead but two prolonged rain delays did a number on the pitching staffs of both teams; fortunately Cubs bullpen was up to the challenge. When the Cubs acquired Michael Busch to become their new first baseman a lot of fans asked "Who?". From spring training and early into the season he was "a work in progress" while he transitioned to being every day 1B and his bat wasn't exactly seen as a big threat. Fast forward to mid August and he's been fielding the position like he was born there and become one of the more productive hitters on roster since ASG, with a season WAR of 3.0! His 2 RBI triple gave the Cubs the runs they needed to secure the series win against the Jays today. People like to rip on Hoyer but the Busch move was, IMO, a real winner. Weather should be clear for tomorrow's finale.
 
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#1,024
MCF said:
Hi gang! Since the upgrade, I haven’t been receiving consistent notifications for some of my watched threads. So I had to find the thread to catch up.

As for my beloved Dodgers, the pitching continues to suck. Roberts continues to be Roberts, finding ways to lose otherwise winnable games. The trades they did haven’t worked out. The pitching is a nail biting disaster.

The mediocre Dodgers still lead the West. The good news is that the Phillies and Brewers haven’t exactly torn it up either since the break. In the NL west, the Pads and Snakes chipped away at the lead. It is looking to be a fun September!

We’re hitting the Ravine Tuesday to see Will’s @Gaolee Mariners. They’re dangerous, even though they’ve been on a bit of a slide.

Still, It’s GO DODGERS!
Click to expand...
Yay Cards!
 
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#1,027
Well this is kind of a shocker, Cubs designate Hector Neris for assignment and he's subsequently released. Neris wasn't hired to be the closer but was forced into the role and it was a real rollercoaster ride - which is NOT something you really want from your closer. From a player performance standpoint I'm more than fine with making roster room for a different arm but I do wonder if Hector and the MLBPA might file a grievance over that $9M option. I'm not lawyerly enough to predict how that would shake out but if it does happen even if the Cubs were to prevail they might find their reputation a bit tarnished among the pool of free agents wondering how much the front office can be trusted vs other teams pursuing them.

Time is running out for the Cubs to make another run for it like they did last year and still come up one game short. On tap tonight - the return of Javy Baez!

Invalid Link Removed
 
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#1,028
It was unfortunate to see the Jays drop two of three in Chicago over the weekend after sweeping LAA prior to that… But I give the boys credit for salvaging the weekend and winning that third game. And on the whole it was a 4-2 road trip. Can’t complain too much about that.

Last night they dropped the first game back at home vs. Cincinnati. Tonight they’re up 7-1 in the 4th and appear to be on the way to a relatively easy win. Finish it off and then win the series tomorrow! 👏 👏 👏
 
#1,031
The Mariners are killing me. At least they waited until almost football season to stick another big stake into my bleeding heart. The fat lady ain't singing though. They could tease and torture their fans for another month and a half or so if they put their minds to it.
 
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#1,032
@Gaolee 👀

IMG_0543.jpeg
 
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#1,035
thisheregiraffe said:
Probably not! Unless it somehow inspires the players to play better. Seems to me that Servais is basically the fall guy, but there's only so much a manager can do. They've got some guys under-performing.
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Sacrificing the manager on the altar of mediocrity is the time tested way to appease the baseball gods, though. So, it's gotta be done. Dan Wilson is a great guy, lives in Seattle, and is beloved of the Mariners nation. But, is he going to get the lineup to quit striking out? I kinda doubt it.
 
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#1,036
Gaolee said:
OK, time for the new thread for the upcoming season. Congratulations to Texas and all that. But that was a while ago. I'm slacking.

I'm optimistic about the Mariners' pitching staff, provided they don't get wiped out by injuries or bone headed GM moves. So far, the bone headed GM moves haven't been so bone headed these days. Some worked out, some didn't. What they really need is to make contact when they are up to bat. A couple of high average bats would make the Mariners formidable. They have JP Crawford back, and he's really rounding into a just under the radar beast. Julio will be back indefinitely, and I don't see him doing much besides get even better with time, injury notwithstanding. The rest of the lineup isn't perfect, but it has promise.

On to the hot stove league.
Click to expand...
Long term Pirate fan, so don’t expect me to contribute much…
 
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#1,039
Gaolee said:
Sacrificing the manager on the altar of mediocrity is the time tested way to appease the baseball gods, though. So, it's gotta be done. Dan Wilson is a great guy, lives in Seattle, and is beloved of the Mariners nation. But, is he going to get the lineup to quit striking out? I kinda doubt it.
Click to expand...
I watched all three games, Seattle vs. Dodgers, in the past few days. According to the Dodger announcers, Seattle now has the best pitching stats in the league. Not sure if changing managers is going to change the outcome. Since the Dodgers just got back Mookie Betts and Max Muncy off the IL, the Dodgers have been on fire with 10 wins out
of their past 13 games. Both Mookie and Max contributed the most RBI's against Seattle this past series. Not sure if they can blame the Seattle manager for that.
 
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#1,040
Gaolee said:
Sacrificing the manager on the altar of mediocrity is the time tested way to appease the baseball gods, though. So, it's gotta be done. Dan Wilson is a great guy, lives in Seattle, and is beloved of the Mariners nation. But, is he going to get the lineup to quit striking out? I kinda doubt it.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Trader Jerry isn’t going to fire himself! So out with Servais and on to the next guy 😂 Obviously DiPoto is very active as a GM, making deals, shaking up the roster, all that. Can’t say he isn’t trying. But what he’s done hasn’t quite worked well enough either. He needs to find the right hitters to get that lineup going. Or else he’ll be the target next.
 
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