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I hate to make myself sound old, but those were the days....................
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I hate to make myself sound old, but those were the days....................
Nats have acquired the Royals closer Kevin Herrera for 3 minor league players. He will probably be the 8th inning man, maybe alternate with Doolittle at closer. Herrera will help bolster the backend of a bullpen where Madson and Kintzler have been nowhere near as effective as they were last year. The acquisition probably means that 'Gopher Ball' Kelley is done in DC. Kelley has given up 26 Hrs in his 98 innings over his 2.5 seasons with the Nats and has been especially awful the last 1.5 seasons, giving up 17 Hrs in 40 innings. I hated to see him enter a game. Never could figure out how he kept his job. Anyway, Herrera can't hurt. -- Al
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Hunter Strickland, the Giants closer, is out for 6-8 weeks after breaking his hand. He broke it when he punched a door following his blown save last night.
I truly hope this is the end of his stay with the Giants. I never liked him after he started a brawl last Memorial Day by drilling Bryce Harper with a pitch to settle a score from the playoffs three seasons ago. Last night he nearly hit Lewis Brinson, then on the next pitch Brinson roped one into the outfield for a hit. Strickland jawed with him after the hit saying "the next time I'll hit you in the mouth."
As far as I am concerned he can take that garbage to some other team.
I truly hope this is the end of his stay with the Giants. I never liked him after he started a brawl last Memorial Day by drilling Bryce Harper with a pitch to settle a score from the playoffs three seasons ago. Last night he nearly hit Lewis Brinson, then on the next pitch Brinson roped one into the outfield for a hit. Strickland jawed with him after the hit saying "the next time I'll hit you in the mouth."
As far as I am concerned he can take that garbage to some other team.
Panzer ace
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There are 4 teams in the American League on pace to win 100 games, 2 in the East and 2 in the West. If that paces holds (and that is a big if) 2 teams with 100 wins would play a single Wildcard game.
I hope this helps MLB finally realize that the Wildcard should be a 3 game series.
I hope this helps MLB finally realize that the Wildcard should be a 3 game series.
Louis Badolato
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Yes, and the winner of that wild card game, who will have either the 2nd, third or fourth best record in the league, will not have home field against the "winner" of the central, who will have won 10-15 fewer games. The whole division concept is unfair.
In a season of disaster for the O's, tonight's game in Atlanta seemed typical. O's went to the bottom of the 8th with a 1-1 tie. Braves scored 2 to go up 3-1, game over, normally. Against type, and against everything the O's have done this year, the O's scored 6 runs in the top of the 9th to take a 7-3 lead. O's bring in Britton to finish the game. He gives up 5 straight hits and 4 runs before the first out is recorded on a play at the plate. That's 10 combined runs in the 9th. Oh, those O's. Game now in OT. :rolleyes2: -- Al
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Al:
As a baseball fan I saw two things I liked from your favorite teams on Friday night from two players who have been struggling:
O's-Chris Davis promptly homered in his return to the lineup;
Nats-Bryce Harper legging a simple single into a double, something you rarely see from a superstar nowadays.
-Jason
O's won the game, 10-7, in 15. -- Al
No doubt they are both having tough years. Good to see Davis homer, or anything for that matter. He has just been lost at the plate. Last night's game was his first game in the lineup in over a week. Harper has been lost, as well, but he was moved to lead-off 2 games ago and he has shown some life since that move, going 2-4 with 3 BB's in the 2 games. Remains to be seen if it will help in the long run. One thing for sure, without Harper hitting, the Nats offense has not been very good. -- Al
Starting pitching is a delicate balance. The Nats reached a season high 11 games over .500 at 36-25 on June 6, with the SP humming along pretty well. On June 8 Strasburg lost his start and went on the DL with arm strain, along with #5 starter Hellickson hitting the DL. The whole balance went into the toilet. The Nats have been 4-10 since Strasburg and Hellickson hit the DL, and their other regular SP's have either pitched well and lost (Scherzer) or been ineffective (Gonzalez and Roark). Scherzer has pitched 3 straight QS, losing 2-0 twice and giving up 2 runs in a ND. Gonzalez and Roark are both 0-2 as well, and have been very bad in the process. With 2 starters hurt, and 2 ineffective, I suppose the Nats are lucky to have won the 4 games they have. Oh well, as some wise man once said, baseball is a marathon, not a sprint. Just have to get over this rough patch without getting buried but Atlanta and Philly have both stayed hot so the Nats can't really afford a prolonged slump. -- Al
jazzeum
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The Mets indicated that unless they saw drastic improvement in the team, they would be sellers at the deadline. One person they might trade is Wheeler, who has pitched very well lately. Syndergaard also could be available. DeGrom and Matz are unlikely to be traded. Perhaps the Mets could do business with the Nats. I don't think there's the same reluctance to make a deal as there is with the Yankees. Moreover, they've done business before.
Sounds like a plan. At this point, the Nats need a catcher that can hit, and a starting pitcher wouldn't hurt. Thor or Wheeler would be good. Just know that the Nats won't part with Robles (on the DL right now), Soto, or Turner. Any other position player might be fair game. :wink2: -- Al
Nats are interested in Realmuto, but are also talking about former Nat Wilson Ramos. They need a catcher who can hit. I'm sure Miami probably asked for Soto or Robles, both of whom are being kept as a hedge against Harper's possible/probable departure. -- Al
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It is going to be interesting leading up to the trade deadline on July 31!
jazzeum
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Mets have now lost 13 out of their last 15 home games. They are tied tied with the Reds for the second worst record in the NL and are only a game ahead of the Marlins. The manager is horrific. They should contact Girardi immediately.
Sure hope the Nats wake up sometime soon. They are 8-12 in June, have gone from a 1st place tie to 3rd place, have been shutout 5 times, are averaging only 3.9 RPG, and have had only 2 wins from the starting staff. Rough month for a supposed contender. -- Al
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It looks like the Rangers will be dealing Beltre and Hamels. Early word is the Giants are very interested in both as their staff is decimated by injuries and Longoria might be out longer than expected.