The 2023 MLB Season Thread

[stevew]

Looks like 5.5K/game more. They still have a bunch of good home matchups(Cubs/Cards/Braves/Yankees/Brewers(kinda iffy))left. I used to not even think about working the games but this season it’s almost always a solid day to work.

[Swaggs]

I'm normally excited about the trade deadline, but the Pirates really have nothing interesting for sale.

Austin Hedges, who we are told is an excellent clubhouse guy and pitch framer, makes $5M per year, is no longer starting, and has a -1.0 WAR (hitting .180 in 161 ABs, which is remarkably his highest average since 2018!!!) and Rich Hill, who is literally 43 years old and has a 0.3 WAR in 119 innings and makes $8M this year and seems like he is visibly angry at the young players on the team while he is pitching, are the two guys mentioned most often.

Andrew McCutchen has been an OBP machine this year would make for a decent DH/OF for some teams, but he is likely not going to bring anything back that would make it worth the PR hit. He also, remarkably, went the entire month of July without an RBI, which is impressive.

[henry296]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

I'm normally excited about the trade deadline, but the Pirates really have nothing interesting for sale.

Austin Hedges, who we are told is an excellent clubhouse guy and pitch framer, makes $5M per year, is no longer starting, and has a -1.0 WAR (hitting .180 in 161 ABs, which is remarkably his highest average since 2018!!!) and Rich Hill, who is literally 43 years old and has a 0.3 WAR in 119 innings and makes $8M this year and seems like he is visibly angry at the young players on the team while he is pitching, are the two guys mentioned most often.

Andrew McCutchen has been an OBP machine this year would make for a decent DH/OF for some teams, but he is likely not going to bring anything back that would make it worth the PR hit. He also, remarkably, went the entire month of July without an RBI, which is impressive.

Do you think they should trade Bednar?

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by henry296

Do you think they should trade Bednar?

Short answer: No

Longer answer: If we are being realistic, a team like the Pirates should probably always trade a reliever if you can get a couple of prospects that are reasonable bets to contribute. And, he's a hard-throwing, beer drinking, 5'11/250 lb athlete with a history of back problems, so I'm guessing the odds of an injury are pretty high at some point soon.

But, the fact that he is local and that he (along with Endy Rodriguez) symbolizes whatever level of successful return we will end up having gotten from the Gerrit Cole to Joe Musgrove trades. Plus, he is controllable for 3+ seasons, only has like 50 careers saves so other teams may not even consider him a top tier closer, and it isn't like we have had a stellar record of identifying and developing prospects. So, I'd say it is better to have him around in this window (if it becomes a window) than to take a shot on potentially getting a package and hoping that you get someone that potentially develops into him. Same with Holderman. I think they are both valuable, but not so much that we are going to get game changing prospects for them.

[stevew]

Dick Mountain and Ji Man to the Padres

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by stevew

Dick Mountain and Ji Man to the Padres

I forgot about Ji Man. I was going to say that it feels like he's only played in like 20 games, but then I looked it up and he has played in 23 games. Seemed like the offense was better with him once he got healthy, though. I haven't seen it, but can't imagine the return was anything much.

[Swaggs]

Knowing how Shelton values veterans, he will probably let Hedges play 1B 2-3 times a week with Ji Man and Santana gone.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by stevew

Dick Mountain and Ji Man to the Padres

Hard not to like Dick Mountain, but now that he's on the Padres, it'll be harder.

[PilotMan]

Verlander back to the Astros is like the least surprising thing ever.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

Knowing how Shelton values veterans, he will probably let Hedges play 1B 2-3 times a week with Ji Man and Santana gone.

Dude, I hate hedges and I hate Shelton so much more than you can imagine. I’m surprised he hasn’t used hedges at DH yet. His lineups are so dog shit. It’s like is McCutchen only capable of playing like two days in a row? I doubt it. I just don’t see a pathway forward with Shelton in charge of anything

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Verlander back to the Astros is like the least surprising thing ever.

I like the return for the Mets. Gilbets should be an organizational top 5 guy and Clifford should be top 10.

Out of these trades Verlander was the only guy coming back next year and, although he was pitching well, his peripherals were trending in the wrong direction.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by stevew

Dude, I hate hedges and I hate Shelton so much more than you can imagine. I’m surprised he hasn’t used hedges at DH yet. His lineups are so dog shit. It’s like is McCutchen only capable of playing like two days in a row? I doubt it. I just don’t see a pathway forward with Shelton in charge of anything

The funny thing is that, for like the last five versions of OOTP, I always tried to get Hedges because he was a captain and had high catcher ability. Now that we actually have him, I think I no longer have that particular appetite any longer.

I'm ready to move on from Shelton, too. Doesn't seem to be able to assemble a good staff, always keeps pitchers in an inning too long, and lineups are dog shit. Not that it has mattered with the level of talent we've had, but even fundamentals are still shit. I think the only reason this season has been a little better is because Cutch, Hedges, and Santana have seemed like good leaders. Hell, fire Shelton and shift Hedges to manager at this point. Players seem to love him and he's a catcher that knows pitching.

[GrantDawg]

That is interesting...

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers had a trade in place for left-handed starter Eduardo Rodriguez, but Rodriguez invoked his 10-team no-trade clause that included the Dodgers and the deal is now dead, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 1, 2023

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

The funny thing is that, for like the last five versions of OOTP, I always tried to get Hedges because he was a captain and had high catcher ability. Now that we actually have him, I think I no longer have that particular appetite any longer.

I'm ready to move on from Shelton, too. Doesn't seem to be able to assemble a good staff, always keeps pitchers in an inning too long, and lineups are dog shit. Not that it has mattered with the level of talent we've had, but even fundamentals are still shit. I think the only reason this season has been a little better is because Cutch, Hedges, and Santana have seemed like good leaders. Hell, fire Shelton and shift Hedges to manager at this point. Players seem to love him and he's a catcher that knows pitching.

I don’t get trading Castro. They completely miscast him as a SS. His offense was lagging but he still seemed to have 20+ HR potential and a bit over league average OPS potential.

[Ksyrup]

Heck of a back-to-back effort by the Reds pitching staff.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by stevew

I don’t get trading Castro. They completely miscast him as a SS. His offense was lagging but he still seemed to have 20+ HR potential and a bit over league average OPS potential.

Not enough veteranosity for Shelton. Much better for Chris Owings. Mark Mathias, and Josh Van Meter to get that time in these past couple years.

[Ksyrup]

This is crazy. Can't believe in 2023, a team would completely botch a concussion issue like this. Over nearly a third of the season. It's like a slow-motion trainwreck. We pounce on FB teams for 2 minute decisions to send a guy back onto the field, but this is over 2 months!

This is legitimately crazy.

Rizzo this year before this happened:
53 games, 11 HR, .304/.376/.505 (.880 OPS)

Rizzo this year after this happened:
46 games, 1 HR, .172/.271/.225 (.496 OPS) https://t.co/l1jbLKPliG

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) August 3, 2023

He even talked about fogginess and some other pretty clear concussion symptoms recently and they STILL kept sending him out there!

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Heck of a back-to-back effort by the Reds pitching staff.

I dunno, I thought their catcher put some good innings in. But they gotta be careful about using him so much. Need him out of the pen come September if they want to compete.

[cartman]

Today is the 30th anniversary of the Nolan Ryan-Robin Ventura fight. I have a framed photo from it signed by Nolan Ryan hanging on my office wall.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by cartman

Today is the 30th anniversary of the Nolan Ryan-Robin Ventura fight. I have a framed photo from it signed by Nolan Ryan hanging on my office wall.

Keep your head up when you're in a fight.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Tim Anderson decided to square up on Jose Ramirez.
That was a poor decision.

https://twitter.com/BSSportsbook/sta...93913846476803

[sovereignstar v2]

.

Sent from my CPH2451 using Tapatalk

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Tim Anderson decided to square up on Jose Ramirez.
That was a poor decision.

https://twitter.com/BSSportsbook/sta...93913846476803

Tim Anderson got knocked the fuck out

[miami_fan]

PC run amok or should he have known better not to hurt the boss's feelings with his silly facts?

Exclusive: Orioles announcer Kevin Brown removed from booth

[GrantDawg]

How was that PC? That's management only want total homers in the booth.

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[molson]

Isn't pointing out their improvement praising them? That's the whole point of what, in theory, makes the Orioles likeable and watchable.

[Lathum]

The Mets booth would be fired almost every game. They are 100% honest.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by molson

Isn't pointing out their improvement praising them? That's the whole point of what, in theory, makes the Orioles likeable and watchable.

In theory, until you realize they continue to be owned by shitheads.

[JonInMiddleGA]

So far tonight the Mets, Yankees, and Angels booths have done segments ripping the Orioles organization.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

So far tonight the Mets, Yankees, and Angels booths have done segments ripping the Orioles organization.

As they should. I listened to the open waiting for him to drop the N word or call someone a faggot.

That was a great open and I hope if they fire him he sues the shit out of them. Good luck getting talent in the future.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by molson

Isn't pointing out their improvement praising them? That's the whole point of what, in theory, makes the Orioles likeable and watchable.

This. If I'm a fan of a team that has been a perennial loser, but is now winning, I love hearing this type of information. We're finally winning and while the opposition is good we think we're better.

I'd call it an overreaction, if there was something to react too, but there's not. Looks bad and takes away from their 2023 run.

[miami_fan]

Can someone get word to Aaron Boone that the whole arguing with the ump schtick has jumped the shark?

I would say it is a sign of me just getting older but I can still pull up clips of guys like Billy Martin, Lou Pinella, and of course Hal McRae rant in the manager office and get a good chuckle out of them. Shout out to Alan Eskew, the reporter who got hit and ended up with a bloodied cheek, for not filing a lawsuit against the Royals and McRae. That definitely would be the case today.

Ahh the good ol' days...

[Ksyrup]

A last-minute replacement ump in the Phillies game working his 1st MLB game had 3 calls overturned at 1B. That's like the equivalent of the platinum sombrero or a pitcher not making it out of the 1st inning as far as debuts, right?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Good luck getting talent in the future.

Eh, this is the organization that fired Jon Miller for not being a homer. And has gone through 4? 5? announcers & color guys since, all of whom seem to have been well liked or more. This is the job the current guy took despite all that history. Yes, the current thing is beyond stupid ... but it's not like there isn't history under the Angelos regime.

Broadcasters have so little pride, and a crazy tendency to convince themselves "it'll be different with ME", they can hire ad infinitum honestly.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Just wondering if anyone had noticed that the greatest rookie in the history of rookies - Elly de la Cruz - is hitting .181 with an OPS of .625 over the past 30 days.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Random fun fact: Orlando Arcia has a higher OPS this season than Dansby Swanson had last year or this year.

[GrantDawg]

Just as everyone predicted.

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[miked]

Originally Posted by miked

Trying to distract us from sending down Vaughn Grissom and choosing a journeyman career .240 hitter to replace an All-Star SS.

Man, who knew that Arcia would hit 50 pts higher than his career AVG and like 80 pts higher in SLG. This take is cold...though Grissom does have an .870 OPS in AAA.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by miked

Man, who knew that Arcia would hit 50 pts higher than his career AVG and like 80 pts higher in SLG. This take is cold...though Grissom does have an .870 OPS in AAA.

I'm not saying that I expected Arcia to be the answer, I'm just saying that not paying Dansby crazy money wasn't a bad move.

[Ghost Econ]

Braves need to sort out their pitching though. As insane as the bats have been, you can't expect that to keep going the next 2 months. Looks like Strider and Elder are both getting a bit tired after shouldering the load. And Morton has been looking his age a lot of the year.

[Ksyrup]

What a night for the Phillies. Michael Lorenzen throws a no-hitter and Wes Wilson homers in his 1st MLB AB plus adds 2 walks and 3 runs scored. I haven't seen so many shots of family in the stands since Kurt Warner was in the NFL.

[cartman]

Here's a crazy fact: Lorenzen is the 4th pitcher from Fullerton Union High School in California to make the MLB. All 4 of them have thrown a MLB no-hitter. The other three are Hall of Famer Walter Johnson, Steve Busby, and Mike Warren.

[Ksyrup]

I'm not saying Javier Baez is struggling, but...

Javier Báez vs. 50 Cent pic.twitter.com/BJVhM2gKWh

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 10, 2023

[flere-imsaho]

.............juuuuuuuuuuuuuust a bit outside....

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Tim Anderson got knocked the fuck out

I enjoyed how about 2 second in the ump, who had been trying to keep them apart, clearly went "fuck it, you know what, go ahead and punch each other".

[Atocep]

If the rumors are true, Wander Franco's career was a short one.

[GrantDawg]

It is all rumors and speculation right now. The pics of him with her don't help, though. It could all an attempt at fraud, but if not he is in a world of hurt.

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[Ghost Econ]

The Elly De La Cruz highlight of him stealing every base was trending on Reddit this morning. It made me decide to check in on him and it seems like the magic has worn off a little since.

It's actually a tale of 2 teams and the All Star break seems to have reset him and the Reds.

In 30 games before the break he hit .325, stole 16 bases and the Reds were 22-8 in games he played.

Since the All Star break he's hitting .195 with 2 SB and the Reds are 12-16 in games he played.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Atocep

If the rumors are true, Wander Franco's career was a short one.

Apparently team officials got suspicious when they told him they were sending him to the minors and he got all excited.






(Joke stolen from multiple variations on a theme I've seen this morning).

[miami_fan]

Can someone be a bit irresponsible and say what the allegations are? All of the news outlets are being responsible by saying he "engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a minor". Are we talking "Franco is in way too many pictures with a minor that he is not related to to be appropriate" inappropriate territory? Or are we in "the minor alleges to know Franco way more intimately than a minor should know Wander Franco" inappropriate relationship territory?