I find the Astros start fascinating. I would guess that most of us think they'll turn it on at some point and this will be forgotten; but I do wonder if there's something more to it than just a slow startJosh Hader, 2023
56.1 innings, 8 ERs (1.28 ERA)
Josh Hader, 2024
7.2 innings, 8 ERs (9.39 ERA)
Their team does seem good though, right? I'm reminded of the 2011 Red Sox. Dug a 2-10 hole to start the year but did climb out of it. Only going 7-20 in September really killed them (that team DID win 90 games). Maybe the Astros should stay away from chicken and beer as the playoff approach.I find the Astros start fascinating. I would guess that most of us think they'll turn it on at some point and this will be forgotten; but I do wonder if there's something more to it than just a slow start
Framber's elbow will go a long way toward answering your question.I find the Astros start fascinating. I would guess that most of us think they'll turn it on at some point and this will be forgotten; but I do wonder if there's something more to it than just a slow start
The Marins have decided to option their best pitcher - Max Meyer (17 inning pitched, 3 walks, 14 strikeouts, 2.12 era) to monitor his usage and preserve his arm for the second half. Meyer is coming off a missed season due to Tommy John surgery. On the surface this seems reasonable, but I have a few thoughts."Tough sending Max out, obviously, one of our better pitchers if not the best pitcher so far in the early part of the season," manager Skip Schumaker said. "We kind of let him know that there was a chance this was going to happen just to protect him and what our organization thinks of him and how highly they think of him, because of his workload and innings that he's had the last couple years. Combined, there's not too many innings on that arm. So [president of baseball operations] Peter [Bendix] laid out kind of a game plan on what that looks like moving forward and talking with Max, and I think we're all on the same page."
According to Schumaker, Meyer will not be shut down. Rather, he will pitch once a week in three-inning stints for the Jumbo Shrimp so he can be available in the second half. The entire pitching staff’s workload will be something to monitor as the season progresses.
I did a double take when I checked the standings and saw they're 7-16, 4th worst in MLB! That's wild.Cristian Javier to the IL with neck discomfort, it is getting late early for the Astros.
Not sure how significant this drop is with a week left, but IIRC league-wide HR are down while hard hit% and max exit velocities are in line with previous years. Points to changes with the ball.Offense is down significantly so far this year.
April/24 MLB OPS .696
April/23 MLB OPS .726
Seems crazy that there are more changes with the ball, doesn't it? It's like the neverending story. Especially strange that they would do something that depresses scoring again.Not sure how significant this drop is with a week left, but IIRC league-wide HR are down while hard hit% and max exit velocities are in line with previous years. Points to changes with the ball.
Part of the issue is they aren't very good at manufacturing a consistent product, even if they aren't putting a thumb on the scale.Seems crazy that there are more changes with the ball, doesn't it? It's like the neverending story. Especially strange that they would do something that depresses scoring again.
It's actually an aDDuctor strain.Blake Snell to the IL, abductor strain
Good news is, the Sox already have tons of guys like that, so we can avoid that particular refrain.Blake Snell to the IL, abductor strain
Bill Voss would agree ... if he couldMaybe a brick wall covered in ivy wasn’t such a good idea after all.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/04/mike-trout-to-undergo-knee-surgery.htmlAngels outfielder Mike Trout requires knee surgery, per Alden González and Jeff Passan of ESPN. Angels general manager Perry Minasian says it’s for a torn meniscus, per González.
It’s a weirdly unpopular opinion around here, but I’d probably still take him on the Red Sox. Even with the new knee injury!Ugh. Here's hoping he plays in meaningful baseball again before he hangs 'em up (ideally after being traded somewhere in the NL).
Stole a base last night too. Dude couldn’t play putt putt without getting hurt at this point.What? When was he hurt? Sheesh.
I’d love to have him here.It’s a weirdly unpopular opinion around here, but I’d probably still take him on the Red Sox. Even with the new knee injury!
Yeah, I remember in 2022 they announced he had a chronic back issue that could impact the rest of his career: https://www.si.com/mlb/angels/news/angels-news-mike-trout-reveals-latest-update-on-his-back-injury-nc2000#:~:text=Trout had a rare back,the rest of his career.What? When was he hurt? Sheesh.
Fun to dream about! Anyone who doesn't want Mike Trout on their team in a vacuum I don't understand. But it doesn't seem like it'll ever happen. He's all that's left on the hollowed out Angels, and they owe him $37M/year until 2030 when he'll be 38. And he's played in 82 or fewer games 3 of his past 4 seasons.It’s a weirdly unpopular opinion around here, but I’d probably still take him on the Red Sox. Even with the new knee injury!
Tangential tidbit - I'd imagine Posnanski considers Trout better than 27th as far as best players go. The players were all all-time greats and loosely ranked such that you wouldn't find a Mays/Trout/Ruth level guy in the, I dunno, 40 or above tiers, but Joe has said on the Poscast that he had some fun when assigning the actual number to the player. Trout wears #27, guessing that's it. Note Joe Dimaggio at 56...#27 baseball player ever according to Posnanski's Baseball 100 which everyone should read.
So he probably should have just listed them alphabeticallyTangential tidbit - I'd imagine Posnanski considers Trout better than 27th as far as best players go. The players were all all-time greats and loosely ranked such that you wouldn't find a Mays/Trout/Ruth level guy in the, I dunno, 40 or above tiers, but Joe has said on the Poscast that he had some fun when assigning the actual number to the player. Trout wears #27, guessing that's it. Note Joe Dimaggio at 56...
Same here. He’s aging and injured but he’s still Mike Trout.I’d love to have him here.
No, I do this with catalog numbers on my record label too. You can't move them anywhere, but if he was going to put Trout between 25-29 (guessing) anyway, no reason not to add some extra significance and make it 27.So he probably should have just listed them alphabetically
Interesting! That's fun.No, I do this with catalog numbers on my record label too. You can't move them anywhere, but if he was going to put Trout between 25-29 (guessing) anyway, no reason not to add some extra significance and make it 27.
So he probably should have just listed them alphabetically
Exactly, Jon. It's more telling the stories of the greatest players than a hard and ultimately subjective ranking of them. We can get a list of most WAR or whatever sliced up however we want for ranking purposes. But it's "The Baseball 100," not "The 100 Best Baseball Players In Order." A narrative, not a spreadsheet. I dig it.No, I do this with catalog numbers on my record label too. You can't move them anywhere, but if he was going to put Trout between 25-29 (guessing) anyway, no reason not to add some extra significance and make it 27.
Exactly.Same here. He’s aging and injured but he’s still Mike Trout.
I will put it in spoilers as it has nothing to do with baseball, but a few examples for anyone interested.Interesting! That's fun.
Well, the IL could theoretically hold an infinite number of players, but we've already got plenty of aging-stars to dream on.Fun to dream about!
I was thinking about this... and I do think it's time that he goes somewhere else. You're right that finding a good trade partner is going to be tough. Plus IIRC it's not entirely clear that Trout is even interested in being on a Big Money team either.Fun to dream about! Anyone who doesn't want Mike Trout on their team in a vacuum I don't understand. But it doesn't seem like it'll ever happen. He's all that's left on the hollowed out Angels, and they owe him $37M/year until 2030 when he'll be 38. And he's played in 82 or fewer games 3 of his past 4 seasons.