# MLB: August 2022 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [August 1, 2022, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968 "2022-08-01T05:26:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/1 "2022-08-01T05:26:24Z")
Mets continue to hold off the Braves, 3 game lead. DeGrom back on Tuesday, following Max on Monday, and the Mets have a helluva staff. Following the duo are Walker, Carrasco and Bassit, ERA’s of 2.79, 3.79 and 3.83. And Diaz has been phenomenal. He is striking out more than half the batters he faces. LGFM! ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/2 "2022-08-01T14:38:03Z")
Jesus. Nats get Max on Monday; DeGrom on Tuesday. Is there even any point to my watching these games? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/3 "2022-08-01T14:46:19Z")
Just to find out where Soto is going, once he’s done there is almost no one on the Nats worth watching. I don’t mind watching a bad team but enjoying some of the young players develop, but that won’t likely be the case with the Nats for a while. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/4 "2022-08-01T14:54:22Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I don’t mind watching a bad team but enjoying some of the young players develop, but that won’t likely be the case with the Nats for a while. The Cubs seem to be headed that way, too. There’s a lot of speculation that Willson Contreras and Ian Happ are about to be dealt, as well. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/5 "2022-08-01T15:12:49Z")
Yeah, the Cubs and Nats had the worst of the fire sales last year and this year will also be sellers. I have to say I’m getting a bit tired of Contreras complaining. It sucks but baseball is a business. I’m curious as to how badly Covid hurt the Cubs with all their investment around Wrigley and Chicago had fairly tough Covid restrictions ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/6 "2022-08-01T15:21:06Z")
Looking at [Baseball Reference](https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/2022.shtml), as of this morning, Contreras and Happ each have a WAR of 2.8; the only other Cub who is above 2 is Nico Hoerner, at 3.3. Between the two of them, Contreras and Happ account for more than half of the Cubs’ total WAR for its batters (10.2); without them, the team’s WAR is only 4.6. Yuck! ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/7 "2022-08-01T16:07:49Z")
Robinson Cano DFA’d. > ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/8 "2022-08-01T16:32:01Z")
Baseball is dying, folks. Anyway, attendance is back up to 2019 pre Covid numbers. And there are so many teams well below .500 with zero chances of the playoffs. > ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/9 "2022-08-01T16:37:24Z")
Well it failed big time to stay relevant at attracting new fans. It has really died off with the under 35 crowd. That is a age group most likely to secure a partial season ticket plan. [Worse yet the average age is getting higher and higher.](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/as-lockout-drags-on-poll-indicates-mlb-could-be-charting-path-to-irrelevance/1qbmfwrcjfdsr16izao285afnw) > As of 2017, [the average age of MLB fans/viewers was 57](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-sports-with-the-oldest-and-youngest-tv-audiences-2017-06-30), up from 52 in 2000. Compare that with the average age of fans in the NFL (50), the NBA (42), the NHL (49) and MLS (40), and it’s clear that baseball faces a major challenge if it hopes to cultivate a younger and more diverse audience. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/10 "2022-08-01T18:12:35Z")
This trade surprises me: the Brewers have traded their closer, All-Star Josh Hader, to the Padres, for their closer, Taylor Rogers, and three other players. Hader hit a rough patch just before the All-Star break this year, and his ERA is over 4 right now (as is Rogers’s), but this ESPN article notes that Hader’s set-up man, Devin Williams, is on a 30-inning scoreless streak, suggesting that they may be moving him into their closer role. > **[Hader heads west as Pads, Brewers swap closers](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34328500/source-san-diego-padres-get-milwaukee-brewers-closer-josh-hader-trade-send-closer-taylor-rogers)** > > The Padres have acquired closer Josh Hader in a trade with the Brewers that sends Taylor Rogers and three other players to Milwaukee. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/11 "2022-08-01T18:36:20Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Jesus. Nats get Max on Monday; DeGrom on Tuesday. Is there even any point to my watching these games? As a Mets fan, it certainly looks good to us going into this series. But hey, any team can beat another on a given day. And with the way the Braves are playing, every game is critical for the Mets before playing THEM after the Nats. If the Mets can beat up on the Nationals, all the better before taking on the Braves. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/12 "2022-08-01T19:06:57Z")
It’s a smart trade. Hader is amazing, but it saves the Brewers a ton of money while letting them get Williams into the role for much cheaper. If you haven’t seen clips of Williams’ changeup, you should. They call it “The Airbender”, and it’s an unfair pitch. I think both teams benefit from this - Hader and Rogers both need a change of scenery. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/13 "2022-08-01T19:25:35Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > It’s a smart trade. Looking it over, I’m inclined to agree with you; I was just initially surprised to see the Brewers, in the lead in their division, dealing away one of their best players. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/14 "2022-08-01T23:30:34Z")
Trade market is moving! Yankees trade for the top pitcher left on the board and acquire Frankie Montas. They’ve made 2 big moves, and still haven’t given up much out of their farm system. Meanwhile, the Royals are busy acquiring known terrible pitcher Luke Weaver for young(ish) talent. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/15 "2022-08-01T23:37:32Z")
That’s a pretty good get for the Yanks. Also got Trivino, not so good, but we’ll see. Montas is not a free agent until after 2023. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2022, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/16 "2022-08-01T23:56:35Z")
The Yankees also acquired P [Scott Effross](https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-trade-scott-effross-for-hayden-wesneski) from the Cubs. The Cubs get the Yankees’ #7 prospect, P Hayden Wesneski. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/17 "2022-08-02T00:10:45Z")
The Braves extended their All-Star third baseman and major MVP candidate, Austin Riley, to the most lucrative contract in franchise history, 10 years, $212 million. It starts in '23 and runs through '32, with a $20 million team option for '33. > **[Braves lock up Riley with 10-year, $212M deal](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34329986/atlanta-braves-extend-austin-riley-massive-contract)** > > The Braves have locked up star 3B Austin Riley with a 10-year contract worth $212 million, the team announced Monday. Riley is currently hitting .301 with 29 home runs and 68 RBI, and leads the majors with 61 extra-base hits. The signing keeps the Braves’ young core of Riley, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Ozzie Albies together through at least '25, and each of them are currently 25 years old or younger, so they’re set to compete for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/18 "2022-08-02T00:13:28Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > The Yankees also acquired P [Scott Effross](https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-trade-scott-effross-for-hayden-wesneski) from the Cubs. Good get there as well. E frost isn’t amazing or anything, but he’s a solid low-leverage middle reliever. With the Yanks’ pen going through some injury issues, it’s a good trade. The Cubs get what sounds like a very solid prospect. > [@MLB: July 2022](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2022/967252/240): > > The signing keeps the Braves’ young core of Riley, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Ozzie Albies together Not to mention Matt Olson as well. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/19 "2022-08-02T00:22:59Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > the Royals are busy acquiring known terrible pitcher Luke Weaver for young(ish) talent. This is one of those trades that have KC fans shaking their collective heads. Weaver is a 28 year old pitcher with a career record of 24-36. This season he’s 1-1 with an ERA of 7.71. Royals give up a 26-year-old rookie infielder named Emmanuel Rivera, who’s hitting .237. Nothing great yet, but he appears to have a whole lot more upside than Weaver. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968/20 "2022-08-02T00:26:02Z")
My biggest issue is who the hell plays 3B now? Dozier is also a known terrible baseball player. Pratto is a defensive monster - maybe he’s good enough to move over. The Rays released Brett Phillips. I say they pick him up and stick him on the hot corner. He pitches, too! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2022/968968.md?page=2)