Phillies outfielder/DH Bryce Harper took batting practice for the first time since he suffered a left thumb fracture on June 25, swinging 60 times. There’s no timetable yet for him to begin his rehab assignment. But there’s no doubt that the Phillies need him now more than ever, as they’re only 0.5 games up in the second of the three wild card spots in the National League. The Phillies have not yet made the playoffs since Harper joined the team in 2019.
The Rangers fired manager Chris Woodward on Monday. They’re third place in the American League West at 51-63, Woodward’s fourth consecutive year with a losing record. Third-base coach Tony Beasley has been named interim manager for the remainder of 2022.
Tonight, when the Astros take on the White Sox, we’ll have a late-season matchup featuring the #1 and #2 pitchers in terms of ERA. Justin Verlander is 1.85; Dylan Cease is 1.96. It’s just the third matchup of starting pitchers with sub-2.00 ERAs, minimum 20 starts, since MLB lowered the mound in 1969. So if you want to see a great pitching battle, that’s a good bet for tonight’s viewing.
From what I can tell there is no rule telling you that you can’t have a cell phone with you. The rule is that you can’t use an electronic device to communicate or steal signs. If it’s in his pocket and he never touches it, he probably didn’t break any rule.
Ken Rosenthal in this tweet claims it was breaking a rule:
As far as I can tell, though, Ken is wrong. Unless they just assume that having the phone with him meant he was using it to talk to people, and discipline him based on that. But I’ve been searching and searching, and I can’t find anyone but Ken stating that this is a rule.
The game was tied at 2 going into the ninth inning before the Mariners broke through. Sam Haggerty got aboard with a one-out single off Aaron Loup (0-4). Haggerty advanced to second when Angels catcher Max Stassi wildly threw to the bag even though Haggerty wasn’t running. Haggerty stole third and then scored the go-ahead run on another fluky play.
With runners at the corners, Julio Rodriguez hit a line drive directly at Luis Rengifo. The normally sure-handed Rengifo, who was at second base after David Fletcher left with an injury, dropped the liner and threw home. Haggerty was caught in a rundown but ended up scoring when no one was covering home plate.
Seattle got some breathing room when Dylan Moore scored on Ty France’s grounder, after Stassi was unable to hold onto the throw to the plate for his second error of the inning. Rodriguez scored on Winker’s grounder and Crawford’s base hit plated France.
How is it possible there’s no one in that entire organization with any power that realizes that they play baseball, and not basketball, so even if they have two of the greatest players to ever play the game, that’s still not nearly enough. There’s got to be an at least marginally competent team behind them. Trout is going to waste his entire career with that shit team. Hopefully Ohtani has better sense than that and goes anywhere else the first chance he can.
I’m pretty sure the Blue Jays will miss the playoffs now. They are terrible and rudderless, did nothing at the deadline to solve their problems, and have no depth if anything goes wrong (except at catcher, I suppose.)
Who is the greatest player to never make a World Series? Ken Griffey Jr.? Ernie Banks? Rod Carew? Trout might be number 1 soon.
The bad luck Colorado Rockies brought a tie score into the bottom of the ninth against the Cardinals only to give up a walk, another walk, and a bunt single before sending the losing run home on a hit batsman.
Their interim manager is also awful. The umpire screwed up and called a walk on 3 balls in that game. Not a peep out of Phil Nevin. That team is a mess overall. Such a waste.
Sisler had such an odd career; for five years he was one of the best players in baseball not named Babe Ruth, maybe the best. Then he got hurt and was just good for awhile. But what a five year run!
To the extent one believes WAR, I went to BBRef and I think these are the all time leaders in WAR for players who never played on a team that made it to the World Series (I’m ignoring players who played the bulk of their careers before 1903)
Nap Lajoie - 107
Phil Niekro - 96
Gaylord Perry - 90
Fergie Jenkins - 84
Ken Griffey Jr - 84
Rod Carew - 81
Mike Trout - 80
Luke Appling - 78
Harry Heilmann - 73
Rafael Palmiero - 72
Frank Thomas would be ninth, but he did get a WS ring in 2005, he was just hurt and couldn’t play in it.