# MLB: July 2018 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 1, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105 "2018-07-01T18:49:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/221 "2018-07-28T18:48:35Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I don’t believe it for a second, but it would make the trade deadline a little more buzzy: [Dodgers have inquired about Bryce Harper](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2788235-bryce-harper-trade-rumors-dodgers-have-called-about-nationals-star) I can’t imagine the Nationals throwing in the towel for this season. They’re not out of it. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/222 "2018-07-28T22:57:23Z")
Do the Blue Jays travel exceptionally well? Usually, I can get decent White Sox tickets on Stubhub for next to nothing, but not tonight. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/223 "2018-07-29T02:22:08Z")
> [@MegaNazz](#): > > Where are these stats coming from? > **[MLB.com | The Official Site of Major League Baseball](https://www.mlb.com/)** > > Coverage includes audio and video clips, interviews, statistics, schedules and exclusive stories. I just had to sift and sort through them in order to accentuate the positives of my beloved Redleggers. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/224 "2018-07-29T21:42:56Z")
Is it really time to start believing that the Phillies or the Braves are going to win the NL East? I still can’t get behind that yet, but the Nationals looked like hot garbage in their embarrassing loss to the the Marlins this afternoon. The Nats have more talent than the Phillies or the Braves, but they sure aren’t showing it and it’ll be August 1 quite soon. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/225 "2018-07-29T21:47:50Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Do the Blue Jays travel exceptionally well? Usually, I can get decent White Sox tickets on Stubhub for next to nothing, but not tonight. I suspect it’s a case of it being a really gorgeous weekend here in Chicago (after lots of hot and humid weather, and rain, over the past weeks), and thus, great weather for going to a ball game. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/226 "2018-07-29T21:53:53Z")
Sean Newcomb loses a no-hitter on a two-out, two-strikes base hit. Meanwhile, some of his old tweets come to light. He apparently loves the word ‘fag’. After the Hader thing, I can’t imagine every single sports agent out there didn’t immediately go through every single social media feed for their athletes and nuke anything and everything remotely questionable. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/227 "2018-07-29T22:36:48Z")
Jays rookie Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has at least two hits in his last 11 games. In the last fifty years, he is one of precisely two players to do that (!!!) the other being Tony Perez. The record in modern MLB is 13, by Rogers Hornsby. Only one other player since 1900 had 12, Billy Herman. Geez. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/228 "2018-07-29T22:55:37Z")
LA Angels mounting an impressive comeback, they were down 8-0 to the Mariners, now it’s 8-5 ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/229 "2018-07-29T23:24:46Z")
Reds continue to play spoiler, taking three of four from the Phillies, a first place team that can hit. Great outing by Castillo today, and Harvey had a good one yesterday (???) as well. The 3-18 start continues to haunt this team… ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/230 "2018-07-30T15:04:21Z")
Yesterday, Salvador Perez made an unassisted double play, only the seventh unassisted double play by a catcher since 1974. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/231 "2018-07-30T19:18:09Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Jays rookie Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has at least two hits in his last 11 games. In the last fifty years, he is one of precisely two players to do that (!!!) the other being Tony Perez. > > The record in modern MLB is 13, by Rogers Hornsby. Only one other player since 1900 had 12, Billy Herman. Geez. I could never figure out, and it’s never been publicly stated, AFAIK, why the Astros didn’t try to bid for his services, when they already had his brother playing for them. At the time the Astros gave Yuil Gurriel a 5 year 47.5 million dollar contract, to an at the time 32 year old, the thought was that Yuli was the less talented of the two Gurriel brothers. Lourdes was also 9 years younger. But the brothers were thought to want to play together, Lourdes would be coming on the market a touch later, and this bid would give the Astros an inside edge. Lourdes comes out and the Blue Jays get him for 7/22. I don’t get it. The Astros could have just carbon copied their Yuil deal—hell, give him 7/70—and easily acquired him, and then he would setting records for multiple hit games, in a season where the Astros offense isn’t as good as it could be. A bad enough offense that they just got swept at home by the Rangers. At least they can console themselves by looking at last year’s World Series trophy. I haven’t found any MLB writers or bloggers who’ve been able to say why the Astros did what they did. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/232 "2018-07-30T19:47:51Z")
I admit it’s a mystery to me, too. Presumably the Astros didn’t even make an attempt; the Blue Jay deal wasn’t for a shocking sum of money. Gurriel is of course hurt now, because that’s how this season has gone for Toronto. It appears certain he will miss time. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/233 "2018-07-30T19:58:18Z")
The social media posts of two more MLB players have emerged showing just how pieces of shit most teenaged boys are, but also that once you get called up to the majors, it’s probably a good idea to scrub your old posts. > **[The Value Of Public Shaming](https://deadspin.com/the-value-of-public-shaming-1827965127)** > > The bad old tweets are an increasingly permanent component of the news cycle: An athlete does something good—has a good run of appearances, or gets drafted, or, say, loses a no-hitter with two strikes to go—and someone looks up his very old (and very... ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/234 "2018-07-31T02:38:28Z")
[MLB.com](http://MLB.com) reporting that Harper is available. Utterly amazing that the Nats would throw in the towel. [http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180730&content\_id=288118528&vkey=news\_was&c\_id=was](http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180730&content_id=288118528&vkey=news_was&c_id=was) ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/235 "2018-07-31T05:08:57Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > [MLB.com](http://MLB.com) reporting that Harper is available. Utterly amazing that the Nats would throw in the towel. > > [http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180730&content\_id=288118528&vkey=news\_was&c\_id=was](http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180730&content_id=288118528&vkey=news_was&c_id=was) They’re 5.5 out with 57 to play, and they’re a game under .500 to boot. They’re not winning anything this year. (Yes, 2006 Cardinals. What’re the chances of that happening again?) Do you really think they’re beating the Cubs, Dodgers, or Brewers? Harper’s a free agent next year, right? Why not then see what someone will give you for a rental, and you can try to back the Brinks truck up to him next year, if you choose. No ‘Bird rights’ in baseball. I actually think it’s smart. Problem is, they’re not going to get much. E.g., I’d love to see the Astros get him and see if his bat will reappear, but I don’t think they’d give up Whitley, Tucker, or any other top-shelf prospect. The Nats could probably get Derek Fisher or a guy like that though. Someone blocked by really good players who aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Or one of the bullpen guys with new feet of clay. Wouldn’t it be funny if the Astros shipped out Osuna, right after trading for him? ---
**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:** [July 31, 2018, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/236 "2018-07-31T08:20:53Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > [Sources: Cubs acquire lefty Cole Hamels in trade with Rangers](http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24203873/chicago-cubs-acquire-lefty-cole-hamels-trade-texas-rangers) > > Thanks **Superdude**. ESPN also confirms. > > How happy should I be? His ERA+ is 99. Almost exactly average. Sorry for the delay here, but Chicago didn’t give up much for Hamels. Eddie Butler, a minor league pitcher, and a PTBNL. Texas is paying a portion of his salary, too. He has a decent stat line at Wrigley. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/237 "2018-07-31T12:52:35Z")
I suspect the Nats won’t pull the trigger on a trade unless someone makes an incredible offer. And maybe the Nats wouldn’t see it as throwing in the towel. I mean, Harper is worth a whole 0.4 WAR this year. Maybe that’s an anomaly, but maybe Washington knows something. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/238 "2018-07-31T13:13:43Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I suspect the Nats won’t pull the trigger on a trade unless someone makes an incredible offer. And maybe the Nats wouldn’t see it as throwing in the towel. I mean, Harper is worth a whole 0.4 WAR this year. Maybe that’s an anomaly, but maybe Washington knows something. I have to agree, I wouldn’t see trading Harper as throwing in the towel. I’ve been watching the Nats all year and have come to the conclusion that an outfield of Soto, Taylor and Eaton would probably perform better than the current outfield of Soto, Harper and Eaton. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2018, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/239 "2018-07-31T13:50:42Z")
\*\*Yanks made several moves in the last few days. \*\* New York Yankees traded LHP [Chasen Shreve](http://m.yankees.mlb.com/player/592741/chasen-shreve) and RHP **Giovanny Gallegos** to St. Louis Cardinals for 1B **Luke Voit** and Future Considerations. Voit assigned to AAA. Traded LHP **Caleb Frare** to Chicago White Sox for Future Considerations. Yankees acquired RHP **Lance Lynn** and cash considerations from the Twins for 1B/OF **Tyler Austin** and RHP Jose Rijo. Looks like Lynn will be in the bullpen. I’m wondering if we’re going to hear a Yankee starter is headed to the DL though? Traded RHP **Adam Warren** to Seattle Mariners for Future Considerations. Signed free agent RHP **[Osiel Rodriguez](http://m.yankees.mlb.com/player/682640/osiel-rodriguez)**\* (16 yrs old) \*to a minor league contract. He was the top rated international pitching prospect. I saw reports of $600,000 in International signing money. With these and other trades this month, the Yanks had piled up a large figure of International signing money. So expect some more signings. \*\*\*\*Caleb Frare, **Tyler Austin** &\*\ ***Giovanny Gallegos** \*\*were players the Yanks didn’t have room for but would probably lose to rule 5 in the off season. **Warren was a free agent at the end of the season but this surprised me. Jose Rijo** is a 20 year old pitcher at the High A level thus far. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105/240 "2018-07-31T14:28:48Z")
Boston rents Ian Kinsler to play 2B, the second time Dombrowski has traded for him. That plugs the most obvious hole in the roster, given that Pedroia looks to be done. The bullpen may be solidifying, if Thornburg can be the 8th-inning guy they planned him to be. Meanwhile, they’re 6 games up, and the Skankees know they’ll have to save Severino for the wild-card game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2018/817105.md?page=13)