MLB: July 2018

Just as the Cubs get ready to start their long stretch of gamesmanship Brandon Morrow to the DL.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-put-brandon-morrow-on-disabled-list/amp/

From what I have read, his injury isn’t considered serious. With his injury history shouldn’t they play it safe?

Machado had a huge home advantage in 2017-2018, but prior to that he wasn’t usually dependent on Camden Yards.

Contrary to popular belief, Camden Yards is not a hitter’s paradise. It is neutral. In fact, Camden Yards and Chavez Ravine are quite similar parks, in that both parks are pitcher’s parks BUT are good for hitting home runs in; they both substially increase home runs, but otherwise suck to hit in. Machado, being a homer-oriented player, may not really see much of a difference.

Dodger Stadium is definitely the worse of the two for hitting, but it should not harm Machado more than the average player.

I just discovered an interesting stat about Joey Votto. Since 2010, his first year in the MLB, he’s got 6,563 plate appearances. He has never popped it up to the catcher, first baseman or pitcher.

In fact, he has only popped it up 7 total times in his career. I mentioned this to a friend and he said that given the same number of appearances, the average MLB player would have popped it up 127 times. Is this some kind of record?

Of course, they need to. This team has their sight set on a long playoff run. I’m glad they threw in the towel early today during the blowout and had position players pitching. I’d rather have a blowout than an 18 inning marathon ending in a loss with a day night doubleheader tomorrow and a day game on Sunday.

I agree. Both sets of playoffs are tossups. Great for neutrals like me but gut wrenching for supporters of the club’s involved. One bit of schadenfreude going into the playoffs is that at least one of Boston or the Yankees won’t be going to the world series. And the Cardinals.

Since that’s true of literally every single season, I’m not seeing the schadenfreude.

It’s funny seeing the signs at the ballpark and the memes on Facebook about, “Let’s Play Two!” The Cubs have a day/night doubleheader and I’m quite sure Ernie Banks was not referring to these awful games.

A really clever minor league promotion: Millennial night, featuring participation ribbons, selfie stations, napping areas, and, of course, avocados.

Mets trade their closer Familia and get almost nothing back except salary relief.

Why won’t the Wilpons just sell out to someone that actually wants to win?

Gosh, Oakland looks really good.

As much as people are going ballistic over the Mets not getting a lot for Familia, relief pitchers are a dime a dozen. Two months of Jeurys Familia isn’t worth THAT much.

Who says no?

Trout for De Grom and Syndergaard

MLB.TV is free today if you’re stuck in a rain delay for your local team.

I’m watching the LA Angels vs Houston and the attendance looks pathetic. Yes, the Angels aren’t going to the playoffs this year but they’re a .500 team with Trout and Ohtani playing against the defending World Series champions. They can’t draw flies on a glorious Sunday afternoon???

It was 35,000. Its decent attendance for an perfect afternoon for families to go to the beach or a park or hiking in the hills. Or Disneyland or Magic Mountain or Knotts Berry Farm or Universal Studios. Or any of several water parks.

Chapman with a brace on his knee and has a horrendous outing against the Mets. I think the right thing to do is put him on the DL.

Sanchez off the DL. Big question: will his bat warm up?

I think the Yanks are doing well to stay as close as they have to Boston- seems like NY has had the rougher end of injuries this year.

The Division Series between New York and Boston will be the premier matchup of the postseason.

Who are we asking?

The Angels should say no, of course.

Dear ESPN: You picked the Cubs/Dbacks as the Monday night baseball game, you don’t need to show your beloved Yankees on a split screen.

Great debut for Cardinal’s pitcher Daniel Poncedeleon tonight. 7 innings of no hit ball. Unfortunately the Card’s bullpen gave up the game in the 9th.

Fourteen months ago Poncedeleon suffered brain trauma after being hit in the right temple by a batted ball. He had surgery and spent about a month in the hospital. Good to see him recover and get back into the game.

Zach Britton to the Yanks. Yeah, there’s no need to watch any Orioles baseball the rest of the season.

http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20180724&content_id=287154688&vkey=news_nyy&c_id=nyy