MLB: July

The Game Room
201

That’s sweet that you’ll be there. I need to get myself out to a game this season. I haven’t been to the yard since last year.

Kershaw is a really good pitcher so the Reds batters better not rest on their laurels after chasing Greinke. Bailey can be really good too but does struggle a little too often.

And yeah, Chapman is a freak. His problem is control. He gets a little wild when he tries to rear back and throw 105-106 (which he can do, just not as accurately as when he keeps it in the 99-102 range).

202

The Cubs traded Alfonso Soriano to the Yankees. The Cubs will pay most of his remaining salary and they got one Class A pitching prospect in return.

203

That’s a pretty good move for the Yanks, especially since Soriano is starting to heat up.

204

In other news Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins is the proud new father of … twins!

As to Seattle manager Eric Wedge, the “dizzy spell” I mentioned the other day turns out to have been a mild stroke. So for now he’s resting up for the rest of the homestand, and won’t be traveling with the team on the next road trip. Bench Coach Robby Thompson will be running the team in his absence.

205

I read or heard somewhere today (I think it may have been ESPN this morning), that the pitch from Aroldis Chapman that Mark Ellis got a hit on last night, was the fastest recorded pitch ever to result in a base hit.
From theRedleg Nation blog’s preview of the Reds-Dodgers series:

“Kershaw’s one career win and loss against the Reds came in 2010. If both Kershaw and Homer Bailey are pitching well, the match-up could be a classic. Dusty Baker will play it so tight he’ll order sacrifice bunts with no one on base.”

206

I barely remembered Soriano was still in the majors. When was he last a good player?

207

He’s actually not been a terrible player the last few years. He just hasn’t been nearly worth what the Cubs are paying him. In 2012 he was a 2.0 bWAR player, and is on pace for 1.5 wins or so this year. Fangraphs is even kinder, having him at 3.6 fWAR in 2012 and on pace for ~2 wins this year.

Considering what the Yankees are trotting out there today, clearly an upgrade I think.

208

Though not for his original position with the Yanks.:wink:

209

And I was stunned when I read he’s 37.

210

As is Corky Miller of the Reds, who made a heads-up play at the plate tonight to tag out Handley Ramirez.

I love it when a former student does good.

211

Yeah, Corky has been around the way for a long time…he’s certainly not a bad player, nor is he responsible for the loss today. And Bailey pitched well…

212

You called a pitching duel, and you got it.

213

In the last month Soriano has more HR than the ENTIRE Yankee roster.

214

Yeah, Bailey pitched really well. Unfortunately Kershaw was even better.

215

Ah Reds. You should have taken Baraka against Ryu…
Seriously cool play by Reds catcher Mesoroco covering first and nailing Puig overrunning first base, though.

Dammit.

And Choo’s snag in CF was pretty nice too.

http://wapc.mlb.com/cin/play/?content_id=29204837&topic_id=8877984&c_id=cin

http://wapc.mlb.com/cin/play/?content_id=29205599&topic_id=8877986&c_id=cin

Here’s Corky Miller’s amazing play from last night too: http://wapc.mlb.com/cin/play/?content_id=29169577&topic_id=8877984&c_id=cin

Those are a couple of amazing plays by catchers that you don’t normally see!

216

Today, you get the weakest link in the Dodgers rotation. I suspect [read: fear] that your offense is going to magically experience a resurgence.

217

I hope so. With how stiff the competition is in the NLC this year the Reds have to keep pace. I will happily take a split series on the road against a good team.

218

I said you’d score some runs; I didn’t say we weren’t planning on scoring, too. We concede nothing! :slight_smile:

219

silenus, just a <nitpick> Hanley <nitpcik>.

220

And Jeter hits a home run on the first pitch he sees. Not bad.