With the regular season now over for 28 of the league’s 30 clubs, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:
1. NL Wild Card race reaches finish line:
MLB was forced to postpone the final two games of a three-game set between the Braves and Mets last week due to the impact of Hurricane Helene, but with the final two NL Wild Card spots still up in the air after the scheduled end of the regular season, those games will be made up as part of a doubleheader today. If either Atlanta or New York get swept in today’s doubleheader, they’ll miss the playoffs as the winner moves on to face the Padres in San Diego during the Wild Card Series, while the Diamondbacks head to Milwaukee for a match up against the Brewers. If the two teams split the series, the Braves will head to San Diego while the Mets head to Milwaukee, leaving Arizona out of the playoffs and unable to defend their status as the reigning champs of the NL.
Game 1 of today’s doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:10pm local time in Atlanta. Rookie right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (3.47 ERA in 20 starts) will be on the mound for the Braves in Game 1, and The Athletic’s David O’Brien was among those to note that veteran southpaw Chris Sale (2.38 ERA in 29 starts) will take the mound in Game 2 if the Braves are facing elimination. In the event that Braves win Game 1 today, however, Atlanta appears poised to push Sale back to tomorrow so he can face San Diego in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. As for the Mets, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com notes that right-hander Tylor Megill (3.98 ERA in 14 starts) is set to face Schwellenbach in Game 1 while Luis Severino (3.91 ERA in 31 starts) will start Game 2 if the Mets are facing elimination. Like Sale, Severino would be held back for the start of the Wild Card Series should New York emerge victorious in Game 1.
2. Cardinals to hold presser amid organizational changes:
As noted by MLB.com’s John Denton, the Cardinals are set to hold a press conference at 2pm local time in St. Louis this afternoon on the heels of a disappointing 83-79 season where the club missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. The presser comes on the heels of plenty of news in the rumor mill regarding the Cardinals’ future over the weekend. That includes a report that the club will part ways with longtime first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and look to deal veteran players over the winter in an effort to cut payroll, with veteran right-hander Sonny Gray among those who could be shopped. While president of baseball operations John Mozeliak and manager Oli Marmol are both set to remain in their roles with the club in 2025, former Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom figures to take a much larger role in the club’s front office going forward.
3. Red Sox to hold end of season press conference:
The Red Sox announced last week that manager Alex Cora, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, and team president Sam Kennedy are scheduled to hold a press conference together later today to discuss the club’s plans for the offseason as they look ahead to 2025. Boston finished the year with an 81-81 record and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season, though they did enjoy breakouts from young members of their core like Tanner Houck, Jarren Duran, and Wilyer Abreu. Veteran starter Nick Pivetta, closer Kenley Jansen, set-up man Chris Martin, and slugger Tyler O’Neill are among the club’s outgoing free agents this winter.
Mets win Game 1 please, no Sales at Petco!
Go Mets!
The Mets havent figured out Schwellenbach in 2 starts so far, so I see the Braves winning game 1 then sitting their starters for game 2. Braves and Mets force Arizona out.
You are right about Schwellenbach, he was dominate. But it looks like they figured out the Braves relievers.
If Manfred had used some foresight we wouldn’t be in this mess. But it will be a fun day, just puts either of these teams at a huge disadvantage after advancing.
One team is going to be outraged at the end of the day
@Horace @Brew
What mess? Why should anyone be outraged?
Hoping for a Braves sweep but if they win the first game, why bother using Sale in game 2?
One team will be outraged due to missing the playoff.
Predicted a hurricane a year in advance, obviously.
/s
@Susannah
Outrage seems like a weird emotion to feel in response
Frustration or disappointment seems more apt
“One team will be outraged due to”… As a huge fan of MLB, I’m actually THRILLED to be able to view a “sudden death”, pre-playoffs style of winner-take-all baseball.
I’m not sure why so many are “outraged” over what amounts to a random act of Mother nature.
Outrage after losing seems a bit much. IF one team loses on a clearly blown strike zone or check swing call or other questionable rulings by the umpire, it just might ratchet up to outrage.
GA, FL, NC, and SC have been devastated due the storm. For most in this area, baseball is not the most important thing in people’s mind right now. I live in SC where most people still do not have power. Let’s not lose the sight that MLB is just a game and not something to be outraged about.
@Susannah
Didn’t you just say…
I guess my sarcasm did not come through. Sorry.
the resulting consequences to how the 2nd game is played could spark some outrage
If Atlanta wins game one but lays down and let’s the Mets win Game 2, AZ will be pissed. I know this happens as teams position for playoffs in sports, but it doesn’t change the outrage the team left out feels.
“If Atlanta wins game one but lays down . . . AZ will be pissed.”
If “lays down” means rests all their starters, then Atlanta should do that.
As far as AZ is concerned, they shouldve won one more game and this wouldnt be their problem. Every other team with locks got to rest their players this weekend regardless of who they played, why shouldnt Atlanta have the same right? Except for the Mets, they’re already playing one day later than every other team.
I didn’t say Atlanta should rest their guys in game two. They have every right to lay down and should. They probably wouldnt have done so however if their last game was played Sunday against Royals, simultaneous to the games being played by AZ and NYM The situation is unavoidable in my opinion, I’m just saying there will be a team (AZ probably) who is bothered about it. Maybe not, maybe AZ will happily move on, as they will have to.
shouldn’t (first sentence)
Brew:
I guess I dont follow. I dont think you mean intentionally walking players with the bases loaded. But, you also mean doing more than letting Luke Jackson pitch the final 3 innings in a close game.
Im just not sure what the difference is between ‘resting players’ and ‘laying down’, and how AZ would know they were laying down.
resting players as opposed to full lineup with Sale pitching isn’t technically laying down, by your definition above. But it has the same result.
Hindsight is always 20/20. How was the Commissioner to know that Hurricane Helene would plow through Georgia?
BTW, today’s doubleheader is full national on ESPN2.
They forecasted the track about a week before it made landfall.
I guess he doesn’t have anyone who can look at the nws Hurricane site.
They had plenty of time to move the games to NYC or a neutral site.
— today’s doubleheader is full national on ESPN–
Worst part, being subjected to anyone of ESPN’s broadcasters, other than P/T Toronto Buck martinez? ESPN hasn’t had anyone worth a flip in years and the NYM have a tremendous 3 man team. Especially Darling and Hernandez.
So give the Mets the home field advantage or take away huge games from the Atlanta fans? To you those are better options?
@pan
“They had plenty of time to move the games to NYC or a neutral site.”
The problem there, of course, is taking home games away from Atlanta.
I don’t know exactly how this works, but I’d be stunned if it’s just Manfred sitting in an office making decisions.
I’m sure lots of people were involved in this including the Mets and Atlanta.
“How was the commissioner to know that”…You’re using facts, reasoning and logic to rain on the parade of the perpetually “outraged mob”.
Don’t you understand that all they truly have in life is their general unhappiness and 24/7 “outrage”?
Often we need to vilify one person to blame for the issue of the day [or year (or life)].
Maybe Manfred’s step grandmother’s cousin was named Helene.
Atlanta fans do not show up for games
Amen
“Do not show up for games”….Is this another case of “sarcasm” that doesn’t translate in writing?…
Because the Braves are a top 5 MLB attendance team, averaging almost 38,000 fans per game, trailing only the Yanks, Phils and Pads, I do believe.
Atlanta is ranked 5th in attendance, what are you talking about?
NFL has moved games to a neutral site due to weather and fires.
Hmm, NFL regular season game vs the final games of an MLB season with the playoffs on the line. MLB made the right call.
Also those NFL fans were PISSED the game was moved to a neutral site.
Not so smart to forget the Dodgers, the #1 ticket sales team in MLB.
LA, the only city that can lead the universe in ticket sales but come in last for post-5th inning attendance!
I hate Manfred but what exactly was he supposed to do differently in this situation?
Obviously Manfred should have rescheduled the hurricane instead of the games.
@horaceallen: That’s not a bad thing. WC2 and WC3 should be at a disadvantage relative to the division winners and top WC.
There is an obvious answer to this – if either team had won a couple more games during the season, this is a moot point. They didn’t win enough games, and took it to the last minute, and didn’t have a cushion for the unknowable.
Although Schwellenbach is out of the way!
Wow, Braves lost Game 1 but are going with a bullpen game (not Sale) in game 2. I guess they’re betting on Mets resting regulars GM 2
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Hey Brew, I’m flying back from Italy and out of the loop today. I see Sale didn’t start the elimination game as predicted.
Any word if they flew him to SD yesterday – why not if they knew they weren’t using him?
SD should still handle Atl with their injuries and depleted staff.
Red Sox press conference is bound to be nothing but your usual cliches about what a great job Cora did, how the young talent is coming along and how they’ll be looking at adding “the right” players.
Have to be the first to indicate the purpose of the conference is to announce plans to go “full throttle” this off season …
Your quicker to respond than I am Dewey.. nicely done…
let – And once again ownership, specifically John Henry and Tom Werner, will not participate like they used to do until the past few years.
Very, very weak. I know they are probably afraid of speaking because of the arrogance their words often project and the proven lies after they speak, but they are the principal owners …. at least show your damn face and pretend you care.
What are the FanDuel odds that Cora won’t accept any responsibility for another non-playoff season?
Fever, Cora needs to go (that 3-year extension was ridiculous) and they also need to dump Fatso, their hitting coach.
let – True on both, but I don’t see Cora happening for at least 2 more years. Henry is totally infatuated with him, or Cora has some dirt on Henry.
Or he’s a good manager. You Sox fans make me laugh. Don’t you know that every fanbase hates their manager when yhe team isn’t winning?
@remember
Or when they are
coop – I don’t follow the 29 other teams as intensely as I follow the Red Sox, therefore I don’t have the right to say whether any of those 29 managers are good or not. And I would never criticize fans of the 29 other teams for their opinion of their team’s manager, again because I don’t follow their team as closely as they do.
As for Cora, he is not hated by RSN …. his behavior with the Astros and Red Sox is universally disliked, and his decisionmaking – especially when it comes to the handling of the pitching staff – is very poor. RSN has felt that way even in 2021, which unfortunately is the only time since 2019 that they’ve had a winning season.
Hope that helps clear things up for you :O)
@Fever
“I don’t follow the 29 other teams as intensely as I follow the Red Sox, therefore I don’t have the right to say whether any of those 29 managers are good or not.”
Then you can’t say whether or not Cora is good.
“Good” and “bad” are relative terms. If you don’t know what to relate it to, it makes no sense.
Dasha – I understand your point, but if the other 29 managers jump into the river, does that mean Cora should as well? Good is not based on all other current managers. It is based on success and failure directly resulting from managerial decisions and behavior.
I have a long list of criteria used to determine whether or not a manager is worth keeping or should be let go. I won’t bore people with that long list because most of it has been discussed in great length over the years by many, many people.
@Fever
Bore me. I’m sure this will be entertaining
Dasha – Condescending already? Really?
If you’re an alt account, you rushed into that a bit too fast.
He burns out his staff by August each year. Some teams can do more with less but whatever Cora has to work with, he simply burns the bullpen out.
Dash – Okay I don’t want to spoil you with too much entertainment, so here’s a couple to start.
Behavior-wise, Cora was the ringleader behind one of the worst cheating scandals in baseball history. Then the year after, as manager of the Red Sox, he bragged to his team about how his Astros stole the Word Series ….. and he was bragging to the faces of the same Red Sox players that Cora’s Astros cheated against in the ALDS. That showed him to be lacking in character, lacking in ethics, unable to tell the truth, zero credibility, and incredibly selfish. Not the sort of guy you’d want leading by example.
Decision wise, earlier this month Cora pulled a well-rested starting pitcher who was cruising along with a 52-pitch perfect game through four innings. Cora chose to then replace him with a 44-year-old southpaw who had pitched only a handful of innings for the entire year. When asked afterward why Cora did it, he said he made the decision before the game even started that he wanted a lefty to come in for the 5th inning. I probably don’t need to explain how that decision turned out. That was yet another example how Cora is incapable of thinking for himself, incapable of making decisions as a game progresses, overly obsessed with L/R matchups, and lacking in common sense. Not the sort of manager that maximizes his team’s potential.
Dash – Somehow you missed this part with the behavior example, which is not very specific at all: “That showed him to be lacking in character, lacking in ethics, unable to tell the truth, zero credibility, and incredibly selfish. Not the sort of guy you’d want leading by example.”
Cora’s reference to “we” is an example of his lack of accountability. Even if “they” suggested that pre-game plan, he as the manager has final say on how he chooses to use his players. Are you implying Cora is nothing more than a puppet of the front office? If so, why pay him over $21M on a new contract? Can’t anybody simply execute the instructions from the front office?
You are the first person to state Cora doesn’t have final say and is just a puppet, how did you arrive at that conclusion? Do you have inside information you’d like to share with us? Link perhaps?
Dash – It’s really a yes or no question, does Cora have final say or does he not? By saying “we” he is trying to absolve himself of blame. There is absolutely no way he would allow the front office to make decisions for him, that would be the front office stepping on his toes in a big way.
Of course I agree there are other managerial functions, including the motivating of players to perform their best. That simply has not happened for the past three years. In each of the years, the team has completely collapsed in the second half and has put forth very little effort. This despite the fact each year saw key players return in the second half. How is it possible the Sox can play so much worse when Casas, Story, Slaten, Martin etc all returned to the team?
You can tell by the constant swinging at nearly every pitch, the players just want the at bat to go quickly. Lack of interest or motivation in working the count, lack of interest in driving up the pitcher’s pitch count, lack of interest in making contact when it’s very much needed like with a runner on third and less than two outs. That is on Cora, nobody else. Most any other manager who has lost the team for three straight seasons would have been fired by now. If he ends up managing another team that is mid-market or small market, you will see the results won’t be very good.
But you have to actually watch the games to understand, as these details I’ve been entertaining you with cannot be found at FG or BR.
I was blown away when Cora made that move. Watching a pitcher with total control of the game being taken out reminds me of many games this year he either pulled a pitcher or left a pitcher in I watched every game this year and I say Cora blew ( I guess his decision alone) at least 12 games in doing so. Even if I’m not correct in all 12 , even half of that would’ve put Sox in playoffs.
Sox – Superb post, I totally agree!
It’s not just who he pulled too early, it’s who he replaced him with and why. Very, very concerning.
–But you have to actually watch the games to understand, as these details I’ve been entertaining you with cannot be found at FG or BR–
Was reading what missed last few hours with, admit bit of humor Fever, then that hit at the jugular, tho you had another in that same post where it seems were getting a bit tired of making points whiche continually went over another’s head.
it’s going nowhere.. Sometimes we type until fingers are blue and the “other” just switches usernames. U more than made ur point(s).
john – Totally agree and I was gonna wrap it up. He’s polite though and made the time and effort to support his stance.
Letit- Liked how last night Dinardo was giving it to Breslow. You know O’Brien would not have asked him any tough questions had he had the chance during that quick half inning, he’s as squishy as many reporters are. I have a lot more admiration now for lenny now than did after going after Breslow hard for 2-3 minutes.
Please tell Kennedy to be quiet and go away. Let Breslow run this show. He knows what he is doing, even if his hands are tied by ownership.
Yep, that’s pretty much how it went.
However, I think we got a nice quote from Sam Kennedy.
“We’ll have to let our actions speak louder than our words” (when asked about why fans should trust them going into next season after the previous few mishaps)
But I think the bigger issue here is the reluctance to comment on payroll. I understand you don’t want to let other teams know “hey Boston only plans on adding 35MM in payroll, so you can outbid them!”. But you can say “there are areas to improve in and the quickest way to improve in them is to add via free agency. Breslow will have the funds necessary to make the necessary improvements” or something. This way they don’t need to comment on any specific areas and throw specific players under the bus, it’s just a general “we will spend to improve the team” statement.
Huge first game for the Mets, and the Cards seen what Harris did with the youth in Detroit, and said yes !
The Tampa Oakland model those teams used for years to get into the playoffs is finally here in Detroit. This is so good now for Detroit. The farm is deep, and they have choices for a change. GO TIGERS !
Please at the press conference do not …. I say …. Please …..do not say we’re GOING FULL THROTTLE in 25!!!
They’ll say full throttle and then immediately backpedal later, just like last offseason.
acoss – Nah, they won’t backpedal until after season ticket renewals are due …. just like last offseason ;O)
Fever,
That’s pretty bad lol
Cubs have their own issues too, God forbid Hoyer gets something done with two straight playoff misses…
acoss – It was LITERALLY the day after the season ticket renewal deadline when Werner said he misspoke.
Ownership is incredibly unethical and classless, especially Werner and Henry. Not even showing up for Larry’s funeral was par for the course.
Didn’t bother showing up for Joe’s last game either.
Very sad commentary Fever but it says all you need to know about Sox ownership. Too bad fans have no backbone. I left T-Mobile and will not be paying for the package in 25. Getting at no extra cost was great but then they raised my bill enough to cover that cost. As I needed new phones and they were not being competitive with their offers, I left. Now that it’s actual money out of my pocket, I will not spend unless ownership first makes big moves to truly compete.
dewey – The best part of the press conference was Kennedy saying there’s no plans to buy the Celts, I hope to God that’s the truth. Wouldn’t want another Boston franchise ruined by FSG’s corporate greed.
Yeah I don’t blame you on the T-Mobile situation, if I ever lose my grandfathered plan – and I’m guessing it will happen eventually – I would explore other options.
When the Sox finally decide to compete, you could always get the package around June at 50% off.
Well, the Cards are brining back Mo and Marmol. They’ve learned nothing. Not only another lost season coming, but empty stands, which leads to lower spending, which leads to more lost seasons. There’s gotta be an interested buyer for this team out there somewhere.
Red Sox Bluprint 2.0:
1) Red Sox need more SP and less Left-Handed bats.
2) Avoid Big Ticket FAs (Soto, Burns, Bregman, etc)
3) Devers moves to DH for health and defensive improvement.
————-
1) Trade Casas for Gilbert or Kirby (add in prospect if necessary).
2) Sign one of the LH FA pitchers (Boyd, Manaea, Heaney, or Kikuchi).
3) Trade Yoshida and eat some salary to open up the DH spot.
4) Sign one of the RH hitting 1Bs (Walker, Santander or Goldschmidt).
5) Story at SS, and let the kids battle it out for the rest of the infield positions (Gonzalez, Grissom, Hamilton, Sogard, Medrioth and Mayer, Campbell)
6) Add a backup catcher (Grandal)
If enough money:
7) Short-term Closer (Yates, Chapman), otherwise let in-house competition settle it.
1) Yes
2) Soto is the closest to Ted Williams. The only excuse any owner has of not signing him is that they’re cheap/unable to build enough of a team to attract his talent. But avoid Bregman. Burnes for the right price is fine.
3) He makes too much money to DH and makes too much money to not make himself into a passable 3B. Make him do so.
1) It would take multiple prospects because Casas is that brutal defensively, this wouldn’t add any value.
2) Preferably Manaea, do not touch Kikuchi with a 10 foot pole
3) No one is taking Yoshida’s contract. Dump it and move on.
4) Absolutely not Goldschmidt, and neither for more than 2 years
5) Yes
6) Yes, but Kyle Higashioka
7) They have money, they just won’t spend it. Preferably Yates
I wouldn’t say casas is brutal defensively, he has the same OAA as Aaron judge, I also think if he brings down his strikeouts (he already makes up for his defense with his offense) he could be even better
1-Okay
2-Makes sense
3-Also makes sense except who plays 3rd?
+++++
1-It’ll take more than Casas
2-I wouldn’t touch any of those four
3-Nobody is going to trade for Yoshi unless Sox eat 70% of his salary and don’t ask for much in return.
4-Goldschmidt? Surely, you jest.
5-Keep a core of Casas, Hamilton, Gonzalez, Story and Devers. Make Grissom earn his way onto the roster.
6-I still think Jansen, if he’s cheap enough, would be fine as the backup
7-Chapman? Best chuckle I’ve had all of September.
letitbe:
3) Mayer plays 3rd when he’s ready, until then, patchwork of other names. Mayer will be the Red Sox third baseman inevitably.
4) Goldschmidt is 3rd name on list. If you disagree, please explain off the two names before him.
7) Again, you pick the latter name first. Boyd or Manaea, Walker and Yates are the primary FA targets, other names are fall backs if first options dont pan out. Free agency isnt shopping at the supermarket. Contingency plans are necessary if players dont want to come to Boston or are asking too much.
Salvi: disagree on moving Mayer to third right away. He’s still considered an above average defensive SS.
acell:
Red Sox have several middle infielders coming up, so they can afford to move Mayer to 3B (Romero, Arias, Zantello). On the contrary, there is very little depth at 3B in the minors.
Improving the defense is the primary objective to moving Mayer to 3rd. I think an infield, that includes Mayer, Story and FA Christian Walker in it, would be one of the best defensive infields in baseball.
Just like ‘trading Casas’, putting Mayer at 3B is done out of necessity of team needs, not an opinion on the player.
Salvi- I gotta ask.. Do u have Milb tv? Reason aski, is wondering if have ever watched any of Arias, Romero and especially Zantello play. Sure, Arias and Zantello A Ballers, but man.. neither have impressed me. Arias getting some hype from several sites, but I see issues and Zantello’s entire game is a big hole, while Romero *did* from like the AS break start bashing HR’s left and right, but it’s the 1st time he’s really done anything since drafted same time as Roman Anthony and he’s a free swinger, who doesn’t take a walk..
Those 3 are not ones I’d hang my hat on as a fan of the team is what am saying. They have good kids, at all levels to boot, but 2 of those are (to me) getting full blown Blake Swihart hype from some RS sites.
John:
Moving Mayer to 3B is a solution for 2025. Those minor leaguers wont be able to help for years. Mayer could always move back to SS if none pan out. But, to not stray too far from my point, the Red Sox DEFINITELY have more depth at SS than they do at 3B, in the minors.
——————
To counter your points on the 3 SSs in the system:
Are you really watching 4 games every night? I’ll gladly admit Im not, and that Im trusting scouting reports.
– Romero had less than 200 ABs before 2024, Im not sure what you saw in 2022 and 2023 at Rookie and Low A, that outweighs what he did at High A and Double A this year. But, Im inclined to keep him in the depth chart.
– Arias is a Baseball America Top 100 prospects, who are not part of the Red Sox ‘hype machine’ and I value their opinion. What have you seen in his 148 ABs at Single A inclines you to disagree with them?
– Zantello is listed 3rd for a reason, he was just added as a depth option and will probably be a utility infielder, if/when he reaches MLB.
Salvi- Nah, course don’t watch all the Sox level games each night and not every Salem game is even broadcast (tv), unlike the greeneville, Portland and Woosox, which can always find either the home, or road game broadcast, but to answer the main question? There is a ball game going on in this house pretty much every waking hour. now I may not be always paying attention to it, but it’s *on*. Not working any longer, as in being a member of the “old gents” club allows me to enjoy something like that and has for awhile.. So enjoy it I do..
Some games will watch “muted” (horrid announcers), some teams have really good ones like more.. You watch long enough and learn them all.. Make sense??
Lol. You know your chit. I always listen to what you say.
What do you think of Mayer to 3rd for ‘near future’ then? Moving Devers to DH for health and defense is my first priority. Would you put Mayer or Story at 3B?I dont dont trust Sogard, Medrioth or Gonzalez there, other than as a short-term fix. And I dont want them to tie-up a ton of money in Bregman.
Again several of those middle infielders are either many years away (arias Zantello) or not as good defensively as Mayer (Romero). It makes no sense to move Mayer off a position where he has the potential to be above average when story for example could be shifted to third especially as his he gets older.
Moving Mayer will only create a more immediate necessity at SS.
Acell:
Im good with Story going there. If the defensive alignment rates better with Mayer at SS and Story at 3B, then thats fine.
Story has a weak arm (by ML standards) but great range. Supposedly Mayer’s arm is decent? If so, he would seem to be the better fit at 3b.
I would also be curious if Campbell could learn the position.
–I would also be curious if Campbell could learn the position–
I’m not so sure his futre is in the IF, but will be in the OF. Later on after he was promoted to AAA he was getting increasingly exposed to CF, not that believe that spot in the OF would be the choice, but possibly a corner location as a way to find room for the glut of MI the organization currently has and what i saw? he didn’t look terrible to me for a guy who hasn’t had a lot of profesional experience in the OF.
Salvi–wasn’t ignoring.. Mayar does have a good enough arm for 3b believe was what u asked for SS is my 2c. Will be curious to see how he does with off speed in AAA, which of course he has yet to play at the level yet. he’s had issues it seems picking them up it looks like to me and can look very bad/fooled easilly at times. AAA has more wily vets/retreads and should get an idea pretty quick. Shame he didn’t get in at least a cpl wks play at the level, that was my major question regarding him.
They have a decent number of OFs as well, with Duran, Abreu, Rafaela, Anthony, and Montgomery in the pipeline. More, too, if you look at second tier prospects.
That’s why I’d at least explore possible IF positions before taking the easy solution.
Story’s weak arm was largely attributed to his elbow injury.
Yes, he averaged just 79.1 on his throws in 2021. Last year he was up to 81.2, this year at 80.0, but the ML average at shortstop is around 86-87.
Ideally you want the shortstop to have the best arm on the infield. His fielding is SO good that you can overlook that weakness, though.
I suspect his shoulder fracture this year may have played a part in that. I’d like see how he does next year regarding his arm strength
How? It was his left shoulder that was hurt, and of course he is a righty. I don’t deny the possibility that he regains a little arm strength, but he has a multi year history of having one of the weakest arms in the majors at the position. I don’t see it as a huge problem, but his strongest throw is still below the league average.
I thought he hurt his right shoulder diving for the ball. My mistake.
He was pop gunning his throws, post injury this year to 1b, but we’ll have to wait on next year to see how this plays out. Cannon arms from SS.. Like Rick Burleson had, more recently Raffy not common in Boston and mostly awful defense gloves.. Lugo, renteria, names and people just can’t force out of memory were so horrid. I’m happy with a slick glove who can get the ball to 1b, rather than maybe (if lucky) glove it and if does? throw it into the stands.
tff:
Interesting stat on throws.
Maybe Campbell at 3B, Mayer SS and Story moving to 2B is the answer. I just hope they can solve this problem in house and not have to get an expensive FA for 3B. Just say “No to Bregman”.
Salvi: Why on earth would you want the Sox to sign Grandal, or as he’s known to the teams he’s played for, Mr. Passed Ball? Worst catcher in the game.
For depth, youd also have Gasper. Thats the least important move I listed. The only comment you have is about a league minimum catcher brought in for depth and ST competition, until Teel is ready?
Many positions are left weak with the intention (hopefully) of being filled by the Fab 4.
Have to feel for Arizona a bit in this particular situation. Doubleheader to settle elimination is rough for all parties involved.
On the flip side for Arizona here is that if teams weren’t so concerned with launch angle and velocity and simply played situational baseball when the scores dictate doing so they might have won another game or 2 to avoid this situation.
As a modern fan high velocity and mashing bombs are cool but it plays into the media rights, ticket sales, etc. I’m a bit old school in that enjoying the little pieces of the game are much more enjoyable than double digit strikeout performances vs teams that refuse to make approach changes in game.
Start the movement of working counts, hitting behind runners, gap to gap approach!!
AZ has had a very good year. Hard to believe 89 wins may not be enough in this expanded playoffs set up
@VANC
“I’m a bit old school in that enjoying the little pieces of the game are much more enjoyable”
You’re not paying attention
These are the little parts of the game
It all started with the 2014 Pirates when they went big on shifting the infield. They then realized that if they got more ground balls the shift would be even more effective. So, they focused on 2-seam fastballs.
The league caught on and everyone started doing it.
Offensed had to adjust. To avoid hitting ground balls to shifted infielders, batters changed their swing angles to better meet the incoming trajectory of the ball. No more level swings hitting the tops of sinking pitches – elevate and celebrate.
Pitchers countered the offense’s counter attack. The upward swings left hitters susceptible to high 4-seam fastballs.
Pitches and pitch arsenals are crafted in the lab now. Tunneling. Seam-shifted wake.
The game within the game has never been more intense.
You should check it out.
Pregame strategy is great. Love it. Good organizations have a plan and stick to it and build bottom up.
My biggest qualm with players currently is the lack of adjustments made in game. Having been to numerous MLB and MiLB games this season I’ve seen many stick to their approach (I understand that’s what got them there) rather than having the game/score dictate. Far too many 0-4 3 strikeout games this year for my liking.
@VANC
“the lack of adjustments made in game”
I don’t think that you know that this is true. How could you?
Dasha:
They’re not adjusting in-game on iPads, they’re catching up on The Bachelor. Despicable
Obviously an outsiders opinion and a subjective opinion.
The eye test from this fans perspective doesn’t pass in many situations.
Switching gears from organizational values, the O’s are playing their best ball going into the playoffs. They’re dangerous!
Love watching the O’s, but not enough pitching. Hot hitting is not what produces magical runs in the playoffs. It’s hot pitching, particularly relievers.
The Cardinals missed their reboot window by trying to piece together a team of aging starting pitching and losing all value in their position players. They should have traded Arenado, Goldschmidt and Mikolas this past offseason.
Would help if they would actually let their young guys succeed when they get called up rather than trying to cram them into a box and watching them flounder, either keeping them and killing their confidence or dumping them right away and seeing them excel somewhere else. Wish they would notice that pattern and do something about it.
The whole Arenado trade was a pretty big mistake. Yeah they got one great year out of him (his career year, I think) in 2022, but they are also paying him the 5th highest position player salary in baseball and moved not one but TWO elite hitting prospects off their natural 3B position to fit him in.
There have obviously been worse trades and contracts, but to invest that much in him instead of pitching was just a bad idea. Funnily enough, Arenado had only very slightly more bWAR than Austin Gomber, for whom he was traded, this year.
Colorado is paying some of his contract. His salary declines over the next 3 years the Cardinals owe him 64 million through 2027. That’s really not that bad considering they got an MVP caliber season out of the deal.
Since it escaped MLBTR’s attention, I would like to congratulate Reinsdorf and Getz on leading the White Sox to a record setting 121 loss season. The ’62 Mets lost 120, but they were an expansion team and had to take the players the rest of the league didn’t protect. Getz hand-picked this team. So, how to celebrate their achievement?
-TP reinsdorf’s mansion with Brooklyn Dodger’s toilet paper?
-hide the training wheels off of Getz’ Gremlin?
-send a letter of thanks to Bowie Kuhn for making Bill Veeck sell this franchise to Reinsdorf in the first place?
It continues to amaze me that the White Sox were the worst team in baseball history despite having a top 5 pitcher in the game, arguably top 3. Reminds me of Steve Carlton.
The White Sox actually finished with a higher winning percentage than those Mets this year. They played 2 more games than the Mets did and split them. They might have more losses but they also had more wins than the Mets.
And that gets you what, exactly? They were still an absolute disgrace.
@remember
“And that gets you what, exactly? ”
Not the worst record in MLB history
But the Colt 45’s were in the same position and they didn’t even lose 100 games. So the Mets were pretty epic that year, only winning 40 games. Plus there was the post game video with Casey Stengel throwing his cap in the air when they won and on the ground when they lost.
I saw Jeff passan on ESPN talk about this scenario where if the braves and Mets both forfeit a game or intentionally lose one then they both win and go to the playoffs
I remember this happened a few years ago with the chargers and raiders I believe but in that game the teams still decided to play for the win and not the season
Going to be an interesting day in the NL regardless. There isn’t too much love between the Braves and Mets so I can’t see either team giving the other one a “courtesy W”. The Diamondbacks are obviously going to be watching both games today on the edge of their seats.
The D’Backs could sell tickets to a watch party thing at their park, invest all of it in Bitcoin, and if Bitcoin Clears $100,000 they could afford a closer who won’t dump the season like Paul Sewald did this year
Sewald is the main reason they made the playoffs and went on their run last year. Relief pitchers giveth, and relief pitcher taketh away.
They don’t need to watch game 1. Means nothing who wins that one, only game 2.
A rookie tryin’ to save the Braves’ season? Bah! In my day, a rookie was lucky to carry a veteran’s bags, let alone pitch in a do-or-die game!
The 1944 Cincinnati Reds used 15 year old Joe Nuxhall in a game. He didn’t fare so well.
This situation is incredibly unfair to both teams. It’s not like you didn’t know there would be a hurricane. So get the teams to a neutral stadium and play the damn games on the schedule. Jeez Louise it’s not like hurricanes are some new thing. MLB stinks at basic common sense solutions.
If I were these two teams I would each forfeit one game and tell MLB to stuff it.
They should’ve had a doubleheader on the day they got a game in. Maybe had a game on Mondays off day too but as for weather you really didn’t know for sure until a day before at the most. A hurricane can move anywhere it wants before it makes landfall. We arent talking about Florida we are talking about leftover effects all the way up in suburban ATL. If the hurricane shifted a bit it’s possible those games are played. And it was possible they weren’t necessary anyway. I don’t like changing stadiums. They were Braves home games. ATL is supposed to have homefield advantage here. If you knew absolutely it would happen then you would’ve just had the games played Monday and Tuesday at Truist.
My somewhat objective playoff rankings
NL
1/2) Dodgers and Phillies
3) Padres
4) DBacks
5/6/7) Mets, Braves and Brewers
AL)
1) Yankees
2/3) Astros and Orioles
4) Guardians
5/6) Royals and Tigers
Dasha: No love for the midwest. I agree on Cleve, but think Milwaukee better than DBacks.
It’s getting a little ridiculous with all the negative Cardinals stuff here. Look at the Cubs. They were supposed to be better than the Cardinals in 2024 and they weren’t. Lot of guys in their primes. Imanaga and Busch were good moves and the Cubs still weren’t any good. Any articles about that? Any press conferences? Perhaps the Cubs and their fans are better at losing. And that’s not a compliment…….
This NL playoff situation certainly opens the door to the integrity of the game. Just saying. We win one, you win one and we’re both in the playoffs and Arizona is helpless.
.
“Integrity of the game”…C’mon bro, that literally could happen at any point in the season, not just today with Mets vs Braves.
And with sports leagues completely in bed with(potentially organized crime)gambling operators, how does any sports league claim “integrity”?
I’m a huge D-backs supporter and wanted to see them do well, but they had their chances just like all the other teams.
Then Lindor goes yard. If the rest of the playoffs are like this, count me in….
Will the Mets have anyone available to play game 2 after the clubhouse celebration?
I would expect them to rest multiple starters in preparation for Tuesday’s game.
Guess that means the Snakes out the playoffs….
Sale scratched from his start with Braves’ backs against the wall. Will make for an interesting game 2….
Advantage Atlanta, because their back is to the wall and the Mets don’t care, but you never know…
Those 2 Snake fans are totally bummed tonite….
Sam Kennedy is an absolute skunk
Weasel. Same family, but sneakier!