*** OFFICIAL *** MLB 2024 Thread

[Dan Druff]

The Padres, realizing the parity there seems to be in the NL this year, decided that they're not in sell mode, after all.

They just acquired Luis Arraez from the dreadful Marlins.

The Padres are only 17-18, with a bad 8-12 home record, but are still in second place. More importantly, the Braves, Phillies, Brewers, and Dodgers are off to strong records. The Braves and Dodgers will definitely keep it up. The Phillies and Brewers might or might not regress. However, that still leaves two wildcard spots open, and there really aren't any clear favorites for those other two spots right now. The 2023 Diamondbacks, who made the World Series, showed what a hot team can do if they simply make the postseason.

As it stands, there are only two non-division leading teams over .500 in the NL right now -- the Braves and the Cubs.


In other news, somehow the Twins have won 11 in a row, after a 7-13 start.

[Sanlmar]

The victim of bad luck approach to life. You do you, Druff

Corbin Carroll was the little engine that drove the DBack’s last year. He is hurt this year. Sad. I saw him short arm a somewhat routine fly ball and it was then I achieved certainty the kid is injured.

[Dan Druff]

Kind of a weird year so far.

There are some hitters who are absolutely struggling like they never have before.

There are a lot of pitchers getting hurt.

There are some pitchers who seem to be crushing it, including ones you wouldn't expect to be crushing it.

Kinda looks like a down offense year? I'm seeing a lot of low scoring games. I haven't checked the numbers though.

[Daly]

[Sanlmar]

@Daly

Be sure to dial in the Ballys money issue in handicap.

You have Twins trimming $30m from payroll and the fans a furious. May 1 those pissed off fans arrive home and discover they can’t watch the games either. You know the Twins aren’t even calling up an Ohtani (with a healthy arm) from AAA. Team control and all that

It’s a weird year. Back of my mind I’m sometimes asking if we are approaching some percentage of Covid weirdness. It hasn’t fully unwound itself yet.

[Sanlmar]

Happy Alek Manoah Day Simp.

[Sanlmar]

Kind of a weird year so far.

There are some hitters who are absolutely struggling like they never have before.

There are a lot of pitchers getting hurt.

There are some pitchers who seem to be crushing it, including ones you wouldn't expect to be crushing it.

Kinda looks like a down offense year? I'm seeing a lot of low scoring games. I haven't checked the numbers though.

Let us take a moment to appreciate that Sawks Offspeed Guru Andrew Bailey is the anti Mark Prior (Buehler Day is coming - broken toys)

[Daly]

@Daly

Be sure to dial in the Ballys money issue in handicap.

You have Twins trimming $30m from payroll and the fans a furious. May 1 those pissed off fans arrive home and discover they can’t watch the games either. You know the Twins aren’t even calling up an Ohtani (with a healthy arm) from AAA. Team control and all that

It’s a weird year. Back of my mind I’m sometimes asking if we are approaching some percentage of Covid weirdness. It hasn’t fully unwound itself yet.

They got a kid in AA right now Emmanuel Rodriguez who will be an all star in a few years. Its said they are leaving him there in AA in case he hits in AAA they would be forced to bring him up

[Dan Druff]

Gotta think Skenes is coming up soon.

How is he doing at AAA?

Only a 0.39 ERA with 41 strikeouts over 23 innings.

Time to ship him upstairs.

[Dan Druff]

9th inning gonna be an adventure for at least 2 weeks. Phillips on the DL with a grade 1 hamstring strain. There is hope he can stay the minimum time, but it's not clear.

The Dodgers do not have a true setup man. They've been scraping by with Joe Kelly and Daniel Hudson. Kelly is one of those guys who is either dominant or awful, without much in between. Hudson is old and doesn't have the greatest stuff, but has been solid for the Dodgers since coming over 3 years ago, when healthy.

The Evan Phillips story is a weird one. Started off with the Braves, sucked. Then he was with the Orioles for a few years and sucked big time. Then he pitched one game for Tampa before coming to the Dodgers in 2021. Was fairly solid over 8 appearances. Then, starting in 2022 he's been lights out.

2022: 63 IP, 1.14 ERA, 0.762 WHIP (not used as closer yet)

2023: 61 1/3 IP, 2.05 ERA, 0.832 WHIP, 24/27 save oops

2024: 13 2/3 IP, 0.66 ERA, 1.024 WHIP, 8/8 save opps

Averages over a strikeout per inning. Not Hader-like in dominance, but dude just quietly gets the job done over and over.

Dodgers will miss him while he's gone.

[Daly]

Gotta think Skenes is coming up soon.

How is he doing at AAA?

Only a 0.39 ERA with 41 strikeouts over 23 innings.

Time to ship him upstairs.

100%

Guy is ready.

Fresh off the stove - Manzardo just got the call up

[BCR]

Gotta think Skenes is coming up soon.

How is he doing at AAA?

Only a 0.39 ERA with 41 strikeouts over 23 innings.

Time to ship him upstairs.

100%

Guy is ready.

Fresh off the stove - Manzardo just got the call up

Really happy Manzardo coming up, but makes me very nervous about Kwan injury. There is zero info about him beyond hamstring. Hopefully they scrap Laureano and keep Manzardo up once Kwan returns. Obviously one of him or Naylor as DH every day as both are strictly first basemen. Cleveland not going to be able to do DH by committee for giving guys a day off in short term. They’ve probably batted 9 guys DH already.

Skenes looks elite thus far. I think he makes seamless transition

[Sanlmar]

Buehler tomorrow. Waiting for props

Sticky stuff banned & pitch clock.

It’s not 2022 anymore

[Sanlmar]

May 7th Druff.

Chapter 14 Playoff Kershaw