*** OFFICIAL *** MLB 2023 Thread

Have the Dodgers struck gold with another reclamation project?

JD Martinez and Jason Heyward both vastly improved over last year, since putting on Dodger blue.

Now Lance Lynn, one of 2023's worst pitchers, has seemingly done the same. Lynn held a 6.47 ERA and 1.492 WHIP in 119 innings with the White Sox this year.

In four starts with the Dodgers, Lynn has now thrown 25 innings and allowed just 4 runs -- a 1.44 ERA. He's 3-0, and the Dodgers have won all four of his starts. Lynn has never left a Dodgers start behind.

Recall that Lynn was one of baseball's best pitchers in 2021, so he's not too far removed from being really effective. Whether he can keep this up is questionable, but it is possible the Dodgers figured out what was wrong with him, and had him make some tweaks.

Dodgers have won 11 in a row, and lead the NL West by 10.5. They are 4 games behind the Braves for MLB's best record, and presently lead the Orioles by 0.5 for MLB's second best record.

I put the Dodgers at something like 93-69 when the season started, but right now they're on pace to win 100.

On the other coast, the Yankees have slipped under .500. When was the last time they were under .500 at the 121-game mark? 1995.

This is a shit team, and they're playing really badly recently. They won't make the playoffs, and only the Mets are keeping them from being the biggest embarrassment in town.

Only Gleyber Torres and Aaron Judge are hitting better than league average.

Not a good year to be a New York baseball fan.


And the Dodgers sweeping the very overrated Brewers puts the NL Central race closer, with the Cubs and Reds both 2 behind. I think the Reds will fade due to their lack of pitching. I still like the Cubs to take the Central, but they're kinda streaky, so you never know with them.

If there's any justice this year, we will see a Dodgers/Braves NLCS.

Meanwhile, Lance Lynn and Kike so happy to be dodgers now:

https://twitter.com/ChadMoriyama/sta...806846524?s=20

The soon-to-be-estranged-husband Angels, in a last ditch attempt to keep the love of their life Shohei around, are calling up their top pick in this years draft. Yeah the college 1B they drafted 6 weeks ago. Who has played 21 minor league games.

The Angels currently have a 0.8% chance to make the playoffs.

I'm sure this will end well.

Schanuel, the kid getting called up, also has shown (again 21 games so small sample) traits that uh....dont translate well to MLB....at least not deserving of a quick callup. His OBP is higher than his SLG. He has 1 HR in 21 games. All those free passes he's getting in AA ain't happening in MLB.

Someone woke Jerry Reinsdorf up long enough to tell him this CWS rebuild failed miserably, so he finally fired Williams and Hahn.

2 executives in sports hadn't coasted on one title longer than those 2.

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Shooting Wounds Multiple Fans at Chicago White Sox Game, Per Reports


I guess it was inevitable.

Happened in the 3rd inning and incredibly the game continued. The important thing is our bets were not cancelled.

Yeah the position players pitching has led to a lot of meaningless stat padding.

I'm not sure of the solution to this, but they probably need one.

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Yeah the position players pitching has led to a lot of meaningless stat padding.

I'm not sure of the solution to this, but they probably need one.

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Season too long and meaningless. Inevitably there will be a procedure for a losing manager to call “no joy” and surrender. The fans are headed for their cars anyway.

It’s a huge load management issue or fix the season. The regular season is getting so wonky. The openers are another byproduct with no answer.

We saw this coming.

I remember describing betting the position players on the mound and the fact that the books were asleep on live totals. That was only 5 years ago or so.

Have you heard of Kyle Harrison? He's the #17 ranked prospect in MLB right now, and #1 in the Giants system.

He pitched a great game against the Reds today, in his second MLB start, striking out 11 and allowing 0 runs in 6 1/3 innings.

He was okayish in his first career MLB start, but this one was a gem. The Giants don't have much on the farm at the moment, but Harrison is one of their big hopes for 2024, or even possibly the 2023 postseason if SF makes it.

Philly is likely to be the #1 NL wildcard, but the other two spots are up in the air. Right now it's occupied by the D-backs and Cubs, but the Giants, Reds, and Marlins are all close behind.

What a weird season this is though. The vaunted Padres, Mets, and Yankees are all likely to finish under .500, and the Cardinals will finish with likely the second or third worst record in the NL.

There are 4 teams contending to win 100+ games this year. Braves will almost surely do it, needing to go just 15-17 the rest of the way to win 100. Dodgers need to go 19-13, which is more likely than not. Orioles (who expected this?) need to go 18-13, and the Rays need to go 20-10.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Have the Dodgers struck gold with another reclamation project?

JD Martinez and Jason Heyward both vastly improved over last year, since putting on Dodger blue.

Now Lance Lynn, one of 2023's worst pitchers, has seemingly done the same. Lynn held a 6.47 ERA and 1.492 WHIP in 119 innings with the White Sox this year.

In four starts with the Dodgers, Lynn has now thrown 25 innings and allowed just 4 runs -- a 1.44 ERA. He's 3-0, and the Dodgers have won all four of his starts. Lynn has never left a Dodgers start behind.

Recall that Lynn was one of baseball's best pitchers in 2021, so he's not too far removed from being really effective. Whether he can keep this up is questionable, but it is possible the Dodgers figured out what was wrong with him, and had him make some tweaks.

Dodgers have won 11 in a row, and lead the NL West by 10.5. They are 4 games behind the Braves for MLB's best record, and presently lead the Orioles by 0.5 for MLB's second best record.

I put the Dodgers at something like 93-69 when the season started, but right now they're on pace to win 100.

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^This post is why San rightly mocked you for this post below:



In no other sport are the playoffs such a crap shoot. The Braves won a WS 2 years ago with post season starts from Dylan Lee, Tucker Davidson, Jesse Chavez. Just got to get into the postseason and hope you get hot.

Add Tony Gonsolin to the Dodgers tommy john list.

Any notion that the Dodgers are running a pitching skunkworks is a LA media fiction.

I can’t stop laughing at my own line that Ohtani getting his second tommy john makes him a Dodger already.

I literally heard Joe Davis (Dodgers announcer) say that Walker Buehler will be fine cause he recovered beautifully from his first surgery and knows what it takes. He’s the Kamala Harris of baseball word salad

No words just lulz

Angels put basically all their trade pickups on waivers. Free Giolito if you want him.

Amazing stuff. If this was a fantasy league the Angels would be kicked out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Have the Dodgers struck gold with another reclamation project?

JD Martinez and Jason Heyward both vastly improved over last year, since putting on Dodger blue.

Now Lance Lynn, one of 2023's worst pitchers, has seemingly done the same. Lynn held a 6.47 ERA and 1.492 WHIP in 119 innings with the White Sox this year.

In four starts with the Dodgers, Lynn has now thrown 25 innings and allowed just 4 runs -- a 1.44 ERA. He's 3-0, and the Dodgers have won all four of his starts. Lynn has never left a Dodgers start behind.

Recall that Lynn was one of baseball's best pitchers in 2021, so he's not too far removed from being really effective. Whether he can keep this up is questionable, but it is possible the Dodgers figured out what was wrong with him, and had him make some tweaks.

Dodgers have won 11 in a row, and lead the NL West by 10.5. They are 4 games behind the Braves for MLB's best record, and presently lead the Orioles by 0.5 for MLB's second best record.

I put the Dodgers at something like 93-69 when the season started, but right now they're on pace to win 100.

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Lynn has been awesome so far. I was at the game for his first start. Of the 4 runs he has given up, three were in that game. All solo homers. Hopefully he continues pitching this well into the playoffs. I hope
Muncy gets hot too and gets over the Mendoza line. He drives in a lot of runs but batting .193 come on.

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Originally Posted by gut

Angels put basically all their trade pickups on waivers. Free Giolito if you want him.

Amazing stuff. If this was a fantasy league the Angels would be kicked out.

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Explain to me like I’m 12. Why is Ohtani still playing? Early to surgery- early to return to the mound.

TIA

Giolito and the rest will have to pass waivers before they essentially become "free", which isn't a given.

I have to imagine Giolito will be grabbed by a contender before he passes through waivers. He's only making $10m this year, so prorated this becomes less than $2m to get him for the final month.

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Originally Posted by Sanlmar

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gut

Angels put basically all their trade pickups on waivers. Free Giolito if you want him.

Amazing stuff. If this was a fantasy league the Angels would be kicked out.

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Explain to me like I’m 12. Why is Ohtani still playing? Early to surgery- early to return to the mound.

TIA

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It would be dishonorable. Look up bushido code.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Giolito and the rest will have to pass waivers before they essentially become "free", which isn't a given.

I have to imagine Giolito will be grabbed by a contender before he passes through waivers. He's only making $10m this year, so prorated this becomes less than $2m to get him for the final month.

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Or not a contender. I’m sure these young men were thrilled to get out of SoCal and into a big market playing for the Tribe.

I’m kind of shocked we did it. Assume it’s more to protect our excellent young arms who have all thrown more innings than ever given our injury decimated staff. At 110 games, they might help you close 5 game gap, but that isn’t happening as we have tough schedule to finish and a few million is real money to us

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BCR

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Giolito and the rest will have to pass waivers before they essentially become "free", which isn't a given.

I have to imagine Giolito will be grabbed by a contender before he passes through waivers. He's only making $10m this year, so prorated this becomes less than $2m to get him for the final month.

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Or not a contender. I’m sure these young men were thrilled to get out of SoCal and into a big market playing for the Tribe.

I’m kind of shocked we did it. Assume it’s more to protect our excellent young arms who have all thrown more innings than ever given our injury decimated staff. At 110 games, they might help you close 5 game gap, but that isn’t happening as we have tough schedule to finish and a few million is real money to us

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This will be a fitting end to the Twins season if CLE makes up that ground with the 3 free pitchers they just got.

Twins Went from 2019 bomba squad to a team with the best starter era in baseball but can't hit

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gut

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BCR

Or not a contender. I’m sure these young men were thrilled to get out of SoCal and into a big market playing for the Tribe.

I’m kind of shocked we did it. Assume it’s more to protect our excellent young arms who have all thrown more innings than ever given our injury decimated staff. At 110 games, they might help you close 5 game gap, but that isn’t happening as we have tough schedule to finish and a few million is real money to us

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This will be a fitting end to the Twins season if CLE makes up that ground with the 3 free pitchers they just got.

Twins Went from 2019 bomba squad to a team with the best starter era in baseball but can't hit

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I think your Twins are safe. I actually think we will have a losing record this last 30 games. What I meant to say was at 110 games, the move wouldn’t have surprised me, but at 130+, I was surprised. We have 3 against TB next. A west coast swing and then Texas. Baltimore to play still. I don’t see it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BCR

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gut

This will be a fitting end to the Twins season if CLE makes up that ground with the 3 free pitchers they just got.

Twins Went from 2019 bomba squad to a team with the best starter era in baseball but can't hit

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I think your Twins are safe. I actually think we will have a losing record this last 30 games. What I meant to say was at 110 games, the move wouldn’t have surprised me, but at 130+, I was surprised. We have 3 against TB next. A west coast swing and then Texas. Baltimore to play still. I don’t see it.

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Couple mil or not, a great play by the Tribe. Risk/reward and whatnot.

Maybe Daniel Snyder can buy the Angels and right the ship

Now that the dust has (mainly) settled, here is the summary of just the last month of Angels incompetence:

1. Despite having around a 5% chance of making the playoffs, they trade away the best remaining parts of their shitty minor league system for a variety of veterans.

2. They immediately play worse, fall completely out of contention. Trout hurt, Rendon might be dead, Shohei torn UCL, etc etc

3. They then do the somewhat uncouth maneuver of putting almost all these trade acquisitions on waivers, being that if they all get claimed they can end the season under the CBT threshold.

4. 5 of the 6 players get claimed, but no one wanted Randal Grichuk (ouch) so now they still will most likely finish slightly above the tax. You might say "well, thats not that bad of a deal, as they probably wont be repeat offenders next year, especially once Shohei signs elsewhere". Thats true but:

5. This affects their already almost zero compensation for Shohei (who they could have traded):

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CBT payors also receive reduced compensation for losing qualified free agents. The Angels are going to make a qualifying offer to Shohei Ohtani, which he’ll decline. If he subsequently signs elsewhere, the Halos would receive a compensation pick after the fourth round in the 2024 draft. That’s typically around the 140th overall selection. Had the Angels gotten under the threshold, the compensatory pick would’ve landed between Competitive Balance Round B and the third round — approximately 70th overall.

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The Rockies have to love the fact that the Angels exist. Intentional incompetence (Oakland) can at least be seen and understood what is happening there. LAA is just next-level dumb shit. I hope Trout demands a trade next year.

Dodgers give Austin Barnes a bobble head night?

The guy with a negative WAR and .168 avg?

Does he have a terminal disease or something?

uh oh Julio (again).

THROWING STRIKES!

Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias suspended again for domestic violence. Being mediocre at baseball is no excuse.

Was never a fan of that guy since he broke into the league. It’s all there in the PFA ledger

Kershaw now the only starter who began 2023 as a Dodger who's still in the rotation.

This will make the Dodgers' decision easy whether to sign Julio as a free agent.

Playoff rotation will be Kershaw / Miller / Lynn / Pepiot.

Lord help LA.

Anyway, you have to think he's guilty this time. The first one seemed like bullshit. Both Urias and his girlfriend were seen pushing one another in a public place, and he pushed a little too hard and she fell. She did not want to press charges.

However, this one has a different feel to it, especially because it followed his bad start versus Atlanta, which in turn followed a bad start against Boston. It has all the hallmarks of an athlete beating his woman after a bad game.

Dodgers will not re-sign him no matter what. Before it was on the fence simply because he hasn't been the same pitcher this year, and do you really want to commit multiple years to a guy in decline? Now it's going to be an easy decision. They simply can't bring him back due to the Bauer thing alone.

Of course, somehow Marcell Ozuna dodged much consequence, and is playing normally after a relatively short suspension:

Quote:

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Officers said they entered the home where they witnessed Ozuna grabbing his wife by the neck and throwing her against a wall. Officers say Ozuna also hit his wife with a cast covering his fractured fingers.

Sandy Springs police body camera footage shows Ozuna with his hands on his wife before an officer yells to “get [his] hands off her” while pulling his Taser out and pointing it at Ozuna. The officer then can be heard ordering Ozuna to get on the ground where he leaves the Taser pointed at him.

The officer then asks his wife to step outside of the house and asks a second man seen in the video who he is. The provided body camera footage cuts off before the man answers.

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https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/nor...NLAZNX7PWU6VQ/

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Anyway, you have to think he's guilty this time. The first one seemed like bullshit. Both Urias and his girlfriend were seen pushing one another in a public place, and he pushed a little too hard and she fell. She did not want to press charges.

However, this one has a different feel to it, especially because it followed his bad start versus Atlanta, which in turn followed a bad start against Boston. It has all the hallmarks of an athlete beating his woman after a bad game.

Dodgers will not re-sign him no matter what. Before it was on the fence simply because he hasn't been the same pitcher this year, and do you really want to commit multiple years to a guy in decline? Now it's going to be an easy decision. They simply can't bring him back due to the Bauer thing alone.

Of course, somehow Marcell Ozuna dodged much consequence, and is playing normally after a relatively short suspension:

Quote:

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Officers said they entered the home where they witnessed Ozuna grabbing his wife by the neck and throwing her against a wall. Officers say Ozuna also hit his wife with a cast covering his fractured fingers.

Sandy Springs police body camera footage shows Ozuna with his hands on his wife before an officer yells to “get [his] hands off her” while pulling his Taser out and pointing it at Ozuna. The officer then can be heard ordering Ozuna to get on the ground where he leaves the Taser pointed at him.

The officer then asks his wife to step outside of the house and asks a second man seen in the video who he is. The provided body camera footage cuts off before the man answers.

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https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/nor...NLAZNX7PWU6VQ/

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Been a brutal year for MLB players playing Russian Roulette with their contracts:

Trevor Bauer lost $50M off his deal
Ohtani probaby lost $200M for blowing out his arm for a second time he is just a DH now, damaged goods
Urias could have signed for $200M this year, listened to his agent Boros and has terrible year and beats up a woman
Wander Franco is about to get his $180M contract voided

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tgull

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Anyway, you have to think he's guilty this time. The first one seemed like bullshit. Both Urias and his girlfriend were seen pushing one another in a public place, and he pushed a little too hard and she fell. She did not want to press charges.

However, this one has a different feel to it, especially because it followed his bad start versus Atlanta, which in turn followed a bad start against Boston. It has all the hallmarks of an athlete beating his woman after a bad game.

Dodgers will not re-sign him no matter what. Before it was on the fence simply because he hasn't been the same pitcher this year, and do you really want to commit multiple years to a guy in decline? Now it's going to be an easy decision. They simply can't bring him back due to the Bauer thing alone.

Of course, somehow Marcell Ozuna dodged much consequence, and is playing normally after a relatively short suspension:



https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/nor...NLAZNX7PWU6VQ/

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Been a brutal year for MLB players playing Russian Roulette with their contracts:

Trevor Bauer lost $50M off his deal
Ohtani probaby lost $200M for blowing out his arm for a second time he is just a DH now, damaged goods
Urias could have signed for $200M this year, listened to his agent Boros and has terrible year and beats up a woman
Wander Franco is about to get his $180M contract voided

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Lmao, Shohei has not lost much. You could argue a $10m haircut for not being able to pitch for 1 years. But 10/500 is still the baseline for him.

Stick to college football

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gut

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tgull

Been a brutal year for MLB players playing Russian Roulette with their contracts:

Trevor Bauer lost $50M off his deal
Ohtani probaby lost $200M for blowing out his arm for a second time he is just a DH now, damaged goods
Urias could have signed for $200M this year, listened to his agent Boros and has terrible year and beats up a woman
Wander Franco is about to get his $180M contract voided

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Lmao, Shohei has not lost much. You could argue a $10m haircut for not being able to pitch for 1 years. But 10/500 is still the baseline for him.

Stick to college football

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Ohtani’s salary is but a flesh wound in the grand scheme of Ohtani’s worldwide marketing value. The real loss was the “greatest ever” label in the context of a post season too. What might have been. We move on.

It’s interesting to recall Urias was discovered while scouting Puig. The association serves as a convenient reminder about Dodger choices. Let’s not ever buy or promote the PR narrative about “Dodger character”. Thet somehow the Dodgers are more evolved or special is nonsense. They are quite willing to roll in the mud.

Puig had the redeeming quality of being positively electric in the beginning despite the coterie of gangsters and thieves in the shadows. Puig was a victim but he was hardly a great “character” choice or locker room guy either.

So much for free Golito. Ouch.

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Originally Posted by BCR

So much for free Golito. Ouch.

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Flaherty, Giolito & Fried …. the sun is setting on that trio

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BCR

So much for free Golito. Ouch.

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LOL....gonna redact my complaints about free Giolito now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sanlmar

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BCR

So much for free Golito. Ouch.

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Flaherty, Giolito & Fried …. the sun is setting on that trio

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Ehh as a high school teammate trio sure, but Fried is still elite.

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Originally Posted by Sheesfaced

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sanlmar

Flaherty, Giolito & Fried …. the sun is setting on that trio

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Ehh as a high school teammate trio sure, but Fried is still elite.

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They are forever linked as a trio.

Yes indeedy, Fried is. He’s a Brave - which is the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. I’m just observing some mighty have fallen with advancing age. I was always captivated by the story.

Speaking of deep, patient and smart. The Braves are calling up My-my-my Soroka (The Knack). I have to explain that reference now to awkward Zoomers and it makes me sad. Soroka shall start vs STL Mikolas tonight. The world is a wonderful place despite the Zoomers

Kershaw was ballin’. 5 BB


Didn’t get to watch it first hand but the numbers fill in the gaps.

Don’t miss the last line of the tweets



I have not known Kershaw to lie or shirk the facts. It will be interesting what he says tonight or tomorrow.

https://twitter.com/ByJackHarris/sta...48425781170231

Literally came in here to point out the Dodgers have covered up the 2020 World Series murals.

Being real


Druff planning to go to what likely might be Kershaw’s last home game at Dodger stadium? I don’t think he’s gonna go through another playoffs if he can’t really compete. There is so much stupidity going on about the Dodgers rotation.

This might be it. Get on it.

Gonna frame my “Padres to have best record in MLB regular season” ticket.

I still can’t get over what trash the NL West turned out to be. That division had the potential for the most exciting competition in ages.

I saw that Tatis has 5 children by 3 baby mamas and two more are on their way. Tatis is 24. Proof that he is selfish, immature and likely clubhouse poison. I’ve long suspected the Padres locker room was toxic. There was no lack of athletic talent.

I watch Xander and he just isn’t the same guy I saw in Boston. Shame. He got his bag tho.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sanlmar

Gonna frame my “Padres to have best record in MLB regular season” ticket.

I still can’t get over what trash the NL West turned out to be. That division had the potential for the most exciting competition in ages.

I saw that Tatis has 5 children by 3 baby mamas and two more are on their way. Tatis is 24. Proof that he is selfish, immature and likely clubhouse poison. I’ve long suspected the Padres locker room was toxic. There was no lack of athletic talent.

I watch Xander and he just isn’t the same guy I saw in Boston. Shame. He got his bag tho.

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Saw Padres live this summer. Lazy bunch of overpaid bums didn't start playing until the 9th inning.

We give more effort in our over 35 slo-pitch league. And there are some old guys sticking around past their prime there too.