*** OFFICIAL *** MLB 2023 Thread

[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.

[Dan Druff]

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.

[gut]

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

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/ChadMoriyama/status/1692059024806846524

[gut]

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.

[gut]

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.

[Sanlmar]

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/twt/status/1695085919660077120

[Sanlmar]

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.

[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.

[Sanlmar]

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.

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.

[Dan Druff]

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.

[Sheesfaced]

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.

^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.

[Sanlmar]

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

[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.

[hutmaster]

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.

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.

[Sanlmar]

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.

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

TIA

[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.

[Jayjami]

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.

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

TIA

It would be dishonorable. Look up bushido code.

[BCR]

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.

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

[gut]

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.

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

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

[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

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

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.