I know weather forecasts are basically a coin flip this far out (and that might go double for Chicago), but I can’t help but obsessively check the weather for our wedding this weekend, because we’re planning on/hoping to get married outside. But of course, the forecast has been oscillating between thunderstorms and sunny at 85 degrees every other hour, so it’s been driving me nuts. I gotta stop checking.
Also, since Brett and Luis will be at the wedding, it would be great if the Cubs didn’t announce something crazy or important on Saturday night, I need those guys on the dance floor busting a move. [Brett: Like news could stop me from gettin’ down to Backstreet Boys … ]
During our last set of MLBits, we discussed the possibility of the Mets opening up shop this July, potentially moving guys like Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, and now Buster Olney is jumping into the mix, suggesting the same. New to the conversation, though, is Olney’s suggestion that it might take two elite, Major League ready prospects and another two high-end, further away types to pry to 2.5 years of team control the Mets have over deGrom (and something similar for Syndergaard, depending on how healthy/productive he looks in the next few weeks). In terms of a return, I think Olney probably got that right, even if it sounds like a lot. Though, to be sure, the Cubs got Jose Quintana for less than that and he came with an extra year of team control. deGrom might be the better starter this season, but both guys had a long track record of success (in fact, Quintana was even more consistent). Needless to say, it’ll be expensive. Hopefully, that sort of price tag is held firm and a team like the Brewers remain unwilling to pay the price ….
Speaking of comparing it to the cross-town Quintana deal, Olney suggests that the Mets should be more than willing to field offers from the Yankees (duh) despite their shared geography. Like I said a thousand times last summer, if the deal makes you better, you do it. It’s one thing to trade him to your rival, but a team in another league entirely? Just do it if you believe in it.
Olney hits on a range of other topics in that article, but the one that stood out to me is this point on Shohei Ohtani: “If Shohei Ohtani can avoid Tommy John surgery – and that’s an open question right now – his rehabilitation will be complicated by his two-way skills.” Olney goes on to explain that once he resumes baseball activities, he should be “ready” as a hitter before he’s “ready” as a pitcher … what would the Angels do? Interesting question, and I’m not sure I know the answer. Maybe no one does right now.
At The Athletic, Jim Bowden runs down the players who could theoretically be available in trade this summer at every single position (separating groups into “realistic” and “dream” targets). The “realistic” starting pitcher market, for example, includes guys like Cole Hames, J.A. Happ, Michael Fulmer, Tyson Ross, Danny Duffy, and several other fairly attractive targets. In any case, if the names Bowden includes are all indeed available, it figures to be a very active, fruitful market this season. There seem to be more sellers than buyers and that could mean slightly lower costs. This stuff always changes so much, though, as team records wax and wane, so it’s definitely too early to call.
This is one particularly impressive walk-less streak:
If the Cubs hadn’t already finished all their games against the Indians this summer, I would’ve bet almost anything that Javy Baez would’ve been the one to break the streak, because that’s just how baseball baseballs sometimes.
This is a bummer: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – one of baseball’s most exciting prospects (not only for the name recognition, but also his general awesomeness) – has been shut down for the next four weeks with a patellar tendon strain. Guerrero was slashing .407/.457/.667 at Double-A at age 19, and seemed to be just a week or two away from his first shot at Triple-A (with eyes on the Majors later this season), but now, I’m guessing we might not see him until next season. Which stinks.
In other injury news of note, Stephen Strasburg is heading to the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. He, too, might be out 3-4 weeks, and is another frustrating talent whose dominance on the field is only ever upended by injury.
Sigh, I don’t want to compliment the Brewers, but this is actually excellent and hilarious. OH, and holy crap, Brent Suter, you absolutely NAILED Jim Carey, and that’s an extremely difficult impression to pull off:
At Baseball is Fun, one fan caught two foul balls … on consecutive pitches (that bastard, I still haven’t even caught one!):
Also at Baseball is Fun, the Omaha Storm Chasers bullpen dances just like the Cubs. But sometimes, they add props like a giant hose:
And finally, Mat Latos hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since being released by the Blue Jays last season, but he’s not done with baseball. He’s currently pitching with the Independent League New Jersey Jackals and, well, basically started an all-out brawl:
From the sounds of it, a collision at the plate earlier in the game led to the benches clearing, but no fighting. But the first pitch after that was from Latos and was apparently very “inside.” The next one sailed over the batter’s head and sparked the fight. I know I’m usually against fights and retaliation and stuff, and I still am in this case, but I genuinely can’t understand Latos’ motivation here. This dude is a former Major Leaguer trying to get back in the show and has been battling personality concerns his entire career. What does he have to gain by being such a hard-o all the time? Chill a bit, my man.
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