As an Indians fan, I'm happy for Jan Gomes and Azdrubal Cabrera...too bad for Michael Bradley and Joe Smith.
Some sour grapes emerging over the post game comments by Gerrit Cole. He didn't wear an Astros cap and told a reporter he was no longer an Astros employee. It's not being well received locally, thought he should not have distanced himself from the team right away, getting criticised on Sports Talk. Hinch had a reasonable explanation on why he pulled Greinke when he did, every move is a risk/reward for managers. No way of telling what might have happened had he left him in the game, but that's what he's being paid to do, make tough decisions. Still can't believe we had them on the ropes several times and just couldn't finish it. Greinke should have had a bigger cushion. Foregone conclusion that Cole is done. With Verlander's terrible playoff run, I have to wonder if he's now going to finally have father time catch up with him. We get Lance McCullers Jr back from Tommy John surgery next year, but doesn't it usually take a year of tight pitch counts to get back to 100%. I assume we are stuck with Greinke, not that is a bad thing, he's a competitor but he's not a staff ACE any more. Core of the offense will return as they are all in their prime. I think Reddick is done, and Kyle Tucker will likely replace him in RF. It will be interesting to see Yordan Alvarez in his first full season, the opposition has a book on him now, so he'll have to adjust. Can Carlos Correa make it through a full season? He's not done that in a couple of years.
The hottest team won and the Hot Stove League is heating up. The Dodgers have as much as $100 million coming off their books and they're going shopping. The two priority targets are Anthony Rendon of the Nationals and Gerrit Cole of the Astros... Bryce Harper has to feel mighty low about now...
Well we've got new managers for a few teams heading into 2020. Mike Matheny, former Cardinals mgr, has taken the K.C.Royals Job. David Ross is the new Cubs manager, he played for a number of teams but finished up as a Cub in 2016. Joe Maddon has gone to the Angels. Joe Girardi gets a reboot in Philly Jayce Tingler takes the San Diego job, he's never been a manager before and is only 38. Mets, Pirates and Giants are still deciding.
Really an interesting series. First time in history that the visiting team won all 7 games. I have to admit I was rooting for Washington, they really had an amazing run after a disastrous first 50 games. They just wouldn't quit.
Nationals went to the White House today. In recent years this has been a political football with players who don't support the President refusing to go, whole teams declining the invite, etc. Kurt Suzuki even put on a MAGA hat and Ryan Zimmerman gave Trump his own customized Jersey and thanked Trump... Not all of the Nationals were present. Closer Sean Doolittle was the first player to publicly decline the invitation over the weekend. Other players who did not make an appearance Monday: third baseman Anthony Rendon; outfielders Michael A. Taylor, Victor Robles and Wilmer Difo; and pitchers Joe Ross, Javy Guerra and Wander Suero. Nationals' Kurt Suzuki wears MAGA hat for White House visit with Trump
I liked the way the Nats handled it. The team went publicly and those who chose not to go handled it fairly privately. The reporters are used to fueling this fire at this point, and Doolittle almost seemed like a begrudging protester. I have all the respect for the Nats. I know how they won it all, that doesn't mean I still believe what I saw.
DJ LeMahiue being left off the list of AL MVP candidates is an absolute joke. He single handedly carried this team from start to finish. Hit .328, big offensive numbers, never had a single slump all year while playing five positions in the field while the Yankees were decimated by injuries. Hit even better with runners in scoring position. And I'm tired of Mike Trout getting a pass every year. Great individual player but in the team scope of things he is the tallest dwarf in the room. What a travesty !
While I agree he should have been on the list, if Mike Trout played for the Yankees, he'd be your best player by miles.
Agree. I offered my opinion in an earlier post. IMO, best player overall does not always equate with MVP. The Angels could have had a losing record and finished next to last in their division without Trout. I'm not sure the Yankees get as far as they got without LeMahieu.
Maybe. A lot of good players came to New York with big reputations and flamed out. Tough place to play. Expect to win it all every year.
True, at the same time, it's tough to be that great when he's surrounded by so much bad every year. He's 28 years old and an 8 time All-Star, 2 time MVP, 7 time Silver Slugger etc etc etc.... and they have no one in the lineup to protect him. He's also a Jersey guy
Well Yordan Alvarez is the AL Rookie of the Year. He had a great season, struggled a bit at the end but had a decent WS. The key for all these rookies is what they do their 2nd year, there is a book on them now and they'll see a different game plan by pitchers. Can they adjust and grow or will they be 1 year wonders. Pete Alonso of the Mets was the NL Rookie of the year.
I wouldn't trade our Dodger rookies, like Verdugo, Buehler, Lux, White, Beatty, or May for any of them.
Oh Boy...Mike Fiers has opened up a big can of worms. He has gone on record saying the 2017 Astros team he was a part of used high tech sign stealing to help hitters. Ex-Astros pitcher: Team stole signs with camera
Cards did the right thing...signed Waino to another year. He's earned the privledge to retire with Birds on the bat.