igor67

I appreciate the Rangers returning the favor on a bad base running play

I couldn't believe he tried that one, the bad throw made it closer than it should have been. I wonder if they were planning on testing the CF based on scouting since he hasn't played there much?

I'm pretty much the same. It's not the end of the world if they don't get the #1 seed, but earning a bye is big, and getting homefield throughout the playoffs would be a nice boost to our post season chances. Braves are interesting since they seem to be a little streaky. For all the nervousness about the Dodgers it remains to see if all those old men will actually be able to get up to peak form for the playoffs this year.

Apparently Snell's deal included the complimentary umpire concierge service

Only 78 pitches, does Henderson get the 7th?

Always love 1st inning runs

I'd really like Adams for a call-up. He probably wouldn't play much, but I want to see him get a chance. That said it'll probably be Naylor maybe Lockridge and I assume Romero when he is ready though Crow seems possible as well. I could see some movement throughout the month especially on the pitching side.

Not that anyone needs to run the scenarios but with the Giants down to 1 game from elimination in August already I'm curious how many other things would have to happen besides the Giants winning out to still make the playoffs.

I had mentioned this elsewhere, Bob but I strongly believe as part of whatever system the Brewers have going on there is more behind the scenes that explains the pattern of when and how to publicly discipline. Players aren't stupid and if it truly was an arbitrary double standard there would be signs of dissent.

Well things line up similar enough already. Dunn's career line actually looks a lot closer to a normal stat line these days. The slash line for Dunn and Alonso for example is pretty close. More walks for Dunn and more SLG for Alonso

Clearly the Pratt benching had the desired effect on getting Gary to hustle.

Well if it's a rebuilding year we could probably trade North Side Baseball for some prospects...

Based on it not creating issues, I have a strong belief that behind the scenes there are other things involved that make it all seem less arbitrary.

The 7 games remaining will keep the Cubs in it, but if they are still 6 games back heading into the head to head I'd rate that as needing to win 5 of them if I were the Cubs. Just looking at the math. There's 15 games left after all our head to head games. So while winning the head to head 4 to 3 would also give the Cubs the tie-breaker. It still only shrinks the lead by a game. And making up 5 games in 15 is tough. That said I'd love to sweep the Braves this weekend and basically eliminate them from catching us for playoff seeding.

I don't read too much into the power numbers at this stage partly due to youth, but more importantly as described in a number of the articles on the site the team has consistently asked the rookies basically to focus on contact and pitch recognition after getting called up and then later gives them the OK to swing harder.