TWiB Notes -- April 7 thru 13

[Frayed Knot]

Speaking of rough weather at this time of year, the entire Yanx @ Tigers series was preemptively moved to all day-games.

Today's game, with the Tigers ahead 6-1 thru 7 innings in front of a crowd of dozens in what is currently 37 degree temps with a 17 mph wind (it was briefly snowing but now at least the sun just came out), was a 3:00 start. Both Tuesday & Wednesday games will start at 1:00
Been a while since a Mon, Tues, Wed series were all day starts. Tiger fans are gonna party like it's 1949!

[Frayed Knot]

6-2 Tiggers is your final.
I always like it when my baseball day gets off on the right foot even before my true baseball day even starts.

Other series of interest as this week starts:
- (7-2) Phillies @ (1-8) Braves gets going tomorrow. Tuesday, Wed, Thurs nights
- Nats (3-6) get the task of trying to slow down the (9-2) Dodgers [M-T-W] although LAD is in 2nd place now sandwiched between the (8-1) Giants and (8-2) Padres

[Frayed Knot]

Giants hang a 5-spot on the Yanx & Marcus Stroman in the 1st inning at rainy, cold YSIII.
Stroman threw 46 pitches before being pulled after 2/3 inning: 2B, BB, HR, BB, BB, 2B, K, FO, 1B
5-0 heading for the 2nd


Braves are in Tampa for the weekend tied 1-1 in the 4th after taking two of three vs Philly

Phils in Cincy down 5-3 after 5

Nats @ Marlins, scoreless thru 4

[batmagadanleadoff]

Pete Alonso is leading the NL in BA, SLG, OPS, OPS+ and RBIs.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Pete Alonso is leading the NL in BA, SLG, OPS, OPS+ and RBIs.

If he wasn't we'd be 5 games under already

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Wilmer still has those quick hands and smooth swing

[batmagadanleadoff]

Wilmer still has those quick hands and smooth swing

Wilmer hit his 6th HR of the season today. That's six HRs in 14 Giants games. Wilmer is on pace to hit 69 HRs this season. He'll do it, for sure, because MLB's prospects are that good. And also, because the last time the KC Chiefs lost their first four regular season games was in 2009, 16 years ago. Wilmer's blazing start has nothing to do with sample size. He'll surely continue to hit six HRs every 14 games played by the Giants. Whatever Wilmer can do over 17 at-bats, he can surely do over 2,500 at-bats. Because what's the difference between 17 at-bats and 2,500 at-bats? I'll tell you: Nothing but the prospects. Baseball prospects. Football prospects. Probably tennis prospects, too. Also because there's no luck at all in football. None whatsoever. If there was any luck in football, even a teeny, tiny microscopic shred of luck, the KC Chiefs would never win a game. And that's why Wilmer will probably hit 100 HRs this season.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

If he hits any less than 150 I'll be disappointed.

His HR in the MFY today inspired the posr. Quick hands, uppercut, opposite field

[Frayed Knot]

This doesn't affect our starting time today since we're on the other coast, but I noticed that all the east coast games are pushed into 1:35 - 1:45 start times. Now I know that this was instituted several years back in order to give the designated national streaming game a partial window of its own. Problem is, there IS no streaming game today.
So I guess the 1PM start time ban remains in effect so as to maintain consistency for those Sundays when there actually is a streaming game.
I, on the other hand, just see it as the result of bureaucracy.

[Frayed Knot]

Jung Hoo Lee = All-American Hero

The Giants erased an early 3-0 deficit in Yanqui Stadium this afternoon thanks mostly to two HRs [Solo & 3R] by SFG CF Jung Hoo Lee. Both came off Carlos Rodon and both were true YSIII specials by the lefty-swinging Lee which I'm sure annoys the hell out of Yanqui fans who believe the short fence is designed to help only their hitters.
Born in Japan where his pappy was playing in the NPL, the Korean is in his second season with SF after his first one ended in mid-May due to a shoulder injury & surgery.

SF is now 11-4, although Not in 1st place, wound up taking two of three in da Bronx despite getting thumped in the opener on Friday night in the cold and rain.

[Frayed Knot]

Philly, tied w/the Mets for 1st in the East coming into today, got skunked 7-0 in StL so the Mets will fly to MIN with a full game lead if they hold on for the 'W'
Wheeler = 4 ER over 6 IP

[Frayed Knot]

Jung Hoo Lee = All-American Hero

btw, J H Lee has a great nickname
When his father, Jong-beom Lee* (SS/OF), played professional ball in both the KBO and NPL, his nickname was 'Son of the Wind' for his speed (510 career SB / 84 in one season).
So that earned Jung Hoo Lee the nickname 'Grandson of the Wind'. He was the KBO Rookie of the Year in 2022



* the elder Lee was a 13 time KBO All Star, six time GG winner, Korean Series MVP twice, four time Korean Lg champion

[Frayed Knot]

Cubs ace, Justin Steele, out for the season with some kind of elbow surgery to follow.
That kind of puts the baby bears at the front of the line in the Sandy Alcantara sweepstakes.
The Cubs system is said to be "loaded" (Buster Olney).

[Frayed Knot]

Pete Crow-Armstrong, reportedly in talks with the Cubs on a long term contract despite slightly less than one year of service time as this season started, has two HRs [and a triple] vs the Dodgers on SNB* tonight. The Cubs, who romped 16 - 0 vs LAD on Saturday to even the series at 1-1, lead 3-2 with runners on and no outs in top 8.




* Yes! ESPN chose the Dodgers for Sunday Night Baseball!!!!

[Gwreck]

Last night notwithstanding, Crow-Armstrong hasn’t
really shown an ability to hit in the major leagues. The Defense and speed are certainly there. The Athletic has reported that those contract extension negotiations have been tabled. He’s under Cubs’ control until 2030.

[Centerfield]

Yup. He now has 500 PAs in the big leagues and has a .658 career OPS. Put another way, about 70 points lower than Tyrone Taylor.

He’s certainly young enough to improve and may well end up a star, but he’s not anywhere close to one yet.