TWiB Notes - Aug 12 thru 18 (split)

[MFS62]

The Boston Red Sox have suspended All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran two games after he uttered an anti-gay slur at a fan during Sunday’s game against the Astros.
The NESN broadcast picked up Duran calling a heckling fan a “f–king f—-t” during the bottom of the sixth inning at Fenway Park.
The 27-year-old’s salary from the two games will be donated to PFLAG (Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), the team said.

Later

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Amed Rosario DFA'd, he can take over first as we bench Alonso

[Benjamin Grimm]

Why has Rosario become such a journeyman? I just looked at his numbers, and they don't seem bad at all. He was only able to get a $1.5 million contract for 2024. He'll be a free agent after the season. His star seems to have faded, but I'm not clear why.

[Edgy MD]

Amed Rosario DFA'd, he can take over first as we bench Alonso

We could use him, but don't really have the Rosterio room. Starling Marte will be returning within a few days to bump asiide Ben Gamel. So unless we're ready to toss Tyrone Taylor overboard, the only place for Rosario is Syracurio.

[kcmets]

I had completely forgotten about Starling and not sure I'm all
that excited about his return at this point. That probably means
he will turn our team around because I'm generally never right.

[Frayed Knot]

Repeat after me folks:
You are allowed to start a new TWiB thread for a new week
You are allowed to start a new TWIB thread for a new week



Anyway, Seattle is betting on the smaller but more recent sample being more telling than the larger one leading up to it
by giving a two year extension to the just recently picked up CF Victor Robles.
In just shy of 2,000 PAs w/the Nationals Robles rung up a 667 OPS [81 OPS+]. Washington waited for 7+ seasons for his
offense to even come close to matching his defense but finally gave up and simply released him on June 1st.
Seattle picked him up only days later and have been rewarded with a GG-caliber CF hitting: .303/.372/.450 // 821 [140 OPS+]
ever since even though that's in just 123 PA across two+ months.

It seems like Robles has been around a while now but was only 20 when first promoted and so won't turn 28 until next May.
Maybe that's an indication that the M's snagged him right as his prime and his promise are kicking in. Time will tell, but
although the deal isn't official yet, they are apparently willing to bet a two year contract plus an 2027 option that they're right.

[MFS62]

Repeat after me folks:
You are allowed to start a new TWiB thread for a new week
You are allowed to start a new TWIB thread for a new week

The incident happened the week ending August 11th
The incident happened the week ending August 11th.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

Yanx down 5 - 2 to the ChiSox, bottom 7th in the Windy City.
I'd laugh at them but we have to play the Sox next week and I'm taking no chances that a mocking now won't come back to bite us later.

oe: 6 - 2

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

8-2

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

11-2

[Frayed Knot]

The stands seem remarkably full for a team that's like 12 - 167

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

12-2

[Edgy MD]

Duran joins a growing list of folks suspended for anti-gay slurs, including Kevin Pillar and Matt Joyce (both in 2017), George Springer (slur directed at Angel Hernandez, 2019), and Yunel Escobar (had a slur scratched into his eye-black patch in 2013).

Roger McDowell apologized after a incident in 2011 in which he (as I remember) directed anti-gay slurs and gestures at a fan before a game, but I don't think he was punished.

[MFS62]

Springer had a target rich environment. There were so many things he could have said to Hernandez without using that one.
Later

[Frayed Knot]

Anyone catch the ML debut of William James 'Will' Wagner last night?
The Toronto 2nd baseman went 3-for-4 with a double and RBI in the Jays 4-2 win in Anaheim.
I assume papa Billy was there but I haven't heard for sure.

[Frayed Knot]

Late night stuff of interest from the left coast Tuesday (and none of it good):

- DBacks beat Colorado 4-3; Second straight win for ARZ, both by one run
- Padres win second straight over Pirates; 2-1 and 3-0
- Braves over Giants 4-3 in 10; also a second straight win, both in 10 innings

So not only are we sucking at the moment but no one else is cooperating.

[Edgy MD]

Well, the Braves had been cooperating most nights of late. They couldn't expect that to last forever.

[Frayed Knot]

Padres & Dbacks won earlier today. Braves just underway in SF



Jazz Chisholm to the IL for Yanx and possibly to surgery (non-throwing elbow) though the knife part is still TBD
ChiSox lead Yanx 2-1 thu 6 tonight but I have little cahnfidence that score will hold.
All five NYY runs between yesterday (two solos plus a 2R) and so far today (1 solo) are via Juan Soto HRs

[Frayed Knot]

Weekend match ups:
- Nats @ Phillies
- Snakes @ Rays
- Padres @ Rockies
- Braves @ Angels

And for those teams on our tail rather than our front
- SFG (-1.5 behind NYM) are oddly off tonight as they get a two-game Bay Area series v Oakland
- StL (-2.0) host the Dodgers
- Reds (-2.0) host the Royals

[Frayed Knot]

Rays walk-off Brewers with 2-out in the 9th with a runner scoring from 1st on a single.

[Frayed Knot]

Gained on everyone in front of us except Phils - and I suppose we should include the Dodgers in there since they might wind up in the WC scrum at some point.
But ARZ, SDP, and ATL lost so a good night all around.

[Edgy MD]

Looks like the Pirates have paid their bill at the front desk and checked out.

[Frayed Knot]

Looks like the Pirates have paid their bill at the front desk and checked out.

Losing ten straight will do that to ya.




An interesting event on Friday night for a trio of rookies -- starting to be referred to as the 'Jackson 3' -- each hit a triple.
That would be OFs Jackson Merrill (SDP) and Jackson Chourio (MIL), plus SS Jackson Holliday (BAL)

Beyond that, pre-season #1 prospect Jackson Holliday, though still carrying around the anchor of his 2-for-34 start, has a 940 OPS since his recall
Pre-season #2 prospect Jackson Chourio has played almost every game this season and boasts a 763 OPS/110 OPS+
Jackson Merrill, also a full time player, is 808/125
Merrill is 21 and neither Holliday or Chourio get to that mark until December and next March

[Edgy MD]

I was thinking, when reading the Springsteen thread, that "Jackson Cage" sounded like the name of a Reds infield phenom.

[kcmets]

ARI down a half dozen or so ------- not that I'm scoreboard watching in mid August...

Tampon Bay tried to lose, tried not win too, but prevailed 8-7 in twelve.