The 2015 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread

[Shortstop]

Current MLB Standings...

Toronto Blue Jays	80	60	.571	-	47-25	33-35	771	575	+196	W1	6-4
New York Yankees	77	62	.554	2.5	40-30	37-32	676	596	+80	L3	5-5
Tampa Bay Rays	69	71	.493	11	34-35	35-36	542	547	-5	W2	5-5
Baltimore Orioles	68	72	.486	12	39-27	29-45	618	585	+33	W3	5-5
Boston Red Sox	66	74	.471	14	39-35	27-39	650	676	-26	L1	6-4
Kansas City Royals	83	57	.593	-	48-27	35-30	624	548	+76	L2	3-7
Minnesota Twins	73	67	.521	10	42-26	31-41	604	611	-7	W2	6-4
Cleveland Indians	69	70	.496	13.5	30-34	39-36	570	569	+1	W2	6-4
Chicago White Sox	66	73	.475	16.5	34-35	32-38	545	592	-47	L2	5-5
Detroit Tigers	64	76	.457	19	33-38	31-38	606	710	-104	L2	4-6
Houston Astros	76	65	.539	-	48-24	28-41	618	514	+104	L1	4-6
Texas Rangers	74	66	.529	1.5	33-32	41-34	607	640	-33	W1	6-4
Los Angeles Angels	71	69	.507	4.5	43-30	28-39	563	571	-8	W2	6-4
Seattle Mariners	68	74	.479	8.5	31-39	37-35	568	645	-77	L1	7-3
Oakland Athletics	60	81	.426	16	33-42	27-39	587	592	-5	L2	3-7

New York Mets	80	61	.567	-	45-24	35-37	598	524	+74	W5	7-3
Washington Nationals	71	69	.507	8.5	41-29	30-40	616	568	+48	L4	5-5
Miami Marlins	60	81	.426	20	35-38	25-43	523	583	-60	W3	8-2
Atlanta Braves	56	86	.394	24.5	33-34	23-52	506	685	-179	L2	2-8
Philadelphia Phillies	54	88	.380	26.5	31-39	23-49	541	732	-191	L3	2-8
St. Louis Cardinals	88	52	.629	-	50-24	38-28	560	449	+111	L1	4-6
Pittsburgh Pirates	84	56	.600	4	47-22	37-34	597	513	+84	W1	5-5
Chicago Cubs	82	58	.586	6	43-28	39-30	596	544	+52	W2	8-2
Milwaukee Brewers	62	79	.440	26.5	33-39	29-40	584	639	-55	L1	6-4
Cincinnati Reds	58	81	.417	29.5	32-39	26-42	565	620	-55	W1	5-5
Los Angeles Dodgers	80	60	.571	-	47-21	33-39	577	509	+68	L2	7-3
San Francisco Giants	73	68	.518	7.5	39-27	34-41	601	538	+63	W1	4-6
Arizona Diamondbacks	68	73	.482	12.5	34-36	34-37	634	615	+19	W2	5-5
San Diego Padres	67	75	.472	14	35-37	32-38	581	634	-53	L2	3-7
Colorado Rockies	59	82	.418	21.5	31-40	28-42	633	737	-104	W2	6-4

[MexicanStallion]

The National League has long been over. Not much excitement down the stretch.

[BigSpoon]

Huge Blue Jays-Yankees double header this afternoon and the return of Marcus Stroman.

[Andy117]

The National League has long been over. Not much excitement down the stretch.

I hope it stays that way, at least in the East.

[koz-man]

I'm not sure what he wants more?

To be traded or for the season to end. I'm betting both!

haha so true

[Chi_archie]

central still has some drama for who finishes where

[koz-man]

Jake Arrieta is on pace to have the lowest ERA after the all-star break in MLB History (min 75 IP)

2015 Jake Arrieta 0.93
2012 Kris Medlen 0.94
1990 Roger Clemson 0.97
2015 Clayton Kershaw 1.04

[Chi_archie]

Jake Arrieta is on pace to have the lowest ERA after the all-star break in MLB History (min 75 IP)

2015 Jake Arrieta 0.93
2012 Kris Medlen 0.94
1990 Roger Clemson 0.97
2015 Clayton Kershaw 1.04

surprising no one from pre 1990 is on that list

like Hershizer in 88 or 89 when he set the scoreless innings streak or Bob Gibson or Koufax ever

[koz-man]

Ortiz mashes 2 homers to reach 500 for career

David Ortiz has become the 27th player in major league history,
the fourth player in Boston Red Sox history,
and the fourth Dominican Republic native to reach the 500-home run threshold.

[EmpireMaker]

Bumgarner had a perfect game through 7 1/3 today and finished with a complete game 1 hitter(only 111 pitches). He is pitching really well right now.

[BarkingToad]

Jose Fernandez is still unbeaten at home for his career. Since he was on a limited pitch count last night, betting the first 5 innings seemed like a safer bet than the whole game, but it worked out either way.

[Chi_archie]

Jose Fernandez is still unbeaten at home for his career. Since he was on a limited pitch count last night, betting the first 5 innings seemed like a safer bet than the whole game, but it worked out either way.

that is a crazy stat

[MexicanStallion]

He was so close to a healthy season too. Such bad timing and such a lousy play for it to happen on.

ESPN's Buster Olney reports that Troy Tulowitzki (shoulder) could return in 2-3 weeks.

Things are still up in the air, as Olney says the club expects to know more in the next few days, but a 2-3 week absence appears to be the best-case scenario. The shortstop suffered muscle bruises on his upper back and a small crack in his left scapula when he collided with teammate Kevin Pillar on Saturday. Since Toronto won't place Tulowitzki on the disabled list with expanded rosters, it's going to be hard for those in redraft leagues to justify hanging on to him. The last day of the regular season is three weeks away.

[BigSpoon]

He was so close to a healthy season too. Such bad timing and such a lousy play for it to happen on.

ESPN's Buster Olney reports that Troy Tulowitzki (shoulder) could return in 2-3 weeks.

Things are still up in the air, as Olney says the club expects to know more in the next few days, but a 2-3 week absence appears to be the best-case scenario. The shortstop suffered muscle bruises on his upper back and a small crack in his left scapula when he collided with teammate Kevin Pillar on Saturday. Since Toronto won't place Tulowitzki on the disabled list with expanded rosters, it's going to be hard for those in redraft leagues to justify hanging on to him. The last day of the regular season is three weeks away.

I'd be very pleasantly surprised if he returned in time for the playoffs, such a shame he got injured.

[BigSpoon]

Ortiz mashes 2 homers to reach 500 for career

David Ortiz has become the 27th player in major league history,
the fourth player in Boston Red Sox history,
and the fourth Dominican Republic native to reach the 500-home run threshold.

Only 4 players have at least 500 HR and 3 World Series championships: Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, & David Ortiz.

[Shortstop]

Ortiz mashes 2 homers to reach 500 for career

David Ortiz has become the 27th player in major league history,
the fourth player in Boston Red Sox history,
and the fourth Dominican Republic native to reach the 500-home run threshold.

Big Papi!

Only 4 players have at least 500 HR and 3 World Series championships: Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, & David Ortiz.

Great stat and some even greater company!

[EmpireMaker]

With the New York closer to missing out on a wild-card berth than winning the AL East, Masahiro Tanaka pitched like the ace the Yankees needed him to beTanaka allowed four hits over seven innings Sunday, and the Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-0 Sunday and stop a five-game losing streak.
''Today is a great example of what the formula is,'' Alex Rodriguez said. ''Strong pitching, get the ball to our strong bullpen and hit the ball out of the park.''
Dustin Ackley homered and had three RBIs and left fielder Brett Gardner made two excellent catches for the Yankees, who closed back within 3 1/2 games of the AL East-leading Blue Jays with 20 games left.
Toronto had won the first three games of the four-game series, but the Yankees sent R.A. Dickey (10-11) to his first loss since before the All-Star break. The Blue Jays and Yankees play three more times in Toronto from Sept. 21-23.
Tanaka (12-6) struck out seven, walked none and threw 76 of 108 pitches for strikes.
''I had a sense of having some of the better stuff early on in the game,'' Tanaka said through an interpreter.
He is 3-0 with a 2.54 ERA in his last four starts.
''I just try to be resilient, not give in, and attack,'' Tanaka said. ''My mindset was I'm not going to let these guys sweep us.''
On Aug. 15, he beat the Blue Jays with a five-hitter in Toronto.
''He was good again today,'' Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. ''He's been tough on us.''
Ackley, starting over rookie Greg Bird because he was 4 for 11 against Dickey coming in, homered for the first time since July 8 for Seattle against Detroit.
''To be able to contribute, that's the most important thing,'' Ackley said.
New York went ahead in the second on sacrifice flies by Ackley and Didi Gregorius. Ackley, acquired from the Mariners on July 30, hit a two-run homer in the fourth, and Rodriguez added an RBI double in the eighth that chased Dickey.
Rodriguez was honored by the Yankees before the game for his 3,000th hit on June 19, another step of the thawing of the formerly icy relationship between A-Rod and team stemming from his one-year drug suspension and litigation when he tried to avoid discipline.
Rodriguez scored on Didi Gregorius' second-inning sacrifice fly, coming home on a headfirst slide, just under catcher Josh Thole's tag. Rodriguez thrust his hands in the air in celebration.
Rodriguez was honored by the Yankees before the game for his 3,000th hit on June 19, another step of the thawing of the formerly-tense relationship between A-Rod and team stemming from his one-year drug suspension and litigation when he tried to avoid discipline.
''Maybe it was the video he saw with his first base hit and how fast he was,'' Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. ''It's a great hustle play.''
The 40-year-old Rodriguez joked about the decline of his speed.
''That's how the slowest man in baseball looks,'' he said. ''I was excited. It's an important game.''
Rodriguez added an RBI double in the eighth that chased Dickey, again showing excitement while standing on second.
The Blue Jays said before the game that All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will miss at least two weeks after cracking his left shoulder blade in a collision during the opener of Saturday's doubleheader. Edwin Encarnacion was held out after aggravating a finger injury Saturday.

[BigSpoon]

Winning 3 of 4 in the Bronx over the weekend, I'll take it. Blue Jays are now only 2.5 games back of the Royals for the best record in the AL.

[koz-man]

Only 4 players have at least 500 HR and 3 World Series championships: Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, & David Ortiz.

Nice find. I love these kinds of stats...

[koz-man]

Cueto missing Cincy??????

He has gotten roughed up in each of his past five starts.
If the playoffs started today, should he still be the Royals' ace?

0-5 9.57 era

[Shortstop]

Winning 3 of 4 in the Bronx over the weekend, I'll take it. Blue Jays are now only 2.5 games back of the Royals for the best record in the AL.

The Blue Jays are to the Pirates what the Royals are to the Cardinals? Right?

[MexicanStallion]

Cueto missing Cincy??????

He has gotten roughed up in each of his past five starts.
If the playoffs started today, should he still be the Royals' ace?

0-5 9.57 era

This is really puzzling. Nobody seems to have any answers. I think I saw a coach said he was tipping his pitches and they had that sorted out, but then Baltimore hit him bad. Maybe a tired arm after all the pitching from last year.

[EmpireMaker]

My Mets are hot right now.

Wright had a go-ahead double in the seventh inning, Yoenis Cespedes homered again and the Mets won their eighth straight, 4-3 over the Miami Marlins on Monday night.
The Mets lead in the NL East remained at 9 1/2 games with 18 to left play, as Washington beat Philadelphia 8-7.
''It was nice to come through,'' Wright said with a smile. ''September baseball. It's been a while since I've experienced coming in here and flipping on the TV to different games and celebrating wins like that.''
With two outs and runners on first and second, Wright hit a fastball from reliever Kyle Barraclough (2-1) to the deepest part of the park, well over the head of scrambling center fielder Christian Yelich, for a ground-rule double - scoring pinch-runner Eric Young Jr. and giving the Mets a 4-3 lead.
''It's huge for not only us but for David,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. ''He's such a great guy and a great leader. It's nice to have him back.''
Travis d'Arnaud also homered for New York. Cespedes connected for the ninth time in 13 games.
''I thought it was a well-played ballgame,'' Marlins interim manager Dan Jennings said. ''It was just a case of two bad pitches that hurt us.''
Hansel Robles (4-2) pitched a scoreless seventh for the win. Jeurys Familia was perfect in the ninth for his 41st save in 46 opportunities.
Logan Verrett, making a spot in start in place of Matt Harvey, who was skipped in the rotation to limit his innings, pitched one-run ball for five.
''There was definitely a lot of adrenaline. I'm not going to lie,'' Verrett said. ''We got off to a good roll there in the first inning and just kind of kept it going.''
Miami took a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth with two-out RBI singles by Derek Dietrich and J.T. Realmuto off of reliever Sean Gilmartin.
New York answered immediately in the bottom half. D'Arnaud followed a two-out double by Juan Uribe by sending a 1-1 pitch into the center field seats to tie the score 3-all.
Named the NL Player of the Week earlier in the day, Cespedes continued his offensive onslaught in the third inning by sending a drive into the second deck in left to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. The mammoth shot, which traveled 442 feet, according to MLB Statcast, was Cespedes' 35th of the season.
Miguel Rojas had an RBI groundout in the fifth inning.

[BigSpoon]

The Blue Jays are to the Pirates what the Royals are to the Cardinals? Right?

Exactly.

Huge 4 game series starting with a doubleheader today between your Pirates and the Cubs.

[Chi_archie]

Exactly.

Huge 4 game series starting with a doubleheader today between your Pirates and the Cubs.

sooooo pumped!!!!

[koz-man]

Cespedes helped Mets make a historic U-turn

How much of a difference has Yoenis Cespedes meant to New York?

From April through July, the Mets were the worst offensive team in the NL.

Since August -- and the trade for the outfielder -- they've been the best.

[Shortstop]

Strasburg with an absolute masterpiece tonight in Philadelphia!

However, too little too late...

He'll be watching the MLB Postseason not in uniform!

Strasburg (W, 9-7)	8.0	1	0	0	1	14	0	105-77	3.98

[Shortstop]

The Texas Rangers have moved ahead of the Houston Astros in the AL West...

Texas Rangers	77	67	.535	-	36-33	41-34	633	657	-24	W3	6-4
Houston Astros	77	68	.531	0.5	48-24	29-44	633	531	+102	L2	3-7
Los Angeles Angels	72	71	.503	4.5	44-31	28-40	570	588	-18	L2	5-5
Seattle Mariners	70	75	.483	7.5	33-40	37-35	587	651	-64	W1	6-4
Oakland Athletics	62	83	.428	15.5	33-42	29-41	620	621	-1	W1	4-6

[EmpireMaker]

Latest MLB Power Rankings (via @BBTN): 1. Blue Jays 2. Cardinals 3. Royals 4. Pirates 5. Mets

[EmpireMaker]

Strasburg with an absolute masterpiece tonight in Philadelphia!

However, too little too late...

He'll be watching the MLB Postseason not in uniform!

Strasburg (W, 9-7)	8.0	1	0	0	1	14	0	105-77	3.98

He got hot a month too late, he's pitching great right now.

[BarkingToad]

Latest MLB Power Rankings (via @BBTN): 1. Blue Jays 2. Cardinals 3. Royals 4. Pirates 5. Mets

Things don't get any easier for poor Shelby Miller having to face Toronto and David Price tonight.

[Chi_archie]

The Texas Rangers have moved ahead of the Houston Astros in the AL West...

Texas Rangers	77	67	.535	-	36-33	41-34	633	657	-24	W3	6-4
Houston Astros	77	68	.531	0.5	48-24	29-44	633	531	+102	L2	3-7
Los Angeles Angels	72	71	.503	4.5	44-31	28-40	570	588	-18	L2	5-5
Seattle Mariners	70	75	.483	7.5	33-40	37-35	587	651	-64	W1	6-4
Oakland Athletics	62	83	.428	15.5	33-42	29-41	620	621	-1	W1	4-6

too much texan up there

[BigSpoon]

Things don't get any easier for poor Shelby Miller having to face Toronto and David Price tonight.

Definitely some value on the Braves at +220 tonight. Lineup is not as powerful without Edwin and Tulo.

[koz-man]

Definitely some value on the Braves at +220 tonight. Lineup is not as powerful without Edwin and Tulo.

As I was reading the above posts. I thought the same thing +220 looks really tempting...

[koz-man]

How about this guy.....Remember him....lol

Athletics call up Zito

Oakland announced the call-up for veteran LHP Barry Zito from Nashville.

Zito pitched for the A's from 2000-2006 before spending the next seven years with the Giants.

Zito hasn't pitched in the majors since 2013.