The 2021 Major League Baseball Player Chatter, News and Fantasy Thread

[BarkingToad]

I enjoy it when the delusional NY fans get a taste of humble pie!!

[stevenash]

Cross?

Who the Cubbies playing this weekend?

[JMobile]

If Padres don't win tonight, its over

[Otters27]

The good teams are just pounding the bad teams

[jrgum3]

No matter how good the Giants are the A's always give them problems. Hopefully they bounce back and the take the next two games but it's going to be rough and it's the perfect opportunity for the Dodgers to make up some ground by taking advantage of the reeling Mets.

[EmpireMaker]

The Rays are prepared to activate right-hander Chris Archer from the 60-day injured list on Sunday, relays Neil Solondz. Presumably, Archer will take the ball to start that afternoon’s game against the White Sox. The Rays will need to make a corresponding 40-man roster move this weekend.
Archer missed the entire 2020 season with the Pirates after undergoing surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome last June. Nevertheless, Tampa Bay brought back the 32-year-old on a one-year deal over the winter. The hope was that he’d be able to find something resembling the form that made him a two-time All-Star during his first run as a Ray, but injuries have continued to get in the way.
While Archer began the year healthy, he landed on the IL after just two appearances due to forearm tightness. The initial hope was that he’d be back in relatively short order, but he ultimately required a more than four-month recovery timeline. Archer began a minor league rehab assignment last month, but that was halted temporarily as he battled left hip soreness. He restarted that assignment a couple weeks ago and reached 71 pitches during his most recent outing with Triple-A Durham.
The Rays have continued to thrive in spite of Archer’s absence. Tampa Bay sits at 75-48, giving them a four game advantage over the Yankees in the American League East.

[Checkerboard]

No matter how good the Giants are the A's always give them problems. Hopefully they bounce back and the take the next two games but it's going to be rough and it's the perfect opportunity for the Dodgers to make up some ground by taking advantage of the reeling Mets.

Seems like every team has at least that one other team that consistently causes them fits.

[Stallion]

Seems like every team has at least that one other team that consistently causes them fits.

Agreed. It happens in every sport.

[Cross]

Royals vs Cubs, what a dream series Nasher! What a Triple A SHOWCASE!!!

[stevenash]

Royals vs Cubs, what a dream series Nasher! What a Triple A SHOWCASE!!!

You bet.
I like our kids though.
Bobby Witt Jr. is legit.

[JMobile]

Reds won and Padres lost....now they are tied for the wild card

[Cross]

Cubs out there making this guy look like DeGrom.

[stevenash]

Cubs out there making this guy look like DeGrom.

Kris Bubic.
He's your typical KC Royal LHP.
Nasty shit, but shaky control.
When his command is on he's unhittable.
With the exception of Danny Duffy, every one of our lefties walks two batters too many hitters.
Been like that forever.

[EmpireMaker]

The blockbuster trade between the Mets and Cubs on deadline day was almost even bigger, as The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal writes that Kris Bryant was also part of talks between the two clubs. The actual trade saw Javier Baez and Trevor Williams go to New York in exchange for top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, but Rosenthal reports that the larger version of the swap would’ve also seen the Mets land Bryant and another player off of Chicago’s big league roster. In exchange, the Cubs would have received not only Crow-Armstrong, but also “a prospect they regarded even more highly and a major leaguer under multi-year club control.”
However, the Mets learned of Jacob deGrom’s injury setback on deadline day, which likely made the team wary of making too big of an all-in move. Given how the Cubs were very busy in reshaping their team at the deadline, it’s possible the mystery player could have been any of the players instead dealt elsewhere (i.e. Craig Kimbrel, Jake Marisnick) or possibly someone who is still in a Cubs uniform today. It’s probably safe to guess that one of Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, Matthew Allan, or J.T. Ginn was the blue-chip Mets prospect in question, unless the Cubs were intrigued by someone outside of the upper tier of New York’s prospect rankings.
More from around the National League…

• The Mets could have a new middle infield as soon as tomorrow, as manager Luis Rojas told Newsday’s Tim Healey and other reporters that one or both of Baez and Francisco Lindor could be activated off the 10-day injured list. Sunday marks Baez’s first eligible day to return after being (retroactively) placed on the IL August 12 due to back spasms, while Lindor has been sidelined since July 17 due to a right oblique strain. The Mets have Monday off before beginning a series at home against the Giants on Tuesday, so it is possible the Mets could hold Lindor and/or Baez back to give them another two full recovery days before returning them to the active roster. Baez, at least, seems likely to return by Tuesday at the latest.
• Evan Longoria is day-to-day after being hit on one of his right fingers by a pitch in Wednesday’s game. The third baseman has missed the Giants’ last two contests and manager Gabe Kapler told reporters (including Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle) that Longoria also wouldn’t play on Sunday. Combined with the Giants’ off-days on Monday and last Thursday, that would give Longoria at least five full days of recovery time. On the plus side, Kapler said that an MRI showed no signs of a fracture in Longoria’s finger. Longoria returned only a week ago from a 60-day injured list stint due to a sprained shoulder, and this finger injury serves as the latest interruption in a very strong comeback season (.289/.382/.526 in 199 PA) for the 35-year-old veteran.

[jrgum3]

Just an amazing comeback by the Padres tonight. They absolutely needed this one and Jake Cronenworth stepped up big time. I still refuse to count the Padres out just too much talent in that clubhouse not to hang onto the second Wild Card.

[Cross]

Ruined a great night by Nola too.

[jrgum3]

Ruined a great night by Nola too.

Yep and if you're like me and backed the Phillies it was a tough beat but what are you going to do I'd make that same bet again and feel good about it every single time going into the game.

[Otters27]

Red Sox must of partied hard last night

[Checkerboard]

Houston trounced Seattle.

[JMobile]

Just an amazing comeback by the Padres tonight. They absolutely needed this one and Jake Cronenworth stepped up big time. I still refuse to count the Padres out just too much talent in that clubhouse not to hang onto the second Wild Card.

I had my winnings ready for this one....unreal

[stevenash]

The recipe for what ails the KC Royals.

A three game weekend set at Wrigley.

Boy was that ever a three game bitch slapping sweep, huh?

[jrgum3]

Nice weekend for the Giants who find ways to win games it seems. I'll take 2 out of 3 against the rival A's anyday because like I said they always play the Giants tough and anytime you can win a series against them you gotta be happy.

[Cross]

Cubs tanking hard, giving away wins left and right. So sad.

[Checkerboard]

Blue Jays heavy favorites lose to Tigers in extra innings. Jays should've been favored, but not by that much.

[stevenash]

Blue Jays heavy favorites lose to Tigers in extra innings. Jays should've been favored, but not by that much.

Tigers and SF are this years winner of the overachiever award.
You can throw in the Mariners too.

[EmpireMaker]

The Mets announced they’ve reinstated infielder Javier Báez from the injured list. He’s getting the start at shortstop, hitting third, this afternoon against the Dodgers. Reliever Geoff Hartlieb has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to open active roster space.
Báez spent the minimal amount of time on the shelf after landing on the IL on August 13 (backdated to August 12). The team’s outlook has changed considerably in that short amount of time, as the Mets have gone 1-8 since last Friday, falling seven games back of the red-hot Braves in the National League East. Báez has gotten off to a slow start to his Mets tenure, hitting .171/.216/.343 over 37 plate appearances since being acquired from the Cubs at the trade deadline.
Francisco Lindor is not being activated today, although manager Luis Rojas told reporters (including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com) he’s expected back early next week. Rojas indicated yesterday that Lindor could return from the oblique strain that has kept him out of action since mid-July as soon as this weekend.

[Otters27]

Little League world series game was cool. Was expecting more runs

[Stallion]

I've been betting against the Cubs every game for about 2 weeks.

[stevenash]

I've been betting against the Cubs every game for about 2 weeks.

And now you're living large.

[JMobile]

At least the Padres had a 1 game winning streak going on

[stevenash]

The good teams are just pounding the bad teams

Good pitching beats all

[stevenash]

At least the Padres had a 1 game winning streak going on

I'd like you a lot more if you weren't so smug.

[Cross]

Just read something about how Padres free agents are killing them. Sounds like they are signing a bunch of Jason Heywards. Even Yu is struggling!

[Cross]

Trade acquisitions I meant.

[jrgum3]

A's blow another late lead and fall out of the lead for the 2nd Wild Card spot with the Red Sox walkoff grand slam winner today. That AL wild card race is going to be super interesting because it looks like we could get a Yankees/Red Sox Wild Card game which to me would be must watch TV and another great chapter in that great rivalry.