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

**stevenash** · 08-24-21, 02:00 AM

Originally posted by 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.

Mark my words.
That's the event that turned everything around in the American League.

Actually Oakland was doomed the day Laureano got suspended for being a bonehead (and ruining my fantasy season in the process too)
He was on pace for a 30/20 season, he made that offense go.
After Marte and Olsen, that lineup is weak ass.
Lowrie's stick is a wet noodle, he still can pick it though but he strikes fear in no pitcher.
Mark Canha, Chad Pinder, Tony Kemp?
Please, that's weak ass.

Like I said, Oakland will not get up off the mat after this loss.
Conversely, this is the shot in the arm that Boston was waiting on.
And Sale is looking better each start.

This Sox team reminds me some of the '04 "idiots' let by Kevin Millar.
Lunatics that just love playing together,

All three AL East team may wind up with better records that Oakland and Houston.

And the Astros are hardly a super team.
My AAA team that is the KC Royals bitch slapped them today too.

**Otters27** · 08-24-21, 07:02 AM

Is Mike Trout coming back this year?

**Checkerboard** · 08-24-21, 07:43 AM

Originally posted by Otters27

Is Mike Trout coming back this year?

Good question. Why is a 6 to 8 week type injury now over 3 months with no foreseeable end in sight?

Apparently he's going squirrely hanging out with the team but not being able to play must be driving him nuts.

**JMobile** · 08-24-21, 11:05 AM

Dodgers vs Padres. No starters posted and no line. I'm gonna hammer the Dodgers.

**EmpireMaker** · 08-24-21, 11:06 AM

Who is pitching for SD tonight ? Anyone know yet ?

**EmpireMaker** · 08-24-21, 11:07 AM

I'm seeing Urias for the LAD.

**EmpireMaker** · 08-24-21, 11:09 AM

Trout is close to a minor league assignment.
Trout added that he's been frustrated by the significant calf injury that he sustained back in mid-May, adding that he "tore it pretty bad." He also elaborated that the injury is pretty much healed, but now it's about breaking up scar tissue. Barring any setbacks, which isn't a given, it sounds like he could be back at some point in September.

**EmpireMaker** · 08-24-21, 01:54 PM

Pierce Johnson is starting for SD

**jrgum3** · 08-24-21, 11:28 PM

The Angels were free money today against the Orioles. I don't care who's pitching give me anybody vs the Orioles at -124 right now. The Orioles are going to have to win a game before I consider not betting on the team that's playing against them right now especially when its a reasonable price like it was today.

**EmpireMaker** · 08-25-21, 12:18 AM

The Astros will reinstate star third baseman Alex Bregman from the injured list before tomorrow afternoon’s game against the Royals, manager Dusty Baker told reporters (including Mark Berman of Fox 26). It’ll be Bregman’s first game action in over two months, as the 27-year-old hasn’t played since straining his left quad on June 16.
Through 262 plate appearances, Bregman is hitting .275/.359/.428 with seven home runs. That’s not too dissimilar from the .242/.350/.451 mark he logged across 180 trips to the plate in last year’s shortened campaign. Obviously, Bregman’s output over the past two years falls well shy of the MVP-caliber form he showed in 2018-19. But he’s still been a well above-average performer since the start of 2020, and it seems reasonably plausible Bregman could find something resembling his past star-level form down the stretch.
The Astros’ win over Kansas City this evening pushed their lead in the American League West out to four and a half games over the Athletics. That’s a fairly comfortable margin, and Bregman’s return will only improve the club’s chances of holding onto that lead. Aledmys Díaz, who has mashed in Bregman’s stead over the past few weeks, figures to return to a super-utility role as a versatile, high-end bench bat whom Baker can deploy around the diamond.

**Otters27** · 08-25-21, 07:16 AM

Straight betting every tigers game had to be profitable this year

**Stallion** · 08-25-21, 08:34 AM

Detroit cost me some $$ yesterday.

**BigSpoon** · 08-25-21, 08:43 AM

Berrios get chased early again, Jays season looks to be done.

**JMobile** · 08-25-21, 04:44 PM

So is the Padres hitting coach next to get canned?

**jrgum3** · 08-25-21, 11:21 PM

Originally posted by JMobile

So is the Padres hitting coach next to get canned?

I think Tingler's job is on the line especially if they don't make the playoffs. I'm interested in seeing who they go after if they can Tingler because I think and everyone else seems to agree that Bruce Bochy's name will come up in the hiring process.

**Cross** · 08-25-21, 11:55 PM

Snell vs Buehler was a fun matchup if you like good pitching.

**Otters27** · 08-26-21, 03:03 AM

Cubs vs Rockies 2nd game was pretty wild lady night

**Checkerboard** · 08-26-21, 07:10 AM

Originally posted by Otters27

Cubs vs Rockies 2nd game was pretty wild lady night

So was the unofficial 2nd game in the Dodgers vs Padres game that ended up ending this morning over coffee, lol.

**stevenash** · 08-26-21, 07:58 AM

Originally posted by Stallion

Detroit cost me some $$ yesterday.

Detroit is the third biggest money winner this season so far.
Mariners are second, Giants are by far and away the best bet so far if you bet them 1* every games.

If you bet the Dodgers every game this season your are only even.
That's because their losses are always is the -180 to -200 range.

**Stallion** · 08-26-21, 09:05 AM

Some of the biggest money team are teams you wouldn't expect; because they are usually big dogs.

**EmpireMaker** · 08-26-21, 04:06 PM

3:54 PM: Well, it was a short-lived return for Eflin. The Phillies’ right-hander was scratched from his start tonight because of continued knee discomfort, per Jim Salisbury of NBC Philly (via Twitter). Manager Joe Girardi made the announcement not long after Eflin was activated from the injured list. Matt Moore will get the start tonight, and Eflin will presumably be further evaluated.
2:34 PM: The Phillies announced a series of roster moves this afternoon. Starting pitcher Zach Eflin has been activated from the 10-day injured list to start this evening’s game against the Diamondbacks. Also coming back from the 10-day IL is reliever José Alvarado. In corresponding moves, Philadelphia placed first baseman Rhys Hoskins back on the 10-day IL due to a left groin strain and designated right-hander Chase Anderson for assignment.
Eflin has missed around five weeks due to patellar tendinitis in his right knee. That halted a typically-strong campaign for the right-hander, who has a 4.17 ERA over 105 2/3 innings. Eflin doesn’t rack up huge strikeout or ground-ball totals, but he’s one of the sport’s best strike-throwers and a consistent mid-rotation presence. Eflin has posted an ERA between 3.97 and 4.36 in each of the past four seasons.
While the Phils will be thrilled to welcome Eflin back, they’re again losing Hoskins to the IL. The veteran first baseman just returned to the lineup over the weekend after missing two weeks on account of the same left groin strain. Three games later, he winds up back on the shelf. It’s an inopportune time for the Phils to lose one of their best hitters, as they enter play tonight five games back of the Braves in the National League East.
The roster shuffling almost certainly ends Anderson’s time in Philadelphia. The veteran signed a one-year, $4MM guarantee over the offseason with the hope he’d bounce back from a 2020 campaign derailed by home runs. He’s had a rough go of things for the second straight year, though, pitching to a 6.75 ERA over 48 innings between the rotation and long relief. While Anderson’s strikeout rate spiked to a career-best 24.7% last season, it has fallen to a subpar 16.3% mark this year. Anderson’s also walking batters at a career-worst 9.3% clip and he’s continued to struggle keeping the ball in the yard.
Given his lackluster 2021 results, Anderson’s a lock to pass through waivers unclaimed. He has enough service time to become a free agent while collecting the balance of his guaranteed salary. At that point, Anderson should attract interest from other clubs based on his extended pre-2020 body of work as a solid back-of-the-rotation starter.

**JMobile** · 08-26-21, 04:44 PM

Dodgers completing the sweep tonight

**mr. leisure** · 08-26-21, 05:57 PM

Angels screwed me today .

13-1 blowout

**jrgum3** · 08-27-21, 12:48 AM

Originally posted by Checkerboard

So was the unofficial 2nd game in the Dodgers vs Padres game that ended up ending this morning over coffee, lol.

That was a pathetic showing by both teams but especially by the Padres who had so many chances to win the game just by moving the runner over and then getting him in during extra innings.

**Otters27** · 08-27-21, 12:57 AM

Originally posted by mr. leisure

Angels screwed me today .

13-1 blowout

Orioles were the contest winner. Somebody probably picked them. 2nd 10 run game

**EmpireMaker** · 08-27-21, 01:46 AM

Rhys Hoskins was placed on the 10-day injured list earlier today. Unfortunately, the news has only gotten more dire since then. Speaking to reporters, Hoskins said that he will not play again this season, per Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter). He will undergo surgery to repair a tear in his lower abdomen, adds MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki (via Twitter).
Interestingly, the earlier designation for his IL placement was for a groin injury. The abdomen issue was a preexisting injury that Hoskins has been dealing with for some time now. The two injuries in tandem, however, seemed to push the point for Hoskins, leading to the decision to have the surgery now. It’s an unequivocal bummer for Hoskins, who had put together a bounce-back season after a difficult 2020.
Big picture, this is a crushing revelation for the Phillies. They have very little margin for error as they strive to make the postseason for the first time in the Bryce Harper era. It’s been a tough month of August for the Phillies, who were leapfrogged by the Braves for first place in the NL East. Girardi’s club now sits 5.0 games out of first and 5.5 games out of a wild card spot.
All this comes amidst a front office shakeup and the demotion of Alec Bohm, their top prospect and starting third baseman for much of the year. Add in the yo-yo treatment of Spencer Howard’s development before he was dealt to Texas, as well as their wild swings in the standings since the trade deadline, and it all adds up to a rather disjointed situation in Philly, at least in terms of the optics.
Remember, they were 3.5 games behind the Mets at the trade deadline only to go on an 8-game win streak to begin August. They swiftly overtook the Mets for the division lead on August 6th. Their time at the top was short-lived, as they’ve gone just 6-10 in the games since, losing the top spot to surging Atlanta. Less than two weeks after they lost the division lead to the Braves, they sit just barely on the fringes of contention with a 17.6% chance of making the playoffs, per baseball-reference.
Losing Hoskins now adds insult to injury, especially because they’re roster is so thin after the superstars at the top. Hoskins’ 129 wRC+ and 2.4 fWAR were a key piece of scaffolding to the Harper-J.T. Realmuto core. Swapping in Brad Miller’s 93 wRC+ simply doesn’t make up enough ground for a team looking to make up ground. Miller’s going to be the guy, however, because there’s not much else in the organization by way of reinforcements — not unless Bohm can very quickly figure things out in Triple-A.

**Checkerboard** · 08-27-21, 11:50 AM

Originally posted by jrgum3

That was a pathetic showing by both teams but especially by the Padres who had so many chances to win the game just by moving the runner over and then getting him in during extra innings.

Pads gotta Pads, lol.

**Stallion** · 08-27-21, 12:24 PM

If San Diego or the LA Dodgers have to travel far for there next series, possibly some fatigue for game 1.

**JMobile** · 08-27-21, 04:39 PM

Originally posted by jrgum3

That was a pathetic showing by both teams but especially by the Padres who had so many chances to win the game just by moving the runner over and then getting him in during extra innings.

Fire Tingler and the hitting coach now

**Cross** · 08-27-21, 07:24 PM

Cubs Sox series kinda lost its luster this year.

**Otters27** · 08-27-21, 11:06 PM

Cubs just are frustrating

**jrgum3** · 08-27-21, 11:11 PM

Braves made some underrated moves at the deadline and its the main reason they stormed past the Phillies and the Mets. If you're a Braves fan you have to love that they basically pushed all their chips to the middle at the trade deadline when they were stuck in third place and just lost Acuna. I always thought they were the best team in the NL East but they needed that extra push from the front office and they got it.

**jrgum3** · 08-27-21, 11:24 PM

Originally posted by Cross

Cubs Sox series kinda lost its luster this year.

Didn't know the Bears were playing tonight. My goodness 17-13 is ridiculous and is the equivalent of a beer league softball game.

**stevenash** · 08-28-21, 01:19 AM

Originally posted by Cross

Cubs Sox series kinda lost its luster this year.

Last night's 17-13 game was a disgrace.

I can't believe I'm still watching this KC game at 2am.
KC spotted Seattle an early 5-1 lead, scored four in the fourth to tie it at five and five.

Next 5 1/2 innings goes scoreless,.
KC gets a scratch run in the top of the 10th.
6-5, then Seattle ties it a sixes with a scratch run of their own.

Whit and Sal, who've been killing it all year, doing it again.
Whit is 2 for 5 run with two runs scored from leadoff where he'll forever be in the lineup.
Sal. crushed his 36th ding dong, that's right 36th, is 3 for 5, 4 RBI, and a moonshot tater.

If the baseball gods are listening, deliver us some pitching please.
To the bottom of the 11th inning we go.
You know your scraping the back end of the bullpen when Matheny has to go to Richard Lovelady here.
Oh, the humanity.
Actually he's not a bad lefty, he's just raw.

Mariners have second and third.
Two outs.
Lets see what the kid is made of here.

Bringing in my man Staumont.
Should have started the inning with him.
Sweet, Staumont got Ty France to end the inning.
Good pressure job.

OK, I'm out.

6-6 top of 12.

**EmpireMaker** · 08-28-21, 02:14 AM

The Tigers have designated Ian Krol for assignment in order to make room for Jose Urena, who will come off the injured list tomorrow, per Evan Woodbery of MLive Media Group (via Twitter).
In 12 appearances, Krol has a 5.11 ERA/3.82 FIP covering 12 1/3 innings. Urena has been out since July 17th with a groin strain. The veteran right-hander posted a mostly unimpressive 80 innings of 6.19 ERA baseball through 17 starts. Nevertheless, Urena is scheduled to reclaim his spot in the rotation tomorrow.
Matthew Boyd is also returning to the Tigers this weekend to start Sunday’s game. Another roster move will be required to bring him onto the roster. Boyd hasn’t pitched since June 15th, but he’s a big piece of their rotation moving into next season.