[BigSpoon]

He's fat now. He was better when he was younger.

Fat doesn't make a guy a better pitcher.

He was also fatter and better a few years ago too.

[koz-man]

I love this game being against the Cardinals. Doesn't matter though. They rebound from stinkers like these unlike the Reds.

true...so true

[EmpireMaker]

Cuban infielder Hector Olivera is expected to arrive in Los Angeles on Thursday night, where he will undergo a physical exam then finalize his six-year, $62.5 million deal with the Dodgers, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports.

Olivera, 30, obtained his **** on Monday and is travelling from the Dominican Republic to the United States. Olivera was a standout at the plate for Santiano de Cuba, averaging nearly a run per game over the last eight seasons and registering a .323 lifetime batting average.

[Chi_archie]

He seems a tad old

[koz-man]

Yankees bullpen putting up unreal stats

Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller are taking dominance to new heights this season. In over 36 innings pitched, they've combined for 60 strikeouts, 11 hits allowed and a 0.00 ERA.

[Shortstop]

Cuban infielder Hector Olivera is expected to arrive in Los Angeles on Thursday night, where he will undergo a physical exam then finalize his six-year, $62.5 million deal with the Dodgers, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports.

Olivera, 30, obtained his **** on Monday and is travelling from the Dominican Republic to the United States. Olivera was a standout at the plate for Santiano de Cuba, averaging nearly a run per game over the last eight seasons and registering a .323 lifetime batting average.

He seems a tad old

Yeah, that seems like a lot of money for an unproven 30-year old.

Apparently the Dodgers really see the potential in this guy...

[Shortstop]

Yankees bullpen putting up unreal stats

Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller are taking dominance to new heights this season. In over 36 innings pitched, they've combined for 60 strikeouts, 11 hits allowed and a 0.00 ERA.

Nice find, k-m. Those are some staggering numbers!

This kind of output will definitely help the come down from Mariano's retirement.

[Shortstop]

What do you all think about Houston's torrid start?

Will they continue to play well or will they begin to fade?

Honestly, I haven't seen them play enough to make any sense of their recent play...

They're hanging in there...

West	W	L	PCT	GB	WCGB	L10	STRK	HOME	ROAD	LAST GAME	NEXT GAME
Houston	23	13	.639	-	-	5-5	W3	11-9	12-4	5/15 vs TOR, W 8-4	5/16 vs TOR, 7:10 PM
LA Angels	18	17	.514	4.5	1.5	7-3	W4	10-9	8-8	5/15 @ BAL, W 3-1	5/16 @ BAL, 7:05 PM
Seattle	16	19	.457	6.5	3.5	6-4	W1	10-9	6-10	5/15 vs BOS, W 2-1	5/16 vs BOS, 9:10 PM
Texas	15	21	.417	8.0	5.0	5-5	L2	5-12	10-9	5/15 vs CLE, L 3-8	5/16 vs CLE, 8:05 PM
Oakland	13	23	.361	10.0	7.0	2-8	L1	5-11	8-12	5/13 vs BOS, L 0-2	Live vs CWS

[Shortstop]

There were 496 pitches thrown during the Pirates/Cubs game on Friday afternoon...

Crazy!!!!

Plus, the Buccos lost!!!!

[EmpireMaker]

Eye on MLB, May 15: Giants prepare for Hunter Pence's return with a win

By Eye on Baseball staff

May 16, 2015 12:38 am ET

• 
  

The Giants have had an up and down season so far in 2015. They started slow, got hot for a little bit, and have been treading water for the last week or so. Friday night's win over the Reds was their fourth win in the last seven games.
On Saturday, the Giants will make a big upgrade to their roster. Hunter Pence, who suffered a broken forearm when he was hit by a pitch in spring training, is set to be activated off the DL to give the offense a shot in the arm. Justin Maxwell has been adequate as the right field fill-in, but he's no Pence, who will add some pop and righty balance to the lineup.
Now, as good as Pence is, he doesn't really improve San Francisco's most significant areas of weakness, specifically third base and the rotation. Casey McGehee's been a total disaster at the hot corner -- he's hitting .191/.248/.287 and is on pace to ground into 50 (50!) double plays. He's been dreadful.
Madison Bumgarner fired seven innings of two-run ball on Friday to lower his ERA to 3.20 after a slow start in April. The rest of the rotation though? Not very good.

Jake Peavy: 41 ERA+ in two starts before landing on the DL
Ryan Vogelsong: 66 ERA+
Tim Hudson: 82 ERA+
Tim Lincecum: 113 ERA+
Chris Heston: 128 ERA+

Heston's been excellent, and while Lincecum's ERA is shiny, his recent run of success probably isn't sustainable. My colleague Dayn Perry broke that down recently. Matt Cain is working his way back from an elbow injury and is not particularly close to returning. There's definitely room for improvement in that rotation.
I'm not sure many came into the season thinking the Giants had a chance to win the NL West. The Dodgers are just too good. The Giants are good enough for a wild-card spot though, and, as they showed last season, get into the post-season as the wild-card and anything can happen.
Pence's return will help the Giants in that race for a wild-card spot. But to really make some noise, they'll need to find an upgrade over McGehee at third and improve their rotation somewhow. They'll be a better team Saturday than they were Friday thanks to Pence. There is still lots of room for improvement though.

[Chi_archie]

There were 496 pitches thrown during the Pirates/Cubs game on Friday afternoon...

Crazy!!!!

Plus, the Buccos lost!!!!

would been a good game to be at
I almost played hookey to go

[koz-man]

There were 496 pitches thrown during the Pirates/Cubs game on Friday afternoon...

Crazy!!!!

Plus, the Buccos lost!!!!

Wow...What a game!!!

I really thought the Bucs had it when they pulled off that DP in the 10th inning.

After that play they had the momentum and figured Alvarez & Harrison would get something going.

Rough loss. Get them today.

[koz-man]

Miggy is 1 HR away from 400-HR club

Miguel Cabrera will look to join the 400-HR club today. At 32 years and 28 days old, he would become the third-youngest active player to do it behind Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols

[Shortstop]

Miggy is 1 HR away from 400-HR club

Miguel Cabrera will look to join the 400-HR club today. At 32 years and 28 days old, he would become the third-youngest active player to do it behind Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols

He got it!

Miguel Cabrera hit #400 on Saturday as the Tigers beat the Cardinals 4-3 in 10 innings.

Miggy now has 10 homers on the year.

[EmpireMaker]

CHICAGO (AP) Jon Lester pumped his fist and yelled as he walked off the mound at Wrigley Field. A season-high crowd of 38,883 roared its approval.
Not even Gerrit Cole can beat the Chicago Cubs right now.
Lester outpitched Cole with seven gutsy innings, and the Cubs defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1 on Saturday for their sixth straight win.
''You have to better pitch better than good pitching to win, and we had the better pitching today,'' manager Joe Maddon said. ''Jonny set that whole thing up. Man, he was outstanding.''
Kris Bryant went 2 for 2 with two walks and scored twice as the Cubs moved six games over .500 for the first time since they were 83-77 on Oct. 3, 2009, according to STATS. It is the longest win streak for Chicago since a seven-game run in 2011.
Lester (4-2) allowed one run and nine hits in his fourth consecutive win. The left-hander struck out seven, running his career total to 1,504 Ks, and walked one.
''I was fortunate to get some quick outs, especially early in the game,'' Lester said, ''and then kind of from there, just trying to maintain, trying to keep our guys in the dugout as best we could, get out of that warm air and you know get these guys up to bat against Cole.''
Sean Rodriguez homered for Pittsburgh, which has dropped four in a row. Starling Marte and Jung Ho Kang had three hits apiece.
Cole (5-2) allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings. He began the day with a 6-0 record and a 2.92 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs.
''They were fouling pitches off and I wasn't executing with two strikes,'' Cole said.
The Pirates had at least one hit in Lester's last six innings, but Rodriguez's second homer on the first pitch of the third was all the scoring they could manage. They went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.
''There's not many guys in that lineup that didn't get a shot at driving in a run,'' Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said.
With two on, two outs and Chicago clinging to a 2-1 lead in the seventh, Lester was visited by Maddon and a trainer with an 0-2 count on Andrew McCutchen. He was cramping up, mainly in his right leg, but he told Maddon he was fine.
Lester then struck out the 2013 NL MVP, leading to a loud ovation from the crowd on a picturesque day and a brief celebration for the pumped-up pitcher as he walked to the dugout.
''He wears his heart on his sleeve and it's pretty cool to see out of a guy like that,'' Bryant said.
Phil Coke and Jason Motte combined to wriggle out of a jam in the eighth, and Travis Wood finished for his first career save. Maddon said after the game that Wood had been moved to the bullpen and he would make an announcement about the rotation on Sunday.

[Shortstop]

The Yankees are clicking on all cylinders now...

CC has his groove back, A-Rod hit his 10th homer and Betances and Miller continue to dominate out of the pen.

New York Yankees
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Sabathia (W, 2-5)	7.0	6	1	1	0	5	0	87-65	4.67
Betances (H, 8)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	12-8	0.00
Miller	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12-9	0.00

[Chi_archie]

Kang seems like the real deal

[koz-man]

Giants get power boost from Pence

Hunter Pence went 2-for-3 (double) in his return from a broken forearm last night. Pence's presence in the lineup is much-needed: the Giants rank tied for 26th in HRs.

figures he returns vs the Reds.

[EmpireMaker]

Syndergaard earned his first big league win, the success tempered when he beaned Milwaukee star Carlos Gomez with a 96 mph fastball, and New York beat the Brewers 5-1 Sunday.
As Syndergaard spoke postgame, the report from the Brewers' clubhouse was encouraging. Struck in the earflap of his helmet, Gomez had already passed the concussion protocol and hoped to play Monday night in Detroit.
''Lucky, man,'' said Gomez, a big, C-shaped red welt wrapping around his left cheek.
Syndergaard (1-1) shut down the Brewers for the first five innings in his Citi Field debut, giving up just one single. In the sixth, he gave everyone a scare.
After a leadoff single, Syndergaard squarely hit Gomez. The two-time All-Star outfielder went face down in the dirt for a few seconds, and Syndergaard clapped into his glove when Gomez was helped into a sitting position by two Milwaukee trainers.
''It's never really happened,'' Syndergaard said. ''It kind of rattled me a little bit.''
Gomez walked off the field with the trainers at his side and was replaced by a pinch runner.
While Gomez got assistance, Mets manager Terry Collins went to the mound to speak with the 22-year-old rookie.
''You could tell he was shook up,'' Collins said.
Ryan Braun had an RBI single later in the inning. Syndergaard left after the sixth in his second game for the NL East leaders, having allowed three hits, striking out five and walking one.
Collins was impressed with how Syndergaard settled down after the accident, and with his preparation for this outing.
''He doesn't just go out there and say, `Hey, I've got great stuff, I'm just going to pitch,''' Collins said.
Curtis Granderson hit a leadoff home run, Lucas Duda doubled twice and Michael Cuddyer drove in two runs to help the Mets win their second straight after a five-game skid.
Wily Peralta (1-5) had won all three of his previous three starts against the Mets. He quickly fell behind when Granderson connected on the second pitch for his 30th career leadoff homer.
A night earlier, Granderson singled during a 10-run burst in the fourth inning, and later homered to close out a 14-1 romp. Last-place Milwaukee has lost four of five.
Syndergaard actually pitched once before on the Citi Field mound, starting the 2013 All-Star Futures Game. Beaten by the Cubs at Wrigley Field five days earlier, he showed the home fans why the Mets are so high on him.
The 6-foot-6 Syndergaard came out zinging fastballs that topped out at 98 mph, and the pops from catcher Johnny Monell's mitt echoed all around the ballpark. At times, he brought back memories of another rookie righty from Texas who also wore No. 34 when he debuted for the Mets a long time ago - Nolan Ryan.
Syndergaard is currently taking the fifth spot in the rotation earlier held by Dillon Gee, who's on the disabled list. Collins has said the Mets will see how things shake out when Gee is ready to return.
''I know those decisions are coming down the line,'' Collins said.

[Chi_archie]

Long season to go

AJ Burnett keeps going like he is, does he put off retirement another year?

[BigSpoon]

My Blue Jays are stinking lately, swept in a 4 game series by the Astros. Pitching is just terrible, worst ERA in MLB.

[koz-man]

Dan Jennings: Mom thinks I'm crazy

Jennings, the new Marlins manager with no pro managerial experience, heard from his mother regarding today's hiring: "Have you lost your mind?" she asked

[Shortstop]

Long season to go

AJ Burnett keeps going like he is, does he put off retirement another year?

He looked solid again yesterday and Melancon seems to be settling in after a horrible start...

Pittsburgh Pirates
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Burnett (W, 3-1)	7.0	3	0	0	5	7	0	103-63	1.38
Watson (H, 8)	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	0	19-13	1.64
Melancon (S, 9)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	21-14	3.44

[Shortstop]

Dan Jennings: Mom thinks I'm crazy

Jennings, the new Marlins manager with no pro managerial experience, heard from his mother regarding today's hiring: "Have you lost your mind?" she asked

That's funny!

[Andy117]

He was also fatter and better a few years ago too.

Age gets everyone. Fat doesn't help you become a better pitcher.

[BarkingToad]

A lot of pitching Sunday with 7 shutouts.

[MexicanStallion]

Texas closer situation? Feliz is struggling, but who emerges down the stretch? There haven't been many closers taking jobs this year and running away with it like last year. Just some bad situations that haven't changed so much.

[EmpireMaker]

Texas closer situation? Feliz is struggling, but who emerges down the stretch? There haven't been many closers taking jobs this year and running away with it like last year. Just some bad situations that haven't changed so much.

Tanner Scheppers and Shawn Tolleson both threw at the back end of the bullpen on Sunday, allowing one hit over three scoreless innings. One of these guys might emerge as the closer.

[MexicanStallion]

I'd like to see what Singleton does with his second stint in the majors. That's just raking.

Astros prospect Jon Singleton has hit .357 with five homers and 23 RBI over his last seven games for Triple-A Fresno.



Singleton now has an incredible 12 homers and 40 RBI in 36 games this season. Ten of those RBI came in a 17-6 win over Albuquerque last Wednesday. He's fifth in the Pacific Coast League in OPS (.983) and sixth in slugging percentage (.602). The 23-year-old struggled in 95 games for Houston last season (.168 average in 310 at-bats), but he's bound to get another shot if he keeps this up.

[Chi_archie]

Yeah let's see singleton again!

[koz-man]

Tigers' Victor Martinez to 15-day DL

The slugger has inflammation in his left knee, where he had surgery in February to repair a torn meniscus. He's batting .216 with just 1 HR so far this season. The team is recalling OF Tyler Collins from Triple-A.

[Shortstop]

I'd like to see what Singleton does with his second stint in the majors. That's just raking.

Astros prospect Jon Singleton has hit .357 with five homers and 23 RBI over his last seven games for Triple-A Fresno.



Singleton now has an incredible 12 homers and 40 RBI in 36 games this season. Ten of those RBI came in a 17-6 win over Albuquerque last Wednesday. He's fifth in the Pacific Coast League in OPS (.983) and sixth in slugging percentage (.602). The 23-year-old struggled in 95 games for Houston last season (.168 average in 310 at-bats), but he's bound to get another shot if he keeps this up.

Those are some insane numbers! Tough to keep the kid down there putting up stats like that...

[Shortstop]

Tigers' Victor Martinez to 15-day DL

The slugger has inflammation in his left knee, where he had surgery in February to repair a torn meniscus. He's batting .216 with just 1 HR so far this season. The team is recalling OF Tyler Collins from Triple-A.

Good decision in my opinion, no need to rush him back at this point.

Make sure he's 100% after the All-Star Break and in top form heading into the stretch run...

[Shortstop]

A lot of pitching Sunday with 7 shutouts.

Nice catch, I didn't even realize this until you posted...

[Shortstop]

Michael Wacha is having a helluva year.

He even went 1-2 at the dish with a run scored and an RBI tonight as the Cardinals beat the Mets, 10-2.

St. Louis Cardinals
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Wacha (W, 6-0)	7.0	4	2	2	2	5	1	104-71	2.13