[EmpireMaker]

The American League Most Valuable Player race took an unfortunate turn over the weekend when the Angels ruled transcendent center fielder Mike Trout out for the rest of the season. The out-of-contention Angels have nothing to left to play for, but the final couple weeks of the year could have helped Trout, a future Hall of Famer, bolster his MVP case. The 28-year-old has already won the award twice (arguably not enough times considering his brilliance to this point), and he looked like the favorite to take home the honors again this season before a foot injury took him down. Trout could still end up as the AL MVP, but given that he’s on a bad team and hasn’t played since Sept. 7, it’s increasingly likely a challenger will rise up and win it.
If we’re to believe Fangraphs’ version of wins above replacement, 10 American League hitters have been worth at least 5.0 fWAR this year. Trout’s easily in first place, having racked up 8.6 fWAR, while Astros third baseman Alex Bregman’s next at 7.4. Underrated Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien (6.6) is one of three players thereafter who have bettered the 6.0 mark, with Red Sox right fielder/reigning AL MVP Mookie Betts (6.3) and shortstop Xander Bogaerts (6.2) filling out the group. Beyond them, there’s Astros outfielder George Springer, A’s third baseman Matt Chapman, Red Sox third bagger Rafael Devers, Yankees utilityman DJ LeMahieu and White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada with 5.0 fWAR.
There are also six starting pitchers in the bunch with 5.0 or more fWAR – the Astros’ Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander, the Rangers’ Lance Lynn, the Rays’ Charlie Morton, the Indians’ Shane Bieber and the White Sox’s Lucas Giolito – for what it’s worth. However, it’s incredibly difficult for a pitcher to earn MVP honors. Verlander pulled it off back in 2011, but he was the first hurler since 1992 to do so. It’s improbable he or any other pitcher will accomplish the feat this year. Likewise, it’s difficult to imagine a player on a non-contender (Trout aside) earning the MVP this year. That may well rule out anyone from the two Sox-wearing teams.
By process of elimination, the MVP race might come down to Trout, Bregman, Semien, Springer (though it’s tough to see him winning when teammate Bregman has clearly been the more valuable player), Chapman (who’d likely lose votes to Semien) and LeMahieu.
Of course, it’s highly doubtful the voters will make the decision largely by the polarizing WAR stat, and understandably so. There will be plenty who place the most value on the dominance of Trout despite his team’s fecklessness. Others will give the nod to Bregman, who has been on an absolute tear in the season’s second half (the same goes for Semien, by the way). Meanwhile, LeMahieu has thrived as a multi-positional player in the game’s biggest market after joining the Yankees last offseason on what now looks like a bargain contract of two years and $24MM.

[BigSpoon]

Felipe Vazquez the pedo bear.

[JMobile]

Felipe Vazquez the pedo bear.

That's so crazy.

[Stallion]

That guy is a sick f#$k

[batt33]

red sox game looks like a marlins game right now...everyone gone...

[Cross]

His career is over, lock that fuk up.

[mr. leisure]

Bad break for Trout .

[JaimeMiro]

Red Sox lose a marathon, 6-7. Almost a comeback

[EmpireMaker]

Outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is one of several high-profile Yankees whom injuries have stunted this year, but with the playoffs around the corner, the former MVP’s on his way back. The Yankees will activate Stanton from the injured list Wednesday or Thursday, manager Aaron Boone told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com and other reporters. The team doesn’t expect Stanton to be limited at all when he comes back, according to Boone.
Despite almost no contributions this year from Stanton, a four-time All-Star who was the Yankees’ signature acquisition going into the 2018 campaign, the club has thrived this season. Even though multiple injuries have held Stanton to 38 plate appearances in 2019, the Yankees (98-53) are in a tie with the Astros for the majors’ best record, and they’re shoo-ins to win their first American League East title since 2012. Stanton hasn’t played since he suffered a strained PCL in his right knee June 25. Before that, biceps, shoulder and calf problems shelved him for roughly two and a half months.
The Stanton-less Yankees have unexpectedly gotten terrific production from once-unheralded pickups Mike Tauchman and Cameron Maybin in the outfield, while holdovers Aaron Judge, Brett Gardner and Aaron Hicks have done good work yet again. However, both Tauchman and Hicks are likely done for the season with injuries of their own, which should make Stanton’s return all the more important for New York as it chases its first World Series title since 2009.

[jrgum3]

Got lucky on that Yankee game last night I had the over but my bet was voided because of a pitching change. Still that game should've gone over it was 8-0 after 4 innings and stayed that way the rest of the ballgame.

[Otters27]

Twins with a nice comeback in the 12th

[Chi_archie]

Got lucky on that Yankee game last night I had the over but my bet was voided because of a pitching change. Still that game should've gone over it was 8-0 after 4 innings and stayed that way the rest of the ballgame.

gotta love those

[stevenash]

Got lucky on that Yankee game last night I had the over but my bet was voided because of a pitching change. Still that game should've gone over it was 8-0 after 4 innings and stayed that way the rest of the ballgame.

This happens often, I’ve seen many a game where there’s 8 or 10 runs scored through four innings or so and then the last four innings are shutout frames.

[JMobile]

His career is over, lock that fuk up.

That's worse than hitting your wife/GF.

[koz-man]

Stanton returns as Yanks look to lock up East

NEW YORK -- Giancarlo Stanton, who has played just nine games this season because of knee issues, has returned to the starting lineup with the Yankees on the cusp of clinching a division title.
Stanton will bat fifth and play left field against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night. He has been out since June 25 after straining the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
With just 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Yankees can lock up the AL East on Wednesday night by beating the Angels or with a loss by Tampa Bay.

[jrgum3]

Stanton returns as Yanks look to lock up East


NEW YORK -- Giancarlo Stanton, who has played just nine games this season because of knee issues, has returned to the starting lineup with the Yankees on the cusp of clinching a division title.
Stanton will bat fifth and play left field against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night. He has been out since June 25 after straining the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
With just 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Yankees can lock up the AL East on Wednesday night by beating the Angels or with a loss by Tampa Bay.

Should be interesting to see how Stanton does in the postseason after missing a good chunk of the regular season due to injury....

[EmpireMaker]

Details surrounding Aaron Sanchez’s shoulder surgery last week remain unusually sparse, but Astros manager A.J. Hinch indicated to reporters today that Sanchez’s rehab process could carry into the 2020 season (Twitter link via Brian McTaggart of MLB.com).
The uncertainty surrounding Sanchez’s readiness for the 2020 season only further muddies the Astros’ decision on whether to tender him a contract this winter. The 27-year-old Sanchez was a paid a relatively modest $3.9MM salary in 2019 and struggled when healthy enough to take the ball, so his forthcoming arbitration raise will be anything but exorbitant. But, if the Astros are concerned that the right-hander will miss a substantial portion of the 2020 campaign, then it’s possible they could simply move on. Doing so just months after trading Derek Fisher to acquire Sanchez and Joe Biagini from the Blue Jays certainly wouldn’t be an ideal outcome, but spending on a player whose health outlook is cloudy enough could potentially prove more detrimental yet.
There’s reason for the Astros to roll the dice on Sanchez, of course. Although he’s been consistently plagued by fingernail and blister issues in recent seasons, he was excellent in Toronto as recently as 2016, when he pitched 192 innings of 3.00 ERA ball with 7.6 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 and an outstanding 54.4 percent ground-ball rate. Add in that Sanchez can be retained at a relatively low rate and that the ’Stros could lose Gerrit Cole, Wade Miley and Collin McHugh to free agency this winter, and a low-cost flier on Sanchez has its appeal.
Then again, the Astros were able to wait out the starting pitching market and sign Miley for a $4.5MM guarantee last winter. They could seek a similarly low-cost match with a free-agent starter this winter rather than promise a comparable sum to Sanchez in arbitration. Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke will return to front next year’s rotation, and the Astros will also likely have Lance McCullers Jr. back from Tommy John surgery. Houston does already have more than $156MM committed to the 2020 payroll — not including arbitration raises for Carlos Correa, Brad Peacock, Roberto Osuna, Jake Marisnick, Biagini and a likely repeat of McCullers’ $4.1MM salary — so the team may not be keen on further spending on a player with this level of uncertainty.

[Chi_archie]

Stanton returns as Yanks look to lock up East


NEW YORK -- Giancarlo Stanton, who has played just nine games this season because of knee issues, has returned to the starting lineup with the Yankees on the cusp of clinching a division title.
Stanton will bat fifth and play left field against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night. He has been out since June 25 after straining the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
With just 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Yankees can lock up the AL East on Wednesday night by beating the Angels or with a loss by Tampa Bay.

let's see what he has left

[Otters27]

Mets with easy comeback in top of mine. Rockies tried to stretch to closer 1 2/3.

[stevenash]

^@Archie
Looked good in the outfield last night.
Yanks could run the table and take Houston in what could be an epic series.
With Severino back they solidified that starting rotation, German has proven to be legit, and while I’m not saying their starters are better than Houston their bull pen is.

Yanks have no holes.

[batt33]

Bochy gets win 2000..... only 11th coach to do so... ceremonial first pitch was Yaz to Yaz..... pretty cool stuff.

[koz-man]

Braves' Acuna third 21-year-old with 40 homers

ATLANTA -- Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves has become only the third player in baseball history to hit 40 homers in a season while 21 years old or younger.
The other two were Eddie Mathews and Mel Ott, who are both in the Hall of Fame.

Acuna, 21, launched a two-run shot Thursday in the third inning, a towering 432-foot drive into the second level at SunTrust Park off Philadelphia's Aaron Nola.
With eight games left in the regular season, Acuna also has a shot at becoming just the fifth player in baseball history to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in a season. He has 37 stolen bases.
Mathews hit 47 homers as a 21-year-old for the Milwaukee Braves in 1953. Ott was 20 when he hit 42 homers for the New York Giants in 1929.

[Stallion]

A 40-40 season would be amazing for Acuna

[JaimeMiro]

Yankees shenanigans; starting pitcher Domingo German allegedly slapped his girlfriend during an argument in a public setting. Could be suspended

[batt33]

Braves' Acuna third 21-year-old with 40 homers


ATLANTA -- Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves has become only the third player in baseball history to hit 40 homers in a season while 21 years old or younger.
The other two were Eddie Mathews and Mel Ott, who are both in the Hall of Fame.

Acuna, 21, launched a two-run shot Thursday in the third inning, a towering 432-foot drive into the second level at SunTrust Park off Philadelphia's Aaron Nola.
With eight games left in the regular season, Acuna also has a shot at becoming just the fifth player in baseball history to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in a season. He has 37 stolen bases.
Mathews hit 47 homers as a 21-year-old for the Milwaukee Braves in 1953. Ott was 20 when he hit 42 homers for the New York Giants in 1929.

now days you wonder what meds is he on...

[jrgum3]

Bochy gets win 2000..... only 11th coach to do so... ceremonial first pitch was Yaz to Yaz..... pretty cool stuff.

I'm glad the Giants were able to get enough wins this year for Bochy to reach 2000 he deserves it.

[Otters27]

Gerrit Cole is Just unreal

[Chi_archie]

Gerrit Cole is Just unreal

Very incredible

[stevenash]

Gerrit Cole is Just unreal

Makes Houston the clear cut AL favorites.
Can the Yankees sticks hit him is the question.

[BigSpoon]

Gerrit Cole is Just unreal

Verlander has been even better aside from the strikeouts.

[Cross]

Being a cubs fan is most frustrating thing ever right now.

[EmpireMaker]

• Lorenzo Cain was forced out of the Brewers’ game Thursday afternoon due to left ankle discomfort, the team announced. Cain hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, but was replaced by Trent Grisham in center field in the top of the fifth. Injuries have plagued Cain all season, as thumb, wrist, and oblique problems have contributed to his career-worst 76 wRC+ (from a .251/.316/.357 slash line and 10 homers) over 592 plate appearances. He’s “greatly wobbled,” per Tom Haudricourt of the Miilwaukee Journal, who adds that Cain could undergo more tests.
• Phillies shortstop Jean Segura exited the team’s loss to Atlanta with a left hamstring cramp, Matt Gelb of The Athletic relays. The severity’s unknown as of now, Gelb notes. One of many big-ticket offseason acquisitions for the Phillies, Segura has produced a respectable 2.6 fWAR in 593 plate appearances, but he hasn’t been as effective as he was with the Diamondbacks and Mariners from 2016-18.
• Indians closer Brad Hand threw a “really good” bullpen session Wednesday, manager Terry Francona said, though it’s still unclear when he’ll be able to return (via Mandy Bell of MLB.com). It was the first bullpen for Hand during his absence from a fatigued arm, which dates back to Sept. 8. Things have gone well to this point for the Hand-less Indians, as they’ve gone 7-2 since he last pitched and only needed saves in two of those wins (one apiece from Adam Cimber and Oliver Perez).
• There’s nothing meaningful left to play for this year for the Red Sox, though banged up right fielder Mookie Betts still doesn’t plan to shut it down, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe writes. The reigning AL MVP, who hasn’t played since Sept. 12 on account of left foot inflammation, is aiming to come back during a four-game series in Tampa Bay that begins Friday. Betts wouldn’t line up in the field during that set, though, as the Red Sox don’t want to risk running him out there on turf. Meanwhile, reliever Heath Hembree is progressing from elbow problems and could come off the IL next week. Hembree’s balky elbow has forced him to the shelf twice this year and stopped him from pitching since Aug. 1.
• Angels left fielder Justin Upton will undergo a platelet-rich plasma injection Friday, per Bill Ladson of MLB.com. The hope is that it’ll aid Upton in overcoming the pain in his right knee – a joint that has bothered him since spring training. The eliminated Angels shut Upton down for the season last week after injuries helped limit the normally terrific hitter to a .215/.309/.416 line with 12 home runs in 256 plate appearances.

[stevenash]

Being a cubs fan is most frustrating thing ever right now.

Try being a Royals fan dude.
Mr. Glass has the team up for sale, hope the Sherman deal happens.

[ApricotSinner32]

The American League Most Valuable Player race took an unfortunate turn over the weekend when the Angels ruled transcendent center fielder Mike Trout out for the rest of the season. The out-of-contention Angels have nothing to left to play for, but the final couple weeks of the year could have helped Trout, a future Hall of Famer, bolster his MVP case. The 28-year-old has already won the award twice (arguably not enough times considering his brilliance to this point), and he looked like the favorite to take home the honors again this season before a foot injury took him down. Trout could still end up as the AL MVP, but given that he’s on a bad team and hasn’t played since Sept. 7, it’s increasingly likely a challenger will rise up and win it.
If we’re to believe Fangraphs’ version of wins above replacement, 10 American League hitters have been worth at least 5.0 fWAR this year. Trout’s easily in first place, having racked up 8.6 fWAR, while Astros third baseman Alex Bregman’s next at 7.4. Underrated Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien (6.6) is one of three players thereafter who have bettered the 6.0 mark, with Red Sox right fielder/reigning AL MVP Mookie Betts (6.3) and shortstop Xander Bogaerts (6.2) filling out the group. Beyond them, there’s Astros outfielder George Springer, A’s third baseman Matt Chapman, Red Sox third bagger Rafael Devers, Yankees utilityman DJ LeMahieu and White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada with 5.0 fWAR.
There are also six starting pitchers in the bunch with 5.0 or more fWAR – the Astros’ Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander, the Rangers’ Lance Lynn, the Rays’ Charlie Morton, the Indians’ Shane Bieber and the White Sox’s Lucas Giolito – for what it’s worth. However, it’s incredibly difficult for a pitcher to earn MVP honors. Verlander pulled it off back in 2011, but he was the first hurler since 1992 to do so. It’s improbable he or any other pitcher will accomplish the feat this year. Likewise, it’s difficult to imagine a player on a non-contender (Trout aside) earning the MVP this year. That may well rule out anyone from the two Sox-wearing teams.
By process of elimination, the MVP race might come down to Trout, Bregman, Semien, Springer (though it’s tough to see him winning when teammate Bregman has clearly been the more valuable player), Chapman (who’d likely lose votes to Semien) and LeMahieu.
Of course, it’s highly doubtful the voters will make the decision largely by the polarizing WAR stat, and understandably so. There will be plenty who place the most value on the dominance of Trout despite his team’s fecklessness. Others will give the nod to Bregman, who has been on an absolute tear in the season’s second half (the same goes for Semien, by the way). Meanwhile, LeMahieu has thrived as a multi-positional player in the game’s biggest market after joining the Yankees last offseason on what now looks like a bargain contract of two years and $24MM.

[koz-man]

Yanks' German won't pitch again in '19

Right-hander Domingo German will not pitch for the New York Yankees again in 2019 following his placement on administrative leave under the joint MLB-MLBPA domestic violence policy, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney on Friday.
German had been placed on administrative leave Thursday following an incident that Major League Baseball learned about Tuesday morning, sources previously told ESPN's Jeff Passan. Despite the lack of a police report detailing the incident, MLB and the players' union agreed the allegations against German warranted placing him on leave amid an investigation, sources said.
Under the joint domestic violence policy, a player can be put on administrative leave for up to seven days, barring a mutually agreed-upon extension between the league and union.