Series Thread: World Series preview? Rangers at Wrigley to play the Cubs 7/15-7/17

[darrylgann]

makes for a slow game day thread and boring nights

No juicy rumors to talk about either

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Thoughts on a 3-1 Rangers loss

Morris with some decent insight about Banny game management.

 

[donaldson79]

Listened to the last 2 1/2 innings on the radio - Cubs network - while traveling. And get this, the Cubs announcers said, "the Cubs going into the AS break played 24 straight days. I think that's the toughest schedule I ever remember." Really?

Love the homer/honesty involved there. ha ha ha

 

[Kelleyman]

Thoughts on a 3-1 Rangers loss

Morris with some decent insight about Banny game management.

I have a hard time getting around no PH for Tolleson. Gotta play NL ball in their park

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Odor just does not see enough pitches and rarely walks so I am not sure he is the best lead off hitter. But our other choices are sad unless Profar is in the game. Wish Choo would get healthy and stay healthy.

 

[WilltheThrill]

There were at least a few positive takeaways from today's game:

- Yu looked fantastic. The walks were not great, but it was to be expected for his control to be slightly off coming off his long break. His stuff was outstanding though. He would have made it 5 full innings on a limited pitch count if not for Odor dropping the ball.
- Kela looked great as well. The ball seemed to be jumping out of his hand. We're gonna need him down the stretch.
- A less-than-100% Mitch Moreland smacked a double off the ivy. Mitch is still Mitch and nothing to be super happy about, but it's newsworthy because even a gimp Mitch Moreland is currently better than Prince Fielder (if for nothing else his fielding).

 

[donaldson79]

OK fellas......have a good one.....adios!

 

[darrylgann]

#Rangers engaged in ongoing trade talks with #Rays about Matt Moore, sources say. No deal imminent. Moore pitched very well Saturday. @MLB

 

[WastinSomeTime]

#Rangers engaged in ongoing trade talks with #Rays about Matt Moore, sources say. No deal imminent. Moore pitched very well Saturday. @MLB

It was also reported that it could include BP reinforcements from Tampa Bay.

 

[saddles]

Rangers, Rays In Trade Talks

 

[romeo212000]

I'm thinking JD is really going for it, but he and the owners need to realize there's a decent chance it doesn't matter as long as they continue dragging the anchor that is Prince Fielder.

 

[Duane1952]

It was also reported that it could include BP reinforcements from Tampa Bay.

I would like to see Alex Colome as part of the deal. He is having a good year.

 

[Duane1952]

At least we got a one game break from Prince.

 

[Bmurph]

2B
Rougned Odor (L)
CF
Ian Desmond (R)
3B
Adrian Beltre (R)
1B
Prince Fielder (L)
LF
Ryan Rua (R)
RF
Nomar Mazara (L)
SS
Elvis Andrus (R)
C
R. Chirinos (R)
P
Cole Hamels (L)

TEX: Cole Hamels (L) (9-2, 3.21)
CHC: John Lackey (R) (7-5, 3.70)

 

[Bmurph]

Jeeez bating Prince cleanup at this point has to be one of the stupidest things Ive ever witnessed

 

[Duane1952]

Jeeez bating Prince cleanup at this point has to be one of the stupidest things Ive ever witnessed

It's unbelievable how stubborn Banny is.

 

[darrylgann]

Rangers, Rays In Trade Talks

All sounds promising, Bennie

 

[Bmurph]

MLB reportedly tells managers, GMs to stop arguing balls and strikes
MLB exec Joe Torre reportedly sent a memo on Friday to managers and some front office members

• by Dayn Perry
• @daynperry
• 16h ago • 1 min read

MLB would apparently like managers and certain members of certain front offices to pump their brakes just a bit when it comes to arguing balls and strikes this season. Here's this, via the AP ...

MLB executive Joe Torre sent a memo Friday to managers, general managers and assistant general managers that said: ''This highly inappropriate conduct is detrimental to the game and must stop immediately.''

...

Torre said in his note that ''the prevalence of manager ejections simply cannot continue.''

The AP goes on to report that Torre in the memo called out managers who rely on replays or zone tracking tools available in, say, the clubhouse video room to inform their arguments. Torre is MLB's chief baseball officer.

Per Close Call Sports, in 2015 plate umpires ejected the manager on 76 occasions. In 2016, that's happened 37 times, so if anything the pace has slowed just a bit. Rather than the frequency of ejections, though, it may be, as Torre indicated, the manner in which managers and other vested parties are arriving at their grievances -- i.e., availing themselves of technology that the plate ump cannot use in making his ball-strike calls.

As for front office types, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo reportedly engaged in a tunnel shouting match with veteran ump Jim Joyce not long ago. That was over application of sliding rules and not balls and strikes, but the incident may have been somewhere in Torre's consciousness as he penned the memo in question. What most assuredly was about balls and strikes was when Tigers skipper Brad Ausmus earlier this season covered home plate with his sweatshirt.

 

[Bmurph]

Tommy Hunter suffers fractured back after protecting his son during a fall
Hunter slipped down the steps while carrying his son

• by Mike Axisa
• @mikeaxisa
• 26m ago • 1 min read

A freak home injury has landed a member of the Indians' bullpen on the disabled list.

Right-hander Tommy Hunter suffered a non-displaced fracture in his back over the All-Star break when he slipped on his steps while carrying his son, manager Terry Francona announced Sunday. Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer has the details:

"He had a little mishap at home during the break," said manager Terry Francona. "He was carrying his child, missed a step and banged his back trying to protect his child.

"He called the trainers, but thought he'd be OK in a couple of days. We tried to protect him the last couple of days, but he was out there throwing Saturday and feeling it."

Hunter went for an MRI this weekend, which revealed the fracture. He's going to return to Cleveland to see a specialist, which will hopefully give the team a better idea of his timetable.

In 21 games and 21 2/3 innings this season, Hunter has a 3.74 ERA (128 ERA+) with 17 strikeouts and a 1.20 WHIP. The Indians signed him to a one-year deal worth $2 million after a multiyear contract with the Yankees reportedly fell through over health concerns. Hunter had hernia surgery over the winter.


Tommy Hunter suffered a back injury protecting his son during a fall over the All-Star break. USATSI
With Hunter placed on the DL, the Indians recalled righty Cody Andersonfrom Triple-A. He's going to give the team a fresh long reliever following Saturday's marathon 11-inning loss to the Twins (MIN 5, CLE 4).

The Indians are 53-37 and 6 1/2 games up in the AL Central, though they've struggled a bit of late. Cleveland is 4-7 in their last 11 games.


Unfortunate for "Big Game", he's one of the friendliest, most personable players I came in contact with when he was a Ranger

 

[saddles]

MLB reportedly tells managers, GMs to stop arguing balls and strikes
MLB exec Joe Torre reportedly sent a memo on Friday to managers and some front office members

• by Dayn Perry
• @daynperry
• 16h ago • 1 min read

MLB would apparently like managers and certain members of certain front offices to pump their brakes just a bit when it comes to arguing balls and strikes this season. Here's this, via the AP ...

MLB executive Joe Torre sent a memo Friday to managers, general managers and assistant general managers that said: ''This highly inappropriate conduct is detrimental to the game and must stop immediately.''

...

Torre said in his note that ''the prevalence of manager ejections simply cannot continue.''

The AP goes on to report that Torre in the memo called out managers who rely on replays or zone tracking tools available in, say, the clubhouse video room to inform their arguments. Torre is MLB's chief baseball officer.

Per Close Call Sports, in 2015 plate umpires ejected the manager on 76 occasions. In 2016, that's happened 37 times, so if anything the pace has slowed just a bit. Rather than the frequency of ejections, though, it may be, as Torre indicated, the manner in which managers and other vested parties are arriving at their grievances -- i.e., availing themselves of technology that the plate ump cannot use in making his ball-strike calls.

As for front office types, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo reportedly engaged in a tunnel shouting match with veteran ump Jim Joyce not long ago. That was over application of sliding rules and not balls and strikes, but the incident may have been somewhere in Torre's consciousness as he penned the memo in question. What most assuredly was about balls and strikes was when Tigers skipper Brad Ausmus earlier this season covered home plate with his sweatshirt.

They need to call the umps on the carpet.