Announcers for TB-NY games last night during the umpire discussion about pitching changes/mound visits

Announcer 1: the last pitch was at 9:17 pm and it's now 9:33 pm

Announcer 2: this is like a rain delay

Announcer 1: except longer

What is the distinct purpose of the AL and NL now that the DH Is gone. Is there something else that makes them different? If not, why don't they completely re-align into one league where everyone plays everyone in equal parts except for maybe more games in-division ?

And if you did that I guess the World Series still happens but has a different meaning ?

Everyday, I get a little more convinced that Morel can be a guy (lowercase). Or maybe he's just such a lone bright spot that it makes him look even better. Either way, he's an unexpected surprise this year, and for once, that surprise isn't already 30.

The Duke is really Manfred? A lot of things make sense now.

Back in the 70s, the NHL had a very balanced schedule and had Vancouer and NY in the same conference and even Montreal/LA and Boston/Oakland in the same division. Imitating the NHL is rarely a wise idea.

Cubs' curious use of the shuttle.

Michael Rucker sent out, recalled in a day or two (Miley's injury I think), optioned back out the next day...

replaced by Sean Newcomb off the IL, pitches that day, DFA'd ...

replaced by Eric Stout, a 29-yo AAAA guy, who actually pitches relatively well by current Cub pen standards, DFA'd today ...

replaced by Adrian Sampson

Meanwhile, Daniel Norris retains his job with a line of 24 IP, 19 H, 16 BB, 23 R, 7 HR

EDIT: Oh yeah ... what I find curious about it is that with the pen on its 19 IP, 39 R streak that it's just the last man in the pen position that the Cubs are shuttling (but doing so on a nearly daily basis). I'd expect 3 or 4 guys to have been DFA'd, optioned, mysteriously wound up on the IL after a performance like that, not the guys whose role is to eat innings in blowouts.

Anyway, Pads 3-2 over the Cubs through 2.5. Morel has a HR, single and steal so I've had my fun for the day probably. Cub starter Matt Swarmer already on 73 pitches so we'll be seeing plenty of the pen again today. He's also given up a HR (Mazara) so that's 10 in 20 innings.

EDIT: Looks like the Reds have the day off so a Cub loss will put them into a tie.

so a Cub loss will put them into a tie.

Or a Cub win will put them a game up!

Crazy talk! While I understand the nature of baseball virtually guarantees the Cubs will win again this season, probably around the same time the bullpen stops giving up 2 runs an inning, we have lost 9 straight and trail 5-2 in the 5th as we speak.

Since he was mentioned in another thread today ... obviously not fair to compare a 2650 PA career (to date) with a 8550 PA career, but talk about your near-perfect WAR comps:

Matt Olson per 650: 24 Rbat, 0 Rbase, -1 Rdp, +9 Rfield, -8 Rpos, 24 RAA, 4.7 WAR, 3.7 oWAR
KHernandez per 650: 22 Rbat, 0 Rbase, 0 Rdp, +9 Rfield, -8 Rpos, 23 RAA, 4.6 WAR, 3.5 oWAR

Olson has a 132 OPS+ on a line of 252/348/503
Hernandez at 128 OPS+, 296/384/436

That OBP difference is quite large, not quite as large in context but largely the result of today's K-rates driving down BA. The walk rates are close (11.6 MO, 12.5 KH). In K-rates, Olson is 1.1% above average, Hernandez 1.9% below average. Anyway, per Rbat, the power difference makes up for it.

Cincy is slowly clawing it's way out of the basement. The Cubs are about to sink below them. The Pirates are on a bad streak and the Tigers are terrible too.

They've got 4 more teams they could pass: Angels, mariners, Rockies, Pirates, and orioles. If they can pull that off, they could make a run to .500 assuming they don't tear down. In fact, had they kept Sonny Gray they might be in pretty shape.

The Cub pen today was perfectly OK -- 5.1 IP, 2 R, 1 IRS. Even Norris threw a scoreless 9th.

Still a 6-4 loss. Tied with the Reds; Nats, Royals, A's in our sights.

Yankees have put Luis Severino on the Covid IL. Hasn’t tested positive (yet) but has some viral symptoms, so he’s not starting tonight. Clarke Schmidt will fill-in, as the Yankees go for the sweep against the Rays.

Red Sox go down 4-3 despite 11 hits and 3BB, but only 1 XBH and unfortunately 1 for 14 with RISP(that won't get it done) and now sit 1/2 game behind Jose Ramirez and the streaking Guardians for the last WC spot.

In spite of his new contract, Jose seems underpaid.

Tylor Megill, we hardly knew ye.....

Mets SP has terrific April, sputters in 2 starts in May, hits the IL with a biceps injury. tonight is his second start back, and after 3 good innings he throws 28 pitches as MIL loads 'em up in the 4th in a 1-1 game - and Megill is done.

calls for the trainer, seems to be worried about his elbow, sadly walks off the mound.

meanwhile the Braves' 14-game winning streak has them within 4 games of the lead, and they enjoy a night off - and deGrom and Scherzer are progressing but won't be back this month.

Self-Immolation Meter up to 4, one of the higher marks of the season....

Rays @ Yankees tied 1-1, heading into the bottom of the 9th, with Judge, Rizzo & Stanton due up. Something exciting might happen, eh?

EDIT: Rizzo does it; HR (#16) to RF (382 feet). Yankees take a 10-game lead, and their 47-16 record equals the mark of the fabled 1998 squad.

I think you might have called it.

Mets built up a double-digit lead in the standings in part due to playing in a terrible division.

but in their last 28 combined games, the Braves and Phillies are now ..... 26-2.

probably no way to quantify if such a thing has happened before (might be impossible in an 8-team league era before expansion).

"Bonehead Third Base Coach 'Send' of the Year" candidate:

Mets lead 5-4, EDiaz on in the 9th. runner on 1st, 1 out, PH hits a feeble quail to RF. tough to get to, so it becomes 2nd and 3rd, 1 out, with Yelich now batting.

I'm just kidding. the Brew Crew somehow sends Renfroe to try to score, and even though the Mets RF throws to cutoff man Alonso, he has time to nail Renfroe at the plate.

Diaz then whiffs the Bellinger-like Yelich to end it.

with 2 outs, I send the guy even though that is debatable. but with 1 out? WTF

Brewers help out the Mets with a fairly crazy send home on a well placed double with one out, ahead of Christian Yelich. Would have had second and third but instead the runner is thrown out at home and then Diaz blows Yelich away.

I really want the Mets to take three of four from the Marlins now, but a split isn’t the end of the world. Braves have to lose eventually…. Right??

Edit: Right there with you, Howie. Pretty inexplicable send. I was even commenting earlier that playing for the tie for the away team doesn’t seem as crazy as it used to be given the phantom runner these days, and second and third puts you a hit away from the lead. Very silly.