The Dugout – Torrents of Tears and Trades
Redemption, Spelt W-I-L-M-E-R
We all have to spare a thought for NY Mets infielder Wilmer Flores. The 23 year old has played his whole career so far in the Mets organisation and clearly has great feelings for them. So you can hardly blame him for shedding a few tears when he learnt that he’d been traded. The only thing was… he found out during a game. Generally if that happens, then the manager will pull him out of the side, but he was inexplicably left in on this occasion (apparently the ever-pugnacious New York crowd offer a few jeers and send offs). However the fella did get a standing ovation before the end, some consolation in a rotten situation.
But then something weird happened. Carlos Gomez, the ‘big bat’ that was coming the other way in the trade, went and failed his medical. The trade was off, Flores remained a Met. (And the Mets brought in Yoenis Cespedes instead).
And having earned a lot of sympathy the night before, he came out the next day and made a couple of sterling defensive plays, the crowd up on their feet for every one of them. The dude was fast becoming an icon. Next thing you know…
The Deadline Has Passed
Last week we looked at the MLB trade deadline and the chest-pumping it inspires and the skeletons it leaves exposed when the smoke finally clears. Lots of metaphors there. But that’s how it goes, teams are all either buyers or sellers and they all want the best possible deal. And when it’s all over, suddenly the realistic fate of your season is clear for all to see.
For example, the San Diego Padres. Massively active in the offseason, they assembled a team full of expensive veterans and told everyone that they were out for a championship. Well, they’ve got about a sliver of hope left just to make the playoffs, and they were noticeably quiet on deadline day. It’s not that they couldn’t make trades, it’s that they didn’t want to. They’re still clinging to that sliver. And the sad mediocrity of that speaks volumes.
But compare them to the Texas Rangers, a side with a slightly better chance to make the postseason but still with a lot of work to be done. They were perfectly placed to take a step back and act as sellers… instead they went all in. The Rangers traded away a couple of major prospects for Cole Hamels and his guaranteed multi-year contract. While the dudes they lost were highly touted, they kept their top couple of farm names and Hamels will still be there next season. Pretty sweet deal, but will he help them to the playoffs in 2015? Does he need to? (They lost his team debut, though blame the bullpen for that).
Now, the Toronto Blue Jays get plenty of credit for topping an already superb offensive team with Troy Tulowitzki and they went and added David Price to their rotation. Possibly the two best players on the block and they got ‘em both. The Blue Jays will be backing themselves all the way to overhaul the Yankees and claim the AL East. (The Yankees sat pretty tight, still relying on dodgy pitching staff).
However the Blue Jays didn’t win the deadline. Nope, that was a different American League team, one with some lofty ambitions of their own.
A Royal Haul
Yeah, the Kansas City Royals. Defending AL champs, World Series contenders last year. They’re 8.5 games clear of Minnesota in their division, with the best record in the AL and primed for another playoff run. But that wasn’t enough. Like the always-regal Freddie Mercury, they want it all.
So the Royals went out and got position wrench and decent hitter Ben Zobrist and the ever-reliable arm of Johnny Cueto for their rotation. The Royals’ run in 2014 was made possible by an all-star cast of relievers that made them basically a sure thing with a sixth innings lead. It was getting those first six innings out of the way that held them back and now they have a genuine ace to help that out. Cueto’s 2.70 ERA is a full half point better than anyone in the Royals starting staff and his strikeout/walk ratio leaves them all in the dust. Got him for much cheaper than the Jays got Price, too.
They were overachievers last time. Now the Royals are legitimate favourites.
Anything You Can Do…
… Clayton Kershaw can do better.
His Dodgers teammate Zack Greinke lit the league alight with his 45.2 innings scoreless streak not that long ago. Well, Kershaw is hot on his heels. After 8 shutout frames the other day, his own streak is up to 37 scoreless innings, meaning a complete game nil next time and he passes that mark. You know, just in case anyone doubted that he was still the undisputed pitching champion of the world.
Oh, and since we were talking about how good the Royals have become, here’s a spare thought for their potential World Series opponents if all goes as planned. The Dodgers managed (for the price of lots of money – something they’ve never shied away from before) to add some proper depth behind Kershaw and Greinke with Mat Latos and Alex Wood as well as bringing in some relief arms and a little infield help. Granted, the National League is a little more crowded at the top, with more than a few reasons to fear the Cardinals, Pirates, Nationals and even the Mets.
The Legion’s Still Strong
Don’t worry about the Seattle Seahawks. With so many guys excelling after being drafted by the franchise, it’s been feared that too many would hit free agency or stall contract talks all at the same time, meaning the team would struggle to retain their talent.
Meanwhile they’ve just re-signed LB Bobby Wagner for four year and $43m.
It’s not that that isn’t a legit fear though. The ‘hawks will not be in the running for basically any major free agent for the next few seasons. Even getting this deal done was a hassle after signing Russell Wilson for $87.6m. But it means that Wilson, Wagner, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, K.J. Wright, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Marshawn Lynch and Kam Chancellor are all signed up for the immediate future. Not to mention tight end Jimmy Graham who they traded for from New Orleans after last season ended.
But it ain’t all roses and perfect cap management. Kam Chancellor is locked down for three more years but he’s not happy. In fact he’s not turning up to training camps out of unhappiness. Because the Seahawks paid him nice and early into his rookie deal, but because of how rookie contracts and free agency works under the current bargaining agreement, he has zero guaranteed money after this season should the Seahawks cut him. Which isn’t impossible given their constraints, even with Chancellor being arguably the best safety in the NFL. A single serious injury and he could lose a lot of money.
All Hail King Kobe
"The Whole Country Came Out To See The Young Legend @kobebryant In China #LakersGang #PurpleNdGold #CallTheShots #MambaMentality"
And Again
Franchise Transparency
Credit to the Dallas Cowboys for actually posting this vid on their twitter account! For the record, Dez Bryant got a little annoyed and snapped at this dude (Tyler Patmon, a backup CB), still raging at him even after they were pulled apart. But the lads hugged and made up soon after, no worries.
Rodgers & Munn, Training Pt. 2
"Freestyle #latergram @karine_lmx"
Pick A Bucc
Love The Mask, Marshawn
Sacramento Suicide Squad
One From The Vault
Rumour of the Week:
Apparently James Harden’s been offered $200m to be sponsored by Adidas. That… is a lot of money.
Quote of the Week:
"You don't want somebody weak on your team. That's why Patmon, he was undrafted and he's fighting his way. And he's fighting for respect and he got mine. I'll go to war with a guy like that any day of the week."
Dez Bryant will respect you if you try to punch him, good to know.
Runner-Up Quote of the Week:
"As long as I play in this league and play on a high level, I always feel like a team is going to have to stop me. I feel like sometimes I'm the LeBron of football, especially at my position because I can do so much."
KC Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles lays it down. For the record, there is no LeBron of football, but if there were… it’d be Calvin Johnson. Or maybe Aaron Rodgers. J.J. Watt? Hmm. Better send this one to the lab for testing.
(Specifically JC was talking about drawing defensive coverages, so in that manner he’s not wrong. Still one of the three best RBs in the league.)
Good Week:
Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds) – Though he’s cooled off in the last couple days, Votto’s been slaughtering pitching since the break. An average of .491 since the season resumed, with on on-base percentage of .635 and slugging average of .811. At one stage he reached base in 37 of 50 at bats. Damn, son.
Clayton Kershaw (LA Dodgers) – Fully expect to see him as next week’s player of the week, though.
Bad Week:
Mike Scott (Atlanta Hawks) – Not the best week when you’re nicked by the cops with a double-double worth of weed and molly. Both he and his younger brother (who was driving the car they were pulled over in) were arrested after trying to speed off when the sirens behind them went on. No idea what the circumstances were but he could face felony drug charges.
Washington Nationals – Something’s going wrong in DC. Four straight losses including being swept by the Mets has seen the Nats slip from first in their division (replaced by that most recent opponent). Bryce Harper ain’t happy, and neither should he be. Since July 10 they’re averaging the fifth fewest runs per game (3.37) in the majors.
Player of the Week:
Adrian Beltre (Texas Rangers) – One of the coolest guys in baseball, just don’t try touch his head. Beltre tied an MLB record with his third career game in which he’s hit for the cycle. A homer in the fourth against Houston did the trick. Only Babe Herman, John Reilly and Bob Meusel have three cycle games in their careers. Never heard of those names? That’s because the most recent of their nine cycles came in 1933. He’s been seeing them we this week too, hitting .500 in his last 6 games.