MLB

[MadTIGERmaN]

Greinke/Kershaw vs Lester/Arrieta, is gonna be fun to watch come October

[BigRedLedbetter]

Greinke/Kershaw vs Lester/Arrieta, is gonna be fun to watch come October

For real.

What is crazy is that Lester is having the worst season of those four but has been money in October.

Pulling for the Cubbies no doubt. But I also want the Bucs to do well.

[Lament]

After a super rough stretch from mid-June till the beginning of August where he seemed to be a completely different pitcher every other start (and his ERA ballooned from 2.66 to 5.00), Carlos Rodon seems to be back on track. He's got a 2.03 ERA over his last six starts and seems to be figuring out the key to consistency on the major league level. This guy could be primed for a serious breakout next year.

[BigRedLedbetter]

After a super rough stretch from mid-June till the beginning of August where he seemed to be a completely different pitcher every other start (and his ERA ballooned from 2.66 to 5.00), Carlos Rodon seems to be back on track. He's got a 2.03 ERA over his last six starts and seems to be figuring out the key to consistency on the major league level. This guy could be primed for a serious breakout next year.

Needs to harness that control and he will be fine. For a kid thrown into the fire he has not seemed overwhelmed at all. If he is top 5 in the Cy voting in 2017 I would not be surprised.

[philpritchard]

Marcus Stroman's line from his first rehab start at A-ball in Lansing: 4.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K

The plan right now is to make one AAA start at Buffalo and, if all goes well, he could be starting next weekend against the Yankees. If he comes back and is close to the pitcher we saw last year... holy shit. That could be as big as any of the deadline moves the Jays made.

[BigRedLedbetter]

If Stroman is like 3/4 of the pitcher he was last year you guys are taking the AL.

Good for that kid. Rooting for him.

[philpritchard]

If Stroman is like 3/4 of the pitcher he was last year you guys are taking the AL.

Good for that kid. Rooting for him.

Yeah, if he pitches like last year then Price/Stroman can match up with any other top pairing.

[Chris_H_2]

I can't stand the expanded rosters and how teams can now play match ups for every single batter by using more players in a game than on August 31st. They should at least make teams designate which players they'll use for any given series with a limit.

I've never understood how a team can compete for a playoff spot in the last month of a season while using different rules than in the previous 5 months of the season.

[Norah]

It also fucks up fantasy baseball because no one uses the DL come September.

[numbers]

It also fucks up fantasy baseball because no one uses the DL come September.

I fucking hate that.

[PHATJ]

I can't stand the expanded rosters and how teams can now play match ups for every single batter by using more players in a game than on August 31st. They should at least make teams designate which players they'll use for any given series with a limit.

I've never understood how a team can compete for a playoff spot in the last month of a season while using different rules than in the previous 5 months of the season.

Instead of allowing a 40 man roster in September, they should have a 40 man roster in April. This would allow pitchers to work their way into heavier work loads at a slower (and presumably healthier) pace after spring training. It would also allow teams to see which of their prospects were able to adjust to "real" MLB games at the beginning of the season which might allow potential stars to start their careers a bit sooner.

[numbers]

I don't have a problem with a hockey style situation where you can have 40 players available but have to name a 25 man roster for each game.

[CopperTom]

Typically, callups have no real bearing on the races.

[philpritchard]

Typically, callups have no real bearing on the races.

Yeah, I would imagine most contenders just call up a handful of players to help out. Teams who are out of it, though, might as well call up everyone.

[numbers]

A team can call up a designated pinch runner that can change games.

Also, not having to burn out all your major league relievers in a blow out is a benefit.

[Chris_H_2]

Ask David Ortiz how many right handed pitchers he sees in September compared to April through August.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Ask David Ortiz how many right handed pitchers he sees in September compared to April through August.

I would if I had his cell number. Anyone have Napoli's. NO it's not because I have a man crush on him. NOOOO!!!

[philpritchard]

A team can call up a designated pinch runner that can change games.

Also, not having to burn out all your major league relievers in a blow out is a benefit.

I love that you used that example. On Tuesday, Dalton Pompey was one of the callups for the Jays. That night, in a 7th inning tie, Smoak walked and Pompey came on to run. He proceeded to steal 2nd and 3rd and score on a sac fly. It was pretty amazing.

I agree that it's a benefit and some teams take advantage of it more than others, but I don't really have a problem with it.

[BigRedLedbetter]

A team can call up a designated pinch runner that can change games.

Also, not having to burn out all your major league relievers in a blow out is a benefit.

I love that you used that example. On Tuesday, Dalton Pompey was one of the callups for the Jays. That night, in a 7th inning tie, Smoak walked and Pompey came on to run. He proceeded to steal 2nd and 3rd and score on a sac fly. It was pretty amazing.

I agree that it's a benefit and some teams take advantage of it more than others, but I don't really have a problem with it.

I agree with Phil.

I don't have a problem with a hockey style situation where you can have 40 players available but have to name a 25 man roster for each game.

That is an interesting idea too though. I could see something like this happening. Especially with the way pitching is these days. You don't see a ton of inning eaters anymore. It would not shock me if like 5-10 years from now the guy who leads the AL and NL in innings pitched is right around 200. Pretty sure Kluber is the only guy over 200 right now and we have what 3-4 weeks left?

I could see six man rotations someday as well. Hell, the thought of 5 man rotations in the 60s was laughable.

[Chris_H_2]

Again, I don't have a problem with the call ups. I just have a problem with being able to use 95 players in September games in strategic situations that you wouldn't otherwise have been able to use in April through August. If you want to use different players, you should have that ability (I suggested designating certain players on a per-series basis). But the 25-man limit should still apply on a per-game basis.