MLB

[Norah]

It's time to say goodbye...

[Biff Pocoroba]

It's kind of nice to see a local politician give a team pushback when asked for a tax payer hand out. From the AP:

An Arizona politician’s tough tact in dealing with the Diamondbacks demand for $187 million in upgrades to Chase Field came to light this week.
Maricopa County Supervisor Andy Kunasek told Diamondbacks’ president Derrick Hall: “If it were up to me, I’d let you take your stupid baseball team and get out … go back to (expletive) West Virginia, or wherever.”
A story in Monday’s Arizona Republic detailed Kunasek’s bean-ball letter and his profanity-laced exchange with Hall after delivering it in April.
Kunasek is a Republican who has won multiple elections touting his conservatism. The team and county have been sparring for years over which party is responsible for upgrades to the $354 Chase Field, which opened in 1998.
Kunasek called the Diamondbacks’ request for more public money “obscene.”
“My instinctive concern for the taxpayer is amplified by my belief that this facility should never have been built using taxpayer funds, and to turn the music up louder, THEY WERE NEVER GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION AT THE BALLOT BOX,” the letter says.
“I have no intention of compounding that wrong by supporting your obscene demand that we provide another massive infusion of taxpayer money to the private business that currently employs you.”
Maricopa County has rejected the team’s request for reimbursement of $65 million in maintenance upgrades, saying the repairs are cosmetic and the team’s responsibility, according to The Republic. The newspaper also reported that the Diamondbacks say $187 million in improvements are needed over the next 12 years, and have threatened a lawsuit to break its lease and leave town if they are not made.
Kunasek’s letter says Major League Baseball “is evolving into a parasitic enterprise which is well on its way to destroying its host.”
“I suggest that you focus on your job, which should be the development of a successful product (a winning team), which will improve the fan experience and in turn will increase ticket sales and reignite a desire for people to attend and watch professional baseball in Arizona.
“Or, if you want, run for a seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Maybe you can become the personal valet your owners want on the board. Please quite trying to do both jobs.”

[The Argonaut]

I just had a "holy shit Big Papi could win the MVP" moment. That would be so weird. He has a good chance to end the season with a .300/.400/1.000 slash line, along with 30 HR and 100 RBI. He currently leads the bigs in OPS and doubles.

[Bammer]

I just had a "holy shit Big Papi could win the MVP" moment. That would be so weird. He has a good chance to end the season with a .300/.400/1.000 slash line, along with 30 HR and 100 RBI. He currently leads the bigs in OPS and doubles.

That guy leading the bigs in doubles is a pretty stellar accomplishment.

[Simple Torture]

Two things need to happen for Ortiz to win the MVP: I really think the Sox need to win the division (being in the wildcard game just won't look as good) and he really, really needs to up his production. The first is much more likely than the last: over the past month he's hitting .217, .295 OBP and a human .680 OPS. That's going to be tough if he misses any more games with "general soreness."

[numbers]

I don't think people realize what he's going through to play these games, the guys knees and feet are done. It's insane how well he's hit given how broken down he is. Just going out like a true legend.

[Simple Torture]

I don't think people realize what he's going through to play these games, the guys knees and feet are done. It's insane how well he's hit given how broken down he is. Just going out like a true legend.

Yeah, it's really catching up with him, too. His BABIP from April to July was like .330; in the past month it's hovering around .200. He's not driving the balls to the alleys and he's not hitting through the shift. It'd be interesting to consider shutting him down for 10 days to see if it would help at all.

[Norah]

I'd give it to Altuve over Ortiz. Their numbers are close but he plays a great second base as well.

[Simple Torture]

I'd give it to Altuve over Ortiz. Their numbers are close but he plays a great second base as well.

I can't find a single cold streak in his game log this season. Super impressive wire-to-right now.

[Norah]

Trout is leading the AL in WAR but Altuve beats him in all three slash line categories and wRC+

[Norah]

Donaldson is also ahead of Altuve in WAR (Altuve is 3rd) but once again Altuve is beating him in those 4 stats.

[Norah]

Here's everyone in MLB with a WAR over 5:



Corey Seager is obviously the NL ROY and Mookie Betts has quietly turned himself into a top 10 player.

[Norah]

This is awesome:

http://www.barstoolsports.com/chicago/p ... ct-moment/

[philpritchard]

For a DH to win an MVP award, his offensive numbers have to be head-and-shoulders above everyone else. For a long time, Ortiz's were. Now, he's just part of that top group, which, unfortunately for him, happens to include a handful of great defenders at important positions.

[verb_to_trust]

Fuck David Ortiz

[numbers]

Fuck David Ortiz

Shut up, jerk.

[philpritchard]

Girardi is coming off as more of a tool than A-Rod right now.

[numbers]

Girardi is coming off as more of a tool than A-Rod right now.

So bad, he's making A-Rod the good guy in this thing.

[philpritchard]

Girardi is coming off as more of a tool than A-Rod right now.

So bad, he's making A-Rod the good guy in this thing.

His "My job description does not entail a farewell tour" quote had all the self-awareness of a circa-2012 A=Rod.

[verb_to_trust]

Unless it's Jeter. Then you don't even drop him in the batting order.