Scouts: We finally got to view some quality pitching performances yesterday. Both Zach Greinke and Kenta Maeda reminded everyone that starting pitchers are still legally allowed to pitch beyond 3-4 innings. It’s amazing right? Also, we are already starting to see the articles discussing possible trade deadline deals. Most teams are hovering around the 20-25 games played mark. And we are already approaching a trade deadline? I just can’t even with 2020 anymore.
Spiders 6, Pirates 3 F/10 – Scouts: The Spiders won this off a judgmental call of a 3 run homer by Carlos Santana. The call was initially ruled a homer and confirmed it, but it’s a pretty close to call. But then again what else would you expect out of 2020?
Blue Jays 8, Orioles 7 F/10 – Scouts: Buffalo just edged out Baltimore in thise one, a back and forth affair where both sides looked simultaneously really good and, well really poor. A fielders choice was the final straw on this one. We actually had a Chris Davis sighting! He was a late game defensive replacement and didn’t get to see the plate. Yup, that’s your 42 million in action right there.
Nationals 8, Braves 5 – Prof: A bullpen game. So, so many pitchers. This led to an offensive bonanza. All of these runs were basically run on singles and bloops, only Freddie Freeman went yard. Of course he did, right SomeGuy?
Giants 8, Angels 2 – Prof: Yaz and the Kung Fu Panda homers! It was turn back the clock night in Los Angeles of Anaheim of Southern California! Of course, it was Mike Yaz, and the Kung Fu Panda is still rocking a batting average hovering around .200. Sandoval also hit an RBI double.
Phillies 13, Red Sox 6 – Scouts: The Phillies bats really came alive against a Boston bullpen that simply could not stop the bleeding. Heath Hembree and Josh Taylor were particularly poor, combining to record 2 outs, 6 hits and 7 earned runs. There isn’t a woof big enough for that one.
Padres 6, Rangers 4 – Scouts: There’s been a lot of talk lately over Fernando Tatis Jr. and unwritten rules. Most of the “rules” are stupid and unwritten for that very reason. Tatis didn’t do as much breaking of the rules with his bat in this one, but he did make a pretty impressive slide to get around being absolutely nailed on a stolen base attempt.
A’s 1, D-backs 10 – Prof: Whoa! Nick Ahmed had five RBI, including a three run homer. The Gritty Snakes are attempting to claw into the playoffs by being within striking distance in the NL West. The A’s never really had a chance last night.
Tigers 4, White Sox 10 – Scouts: Tim Anderson is really lighting things up lately, racking up yet another lead off homer, 3 total RBI’s and ended the day 4-5. Stay out of Chicago’s way for the moment, their offense is absolutely en fuego.
Mets 8, Marlins 3 – Prof: Brandon Nimmo went 3-5, had twp RBI including a solo homer. J.D. Davis also hit a stand alone dinger, so did Amed Rosario.
Brewers 3, Twins 4 F/12 – Scouts: Kenta Maeda absolutely dominated, working a no hit bid into the 9th, before Eric Sogard bounced a single to center to break up history. His final line tallied 8 IP, 1 H, 1ER, 12 K, 2 BB. Unfortunately things fell apart for the bullpen at that time and the save and win was blown. Thankfully the game was not lost, thanks to Jorge Polanco who scored Max Kepler on a fielders choice.
Cardinals 3, Cubs 6 – Scouts: Ian Happ got things kicked off with a homer in the 3rd, and Kyle Schwarber backed him up with one in the 5th. St. Louis tried to make a come back with a pair of runs in the 8th, but it was way too little, way too late.
Rockies 1, Asterisks 2 F/11 – Scouts: Zach Greinke absolutely put on a clinic over 8 outstanding innings. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to get the win, because Antonio Senzatela kept the Asterisks bats at bay, and once again we see how the win is a useless stat.
Rays 6, Yankees 3 – Scouts: Um, don’t look now, but the Rays are absolutely on fire and New York’s massive division lead is no longer so massive. Tampa’s on a 3 game win streak and looking to take a very key series in the Bronx. Brandon Lowe and Austin Meadows lead the charge for Tampa as they handed the Yankees their first home loss on the season.
Mariners 1, Dodgers 2 – Prof: Seattle is 7-18. Los Angeles is 18-7. That’s the only thing they had in common. Fun fact – Austin Barnes was driven in for both Dodger runs.
Reds, Royals – PPD (Covid-19)
Fan Interference 
Here are your below .400 teams with 12 days to go until the trade deadline: Boston, Kansas City, LA/Anaheim, Seattle, Pittsburgh, San Francisco. I don’t see the Angels selling. Boston probably wants to, but the bats are underperforming, and the pitchers are terrible. Really, from any of the other 4, who do you want?
Throw in the COVID stuff, the fact that even the sub-.400 teams are all within 6.5 games of a playoff berth this year, and the possibility that pending free agents could just opt out if traded, and I expect a relatively quiet trade deadline.
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You could’ve knocked me over with a feather last night when F.P. Santangelo said, after Freddie Freeman’s home run, that it was his first against the Nats since 2018, but I looked it up, and it’s true; FF5, who I pencil in for 3-5 with a homer, double, and three RBI every game against the Nats, somehow managed to not homer against the Nats all last season.
Juan Soto was not plunked last night in retaliation for Monday’s stare-down, and today I read in the local paper this little nugget about what may have lead to the breach of etiquette in the first place:
‘Then, in Atlanta on Monday, Soto was inching behind home plate to get a look at reliever Will Smith’s warmup pitches. He does that whenever he is the first or second batter of an inning. But Smith appeared to tell him to “get the f— out of there,” and Soto retreated.’
Soto was the first batter of the inning, and he’d never seen Smith before, but unwritten rules, so…
The Braves are now on COVID watch, with Nick Markakis placed on the COVID IL due to exposure to the virus, though word is he’s currently testing negative, so fingers crossed. Markakis, of course, originally opted out of the season, then changed his mind, and so the clusterfuck that is 2020 just had to hand him a big plate of bad karma. Here’s hoping for good health for him, his family, and the entire Braves organization.
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