Dreamcast 67: The Gigantic Rant

BVS:
There were a lot of double digit scores today. Apparently pitchers were joining actors and screenwriters.

Stark confirms this is a record

https://twitter.com/jaysonst/status/1681502444675559426?t=mo5QnKU0uboIySH_uJ_cQg&s=19

Hmm, guess Happ had a nagging thing that got tweaked a bit more than they would like?

https://twitter.com/M_Montemurro/status/1681509708471980035?t=9FNGA7DxK2Svb6F3CHh4bg&s=19

Sam Fuld to the rescue

Immaculate Grid 108 9/9:
Rarity: 118
IMMACULATE!
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Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref

Everyone in the NL Central except the Cubs and Cardinals lost

Too many AL teams, too much guessing of late 90s guys (dying laughing)

Immaculate Grid 108 6/9:
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Pat Hentgen never played for the Twins, but I guessed him since he had a name that screamed Minnesota (dying laughing).

berselius,

I was also surprised to find how long Joey Bats has been out of the league.

Immaculate Grid 108 9/9:
Rarity: 113
IMMACULATE!
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Couldn’t think of better answers than Joey Bats and Kevin Kiermaier, or the rarity score might be better.

Immaculate Grid 108 9/9:
Rarity: 83
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I might never top this one.

I was watching the game summary and they were like “slow bouncer, it’ll have to be quick” on the GIDP where Mancini was thrown out by like 25 feet (dying laughing)

Last night’s hit parade although they edited out Amaya’s RBI-TOOTBLAN for some reason

https://www.mlb.com/video/condensed-game-wsh-chc-7-18-23

Just never know if these are real

Tonight’s lineup

https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1681767368022786053?t=EG2zqMLb27gmceb6O7xfow&s=19

I don’t want anybody else. When I think about you, Mike Tauchman self.

andcounting,

Was gonna say that Tauch Man is a bit late as the superhero night was last night

Ewww the Friday game is on Apple TV

(dying laughing) Tauchman you dork, nice try

Robo strike zone please

(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)

They’re going to bunt forever after that

Happy birthday Yan Gomes

NICO

That was an unexpected grand slam I recently enjoyed

Poor closer.

Nico also catches all pop flies, no matter where it.

Another 2:55 game, what a K to end it

Immaculate Grid 109 8/9:
Rarity: 305
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TIL Barry Bonds didn’t have a .300 average for his career.

Perkins,

A spoiler I recently missed enjoying.

I am dishonored by how poorly I did on this grid

Re: Hendricks tipping with PitchCom, this condensed game summary has a shot of him going to his hip but he covers with the glove so from most angles you theoretically shouldn’t be able to tell what he pushed

https://www.mlb.com/video/condensed-game-wsh-chc-7-19-23

Rice Cube,

I’m not so much worried about teams seeing what buttons he’s pressing as about him developing new tells in the process of taking the new approach of calling pitches. It can be the most subtle tick or variation.

The AL East officially makes no sense.

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 109 7/9:
Rarity: 378
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Could have sworn that Rogers Hornsby was a Pirates guy, whoops.

berselius,

Oh, I guess I mixed him up with Honus Wagner.

berselius:
berselius,

Oh, I guess I mixed him up with Honus Wagner.

I got Honus Wagner after missing on Bonds. Glad I didn’t pick Votto for CIN (.296) but Pete Rose doesn’t get that many fewer points than a miss would have.

andcounting,

Yeah I think he probably shuffles his glove or blinks weird (dying laughing)

Jared Kelenic pulled a Kyle Farnsworth:
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-place-jarred-kelenic-on-10-day-injured-list/?amp=1

Perkins,

They really should hang a punching bag from the dugout ceiling or something so they have something to punch that would reduce injury but since most macho men don’t know how to punch they’d probably sprain a wrist or something

Rice Cube,

Also I wonder if the owners make the players replace the equipment and stuff that’s broken or if they just shrug and write it off

Looks like the Pirates have lost their Swagger(ty)

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/07/pirates-release-travis-swaggerty.html

Former MVP vote getter Ryan Tepera just got DFA to make room for Tyler O’Neil tonight

Tonight’s lineup
https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1682128596175925249?t=TUQUOnVwq04KHuIEF1gDDA&s=19

We’re a Madrigal rehab away from a historic run

https://twitter.com/Taylor_McGregor/status/1682141774628659200?t=rgwl_2lsAs0oQeB6D72jbA&s=19

Ah darn

Oh Patrick

Gonna need to flush this one soon

Respectfully, what the fuck

Yan Gomes with two triples tho (dying laughing)

The Rays are no longer in first place 😮

I’d say if the Cubs are gonna lose, I prefer them to keep it under 2.5 hours

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 110 7/9:
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Some real WAGs in there, hit on half of em

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 110 9/9:
Rarity: 101
IMMACULATE!
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Play at:
https://immaculategrid.com
@immaculategrid x @baseball_ref

berselius,

For a moment I thought you meant weak-ass grounders and was confused. (dying laughing)

All mine hit today and ended up being pretty deep cuts.

……fine.

Here is today's #Cubs starting lineup at Wrigley Field!

Tune in: https://t.co/si1AUw7ZwY pic.twitter.com/WpI5lEzRSl

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 21, 2023

So this series is bullshit

….Mastrobuoni?!

Mastrobwhat now?

STAND PAT

Never easy

3 hour (almost) games are easier to deal with when the Cubs win

When I said I wish the Cubs was like the Rays this wasn’t what I had in mind

https://twitter.com/tim_stebbins/status/1682502608315875328?t=uFfBgz5nG6iU2ghXyfURxw&s=19

Brewers lose.

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 111 9/9:
Rarity: 210
IMMACULATE!
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This one took me a minute, would not have guessed that I would go 9/9

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 111 8/9:
Rarity: 327
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I wasted a guess on DET-ANA by trying Edwin Jackson. Fernando Rodney to the rescue.

Can’t say I agree with the font choice but this was nice

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 111 7/9:
Rarity: 381
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Apparently Adrian Beltre was never MVP.

Grid is going to 9:00 am start, so it’ll be a lunch break in eastern time now.

BVS,

And Al Kaline had a meh rookie season

Swanson returns

https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1682779000106545152?t=qwS2zeqqutM943lbVOORqw&s=19

So BN wrote this up but the gist is the Cubs would more likely trade Stroman and keep Bellinger. Bellinger can obviously be extended a QO so the Cubs can at least get something if he leaves but the idea is that they can have first dibs at an extension. Stroman could also be brought back after trade. I hope that’s the extent of the selling because they need to build up and not tear down, but I can’t tell them what to do.

Catching up on the rantcast as I consider wrapping up this painting project.

1. Perfect timing to bring improvements. Even Mastrobuoni hits homers now.

2. Grammy award to AC for his Madrigal monologue.

I’d be curious how many major stars re-sign with teams that trade for them in their free agent year. Stars like Ohtani. Especially if the team that gets them doesn’t go far in the playoffs. Let’s say someone who had had at least 6 WAR in each of the previous 3 years with top 3 MVP finishes and at least 4 WAR at the trade deadline.

BVS,

That has to be a very short list. Off the top of my head, the only major FAs I remember immediately re-signing with the team that traded them are Jason Hammel and Aroldis Chapman.

I hope this doesn’t mean Drew Smyly is unusable now

BVS,
From 2016 on minus oddness if 2020. But not that none of these listed exactly for the criteria I put forth above.
Not Scherzer with LA. (Though his 2020 season was only 2.x war).
Not KB with SF (didn’t have 2020 war value stats above)
Not Javy with NYM (also sub 2020 war)
Not Ian Kinsler with LAA
Not Yu with LA
Not Aroldis Chapman with the Cubs (multiple *** regarding criteria)
Not Carlos Beltran after any time he was traded.

Rizzo didn’t come close to WAR values of major star but he did re-sign, of course.

Perkins,

I meant with the team that traded for them.

But your point illustrates the issue with letting Stroman go and hoping he comes back.

Rice Cube,

Execution of this experiment leaves much desired.

BVS,

The Fulmer part worked ok!

That wasn’t a complete disaster

Rice Cube:
BVS,

The Fulmer part worked ok after the first pitch.

Fixed.

But 2nd pitcher has to work too.

Run(s)!

BVS:
Perkins,

I meant with the team that traded for them.

But your point illustrates the issue with letting Stroman go and hoping he comes back.

It worked for the Dodgers with Mookie Betts, fwiw

BVS,

Smyly took a bit to figure it out but maybe?

Rice Cube:
BVS,

Smyly took a bit to figure it out but maybe?

Fuck no

berselius,

Mookie was traded to LA in Feb 2020. I guess that was his last year of arbitration. LA extended him in the summer of 2020 during COVID. I didn’t look at 2020 above, because it seemed like the economics wouldn’t really compare.

AC suggested on the rant cast that having a few months to negotiate with Shohei would be an advantage. I was trying to see if there was evidence of that, but too lazy to go back 30 years. AC’s point seems intuitive, in that you have a chance to develop a relationship with the player and get an advantage. But the last 7 years don’t seem to back up that intuition. Maybe because agents, spouses, and others help drive decisions.

I guess if you are gonna blow $500M on Ohtani, then having some prospect/young player depth to support him makes more sense than trading Hoerner, Morel, PCA, Ben Brown, and Cade Horton for him and 60 games.

Rice Cube,

I was about to eat my words, but think I’ll leave them out there instead, (dying laughing)

I think for their next trick the Cubs should take the lead

Swanson pops out.

Boog overheard going “Ahhggrh”

Santo nods with approval from above.

Rice Cube,

Ok first they need to hold the tie, then take the lead

It’s most likely just my confirmation bias but the number of Cubs pitchers allergic to throwing strikes is frustrating

BVS:
Perkins,

I meant with the team that traded for them.

But your point illustrates the issue with letting Stroman go and hoping he comes back.

Just realized you meant this. Verlander is the only one I can think of who meets the spirit of the question, but he was hurt/bad for a couple years and wasn’t traded in a walk year.

The PH opportunity was probably unfair for Wisdom but also maybe show you deserve a roster spot

Perkins,

It’s definitely SSS stuff. I suppose if everything was neutral, we’d expect the odds of resigning with the team that trades for you should be 1 in 30. Or maybe 1 in 29 if we are counting out the team that traded you away. Maybe there is an advantage, if you count Rizzo and Verlander. Bit seems like both had special circumstances. Rizzo with the short porch in NY and not really WAR-y enough. JV with his injury.

It’s all 🤷🏻‍♂️

Or more appropriately a capital

Run(s) again!

Robot umps please

This game is fun.

Didn’t expect Seiya to get the 3-0 green light but this is fine

I hope they put Colossus in Deadpool 3 too

By the way, when I was looking at trades earlier Andrew Cashner from Pitt to TB for Shane Baz, Tyler Glasnow, and Austin Meadows came up.

Legendary badness

Good Merryweather

Merryweather has quietly been very solid this year.

Perkins,

His 1st couple outings were scary. Good thing no one overreacted.

Game on in about 18 minutes

Ugh, over 3 hours not including rain delay but Cubs win

M ——-> inverted

BVS,

I definitely have no evidence that this approach would work for Ohtani. I think in most cases teams who trade for players on expiring contracts really are looking for rentals, just that little something extra to push them over the edge in the pennant race/postseason. I just don’t know that there’s a good comp for Ohtani and what he’s worth. I would be willing to gamble away a hell of a lot for negotiating rights, but I certainly wouldn’t call anyone dumb for disagreeing. (dying laughing)

Live to fight another day, boys. Live to fight another day.

Also, stupid Diamondbacks.

andcounting,

I think realistically any team betting on finding value in a window of exclusive negotiation with Ohtani also needs to be ready to offer something like a $750MM contract.

Perkins,

It’s why I think whoever ends up with him just waits for free agency, at least they can keep their prospects

Barves

Rice Cube,

Just a WAG here based on a sample size of one signing window, but I kind of expect Ohtani to have signed with someone by Thanksgiving.

berselius,

IIRC last time it was basically just “give me your best pitch, I want to decide in a week”

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 112 9/9:
Rarity: 116
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Could have done better but picked fairly obvious answers for MIN-CWS, LAD-BAL, and LAD-CWS.

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 112 9/9:
Rarity: 43
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Used as many exCubs as I could in the other columns

Pat Hughes speech at the HOF

https://youtu.be/msoaGKCQB_M

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 112 9/9:
Rarity: 61
IMMACULATE!
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Late 90s Orioles knowledge finally pays off (dying laughing)

Today’s lineup

https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1683137182653992961?t=kLTZPeb6sJ_m1L75S90JXQ&s=19

Rice Cube,

Three players on the roster can play 3rd. One has decent splits against lefties and just hit his 1st career homer. But instead, let’s play Wisdom.

Hope he and his mustache prove me wrong.

I tried Immaculate Grid NFL. (dying laughing)

🏈 Immaculate Grid 4 0/9:
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I feel like the ex Purdue QB from the 80s or 90s who whined about his contracts/draft would have worked for the Colts. But I can’t remember his name. Also some MAC school backup QBs whose names I also can’t recall. Apparently Marvin Harrison didn’t work on the Colts row. I only can name one Jax player ever, Trevor Lawrence, because I live in Clemson country.

Hate it when you get dead leg

https://twitter.com/PJ_Mooney/status/1683166020742029312?t=DWyV11Clfqaiopwjlt4ltQ&s=19

Stupid Arizona

Also that am/pm mascot that’s made up of food needs to be banned

There’s a rumor circulating that Willson Contreras is already on the trade block

Cody Bellinger is practically the best switch hitter in baseball.

Should keep Bellinger IMO

Rice Cube,

Yeah I understand the general logic of trading impending FA:s when a team falls out but the Cubs are at a weird point in the contention cycle relative to their roster that I’d rather they double down on the good players and add to them in the offseason.

You love to see it.

That was an offensive surge I recently enjoyed

Pretty gratifying to see the team rally after Belli juuuuuust missed connecting on a grand slam that would have made it 6-0. As it is, they made it 7-0. You really do love to see it.

Alas I don’t think Taillon will complete the 6th due to pitch count but this was encouraging

Arizona and Atlanta are useless

Rice Cube:
Alas I don’t think Taillon will complete the 6th due to pitch count but this was encouraging

Almost false until he turned back into a pumpkin at the end, still a strong showing and I hope he can eat more innings going forward

I wish Cubs pitchers would be confident enough to hit the strike zone

Rice Cube:
Arizona and Atlanta are useless

Partially false

Speedy win today, just 2:33

Stuff I appreciated
1. Taillon being actually good
2. Mop up guys not imploding
3. Everyone in lineup contributing in some way

New stuff