TWiB Notes -- Aug 17-23

[Frayed Knot]

Braves drop two two-run HRs in the 9th on Daniel Hudson and the Nats, the second one a two-out walk-off by Dansby Swanson, to steal a win.

[bmfc1]

BIG CONTROVERSY last night in Texas as Fernando Tatis, Jr. swung at a 3-0 pitch and hit a SLAM while his team was winning 10-3 in the 8th! Texas' pitcher threw near the next batter to scold the previous batter for his rudeness.

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/padres-vs-rangers/2020/08/17/630927#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=videos,game=630927https://www.mlb.com/gameday/padres-vs-rangers/2020/08/17/630927#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=videos,game=630927



https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1295578561269637121https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1295578561269637121



He apologized but not everyone thought he should:

https://twitter.com/BauerOutage/status/1295599492855730176https://twitter.com/BauerOutage/status/1295599492855730176

[Frayed Knot]

Tampa leads the Yanx 8-5 in the 7th as they try to complete the three-game sweep up in the Bronx and make it 6 of 7 over the pin-stripers overall for the season.

A win will also leapfrog them into 1st place in the AL East with the teams currently at 16-8 and 16-9, which means that the Yanx are basically undefeated in the

rest of the games they've played: Braves 2-0; Orioles 2-0; BoSox 7-0; Phils 2-2; Nats 2-1





Winning the division, particularly if it comes because they put such a head-to-head beating on the Yanx, would be a big psychological boost for the Rays, but the

downside to all the 'Expanded Playoffs' mania is the actual benefit will be almost non-existent. Both teams would have to totally crater in order to miss a playoff

slot so the fight is merely over seeding which is either no edge at all or one so slight that it's not even measurable.

As to what kind of affect getting swept means to the Yanx as they cross over into Queens for this weekend's set is anyone's guess.



Score remains 8-5 as they move to the 8th

[Benjamin Grimm]

How crazy is it that the season is already almost half over?



And yeah, first place means little. I suppose it could affect home field advantage (if the second place team is ranked fifth or lower) but since it's possible that all post-season games will be played in a "bubble" that won't mean anything at all.

[Frayed Knot]

Phils have already lost today, one of those [CROSSOUT]softball[/CROSSOUT] seven-inning games up in Buffalo with another still to play.



I was thinking the other day that with the Cardinals scheduled to play something like 15 DHs this year, that's 60-something, or about 11%, fewer innings they're going to play

off of a schedule that was already shortened by around 63%. Talk about having a pitching staff well rested for the stretch drive / post-season.

[Frayed Knot]

Remember when the Mets went -- what was it?, like a season and a half -- without hitting a Grand Slam?

Well the Padres have six this season so far including five this week. They've also won 7 straight and are 18-12





Also, remember when the '86 Mets beat the Pirates in 17 of 18?

Well the Tigers beat the Indians on Saturday after losing to them 20 straight times dating back to early last season.

They were 1-18 last year and started 0-4 this season. They're now 2-4 after winning again on Sunday.





Strasburg to undergo season ending wrist surgery this week.





Hunter Pence DFA'd by the Giants. Was hitting under .100