Frayed Knot

btw, super disappointed to find that we weren't talking about Madchen Amick. We'd need to use much different statistical measurements to analyze this one.

The only thing I can add is that he was out of the Twins organization which has had a reputation of trying to mold all their batters into slashing oppo-field hitters*, Not sure if they're still doing that today but, if so, that's where Amick was for that '25 season which might partially explain how a 21 y/o goes from a HR every 66 PAs to one every 14 in the course of one year. Kind of funny how the OPS's were pretty close to the same [867 in '25 / 848 in '26] during those two seasons, just took much different paths to getting there: a .143 IsoP in '25 to .298 the next year (150-160 is about ML Avg) * even when that hitter is named and built like David Ortiz. Ortiz played six (partial) seasons in Minnesota from age 21 thru 25 where in about 1,700 PAs (or about three full season's worth) he hit total 58 HRs. Now that's not No power but they then released the 26 y/o w/the career 108 OPS+ that winter. Picked up by Boston and unleashed from his Twins mandate, he turned in 208 HRs and a 156 OPS+ over his first five seasons there and was top-5 MVP in all of them.

Maybe they should play a double header tomorrow.

Of course the team didn't disclose this kind of info, Lindor and wife did via social media and were clearly having fun with it. Her card to him saying: Snip Snip Hooray - It's Vasectomy Day!!! for instance.

And now, with the NL series ending so quickly, all the remaining AL games are scheduled for 8 PM EDT [Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday ... with Mon & Tue having the always popular 'if necessary' caveat.]

He's Baaaaaaack! 4 - 0 Dodgers following an Ohtani 3R HR

Game 4 IGT: No score bottom 2nd and yet we've already had a pitching change and a PH assignment. Poor Miguel Rojas gets PH'd for (by Muncy) before his first AB.

So you're saying it's a showdown of Boobs vs Legs? Decisions, decisions.

Yeah, that's my bad. When the early game was moved up from 6 to 1, that gave them leeway to move the later game up from its original 9 PM EDT slot to 8 PM, not 7 Barring more changes for weather, Friday's games are scheduled for 6 PM (AL) and 9 PM (NL)

Francisco Lindor got a vasectomy today.. But he is expected to be ready for Spring Training. And if I may steal a line from the 'Odd Couple' intro, 'That request came from his wife'.

The Phils jettisoned hitting coach Kevin Long (who still had time remaining on his contract) and a couple other coaches as well prior to hiring Mendoza. So the Phils' quota of former NYM coaches remains stable.

Only if someone tries to sell t-shirts with that phrase slapped on 'em. As far as I know, though, Kevin Millar never trademarked 'Cowboy Up' so you're good there.

So unless the Dodgers have some 'Cowboy Up' in them, their goal of a 'three-peat' ain't happenin'.

Yeah, I'm aware of how it works. And the idea of announcing ahead of time who ISN'T in contention to win the award might make sense if such awards were given out at a live ceremony where you want potential winners in attendance, such as the Heisman. But they don't, so I continue to not see the purpose of these pre-elimination proclamations unless it's MLB's goal to tell certain players and the fans of those teams ahead of time not to bother paying attention.

Rumfield had an OPS 67 points higher than that of Benge. But because one plays his home games at Cape Coors, the OPS+ edge was a mere 3 points [121 to 118] or essentially a statistical tie. Benge had more HRs [20 to 16] and 4 fewer XBHs overall [49 to 45]. Benge 22 SBs (out of 27) which is 22 more than Rumfield. Both played a full season so GP, PA, ABs were about the same. And then there's defense to be considered. But now we know that one of those two is in consideration for the RoY award and the other doesn't even rate an invite.

Blake Smell ... amirite folks?

Game 3 of the ALCS, originally scheduled for 6 PM on Thursday, has been moved up to 1 PM due to potential weather issues in Cleveland. This, in turn, moves the NLCS up to 7 PM EDT instead of 9

All of which brings Todd's pop to mind. In 1968, Cubs catcher Randy Hundley caught 160 games. He was the starting catcher in 156 of those, caught a CG 146 times (which included 10 extra inning games totaling 24 extra innings) and in those ten games where he was removed prior to the final out seven of the ten came in the 8th or 9th innings* so he played close to a full game. Hundley caught 149, 152, 160, and then 151 games for four straight seasons but then never topped 125 again. Not sure if the team was learning any lessons or whether they just plumb wore the boy out. The 441 total games he played over the final eight years of his career were nearly 40% fewer than his total for the four preceding years. * also was removed once in the 4th inning (at Shea immediately following a Ron Swoboda steal of home so probably there was a collision); once in the 6th (in Wrigley with Cubs getting blown out by StL in mid-August); and once in the 7th (down 5 - 1 in Atlanta also in August). At least the equipment was lighter back then ... oh, no it wasn't. But at least he could DH now and then ... oh wait, no he couldn't. And at least he didn't have to play 81 home games during the day in the heat of a Chicago summer ...

Yeah, Cora effectively pre-rejected the Phils in advance of them talking to him and then took himself out of the running for all jobs by saying he would manage nowhere this year (kids in school and getting (re-) married this summer). As far as the rest of the league goes ... So all three -in-season interim managers were hired permanently (BoSox, Mets, Phils). A couple of more teams have balls in the air at this point. The Mariners are looking within their division by talking with Joe Espada so I guess Houston has moved on. Diamondbacks and Angels also aren't set for next season. Info from Cot's Contracts (arm of Baseball Prospectus) but they don't always have terms of the deal. Unlike player contracts, manager contracts aren't always made public.

And yet Cleveland followed up on that revelation by going a less-then-impressive 4 - 7 over the two weeks after the Mets left town. Only after that did they suddenly go on a hot streak winning seven straight en route to a 24 - 11 finish which took them from 5 under .500 to 9 over.

A 2-out RBI single by Chase DeLauter brings the Guardians to within 3 - 1 This is my (and likely your) first extended look at DeLauter and he looks like he's going to be a good one. Turned 25 a few days ago, rookie season, 1st round (16th overall) draft pick in 2022 out of mighty James Madison University (meaning he was at JMU the same time as my niece), one of those rare guys to debut in the post-season (7 PAs in the 2025 WC series). All he's done this year is .287/.363/.457 // 820 (131 OPS+) in 133 games/559 PAs

Pedro called Conti his "white daddy".

Rare bad play by Ramirez at 3rd leads to three unearned runs vs Cleveland. And how 'bout Freddie Peralta tossing five shutout innings? Do we hear six?

We workshopped that idea and it didn't test well. Just sayin'.

Ohtani was IL'd much of September (played just 8 games in the month and was 6/30 w/5 singles) with "biceps inflammation". It was kind of passed off as if just a precaution so as to have him 'fresh' for the post-season, but that's still not something that would happen if he was completely healthy. And, of course, he hasn't pitched since July 3rd