Frayed Knot

I'll just take this opportunity to re-state my annual position about how I neither like, nor see the point in, the whole idea of pre-announcing 'finalists' for post-season awards.

Jose Altuve: more post-season HRs and a higher post-season OPS than Jeter in about half the number of ABs So I reckon we'll be hearing all about that going forward, right?

We haven't even exhausted all of the Arnolds yet! [FIMG=300]https://www.therecordlive.com/home/cms_data/dfault/photos/stories/id/1/5/12715/.TEMP/s_topTEMP425x425-1978.jpeg[/FIMG]

The Padres are talking to Ozzie Guillen. That's a ship I figured had sailed for good.

4 innings, already north of two hours. Hey Mr. Manfred, here's yet another post-season game I'm not going to see the end of.

Joc Pederson has a very punchable face ... and it's not like the pearls are doing much to alter that feeling.

Good thing the Houston pitching coach made all those mound visits otherwise the Astros staff might really be in trouble.

Or Arnold Ziffel [FIMG=300]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/XzzkWv1xA1AWlbIDHjdGuYMbhcEUVKPhiYHdqAGXddQhb9s_O87ASxLATncNJGodzg6UIbp-HBxuNS5_wCnuRMTbaWem5rorSTkKYLA2yQ8[/FIMG]

I thought the traveling secretary was the flying coach?

[media=youtube]UEEOZpdp9bo[/media] Yeah, he [Cruz] was only 50 back then [actually 31 + 4 months] Slow first step, then went into 'Cruz Control' in the middle of his back-track before his speed-up/lunge wound up TLTL Cruz got one more AB in that game, flying out to lead off the 11th after the Rangers had scored twice in Top 10 (Josh Hamilton 2R HR) and then gave that lead back. Freese then hit the first pitch of the bottom of the 11th for the GW HR And even That game* (11 innings, 19 Runs, 28 Hits, 5 Errors, 12 Walks, 4:33) was shorter than several of the 9-inning post-season games this year.! * 10 years ago tomorrow

Edgy MD wrote: How many siblings of 1986 Mets were drafted by an MLB team? I'll go with five. The brothers of Keith, Ronnie, Mookie ... and probably two others I don't know about. Which Mets first-round draft choice (not necessarily a Met) was the first such draftee to receive a bonus valued at over a million dollars ...? So this is a guy who was drafted by the Mets but didn't necessarily play for them, as opposed to one who played for them but wasn't necessarily drafted by them? ... in 2021 dollars Oh good, I get to incorporate the rate of inflation over multiple years, or maybe even multiple decades, into my answer! Do I get time to get an Economics degree first or do you need the answer sooner?

Bob Alpacadaca wrote: Ron Washington, though he'll be busy for a little bit longer. Reading the Endy Chavez chapter of the SO MANY WAYS TO LOSE book recently brought up the story where Ron Washington, as the manager of the Texas Rangers in Game 6, bottom 9th, 2011 WS vs StL, declined to bring in Endy as a defensive replacement for Nelson Cruz with a two run lead even though Chavez was available having pinch-hit in the top half of the inning. I didn't remember that but I'm sure we all remember the result: a two-out, two-run, game-tying triple over the head of, wait for it ... Nelson Cruz. A better RF likely catches that ball and the Rangers win their first ever WS in six games. Endy almost certainly catches it easily. Did Washington not make the move for the sentimental reason of wanting Cruz on the field when the game/series ended, aka: pull a John McNamara? Maybe. The game was in StL so NL rules were being used. Endy PH'd in the 9-spot for the pitcher and was replaced by the next pitcher. If he were used to replace Cruz it would have move the new pitcher's spot up three slots as Cruz was hitting 6th, but it's also the bottom of the 9th so if you don't want to remove Cruz or move the pitcher up you're doing so to protect a spot you don't want/expect to ever get to. In either scenario, I don't suspect it's a move we'd be likely to forgive or forget if done by a NYM manager.

One new hire, one extension TEAMMANAGERCONTRACT THRUHIRED ANGELSJoe Maddon2022Oct '19 ASTROSDusty Baker2021Jan '202021 Option picked up July ‘20 ATHLETICS =#008000]Bob Melvin 2022Jun '11=#008000]2022 option picked up Jun ‘21 BLUE JAYSCharlie Montoyo2021 + 2022 OptionOct ‘18 2022 option picked up Mar ‘21 BRAVESBrian Snitker 2023 + Option for 2024May ‘16 Signed Extension Feb ‘21 BREWERSCraig Counsel 2023May '15Signed Extension thru '23 in Jan ‘20 CARDINALS =#FF0000]Oliver Marmol2024Oct '21=#FF0000]Hired to replace Mike Shildt 10/25/21 CUBS David Ross2022 + 2023 optionOct '19 DBACKS=#008000] Torey Luvello 2022 + 2023 optionNov '16=#008000]Signed extension Sept ‘21 DODGERSDave Roberts 2022 Nov ‘15 GIANTSGabe Kapler2022Nov '19 INDIANS Terry Francona2022 Oct ‘12 MARINERS=#008000]Scott Servais???Oct ‘15=#008000]Signed multi-year extension in Sept ‘21 MARLINS =#008000]Don Mattingly2022 Nov '15=#008000]2022 option picked up July ‘21 METS =#FF0000]Luis Rojas——Jan '20=#FF0000]Not offered new contract NATIONALS Dave Martinez 2023 Oct ‘17 ORIOLES Brandon Hyde 2022Dec ‘18 PADRES =#FF0000]Jayce Tingler——Oct '19=#FF0000]Not offered new contract PHILLIES Joe Girardi2022 + '23 OptionOct ‘19 PIRATESDerek Shelton???Nov ‘19 RANGERS Chris Woodward 2022 Sep '182022 option picked up Mar ‘21 RAYS Kevin Cash 2024 + 2025 Option Dec ‘14 RED SOXAlex Cora2021 + 2022 optionNov '20 REDS =#008000]David Bell 2022 + 2023 Option Oct '18=#008000]Signed extension Sept ‘21 ROCKIES Bud Black2022Nov ‘16 ROYALSMike Matheny???Oct ‘19 TIGERSA J Hinch2021 + ???Oct '20 TWINSRocco Baldelli ??? Oct ‘18 WHITE SOX =#008000]Tony LaRussa2021 + ???Oct '20=#008000]Will return for 2022 YANKEES=#FF0000]Aaron Boone2024Dec ‘17 =#FF0000]Signed Three Year Extension 10/19/21

=bmfc1 post_id=80203 time=1635227268 user_id=73]... My point is that if Shildt is the shit then they won't get him ...

Braves, no question. And it's not just two football towns going at it ratings-wise but two College football towns.

Not sure what Bochy's thought process would be about returning to the bench (at his age) after voluntarily leaving a good situation just a few years back.

Being in the bottom of the 8th when the three hour mark hits unfortunately qualifies this as a 'quick' game these days.

'Fatigue' is cited as the reason for pushing Scherzer back. I think maybe the lesson from these LCS's is that maybe these starting plus relieving assignments early in series (iow, not in Game 6's or 7's) have their drawbacks. Scherzer, Eovaldi, Urias, and maybe others seem to have had their effectiveness diminished by their managers trying to burn the candles at both ends.

Sox may have let their last best chance slip away. Top 7, 1st & 3rd, one out, down 2-0, then a strike out/throw out DP to end the threat/inning

Apparently if you hang out on the right beach, you'll get free beers delivered right to your blanket by Snoop Dogg.

Eovaldi comes up Yuge with Boston's season on the line. Down 1-0 in the 4th, he starts the inning Single / Double, then follows that with K, K, IW, K Sox bats, meanwhile, looking for their first hit on the night.

Kyle Schwarber picks Now to go 3 for his last 22?!? I'll have to double check this, but I believe in 22 ABs vs the Mets this year he had 19 hits, 17 of which were 3R HRs

6 innings >2-1/2 hours So what else is new?

The pitcher in question, Graterol, had retired six hitters on just 14 pitches but I guess Roberts decided he had had enough up-downs for the night. His replacement, Treinen, threw a scoreless inning although with a lot more work involved. But again, if he had already decided to yank him, why give up an RBI chance by letting a reliever (a rookie w/2 ML ABs) hit?

It all depends on whether they decide they need to keep Baez and then spend the negotiating process debating how high and how long the price tag will be, or whether they negotiate as part of reaching a decision as to signing him or not. Too often the previous administration-- not just the Pons but also those who worked for them -- followed the former strategy rather than the latter.