#Ace Fulmer

[circuitsfantasies]

Confinement [Ace's POV] (Part 3/?)

I don't have much time since my brother set some kinda screen timer on my things due to the whole situation going on right now with my old friend group and their families. But I needed to know why Alex aka Superman658 was... Different. He was rambling the entire time he was venting to me about how horrible he felt about Luke's death and well... Alex's untold feelings about his best friend which now I feel bad not noticing sooner :( Alex was... Freaking out, to say the least. The way his face looked when I caught glimpses of it was... Terrifying to say the least. His eyes were clouded over like he was internally arguing with himself, what was weirder was Alex's eyes and hair to me... Alex had straight-up black hair. No highlights no nothing, but when he came over he had these brown, milky blonde, and blonde streaks almost similar to Luke's and Kevin's old hair colors... I guess in his breakdown he wanted something to remind him of them? Alex, he somehow knew where the guy who got Kevin and Luke was, (something about finding his IP or something?) but overall he was ranting and raving about how "Marcus" wouldn't get away with this and he'd "take everything from him like he took Luke and Kevin"... I'm worried because when he ran out into the forest in my backyard I... I swear there were two people looking back. That wasn't Alex.

[squeeegs]

i lost focus and had a consensual workplace relationship

[darkandstormyranger]

i’d like to think i’m funny

[maoist-mizer]

lost focus and had a consensual workplace relationship

[ID: official art of Phoenix Wright and Miles Edgeworth from Ace Attorney. /end ID]

[sapphic-woes]

lost focus and had a consensual workplace relationship

[amixxhan]

TRY GUYS MOODBOARDS!

[twstwonderlandstuff]

hiii !! saw this on @/twistedwonderlandbutgayer's blog and I thought it would be fun to send to you !!

would you be a mer, a beastman, a fae, or a human? (or other!)

would you be at rsa or nrc?

what dorm would you belong to?

what character(s) would you be best friends with?

what character(s) would you hate?

what character(s) would you date?

what would floyd’s nickname be for you?

and rook’s?

what twst character(s) are you most like? (personality-wise)

which subject(s) do you think you would excel at?

what club would you join?

how do you think you would survive in twisted wonderland/what would your life be like in general?

[optional!] what would your unique magic be?

(hope you're having a good day/night :D) - star anon

star anon...

HELOO!!!??! everytime one of my named anons message me I feel like I'm getting a special message from an idol LOL

I'd KILL to be a mermaid that was what my dreams were mad eof BABY Ariel was my homie

RSA. I'm sorry 😐 I'd breakdown the minute I hear someone talk shit Abt me I don't have the Mental Strength

damn, uh... not rlly sure? lol honestly scarabia, but if I'm going w/ my major probably ignihyde.

I strongly believe I would vibe with deuce and epel- plus silver. bro sebek and ace would decimate my character and leave me sobbing, and I'd be too scared to talk to ace lolll - if anything silver would probably tolerate me LMAOOO like an annoying junior who keeps on getting confused on what to do; I, however, would vibe w/ deuce bcuz we'll be confused homies together_ and I would go with epel bcuz I would love hyping him up like GO GET. HIM EPSL GET THAT SAVANACLAW FUCKER GET. HUS ASS (then fleeing from the scene w/ epel lol)

hate, huh... Leona and Idia- like Idia just grinds my gears man ♂️ I don't hate him but sometimes he says shit to the first years- to my BOYS- and it just *gashes teeth* | Leona is just... he's lazy,but he's got the skills so like...it's like wasted potential AND I KNOW ITS CUZ HE HAS HIS REASONS but from soemoen outside looking in he just GRINDS. MY. GEARS. EAT DIRT LEONA

silver and sebek MY WIVES <33333 BRUV BRUV *rapping* I don't mean to be ned fulmer form the try guys, but I do adore my wives. they're very precious i have imagined them and valie having a happy domestic life together but actually for me i would date no one because UGHHH it feels so WEIRD having an S/O UGhalfJLwkfvnsaknfvalkdfvan it just feels weird man and im probably a bad candidate bruv im too wrapped up in my own shit to care abt someone romantically rn sorrz

shit, uhm.... dumbass??? idk probably shrimpy lol

rook, though??? okay, i kinda want it to be tiny cuz yeah.... idk its cute lolz

most like...? i'd have to say... a mix of ace and deuce, with a wee bit of sebek

excel at, huh??? no sure, actually, lolz

club... gargoyle club. i don't do anything there and i just chill w/ my cool senior

aw fuck no I'd be crying baby and never talk to people there NU UH they're already HOT, and then they're jerks?!? i would neer make it out alive man i'd have my self confidence rocked to the bottom

idk, i kinda want my UM to be ink! related?? like, be able to create shapes w/ ink or whataver/?? yeahhhh that'd be lit

[margoshansons]

re: your being ace and the Ned Fulmer news post - tbh I had this same thought ngl.

Like idk maybe it’s just an ace thing or a depression thing but like….

You have a person who is always gonna wanna spend time with you and hear about your day and your interests and has actively decided they want a mini combination of themselves and you out in the world and you throw that away….FOR SEX??

Something that you can do with said person ANY TIME YOU WANT?

Idk I just never understood cheating as a whole tbh

[circuitsfantasies]

Confinement [Skyman's POV] (Part 2 /?)

Hello. I'm Sebastian or my gamer tag, Skyman. I refuse to have my full name in public due to concern for me and my brothers safety after what happened to our friends Kevin and Luke. I never expected things to get so bad after Luke had died but it did. Alex went missing shortly after Luke's death and I have to make sure my younger brother doesn't try to run off too. Alex's plan was crazy. It was like he wasn't even himself anymore when I heard him talking to my younger brother, Ace. He wanted to track down who killed Luke and Kevin by himself or if my brother wanted, with him. And I know I was harsh, but we already lost TWO close friends. I'm not losing my brother too. Alex's breakdown made me realize how much I disliked my brother playing the game that got our two friends killed. So unlike our parents, I forbade Ace from playing Roblox alone fearing he would do something stupid and go missing like the other two did. Did I get in trouble? Sure. My father was furious I was doing his job better since he was so deadbeat he never noticed his son playing an online game where someone could hack him and find where he lives apparently.

I know Ace is mad at me, and I'm sorry for that. But I can't lose him too. I should have stopped all of them. I'm sorry Kevin.

[thesportssoundoff]

Keeping up with my Yankees centric MLB preview, I wanted to continue onward and take a long look at the trade market the Yankees may be waddling into. Over the past two seasons, the Yankees have done most of their damage via trades both as it pertains to shedding unwanted salary, clearing 40 man space (Caleb Smith and Garrett Cooper to Michael King) and making big fish splash trades like Giancarlo Stanton and James Paxton. The Yankees have opted to make deals in large part because it's cheaper but also because they are just flat out good at it. So good in fact that it was reported toward the trade deadline that teams were absolutely going to get Brian Cashman to overpay because they didn't want to be the latest team to give up something for nothing. So if Brian Cashman opts to upgrade through trades, here are some names to keep in mind as we go through the late fall/early winter*

*As an aside, no Syndergaard, no DeGrom, no Bauer, no Kluber and no Lindor. For starters, I just don't see those deals as being remotely possible so I'm not going to waste keystrokes. Beyond that? I mean WE also all know WHY those deals make sense for the Yankees would be a barrel of fun so why waste time? They'd be amazing additions to any team let alone this one.

1. SP Robbie Ray, Arizona Diamondbacks 12-8 4.34 ERA 174 innings pitched 12.13 K/9 4.34 BB/9 98 ERA-

In a very chippy and controversial post season presser, Brian Cashman stated plainly that the people they were aiming at the deadline ultimately didn't get traded. We know for a fact that one of the guys that the Yankees chased up until the deadline was Diamondbacks arm Robbie Ray. According to Jon Heyman and other NY media members, the trade fell short when the Diamondbacks asked for a FOUR player package headlined by Clint Frazier. My guess is that the Yankees and Diamondbacks are going to circle back around to one another and the winter meetings will be ripe with Ray to the Yankees rumors. Robbie Ray is not the answer if you're chasing down a stud ace starter. He's a less talent but still quite good version of James Paxton. Let's discuss the positives; Robbie Ray is a strikeout machine who was somewhat fluked by the juiced ball in 2019. His xFIP is a full point lower than his actual ERA which suggests some flukiness. He was third in the MLB in K's per 9 innings and at 234 strikeouts, would easily give the Yankees a power lefty arm they yearn for. He's under contract until 2021 and is still on the right side of 30 which matters because Severino could be the only starter on the rotation now who is around beyond next year. The downside is that giving up assets for a guy who doesn't solve your desire/hunger for a #1 starter isn't normally wise business. Severino, Tanaka, Paxton and Robbie Ray is a really good top 4 in your rotation but it's not the sort of rotation you can trumpet out vs Houston's or even on the same level as Cleveland's top 3 of Klueber, Corrasco and Bieber. Ray also has crazy walk totals and like most power pitches he tends to give up flyball contact at a relatively spooky rate. Also could dude shave his beard in time before pitchers and catches report? That shit looks like it'll take a while.

2. SP Matt Boyd, Detroit Tigers 9-12 4.56 ERA 185.1 innings pitched 11.56 K/9 2.43 BB/9 98 ERA-

Sticking with the names and faces we know of that didn't get dealt, Matthew Boyd! The Yankees apparently checked in on Boyd a few times and Detroit figured the best way to start negotiations was with Gleyber Torres. Because idiocy exists in Michigan seemingly. To his credit, Boyd decided to "reward" the Tigers down the stretch for their view on him with a 5.55 ERA and a .505 slugging percentage against. With elevated walk rates and elevated contact overall, Boyd was pretty terrible in the 2nd half. The good news is that he throws for power, is under 30, has crazy K rates and is under contract into 2023. He is worth a lot if you buy into the upside but worth a whole lot less if you take in the totality of the circumstances. he was slightly better away from Detroit and the fact that he pitched to softer contact on the road might have some pitching coach figuring it's just a desire to get out of a dead situation. It would also be fair to note that every team trading for a Tigers pitcher is going to remember how they jerked around teams on Michael Fulmer only for him to completely fall apart. Matthew Boyd is the ultimate gamble; ridiculous stuff, amazing K rate, good walk rate and a penchant for loud hits with a terrible second half to send him. My guess is Detroit would probably like to hold onto him until the trade deadline and then reconsider things.

3. RP Ken Giles, Toronto Blue Jays 1.87 ERA 23 saves 53 innings pitched 14 K/9 2.41 BB 41 ERA- 1 flat WHIP

The final name on our Trade Deadline targets from July. Apparently of the three names above, the Yankees were closest on Ken Giles as an added bullpen arm before something in the medicals spooked them. Giles had a great year in Toronto and was a quality-ish arm for Houston before falling off the map and losing his confidence, eventually getting swapped out for maligned Roberto Osuna. If Chapman opts out, it's worth noting that Giles is probably going to do around 8 to 10 mil or so through arbitration which would put him below Britton and Ottavino in  the financial totem pole. The guy who runs Toronto also was in Cleveland when they drafted Clint Frazier so clearly they have a comfort there on their end. Britton can close and Giles can be your 8th inning guy.

4. SS Nick Ahmed, Arizona Diamondbacks .254/.316/.437 19 HR 82 RBI 79 runs scored 93 OPS+ 92 wRC+

The general thought process is that if Didi leaves, the Yankees will just shift Gleyber Torres to shortstop full time, put DJ at 2B and have Gio and Voit round out the infield. In that case they probably will want somebody who can rotate around at a variety of spots in the infield to keep everybody fresh aka the same role they had in mind for DJ LeMehieu when they signed him. If they want a more traditional shortstop and use DJ/Gleyber/Gio as a trio of rotating infielders (or play DJ at 1st) then Nick Ahmed might make a lot of sense as a trade option. Going back to names from the past, the Yankees have inquired on Ahmed in the past; once as a potential 2B (the role went to Neil Walker) and once as a fill in for Didi when he had TJS. Ahmed had his career best year which is still noway near Didi's peak years BUT his glove is world's away better than Didi's peak years so that's the trade off.

5. 1B Daniel Vogelbach, Seattle Mariners .208/.341/.439 30 HR 76 RBI 79 runs scored 112 OPS+ 111 wRC+

The original plan in 2019 was a Greg Bird/Luke Voit platoon gig at 1st and DH. It didn't work out that and to his credit, Voit took the job and ran with it for the first half of the year. In the 2nd half, injuries and a lack of confidence in his ability to read the zone led to Voit being off the playoff roster. He's got all of the tools to be a really good hitting 1st baseman (less about the defense said then the better) but Voit remains a "Yeah but" for the Yankees. He's too good on paper to not make the team but too question marked filled at this point to be a reliable set it and forget it starter at 1st. Daniel Vogelbach falls into a similar boat as Luke Voit; both see a lot of pitches, both hit for power, both are cost controlled and both struggled in the 2nd half down the stretch. Vogelbach isn't great shakes defensively which would give the Yankees a sketchy lefty-righty platoon with bad defense but the pop and the OBP skills are tremendous and well worth considering if Vogelbach is not considered a key part of the Mariners rebuild. The argument could/should be made that the Yankees already have a Daniel Vogelbach in waiting in Mike Ford though.

6. SP Jose Quintana, Cubs 13-9 4.56 ERA 181 innings pitched 8.0 K/9 2.4 BB/9 107 ERA-

Went over this one elsewhere. For a Yankees staff that really could use the innings, Jose Quintana would provide a reliable somewhat affordable (at 11 mil) innings eater with upside. His stuff was basically the same as usual (he K'd a bit less than usual) and figures to have some bounceback ability especially if the balls are untreated this year.

7. DH Kyle Schwarber, Cubs .250/.339/.531 38 HR 92 RBI 82 runs scored 120 OPS+ 120 wRC+

So as previously stated; if Brian Cashman wants you then chances are he'll find a way to go and get you eventually. In 2016, Cashman went toe to toe with the Cubs in an attempt to get Kyle Schwarber for Aroldis Chapman. It didn't work out and apparently they tried again for the stretch run in 2017 as well. When the Yankees lineup was being wiped out with injuries, they went out and got a DH in Edwin Encarnacion with the belief being that they could hit their way by teams with no upgrades to the rotation. It didn't quite work out in the playoffs but Encarnacion was very reliable for the Yankees last year. Could the Yankees jump on a potential Cubs soft rebuild by grabbing Schwarber and using him as an occasional outfielder but mostly full time DH who mashes lefties and provides balance at the top of the line up between the likes of Stanton, Judge and Gleyber? Schwarber is an abysmal defender who mashes and then some but cannot hit lefties for the life of it. The price would probably be high despite his warts because he's still relatively cost effective and lefty power is always in demand.

8. RP Blake Treinen, Oakland Athletics 4.91 ERA 16 saves 58.2 innings pitched 9.1 K/9 5.6 BB/9

If the Yankees have to go and find some additional bullpen arms, they might find a friend out in Oakland. Blake Treinen was superb in 2018 and despite having similar peripherals for most of 2019, the results were way worse. EVEN accounting for regression to the mean, this was a hell of a decline for Treinen who ended the year on IL. At 31 years old and likely at an elevated (by bullpen standards) cost, the Yankees could take a low risk high reward flier on Treinen.

[twins2994]

2019 American League Central Preview

Chicago White Sox (62-100) in 2018. 

Additions: Ivan Nova RHP, Manny Banuelos LHP, Kelvin Herrera RHP, Alex Colome RHP, James McCann C, Yonder Alonso 1B, Jon Jay OF, Ervin Santana RHP.

Subtractions: Omar Narvaez C (SEA), Kevan Smith C (LAA), Matt Davidson 1B/3B (TEX), Avisail Garcia OF (TB), Ryan LaMarre OF (ATL), Miguel Gonzalez RHP (FA), James Shields RHP (FA), and Danny Farquhar (NYY)

The Chicago White Sox keep rebuilding, but they are going to be somewhat improved this year. The White Sox lineup should be a good one with some well-known names like Jose Abreu, Yonder Alonso, and Tim Anderson. The Sox are waiting for Yoan Moncada and Eloy Jimenez to emerge on the scene. Daniel Palka had a great 2018 and the Sox are hoping for it to continue. He has always had power and it shows up big time in that ballpark. Chicago has a young rotation with Reynaldo Lopez, Lucas Giolito, and Carlos Rodon. Ivan Nova is a nice addition to provide a veteran presence. Michael Kopech is out for the season with Tommy John Surgery, which hurts the team moving forward. The bullpen is much improved with Alex Colome, Kelvin Herrera, Nate Jones, and Jace Fry, If they can stay healthy then the Sox should be a decent team all year.

Cleveland Indians (91-71) in 2018. 

Additions: Jon Edwards RHP, Kevin Plawecki C, Brad Miller IF, Carlos Santana 1B/DH, Jake Bauers 1B/OF, Jordan Luplow OF,  Chih-Wei Hu RHP, 

Subtractions: Michael Brantley OF (HOU), Erik Gonzalez IF (PIT), Cody Allen RHP (LAA), Andrew Miller LHP (STL), Rajai Davis OF (FA), Melky Cabrera OF (PIT), Edwin Encarnacion 1B/DH (SEA), Yan Gomes C (WSH).

The Cleveland Indians lost some talent from their three-time defending American League teams. They lost some big names like Michael Brantley, Andrew Miller, Cody Allen, Edwin Encarnacion, and Yan Gomes. The Tribe didn’t do much to replace those guys. They added Carlos Santana to replace Edwin Encarnacion. The bullpen didn’t get much for reinforcements. Tyler Olsen, Dan Otero, Adam Cimber, and Neil Ramirez will all have more high leverage roles to set-up Brad Hand. I think the bullpen will be the key to the Indians season. Cleveland also has injuries to Francisco Lindor, Jason Kipnis, and possibly Jose Ramirez to start the year. They need a decent start to stave off the Twins in the division. 

Detroit Tigers (64-98) in 2018.

Additions: Matt Moore LHP, Tyson Ross RHP, Josh Harrison 2B, Gordon Beckham IF, Jordy Mercer SS, Dustin Peterson OF.

Subtractions: Jim Aducci 1B/OF (CHC), Jose Iglesias SS (CIN), Victor Martinez DH (Retired), Alex Wilson RHP (MIL), Francisco Liriano LHP (PIT).

Ron Gardenhire got the Tigers off to a decent start last year before injuries and sub-par play plagued the rest of the season. The Tigers lost 98 games and are still rebuilding in 2018. Detroit made some changes this offseason. They non-tendered Jose Iglesias and signed Jordy Mercer to replace him. Josh Harrison will take over second base for the Tigers as well. Victor Martinez retired after a great career, so the team still doesn’t have a normal designated hitter. Niko Goodrum emerged as a star player for the Tigers. He hit 16 homers last year and will play around the whole field this year again. Michael Fulmer appears to be out for the year with Tommy John surgery. Mathew Boyd will need to fill his shoes. Tyson Ross and Matt Moore were added as reclamation projects. The Tigers should win a few more games, but that’s because Ron Gardenhire knows how to motivate his young players. It’ll be another long summer in Detroit. 

Kansas City Royals (58-104) in 2018.

Additions: Martin Maldonado C, Lucas Duda 1B, Chris Owings IF, Billy Hamilton OF, Jake Diekman LHP, Brad Boxberger RHP, 

Subtractions: Alcides Escobar SS (CWS), Paulo Orlando OF (LAD), Rosell Herrera OF (MIA), Blaine Boyer RHP (FA), Brandon Maurer RHP (PIT)

The Kansas City Royals are in the middle of a massive rebuild after two World Series runs this decade. Alcides Escobar is gone and only a few players remain from those great Royals team. Salvador Perez needed Tommy John surgery and is out for the entire season. That made the Royals sign Martin Maldonado to replace him. Lucas Duda was signed after the Twins released him in spring training to provide some pop in this lineup. Alex Gordon is still on the team and Billy Hamilton is an interesting addition. You think of all the old speedsters for the Royals in the 80′s and now they have Billy Hamilton. Vince Coleman, Willie Wilson, and Lonnie Smith. Billy Hamilton should provide some entertainment for Royals fans. Kansas City doesn’t have much pitching this year. Scott Barlow is a solid emerging pitcher to go along with Danny Duffy, Brad Keller, and Jake Junis in the starting rotation. Brad Boxberger and Jake Diekman help solidify a bullpen with Wily Peralta and Kevin McCarthy. The Royals are in for another tough year in Kansas City. 

Minnesota Twins (78-84) in 2018. 

Additions: Blake Parker RHP, Martin Perez LHP, Ryne Harper RHP, CJ Cron 1B, Marwin Gonzalez IF, Nelson Cruz DH, Ronald Torreyes IF, 

Subtractions: Joe Mauer 1B (Retired), Chris Gimenez (Retired), Logan Forsythe 2B (TEX), Logan Morrison 1B (FA), Johnny Field OF (CHC), Matt Belisle RHP (FA), Alan Busenitz RHP (Japan), Oliver Drake RHP (TB), Ervin Santana RHP (CWS), Gregorio Petit IF (FA).

The Minnesota Twins are poised again to make a run at the Cleveland Indians in a putrid American League Central in 2019. They added big names like Nelson Cruz, CJ Cron, and Marwin Gonzalez to bolster their offense, who lost Joe Mauer and a few others in trade deadline deals in 2018. The offense should have no problem as Byron Buxton looks to get to superstar form after a terrible 2018 season. The lineup is not the question mark, but the pitching staff has some uncertainty heading into 2019. Can Jose Berrios continue to grow as the Twins ace? Can Kyle Gibson bounce back from an E-Coli illness this offseason? Michael Pineda and Martin Perez both looked sharp this spring and might be great additions to the rotation. The bullpen has a ton of good arms, but nothing too great. Blake Parker, Taylor Rogers, Trevor Hildenberger, Trevor May, and Addison Reed should form a well-rounded bullpen. Ryne Harper looked great as a potential long man. If the Twins contend then pitching will be better than we think. 

-Chris Kreibich-

[cwsdjt]

2017 Grades

Usually, I would put together a list of rating with an explanation of each player, but since 2017’s White Sox roster saw so much turnover, I decided to include the major players in the rebuild, people that played well, and people on the cusp of being on the long-term roster.

Avisail Garcia – A+

Avi put together the season we always wanted from him. He had a .330/.380/.506 slash line with 137 wRC+. He looked mature in all facets of the game. He used to make a lot of noticeable baserunning blunders or errors in RF. Good for this guy. I, as well as virtually every other Sox fan out there, had given up on this guy. Boy, were we wrong!

Yoan Moncada – B-

Moncada started to look more and more like the Moncada we would like to see down the stretch, when he changed bats. Still, he finished with a .338 OBP. He has to work the kinks out at 2B, but time will mature him. He’s still only 22. He has the intangibles to do everything. I cannot wait to see what he brings to the table next season.

Jose Abreu – A-

The only reason I give him that minus is because of his defense. He was on FIRE at the end of the season. I don’t put much stock in it, but he finished with 100+ RBIs on a team that finished with the 4th worst record in baseball. That isn’t easy. He also finished with 138 wRC+ and an OBP of .354. This guy is just a hitter. His stock is up, if the Sox trade him, but dang, I don’t want to see him go anywhere. As I said before in a blog post specifically about Abreu, he is also up for the Roberto Clemente Award. He does it all.

Lucas Giolito – B

He logged a 2.38 ERA in the 7 games he started, but his FIP (fielding independent pitching, only includes things under the pitcher’s direct control, like homers, BBs, etc.) was a lofty 4.94. This means, he would eventually regress to the mean. If he continues to pitch the way he did this season, I would expect an ERA around 3.50-3.70. That’s still pretty sharp. These are still great numbers for a rookie. I think the next step is emphasis on off-speed pitching.

Carson Fulmer – C+

Like Gio, his FIP outdid his ERA, but he still had a relatively decent season, especially with his last few starts. If you saw how he was performing at AAA, you wouldn’t have thought he would have the success he did at the big league level. Good for him. ERA: 3.86, FIP: 5.69, BB/9 innings: 5.01 All of these he needs to work on to succeed, or he will stabilize and regress from the success he had at the end of this season in the MLB.

Reynaldo Lopez – B

He finished with a bloated ERA of 4.72 and a FIP of 4.75, but those don’t particularly tell the whole story. Lopez threw a lot of pitches under duress, after errors, and other issues that weren’t in his control. The last two starts were rough, but he looked good before those. I am going to emphasize that. He still put together 0.6 fWAR. That’s not too shabby for only throwing 8 games in your rookie season on a bad team.

Carlos Rodon – C+

Rodon had a decent season, when he was healthy. He only threw 12 games and had to get arthoscopic shoulder surgery to end the season. Hopefully, he can bounce back from that. When he pitched, he did so against good teams and shut them down. If healthy, this guy is an ace. I have the utmost confidence in him taking the #1 spot in the rotation (except for maybe Kopech).

Tim Anderson – C+

I’m going to give Anderson the benefit of the doubt. In another blog post, I described everything he went through this season (having his best friend die and going to therapy). That’s enough to ruin a season. He came back, as a true competitor does. He did well the last couple months of the season, both fielding and hitting. The no walks thing is still an issue, but he will be a nice asset in the lineup in the future, especially if he shows up like he did the last few months.

Nicky Delmonico – B-

Nicky regressed towards the end of this season, but he came on strong. He still finished with a .347 OBP. That is good for a rookie, even though he is a little older. The guy has a strong approach to the plate, and he was adjusting more and more to LF (came from 3B). All in all, this was a great rookie season for Nicky. Read his comeback story overcoming addiction. It’s really informative.

Yolmer Sanchez – B-

Like Nicky, he regressed hitting-wise, but his glove and arm are incredible. He still was a 3.5 bWAR player. That is more than serviceable. I think he has a shot of either remaining at 3B, or at least being on the long-term roster as a utility guy off the bench.

Omar Narvaez – B-

Omar Narvaez is a decent defensive catcher, but he had an OBP of .373. Don’t forget he is still only 25. The platoon between him and Smith worked this year.

Kevan Smith – B-

Smith doesn’t have the approach or the arm of Narvaez, but he still was a decent hitter for a catcher, and he can pitch frame with the best of them. I repeat, the platoon with Smith and Narvaez really worked this season. It was a nice, pleasant surprise.

I give the season a B. That’s about the best you can give it, when a team is tanking. The only thing that brings it down is the uncertainty of the future. It was still way more exciting than 2014-2016. Go Sox!

[placetobenation]

Hey-hey! It’s finally time to post up another PTB Power Rankings for the 2018 MLB Season. So, dust off those cleats, pull your bats out of storage, and find a glove that still fits because we are BACK and ready to, uh, well, rank 30 teams in opinionated order of performance.

Shit, well, it’s good to get back to it anyway.

Yes, Miggy, the first PTB MLB Power Rankings of the year are FINALLY out!

Editor’s note: Truly sorry about my lack of sports/baseball stuff, Nation. Grad school, unemployment, re-employment, and a lot of busy-ness at work have a way of sidetracking things. And once out of a habit, well, you know…

All records and stats are current as of Saturday, June 9, 2018.

1. New York Yankees (42-18) — The Bronx Bombers have won nine of their last 10, they’re playing .700 ball, and are the only team in MLB that has yet to lose 20 games. Ridiculous.

2. Boston Red Sox (44-21) — Personally, I find it quite boring when these two superpowers lead MLB. However, with the BoSox ripping up the league with 5.22 runs scored per game (second to the Yanks at 5.54), 600 team hits, 144 doubles, and 95 home runs, the offense is in *ahem* full swing. Solid support for Chris Sale (2.83 ERA), Rick Porcello (3.59), and David Price (4.00) and what has been a pretty good bullpen.

3. Houston Astros (41-25) — The defending champs are allowing the fewest runs in MLB (3.02 per game) while offensive core stalwarts Jose Altuve (142 OPS+), Carlos Correa (130 OPS+), Alex Bregman (136 OPS+), and George Springer 145 OPS+). Oh, and Justin Verlander (262 ERA+) and Gerrit Cole (176 OPS+) are posting best-ever seasons.

4. Seattle Mariners (40-24) — Listen, there are only four teams with 40+ wins to this point in the season (Milwaukee, see below, is at 39 as of this writing). The AL has all four them. The Mariners are probably the least likely to maintain, but, hey, those 40 are in the bank.

5. Milwaukee Brewers (39-25) — Raise your hand if you figured the Brewers posting the NL’s best record this far into the season. The offense has been alright (4.39 runs a game) as has the pitching overall (3.72 runs allowed), but that bullpen has been great (2.54 ERA). Josh Hader, in particular, is out-of-this-world. Getting ace Jimmy Nelson back soon could put the Brew Crew over the top.

6. Chicago Cubs (37-24) — Just half a game behind the Brewers, with six everyday batters posting OPS+ numbers over 100 (average). The bullpen features a whole bunch of sub-3 ERAs and Jon Lester (7-2, 2.22) has been great atop the rotation. While all those arms could regress, the solid showing at the plate from the Cubbies should keep them in the midst of October talk.

7. Washington Nationals (36-26) — The injuries have mounted for the Nats, but Max Scherzer has been healthy and continues his march towards Cooperstown. Teen phenom Juan Soto has been awesome in his 19-game introduction (.328/.435/.552) with a very promising 11-10 BB-to-K ratio.

8. Atlanta Braves (37-27) — The Bravos seem to have arrived a year ahead of schedule, but this team looks real good for a dynastic run, with Freddie Freeman (28), Ozzie Albies (21), Dansby Swanson (24), Ronald Acuna (20), and top hurlers Mike Foltynewicz (26) and Sean Newcomb (25) all well ahead of the curve.

9. Los Angeles Angels (37-28) — Mike Trout. We need to appreciate him more. Here’s his current line: .306/.439/.646, 1.085 OPS, 198 OPS+, 52 runs, 70 hits, 15 doubles, 19 homers, 13 steals (no caught stealings), 53-53 K-BB rate. And the dude is still only 26. Insane. Now, how the Halos hang around with Shohei Ohtani’s elbow woes remains in doubt, but the dominance of the Millville Meteor is of no question.

10. St. Louis Cardinals (35-27) — Only Jose Martinez (145 OPS+) and Tommy Pham (118) are really raking for the Redbirds, but strong starts from Miles Mikolas (2.27 ERA), Michael Wacha (2.47), and Carlos Martinez (1.83) are keeping the Cards alive in the Central and in the thick of things for a postseason spot.

This guy is really, really, really, amazingly good at baseball.

11. Philadelphia Phillies (32-30) — A week or so ago, these guys would rate much better, but the Phils have got 1-7 in June. The talent is there, but the next big test for rookie manager Gabe Kapler will be righting the ship.

12. Arizona Diamondbacks (34-29) — Remember back in April when Arizona was the toast of baseball with a 28-8 record? Yeah, well, going 14-21 since has certainly put that in the distant past. Of note, though, Paul Goldschmidt seems to waking up (13-for-20 with four homers over his last four games). It’s a thoroughly mediocre division to this point, so the winner of the NL West may well wind up being the team that takes best advantage of when its best players produce.

13. Cleveland Indians (33-29) — The lowest-rated division leaders here, the Tribe has played well at home (20-11) but been the pits away (13-18). While they’re still pretty odds-on to win the Central, that vaunted bullpen (worst in MLB with a 5.82 ERA) has a chance to torpedo anything beyond that. Of note, Cleveland could be the first team since 1920 to lead MLB in bullpen ERA one year (2.89 in 2017) and then finish dead-last the next.

14, 15, 16 (tie). Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants (32-32) — The Rockies’ regression was expected from last year, while the Dodgers have been hit by more injuries than a clown car at a demolition derby, and the Giants have managed to hang around via a great home record (19-11). With a little luck and health, any of these three could challenge for the division crown, or a wildcard berth.

17. Detroit Tigers (31-35) — They are not a good team, but also not as bad as once thought. While they should still look to trade guys like Shane Greene, Michael Fulmer, and a few others, this is a very fun team to watch when they are playing well. Ron Gardenhire deserves a lot of credit here. He won’t get many (any?) votes, but this is what a Manager of the Year looks like, folks.

18. Oakland Athletics (33-32) — Trevor Cahill. Blake Treinen. Matt Chapman. Matt Olson. Mark Canha. Raise your hand if you knew these were five members of the 2018 Oakland A’s and not the roster of some non-descript mid-90s boy band. Personally, I prefer Matty C. over Matt O. And that Trevor. He’s so good to his mother.

19. Minnesota Twins (27-34) — Injuries, starting with Ervin Santana in February, have not stopped dogging this team. It’d be a real shame if we don’t get to appreciate Byron Buxton fully because of his health. However, Eddie Rosario (.318/.355/.566) with 14 home runs has been a real breakout star for these erstwhile preseason darlings.

20. Pittsburgh Pirates (31-33) — The Pirates have a talent core of players. They have a gorgeous ballpark. They have a devoted fanbase. But they also have a shitty ownership group that refuses to give said fans what they want — a winner. The hard part should be developing your supporting cast, not paying for the top-tier talent.

21. Toronto Blue Jays (29-35) — Oh, well. That window sure closed in a hurry. A selloff could bring some much-needed youth ot the Jays, as well as adding intrigue to the wild-card races around the league.

22. San Diego Padres (30-36) — I can’t believe I’ve got them this high, either. Clearly, Eric Hosmer’s will-to-win-veteran-presence even affects mid-season rankings. In truth, the Friars have a great bullpen, which, if they wish to sell off, could bring in some depth to an already-well-liked farm system.

Hey Eddie! Yeah, you. Sorry about your team. But hey, great season so far, mate!

23. Tampa Bay Rays (29-34) — The “opener” trend seems like grasping at straws to be innovative, like Kevin Cash wants Michael Lewis to write a book about him or something. That said, despite a horrid start to the year, and a veritable Who’s That? roster, these guys are not all that bad. They are not good either. They are the bologna and cheese on white bread of the American League. Mustard optional.

24. New York Mets (27-34) — Well, they did the right thing by dumping C— Harvey, but this team is still just Mets-ing all over the place. Losers of eight straight, with whispers they might deal deGrom or Thor. I’m sure if those trades happen, this organization will find a way to Mets those up too.

25. Texas Rangers (27-40) — It’s nice to see National Treasure Bartolo Colon pitching well. He’s old and fat, so we should adore him. I guess. I’m actually a bit lost on his precise appeal.

26. Cincinnati Reds (22-43) — The mere fact that C— Harvey shares a team with Joey “The Last Angry Canadian” Votto, and Tucker “What A Great Last Name” Barnhart, boils my blood and causes me night sweats. Also, the pitching stinks.

27. Chicago White Sox (21-41) — Lucas Giolito lead the Pale Hose with four wins, but has a 7.08 ERA. Meanwhile, Jose Abreu (139 OPS+, team-high 24 doubles) is an island unto himself.

28. Kansas City Royals (22-43) — The Royals are giving up 5.52 runs per game. The Yankees have scored 5.54 runs per game. That’s right, folks! When the Royals are in town, it’s just like watching the Yankees!

29. Baltimore Orioles (19-44) — It’s pretty clear Buck Showalter doesn’t care anymore, does it? While we all know Manny Machado is great at baseball (166 OPS+) and will be traded, just gander at the awfulness of Chris Davis’s season (.152/.232/.232, four home runs, a 30 OPS+). It’s soooooooo gross!

30. Miami Marlins (23-41)  — No, the Marlins are not last because of my spite over how they have been a joke forever, constantly screw over fans, and make a mockery of competition. No, it’s not because their current and former owners are emblematic of the excessive awfulness of capitalism . No, it’s not because they plead “process” over “results” whenever someone rightly gives them a second look. It’s because they suck. Last in runs scored per game (3.48) and tied for fifth-worst in runs allowed (5.14) should do.

And with that, we are back in the pink with our Power Rankings. I hope to bring you guys more MLB goodness throughout the rest of the year when time allows. Until then, it’s batter up and play ball!

[buddyrabrahams]

Each MLB team’s biggest weakness to address

The MLB season is in full swing, and advantages and flaws for teams are becoming quite obvious. Even the best teams have issues that could use addressing. It may be through calling up prospects, making trades, or simply hoping that people with a track record ultimately come good and start producing as they have in the past.

Here are the biggest weaknesses that each MLB team needs to consider.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Offense

Yes, we could easily single out one position here, but it wouldn’t make sense to do that, because the entire Arizona offense has been brutal. Most of the team’s players are hitting under .250, and Alex Avila, Jarrod Dyson and Chris Owings are all hitting under .200. On the whole, the team average is .213, the worst in baseball. That simply isn’t going to cut it, and it has to be fixed mostly internally, too.

Atlanta Braves — Back of the rotation

Surprisingly, the Braves haven’t shown many weaknesses so far this season. Their offense has produced and the bullpen has been more or less airtight. The one exception has been the back of the rotation, which hasn’t been quite as sharp as the rest of the team thanks in part to injuries and also some underperformance on the part of Julio Teheran. It’s premature to say it must be addressed, but it’s something to watch going forward.

Baltimore Orioles — Starting rotation

Very little about the Orioles is particularly good — in fact, it’s more or less limited to Manny Machado, who’s probably getting traded. That said, the real big issue is the starting rotation, which has long been a problem with the organization and only seems to be getting worse. Only Kevin Gausman has an ERA under 4, and the team has allowed Chris Tillman to make seven starts despite an ERA over 10. That’s either entirely too much patience or an admission that the other options are even worse.

Boston Red Sox — Center field

It’s an odd and surprising thing, as not long ago Jackie Bradley Jr. was considered one of the sport’s better young outfielders. He’s still good defensively, which is most of the reason he’s still allowed to play, but the guy has not hit above .233 at any point in the season and hasn’t shown much power either. His numbers are unacceptably bad, even for a defense-first player, and you have to wonder how long Boston can justify sticking with him.

Chicago Cubs — Back of the rotation

Similar to the Braves, the Cubs have guys whose numbers have underwhelmed so far despite a strong history. Jose Quintana and Yu Darvish have both been very good MLB pitchers, but they have ERAs over four right now. It’s nitpicky, but the Cubs’ roster is solid, and most of their issues are down to underperformance. Anthony Rizzo’s issues are another big one. Given time, they’ll probably straighten themselves out.

Chicago White Sox — Rotation

Only Reynaldo Lopez has performed well for the White Sox, and that could well be down to smoke and mirrors — his FIP is 4.80 and his underlying numbers indicate that regression is coming. Outside of Lopez, the White Sox rotation has been awful, with ERAs of 4.62, 7.53, and 8.07 among the other three starters who have received the most work (James Shields, Lucas Giolito, and Carson Fulmer, respectively). Even for a rebuilding operation, that’s bad.

Cincinnati Reds — Rotation

Seeing a trend? Only one Reds starter has an ERA under 5, and it’s Tyler Mahle with an unremarkable 4.53 mark. Homer Bailey is at 6.21, and the since-demoted Brandon Finnegan was at 7.40. With pitchers putting up numbers like those, it’s not that difficult to figure out why the team was so willing to give Matt Harvey a shot.

Cleveland Indians — Bullpen

Once one of the Indians’ strengths, the Cleveland bullpen has become something that manager Terry Francona has to be wary of turning to. Cody Allen has done a good enough job, but almost everyone else who has come out of the ‘pen to throw at least ten innings for Cleveland has an ERA over 5. The exception is Andrew Miller, but even he has struggled at times, missing time due to injury and then looking unconvincing upon his return.

Colorado Rockies — First base

Ian Desmond is very much not getting the job done. The Colorado first baseman has been hitting under .200 most of the season, and his eight home runs aren’t a big enough saving grace to make anyone happy. The five-year deal he signed with the team looks worse and worse, as he’s not known for his defense and he’s not hitting at all. They’re stuck in a bad place with him. One has to wonder how long they can send him out there every day.

Detroit Tigers — Bullpen

It’s always been the issue, hasn’t it? Though the Tigers don’t really excel in any department, the bullpen has been particularly deficient, with only youngster Joe Jimenez looking like he might have some long-term staying power. Shane Greene is alright, but he’s not a closer on a good team, and the remainder of the arms are not top quality at all.

Houston Astros — Outfield offense

The Astros have been so good that you have to squint to find anything wrong with them, but they could be getting more out of their outfield offensively. George Springer has been his typically solid self, but demoted Jake Marisnick was hitting just .157, while Marwin Gonzalez and Josh Reddick are under .230. These players have value in other ways — Reddick has a .331 OBP, for instance — but the averages are lower than they’d like.

Kansas City Royals — Rotation

If there’s one common thread among the bad teams in baseball this year, it’s that their rotations are overwhelmingly poor. The Royals are no exception, with only Jakob Junis looking like someone worth keeping around. Most of the Royals’ starters have ERAs over 5.00, including Danny Duffy, who has looked and sounded completely lost.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim — Offense

In spite of Shohei Ohtani, the Angels offense has had its struggles this season, with even Mike Trout going through an unprecedented slump. They’re towards the bottom in the AL in bating average, weighed down by the likes of Ian Kinsler and Kole Calhoun, who have really struggled. These are generally players who have hit in the past, and they will be given the opportunity to turn it around, but for now, it’s an issue.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Offense

There must be something in the water in Southern California. The Dodgers have struggled even more than the Angels have offensively, sitting 10th in the NL with a .236 team average. It’s ugly virtually across the board: Cody Bellinger is hitting .243, Chase Utley just .229, Yasiel Puig .224, and Corey Seager is out for the season. Perhaps Justin Turner’s return will help matters some.

Miami Marlins — Pitching

The less said about the Miami pitching staff, the better. Their team ERA is the worst in the National League, and most of the individual numbers are ugly. Jose Urena, who leads the team in innings, has a 4.55 ERA, and high-priced Wei-Yin Chen continues to be a bust with a 6.55 ERA. The bullpen hasn’t been much better outside of Kyle Barraclough, and none of it looks like it’s going to change anytime soon.

Milwaukee Brewers — One more starter

If the Brewers make a trade before July 31, one would have to figure that the rotation will be targeted. While Jhoulys Chacin, Chase Anderson, and Junior Guerra have been solid, the underlying numbers are alarming, and none of them would be considered aces. One more high-quality starting pitcher would really shore up the rotation and do wonders for a Milwaukee team that has legitimate playoff aspirations.

Minnesota Twins — Offense

On the whole, the Twins can’t hit. The exceptions have been Eduardo Escobar and Eddie Rosario, while Joe Mauer and Max Kepler have also contributed. Miguel Sano can provide a huge boost, but Byron Buxton is off to a very slow start, shortstop and DH haven’t produced much, and starting catcher Jason Castro is out for the season. They may have to fill one or two of these openings externally.

New York Mets — Catcher

The back of the rotation has plenty of issues too, but it’s impossible to ignore what’s happened to the Mets’ catching position. Between injuries to Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki and total underperformance from their replacements, the position is hitting below .200 for the Mets this season. Devin Mesoraco, acquired from the Reds in the Matt Harvey deal, is the latest roll of the dice. It’s no surprise they’ve been linked to a bigger deal.

New York Yankees — Back of the rotation

Luis Severino has been outstanding and CC Sabathia has been mostly solid, but the rest of the rotation is some cause for worry for the Yankees. Sonny Gray has been a huge disappointment since the Yankees made a big deal for him last summer. Masahiro Tanaka has not been up to his usual high standards, either. They may have to go trade for a starter if this keeps up, though Tanaka in particular stands a good chance of rebounding if he can limit the home runs.

Oakland Athletics — Outfield bats

The Athletics have been a pleasant surprise in the AL West, with a solid all-around team coming together. One issue remains their outfield bats, which haven’t been great. Center fielder Mark Canha has been alright, but Matthew Joyce is hitting around .200 and Stephen Piscotty has been scuffling a bit, though the circumstances he’s dealt with must be considered. Perhaps Dustin Fowler can provide a boost now that he’s back on the field.

Philadelphia Phillies — First base

It’s safe to say the Carlos Santana signing hasn’t worked out the way the Phillies hoped it would, at least so far. He’s hitting below .200, though he’s been walking plenty and hitting for power to at least give the Phillies some production. The Phillies don’t have much of a recourse here — they’ve committed $60 million to Santana through 2020 — so they’re just going to have to hope he picks it up.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Rotation

The Pirates have settled into the post-McCutchen era surprisingly well, jumping out to a strong start. If they want to keep it going, they’ll probably have to add to their rotation. Trevor Williams has done a very solid job with a 3.05 ERA, and Jameson Taillon has been mostly reliable. Chad Kuhl and Ivan Nova have had their struggles, and while they’re not downright bad, it’s not quite what the Pirates would like to see.

San Diego Padres — Offense

The Padres have never really been known as a high-quality offensive team, but they have three regulars hitting under .200 in Austin Hedges, Manuel Margot, and Carlos Asuaje, who started for much of April but has since been sent to the minors. They have one of the worst offenses in baseball and have the record to match that.

San Francisco Giants — Rotation

Injuries and poor performance have conspired to make the Giants’ rotation a huge disappointment. Johnny Cueto was doing amazing before an injury sidelined him, and Madison Bumgarner broke his hand in spring training. He’s closing in on a return, which is a relief, as the rest of the rotation has really struggled. Ty Blach’s 4.37 ERA is the best of all of their healthy starters right now, and Jeff Samardzija in particular has had an ugly season with a 6.23 ERA.

Seattle Mariners — Second base

A week ago, the rotation would have been Seattle’s biggest problem. It still is, but Robinson Cano’s suspension has thrown things for a loop. Outfielder Dee Gordon moved there, which created a hole in center field, and then Gordon promptly fractured his toe, leaving the Mariners with huge problems on offense. It’s hard to see them filling them effectively before Cano returns in August.

St. Louis Cardinals — Second base

Kolten Wong’s situation is a problem. The Cardinals second baseman is hitting just .179 with three home runs this season, leaving St. Louis in a very difficult spot. Wong is a player the Cardinals have put a lot of faith in, but his sub-.600 OPS won’t cut it. To make matters worse, Matt Carpenter and Dexter Fowler have also struggled, so it’s hard for the Cardinals to lean on anyone but Tommy Pham and Jose Martinez.

Tampa Bay Rays — Rotation

Things have gotten rough for the Rays to the point that they’re experimenting with one-inning reliever stints to open ballgames to try to grab platoon advantages through pitching. Chris Archer looks increasingly like a player the Rays should have sold high on when they had the chance, though he’s starting to get it together. They’re limited to a four-man rotation, and two of those four haven’t been very good.

Texas Rangers — Offense

Whoever would have thought that the once high-octane Texas Rangers team that bats in one of the league’s more favorable hitters’ parks would end up last in the AL in batting average? That’s where they are, though, and only the Diamondbacks have a lower team average than Texas does. Adrian Beltre’s hamstring injury was a huge blow, as it took away the lineup’s only .300 hitter. Robinson Chirinos, Ryan Rua and Rougned Odor are hitting under .200. Joey Gallo is flirting with the Mendoza Line but has at least shown power.

Toronto Blue Jays — Rotation

J.A. Happ leads all Toronto starters with an ERA right under 4.00, and it only gets worse from there. Aaron Sanchez is next, then Marco Estrada, and from there it’s into the 6 and 7 range, particularly the hugely disappointing Marcus Stroman, who is at 7.71. None of Toronto’s starters have pitched effectively. Even if their offense were better, the rotation would be torpedoing their shot at contention.

Washington Nationals — Bullpen

Long an issue for the Nationals, the bullpen remains a problem outside of closer Sean Doolittle. Brandon Kintzler, Sammy Solis, and Ryan Madson all have ERAs over four, with Madson landing on the disabled list to make a bad situation worse. It’s a big reason why, despite Max Scherzer spearheading a great rotation, the Nats aren’t higher in the NL in team ERA.

from Larry Brown Sports https://ift.tt/2ksfAFk