Corbin has some pretty extreme splits for a starter. This year right handed hitters have an .849 OPS, 12% K rate, and 10 HR in 223 PA against him, lefties have a .669 OPS, 34% K rate, and 1 HR in 58 PA.
The Cubs probably are less interested in the average team in Vizcaino, having seen him up close as long as they did. And the Braves might prefer to Soler to Baez since they have Swanson and Albies coming in the middle infield. Otherwise I don't think that's terribly off base.
I think there's more hope that their current options can help with things like low OBP(Abreu is 45 points below his career mark, for example) than there was that their current options in the back of the rotation were going to hold up for ~45 more starts.
Hasn't happened at all this year. If you take that to the 1st 3 games of a series, it happened vs. the Nationals. Hm, looks like I was remembering series wins instead of sweeps.
The Cardinals are averaging 3.5 runs per game against the Cubs, and 5.6 runs per game against everyone else. The Pirates are averaging 2.2 runs per game against the Cubs, and 5.3 runs per game against everyone else.
There is something particularly delightful about taking the first 2 games of a series AND THEN having Arrieta take the mound, this is the 3rd or 4th time it's happened too.
I don't think Shields was going to move the needle a ton on his trade value in the next 7 weeks, and for the possibility of getting better prospects, there's also the possibility that things get worse for Shields or he gets hurt.
I wasn't sure how I wanted this Costa Rica/Paraguay game to shake out, but then I heard Joel Campbell's name so now hopefully Paraguay wins by 4 goals.
IMO, that's better. If it were me saying the same thing I'd go with something like* "the huge wave of prospects we've had that have become productive MLB starters right away gives us a convenient baseline to compare others to. Contreras looks like a starter in that light, but even with his improvement Almora still needs to improve/a platoon partner." *I write that out not to be condescending, but to take you at your word, and also because I spend all day writing and tone policing emails so it's an occupational hobby
I thought the backline looked pretty good. Zardes and Wood were about as expected, Clint was the most dangerous attacker but still doesn't look completely comfortable. Bradley played most of the second half like had taken a blow to the head. I'm a Bedoya-hater, but he and Jones really shouldn't be starting in the same 11 against good opposition. They just aren't going to be dangerous enough in the attack, even considering Yedlin and Fab can get forward. How many times were there 2 US players converging on the same spot/ball accidentally?
You said "If you're looking to hand Almora CF uncontested after that, please punch yourself in the balls." That goes a wee bit past parsing word choices, especially since there has been pretty much zero chatter about handing Almora CF uncontested here. Here being NSB, the website where you made the comment.
I'm traveling and not watching today but is gameday correct and that Jean Segura not only did not get an extra base hit, but in fact struck out? Was the on field delay for a plague of locusts?