My fantasy baseball team

Sweeps are for suckers? I guess? For as thrilling/exciting/fun as some previous games have been, today was...not that. To be fair, things could have gone much worse. Felix Hernandez had a miserable first inning in which he threw 31 pitches and faced eight batters, thanks to a couple first-pitch swings from the Aggro A’s. In retrospect, it was sort of amazing that the A’s only walked away with four runs in that inning, and that would be the only runs they scored all day on a particularly shrill and unpleasant day in the Coliseum. There will be a lot of talk about the idea of the Opener...

TORONTO — Mike Trout and Albert Pujols each hit solo home runs, Shohei Ohtani doubled twice and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-1 on Thursday.

The Rangers’ youth movement continues while a couple of vets are also having fun Welcome to a new weekly series, as we’ll take a look at a few Rangers who are on heaters and more who are ice cold in something we’ll call “Who’s Hot? Who’s Not?” The last week of Rangers baseball has been pretty much the same as the several weeks before it — a couple of really good games mixed with more stinkers, all with some encouraging performances from young guys mixed in. Plus, Cole Hamels had another pretty nice trade showcase! Hooray. Let’s get to the action. Who’s Hot? Cole Hamels...

In a laudatory post regarding the local nine – title: “The Resounding Success of the 2018 Braves” – Matthew Trueblood of Baseball Prospectus offers one caveat amid the kudos: The offseason dual salary dump with the Dodgers might crimp the Braves’ style in the very short term. Writes Trueblood:

The decline in performance for Albert Pujols has been swift and brutal. It may be due to his certainly being older than his stated age. It may simply be the toll of 18 MLB seasons and nearly 10,000 career at bats. Whatever the factors, he is clearly shot and no longer The Machine as he was known in St. Louis. Just how shot is Albert? Well, for the last 2 seasons his offensive output aligns closest with utility infielders. Considering utility infielders offer defensive and base running value, he’s actually less valuable to the team than a utility infielder. And Mike Scioscia has...

Plus several visits from the “weird baseball” fairy You want it? You got it! Assuming what you want is baseball links, of course. The Twins are basically paying Michael Pineda a million dollars this year to rehab from Tommy John Surgery, and according to the latest update, things are progressing well. If he can throw a few innings this year, or even just get healthy, he’ll be a nice rotation option for 2019. Phil Hughes remained a classy guy through all his struggles during the Twins organization, and even after being DFA’d, he stayed that way. Brandon Warne got the thoughts from...

On the latest episode of Shea Anything, Doug Williams and Andy Martino discuss the sad state of affairs surrounding Jose Reyes, the Jose Bautista signing, and the importance of getting quality starts from the likes of Zack Wheeler and Jason Vargas.

When the Los Angeles Dodgers traded for Matt Kemp this past offseason, the move was purely salary-based and...

Read "Cole Hamels jokes that he helped bring a title to New York in 2009" and more Philadelphia Phillies news and rumors on SportsTalkPhilly.com.

Reading between the lines, if Reyes doesn't show value soon, the end could be drawing near. It just won't come today.

The editorial staff discusses the week in Tigers news and beyond. Brandon and Ashley, staff writers and editors at BlessYouBoys.com return to talk you through the dark times. The Tigers got off to a fun, respectable start considering their last place finish in 2017. We even had dreams of seizing first place for a little bit and sending the AL Central, and many fans, into a tizzy. Now the spell is broken. The bullpen has blown leads repeatedly over the past week, and the offense is really starting to miss Miguel Cabrera and Jeimer Candelario. Such is our lot this year. But, there are a lot...

Zack Wheeler was done in by an inexcusable error by Jose Reyes in the second inning Tuesday night.

Last night, as the Yankees lost for only the fifth time in their last 27 games, we all got a firsthand look at Rangers lefty Cole Hamels, who figures to be a rather popular player come the trade deadline. He was great, holding the Yankees to two solo homers in seven innings. The Rangers are […] The post Cole Hamels and the inevitable trade deadline question appeared first on River Avenue Blues.

Zack Wheeler deserved better in this one. Had the Mets prioritized defense, even for one night, you might not get the 5-1 loss the team suffered last night. With Jose Bautista signed and inserted into the lineup, the Mets sat Jay Bruce because the Marlins were starting a lefty. And they also sat Luis Guillorme, which left Jose Reyes to play third. That wound up being the worst decision possible. Even if Guillorme went 0-for-4 at the plate, there’s no way he would have made the same gaffes Reyes did in the field, which had a significant impact on the game. The initial Reyes...

Dodger Stadium had become a relatively serene place Tuesday night, what with the home team going hitless from the second inning through the fifth and trailing the Rockies 3-2.

Oh well, can’t win ’em all. The Yankees lost for only the fifth time in their last 27 games Tuesday night, dropping the middle game of the series 6-4 to the Rangers. The sixth starter against the other team’s ace went how the sixth starter against the other team’s ace usually goes. Wild Domingo Domingo […] The post Rangers 6, Yankees 4: Gleyber goes deep again, but Yankees unable to solve Hamels appeared first on River Avenue Blues.

Jose Reyes was once among baseball’s most electrifying players, but that era has long disappeared, replaced by the wonder if he can just avoid being a liability for the Mets. The veteran infielder’s days with the team have never appeared more numbered. Reyes isn’t hitting or running the bases particularly well, and Tuesday night he...

Detroit Tigers Jeimer Candelario is ready to begin a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment with Toledo Mud Hens        

Tonight, the Yankees have a chance to accomplish two things. One they will accomplish for sure. They’ll get a firsthand look at lefty Cole Hamels, who figures to be a hot commodity at the trade deadline. The Yankees could use another starter and Hamels will likely be available. It’s only a matter of time until […] The post Game 45: Facing A Possible Trade Target appeared first on River Avenue Blues.

Rafael Palmeiro still has power, even at 53. After hitting more than 500 home runs in the major leagues, Palmeiro went deep Monday night for the first time in his return to baseball with an independent team. He connected in the fifth inning for the Cleburne Railroaders , who went on to a 4-3 loss...

The Yanks continue to roll, but it remains clear that a rotation upgrade could be the difference between dominating the regular season and passing the Astros to win the pennant.

Cabrera still isn’t quite ready to return, but Jeimer Candelario could be back this week. The Detroit Tigers have been battered by injuries recently, but might start to get healthy soon. Among the updates provided to reporters on Monday was the news that Miguel Cabrera took batting practice in Minnesota. While there was no specific update given on his status, the fact that Cabrera is taking swings again is an encouraging sign. He has been on the disabled list since May 4 with a hamstring injury, but could be ready to return fairly soon. Also on the mend is Jeimer Candelario, who took...

The Los Angeles Dodgers were not able to carry the momentum for their sweep of the Washington Nationals back...

Jose Reyes wasn’t in the lineup against Miami right-hander Elieser Hernandez and he’s mired in a 2-for-22 slide as he struggles in his bench role. Asked if Reyes’ roster spot might be in jeopardy because of that lack of production, Mickey Callaway said before the Mets beat the Marlins 2-0 at Citi Field. “That’s probably...

Cole Hamels gets it.