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If you're watching Team USA Olympic baseball this summer, you may have a single question in your mind.
And that question will likely be: "Who the hell is Jayon Brown Jerseys that?"
While the USA Olympic baseball roster holds some journeyman players who have made their bones in the major leagues, the majority of the roster is comprised of minor-league guys and players who are on the doorstop of MLB teams.
Unfortunately, the sport's biggest stars including Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge and others won't make their way to Japan to help Team USA nail down a gold medal.
There's a very simple why baseball's best don't get Ryan Tannehill Jerseys that opportunity. Here's why:
Why aren't MLB players in the Olympics?A wise man once said:
Unlike Nippon Profe sional Baseball Japan's top baseball circuit which shuts down for the Olympics, Major League Baseball doesn't pause for two weeks to allow its stars to play on Team USA. Teams are largely unwilling to let their star players compete in the Olympics.
In 2020, MLB, MLBPA and the International Baseball Federation struck a rule allowing players in MLB organizationsnoton the 40-man roster to be eligible for the games. That means prospects can play, just not the ones on the 40-man roster.
Simply put: MLB and its teams doesn't want to lose money by not having its stars on the field or risking long-term injury.
Ultimately, former MLB All-Stars and players on the come-up still comprise the roster, which is nothing to thumb your nose at.
In response to Olympics being without big stars,MLB proposed a new tournament with the goal to grow the game, known as the World Baseball Cla sic, which has been held four times. The WBC takes place before Julio Jones T Shirts spring training when it's played. The coronavirus pandemic pushed the 2020 edition of the tournament indefinitely.
The decision to not allow its players to play has irked some of the sport's biggest stars, including Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper.
"It is such a travesty to me," in 2020. "The 2020 Olympics, in Japan. And you're not sending big league guys? Are you kidding me?
"You want to grow the game as much as po sible and you're not going to let us play in the Olympics because you don't want to lose Treylon Burks Jerseys out on money for a two-week period? OK, that's dumb."
CHICAGO The ballpark gleams, exactly as the home of the Little League World Series national championship team should.
Free of graffiti and absent so much as a kid's initials carved in the grandstand benches, Jackie Robinson Park is outfitted with a digital scoreboard and mechanical pitching machines. It sits in a tidy neighborhood of brick one-story homes and manicured lawns on Chicago's South Side.
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While the words "South Side" are often shorthand beyond Chicago for gangs, shootings John Stallworth Jerseys and poverty, the people who live here see a more nuanced picture.
"These are middle-cla s families," said Jamieson Clay, a relative of Joshua Houston, the pitching and hitting hero of U.S. championship game. "Ninety percent of the boys have both a mother and a father at home with them and the fathers are playing a pretty active role in their sons' lives."
The beloved Jackie Robinson West All Stars, Chicago's first all-black team to claim the national title, autographed T-shirts and posters at the ballpark Wednesday before boarding trolley buses for a parade in their honor. They're only beginning to realize the impact they've had on the city.
"I didn't know it was going to be like this," outfielder Darion Radcliff said as he posed for photos. "I feel like a celebrity."
In the days to come, he and the other players will be held up as models for how to keep vulnerable kids out of trouble. Radio host Matt McGill said to the crowd at Wednesday's pre-parade rally, "Look at those kids. You can be a star without a gun in your holster, without a gun in your waistband."
And before thousands at Millennium Park downtown, Chicago White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams urged kids to "pick up a ball or a glove or a book, a paint stick, a science project (and) put down the guns."
Adrian Newell, 59, said at the downtown rally, "You never hear anything positive about little black boys and these (13) boys did so well, behaved so well, you are just so proud of these kids Dwayne Haskins Jerseys ."
But some people close to the team chafe at the kids being portrayed as another example of sports rescuing people from dire circumstances.
"This is not some fairy tale about ducking bullets," said Bill Haley, director of Jackie Robinson West, which his father founded in 1971. "The story is we are the national champions."
Williams suggested the team might change the perception of Chicago's youth. Joe Haeg Jerseys
"I had someone pa s me by the other day who said, 'Those boys are so well behaved.' I said, `Yeah, we teach that. The other stuff you see reported, the perception of what's happening in Chicago? That ain't us. These young men gave you a glimpse into who we really are."'
The team united Chicago, which remains one of the nation's most segregated cities. Last weekend's televised games were the most-watched telecasts in Chicago, with 623,900 viewers Saturday and 810,500 on Sunday - including at Wrigley Field where the Cubs watched during a rain delay and cheered like 12-year-olds themselves.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel organized all-city watch parties. Fans lined up Tuesday to buy 7,000 team T-shirts at a local sporting goods store and on Wednesday - just as they did in 2013 when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup - fans lined the streets to cheer.
They'll even be able to live stereotypical post-sports championship dream: The Rev. Je se Jackson announced Wednesday that his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition will be flying the boys to Disney World.
The team is built around a core of longtime baseball families, Clay said. Joshua Houston has older brothers who play high school and college baseball. His father is the team's pitching coach.
Troy Polamalu Jerseys Of the Jackie Robinson West players who attend Chicago public schools, most attend magnet and charter schools, which indicates their parents made the effort to enroll them in special programs. One boy has two parents who are both Chicago police sergeants, while a second boy has a dad who is a Chicago police officer. Coach Darold Butler is a Union Pacific railroad engineer.
"The values of dignity, winning with grace, losing with grace, we can't take credit for that," Butler said. "Those come from their parents."
David Ameer Abdullah Jerseys Ortiz can drive me anywhere.
In another cla sic , the Red Sox slugger threw on a wig and shades to pick up unsuspecting Boston residents under the alias Donny.
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A few highlights that stick Tye Smith Jerseys out include:
- Big Papi absolutely ripping New York drivers and talking about how much he hates walks.- The pa senger who said she can only watch the Red Sox if shes drunk. Hurry it up, baseball.- Minnesota Vikings Hats Ortiz saying all of his shirts are David Ortiz shirts.
If Ortiz decides to take up Jim Marshall Jerseys Lyft driving after retirement the city of Boston won't complain.
What was supposed to be a short interview with Edgar Martinez about his career and the Hall of Fame turned into an hour-long conversation.
But, then, Edgar Martinezs career is well worth 60 minutes of discu sion.
We started from the beginning. I asked Edgar how he got started in baseball. The conversation immediately shifted entirely to Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente.
When I was about 10, he said, my aunt was watching Roberto Clemente during the World Series, screaming in the living room. She was so excited, so I started watching with her. From that day on, I was in love with the game. I learned how to hit by hitting rocks and following Robertos career. Everyone wanted to be him, including me.
Martinez, now on his ninth and second-to-last Hall ballot, is a legend in his own right, but has been stifled by the stigma of being a designated hitter. I asked him what he thinks about BBWAA writers who will not vote for him simply because he played about 70 percent of his career games as a DH.
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Truly, I respect anyones opinion if they dont think designated hitters belong in the Hall of Fame, he said. But to me, it is part of the game, and it is not the part-time job that some seem to think it is a full-time job and your full-time job is to contribute to the offense.
And contribute to the offense Martinez did,in a way that stands out historically compared to other Hall of Famers.
Hall of FamersEdgar MartinezJohnny Mize: .312 BA.312 BAStan Musial: .417 OBP.418 OBPWillie McCovey: .515 SLG.515 SLGFrank Robinson: .926 OPS.933 OPSMike Schmidt: 147 OPS+147 OPS+Ernie Banks: 67.5 bWAR68.4 bWARTony Gwynn: 65.0 fWAR65.5 fWARWillie Stargell: 145 wRC+147 wRC+Henry Aaron: .403 wOBA.405 wOBASo why hasnt one of the greatest hitters of all time received more support?
There are a few reasons. First and foremost, the stigma that the DH carries.
The designated hitter has been a part of the American League since 1973, and it cannot and should not be ignored just as Hall voters dont ignore closers (Bruce Sutter, Rich Go sage, Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley.)
The double-standard is confounding. Voters are comfortable with enshrining specialists, just not of the hitting variety, even though designated hitters typically have an exponentially greater impact on the game. So, do you think Martinez has a bone to pick with closers?
No way, he said without hesitation, Mariano Rivera, first ballot Hall of Famer. He was so dominant.
FAGAN:
Rivera and Martinez actually share something in common outside of both being specialists and arguably the greatest at their specialized craft awards named after them. The annual American League Closer Award is named in Alvin Kamara Jerseys honor of Rivera and the annual American League Designated Hitter Award is a tribute to Martinez.
Speaking of Rivera, Martinez faired exceptionally well against, batting .579/.652/1.053 in 23 plate appearances. I asked how he viewed him as so dominant even though he had Mos number.
Mariano pitched to his strength the cutter it was the best pitch in baseball. It beat everyone, he said. But my strength was hitting middle-to-opposite field. His cutter broke away from me, and Id get one that went middle-to-middle away and just go with it. Never tried to do too much with it. You cant try to do too much against a pitcher that talented. That is how he beats you easily.
Rivera remembered his meetings with Edgar a little le s fondly:He had more than my number. He had my breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He got everything from me, he .
In all, a comparison of the two specialists, Martinez edges Rivera not just head to head, but acro s the board.
Mariano Rivera:
56.3bWAR | 39.7 fWAR
5,103 batters faced
1,283 2/3innings pitched
Edgar Martinez:
68.3 rWAR | 65.5 fWAR
8,674 plate appearances
4,829 1/3 fielding innings
Lets back things up. Many might be wondering, What about David Ortiz? when I called Martinez the greatest of all time at DH. In truth, while Ortizs career may read like a fairytale, Martinezs tells a more complete story.
Head to head, heres how they match up:
David Ortiz:
.286/.380/.552
55.3bWAR | 50.7 fWAR
141 OPS+
140 wRC+
.392 wOBA
Edgar Martinez:
.312/.418/.515
68.4bWAR | 65.5 fWAR
147 OPS+
147 wRC+
.405 wOBA
Of course, we cannot discount that Ortiz hit 541 home runs, nor that he was one of the greatest postseason hitters of all time.
I love David. His career was amazing and Hall of Fame-worthy, Martinez said.
Then, laughing: In the end, it probably helps me that he will definitely get in.
Ortiz has the kind of numbers that are hard to ignore, while Martinez has the kind that many, for some reason, refuse to see.
Big Papis 541 home runs are impre sive on a baseball card, but the slugger would have to return to baseball and reach base safely in 665 straight plate appearances to pa s Martinez in career on-base percentage. In terms of career WAR, one full season 162 games by Martinez is worth 234 games played by Ortiz.
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Moreover, Martinez bested Ortiz in career bWAR by 13.1, despite 353 Taysom Hill Jerseys fewer games played. And (oh, by the way) Ortiz had just one season (2007) in which he equaled each leg of Martinezs career .312/.418/.515.
I asked Martinez whether he thinks playing for the Mariners on the West Coast hurt his Hall of Fame chances, just as playing on the Red Sox on the East Coast put Ortiz in the spotlight.
He wouldnt go that far, remembering his career in Seattle fondly, instead offering, I do think there are guys who never really saw me play, given that I played on the West Coast; on the East Coast, our games come on after bedtime for many. Most of the East Coast was asleep during Mariners games.
This is not an argument for Martinez over Ortiz. Its a call for inclusion of both. There are already two designated hitters in the Hall of Fame, in Frank Thomas and Paul Molitor. Thomas played the majority of his career games as a designated hitter and Molitor was just shy of half. So why them and not Martinez?
Its simple: Thomas and Molitor reached the arbitrary benchmarks of 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, respectively. Molitor and Thomas both edge Martinez in career WARMolitor at 75.4, Thomas at 73.7, and Martinez at 68.3. But Martinez edges both in WAR per 162 games played: 5.38, to Thomas 5.14 and Molitors 4.55.
Overall, perhaps Id be willing to concede that Thomas was the best batsman of the group, but The Big Hurt was a better hitter than all but maybe a dozen or so players in history, and Martinez far out-produced Molitor.
Taking a look at some other key numbers, we can note how much closer Martinez was to Thomas and Molitor:
Frank Thomas: .301/.419/.555 (156 OPS+), 154 wRC+, .416 wOBA
Paul Molitor: .306/.369/.448 (122 OPS+), 122 wRC+, .361 wOBA
Edgar Martinez: .312/.418/.515 (147 OPS+), 147 wRC+, .405 wOBA
Aside from the argument of who did and did not take the field defensively is the obvious, though le s entertained, ponderance of which Hall of Fame players actually hurt their teams by donning a glove. Willie Stargell, Harmon Killebrew and Ted Williams come to mind. All defensive liabilities. Future 2020 inductee Derek Jeter was probably the most egregious of them all.
Martinez, on the other hand, helped his team by not fielding his position. Not that he didnt want to play the field or even that he was a poor defensive player, but it was because it ensured that he would stay healthy and his potent bat would stay in the lineup.
Martinez insisted all those ballplayers belong in the Hall of Fame, saying he was just looking to make the best contribution to the team.
I think I could have ended up playing some first base, maybe left field, but I would have definitely kept playing even without the designated hitter, he said. I ended up DHing in the first place because I was coming back from an injury, relapsed, returned again, and at the time we had a great defensive third baseman in Mike Blowers, who was also solid offensively. The team was better with Mike at third base and me as the designated hitter.
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Of course, conversely, there are players in the Hall strictly for their defensive contributions Ozzie Smith, Luis Aparicio, Bill Mazeroski, Phil Rizzuto, among others but who often hurt the team on offense.
Martinez, naturally, defended them too, saying, I think there is a place in the Hall of Fame for great defensive players. Guys like Omar Vizquel save runs on the field. Whether you earn runs at bat or save them in the field, it helps your team win, even if you dont contribute much on the other side.
PlayerBatting runsFielding runsOzzie Smith-116.8238.7Luis Aparicio-197.3148.6Bill Maeroski-161.5147.2Phil Rizzuto-29.9115.5Omar Vizquel-244.3127.6Edgar Martinez+531.517.2The last thing Martinez and I talked about was, really, the last thing he wanted to talk about his own numbers.
My style wasnt to accumulate stats. I wanted to be a winner, whatever helped the team win, he said, echoing similar thoughts from Hall of Famers Tim Raines and Wade Boggs.
As an example, Edgar cited his high career walk total (while unsure of the exact number).
I was never a free swinger. If I was, maybe Id have gotten more hits or even a few more home runs, but then Id probably be le s effective, he said. I had two goals: Get on base and make the opposing pitcher throw six, seven, eight pitches. If you make him work, you and your team have the advantage, and your teammates get to see more pitches.
I never thought about numbers, I never realized I put up some of the numbers that youve mentioned to me up until you did. That was never my Bob Pollard Jerseys goal.
So, naturally, I had to throw just a few more numbers his way.
I told Martinez that the last player with at least 7,000 plate appearances to equal each leg of his career .312/.418/.515 slash-line was Ted Williams. In in fact, there are only five others: Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Rogers Hornsby, Babe Ruth and Dan Brouthersall Hall of Famers.
Martinez was shocked.
Ted Williams? Wow, that just amazes me. It is hard to believe. I really was never looking at the numbers, never tracking them, but I like them now, he said.
Tony Gwynn is considered by many as the greatest hitter of his generation. Martinez agreed, but I told him that I consider him to be the better batsman of the two. Before he had the chance to interrupt me and credit Mr. Padre, I told him that he would have to return to baseball and go 0-for-660 without reaching base safely in order to fall behind Tony Gwynn in career on-base percentage. Again, he was in disbelief.
I was actually a very big fan of Tony; I never mi sed an at-bat of his if I could help it. I specifically remember watching him hit, working on his skills in spring training. He was amazing, this is so very hard to believe.
To talk to Martinez is to experience the Hall of Fame man behind the Hall of Fame numbers. He is humble regarding his career, often shifting the attention from himself to other players whom he thought were special and worthy of consideration. Food for thought if youre high on the Halls character clause.
The pieces all fit. It just takes a little bit of work. In the case of Edgar Martinez, its worth it, and hes worthy. With that said, Ill leave you with just a few more statistics on a man whom I am prepared to call a future Hall of Famer for the very last time.
Martinez would have to return to baseball and go 0-for-278 for his career batting average to dip below .300.
Martinez would have to return to baseball and go 0-for-386 without reaching base safely for his career on-base percentage to dip below .400.
Martinez would have to return to baseball and go 0-for-1,522 without reaching base safely for his career on-base percentage to dip below Ichiros lifetime .355 on-base percentage.
Martinez would have to return to baseball and go 0-for-1,133 without reaching base safely for his career on-base percentage to dip below Ken Griffey Jr.'s lifetime .370 on-base percentage.
Martinez would have to return to baseball and go 0-for-766 without reaching base safely for his career on-base percentage to dip below Willie Mays's lifetime .384 on-base percentage.
Martinez reached base safely 203 more times than Hall of Famer Ernie Banks did during his career. Edgar had 1,720 fewer plate appearances.
Martinez would have to return to baseball and go 0-for-224 for his career slugging percentage to dip below .500.
Martinez batted .356/.479/.659 with 73 doubles, two triples and 33 home runs over the span of 162 games from June 23, 1995, to June 20, 1996. He reached base safely 349 times during that span.
Ken Griffey Jr. had a .385 on-base percentage from 1995 to 1997. Martinez, his teammate, had a .386 on-base percentage during that same stretch when batting with two strikes against him.
Players with at least a .415 OBP & 830 XBH:Frank Thomas*Barry Bonds Edgar MartinezMickey Mantle*Stan Musial*Ted Williams*Jimmie Foxx*Lou Gehrig*Rogers Hornsby*Babe Ruth*Ty Cobb*Tris Speaker**Hall of Famer
Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder)Career on-base percentage leaders among players with at least 7,000 plate appearances:1. HOF2. HOF3. HOF4. HOF5. Barry Bonds6. HOF7. HOF8. HOF9. HOF10. HOF11. HOF12. HOF13. HOF14. Edgar Martinez15. HOF16. HOF17. HOF
Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder)Some final tibdits ...
Players with at least six straight seasons batting .320/.420/.550 or better:
Edgar Martinez: 1995-00
Ted Williams: 1939-49
Lou Gehrig: 1930-37
New Orleans Saints Hats Babe Ruth: 1926-32
Rogers Hornsby: 1920-25
Seasons with at least 25 HR, 50 doubles and 100 walks in baseball history:
Edgar Martinez: 2
Every Hall of Famer combined: 2 (Gehrig 1927, Musial 1953)
Edgar Martinez during his 30s:
2,369 times safely on base
.4360 OBP
Ty Cobb during his 30s:
2,341 times safely on base
.4357 OBP
Ten players have at least 300 home runs and a .415 on-base percentage. Eight are in the Hall of Fame, one is Barry Bonds, and the other is Edgar Martinez.
Special thanks to my co-author, Kevin Reavy (@76pack), for his help in putting this together.
Dallas Keuchel went into this offseason looking for a long-term deal, but that contract appears not to be in the New England Patriots Sleepwear Underwear cards for the Cy Young winner.
The former Astros starting pitcher is now open to one-year deals at the right price, according to Fancred Sports.
Dallas Keuchel is believed open to the right 1-year deal, then resetting. One under the radar team: maybe Milwaukee, which has been linked to Kimbrel and has been willing to give up draft choice at times (ie Grandal, Lohse). Phillies, Padres, Astros are among other po sibilities.
Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman)MORE:
If he were to sign that type of deal, he would do so planning to hit the open market again in 2020. Teams that may have interest include the Brewers, Phillies, Padres and Astros.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, though, notes with the Brewers, the team would have to give up a third draft pick this season if it were to sign Keuchel to any kind of deal Adrian Phillips Jerseys , which could eliminate them from the running.
For , it would be surrendering a third draft choice in 2019. Traded Competitive Balance Round A pick for Alex Claudio and forfeited third-rounder for signing Yasmani Grandal.
Tom (@Haudricourt)It should also be noted that Brewers general manager David Stears was the a sistant general manager with the Astros in 2012 when Keuchel made his MLB debut, so he has a history with the lefty.
Keuchel reportedly turned down a five-year, $90 million deal with the Astros in 2016 and changed agents in 2017 to Scott Boras.
Boras is famous for having Justin Herron Jerseys his clients go to the free-agent market to start a bidding war for his players. He did that with Bryce Harper this year and also with Eric Hosmer and J.D. Martinez in 2018.
For Keuchel, it hasn't worked out as he remains a free agent three weeks into the season.
Keuchel told Houston Station Fox26 in February he wasn't hitting the panic button and was just focused on getting himself ready for the season.
"I'm calm and collected outside the field," Keuchel said. "I don' Ty Montgomery Jerseys t really hit the panic button at all. I'm worried about getting myself ready and up to speed. I feel like I'm ahead of schedule compared to the last few years.
"At the same time, I'd like to get out there and meet new teammates or meet old teammates. When that time comes, it'll be nice."
Third base has basically become the new first base, with the added bonus of several players who can steal a non-insignificant amount of bases or hit for a high average Davante Adams Jerseys . There aren't (m)any 3Bs who would be considered major fantasy needle-movers in SBs (with the po sible exception of top-ranked Jose Ramirez), but it's still a position with several four- or five-category contributors and some top-tier sluggers. Even just a quick look at this year's rankings let you know there are solid starters who can be found all throughout drafts.
The top seven or eight 3B-eligible players will all likely go in the first three rounds. On Yahoo, where Manny Machado and Alex Bregman are SS-eligible, some of these players might be drafted to play another position (DJ LeMahieu will almost certainly be slotted at 2B), but either way, the best 3Bs will come off the board quickly. That doesn't mean you need to reach for one -- or reach for a 3B in the next tier -- but it does mean you should have multiple draft strategies for the position.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT:
Further down the rankings, you'll find even more players who will likely be drafted to play other positions Aaron Jones T Shirts . Second base isn't particularly strong this year, so players like Max Muncy, Mike Moustakas, Nick Solak, Dylan Moore, and others are more likely to go ahead of where we have them ranked below. Because of that, third base could thin out quickly if you don't get one of the top guys, Again, that's not a reason for a panic because some third- or fourth-tier guys could have big seasons if they stay healthy (Josh Donaldson, Justin Turner, Miguel Sano) or have big breakouts (Alec Bohm, Austin Riley, Ke'Bryan Hayes).
2021 FANTASY BASEBALL RANKINGS: | | | | | | |
All those types of sleepers are worth drafting at some point, and going even deeper, you can find some interesting sleepers like Carter Kieboomor even Mike Brou seau and Jon Berti if they get regular playing time. At the very least, the multi-positional eligibility of these players makes them helpful bench options in deeper leagues.
2021 FANTASY SLEEPERS | | | | | ||
Ultimately, third base is the type of position where you can get a star who actually hits for a high average (Anthony Rendon, po sibly Nolan Arenado if you still trust him away from Coors), a big slugger (Eugenio Suarez, Matt Chapman), or a decent power-speed guy (Cavan Biggio, Yoan Moncada). Figure out what you need and draft accordingly.
MORE FANTASY BASEBALL: | | |
We'll be updating the 3B rankings frequently throughout the spring, so check back for the latest player movement. Please note that players are ranked as if they'reonlyeligible at 3B. Some players, such as Cavan Biggio and Dylan Moore, may be ranked higher overall because they're eligible at other positions.
DRAFT STRATEGY: | |
Fantasy Baseball 3B Rankings: Third Base Tiers, Sleepers, Draft StrategyRankings based on 5x5 H2H leagues with Rs, HRs, RBIs, SBs, and Batting Average as hitting categories.
Position eligibility based on Yahoo's default settings
* = player not eligible at a position on draft day but expected to play there during the season
RankPlayer (bats)Age (as of 4/1)TeamOther Pos.Tier1Jose Ramirez (S)28Indians--12Manny Jace Sternberger Jerseys Machado (R)28PadresSS13Anthony Rendon (R)30Angels--14Alex Bregman (R)27AstrosSS15Eugenio Suarez (R)31RedsSS*17Nolan Arenado (R)29Cardinals--18Rafael Innis Gaines Jerseys Devers (L)24Red Sox--16DJ LeMahieu (R)32Yankees1B, 2B29Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R)22Blue Jays1B210Cavan Biggio (L)25Blue Jays2B, OF211Matt Chapman (R)27A's--212Kris Bryant (R)29CubsOF213Yoan Moncada (S)25White Sox--214Max Muncy (L)30Dodgers1B, 2B315Mike Moustakas (L)32Reds1B, 2B316Josh Donaldson (R)35Twins--317Alec Bohm (R)24Phillies1B318Jeff McNeil (L)28Mets2B, OF319Ian Happ (S)26Cubs2B, OF320Nick Solak (R)25Rangers2B, OF321Dylan Moore (R)28Mariners2B, SS, OF322Justin Turner (R)36Dodgers--323Austin Riley (R)23BravesOF424Miguel Sano (R)27Twins1B425Eduardo Escobar (S)32D-backs2B426Jean Segura (R)31Phillies2B427Ke'Bryan Hayes (R)24Pirates--428Gio Urshela (R)29Yankees--429J.D. Davis (R)27MetsOF430Yuli Gurriel (R)36Astros1B431Ryan McMahon (L)26Rockies1B, 2B532Tommy Edman (S)25Cardinals2B, SS, OF533Kyle Seager (L)33Mariners--534Hunter Dozier (R)29Royals1B, OF535Jeimer Candelario (S)27Tigers1B536Maikel Franco (R)28Tigers--537Carter Kieboom (R)23NationalsSS538Brian Anderson (R)27MarlinsOF639Evan Longoria (R)35Giants--640Willi Castro (S)23TigersSS641Jon Berti (R)30Marlins2B, SS, OF642Colin Moran (L)28Pirates1B, 2B743Mike Bro seau (R)27Rays1B, 2B744Ty France (R)26Mariners2B745Yoshi Tsutsugo (L)29RaysOF746Rio Ruiz (L)26Orioles1B747Edwin Rios (L)26Dodgers1B748Andres Gimenez (L)22Indians2B, SS749Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R)26RangersC, SS750Luis Urias (R)23Brewers2B, SS7Scarcely 24 hours earlier, the Angels had taken what team owner Arte Moreno described Tuesday as "a punch in the heart.
Pitcher, teammate and friend Tyler Skaggs, 27, was found dead Monday in his room at the team hotel.
Now, on Tuesday, following Monday's postponement of their game against the Rangers in Arlington, Texas, the Angels were back at the ballpark doing what ballplayers do, 162 times a season.
Still, an eerie quiet hung over the stadium for much of Tuesday's MLB game. There was a moment of silence before the first pitch.
A moment of silence for No. 45.
MLB (@MLB)But Rangers players chose to forgo their normal walk-up music so players and the 20,931 in attendance could hold individual moments of silence for Skaggs.
Angels players wore his No. 45 on their uniforms, and the home team paid tribute to him on the pitcher's mound.
For you, 45.
Texas Rangers (@Rangers)Four hours, 12 minutes later it was over. The long healing proce s was started.
The final score, not an afterthought but small in the context: Angels 9, Rangers 4.
: Craig Reynolds Jerseys "Afterward, more than a dozen Angels players filed into an interview room, stood behind their manager as he addre sed the media and then opened the spigot on their emotions after a devastating, gut-wrenching day and a half."
Here are nine quotes from Tuesday that tell the story, at least in part, of the grieving Angels' emotional win over the Rangers (via the Times, , and ):
Angels GM Billy Eppler on the immediate and long-term impact of Skaggs' death:
We lost a member of our family Monday . Tyler Skaggs was a teammate, a brother, a friend, and, most important of all, he was a husband and a son. He was an exceptional young man with an entire life so full of promise yet to live. For some reason that is incomprehensible to all of us, he lives on now only in our minds and in our hearts.
Grief is personal to all of us. It doesnt have a timeline. It doesnt have a road map. What is more important is well all be here for each other as a team, as an organization and as a family.
Angels star Mike Trout, fighting back tears, on playing the day after their teammate and friend was found dead in the team hotel:I cant explain it, man. We lost a teammate, a friend, a brother. It was tough playing out there today its been a tough 24 hours but were Ryan McCollum Jerseys getting through it.
Skaggsy wouldnt want us to take another day off. The energy he brought to a clubhouse every time you saw him, hes just picking you up. Its going to be tough these next couple of days, the rest of the season, the rest of our life, you know? You lose your friend. We were close, all these guys in here.
Forever in our hearts.
Los Angeles Angels (@Angels)LA pitcher Andrew Heaney, Skaggs best friend on the team, on he and reliever Cam Bedrosian holding Skaggs No. 45 jersey during a pregame ceremony and hanging it in the back of the dugout during the game:
"That was just kind of something unplanned. His jersey was hanging in his locker, and we wanted to take him out here with us one more time. He meant so much to all of us. He was definitely my best friend. There are probably about 100 other people out Dan Campbell Jerseys there who would say that he was their best friend too because he treated everybody like that.
Angels pitchers Andrew Heaney and Cam Bedrosian carried Tyler Skaggs' No. 45 jersey during tonight's pregame moment of silence :
SportsDay Rangers (@dmn_rangers)Rangers starter Mike Minor, gone before the end of the fifth inning, on facing a grieving team in a small fraternity of MLB players:
"It was just a different vibe; I don't think anybody REALLY wanted to be out there," Minor said. "It was awkward. You play so many games and then everybody runs out there and you know, nobody really knows what they should do."
Trout, his nose running and voice cracking:
"My first at-bat, I get up there, and all I do is think about him, you know. Its going to be tough these couple days, the rest of our season, the rest of our lives."
Angels manager Brad Ausmus, on not just playing but winning, too:
"No, it wasn't normal. And it felt like there was much more urgency to win. It's been a rough 24 hours, and we haven't had a lot to smile about, so a win would give us something."
Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun on cro sing home plate after his two-run, eighth-inning homer and clapping his hands and Parnell Motley Jerseys pointing to the sky (followed by an emotional embrace first withAndrelton Simmons and then Trout):
"I got to the plate, it just felt right to pay some respects to him. We know weve got an Angel watching over us now.
For Tyler.
Los Angeles Angels (@Angels)Rangers manager Chris Woodward, on his team's performance in the lo s:
Yeah, we knew what they were dealing with on the other side. We were trying to comprehend the impact something like that would have on our ballclub. I cant even describe the feelings they were having. Obviously, it wasnt our best game, but clearly it affected us in some way. Honestly, I don't know how to describe that feeling. It was just kind of obvious they deserved to win.
Ausmus:
"I know it gets easier. But this is difficult."
The Diamondbacks teamed up with PetSmart to provide dog lovers a one-of-a-kind experience at Chase Field.
During the13 Sunday D-backs home games in the 2016 season, dog owners will be allowed to bring their pet to Jason Taylor Jerseys a comfortable environment made specifically for dogs.
Chase Field is now dog-friendly! Introducing the Patio and Park:
Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks)MORE: |
Here's how it works, :
ThePetSmart Patiowill be located along the main concourse behind the left-center field wall. The patio area will feature a family-friendly atmosphere with multi-tiered seating that is perfect for groups of humans and canines of various sizes. For each of the 13Dog Days of Summerheld at Jaylen Waddle Jerseys the D-backs' Sunday home games, pets can enjoy conce sions such as dog-friendly ice cream with toppings like kibble and other pet treats. As part of theDog Days of Summerticket package, pet parents will also receive a PetSmart "Doggie Bag," complete with free items from PetSmart.
"We are excited to create a unique dog-friendly area of our ballpark and can think of no better way than to partner with Phoenix-based PetSmart," said D-backs president and chief executive officerDerrick Hallin a statement. "Bark at the Park has always been a popular event at Chase Field, and now we are thrilled to offer fans the opportunity to bring their dogs to our games every Sunday to a new destination designed Nik Needham Jerseys specifically for them. For many households a pet is an extension of their families and the D-backs are excited to partner with PetSmart to provide a family-friendly atmosphere for all family members, including our canine friends."
Take your dogs to the ! Learn how we teamed up with the :
PetSmart (@PetSmart)In addition to creating a space for current dog owners, Adam Butler Jerseys there will also be anadoption spot during these games for families to take a puppy home with them.
The second base rankings are headlined by Jose Altuve, Javier Baez, and Whit Merrifield, among other fantasy baseball stars, Sean Taylor Jerseys but it's unlikelyanyof those players is a guarantee towind up on your fantasy baseball team. It's important to look beyond the top players for a 2B whocould turn from question marks to sure things in 2019. It's never been a power-heavy position, but options exist if you want to go that route. Speedsters are also there for the taking.
Ultimately, the best value that a lot of these sleepers will provide is versatility. Some might not even play most of their games at second base, but their ability to play elsewhere gives them them more playing time and helps their prospects in deeper leagues.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT:
2019 Fantasy Baseball 2B SleepersEligibility based on Yahoo's default settings
YoanMoncada, White Sox.Moncada is only 23, so even though he disappointed in his first full season in the majors, we know he has untapped potential. Even a "bad year" resulted in 17 HRs and 12 SBs, and if Moncada can cut down on the Ks and take a few more walks, he'll see big improvements acro s the board. A proposed position switch to 3B will give fantasy owners more roster flexibility with Moncada, though it's fair to wonder if that will negatively affect his already suspect approach at the plate. -- MattLutovsky
Rougned Odor, Rangers.We know what Odor can bring from a fantasy perspective, as exemplified by his63 home runs from 2016-'17. He took a step back with just 18 home runs in '18, but his history leads us to believe he is a bounce-back candidate. Globe Life Park in Arlington is a notorious hitters park, especially for lefties,that should revert Odor's home run totalcloser to 30. He has also stolen 41 bases over the past three seasons.His K/BB ratio over the past three years is concerning (424/94), but that's always been the case with him, and Odor'spower which is more proven than most second basemen shouldn't be overlooked. The 25-year-old lefty is a legit four-category producer who hasn't killed fantasy owners in average Da'Ron Payne Jerseys aside from '17.
2019 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: | | | | | | | |
JuricksonProfar, Athletics.Change-of-scenery players are always enticing, and Profar is no exception. The former No. 1 prospect in baseball hasn't completely lived up to his potential, but he did start to show signs last season (.254/.335/.458, 20 home runs, 10 stolen bases). From a ballpark standpoint, the move from the Rangers to Athletics won't do him any favors (just look at his home-road splits last year: .271/.362/.511 at home; .237/.307/.405 on the road), but his strong '18should earn him consistent playing time. Profar can play all four infield positions, making him a versatile option that can be used in many ways on your fantasy team. The 26-year-old switch-hitter might be ready to really make the leap.
Wilmer Flores, Diamondbacks.Yes, Flores looks like he's being held hostage in the above photo, but he shouldactually enjoyhis time in the much cozier hitting confines of Chase Field. Flores averaged 15.3 HRs in 119 games over the past four seasons with the Mets, so everyday playing time coupled with a better hitting environment could help him pop 20-25HRs.Admittedly, the versatile 27-year-old (also eligible at 1B, 3B)likely won't help at all in average or SBs, but his runs and RBIs should also see a nice increase if the power plays out like we think it will. - Jahan Dotson Jerseys -MattLutovsky
Ryan McMahon, Rockies.McMahon was a popular sleeper heading into last season, but he failed to live up to the hype. Still, you his home run potential and position versatility makes him worth selecting, even if it's in the last few rounds. Although he doesn't have a set position on the Rockies right now, he won't just be limited to second base. McMahon combined for 48 games at the corner infield spots, so his versatility will help get him into Colorado's lineup more frequently. Speedster Garrett Hampson will be worth grabbing once he's called up, but McMahon shouldn't be overlooked on draft day despite last season's letdown.
2019 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: | | | | | |
2019 Fantasy Baseball Rankings Tiers, Draft Strategy | | | | | | |
Niko Goodrum, Tigers.Goodrum came out of nowhere last year to provide value in a Tigers lineup that is void of many solid fantasy options. Saahdiq Charles Jerseys The modest power (16 HRs) and speed (12 SBs) that he showed off in 2018 makes him a good choice if you're on the hunt for a late-round 2B who can provide value at multiple categories.Beyond that, he registered at least eightgames at first base, shortstop, left field,third base, and right fieldlast season, so he can fit just about anywhere.
More 2B sleepers eligible at other positions:Willy Adames, Rays (SS), Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Blue Jays (SS), Daniel Robertson, Rays (SS, 3B)
Thursday marks one year since the Royals traded minor league right-hander Justin Jackson Jerseys Spencer Patton to the Rangers for Jason Frasor, who celebrated that anniversary by signing with the Braves following his release by Kansas City.
This is all stuff that would be at the fringe of the transactions wire, but it shines an interesting light on evaluating trades and being quick to declare winners and losers.
MORE: | Pirates built to win the NL Central
Undoubtedly, the Royals can view last years acquisition of Frasor as a succe s. He was the winning pitcher in the American League wild-card game, working two-thirds of an inning in which he allowed an inherited run to score but avoided further damage. In six more playoff outings, the right-hander allowed one more inherited run, and one run of his own. The Royals re-signed him after he got to free agency in November.
Even though he was released, it was not as if Frasor was terrible for the Royals this year he had a 1.54 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 23.1 innings. He had 15 walks, though, and Justin Herbert Jerseys with a bullpen as dominant as Kansas Citys, Frasor got squeezed out.
So, the Royals got what they wanted, and their side of the ledger is closed on the trade. Meanwhile, a quick look at Patton shows that in 11 appearances for the Rangers, the 27-year-old has an 8.71 ERA. This does not help to make the point that it takes time to declare winners and losers in a trade.
Look deeper, though, and see that Patton has nine strikeouts and two walks in 10.1 innings, and that six of the 10 runs he has allowed for Texas came in a disastrous two-thirds of an inning on July 4, in a 13-0 rout at the hands of the Angels.
Patton, who owns a 93 mph fastball, was a 24th-round draft pick for the Royals in 2011, out of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. He played rookie ball that year, then again the following season, before embarking on a pretty solid trajectory to the majors some of 2013 in A-ball, some of it in Double-A, then Triple-A with a September callup last year after the trade.
This year, Patton has been dominant in Triple-A, going 10-for-10 in save opportunities and striking out 31 hitters with eight walks and no homers allowed in 23 innings. He deserves to be getting a shot in the major leagues, and aside from one disaster outing, has pitched like he belongs.
Patton remains under team control through at Troy Reeder Jerseys least the end of the decade. Even though, at 27, he is too old to be considered a prospect, there is no reason that he cannot be a useful player for the contending team the Rangers hope to be sooner than later. To see that, you just have to look at the career path of the player he was traded for: Frasor was Mark Webb Jr. Jerseys a 33rd-round draft pick out of Southern Illinois main campus in Carbondale, then went through the minor leagues (getting traded twice along the way) and made his major league debut at the age of 26 years and 251 days two months older than Patton was when he got to the bigs.
It could certainly turn out that the Rangers dealt two-plus months of Frasor for several years of the updated model of Frasor. The Royals will always call the deal a win from their standpoint because of how things worked out with their two-plus months of Frasor, but it would be foolish to call it a lo s for Texas.