casimir

Great cut by Kreidler to double Perez off on the sac fly.

Maybe I am being too much of a stickler, but it seems like if racial integration is used as the beginning of an era of baseball, it would seem like it should come sometime after 1947 and line up with a year that MLB was more fully integrated. I honestly have no idea when that would be. But I would think that it took some time after Robinson's debut before baseball's racial makeup was truly integrated and "modern" in terms of racial population. I guess the other thing is, what do we mean by modern baseball? If the modern era begins with 1980, that baseball doesn't exactly perfectly resemble current baseball.

If I'm reading this right, Meadows is on a $4M contract this season with two arbitration years left. They still need offense, and he has shown that he can provide that at the MLB level. It is a tough call in terms of roster maintenance, but what kind of contract could we expect for season through arbitration? What is the working relationship among player, agency, and the Tigers (who are still lacking an official GM)? Obviously money plays a hand in contracts, but I wonder if this is an occasion where it isn't as much of a primary driver? Heck, Meadows may be considering walking away from the game for all we know. It wouldn't be the first time a major league player did so for reasoning that they saw fit.

Baddoo's arm in RF?

The current propane grill is probably due to be replaced. Your grilling pictures are not helping the current grill's cause.

Kind of can't wait for the weather to cool down simply because I'm in the mood for chili.

You can call me Casimirfucious for short.

It is a nice story so far. Baddoo was a nice story last year. So you just never know what will happen in the future. If they both have options and if there isn't anyone being blocked from the 40 by keeping both, I can see them competing for LF in Lakeland next season. Neither are strong enough defensively or proven enough offensively to hand pen in as a starter at this point.

Can't wait to see how.

Detroit Tigers (54-85) at Kansas City Royals (56-84)

That’s new. 😆

Too bad Barnhart didn’t hit left handed.

Or, maybe, just maybe, don’t have rankings until sometime in October, after teams have actually played a few games.

The throw over rules are interesting. Did they get approved for MLB? What was it, max of 2 throw overs per pitch? That puts a premium of C defense like you say, but I would think it also forces Ps to mix up times when in the stretch.

This is stupid.

That's what prevents him from being a starter. They can't bring Barnhart back. He's a free agent he simply isn't more than a journeyman type. There are probably questions to answer about Rogers coming back from Tommy John surgery. But with all of the other holes that need to be filled, and with C not being one position to fill offensively (most of the time), they might roll with a tandem of Haase/Rogers and have a AAAA type with MLB experience in Toledo as a break glass in case of emergency type. Dingler probably starts out in Toledo next season. Or maybe they go with Rogers in Toledo at first to prove himself and sign a one year deal with some random C to split time with Haase? Rogers will be 28 next season, so one would think whatever time spent in AAA would be simply to get back into game shape rather than player development. A lot is up in the air simply because there is no GM right now. That person might decide to torpedo the whole position and move Haase while his value is at its highest.

Sorry, I've already taken that title.

That's true, there was the safety aspect to it. That actually might have been the primary driver.

Yes, give Manfred and MLB their due with the IBB. The pitch clock will be another good move. Maybe it needs to be tweaked a bit, but they are going in the right direction. It also looks like MLB is going along with unionization of minor league players and their representation by MLBPA. There had to have been some scuttle behind the scenes, but that hasn't played out publicly. So far so good on that front?

Yeah, I'm wondering this about the middle infielders. Not necessarily running in towards the plate, but can they line up a step over from behind 2B but reposition to the "illegal" side of 2B once the pitch is delivered? Or even get a running start like you see WRs do in the CFL? Maybe it wouldn't be an effective strategy, maybe its just too much additional short/quick runs to add to a player during a game? I don't know.

This Jonathan Heasley, today's Kansas City starting pitcher. That's a strong mullet and mustache combination. I gotta be honest, I fear another shutout.

Detroit Tigers (53-85) at Kansas City Royals (56-83)

So, what's the devil in the details behind the banning of the shift? It has to have some clause that clearly states 3 OFs and 4 IFs, the difference between the OF & IF being the dirt. But what about the parameters of left side and right side of 2B? Wasn't there a minor league experimenting with a "wedged divider" like a piece of pie shaped area behind 2B that the defense had to stay out of prepitch? Or will it just be a line extending from home through 2B and to the OF? And what is the exact timing of when the defense can move? I agree, it sucks that it kind of rewards the hitters into staying with their swing for the downs approach. I think the HR or bust is bad for the sport. Get more in game movement. The bigger bases, I think, were to encourage more base stealing? The Tigers don't get anyone on base, so meh, whatevs.

Detroit Tigers (52-85) at Kansas City Royals (56-82)

One would think with all of that losing, the Tigers would have a pretty darn good farm system, what with all of the benefits of drafting high and bonus dollars that come with those slots.