TJ Rollercoaster

As noted above, from MLBTradeRumors Three-time All-Star and 1984 World Series champion Willie Hernandez has passed away at the age of 69 after a yearslong battle with a heart condition, per a report from La Primera Hora — a newspaper in Hernandez’s native Puerto Rico. The former American League MVP and Cy Young winner (both in a standout ’84 campaign) had been dealing with heart troubles for around 15 years, his wife tells La Primera Hora. Hernandez himself told Matt Schoh of the Detroit News back in 2019, after throwing out the first pitch during the Tigers’ season opener, that he nearly died in 2007 while having a pacemaker installed in his heart.

There has to be a better nickname than 'Killer J's' for that trio

Where's Bert's 14 runs?

Wonder if you could set up a grid, where the answer in each of the 9 squares was "Edwin Jackson" (Yes, I know it's against the rules)

Jerry saw it too

From Damar's apparent marketing rep

Expanding on what MCS said

From Fangraphs Top Rangers prospect list https://blogs.fangraphs.com/texas-rangers-top-50-prospects-2022/ 22. Mason Englert, SP Drafted: 4th Round, 2018 from Forney HS (TX) (TEX) Age 22.6 Height 6′ 4″ Weight 206 Bat / Thr S / R FV 40 Tool Grades (Present/Future) Fastball Slider Curveball Changeup Command Sits/Tops 40/40 50/50 45/45 50/55 35/55 90-93 / 95 Englert doesn’t have electrifying stuff, but he has a bevy of viable (mostly east/west operating) pitches and surprisingly advanced command for someone who didn’t pitch at a pro affiliate until almost three years after he signed due to a TJ and the pandemic. Englert has efficiently thwarted A-ball hitters to the tune of a 27% K%, a 7.5% walk rate and a FIP close to 3.70 throughout each of the last two seasons, and is in position for a promotion to Double-A (or perhaps a Fall League assignment) as a way of stress-testing his fringe stuff against better hitters ahead of a potential 40-man addition. Englert splits the plate with his tailing sinker and sweeping slider, he can change speeds off of those with his changeup and curveball, and he will occasionally run his fastball up the ladder for whiffs. He has a high floor, and is very likely to play some kind of medium-impact role on a big league staff. The backend starter/swingman fit feels most likely, though Englert’s style of pitching brings Paul Sewald to mind.

Back to back walks, a balk, followed by a sac fly - I think that's called "manufacturing a run"

Revisiting and reframing a lengthy discussion from the old board - Is August OPS more important than other months' OPS? (The original was about August RBIs if I recall correctly)

Also used to have CJ Nitkowski post on the old board - while he was playing for the Tigers iirc

Mariners sending Noelvi Marte (Mariners #2 prospect, as ranked by FanGraphs), Edwin Arroyo (#7), Levi Stoudt (#14), and Andrew Moore to Cincinnati

As some have been disappointed with Tork's performance in the majors this year, one of the other players who was frequently discussed as a candidate for the #1 selection in 2020, Max Meyer, just had TJ surgery

I think a few Boston players will have words for Duran on that play - makes absolutely no effort to go after the ball once it hit behind him.

I would imagine so - just can't be between the lines pre-pitch?

Will also make holding a runner at second a bit different as well?

From MLB.com's "Most Interesting Picks on Day 3" article Pick 11 (387th overall): Tigers, Dom Johnson, OF, Kansas State (No. 239😞 Johnson could have gone in the 2020 Draft if it hadn’t been shortened to five rounds. He was one of the fastest members of that class coming out of high school, and that remains true here. He led the Cape in steals last summer with 14 and hit .345/.419/.593 with 12 thefts this year after transferring from Oklahoma State to Kansas State.

Apparently had been some make-up concerns with Graham, which is why he fell a bit

Prielipp goes to the Twin Cities

Hey - Prielipp is still on the board!

Rays' fans might have some beefs for the moment - they went 'off board' and selected a 6'4" 240 lb first baseman (out of HS!) in Xavier Isaac MLB Pipeline apparently had him at 113, Kiley at 90 (per the FG chat)

Perhaps it's better that his last name was Jung, rather than Freud (or worse - depending on what direction you want the psychology jokes to go)

You bring plenty of moxie too!

Longenhagen speculating that Collier might be heading to school now, with the drop in draft position (and associated bonus)

Well... Parada's off the board