MLB News & Notes - 2024 Season

[BostonRoss]

I’m a little surprised that the 2024 Phillies hitters are on average less than a year older than in 2022. It’s mostly the same group, with seven of nine regulars being the same and therefore two years older. Rojas essentially replacing Hoskins is the main gain in age. Of course, they got younger by releasing Merrifield.

[andyb]

Is there evidence though that older players run out of gas in the postseason? There is clearly a bias towards playing them in the postseason over younger players, but that may just be managerial error playing older players over more talented younger players.

We just lost a few games we should have won in Arizona last year. It could have happened for a dozen different reasons. The older age of the core does make it more important to try to compete each year we have a chance. I just think we see as many instances of older rosters overachieving in the playoffs relative to talent as younger rosters (compared to their regular season record).

[bkox]

Seattle Mariners fire longtime manager Scott Servais and hitting coach Jarret...

[zambonir]

It's pretty astonishing that the younger Braves have had much worse luck with injuries than the Phillies, both on the mound and at the plate. Perhaps the market inefficiency with older players is that they're durable, if still subject to short-term injuries and being banged up.

Or it's all luck. All of it. MLB is March Madness now (including the part the best team probably will win most years in the end

[zambonir]

The 31-year-old starter’s performance this season could also hurt his chances of scoring a bigger payday if he decides to opt-out. Montgomery has a 6.44 ERA and 1.67 WHIP for Arizona with the lowest strikeout rate of his career. After two successful starts in late April to start his Diamondbacks tenure — four earned runs allowed over 13 innings — Montgomery’s ERA has been higher than six in each of the past four months.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Montgomery would begin pitching out of the bullpen, as starter Ryne Nelson had earned the final spot in Arizona’s rotation.

D-Backs' Jordan Montgomery says Scott Boras 'kind of butchered' his free-agency...

[bkox]

Plate umpire Nick Mahrley exits game between Rockies and Yankees after broken...

[bkeich]

It is good that MLB does not do the European Style relegation. The White Sox are 31-97 (they won yesterday), that is .242 Winning rate. They are already eliminated mathematically from the extended playoffs with 34 games to go. They could easily get to 120 losses, which I believe is the modern record.

Do they realize that tanking does not work in baseball? Draft picks don’t help for a few years and even #1 overall picks are not sure things.

Does anyone show up at the games or is it just Chicago based fans of the other team?

The White Sox are looking Historic. 31 games left, they must win 12 to avoid history. That would actually be a hot streak for them.

They will not pass the Cleveland Spider 134 loss season in the 1890s, but “modern” record is 120.

[andyb]

Players on waivers for the cost of the contract season has started. Taylor Rogers is the interesting name here. $2 million this year plus $12 million next, but he is an above average left-handed reliever having a good year. The question for the Phillies is whether Alvarado is expected back this season. And the cash of course.

Giants place Thairo Estrada, Taylor Rogers, Tyler Matzek on waivers: Source

Looking on Twitter it seems the Mets are one of the favorites to get Rogers while also blocking him getting down to the Phillies on the waiver wire.

[bkox]

for those that wanted Tommy Pham

Cardinals placing OF Tommy Pham on waivers: Report

[bkox]

Dusty Baker's son, Darren, called up by Nationals 22 years after becoming World...

[bkeich]

The continuing saga of …. Can the White Sox actually be the worst modern team, an 8 game losing streak (commonly known as the likely outcome of 8 games) to get to 31-105. 26 games to go, they have to win 11 to avoid setting the record. 11-15. Not a chance.

It’s a shame to see the Mets lose this record, they so deserve it (every year)

[BostonRoss]

Tanner Banks was the White Sox best reliever, and his ERA was over 4

[bkox]

11-15. Not a chance.

especially playing the Mets, Orioles, BoSox and Guardians the next 4 series.

[bkox]

Now 31-109.. would need to play .500 ball the rest of the way 11-11 to not break the record.

[andyb]

Now 31-109.. would need to play .500 ball the rest of the way 11-11 to not break the record.

Technically they would need to go 10-12 to not break the record if we are talking win percentage. Mets were 40-120. A 41-121 record would be slightly better. Now the chances of that team winning even 10 games are not great of course.

[andyb]

Guessing Alec Bohm's agent is taking notes here:

Giants, Matt Chapman agree to 6-year, $151 million extension

Chapman is the better player, but this is for age 32-37 and they are pretty close offensively.

[zambonir]

Well, it's the same agent! But Chapman was going to opt-out, so somewhat different timeline/leverage. I'm still not especially for extending Bohm and Boras probably isn't either, but five years $100 million would probably be fair.

[bkox]

Giants RHP Logan Webb admits he was hungover during All-Star Game troubles

[bkox]

Report: Twins release minor league catcher Derek Bender for tipping pitches to...

[zambonir]

I bet a lot of players are hung over during the All-Star game.