MLB (Non Phillies) News and Discussion 2025 Season

[andyb]

More on the schedule here. Looks like those strange off days are due to World Cup matches in Philly. So we might get a mid--series off day (like next week due to wanting to schedule a Labor Day game) so there is not a soccer and baseball game on the same day in the Philly complex. Assume there is lots going on outside the stadium those days.

MLB announces 2026 schedule with earliest Opening Day in history

All Star game in Philly on 7/14. Big 9/11 25th anniversary Yankees-Mets game. I am going this 9/11 but it is against the Tigers.

[zambonir]

They are on the road from July 3 to July 12 heading into the All-Star game, and from June 22 to June 29 as well. The June 19 off day is for a soccer game. The other 5 are all during these road trips (including June 14).

All the fan events are in Fairmount Park though, and the HQ for volunteers etc. is the mostly vacant Fashion District mall. It's not like the complex can't handle it (there have been soccer friendlies, Phillies games and a concert at the arena on the same night) but the cops and transit probably can't.

[andyb]

World Cup is just a big deal security wise even if some fan events are elsewhere. Guessing they don't want an extra 40,000 people wandering around the complex when they might have very complicated security zones.

[Philsmania]

Now those Fridays off make sense.

[zambonir]

Kind of odd to have two huge events on holidays. Normally all parking regulations are suspended; would be crazy if that was the case in the stadium district. Will be better for traffic though.

[zambonir]

The Phillies' issue is losing Wheeler. The others?

Brewers: not enough power
Dodgers: bad bullpen
Cubs: star player is disappointing
Padres: starting pitching
Mets: bullpen

There's no perfect team. I reckon the Dodgers are still the scariest esp with their rotation getting healthy.

The biggest concern for each MLB contending team down the stretch

[zambonir]

Red Sox Release Walker Buehler

[zambonir]

It did not bother me that the Phillies stayed away from Chapman this past off-season. But he sure came through.

Doesn't mean he will next year of course. $13 million and it can vest for the same again in 2027.

Red Sox To Extend Aroldis Chapman

[LoneStarPhan]

Relievers are always a gamble. Romano seemed a possible good signing before the season but clearly failed this year. He could be good next year, but I don't want to see him in a Phillies uniform again.

[zambonir]

Little chance of that. Including in September at the rate they keep adding other arms.

[zambonir]

Mets gave away that whole series against Miami but are on a heater in Detroit. 10-8 last night and up 12-2 tonight. Hope we can get another one (or two) in Milwaukee.

[zambonir]

We helped them get here

Twins draw smallest September crowd in Target Field history against White Sox

[Callison]

From Ackerman on trust-ranking the pen: "This is the sixth edition of this list, and for the first time, there isn’t anyone in the bullpen who really, truly, genuinely inspires dread." Nice work managing the pen by finally losing a few non-performers. It's better than it was.

Really a great game Monday showing how good the Phils can be. They can also sleepwalk through a few games at any minute, as they did against the Mets. But, IMHO, they seem to be coming together.

September baseball against one of the teams the Phils will have to beat to win it all and the team holding the MLB W/L record right now - almost as good as playing the LAD, but missing the good vs evil thing.

[andyb]

Early free agency musings. Passan has Tucker getting at least $400 million which at least isn't $500 million. Schwarber likely to get 4 years at $30 million plus.

How much will Tucker get? Who could sign Schwarber? Passan's early MLB free...

[zambonir]

Tim Mayza actually one of the players affected (but overall a non-Phillies story)

Two prominent MLB agents fired from Ballengee Group

Background on the new parent company:

https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/adapti-inc.-otc-adti-announces-closing-of-the-ballengee-group-acquisit-1049520

[EastFallowfield]

So the Pirates have swept the Phillies, Mets, Tigers and Dodgers this season. They're gonna be a tough matchup come playoff time.

[Philsmania]

For a couple of generations now going back to the late-1980's, it has seemed that the AL has been the stronger of the two leagues according to multiple metrics (ASG wins, head-to-head in interleague play, WS victories). However, in addition to the NL taking this year's ASG, the NL does seem to have better teams. The Phillies record would be best in the AL while both the Padres and Mets would qualify for the AL's last Wild Card over the Mariners. A turning of the tide?

[zambonir]

Two years ago, the Texas Rangers entered the final weekend leading the AL West by 2 1/2 games. They proceeded to drop three of four in Seattle, losing the division to Houston on a tiebreaker, then flying cross-country to face Tampa Bay in the wild-card series, seemingly certain to be a quick out.

And of course, they won the World Series.

For fans of each of MLB’s 15 flawed playoff contenders, things could always be...

The Dodgers are nine game under .500 since July 3. And lead MLB in blown saves.

Jeff Hoffman is tied for the major league lead in HRs.

"most teams would relish the Phillies’ problems," Rosenthal says (which are Wheeler being out and now Trea's injury).

[dcsman]

Jeff Hoffman is tied for the major league lead in HRs.

Dis you mean in giving up home runs?

[zambonir]

If you wanna be a stickler about it