Alvarez continues to mash

The Astros didn’t call up Yordan Alvarez until June 9. He might just win the American League Rookie of the Year award, anyway.
Alvarez had another monster night Monday in the Astros’ 11-1 laugher over the Athletics, reaching base four times and hitting one of the team’s three home runs. Fellow Cubans Aledmys Diaz and Yuli Gurriel also went deep for Houston and Gerrit Cole fanned 11 across seven frames of one-run ball.
Alvarez’s solo home run in the second inning put him in a tie with Albert Pujols for the most RBI in a player’s first 30 games. His run-scoring double in the third inning gave him 35 RBI to set a new record.


In addition to the record number of RBI, Alvarez has already clubbed 11 home runs and 10 doubles over just 133 plate appearances. His batting line on the season is sitting at an utterly ridiculous .342/.421/.709. That’s a 1.130 OPS, which is 54 points lower than the 1.184 OPS he had at Triple-A Round Rock (to go along with another 23 homers and 71 RBI). Among players with at least 100 plate appearances, only Christian Yelich (1.156) has a higher OPS than Alvarez.
Alvarez’s strikeout rate is a bit elevated at 27.1 percent, and he’s probably not going to be riding a .414 BABIP forever. Still, it’s difficult to poke holes in his offensive profile. He’s absolutely crushing the ball, and the left-handed swinger is doing it against both righties and lefties. Did I mention that Alvarez turned just 22 less than a month ago?

Scherzer Nearing Return

It’s been over two weeks since Max Scherzer’s fantasy owners have gotten a start from the stud right-hander, but it doesn’t sound like they’ll be without him much longer.
Scherzer got through a full bullpen session Monday – his first since going on the injured list – with no issues and afterward declared himself ready to go.
“Really anxious. I really want to get going,” Scherzer said. “Everything feels good. Ball is coming out of my hand exactly the way it should feel like. I’m at 100 percent. Hopefully I can pitch here really soon.”
The next test for Scherzer’s readiness will come Tuesday, as the Nationals want to wait and see how he feels a day after the extended mound work. If the right-hander doesn’t report any issues, he’s expected to rejoin the rotation on Thursday against the Rockies or Friday versus the Dodgers.
The ailment that sent Scherzer to the IL was diagnosed as scapulothoracic bursitis, which is inflammation in the bursa under his right shoulder. He first felt soreness during his June 30 start versus the Tigers and dealt with it again in his next outing against the Royals.
You certainly wouldn’t know that he was pitching compromised based on his lines, as Scherzer allowed one run while striking out 25 over 15 innings in those two starts. Mad Max has reached double digits in strikeouts in six of his last seven starts (he had nine whiffs in the other outing) and still leads the National League in strikeouts by 27 even though he hasn’t pitched in 17 days.

Waiting for Woodruff

The Brewers got an official diagnosis on Brandon Woodruff Monday and the news wasn’t good. An MRI confirmed that the right-hander has a strained left oblique and he is expected to be sidelined for about six weeks.
“Kind of what we expected,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “Obviously that’s significant. He’s going to miss some time, and he’ll do his best and we’ll do our best to get him back as fast as we can.”
Woodruff – who suffered the injury during Sunday’s start in Arizona – is in the midst of a breakout season, having posted a 3.75 ERA and 136/29 K/BB ratio over 117 2/3 innings covering 20 starts and making his first All-Star team. He’ll now be on the shelf until September.
Because of a couple upcoming off days, the Brewers can get by with four starters until August 3 against the Cubs. It sounds like that’s what they plan to do, although a trade deadline acquisition certainly would change things.
There was a good chance Milwaukee was going to pursue pitching help even before Woodruff was hurt, and that need is only magnified now. A foursome of Jhoulys Chacin, Gio Gonzalez, Zach Davies and Chase Anderson doesn’t inspire a whole lot of confidence for a team looking to close the gap on the Cubs in the NL Central.


National League Quick Hits: Eugenio Suarez went 2-for-5 with two homers including the go-ahead homer in the ninth inning to give the Reds a victory over the Brewers on Monday. … Paul Goldschmidt launched a go-ahead grand slam in the 10^th inning of the Cardinals’ win over the Pirates on Monday. … Tyler Saladino slugged a grand slam for the second time in as many days in the Brewers’ loss to the Reds on Monday. … Robbie Ray whiffed 10 while allowing three runs over six innings in Monday’s win over the Orioles. … Zack Wheeler (shoulder) is expected to rejoin the Mets' rotation on Friday against the Pirates. … Cole Hamels (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. … Matt Carpenter (foot) is expected to be activated from the injured list when first eligible on Friday. … David Peralta (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with the Arizona League Diamondbacks on Sunday. … The Reds placed Tyler Mahle on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. … The Nationals placed Ryan Zimmerman on the injured list with plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

American League Quick Hits: Ivan Nova held the Marlins to one run in his ninth career complete game Monday. … Mitch Garver homered twice and scored three times in the Twins' victory over the Yankees on Monday. … The Astros have not decided whether Brad Peacock (shoulder) will be used as a starter or a reliever when he returns next month. … DJ LeMahieu went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and a walk on Monday in a loss to the Twins. … The Rangers placed closer Shawn Kelley on the 10-day injured list with right biceps muscle soreness. … Eduardo Rodriguez limited the Rays to two hits over seven scoreless innings in Boston's win Monday. … Oscar Mercado homered, tripled and walked to help the Indians top the Blue Jays on Monday. … Jose Abreu homered, doubled and walked in Monday's rout of the Marlins. … Yandy Diaz will undergo X-rays after leaving Monday's game versus the Red Sox following a foul ball off his left foot. … The Twins put C.J. Cron on the IL Monday with inflammation in his right thumb. … Tim Anderson (ankle) said Monday that he expects to return "in a week or two". … Andrew Benintendi went 3-for-5 with a homer and a double against the Rays on Monday. … According to Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com, the Rays have inquired on the availability of Hunter Pence. … Mitch Moreland (quad) will be activated from the injured list Tuesday and the corresponding move could be Michael Chavis (back) going on the IL

Top prospects for July

Several of these prospects are among the best in baseball, but for the purpose of this series, it’s just measuring potential impact for this season. Also, a reminder that prospects who are on MLB rosters are not eligible for this list, nor is any player that has exhausted his prospect eligibility. You can view my top 100 prospects for 2019 and my top prospects by position.

Without further ado, here’s the top 10 prospects that can help you in the 2019 season.

Bo Knows Hitting

1. Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

2019 stats: 54 G, .310/.373/.510, 7 HR, 15 SB, 21 BB, 42 SO at High-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo.

Welcome to the top spot, Bo. Bichette is actually going through a bit of a slump over his last four games with a 3-for-18 run, but obviously, that shouldn't be too concerning. With Luis Urias (finally) off to the majors, and the Brendan McKay situation -- more on that in a second -- Bichette is well-deserving of the top spot. There are rumors he'll be up before the end of the month, and his ability to hit for average, steal bases and provide some pop from the right side make him a must-add when he does get the call. It may be too late, so if you can stash him, by all means.

2. Brendan McKay, LHP/DH, Tampa Bay Rays 

2019 stats: 13 G, 1.22 ERA, 66.2 IP, 38 H, 15 BB, 88 SO at Triple-A Durham; 4 G, 3.72 ERA, 19.1 IP, 19 H, 1 BB, 18 SO at Tampa Bay.

One of the reasons why Bichette is in the top spot is because of his ability. In fact, it's the main reason. But let's talk about McKay, who was in the top spot the last two weeks after pitching and being sent down twice for the Rays. Yes, the 23-year-old struggled in his last start by allowing nine hits and six runs in 3 1/3 innings, but this is more about how the Rays are going to use him the rest of the year. If he's going to be up-and-down every 10 games, it's tough to say how much fantasy value he can provide. He'll still be a quality streamer, but I'll take the (likely) everyday shortstop ahead of that. For now.

3. Gavin Lux, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers

2019 stats: 82 G, .352/.415/.621, 20 HR, 7 SB, 39 BB, 75 SO at Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Goodness gracious. Lux continues to destroy Triple-A pitching, and before a 1-for-8 'slump' against San Antonio, he was hitting .531 in his 64 at-bats with Oklahoma City. A 2-for-4 day on Sunday now has his line with the Triple-A Dodgers at .487/.522/.961. These are the friendliest of friendly confines and the PCL pitching talent is not good. I care not. Lux is an elite offensive option in the middle infield, and if the Dodgers give him a chance, you should, too. He only ranks this low because of the lack of guarantees. 

4. Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox

2019 stats: 85 G, .346/.397/.637, 21 HR, 32 SB, 18 BB, 83 SO at High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, and Triple-A Charlotte.

Robert's week ended on a down note, as he went 1-for-13 with five strikeouts in his three-game series over the weekend against Pawtucket. Prior to that, he had three-straight multi-hit games, and he homered three times with three steals over the week. Long story short, Robert continues to destroy every level of pitching he faces. The White Sox can't make the "work on his defense" excuse here, and he should get the chance to finish the year with Chicago. Should and will are often not the same things. 

5. Isan Diaz, 2B, Miami Marlins

2019 stats: 92 G, .305/.394/.586, 24 HR, 5 SB, 44 BB, 84 SO at Triple-A New Orleans.

Welcome to the list, Mr. Diaz. The 23-year-old has been outstanding with the Baby Cakes in 2019 as you can see from those numbers, and he's been even better as of late; hitting .386 over his last 10 games with four homers in the PCL. Starlin Castro is the subject of trade rumors, and as soon as Castro is dealt -- or as soon as the Marlins come to their senses and realize that Diaz needs to play right now -- you should undoubtedly pick up Diaz. The ability to hit for power from this position is an awful nice commodity. 

6. Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros

2019 stats: 91 G, .271/.355/.574, 25 HR, 21 SB, 37 BB, 87 SO at Triple-A Round Rock.

After the slow start to July, Tucker is starting to see his hits fall as of late, and he had a pair of two-hit games while adding that 25th homer at the end of the week. There have been some trades talks involving Tucker, and there's no denying that a move would improve his prospects for this year -- assuming he goes to a team that isn't as loaded in the outfield as the Astros, anyway. If not, Tucker still has a chance to make an impact for Houston this year, but it's going to take an injury or someone struggling or both. Doesn't mean you shouldn't monitor him, just the reality of the situation. The talent is exceptional.

7. Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2019 stats: 40 G, .325/.399/.571, 8 HR, 5 SB, 15 BB, 40 SO at High-A Inland Empire and Double-A Mobile.

Adell is having his first tribulations of the season since his injuries, but I like to think it's just a way to prove that he's not a robot sent to hit baseballs a long way. In reality it's just a case of natural regression, because baseball is really hard. Adell is one of the five best overall prospects in baseball, and even with him playing in Double-A, he has a chance to be an impact player for the Angels in 2019.

8. Carter Kieboom, INF, Washington Nationals 

2019 stats: 77 G, .314/.413/.555, 15 HR, 3 SB, 48 BB, 70 SO at Triple-A Fresno; 11 G, .128/.209/.282, 2 HR, 4 BB, 16 SO at Washington.

Kieboom has extended his hit streak to nine games, and while seven of those contests saw him pick up one knock, the other two were of the three-hit variety. The 21-year-old has been excellent in 2019, and his 'low' placement on this list has more to do with where the Nationals are than anything he's done; including his struggles in the two-week sample with Washington earlier this year. No guarantees, of course, but Kieboom is talented enough to be a strong fantasy option if he gets the chance to hit for the Nats again this summer.

9. Mitch Keller, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

2019 stats: 17 G, 3.10 ERA, 82 IP, 74 H, 31 BB, 96 SO at Triple-A Indianapolis; 3 G, 10.50 ERA, 12 IP, 21 H, 6 BB, 15 SO at Pittsburgh.

Keller had another strong start for the Triple-A Indians on Sunday; firing six innings of one-run baseball with five strikeouts against Durham. The 23-year-old clearly has the International League figured out, and there's not much to gain from these starts from a statistical standpoint. The MLB experiment didn't go well, but the experiment was too short to take too seriously. When Keller gets another chance this year, he's worth taking a risk on if you need the pitching help. 

10. Deivi Garcia, RHP, New York Yankees

2019 stats: 16 G, 3.17 ERA, 76.2 IP, 59 H, 38 BB, 124 SO at High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton.

Garcia made his first two appearances at the Triple-A level last week, and they went so-so. He allowed three runs with six strikeouts on Monday against Columbus, and while he allowed just one run in three innings with four strikeouts against Louisville, he also walked four. Don't get too high or too low about a two-game sample, but Garcia has legit swing-and-miss stuff, and while it's possible he makes his debut in a relief role, it's also feasible he joins the Yankees' rotation because of that ability to miss bats with a complete arsenal. 

Deivi Garcia

On Sale Now

2019 has not been Chris Sale’s year. He finished the first half with an ERA over four—the first such occurrence in his 10-year career—while failing to make the American League All-Star squad after starting the Mid-Summer Classic in each of the previous three seasons.


Between his violent delivery and the mileage that comes from being a major-league workhorse for the better part of a decade, Sale’s decline may have been inevitable. It’s just rotten timing that it had to happen before the ink even dried on his five-year, $145 million contract extension, a calculated risk made by ambitious GM Dave Dombrowski. This isn’t a case of a player cashing in and losing his motivation either—nobody has been more frustrated by this chain of events than Sale, who has been equal parts exasperated and dumbfounded by his recent struggles. “I’m standing before you as frustrated as I’ve ever been,” the left-hander offered after a particularly poor start against Toronto earlier this month, later adding in another layer of self-loathing by calling his season “absolutely embarrassing.”

Sale’s accountability is admirable but without results, his post-game soliloquies are just words. But on Thursday there were no apologies to be had, no excuses, no long-winded explanations of what went wrong—just an afternoon of vintage dominance from one of the game’s best. The seven-time All-Star mowed down the Blue Jays on getaway day, spanning six shutout frames in a 5-0 Red Sox win. Like a master chef adding in spices for extra flavor, Sale peppered his tour de force with a dozen strikeouts while limiting the visitors to two hits, both singles, in a 101-pitch gem. Remarkably, Thursday’s matinee marked Sale’s first regular-season victory at Fenway Park in over a year.
The rebuilding Jays haven’t exactly been world-beaters—only the Orioles and Tigers have worse records—but for most of the year, they’ve been Sale’s kryptonite. Prior to Thursday’s breakthrough, Sale had been 0-2 with a harrowing 7.98 ERA in three starts against Boston’s Canadian archrival. As encouraging as Thursday’s performance was, Sale’s star turn against Toronto brought little clarity to what has been a deeply confusing year for the veteran southpaw. Though he seems to have sworn off consistency, the 30-year-old has, at various intervals this season, resembled the tantalizing talent that once made “Sale Day” required viewing throughout New England. He’s been a tease, instilling hope with brilliant showings against Baltimore (8 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 14 Ks), Colorado (7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 17 Ks) and Kansas City (9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 12 Ks) only to pull out the rug with ugly efforts against Seattle (3 IP, 6 H, 7 R) and Los Angeles (4 2/3 IP, 7 H, 5 R).

Sale is still racking up K’s—his strikeout total is the league’s third-highest behind Max Scherzer and Gerrit Cole—and maybe that’s part of the problem. The left-hander’s insistence on chasing swings and misses has led to higher pitch counts, forcing him to expend greater energy while adding further stress to his stick-figure 6’6,” 180-pound frame. Sale finds himself at a familiar crossroads, a fork in the road that all aces will eventually encounter. There’s a delicate balance to be struck between trying to miss bats—an effective but draining endeavor—and pitching to contact (a harder ask when your velocity is plummeting). Clearly Sale hasn’t hit the sweet spot yet. Sale’s standing among the upper-echelon of big-league hurlers is a bit harder to place because as Thursday confirmed, he can still paint a masterpiece with his arm. The difference is, those museum-quality works of artistic genius used to be the norm. Now they’re happening less frequently. Whether that points to a decline, a mechanical problem in need of fixing or just an off year in an otherwise sparkling career remains to be seen. But whatever pitching concoction Sale stewed up Thursday certainly did the trick.

While Sale handled the pitching end, Rafael Devers continued to put the offense on his shoulders, staking the Red Sox to a 4-0 advantage by slugging a three-run homer off Tyler Pannone in the fifth inning. He’s been an absolute wrecking ball this month, surging to a .345 average with seven homers and 23 RBI since the calendar flipped to July. One of the most egregious All-Star snubs in recent memory, Devers got the last laugh Thursday, just as he has all season against the Jays. He’s shown no mercy, annihilating them to the tune of a .441 average with eight jacks and 28 RBI this year, the latter eclipsing David Ortiz’s team record for most RBI in a single season against Toronto. Whether it’s his improved physique—the Dominican Republic native looks noticeably slimmer this year—or something else pulling the strings, the blossoming 22-year-old has made this the Summer of Devers.
The division ship has probably already sailed for Boston with New York running away with the AL East, but that doesn’t mean the Red Sox are going to roll over and play dead. The Sox have gotten serious the past few weeks, trimming some of the fat off their roster by designating struggling infielder Eduardo Nunez for assignment and sending Ryan Brasier an hour south to Pawtucket. They’ve also added to their rotation by acquiring Andrew Cashner while finally assigning a closer, enlisting the services of playoff hero Nathan Eovaldi.

It’s go time for the Red Sox and that sense of urgency has not been lost on Xander Bogaerts, who continued his torrid July by supplying another two hits in Thursday’s victory. The two-time All-Star and recent recipient of a $132 million mega-extension has gone ballistic, hitting an eye-opening .452 with five homers and 15 RBI over the length of his 10-game hitting streak while lifting his season average from an already impressive .297 all the way to its current .315. He’s somehow had an even better month than his infield-mate Devers, batting a robust .412 over 51 July at-bats. There’s work to be done—the A’s still hold a two-game edge over Boston for the American League’s final wild card spot. But if Xander and Devers keep hitting the cover off the ball and Sale improves on his sluggish first half by tapping into whatever magic he summoned Thursday, the reigning World Champs are going to be just fine.

AL Quick Hits: Nathan Eovaldi traveled with the Red Sox to Baltimore and will likely be activated on Saturday. Eovaldi, who logged a scoreless inning for Pawtucket in his lone rehab outing, has been on the shelf since undergoing elbow surgery in April. … Brendan McKay will make another start Friday against the White Sox. The former Golden Spikes Award winner has impressed since debuting last month, compiling a 1.69 ERA over 16 innings at the major-league level. In addition, the dual-threat left-hander has also started at DH for Tampa Bay. … Matt Chapman got the night off Thursday in Minnesota after injuring his ankle a day earlier. Luckily the All-Star third baseman, who leads the A’s in numerous categories including home runs (22), RBI (59) and doubles (25), expects to suit up Friday in Minnesota. … Tigers skipper Ron Gardenhire implied Spencer Turnbull could be shut down soon as the right-hander is approaching his innings limit. The 26-year-old owns a respectable 3.65 ERA for the season, though his record sits at a disappointing 3-9. … Albert Pujols bowed out of Thursday night’s game with hamstring tightness. Angels manager Brad Ausmus downplayed the injury in his post-game remarks, calling it “more of a cramp” while noting it won’t require an MRI. Pujols’ teammate Mike Trout (calf) served as the DH Thursday in his return from a three-game absence, going 1-for-4 with a double in a loss to Houston. … The Angels plan to use J.C. Ramirez as a multi-inning reliever upon his return. The right-hander has spent the past several weeks in the minors rehabbing from last year’s Tommy John surgery.

NL Quick Hits: Not only did Stephen Strasburg notch his league-leading 12th victory in Thursday’s win over Atlanta, but the Nats ace also had a big night at the dish, collecting three hits including a three-run homer off Touki Toussaint. In doing so, Strasburg became the first pitcher in five years (Madison Bumgarner was the last to do it) to record five RBI in a single game. … Nick Senzel was a spectator Thursday night, owing to a strained hamstring suffered on Wednesday. The rookie’s MRI came back clean, however, and the Reds are confident he’ll avoid the injured list. The former second overall pick has impressed in his debut season, supplying eight homers, 15 doubles and nine steals over 61 appearances. … The Phillies are reportedly exploring a number of trade options including Madison Bumgarner, Mike Minor, Matthew Boyd and Zack Greinke.

 If none of those avenues pan out, Philadelphia could look to bring in Drew Smyly as a fallback. Smyly became a free agent Thursday after opting out of his minor-league deal with the Brewers. … Max Scherzer threw up to 90 feet on flat ground Thursday. The Nationals haven’t ruled him out for Sunday’s start in Atlanta, though manager Dave Martinez cautioned that Scherzer would have to be “100 percent” to get the green light. The three-time Cy Young winner has been battling a strained back. … In what may have been his final start in a Giants uniform, Madison Bumgarner was electric Thursday night, scattering five hits and a run over nine dominant frames in a no-decision. That game, which San Francisco eventually won in 16 innings, pitted Bumgarner against Mets flamethrower Noah Syndergaard in a rematch of the 2016 NL Wild Card game. … Braves starter Kevin Gausman is due to return Sunday against Washington after missing the past month with plantar fasciitis. The right-hander aced his rehab outing for Triple-A Gwinnett Tuesday night, striking out 10 over seven innings of two-run ball.

Growing up

I love baseball, I love hockey, I like basketball, I tolerate soccer, I appreciate football, and I loathe Nascar. Imagine driving in circles for hours on end. To what end ?

Baseball is a chess like sport, move, counter move, while hockey is a contact sport, based on bump and grind like approach. Basketball is a sport I was never any good at, probably because my height topped out at 5 feet 11 inches tall, you have to at least be over 6 feet to excel at it.

I grew up in a east end district of Toronto, which bordered Leaside, in the sixties , and seventies and collected all manner of sports cards.  Hockey Cards, then gravitating to baseball cards, still do collect baseball cards, special ones.  I play fantasy baseball, love the game, on a level that approaches worship, but not quite.

I collected cards from various series, but namely Topps was sold at my neighborhood store. My mother would entrust me with the duty of walking to the store to buy mike, and pick up something nice for dessert.   I would be free to spend 25 cents on cards with the change.  I would but as many packs of cards as I could. They sold them originally for a nickel, then a dime. No more cards in the pack, but they doubled the price. Rats...

I collected them, obsessed over them, and kept them safely in my desk drawers in my third story room.  Then one day my parent announced we are moving to Scarborough, a million mile away in my mind, but nonetheless, it happened, my mother packed my things but tossed out all my cards, hockey cards, and my precious baseball cards. Rats..

Over the years I spent some time replacing all my 1971 Topps baseball cards, enough that I could say Well Done.

It's Time to raise the nets

A 79-year-old grandmother was struck in the head by a foul ball at an August 25 game at Dodger Stadium, and died days later from “acute intracranial hemorrhage,” reports ESPN's Outside the Lines.. The victim, Linda Goldbloom, was sitting above the protective netting extending from behind home plate down the first baseline when the accident occurred:The accident happened in the top of the ninth inning, when San Diego’s Franmil Reyes fouled back a 93 mph pitch from Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen. The ball was hit a little to the first-base side of home plate, it sailed into the Loge Level — just over the area protected by netting — and it struck Goldbloom’s head as she sat in section 106, row C, seat 5.

Jana Brody, Goldbloom’s daughter, told OTL that EMTs took her mother from the stadium soon after she was hit, and that Goldbloom vomited in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. She was reportedly taken into emergency brain surgery at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, but was thereafter unresponsive, and died on August 29.
The reach and expansion of protective netting in ballparks has been a subject of mild controversy among baseball fans since the league issued a series of recommendations aimed at improving fan safety following the 2015 season. Teams were slow to adopt the recommendations—in 2017 a young girl was hit in the face by a scorching liner off the bat of Todd Frazier at Yankee Stadium, where protective netting had not yet been extended to meet MLB’s new guidelines. The 2018 season was the first in which all 3o MLB teams had netting that extended at least to the end of both dugouts, but even that relatively minor development drew criticism, notably from an especially shit-headed New York Times op-ed, which pinned responsibility for MLB’s perfectly sensible safety emphasis on the popularity of smart phones. Here it is worth noting that, according to Brody, Goldbloom didn’t own a smart phone, and was not using her flip phone when she was struck.
ESPN reports that Goldbloom’s death is the third reported instance in MLB’s history of a fan being killed by a ball that left the field of play, and the first since 1970. The Dodgers, who had not previously commented on Goldbloom’s death (presumably because her death had not previously been reported) said that this matter “has been resolved between the Dodgers and the Goldbloom family.”

A California woman died in August as a result of being hit in the head by a batted ball at Dodger Stadium, according to a Los Angeles County coroner's report obtained by ESPN's Outside the Lines and details her daughter revealed to OTL in December.
Linda Goldbloom, a mother of three and grandmother of seven, died on Aug. 29. The coroner's report states the cause as "acute intracranial hemorrhage due to history of blunt force trauma" and states that the injury occurred when she was struck in the head with a baseball during the Aug. 25 game at Dodger Stadium.
Television coverage of the Padres-Dodgers game that night did not follow the flight of the ball or show where it ended up. No media outlet has reported what happened, but Goldbloom's family didn't keep it a secret and included this sentence in email notifications on the day she died:
"While the end came suddenly by a foul ball at Dodgers Stadium, she had a long beautiful and blessed life."

Linda Goldbloom, front right, hours before her fatal head injury. This photo was taken by her husband, Erwin, and includes her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Michael and Eve Goldbloom, in the second row. 

The accident happened in the top of the ninth inning when a San Diego Padres batter fouled back a pitch. The ball, which was hit a little to the first-base side of home plate, sailed into the loge level -- just over the area protected by netting -- and struck Goldbloom's head as she sat in Section 106, Row C, Seat 5.
"Ushers came down and asked if she was all right, and she said no, then EMT came and rushed her to the hospital -- she threw up in the ambulance," Goldbloom's daughter, Jana Brody, said.
Goldbloom, a longtime Dodgers fan, was celebrating her recent 79th birthday and 59th wedding anniversary with her husband, Erwin, brother-in-law Michael and sister-in-law Eve.
Brody was 100 miles away and celebrating her own wedding anniversary when she got the news that her mother was going to have emergency brain surgery after midnight at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.
For three days, Goldbloom was unresponsive, Brody said, except when a nurse saw her move one finger one time upon being asked whether her name was Linda. Her eyes never opened at the hospital, and a ventilator kept her breathing.

On the night of Aug. 28, Goldbloom's whole family and a rabbi gathered around her to share memories and say goodbye before abiding by her wish that she not be kept alive by machines if doctors deemed it impossible to restore her quality of life.
After Goldbloom died the next morning, the Dodgers made no public comments about her death or what caused it. When OTL contacted the team Monday, more than five months later, a spokesman provided this statement:
"Mr. and Mrs. Goldbloom were great Dodgers fans who regularly attended games. We were deeply saddened by this tragic accident and the passing of Mrs. Goldbloom. The matter has been resolved between the Dodgers and the Goldbloom family. We cannot comment further on this matter."
Brody told OTL on Monday that she and her family would not comment on any agreement with the Dodgers or possible legal action, but she said she hopes to have a fund established in her mother's memory to assist victims of such accidents and their families.
In Major League Baseball's 150-year history, there were two previous reported instances of fans dying after being struck in the stands by balls that left the field of play, including one nearly half a century ago on a foul at Dodger Stadium:

• Clarence Stagemyer, 32, died a day after he was hit in the head by a thrown ball on Sept. 29, 1943, at Griffith Stadium in Washington. Senators third baseman Sherry Robertson fielded a grounder hit by Cleveland's Ken Keltner and threw it over the head of first baseman Mickey Vernon. The ball struck Stagemyer, who was in the first row of the stands.
• Alan Fish, 14, died four days after he was hit in the head by a foul ball on May 16, 1970, at Dodger Stadium. L.A.'s Manny Mota was batting against San Francisco's Gaylord Perry when he hit a liner down the first-base line, near the dugout, that struck Fish, who was located two rows from the field.

The fatal injury to Goldbloom came during the first season in which all 30 major league teams had protective netting extending from behind home plate to at least the far ends of both dugouts to safeguard especially vulnerable sections of stadiums' lower bowls. MLB didn't mandate such extensions but had issued recommendations.
Several teams that hadn't already announced plans for increased netting in 2018, including the Dodgers, did so after a young girl, seated on her grandfather's lap behind the third-base dugout, suffered life-threatening injuries from a foul line drive that left the bat at 105 mph and hit her in the face on Sept. 20, 2017, at Yankee Stadium.
After the Yankees and other teams installed more extensive netting last season, Geoff Jacobson, the father of the recovering toddler, told ESPN, "Sadly, it often takes great tragedy and suffering to cause change." He said he hoped his daughter would eventually write a college application essay about "how she was the last person to be seriously hurt at a baseball game."
"My heart goes out to the whole family," Jacobson said after OTL told him what happened to Goldbloom. "It's so unnecessary that this had to happen. ... It's just tragic that another family is going through this and lost a loved one."

Linda and Erwin Goldbloom standing near their Dodger Stadium seats in a holiday card.

MLB has historically relied on the century-old "Baseball Rule" to deter and defend against claims of injuries in the crowd from the impact of baseballs and thrown or broken bats. It says on the back of tickets that fans assume the risks incidental to games when they enter ballparks, and courts of law have generally held that as long as teams provide warnings and install netting in the areas of greatest danger, MLB has lived up to its responsibility.
As MLB teams have put in the netting extensions, some fans who've endured serious injuries in ballpark episodes over the years have said it's not enough and that spring training, minor league and college parks are not keeping pace and are even more dangerous.
Brody said she hopes her mother's death will spark serious consideration of further increases in protection, perhaps using Japan's more extensively netted stadiums as examples, especially in an era of bigger and stronger players, higher velocity and launch-angle projectiles, and more and more distractions for people attending games.
"I just hope MLB takes a serious look in the mirror and continues to evaluate and improve fan safety," Jacobson said. "It was always questionable whether the nets were extended far enough or high enough, and every stadium has different degrees of protections."
He suggested that the nets go all the way to the foul pole, as in Japanese ballparks. "Why did they stop where they stopped?" he said. "It seems arbitrary."
"I'd love to see the netting extended vertically, and we know it doesn't block the view," Brody said. "Raise it a little higher -- what's the hurt in that?"
Unlike some modern fans, whose smartphones can be dangerous diversions when the ball is in play, Goldbloom had only a flip phone that she wasn't using then and hardly ever took out, Brody said. The ball ricocheted off her mother's head and struck her uncle in the stomach, but he wasn't injured.

Her parents, Brody said, had the same seats for about 10 games each of the past 10 years under partial season-ticket plans, and in the preceding decade, they attended about the same number of games in a different set of seats.
Erwin Goldbloom turned down his chance at Dodgers postseason tickets and didn't renew for 2019 but will consider attending single games in seating that is "somewhere safe" -- meaning where there's netting -- Brody said.
Linda Goldbloom, described by Brody as a "true fan," was buried about 10 miles from Dodger Stadium.
"My mom went to the game and never came home," Brody said. "People need to be aware, and we'd really like them to be protected in the future."

 It is time for MLB to change their ways, and why doesn't the MLBPA stand up ?

Catching Trout

Mike Trout is probably fine.
Let's start there. Despite leaving Sunday's game against the Mariners due to right calf tightness, Trout is probably fine. The Angels are spreading that message, that although he's set to undergo an MRI on Monday, it's precautionary, because he's probably fine.


“I don't think it's that serious,” Trout said just after the game. “I think they're just being cautious. Calves are tough. You want it to be one or two days and not six weeks."
Trout said he felt tightness in the calf while playing defense during Sunday's first inning. He told Angels manager Brad Ausmus, and the decision was made to remove him to start the third inning.
In fact, Ausmus said Trout didn't even want to leave the contest.
“We don't think it's a long-term thing, but we'll know more tomorrow,” Ausmus said. “He was lobbying to stay in the game."
Even a few days without Trout might be uncomfortable for the Halos. Kole Calhoun, not a center fielder in the traditional sense of the word, shifted to center in Trout's absence Sunday, and with Tommy La Stella already out, the Angels' positional flexibility would be tested. With Trout sidelined, the versatile David Fletcherwould probably slide to a corner outfield spot opposite Justin Upton, with Matt Thaiss manning third and Luis Rengifo at second.

And that would just be defensively. It doesn't need to be noted that the offense would sorely miss the best player in baseball, especially since Trout has performed like it at the plate this year. Through Sunday's game, the 27-year-old is hitting .305/.455/.666 with 30 homers, 75 RBI, 74 runs scored and eight steals on the year.
Which is all to say, he's probably fine. The Angels are certainly hoping so.

Homer Report

The A's joined the Homer movement Sunday.

The Athletics acquired Homer Bailey from the Royals for prospect Kevin Merrell, a Double-A infielder who was a competitive balance pick in the 2017 draft. Merrell was assigned to the Royals' Double-A affiliate.

Bailey, meanwhile, joins an A's club that has, predictably, punched above its weight this year. The right-hander will join a staff that has a collective 4.01 ERA, seventh-best in the league, for the 53-41 club that's currently in line to receive the American League's second Wild Card berth.

“Our starting depth has taken a hit,” A’s general manager David Forst said. “We checked around for some starting pitching. I had let Kansas City know a few days ago that Homer might be someone we were interested in, and it came together kind of quickly this morning.”

The depth Forst is referring to certainly starts with Frankie Montas, who will miss most of the rest of the season after he received an 80-game suspension for testing positive for PEDs. The team has also been without free agent addition Marco Estrada since mid-April because of a lumbar strain in his back, and top prospect Jesus Luzardo has yet to make an impact at the major league level due to left shoulder troubles.
That Bailey fetched anything in a trade, let alone a former first-round pick, would have been inconceivable a few months ago, but the 33-year-old resurrected his career with a usable first half for the Royals. Bailey went 7-6 with a 4.80 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 81 strikeouts in 90 innings of work, and in his last six starts before the All-Star break he posted a 2.83 ERA and 1.23 WHIP.

“Homer did a tremendous job fitting in and doing what he needed to do to be more consistent,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. “He’s been terrific for us, He was outstanding. I couldn’t be more pleased with what he accomplished and what we were able to obtain today. It’s a good baseball deal for everybody.”
In Merrell, the Royals add what they've seemed to covet most in recent years -- speed. The 33rd overall pick in 2017, Merrell is a burner who, like some other Royals projects, has struggled at the plate -- at Double-A this year, the 23-year-old is hitting .246/.292/.339. An interesting profile, and a decent return for a flier such as Bailey, but right now it's just a name to store away as potentially interesting in a year or two.

Peacock Grounded

For a team leading the AL West by six games, the Astros are in trouble.
Or at least they are in the near term after Brad Peacock was sent back to Houston for treatment on his right shoulder following his feeling "unexpected soreness" after a bullpen session late last week. Astros manager A.J. Hinch described it as "intermittent soreness" and said he "(doesn't) know what we're going to do" in Peacock's absence.
“You don’t know when the soreness is going to go away,” Hinch said.

What it means in the short term is that Framber Valdez, who has pitched well in the minors and at points in the majors but who was rocked in a spot start Thursday, will get at least one more turn in the Astros rotation in the coming days. That turn could come Monday against the Angels. A bullpen game is also a possibility in the coming days.
Peacock hasn't pitched since June 27 and had struggled for most of the month of June after a terrific first few months of the season. In total, the 31-year-old has a 4.13 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 89/25 K/BB ratio across 85 innings of work this year.

National League Quick Hits:s Buster Olney reports that the Padres "have placed a very high price tag" on closer Kirby Yates. Olney also notes that Padres general manager A.J. Preller "doesn't deviate in trade conversations," so this probably isn't some bluff. The Padres are within striking distance of a Wild Card spot -- along with several other teams -- and losing Yates would be a big blow to their otherwise shaky bullpen. The 32-year-old right-hander is under control through 2020, so there's no real rush to flip him this summer. Yates boasts a 1.10 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and 64/9 K/BB ratio through 41 innings and currently leads all MLB relievers in saves with 30. ... Willson Contreras told reporters that he is dealing with some soreness in his right foot. The discomfort is in the arch of his foot, and it explains his absence from the Cubs' starting lineup Sunday against the Pirates. Consider him day-to-day for now. ... Jay Bruce (heels) was back in the Phillies' starting lineup Sunday against the Nationals. Bruce sat out of Saturday's game due to mild soreness in both of his Achilles tendons. ... Christian Yelich went 2-for-4 with his major league-leading 32nd home run of the season in the Brewers' loss to the Giants on Sunday. Yelich took Giants starter Tyler Beede deep with a game-tying blast to right-center field in the seventh inning. He also singled in the first inning to record his 34th multi-hit effort in 85 games this season. We've simply run out of superlatives to describe the 27-year-old sluggers other-worldly exploits. He owns a surreal .330/.430/.708 triple-slash line with 68 runs scored, 68 RBI and 21 stolen bases in 379 plate appearances. He has a realistic shot at a 50-homer, 30-steal campaign. Unreal. ... Mike Soroka pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out nine, in Sunday's win over the Padres. Soroka has been nothing short of tremendous in his rookie campaign, posting a 2.24 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 82/22 K/BB ratio over 96 1/3 innings of work thus far. The first-time All-Star is also shaping up to be a leading Rookie of the Year Award candidate. ... Adam Wainwright tossed seven scoreless innings and the Cardinals held on for a 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks on Sunday. The veteran right-hander flashed some vintage form on this day, keeping the Diamondbacks to just four hits, all singles, and walking one while striking out seven. The stellar turn got Wainwright's ERA down to 3.99 through 17 starts, better numbers than some were expecting from the 37-year-old as he nears the end of his career.

American League Quick Hits: Byron Buxton (face, chest) was out of the Twins' starting lineup on Sunday afternoon against the Indians. There's still no word as to the exact nature of Buxton's injury, or injuries. He got banged up while making a diving catch in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday. ... Luis Severino (lat) has been cleared to begin a new throwing program on Monday. Severino had a checkup exam with a doctor on Saturday, and it apparently went well. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Friday that the 25-year-old right-hander will likely need "six or more" weeks to get properly stretched out for live MLB competition, so we probably won't see him in pinstripes before late August. Severino has been out all season due to lat and shoulder issues. ... Eddie Rosario (ankle) could return to the Twins' active roster on Tuesday. Rosario went through a full range of drills (running, hitting, outfield work) before Sunday's series finale against the Indians, and if he responds well, he should be ready for Tuesday's series opener against the Mets. The 27-year-old outfielder has been sidelined since June 28 with a left ankle sprain. He's sitting on an .841 OPS with 20 home runs, 60 RBI, three stolen bases, and 51 runs scored through 75 games played. ... Ryan Yarbrough and opener Ryne Stanek nearly delivered the first combined perfect game in MLB history, but the O's hit back-to-back singles to open the bottom of the ninth inning to break up the bid. So close. ... Tim Anderson (ankle) fielded grounders on Sunday afternoon, but manager Rick Renteria cautioned after the workout that Anderson is not close to returning to Chicago's active roster. "He’s still not pushing off that leg as well as we’d like," Renteria told reporters, "but he’s healing." The star shortstop has been sidelined since June 26 because of a high right ankle sprain and probably won't be ready for major league action until early August. ... Ken Giles (arm) remained unavailable Sunday versus the Yankees. Giles was also unavailable to pitch on Friday and Saturday after coming down with nerve inflammation in his right arm over the All-Star break. The standing hope is that Giles, an important trade chip for Toronto, will be ready to rock for Monday night's series opener in Boston. ... Tyler Glasnow will undergo a follow-up MRI on his right arm Monday. If the examination shows significant enough healing, Glasnow should be cleared to begin a throwing program. The 25-year-old right-hander originally landed on the injured list back on May 11 with a mild right forearm strain and then suffered a setback in late June. He could potentially return to the Rays' rotation in mid-to-late August, but there are many hurdles for him to clear first. ... Jonathan Lucroy will undergo a closed reduction of his nasal fracture on Tuesday. Lucroy will be in a facial cast for 3-7 days following the procedure and then expects to resume baseball activities, assuming he no longer has any concussion symptoms. The veteran catcher suffered a concussion and the nasal fracture when he got bulldozed at home plate by Jake Marisnick on July 7. Lucroy will probably be sidelined through at least the early part of August. ... Jose Altuve went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and three runs scored as the Astros routed the Rangers 12-4 on Sunday. Nobody in the land is as hot as Altuve out of the break, as he's got eight hits -- including a pair of homers, six RBI and seven runs scored -- in 20 at-bats in the first few days of the second half. His grand slam in the seventh inning pushed the Astros' lead to eight, effectively ending the competition. It was his 12th home run of the season, giving him 31 RBI and 37 runs scored in 59 games. He entered the break hitting .262/.328/.453, but he's up to .274/.333/.483 after the good few games

The sweet Snell of Sucess

 Blake Snell

 Welcome Back to MLB


Welcome to the second half! Players (and fantasy owners) have had 3-4 days to reset, with more than 1,000 games still in front of us.
That’s an important point to remember, no matter how your season has gone thus far. If your team is in first place or in the cellar, there is a lot of time left to make a move.
It’s not too late to get better.

Some players would like to turn the page on their first half, and defending AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell is among them. After going 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA last season, the hard-throwing lefty was just 5-7 with a 4.70 ERA in the first half.
Snell’s season has been frustrating, starting with a toe injury that he suffered in mid-April. Before the injury, he looked like his 2018 self with a 2.16 ERA and 36/4 K/BB in 25 innings. Since then he has a 5.68 ERA and 86/27 K/BB in 65 innings. He’s also been incredibly unlucky in that time, with a .381 BABIP, an unbelievable 140 points higher than last season.
Snell had an absolutely atrocious month of June with 25 earned runs allowed in 23.1 innings, including one visit to Yankee Stadium on June 19 when he recorded one out while allowing six earned runs. Snell followed up that performance by allowing seven earned runs in 3.1 innings at Minnesota.

Fortunately, Snell started to turn the page in his final two starts before the break. The lefty fanned 12 batters while allowing two runs in six innings vs. Texas, and then allowed one run in five innings against the Yankees. His ERA metrics also suggest much better days ahead, with a 3.44 FIP, 3.12 xFIP, and 3.45 SIERA through the first half, and Snell has the fourth best K/9 (12.2) in MLB. The good signs don’t end there, as Tampa Bay also has the second easiest remaining schedule in MLB.
All of these indicators should provide Snell owners reason to have a cup-half-full attitude entering the second half. Hopefully, the baseball gods will be a bit nicer to Snell down the stretch.
-Washington closed out the first half of the season well, and Anibal Sanchez was quietly one of the reasons. After lowering his ERA by nearly four runs from 2017 to 2018, he’s continued to pitch well this season, particularly over the last month-plus. Since May 29, Sanchez is 5-0 with a 2.18 ERA and 34/8 K/BB in 41.1 innings. His favorable schedule during that period has helped, with two starts against the White Sox, one start at Detroit, and one start vs. Miami, as has his fortunate .224 BABIP. Still, patient fantasy owners have been rewarded, and Sanchez has a chance to keep the momentum going with a start at Baltimore included in his upcoming two-start week.

-Martin Perez has been an asset for fantasy owners this season, albeit with some inconsistency. The lefty has seen his strikeout rate pick up with his velocity increase, and his 0.7 HR/9 is the best in the AL. That said, Perez owners have reason to be concerned about the recent reported interest for the Twins acquiring a starting pitcher such as Madison Bumgarner, as such a move would likely boot Perez from the starting rotation. Perez has clearly been the team’s worst starter since late May, with a 6.32 ERA over his last seven starts.

-Joe Musgrove was a popular sleeper coming into the year, and is starting to flex his muscle. Since June 5, he has a 3.38 ERA and elite 32/4 K/BB in 34.2 innings. It’s even more impressive considering his brutal schedule during that period, facing Atlanta x3, San Diego, Houston, the Cubs, and Milwaukee. Pittsburgh’s schedule doesn’t let up much the rest of the way, but Musgrove’s recent performance shows we shouldn’t be overly concerned.

-Alex Young has likely garnered some pickup consideration in fantasy leagues after his first three MLB outings, allowing only one run in 13.1 innings, but there’s reason to be skeptical. We should take his 6.26 ERA at Triple-A with a grain of salt given that it was at hitter-friendly Reno, but more concerning is Young’s career 7.5 K/9 in the minors and sub-90 mph average fastball velocity. Young has made heavy use of his slider, throwing it more than 32 percent of the time, which likely explains why he was getting more whiffs earlier this year, but his mediocre career minor league track record (4.34 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 2.33 K/BB) shows a pitcher who can survive on smoke and mirrors for only so long. Using him in his upcoming two-start week vs. elite offenses in Texas and Milwaukee is an enormous risk.

American League

Lucas Giolito: @KC, @TB
Blake Snell: @NYY, CHW
Lance Lynn: ARI, @HOU
James Paxton: TB, COL

CC Sabathia: TB, COL
Rick Porcello: TOR, @BAL
Brad Peacock: @LAA, TEX
Griffin Canning: HOU, @SEA
Martin Perez: NYM, OAK
Andrew Heaney: HOU, @SEA

Daniel Norris: @CLE, TOR
Trent Thornton: @BOS, @DET
Jakob Junis: CHW, @CLE
Dylan Cease: @KC, @TB
Zach Plesac: DET, KC
Adam Plutko: DET, KC
Glenn Sparkman: CHW, @CLE
Gregory Soto: @CLE, TOR
Tanner Anderson: SEA, @MIN
Sean Reid-Foley: @BOS, @DET


National League

Walker Buehler: @PHI, MIA
Luis Castillo: @CHC, STL
Clayton Kershaw: @PHI, MIA
Brandon Woodruff: ATL, @ARI

Kyle Hendricks: CIN, SD
Joe Musgrove: @STL, PHI
Anibal Sanchez: @BAL, @ATL
Eric Lauer: @MIA, @CHC
Jack Flaherty: PIT, @CIN
Max Fried: @MIL, WAS
German Marquez: SF, @NYY
Anthony DeSclafani: @CHC, STL
Zack Wheeler: @MIN, @SF
Trevor Richards: SD, @LAD

Jeff Samardzija: @COL, NYM
Zach Eflin: LAD, @PIT
Michael Wacha: PIT, @CIN
Vince Velasquez: LAD, @PIT
Bryse Wilson: @MIL, WAS
Alex Young: @TEX, MIL
Drew Pomeranz: @COL, NYM

T
American League
Thursday, July 18: Brad Keller vs. CHW
Keller has been inconsistent this season, but he faces a Tim Anderson-less White Sox squad next week. The White Sox rank 23rd in OPS vs. right-handers this season, and most of that was with Anderson.
Thursday, July 18: J.A. Happ vs. TB
The ship has sailed on Happ in shallow mixed leagues due to his 20 home runs allowed in the first half, but he’s a viable matchup play against a Rays lineup that hasn’t hit southpaws well, ranking 22^nd in OPS. The lefty has also fared well against them over his last two starts.
Friday, July 19: Homer Bailey @ CLE
Bailey has a 2.83 ERA over his last six starts, including a solid outing on July 4 vs. Cleveland. The Indians rank 15th in OPS against right-handers.
National League
Tuesday, July 16: Dario Agrazal @ STL
Agrazal has fared well in the majors through three starts, and gets an underachieving Cardinals lineup that ranks 24^th in OPS against right-handers.
Wednesday, July 17: Austin Voth @ BAL
Voth has taken his lumps in three starts this season, but gets a favorable matchup at Baltimore. The soft-tosser should be able to exploit an O’s team that has just a .700 OPS against right-handers, fourth worst in MLB.
Thursday, July 18: Jason Vargas @ SF
Vargas has been a viable five-inning specialist for the Mets this season, and will get one of his easiest assignments of the year vs. the Giants, who have the second worst OPS in MLB against lefties (.668).

The Hospital Ward

Here’s some injuries to prominent players from the last week, and other players to watch for in the coming week.

Jose Alvarado: Out 6-8 weeks (oblique)
Steven Brault: Placed on IL (shoulder)
Alex Bregman: Day-to-day (chin)
C.J. Cron: Placed on IL (thumb)
JaCoby Jones: Placed on IL (back)
Jonathan Lucroy: Out indefinitely (head)
Yadier Molina: Out three weeks (thumb)
David Peralta: Placed on IL (shoulder)