Picture USA TODAY Sports activities Pictures Maybe the most important shock of baseball’s first half of the season did not occur between the foul traces.
Does anybody actually need MLB to do away with umpire Angel Hernandez?
The usually reviled Hernandez stated in early Might that he would retire after 33 seasons within the majors to spend extra time along with his household. His lawyer, Kevin Murphy, firmly advised The Athletic that his consumer “was not compelled to go away.”
These pitches are farther than Hernandez’s strike zone. He left Main League Baseball in a “monetary settlement.”
Different umps condemned the transfer, calling Angel an angel. However possibly that is as a result of they’ll toil in relative anonymity whereas Hernandez’s highlights (lowlights?) dominate social media.
As for studying between the traces? Listed here are a few of the season’s largest surprises:
central guardian
April 19, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians middle fielder Tyler Freeman (2), left fielder Steven Kwan (38) and proper fielder Will Brennan (17) celebrates after the Guardians beat the Oakland Athletics at Progressive Subject. Picture Credit score: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports activities The Guardians received simply 76 video games final season earlier than long-time widespread head coach Terry Francona retired.
The workforce made an attention-grabbing alternative, changing him with Stephen Vogt, who spent final yr as bullpen coach in Seattle after his enjoying profession ends in 2022.
Their ace, Shane Bieber, wanted elbow surgical procedure after making simply two begins, and a .500 file appeared promising on the finish of the season.
However the Guardians regrouped through the All-Star break and achieved the very best file within the American League (58 wins and 37 losses). Outfielder Steven Kwan leads MLB with a .352 batting common, and Emmanuel Clase anchors the bullpen with a 2.62 ERA .
“All of us join what we now have now,” Vogt stated.
philadelphia madman
Maybe a workforce that has been to the previous two Nationwide League Championship Collection should not be on this listing, however the Phillies exceeded expectations.
They entered the All-Star break with the foremost league’s finest file (62-34) and largest division lead (8 1/2 video games over Atlanta within the NFC East). Additionally they have the very best ERA at +110 and would have the very best ERA if not for Sunday’s 18-3 loss to Oakland, which places them 0.01 factors behind the Braves.
The Phillies, who’re on tempo to set a franchise file with 104 wins, have eight gamers heading to Arlington, Texas, for the All-Star Recreation.
pirate genius
July 11, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates beginning pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches through the first inning in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers at American Household Subject . Obligatory Credit score: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports activities A yr in the past, Pittsburgh chosen LSU right-hander Paul Skenes with the No. 1 choose within the novice draft.
He’ll begin within the NFC All-Star Recreation on Tuesday. In line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau, he’ll change into the fifth rookie to take action, becoming a member of Hideo Nomo (1995), Fernando Valenzuela (81), Mark Fiderich ( ’76) and Dave Stenhouse (’62).
“It is cool to have the ability to say you began the All-Star Recreation,” Skenes stated. “However now having the chance to do this in my rookie yr is absolutely cool.”
Skenes made a complete of 12 begins within the minor leagues earlier than being referred to as up. He had a 1.90 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings and a 6-0 file.
He pitched seven hitless innings in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks final Thursday, his second begin in not less than six hitless innings with 11 or extra strikeouts. The one pitcher to perform that twice in a season is Corridor of Famer Nolan Ryan.
purchaser or vendor
April 21, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Seattle Mariners beginning pitcher Emerson Hancock (62 years previous) and first baseman Ty France (23 years previous) in The collision occurred whereas throwing a fly ball through the fourth inning in opposition to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Subject. Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports activities Current information recommended that the Seattle Mariners may be the primary workforce to steer the division heading into the All-Star break however change into sellers earlier than the commerce deadline.
It is not that far-fetched.
The Mariners’ 10-game lead over Houston within the AL West has been diminished to 1, and the Astros are anticipated to take the lead in a three-game collection in Seattle this weekend.
The M’s are batting an MLB-worst .219 and are on tempo to set a file with 1,675 strikeouts (Minnesota was hit 1,654 final season).
Mediocre Scorching Fantasy Picks
This yr, fantasy house owners may be higher off drafting on the finish of the primary spherical, particularly if their league adopts a snake system.
The primary half was robust for the gamers who began early.
Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. (.250 batting common – 4 HR – 15 RBI), a high choose in most leagues, performed solely 46 video games earlier than tearing the ACL in his left knee and underwent season-ending surgical procedure. Teammate Spencer Strider was possible the very best pitcher drafted, and he had a 7.00 ERA in two begins earlier than going underneath the knife with a UCL damage.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts (left hand fracture), Houston’s Kyle Tucker (proper tibial contusion) and San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. (proper femoral stress response) are all out, whereas Philadelphia’s Trea Turner (strained proper femur, hamstring) out six weeks.
Moreover, Arizona’s Corbin Carroll (.212-5-32) and Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez (.267-10-35) additionally struggled.
