<font color=goldenrod>He reported soreness in his lat after his Major League debut. Mets let him pitch his next start anyway and he was great but then they discovered the tear.

So the Mets managed to get one of their prized pitching prospects hurt by letting him pitch through an injury when in a six-man rotation. This organization is so incompetent.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Thor was fucking filthy tonight. 8 IP, 1 R, 13 K.</font>

After tonight's game I don't think I'm watching any baseball for a month or so now. I don't care about the all-star game. Oof.

<font color=goldenrod>It's astounding that the Tigers continue to have bullpen problems year after year no matter what they do or who they get rid of.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Mike Moustakas and Carlos Martinez with the Final Vote. Kershaw finished 3rd behind Martinez and Cueto. How the goddamn reigning MVP isn't on the team when he's still having an amazing year everywhere beyond the W-L column is astounding.

He might have one last chance to make it. Scherzer is slated to start tomorrow, so he can pull out of the game if he wants. MLB doesn't force pitchers out if they pitch the Sunday before anymore, but they do limit them to 1 inning. Given he was the favorite to get the start he might opt to just pitch the 1 inning and then Bochy can use someone else for 2 innings.</font>

Well it's that time of year where I begrudgingly give my thoughts and predictions as to who the Padres will move in trades as the deadline approaches. I'll start with the most likely to least likely.

JUSTIN UPTON
While he's been Justin Slumpton the last month or so, he still may be the most attractive bat available this month. Even with the prolonged slump, he's still posting a 116 wrc+, and is more likely to surge the second half and play at a better clip. His value is limited due to his impending free agency, and because any team acquiring him will not receive draft pick compensation if he walks.

CRAIG KIMBREL
Arguably the greatest closer,at bat per at bat, to this point in his career, Kimbrel is still in his prime, has some years left on his contract, is decently priced compared to Papelbon, the other big name closer on the trade market. I personally feel he's the Padres strongest trade chip because he's not a 2 month fix and could fetch a better package of players.

WILL VENABLE
Excellent 4th outfielder or platoon bat who's progressed back to his career line after a terrible 2014. Nothing pops off the charts for him, but his defense is solid, specifically as in left or right field, with solid base running and occasional pop.

JOAQUIN BENOIT
Add another solid season to the seemingly ageless Benoit. A 159 era+ has Benoit again looking like a solid mid season trade chip who has an option year for 2015 and could easily fill in as a closer.

YONDER ALONSO
This is my wildcard pick. Yonder is posting a career year, similar to former Padres third baseman Chase Headley did in 2011 in that his walks are way up, and in turn,has produced an above average year despite lacking homerun power. He could be on an upswing in production and has two more years of control beyond this season, where he could continue to develop and post career best numbers.

There's been mutterings of James Shields being shopped but his $21 million per year salary kicking in next year will probably slow if not halt any trade talks. The Padres could move Andrew Cashner or Tyson Ross, but both have control through next year (Ross is controlled through the end of 2017 I believe), and it'd be selling low on two under performing arms who could be 2starters or better.

Gotta tell you, as someone who loves Justin Upton and has watched him for a long time, he gets on these ridiculous streaks on both ends. He'll be super hot for like a month, hit 350 with 9 HRs, then the next he'll hit 240 with 3 HRs. IT happens every damned year and it's the most consistently astounding thing I've ever seen. And it's not like it's the same pattern every season, either. Sometimes it's April and September, sometimes it's June and July, this year it's May and ????

This year he was shit fucking hot for 2months. Had like 12 or 13 homers the first few months. Then he just stopped. I know this is just how he is. Adrian Gonzalez was like that here in San Diego. Just an absolute beast, then would tank in the summer. From what I'm told that hasn't changed since he was traded.

I draft Upton in fantasy every year in the TPWW league because I'm a homer. He was great for me to start but I have him on the bench now.

<font color=goldenrod>Matt Harvey becomes the second Mets pitcher to hit a dinger this year as the pitching staff continues to outperform much of the Mets' bench at the plate.

Fuck the DH.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>The more I think about it, Venable is exactly the kind of guy the Mets should be targeting. Yes, their lineup is spotty and prone to slumps - but there are few superstar bats out there for trade and the ones that will be floated will almost certainly cost the Mets a guy like Thor.

But their bench is straight up dreadful night in night out, and it's hard to rest any of the starters when you have nobody else to trust off the bench. Hell I've been saying for months now that Collins is probably better off using guys like Thor, deGrom, and Harvey as pinch hitters on their off day than some of the clowns on the bench now and yet he refuses to do it. At least Venable might give you a nice at bat here and then and probably won't cost a lot in trade.</font>

you know what the Mets need?


Micah Owings.

<font color=goldenrod>Joey Bats pulled out of the ASG, so Brian Dozier took his spot. Interestingly this leaves the AL with only 5 OF (Trout, Cain, Jones, Martinez, Gardner). I mean I guess Holt can play there too, but still only 5 true OF.

Trout playing the whole game would be #bestforbusiness</font>

NL Central won't be decided till last week of the season. What a game between Buccos/Cards tonight.

They could easily stick Venable in left 80% of the time and that'd be a upgrade for you guys. I'm not sure what the Mets have that they'd part with for Venable. I know Conforto and Nimmo are off limits, as are the plethora of arms. I doubt Venable has more value than a low cost reliever or similar backup/platoon type bat.

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah, I don't think the Mets would consider including Conforto or Nimmo in a deal unless they were getting a legitimate star bat in return (nor should they), and my impression is that Sandy doesn't want to part with those guys for a rental anyway. And trading Thor would be insane given how good he's been and now with the uncertainty of health for guys like Wheeler, Montero, and now Matz.

Cuddyer has been playing better the past few days, but still he needs his off days and replacing him late in a game is never a bad idea. I'd feel more comfortable having Venable around.

If a low cost reliever is the price the first name to pop into my mind is Vic Black. Was really good in the Majors last year. He got hurt in ST and only just started pitching in games like a month ago. He's been getting absolutely TORCHED in AAA this year but in fairness it's a small sample size and nearly everybody gets torched in the Pacific Coast League. Might be a decent guy to take a "flyer" on. If not there are a couple of other relievers the Mets have in AAA who seem to be good but I'm not sure they'll ever wind up cracking their 40 man roster given the depth they've assembled.

I'd also happily drive Alex Torres to the airport if you wanted him back for a bag of balls.</font>

I'll give you guys back Corey Mazzoni and we can call it a wash.

<font color=goldenrod>Well, Kirk Nieuwenhuis must have heard the Will Venable talk, as he just became the first Mets player to hit 3 home runs in a single home game. What the shit.</font>

He's just getting his season total out of the way now before they send him back down.

Meanwhile, in Arlington, Will Venable ran out a 200 ft triple that never made it to the right fielder. Odor missed the ball on the ground and Choo was either not paying attention or he couldn't see (insert Asian joke) what was going on and Venable made it all the way to third.

Bummed the Padres have tanked so bad. Venable was a bust last year, and of course regains his solid form when the team's out of it and will likely sell. Fucking Padres leading me on.

Why is the futures game being played at the same time as all the other Sunday MLB games? Are they trying to hide it?

<font color=goldenrod>Matt Holliday officially rules himself out of the ASG with his quad injury. Bochy names Ryan Braun as the replacement.

Man...fuck Holliday. He had to have known the odds were low that he'd actually be ready to play. Had he told Bochy that right from the get-go, Braun might have been made the Brewers rep instead of K-Rod and Jeurys "27 saves, 1.25 ERA, 43 K, 0.90 WHIP" Familia wouldn't be sitting home.

I mean the guy has pitched a LOT this year, so it's probably better for him to get the break. But still. Cunts.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>All told, helluva first half for the Mets. Amazing start, excruciatingly frustrating through May and much of June, but they've been playing much better baseball of late. I'd have signed up for 5 games over .500 and a game out of a playoff spot out of the break in a heartbeat.</font>

Yankees take 2/3 in Boston, The Ref hits his first major league homer, and the ripcord got pulled just in time. Not bad for a team that's thrown together with duct tape and minor leaguers.

Pitching's gotta get better. Hopefully the braintrust will get together during the week and figure out what the plan is come trade deadline time. Unless a miracle happens and Sabathia turns it around during the 2nd half, someone's gotta get sent down we gotta get a rental arm. There really is not real ace in the rotation at the moment.

I'll trade you guys Andrew Cashner for Aaron Judge.

<font color=goldenrod>holy balls, what a meltdown from Trevor Rosenthal just now</font>

Pirates walk off Cards again in extras. Wow is this fun.

Anyone catch that shot of Refsnyder's family during Saturday's game

Apparently he is some kind of Korean orphan who got adopted by one of those "families of the world" type white California people. So they showed "Rob Refsnyder's family" on the YES Network and there were two old white people and a bunch of 20ish year old people who were all white/black/Asian etc...

Idk was funny. Apparently he hits so *fingers crossed*

<font color=goldenrod>Official starting lineups:

AL:
1. Mike Trout, CF, LAA
2. Josh Donaldson, 3B, OAK
3. Albert Pujols, 1B, LAA
4. Nelson Cruz, DH, SEA
5. Lorenzo Cain, RF, KC
6. Adam Jones, LF, BAL
7. Salvador Perez, C, KC
8. Jose Altuve, 2B, HOU
9. Alcides Escobar, SS, KC
Dallas Keuchel, SP, HOU

NL:
1. Andrew McCutchen, CF, PIT
2. Todd Frazier, 3B, CIN
3. Bryce Harper, RF, WAS
4. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, ARI
5. Buster Posey, C, SF
6. Anthony Rizzo, DH, CHC
7. Johnny Peralta, SS, STL
8. Joc Pederson, LF, LAD
9. DJ LeMahieu, 2B, COL
Zack Greinke, SP, LAD</font>

The Honorable Judge Aaron Judge is off limits.

Foul pole to foul pole safety netting at baseball parks.

For or against? Ever since that Boston fan took that bullet a few days ago, a lawsuit was filed by an Oakland A's fan to try to get safety netting from pole to pole.






http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13...-mlb-ballparks

On paper it sounds like a good idea but probably going to be a lot more expensive to do in certain stadiums because of the need to consider weather reasons late in the season. Pretty much getting rid of foul ball plays if that netting gets used.

Was easy for the NHL to do it since they already had glass sounding the rink and didn't need to worry about any possible weather issues.

Just wanted to give a quick shout out to droford for giving up Jake Arrieta (and a late innings reliever) for a rental #4 starter.

Papelblown wants out of Philly......again.

Nobody took him last season, don't see why this season would he'd get bounced. Or is a team in need of a closer in a really bad way?

Supposedly there was a deal being worked on but Philly pulled out due to the hiring out McPhail, which sounds like daft reasoning but whatever.

My Blue Jays say hello

I didn't get a chance to watch the Derby. Heard it was really good. Any reason why it wasn't on At Bat?

Will it be watchable on MLB.tv? (not at home so can't really check)

<font color=goldenrod>Whoever trades for Papelbon better be ready to fork over $13 million for a closer next year as well. His 2016 option will vest if he finishes 19 more games this year.

Was a smart decision by his camp to have the option be based on games finished rather than saves. Pitching the 9th inning of a blowout loss counts as a game finished.</font>

The Padres could hose the Phillies by putting Kimbrel on the market. Better, younger, comes at a similar contract value but is potentially signed through 2018.

MLB considering on the idea of doing some expansion in the near future and would prepare to lose TB and Oakland as part of those plans if needed. Montreal's been pushing to get a new team but MLB wants them to build a new stadium to really be considered.

Hope Kane comes out and tombstones Pete Rose