You can’t spell ‘no big contracts’ without RSN: 2024 regular MLB season thread!

Look all I'm saying is the first 5 seconds of meeting this man I thought he was God's masterpiece finally complete, but after a minute of watching a realised there was an element of preference at play here. He's still a handsome man!!!

These things can be situational

These things can be situational

― felicity, Wednesday, May 22, 2024 10:05 PM (yesterday)

Who's your LOOGY?

(RIP LOOGYs)

What’s a LOOGY

They once roamed this Earth

left-handed one out guy

Oh like Javier Lopez

Soooo.... something weird is happening with Atlanta and *people* are starting to whisper... even conspiracy theories concerning the SHOHEI OHTANI & Ippei Mizuhara scandal are being brought back in the fold.

On May 12th (Mothers Day), Braves 3B Austin Riley exited the game with left side tightness after a routine swinging strikeout on some outside heat in his 2nd AB of the game:

https://www.mlb.com/braves/video/austin-riley-exits-with-apparent-injury

The injury was determined to be intercostal muscle inflammation and Riley hasn't participated in any live batting or fielding exercises since the injury.

Former-LAA David Fletcher was supposed to be the recipient of playing item in the event of Riley's inury.

Normally the team would determine if Riley's recovery timeline would be <10 days or 10 days or greater and make a roster move to send Riley to the IL and call up Fletcher from AAA... which hasn't happened.

Here we are 11 days post-injury and Riley is still taking up a valuable spot on the Braves active roster, making progress as of 5/21 by taking dry swings and some tee-ball swings, but still no live pitching ABs nor fielding drills.

So where is Fletcher? Welp remember illegal bookmaker Matthew Bowyer...

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40184970/mlb-investigation-david-fletcher-angels

Fletcher was Ohtani's "best friend in MLB" [src: r/Angels] and also very close with Ippei. Fletcher allegedly introduced Ippei to Bowyer.

But there are more serious allegations that Fletcher and his friend/associate may have bet on Angels games which would take this to into Pete Rose territory.

Is MLB forcing ATL's hand or just genuine lousy roster management?

~YOU DECIDE~

...but seriously why are Ohtani's 2 best friends degenerate gamblers?

(lol that reads like bill plaschke, sorry for the formatting)

i'm guessing degen gamblers tend to also be charismatic and crossers of culture barriers, which is a good match for naturally reserved private guy shohei

Interestingly the Braves picked up DFAed utility guy Zack Short from the Red Sox on the 8th May, activated him on the 9th May, and he’s been playing 3B since then. This was a guy who got DFAed off the Mets and Braves and who had a career OPS+ of 58 compared to David Fletcher’s 86!

https://i.imgur.com/Ie9ts5a.jpeg

Also, the conspiracy theory on this account? Which major league team did it originate with?

From inside info from an Braves employee

— TimmySmokes (@timmy_smokes) March 22, 2024

dang that’s right

I've been wondering why Riley wasn't IL'ed, interesting.

One run game

Wow, this Pirates bullpen is something.

The lesson for the Pirates, don't hit grand slams. These last two games they hit one and lost both games.

Can you blame the phillies for o ly playing >.500 teams when they are the ones consistently sending teams under .500????

i can blame the phillies for almost anything

Regretable. Their ethos makes them truly Australia's team

The lesson for the Pirates, don't hit grand slams. These last two games they hit one and lost both games.

otm

or let players hit against their former teams (bart, mccutchen and reynolds all homered to no avail today)

User Mookieproof: how likely is this to happen

If the Pirates DFA Rowdy the Red Sox need to sign him and cut every other 1B option immediately. Don’t care he has a .483 OPS. Put him in Fenway and MVP votes will follow. https://t.co/wCLcVPU4Dk

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) May 23, 2024

every generation gets the mo vaughn they deserve

Wasn’t he actually good though

A lefty named Pomeranz is listed in the Giants bullpen on the lineup card today. Ummm.....

— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) May 24, 2024

Ok? He hasn’t pitched in like three years

OK, Giants announced it: Drew Pomeranz, who was released by Dodgers earlier today, has signed a one-year contract. Mason Black optioned, Jakson Reetz DFAd.

— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) May 24, 2024

As per my earlier c0n5p1r@cy t430ry: Riley will miss his 11th straight game today but took BP and fielding drills.

don’t worry the atlanta ex-mets signed joey wendle today

xps i have no insight into the pirates and rowdy, apart from having seen fans complain about his suckiness

if someone needs a 1B, however, it is a complete mystery why brandon belt (.254/.369/.490, 19 HR, 138 wRC+ last year) remains unsigned

^° he's streaky but it makes no sense that he's unemployed.

the mets have hit three home runs in each of their last three games

that's good, right?

^° he's streaky but it makes no sense that he's unemployed.

You’ll never guess who isn’t playing third for the Braves today

you'll never guess what diaz and the mets just did

Giants fans should be thanking me for writing them off after last week's series, the SF front office must be lurking here.

don't worry i might be seeing them at candlestick in june - that'll be the turning point for a long slow slide back below .500

I was at Candlestick recently and there is ~still~ grass there, it's kind of nuts!

Even shows up on satimg:

https://i.imgur.com/lT9a6OJ.jpeg

Braves following an 18-6 month with an 11-14 month is fucking with my head and making me see things that may not be there, including "something is bad wrong with Acuña." I need to back off from following them day to day and just watch more movies or something...

Yeah something is up. Of course, losing your SP1 Strider for the year (and some of next), and then Murphy and Riley getting hurt is not optimal, but Acuna, Harris, Albies & Olson have all had lukewarm to ice cold starts to the year. Ozuna is the only one who really seems to be showing up and clocking in. Sale is pitching as well/better than he ever has and Fried seems to have turned a corner.

I thought Murphy might be a big factor (he's on my fantasy team and taking forever to return), but d'Arnaud's actually playing very well.

idg why the league didn't just extend this weekend's series to monday

lotta teams having to travel tonight then play day games tomorrow, most notably the giants, who have to fly home from new york

oh no acuna

I accept the blame for jinxing his knee.

Big ouch. Maybe they can activate Riley in a corresponding move...

What's the probability* this Sunday night game is gonna get played?

*#freeippei

oh my... play ball!

Goldschmidt vs. Happ - who will win?