I'm not a pitching expert, but I think Grayson Rodriguez should probably figure out how to throw some kind of pitch between his fastball (96-97 mph) and everything else (averages 85 or less on the rest of his arsenal). either a cutter or a harder slider in the high-80s/low-90s would go a long way.

1 (I don't like coffee so I'm just assuming that is delicious, all-natural Diet Coke in the mug) 3 2

tinfoil witch burning under a bridge@brookass.bsky.social · 13h ago

6 2 3.5

You know, besides the whole bit about him having a "pretty high floor" I feel like I kind of nailed my skepticism around the Vlad Jr. hype this preseason. He's been so much worse than I could've imagined that I can't exactly do a victory lap here, but still, some of y'all were losing your minds.

some people can't recognize rage baiting when it's staring them in the face

Los Angeles: sports capital of the world@theamitie.bsky.social · 13h ago

There’s a guy on TikTok who posts just him taking a pizza out of the oven every day with tongs and all of the comments are about how their day is ruined from having watched this

I don't think it's fair to say that all Yankees prospects get overhyped or that Lombard isn't specifically worth the hype. But I do think we're going to see a lot more interest in Lombard for Fantasy than for Angel Genao, an extremely similar prospect at the same position. That ain't nothing.

🫠

Mike Wilner@wilnerness.bsky.social · 16h ago

Unsurprisingly, #Bluejays report that Trey Yesavage left the game with left knee discomfort. His knee appeared to buckle while throwing a warm-up pitch getting ready for bot3.

That’s baseball, suzyn

Pitcher List Stats@pitcherlistplv.pitcherlist.com · 16h ago

Sean Manaea (NYM) struck out seven, walked five, and allowed two earned runs in six innings against Cleveland

Watching THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, and it really rules that they gave Bane some of the hardest lines in cinematic history and the dumbest voice. I love it.

Unbelievable backside flip. Dude in the car clearly a skater because he knows you only get one take that good

Jerad Walker@jeradwalker.bsky.social · 18h ago

I hope this guy just drives around town cheering everyone on.

Their comparison is really unfair to Arraez

Thanks For Sharing, Jerk@thx4sharingjerk.bsky.social · 18h ago

Kruk keeps saying Arraez is Tony Gwynn and this is an absolutely ridiculous comparison

Phew May was a long time ago for Davis Martin

Brent Maguire@bmags94.bsky.social · 18h ago

After sweeping the Dodgers in Los Angeles, the Red Sox have continued their momentum in Boston. Caleb Durbin's grand slam makes it 5-0 Red Sox over the White Sox in the first inning.

I mostly think this is right

Craig Calcaterra@craigcalcaterra.bsky.social · yesterday

Someone asked me how I think the lockout is gonna go. I gave my best stab. I think it'd take a major change in the way the sides usually operate for me change my mind about this. Also: public opinion doesn't matter and "fans' rights" are not a thing. www.cupofcoffeenews.com/cup-of-coffe...

Excited to see Ballesteros get a shot at everyday playing time here.

Jason RR Martinez (FanGraphs/RosterResource)@rosterresource.fangraphs.com · 21h ago

𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿/𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁 •RP Ben Joyce activated from 60-Day IL. •C Moises Ballesteros (acquired from Cubs) added to roster. •OF Jorge Soler DFAd. Roster: fangraphs.com/roster-resou... Closer Depth Chart: www.fangraphs.com/roster-resou... #LAAngels

Okay so the good news is that Esmerlyn Valdez has cut his strikeout rate to 28% over his past 13 games. The bad news is he is 5 for 38 with 1 HR in that span 😬

I won't give Craig Breslow credit for much, but I will say this: If you believe you have an edge on your competition in your ability to develop and maximize pitching, you should be much more willing to part with pitching in trades than most organizations. The Brewers don't seem to be!

Jaymes@jaymesl.bsky.social · yesterday

Confirmation that the Brewers offered at least one prospect better than Hope (Luis Peña) and at least one, maybe two, other Top 100 prospect bats. That would certainly seem to be a stronger offer, but the Tigers wanted a pitcher as part of the deal.

This one would have done numbers on The Everything App, that’s for sure

Chris Towers is Overreacting To Small Sample Sizes@cptowers.bsky.social · yesterday

I don’t really have a particularly strong objection to Burrow being ranked where he is, I guess, but I’m also not sure it makes much sense to have him a tier up from Dak Prescott, either?

Joe Burrow is an interesting one, because it feels like the early Super Bowl run still carries a lot of weight in how he is viewed, but the lack of team success since doesn’t really get held against him. And … fair! But I dunno if he’s got the resume to justify this kind of ranking at this point.

The Athletic@theathletic.com · yesterday

Our 2026 NFL Quarterback Tiers results are here. The panel this year consisted of 21 execs and 29 coaches overall. Each voter placed 35 veteran QBs into five tiers, from best (Tier 1) to worst (Tier 5). nyti.ms/4yYcfln

Five first-round picks and two seconds and this is what they got out of it? Pathetic.

richie@theregoesrichie.bsky.social · 4d ago

post your worst draft

something I didn't expect: George Lombard has a 92.7 mph average exit velocity in Triple-A. Still worry he'll fall on the passive side of the passive/patient divide, but if he can punish pitchers when they challenge him, that won't be as much of a concern. Fascinating prospect, can't wait to see him

Okay one more random music thing for the night: Y'all ever seen this version of Jim James' "A New Life" with the Roots doing a full drumline thing and featuring a string quartet? It's so good, just let it play the whole way through vimeo.com/61772183?fl=...

Jim James - A New Life - Jimmy Fallon

This is "Jim James - A New Life - Jimmy Fallon" by Robert McMahan on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

vimeo.com

Last article of mine for the day. If you haven't been paying attention to how dire the left side of the defensive spectrum has been for the Diamondbacks, get a load of this.

Diamondbacks Pay Dearly for Nootbaar, and Not a Moment Too Soon

Nootbaar could bring an oboe to the plate and just draw walks and probably do better than what the Diamondbacks had before.

blogs.fangraphs.com

don't know what it says about my specific brand of washed up, increasingly old man-dom, that the Bruce Springsteen album i find myself reaching for more and more these days is the SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY one. The little stories between each song are just incredible.

even the runs brandon pfaadt does give up now are unearned lmao

HELL YEAH!!!!! I'm always stunned at how quickly these sell out. Y'all rock.

Chris Towers is Overreacting To Small Sample Sizes@cptowers.bsky.social · 2d ago

It's almost FFT Draft-A-Thon time, so it's time to do some good. Come beat me in a Fantasy Football league and raise money for charity. Join the FFT Open and play in my league for a chance to beat me and then to beat everyone else. Donations are open at the link below! tinyurl.com/FFTDonate2026

I got my start in the industry doing player news blurbs, so sitting down and grinding a dozen plus reactions to the trade deadline was just like old times. Mine (and Scott White's!) thoughts on everything that went down over the past week or so can be found here: www.cbssports.com/fantasy/base...

Fantasy Baseball Trade Deadline Tracker: Luke Weaver could become Pirates closer; Liam Hicks traded to Rays

Curtis Mead gains Fantasy value after a trade to the Red Sox at the deadline

cbssports.com

The Dodgers got gifted Tarik Skubal so finally Wrobleski can return to his natural state.

Eric Stephen@ericstephen.bsky.social · 2d ago

Justin Wrobleski first 17 games: 8 HR allowed, 106⅔ IP Justin Wrobleski last 2 games: 8 HR allowed, 10⅓ IP

All hot dogs and most cheeseburgers.

Elizabeth Picciuto@epicciuto.bsky.social · 2d ago

What is your favorite example of when the cheap version of a product is legit better than the expensive one?

"Don't be so pessimistic, Blaze Alexander and Chris Bassitt will be healthy soon" is pretty bleak as far as "attempts to keep things positive" go.

Andy Kostka@afkostka.bsky.social · 2d ago

.@kylegoon.bsky.social asked Mike Elias why the fans should believe in him to lead the Orioles out of this current mire. "Baseball is very, very humbling and it doesn't go linearly," Elias said. Elias' answer, below:

I've grown to appreciate S1 of THE LEFTOVERS more with each rewatch, but the reason that show is an all-timer is because of the pivot at the beginning of S2, one of the most audacious things we'll ever see a TV show do.

Alan Sepinwall@sepinwall.bsky.social · 2d ago

But wait! There’s more @tvisgoodpod.bsky.social! In this month’s Patreon episode, we talk about The Leftovers s2 premiere, and about one of the greatest creative reinventions any TV show has ever made. Preview the episode:

me, when I am a lost and weary travel in the harsh and unforgiving desert:

Bill DiFilippo@billdifilippo.bsky.social · 2d ago

you ever just think about how good oasis is