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Post by desousa on Sept 8, 2024 10:39:31 GMT -5
Cole takes the mound on his birthday.
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Post by ypaterson on Sept 8, 2024 11:56:58 GMT -5
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Post by qwik3457bb on Sept 8, 2024 12:19:05 GMT -5
The Cubs send ex-Yankee Jameson Taillon to try to avert getting swept at home this weekend. Taillon faces Gerrit Cole, who's been a teammate and friend of his with the Pirates in 2016-17 and with the Yanks in 2021-22, and in the minors with Pittsburgh before their time together in the majors. Taillon was drafted by the Pirates with the 2nd pick of the 2010 June Amateur Draft. He didn't pitch in their organization that season, but was still a top 10 prospect on all three major lists in February, 2011. He spent all of 2011 in low-A, and pitched solidly in 23 starts. He made 23 starts at high-A in 2012 and again was solid, so the Pirates moved him up to AA to make 3 more starts, and they were excellent. He opened back in AA in 2013, and made 20 solid starts, and they promoted Taillon to AAA to make 6 more solid starts. He missed all of 2014 with the obligatory torn UCL and Tommy John Surgery, then missed all of 2015 with hernia surgery. It didn't matter to the prospect touts; Taillon was top 25 in all three major lists before the 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 seasons. He made his first professional pitch in over two years in 2016 at the AAA level, and made 10 outstanding starts there. He was finally promoted to the majors in June. He made 18 starts and did very well, going 5-4 with a 3.38 ERA. He made 7 OK starts with the Pirates to open 2017, and was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had surgery but returned to make rehab starts in 3 1/2 weeks; first, two at AA, then one at AAA. The Pirates called him back to the majors just 5 1/2 weeks after he was diagnosed, but struggled to the end of the season: 6-6 with a 4.85 ERA.
He finally got a full season in the Pirates rotation in 2018, and had a very good year, breaking through as a solid #2-3 starter, going 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA. His 2019 season was cut short at 7 starts because of a forearm injury. He tried to rest and rehab for 3 months before the Pirates shut him down for the season in August. He then had surgery to repair a flexor tendon and what was called Tommy John revision surgery. He missed the entire COVID season rehabbing from that. His having lost so much time to injury, the Pirates decided to cash in his two remaining years of team control for a package of prospects from the Yanks including pitchers Miguel Yajure and Roansy Contreras. He got off to a terrible start: in his first 12 starts in 2021, 1-4 with a 5.74 ERA. But he turned things around, and in his next 10 starts, he was 6-0 with 2.11 ERA. He then pitched very poorly for 5 starts, and in early September he was put on the IL for 3 weeks with an ankle tendon injury. He made two brief starts to end the season at 8-6 with a 4.30 ERA. He was not on the roster for the Wild Card game that the Yanks lost to Boston. In 2022, he was again in the rotation the whole season, and this time the season went the other way: he was brilliant in his first 10 starts, and faded in the last 2/3 of the season. He made one poor relief appearance in the ALDS and one decent, but short start in the ALCS against Houston. His team control was done and he went free agent, signing the first sizeable contract of his career, a 4-year, $66 million contract with the Cubs. In 2023, he had some minor injuries and struggled to 8-10, 4.84 ERA.
This year, the start of his season was delayed by a back injury, but he was great in his first 4 starts. He then slumped, getting hit hard for 5 starts, and recovered to pitch brilliantly for 8 starts: 5-0 with a 2.47 ERA. Another slump followed; 2-3 with a 6.55 ERA over 6 starts. His last start against the Pirates was a gem: 7 innings on 3 hit, scoreless ball, but the bullpen blew his lead and lost the game 5-3. On the season, Taillon is 9-8 in 24 starts with a 3.66 ERA. in 140 1/3 innings, he's allowed 137 hits, 64 runs, 57 earned, 20 HR, 27 B and has K'd 107. His WHIP for the season is a tidy 1.169. Today is Taillon's 3rd career start against the Yanks. He's 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA. In 13 1/3 innings, he's allowed 6 hits, 4 runs (earned), 1 HR, and 5 BB with 8 K's. His WHIP is a very low 0.825, and the Yanks' team quadruple slash line against him is .136/.225/.227/.452. Taillon's last start against the Yanks was the start that turned his season around; he came in with a 6.93 ERA and threw 8 shutout innings, allowing just 1 hit and 2 BB in a 3-0 Cubs win at the Stadium just before the All-Star Break.
Repertoire: At this point in his career, Taillon is a 6-pitch kitchen-sink righty: 4-seamer, cutter, sweeper, curve, sinker and change. The 4-seamer gets average rise and run. The cutter has a little bit better than average drop, and much better than average break in on lefties. The sweeper gets average drop and above average break away from righties. The curve gets average drop and better than average break glove-side. The sinker gets well below average drop and below average tail away from lefties, and the change gets below average drop and average tail. By run values, the cutter is a big plus, the sinker is a decent plus, and the sweeper is a small plus. The change is a big minus, and the curve and 4-seam are small minuses. His FB velocity was near elite when he was just starting out, but it's now well below average. The FB spin is above average, and the curve spin is well above average, as is his extension. His chase rate is average. His average exit velo is...well...average, as is his barrel rate, but the hard hit rate is slightly below average. The line drive rate is slightly below average, and so are the ground ball and popup rates. The flyball rate is above average. The swinging strike rate is well below average, the called strike rate is well above average, so the CSW is almost, but not quite average. In luck factors, the BABIP is a tiny bit below average, as is his strand rate and the HR/FB rate is below average, on balance they help his ERA, which the ERA estimators should be 4.03 not 3.66. The current pitch mix: 4-seam averaging 92-3 about 30%, cutter 86-7 about 24%, sweeper 80-1 about 16%, curve 80 about 15%, sinker 92-3 about 11%, and change 86 about 4%.
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Post by qwik3457bb on Sept 8, 2024 12:24:44 GMT -5
Playing the Name Game: Pathetically brief name game today. Jameson Taillion is a double unique; no other players with first name Jameson or last name Taillon. There is Drey Jameson, who is the only player with last name Jameson. He pitched OK in a swingman role in 2022 and 2023 for the D'backs, but last September came the inevitable UCL tear and Tommy John surgery, and he won't pitch again until next year sometime.
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Post by qwik3457bb on Sept 8, 2024 12:25:31 GMT -5
Gerrit Cole faces off against his old friend and teammate, trying to complete the sweep for the Yanks. He struggled his first few starts off the IL, but has pitched very well in 7 of his last 9 starts: 5-2, 2.61 ERA. On the season, Cole is 6-3 with a 3.65 ERA. In 13 starts, he's pitched 69 innings, allowing 66 hits, 28 runs (earned) 11 HR, and 23 BB with 78 K's. His WHIP has been coming down steadily, and is now just slightly below MLB average at 1.290. This is Cole's 17th career start against the Cubs, and he's done very well in the first 16: 11-3 with a 2.61 ERA. In 103 1/3 innings, he's allowed just 78 hits, 36 runs, 30 earned, just 4 HR, 22 BB and struck out 120. His WHIP against them is 0.968, and the Cubs' team quadruple slash line against him is .210/.264/.283/.547. Cole's last start against the Cubs was at the Stadium, the day after Taillon's big game against the Yanks. Cole went 7 1/3, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs (earned), 1 BB and 5 K's in a 6-3 Yankees win.
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Post by qwik3457bb on Sept 8, 2024 12:27:07 GMT -5
Yankees' lineup vs. Assad: A lot of nothing.
1. Torres (2B) is 1-3
2. Soto (RF) is 1-8 with 1 RBI and 3 K
3. Judge (CF) is 1-3 with a double and a GIDP
4. Wells (C) hasn't faced Taillon.
5. Stanton (DH) is 0-4 with 2 BB and 1 K
6. Chisholm (3B) is 2-5 with 1 double and 1 K
7. Rizzo (1B) is 10-25 with 1 double, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 sac fly and 1 HBP
8. Volpe (SS) is 0-3
9. Verdugo (LF) is 4-19 with 1 double, 1 BB, and 3 K
On the bench: LeMahieu is 2-7 with 1 K and 1 GIDP; Grisham is 0-2 with 1 K, and pitchers Leiter and Weaver are 0-2 with 2 K and 0-2 with 1 K, respectively
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Cubs' lineup vs. Cole: The Cubs bench a couple of normal starters in response to being shut out for two straight games at home; Hoerner and Busch grab some pine today.
1. Happ (LF) is 0-5 with 1 BB and 1 K
2. Swanson (SS) is 3-8 with 1 double, 2 HR, 3 RBI and 3 K
3. Suzuki (DH) is 1-3 with 1 K
4. Bellinger (1B) is 1-6 with 1 double, 1 RBI and 1 K
5. Tauchman (RF) is 1-4 with a 2 run HR and a K.
6. Paredes (3B) is 5-21 with 1 double, 2 RBI, 1 BB, and 4 K
7. Crow-Armstrong (CF) hasn't faced Cole before
8. Amaya (C) also hasn't faced him
9. Mastrobuoni is 2-3 with 1 double;
On the bench: Bethancourt is 2-13 with 1 HR, 3 RBI and 6 K; Hoerner (2B) is 0-3 with 1 RBI and pitcher Hendricks is 0-5 with 4 K.
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Post by qwik3457bb on Sept 8, 2024 12:29:04 GMT -5
Yesterday: the Yanks again got great pitching: 4 2/3 of shutout ball from Schmidt, and 4 1/3 shutout innings from Nestor Cortes, earning himself a piggyback win. Austin Wells knocked in a run in the first with a RBI grounder; Aaron Judge scored a run on a walk, 2 out single from Chisholm and a double steal resulting in a throw that got away from Wisdom at 3rd, letting Judge get up and come home. And that was it: Yanks win 2-0. Cortes' win makes him 9-10 on the year; Javier Assad gave up just one earned run in 5 2/3 and took a tough-luck loss, dropping to 7-5. The win raised the Yanks back to 22 over .500 at 82-60 with 20 to play, guaranteeing they finish over .500 for the 32nd straight season, the 2nd longest such streak in MLB history. And in 2032, if things go right, they'll break the record held by the old Yankee Dynasty teams, 39 straight over .500 seasons from 1926 through 1964.
At Camden Yards, Yandy Diaz scored and knocked in 2, with 3 hits including a HR to lead off the game; and the Rays gradually pulled away in the 2nd half of the game to win, 7-1. Johnny DeLuca had 3 hits and scored 2 runs, and Taylor Walls had 2 hits and a walk, including a solo HR, scoring 2 and driving in 2 for the Rays. Ryan Pepiot went 5 1/3, allowing 1 run on 6 hits, getting to 8-6 on the year. Zach Eflin had his first poor start for the Orioles, giving up 8 hits and 3 runs in 5 2/3 innings, dropping to 5-1 for Baltimore and 10-8 on the season.
At Fenway, the White Sox took an early 2-0 lead on a 2-run HR from Vaughn, but the Red Sox struck back for 4 in their half on a RBI grounder, a 2-run HR from O'Neill and a RBI double by Wong, got 2 more in the 3rd, and one more in the 5th on O'Neill's 2nd HR of the game and 27th of the season to build a 7-2 lead that stood up even after the White Sox got 3 in the 7th on a 3-run HR by ex-Red Sox Benintendi, and the Sox held on to win 7-5. Cooper Criswell made it through five to get the win, improving to 6-4 on the season. Garrett Crochet gave up the runs in the 1st to take his 11th loss against 6 wins. Kenley Jensen, back from a minor injury, pitched a 1-2-3 9th with a K for his 26th save of the year. The loss was the White Sox' 14th in the last 15 games, and they're now 5-44 in their last 49.
In Atlanta, the Jays built up a 9-1 lead through 8 1/2 inning, with the offensive stars being Spencer Horwitz, (4 hits, 3 runs, 3 RBI and 2 HR), Will Wagner (3 hits, 2 RBI) and Ernie Clement (2 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBI). The Braves tried to stage a miracle comeback in the 9th, piling up 5 hits and a RBI grounder for 4 runs, but Brendon Little settled things down, allowing the RBI grounder and one more grounder to close it out. Spencer Schwellenbach gave up 10 hits and 5 runs (3 earned) in 5 innings to drop to 5-7 on the year. Jose Berrios pitched 6 innings of 1-run ball with 5 K's and a walk, his 6th strong start in a row, getting to 15-9 on the season, and is now tied for 2nd in the league in wins.
Coming into the games today, the Yanks jumped back over the O's into 1st by 1/2 game. The Sox stayed 9 1/2 back of the O's and 10 games out of first. The Rays are 2 games behind Boston, 11 1/2 behind Baltimore and 12 games out of 1st, and the Jays are 2 1/2 behind the Rays, 4 1/2 behind the Sox, 14 behind the O's and 14 1/2 out of 1st.
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Post by qwik3457bb on Sept 8, 2024 12:42:50 GMT -5
In other East games today: at 12:05 pm in Camden Yards, the Rays and O's began the rubber game of their series. The Rays just took a 2-0 lead in the top of the 6th when Johnny DeLuca hit a 2-run HR off Burnes, DeLuca's 6th HR of the season. Zack Littell's allowed just 3 hits and no walks, striking out 4 in 5 innings so far.
In Atlanta at 1:35 pm, the Jays and Braves started their rubber game. In an apparent pitchng mismatch, Cuba import Yariel Rodriguez (1-6, 4.61 ERA) will face top NL Cy Young candidate Chris Sale (16-3, 2.46). Rodriguez hasn't throw a quality start since before the All-Star Break while Sale is the only pitcher in the majors who has even a small chance to win 20 games this year; he'll have to win his last 4 starts to get there.
In Fenway, also at 1:35pm, the Red Sox are trying for the sweep over the White Sox. Chris Flexen (2-14, 5.36 ERA) starts for the ChiSox. He's been healthy and in rotation all year, but hasn't won a game in 21 starts, since early May; he's 0-11 since them. The Sox called up rookie Richard Fitts to make his MLB debut. Fitts was 9-5 in AAA with a 4.17 ERA, and more relevant to Yankees fans, he was one of the three pitchers traded to Boston for Alex Verdugo, along with Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice. Fitts had himself a scoreless first, allowing just a single to Luis Robert.
And at 2:20 pm, it's Cole vs. Taillon at Wrigley.
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Post by qwik3457bb on Sept 8, 2024 12:45:34 GMT -5
And now, The Sunday Standings™ for Sunday, September 8th:
In the AL Central:
The Guardians arrested their slow slide this week, winning 4 of 6, and lead the division at 81-61. The Royals split 6 games, remaining at 13 games over .500 and are 3 1/2 back. The Twins dropped 4 of 7, dropping to 10 games over .500. They trail KC by 1 1/2 and are 5 games out of 1st. The Tigers went 3-3, staying a game over .500. They're 4 1/2 back of the Twins, 6 behind the Royals, and 9 1/2 out of 1st. The White Sox lost 5 of 6, a bad week even for them, slipping to 32-111. The one win was a shocking blowout of the O's at Camden Yards. Their winning percentage is .223, which would set the record low, and on pace to go 36-126, the most losses in modern MLB history.
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In the West...
The Astros split 6 games, and lead the West at 77-65. The Marines went 3-4, dropping to just one game over .500 and trail Houston by 5 1/2. The Rangers continued their solid play of late by taking 5 of 7. They've now won 9 of 12, and have climbed to 5 games under .500, 3 back of the M's, 8 1/2 out of 1st. The A's won 4 of 7, getting to 19 games under .500. The Angels split 6 games and are now 24 games under .500, trailing the A's by 2 1/2 in the battle to avoid the cellar.
The current AL Wild Cards...The O's still have the leading Wild Card. The 2nd and 3rd Wild Cards are now the Royals and the Twins. The Red Sox are one or three teams within 5 games of the Royals; they're 4 back. The Mariners are 4 1/2 back, and so are the Tigers, the Rays are 6 back and the defending champ Rangers are 7 1/2 behind the Twins.
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Post by qwik3457bb on Sept 8, 2024 12:47:33 GMT -5
One side note, although the Yanks have almost no shot at having the best record in MLB at year's end, their 1/2 game lead over the O's means they have the best record in the AL by that same 1/2 game.
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Over in the NL...
In the East, the Phillies had their 5-game winning streak stopped yesterday by the Marlins, leaving them 5-1 on the week. They're in first at 85-57, tied with the Dodgers for the best team in MLB. The Mets are now the hottest team in MLB, winning all 6 games this week and 9 in a row. They're now 14 games over .500, and are 64-31 in their last 95 games, 7 games behind Philadelphia. The Braves split six games to remain at 12 over .500, have fallen to 3rd, a game behind the Mets and 8 games out of 3rd, and also out of the last Wild Card spot. All their key injuries this year might ace them out of the playoffs, especially the crucial, nearly season long injuries to Acuna, their best hitter and Strider, their best pitcher. The Nats also went 3-3 this week, staying at 14 games under. They're 13 behind Atlanta, 14 behind the Mets and already eliminated from the division title. The Marlins also split six games, and are still neck-and-neck with the Rockies for worst team in the NL honors.
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Post by qwik3457bb on Sept 8, 2024 12:48:54 GMT -5
In the Central: The Brewers had a poor week, going 2-4, but still lead the division at 82-60, same record as the Yanks. The Cubs did themselves no favors by also going 2-4, including being shut out by the Yanks the last two days. They're back down to 2 games over .500, and are 10 games out of 1st. The Cards won 4 of 6, gaining two games on both of the teams in front of them, and are now in a flat-foot tie with Cubs for 2nd at 72-70, and also 10 games back of the division lead. The Reds also went 4-2, staying 7 games under .500, 4 1/2 behind both the Cubs and Cards and 14 1/2 out of 1st. They should be eliminated from contention for the division crown this week. The Pirates went 3-4, dropping to 10 games under .500. Their only race remaining is to see if they can pass the Reds and get out of the division basement; they're 1 1/2 behind.
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Out West, the Dodgers red-hot streak was paused; they split 6 games and lead the division at 85-57, tied with the Phils for the best record in MLB. The Padres jumped back into 2nd by going 4-2. They're now 18 games over .500 and 5 games behind LA. The D'backs very long hot streak came to an end last weekend when they lost 3 of 4 to the Mets and Dodgers, then they lost 4 of 7 this week to fall to 3rd, 15 games over, and the playoff spot the defending NL champs worked so hard to win themselves back into is now is jeopardy; the Mets and Braves are close behind, and one of the three teams will end the season on the outside looking in, unless they all pass the Padres or the Mets catch Philly. The Giants went 2-4, falling to 3 games under, and any serious hope of a playoff spot is likely gone now. They're 9 games behind Arizona, 8 1/2 behind the Mets and 7 1/2 behind the Braves. The Rockies dropped 4 of 6, and are now 1/2 behind the Marlins, 37 games under .500, the worst record in the league.
The NL Wild Cards are now held by the Padres, D'backs and Mets. The only team within 5 games of New York is the Braves (1 games back), The only other teams still sort of in it are the Cubs and Cards (6 games back).
And that concludes The Sunday Standings™ for this week.
Preview stuff is done for today; see you in a little less than half an hour for the game.
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Post by qwik3457bb on Sept 8, 2024 13:16:42 GMT -5
A quick look at the other East games before the Yankee game begins:
Rays lead the O's 2-0, top 8th at Camden Yards.
Red Sox lead the White Sox, 1-0, bottom 3 at Fenway.
The Braves lead the Jays, 1-0, bottom 3 in Atlanta.
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Post by qwik3457bb on Sept 8, 2024 13:19:49 GMT -5
Cubs take the field. Taillon throwing his last warmups.
Torres about ready to step in.
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Post by qwik3457bb on Sept 8, 2024 13:20:28 GMT -5
Game underway.
Torres takes a waist high FB, outer 3rd, 0-1
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Post by inger on Sept 8, 2024 13:21:14 GMT -5
The boy with the upside down mouth 🙃…
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