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The Monkey on buy/sell candidates at the break.
Miami Marlins – Yimi Garcia has performed well enough that a contender might be willing to part with a low-level prospect in exchange for his services for the season’s final two months. But he hasn’t been good enough to displace virtually any team’s closer at this point. This means his value is likely to drop off a cliff, while Anthony Bender is the best bet to be elevated in his place.
BUY+: Anthony Bender, SELL+: Yimi Garcia.
A head-scratcher, which I'll turn over to the Monkey.
Chicago Cubs – The Cubs haven’t been shy about wanting to trade Craig Kimbrel, with the Astros, Athletics and, more recently, the Red Sox named as possible landing places. Wherever Kimbrel ends up, he will likely remain as a closer so his value won’t change much. Andrew Chafin is most likely to benefit from a Kimbrel trade, but Ryan Tepera and Rex Brothers are also candidates to take over the Cubs job assuming that none of them are traded themselves. With all 3 likely to become free agents after the season, the closers job may go to whoever is left.
BUY: Andrew Chafin.
Who gets more saves the second half: Chafin, Rogers (SF) or Bender?
Torkelson has really been amazing. His first few games I was really worried about him. Granted, it was his first pro game action. But, he looked like he was totally lost. In his first 4 games he was 1/16 with 10 Ks. Even after a good 5th game he continued to struggle. His first HR was on May 22 and at that time he only had 2 doubles. But, by the end of the month he had dialed in his batting eye. First professional month was 235/379/397. He crushed in June, being promoted mid-month. 352/441/692. He's having some adjustment issues this month at AA, but is still hitting 222/417/593. The average is of little worry considering his power and he's had more walks than Ks. At this point, I'd say his draft billing as the #1 pick and his production at two levels shows he could be the #1 hitting prospect in the minors. I have a feeling his move to 3B will be short lived. He will be Miggy's replacement at 1B. Either that or he will come up and move over quickly like Thome did.
Minor Leagues Spotlight
Lowest ERA among top-100 prospects in the minors this season
| Name | Age | Lev | Aff | IP | ERA | SO9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Meyer | 22 | AA | FLA | 54.0 | 1.67 | 9.0 |
| Grayson Rodriguez | 21 | A+,AA | BAL | 58.0 | 2.02 | 13.2 |
| Shane Baz | 22 | AAA,AA | TBR | 51.2 | 2.09 | 13.4 |
| Cade Cavalli | 22 | AA,A+ | WSN | 62.0 | 2.47 | 15.0 |
See 2021 minor league pitching stats at Baseball-Reference.com's Game Log Finder
Minor Leagues Spotlight
Highest on base plus slugging among top-100 prospects in the minors this season
| Name | Age | Lev | Aff | PA | HR | SB | BA | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Torkelson | 21 | AA,A+ | DET | 230 | 12 | 4 | .290 | .987 |
| Francisco Alvarez | 19 | A+,A | NYM | 203 | 9 | 3 | .292 | .969 |
| Keibert Ruiz | 22 | AAA | LAD | 180 | 12 | 0 | .287 | .965 |
| Tyler Soderstrom | 19 | A | OAK | 222 | 9 | 2 | .311 | .956 |
| Julio Rodriguez | 20 | AA,A+ | SEA | 182 | 7 | 7 | .310 | .948 |
See 2021 minor league batting stats at Baseball-Reference.com's Game Log Finder
Negro Leagues Spotligh
 | WAR: 30.0 Better than 4.9% of HOFers Black Ink: 45 Better than 76.5% of HOFers Gray Ink: 289 Better than 89.3% of HOFers HOF Monitor: 42.5 Better than 4.5% of HOFers JAWS: 26.40 Better than 4.3% of HOFers at P |
Among players who exclusively played in the Negro Leagues, Bill Byrd has the 2nd-highest Wins Above Replacement of anyone not yet inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was selected to the East-West All-Star Game in 5 different seasons. He was well known for employing the spitball pitch, and posted his most impressive statlines once he entered the 2nd half of his career, including a sub-2.00 ERA and league-leading 1.030 WHIP in his final major league season at age 40. He also generally provided positive value as a hitter, knocking in 16 home runs and 127 RBI over the course of his career.
Has earned $18/$16 at the All-Star break.
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2021 WAR Leaders
Batters:
Fernando Tatis Jr.* (SDP): .286 BA, 1.020 OPS, 28 HR, 20 SB, 4.3 WAR
Marcus Semien* (TOR): .277 BA, .873 OPS, 22 HR, 10 SB, 4.3 WAR
Max Muncy (LAD): .270 BA, .972 OPS, 19 HR, 1 SB, 4.2 WAR
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR): .332 BA, 1.089 OPS, 28 HR, 2 SB, 4.2 WAR
Joey Gallo (TEX): .239 BA, .923 OPS, 24 HR, 6 SB, 4.0 WAR
Brandon Crawford (SFG): .289 BA, .921 OPS, 18 HR, 7 SB, 4.0 WAR
See 2021 batting leaders at Baseball-Reference.com
* - pictured above
Has earned $14/$12 at the All-Star break.
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2021 WAR Leaders
Pitchers:
Shohei Ohtani* (LAA): 67.0 IP, 3.49 ERA, 1.209 WHIP, 11.7 SO/9
.279 BA. 1.062 OPS, 33 HR, 12 SB, 5.6 WAR
Jacob deGrom* (NYM): 92.0 IP, 1.08 ERA, 0.543 WHIP, 14.3 SO/9, 5.0 WAR
Kevin Gausman* (SFG): 114.2 IP, 1.73 ERA, 0.820 WHIP, 10.4 SO/9, 5.0 WAR
Zack Wheeler (PHI): 119.2 IP, 2.26 ERA, 0.969 WHIP, 10.9 SO/9, 4.9 WAR
Wade Miley (CIN): 96.1 IP, 2.80 ERA, 1.163 WHIP, 7.1 SO/9, 4.5 WAR
Gerrit Cole (NYY): 114.0 IP, 2.68 ERA, 0.930 WHIP, 11.6 SO/9, 4.3 WAR
See 2021 pitching leaders at Baseball-Reference.com
* - pictured above
At the break
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2021 WAR Leaders
Pitchers:
Shohei Ohtani* (LAA): 67.0 IP, 3.49 ERA, 1.209 WHIP, 11.7 SO/9
.279 BA. 1.062 OPS, 33 HR, 12 SB, 5.6 WAR
Jacob deGrom* (NYM): 92.0 IP, 1.08 ERA, 0.543 WHIP, 14.3 SO/9, 5.0 WAR
Kevin Gausman* (SFG): 114.2 IP, 1.73 ERA, 0.820 WHIP, 10.4 SO/9, 5.0 WAR
Zack Wheeler (PHI): 119.2 IP, 2.26 ERA, 0.969 WHIP, 10.9 SO/9, 4.9 WAR
Wade Miley (CIN): 96.1 IP, 2.80 ERA, 1.163 WHIP, 7.1 SO/9, 4.5 WAR
Gerrit Cole (NYY): 114.0 IP, 2.68 ERA, 0.930 WHIP, 11.6 SO/9, 4.3 WAR
See 2021 pitching leaders at Baseball-Reference.com
Batters:
Fernando Tatis Jr.* (SDP): .286 BA, 1.020 OPS, 28 HR, 20 SB, 4.3 WAR
Marcus Semien* (TOR): .277 BA, .873 OPS, 22 HR, 10 SB, 4.3 WAR
Max Muncy (LAD): .270 BA, .972 OPS, 19 HR, 1 SB, 4.2 WAR
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR): .332 BA, 1.089 OPS, 28 HR, 2 SB, 4.2 WAR
Joey Gallo (TEX): .239 BA, .923 OPS, 24 HR, 6 SB, 4.0 WAR
Brandon Crawford (SFG): .289 BA, .921 OPS, 18 HR, 7 SB, 4.0 WAR
See 2021 batting leaders at Baseball-Reference.com
* - pictured above
Any new thoughts on India given another month plus of data? Seems to be outperforming expectations so far.
Triston Casas, Double-A Portland (Red Sox)—Casas hit a two-run blast in the first inning to help Portland to a 9-3 win over Reading on Tuesday. The 21-year-old third baseman has not shown the same level of power since arriving in the upper minors, with five home runs in 44 games after hitting 20 in 120 games mostly at Low-A in 2019. Casas is hitting .268/.353/.409 with 28 RBIs and 21 walks.
At the All-Star break
AL Standings
Most Likely Playoff Scenario | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NL Standings
Most Likely Playoff Scenario |
Stathead Spotlight: Freddy Peralta
Youngest pitchers to strike out every batter they faced in an All-Star Game (min. 3 BF)
| Player | Age (Yrs.Days) | Date | Tm | Lg | Inn | SO | BF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Bieber | 24.039 | 2019‑07‑09 | CLE | AL | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Gene Conley | 24.244 | 1955‑07‑12 | MLN | NL | 12 | 3 | 3 |
| Freddy Peralta | 25.039 | 2021‑07‑13 | MIL | NL | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Bobby Shantz | 26.286 | 1952‑07‑08 | PHA | AL | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Jacob deGrom | 27.025 | 2015‑07‑14 | NYM | NL | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Aroldis Chapman | 27.136 | 2015‑07‑14 | CIN | NL | 9 | 3 | 3 |
Figures to be the only time all season a reliever makes the list.
| Wednesday, July 14 | Read in Browser. | ||||||||||
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In the New York Post today:
The Mets’ Taijuan Walker made his debut in this game by serving up a homer to his former Mariners battery mate Mike Zunino, now with the Rays, and striking out the Royals’ Whit Merrifield during his one inning of work.
“I had a good time. It was fun,” Walker said. “I got myself a strikeout and gave up a homer to a teammate who knows how I pitch.”
The highlight, he said, was “just hearing my family [his wife, mother and siblings] scream for me. I heard them scream for me when I got the strikeout.”
I guess the fact that none of us answered is your answer, Joel.
There's little comfort in Mike Puma's grade today in the Post.
Michael Conforto: F
He has been lost at the plate all season, and the hamstring injury that cost him a month only exacerbated matters. This is no way to earn a big contract.
I'm not sure Met fans would agree Lindor and McNeil get the same grade, but whatever.
Mike Puma, continuing to hand out grades today in the New York Post.
Jeff McNeil: C –
Did he and Lindor ever decide if it was a rat or raccoon in the tunnel by the dugout? McNeil, like Lindor, was a first-half disappointment.
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The Monkey on buy/sell candidates at the break.
San Francisco Giants – The Giants might be baseball’s most surprising team, as they have the league’s best record in what could be its most top-heavy division, so they will likely be buyers. But will a new closer be part of the deadline plan? Time will tell, but whoever is acquired, if anyone, will be subject to manager Gabe Kapler and his old tricks. Kapler has been employing a committee approach in the ninth inning this season with Jake McGee (2.72 ERA, 19 saves) and Tyler Rogers (1.47 ERA, 10 saves). Our bet is McGee nailing down the most saves in the second half.
SELL: Tyler Rogers.