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Senior Circuit steals a win
in Off-topic discussion Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:16 amby officialsbaseball • Farseer | 192 Posts | 1920 Points
The Baltimore Orioles have been holding a fire sale since the All-Star break Josh Rosen Jersey Limited , as superstar shortstop Manny Machado was sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers and stud reliever Zach Britton was traded to the New York Yankees.The Orioles do not appear to be putting up the stop sign anytime soon. Centerfielder Adam Jones could be the next big name on the move.The Cleveland Indians and the Philadelphia Phillies are those who are highest on the list to acquire Jones, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.While the Indians seem like they are on their way to the AL Central title whether they acquire Jones or not, he could be the difference-maker for the Phillies as they battle the Atlanta Braves down the stretch in the NL East.Jones is a five-time All-Star who has a .277/.304/.421 slash line with 10 home runs and 38 RBI this season. He has 261 career home runs and 853 RBI during his 13-year MLB run.Derrick Goold dgooldWhy #stlcards going after a need for 2019 now in 2018 makes sense, starting with a starter. Seems counterintuitive? Consider how #cardinals have been intrigued by Chris Archer. #MLBqwRhYgrSMxThe 32-year-old is one of the bigger-name hitters under discussion, while Chris Archer of the Tampa Bay Rays may be the biggest-name starting pitcher who is under discussion.While the Rays have had a surprisingly solid year, boasting a winning record, they don't appear to be in a position to chase down a wild-card spot. Archer may be their most valuable asset, and Morosi reports that eight teams are considering bringing in the two-time All-Star for the stretch run.Morosi mentioned the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres among the teams that have interest. While the Cubs, Phillies and Diamondbacks are all contenders, the Padres clearly are not, and their interest seems questionable.The Cubs acquired Cole Hamels from the Texas Rangers on Thursday, so their interest may not be as high as it was the previous day.The Tampa Bay Times tweeted that the St. Louis Cardinals are also interestedin Archer. The Cardinals have been looking for consistency all season, but they may have a desire to add Archer because of what he could bring to the team in 2019.Archer has a 3-4 record this season in 16 starts, and he had a 4.30 earned-run average with 99 strikeouts in 90.0 innings.The Cincinnati Reds have rebounded nicely after an awful start to the season. While it looked like they would be sure sellers in the early part of the season, that isapparently no longer the case.Starting pitcher Matt Harvey, who was acquired by the Reds earlier this season after his run with the New York Mets came to an end, may be the team's only big name who could be moved before the deadline, according to journalist Ken Rosenthal.On the other hand, Rosenthal suggested that the Reds may try to acquire some talent before Tuesday's deadline.Harvey was a flamethrower in his heyday with the Mets, but he struggled badly from 2016 through the early part of the 2018 season. He has been somewhat better with the Reds, recording a 5-4 record with a 4.50 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 68.0 innings. The Midsummer Classic is still the main draw of all the festivities during All-Star week.Many young fans get turned on by the home run hitting contest and the distances players like Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber can hit the ball. Hard-core fans watch every pitch of the Futures Game with a scout's eye in order to get a view of the players who are likely to become the game's stars in the next three-to-five years.But while interleague play, free agency and the frequency of seeing the game's great stars on television may have taken some of the mystery out of the All-Star Game, there's still something fascinating about seeing the sport's best players line up against each other while representing their leagues.The American League comes into the 89th All-Star Game at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. riding a five-game winning streak and having put together a run of 23-6-1 over the last 30 years. That hot streak enabled the American League to tie the all-time series at 43-43-2 last year, and a win Tuesday night will give the AL the lead in the series for the first time since 1963.Chris Sale of the Boston Red Sox will take the mound for the Junior Circuit for the third straight year, while Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals will start for the second year in a row and the third time in his career.American League manager A.J. Hinch of the Houston Astros and National League manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers announced their starting lineups Monday.Javier Baez of the Cubs could be a sparkplug for the National League.Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesNational League Lineup1. Javier Baez, 2B, Cubs2. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies3. Paul Goldschmidt, DH, D-backs4. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Braves5. Matt Kemp, LF, Dodgers6. Bryce Harper, CF, Nationals7. Nick Markakis, RF, Braves8. Brandon Crawford, SS, Giants9. Willson Contreras, C, CubsMax Scherzer, P, NationalsAmerican League Lineup1. Mookie Betts, RF, Red Sox2. Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros3. Mike Trout, CF, Angels4. J.D. Martinez Authentic Julio Jones Jersey , DH, Red Sox5. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Indians6. Aaron Judge, LF, Yankees7. Manny Machado, SS, Orioles8. Jose Abreu, 1B, White Sox9. Salvador Perez, C, RoyalsChris Sale, P, Red SoxHere's a look at some information ahead of the game and the full rosters for both teams.2018 MLB All-Star GameDate: Tuesday, July 17Time: 8 p.m. ETTV: FoxJose Ramirez (left) and Jose Altuve are a dynamic duo for the American League.Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty ImagesRostersAmerican LeagueStartersWilson Ramos. C, Tampa Bay*Jose Abreu, 1B. Chicago White SoxJose Altuve. 2B, HoustonJose Ramirez, 3B, ClevelandManny Machado, SS, BaltimoreMike Trout, OF, Los Angeles AngelsAaron Judge, OF, New York YankeesMookie Betts, OF, BostonJ.D. Martinez, OF, BostonAmerican League ReservesSalvador Perez, C, Kansas City (designated as a starter after Ramos injury)Yan Gomes, C, ClevelandMitch Moreland, 1B, BostonJed Lowrie, 2B, OaklandGleyber Torres, 2B, New York Yankees*Alex Bregman, 3B, HoustonFrancisco Lindor, SS, ClevelandJean Segura, SS, SeattleMichael Brantley, OF, ClevelandShin-Soo Choo, OF, TexasMitch Haniger, OF, SeattleGeorge Springer, OF Julio Jones Jersey Limited , HoustonNelson Cruz, DH, SeattleAmerican League PitchersTrevor Bauer, ClevelandJose Berrios, MinnesotaAroldis Chapman, New York Yankees*Gerrit Cole, HoustonEdwin Diaz, SeattleJ.A. Happ, TorontoJoe Jimenez, DetroitCraig Kimbrel, BostonCorey Kluber, Cleveland*Charlie Morton, HoustonChris Sale, BostonLuis Severino, New York YankeesBlake Treinen, OaklandJustin Verlander, Detroit*National League StartersWillson Contreras, C, Chicago CubsFreddie Freeman, 1B, AtlantaJavier Baez, 2B, Chicago CubsNolan Arenado, 3B, ColoradoBrandon Crawford, SS, San FranciscoNick Markakis, OF, AtlantaMatt Kemp, OF, Los Angeles DodgersBryce Harper, OF, WashingtonNational League ReservesYadier Molina, C, St. LouisBuster Posey, C, San Francisco*J.T. Realmuto, C, MiamiJesus Aguilar, 1B, MilwaukeePaul Goldschmidt, 1B, ArizonaJoey Votto, 1B, CincinnatiOzzie Albies, 2B, AtlantaScooter Gennett, 2B, CincinnatiEugenio Suarez, 3B, CincinnatiTrevor Story, SS, ColoradoCharlie Blackmon http://www.atlantafalconsteamonline.com/julio-jones-jersey , OF, ColoradoLorenzo Cain, OF, MilwaukeeChristian Yelich, OF, MilwaukeeNational League PitchersPatrick Corbin, ArizonaZack Greinke, ArizonaJacob deGrom, New York MetsSean Doolittle, Washington*Mike Foltynewicz, AtlantaJosh Hader, MilwaukeeJason Jeffress, MilwaukeeBrad Hand, San DiegoKenley Jansen, Los Angeles DodgersJon Lester, Chicago Cubs*Miles Mikolas, St. Louis*Aaron Nola, PhiladelphiaMax Scherzer, WashingtonRoss Stripling, Los Angeles DodgersFelipe Vazquez, Pittsburgh*-denotes player won't be participating in All-Star Game.On the surface, it looks like the American League has the advantage once again based on both the starting lineup and the reserves coming off the bench.Betts (.359/.448/.691) is having a spectacular season and could easily ignite the American League with an extra-base hit. Altuve (.332/.394/.470) is the defending MVP and is never intimidated. Trout (.310/.454/.606) is almost certainly the best all-around player on the planet.Yes, that's a formidable top of the lineup, but Scherzer is not the type to back down from any challenge. He said last week during an interview with the MLB Network that he is not planning to hold back and that he plans to fire for "a couple of innings" if Roberts plans to use him that long.The question of great pitching vs. great hitting will once again be tested.Sale has been on one of the hottest streaks of his career, as he has struck out 11 or more batters while walking one batter or fewer in his last five starts for the Red Sox.Since the American League is designated as the home team鈥攅ven though the game is in a National League city鈥攈e has a chance to set the tone against Baez, Arenado and Goldschmidt.Baez (19 home runs, 72 runs batted in) will usually take on an all-or-nothing attitude quite often when he is at the plate, but since he is leading off the game, he may just take what the defense gives him. He is a free swinger who hardly ever walks.Arenado (23 homers, 68 RBI) is an exceptional hitter while Goldschmidt (21 homers, 52 RBI) has been hot in recent weeks. Still, it would be a surprise if the National League does any real damage against Sale.The American League is a minus-130 favorite, according to OddsShark, while the National League is a plus-110 underdog. A bettor taking the American League would risk $130 to win $100, while a National League supporter bets $100 to win $110. PredictionsThe belief here is that Scherzer and Sale will do their jobs quite well, and so will deGrom and Severino, who are likely to follow the starters for their respective leagues.However, the rest of the pitchers may have to face reality. In particular, we see the next wave of NL pitchers having problems with Betts, Martinez, Trout, Ramirez and Machado among the starters.When the American League brings Lindor, Bregman, Springer and Cruz off the bench, it will have the opportunity to score quite a bit.The National League will take its cues from Arenado, Goldschmidt and Freeman, but that won't be enough. Votto, Aguilar and Cain are solid coming off the bench, but they may have a hard time producing like their American League counterparts.We like the American League to make it six wins in a row and take the all-time lead in the series, but the NL has one wild card. If Baez gets off to a brilliant start, hits a long ball and makes one or two of his classic plays in the field, it would not be a shocker if the Senior Circuit steals a win.
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