Junk and Stuff

[DOUGHBOYS]

Most of us have owned Aroldis Chapman on one team or another.
We liked the feel of power as Chapman entered a game and would blow hitters away with 100+ mph stuff.
Even better, Chapman looked as if he were trying to top himself with each succeeding pitch.
Maybe it's injury or something else, but now, I don't get that feeling with Chapman.
He looks bored.
A fix would be to use Chapman in the Andrew Miller role at Cleveland.
The Yankees have the experience and stuff in Betances and Robertson to fill the Cody Allen role.
I believe it would make the Yankees a more formidable team while giving Chapman a new challenge.

The bone bruise diagnosis for Bryce Harper sounds so Metsian.

Since 2015, the Cleveland Indians have played at Tampa for a series there.
Four times since, Indians pitchers have taken a no-hitter into the sixth inning.
In over 200 games at home during that same time, Indians pitchers have taken a no-hitter into the sixth inning just three times.

Howie Kendrick hit a grand slam to win the game for the Nationals.
Kendrick is defined for what he has NOT done in the Majors.
Before and after his Major League debut, many scouts, managers, and teammates were counting on several batting championships from Kendrick.
None.
They said he would hit for average and that the power would flourish.
Nope.
Yesterday's homer was his 99th career homer.
And before the hit last night, he had no grand slams.

Mr. Chapman, Mr. Joyce, and Mr. Olsen all hit home runs for the Oakland A's yesterday.
That's Matt Chapman, Matt Joyce, and Matt Olsen.
No, it wasn't the first time that three Matt's hit home runs in the same game for the same team.
In 2013, Matt Carpenter, Matt Holliday, and Matt Adams hit homers in a game for the Cardinals.
As far as I know, there are no 'Matt's' in the Hall of Fame though.
Do Mat Latos and Matty Alou count as 'Matt's' ?
Willie Mays and Willie McCovey hit over 800 home runs as teammates from 1959-72
They put 'Matt's' to shame.

Brian Dozier has 38 homers after the All Star break in 2016 and '17.
Once a 'speed guy', you may be surprised to find that Dozier has hit 140 homers in his career.
Stolen bases?
85.

The other day the Dodgers lost a game while the Giants won their game.
It was the first time that had happened since July 2.
The Dodgers have painted themselves into a World Series corner.
Anything but winning it all, will be met with criticism from October to April.

Cory Spangenberg and Justin Turner hit two homers for the Padres/Dodgers game yesterday.
It was the fourth time this year the opposing 3B each hit multiple homers in 2017.
Before 2017 and since 1900, this had only happened four times total!

I tire of the media hyping Buster Posey's year.
If not for being a Catcher, his statistics are Prado-like.
Even as a Catcher, are they that great?
Here is Posey's and Yadier Molina's lines....
Posey - .318/50/12/51/5
Molina- .274/47/14/54/8
Among fantasy drafters, there is no argument in who has received the most value for their pick.
(Value, now being realized)
If Posey fell to the fourth round in drafts, Posey owners cited 'VALUE'.
In the mean time, Molina drafters were the one's receiving the real value rounds later....

In almost 100 less at bats, Paul DeJong has hit more homers (18) than Trevor Story (15)
Raise your hands if knowing who Paul DeJong was before the season started.

Speaking of shortstops....
During drafting season, Trea Turner, Manny Machado, Corey Seager, Francisco Lindor, Xander Bogaerts, and Trevor Story were at the top of most shopping lists.
Who are the two top shortstops in a lot of 'player raters'?
Elvis Andrus and Andrelton Simmons.

Despite his recent hot homer streak, Giancarlo Stanton has been productive across the board.
He is the only hitter in baseball to have seven homers each month of the 2017 season.

If the 'bone bruise' suffered by Bryce Harper ends his season, he will end the season with two noteable non- baseball hitting events.
Being hit by his only hbp of the season and his awkward tumble this weekend.
Hunter Strickland and the Giants were there for both.

Chris Davis has 67 hits this year.
Ryan Zimmerman has 54 extra base hits this year.

Ken Giles two inning Save yesterday was the first time he has ever recorded such a Save.

Which New York hitter has the most home runs during July and August?
Nope, not Aaron Judge (easily the winner of media darling of the year)
It's not even a Yankee.
Michael Conforto

Yoenis Cespedes best month for rbi was 10 in April.
Scooter Gennett needed just one night to match that.

This recent home stand for the Rays could not have been good for drafters of their offensive players.
The Rays were shutout five times in that home stand.
That has not been done since the '55 Orioles 'accomplished' the same thing.

In 25 games played and 101 at bats since being suspended from baseball for 50 games, Starling Marte has matched the amount of home runs hit during that suspension.