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New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
The Pirates' Weird & Wild month. Plus: Check out this cool Roki Sasaki card
The Windup Newsletter ⚾ | This is The Athletic's MLB newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Windup directly in your inbox. Heads up, everyone: Weird & Wild is BACK. Plus: More on Jen Pawol's big-league debut this weekend, the baseball card of the week, and we ask an important question: What the heck is going on with Kyle Tucker? I'm Levi Weaver, Ken Rosenthal is off this week — welcome to The Windup! In case you missed it, Weird & Wild took the month of July off so Jayson Stark could cover things like the All-Star Game and Hall of Fame inductions. That means today's edition is jam-packed with the weirdest and wildest moments from an entire month. I am always amazed at the nuggets that Jayson is able to pull from the great game, but the section on the Pirates' season had me literally shaking my head while I read it. Check this out: Friday — score nine runs in the top of the first (that seems good) … and lose (17-16)! Advertisement Saturday — get a three-homer game from their sweet-swinging first baseman, Liover Peguero (that also seems good) … and lose (8-5)! Sunday — give up back-to-back-back homers (that seems bad) … but win (of course)! That seems almost impossible. But do you watch the Pirates much? Just in the intermission between regular-season Weird and Wild columns, they also … • Threw a shutout in all three games of a series (against the Cardinals) and then … in the very next series … got shut out themselves in all three games of a series (against Seattle). • Played another three-game series in which they got swept by the worst team in the American League (the White Sox), followed … immediately thereafter … by a three-game series in which they did the sweeping of the team with the best record in the American League (the Tigers). There is, of course, so much more. Who else would get someone at Baseball Reference to dedicate two days to finding a specific play? Who else would even notice that the Rays went 8-22 after losing a game 22-8? Would anyone else on this planet inform us that Corbin Martin's line on July 21 — 1 IP 1 H 1 R 1 ER 1 BB 1 K 1 HBP 1 balk 1 HR — was a box-scorigami? (Meaning: It had never been done before). Welcome back, Jayson. The first half was a little slice of baseball heaven for Cubs fans. Pete Crow-Armstrong was having the breakout year to define all breakout years, the relief pitching was in the top 10 in the league in fWAR on July 1, and the starting pitching … well, the Cubs were winning a lot of games. And chief among the success stories was Kyle Tucker, their big trade acquisition from the offseason. When the calendar flipped to July, he was hitting .291/.395/.537 (.931 OPS) with 17 home runs in 83 games. In the month-plus since? Advertisement .208/.353/.271 (.624) with one home run in 28 games. The on-base percentage is still there, but the average and power have all but disappeared. So, what's going on? Sahadev Sharma does his best to unravel the mystery today. One theory: A finger injury sustained on June 1 might be lingering. Or the small changes he might have made to compensate for the pain might be leading to worse results. One problem: He hit .311 with a .982 OPS in June. The fact is, while we can point out the differences in the results — and Sahadev has a few good ones here to indicate the problems — it might just … be a slump? And, as we pointed out above, the fact that he's not chasing is a good sign. It means he's not 'pressing' (getting desperate and trying to force things). The good news for the Cubs: His slump hasn't affected their winning percentage much. They were 49-35 (.583) at the end of June, and are 17-13 (.567) since. The bad news for the Cubs: The Brewers are 23-7 (.767) since the first of July, and have overtaken the Cubs for first place. As the pennant race rounds the corner into the back third of the season, the Cubs could certainly use a hot streak from their superstar outfielder. A follow-up on our section yesterday on Jen Pawol, who will become the first female umpire to work a regular-season MLB game this weekend: Sam Blum has a story today in which he spoke with the first two women to have worked a big-league spring training game: Pam Postema and Ria Cortesio. He also spoke to Dale Scott, the first openly gay umpire to have worked in the big leagues. Needless to say, they're all thrilled for Pawol. Cortesio, now a pilot, says she broke into tears when she found out about the promotion. Meanwhile, Tyler Kepner's 'Sliders' column this week also starts with Pawol. He spoke with former big-league umpire (and instructor at MLB umpire camps) Ted Barrett, who spoke highly of Pawol's bona fides. If you missed it yesterday, Pawol will work both halves of the Saturday doubleheader between the Braves and Marlins, and is scheduled to work behind the plate on Sunday. OK, Roki Sasaki is not going to win NL Rookie of the Year this year. Not only has he not pitched since May 9, but he was 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA when he hit the IL. But this is my first Sasaki card, which I pulled from a pack this week. I'm generally not a fan of die-cut cards (more corners mean more chances to mess up the card), but I like this one. The pitching motion, the fact he looks like he's staring straight into the camera, the RC logo at the bottom noting that it's his rookie card … it's a cool card. It's also not worth much — you can get them online for well under five bucks. Your biggest strengths and your biggest weaknesses are often the very same thing. Yankees manager Aaron Boone is his players' biggest advocate — the quintessential players' manager. But as the mistakes pile up, Boone has faced criticism for what some are calling a lack of accountability. Brendan Kuty says Boone's tone has begun to change. Advertisement Tim Britton takes a look at what Roman Anthony's extension might mean for prospects like Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark. Most teams don't open their books. But in an earnings report Thursday, the Braves reported — despite a very disappointing season — a 12 percent increase in earnings. Interesting, while we keep an eye toward the next CBA negotiations. Remember Starling Marte's 'Dragonball Z' cleats? Those were made by a 15-year-old who goes by 'EvanTheArtist.' Dhani Joseph caught up with the wunderkind. You might not recognize the name Jake Riordan, but the Kentucky Little League coach recently made a joke that went viral (in a good way). Rustin Dodd spoke to Riordan about his 'keep it loose' coaching philosophy. On the pods: On 'Rates & Barrels,' the crew talks about making pitchers uncomfortable, and they discuss the best post-deadline bullpens in the game. Speaking of which … Most-clicked in our last newsletter: Eno Sarris' look at who now has the best bullpen in baseball. 📫 Love The Windup? Check out The Athletic's other newsletters. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Padres GM A.J. Preller proves he's ‘king of deadline' with historic trade spree
The post Padres GM A.J. Preller proves he's 'king of deadline' with historic trade spree appeared first on ClutchPoints. Three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, it certainly wasn't surprising to see the San Diego Padres pull a few trades before Thursday's MLB trade deadline. Still, it was surprising to see just how many deals Padres GM A.J Preller swung before the deadline passed. By the time the dust settled, Preller and San Diego's front office had completed five separate trades. The Athletic's Jayson Stark had a new nickname for Preller: 'the king of the deadline.' 'At one point Thursday, after the Mason Miller deal went down, I wrote a mini-column pronouncing A.J. Preller, the GM/president of baseball ops for the Padres, as 'the king of the deadline,'' wrote Stark on Friday. 'Hoo boy. That was a popular take.' Based on how much trading Preller has done since taking over in San Diego, it's not a surprising moniker at all. While many current day GMs like Preller certainly don't mind wheeling and dealing, the Padres' president of baseball operations is arguably the current king of it. He's an aggressive executive that is willing to do anything it takes to help his team's playoff odds. Will all the moves he executed on Thursday pay off? If so, then another postseason spot could certainly be in San Diego's grasp. Padres hope flurry of trade deadline moves help playoff chances Taking a look at all the players that the Padres acquired, it was clear that Preller wanted to improve his roster in a number of ways. Even though they are three games behind the Dodgers for the West's lead, the Padres still hold the final NL Wild Card spot. The playoff field is loaded, as the Cincinnati Reds are only three and a half games behind San Diego for that last spot. Preller added multiple players who should make an impact, from first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O'Hearn and outfielder Ramon Laureano from the Baltimore Orioles to the Athletics duo of reliever Mason Miller and starter JP Sears. Miller could combine with current MLB saves leader Robert Suarez to be a lockdown tandem at the backend. Sears and Nestor Cortes, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers, should help the rotation. Now that the trade deadline has passed, what will Preller do for an encore? Related: MLB rumors: Padres made 'real run' at MacKenzie Gore reunion before trade deadline Related: Yankees headline biggest 2025 MLB trade deadline winners
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Tigers Are Real, Spectacular and Suddenly MLB's Sweethearts
The Tigers Are Real, Spectacular and Suddenly MLB's Sweethearts originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Jayson Stark watched the first half of the MLB season and came away believing in the Detroit Tigers. In fact, The Athletic's columnist was gushing over them in his latest column of the 10 things he's learned from the first half. I mean, he titled the section about the Tigers: 'The Tigers are real — and they are spectacular.' Yes, that's a Seinfeld quote. And yes, it fits. Last October, the Tigers snuck into the playoffs and everyone asked how they got there. Nine months later, Stark and the rest of the league are wondering if there are any teams in the American League better than them. That's not some early-July overreaction. It's backed by numbers: Their 11.5-game division lead entering July? The largest in all of MLB. It's also the biggest in the 125-year history of the franchise. They're battling the Yankees for the most runs in the American League. They lead the league in baserunning. They're top 10 in defense, and top two in rotation ERA. Nothing about that screams fluke. A rival AL executive told Stark: 'Best pitcher in baseball (in Tarik Skubal). Impact manager (in A.J. Hinch). Lots of guys exceeding expectations, like Gleyber (Torres) and (Casey) Mize).' And then came the kicker: 'If you're good enough to skip the wild-card round, you're good enough to win anything.' This isn't a hot streak. It's a real team, built to win real games in October. And if the Tigers keep playing like this, Stark won't be the last national voice sounding like a fan. The bandwagon is getting fuller and the Tigers are expecting to take these new fans on a long ride. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Did Kyle Schwarber's All-Star Game Heroics Drive Up His Price With Free Agency Looming?
Kyle Schwarber put on a thrilling performance at the All-Star Game Tuesday night while taking home MVP honors. The Philadelphia Phillies slugger smashed three home runs in his three allowed swings in the first-ever extra-innings swing-off, leading the NL over the AL. Will this help him when he hits free agency after the season? Schwarber has been the Phillies' best hitter all season, finishing the first half with 30 home runs and a .923 OPS while being selected as an All-Star for the third time in his career. He's in the final year of a four-year, $79 million contract he signed ahead of the 2022 season, which turned out to be a steal for the Phillies. During his time in Philadelphia, he's put up 161 home runs, .847 OPS, 132 OPS+ and 9.3 bWAR. On top of that, he's been the unquestioned leader in the clubhouse and the Phillies have reached the postseason every year with Schwarber, including a World Series appearance in 2022. The Athletic's Jayson Stark told the 'Foul Territory' podcast that Schwarber's MVP performance will drive up his free agency value. 'I've been honestly thinking about, what does this do for Kyle Schwarber's trip to free agency? I think he was going to get paid even though there's really no precedent I think for a contract for a guy who fits his profile,' Stark said. 'I've talked to players in that National League clubhouse about that guy afterwards and just hearing Kyle Stowers say, 'That guy's a legend and this just made him more of a legend.'' Stark then concluded: 'Does this help Kyle Schwarber's trip to free agency? Because I'm going to vote yes.' Schwarber will be one of the top bats on the free-agent market this winter. He and the Phillies talked about a contract extension this past offseason, but no deal materialized and talks were tabled. However, Schwarber has repeatedly said he wants to stay in Philadelphia and it would be a devastating loss to the Phillies if he leaves. ESPN's Jeff Passan previously predicted Schwarber will land a four-year, $100 million deal, but his All-Star heroics could push that number higher. Related Headlines Top MLB reporter: Teams Will 'Laugh At' Luis Robert Jr. If He Makes This Demand MLB Reporter Predicts Phillies 'Geared Up to Do Something Huge' At Trade Deadline Disgraced former NFLPA boss reportedly used union funds for jaunts at strip clubs Three Key Battles to Watch at New York Giants Training Camp
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB Reporter Predicts Phillies 'Geared Up to Do Something Huge' At Trade Deadline
Due to poor roster construction in the offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies are dealing with the same dilemma they had at last year's trade deadline — the need for a high-leverage reliever and right-handed outfield bat. The Phillies acquired reliever Carlos Estevez and outfielder Austin Hays at the 2024 deadline, but both left in free agency. With the signings of reliever Jordan Romano and outfielder Max Kepler going poorly, the Phillies will most likely now be dealing their top prospects to go all-in. During an appearance on the 'Foul Territory' podcast, The Athletic's Jayson Stark predicts that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is going to do something 'huge' at the July 31 trade deadline. 'He has this sense about his team that with the right move or moves they can win the World Series,' said Stark. 'That everybody else is beatable — their team too — but they have that team that nobody wants to play because of their pitching. 'I ran into a guy in Atlanta who has talked to Dave and he said he thinks Dave is geared up to do something huge. He's got his prospect chips ready to go.' Those include five top-100 prospects: Infielder Aidan Miller (No. 2 Phillies prospect, 21st overall) Outfielder Justin Crawford (No. 3 Phillies prospect, 47th overall) Catcher Eduardo Tait (No. 4 Phillies prospect, 61st overall) Pitcher Mick Abel (No. 5 Phillies prospect, 85th overall) Infielder Aroon Escobar (No. 6 Phillies prospect, 95th overall) Pitcher Andrew Painter remains off limits and is expected to make his MLB debut at some point this summer. With Dombrowski ready to unload the farm, he will be looking to get a controllable bat and arm — not just rentals. 'That's what I think Dave would do in an ideal world, give up a ton of prospects for a big bat, a huge arm and two guys he can control beyond this year,' Stark said, adding that the Phillies would love to get both All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton and closer Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins, but that won't be happening. Several elite relievers might be available at the deadline: Cleveland Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Pittsburgh Pirates' David Bednar and Dennis Santana, Baltimore Orioles' Felix Bautista and Boston Red Sox's Aroldis Chapman. However, the market for right-handed outfield bats is extremely thin, with Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward potentially being the best option available. If the Phillies are unable to procure an outfield bat, their best option would be to go internally and bring up Crawford, who is hitting .331 in 73 Triple-A games with an .839 OPS. The issue with Crawford, though, is he has little power (two home runs) and doesn't put the ball in the air. The Phillies need to make big moves because their rotation with Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, Jesus Luzardo and Aaron Nola — currently on the IL and expected back in August — can carry them to the World Series. They just need their offense and bullpen to contribute their fair share to get them to the end line. Related Headlines Top MLB reporter: Teams Will 'Laugh At' Luis Robert Jr. If He Makes This Demand Did Kyle Schwarber's All-Star Game Heroics Drive Up His Price With Free Agency Looming? Disgraced former NFLPA boss reportedly used union funds for jaunts at strip clubs Three Key Battles to Watch at New York Giants Training Camp
