Vin Scully’s final game behind the mic at Dodger Stadium was a memorable one, as the Dodgers clinched the NL West with a 4-3 win over the Rockies, fueled by a 10th-inning walkoff homer from Charlie Culberson. The legendary announcer has already said he won’t be calling any Dodger postseason action, so the final three games of Scully’s 67-year career will come on September 30-October 2, when the Dodgers head to San Francisco for the last three games of the regular season.
Some stray items from around baseball…
- 2016 is quietly on pace to be one of the biggest home run seasons in the game’s history, Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan writes in his weekly “Ten Degrees” column. Hitters are on pace for the second-highest single-season homer total ever, behind only the 2000 season. With power on the rise and more readily available than in recent seasons, Passan notes that Mark Trumbo’s free agent stock could be hampered. Teams will look harder at Trumbo’s lack of defense or OBP if homers are no longer seen as quite a rare commodity.
- The Yankees have been rumored to be interested in a reunion with Aroldis Chapman, and the New York Post’s Ken Davidoff notes that Dellin Betances’ recent struggles could exacerbate the Yankees’ need for another big bullpen arm. Betances has only “struggled” since August 1 (3.48 ERA and a 32:9 K/BB rate in 20 2/3 innings) by his high standards, though fatigue could be an issue given how much Betances has pitched both this season and over the last three years on the whole. Signing Chapman in free agency and moving Betances back to a setup role would again give the Yankees an elite end-game pairing, if not quite the uniquely great trio they had earlier in the season with Andrew Miller also in the mix.
- As part of a reader mailbag piece, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer opined that the Indians probably aren’t likely to shop Giovanny Urshela this season now that Jose Ramirez looks like an answer at third base. Urshela is a gifted defender but he has posted just a .608 OPS over his 288 career PA in the majors and a .269/.302/.402 career slash line over eight minor league seasons. Other teams may not be willing to give up much in a trade for a player who has shown so little at the plate.
- The Cubs completely rebuilt their roster from scratch to become a powerhouse team both this season and potentially for years to come, though Cardinals GM John Mozeliak tells ESPN.com’s Mark Saxon that such an extensive rebuild would be unlikely for his club. “They were able to do so without being overly concerned about how they finished for a couple years….I’ve always said St. Louis has been a place that demands winning,” Mozeliak said. “[Owner Bill] DeWitt Jr. and myself, we’re not ever looking at a season where we want to take a timeout or two and try to reshuffle the deck.” Mozeliak implied that the Cards would only explore such a strategy if their minor league system totally dried up, which doesn’t seem like an impending issue given how well St. Louis has drafted and developed young players over the last two decades.
Regarding trumbo, you could flip passans logic and argue why trumbos value won’t be hampered. Sure teams like Boston or Toronto won’t want him since he can’t do anything besides hit for power, but maybe teams that struggle hitting homers will see him as a fix. It would be a desperate decision, but I think he’ll get payed anyways
That game will be remembered for so many reasons, not the only part of which was Culbertson’s improbable walk-off clinch homer.
All of the Dodger players tipped their batting helmets to the stands as they walked to the plate the first time through the order. At first Vin did not understand it was for him and when he finally did, his reaction was as gracious as ever. Ethier and Turner we learned later came up with that wonderful idea.
Then for the final two innings Vin was calling the games in LA and San Diego at simultaneously, weaving them together like only Vin could do. The walk-off came only a few minutes before the other game ended, as though it was fated to happen that way.
Finally, the on-field celebration closed with Vin singing “Wind Beneath Your Wings” standing next his wife Sandi in the broadcast booth. It was for all the fans, who he said he needed more than they needed him. If there was a dry eye anywhere on planet Earth after all that, it had to be because they weren’t watching.
It was the best game in the 20 seasons of Dodgers I witnessed.
Particularly dramatic was the San Diego chase. Could they take the division properly for Vin or would the Padres steal the drama by beating the Giants? Culberson hit the home run within a minute or two of the Padre win.
This Vin weekend has knocked the cynicism out of me.
It’s right up there for sure. We were at the stadium on Friday for Vin Scully Appreciation Day and it was an emotional moment too. A very memorable weekend altogether, but Sunday was off the charts.
I hope Mo isn’t just putting false words out to the Cardinal fans as he has during the past free agent seasons, and end of the year trade deadlines. Although they have dedicated themselves for the past 5 years to basically low hanging fruit deals. Unfortunately, that’s what he has turned the Cardinals into—a major group of low hanging fruit that aren’t worth much even for trade purposes. Please follow through strong in your words Mo. The Cardinals don’t need any more of your—“Well we tried hard but came up second, but we still have money to spend!” Or, “We’ll fix this from within and add some low hanging fruit to put it together.” Or, “We feel our best baseball is still yet to come!” For a Christmas present; for the Cardinal Nation, (and because he’s had over 90 different batting orders this year), Would you give us Jose Oquendo as the 2017 manager to replace Mike Mathaney???
Lol. I mean, it’s not a perfect team, but please remember Mo has nonetheless constructed a team that has made the postseason yearly, with 2 WS appearances and 1 WS win. He makes mistakes, but who doesn’t? Even I must admit, we Cardinal fans are spoiled at how well the Cardinals have played in recent years, this year is the first they’re not doing as well
So true – the Cards are virtually in it each season. They’ve overcome many injuries during that run as well. From a baseball perspective it’s amazing how they can plug players in and it just seems to work for them.
How do the Cards manage to be a winning club and still keep the farm system stocked? I guess it’s a complex answer but my team (SF) has done well but had to trade away the farm to do it and really we’ve seen a farm system that isn’t strong enough for them to trade for impact players at the deadline.
Is it really teams that Mo put together?? Now think about it. Most of the current stars were bought, signed for the minor leagues or obtained by trade under Jockerty, and developed by Ludlov (sp). Not Mo.
Way wrong
Cards need to go after Cespedes if he opts out of his contract at the end of the year. They have to get a superstar outfielder and punt on these mediocre first basemen. Defense has been terrible all year. Not just the errors but also the plays that don’t get made that should have been made and don’t count as errors. Still glad Heyward left though. Piscotty has done well offensively and defensively in right. Left field and center need attention.
We went after Price pretty heavy and lost. We overbid the Cubs for Heyward and lost. We traded Jay for a young backup infielder in Gyorko. Results? I think Mo got it right and got lucky last off season.
I can say Leake wasn’t the greatest move as I would of taken Kazmir on a one year deal and Bryan Pena has been non existent this year. I would of kept the catcher ringer they traded to the pirates a few months back? Jordan Walden pitching in late innings for us would of been cool and made giving up Tyrell Jenkins a little easier to swallow, but that was 2 years ago.
I like Grichuck in center. His glove is better than Jay and his bat (when he connects) is much better than Jay. Pham in left platooning with, newly acquired, Martinez doesn’t scare me much either.
I can’t say Oquendo makes a good manager. Oquendo’s strength is teaching those fundamentals that the birds have lacked this year. He is a dynamite resource for the cards and has been missed. I often have considered people for upper management, in my own business, because of their dynamics in a particular field. That hasn’t necessarily translated into them being great at the “overall”? Matheny, I feel, is doing the best that he can. He isn’t managing how I would at times but I don’t work for the Cardinals so what the hell do I know? My gripe with Matheny is that he has become too predictable.
Piscotty makes the pain all go away when I look at comp stats this year from Heyward.
Is there a Cardinal fan that truly believe that Mike Matheny is handling his club well? Forget the injuries. That stuff happens – it’s a long season. The bad defense is a part of 5 million line-up changes. I think I even heard Hrabosky say it was on pace to be historic as far as the amount of different line-ups. Only teams close to it this year are teams in last place.
7 games left in season and he still doesn’t play the best players and sticks with Moss who is hot .075 in his last 75 plus at bats. Matheny is the one keeping Holiday out of the line up. Carpenter out yesterday. Diaz the other day (understand the funeral).
I’m over him. I couldn’t play for him.
In fact – I literally have watch every single game the Cards have played over the past 6 plus years thanks to MLB.com package, and I am at the point I can’t watch anymore. He is such a bad manager. I am 52 and this is the first year s a Cardinal fan I have had no faith that our Manager will make the right move. It’s hard to watch. Last nights game was tragic. 7 games left and they don’t show up for the first game of a home stand against a terrible road team the Reds. Pathetic. I wish we were playing on the road.
Did you mean the Indians are likely to shop urshela ?
Definitely worth a fungo bat and some batting practice balls…
what have the cubs got to show for anything? ever?
Well, they do have a pretty good team right?
The best record in the league right now, and World Series favourites?
A solid core of young, productive players? A top ranked farm system? The best record in the league? I swear some Cardinal fans are impossible to talk baseball with.
Unfortunately you can put any team in that sentence and it would be true.
That certainly is true, but my comment is in response to the Cardinal fan asking what the Cubs have to show for. That sentence describes most consistent year after year contenders, if you build an organization that can just make the playoffs every year then that greatly increases your chances of winning it all, All in all I think they have a lot to show for what they have done the past few years.
Cubs are stocked with talent. They have built what should become a legacy.
The Mo article reads luke sour grapes. The Cardinals brass is “above” doing what the rest of baseball is doing now in the face of the new rules and agreements to get a competitive edge. It is like he is holding his nose toward the way the Cubs have achieved things. Good luck to them as they continue to sink while the Brewers and Reds use the Cubs way to climb abive the antiquated Redbirds way.
Uh……?
No.
It’s called class. Something certain Cub fans and the most recent Cub manager have no experience with. You gain that classy experience when you fly 11 WS banners in your stadium.
Good luck this year Cubbies! I’m rooting for you to win if you get there.
Classy like the Cardinal fans screaming racial slurs at Jason Heyward? Or maybe you mean classy as in Scott Spezio beating up his wife? Or maybe you mean the classiness displayed by the front office when they hacked the Astros. You did say have a remark against Joe Maddon, so maybe you meant classy as in Tony LaRussa driving around Florida drunk? I mean all these things shouldn’t represent the Cardinal organization as a whole, but don’t act like you are so high and mighty…
Mozeliak’s actual statement referring to the Cub rebuild versus the Cardinal organization:
They were able to do so without being overly concerned about how they finished for a couple years….I’ve always said St. Louis has been a place that demands winning,” Mozeliak said.
I just don’t see this as sour grapes? The Cubs built their greatness with the sacrifice of bad years. The Cardinals don’t build that way? I see him talking more about his organization than the Cubs?
I see Theo Epstein as classy. When he speaks, it is out of respect and dignity. Maddon, is a clown. He is a good manager but a classless a$$ when he talks. One interview after another, classless. He makes me miss Dusty Baker as the Cubs manager.
If you actually read my initial post, before the hate came out on the individual acts of ignorance you posted, I referred to “certain” (not all) Cub fans and Maddon. That’s it.
Cubs and the Red Sox are the best teams but the playoffs are outlier. Cubs aren.t that good agains’t teams with above a 500 record which is a little concerning.
The nationals are always mentioned in the great team conversation as well.
They don’t win the game that matters.
NL playoff teams record vs over .500 as of Sunday night.
LA 34-23
CHI 31-25
WAS 31-29
NYM 30-30
STL 24-35
SF 24-33
If 31-25 vs .500 teams isn’t good then how would you describe the teams fighting for the wildcard? Are they horrid, craptastic, I dunno you tell me. Also LA is 2.5 games better then Cubs are they very good, good good, little good vs .500 teams?