There are only four days left in the regular season, so here are some of the top stories entering Thursday’s action…
1. Orioles on verge of clinching:
Four of the six division winners have already been crowned, but the Orioles could join the club with a win over the Red Sox today. Baltimore’s magic number has dropped to one, so just a single O’s win or Rays loss would make the Orioles AL East champions for the first time since 2014, and for just the third time in their last 40 seasons. In addition to a first-place finish in the AL East, the Orioles would also secure the top seed and home-field advantage throughout at least the American League’s side of the postseason bracket. (At 99-59, the Orioles probably aren’t catching the 102-56 Braves for the top seed throughout the playoffs.) It was just in 2021 that the Orioles were 52-110 and still seemingly caught in the throes of a rebuild, making their sudden rise back to prominence all the sweeter for Baltimore fans.
2. Rangers and Mariners begin a critical series:
The Rangers are also closing in on the AL West, though with a magic number of two and with the Astros not playing on Thursday, Texas won’t be able to clinch the division until Friday at the earliest. Still, heading into the start of this big four-game series between the two AL West rivals, the wild card race will also be a focus since the Mariners sit 1.5 games behind Houston for the third and final AL wild card berth. With a 9-16 record in September, the Mariners are no longer in control of their own playoff fate, as they’ll have to both pick up at least a couple of wins over Texas and hope for collapses from either the Astros or Blue Jays to sneak into the playoffs as a wild card. If the Mariners sweep Texas, a longshot scenario also exists that would see the M’s still capture the AL West. Jordan Montgomery is the Rangers’ scheduled starter tonight, while Logan Gilbert will take the hill for the Mariners.
3. Acuna founds the 40-70 club:
Okay, so it’s technically the 41-70 club, and Ronald Acuna Jr. had also been the only person in the 41-68 club, the 40-68 club, the 39-68 club, and so forth. But, since round-number achievements just have a bit more of a ring to them, Acuna’s incredible season at both the plate and on the basepaths hit yet another big milestone yesterday when he stole his 69th and 70th bases of the season. No player with at least 40 homers in a season had ever stolen as many as 46 bags in the same year before Acuna exponentially raised the bar in 2023.
While Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Braves teammate Matt Olson will have something to say in NL MVP voting, Acuna’s huge season is increasingly looking like the favorite to capture the award. Hitting the 70-steal plateau is also of particular note for a player who suffered a torn ACL just two years ago, making Acuna’s return to not just his old form but to new stolen-base heights all the more remarkable. MVP results aside, Acuna’s biggest goal is to help lead the Braves to a championship, as his ACL tear forced him to miss Atlanta’s run to the 2021 World Series.
just_breathe
Ronald will obviously win MVP. If he were a DH, then there would there be a conversation to consider Mookie
HalosHeavenJJ
Incredible year from Acuna. 40/70 isn’t something I ever expected to see.
Monsox
Acuna…stealing a page out of Henderson’s book last night. Stop the game, pull the base, celebrate, look at me look at me. Surprised he didn’t grab a mic and declare himself the greatest of all time.
Sid Bream Speed Demon
Have you tried crying about it? That might work.
He did something that has literally never been done in the 150 year history of professional baseball.
getrealgone2
What about Cal Ripken running around Camden shaking everyone’s hand in the stadium during a game? Or does he get a pass because he’s a white dude?
avenger65
getrealgone: If you want to turn this into a color issue, that’s you’re problem. Ripken ran around the field receiving congratulations from the home town fans because he broke a record that many thought would never be broken. Gehrig’s record stood since the 1930s. As I recall Ripken waved to the fans when he broke the record
He was encouraged by teammates to do a lap around the park. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with Acuna’s celebration. When Henderson set the legitimate single season record for SBs, he also raised 2b over his head. But Henderson, who is black, didn’t make a show of it. I can’t say I like the bat flips that most players do after hitting a HR or standing at home plate admiring their HR, or doing a dance around the bases, but I can understand that everyone has their own style. It reminds me of what pitchers like Bob Gibson would do to that hitter know what he though about the player showing him up during his next time up:showing him up: a pitch in the ear
avenger65
getrealgone: If you want to turn this into a color issue, that’s you’re problem. Ripken ran around the field receiving congratulations from the home town fans because he broke a record that many thought would never be broken. Gehrig’s record stood since the 1930s. As I recall Ripken waved to the fans when he broke the record
He was encouraged by teammates to do a lap around the park. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with Acuna’s celebration. When Henderson set the legitimate single season record for SBs, he also raised 2b over his head. But Henderson, who is black, didn’t make a show of it. I can’t say I like the bat flips that most players do after hitting a HR or standing at home plate admiring their HR, or doing a dance around the bases, but I can understand that everyone has their own style. It reminds me of what pitchers like Bob Gibson would do to that hitter know what he though about the player showing him up during his next time up: a pitch in the ear
I.M. Insane
getrealgone2, change your user name to justarealracist
Sid Bream Speed Demon
I think you may have unwittingly turned it into a color issue. So Ripken broke a record that no one ever thought would be broken, so it was cool for him to take laps around the park. But Acuna doing something by setting a record (not breaking one, setting one) makes you think about him being hit with a pitch?
Smacky
It was clearly scripted. They had the extra base ready. I’d imagine the team told him to do it. Stopping the game for this was a non-issue compared to how the umps gifted the Cubs their first run when they called an obvious foul tip a passed ball and then couldn’t review it because replay has stupid exclusions.
avenger65
Sis Bream: You didn’t read my post correctly. I was saying that, in the 1960’s, the game was different. Pitchers like Bob Gibson (St. Louis Cardinals, HOFer in case you didn’t know) players who showed up pitchers by flipping their bats or dancing around the bases would most likely get a close up look at the ball next time up. Benches didn’t clear, umpires didn’t warn both benches. It was part of the game. I in no way suggested Acuna should get thrown at after pulling up 2b and celebrating. It’s a different day.
Sid Bream Speed Demon
“It reminds me of what pitchers would do…..pitch in the ear” OK.
gbs42
The National league was founded in 1876, and the American League began play in 1901, and in all that time no one had ever had a 40/70 season. Seems reasonable to take a little time to celebrate the accomplishment.
Braves83
They had the extra base ready. There was a member of the braves staff with the new base and a member of the Braves staff with a camera on the ready. They had a video tribute ready for Acuna’s 7oth steal. This is an organizational choice. He did what they asked him to do. The other players reminded hi to lift up the base. He had forgotten in the excitement of the moment. ‘He didn’t; grab a mike and declare himself the greatest of all time?” Really skewed narrative IMHO. Do you begrudge Ricky from saying what is very close to the truth in that moment? Or do you begrudge Acuna something the team and their PR department created?
Dumpster Divin Theo
Monsox seems old and easily triggered.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I would have preferred for Seattle to have won 2 or even 3 games there so Texas could control their fate and not have to worry about Houston and could just win against Seattle the end of the year, but I guess they now only have to worry about Houston. If they lose all 4, they still have a tie breaker advantage vs Seattle, so they would need Houston to lose 2 of their games vs Arizona. Although the chances of being Texas swept by Seattle are “only” 1 in 16 with a 50% chance of winning, the odds would be 1 in 256(!) for both Texas being swept in a 4 game series vs a similar team and for Seattle sweeping a separate team with similar talent in 4 games. Thus, had Seattle won more games, the last series would have exponentially increased their odds. Sadly for them, they also trail Houston.
pd14athletics
As an A’s fan, I was really hoping for a Seattle sweep of Houston. Bummed it played out how it did, but hopefully Seattle can sneak their way in. Wouldn’t mind seeing Semien get a ring though.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Agree on the Seattle vs Houston part – they were up 1-0 for a few innings even
HalosHeavenJJ
As an Angels and not-Astros fan I was hoping for the same. I bet most of baseball was Mariners fans this week.
Stevil
The Mariners went 9-3 against the Astros this year, but losing this last series reduced their chances of postseason play to almost nothing.
They wouldn’t likely be in this situation had they brought in better players to start the season. Those first three months of bad baseball have proven to be costly.
MagicOriole
First 3 months of bad baseball? They’re 9-16 in September!
Monsox
Exactly. M’s poor play at the beginning of the season has put them in this position to begin with. Just haven’t won enough games and now they’re up against it here at end of the season.
Jerry Hairston Jr's Toupee
Point being the poor play at the END of the season is the real reason they’re missing the playoffs.
good vibes only
It’s both my dudes, not one or the other.
Stevil
Yeah, the first three months were more damaging than this single month.
The point is that they could have been better prepared.
jjd002
They wouldn’t be in this situation if they were a better team. They are average, at best. Playing well for a month doesn’t change that fact. This was inevitable.
good vibes only
Agree. And Servais is a mediocre manager at best as well.
Sunday Lasagna
Mariners were 47-48 through July 19th and are 6-9 from Sept 11th through yesterday.
Kelenic on the roster 53-57
From July 20th through Sept 10th 32-16.
Intense hyper people can have a negative influence on everyone around them.
good vibes only
Kelenic was like the only bat performing during the early season. He is far superior in the outfield to Teo and others as well. I get what you are saying but you (and me) know zero about the inside of that clubhouse or how Kelenics intensity affects it. He’s not a team leader IMO, guys like JP/Castillo/Suarez have way bigger psychological effects on the team than Kelenic. My guess would be his headspace affects himself much more than others.
gbs42
Look at how much those first five and a half months of bad baseball cost the Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals, and Padres.
Troy Percival's iPad
Give Freddie Freeman the award so everyone loses their minds that none of the other three won it
timjim86
GO O’S!!!
weekapaug09 2
That’s Michael Harris II in the pic…
braveshomer
Lol oops
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Waiting for the “racist” comment in 321…
avenger65
Go up about 15 posts and read realgone’ comments comparing Ripken to Acuna.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Yeah. I blocked him, so I used the MLBTR app to read those comments. The idea that people can freely inject race into anything without any consequences if they are not white disturbs me. What’s even scarier is that many of those guys are white people acting like white knights. If anything, this brings more attention to skin color than before. That post is totally unacceptable, and I am certain that all the people working for this site will ignore that comment to please the internet.
Old York
Question: I’m looking at the playoff picture and as of right now, the O’s would play the winner of TOR/TBR game, but why don’t they determine that based on the actual rank?
Let’s say that Houston beats Minnesota and as a #6 rank, technically, the O’s should get the lower ranked team, so Houston. Just seems odd to not re-rank the teams after each round.
Roidville Slugger
They don’t re-seed for the playoffs like the NFL. Personally, I’d rather play the winner of Tampa/Toronto based off the O’s record against them…more so Toronto.
avenger65
I believe, if Houston gets the last WC spot, Baltimore would play the winner of the Toronto/Houston series.
Roidville Slugger
If Houston gets the last WC spot, they are playing the Twins (AL Centeal winner/#3), not Toronto.
avenger65
As it stands, the division winners are Baltimore (I know, not officially), possibly Texas as things stand now, and Milwaukee. WC: 1) TB; 2) Toronto; 3) for the sake of argument, Houston. Baltimore and Texas, as no. 1 and 2 seeds, get a bye.No. 3 Milwaukee, would play no. 4, TB. No.5, Toronto, would play no.6, Houston. 3 vs. 4, 5 vs. 6.
avenger65
I stand corrected, Roid ille. 3 plays 6, 4 plays 5. My apologies.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Did Milwaukee switch leagues again? Showing your age. Though no one would miss a Minnyhaha omission since they haven’t won a playoff game in like 20 years
Slow day at work
@DDT Not the Brewers, the Milwaukee Twins! They play right next to the Milwaukee Vikings and the Milwaukee Timberwolves and we can’t forget the Milwaukee Wild on the NHL
Dumpster Divin Theo
They also journeyed to St Paul to visit Fonzie where they stumbled upon Ozzy Cooper at Arnolds whereupon they exclaimed “We’re worthy! We’re worthy!”
Idosteroids
He couldn’t bring himself to type out 41/69 club.
Rsox
Four players in the discussion and all 4 play for two of the same teams. Normally they would probably all cancel eachother out but i think in this case what Acuna has done is otherworldly and not likely to be done again so in that i would give him the edge in MVP voting
avenger65
Rsix: With the bigger bases, I can think of someone who hits a lot of HRs like Mookie breaking that mark, unless Acuna does it again and improves upon it. On the other side, I hope catchers aren’t judged by how many base stealers they throw out. SFs Bailey is the only one that’s figured it out.
ham77
Was it Acuna the Braves got before they got busted for breaking the international signing rules? If so, it was totally worth it for them. And for signing him for dirt cheap. Imagine what this dude would get as a free agent this year. Too bad he’s all about himself over the team.
gbs42
All those HR, SB, RBI, and runs scored sure have helped the team.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Did someone tell Acuna that bc he may not know it yet? He may stop hitting homeruns and focus on reaching 80 SBs.
Idosteroids
The rangers actually passed on him. so blame them
good vibes only
Nope, it was Kevin Maitan.
Smacky
I think the only other offer he had was from the Yankees. They offered him $10,000 while the Braves offered him $100k
Braves83
No. Acuna was brought in by Wren who was the gm(also Albies). The Coppy gm era had the scandal. AA is the gm that signed Acuna to that contract extension (and Albies, Strider, Olson, Arcia, Riley, Murphy, TDA, MHII. and Morton). Acuna is so much about himself is why he played injured most of the year last year. Why the team keeps building around him. Why he took the team friendly deal. The draft penalties and the international draft penalties including the loss of 13 prospects were/are the biggest penalties ever given to a team. Ever. A huge blow no other team has ever received. Even though other teams missteps are changing the game on the field. So no, Coppy’s scheme was totally not worth it in any way.
RunDMC
Love this narrative that the guy is selfish thinking his personal accolades aren’t also reflective of his team, that are also breaking records. Quite a coincidence that Olson is breaking franchise records at the same time Acuna is — or do people conveniently not piece together that the guy with the highest OBP in MLB (Acuna) hitting atop the lineup and leading MLB in runs is also the RBI that Olson is setting a franchise record in. If Acuna wasn’t having the year he was, Olson wouldn’t have that record…or those robust numbers the team/him are enjoying. Personal awards are team awards unless baseball is golf or tennis all of a sudden.
Smacky
It’s pretty obvious who follows the team and who watches the MLB channel/ SportsCenter. The MLB channel has really gone to hell. It used to be interesting now it’s just random games.
Slow day at work
It wasn’t Acuna, it was Kevin Maitan and MLB voided his contract, he got to keep his money and he signed with the Angels, where careers go to die, so he is no longer in the league and never made it to the majors.
RunDMC
I saw him less than a month ago playing for the AA-Trash Pandas in Madison, AL and I’m baffled how much hype there was on him.
Slow day at work
He was only 16 y/o when he was signed, He got 4M signing bonus from the Braves and then 2M from the Angels. Not sure how much he actually got to keep from both, but pretty sure he ate it all.
PhiladelphiaCollins
Is it going to be sweepless for Seattle?
Dumpster Divin Theo
And winless for Minnyhaha