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http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey ,24commentsToday’s
players are the best they’ve ever been and technology plays a part. MLB just
made the labor situation worse. Overreacting to the first weekend.
CDTShareTweetShareShareMLB Bullets is hip to the technologyJeff Hanisch-USA
TODAY SportsGood morning. Try to be nice to everyone. We’re all upset over the
weekend.You know, there’s a lot of crappy news that I have to link to today and
don’t worry, I’ll get to it. But let’s start out with this optimistic piece by
Ben Lindbergh that demonstrates that we’re watching the greatest baseball
players in the history of the game and it’s not really even up for debate. I
mean, you can debate whether Adam Ottavino would strike out Babe Ruth every
single time, but there’s little debate that Ruth never had to face a pitcher as
good as Ottavino in his entire career. And there are many pitchers in the game
today even better than Ottavino.Tom Verducci reports on how teams are using
modern technology to make those players as good as they possibly can be. The
game has changed a lot in just the past five years and is likely to change even
more in the next five. Possibly as soon as this season, according to people
quoted by Verducci, some teams are going to have the ability to have their
hitters face pitchers through virtual reality. (And by the way, the article says
that only the Dodgers spend more money on research and technology than the
Cubs.)One of those great players of today is Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper
and Katie Baker has a profile of Harper as the rare baseball “celebrity” in the
game today. Turning to the less positive news. Jeff Passan has a piece that’s
well worth your while on the state of the game today, including the economics,
the precarious labor situation and the “existential dread” that MLB faces in the
competition for the next generation of eyeballs. Marc Carig reports that MLB has
been handing out a “championship belt” to the front office team that does the
most to keep down the salaries of their arbitration-eligible players. (The
Athletic sub. req.) At least one player said that he was ready to strike
tomorrow. If you can’t read The Athletic article or you just want more
information, Jesse Yomtov reports that the union issued a strong condemnation of
this gloating.Passan tells one anecdote about Padres Eric Hosmer and Manny
Machado lobbying owner Ron Fowler to bring shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. up to
the majors on Opening Day. Fowler insists the dinner described by Passan never
happened and that the decision on Tatis was made by him and his front office
alone. It turns out that MLB doesn’t just treat their minor league athletes
poorly. As this piece by Laura Wagner details, employees of MLB Advanced Media
were treated like dirt as well. (To be
clear
Mark
Melancon Jersey , MLBAM and MLB are run as separate entities, sort of.
MLBAM is jointly owned by MLB owners.)Jay Rigdon has some explanation as to why
MLB is interested in purchasing the former Fox Sports Regional Sports
Networks.Collin Kannenberg writes about the approach broadcasters take to
integrating modern statistics into their telecasts.The Red Sox and shortstop
Xander Bogaerts are finalizing a six-year, $120 million contract extension. This
is on top of the $12 million that Bogaerts is scheduled to make this season.The
Padres are talking with free agent pitcher Dallas Keuchel. I know you don’t want
to hear this, but Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich tied an MLB record by
homering in his first four games of the season.With the first weekend of the
regular season under our belts, it’s time for our first butcher’s bill of the
season. Brewers closer Corey Knebel will undergo Tommy John surgery and is out
for all of 2019.Angels outfielder Justin Upton will miss eight-to-twelve weeks
after ramming his toe into the outfield wall at Angels Stadium.And Rockies
infielder (and former Cub) Daniel Murphy will head to the IL (still getting used
to that) with a fractured finger. Mariners closer Hunter Strickland will miss
“at least couple of months” with a lat strain. Unfortunately, there was another
incident at Dodger Stadium as a man is on life-support with a fractured skull
after an attack in the parking lot.I linked to this earlier when he was
arrested, but former three-time All-Star John Wetteland has now been indicted on
three charges of aggravated sexual assault on a child. The child in question was
four when the assaults allegedly began.What good is the Opening Weekend of
baseball if we don’t overreact? Dayn Perry has some “snap judgements” from the
early games.Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale had a terrible first start and Jon Tayler
evaluates whether there is real reason for concern over Sale.R.J. Anderson
reacts to the early returns on some players who switched teams this winter.The
Phillies are off to a good start with a sweep of the Braves. Devan Fink points
out the strength of the depth of the Phillies lineup.Mets outfielder Brandon
Nimmo reminds Sun Min Kim of another secret player from baseball’s past . . .oh
what the heck, I’ll spoil it for you. It’s Bobby Abreu, which is high praise
indeed.Padres rookie pitcher Chris Paddack was strong in his MLB debut. .
.Except he had what he thought was his first major league hit and his first
major league RBI taken away when he was thrown out at first base by right
fielder Gerardo Parra. Those 9-3 putouts are always embarrassing. Alden Gonzalez
tells the story of Angels outfielder Mike Trout’s career though the backs of his
baseball cards.Jack Todd has an update on the efforts to bring the Expos back to
Montr茅al. They’re making progress. The Phillie Phanatic ambushed Alex Rodriguez
in the ESPN booth last night.Bryce Harper wore Phillie Phanatic cleats on
Opening Day, so the Phillie Phanatic responded by wearing shoes with Harper’s
face on them.In case you weren’t watching yesterday’s game, you missed an
embarrassing loss. You also missed Randy Rosario catching a Kyle Schwarber home
run in his cap.Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier wore his Spring Training
uniform for Sunday’s game by accident. Although he claimed he was trying to make
it warmer. And finally, here’s one of the worst first pitches of all time as
“Roxy the dinosaur” tried to throw the pitch and ended up just dropping the ball
instead. And tomorrow will be a better day than
today
Deion
Sanders Jersey , Buster. Atlanta Braves (26-22, second in the NL East) vs.
San Francisco Giants (20-26, fifth in the NL West)San Francisco; Tuesday, 9 p.m.
EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Julio Teheran (3-4, 3.88 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 56
strikeouts) Giants: Shaun Anderson (3-0, 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5
strikeouts)Article continues below ...BOTTOM LINE: The Giants are 9-13 on their
home turf. The San Francisco pitching staff as a whole has an ERA of 4.48. Jeff
Samardzija leads the team with a 3.69 ERA.The Braves are 12-10 on the road. The
Atlanta offense has compiled a .260 batting average as a team this season, good
for fifth in the National League. Freddie Freeman leads the team with a mark of
.319. The Braves won the last meeting 4-1. Mike Soroka recorded his fifth
victory and Ronald Acuna Jr. went 3-for-4 with a double, two home runs and two
RBIs for Atlanta. Andrew Suarez registered his first loss for San Francisco.TOP
PERFORMERS: Brandon Belt leads the Giants with seven home runs and is batting
.236. Pablo Sandoval is 9-for-25 with two
doubles
Alen
Hanson Jersey , four home runs and seven RBIs over the last 10 games for
San Francisco.Acuna Jr. leads the Braves with 31 RBIs and is batting .297.
Freeman is 14-for-35 with two doubles, a triple, four home runs and seven RBIs
over the last 10 games for Atlanta.LAST 10 GAMES: Giants: 4-6, .214 batting
average, 5.06 ERA, outscored by 17 runsBraves: 8-2, .271 batting average, 3.42
ERA, outscored opponents by 13 runsGiants Injuries: Johnny Cueto: 60-day IL
(elbow).Braves Injuries: Chad Sobotka: 10-day IL (abdomen), Darren O’Day: 10-day
IL (forearm), Ender Inciarte: 10-day IL (lumbar strain).
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