Quick reactions from Monday's games ... If you've seen the scary video of Bryce Harper crashing face-first into the wall at Dodger Stadium, you know the end result could have been much worse than a bloodied face.
Two stat lines below from 2012. Which pitcher had the better year? Pitcher A: 211 IP, 207 H, 28 BB, 207 SO, 3.16 ERA, .255/.278/.411 Pitcher B: 199.1 IP, 149 H, 76 BB, 207 SO, 2.89 ERA, .206/.283/.299 Pretty close, no?
If you watched Sunday's U.S.-Canada game you saw 21-year-old Pirates right-hander Jameson Taillon throw four impressive innings for Canada, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out three. He showcased his mid-90s fastball and struck out Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Braun and Shane Victorino on curveballs, getting Braun looking on a beautiful 3-2 bender.
"I mean, guys, I know how to hit. I promise you, I know how to hit. It’s just right now, it’s been pretty tough." -- Matt Kemp to reporters a few days ago Kemp has not had a good September.
When Davey Johnson got his first managerial gig with the New York Mets in 1984 he took over a franchise that had lost 94-plus games in six of its previous seven seasons, and the only reason it didn't happen in the seventh season was due to the 1981 strike.
I just returned from vacation and spent a portion of the weekend catching up on the HBO series "The Newsroom." The show has been a little uneven -- what's with all the personal discussions and arguments taking place right in the middle of the newsroom, in front of everyone?
One of the hottest pitchers the last couple of months has been Boston Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz, who has engineered a startling turnaround from earlier in the season, where he appeared to be one more bad start away from a demotion.
The pressure is mounting. The rumors are swirling. Phones are ringing. Minor flaws are starting to look like gaping, gangrenous wounds. Prospects are starting to get viewed with beer goggles. Please the owner, please the fans, please your manager, do what's best for the organization -- for the present, for the future.
If you're a fan of one of these teams, you know of what I speak. For all the hype and attention given to the trade deadline, the biggest area of improvement for playoff contenders usually needs to come from players already on the roster.
"Show us some respect," yell Baltimore Orioles fans. Or maybe they're politely demanding. But I've seen the complaints in the Power Rankings comments, read the emails sent to "Baseball Today," been asked the question in my chats: Why doesn't anyone believe in the Orioles?
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