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Apologies for the lack of Morning News yesterday, but even this morning I sound roughly like this. Summer colds are awesome. Anyway, we have a lot of ground to cover, so let's dive right in.
Meet the Mets
An exchange from yesterday evening:
Text from my friend with a gambling problem: "Dickey -240"
Me: "LOL"
Shockingly, facing the pitching staff with the worst FIP in the National League, the Mets managed just one run in support of the Dickster and dropped to a season low eight games under .500. Dickey seems to be taking it pretty well, all things considered.
But the best part of baseball is that a new day means another game. Or is that the worst part of baseball? This time of year it is hard to tell.
In attendance to take some BP and watch the game was the Mets big July 2nd signing this year, 16 year-old shortstop German Rosario. Way to make a good first impression you guys.
Jeremy Hefner will be getting a few days off for paternity leave, so Robert Carson will be joining the Mets bullpen as a second lefty.
I feel like I have seen this idea somewhere before. Explain yourself, Berg!
Toby Hyde does some excellent work breaking down just how little Minor League winning percentage has to do with attendance. Of course Toby failed to account for the "Major League Town" variable. Ted has the right attitude about this whole thing.
Around the NL East
Anytime you can lose a huge divisional game in extra innings without using you closer, you have to do so. That's baseball. One guess where the game was played. The Braves are now six back of the Nationals, but on the plus side, Craig Kimbrel got a lot of macarme done. The Nats pen is just fine though, thanks for asking.
Both the Marlins and Phillies put on an offensive show in their respective games. For the Phillies, it was only the fourth time this year that they've scored ten runs or more. Now Ruben Amaro can finally sell high on Dominic Brown and get the last piece of the puzzle to get the Phillies back to 500!
Around MLB
The Giants opened up their big series against the Dodgers with a 'W' as Madison Bumgarner outpitched Clayton Kershaw. The Giants now own sole possession of first place in the NL West.
The Rays continue to roll along, Felix perfecto aside, as they dispatched the Royals Monday night.
The White Sox won a see-saw affair with the Yankees, but let's not bury the lede here you guys.
Carlos Beltran is an awesome baseball player, seems like an exemplary human, and once owned a monkey. But don't forget he struck out that one time.
The A's struck a deal with the Diamondbacks and acquired SS Stephen Drew. This had been rumored to be in the works before the July 31st trade deadline.
I can't believe I am linking to this either. Sigh. Well, as long as we are linking to things I can't believe I'm linking to, here ya go. Only in America!