Teams – Page 2 – Threeunassisted

Would the Phillies Be Better Off as the #3 Seed?

Barring an unforeseen collapse, the Philadelphia Phillies will win the National League East. They have the chance to end the race next week with their four games at home vs. the New York Mets. They currently sit as the number two seed in the National League playoff standings, three games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the Dodgers having played below average ball as of late, Philadelphia has a first round bye in their sights. However, would the Phils be better off avoiding the week of rest?

Rob Thomson and the Phillies could grab the #2 seed and a bye. Credit: Philadelphia Inquirer

Their own history suggests yes. Since Major League Baseball permanently instituted the Wild Card round in 2022, the Phillies have played in the first round twice and had the bye once. We know the results. They made the World Series in 2022 and the National League Championship Series in 2023. Last year, the team had the #2 seed and lost in four games in the Divisional round to the New York Mets. In 2023, a pair of Wild Card teams, the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks, met in the World Series. Each season, at least one team that plays in the first round eventually advances to the League Championship Series. There is something to be said for teams that continue to play as opposed to sitting for a week in between games.

With all that being said, and with all of the information I provided above, I would still want the bye. Last year’s World Series teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, were the top seeds in their respective leagues. Should the Phillies secure a first round bye, I am sure they can draw on lessons from last year’s loss. Anything from a different workout routine during the time off to bullpen usage in the week leading up to the bye will be examined. I can’t imagine Philadelphia getting bounced early two years in a row. They are too talented and are playing good baseball. Caitlyn is the one that needs to be convinced their season won’t end early.

New York Yankees and Their New House of Horrors

Maybe it has to do with the timing of our trips to Lake George. Maybe it’s because they are spending too much time on South Beach in August. Whatever it is, the New York Yankees have a new house of horrors and it is the most unlikely of places. Loan Depot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, has turned into a graveyard for the Yankees as their last two trips down to South Florida can attest. These games have resulted in a couple of hard to believe defeats and overall lackluster play. How can this be, since 65% of the building is filled with Yankee fans? Their journey down in 2023 was during a rare playoff miss for New York and a rare playoff appearance for Miami. 2025 can’t be a repeat, can it?

The Marlins have made Loan Depot Park a nightmare for the Yankees. Credit: USA Today

On Sunday, August 13, 2023, we were driving home from Lake George. The Yanks and Marlins split the first two games, as New York won Friday night by a score of 9-4. Sandy Alcantara tossed a complete game on Saturday for a 3-1 victory, setting up the rubber game on Sunday. The Yankees amazingly blew a 7-1 on that drive home, as a Clay Holmes throwing error allowed two runs to score before a Jake Burger single drove in the winning run with a single. Fast forward to this past Friday night. The Bombers surrendered leads of 6-0 and 9-4 but managed to push across two runs for a 12-10, 9th inning lead. Incredibly, another error, this one by Jose Caballero, helped the Fish score three times for a stunning 13-12 victory. Ironically, the Saturday game was another gem thrown by the Miami’s pitching staff (much like 2023) as three pitchers held New York to only two hits for a 2-0 victory. The drive home Sunday was much less dramatic than two years ago, but no less infuriating as the Marlins swept the Yankees into the Atlantic Ocean by a score of 7-3.

After the game, there was this stat thrown about how the Marlins are the only team with a winning record against the Yankees. More insults. Perhaps in 2027 when we again go to Lake George, we schedule it around the Yankees’ trip to Loan Dept Park. Maybe Major League Baseball can do us a solid favor and make that series in April.

Brian Cashman and the Meaning of Going to Town

Brian Cashman, the longtime General Manager of the New York Yankees, recently used a phrase that is sure to be remembered for a long time. When asked about his plans for the upcoming trade deadline, Cashman declared, “We’re going to town”. The implication is that the Yankees are ready to make a significant move or moves to try and return to the World Series. With the Yanks now 6.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays after their third consecutive defeat today and with Aaron Judge now on the injured list, Cashman has to make good on those words.

Brian Cashman hope to “go to town” We shall see. Credit: Sports Illustrated

Let’s look at the first trade made and determine if it was “going to town”.

On Thursday, the Yankees made a deal for Colorado Rockies’ third basemen Ryan McMahon. He has an excellent glove but his bat is suspect. He was hitting .217 while striking out at a clip in excess of 33%. Part of that can be attributed to being part of a Rockies’ franchise that has been arguably the worst over the past two seasons. That being said, McMahon was not the top third baseman that is rumored to be on the move. That would be Eugenio Suarez of the Arizona Diamondbacks who has hit 36 home runs. Now, it’s true that the D’backs may not actually trade Suarez until the right offer comes along. But did Cashman seriously engage in talks?

If Arizona asked for Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr., the organization’s top two prospects, then of course trading for just Suarez is out of the question. However, would it be worth it to trade Jones or Lombard for Suarez and Merrill Kelly, Arizona’s best starting pitcher? I would strongly consider that. If the D’backs starting point was Ben Rice for Suarez straight up and Cashman said no, is that really “going to town”? Not even close. Again, this is hypothetical and we have no knowledge at the moment of what, if anything was discussed or even if a conversation took place. If Cashman didn’t even pick up the phone to find out what it would take to get Suarez, then he didn’t go to town, he didn’t even get in his car.

I am willing to give it until Thursday to determine the merits of Brian Cashman’s “going to town” quote. The early return is not promising. At least McMahon shores up the infield defense. If Cashman is not willing to part with Ben Rice to land a big piece, then this trade deadline will be a failure. We have five days to find out.

New York Baseball Is Short on Fireworks

As I sit here on this lovely Fourth of July, the New York Mets and New York Yankees are facing off in the second Subway Series of 2025. The Yanks are currently ahead 5-4 but given how these two teams have played lately, no lead is safe. Both the Yanks and Mets started today out of first place, something that has not occurred in almost three months. The Mets have seemingly placed a pitcher on the injured list every day this week while the Yankees did nothing right in getting swept out of first place by the Toronto Blue Jays. July 4th represents celebrations, fireworks and good times. Unfortunately, our New York baseball teams are in short supply of all three.

Aaron Boone is looking for anything to spark the Yankees. Credit: Yahoo Sports

The MLB season is more than halfway complete. In the course of an entire season or even a half, bad baseball is going to happen for a period of time to all teams, no matter how good they are. The Yankees and Mets just happen to be going through their rough patches at the same time. Right now, it feels like neither team is going to return to the playoffs. The Blue Jays have surpassed the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays have pulled even with them. The Philadelphia Phillies’ lead over the Mets feels a lot larger than just one game. The Yankees arguably suffered their worst loss of the season Wednesday night, getting behind 8-0, tying it at 9 and then losing 11-9 with Aaron Judge in the on deck circle. The Mets have won two games in a row but the last time that happened, they were blasted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in their next series. Anthony Volpe can’t stop making mistakes in the field, Mark Vientos looks lost since he returned from the IL. The rotations (minus Max Fried) can’t go past five innings, the bullpen can’t hold leads. Mental mistakes are happening all over the diamond and the managers can’t stop the bleeding. Other than these “minor” issues, everything is just swell with the Yankees and Mets.

There are still another three months left in the season. Both teams desperately need to get to the All Star Break. Management has to evaluate the greatest need for each of their respective organizations. The good vibes that existed all of last Summer for the Yankees and Mets have evaporated on this special day. The array of fireworks that began the season have turned out to be duds. It’s not too late to turn them back into Roman Candles.

Heavy Questions for the New York Mets

It only seems like the sky is falling for the New York Mets. They have been stuck in a rut for over a week, having lost eight of their last nine contests. I still believe this team is playoff bound and this is one of those stretches that even the best teams go through during the course of a long season. However, there are still some things that are developing that can derail the club as they seek to return to the World Series for the first time since 2015. After last season’s run to the National League Championship Series, just making the playoffs isn’t good enough. So what are some things that are a bit concerning to me? Here are some questions I have regarding the current state of the Mets.

Sean Manaea needs to resemble 2024 when he comes back. Credit: Sports Illustrated

Has the pitching lab hit a snafu?

Much of the rotation acquisitions the Mets have made over the last two offseasons were met with skepticism. The performances of Sean Manaea and Luis Severino, along with improvements of Tylor Megill and David Peterson in 2024 showed that David Stearns, Carlos Mendoza and Jeremey Hefner knew their talent and played to their strengths. 2025 started off the same. Griffin Canning and Clay Holmes exceeded expectations through the first eight weeks of the season. Their starts as of late are concerning. Canning is close reverting back to seasons past and it’s hard to tell if Holmes can last the entire season in the rotation. Kodai Sanga is hurt again. Manea is on his way back as is Frankie Montas. The rotation to me is officially a worry.

What’s up with Francisco Alvarez?

Alvarez’s injury last April coincided with the Mets slide and his activation was in line with the team’s turnaround in June. He missed the first month of this season and has struggled since coming off the injured list. He has struck out 38 times in just 138 plate appearances with only three home runs. Defensively, he still throws out would be base stealers but other aspects, such as framing and blocking pitches, have regressed. Part of the issue stems from the fact that Luis Torrens did a tremendous job while Alvarez was out. Without regular playing time, Alvarez has had issues getting on track. This resulted in him getting sent to Triple A Syracuse on Sunday. I feel like since Torrens has been so good, the Mets will be OK at catcher, just like the Yankees in 2022 when Jose Trevino got an opportunity and ran with it. Alvarez is still only 24 and not far removed from being the organization’s #1 prospect. It’s still early to say he will not work out long term. Moderate worry on this situation.

How much trust do you have in the bullpen?

To be fair, 75% of baseball fans are skeptical of their team’s bullpen. When it comes to the Mets, I feel like the only guy to trust is Edwin Diaz, despite the overall numbers. Huascar Brazobán was the most reliable reliever after Diaz early on but he has struggled in his last ten appearances. The loss of A.J. Minter for the season was a crushing blow. Perhaps the long term role for Jose Butto is that of a setup guy as opposed to a long man. Last year, Stearns filled out the bullpen as the year went on with Brazoban, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek. That strategy paid off with an NLCS appearance. Perhaps with Brazoban and Butto, more internal options exist and lessens the need for a big trade. I would still like to see a setup weapon such as Jake Bird. Bullpens are always a worry, but on this year’s Mets, the rotation worries me more.

Detroit Tigers Will be a Pain for the New York Yankees

I realize that it might be humorous to make assumptions for the New York Yankees. This current stretch is by far their worst of the season, having lost seven of their last eight games. However, I’ve been around long enough to realize this too, shall pass and that the Yankees will win the American League East. Despite the other four AL East teams narrowing the gap, I do believe the biggest threat to the Yanks repeating as AL champs lies outside of their division. In fact, it is a team that does have a history of thwarting New York in the playoffs.

Tarik Skubal and the Tigers pose the biggest threat to the Yankees. Credit: Sports Illustrated

The Detroit Tigers can easily derail the Yankees this October.

When the Tigers made their run last year to the divisional round, it was assumed that outside of Tarik Skubal, they were a bunch of no names that got hot at the right time. If that’s your vision of them in 2025, you need a crash course. A pair of former number one overall picks are fueling Detroit’s rise to the largest lead in any of Major League Baseball’s six divisions. First baseman Spencer Torkelson is on pace to set career highs in all offensive categories. He provides a solid #2 option behind CF/LF Riley Greene who will make his second All Star team. Javier Baez, miserable in his first three seasons in Detroit, has moved to the outfield and is hitting close to .300. Old friend Gleyber Torres is thriving outside of the glare of New York, posting a career best .385 on base percentage. As for the other overall #1 pick, Casey Mize is proving to be a tremendous weapon after the lefty Skubal. The right-hander Mize is 7-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 12 starts. Reese Olson, currently on the injured list, will be back within two weeks giving the Tigers another starting pitcher with an under 3.00 ERA. That is a solid rotation heading into any postseason series.

Before the Houston Astros became the Yankees’ playoff kryptonite, there were the Detroit Tigers. Three times (2006, 2011 and 2012) Detroit got the better of New York, ending each season in painstaking fashion. 2006 saw Kenny Rogers and his sticky fingers embarrass the heavily favored Yankees (Alex Rodriguez batted 8th in Game 4). In 2011, Doug Fister and a young Max Scherzer helped hold the Yankees to two runs in a series clinching game 5 win at Yankee Stadium. The Tigers then swept the Yankees in the following year’s ALCS with Derek Jeter missing the entire series with an ankle injury. These teams are far different now than they were then. No one remains from either set of teams so it’s not truly a rematch. However, there will be some painful memories dredged up by the networks should they meet again in October.

I do not take lightly the other teams in the American League East. It won’t be easy for the Yankees to hold on to their ever shrinking lead. Ultimately, I believe they are the best team in the division. Their road back to the World Series will have to go through the Motor City.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Their Big Beautiful Rotation

On Thursday, Cristopher Sanchez tossed eight innings of one run ball, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 2-1 victory over the Miami Marlins. The victory allowed Philadelphia to take three out of four games in Miami. The great outing by Sanchez improved his record to 6-2 and lowered his ERA to 2.87. After a rough two week stretch, the Phillies are rolling again with a 45-30 record, and are tied for first place with the New York Mets in the National League East. The team’s place in the standings is not surprising considering they are coming off three consecutive playoff appearances. I’m happy and more importantly, Caitlyn is happy (for now). In my opinion, the best group on this Phillies’ team is its starting rotation.

The ace, Zack Wheeler. Credit: CBS Sports

Notice I did not say the best rotation in baseball. By ERA, that title would belong to the Mets. Philly’s rotation is sixth in ERA at 3.49; New York’s is 3.03. What I love about the Phillies’ rotation is that it feels like one through five (when Aaron Nola is healthy) can go seven innings every time out. Indeed, their rotation leads baseball in innings pitched with 426. Zack Wheeler is the anchor, having finished second in the Cy Young race last year and consistently one of the best pitchers in in the game. He made waves this week by stating that he plans to retire after the 2027 season. Sanchez is a budding star, having tossed two complete games in 2024 and garnering an extension through 2033. Ranger Suarez started 2025 the injured list but has dominated in his return with a 2.20 ERA in nine starts. Jesus Luzardo had two horrendous starts pushing his ERA over 4.00. However, his acquisition ranks as one of the best during the offseason. Mick Abel has a 2.21 ERA in four starts filling in for Nola. Taijuan Walker can make a spot start in a pinch. Top prospect Andrew Painter is on the cusp of a Major League callup.

There is a lot to love about the Phillies’ rotation. That is why I call it “beautiful”. Having their staff work deep into games takes me back to when pitching seven innings was the norm. Though its ERA is sixth, and no starter has not thrown a complete game yet, I would take the Phillies’ rotation over everyone else’s in baseball.

Third Base is a Full House for the New York Mets

The New York Mets’ third base position reminds me of the famous line in Forrest Gump: “Life is like a bunch of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get”. Coming into this season, it looked like Mark Vientos was the answer at the hot corner, with him coming off a 32 home run season. However, Vientos was not looking like the 2024 breakout star and appeared more like……well, a guy that was lost at the plate. At the beginning of June, a hamstring injury forced him to the injured list. Eventually, Brett Baty got some reps at third and after starting slowly, he turned into thumbs up Baty before reverting back to thumbs down Baty. Ronny Mauricio was called and has found most of his Major League time being spent at third. Even Luisangel Acuna has seen action there as a defensive replacement.

It would be nice for Mark Vientos to reclaim the third base job. Credit: Sports Illustrated

Third base is like the village bicycle. Everyone gets a turn.

Vientos is about to begin a rehab assignment and could conceivably rejoin the Mets this weekend. He should be the frontrunner to reclaim the position as he is the one with the best, albeit brief track record of performing at the Major League level. None of the other three players have grabbed a hold of the spot the way Vientos did in 2024. Now does this mean he gets to remain the starter should his on base percentage hover below .300? I would say no considering Baty, Acuna and Muricio are all well thought of in the organization. What the chaos at the corner should do is bring out the best in each player. After all, the other guys that don’t step up at third do have second base to fall back on. Those who lose out on both second and third slide into a utility role or all the way down to Syracuse. In Vientos’s case, he doesn’t have that luxury. It’s either third base or thrown into another crowded space at designated hitter. Talk about a good problem to have. The team has one of the best records in baseball and their biggest worry is to find enough playing time for their youngsters.

The Mets have arguably entered their toughest stretch of the season. They have lost four consecutive games for the first time in 2025 and travel to Philadelphia after finishing up in Atlanta. Now would be the perfect time for someone, anyone to grab a hold of third base for the remainder of the season.

Philadelphia Phillies Can Use Andrew Painter in the Bullpen

A week ago at this time, things were bleak for the Philadelphia Phillies. The team had just been swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates and sat 4.5 games out of first place in the National League East. The deficit would grow to five games after losing 8-4 to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. Now? The Phils are only 2.5 games behind the New York Mets, having just swept the Toronto Blue Jays. Ranger Suarez, Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler all turned in outstanding efforts on the mound this weekend. The rotation is one of baseball’s best and the lineup is deep. The one thing that potentially dampens Philadelphia’s hope for a fourth consecutive playoff season is the bullpen.

Time for Andrew Painter to land in Philadelphia. Credit: The Philadelphia Inquirer

Enter Andrew Painter.

The Phillies’ top prospect should be looked at to bolster a suspect group. Their 4.50 ERA ranks 23rd out of 30 teams. Jose Alvarado, who was the team’s best reliever prior to getting suspended for 80 games for a positive PED test, won’t return until the middle of August. Jordan Romano has not worked out as expected in the closer’s role. Promoting Painter and putting him in the bullpen lessens the need to part with a good prospect for a rental. Despite underwhelming numbers in ten Minor League starts (4.82 ERA and seven home runs allowed), his 98 PMH fastball is the tonic for a struggling unit. Keep in mind that Painter missed all of 2023 and 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. Having him transition to a relief role could be a way to “ease” him into dealing with Major League hitters in preparation for making the big club out of Spring Training in 2026.

There is a precedent for this. In 2008, David Price was the top prospect of the Tampa Bay Rays. In September, he was brought up to the Majors and pitched out of the bullpen. In fact, it was Price that recorded the final out of Game 7 of the American League Championship Series to send the Rays to their first World Series appearance. The Phillies are a win now team and need to exhaust all options in order to return to the playoffs. Andrew Painter pitching out of the bullpen to me seems like a logical move. The resident Philles’ fan in the house also agrees with this assessment. Will Dave Dombrowski listen?

Reflecting on the Colorado Rockies

I have been paying extra attention to the Colorado Rockies recently. After all, each of the teams we root for will have played this woe-filled team by the end of next weekend. The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees took turns fattening their records in Colorado earlier this week while the New York Mets will be hosting them next weekend. I don’t think we have to get into how bad the Rockies are except for this one fact. They could eclipse the Cleveland Indians’ (now Guardians) 22 game winning streak by a game and still be 11 games under .500. Perhaps I am in the minority but I don’t think it’s really that funny. Actually, it’s quite sad.

Nothing but love for Brenton Doyle and the Rockies. Credit: MSN.com

I often wonder what goes through the minds of players who are on a histroically bad team. Do they come to the ballpark anticipating a loss that day? How upset are they that by the end of April, they realize they won’t be in the playoffs? Are they saying, “Here we go again” after falling behind early? I have been a fan of some pretty bad teams. The 1990 New York Yankees come to mind. I had no illusions the Yanks were going anywhere. Their eventual 67-95 record bore that out. It’s depressing to know that your favorite team will be toast by June 1. It will be a long Summer. The Rockies are so much worse. They could be 30 games behind those Yankees by the end of the season. What do their fans think? Do they see any hope? After all, Colorado is coming off consecutive 100 loss seasons. Those two teams are miles ahead of the 2025 version.

It’s not as though the Rockies are devoid of talent. Brenton Doyle had 23 home runs, 30 steals and a Gold Glove last year. Ezequiel Tovar‘s 45 doubles led the league in a season ago. Zach Agnos looks promising as a closer. However, the fortunes of the franchise could be summarized with the Kris Bryant contract. His seven year, $182 million dollar contract has defined this era of Rockies’ baseball. He has played no more than 80 games in any season so far and there are still three years left on his deal. I don’t have any real insight or opinions on the state of the organization as I don’t follow it religously. However, this article from Sports Illustrated is pretty insightful about we have arrived at this point.

I really hope the Colorado Rockies don’t finish with the worst record in MLB history. We just went through that with the Chicago White Sox. Yes, the players make more money that we will ever see. However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t show sympathy for their losing. The best way they can make us smile is by sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers June 24-26.