Issue #603
The goal with The Baseball Buffet series is to provide the best daily dose of relevant baseball info in a smart-brevity format (mostly short bullets, getting to the point, with quick analysis/insights.) Think of it like what baseball fans of a certain age would look forward to in their morning newspaper’s sports section each day!
⚾ Welcome! ⚾
The below are some appetizers from today’s full Baseball Buffet newsletter. Paid subscribers receive the full edition. (Upgrade now at 30% off the annual rate!)
Yesterday featured a full slate of 15 games. Here are the results (link to all game box scores):
ATL 7, LAA 2 - As I noted yesterday, Jorge Soler feasts on ATL SP Reynaldo Lopez's offerings. Coming into the game he was 13-22 with 4 HR and 3 doubles against him, and sure enough he hit a 2-run HR in the bottom of the first inning. Lopez settled in after that and posted 7 K in 4.2 IP, but was ejected along with Soler in the fifth inning when punches were thrown after a pitch from Lopez came in a bit too close for Soler’s liking (see video and learn more at this article at MLB). Five Braves relievers pitched shutout ball the rest of the way, with Raisel Iglesias earning a save. Ozzie Albies hit his third HR of the year, and Matt Olson had his sixth double.
DET 2, MIN 4 - MIN SP Taj Bradley was masterful (6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K) and bested DET SP Tarik Skubal (4.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K). Josh Bell went 3-4 with a double, and Twins reliever Justin Topa made his seventh appearance already this year, closing this one out for his first save.
MIL 2, BOS 3 - MIL SP Jacob Misiorowski had 10 K in 5.1 IP, but also allowed 4 BB, 2 H, and 3 ER. That would be all it would take as Garrett Crochet pitched well (6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) and three Red Sox relievers kept the Brewers from scoring, with Aroldis Chapman earning his third save.
KCR 1, CLE 2
BAL 4, CWS 2
ARI 3, NYM 4 (10)
SDP 1, PIT 7
CHC 2, TBR 0
CIN 6, MIA 3 (10)
STL 7, WSH 6 (10)
ATH 3, NYY 5
LAD 4, TOR 1
SEA 2, TEX 3
HOU 1, COL 5
PHI 0, SFG 6
19-year-old Konnor Griffin signs 9-year Extension
After being rumored for several days as being in the works, it seems 19-year-old prospect SS Konnor Griffin, recently called up by the Pirates, is agreeing to a 9-year, $140 million contract extension. As a Pirates fan myself, I had been waiting for an article at MLB before sharing this out, so see the reporting from Jason Mackey at MLB for more details.
Today’s Trivia Question
One of today's Birthday Boys (see below) is Hall of Famer Gary Carter. He is fifth all-time in games played as a catcher (2,056). Can you name the four players who have caught more games in the majors?
(Trivia answers are provided for paid All-Star subscribers of the Baseball Buffet.)
🎂 Today’s Birthday Boys 🎉
Row 1: Gary Carter, Catfish Hunter, Félix Hernández
Row 2: Carlos Santana, John Hiller, Charlie Maxwell
Currently active players who were born on April 8 include ATH Jeff McNeil, LAA Jo Adell, BAL Zach Eflin, and TEX Jacob Latz.
Today’s Matchups
Another full slate of games today (15), including the following matchups of interest (and here is the full list):
SDP Michael King vs. PIT Mitch Keller - a nice pitching matchup to decide this series
SEA Bryan Woo vs. TEX MacKenzie Gore - Woo will try to help the Mariners avoid a sweep
LAD Shohei Ohtani vs. TOR Dylan Cease - Similarly, Toronto has lost two in this World Series rematch, but Cease will do his best against the tough Dodgers lineup and Ohtani as his opponent
Other pitchers taking the mound today include KCR Cole Ragans, BOS Sonny Gray, PHI Aaron Nola, ATL Grant Holmes, and DET Framber Valdez
Baseball Quote of the Day
One of today's Birthday Boys (see above) is Hall of Famer Gary Carter, so here are a few interesting quotes from him:
"Johnny Bench befriended me my first year in the big leagues. He took me under his wing during my first All-Star Game and we've been friends ever since. He's one guy I've tried to emulate and I'll always compare myself to Johnny (Bench)."
"My first year in the big leagues I divided time between catching with Barry Foote and playing the outfield. It wasn't until my breakthrough year in 1977, when I had the opportunity to catch every day under Dick Williams, that I hit thirty-one home runs. It was then that I said maybe if I keep putting some of these years together, maybe I can dream of the Hall of Fame."
"It is a grueling position (catching). My knees will tell you that. I've had nine knee surgeries. I've had a couple of broken thumbs, one on each hand. I can look back at it and say it's worth it to be enshrined in Cooperstown. I don't have any pain in my knees right now."
⚾ Enjoy the games today!⚾
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The above was just some highlights from today’s full Baseball Buffet. Paid All Star subscribers receive all of the following, every day:
Longer game summaries for every game
Current MLB standings
Notable player transactions… injuries, call-ups, free agent signings, trades, etc.
Rotating statistical leader lists
Current hitting streaks of seven or more games
On this day in baseball history…
Career summaries for each of The Birthday Boys
Daily Hitter Watch and Pitcher Watch lists - who has historically done well or poorly against their matchup today?
Good Reads… my favorite recent baseball articles from other writers
… and the answer to the trivia question!
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Did you know? I wrote a 600+ page book with the same title as this newsletter/blog? Now Taking the Field: Baseball’s All-Time Dream Teams for All 30 Franchises was published in early 2019, by ACTA Sports. It is available at Amazon and most other major booksellers.
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