MLB Random Thoughts [7/22 - 7/28]

[Woy]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/standings

AL EAST
BOS 60-40
TB 58-41 1.5 GB
BAL 56-43 3.5 GB
NYY 52-46 7 GB
TOR 45-52 13.5 GB

AL CENTRAL
DET 53-44
CLE 52-46 1.5 GB
KC 45-50 7 GB
MIN 41-54 11 GB
CWS 39-56 13 GB

AL WEST
OAK 57-41
TEX 54-44 3 GB
LAA 46-50 10 GB
SEA 46-52 11 GB
HOU 33-64 23.5 GB

NL EAST
ATL 55-43
PHI 49-50 6.5 GB
WAS 48-50 7 GB
NYM 43-51 10 GB
MIA 35-61 19 GB

NL CENTRAL
STL 59-37
PIT 57-39 2 GB
CIN 55-43 5 GB
CHC 43-53 16 GB
MIL 41-56 18.5 GB

NL WEST
ARZ 51-47
LAD 50-47 .5 GB
COL 48-51 3.5 GB
SF 45-52 5.5 GB
SD 43-56 8.5 GB

[strahanfan92]

Article from the weekend:

Brandon Phillips calls his $72.5 million contract a ‘slap in the face’

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/brandon-phillips-calls-72-5-million-contract-slap-220856559.html

(Getty Images)Brandon Phillips , the Cincinnati Reds star second baseman, signed a six-year, $72.5 million contract with the team in 2012, a nice hunk of cash, no doubt.
But in a new interview with Cincinnati magazine — in which Phillips is given the title "the most entertaining player in baseball" — he reveals that to him the contract is a "slap in the face" compared to the 10-years, $225 million the Reds gave fellow star Joey Votto just five days earlier in 2012.

Here's what Phillips said:

“I just feel like they didn’t have to sign Joey (Votto) to that contract (10-year, $225-million extension). He still had two more years on his. And for (the front office) to go out there and sign him before they sign me, and they knew I was going to be a free agent?” Phillips shakes his head. “I understand Joey’s a good player. He’s one of the best players in this game. But I feel like I am too. I told them that this is where I wanted to be. I begged them. I told everybody I want to finish my career here. And then they give someone a contract who didn’t ask for nothing?”

“To this day, I’m still hurt. Well, I don’t wanna say hurt. I’ll say scarred. I’m still scarred. It just sucks that it happened,” he says. “For (Castellini) to sign somebody for $200 million, there must be a new vegetable or fruit coming out that we don’t know about. For him to do something like that and tell me they didn’t have any more money, that’s a lie. But what can I do? I just feel like it was a slap in my face … But how can someone slap you in the face with all that money. It’s a nice slap in the face.”

More in the article.

[Slateman]

Nationals fired their hitting coach, Rick Eckstein. Eckstein was the only hitting coach in MLB that had not played professionally.

[Slateman]

Grili just removed himself from the game in the bottom of the 9th with two outs on an 0-1 count.

[EmpireWF]

Jason Heyward

Oh my god.

[Hobbes]

Heyward, oh my.

[NAHSTE]

Jason Heyward is the best defensive outfielder in baseball.

 

Gotta love Mets fans

[Jayrock]

Starlin Castro with a 311/.347/.478 slash line and .825 OPS since being benched last month coming into today.

Hit a double today in the first as well.

[Jayrock]

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=29043791&c_id=chc

This just after a bunt for hit in his previous AB... Puig sucks.

[Jayrock]

And he just bunted for another hit.

8-16 since being called up after the break for Junior Lake

[RyanLeaf16]

Matt Moore deserves a little love after a CG, 2 hit, shutout of the Sawx last night.

[DDRGuido]

Zach McAllister comes off the 60-day DL tonight against Seattle. He comes back with a record of 4-5 & a 3.43 ERA.

[Slateman]

Fastest SI jinx ever?

[EmpireWF]

[EmpireWF]

Hudson almost definitely done for the year.....here comes Beachy on Monday.