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Today’s Headlines
Automated Balls and Strikes
During a Triple-A game between the Charlotte Knights and Syracuse Mets carried on MLB Network, fans got a chance to see three new Minor League experimental rules put into place: a pitch clock, larger bases, and an automated ball-strike system (ABS). There are no plans to use ABS in the Majors next season, but it’s an idea that has been gaining momentum. ABS basically entails home-plate umpires relaying balls and strikes based on Hawk-Eye determination which they’d receive via earpiece. That system has been implemented in Triple-A this year.
A slight variation of that could involve challenges, similar to tennis. The challenge system would allow umps to call their zone so it’s not entirely automated as is this case with ABS but the wrinkle is that each team would get three challenges, so there would be a new strategical element added to the game.
To be clear, there’s nothing imminent happening in MLB with ABS or the challenge system. Commissioner Rob Manfred relayed during the owners’ meetings in June that there are no plans to propose it before the league’s Joint Competition Committee for use in 2023, but it’s not too far off from being put on the table with 2024 being a possibility.
A ball overturned to a strike in mere seconds. ?
Three experimental rules are being implemented in a @MiLB game tonight: https://t.co/7QiCzOArVl pic.twitter.com/aohQfG8etj
— MLB (@MLB) August 21, 2022
He hit two long balls last night going 4-for-4 and is now at 692 home runs for his career. Full disclosure, I didn’t realize how very good his numbers were this season; he’s hitting .269 with a .858 OPS. Over the last ten days, he’s hit six out, five more than J.D. Martinez has hit since July 1st. At 42 years old, his 140 wRC+ is the highest he’s posted since 2011. And by the way, he also jumped in front of the legendary Stan Musial for the second-most total bases of all time; He’s at 6,143 and now only trails Hank Aaron at 6,856.
Albert Pujols is the first player in MLB history with 4 hits and 2 HR in the same game at age 42 or older. pic.twitter.com/KYDE97GScr
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 21, 2022
Dustin May is back!
The Dodgers may have lost Walker Buehler for the year, but they got May back. In his first big league game since May of last year, the righty struck out nine over five innings, just one shy of his career-high.
Dustin May really did this tonight pic.twitter.com/81YXkzs5bi
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) August 21, 2022
Best Moments From Yesterday
Aaron Boone Gets Mad
Gerrit Cole pitched and the Yankees lost. The key hit for the Jays came on a two-run double to left from Jackie Bradley Jr. in the fifth. The pinstripers are 9-20 in the second half and have now seen their lead in the AL East shrink to seven games. Up next: Alek Manoah, Max Scherzer, and Jacob deGrom.
“The great thing it’s right in front of us!” -Here’s a very angry Aaron Boone calling out the #Yankees for not doing their job offensively pic.twitter.com/99qYat4lqX
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) August 20, 2022
So who had Johnny Cueto being the White Sox’s second-best starter on their bingo card? Mr. Kitchen Sink did his thing last night and finished one-out shy of a complete game shutout. Similar to Pujols, he’s having a resurgent season out of nowhere. How about a 2.58 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 17 starts? Not bad.
Never let ’em know your next move. pic.twitter.com/iG9cFn0FaA
— MLB (@MLB) August 21, 2022
Gunnar Henderson Walks it Off
The ascension continues; He’s slashing a sublime .300/ .418/ .546 this year in 377 AB across two levels. Now the question is, do the O’s call him up? It might be happening soon. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic mentioned that he played at second base last night and that the O’s could opt to keep the 21-year-old down for a couple of more days to secure his rookie status for next season.
GUNNAR HENDERSON WALKS OFF FOR NORFOLK!!!! AND THE YOUNG BULL FLEXES FOR HARBOR PARK ?????@G_Henderson2 works his magic again!
FINAL (10): Norfolk 8, Durham 7#RisingTide #Birdland pic.twitter.com/AtazU54YIZ
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) August 21, 2022
Also in this segment: The Orioles continue to promote young players – and Gunnar Henderson might be next. https://t.co/wdlCxcciui
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 20, 2022
Injuries
Seranthony Domínguez felt soreness in his triceps while tossing; An MRI is forthcoming.
In the first game of his rehab stint with Double-A Somerset, Giancarlo Stanton went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts. The hope is that he’ll join the Yankees during their upcoming West Coast road trip.
Luis Severino threw a 25-pitch bullpen session. He’s not eligible to return until September 12th.
Clay Holmes tossed for the first time since being placed on the IL and said his back is feeling better.
Yasmani Grandal had to be helped off the field after trying to score from second on a single from Elvis Andrus. He’s been placed on the IL. Carlos Pérez is the call-up.
Braxton Garrett was scratched from his start against the Dodgers last night with an oblique strain. Sounds like he’s probably done for the year at least as a starter.
Articles You Should Read
- Johnny Cueto is showing there’s more to pitching than striking everyone out. – James Fegan, The Athletic.
- The ’23 free-agent class is going to be loaded. – Will Leitch, MLB.com
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)