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We’re one-third of the way through the 2020 Major League Baseball season and like the, "Jelly of The Month Club," it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
We saw another scuffle that involved the Houston Astros, a historic night in Buffalo, NY by an up and coming shortstop of the Toronto Blue Jays and a brilliant start to the season for a young pitcher in Cleveland.
Some teams have established their dominance and are top shelf jellies, while others are on the bottom shelf tucked away until their expiration date.
But the one thing that has remained constant through all of this is that baseball is still alive and well. We are going to have the hap-hap-happiest time breaking down the last two weeks with the second installment of, "Behind the Dish."
He said what?
"I regret charging him because he’s a loser," – Oakland Athletics outfielder Ramon Laureano on Houston Astros’ hitting coach Alex Cintron.
Leading Off
The Houston Astros are at it again.
On Sunday August 9th, in a game against the Oakland Athletics, Astros rookie pitcher Humberto Castellanos hit Laureano in the middle of the back with a 3-2 breaking ball in the bottom of the second inning. Laureano, who was traded from the Astros in 2017, exchanged a few words with Castellanos while making his way to first base. When Laureano reached first base, Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron chimed in and Laureano charged the Astros dugout. This jump started a bench clearing scuffle and Cintron hid behind his players.
The MLB handed Cintron a 20 game suspension, while Laureano was given a six game suspension. Laureano’
s has since been reduced to four games as of Friday night.
We knew the Astros were going to be an issue this season, but did we expect the coaches to get involved?
The Hot Corner
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Los Angeles Dodgers (16-7):Easily the most dominate team in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers currently boast a plus-60 run differential.
Their plus-60 run differential is nearly double the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees (+35). Also, outfielder Mookie Betts is on fire. Last week he racked up 11 hits in 29 at bats to go along with four home runs. There’s really nothing more I can say about the Dodgers except It’s their division and title to lose right now.
New York Yankees (15-6):
The Yankees are succeeding despite an injury bug that has made its way through the clubhouse.
They completed a 5-0 week last night after a 4-2 victory over their American League East rival, the Boston Red Sox. With Aaron Judge (calf strain), Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring strain), DJ LeMahieu (sprained thumb) are all on the injured reserve list, the Yankees got a little support from a familiar face this past week.
Outfielder Clint Frazier went 8-for-15 with three doubles and two home runs this past week, and has a 1.696 OPS. He’s a pure, pound-for-pound, talented hitter.
Imagine if this lineup was healthy and they could find a spot for Frazier?
Oakland Athletics (16-6)
: It was a two week
roller coaster ride for the Oakland Athletics.
At the beginning of last week the Athletics’ nine-game winning streak was snapped with a series loss to the Los Angeles Angels. However, they rebounded quickly as they overcame two ninth-inning deficits of five runs and three runs in the first two games of the series, en route to a sweep of the San Francisco Giants this past weekend.
Oakland scored 30 runs in the series, 19 of them were driven in by outfielder Stephen Piscotty, first baseman Mark Canha and shortstop Marcus Semien.
If these guys can continue to drive in runs who in the AL West is going to stop them?
A Bad Hop
Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images
Seattle Mariners (7-16):
Seattle hit a rough patch with back-to-back series losses to AL West foes the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros. But there are a few things worth mentioning.
The good? Taijuan Walker and Justus Sheffield turned in strong starts for a staff that ranks 28th in the majors with a 5.60 ERA. Walker allowed zero earned runs on six hits on Wednesday, while Justus Sheffield allowed just six hits and one earned run in six innings pitched. The bad? The Mariners now have an MLB worst -47 run differential.
It’s looking like their historic playoff drought will last another season.
San Francisco Giants (8-15):
After a 5-4 start to the season, the San Francisco Giants find themselves on the outside looking in.
The Giants can’t seem to find quality starts from their starting rotation as they have an NL-worst 5.69 ERA, and their offense is 22nd in the majors with a .710 OPS, but not all is lost in San Francisco.
Outfielder Mike Yazstremski and second baseman Donovan Solano are still giving fans a reason to watch. In 82 at bats this season, Yazstremski has 25 hits, 16 RBIs, five home runs and a .305 average. Yazstremski’s counterpart Solano has been a great addition to the Giants lineup. He has added 29 hits, 15 RBIs, 1 home run to go along with a .403 average.
The Giants aren’t going to win a World Series any time soon, but they do have a couple of guys worth watching. Buster Posey if you’re reading this the league misses you!
Detroit Tigers (9-10):
After finishing last in the MLB in 2019 with 47 wins and 117 losses, it’s easy to pick on the Detroit Tigers.
But let’s give them credit where credit is due. They started off the season 9-5, they were four games above .500 and they were leading the AL Central.
Outfielder JaCoby Jones was hitting .379 with three doubles and three home runs. But then it all fell apart and now the Tigers sit 3.5 games back of the AL Central lead and rank 21st in the MLB in run differential with a -12.
They are still developing and trying to find an identity, but it was fun while it lasted.
Ahead in the Count
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Cleveland Indians pitcher- Shane Bieber:
Everybody strikes out some times, you know? What else can a pitcher do when his ERA is low?
Shane Bieber continues to dominate for the Indians and he’s on pace for a historic season. On Saturday, night Bieber recorded 11 strikeouts over seven innings during a 3-1 win over the Tigers. He has 54 strikeouts on the season, tying him with Nolan Ryan (1973) and Pedro Martinez (2001) for third most strikeouts through the first five starts of the season since 1906.
Bieber also has yet to record fewer than eight strikeouts in five starts on the season.
He certainly takes a deep breath and lets the baseball go, and lets the hitters drown on their own.
Toronto Blue Jays Shortstop- Bo Bichette:
Although he may be out for a few weeks due to a sprained knee, Bo Bichette is a stud.
On Wednesday night in a slugfest with the Miami Marlins, Bichette finished the game 5-for-5 with one home run, one RBI, four singles, reached base six times and stole 2 bases. He became the youngest shortstop (22) since Cal Ripken Jr. in 1982 to have five hits and one home run in a game. He’s also the only shortstop in modern era baseball to reach base six times, homer and steal two bases in the same game.
For now, the team announced Bichette is on the 10-day injured list, but will seek a second opinion on the diagnosis. Let’s hope he can return to the lineup soon, he’s an exciting player to watch.
Behind in the Count
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Houston Astros second baseman- Jose Altuve:
Jose Altuve has dug himself quite a hole at the plate this season.
Altuve is hitting an abysmal .184 this season and has struck out 21 times. He was benched by Astros Manager Dusty Baker last Wednesday in an attempt to help him clear his head.
This is not a good look for Altuve, who in the offseason was at the center of the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal. It adds more fuel to all of those that root against the Astros.
There is one thing I want to know, is it a coincidence? Or is Altuve only as good as the trash can his teammates were banging on?
Boston Red Sox Outfielder- Andrew Benintendi:
If there is one player that is having the most frustrating season in the MLB of any player, it’s Andrew Benintendi.
He fell while going from first base to third base in the eight inning of last Tuesday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays and strained his right rib cage. X-ray’s were negative but he was placed on the 10-day IL.
This season, Benintendi is batting just .103 in 52 plate appearances. This seems very unusual for a guy that hit .290 with an .830 ops, 63 extra base hits, 87 RBIs and 21 steals in 148 games two years ago for the Red Sox.
Maybe some time off will be good for him.