The Monday Takeaway
Remember when the Marlins traded Christian Yelich?
It’s not exactly a surprise that Yelich is thriving in a more hitter-friendly park, but wow, the Marlins would sure love to have a 27-year-old MVP candidate on an extremely friendly contract right now.
That’s Yelich’s second cycle this year, with both coming against the Reds. He’s hitting a flabbergasting .318/.385/.570 in what’s easily the best season of his career. He and Lorenzo Cain, along with the Brewers’ stupendous bullpen, are the reasons that Milwaukee could yet win the NL Central.
There was always a belief that this was somewhere in the tank for Yelich, that with the right amount of waiting he would turn into an absolute monster. The hitting has always been there, with the power making occasional appearances. The whole package is now on display, and man, it’s something else.
Again, we don’t know how much of this is the new park, how much of it is the happiness that comes with being in a playoff chase and being free of one of the most dysfunctional franchises in the game. But the Marlins could sure use a good group of position players to go with JT Realmuto and Brian Anderson. Imagine if they had Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton. Oh, well. ¡Adios a Miami!
This isn’t to say that what the Marlins got back for Yelich is worthless. It’s way too early to condemn Lewis Brinson, to say nothing of the prospects like Monte Harrison and Isan Diaz.
But, uh, whoops.
Quick Hits from Monday
The title has been given to many players. Aaron Judge. Willians Astudillo. Kyle Schwarber. Rafael Devers.
But there is only one true Large Adult Son in baseball. And he has returned.
Dan Vogelbach is back, bigger and beefier and rowdier than ever before. We are truly blessed. Well, we being everyone but the Astros.
***
I don’t understand people who don’t like Javy Baez.
I mean, I get why they don’t. He’s not old-fashioned. He’s arrogant. He’s in your face.
Hell, yeah, man. Baseball is here to entertain me. Baez is the most entertaining player in the world. Yes, please.
***
Who is the real Michael Conforto? Is he this guy?
Or is he the Conforto who struggles mightily for months on end? Is he both? Do we have a Schrodinger’s Player, both at once awful and great?
He did have shoulder surgery a year ago, and it could have taken him a while to get fully up to speed this year. We’ve seen just how good Conforto can be. The Mets are hoping he’ll be a big part of the team in 2019.
Defensive Play of the Day
Jake Marisnick’s so nice, he did it twice.
What to Watch on Tuesday
Well, of course, you’ve got to watch Yankees-Red Sox, right?
[Mob pelts me with garbage]
OK, I know, I know. But respect the classics, man! Don’t worry about the Yankees being a remarkably average team of late. They may have Aaron Judge back tonight. And the Sox are the Sox. It’ll be Nathan Eovaldi and J.A. Happ on the hill at 7:05. This was originally supposed to be an afternoon game, but it’s been pushed back to the evening because of rain.
Once that’s done (or, knowing these teams, in the fifth inning), switch over to the Cubs and Diamondbacks at 9:40. Mike Montgomery and Matt Andriese are pitching.
Or, if you’re an AL sort of person, opt for the Angels and A’s at 10:05. Tyler Skaggs is starting for Anaheim, while Liam Hendriks will assume opener duties.
Thank you for reading
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