Diamond Report

The big leaguers now officially have the All-Star break RNR in the rearview mirror as we move into the latter part of July and into August baseball. Don't get it twisted, some clubs and players still have their game on break. While others are stomping their feet down on the gas pedal, as they have their eyes on the playoffs. We are seeing the past two weeks start to create a very entertaining stretch of baseball which sets the final half to be noisy and epic. The most entertaining part of the second half will absolutely be the playoff chase.

AL:

Quick notice off the bat: the Orioles are hungry. Like hungry-hungry. Since the break, the O's have had the opportunity to show they are playoff caliber. First they sweep the NL Wild Card fighting, Marlins. Then they win 3 HUGE games in Tampa Bay that has helped push their division lead over the Rays by 2 games. Yes, the Dodgers went into Camden and took 2 of 3 from the O's before the big Rays series. Not massively depleting. Baltimore still looked prominent against the NL West leader. Those losses do nothing to their confidence. They have won 7 out of 10 and are proving to be hungry for their first division crown since 2014. Things won't ease the please for Baltimore. They travel to Philly next, who are in the fight for the NL Wild Card. Then have the Yankees and Blue Jays to close out July and start August. Baltimore's spot on the top is about to be challenged, we shall see how bad they want that division title. That AL East race is red hot exciting. All five teams have to tread water lightly, and have to create a spark to have a fight in the end.

Another obvious tidbit I see looking at those standings? The AL Central title might just be the Twins. Certainly is the Twins' to lose. I see such lackluster performances from Cleveland, that make me question their playoff potential. I think the Guardians have a real tough August in regards to what I am seeing from the club since the All-Star break. Then you have the Tigers. Detroit doesn't seem like they can stay in the fight, unless they are buyers at the trade deadline. The division title is all up to the Twins not to blow, in my opinion. First, they have another series against Seattle that they need to use to prove they are legit. They split the 4-gamer against the Mariners last week- they need to win this series and create legitimate space from Cleveland and Detroit going into August.

NL:

My take for the Twins winning the AL Central is the same take I have for the Braves in the NL East. For Atlanta, it is much clearer of a closed case. The Braves are 4-5 since action returned. Why does that not mean nothing? Well the Braves division lead hasn't been narrowed. In fact, they extended the division lead while losing. I expect this to be just a little All-Star break hangover from the Braves. Atlanta has Austin Riley and Matt Olson just continuing to CRUSH baseballs left and right. Riley was just named NL player of the week, and has the hottest bat of anyone in the big leagues. Acuna is the most consistent and reliable player in the league, and seems to have no brakes on that case as he leads the league in steals and has a top batting average. I just don't see there being any chance that the Phillies and Marlins can catch up to the Braves, being 12 games back going into August.

The NL Central is closer than it was at the All-Star break, and is now a major focus as we watch these division races play out. The race is red hot between the Reds and Brewers as they are at a deadlock atop the division. The kicker? Those Cubs in Chicago have something to say- and may just have put a leg in this race. We know the narrative in Cincy right now: a build of young studs who have the team competing. There is always that one fact that comes with young teams- they are YOUNG! The Reds just dropped five in a row, to then flip the switch and win 5 in a row. That's what we see with really young teams- inconsistent play here and there. No way am I saying these young cats are going to fall out of the race, but being inconsistent will make things real tough on the Reds. Especially when we have the Cubs climbing. The Cubs are the only team in the division with a positive run differential. If they choose not to be sellers at the trade deadline, then the Cubs shouldn't be counted out by any means. The race for the NL Central crown might be second to the AL East if the Cubs can realistically get right back in it. Keep your eyes out for the three game series starting tonight between the Reds and Brewers. It will be the last time the two clubs play each other in the regular season, this is a MASSIVE series. Must win games in late July? Baseball fans rejoice.

The NL West race is in the same state it was at the All-Star break, minus the Padres being a contender. San Diego seems to have hit the slope down and out of the race. The crown is still available for either the Dodgers; Diamondbacks; or Giants to win. LA just won two massive games in Arlington (by big) to showcase why they sit atop of the NL West. They have two important series to play as they close out July to try and create some more space away from the D-backs and Giants. Arizona is lucky to only be 4 games back of the Dodgers. D-backs have been swept in 2 of the 3 series since the All-Star break. Gotta stop that. They shouldn't be facing any further sweeps if they wish to catch the Dodgers. Frankly, they can't take ANY sweeps if they wish to even make the playoffs, as a Wild Card or division winner. Arizona's GM Mike Hazen saw the poor play and got on his phone to talk some Ohtani with Perry Minasian. Relax. Talk is talk. D-backs can't relax on the diamond though, they have to get back to a groove to stay in the hunt. You think I'm overreacting? Arizona starts August off against the Giants; Twins; then Dodgers. The series against the Giants will be the final series of the season between the two. Massive games just like the Brewers/Reds series, this week. I am very intrigued to see if the Diamondbacks and Giants can stay on the Dodgers. Let's not forget about them fighting for a Wild Card spot within a fight for the division crown. I stick with my Dodgers pick to win the NL West Division title. I do hope I am wrong, for the record.

Will the Halos trade Shohei Ohtani? With 7 days remaining until the deadline, it's very up in the air. There hasn't been any legitimate discussions towards a real deal being offered. Just small talk conversations. The Halos have gone 6-2 in their past eight games to get their record back over .500, putting the Ohtani trade in even more question. Being 4 games back in the Wild Card, the Angels currently have a 9.6% chance of making the playoffs (Baseball Reference). From the understanding around the league, however: the Angels' playoff chances don't necessarily determine if there will be a trade or not. The owner has stated that if he feels the Halos can keep Ohtani in free agency- that they won't trade him. We are running out of time to decide here. You know where I stand on the situation. Unless you have a guarantee from Shohei that he will resign, you trade him. Can't afford to let him walk. The Diamondbacks and Orioles staying in touch with LAA, keeping trade talks warm- makes me have more intrigue. I still want to see Texas take a swing. Stop winning Angels, we are trying to see something!

Braves front office is getting active at the trade deadline, as they prep for their playoff run. The lineup is set, and batting great recently. The bullpen needed help. Braves are missing their top setup man A.J. Minter, who will begin a Minor League rehab assignment on Tuesday. They’ve also spent the past two months without another of their top lefty relievers, Dylan Lee, who is still a couple of weeks away from returning. Atlanta knew they had to take advantage here at the deadline, and did so by bolstering the bullpen for the playoffs with two trades. They grab right hander Pierce Johnson from Colorado; as well as LHP Taylor Hearn from the Rangers. Hearn doesn't blow you away, but he has upside and more importantly- Hearn has minor league options remaining. A tool that could help the Braves in rearranging the depth chart if push comes to shove. Johnson is having a tough season, mostly due part to pitching in Coors Field. Johnson gets a chance to return to the type of pitching he showcased last season. Joining the best team in the conference, knowing you are being brought in to help the bullpen's depth- should help his confidence in Atlanta. Great trades. Daysbel Hernandez's arrival, plus the two trades, has the Braves bullpen in a much better spot than it was a few weeks ago. They are hungry.

Will Jed Hoyer fold his cards and sell at the deadline for the Cubs? Very important week in Chicago's front office. Very-very important. A few weeks ago they were in sell mode, without question. Now they have won five of six against the ground soil Nationals and Cardinals to get back within three games of .500 and 5.5 games back of the third NL Wild Card spot. The Cubs have two games against the 41-60 White Sox and four more against the Cardinals this week, so the opportunity is there for them to gain more ground at that Wild Card. Making their decision to sell or buy at the deadline, tough. Not a terrible spot, against the contrary. They signed Cody Bellinger to a one year deal in hopes that he would play well and be considered a guy to flip at the deadline. That's exactly what has happened, as he is currently one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball. Bellinger is an eye-popping 41-for-104 with 7 HRs and 22 RBIs in his last 25 games. They can easily sell and flip him for some prospects, putting them in a better spot for the future. They also have Marcus Stroman that is a hot ask from teams in the trade market. Selling those two alone would help build the future roster. I say to hell with waving the white flag. Not only that, how about the Cubs be buyers at the deadline? That's right, buyers. The rotation is solid, plus you have Dansby Swanson's return on Saturday, making the lineup deeper. Grabbing a solid third baseman or additional bullpen aid is the route I would like the Cubs to take. I think they have a chance in making the playoffs, which delivers experiences that will help a young club grow for the future just as much as selling at the deadline. It's going to be interesting to see how Hoyer and co play this deadline.

This should be a wild next week and half as we wrap up July on the diamond. The trade-deadline; two big series; and the division title races getting hotter?! What else can baseball fans ask for? I am pumped. Time to focus on this Reds-Brewers battle, cha heard.

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Opinion. Fact. Or Straight Up Cap.