Jesse Cooke’s Post

<!-->--> One year into an 11-year, $280 million contract with the Padres, Xander Bogaerts is moving from shortstop to second base. The position change, which involves Ha-Seong Kim returning to short, is even more stunning when considering the 31-year-old Bogaerts has never manned second in his professional career.  But it’s only the latest in a series of confounding moves from San Diego, which has been as financially aggressive as any franchise in baseball over the past few years. The Pads have handed out six different contracts of at least $80 million since 2021. Results have been mixed thus far. Bogaerts, for instance, posted solid offensive numbers in 2023, but his .285/.350/.440 slash line and 120 OPS+ were all his lowest marks since 2017.  Moreover, Bogaerts’ defense at shortstop also took a dip, as he finished the year with minus-4 defensive runs saved (per Baseball-Reference). The four-time All-Star still has a decade left in San Diego, with plenty of time to turn things around and remain a productive core piece of the Padres going forward as they try to rebound from a forgettable 2023 despite reducing payroll and trading away Juan Soto to the Yankees. Bogaerts, of course, isn’t alone among recent signings that already look problematic. Fellow shortstops Carlos Correa (Twins) and Trea Turner (Phillies) struggled even more so last year, in the first years of their nine-figure contracts. As of now, there are about 60 active players on $100-plus million deals, though nearly half of them were signed in the past year alone. With that, we examined every megadeal that is at least two years old and determined which ones have underwhelmed most. (Editor’s note: We did not include Rays shortstop Wander Franco because of the uncertainty surrounding his future playing status.)  Here are 10 $100 million contracts currently aging the worst (listed chronologically). 1. Giancarlo Stanton, OF/DH, New York Yankees Contract: 13 years, $325 million ($25 million average annual value) in 2015 (with Miami Marlins)Remaining terms: 4 years, $118 million; team option for $25 million in 2028Total (Baseball-Reference) wins above replacement since signing: 22.4 (nine seasons)2023 stats: .191/.275/.420, 24 HRs, 60 RBIs, 87 OPS+ At the time Stanton signed his contract extension with the Miami Marlins after the 2014 season, it was the largest in the history of professional sports. It also appeared to be a major milestone for the Marlins, who had struggled to contend but believed they had a superstar to build around. Then-owner Jeffrey Loria triumphantly calling Stanton “the face of the franchise for the next 13 years.”  But while Stanton remained excellent over the next few years, winning National League MVP after a 59-home run season in 2017, the Marlins remained terrible, and Loria finalized a sale of the team that same season. The following winter, new ownership traded Stanton to the Yankees in a massive salary dump. It appeared to cement

Fun Fact Friday! In honor of his passing this week, we are revisiting the career of one of the greatest to ever put on a uniform- the "Say Hey Kid", Willie Mays. Mays was a 24x All Star, 12x Gold Glover, 2x NL MVP, World Series Champ and Rookie of the Year. In MLB history, he's still ranked 6th for HRs, 7th for Runs, 12th for hits and 1st for games played in CF and putouts by an outfielder. At the time of his retirement, he held the NL record for career runs scored (2,062), ranked 2nd in league history in games played (2,992), 3rd in HRs (660), at bats (10,881), RBIs (1,903), total bases (6,066), extra-base hits (1,323) and walks (1,464), 4th in hits (3,293), 5th in slugging percentage (.557), and 8th in doubles (523). He also hit .302 for his career. For all the baseball nerds, here's a crazy stat: From 1954-1966, Mays had 13 consecutive seasons where he posted a WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 7.0 or higher. That meant for 13 years in a row, he was, statistically, at least 7x more valuable than a replacement level player. His total WAR over that period was 124.1. To put that in perspective, the next closest players were Hank Aaron at 96.4, followed by Mickey Mantle at 90.0! While Mays in a Giants uniform is iconic and seeing him in a Mets uniform makes sense, what if he'd been in a Red Sox uniform? They had their shot. In 1950, a Red Sox scout had a deal in place to sign Mays for $4500, but the front office shot it down because they didn't want to integrate. Can you imagine Ted Williams and Willie Mays in the same lineup and patrolling the outfield in Fenway together?! No amount of LinkedIn exposition would be enough to accurately reflect how phenomenal Mays was, so I'll just tip my cap in honor of a man who belongs on the Mount Rushmore of baseball players.

New Post: White Sox manager Pedro Grifol calls team’s performance ‘unacceptable’ after one-hit effort vs. Orioles - https://lnkd.in/egvTHaVM Getty Images The Chicago White Sox extended their losing streak to five in a row on Sunday, dropping a 4-1 contest to the Baltimore Orioles (box score). The White Sox, who were no-hit through the first seven innings by right-hander Kyle Bradish, mustered just one hit on the day: that coming in the form of a pinch-hit home run by Danny Mendick off reliever Danny Coulombe.After the game, White Sox manager Pedro Grifol expressed frustration with his roster."I don't have much. pitched his ass off. We got no-hit through We had a pinch-hitter break it up," Grifol told reporters, including MLB's Scott Merkin. "The rest of the guys… Not the rest of the guys. Most of the guys were flat today. Unacceptable. That's all I got." Crochet did indeed pitch well on Sunday, serving as the White Sox's lone bright spot. He surrendered just two runs on three hits and a walk, all the while striking out 11 batters across six innings of work. Crochet's outing lowered his 2024 ERA to 3.68.  The White Sox have now dropped nine of their last 10 contests. They're 3-11 since reeling off a season-high four-game winning streak in early May. Things may not get any better for the White Sox anytime soon, either. Following a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays beginning on Monday, they'll play 13 consecutive games against teams who are .500 or better. The White Sox's 15-39 record represents the worst mark in the majors. Under Major League Baseball's rules regarding the draft lottery and teams who don't receive revenue-sharing money, the White Sox will not be eligible to pick earlier than 10th next year. Stats Sport

I have posted that the 2023 New York Yankees stink. They stink because their manager, Aaron Boone, looks at every catastrophic loss as a learning experience. No, losing is not character building if you lose because your are incompetent. Today, the New York Yankees were playing the Miami Marlins. The Yankees and the Marlins had split two games in their three game series. Today the Yankees had their star pitcher Derrick Cole playing. Cole left the game with the Yankees leading by five runs. We get to the bottom of the 9th inning and the star closer, Clay Holmes, proceeds to lose the game. I mean, what are the odds that a baseball team will give up six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. This was about the most pathetic performance by a bullpen in the history of baseball. Aaron Boone asked about the devastating loss after the game says, "we have to move on tomorrow we have to face the Atlanta Braves." Well yes the schedule says that the Yankees face the Atlanta Braves tomorrow, but we don't have to "move on." We can ask what kind of manager and what kind of team manages to blow a five run lead in the bottom of the nineth inning? I have listened to Aaron Boone for years explain how he feels after crushing defeats. His answer is always the same. We can't afford to feel crushed because we have another game scheduled right behind this. Yes, this is the sort of logic I would expect from Kamala Harris. You lose because the other team is better and you can't afford to dwell on it since there is always another game. Or put another way, winning isn't everything. Showing up at the next venue to get your butt kicked is everything. And who doesn't want to have a rested bullpen. Why send in your best, when you can rest it.

Out of the 19 MLB betting systems that I developed a few years ago, there are just 2 or 3 that I recently started to fade. In other words, I go against their advice because they have performed so poorly in recent years. Now, two of them are backing a team today so I decided to place a wager on the opposing team. Let me clarify all of this with you in today’s video that will present my favorite bet for Monday September 11. First of all, “The Blowout #2” betting strategy has generated a -21% ROI this season via a 32-46 record. It also yielded some losses in each of the prior three seasons. We are talking about bad performance over a long period of time, right? The rules of this betting angle go like this: if a team wins by a margin of at least seven runs and they are facing a different opponent today, you must bet AGAINST them. Now, as explained earlier, I’ll do the opposite, and I prefer to bet ON that team. So which teams fits under those rules today? The Astros. Indeed, they won by a 10-run margin against the Padres yesterday, and since they are facing a different squad on Monday, we are supposed to be fading them if we were following “The Blowout #2”’s rules. However, given my earlier explanations, my top pick for Monday September 11 is backing the Houston Astros, but I am taking the -2.5 run line at positive odds because I expect them to blow out the A’s. The Astros are as healthy as they can be, and it shows on the field. They have scored an average of 10 runs per game during their six most recent contests. They are playing solid baseball and seem to be hitting their stride. Framber Valdes will take the mound for Houston. He owns a 2.89 ERA in 12 career appearances against Oakland. I also like the fact that the last time he faced them, he surrendered 4 runs over 5 innings, which will keep him motivated and focused even though he knows he’s facing a weaker opponent. Rookie Mason Miller will get his 5th career start, but he is unlikely to pitch deep because the A’s are being cautious following his elbow injury. Ken Waldichuk will probably play a large role, which is great news if you are betting the Astros because his numbers are plain awful. A WHIP statistic above 1.50 is deemed to be very bad, while his stat sits at 1.64. He was impressive in his last start, but I’m not buying it. So, in summary, the bet I like the most in Major League Baseball for Monday September 11 is the Houston Astros -2.5 runs at odds around +120 at home against the Oakland A’s. Thank you so much for reading, I appreciate all of you! By the way I found a bet that I like a lot regarding the Bills versus Jets showdown tonight, and it’s never too late to join https://mjpicks.com/ in order to receive all of my NFL and college football picks! The free NFL picks I gave you on YouTube for Week 1 generated a 3-1 record. Have a good Monday! #mlb #betting #bettingsports #bettingtips #houstonastros

New Post: SF Giants running out of time to solve road woes, salvage playoff hopes PHOENIX — There’s an old adage that is often applied across sports. Win half your road games, take care of business at home, and you’ve got yourself a playoff team. The San Francisco Giants have fulfilled half that equation. They are 43-32 at Oracle Park but just 33-42 away from the shores of McCovey Cove, and after dropping three of four at Coors Field over the weekend, have won only five of their previous 28 road games, a .152 winning percentage. Dating back to almost the All-Star break, no team has been worse away from home, a stretch of futility made only more perplexing given their 17-10 record at home during the same time. “I saw that stat,” outfielder Austin Slater said, “and honestly, I started laughing a little bit. I thought it was encouraging how close we were and how bad we’ve been on the road. … I believe in the law of averages. If we’ve been that bad recently, it’s bound to swing back our way at some point. Because that’s not the kind of team we are. We’re much better than that.” With 12 games to go, they are still in striking distance. But there is only so much time to correct course. A strong finish over their final six on the road, starting with two in Arizona against a team 2½ games up in the wild card standings, could make it all a moot point. But, if they fail to make up that ground, it will be just as easy to point to their second-half road struggles as their missed opportunities against the worst teams in the majors (37-34 vs. clubs below .500) or with their ace, Logan Webb, on the mound (12-14 in his starts, entering Tuesday). “It’s simple, right? We’re just not playing good enough on the road,” manager Gabe Kapler said after his club was swept during its doubleheader in Colorado. “I don’t think there’s any one thing to point to. It’s a team effort. We’re not playing good enough as a team.” Digging into the numbers, though, the Giants play like a different team away from their pitcher-friendly home confines. The offense has been anemic since the end of June, but that has been universal across parks. No matter the venue, they’ve been among majors’ worst group of hitters in most statistical categories. At home, they’ve survived with some of the best pitching in the majors. On the road, that same group of pitchers has been among the least effective in the league. “It’s been largely the same people, the same teams,” said reliever John Brebbia, who, for example, has a 2.45 ERA at home this year vs. 4.11 on the road and was as befuddled as anyone else. “As much as I love pitching at Oracle, I don’t feel like a different person on the road versus at home. Maybe some people do, but I haven’t heard that.” In 27 home games since the All-Star break, Giants pitchers have posted a 3.02 ERA, the second-best mark in the majors. They rank in the top six league-wide in FIP (3.3

I have often written that, among all major sports, I love baseball because of its unpredictability. The NFL, NBA and NHL have unpredictability because team rosters change radically within a few-year period, but the results in a given year are relatively predictable. The NHL had a highly unpredictable 2023 playoff season in terms of the teams the Panthers defeated to get to the final round, but the Golden Knights, the far superior team, won the Stanley Cup. We are in the midst of a baseball playoff season unlike any other in MLB history. Only one team, the 1973 Mets, made it to the World Series with a worse regular season record than the D-backs (82-79 vs. the D-backs 84-78 record). But the Mets only had to win one playoff round and it was a best-of-five series. They lost the World Series 4-3 against the Oakland A's team that was in the middle of a 3-year World Series championship run. The nearest comparison to the D-backs is the 2006 Cardinals, which had an 84-78 record and won the World Series against the heavily favored Tigers. The Cardinals beat the Padres and the Mets in the playoff rounds, both of which were favored over them, but they only had to win two playoff rounds, as opposed to three this year. Both the D-backs and the Rangers won in improbable ways. Both had to play the wild card round on the road and had to play a majority of their games in the next two rounds on the road. The Rangers had an 8-0 road record through their three rounds, and a 1-3 record in their home games. The D-backs had a 6-2 road record and a 3-1 record in home games. The path to the World Series for these teams was much tougher. The Rangers-Astros series was only the 2nd playoff series in history to have the road team win every game. The 1st was the 2019 World Series, in which the Astros also ended up losing. I would not want to place a major bet on any outcome in the World Series.

Boston Red Sox Beware Of The Green Monster Shirt In conclusion, as the Boston Red Sox continue to dominate the baseball world, it is important for both their fans and their opponents to beware of the Green Monster. This iconic wall in Fenway Park has become a symbol of both fear and triumph for the team, making it a crucial part of their success. For the Red Sox faithful, the Green Monster represents resilience and determination. This towering 37-foot wall has witnessed countless historic moments for the team, including game-winning home runs and valiant defensive plays. It serves as a reminder for the players to never give up and to always keep fighting, no matter how tough the competition may be. On the other hand, for opposing teams, the Green Monster is a daunting obstacle that must be faced. Its close proximity to home plate makes it a prime target for home runs, making it a dangerous threat to any lead. Its unique dimensions and angles also make it challenging for outfielders to make plays, adding another layer of difficulty for those facing the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Furthermore, the Green Monster serves as a metaphor for the Red Sox's historic rivalry with the New York Yankees. The wall's green color is a stark contrast to the Yankees' signature pinstripes, representing the ongoing battle between the two teams. The Red Sox have proven time and time again that they are not intimidated by their fierce rivals, and the Green Monster stands as a testament to their perseverance and passion. In conclusion, the Green Monster is more than just a physical structure in Fenway Park. It holds a deep significance for the Boston Red Sox and their fans, and serves as a reminder of the team's resilience and determination. As the Red Sox continue to dominate the baseball world, it is clear that opposing teams must beware of this iconic wall if they hope to come out on top. The Boston Red Sox and the Green Monster are a powerful force to be reckoned with, and they will continue to leave a lasting legacy in the world of baseball. Buy now: https://lnkd.in/gnqncdad Visit store: https://macoroo.com/ #Boston #Red #Sox #Beware #Of #The #Green #Monster # #tshirt More Post: 1.https://https://lnkd.in/g4-2BbAa 2.https://https://lnkd.in/gREU7hxa 3.https://https://lnkd.in/gRmEtMah Connect with us online: https://lnkd.in/gi_zTviP https://lnkd.in/gxi_aKTp https://lnkd.in/gpFg_Evr https://lnkd.in/gMpvDA4C https://lnkd.in/g-iN_iZa https://lnkd.in/gmm7Yiuy https://lnkd.in/giS5Skrp https://lnkd.in/gXXSbbgx https://lnkd.in/gWrwf8Ux https://lnkd.in/gCcMFMkj https://lnkd.in/gre9RES8 https://lnkd.in/gQHHStZs https://lnkd.in/gYfeppeZ

Morning Round-Up for Wednesday, August 23rd...good morning. Besides the intense heat that's gripping the middle 1/3 of the U.S. baseball is in the news this morning...yesterday the Commissioners office of Major League Baseball (MLB) placed Tampa Rays All-Star shortstop Wander Franco on 'Administrative Leave'...this is serious because very little information is really coming out but we do know that this is stemming from his alleged inappropriate social media postings to female minors & possibly relationships with female minors. This could obviously be devastating to Franco as a person but, this could also be a 'death knell' to the Rays chances to advance very far in the playoffs that it seemed as though they were going to breeze through just a couple of months ago...stay tuned for updates on this story. The Orioles & Blue Jays are ensconced in a true tug of war type of series...the Jays are trying to keep pace with the scorching Seattle Mariners for the 3rd wild card spot & the O's like it at the top being the AL East front runner since the demise of the Rays in early July. Huge series for the Blue Jays because going into Tuesday nights game they were an embarrassing 11-23 vs the rest of the AL East baseballs best division. One of the most positive shows on the MLB Network is their 'Big Inning' show for us baseball nuts out there getting a chance to see multiple games on your screen simultaneously reminds some of us that have worked (trying to work again in the business) in the sports media of how it is trying to juggle multiple games at once...nice touch & it should be on every night also with games between contending teams especially at this time of the season. It's now 6 days until the 'turk' visits NFL teams ending the dreams of hundreds of high school superstars, college stars that are NFL hopefuls. The Indianapolis Colts are now dangling their former all-pro running back out there for a potential trade but the price that they're asking for is more than likely too steep...no one will give the Colts a 1st round pick for Jonathan Taylor...even the Raiders who are having issues with their stud running back Josh Jacobs who apparently had forgotten that what he puts out there on X could be screen shot by anyone & thrown back in his face later even after he deleted it. Taylor allegedly put out there that he was reporting to the Raiders the week of the 1st game after his training camp holdout...but, he deleted it only to have someone out there re-post the original message out there...nice going Josh. It's crazy that the position that is so important to the success of an offensive team is so underpaid in proportion to their importance on the field...again, there are so many quality running backs coming out of college every season that the current running backs market value is cut in 1/2 or more & their shelf life is so short after a few years of the fierce beating that they take in the NFL...they get hit the most & are injured more often.

Welcome to my last MLB regular season post! We are going to wrap up the season with a betting pick that is supported by the best-performing betting system we’ve had the entire season, which is called “The Scoring Drought”! This betting strategy has accumulated 39 wins versus just 6 losses this year. If you take into account the odds from the 45 betting recommendations it has made this season, the return on investment was +28.8%. That being said, let me review its criteria for betting. First, the road team’s moneyline must be greater than +150 in American format, which amounts to 2.50 in decimal format. Then, if the road team in question lost its past two games by scoring a maximum of two runs in each of those defeats, you’ve got to put your money on the home team. All right, which team should we bet according to this system today? Let’s focus on the Washington Nationals. They are the visiting team and their moneyline is way higher than +150 today. Moreover, they did lose their past two contests by scoring 0 and 1 run, respectively. So, by following “The Scoring Drought” betting angle, my top pick for Friday September 29 goes to the Atlanta Braves. Given how small the odds are on Atlanta, I have decided to go with the run line. Those of you who have been following me this season know I’m not a big fan of doing this because I got burned on several occasions over the past couple of seasons doing this. Still, I feel very good about this bet so I’m going to pull the trigger, but of course it’s up to you to make your own decisions here. The starting pitchers in the Washington-Atlanta matchup will be Trevor Williams and Allan Winans. Washington manager Dave Martinez said he talked to Williams and the latter admitted it was a long season for him. The numbers also show that he’s been slowing down because his velocity has been down significantly in his most recent outings. With the Braves looking to break an all-time record for the number of homeruns hit during a full season, I believe they will take advantage of Williams’ struggles. He has allowed 17 runs in his past 10 1/3 innings. On the other side, the Braves will give the ball to Allan Winans, a 28-year-old rookie that has impressed many so far. He has given up two runs or fewers in 4 of his 5 starts, with his only blemish being an August 21st start in which he allowed 7 runs to the Mets. Other than that poor outing, he’s been super solid. He wants to prove he can pitch in the Big Leagues, so he will clearly be motivated for this game. The revenge factor plays in our favor on both sides. First, the Braves will be looking to avenge a home loss to Trevor Williams on June 11. Also, Winans suffered a loss to the Nationals in his last outing on September 24. Thanks again for reading the 100+ articles I wrote this summer about Major League Baseball picks, I am so grateful that you have spent so much time with me, thank you from the bottom of my heart! #mlb #mlbpicks #atlantabraves