Category: Baseball

Whatever speculation there was about Orioles GM Mike Elias being both a buyer and seller at the trade deadline, he didn’t do any buying, and he didn’t just tinker—the front office broke all our hearts, of course, by trading Adley Rutschman, their franchise catcher and 2019 first-overall pick, to the Red Sox. But they also created roster holes to patch in the short term by trading outfielder Taylor Ward and two trusted arms in starter Dean Kremer and reliever Tyler Wells.

This past week, Eno Sarris of The Athletic rounded up young players across the game who stand to inherit bigger roles from departed veterans in the wake of the trade deadline. This question is now particularly relevant for Baltimore, which has seen its org chart reshuffled at multiple positions over the last week.

So I thought I’d give it some thought. Below are nine (-ish) Orioles young players with the most to prove, and what a greater runway this season could tell us about them.

Samuel Basallo, C/DH

Let’s start with the biggest beneficiary of the Rutschman trade, full stop. The 21-year-old Basallo was already getting regular at-bats as Baltimore’s DH before having to miss time with a shoulder injury, but Rutschman’s departure hands him the starting catcher job outright. Basallo’s 2025 Triple-A season (.270/.377/.589, 23 home runs in 76 games) was one of the most impressive in the minors at any level, and while his MLB debut was a rough introduction (.165/.229/.330 in 31 games) and a shoulder issue has nagged him in 2026, the hit tool and raw power are both plus-plus. He’s looked ready, especially in the month of May, where he averaged .338 and OPS’d .973.

Coby Mayo, 3B/1B

No sugarcoating it: Mayo has been the toughest watch on this list in 2026. A .201 batting average, a .271 OBP, and a strikeout rate north of 33% are not what the Orioles need from a presumed power bat in the middle of the lineup. But on the flip side: Mayo is still just 24, the raw power (15 home runs in 89 games) is still worth remarking on, and he’s progressing. Over Mayo’s last 15 games, the big bopper has a .268/.302/.610 slashline (look at that power!). Mayo always seems to be a few adjustments away from tapping into 30-homer thump, but he really seems to be knocking on the door right now. If he can bust through it’ll help us know whether he figures in the Orioles’ infield plans, or as future trade bait.

Colton Cowser, OF

Cowser is the most “seasoned” player on this list and, in a way, the cautionary tale for the others: a former first-rounder who’s now several thousand big-league plate appearances in and still searching for consistency. Cowser had an excellent rookie season in ’24, hitting .242 with 24 home runs in 153 games, and earning runner-up Rookie of the Year honors. But since, there’s been a lot of excuses and not a lot of great performances. Whatever the reason, Cowser’s career line — .214/.302/.386 with a .688 OPS and 48 home runs in 372 games — is not what the O’s thought they were getting when they signed the high-contact sweet-swinging outfielder from UT.

Jackson Holliday, 2B

Another former first-rounder (and No. 1 overall) whose hitting hasn’t fully caught up to the hype. But Holliday still has the youth, the pedigree, the plate discipline, and the defensive versatility, and it’s easier to see him reaching his All-Star caliber potential. The issue has always been how quickly the performance catches the profile. Holliday missed some time early this season with a badly timed hand injury, and he’s been kind of buried in the conversation behind other pressing matters (including why the team played so badly in the first half), but he’s still doing what he’s paid to do. There are some good signs: for instance, in the month of July Holliday hit .368 and OPS’d .921.

Blaze Alexander, IF

Acquired from Arizona in the offseason, Alexander has been one of the most pleasant surprises on the whole roster. Out of nowhere, the 27-year-old hit .312 with 4 home runs and 31 runs in 36 games before, alas, going down with a fractured hand. He’s also filled in capably at nearly every position beside catcher, first, and pitcher. The ceiling here isn’t superstar, but if Alexander recovers quickly from a fractured hand, it could be everyday infielder. How the team uses Alexander down the stretch is a really interesting question, at least to me.

Brandon Young, SP

Speaking of surprises on the roster, Brandon Young has quietly been one of the better stories on the pitching staff. A guy left off the Opening Day roster and now perhaps their best starter, Young has an 8-3 record, a 3.43 ERA, and a strong strikeout-to-walk profile across a full workload. At 27, he’s older than most “prospect” conversations, but the success this season been sustained, thanks in part to a new splitter pitch, and the Orioles are totally winning a lot of his starts. His ceiling looks like a mid-rotation starter—can he hit this?

Cade Povich, SP

Povich, part of the return for Jorge López a few years back, has bounced between flashes of real promise (a 2.19 ERA in a recent stretch, a 19:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his most extended big-league look) and injury (a shoulder issue that’s cost him time in 2026) or frustration. When healthy, Povich has shown the swing-and-miss stuff of a mid-rotation-or-better left-hander. The the real variable on his ceiling right now is the same one it’s always been: control. However, this week, Povich turned in a real big-boy start, silencing the Angels over six scoreless innings. With the rotation thinned out, could this be the runway Povich needs to run?

Grant Wolfram, RP

The best-kept secret on this list. Acquired in April 2025 after Milwaukee squeezed him off its roster, the 29-year-old lefty has been outstanding in relief: a 3.47 ERA with a strikeout rate in the 98th percentile of all big-league pitchers over his first stretch of appearances this season. Relievers are volatile by nature, so Wolfram’s ceiling seems likely “high-leverage bullpen piece” rather than rotation arm. But for a player who was nearly out of a job a year ago, that’s a dramatic outcome.

Norfolk Guys (Trey Gibson, Levi Wells, Luis De León)

OK, I’m cheating with this bundle of three pitching prospects currently in Triple-A. But there are a few promising arms down in Norfolk, and the Orioles’ ransacking of the MLB bullpen could be a career-maker for any of these. First is Trey Gibson, who already made his big-league debut back in May: he got rocked in a spot start in early July (eight runs in 2.2 innings) and was optioned back to Norfolk, where he’s since stabilized (3.55 ERA, 38:19 K:BB over his last nine starts).

Levi Wells is another interesting name: his fastball will touch triple digits and his cutter/sweeper/curveball mix is arguably the best “stuff” package in Norfolk’s rotation. However, he doesn’t miss as many bats as the raw grades suggest, raising doubts about his ceiling and effectiveness. Wells has been sidelined since May after undergoing core muscle surgery.

Luis De León is the freshest riser of the bunch: a lanky lefty with a heavy 70-grade fastball and a plus slider who barely allowed a homer all last season and dominated the Arizona Fall League before being bumped up to Norfolk in late July after a strong Double-A run (100 strikeouts in 81 innings). De León is now described as one step from his own debut. He’s the one with real prospect juice—mid-rotation-starter potential if the below-average control improves.

Gibson, as the org’s presumptive No. 1 prospect with a mid-90s heater and two above-average breaking balls, is the most likely of this group to be back in Baltimore this fall, and he still carries the highest ceiling: a mid-rotation starter with swing-and-miss stuff, a power-reliever floor if the command doesn’t sharpen.

What do you make of this list, Birdland? Are there any current Orioles you think are knocking on the door to a bigger role? Or whom you’re most excited to watch down the stretch?  

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José Soriano’s high-90s sinker and plus curveball make his Toronto Blue Jays debut a strikeout play in Philadelphia.

The Blue Jays open as +180 underdogs for their weekend series in Philadelphia on Friday, handing the ball to trade-deadline prize José Soriano for his Blue Jays debut against Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler. 

Read on for my Blue Jays vs. Phillies predictions and MLB picks for this Friday, Aug. 7 matchup.

Blue Jays vs Phillies predictions

Blue Jays vs Phillies best bet: José Soriano Over 4.5 strikeouts (-105)

José Soriano makes his much-anticipated Toronto Blue Jays debut after coming over from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline, and the right-hander has nasty stuff: a sinker in the high-90s (+5 run value) and a devastating curveball (+7 run value). 

He generates plenty of grounders but still misses bats, running a 9.3 K/9 this season.

That makes me surprised this strikeout number is so low, especially against a Philadelphia Phillies lineup that ranks in the upper-third for most strikeouts per game.

Soriano has cashed this over in five of his last eight starts, piling up 40 strikeouts in 40.1 innings in that span. Toronto also wore out its bullpen in an extra-innings thriller with the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, so there’s extra incentive to let him work deep.

With the hype around his debut, I’ll happily play this Over until -130.

COVERS INTEL: Soriano leans on his curveball as his whiff pitch, and most Phillies hitters, Bryce Harper included (-3 run value on 202 pitches), own negative run values against the curve this year.

Blue Jays vs Phillies same-game parlay (SGP)

For the same-game parlay, I’m taking a shot on the big road dog.

Jesús Sánchez Over 0.5 hits leads it off, and he’s a strong 9-for-25 (.360 BA) lifetime against Zack Wheeler with a homer and two doubles.

I’ll add Soriano Under 2.5 earned runs, trusting the debutant’s stuff to hold Philadelphia down early, then cap it with the Blue Jays moneyline at a juicy plus price.

Blue Jays vs Phillies SGP

• Jesús Sánchez Over 0.5 hits
• José Soriano Under 2.5 earned runs
• Blue Jays moneyline

Blue Jays vs Phillies home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+440)

Wheeler is having a terrific season, but he isn’t unbreakable on the home run ball, yielding 1.1 HR/9 this year, including three over his last two starts. And Blue Jays slugger Kazuma Okamoto has the perfect profile to beat him.

Wheeler’s primary pitch is a four-seamer at average right-handed velocity (95.4 mph), and his best out pitch is a splitter that holds hitters to a .212 slug.

Okamoto won’t be overwhelmed by the velocity and can tee off on the four-seamer, a pitch he slugs .592 against with a +15 run value.

He has handled the splitter as well (2-for-5 with a homer), and if he can’t get to Wheeler, there’s a Phillies bullpen that allows a .400 slug, the ninth-worst mark in MLB.

Keep this to a quarter unit, but Okamoto has the best shot.

Blue Jays vs Phillies odds

• Moneyline: Blue Jays +180 | Phillies -220
• Run line: Blue Jays +1.5 (-115) | Phillies -1.5 (-105)
• Over/Under: Over 8 (+100) | Under 8 (-120)

Blue Jays vs Phillies trend

The Philadelphia Phillies hitters rank 10th in MLB in strikeouts per game (8.47), a favorable edge for the José Soriano strikeout prop. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Phillies.

How to watch Blue Jays vs Phillies and game info

Blue Jays vs Phillies latest injuries

Blue Jays vs Phillies weather

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I usually want to wait a few days to let the dust settle before writing a commentary piece like this. Going through the trade deadline is a lot like going through the stages of grief. In Economics we teach the concept of opportunity costs. It is simply the idea of the infinite number of possibilities that the future holds. When the future comes and goes then there will always be a letdown. Those infinite number of possibilities gets dwindled down to one, two, or sometimes zero.

So, in the case of this deadline the first core emotion is anger. For those of us clued into the news wire, that anger builds as the day goes on. More and more names go off the board and none of them are coming to you. You look at all of your competitors doing more than you. Yes, we got Daulton Varsho, but there is not one single competitor outside of the AL West that did less.

That anger slowly dissipates the day of the deadline and turns into despair. You suddenly realize you are outgunned come playoff time and there is very little you can do about it. Brown can come on the radio and utter “we aren’t done” or “we’ll chase the fight” all he wants, but it doesn’t change the reality. You have the minor leagues and the waiver wire left. That’s not much to grasp onto. However, there were three factors that impacted the deadline that should be explored in more detail before casting judgement on Brown.

Crane did not want to exceed the tax

Depending on your source, the Astros were somewhere between five and ten million dollars underneath the tax apron following the LMJ trade to the Brewers. That automatically limits your exposure. You probably couldn’t add someone making much more than 15 million dollars due to the prorated nature of contracts at the deadline. So, the talk of adding a George Springer, Robbie Ray, or similar player is complicated given the salary constraints involved.

It is not even as simple as overall team payroll. There are intricate rules involved that go beyond cash actually owed a player. It takes a tax attorney and capologist to figure it all out. Obviously, going beyond the tax not only costs money but being a three time tax payer also comes with penalties and other limitations that go beyond simple cash. How does the new CBA impact that? These are all huge considerations.

Crane did not want to deal from the present roster

The nixing of the Larnach trade probably had more to do with this. So imagine you are given the parameters of not trading from the current roster, not exceeding the tax, or trading major farm pieces and tell me how many quality players you can add. Now, how much does vetoing a trade say about the faith in the current general manager? The last time that happened was James Click and the reported Willson Contreras trade. Who wouldn’t trade Jose Urquidy for even two months of Contreras? Well, apparently Dusty Baker and Jim Crane wouldn’t.

In terms of net WAR, the Larnach trade would have been a huge net win for the Astros. Not only would you get this season’s WAR, but next season as well. However, I suppose someone could make an argument for chemistry and all of that jazz. No matter how anyone feels about Brown, this veto says more than any of us could possibly say on the interwebs.

The farm system is barren

According to most experts, the Astros farm system ranks in the bottom five in MLB. Now, there is a ton of subjectivity there, but clearly teams are not as interested in our prospects as they are in other team’s prospects. Moreover, Brown was tasked with elevating the farm system and he has been on the job for four seasons. Is that enough time? That’s a fair question. Still, when you have only a handful of blue chip prospects, it can be frightening to part with any of them.

So again, if you can’t spend money, can’t trade from the current roster, and can’t trade any of your top prospects then how exactly are you supposed to add an impact bat or arm? I suppose some general managers are adept at making something out of nothing, but Brown has never been a big wheeler and dealer. So, the cards were stacked against him before he even got to the deadline.

What does this all mean?

Ultimately, it means a few things. First and foremost, it means that Jim Crane has likely lost faith in Dana Brown. Whether that means that Brown has done a bad job or not is not particularly important here. After all, we were in the exact same situation in 2022. It could be a function of poor performance or it could be a function that Crane simply won’t have a ton of trust in anyone after what happened during the Jeff Luhnow regime. I could hardly blame him if that were the case. That means that Brown is living on borrowed time and Joe Espada might also be living on borrowed time.

I have stated my piece on both and those opinions largely have not changed. My personal issues with Brown are more in what he has failed to do than what he has done. Most of his trades and free agent acquisitions are defensible given the available information at the time. In other words, if given the same set of facts about hypothetical players, I probably would have done many of the same things. Some of them didn’t work out because not everything in life works out even with the best laid plans.

The problems with Brown is in what he has failed to do. He has been chasing a lefty bat like Captain Ahab chased his white whale for three years. In multiple seasons he has talked about adding a starter at the deadline or adding a key bullpen piece and failed to deliver. You can also point to organization problems that were not addressed effectively. That could include waiting until this season to replace the hitting coaches, never really overhauling the medical and training staffs, or looking heavily into the return to play procedures. Additionally, the public face of the organization is problematic. Many of Brown’s public statements border on the comical. It seems like a very minor critique, but that is the access many fans have to the general manager and the job he is doing.

Brown comes off like a used car salesman at times. He overpromises and underdelivers on a regular basis. It is what some people would call “foot in mouth” disease. The irony is that the actual reasoning behind doing or not doing certain things often makes sense. I get not wanting to trade four or five prospects for a pitcher. I get not wanting to trade your top prospect for a reliever. I get past situations where gambling on health made sense. The public statements around them did not make sense. It’s almost like Brown needs to go to finishing school to learn how to talk to the press.

More than anything though, he will be graded on his two biggest selling points. He came in as a guy that would rebuild the farm system and lock up our younger players to team friendly extensions. He signed one extension and it ended up blowing up in his face. The farm system is still bottom five. Did he get enough time to turn things around? It’s a fair question. Sadly for Brown, it looks like he is out of time. It might seem like a happy moment for Brown critics, but there is the lingering question as to whether any executive will have the juice to get done what needs to get done. This organization is being held together by duct tape and the memory of some great players that aren’t great anymore. The gravy train is coming to an end. It is just a question of when and when that happens there will need to be someone in place that can make the decisions necessary to make the rebuilding quick and as painless as possible.

So far this season, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is once again leading the Dodgers in pitching wins after he led the team last year. Two years ago, right-hander Gavin Stone was tied for the team lead in wins during the regular season, but he’s still yet to take the mound for the team since.

Stone had his entire 2025 season wiped away after having shoulder surgery the year before. He was able to make one start during spring training before being shut down, and it seemed like Stone would once again have his whole season end before it could begin.

Thankfully, for Dodgers fans, the return for Stone is in sight, as the right-hander made his first rehab start with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, tossing 1 2/3 innings while allowing one run and striking out three. The Dodgers rotation is expected to see Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell return before season’s end, and adding Stone into the mix will help keep the rotation afloat while Shohei Ohtani continues to nurse injuries, per Valentina Martinez of the California Post.

Now, it appears Stone is set to make his long-awaited return to the Dodgers down the stretch. While LA’s starting rotation is crowded, Stone could be a placeholder for one of the Dodgers’ stars including Shohei Ohtani.

As for Ohtani, he was a bright spot for the Dodgers on Wednesday despite their 7-6 defeat to the Chicago Cubs, connecting two home runs and driving in three. Ohtani spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA following Wednesday’s game, where he talked about how his swing feels while dealing with both knee and biceps ailments.

“Heading in the right direction… Definitely being able to drive the ball with the right angle is what I’m ultimately looking for.”

Ohtani’s two-homer game also matched Pete Crow-Armstrong’s home run total on Wednesday, as the two superstars are duking it out for the NL MVP race this year. Both All-Stars showed praise towards each other, but the focus for Ohtani is making sure that he’s ready to go on both sides of the field for October, per Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times.

“He’s a great player,” Ohtani said of Crow-Armstrong. “But I’m really focused on myself on the hitting side of things right now, really working towards hopefully getting back on the mound and working on that side of the game as well.”

Sonja Chen of MLB.com breaks down what the Dodgers postseason roster could look like.

While the Yankees didn’t as much as a lot of people hoped at the trade deadline, they still made a couple moves, and also called up top prospect George Lombard Jr. That being said, they still haven’t looked that different early on. The Yankees dropped two of three in their series against the Cardinals. The lone win did feature Lombard homering, which was fun. Now, the Yankees will welcome the Braves to town for a three-game series.

After missing the playoffs last season, the Braves have rebounded this year and are in control of the NL East, homing in on a double-digit game lead. They’ve been led by Chris Sale and Matt Olson, who have powered the fifth best pitching staff and the sixth best offense according to runs per game. Even if the Yankees hadn’t been struggling lately, this would be a tough test.

Before the action gets going later today, let’s take a look at the expected pitching matchups for this weekend.

Friday: Max Fried vs. Tyler Mahle (7:05 pm ET)

This will be Fried’s first ever game against the team he came up with, as he didn’t pitch against the Braves when these two teams met last year. Since coming off the injured list, Fried has put up a 2.70 ERA and a 1.29 FIP in three starts. Surprise, surprise, the offense didn’t get him enough support last time around, but he struck out seven Cubs in 5.1 innings in his last start. He reached 78 pitches in that game, so you’d expect him to inch closer to a normal pitch load in this outing.

Mahle was a deadline pickup by the Braves, and this will be his first appearance for the team. He doesn’t have especially impressive numbers this year (5.13 ERA, 4.37 FIP), but Atlanta needed some innings in the rotation behind Sale, as they’ve dealt with some pitching injuries this year.

Saturday: Gerrit Cole vs. Chris Sale (3:05 pm ET)

This would’ve been an absolute must watch pitching matchup circa 2018, ans it’s still a pretty good one now.

After a spotless first two appearances of the season, Cole looked a bit iffy in June, but he’s been very good every since then. Dating back to the start of July, he has a 2.75 ERA and a 2.68 FIP and has struck out 44 batters in 38 innings. He has walked a combined five batters in his two most recent games, so that could be a trend to keep an eye on in this one.

Despite being 37 and having missed a decent chunk of last season, Sale still looks excellent. His 2.08 ERA is better than two seasons ago when he won the NL Cy Young, and he’s been especially good of late, having been named the NL Pitcher of the Month for July.

Sunday: Cam Schlittler vs. Grant Holmes (1:35 pm ET)

His numbers overall for the season are still excellent, but home vs. road splits are starting to become a thing to keep an eye on when it comes to Schlittler. On the road, he has a 1.10 ERA and is holding hitters to a collective .463 OPS. However in the Bronx, those numbers rise to 4.32 and .761. We saw him dominate at home last season, including most notable in the AL Wild Card Series, but this difference is something we should hope doesn’t become a greater trend.

Holmes was a first round pick by the Dodgers all the way back in 2014, but he only cracked the majors back in 2024. His numbers are solid but not overwhelming, with his FIP suggesting there could be some negative regression happening at some point. The Yankees saw Holmes as a starter once last season, scoring three runs on seven hits in six innings.

The Atlanta Braves have won their eighth straight after Thursday’s 11-3 win over the Miami Marlins. Between a solid outing from Martín Pérez and a 14-hit night for the Atlanta lineup, things went well all around. 

Despite the rain delay, the Braves were able to complete the sweep of the Fish and earned their 70th win of the year. Now, it’s your turn to let us know your Braves Player of the Game.

More Braves News:

Ethan Bagwell struck out six on Wednesday for the Rome Emperors. More in the minor league recap. 

MLB News:

Joey Bart, who was dealt to the Chicago White Sox earlier this week, has suffered a hand fracture after a hit by pitch. 

From the Feed:

Eric Hartman has become one of the youngest players to have a 20 home run, 40 stolen base season.

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The surging Boston Red Sox head into tonight's series opener against the Athletics as a massive -245 moneyline favorite as left-hander Payton Tolle takes the hill. 

With those odds offering minimal value, and Boston's offense in peak form, my Athletics vs. Red Sox predictions are targeting the Boston run line. 

Read more in my MLB picks for Friday, Aug. 7. 

Who will win A's vs Red Sox today: Red Sox -1.5 (-126)

The Athletics send struggling Jack Perkins to the hill tonight. He owns a 5.64 FIP across his last two starts while allowing 2.45 HR/9, which is dangerous against a Boston Red Sox offense carrying a 147 wRC+ and .243 ISO over its last six games.

Payton Tolle counters for Boston, and he's been reliable with a 2.62 xERA over his previous four appearances. He also faces an A’s lineup in horrendous form, posting a 67 wRC+ and .080 ISO over the last week.

Boston has the offensive edge to create separation, while Tolle limits the damage.

I'll play this pick to -140. 

COVERS INTEL: The Athletics have been substantially worse offensively on the road, collecting an 82 wRC+. That's compared to a 116 mark at home. Tolle is in a prime position to deal. 

A's vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-116)

The total sits at 8.5, and I’m leaning toward the Over.

Boston’s offense is averaging 8.33 runs per game across the last week, and Perkins’ inability to limit damage gives the Red Sox a clear path to early production.

The Athletics bullpen is vulnerable, too, posting a 5.30 FIP over its last 22 2/3 frames while surrendering 1.59 HR/9.

Boston’s relief corps has been much better with a sub-3.00 xERA during that same span, but the A's do not need to contribute much if the Red Sox do most of the scoring.

Play to -130.

A's vs Red Sox weather

The weather looks warm and clear at Fenway Park tonight, with temperatures falling from the upper 80s at first pitch into the low 80s later on. Winds should stay light around 4-5 mph, and rain is not a concern. The warm air could slightly help carry, but overall conditions look clean.

A's vs Red Sox odds

• Moneyline: A's +233 | Red Sox -245
• Run line: A's +1.5 (+117) | Red Sox -1.5 (-122)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-113) | Under 8.5 (+108)

A's vs Red Sox trend

The Red Sox have hit the team total Over in 24 of their last 35 games (+11.50 Units / 28% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for A's vs. Red Sox.

How to watch A's vs Red Sox and game info

A's vs Red Sox latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

I don’t know how to explain the 2026 Red Sox and I don’t know anyone else who does. As the recent A’s series showed us, even when they’re bad, they’re somehow good. They simply cannot lose right now, which isn’t how baseball is supposed to work, or has ever worked for as long as I’ve watched it.* And the fact that all of this is coming on the heels of a three-month stretch during which the Red Sox were arguably the most mocked team in baseball, playing in front of a fanbase that had grown as apathetic as I’d ever seen it, makes the story even more remarkable.

(*This is in fact the 20th time since 1901 that a team has won at least 31 of 36 games. Frankly, it’s amazing that it’s happened even that much.)

So all of this raises the question: is this the most memorable regular season in Red Sox history?

When it comes to looking at the season’s I’ve been alive for, I think there is no question that the answer is yes.

The 2004 season had its ups-and-downs, including an incredible August run that saw the Sox move from 10.5 games behind the Yankees to just 2; but the Red Sox were essentially in second place all season and the playoffs were rarely in doubt. 2018 was, frankly, too dominant to be all that memorable; from the All-Star Break on, the Red Sox’ division lead never fell below 4.5 games and grew to be much larger than that. 2013 certainly deserves a place in the conversation. Unfortunately, 2011 does, too. In fact, if we’re using the word “memorable” in its most elemental sense without regard to the nature of the emotions attached to it, then I think 2011 is this season’s closest competitor.

Obviously the answer to this question will be greatly affected by what happens over the next seven weeks, but as of right now I think it clearly is the most memorable regular season of my lifetime. If we’re talking all-time, then the 1967 impossible dream season enters the picture. That’s a hard one to top — entire books have been written about it. And, unfortunately, pennant races like the one the world witnessed that summer are no longer possible. But what we’re witnessing right now might be the modern equivalent.

Talk about your favorite seasons of Red Sox baseball and whatever else you want and, as always, be good to one another.

Eric Young Sr. knows a thing or two about making the most of the moment. 

So, it’s no surprise that the former Rockie and current manager of the Los Angeles Queens, one of four teams in the inaugural Women’s Professional Baseball League, has made seizing the day the motto guiding his approach to his first baseball managing gig.

“I told them in the meeting [before the first game on Aug. 1], ‘there’s going to be a moment throughout this year that’s going to be very special for you,” Young said during a press conference after the first game in Springfield, Ill. “I said, ‘the only thing I want you to do is to be mentally prepared for that moment.’”

His words turned into reality immediately as the Queens rallied from a 7-2 deficit to the New York Heights for an epic 10-8 win on a rainy day that couldn’t dampen the joy of the debut of the first women’s league to exist in the United States since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) ended in 1954.

“What a game and what a start to the Women’s Pro Baseball League,” said Young, who played with the Rockies from 1993 through half of the 1997 season. “The energy was electric out there.”

And just like that, Young, aka EY, recorded his first victory as a manager. Young, a first base and baserunning coach for five different MLB teams — including the Rockies from 2014-16 under then-manager and his former Rockies teammate Walt Weiss — joins former MLB players Matt Williams and Keith Foulke and women’s baseball pioneer and former Colorado Silver Bullet Rachelle “Rocky” Henley as the first-ever WPBL managers this season.

With another 12-4 victory on Wednesday, Young and the Queens have jumped out to a 2-0 start in the debut season where each team will play 15 games before the playoffs in September. In the middle of a historic moment, and with only about a week of practice with the team before the season started, Young had nothing but praise for his players. He shouted out their energy, willingness to play wherever he needs them and their love of the game. 

“For me as a manager, that makes it easy because this is my first day managing and I’m trying to figure the pieces out, but they were helping me. They don’t even know how much they were helping me tonight,” Young said. “They made it look good for our whole team. Kudos to them. They just deserve all the credit in this, and I was just happy to be next to them to enjoy the moment.”

As a member of the inaugural season for the Colorado Rockies, Young knows what it’s like to make history. Not only was he part of a brand new team, but he hit a home run in the first home at bat for the Colorado Rockies on April 9, 1993 at Mile High Stadium.

In his time as a Rockie, Young hit .295/.378.412 with 30 homers, 102 doubles, 28 triples with 227 RBIs and 378 runs scored in 613 games over five seasons. Young, who remains the Rockies all-time leader with 180 stolen bases, clearly understands the pressure of being part of something new and is trying to help the Queens navigate the experience.

“The main thing is to stay positive. This is going to be a process. We are going to have some ups and downs, but if we can stay positive and push each other, you never know what could happen and it happened tonight,” EY said after the comeback win on Aug. 1. “The bench was still cheering the same way as if we were up 7-2 or 8-4. There is so much positive energy in our clubhouse. I am amazed at it.”

Young played under some legendary managers in his 16-year MLB career, which included time with the Dodgers, Cubs, Brewers, Padres, Rangers and Giants. From playing under Rockies manager Don Baylor, to other skippers like Tommy Lasorda, Bruce Bochy, Ned Yost, Davey Johnson, he learned from them all. In 2025, he told FanGraph’s David Laurila specifically what he liked about playing for Baylor.

“I liked the calmness of Don Baylor. He was OK with players that were upset, because he knew how to handle guys. He knew how to push guys’ buttons based on their personalities. Don Baylor was a strong personality,” Young said. “He was also the type of manager who was going to give you a chance. If you told him you can do something, he was going to give you that opportunity. But you better do it.”

Young has adopted that philosophy as a manager for the Queens. With a shorter roster in his debut, he put utility player Maggie Fox on the mound to get the save, despite having never seen her pitch in practice leading up to the game.

“The first day, I have to admit, when I met Maggie, she said, ‘I can play all over. I can play anywhere you want me to play.’ She gave me that attitude right there,” Young said. “To be honest, I didn’t even see her pitch and [late in the Aug. 1 game] I am looking around and I said, “Maggie I need you on the mound.” And that’s it. She went running and getting loose and everything. But the thing is, it doesn’t matter. She loves the games so much, you put her at catcher, pitcher, she’s going to play.”

EY’s style is landing well with his players, as evident by L.A. center fielder Mo’ne Davis’s comments in the press conference after the first game. She appreciates his positivity and energy.

“He just always sits on the side and he just lets us play our game and how this is our stage,” Davis said. “We just want to give props to him and give him the respect because he allows us to play our game and be ourselves.”

Young’s resume includes the wins to back up his approach. After all, he was part of the 1995 squad that went 77-67 (season shortened by strike) and earned a National League Wild Card berth, when there was only one Wild Card slot per league, in the Rockies third year of existence. He hopes he can achieve quick success with the Queens as well.

“The most important thing through this process is that we get better each and every day,” Young said. “If we get better every single day, I’ll take our chances when we get to the postseason.”

On the Farm

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 5, Sugar Land Space Cowboys 3

Charlie Condon and Connor Norby, who the Rockies recently aquired from Miami in a trade for Victor Vodnik, each hit solo homers, and TJ Shook threw two scoreless innings to earn the save and preserve the win for the Isotopes on Thursday night. Ryan Ritter tripled, singled, and drove in a run, and Zac Veen stole second and scored on a throwing error. Albuquerque was able to squeak out a win and fend off a three-run eighth, depsite going 0-for-10 and leaving eight runs on base. Eiberson Castellano gave up three runs on two hits with one walk and three strikeouts for the Isotopes to earn the win and improve to 3-2 on the season.

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies 23, Hartford Yard Goats 3

The Yard Goats had a really bad night and the Ponies had a really good one. Roc Riggio hit a two-run single and Mike Antico hit a solo homer to make up for Hartford’s scoring. Binghamton out-hit the Yard Goats 21-7, and Hartford committed six errors to aid the Ponies, who scored three unearned runs.

High-A: Eugene Emeralds 15, Spokane Indians 10 (10)

A valent comeback was foiled when the Emeralds unleashed a five-run 10th inning to beat Spokane. Eugene jumped out to an 8-2 lead after four innings, but the Indians slowly clawed their way back to within one run entering the bottom of the ninth. Kelvin Hidalgo drew a one-out walk and Roynier Hernandez hit a pinch-hit RBI single to send the game into extra innings. Roldy Brito recorded three hits and scored two runs, Ethan Hedges posted two hits, two runs and to RBIs and Tevin Tucker added three hits and a run. Cameron Nelson and Juan Castillo each chipped in two hits and one run, while Nelson also drove one in.

Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies 4, Visalia Rawhide 3

Cristian Arguelles had himself a night. Arguelles hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to help the Grizzlies regain the lead and it was enough to earn the victory on Thursday. The Rawhide scored in the second to take a 1-0 lead, but Sebastian Blanco hit a sac grounder to score Wilder Dalis to tied it in the bottom of the frame. Arguelles singled and scored Juan Martinez in the third to put Fresno back on top, only for the Rawhide to rally back again and set up Arguelles homer in the sixth. Aidan Redahan and Martinez both had two-hit nights for the Grizzlies. Bryson Van Sickle improved to 4-0 after throwing a quality start, giving up three runs on six hits with four walks and five homers in seven innings.

Zac Veen named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week | Purple Row

For the second time this season, Zac Veen has earned PCL Player of the Week. Veen (No. 9 PuRP) has been tearing it up for Triple-A Albuquerque, going 13-for-29 with four doubles, a triple, four home runs, and 14 RBI in games.

Wilder Dalis named California League Play of the Month for July | Purple Row

Wilder Dalis (No. 24 PuRP) outstanding performance for the Fresno Grizzlies in July did not go unnoticed. Over 24 games in July, Dalis batted .374/.443/.727 for just a taste of his stats in the month.

MLB Power Rankings Week 19: Post-trade deadline edition | ESPN.com

Guess what? The Rockies aren’t last.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Free of charge for the discerning reader.

Happy birthday to Marc Pisciotta, and a mighty host of others.

Today in baseball history, in1984 – The Cubs sweep a pair from the visiting Mets, winning 8-6 and 8-4. Rick Sutcliffe (9-1) beats Ron Darling (10-5) in the opener, benefiting from a six-run fifth inning. Keith Moreland hits a three-run home run and Ron Cey a two-run shot in the fourth. A five-run fourth in the second game propels Chicago to the win for reliever Tim Stoddard. Lee Smith notches his 25th save, and other stories as well.

Today in baseball history:

• 1907 – Senator hurler Walter Johnson wins his first major league game beating the Naps, 7-2. The “Big Train” will tally 416 victories during his 21-year career.
• 1915 – In Chicago, the White Sox top the Senators, 6-2. Relieving for losing pitcher Jim Shaw is future Hall of Famer Sam Rice, who will pitch only eight more times before going to the outfield for two decades. Playing RF in the game for Washington is Walter Johnson, filling in for the injured Danny Moeller.
• 1915 – At Fenway Park, Smoky Joe Wood fires a one-hitter, beating Cleveland, 2-0. Bill Wambsganss‘ single is the only Cleveland hit. For Wood, it is his fifth one-hitter, and the third over regulation distance.
• 1929 – For the second game in a row, Babe Ruth hits a grand slam home run as the Yanks roll to a 13-1 win over the A’s in the lidlifter. Mickey Cochrane homers in his one at bat for the A’s only run.
• 1999 – For the second consecutive day, a major leaguer gets his 3000th career hit as Wade Boggs homers in the 6th off the Indians’ Chris Haney. The Devil Rays’ third baseman, who is the first player to reach the milestone with a home run, rounds the bases pointing skyward blowing a kiss in memory of his mom and gets down on his knees to kiss home plate. Tony Gwynn also collected hit No. 3,000 yeaterday.
• 2001 – Passing the mark of 68, established Christy Mathewson (with the Giants in 1913) and Randy Jones (with the Padres in 1976), Braves right-hander Greg Maddux sets the National League record for consecutive innings without allowing a walk as he pitches six innings without giving up a base on balls to extend the new record to 70.1 innings.
• 2010 – For the first time since May, the major leagues’ all-time save leader, Trevor Hoffman, gets the ball in a save situation. He disposes of the Astros in order on eight pitches to preserve a 5-2 Brewers win for his 597th career save. Hoffman blew five of his first ten save opportunities this year to earn relegation to the outer reaches of the Brewers’ bullpen.
• 2016 – Ichiro Suzuki of the Marlins becomes the 30th member of the 3,000 hit club with a seventh-inning triple off Chris Rusin of the Rockies in a 10-7 Marlins win. What makes it more remarkable is that Ichiro did not collect his first major league hit until he was 27. He is only the second player to reach the milestone with a triple, after Paul Molitor, and the hit comes on the day when the last player to join the club before him, Alex Rodriguez, announced his retirement.

Today in Cubs history:

• 1906 – On John McGraw‘s orders, umpire James Johnstone is refused admittance to the Polo Grounds, and the ump, standing outside the ballpark, forfeits the match to the Cubs. McGraw insists the game go on with a player from each team umpiring. McGraw picks reserve Sammy Strang, but Cubs manager Frank Chance refuses to go along, pointing out the game has already been forfeited. National League President Harry Pulliam will uphold Johnstone’s decision the next day.
• 1911 – The match-up between Three Finger Brown and Christy Mathewson is something less than a pitching duel as Chicago bangs out ten hits, including two singles, a double and a triple by Joe Tinker. Tinker also adds a steal of home. The Giants collect 13 hits, but Chicago wins the game, 8-6.
• 1963 – At Chicago, Sandy Koufax locks horns for the second time this year with Dick Ellsworth, a battle that ends in a 1-1 draw. Koufax is removed with one out in the 10th inning, while Ellsworth is replaced after the 10th. The Dodgers go on to win, 3-1, over the Cubs with neither starter getting a decision.
• 2001 – Home plate umpire Angel Hernandez ejects Steve “Mongo” McMichael from Wrigley Field as the former Chicago Bears football player is about to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch. McMichael, presently a pro wrestler, tells the crowd over the P.A. system “he’ll have a talk with the ump” concerning a close call made by Hernandez earlier in the game and then boos and blows a kiss toward the ump.
• 2004 – Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux enters the history books with his 300th career win in Chicago’s 8-4 triumph over San Francisco at SBC Park.

Cubs Birthdays:Marc Pisciotta*, Don Larsen, Adonis Terry. Also notable: Bill McKechnie HOF,

Today in history:

• 1420 – Construction begins on the dome of Florence Cathedral, designed by Renaissance architect Filippo Brunelleschi.
• 1606 – Possible first performance of Shakespeare‘s tragedy “Macbeth” takes place in the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace for King James I.
• 1782 – Commander of the Continental Army, George Washington, creates two Honorary Badges of Distinction and a Badge of Military Merit (now the Purple Heart). First time military awards are presented to common soldiers.
• 1882 – Hatfields of southwest West Virginia and McCoys of eastern Kentucky feud, with 100 wounded or dead.
• 1969 – Fantasy Records releases “Green River”, the third studio album by the American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, featuring the title track and “Bad Moon Rising”, and “Lodi”.
• 2016 – United States men’s 4 × 100 m freestyle relay team wins the final in 3:09.92 at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, earning Michael Phelps his record 19th Olympic gold medal.
• 2021 – As part of the winning American 4 × 400 m relay team in Tokyo, Allyson Felix takes her total to 11 Olympic medals and becomes the most decorated female Olympian in track and field history.
• 2021 – Kevin Durant, with 29 points, leads the USA to his third and the team’s fourth consecutive Olympic men’s basketball gold medal with an 87-82 win over France in Tokyo.

*pictured.

Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. The trade deadline is officially in the rearview, and we’re now less than two months from the end of the regular season. The Brewers are trying to fend off a comeback in the NL Central from the Cubs while also maintaining their status with the top record in baseball, as they became the first team to 70 wins earlier this week.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread:

It’s Alumni Weekend at Citizens Bank Park. The Blue Jays are in town, and a familiar face will be joining the Wall of Fame.

On to the links.

Phillies news

A Phillies fan won the chance to do the radio broadcast for an inning of Wednesday’s game, and knocked it out of the park. ($)

The Phillies have plans for how to handle Harper’s return to right field.

Chase Utley’s dad tells some tales on the occasion of his son’s induction to the Wall of Fame.

The Field of Dreams game is coming up fast.

MLB news

ESPN gives out their trade deadline awards.

And MLB executives give their anonymous opinions on the trades.

A hilarious blooper-aided homer is always fun, though it’d be more fun if it wasn’t hit by a Brave.

Happy Friday, Camden Chatters. The weekend has arrived! Are we still scoreboard watching? If so, after the Orioles lost yesterday they fell to one game out the final Wild Card spot. And the team that has that last spot just happens to be the team the Orioles are playing this weekend. The Texas Rangers.

The Orioles and Rangers faced each other in the second series of the season. The Rangers won two out of three that time. Not ideal.

This time, if the Orioles lose two out of three, they’ll find themselves two games behind the Rangers. If they get swept, it’ll be four games behind and that, frankly, will be all she wrote. If they somehow take two of three, they will leave Texas tied with the Rangers. So it’s a pretty big series. And if they survive this one, they are off to Minnesota to face the team that is currently a half-game ahead of them in the WC race. And that’s to say nothing of the Guardians, who are also a half-game up on the Orioles.

So they’re in it, for now. But the problem, as I see it, is this: they can’t hit. They’re just so bad at hitting! If you take a glance at the team’s Baseball Reference page, there are four players on the top section with an OPS+ over 100, which is league average. They are Pete Alonso, Samuel Basallo, Adley Rutschman, and Taylor Ward. Uh…get well soon, Samuel! Also, Blaze Alexander while we’re at it.

In yesterday’s game, the Orioles were facing Ryan Johnson, a starter with an ERA over 7 and they couldn’t do anything with him. In the first five innings, they have five walks, three hits, and a HBP. But they also hit into two double plays and had a runner caught stealing. Their only runs scored came on a home run from Yohel Pozo. So good for him!

Even in their two wins over the Angels, one of the worst teams in baseball, they struggled to score runs. On Tuesday they scored just three runs in a game started by Grayson Rodriguez, and on Wednesday they were clinging to a one-run lead until an unlikely Leody Taveras home run.

Well, this turned into a downer. They should hire me to be their hitting coach so I can tell them to be better hitters.

Links

David Rubenstein talks Orioles trades, payroll and World Series hopes – The Baltimore Banner
Andy Kostka recounted an event the Orioles’ owner had to promote his new book. This headline had me hoping for answers. I don’t know that I got them.

Orioles offense can’t convert opportunities in 4-1 loss to Angels – MASN Sports
Roch Kubatko’s game story from yesterday’s loss.

Orioles Legend Jim Palmer Tackles a Challenging Career Quiz – FanGraphs
Well know Jim Palmer has an incredible memory. Take a trip down memory lane with him.

Birthdays and History

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have seven Orioles birthday buddies. That’s a lot! Gerónimo Gil is 51 years old today. Gil spent five seasons with the Orioles, 2001-05. He spent that time as a backup catcher, except in 2002 when he got into 125 games.

Also born on this day in history are former Orioles Wade LeBlanc (42), Jason Grimsley (59), Tex Nelson (b. 1936, d. 2011), Don Larsen (b. 1929, d. 2020), Art Houtteman (b. 1927, d. 2003), and Bob Alexander (b. 1922, d. 1993).

On this day in 1964, the Orioles defeated the Yankees 2-0. Steve Barber pitched 6.2 shutout innings and Harvey Haddix finished the game. Brooks Robinson had an RBI single and Jerry Adair hit a home run.

In 1998, the Orioles pounded the Twins 16-9. Brady Anderson had five hits with two doubles and two home runs. Harold Baines and Cal Ripken also homered. Starter Scott Erickson was knocked out after four innings and seven runs, but that’s ok in this instance.

In 2016, Manny Machado hit three home runs in his first three at-bats in a 10-2 Orioles win over the White Sox. He had three more chances to hit four homers, but went hitless for the rest of the game. He had seven RBI.

In 2019, in the midst of a 14-2 loss to the Yankees, Chris Davis and Brandon Hyde got into a fight in the dugout. It was the most exciting thing that happened for the Orioles in the game.