This is a new article series I’m starting. I have about six baseball articles that I’ve started in the past month that never got posted because I just can’t get interested enough to go fully in depth on random topics. This series will be a good way for me to get out my thoughts weekly in a shorter form. I’ll still write some full-length articles from time to time. I actually think that this will help inspire some longer pieces. Hope y’all enjoy.
Saves By… Innings Pitched?
On Wednesday night, both Taijuan Walker of the Phillies and Matt Sauer of the Dodgers recorded a save of 3+ innings. I need Sarah Langs to figure out when the last time that happened was. While the Phillies had a significant lead by the time Walker entered, it still counts as a save as any pitcher that did not start the game that pitches the final 3+ innings will earn a save (trust me, I was confused and had to consult the scorer’s rule book too). These saves come from guys that are settling into roles as long relievers for completely different reasons. Let’s take a look:
Taijuan Walker started the season filling a Ranger Suarez sized hole in the Phillies rotation. He filled in well, posting a 2.30 ERA over six starts. However, with Suarez returning and Painter’s presumed 2025 debut looming, things just got too crowded and Walker was moved to the pen as a long reliever. He picked up right where he left off with 7 Ks!!! in 3 IP to collect his first career save. The Phillies rotation is one of the best in baseball, but their bullpen sure needs the help right now. Walker settling into a long reliever role would be huge for the Phils. This first look was quite encouraging.
While the Phillies have a rotation that is too crowded, the Dodgers are suffering from a staff that is riddled with injury. Glasnow and Snell suffered injuries early in 2025. Ohtani and Kershaw are still working to get back on the mound. The Dodgers have, of course, been able to rely on their amazing depth to fill most holes. That doesn’t mean that they haven’t had to get a little creative. Their biggest experiment so far was on display on Wednesday with the Dodgers hoping that Landon Knack and Matt Sauer with their ~100 combined innings of big league experience could combine for a complete game. Guess what? They did just that. Knack pitched five scoreless and Sauer pitched four innings of one run ball to pick up his first career save. The Dodgers are expecting some troops back soon, but they continue to show why depth is so important. The approach of two guys being expected to go for 4+ innings on the same day is also one that I expect will become more and more popular as an answer to the modern pitcher usage problem.
We’ve Got A Home Run Race!
There have been some exciting home run chases in the last few seasons. Judge’s bout for the AL (non-steroid) record, Shohei’s dash to go 50-50, and a couple exciting chases for home run crown. 2025 is shaping up to bring just as much excitement in the home run storyline department as a bunch of players have thrown their name in the hat for 2025 home run king. A quarter of the way through the season, Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber lead the way with 14 homers a piece, but there are 11 other batters with 10+ homers. It’s tight! Let’s talk about some storylines that add to the excitement of this race:
14 Homer Club
Seeing Judge’s name here is no surprise whatsoever. Since entering the league, yadda yadda, if he stays healthy, yadda yadda. It’s tired. I just want to talk about the fact that the home run leader is hitting .400! Aaron Judge is from another planet.
Schwarber is mashing the ball and it’s not even June yet. But did you know that he currently owns the longest active on base streak? Through Sunday, he has reached base in 46 consecutive games going back to 2024. I know guys that hit homers tend to get walked a lot, but a streak like this is still impressive from the home run leader.
12 Homer Club
A 4-homer game can do wonders for you. While Eugenio Suarez has not put together his most complete season, he has the one tool that most guys would take if they had to pick one of the five: power.
It’ll be interesting to see just what happens when Shohei Ohtani returns to the mound. Last season was a special view at the type of numbers he can put up when he isn’t part of 400 more hitter-pitcher matchups than anyone else. Though he has put up impressive totals while pitching, it hasn’t ever been enough to threaten a run at the home run title. Could this time be different?
Best Catcher in Baseball (BCIB) is a hotly contested debate among fans. Adley was supposed to be the answer a few years ago but he’s faded a little. William Contreras looked primed to snatch the title after his impressive 2024. Enter the Big Dumper, Cal Raleigh. After winning a platinum glove last year and mashing to start this season, it’s certainly looking like the BCIB title is his and his alone.
11 Homer Club
Boy am I happy to see Corbin Carroll playing well. As the most valuable baserunner in the league based on his stolen base efficiency and ability to take the extra base on hits, it’s impressive to see him mash like this. If he stays on this power stroke he can certainly rise to the top as the league’s premier power-speed guy.
10 Homer Club
Kyle Tucker is earning himself a lot of money. If he stays on this pace for the rest of the season, can he be the next $400 million contract guy? $500 million? Time will tell.
Where on Earth did this Trent Grisham power stroke come from? His career high homer total for a season is 17. He looks like he’ll be there by the All Star break! With Stanton missing from this Yanks lineup, he is providing some much needed pop.
Brent Rooker finally found his footing in MLB these past couple seasons and received an extension from the As. Choosing to play in Oakland may sound awful, but Rooker along with fellow masher Tyler Soderstrom and batting wizard Jacob Wilson, son of defensive wizard Jack Wilson, seem to have a potential surprise playoff appearance in the works.
The Sox have extended all of their young guys. Is Wilyer Abreu next? He is sure looking like the guy prospect reports thought he would be. The Red Sox have been eager to extend their young talent as of late. Expect Abreu to be next.
It’s been a long road for Spencer Torkelson. This season he finally seems to have learned the thing that makes all power hitters effective: patience. He is working counts more than ever and it’s paying off. It’s cool to see a guy who has struggled for so long finally hit his stride.
Pete Crow Armstorng is on 40-40-40 pace. That’s 40 homers, 40 steals, and 40 fielding runs. Six players have gone 40-40 (homers and steals). No one has ever totaled more than 32 fielding runs in a season (though the stat has only been recorded since 2016). This is only Pete’s second full MLB season. Look how red those top three bubbles are. Mercy.
If you asked me who my way too early pick for the Hall of Fame is, I’d say James Wood. The kid is special. In his first full MLB season, here he is at 40-homer pace. I think he’ll be one of the best hitters in the game in a few short years.
Superstar Trade Murmurs
There are some guys in MLB that you would figure are untouchable. Their value is too great for a team to trade them. What could another team even offer as a fair return? Imagining these kinds of trades is always fun because of the unprecedented returns some guys would get. Two superstars have had their names thrown around as potential trade candidates early this season, and they would both certainly garner a massive return. Let’s talk about them:
Tristan Casas is out for the season after the beginnings of what looked like a breakout campaign due to a freak injury. The Red Sox then turned to one Rafael Devers and said, “hey, can you play first?” He said no. The drama with Rafi not wanting to move off of third for Bregman is over, Rafi is DHing and he’s playing well. Given the opportunity to play the field again, he all of the sudden doesn’t feel like it. This is an aside, but I think Rafi is being a biiig baby. Play where they ask you to play and stop acting like first base is impossible to learn. It seems like Devers just disgruntled with the Sox in general, directly calling out Craig Breslow. The Red Sox have a gold mine of prospects that are ready to make their big league debut who would be more than happy to take Devers’s spot and would be much cheaper options for the Sox. It has to have crossed the mind of the front office to deal him.
Paul Skenes is disgruntled for a different reason. While Devers is being a baby, Skenes feels the same way about the Pirates that we all do. Bob Nutting has too tight of a wallet to compete as a MLB team owner. In his second year, Skenes has already subtly voiced his frustrations for the Pirates front office. It’s pretty clear that he wants out as soon as they’ll trade him.
What kind of value could the Red Sox and Pirates get for these guys? Devers has eight and a half years left on his $313.5 million contract. He’s still only 28 and has a good 4-5 seasons left where you can pencil him in as a 4 WAR bat. He’d be able to play serviceable third base for a few more seasons too. Some teams will be turned off by a guy who will be a $31 million DH in four years and some will be turned off by his recent attitude issues, but I think that the teams that just don’t want him and teams that would be willing to go all-in. he teams that want him would be all in. Based on the recent animosity between Devers and the organization and the money he’s being paid, I think a team could offer a good but not crazy prospect package. Maybe something similar to the package the Yankees used to get Soto. Skenes, on the other hand, would be nearly unobtainable. A top three pitcher in baseball being paid the league minimum and arbitration value? Some teams don’t have a AAA team that would be an appropriate return. I think the Pirates would actually have to wait until Skenes is closer to arbitration to truly get a fair return. Might as well keep the only superstar around until then.
Troubles with Sandy in Miami
The Marlins are not in a position to win now. Even with some exciting young players like Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez, they are going to have to wait a few years. What do teams do with their good players whose contracts will expire before they’re competitive? Trade em! Which is exactly what the Marlins had to have planned for Sandy Alcantara entering the season. It seemed perfect. Sandy, a workhorse pitcher with stuff a couple years removed from a Cy Young award, could finally play for a competitor. The Marlins could get a huge return for an ace with two and a half seasons left on an extremely team friendly deal. One problem. Sandy has been awful. In his two starts last week, Sandy’s ERA was raised to 8.10. Ouch. Will the Marlins still find a suitor for Sandy? Absolutely. This guy won a Cy Young, I’m sure teams are confident they can fix him. The return will not be nearly as appealing. It seems like Sandy will still get his good end of the deal but the Marlins get screwed once again.
Managers Canned
What would you say the number one band-aid fix a baseball team can make is? If you said firing a manager, you’re right! Neither the Pirates nor the Rockies have a talented enough roster to make the playoffs, much less compete this season. Both teams still made the performative act of blaming their slow starts on their skippers and canning Derek Shelton and Bud Black respectively. I’m mostly writing about this to point out how stupid of a thing this is. A manager in MLB has waayyy less impact on the success of a team than the owner that makes the budget, the front office that brings in the talent, and even the coaches who work on mechanics with the players. Sure, there’s a clubhouse vibe, but besides that the manager brings the lefties in to face the lefties and the righties in to face the righties. If Dave Roberts and Bud Black switched positions, the Dodgers would still be World Series favorites and the Rockies would still suck. I’m sure both of these guys will find a new, probably much better home.
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