Blake of Fire

 

Scott Boras clearly wanted the right deal for Blake Snell. That's why he worked so hard to sell his client, in a way that alienated virtually every team when the numbers weren't matching his zeal. And to be honest, Boras probably thought that getting a long-term deal for a Cy Young winning pitcher still in his prime would be simple, as it always used to be. But I think what wounded Snell was the fact that this is 2024, and it's becoming rarer and rarer for pitchers to have consecutive great seasons without some degree of wear and tear. And so...clearly scouts saw a drop-off in Snell's material as he worked out in the spring, they saw a down year, and they backed off. All of them. The Yankees were the favorite to sign snell all Spring, and they backed off and instead went for Marcus Stroman, who...honestly, was exactly the kind of guy they needed.

So all Blake Snell ended up getting from the Giants, a team that turned out not to be ready to compete, was 1 year, 32 million, and a player option if, for some reason, Snell wanted to trust the system for 2025. All Snell was given was one year, when he clearly wanted four or five. And so I do not blame Snell for his first three months. Not only was he coming off a key year, and expecting to pitch exactly like it, but he was mad at the whole Boras situation. He'd be getting to the majors late, the pressure would be on immediately, it would not be the ideal situation. So Snell getting eaten alive out there in May was bound to happen. It happened to Jordan Montgomery too. Clearly, the scouts' concerns did have some truth, and Snell was faced with a terrible first half. 

A lesser pitcher would let that stop him. Blake Snell is not that.

So Snell's past 8 starts have been nothing short of incredible. A 1.03 ERA, 70 strikeouts, 6 earned runs. A no-hitter. A .117 opposing batting average. Probably one of the best stretches of Snell's career, and that includes the Cy Young seasons. Snell is pitching like he's got nothing to prove. Clearly he's fighting for his own worth, to get a better 2025 contract, but he's pitching like nothing's on the line. The Giants are gonna succeed or fail regardless, and he's only gotten the win in 2 of his starts, which...is telling. But Snell has also gotten through 5 starts without allowing a run. This is what he's capable of right now.

The other night, Snell, against the A's, struck out 10 and allowed just one run. It was a game the bullpen would make closer than it needed to be, but it was a game where for the majority of it, the Giants didn't need to worry. And Snell, at 31, is still capable of those kinds of games, regardless of whatever the hell he was dealing with earlier in the year.

All I hope for someone like Snell is that he straightens everything out with management, and figures out how to get a modest enough deal that still gives him what he's worth without leaving him hung out to dry if he's headed for a down year. He's a smart enough guy, he just needs to learn the right lesson from this year. The obvious outcome is the Yankees spending too much money on him and things not working out from the jump, but Snell needs to figure out the best way forward, without wasting anymore of his best years.

Coming Tonight: With many homegrown youth options hurt or leaving, a replacement super-ute takes the spotlight in Toronto.