Worth the Extra Week?

 
Last week I wrote about the Pirates' at-the-time puzzling decision to hold Konnor Griffin back, despite the fact that everyone knew he wouldn't spend the whole season in Indianapolis. And I pointed to all the immediate successes of rookies and Opening Day call-ups. Then this week it became clear that the Pirates' infield options, Nick Gonzales and Jared Triolo, weren't gonna cut it, and seeing as Griffin was ready and hitting well in Triple-A, they decided to just quit loafing about and promote the guy. Plus a surprise mega extension contract, which...I assume has made Paul Skenes feel great about himself.

And honestly? Part of me gets why they did this. Especially now that, even in that first week of major league play, a lot can happen.

First of all, from a promotional standpoint, bringing out Konnor Griffin in time for the home opener in Pittsburgh is a smart move. Attendance is already dwindling, that should rope people in for now. It also helps that the Pirates are actually winning games, and swiped some close matches from the Mets and Reds. You could make the case of 'well, with all the games we can win, we don't need the help', and that case makes no sense considering the comparison between two replacement level options and Griffin's potential numbers. It also sets up a continued April swell from a team who are slowly bringing on crucial pieces [and also Marcell Ozuna].

But...even in the case of an early, Opening Day call-up, something ridiculous could happen. A couple years ago Ke'Bryan Hayes got hurt almost immediately as the season began, and I believe it happened to Oneil Cruz as well. Logan O'Hoppe had a fantastic rookie campaign going a few years back only to be sidelined midway through April. And this week, Chase de Lauter's wonderful rookie campaign in Cleveland was tripped up by a foot injury. He's hit 4 homers in 6 games, been the hero in most of them, and now he's being moved to DH for the time being to not exacerbate the foot. 

It's also happened many times that someone has been called up as a sure bet and struggled at the MLB level. Remember Jackson Holliday's 2024 call-up, and how long it took him to figure out the majors, even resulting in a ride back to Norfolk and a ton of stories saying 'he's washed, there's no point, trade him for Tarik Skubal.' And last year he figured it out. Already this year, we've seen the Brewers call up Jeferson Quero then immediately send him down, the Marlins call up Deyvison de los Santos and demote him after hitting a hefty double, and the Mariners keep optioning Ryan Bliss. Some guys just aren't ready even when it looks like they are, or they simply just don't factor into the team's overall plan.

But at the same time, there's also the kinds of guys who come up and make you question why you even doubted them. Sal Stewart for Cincinnati is one of those guys. Last year they called him up for a stretch run, dude had 18 games and he made 'em count, hitting .255 with 5 homers and 8 RBIs. This year he got 1st base straight away, and he's been incredible, hitting .474 with 9 hits and 2 homers in 7 games. People had been calling Stewart a surefire success, and sure enough he feels like the kind of consistent, reliable contact hitter that the Reds had been missing after Joey Votto's retirement. Even in a crowded division, Stewart have given the Reds another crucial piece to get them closer to a perennial playoff experience. 

Konnor Griffin could be that guy for the Pirates. I think they're prepared for either outcome, either he's a Skenes type and it's perfect immediately or he's a Henry Davis type and he's gotta figure himself out for a bit before the magic happens. Still, the sky's the limit at this point.

Coming Tomorrow- I think my skin cleared up a bit in a season without this guy being good at baseball. Oh well, right?

Wild Card Series' Day 2: So It's Gonna Be One of Those

 

I'm honestly happy the wild card series' aren't gonna be simple this year [for the most part]. Better for baseball. 

The key for the Tigers was getting the Skubal game down. Cause that was the only game where they really had a leg up on Cleveland. Casey Mize is good, but he's not Skubal good, and the contact game came raining down on him today, including big moments from Brayan Rocchio and George Valera, plus a very impressive three-run bomb from Bo Naylor, hoping to meet his brother in the ALDS. Tanner Bibee wasn't too bad either, only allowing 1 run and 5 hits in 4 and 2/3rds innings. This was the exact kind of game the Guardians should have won, and it allows for an even more exciting Game 3. Flaherty v. Cantillo. That'll definitely be interesting. 

Okay, so clearly the heroes of the Padres game were people like Dylan Cease and Manny Machado, but ultimately this game will be known as the Mason Miller game. He came in, faced five batters and struck out every last one, turning a lead into a commanding lead. The Cubs are a very tough team, and for this Padres squad to silence them, including a rare spotless inning from Robert Suarez, means that the Cubs may not have the cakewalk they were thinking this'd be. The Padres' lineup can strike back, and this game 3 is gonna be a matchup between Yu Darvish and Jameson Taillon. Yes, Yu has been shaky this year, but he's also clicked into place when the Padres have needed him. And is Jamo an October weapon? I suppose we'll find out.

This Yankee win was such a relief. I was so worried that the score staying tied would indicate an inability to capitalize on big moments, but then it dawned on me that all the Red Sox runs were scored by Trevor Story. The Yankees win belonged the whole team, from Ben Rice and his 1st inning bomb to Carlos Rodon and his strong start to Austin Wells who had the big RBI to Jazz Chisholm whose slide cemented the win. And the relief pitching, including Fernando Cruz and David Bednar, got us out of a lot of tight scrapes. No matter what happens next, and considering the lack of Boston rotation depth I'm mildly optimistic, we were able to win a game like this and make this a 3-game series after all. I'd really like it if we won tomorrow, but not getting swept is a true plus. 

If any of these wild card series' was only gonna last 2 games, it was gonna be Dodgers-Reds. Yes, the Dodgers have had bullpen issues...but they're the Dodgers. They're gonna win big.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, in just his second season, has become a postseason icon for the Dodgers, tonight went 6 and 2/3rds innings, and struck out 9, only allowing 2 runs and 4 hits. You NEED a rock like that in the postseason, and so far the Dodgers have had two of 'em starting games, Yoshi and Snell. We haven't even gotten to Glasnow yet. The offense did their thing, with some hard work from typical October heroes Kiké Hernandez and Mookie Betts. The key was small-balling past the Reds' pitching rather than going full power, and it's proof that there's still variety in this lineup. 

The Dodgers will head to Philly as the underdogs, though not by much. This is still a very tough team, and the Phillies aren't without flaws of their own. The Dodgers could find their October magic against the Phils...or, alternatively, the Phils could slay the curse of the 1st round bye and ascend to greatness yet again. It's their choice.

And since we've got to eulogize someone here...

Getting to the playoffs alone was a reward in itself for the Reds. They outdid the odds, outfought the Mets and earned October. This Dodgers series was always gonna be a tough hurdle, and it shouldn't encourage them from trying again next year. Unfortunately the only Red to truly show up tonight was rookie Sal Stewart, who singled in 2 runs early, the only crack in Yoshi's armor all night basically, then tried to get things going in the 8th with another RBI. Everybody else was silenced, and even Zack Littell struggled against a truly tough lineup. They should be happy to have made it, and shouldn't beat themselves up for not outdoing the Dodgers in LA in October. 

Tomorrow we break three ties. Pulling for my Yanks but, as it's a tough Boston team IN Fenway...prepared for either outcome.