:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64678380/usa_today_12899560.0.jpg)
Yesterday was a much needed off day following the heart breaking two game series against the Dodgers. I was very glad to see that Dbacks spent the off day well doing <checks notes> absolutely nothing to address the bullpen which more resembles a suburban Tuscon fireworks show more than a cohesive unit at this point.
Diamondbacks News
(Arizona Sports) Diamondbacks No. 7 prospect Alek Thomas hits for cycle
Class A Kane County hadn’t had a player hit for the cycle in five years.
Center fielder Alek Thomas, the No. 7 prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ system, nearly did it two games in a row.
(Fansided) Arizona Diamondbacks sign Taiwanese infielder Chen Sheng-Ping
“To call the Diamondbacks latest addition an infielder is a bit of a misstatement. He has been a super utility player in high school, playing every infield position and suiting up at catcher. According to reports, catcher is his primary position, but he also performs well defensively at second and short.”
Or to put it another way, Mike Hazen’s new favorite player
It shows in his stat line, too. Avila is hitting just .227, but he has a .407 on-base percentage and a .907 OPS. His offensive production, as measured by wRC+, is 29 percent better than league average. And yet he is taking the bat off his shoulder less frequently than he ever has. It’s almost as if he’s trying to figure out how little he can swing while still being productive.
MLB News
(Bleacher Report) Each MLB Team’s Nightmare 2019 Trade Deadline Scenario
The July 31 trade deadline is approaching. May every team in Major League Baseball get everything it wants.
But what would the opposite of that look like?
(The Detroit News) Tigers GM Al Avila given multi-year contract extension
“The Tigers, neck deep in a rebuild that’s not only led to an ugly record but also significant fan apathy, will extend general manager Al Avila’s contract for multiple years, the team announced Friday.”
Nice to see a team letting a GM finish the rebuild he started. /Glares in the general direction of Ken Kendrick and Derrick Hall
(MLB.com) Bellinger in legendary company with 30th homer
“On Wednesday night, he passed Duke Snider and Gil Hodges for most Dodgers home runs before the All-Star break. On Thursday night, he closed the gap on Reggie Jackson (37), Mark McGwire (33) and Willie Mays (31) for most pre-break homers under the age of 24.”
It would be a lot more fun to hate the Dodgers if they weren’t all so good.
Snake Bite
(The New York Times) Drink a Pint, Waste Less Food
“For the past seven months, Seven Brothers has been using breakfast cereal to make beer. The aim of the venture is nobler than the inevitable “beer for breakfast” jokes might suggest: namely, to address — even in a small way — the global issue of food waste and its effect on climate change.”
A really fun way to tackle, in a small part, the issue of food waste, which some sources say 30-40% of the entire food supply in the US.