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Today’s Headlines
Wainwright and Molina Make History
Picture this: it’s September 23, 2005. Adam Wainwright, a young reliever for the Cardinals steps up to the mound and throws a strike to catcher Yadier Molina.
Picture this: it’s September 14, 2022. Adam Wainwright, veteran leader of the Cardinals strikes out Christian Yelich on a curveball to catcher Yadier Molina to start the game.
Last night, Wainwright and Molina set an MLB record with the most starts as a battery together, with start number 325 together against the Milwaukee Brewers.
A first pitch strike!#STLCards x @SIRIUSXM pic.twitter.com/HATyeXUe5S
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 15, 2022
Wainwright and Molina broke a record that hasn’t been touched since 1975, and may not happen again. The previous holders were pitcher Mickey Lolich and catcher Bill Freehan, who played for the Detroit Tigers from 1963-1975. At this point, there are no active batteries that are even close to the record. What occurred last night could have truly been a night for the ages.
To Cardinals fans, this means the world. Wainwright and Molina have been stalwarts for the team since the 2000s, and have been there for stunning moments including two World Series championships, electric comebacks, and PLENTY of strike-them-out-throw-them-out plays. Last night felt like a portal back to 2005, and baseball is going to be sad to bid goodbye to these two legends.
School is back, and class is in session!#Yadios pic.twitter.com/SgZYE4JYBE
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 15, 2022
Julio Rodríguez Joins the 25/25 Club
It’s always hard to predict how prospects will perform. Baseball has watched with awe as the likes of Juan Soto dominate the minute when they are called up, yet have cringed as others such as Jo Adell and Jarred Kelenic struggle. Prospects are wild cards, and though they can inspire heaps of hope and excitement about the future, they can cause just as much strife.
Julio Rodríguez is definitely invoking the former.
2️⃣5️⃣ home runs. 2️⃣5️⃣ stolen bases. @JRODshow44 is the third rookie in @MLB history to reach that milestone. #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/6Efft6T8uT
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) September 15, 2022
The other two rookies who have accomplished this feat in their first season include Chris Young for the Diamondbacks in 2007 and Mike Trout for the Angels in 2012. Young went on to have a fairly successful career, with 191 career homers, and 142 career stolen bases. Mike Trout is, well, Mike Trout, with 345 career homers and 204 career stolen bases at age 31. Time will tell how Julio compares.
For now, Rodríguez is a key part of a Mariners team looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2001. He has been exactly what Mariners fans were dreaming of and is must-see-tv when he takes the field, both offensively and defensively.
NL East Chaos
The NL East used to be commonly known as the NL Beast. In 2019, you had the Bryce Harper-led Phillies, Freddie Freeman, and Ronald Acuña Jr. heading the Atlanta offense, Juan Soto, Anthony Rendon, and Max Scherzer on the Nationals, and deGrom + Alonso on the Mets, the NL East had four teams vying for postseason spots.
The layout of the East has changed a bit, but the calamity has remained.
Throughout the first half of the season, it looked like the Mets’ division. The team went 58-35 in the first half and had a comfortable lead on the NL East. Then summer hit, and things started to change. New York has continued to play good ball and has a .620% win percentage in the second half.
But Atlanta turned it up as the heat increased, going 21-6 in June and playing to a .667% win percentage in the second half. The 10-game lead that the Mets had has dissipated, and Atlanta was in first place as recently as September 9th. It’s looking like it will be a battle to close out the season.
Atlanta just went 1-2 in two straight series against the Mariners and the Giants, while New York went 2-1 against the Marlins and was just swept by the Cubs. As a result, the Mets only hold a .5-game lead on the NL East. Atlanta has Philly and the Nats coming up, while the Mets play four against the Pirates and three against the Brewers.
If recent series have been any evidence, this is not going to be a peaceful finish in the NL Beast. Keep your eye on these teams and the standings, they could be fighting until the very last day.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Yadi Makes History in Style
You know that Yadier Molina couldn’t make history without a flair, right? We all remember his flashy appearance in the 2017 All-Star Game, and this is a bigger night by a large margin. As a result, Molina went all out to celebrate the night:
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 14, 2022
As a Cardinals fan, I don’t know what I’m going to do without this man behind the plate next year. We were lucky to watch him for all these years and I’m glad he and Wainwright got to celebrate the night in their own way (and with a win!)
Never Change, Nestor
Nestor Cortes is well known for his wacky deliveries. When you don’t throw 98 mph fastballs, you have to get a little creative to fool batters. And no one does that like Cortes. Enjoy this silliness (and how badly it fooled Rafael Devers):
Nestor being Nestor pic.twitter.com/vj6Bo171q3
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 15, 2022
Water, Earth, Fire, Air…
Pete Armstrong-Crow has had an excellent year in the Cubs’ farm system. With a good average and good speed, he’s looking like a dynamic center fielder for the future. It’s looking like he also may be able to save the world:
PETE CROW-ARMSTRONG IS AVATAR
(📸: @kohlrf) pic.twitter.com/rhPv6EKmta
— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) September 14, 2022
Here’s hoping he doesn’t vanish when Cubs fans need him most.
Injuries
Red Sox’ 2B Trevor Story remains out after bruising his left heel. It’s looking like he may be able to return soon, so keep an eye on this situation.
Cubs’ OF Seiya Suzuki was hit by a pitch on the hand. While he remained in the game, he is getting x-rays done and the situation will continue to be monitored.
Phillies’ 1B Rhys Hoskins‘ x-rays on his hand came back negative. He should be day-to-day for the near future.
Mets’ SP Max Scherzer is feeling “excellent.”
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Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)