If a “sweep” means three straight regular season wins against the same team, then a “mop” means four straight wins.
Last weekend, there were six four-game sets – or opportunities – in MLB. Unfortunately, no team showed up with a bucket full of foam. The Orioles and Angels came close but couldn’t finish the job Sunday after leading 3-0.
Sad? Yes. Disappointing? Absolutely. But let’s get our act together and review the weekend in MLB anyway. There was still a lot to like.
Orioles take 3 of 4 from Rangers
Remember last October when the Texas Rangers, on their way to the franchise’s first World Series title, gave the baby Baltimore Orioles a victory in the ALDS? The O certainly do.
Over the weekend, Baltimore punched a struggling Texas team in the mouth, winning the first three games before the Rangers avoided a rub with a blowout victory on Sunday. The lasting moment of the weekend — and perhaps the most electrifying moment of Baltimore’s season thus far — was a grand slam by rookie Heston Kjerstad on Saturday.
In front of more than 44,000, the blonde outfielder threw a Michael Lorenzen heater just over the wall in right center, and Camden Yards went wild. It was the kind of regular season memory that everyone in attendance will remember forever. The resurgent Craig Kimbrel picked up his 19th save of the season, lowering his June ERA to 0.96.
It was a series of sighs of relief for the O’s, who posted their worst loss of the season in five games earlier in the week. Baltimore still has serious starting pitching issues, with Tyler Wells, Kyle Bradish and John Means all out for the year, but that’s what trade deadlines and stocked farm systems are for.
Additionally, Gunnar Henderson announced during Sunday Night Baseball that he will participate in the Home Run Derby. Six Orioles are All-Star finalists. That 110-loss season in 2021 seems a world away. Life is good in Baltimore.
There must be a tinge of regret somewhere deep in Craig Counsell’s soul. His off-season move from Milwaukee to Chicago shocked the sport. Born and raised in The Cream City, Counsell captained the Brewers for eight seasons. But with his contract up, the Cubs called, offering the veteran manager a record five-year, $40 million contract to cross the line and alienate all the Brewers diehards.
The change was stunning but understandable. The Cubs offered a bigger payroll, a bigger market, more resources and, of course, a life-changing amount of money. But halfway through the 2024 season, Counsell’s move looks like a catastrophe, though through no fault of his own.
There’s still ample room for a resurgence, yes, but Counsell’s fifth-place Cubs fell to 39-46 with a series loss to the Brewers this weekend. Chicago is now 11.5 games behind Milwaukee in the division and five games behind in the painfully mediocre National League wild card race.
During Chicago’s only win of the weekend on Saturday, Cubs ace Justin Steele echoed what every Cubs fan has been thinking. After a sloppy third inning defensively tied the game at two, Steele entered his dugout yelling “WAKE THE FUCK UP” to no one and everyone. Their passionate display worked for a day, but a two-hit sodden performance on Sunday showed once again that Counsell and the Cubbies have a long way to go to salvage their season.
It was a busy four-game split in Toronto for the Yankees. Let’s focus on the drama, if we can call it that. Second baseman Gleyber Torres, in the midst of an abysmal offensive season, was sidelined this week after some half-hearted efforts landed him in the doghouse. He returned on Friday and immediately drew the ire of Yankees starter Marcus Stroman by appearing somewhat nonchalant while turning into a double play. Stroman could be seen saying, “Throw the damn ball, bro” immediately after the play and was later shown saying, “Have some intensity, bro.”
The Yankees exploded soon after with a 16-5 victory, and all parties were diplomatic after the game, trying to downplay the situation. Torres is a hard hitting hitter who plays with a casual motor; Stroman is full of energy and outwardly emotional. The heat of competition only heightens their contrasting styles. Teammates, as well as family members, sometimes disagree, and there are no open fissures in the Yankees clubhouse. However, Torres’ lack of production continues to be a real problem, one that will only gain more attention if he continues to be in the midst of moments like this.
There was also a Juan Soto injury scare this weekend. He was eliminated from the lineup on Saturday after experiencing swelling in his right hand following a fall in Friday’s game. As is understandably the case whenever a player like Soto is scratched, there were gasps of panic throughout Yankee Land. But x-rays came back negative and he was a surprise addition to the lineup late on Sunday, going 1 for 3 with two walks. Additionally, Aaron Judge has 31 home runs and 82 RBI. What a monster.
The Jays, meanwhile, remain neutral. Toronto is 7.5 games out of a playoff spot despite a spectacular month and weekend from Vlad Guerrero Jr.
Astros remind the Mets who they are
Only Houston — MLB’s cartoon villain since the unmasking of his malfeasance — could stifle the magical vibes of the June Grimace Mets. On Friday, the Amazins beat the Astros behind a trio of homers and then celebrated on the field as Latin utility/pop star José Iglesias sang his new single “OMG.” The vibes, as the kids say, were immaculate.
Houston didn’t care. They rallied from a two-run deficit on Saturday before outlasting the Mets in extra innings on Sunday to win a big series in Queens. New York won’t be too angry; The Mets turned their season around with a 16-8 record in June, and there are more wins to come. New York’s next five series are against the Nationals, Pirates, Nationals, Rockies and Marlins.
Houston, meanwhile, is just 3.5 behind the struggling Mariners in the uninspiring AL West. The Astros have big pitching questions — even Framber Valdéz was hit on Saturday — but these are still the Astros. I’m not dead yet.
Phillies and Marlins split when Harper and Schwarber hit the IL
Life without Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber doesn’t sound fun. Both Philadelphia defensemen went on the injured list over the weekend; Harper due to a left hamstring strain and Schwarber due to a left groin strain. Both avoided serious injuries and should be back before the All-Star break, if not soon after.
His bats were lost on Saturday when the Marlins and their fifth-worst team ERA in baseball held the Phillies to two runs. Then, big days from Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos led Philly to a comeback victory in Sunday’s final.
It’s a bit shocking to see the team with the greatest record in baseball release a lineup with Kody Clemens, 2024 Whit Merrifield, David Dahl and Rafael Marchán. But unlike previous years, the Phillies’ pitching and organizational depth should allow them to weather the storm until their big boppers return. The eight-game lead over Atlanta atop the NL East doesn’t hurt.
