Drumcliff

Jared Young, from Prince George, B.C., is making his MLB debut today, playing 1B for the Cubs against Colorado. At 27, he’s not really a prospect, but even if this is just nothing more than his cup of coffee, he’s made it to the bigs, and after 462 games in the minors. Congrats to Jared Young.

FWIW, Apple TV games are only on Fridays. This week’s two games: Pirates vs Rockies and D-Backs vs Padres. Exciting stuff. You should be aware, though, that two future Blue Jays games on Fridays will be on Apple: July 29 vs Detroit and Aug 19 vs the Yankees.

FWIW, Kory didn’t play ball. Kacy was a first basement in the Blue Jays system. He made it to Double-A New Hampshire before being released two years ago.

Unless there’s a technicality somewhere, I don’t think there’s any way Gabriel Martinez is rule 5 eligible this year. Players signed to pro contracts at age 18 or under have to be added to the 40-man within five years. Martinez was signed on his 16th birthday and has been in the system for just two and a half years.

Here are a couple. Ron Kittle, long-time White Sox 1B, hit 50 with Triple A Edmonton in 1982. Tony Solaita, who played briefly with the Expos in ‘79, had 49 with High A Carolina in 1968. Ken Phelps (Triple A, Expos system) and Dave Duncan (High A, Kansas City A’s) both had 46, the same number as Ryan Howard.

Aledmys Diaz, Adeiny Hechavarria, Oliver Drake, Yan Gomes. Also, didn’t Andrew Miller own the Jays for a while?

They used their challenge earlier and lost it (Hernandez at third base).

Sensational play by Stro with the bases loaded. Brilliant.

You know, on a peripheral note, I saw Joey Belle play in London, Ontario back in 1989 when, for five years, the Detroit Tigers had their Double-A team there. I remember him taking a slow stroll away from the batter's box between pitches, something which didn't bother me at the time but now would drive me nuts. He also hit a ball that not only cleared the left-field fence at Labatt Park but went into the Thames River. https://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/66346/cid/4638580/1989-Star-Canton-Akron-Indians-25-Joey-Belle

I don’t know for sure, but I’d assume he’s named after County Cavan in Ireland. And as my supporting evidence, he went to school at Notre Dame.

Votto currently on pace for over 630 plate appearances this year and a grand total of 28 RBIs. Eight first basemen in the NL have more homers than Votto has ribbies. Really is quite unbelievable how far he's fallen when you recall he almost won the NL MVP in 2017 -- and he's still owed, after this year, a guaranteed $107 million.

Without Vlad, simply unwatchable.

Amusing to see that, after tonight’s 0-4, Khris Davis is hitting .247.

You just find yourself waiting for the Raps to let you down....annnnd there it is.

Of course there’s a mystery team. How else can the current offers be goosed?