Joe Lucia

Apparently, it didn't matter - as long as the runners reach home and first successfully, the game is over. But then again, there were two rules that could have been applied in this situation, and both had conflicting accounts, soooo.....

Best three records won't happen unless the Royals get hit by a bus. Best *two*? Yeah, that could still happen. Seven NL teams fighting for five spots. In the AL, it's more like ten teams, but the five teams I'm arbitrarily calling out of it can absolutely wreck some shit over the final two months. What a meat grinder.

New keeper. Higher expectations. Same Arsenal.

Mike Napoli dealt to Texas.

The chemistry and character and #presents in the Barves clubhouse is going to be the death of me.

THE METS ARE GOING FOR IT~

The Tigers just shit canned Dave Dombrowski, four days after the trade deadline. What a mess.

Well, Aaron Hill hit for two cycles in the span of 11 days in 2012... If you wanted to go different players on the same team, Kubel and Cuddyer for the 09 Twins.

Beltre's just the fourth player in history to hit for three cycles in his career. That's wild.

(that's probably a good thing for the Ravens fwiw)

I'm reasonably confident the Jays will end up making the playoffs, mainly because I haven't been sold on the Twins all year and the Angels are incredibly overrated.

The Marlins also didn't want to trade Carter Capps at the deadline despite a ton of interest. Carter Capps is now on the DL with an elbow strain.

I think what infuriated me most about them this week was the tidbit that they were looking for "young, cost-controlled starting pitching". You mean like Nate Eovaldi? Or Anthony DeSclafani? Or Andrew Heaney?

"30 for 30 presents: I should not have pissed off Ronda" https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/627788925499629568

I'm so shocked the Royals were involved in yet another beanball war that wasn't their fault. I know this wouldn't fly, but if I'm Rob Manfred, I call Ned Yost and tell him that is your team involved in another incident like this, you're suspended for the rest of the year, including playoffs. This is ridiculous.

Yeah, he only played 82 games because of a gross knee injury that thankfully wasn't that bad. Even with that, he homered 12 times in 82 games after 14 in 156 two years ago. Baltimore's gonna be interesting to watch this winter. They have almost $80 million coming off their payroll, but lose some key guys. Yet, they're not really going to lose anyone after 2016, so they can try for another run. Incredibly likeable team too.

One of my favorite stories from this season is Manny Machado. Two years ago when he was hitting doubles by the truckload, the common refrain "once he gets stronger and these balls start going over the fence, look out". 23 bombs already this year. Along with 15 steals. And plus-plus defense at third. And he's 24. As a comparison, Josh Donaldson has a .388 wOBA and a 148 wRC+. Machado is at .383 and 145, and he's five years younger. Good god almighty.

I don't think it'll end up happening. They were talking about him earlier, but apparently, talks "cooled" lately.

Jays acquired Tulo and Price while keeping Sanchez, Pompey, and Alford. Man, that's ridiculous. Good on them.

Fucking hate that trade. Cleveland trades Brandon Moss to the Cardinals for Rob Kaminsky. Good deal for the Tribe.

The Mets just out-Metsed themselves. Amazing. Phillies got a good package for Hamels. Can't complain about this one. Six for two, including three of Texas's top ten (at worst, depending how outlets feel about some guys). Braves are going to be dumping Avilan, Jim Johnson, and...Alex Wood?!?!?! to the Dodgers for Morse, the draft pick from Miami, and Hector Olivera. Hate hate hate this.

This is going here instead of the general MLB thread. The Marlins traded Mat Latos, Michael Morse, and a competitive balance pick (#34 overall) to the Dodgers for three yet to be named minor leaguers. If they succeed in trading Prado and his contract too, the Marlins will have less than $20 million guaranteed next year to four players, one of whom (Saltalamacchia) is a Diamondback. Contract the team and turn the fucking park into a homeless shelter.

Reyes, Hoffman, Castro, Tinoco. Actually seems kinda light to me...

Remember when we all laughed at the Astros for tweeting about rescheduling that Taylor Swift concert in case there was a playoff conflict? They rescheduled the concert because of a potential playoff conflict.