July was kind of a strange month for the Braves. As the manager, we started out winning 5 in a row to start the month, which started to make me think that Bryan Price had been holding this team back. But then, we lost 11 of 13 before and after the All-Star Break, including a 4-game stretch of losses where we scored a total of 4 runs while giving up just 10. At that point, my record as the human manager was 8-11, which led me to the belief that while Price was holding the team back, there was still work to do. So, I hired a Korean manager named Tae-ryong Cho who has an excellent reputation as a conventional manager. He's gone 1-4 so far, but while I was negotiating with him the bench coach managed the team to 3 straight wins, meaning we finished out the month on a 4-4 run. Overall, we went 11-15 in the month. Not good, but certainly a step up from the previous month.
Of course, being in the bottom 4th of the league, I was once again a trade deadline seller. The first move I made though didn't involve any major league players, but I thought it was a pretty good pickup. For some reason, the Racers offered me 2.5 star catching prospect A.J. Jimenez in exchange for 1 star pitching prospect in A+ named Josh Graham. Pretty good depth pickup, he's in AAA now but will certainly be a September call-up.
On the 9th, I sent down Jose Ramirez (5.67 ERA) in favor of Joel De La Cruz, although that was primarily a move to help the bullpen depth, as I didn't have many well-rested arms in the bullpen. He went back down a few days later after allowing a run in 1.1 IP over 2 games, and Mike Morin got called up. He had been shelled in Atlanta earlier, but part of it was due to a ridiculous BABIP, so I sent him down to get him back in the groove and regain confidence and he dominated AAA.
July 27th was the day I made my "blockbuster" trade. While Mallex Smith had incredible speed and definitely has value as a CF, I knew I could be getting much better production out of the position. I also had an impending logjam at 1B, as Cody Bellinger had been riding the bench behind Jon Singleton, who was starting to struggle. I worked out a trade with the Indians, sending them Smith, Singleton, SP Daniel Winkler (AAA), and 2-star 2B prospect Kevin Josephina. In return, the centerpiece of the deal was CF Tyler Naquin, who was hitting .303 with 12 HRs and 52 RBIs with Cleveland. But in addition to Naquin, I got 2.5-star SP prospect Mike Clevinger, 3-star 2B prospect Tyler Krieger, 2-star SP prospect Daniel Gomez, and 1.5-star SP prospect Adonis Medina. Getting Naquin was great, but getting a bunch of solid prospect depth was a pretty nice addition as well.
Two days later I made my only other trade. Reid Brignac was a $1.1 million utility guy sitting in AAA, so I shopped him around pretty much just looking to dump the salary, and amazingly, the Orioles offered me 4-star 2B prospect Cole Stobbe. Absolute steal.
The only other move made was activating 3B Rio Ruiz on the 31st, sending RP Nelle van Leest down to AAA to make room.
Here are the statistics of the current active roster, which has been shuffled around by the new manager, who is controlling.
Rotation:
1. Matt Wisler (6-9, 4.02 ERA, 21 GS, 127.0 IP, 94 K)
2. Norge Ruiz (4-2, 3.62 ERA, 14 G/11 GS, 69.2 IP, 64 K)
3. Ricky Lara (4-8, 3.38 ERA, 21 GS, 122.1 IP, 97 K)
4. Matt Moore (7-8, 2.78 ERA, 21 GS, 132.2 IP, 131 K)
5. Manny Banuelos (1-1, 6.04 ERA, 32 G/1 GS, 28.1 IP, 32 K)
Bullpen:
CL: Mike Morin (2-1, 6.20 ERA, 2/2 SV, 28 G, 24.2 IP, 28 K)
SU: Drew Storen (2-3, 2.12 ERA, 20/23 SV, 41 G, 46.2 IP, 43 K)
SU: Yimi Garcia (2-7, 4.37 ERA, 14/16 SV, 44 G, 47.1 IP, 60 K) (ATL & TB)
MR: Arodys Vizcaino (2-2, 6.20 ERA, 28 G, 24.2 IP, 29 K)
MR: Paco Rodriguez (1-3, 3.38 ERA, 35 G, 32.0 IP, 26 K)
MR: Steve Geltz (2-2, 3.89 ERA, 0/2 SV, 52 G, 44.0 IP, 37 K)
LR: Aaron Blair (4-11, 4.50 ERA, 22 G/21 GS, 126.0 IP, 99 K)
Lineup:
1. LF Ender Inciarte (402 AB, .264 BA, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 22 SB)
2. 2B Daniel Castro (199 AB, .276 BA, 0 HR, 16 RBI, 2 SB)
3. RF Nomar Mazara (389 AB, .290 BA, 18 HR, 54 RBI, 2 SB)
4. CF Tyler Naquin (397 AB, .307 BA, 12 HR, 59 RBI, 8 SB) (ATL & CLE)
5. 1B Cody Bellinger (55 AB, .200 BA, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB)
6. 3B Rio Ruiz (125 AB, .312 BA, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 0 SB)
7. SS Ozhaino Albies (78 AB, .205 BA, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 7 SB)
8. C Juan Centeno (125 AB, .224 BA, 0 HR, 12 RBI, 0 SB)
Bench:
C Tyler Flowers (305 AB, .210 BA, 9 HR, 35 RBI, 0 SB)
1B/3B Will Craig (101 AB, .248 BA, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 0 SB)
SS Dansby Swanson (118 AB, .220 BA, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB)
LF Dustin Peterson (133 AB, .248 BA, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 1 SB)
LF Dian Toscano (29 AB, .207 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB)
July 31st, 2017 - MLB Standings
July 2017 - Notable MLB Transactions
7/5:
-Angels trade RF Josh Reddick and $4.1 million to Reds in exchange for SP Raisel Iglesias and minor league RP Tejay Antone (2.5 star POT)
-Rockies trade C Tom Murphy and minor league SP Tyler Danish (0.5 star POT) to Twins in exchange for 1B Kennys Vargas
7/7:
-Tigers trade LF Justin Upton and $5.5 million to Giants in exchange for RP Greg Holland and minor league 3B Jonah Arenado (2 star POT)
-Orioles trade RP Zach Britton and $2 million to Rays in exchange for minor league LF Yon Mina (3.5 star POT)
7/8:
-Nationals trade minor leaguers 3B Tyler Skole (1 star POT) and C Roberto Medina (2 star POT) to Padres in exchange for SP Colin Rea
-Mets trade C Kevin Plawecki to Angels in exchange for RP Huston Street, minor league CF Jahmai Jones (4.5 star POT), and $2.8 million
-Giants trade RP Steven Okert to Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league SS Sergio Alcantara (3.5 star POT)
7/10:
-Marlins trade RF Destin Hood to Rockies in exchange for RP Adam Ottavino, minor league 2B Roberto Alcaraz (3 star POT), and $600K
-Dodgers trade RF Jay Bruce to Mets in exchange for RP Addison Reed
-Athletics trade SS Zack Cozart to Royals in exchange for RP A.J. Ramos and $700K
7/11:
-Twins trade 1B Byung-ho Park to Brewers in exchange for RP Will Smith and minor league SS Gilbert Lara (4.5 star POT)
7/12:
-Yankees trade SS Yunel Escobar and $2.9 million to Reds in exchange for RP Brandon Gomes
7/14:
-Cardinals trade SP Mike Leake and $1.9 million to Rays in exchange for minor leaguers CF Garrett Whitley (1.5 star POT) and RF Manny Sanchez (1.5 star POT)
7/15:
-Racers trade SP Jhoulys Chacin and $220K to Twins in exchange for minor league SS Wander Javier (4.5 star POT)
7/18:
-Saints trade 3B Mark Reynolds and $1.3 million to Red Sox in exchange for RP Carson Smith
7/19:
-White Sox trade RP David Robertson and $2.1 million to Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league SPs Carlos Hernandez (0.5 star POT) and Wei-Chieh Huang (2 star POT)
7/24:
-Diamondbacks trade LF Zach Borenstein to Red Sox in exchange for RP Yusmeiro Petit and $700K
-Mets trade 3B Martin Prado and $1.2 million to Saints in exchange for 2B Joey Wendle
-Racers trade 3B Travis Shaw to Padres in exchange for SP Tayron Guerrero
7/25:
-Angels trade RF Kole Calhoun, minor league 3B Kenny Towns (1 star POT), and $2 million to Athletics in exchange for SP Chris Bassitt
7/26:
-White Sox trade RP Junichi Tazawa and $900K to Twins in exchange for minor league 3B Darling Cuesto (1.5 star POT)
-Athletics trade LF Khris Davis to Angels in exchange for RP Cam Bedrosian and minor league RP Tejay Antone (2.5 star POT)
-Tigers trade SS Dixon Machado to Rangers in exchange for SP Cole Hamels and $6 million
-Pirates trade 3B Josh Harrison to Twins in exchange for RP Glen Perkins and minor league SS Gilbert Lara (4.5 star POT)
7/29:
-Brewers trade LF Ramon Flores and minor league LF Blake Clanton (1.5 star POT) to Cardinals in exchange for SP Adam Wainwright and $5.4 million
7/30:
-White Sox trade 3B Todd Frazier and $1.9 million to Twins in exchange for minor leaguers CF Juan Arias (3 star POT), RF Jose Bermudez (3 star POT), and LF Aaron Whitefield (1 star POT)
7/31:
-Twins trade 2B Brian Dozier and $1.9 million to Mets in exchange for RP Josh Smoker
July 2017 - Interesting MLB News
7/5:
-Diamondbacks CF A.J. Pollock (.293/9/38) out for season with torn back muscle
7/6:
-Yankees LF Brett Gardner (.276/12/33) hits for the cycle
7/11:
-Dodgers SS Corey Seager goes 2-4, leading NL to 3-0 victory over AL in All-Star game
7/15:
-Twins SP Trevor May tosses no-hitter against White Sox
7/17:
-Mets SP Steven Matz (10-5, 2.46 ERA) out for season with torn labrum
7/21:
-Blue Jays SP Scott Kazmir (4-8, 4.98 ERA) out for season with torn UCL
7/21:
-Marlins 3B Cody Asche (.256/12/41) out for season with broken kneecap
7/26:
-Royals CF Lorenzo Cain (.321/11/43) out for season with torn labrum
7/27:
-Rays RP Brad Boxberger (2-3, 3.02 ERA) out for season with radial nerve compression
AL Leaders
Batting Average:
1. NYY 2B Starlin Castro - .346
2. PHI CF Odubel Herrera - .340
3. SEA LF Jon Jay - .332
Home Runs:
1. BAL 1B Chris Davis - 38
2. TEX 3B Joey Gallo - 35
T3. TEX 1B Prince Fielder - 28
T3. BAL SS Jonathan Schoop - 28
RBIs:
1. BAL 1B Chris Davis - 94
2. PHI 3B Maikel Franco - 85
T3. TEX 1B Prince Fielder - 79
T3. CLE SS Francisco Lindor - 79
T3. TEX 2B Rougned Odor - 79
Stolen Bases:
1. MIN CF Byron Buxton - 17
T2. ARI LF Socrates Brito - 16
T2. OAK 2B Leury Garcia - 16
Wins:
1. CLE SP Corey Kluber - 16
2. BOS SP Edwin Escobar - 13
T3. BOS SP David Price - 11
T3. PHI SP Vincent Velasquez - 11
T3. KC SP Yordano Ventura - 11
ERA:
1. CLE SP Corey Kluber - 2.21
2. BOS SP Edwin Escobar - 2.34
3. BOS SP David Price - 2.69
Strikeouts:
1. BOS SP David Price - 180
2. TEX SP Michael Wacha - 176
3. OAK SP Sonny Gray - 175
Saves:
1. OAK CL Liam Hendricks - 30
2. BOS CL Craig Kimbrel - 29
3. TEX CL Shawn Tolleson - 26
NL Leaders
Batting Average:
1. LAD RF Yasiel Puig - .357
2. LAD SS Corey Seager - .328
T3. LAD CF Joc Pederson - .305
T3. CIN 3B Anthony Rendon - .305
Home Runs:
1. MIA RF Giancarlo Stanton - 32
T2. COL 3B Nolan Arenado - 29
T2. LAD SS Corey Seager - 29
RBIs:
1. LAD RF Alfredo Despaigne - 93
T2. CIN 3B Anthony Rendon - 76
T2. LAD SS Corey Seager - 76
Stolen Bases:
1. WAS CF Ben Revere - 32
2. CIN CF Billy Hamilton - 31
3. MIA 2B Dee Gordon - 29
Wins:
1. HOU SP Collin McHugh - 15
2. CHC SP Jake Arrieta - 14
T3. CHC SP Kyle Hendricks - 12
T3. LAD SP Hyu-jin Ryu - 12
ERA:
1. NYM SP Noah Syndergaard - 1.94
2. NYM SP Steven Matz - 2.46
3. HOU SP Collin McHugh - 2.60
Strikeouts:
1. MIA SP Jose Fernandez - 204
2. NYM SP Noah Syndergaard - 173
3. HOU SP Stephen Strasburg - 160
Saves:
T1. MIA CL Carter Capps - 33
T1. PIT CL Mark Melancon - 33
3. MIL CL Shawn Kelley - 30
2017 All-Star Rosters
AL - NL:
