Tuesday bantering

Baseball is more fun when we win. The victory over the Twins in the first game of the series was hard earned, in spite of three massive facepalm moments. Mike Wilner had a clear summary of the game:

Fortunately Teoscar Hernandez made up for his bonehead play by launching a ball into TeOuter Space!

Randal Grichuk went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and now has six hits in his past four games.

And with closer Ken Giles unable to throw (due to illness) Joe Biagini pitched the ninth for his first save since April 21, 2017.

Ryan Tepera reportedly met up with the team yesterday in Minnesota, after starting the season on the injured list because of right elbow soreness. He pitched two innings for the Bisons on a rehab assignment last weekend and is expected to be added to the 25-man roster today.

Yesterday was of course the day that MLB celebrated the life of Jackie Robinson. Not only was he a pioneer but he really was one of the best players ever:

And this piece by Jay Jaffe at Fangraphs is worth your time: Jackie Robinson and Dodgertown, a Haven of Tolerance.

Talking of stats, Vlad Guerrero Jr is mirroring his dad almost perfectly:

MLB bits

Yasiel Puig seems very happy now he is at the Reds. And in a very revealing (and alarming) read, the Dodgers are more than happy he is no longer with them.

I’ll see your Brandon Drury & Teoscar Hernandez gaffe from yesterday and raise you the Reds’ Luis Castillo:

And Tyler O’Neill channels his inner Lourdes Gurriel Jr...

The lovely Christian Yelich had a great day yesterday:

• 3 HR
• 7 RBI
• 1 puppy given

Ouch of the Day

Yu Darvish - is this 2 balls and a strike?