Monday bantering

The last couple of days has seen my attention fully focussed on the cricket world cup. Last night in an epic final, England beat New Zealand. I stayed up through the night to watch it and celebrate my homeland winning. England is now the only nation to win world cups in soccer, rugby and cricket.

As you can imagine, it made for a long day at work today and right now my coherence is waning, so before my brain fully packs it in, here are a few bits and pieces:

Im saddended, but not surprised that Rowdy Tellez was optioned back to Buffalo. But he intends to use the demotion to fuel his fire

Still lots of trade chatter about Marcus Stroman:

Stroman’s start vs the Yankees yesterday bodes well for trade talks

Does actually keeping Marcus make more sense?

Stro was very in demand yesterday:

And with Stroman and Giles being mentioned recently, lets take a look back at previous trade deadline returns and how they are faring.

Talking of Giles, apparently he got injured having a massage...

If we do make some trades ,its likely we will get a number of prospects. Here’s a nice focus on how poise and patience is paying off for Cal Stevenson

Up next we have 4 game series vs the Red Sox

STARTING PITCHERS

MONDAY: RHP Trent Thornton (3-6, 4.85 ERA) vs. RHP Rick Porcello (6-7, 5.33 ERA)

Porcello has allowed at least five runs in each of his past three starts.

TUESDAY: TBA (please not Edwin Jackson) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (9-3, 3.83 ERA)

Cashner dominated the Jays on July 6 in his final game as an Oriole, allowing a run on three hits in seven innings, and also threw six shutout innings against Toronto on April 2. I feel the Red Sox got him just to annoy us further...

WEDNESDAY: RHP Aaron Sanchez (3-13, 6.22 ERA) vs. LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (10-4, 4.43 ERA)

Rodriguez is the first Red Sox pitcher to get to double-digits in victories this season although he has been helped by getting a lot of run support. (Marcus Stroman mutters in background)

THURSDAY: TBA vs. LHP Chris Sale (3-9, 4.27 ERA)

Sale vs. the Blue Jays in three starts this season? 0-2, 7.98 ERA, 1.84 WHIP. LOL!

Other bits

5 trade ideas so crazy they might just work?

Umpires get things wrong. Sometimes we think their calls are garbage. Brennan Metzger, an outfielder for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association, makes the latter point in emphatic style. GO TO YOUR HOME!!!

Play of the Day

Fernando Tatís Jr. shows us the Matrix is real.