Birds on the Bat | MLB 23

[James]

Home Run Derby and All-Star Rosters Announced

Home Run Derby
1. Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros - 28 HR
2. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees - 26 HR
3. Pete Alonso, New York Mets - 25 HR
4. Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox - 25 HR
5. Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves - 23 HR
6. Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays - 23 HR
7. Willy Adames, Milwaukee Brewers - 22 HR
8. Juan Soto, San Diego Padres - 21 HR

National League All-Stars
SP Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers
C J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies
1B Pete Alonso, New York Mets
2B Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
3B Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
SS Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies
LF Juan Soto, San Diego Padres
CF Sean Kim, Colorado Rockies
RF Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
DH Jazz Chisholm Jr, Miami Marlins

Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego Padres
Tyler Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
Gabriel Moreno, San Francisco Giants
Trey Mancini, Chicago Cubs
Luis Garcia, Washington Nationals
Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates
Josh Rojas, Arizona Diamondbacks
Jose Miranda, San Francisco Giants
Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves
Teoscar Hernandez, Milwaukee Brewers
Bryan Reynolds, Pittsburgh Pirates
Julio Urias, Los Angeles Dodgers
Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers
Jack Flaherty, St. Louis Cardinals
Nick Martinez, Philadelphia Phillies
A.J. Minter, Atlanta Braves
Edwin Diaz, New York Mets
Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinals
Evan Phillips, Los Angeles Dodgers
Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers
Camilo Doval, San Francisco Giants
Colin Holderman, Arizona Diamondbacks


American League All-Stars
SP Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers
C Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Toronto Blue Jays
2B Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
3B Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox
SS Bobby Witt Jr, New York Yankees
LF Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
CF Cedric Mullins, Baltimore Orioles
RF Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
DH Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays

Eloy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox
Christian Vazquez, Minnesota Twins
Tyler Soderstorm, Oakland Athletics
Ty France, Seattle Mariners
Luis Rengifo, Los Angeles Angels
Christopher Morel, Kansas City Royals
Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians
Kyler Tucker, Houston Astros
Alex Verdugo, Boston Red Sox
Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays
Alek Manoah, Toronto Blue Jays
Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees
Luis Garcia, Houston Astros
Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians
Jhoan Duran, Tampa Bay Rays
Felix Bautista, Baltimore Orioles
Jason Adam, Tampa Bay Rays
Jordan Romano, Toronto Blue Jays
Jose Leclerc, Texas Rangers
Alex Lange, Detroit Tigers

[James]

All star time

Not well represented this year but better than nothing!

[Caesar]

Any moves you looking at as the deadline approaches?

[James]

Any moves you looking at as the deadline approaches?

I would have to look at contracts but Goldy has struggled this year and I’m thinking about seeing what I can get for him at 1B.

I also am thinking about trying to add someone to the rotation. Matz is having a stinker this year.

[James]

Yordan Alvarez Wins 2024 Home Run Derby

[James]

Ha-Seong Kim home run lifts National League to victory
Highlight Game: 7/9/23 - Globe Life Park, Arlington, Tx

@

NL | 4 | 10 | 0
AL | 3 | 6 | 0

W: Ryan Helsley - 1.0 IP, 1 SO
L: Emmanuel Clase - 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER
S: A.J. Minter - 1.0 IP, 1 SO



National League All-Stars:
Ha-seong Kim: 2-2, HR, 2 RBI, R
Trea Turner: 1-2, R
Pete Alonso: 1-2, RBi
Francisco Lindor: 1-2, R

American League All-Stars:
Aaron Judge: 2-3, HR, 2B, RBI, R
Yordan Alvarez: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
Bo Bichette: 1-3, R
Luis Rengifo: 1-1

[Agent]

Looked like a fun allstar weekend.

He barely beat out Aaron Judge in that final round

[James]

Looked like a fun allstar weekend.

He barely beat out Aaron Judge in that final round

Well he was the higher seed so as soon as he beat Judge’s total it was over. He dominated that derby. Other than against Judge he normally had time and bonus time left when he beat his opponent.

He beat Judge in the bonus time but early into it.

[James]

The Bird Bag: What is the Cardinals strategy for the trade deadline?
Rob Stock – Viva El Birdos Reporter

As we exit the All-Star break the shift in focus for the front office is what to do with the team for the remainder of the season.

The Cardinals currently sit in first place in the NL Central but are 48-42, just over .500, and the worst division leader in the MLB. This provides the opportunity for the Cardinals to either strengthen the squad or retool for future success.

Regardless of the path taken, the elephant in the room is Paul Goldschmidt. Just two seasons removed from an MVP season and Goldschmidt is struggling this year hitting .219/.314/.403 from the plate with 14 home runs and 34 runs batted in. Goldschimdt is also on the last year of his contract so if the Cardinals want to get something for him before he walks, now is the time.

The issue with that is that the market is not hot for first basemen. So with no one on the trading block, someone else would be required to slot in. Likely Alec Burleson or Jordan Walker. Slotting in either player will open up a spot in the outfield which will likely be filled by Dylan Carlson.

It will be interesting to see what the Cardinals decide, if they want to push for a deep run or accept an early out in the playoffs and try to load up for the future.

‣ Cardinals retool rotation Kershaw moved later in order, Matz to the bullpen

The Cardinals rotation has had issues so far and manager Oli Marmol is looking to shake things up and hope for a better result in the second half. The first major move is placing Steven Matz, who has a 4-4 record and a 5.32 ERA, into the bullpen and replacing him with Jake Woodford, who has a 3-3 record and a 2.86 ERA with 1 game started.

Clayton Kershaw has been moved down to the 3 spot in the rotation. Kershaw, despite his 17.3 million a year contract, has been good with a 8-7 record and 3.09 ERA but not as good as Miles Mikolas or Jack Flaherty. Flaherty slots into the 1 spot and Miles Mikolas is placed into the 2nd spot.

Rounding out the rotation is the surprise of the season, Adam Wainwright. At 42 years old Wainwright’s better years are behind him. However, the Cardinals legend continues to put up respectable numbers for a starter his age posting a 5-4 record with a 3.29 ERA. With 18 years of service this could be Wainwright’s last season but he has another year left on his contract. It will be interesting to see if Wainwright stays for the last year of his contract or hangs up the cleats after this season. The Cardinals are highly unlikely to let Wainwright walk or trade him so as long as he wants to play there will likely be a spot for him on the Cardinals staff.

‣ Highly Rated Cardinals Prospects Struggling

When Jordan Walker broke into the major leagues last season the expectations were high on one of the prized prospects in the organization. However, Walker didn’t knock anyone’s socks off posting a .227 average and 7 home runs in 62 games played in 2023. In 2024 we actually are seeing a bit of a sophomore slump. Through 52 games Walker has a .218 average with only 3 home runs. Walker is a potential replacement for Paul Goldschimdt at first base but with the numbers he is posting there is some pause in the immediacy of that happening. The good news is that Walker is extremely raw and only 21 years old. The sky is still the limit for him.

The Cardinals first round pick from last year, Bill Fuentes, is also struggling his first year of professional ball. The 18 year old was selected out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida and placed into AA Springfield this year. However, Fuentes has also struggled with a .214 average and 4 home runs in 38 games. Once again Fuentes is only 18 years old so there is time for him to turn things around.

The Cardinals top rated minor league prospect, Masyn Winn, is also facing struggles this season too. The shortstop out of Kingwood High school in Katy, Texas is only posting a .221 average and 2 home runs in 28 games this season. Winn is the oldest of the prospects mentioned in this article at 22 years old and sits behind Tommy Edman and Errol Robinson in the depth chart. The benefit for Winn is that Edman is a great utility player who can move over if Winn is able to show that he is ready for the step to the majors. Robinson is mostly a placeholder to back up Edman in case of injury until Winn is ready.

With the trade deadline coming up and the prospects of making a deep playoff push in question is could be a great time for the Cardinals to retool the farm system and add some more elite prospects to sure up the future.

[James]

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