[ayaghmour2]

July 30th, 2024: The Blue Jays traded LHP Patrick Corbin to the Astros for 1B J.D. Davis. I have no clue what Toronto was doing here...

We opened a road trip in Philadelphia with Jordan Montgomery (6-6, 2.90 ERA, 1.13 WHIP) taking on Sixto Sanchez (4-9, 4.30 ERA, 1.27 WHIP). We scored a pair of late runs to win the opener 4-3.

Montgomery allowed 3 runs in 6.2 innings with 7 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Yasukazu Shiotani earned the win with three strikeouts in 1.1 innings and Jorge Moya earned a save.

Seth Beer was 2-for-4 with a solo homer. Shoehi Ohtani was 1-for-4 with 2 RBI's and a double. Thomas Dillard was 1-for-3 with a run scored and he was hit by a pitch. Nick Gordon was 1-for-3 with a run socred and a walk.

July 31st, 2024: Happy Trade Deadline! The Padres traded RF Josh Naylor and RHP Billy Cocoran to the Reds for LF Jeremy Green. I have no idea what the Padres were thinking here...

I struck a deal to bolster my bullpen, sending SP Luis Ardon and 3B Blake Tiberi to the Cubs for CL Michael Feliz and 65% of his salary retained.

Feliz, 31, will take the 8th inning role in our pen, and is rated a 3.5*. "Fuego" has 12 saves on the year with a 3.42 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. Contract wise, I pay him just $6.4 million each year, including that same sum on a 2026 player option.

I optioned Kenyon Yovan to AAA to make room.

With Felix in the pen, Garrett McDaniels (0-3, 4.12 ERA, 1.37 WHIP) took on Will Kincanon (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) who's making his second start of the season. He's not really big league quality, but niether is most of the Phillies roster currently. We tallied 8 runs and took game two 8-2.

McDaniels allowed 2 runs in 4.2 innings with 6 hits, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. He'd be optioned to AAA to recall Mike Soroka from his rehab assignment. The rest of the pen tossed 4.1 innings with 3 hits and 3 strikeouts. Ernesto Estrella finished the 5th to earn the win.

Carlos Soler was 2-for-5 with a 2 run homer and 3 total RBI's. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Brendan Rodgers was 1-for-3 with a double, walk, and two run sscored. Seth Beer was 1-for-4 with a run scored, driven in, and walk.

The Rays' Travis Swaggerty was 5-for-5 in a 12-1 win over the Yankees.

August 1sy, 2024: We looked to finish the sweep with A.J. Puckett (6-3, 3.93 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) taking on Daniel Camarena (2-3, 6.41 ERA, 1.70 WHIP). We couldn't finish them off, and dropped the finale 4-2.

Puck allowed 4 in 4 innings with 5 hits, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Michael Feliz made his debut for us, 1.1 innings with 2 strikeouts.

Mickey Moniak was 3-for-4. Seth Beer was 2-for-4 wtih a double. Thomas Dillard was 2-for-4 with a double, run scored, and a steal. Vlad Jr. was 1-for-4 with a solo shot.

Down in Greensboro, 3B Ismael Mayen hit for the cycle in a 3-1 win over Kannapolis.

We actually have a half game lead over San Diego for the 2nd Wild Card, but head to Washington for four against the first place 65-39 Nationals. They have a huge 8 game lead over us, and we need to turn that into 4. We'd see Erling Moreno (4-4, 3.95 ERA), Sonny Warner (11-3, 3.85 ERA), Cole Ragans (5-8, 3.82 ERA), and Breiling Eusebio (1-1, 4.56 ERA).

August 2nd, 2024: We opened the important series in Washington with Walker Buehler (3-4, 3.60 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) facing Erling Moreno (4-4, 3.95 ERA, 1.32 WHIP). Juan Soto hits Buehler well, 6-for-17 with a longball. He hit a three run shot in the 5th in the 6-2 win.

Lazaro Armenteros, who we literally just acquired, left with an injury...

Buehler allowed 8 hits and 5 runs in 4.1 innings with 5 strikeouts. Ernesto Estrella allowed a run in the 7th with 2 hits and a strikeout.

Armenteros was 2-for-3 with a walk and a pair of doubles before he left with injury. Thomas Dillard was 2-for-4 with a solo homer and double. Mickey Moniak was 1-for-3 with 2 walks and a steal. Nick Gordon was 2-for-4.

August 3rd, 2024: We looked to even the series with Jake Florence (9-6, 3.22 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) taking on Sonny Warner (11-3, 3.85 ERA, 1.28 WHIP). We continued to suck against the Nationals, getting crushed 7-1.

Florence allowed 5 (3 earned) in 3.1 innings with 3 hits, 8 walks, and a strikeout. Adonis Medina allowed 2 runs (1 earned) in an inning with 2 hits and 2 strikeouts.

Moniak, who has had success against Warner in the past, was 3-for-4 with a walk and solo homer to start the game. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was 2-for-4 with a double. Seth Beer was 1-for-4 with a double.

The Jays Carlos Martinez tossed a 4-hit shutout in a 12-0 win over the Mariners.

August 4th, 2024: The Braves will be withotu RHP Devan Watts for the year with a torn ulnar collateral ligament. He's been excellent, 4-3 with a 1.87 ERA this year.

The Indians will be without the struggling Cody Allen for the year. He has shoulder inflammation, and it will end his dissapointing 2024.

Mike Soroka (6-2, 3.84 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) made his return to the rotation in a must win game against Cole Rangas (5-8, 3.82 ERA, 1.41 WHIP). It was a tight one, but we edged them 9-8.

Soroka had a rough return, 7 hits and 4 runs in 4.2 innings, although he did have 7 strikeouts. Alpha Quivers allowed 2 runs and 2 walks while getting just 1 out. Chasen Shreve allowed a run, hit, walk, and strikeout in 0.2 innings. It was his first allowed run with us. Feliz, Ben Heller, Shreve, and Estrella earned holds, and Jorge Moya earned a save. He allowed a run, walk, strikeout, and hit in the 9th.

Scott Kingery was 2-for-3 with a three run homer. Brendan Rodgers was 3-for-5 with 2 runs, 3 RBI's, and a double. Deshawn Hardamon was 2-for-3 with a run scored and walk. Seth Beer was 1-for-4 with a double, RBI, and walk. Nick Gordon was 2-for-5 with 2 runs scored and one driven in.

August 5th, 2024: Armenteros was diagnosed with a strained groin and will head to the DL for 5 weeks. I decided it was time, and I purchased the contract of top prospect LF Juan Ramirez. Just 25, he's rated a 2/5 with potentials of 80/100/72/66/87. "Hammerhead" is ranked the #20 prospect in all of baseball. I signed him in 2019 out of Venezuela for a $2.8 million bonus which looks like a nice deal.

Down in AAA, C Nick Feight won hitter of the month, going 9-for-14 with 4 homers, 8 RBI's, and 6 runs scored.

3B Ismael Mayen in A was named South Atlantic Player of the Week. He hit .474 with 2 homers, 7 RBI's, and 3 runs.

We're up to 10th in the power rankings.

We looked to even the series with Jordan Montgomery (6-6, 2.96 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) taking on Breiling Eusebio (1-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.36 WHIP). Ramirez, who has nice speed, is hitting leadoff and starting in LF. We dropped the finale 5-1.

Monty allowed 2 runs in 6 innings with 8 hits, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Feliz allowed 3 runs in 0.2 innings off 2 hits, a walk, and 2 strikeouts.

The tired squad had a rough time at the plate. Brendan Rodgers was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Deshawn Hardamon was 2-for-4 with a double. Ramirez was 1-for-5 in his big league debut.

Well, it could've been worse... But, also, much better. We're back home to host the Twins for three before a desperately needed off day. We still somehow have the 2nd Wild Card spot, but are just 58-50 and 7 games behind the Mets for the top spot. The first place Twins will send former Marlin Joe LaBrie (4-2, 4.39 ERA), Jeremy Hynek (7-4, 4.40 ERA), and Chad Bradenburg (2-10, 5.47 ERA) to the mound. We need to win these games, as we can't afford to drop anymore games...