[ayaghmour2]

July 27th, 2030: Coors Field was host to the opener in the Miami-Colorado series. Pat Saitta (9-4, 3.88 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) took on Sincere Hardgraves (6-8, 4.87 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) at the hitter's paradise. Runs were frequent, but we managed to edge the hosts 8-7.

Saitta went just 3 innings with 5 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Steve Hudson went 1.1 innings with 3 hits, 2 runs, and a strikeout. Jamie Priest got the win, 1.2 innings with a hit, run, walk, and strikeout. Juan Toribio and C.J. LaFever earned holds before Chad Scoles notched the save. Both Toribio and Scoles struck out the side, with the former allowing a hit in his inning of work.

Rogelio Maldonado was 2-for-5 with a double and 3 RBI's. Sergio Tello was 2-for-4 with a run scored, 2 RBI's, and a double. Gregorio Alvarenga was 2-for-3 with a run scored, 3 steals, and 3 walks. Juan Simental was 1-for-3 with 2 runs, a sac-fly, hit by pitch, and steal. Josh Madrigal was 1-for-4 with a hit by pitch and sac-fly.

July 28th, 2030: The Boston Red Sox acquired SS Isaac Rodriguez from the Baltimore Orioles for LHP's Josh Brown and Tommy Partin. When factoring in Brown's salary, it's a fair swap.

We looked to take the series a day early with C.J. Jorgensen (8-6, 3.58 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) facing Ty Madden (5-6, 4.67 ERA, 1.28 WHIP). The offense exploded, including a 7 run 9th, and we crushed the Rockies 16-4.

Jorgensen pitched okay all things considered, 6 innings with 7 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Andy Neidig got a strikeout, but walked 1 and allowed a pair of hits and runs.

Fernadno Tatis Jr. was 3-for-7 with a solo homer and 3 runs scored. Gregorio Alvarenga was 3-for-4 with a run scored, 2 doubles, 3 RBI's, 2 walks, and a steal. Josh Madrigal was 3-for-6 with 3 runs, 5 RBI's, a steal, and homer. Juan Simental was 2-for-5 with 3 runs, 2 RBI's, a double, and walk. Sergio Tello came off the bench and was 2-for-2 with a run scored and RBI. Mac Horvath was 2-for-5 with a run scored and RBI. Noah Smith was 1-for-4 with a run scored, RBI, and walk. Joey Bart was 1-for-4 with 2 RBI's and 2 walks.

Former Marlin RF Palban Gamboa was 5-for-5 as his Tigers beat the Royals 9-7.

June 29th, 2030: Jacksonville RF Alfredo Rosales was named Southern League Player of the Week, hitting .484 with 4 homers and 11 RBI's. He was just acquired from the Reds in the Esteban Aguirre deal. Take that OSA!

Blue Jays SP/1B Brendan McKay will miss the rest of the year with a torn UCL. He was 10-5 with a 2.92 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 22 starts. He also hit .210/.308/.363 with 4 homers and 15 RBI's.

We moved up to 3rd in the Power Rankings. At 65-42, we have a nice 4 game lead over the Mets.

The Seattle Pilots sent RF Victor Robles to the Brewers for SS Caiden Matheny. I like this deal for both teams.

The Oakland A's acquired 3B Sergio Palafox from the Red Sox from LHP Juan Rurvalcaba. I like this swap for both teams.

Prospect Watch: RF Alfredo Rosales (AA Jacksonville)

He's barely been in our system, and he's already making noise, being named Southern League Player of the Week. In 11 games with the Jumbo Shrimp he's hitting .362/.392/.660 with 4 homers and 11 RBI's. Rosales improved to a 1.5 current, but fell to 4 for potential. Either way, the Half-Dominican, Half-Spanish slugger is a future big league star. He has elite power with plus-plus contact, plus eye, plus gap power, and plus-plus avoid strikeout. He's not too fast, but he's an average defender in right. The lefty isn't the generic "extreme pull" power hitter that most young sluggers are, and instead can surprise you with a few oppo boppo homers. If he keeps hitting the way he is now, he could make his big league debut in September.

We looked to finish the sweep with Steve Paustian (7-9, 4.20 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) facing Eric Dawson (9-6, 4.58 ERA, 1.66 WHIP). It was a lower scoring game, but we managed to pull off the sweep with a 5-4 win.

Paustian tossed 6 innings with 5 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Ken Adenrian and Juan Toribio grabbed holds and Chad Scoles got the save. Adeniran allowed a hit, run, and strikeout. Toribio allowed a hit, run, walk, and struck out 2.

Rodolfo Solorzano was 4-for-5 with 2 doubles, a run scored, and 2 RBI's. Juan Simental was 2-for-4 with a sac-fly, double, and 2 RBI's. Noah Smith was 2-for-5 with 2 runs scored and a steal. Mac Horvath was 1-for-3 with 2 walks.

We're headed back home to host the Brewers for three. We'll see Rawley Hector (9-4, 4.35 ERA), Carson Fulmer (9-6, 3.56 ERA), and Charlie Neeper (6-8, 5.93 ERA).

July 30th, 2030: Jon Reid will head to A- Batavia to begin a rehab assignment.

The Rays sent CF Sean Foote and LHP Arrigo Barbiusa to the Mariners for RHP Dave Ratner, RHP Mike Frischknecht, and CF Bobby Lawrence. It's a steal for Dipoto's Mariners.

The Senators acquired LHP Kevin Harrison from the Reds for RHP Nick Jodway and Juan Cuevas. This deal is great for the Reds.

Lastly, the Phillies acquired RHP Luis Manzano from the Cardinals for LF Ben Brown and 3B Tom Gibson. I really like this deal for the Cards, even though Manzao is a 3.5 SP. Brown, is a 3.5/4.5 that I'm glad is out of my division!

I made a depth trade, acquiring 2B Kelvin Smith Jr. from the Expos for 2B Vidal Brujan and LF Jim Brown. Smith gives me a nice depth option off the bench. The righty is hitting .234/.290/.344 with 4 homers and 8 RBI's, 14 steals, and offers great defense in the infield.

I optioned Rogelio Maldonado to AAA.

We opened the series with the Brewers at home with Esteban Aguirre (8-6, 2.93 ERA, 0.93 WHIP) facing Rawley Hector (9-4, 4.35 ERA, 1.16 WHIP). It was a tight one, but we were edged 4-2.

Aguirre got the loss, 6.1 innings with 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts. Juan Toribio was roughed up, allowing 3 hits with 2 runs without getting an out.

Rodolfo Solorzano was 2-for-4 with a two run homer. Jackson Miller was 1-for-3 with a walk. Gregorio Alvarenga was 1-for-4 with a walk.

July 31st, 2030: Happy Deadline Day!

Not too much action, but there were deals made!

The Senators acquired LF Taylor Trammell from the Dodgers for RHP Daniel Sprinkle and RHP Steve Mathie. I like this deal for the Dodgers, but it's not a bad swap for Washington.

The Astros traded 1B Carlos Correa to the Indians for SS Zack Prajzner. It's a salary dump for the Astros, but Correa is no where near the player he used to be. I might actually call this a win for Houston.

The Doves acquired RHP Garrison Bryant and SS Juan Aquino from the Braves for 1B Juan Medrano and SS Jonathan Gerdes. I like this deal for the Doves. Gerdes, was a 11th Round Pick by the Padres, and has already been traded twice, first to the Doves on the 7th and now a second time less then a month later.

I went to add to the pen, acquiring 34-year-old "rookie" from Taiwan Dan-zu Hoong from the Tigers for Esteban Miranda and Sam Pell.

Hoong, a righty, is a 3.5* who's 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. He's definitely not the best player out there, but he's a hard worker that is loveed in the clubhouse, due to his friendlieness and great knowledge of the game.

We looked to even the series up with Dursun Erbakan (6-3, 4.07 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) facing veteran righty Carson Fulmer (9-6, 3.56 ERA, 1.28 WHIP). Erbakan was near perfect, and we shut them out 5-0.

Erbakan tossed 6.1 innings with just 1 hit, 3 walks, and 10 strikeotus. Jamie Priest tossed 1.2 innings with 3 stirkouets.

Noah Smith was 2-for-2 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 2 RBI's. Sergio Tello was 1-for-2 with a walk and sac-fly. Ernie Frye was 1-for-3 with a run scored, RBI, and 2 walks. Erbakan was 1-for-2. So he had the same amount of hits as the Brewers, a 60-50 team, had in total.

August 1st, 2030: Here's something I'd never thought I'd say this year: Joe Kramer was named Pitcher of the Month! Yes, he failed miserabley in the majors and equally so in AAA, but he was Pitcher of the Month in the Southern League! Working back as a starter, he was 4-1 with a 1.49 ERA and he struck out 30 in 36.1 innings. Is this a resurgence for the estranged 1st Roud Pick? Likely no, but it's definitely an improvement over what he was doing. He's an extremely hard worker, and perhaps he'll be back in September. And unlike Chris Bigsby, a fellow first round pick, his labrum isn't torn...

We looked to win the finale with Pat Saitta (9-4, 4.09 ERA, 1.25 WHIP) facing Charlie Neeper (6-8, 5.93 ERA, 1.46 WHIP). We got 5 in the 8th, and came back to win the finale 7-5.

Saitta was roughed up again, 4.2 innings with 6 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, and 4 strikeotus. Ken Adeniran got the win, 2 innings with 2 strikeouts. Chad Scoles earned save #28, an inning with a hit and 2 strikeouts.

Sergio Tello was 3-for-4 with 2 RBI's. Juan Simental was 3-for-4 with 3 runs, a double, and solo homer. Noah Smith was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Adeniran was 2-for-2 with a run scored and RBI. Gregorio Alvarenga was 1-for-2.

We get tomorrow off before the Reds come to town!

Also, did you know we were 20-6 in July!?!?!!? Man, I had no idea we did that good! After a 13-16 May and 15-13 June, this 20-6 really snuck up on me! So much so that we're better then the entire AL and we're closing in on the Cubs (70-41) and Dodgers (71-40)!

One more thing, Ernie Frye is pacing the NL with a .361 batting average. The next closest? Arizona 3B Jorge Herrera, who hitting .326. If Frye keeps this pace, it'll be his first NL Batting Title after winning back-to-back AL Batting Titles in 2028 and 2029!

I optioned Andy Neidig to AAA