[ayaghmour2]

August 15th, 2030: Juan Simental will head to the DL with a severely strained hip muscle. He'll miss about 4-5 weeks. I recalled CF Juan Alarcon from AAA, and he'd be on track to make his big league debut.

We're headed home for three with the Expos. We'll see Erich Uelman (7-5, 4.47 ERA), Dan Leeser (2-3, 5.29 ERA), and Luis Guerrero (2-3, 3.94 ERA).

August 16th, 2030: We opened the Expos series with Esteban Aguirre (10-7, 2.81 ERA, 0.94 WHIP) facing Erich Uelman (7-5, 4.47 ERA, 1.39 WHIP). It was a tight one, but we were able to edge the Canadian visitors 2-1.

Aguirre pitched well, 5.1 innings with 3 hits, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts, and an unearned run. C.J. LaFever got the win, an inning with 2 strikeouts. Chad Scoles got the save, an inning with a hit and 2 strikeotus.

Juan Ramirez was 2-for-3 with 2 steals, a walk, and run scored. Fernando Tatis Jr. was 2-for-4 with a solo homer. Jackson Miller was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI. Gregorio Alvarenga was 1-for-3 with a walk.

August 17th, 2030: The middle game saw the red-hot Dursun Erbakan (9-3, 3.79 ERA, 1.28 WHIP) face Dan Leeser (2-3, 5.29 ERA, 1.00 WHIP). I actually selected Leeser in the 16th Round back in 2024, to see anyone, let alone a 2/2.5* player I drafted in the Majors is a feat in itself. I traded him in the Gene Hall trade, and while his line doesn't look too impressive (the WHIP is nice), he's probably the only guys (without looking) from the 2024 class with big league experience. Way to go me! We didn't show any love to Leeser, however, and we crushed them 13-2!

But, it was not without loss, as Mac Horcath left with knee soreness and will head to the DL. I'm hoping he'll be healthy before Roster Expansion so I can bring him up on the 1st after a rehab assignment. He was 1-for-3.

Erbakan went 5.1 innings with 4 hits, a run, 3 walks, and 10 strkeouts. Luis Alcantra actually got a hold, finishing the 6th with just 3 pitches. Steve Hudson got a 3 inning save, allowing a hit and run with 3 strikeouts.

Ernie Frye was 3-for-5 with 3 runs, 2 RBI's, 3 doubles, and 2 steals. Jon Reid was 3-for-5 with a run scored, double, and 2 RBI's. Gregorio Alvarenga was 2-for-3 with a run scored and 2 walks. Noah Smith was 1-for-2 with 2 runs, a solo homer, walk, and hit by pitch. Juan Ramirez was 1-for-2 with a solo homer, 2 sac-flies, and a walk. Jackson Miller was 1-for-3 with a run scored, sac-fly, and walk. Kelvin Smith Jr., the ex-Expo, was 1-for-2 with 2 runs, an RBI, double, and steal after coming off the bench for Horvath. Ken Adeniran had a pinch-hit RBI single and scored in the 6th. Always great when one of your relievers can hit .323 and fill in at left, center, right, and first.

Tigers LF Johan Sala hit three homers in a 12-7 win over the Rangers.

I did a little research on the 2024 class, and Leeser is not the only Marlin to play in the majors! That's the year I selected Chris Bigsby in the 1st Round. The currently injured Bigsby had a 1.17 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 6 strikeouts and a walk in 7.2 innings last season. Josh Barrett, another 1st Rounder, has tossed 3.2 innings with the Boston Doves the past two seasons. 3rd Rounder Sam Minniefield has compiled 21.2 innings with a 3.32 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with us from 2027-2029.

But the big hitter is 4th Rounder C.J. Vick who I gave $5 million to persuade to sign instead of going to college. I then traded him in the 2025 offseason to the Rangers with Luis Padilla and Tristan Hanoian for Devon Peterson. Vick has blossomed into one of the best sluggers, going to 2 All-Star Games and winning the 2029 Platinum Stick at 1B where he lead the AL in RBI's with 144. In 317 big league games, he's hitting .299/.373/.615 with 104 homers and 295 RBI's. He's on pace for 57 hoemrs and 156 RBI's this year and is hitting .309/.383/.648! And he wanted to go to College! And I drafted him! And he has all his success with another team...

I'll still chalk this one up as a win...

Seems I didn't do too bad with this class!

Here's what I wrote about Leeser:

16th Overall, 491st Overall: CF Dan Leeser (1): He's listed as an outfielder, but I like him as a pitcher. He's got great stamina, an insane curveball, and is developing his second two pitches. With a bit more work, the slow throwing righty can force himself on a roster. He'll start as a two-way player.

He wanted be a center fielder and I tricked him into pitching! Worked well for him, as he's now a big leaguer.

August 18th, 2030: Arizona will be without RHP Josh Proctor for the year with a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament. He was 3-4 with a 4.28 ERA and he struck out 68 in 48.1 innings out of the pen.

Former Marlin Josh Brown inked a 2-year, $18 million per year deal to remain the Orioles closer. The talented lefty had a bit of a down year with Boston and Baltimore, recording 16 saves with a 4.06 ERA and 1.51 WHIP, but he was dominate for us last year. He had a 1.71 ERA and 0.99 WHIP and he struck out 85 in 63.1 innings.

Also, I changed my mind on Horvath, and I'm not going to place him on the DL. His one week is already down to 6 days, and I'll just rest him.

We looked to finish the sweep with Pat Saitta (10-4, 4.48 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) taking on Luis Geurrero (2-3, 3.94 ERA, 1.22 WHIP). We crushed the guests 14-1, to win game 81 of the season! Another .500 or better season down in Miami!

Saitta went 6 innings with 3 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Jamie Preist got a 3 inning save, 3 hits with a run and 3 strikeotus.

We've been getting a lot of those recently.

Juan Ramirez was a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored, RBI, double, and walk. Joey Bart was 2-for-5 with 2 runs, 4 RBI's, a double, and a homer. Ernie Frye was 3-for-6 with 2 doubles and 2 runs. Gregorio Alvarenga was 2-for-4 with a run scored, double, walk, and 3 RBI's. Jon Reid was 2-for-4 with 2 runs, a walk, and RBI. Josh Madrigal was 1-for-3 with a run scored, 2 RBI's, and 2 walks. Fernado Tatis Jr. was 1-for-4 with 3 runs and 2 walks.

Off to LA for three with the Dodgers. We'll face Amari Queen (12-7, 2.29 ERA), B.J. Russow (9-2, 2.97 ERA), and Nate Ransom (12-7, 3.72 ERA).

August 19th, 2030: We remain #1 in the Power Rankings. At 81-45, we have a 11 game lead over the Mets, and the best record in All of Baseball. The next best, our next opponent, the 79-47 Dodgers.

Prospect Watch: RP/CF Maddox Clancey (GCL Marlins):

Not even the biggest Marlins fans have heard of Maddox Clancey. But, maybe thhey should start taking note. A 26th Rounder Pick from St. Charles Garnier, a High School in Quebec City, Clancey had a rough professional debut last year, mostly in the rotation, with the GCL Marlins. Moved to the pen this year, he's put together one of the best seasons you possibly could. In 23 innings, he had a miniscule 0.39 ERA (1,046 ERA+) and 0.78 WHIP. He's still developing his strike out pitch, as he's walked 11 compared to 10 strikeouts, but the 19-year-old has done an extremely impressive job at getting players to make weak contact. He tosses four average pitches, a fastball, curve, slider, and change, but mixes them up well. He's a great leader in the clubhouse and is an extremely hard worker. He's extremely raw and a longshot to even reach the high minors, but he's doing what he can to make a big impact in the organization.

We made our way to Los Angeles where former Dodger C.J. Jorgensen (11-7, 3.47 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) took on the Dodgers young ace, 25-year-old Amari Queen (12-7, 2.29 ERA, 0.98 WHIP). The former 1st Rounder has broke out this year after 2 average campaigns in the 2028 and 2029. Sadly for the Dodgers, he left with a knee contusion after being hit by a Jorgensen fastball, and we took the opener 6-1.

Don't let the pro-DH supporters get wind of this...

C.J. was stellar, 6 innings with 2 hits, 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts. Juan Toribio got a hold, an inning with a strikeout. Steve Hudson pitched the last 2, allowing 2 hits, a run, and he got a strikeout.

Juan Ramirez was 3-for-5 with a double. Gregorio Alvarenga was 2-for-4 with a run scored, double, and RBI. Josh Madrigal was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Fernando Tatis Jr. was 1-for-2 with a run scored, sac-fly, and 2 walks. Noah Smith was 2-for-4 with a walk and two run homer. Jackson Miller was 1-for-5 with a solo homer. Ernie Frye was 1-for-4 with a triple and run scored. Jorgensen was 1-for-3, and luckily, wasn't hit in retaliation.

August 20th, 2030: We looked to win our fifth in a row with Steve Paustian (8-10, 4.41 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) facing another young and talented starter B.J. Russow (9-2, 2.97 ERA, 0.98 WHIP). We continued to look unstoppable, and shocked the hosts with a 7-1 win.

Paustian went 6 innings with 2 hits, a run, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Priest tossed 2 innings with a hit and 2 strikeouts.

Sergio Tello was 2-for-4 with 2 runs and a double. Jackson Miller was 1-for-3 with a run scored, RBI, and walk. Gregorio Alvarenga was 1-for-3 with a runs cored, RBI, and walk. Noah Smith was 1-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI's. Jon Reid was 1-for-3 with 2 runs, a walk, triple, and 2 RBI's.

August 21st, 2030: We looked for the improbable sweep with the best pitcher in the league, Esteban Aguirre (10-7, 2.72 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) facing Nate Ransom (12-7, 3.72 ERA, 1.14 WHIP). Aguirre is 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA against the Dodgers this year, but wasn't as sharp today, and the Dodgers took the finale 6-3.

Aguirre went 5.1 innings with 8 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. He had just 4 runs in his first 6 starts with us since coming over from the Reds. C.J. LaFever was charged with 2 hits and 2 runs in a third of an inning.

Juan Ramirez was 2-for-4 with a solo homer. Jackson Miller was 2-for-3 with a walk and double. Gregorio Alvarenga was 2-for-5. Jon Reid was 1-for-4 with a two run homer. Mac Horvath was 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored. Aguirre was 1-for-3.

In the DSL, Sergio Calderas was 5-for-6 as we crushed the Astros team 24-2.

Headed back home for three with the second place Mets. We'll face Arturo Romo (11-7, 4.37 ERA), Seth Halvorsen (8-4, 3.90 ERA), and Eligio Farentino (1-4, 4.74 ERA) as we look to expand our 13 game lead.