Happy Wednesday, everyone! As we barrel headlong towards the last month of the regular season, some teams are starting to take a look at their results and decide it’s time to make sweeping changes. We certainly haven’t seen the last big changes we’re likely to see over the coming weeks, but just in recent days, the Astros have parted ways with their GM Dana Brown, and the Marlins have parted ways with, well, their entire scouting department. As other teams (the Padres) are ready to tighten the purse
strings for next season, the Dodgers might be doing shady things with their broadcast funds. Isn’t baseball fun?
Let’s just get right into today’s links, because there’s a lot to unpack.
- Jay Jaffe looks at why it’s been such a hard year for Giancarlo Stanton and other Hall of Fame hopefuls.
- Scott Chiusano recalls when the late, great Dolly Parton paid a visit to Yankee Stadium. RIP to a legend.
- Max Ralph offers a look at the updated frontrunners to claim the MVP titles this season.
- Ryan Phillips offers some insights into the goals of the new owners of the Padres. (hint: spending a lot less money)
- Karl Rasmussen ranks the top 10 pitchers in baseball at the moment.
- The Diamondbacks are hoping Ketel Marte will return next week. (AP)
- I’m no financial expert, but this doesn’t seem great.
- Dan Szymborski takes a look at some career milestones we’re tracking this season.
- Ryan Blake shares what’s going on with the Mariners as they pin their future hopes on Kade Anderson.
- Sam Dykstra assesses which farm teams have the best pitching prospects.
- Tom Verducci catches up with Paul Skenes, who has been making tweaks but hasn’t quite busted out of his downward slump.
- Another blow for the Giants as Carson Whisenhunt has torn the UCL in his pitching elbow. (AP)
- Bryan Hoch shares an update on Aaron Judge, who is apparently “looking good.” No definitive return date yet, though.
- Will Sammon and Ken Rostenthal dive into the gutting of the Marlins’ scouting department. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Anyone else remember when betting on baseball was a bad thing?
- Michael Baumann assesses what has made the Phillies so unexpectedly red hot this season.
- Speaking of the Phillies, their episode of Abbott Elementary has been nominated for an Emmy. Story by Aiden Stepansky.
- Cal Raleigh is finally swinging a hot bat again, so what went wrong?Eno Sarris tries to explain. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru spotlights Kinley Rasmus, the girl breaking records at the LLWS.
- Tom Verducci wonders what Jacob deGrom’s strikeout milestone means for his Hall of Fame chances.
- A member of the board of directors of the WPBL is citing concerns over mismanagement of funds and demanding to see finance records. Story by Matt Moret. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Going to be seeing a lot of changes over the coming months. Ben Clemens provides more details on the ousting of Dana Brown.
- Astros ownership has confirmed that manager Joe Espada will remain in his role for the duration of the season. (AP)
- Chandler Rome wonders where the Astros are headed now after parting ways with Dana Brown. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Karl Rasmussen looks at some of the biggest mistakes Dana Brown made during his time with the Astros.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.
