SF Giants Press Clips Friday, 21, 2018

San Francisco Chronicle A toast to and his memorable Giants’ carrer John Shea

Hunter Pence gets cheered when he steps out of the dugout. When he takes the field. When he’s introduced as a pinch-hitter. When he gets a big . Even when he makes an out.

Pence is treated like a legend — an overused word, but perhaps fitting in this case — and a two-time champion who was instrumental and inspirational at the height of the Giants’ glory days.

Because that’s who he is, even though he’s hitting a career-worst .211.

Pence remains a crowd favorite despite his struggles, despite the team’s struggles, and this will be accentuated in the final week of the season. That starts with Monday’s homestand and runs through the Sept. 30 finale against the Dodgers, the final opportunities for fans to stand and cheer the immensely popular 35-year-old outfielder.

The Giants plan an on-field tribute to Pence on that last day.

“I appreciate it every day regardless of conditions,” Pence said of his love affair with fans. “Ultimately, it just goes to show it’s a big reflection of how good a fan base they are and how good a community the Giants have built. It’s a product of that.

1

“In sports and life in general, not everything’s always positive. But there’s a benefit from some of the difficult things. It’s part of life. The ebb and flow of the good times and the bad times.”

Pence is winding down the final days of his contract and, considering the Giants’ plan to reshape the roster and get younger next year, the final days of his career in San Francisco. Meantime, Pence isn’t ready to call it quits, and he told The Chronicle’s Henry Schulman this week that he wants to keep playing.

“Yes, I want to play next year,” Pence said.

He also told manager .

“I don’t know what Hunter’s going to end up doing,” Bochy said. “From my conversation with him earlier, I know he still has a desire to play. He loves to play. If you look at the numbers, yeah, they’re not what they normally are.

“But you watch his batting practices, how he’s moving around, he’s still in great shape. He’s going to have some options.”

Bochy has been in pro ball since 1975 and calls Pence “one of my all-time favorite players.” Pence joined the Giants in a July 2012 trade and helped lead them to championships in 2012 and 2014, the second and third titles in a celebrated five-year .

“You look at the players and the numbers, but it’s about relationships, too,” Bochy said. “I’ve always felt we’ve had a great relationship. I’ve always admired Hunter for who he is and how he plays the game. I’ve said he’s a guy I would pay to go watch play the game.

“He’s a Pete Rose-type player. He always hustled and left everything on the field every day.”

To appreciate Pence is to appreciate his quirkiness and cleverness, his wit and wisdom and his ability to ignite historic comebacks with motivational pregame speeches. That’s what he did in 2012, when the Giants trailed two games to none to Cincinnati in the Division Series and three games to one to St. Louis in the NLCS.

Thus, the nickname The Reverend.

“I’m not a big speech guy or big on inspirational-type stuff,” said, “but there’s no denying that if we didn’t have him doing that throughout the postseason, I don’t think we would have won. That’s hard for me to say because I’m not into that kind of thing.”

2

Let’s not forget all that other Pence-ian stuff.

The high socks displayed over the knees. The wild facial hair, seemingly different every homestand. The hilarious signs in the stands. (“Hunter Pence Brings 13 Items to the Express Lane” or “Hunter Pence Eats Pizza with a Fork.”) The never-before-seen gyrations in the on- deck circle.

The choking up on the bat, inspired by the poster he had on his wall as a kid. The social-media messages, some pertinent to society, some downright hilarious, some both. (Remember Batkid?) The “Yes! Yes! Yes!” chants.

The positivity. Always the positivity.

“He’s first and foremost one of the best teammates I’ve ever had,” Bumgarner said. “You could easily put him at the top. I think that’s probably the most important thing. That’s not show. That’s him. I don’t think I’ve ever met a more positive person or somebody who cares more about winning than him.”

Outfielder Austin Slater, one of many young players Pence took under his wing, said, “He’s truly one of the most positive, mentally strong guys I’ve ever met. He’s big on getting your mind in the right place to attack the day and play this game. I try to pick his brain as much as possible.”

Even as the Giants play out their second straight losing season, Pence oozes with optimism about the team’s future.

“Absolutely,” he said. “There will be tough times no matter what organization, no matter what team, no matter what’s going on in your life, but there’s also a lot of huge benefits with the difficulties.

“In regards to this organization, the ownership and management, from the top down, you’ve got to constantly be evolving to have the kind of success they’ve had. They went, what, (52) years here without winning a championship, and then they won three.

“As we’re going through stuff like this, there are a lot of positives going on, a lot of young guys showing up.”

Pence called rookie Dereck Rodriguez and Andrew Suarez “extremely bright players. What they’re bringing to the table is actually very rare. I don’t know if people realize the advanced level of pitching they are at. The Giants have a very bright future.”

3

Pence lights up when speaking of Steven Duggar, the rookie center fielder who brought defense and needed energy to the lineup but is missing the final month with a shoulder injury.

“You see when Duggar got hurt, the impact that it’s had on this team,” Pence said. “Duggar is electric on the field. Slater is another one who’ll grow into something very special. There’s a lot of that going on around here.

“So I think we’re at a culmination, a point where we’re going to see a wave of extremely talented youth, and you’re starting to see it now. I promise you … well, I shouldn’t say promise, but I know that they’re going to get better. They’re going to be really good, and that’s exciting.”

Pence has been limited to 89 games and 42 starts; he missed 40 games with a thumb injury. He hits better (.234) when in the lineup than he does coming off the bench and enjoyed one of his best games as the starting right fielder Tuesday in San Diego, hitting a 437-foot homer and a , driving in three runs and stealing a base.

Without a fuss, he accepted a move from right field to left field (and eventually a lesser role) after the Giants acquired Andrew McCutchen.

“You look how he handled this year,” Bochy said. “Here’s a guy who’s done so much for the organization. There was a role change, and not once did he ever come in here and complain. He’s done whatever he can to help us off the bench or help that player playing.

“He’s amazing. He’s still relentless with his work, trying to get better, trying to figure it out. You couldn’t have a better teammate.”

As the season is coming to an end, Pence seems to be enjoying every minute of it.

“It’s pretty incredible just being a part of the Giants’ organization and taking the field for as many years as I have,” Pence said. “I’ve really loved it. It’s been tremendous.”

4

San Francisco Chronicle Giants back in the thick of other teams’ playoffs races Henry Schulman

ST. LOUIS — The meaningful-meaningless pendulum swings again as the Giants move from three games against the Padres to a series against the Cardinals that has potential consequences for the Rockies as well.

The Cardinals own a 1½-game lead over Colorado for the ’s second wild card and have an outside chance to catch the Brewers for the top wild card, which would mean home-field advantage in the wild-card game.

The Giants did not plan it this way, but they have their best pitchers going, with Madison Bumgarner , Dereck Rodriguez and Andrew Suarez opposing , and , respectively. The same three Giants are scheduled to face the Dodgers in the season’s final series, although L.A. could own the division title by then.

Manager Bruce Bochy has made it clear the Giants owe it to contenders to put representative teams on the field in games such as this. He did so again in explaining that ’s left knee feels better and he will be out there, even if the games mean nothing to his team.

In other words, this will not be a golden weekend for Abiatal Avelino .

“We’re going to St. Louis, and (Crawford) can impact what happens with this team going to the postseason,” Bochy said. “We’re going to put our best club out there.”

Rookie restrictions: Notwithstanding the above, the Giants do not want to mess with the health of any pitcher, particularly their rookies. They are regulating the innings of reliever Reyes Moronta and, to a lesser extent, Ray Black .

Moronta has pitched four times in September after appearing in 62 of the first 136 games, not to mention all of his up-and-downs in the bullpen when he did not pitch.

Black, who had multiple arm injuries in his amateur and minor-league days, has pitched six times in September, with at least two days of rest each time.

Briefly: Steven Okert , at 27, has retired 10 of the 12 hitters he has faced, with four and one hit, since his September call-up, reintroducing himself into the conversation for a left- handed relief spot. ... The Giants and Cardinals split a four-game series at AT&T Park in July.

5

San Francisco Chronicle Face it, Giants fans: Dodgers will win West Bruce Jenkins

Let’s get serious about the Dodgers here. Giants fans don’t have to embrace or even appreciate their longtime rivals, but L.A. is going to win the National League West — and for the sake of pure entertainment, that’s the best possible outcome.

As the Giants’ dismal season winds to a close, their leader () has 16. The Dodgers have seven players with 20 or more, and it’s actually nine, if you add Brian Dozier (20) and (35) to include their totals. Nine! and that doesn’t include , who would be the 10th if he hadn’t dealt with injuries this season.

The Dodgers casually turn to their bench to find a legitimate power hitter, such as Yasiel Puig, who delivered a big pinch-hit homer Wednesday night in a game (and series sweep) that seemed to dismiss Colorado from the race. Puig, like his team, is a show. A postseason stage — say, facing Atlanta in the Division Series — would be well deserved.

•Tampa Bay might not catch the A’s in the wild-card race, but how interesting to see (.300) at third base and onetime A’s prospect Joey Wendle (.303) at second, with coming out of the bullpen (if he’s not starting, for an inning or two). Ex-Giants infielder has spent most of the season in the minors, batting .264 in his 20 games with the Rays.

•Great to see back in the mix, making two sensational plays at third base for Cleveland on Wednesday. He’s headed straight into the playoffs for a team that could win it all.

•Another familiar face: ex-A’s reliever Jesse Chavez, having a sensational year with the Cubs (1.44 ERA with four walks and 34 strikeouts in 311/3 innings). He’ll get plenty of work with Brandon Morrow out for the season and Pedro Strop (hamstring) not returning until October at the earliest.

•Likely to be significant, as New York tries to hold off Oakland: Lights-out closer has returned from a knee injury, and the Yankees’ top pitching prospect, lefty , has been added to the bullpen.

•The 30-team MLB alignment means there’s always an interleague series taking place — and that really gets awkward when it matters most. The playoff-chasing Brewers end their season against ... Detroit.

6

San Francisco Chronicle Scooters, sermons and social media: Hunter Pence’s hair-raising Giants history Ron Kroichick

Here are some memorably quirky highlights of outfielder Hunter Pence’s six-plus years with the Giants:

August 2012: Giants fans get a first-hand look at Pence’s distinctive uniform style, after San Francisco acquires him in a July 31 trade from Philadelphia. When most ballplayers pull up their uniform pants to show their socks, they pull them up to below their knees. Pence pulls them up above his knees. It’s a comfort thing. He doesn’t like his pants tugging on him as he runs. His pants are so high, it’s almost as if he’s running in shorts.

October 2012: Pence gathers his teammates in the dugout in Cincinnati before Game 3 of the National League Division Series, with the Giants trailing the Reds two games to none. Third- base later posts an approximation of Pence’s emotional speech on Facebook. “We must not give in!” Pence shouts. “We owe it to each other to play for each other! I need one more day with you guys!” The Giants win the game in 10 innings and storm back to win the series. Then they erase a three games-to-one deficit against St. Louis in the NLCS — after a similarly inspiring Pench speech — on their way to a second World Series title in three years.

May 2014: Pence’s scooter, which he often rides to home games, is stolen while parked outside the Epic Roasthouse. The restaurant offers a reward, as does Lefty O’Douls. Pence takes to Twitter to lament his loss and tells reporters he had a dream in which he saw a man riding his scooter down the street. “And I tackled him,” Pence says.

June 2014: Pence’s curious routine in the on-deck circle — he repeatedly takes stiff, awkward, almost half-swings — receives increasing scrutiny. He insists he doesn’t even realize what he’s doing, but he also acknowledges the odd sight. “It’s awkward,” Pence says of his on-field mannerisms. “It’s what I was dealt. I do the best with it.” He says he wasn’t aware of his on- deck gyrations until he saw himself on a stadium big screen in college.

August 2014: In New York for a series against the Mets, Pence sparks a Twitter phenomenon when he posts a photo of himself in a Manhattan diner, with the words, “These pretzels are making me thirsty.” The nod to “Seinfeld” prompts Mets fans to bring random signs to the ballpark during the Giants series, ranging from, “Hunter Pence can’t parallel park” to the derisive, “Hunter Pence eats pizza with a fork.” Fans also take to social media, with amusing results:

7

September 2014: Pence delivers another passionate speech, this time to the crowd at AT&T Park after the team’s final regular-season home game. He leads the fans in a spirited “Yes! Yes! Yes!” chant and vows the Giants will head to Pittsburgh with designs on earning another home game in the playoffs. They do, on their way to their third championship in five years.

December 2017: Pence recruits Giancarlo Stanton to the Giants via social media even though Stanton would have taken Pence’s position in right field. In Pence’s two-photo tweet, he’s decked in a Napoleon Dynamite outfit and Stanton in a Popeye costume (their Halloween digs).

January 2018: With Stanton joining the Yankees, the Giants trade for Andrew McCutchen to play right, and Pence is on board. He tweets a video of McCutchen, in a Pirates uniform, running alongside two China Basin seagulls. Pence’s tweet: " Eager to chase birds with you in the outfield. Welcome to the @SFGiants , @TheCUTCH22"February 2018: Pence reports to after a busy offseason. Among other things, he travels to Greece, opens a coffee shop with wife Alexis (Coral Sword in Houston) and makes video-game challenges to Stephen Curry and LeBron James. Curry drops by the shop in January, when the Warriors are in town, to play a few rounds of Mario Kart with Pence, who wins fairly easily.

San Jose Mercury News As Giants prepare to send off one outfielder, another ponders his future in baseball Kerry Crowley

SAN DIEGO–With little left to serve this season, nostalgia will be the dish of choice at AT&T Park next week.

When Hunter Pence strolls to the plate, sprints to the outfield and jogs in toward the dugout, fans will stand and cheer his every move, knowing it may be their last opportunity to celebrate a leading figure of the Giants’ golden era.

Pence has two rings, but no certainty.

He hasn’t publicly stated whether he wants to continue playing baseball next season, but the pending free agent privately understands what’s out of his control.

ADVERTISING Pence, 35, may not receive an invitation to spring training in 2019. If he does, it won’t come from the Giants.

He’s not the only outfielder on the roster who is left to ponder his future in the game. Gregor

8

Blanco also won two World Series with the Giants and like Pence, Blanco spent a portion of his season fighting his way back to the active roster during a stint with the -A .

After Pence completed an extended rehab assignment, the Giants cleared a roster spot for him by designating Blanco for assignment June 2.

“I kept thinking about what’s going to happen to my career,” Blanco said. “My career might be done here. Maybe it was going to be time to hang my cleats. That happened in my head so many times when I was there. But something was telling myself to keep pushing.”

Blanco’s legacy with the franchise may not rival Pence’s, but he owns a special place in team history. His diving effort to salvage ’s 2012 perfect game ranks among the franchise’s most iconic defensive plays since made “The Catch” in 1954.

Even at 34, speed remains one of Blanco’s best assets. After spending the 2017 season with the Diamondbacks, Blanco signed a minor league contract with the Giants and arrived in spring training as one of the fastest players in camp.

And just as he did in 2012, his first season with the team, Blanco made the club as a non-roster invitee.

“I take pride in myself for that because I worked really hard in the offseason,” Blanco said. “It was a reward. As a Giant, that’s a dream come true again.”

Prior to the 2014 season, Pence signed a five-year, $90 million contract that anointed him as one of the franchise’s core players for the foreseeable future.

Even as his skills declined, Pence didn’t experience the same type of concerns that dominate the minds of players like Blanco, who live on the margins of major league rosters. Though Pence spent more than a month with the River Cats this season, the Giants planned to bring him back when he proved he was healthy.

Blanco never had that assurance. So when a call finally came at the end of August, he once again used his speed to his advantage.

“I remember when they told me, they said ‘Can you make it to the field at six o’clock?” Blanco said. “I said, I’m already going. I left everything there. I didn’t even take clothes. Nothing.”

The phone call meant Pence and Blanco would once again share a clubhouse, likely for the last time.

9

When asked earlier this week whether he plans to continue his playing career, Pence didn’t want to look beyond the present.

“We’ll see,” Pence said with a smile.

Blanco knows he may not have a say in his future either, but if there’s a team looking for a versatile defender and willing mentor to younger players, he’ll happily fill the role.

“I’m really pleased and happy and proud of myself for my career, but I still have one more goal and that’s trying to make it to 10 years in the game,” Blanco said.

Blanco began his career in 2008, but appeared in just 24 games in 2009 and spent 2011 with a pair of Triple-A teams. He wasn’t a full-time major league player until he won a job with the Giants in 2012, the same year Pence arrived in a trade from Philadelphia.

Though their routes to San Francisco were different, their attitude in the final days of the season is shared.

“It’s been an incredible time for me being a part of the Giants organization for this long and I’ve loved every bit of it,” Pence said. “I’m going to continue to do so until it’s officially over.”

When the Giants return home next week, manager Bruce Bochy will honor Pence and Blanco for their contributions to the franchise with the chance to play in front of the club’s home fans.

A sentimental farewell is on deck, but for now, both players are grateful for the time they’re spending in the box.

“Every moment since I got called up, I’ve just been enjoying it,” Blanco said. “Just every little moment.”

MLB.com Youth is served: Each club's best rookie in 2018 MLB.com

Each year, a new group of rookies sets out to make a mark in the Major Leagues, and in 2018, many of these young players have made history with their performances. They're fueling clubs during postseason races, as well as giving fans a glimpse of what's to come in the years ahead.

With the aid of all 30 MLB.com beat writers, here's a look at each team's best rookie this season:

10

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays: Ryan Borucki Borucki has opened his Major League career with quality starts in 10 of his first 15 outings. Even though Borucki did not make his debut until the end of June, he has the third-most starts of at least six innings and two runs or fewer among Major League rookies. Only San Francisco's Dereck Rodriguez has registered more of those starts this season. Borucki appears to be a future cornerstone of the Blue Jays' rotation and his rookie campaign has been an overwhelming success with a 3.86 ERA.

Orioles: Cedric Mullins It's been a tough year for Baltimore, but Mullins has given O's fans a glimmer of hope in the past two months. Since becoming the first Oriole to record three hits in his debut, the center fielder -- who moved Adam Jones over to right -- has showcased his range and speed and has become a table-setter for a lineup that sorely needs more dynamic players.

Rays: Joey Wendle Tampa Bay acquired Wendle from Oakland during the Winter Meetings -- the same day the Yankees finalized their acquisition of Giancarlo Stanton . Many found humor in how the Rays "answered" their division foe's acquisition. Wendle has hardly been a joke, though. He's played second base, third base, shortstop, right field and left field. While Wendle's glove has been dazzling as billed, particularly at second, his bat has been equally so. He always seems to be in the middle of rallies. Wendle has above-average speed and runs out every ball, and he's shown decent power. He has been a big reason for Tampa Bay's marked improvement this season.

Red Sox: Brian Johnson Out of options, Johnson had no option but to become a dependable contributor for the Red Sox this season, and that's exactly what he has done. Though he has unspectacular numbers (4-4, 4.24 ERA), Johnson has been one of the most important members of the pitching staff for manager Alex Cora because of his ability to move seamlessly between the bullpen and starting rotation, and often doing both roles within days of each other. In 12 starts, Johnson is 4-2 with a 4.06 ERA. He could have a few more wins, but he was taken out just shy of five innings numerous times.

Yankees: Miguel Andujar Nothing was handed to Andujar, who made the most of an early-season opportunity when Brandon Drury landed on the disabled list to grab hold of the third-base job. Andujar's calling card is his bat, and he quickly cemented a reputation as an extra-base hit machine, tallying the third-most extra-base hits by a rookie in Yankees history behind Joe DiMaggio (88)

11 and Aaron Judge (79). The AL Rookie of the Month in June and August, Andujar has worked to polish his defense. With Gleyber Torres also enjoying a strong season, the Yanks have two legitimate choices to follow Judge as the AL Rookie of the Year Award winner.

AL CENTRAL

Indians: Shane Bieber Indians manager Terry Francona jokes that Chris Antonetti, the team's president of baseball operations, did not bring Bieber to MLB camp in the spring because the manager would not have let the pitcher return to the Minors. Bieber, 23, cruised through Double-A and Triple-A, posting a 1.47 ERA with 77 strikeouts vs. seven walks in 79 2/3 innings. When the back of Cleveland's rotation ran into some issues, Bieber rose to the big leagues. He debuted in late May and returned for good in June. The rookie has enjoyed a promising campaign and figures to be a part of the Tribe's postseason pitching staff.

Royals: Brad Keller Keller, a right-hander, was an absolute steal in the Rule 5 Draft. He started the season in the bullpen and eventually graduated to the rotation, where he has been arguably the Royals' best starter and certainly a top-of-the-rotation guy moving forward. Opposing hitters throughout the season have called facing Keller an "uncomfortable at-bat." His four-seam fastball, which hovers around 93-95 mph, moves like a cutter, and he has worked to develop an effective slider and changeup. During a recent six-game stretch, Keller went 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA, permitting just a .645 OPS. While Keller, 23, likely won't win the AL Rookie of the Year Award -- especially with Shohei Ohtani , Torres and Andujar in the running -- he at least deserves some consideration. Keller is a lock for the rotation in 2019.

Tigers: Niko Goodrum The Tigers took a chance on the former Twins second-round pick, extending a Spring Training invite in the hopes that his versatility and athleticism would help him stick while learning on the job in the big leagues. Much to their surprise, Goodrum has become essentially an everyday player and a cog in Detroit's lineup, with a .741 OPS that ranks second on the team to Nicholas Castellanos . He has made a start at every defensive position except center field, catcher and pitcher.

Twins: Jake Cave The Twins took a chance on Cave in March, acquiring him from the Yankees for Minor League right-hander Luis Gil , and Cave has responded with a strong rookie season. The 25-year-old wasn't expected to play much this season, but with center fielder out most of the year because of injuries and offensive inconsistency, the left-handed-hitting Cave has filled in

12 nicely. He's capable of playing all three outfield positions and has shown some power offensively, hitting .257/.300/.458 with 11 homers and 13 doubles through his first 82 career games.

White Sox: Daniel Palka The White Sox picked up the left-handed slugger off waivers from the Twins on Nov. 3, 2017. While he didn't break camp with the team, Palka not only leads the White Sox in home runs, but also set a single-season franchise record for most homers from a left-handed-hitting rookie. Palka has a knack for the big hit, having knocked out six home runs in the ninth inning. Left- handed reliever Jace Fry made a solid late-inning rookie impression, but Palka provided the biggest power boost.

AL WEST

Angels: Shohei Ohtani A rocky Spring Training created some questions about how Ohtani's talent would translate to the Majors, but he quickly erased those doubts once the regular season began. For two months, he dazzled as a two-way phenom for the Angels, emerging as a dominant right-handed pitcher with a triple-digit fastball and devastating splitter and an impact left-handed bat with impressive raw power. An elbow injury derailed his magical season and led to a Tommy John surgery recommendation earlier this month, but it hasn't prevented Ohtani from continuing to hit. He is the first player to log 10 pitching appearances and hit 20 home runs in a season since Babe Ruth in 1919, making him a front-runner for the AL Rookie of the Year Award.

Astros: Max Stassi Stassi made his Major League debut during the Astros' 111-loss season of 2013, and he has bounced between the big leagues and Triple-A each season since while maintaining his rookie status. He's spent most of this year as Houston's backup catcher to Brian McCann , and he is hitting .233 with eight homers and 27 RBIs through 85 games. Stassi was on pace to catch more games than McCann, who missed a chunk of time with knee surgery, and Martin Maldonado , who was acquired in a July trade and cost Stassi significant playing time down the stretch.

Athletics: Trivino has been an absolute godsend for what's become a deep and dangerous Oakland bullpen, arriving in late April and quickly taking over setup duties behind All-Star closer with a high-90s fastball and a mid-90s cutter -- a devastating duo. The flamethrowing right-hander singlehandedly bridged the gap for much of the first half before the midseason arrivals of Jeurys Familia , Shawn Kelley and Fernando Rodney , working multiple innings more times than not. Center fielder Ramon Laureano , who has been superb on both sides of the ball

13 since his August promotion, also deserves consideration.

Mariners: Daniel Vogelbach The 25-year-old made the Opening Day roster after a huge spring, then was sent down when he struggled at the plate in April. But after putting up good numbers again in Triple- A, Vogelbach has flashed his power potential with a couple of big home runs this week as a September callup, including a game-winning pinch-hit to beat the Astros on Monday.

Rangers: Ronald Guzman This is a tossup between Guzman and Isiah Kiner-Falefa , who did a terrific job in a utility role that included time at catcher. But Guzman has emerged as the Rangers' first baseman of the future by showing power, run production and superb defensive ability. There is still more improvement and development needed, but Guzman is among the AL rookie leaders in home runs and RBIs. His emergence also allowed Joey Gallo to take over in left field, which had been a troubled spot for Texas.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves: Ronald Acuna Jr. Acuna has lived up to his top prospect status, as he spent the season's second half producing numbers baseball has seldom seen from a player who has not yet turned 21 years old. He introduced himself to the Majors in April and then suffered a late-May knee injury that sidelined him for a month. But when Acuna was moved to the top of Atlanta's lineup immediately after the All-Star break, the 20-year-old outfielder suddenly became one of the game's top catalysts and power threats. He became a strong NL Rookie of the Year Award candidate and likely earned some down-ballot NL MVP Award consideration.

Marlins: Brian Anderson Not only has Anderson been the Marlins' top rookie in 2018, he has established himself as one of the young faces of the franchise. He's also built a case to be a top-five finisher in the NL Rookie of the Year Award balloting. On the big league roster from wire to wire, Anderson has played third base and right field. He will lead all NL rookies in games played and hits.

Mets: Jeff McNeil McNeil was never a top prospect, and when he arrived in the big leagues, he first drew attention for his unusual knobless bat. But since he took over at second base following the Asdrubal Cabrera trade, he's been a revelation at the plate, commanding attention for his outstanding contact ability and all-around hitting prowess. McNeil hasn't slowed down, either --

14 he leads all rookies in hitting since his July 24 debut, including 17 multihit games in 54 contests, and is second among all players in triples in that span, with five.

Nationals: Juan Soto Soto wasn't even the Nats' most heralded prospect coming into the year -- that was Victor Robles . But he's hit at an almost unprecedented level for his age, putting himself on lists alongside names like Griffey and Harper. Soto's combination of plate discipline and power marks him as a future star. He's not only a top NL Rookie of the Year Award candidate; he might even get some down-ballot consideration in the crowded NL MVP Award field.

Phillies: Seranthony Dominguez One of the reasons the Phillies held first place in the NL East as late as Aug. 12 is Dominguez, who joined Philadelphia's bullpen in May. He posted a 1.85 ERA in 34 appearances through Aug. 3, striking out 49 and walking 13 in 39 innings, becoming manager Gabe Kapler's most trusted weapon with the game on the line. Dominguez struggled down the stretch as the former starter adjusted to a new role, but there is no question NL East batters are not looking forward to facing him in the future.

NL CENTRAL

Brewers: Taylor Williams pitched in more games and is playing the most significant role among Brewers rookies down the stretch, but in terms of aggregate value this season, Peralta gets the nod. By making 14 starts, including a history-making 13- Major League debut on Mother's Day, Peralta helped hold together a starting rotation that was a quiet strength for much of the year despite Jimmy Nelson 's year-long absence and significant disabled list time for Zach Davies , Wade Miley and others. Among Major League starters who pitched at least 70 innings, only Chris Sale had a lower opponents' average than Peralta.

Cardinals: With respect to (3.5 fWAR), Jordan Hicks (105 mph fastball) and Yairo Munoz (.275 average), it's Flaherty who has emerged as the star of St. Louis' loaded rookie crop -- and the Cardinals' new ace. Premature? Not if you consider how the on-the-playoff-bubble Cards manipulated their rotation so Flaherty will be on turn to start their most important game of the year, whether that's the NL Wild Card Game or a must-win during the season's final series. The 22-year-old has earned the responsibility: He ranks among the NL rookie starter leaders in strikeouts (first), starts (second), innings (second), ERA (fourth), wins (first), fWAR (second) and WHIP (third).

15

Cubs: David Bote An 18th-round Draft pick in 2012, Bote was pressed into duty when Kris Bryant was injured and has delivered in the clutch. On July 26 against the D-backs, he smacked a game-tying two-run homer with one out in the ninth. On Aug. 12 against the Nationals, Bote delivered a pinch-hit walk-off grand slam in the ninth. That blast helped teach people how to pronounce his last name (it's bow-tee). He hit another walk-off homer on Aug. 24 against the Reds and is the first Cub since Bryant in 2015 with two walk-off homers in one season. Bote has helped support the Cubs' motto to be versatile, starting at second, third, shortstop and in the outfield.

Pirates: Richard Rodriguez Far from a household name, the 28-year-old rookie has become a vital part of Pittsburgh's bullpen in his first extended Major League opportunity. Signed as a Minor League free agent, Rodriguez entered the week with a 2.57 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 79 strikeouts in 63 innings over 56 appearances. Rodriguez doesn't possess overwhelming stuff, but he's getting the job done with a 92.9-mph four-seam fastball he throws about 75 percent of the time plus a swing-and-miss slider.

Reds: Jesse Winker Winker gets the nod despite having his season cut in half by injury. After a slow start, he found his stroke and some power. Overall, Winker batted .299/.405/.431 in 89 games but was slashing .362/.465/.554 in June and July before his year was halted by right shoulder surgery in his non- throwing arm to repair an injury that nagged him even in the Minors. Expected to be fully recovered by Spring Training, the 25-year-old with great plate discipline could be an even bigger offensive threat when fully healthy.

NL WEST

D-backs: Yoshihisa Hirano While Hirano is technically a rookie as far as is concerned, he certainly was not inexperienced coming into this season after spending 11 seasons pitching in Japan. The D-backs signed him to a two-year contract during the offseason, and he has more than met their expectations. Used primarily in a setup role through the first five months of the season, Hirano's effectiveness -- along with his unflappable makeup -- eventually got him moved into the de facto closer's role in September.

Dodgers: In any year not involving Acuna or Soto, the Dodgers' 24-year-old sensation would likely have been a favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year Award. Since his April recall from the Minor Leagues, Buehler was a steady presence through 's extended absence and has

16 since cemented himself beside Los Angeles' ace at the top of the rotation, allowing two or fewer runs in 17 of his 21 starts. With the Dodgers embroiled in a tight divisional race, he has a 1.62 ERA since the start of August, and with his season mark at 2.74, he could become Los Angeles' first rookie starter to post an ERA under 3.00 with at least 20 starts since Hideo Nomo in 1995.

Giants: Dereck Rodriguez The son of Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez is steadily establishing his own identity as a ballplayer as well as his candidacy for a respectable finish in the NL Rookie of the Year Award balloting. The 26-year-old, who converted to pitching from playing the outfield, demonstrated his consistency by pitching at least six innings and allowing two or fewer runs in nine consecutive starts. Despite their losing record overall, the Giants are 9-8 when Rodriguez starts. What makes Rodriguez's story even more remarkable is that he did not pitch above Double-A in Minnesota's farm system last year. San Francisco signed him as a Minor League free agent last November.

Padres: Franmil Reyes Reyes was left unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft last December after leading all Padres Minor Leaguers in home runs in 2017. Thankfully for San Diego, he went unselected. Reyes' power is otherworldly, and he's made huge strides with his approach at the plate. The hulking 6-foot-5, 275-pounder is still a liability defensively. But he's grown into a legit middle-of-the-order game- changer.

Rockies: Ryan McMahon Drafted as a but blocked at the hot corner by one , the 23-year- old McMahon made the Opening Day roster with eyes on the starting first-base job, but he was beat out by veteran Ian Desmond . After struggles at the plate and two extended Minor League stints, McMahon's .330 on-base percentage since his July 29 recall is fourth among Rockies. He has also shown a penchant for clutch homers -- four of his five 2018 long balls have come late in close games with Colorado trailing, including a memorable three-run walk-off shot against the Dodgers on Aug. 11.

17

NBCsportsbayarea.com Giants' Brandon Crawford confident knee issue won't linger Alex Pavlovic

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants have lost their starting catcher, first baseman and center fielder for the year due to injuries that have required or will require surgery. Two of their top three starting pitchers coming into the season are on the 60-day disabled list, along with their top bench bat.

The injury updates this season have ranged from bad to catastrophic, but when it comes to the starting shortstop, the recent developments have been positive. After sitting out five games in eight days because of left knee discomfort, Brandon Crawford believes he has turned a corner. He’s confident that this is not something that will plague him long-term or next season, comparing it to right shoulder soreness that popped up four years ago but has been managed with proactive rehab.

“Cartilage doesn’t grow back, but as long as I stay on top of it like the shoulder stuff, it shouldn’t be an issue,” Crawford said of his knee.

The pain Crawford has been dealing with throughout the second half is under the kneecap, but the training staff has found some traction strengthening his quad muscle and doing other rehab work that loosens the IT band. The work Crawford has been doing is similar to what you would do during a DL stint, but Crawford never felt he could take that much time, even as his numbers cratered after an All-Star first half.

“I probably should have spoken up about how much it bothered me, but I wanted to be out there every day,” he said. “We were trying to make the playoffs.”

Now, the Giants are simply trying to keep others out of the playoffs. Manager Bruce Bochy gave Crawford a night off Tuesday, but expects him in the lineup for all three games against the contending Cardinals this weekend. You can bet that a Bay Area native who grew up learning how to dislike the Dodgers will be in the lineup all three games next weekend, too.

Crawford wants more than to just be in the lineup, of course. He was the hottest hitter in the National League for a long stretch in the first half and was batting .338 at his peak. The knee injury has kept him from utilizing his normal approach and sitting on his back knee. He was drifting with his swing, but in recent games the results have been better. Crawford had three hits Wednesday and has four multi-hit games in his last nine starts.

Crawford’s numbers won’t end up anywhere near where they might have had he stayed healthy. Asked Wednesday if the knowledge he now has about his knee makes that easier or more difficult to swallow, he paused.

18

“I guess in a way I’m glad there’s a reason for it and it’s not just that I forgot how to hit,” he said, smiling. “It’s something that I didn’t realize was affecting me this much until it was too late.”

NBCsportsbayarea.com Giants reliever, coach put calmer spin on pregame handshake Alex Pavlovic

We've all seen the pregame handshakes that are meant to fire up players. JaVale McGee was the designated handshake guy for the Warriors the last two years. He had custom handshakes with all the starters, including Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.

Handshakes are supposed to have energy.

Someone clearly forgot to tell Giants reliever Sam Dyson and first base coach Jose Alguacil.

On Wednesday in San Diego, the pair were caught on camera engaging in a strange ritual in the dugout. As you can see in the video above, Dyson starts by wiping away any sweat on the bald dome of Alguacil with a towel. Then he gently places a batting helmet on Alguacil's now-dry head and dabs at it with the towel. After infielder Chase d'Arnaud sneaks in for a handshake with Alguacil, Dyson and Alguacil shake for a solid five seconds before placing a hand on each other's chest.

Hey, whatever it takes to get fired up for Game No. 153.

NBCsportsbayarea.com Giants' draft fate hasn't been significantly altered by September swoon Alex Pavlovic

SAN DIEGO — A year ago at this time, the Giants were in a race for the top pick in the draft. Finishing second worked out pretty well, given what catcher did in his pro debut for Salem-Keizer, and the product on the field has been slightly improved a season later.

The step forward hasn’t been what the Giants had hoped, though, and as they lost 11 straight earlier this month, it was easy for some fans to once again start dreaming about a top prospect. But there’s been something weird about this late-season collapse. The Giants have lost 13 of

19 their last 17, but they haven’t improved their draft stock much.

{RELATED: Giants see positives from two rookies]

On the first day of the month, the Giants were 68-69 and in position to pick 14th in the draft. Currently, they are in position to pick 12th. There are three teams — the Twins, Mets and Blue Jays — right ahead of them in the overall standings, but it’s unlikely the Giants will move much in either direction over the final nine games.

So what would a 12th overall pick mean? It’s still another significant chance for the Giants to add top-end talent. The recent history of No. 12 picks isn’t strong, but the early teens have provided plenty of stars. The last No. 12 pick to really become a good player was Yasmani Grandal in 2010, and before that it was in 2005. The Giants have never had the 12th pick in the draft, although they’ve picked in that general vicinity a few times. was taken 14th overall and Heliot Ramos and were also taken in the teens.

Perhaps the real key is to end up with the No. 10 pick. The Giants took 10th overall in 2006 and a year later grabbed Madison Bumgarner with the same pick.

USAtoday Hall of Famer says MLB needs an overhaul and proposes drastic changes Bob Nightangale

Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz watches baseball every day, talks about it virtually every day, sits in a broadcast booth and TV studio every week, and can’t stand what he’s seeing.

He’s not just talking about all of the strikeouts, home runs, shifts and lack of action in today’s game.

He’s talking about the void of drama, where September used to signify actual pennant races, and not the slog before the regular season ends.

Here we are, with just 10 days remaining in the regular season, and outside of the NL West with the and Colorado Rockies, no realistic suspense remains in any division race.

The American League wild card race has been over for months.

20

The only real drama is the National League wild card race between the NL West runner-up and the and St. Louis Cardinals.

That’s it, folks.

MORE MLB

• MLB's last great pennant race • This is the worst Orioles team of all-time

Smoltz, the powerful Fox TV and MLB Network analyst, can no longer stay quiet about it, and as a member of Major League Baseball’s competition committee, he plans to voice his opinion loud and clear this winter.

Get ready, because Smoltz, one of the brightest minds in the game, is ready to propose changes that will dramatically overhaul the sport.

“I know change is coming, it has to come,’’ Smoltz tells USA TODAY Sports, “I just don’t know when. But we better hurry.’’

Smoltz wants to eliminate the shift (“I think it’s single-handedly killing the game), curtail the relentless use of relievers, stop the exploitation of the disabled list, but most of all, revolutionize the schedule.

Smoltz proposes that MLB adopt a split-season schedule, just as they do in the minor leagues, in a move that he believes will create dramatic division races again, reduce the number of teams tanking for draft picks, and make baseball great again in September.

It’s time, he says, for teams to go back to playing the same schedule, eliminate interleague play, dump the rival series, and have old-fashioned pennant races, doubling the pleasure with one in each half of the season.

“I don’t understand how a sport can play at least twice as many games as any other,’’ Smoltz says, “and not have the same schedule. It’s mind-boggling to me.

“Don’t play interleague leagues. Don’t choose rivalries. Don’t manipulate the schedule. Just play everyone the same.’’

And do it with a split-season schedule, as they did the summer of 1981 after the baseball strike.

21

“The way it is now, 75% of teams leave spring training with no chance to win, and no desire to win so they can build for the future,’’ Smoltz says. “You look at the American League, it’s self-sufficient on four teams. We have no races.

“I would like to see a first-half and second-half scenario. I know people would roll their eyes at it, but it works in the minor leagues, and it would work in the big leagues. It would create so much more interest.’’

If MLB adopted Smoltz’s proposal, the Oakland A’s, 35-19 since the All-Star break, would win the second half, and play the in a best-of-three series at the end of the regular season to determine the AL West winner. The , 35- 19 since the break, but out of the playoffs, would now be playing the . The St. Louis Cardinals, in a desperate bid for a wild card berth, would be playing the . The Colorado Rockies would be leading the NL West and the Los Angeles Dodgers would be on the outside looking in.

Why, even a team like the Chicago White Sox, 26-30 since the break, would still be alive in the AL Central. Instead, the virtually were coronated with the division title in spring training.

If you’re good enough to win both halves of the season, you earn a first-round bye.

“What incentive now is there to win 110 games?’’ Smoltz said. “There’s no real advantage to the Boston Red Sox.’’

The biggest change, Smoltz believes, is that teams would no longer be so quick to wave the white flag. If they do have a lousy first half, there would be incentive to trade for players to start the second half instead of giving up. You would have two trading deadlines instead of just one. Who knows, teams might even start having their best prospects playing for them in September instead of sending them home for financial reasons.

“Teams can now compete in the second half instead of just dumping everybody,’’ Smoltz says. “How are you going to tell your fan base that you’re not going to try in the second half? Who says you can’t have a nice second half? You could see teams reconstructed and change philosophically.

“You would have trade deadlines that mean something instead of becoming a dumping station for teams. You look at Baltimore, they might have changed their philosophy. The Nationals wouldn’t have traded all of those pieces. It would change the way the game is played.’’

22

Certainly, there are flaws to the idea, Smoltz acknowledges. It’s quite possible that just like in 1981, when the won the most games, it doesn’t guarantee a playoff berth. The Reds that season finished one-half game behind the Dodgers in the NL West the first half, and 1 ½ games behind the Astros in the second half, and sat home while the Dodgers won the World Series.

The schedule also would have to be reduced, at least to 154 games, to accommodate the split seasons and revised playoff format. And the last we checked, there’s no owner or player openly volunteering to take a pay cut.

Still, while baseball continues to talk about expanding to 32 teams, which likely would include realignment, it’s certainly an innovative idea worthy of discussion for a sport with struggling attendance. Baseball’s attendance is down 2.9 million from a year ago, averaging 28,597 fans a game, which will be the first time since 2003 it will be below 30,000 a game.

“If nothing else, this should give us something to think about,’’ Smoltz says. “If you think about it, what saved baseball the last two years is the last two [thrilling] World Series. That covered up a lot of weaknesses and flaws in the game.

“But the moment we get a clunker, all of those things will get exposed.

“We’ve got to get this game vibrant again. If we don’t, it’ll be unwatchable.’’

ESPN.com MLB's next big thing: The return of Moneyball? Bradford Doolittle

The don't get a lot of virtual ink spilled about them in national outlets, a neglect they've earned through prolonged losing. The Padres are putting the finishing touches on their eighth consecutive losing season. In none of those campaigns will San Diego have finished within 15 games of first place in the National League West. That's not to be too harsh on where the Padres are as an organization today. I think they are on the right track in terms of accumulating talent, and they have demonstrated a willingness to invest in established players to surround that talent when it matures. Those investments (talking here about Eric Hosmer and Wil Myers) don't look great through the prism of this season, but it's early in terms of the commitments to both players. Perhaps as the talent around them rises, their performance will rebound to hoped-for levels as well. Anyway, if you're part of the general unawareness about what's transpired in San Diego, you

23 might have missed the amazing rookie season of one Franmil Reyes. Reyes, who turned 23 in July, is an outfielder with a body more apt for an NFL tight end than a baseball player. He's listed at 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, and he's got the demonstrated power at the plate that you'd expect from someone of those dimensions. According to Statcast data, only 15 qualifiers have a higher average exit velocity than Reyes' 92.3 mph. He's put that elite exit velo to good use, at times. In less than a half-season's playing time, Reyes has hit 16 home runs. Only seven Padres rookies have ever hit more and only one of those -- Benito Santiago in 1987 -- was in his age-22 season or younger.

Fine. That's a nice anecdote. But none of this is why I've suddenly taken an interest in Franmil Reyes. It's not the size, the age, the rockets off the bat, nor the home run total. It's because despite all of those things, Reyes has driven in only 27 runs.

This strikes me as exceedingly hard to do. I remember growing up, looking at the averages they'd post in the daily paper, and thinking that any RBI count that wasn't at least three times the home run count did not look right. But less than two RBIs per home run for a player with 16 homers? How can this be?

The obvious and correct answer is solo home runs. Reyes has hit 12 of his 16 homers with no one on base, accounting for nearly half his RBIs. Reyes also has three two-run homers and a three-run shot. That's another nine RBIs. That means in the 228 plate appearances in which Reyes has not homered, he's driven in a total of six runs.

If the season ended today, Reyes would own the record for fewest RBIs for a player with 16 or more homers, breaking the "record" of 36 set by Adolfo Phillips in 1966. At this point, whatever homer and RBI count Reyes ends up with will likely be some kind of record in that vein. Everyone who has ever hit at least 16 homers in a season finished with a ratio of at least 1.7 RBIs for each home run. Reyes would be the first to dip below that threshold.

If you raise the threshold to 2 RBIs for every home run, and lower the homer threshold to 10, you end up with 36 occurrences in modern baseball history, according to Baseball- Reference.com. That's 36 instances when a player has cracked double digits in home runs but ended up with an RBI total less than twice the homer total. Twenty-six of those occurrences have come since the year 2000. And 11 of them have come within the past five years.

There's been a lot written about the convergence of hit and strikeout totals at the league level, for good reason. When we had more strikeouts than hits in April, it was the first month in history in which that had happened. Hits made a mild comeback after that, but it still looks like we're going to finish the season with more strikeouts than hits. Through Wednesday's play,

24 strikeouts (38,549) had outnumbered hits (38,453) by nearly 100.

That historical inversion manifests itself throughout the statistical record. The big league batting average (.248) is the lowest of the era. The average on balls in play (.295) is down five points over the past two seasons. The rate of strikeouts (8.45 per team per game) will break the record for the 11th straight season.

Home runs are doing fine, even though they're down from last season. With 1.15 dingers per team per game, balls are flying out at the fourth-highest rate in history. Yet the average of runs per team per game (4.44) is far from historical. Since 1901, there have been 56 seasons in which more runs have been scored per game.

This is the landscape that made a season like that of Franmil Reyes not only possible, but inevitable. Bill James first noted this trend years ago in the "Historical Baseball Abstract," but it's continued on a trajectory that even he could not have foreseen. Homers are at an all-time high, or very near it, but no one is on base when all of those home runs are being hit.

At the big league level, the ratio of RBIs to homers this season is 3.7, which is actually a little improved from last season's 3.5. In 2016, the ratio was also 3.7, though it was fractionally higher than this season. Every other season in big league history has had a ratio of 4 or higher.

Solo homers have accounted for 59.6 percent of all homers this season, the third-highest rate since 1925, which is as far back as the Baseball-Reference.com data goes. Tops on the list was in 2013 (60.3 percent) and No. 2 is 1968, the year of the pitcher, at 59.8 percent. Nos. 4 and 5 on that list were 2017 and 2016, respectively.

For all the focus on shifting, I have a hard time assigning these issues entirely to that trend. To be sure, shifts have depressed the averages on balls in play to an extent, which in turn tamps down overall batting average which, in turn, takes a chunk out of the collective on-base percentage. But this effect works in tandem with the strikeouts to lead us into this era of solo home runs, and it's the strikeouts that have been rising much more persistently.

It doesn't have to be this way, and it seems to me that teams can push back against these trends by going back to the original, and mistaken, takeaway many people had from the seminal book "Moneyball," which was that on-base percentage is everything.

That tome was not really about on-base percentage, though many at the time thought it was. It was about exploiting market inefficiencies, and Oakland discovered back then that on-base ability was an overlooked trait in the marketplace. I think we mostly understand that now. However, with where we're at in 2018, I wonder if we've circled back to the beginning.

25

Maybe, once again, on-base percentage has become the new market inefficiency, and the rash of solo homers is a symptom of that. Or, more troubling, on-base percentage hasn't been overlooked, but is in fact exceedingly hard to find. Either way, this is the dilemma that today's general managers face.

The top offense in baseball this season belongs to the Boston Red Sox. Boston leads the majors in runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. That's a pretty good combination. The Red Sox lead in doubles, are second in stolen bases and fourth in BABIP. The team batting average (.267) is historically unimpressive. It might lead the majors, but there have been many seasons in which the league batting average was at least that high. Still, the Red Sox feature an attack that wouldn't look out of place in, say, 1978. The Red Sox offense has been anchored by MVP-level seasons from and J.D. Martinez, along with All-Star-level seasons from Andrew Benintendi and Xander Bogaerts. All four rank in the top 16 in the American League by on-base percentage, and in the top 17 in batting average. (Betts and Martinez rank 1-2 in average.) However, none of the other Red Sox regulars rate as better than league average in on-base percentage. In other words, four dynamic (by 2018 standards) hitters have been enough in this landscape to field a dynamic offense. Still, Boston is part of a lesson that other teams can take from the premier offenses of the past couple of years -- the attacks of the Red Sox, Cubs and Astros. In an environment in which everybody can hit the ball out of the park, and everybody strikes out, the differentiating players are the ones who contribute more than those things. That's what Boston, Chicago and Houston all have in greater numbers than other teams.

My biggest concern about all of this is one of supply. That is, maybe the Franmil Reyes-type player is more typical of what the minors are producing than atypical. The scouting focus has turned to bat speed and launch angle, and the contact guys are weeded out. I don't know for sure that this has happened, it's just what I fear based on the kinds of players who seem to be arriving in the majors.

Well, if I'm a team looking to exploit a market inefficiency, that's my map. I'm looking for guys with bat-to-ball skills and on-base ability, and I'm focusing their development along those lines. Not that I'm surrendering the power game, but what I want is an offense that, when homers are hit, there are guys on base. I want consistency and complementary skill sets, which was the goal the Brewers had this offseason when they added and . I want those multiskilled players in the draft and in the international pool, and I want them in free agency. I want them, really, more than the pedestrian home-run hitters, who are already arriving in the majors by the horde. I don't know that the current player population could yield this, but an offense similar to the great offenses of the 1930s would be my ideal. You have two or three primary power threats

26 and a bunch of guys who defend, rack up base hits and get on base. During the highest-scoring seasons in big league history, only around 40 percent of homers were solo shots.

There are guys around, even in the 2018 majors, who can help build that style of offense. Guys like Nick Markakis, Whit Merrifield, , Jean Segura, Michael Brantley. Tampa Bay has a few: Joey Wendle, Matt Duffy, , Daniel Robertson. The Angels' is batting .297/.341/.422 and has struck out just 38 times in 570 plate appearances. When players of that ilk hit free agency, go after them. This, it seems to me, is the best way to combat these offensive trends. Value skill sets that counteract the trends toward all-or-nothing. I know the armies of hard-throwing relievers descending on the majors play into this, but that's a different conversation. There are still guys who can get wood on the ball, even in this context, who have a full arsenal in their offensive toolbags. Those traits still exist. It can be done.

The question is: Are there enough of those guys? Right now, there probably aren't. So I go after them where they exist, and then set out to make more. Somehow or another, the all-or-nothing game has become the path by which young players seek to gain their riches. Change that paradigm and we might see some of these trends ebb without some kind of extreme rules intervention.

What the numbers say

Rays on to something

The post-trade-deadline showing of the Tampa Bay Rays has been one of the great stories of the 2018 season. Since last season, the Rays have weeded out most of the veterans on their roster, adding younger players with controllable years remaining, and opening up spots for organizational products. You might not have heard of these guys, but they put on a show. Entering their game Thursday, the Rays had won 23 of their previous 28 games. They still trailed Oakland by 5½ games in the AL wild-card chase, and time is running out on the season. The odds for the Rays to sneak into the playoffs are very long -- only 2.7 percent in my latest run of simulations. If Tampa Bay keeps winning at its recent rate, which would give the Rays nine more wins on the season, they'd finish with 94 victories, playoff appearance or not. That would be the second-most wins by a team that missed the postseason during the wild-card era, and the most since the two-wild-card format was adopted in 2012.

The Rays' innovative "opener" strategy has garnered most of the headlines generated by one of baseball's most anonymous teams. That strategy was essentially born May 19, when Sergio

27

Romo began a road game against the Angels, then did it again the next day. Let's look at some numbers from the Rays' staff since that time. OVERALL ERA Season: 3.59 (fourth in MLB) Before 5/19: 4.39 (22nd) Since 5/19: 3.26 (second)

STARTERS ERA Season: 3.58 (sixth) Before 5/19: 4.30 (16th) Since 5/19: 3.15 (second)

RELIEVERS ERA Season: 3.61 (10th) Before 5/19: 4.57 (26th) Since 5/19: 3.34 (fifth)

Clearly, the Rays staff made a massive improvement that at the very least coincided with the birth of the opener scheme. Still, when you look at the dual improvement by pitchers used in both starter (traditional and opener) and relief roles, the simple fact is that the pitchers have just been a lot better. Maybe the biggest benefit of the strategy isn't so much about how you're approaching the first time through the order as it is simply giving innings to better pitchers.

As for that first time through the order:

FIRST PA OPS ALLOWED Season: .634 (second) Before 5/19: .690 (12th) Since 5/19: .613 (first)

So that's worked out. That .613 OPS allowed since May 19 on first plate appearances more or less laps the field. Second during that time frame is Houston at .634.

Does that mean the opener is going to become the dominant model for pitching staffs going forward? Egad. I hope not. But I also think it's way, way too soon to think anything like that might happen. The biggest example of why I feel this way is right there on that Tampa Bay pitching staff.

RAYS ERA LEADERS SINCE 5/19

28

Blake Snell, 1.39 in 110 IP Vidal Nuno, 1.45 in 31 IP Wilmer Font, 1.67 in 27 IP Jose Alvarado, 1.67 in 43 IP Ryne Stanek, 2.50 in 57 IP Sergio Romo, 2.72 in 46 IP If you take Snell out of the equation, the Rays' ERA since May 19 is 3.46, which would still rank third in the majors. But when you've got a starter of Snell's ability, the opener is unnecessary, even foolhardy.

RAYS, OPS ALLOWED, FIRST PA Blake Snell, .486 Vidal Nuno, .490 Chih-Wei Hu, .493 Jose Alvarado, .493 Diego Castillo, .513 Wilmer Font, .550 I've suggested this before, but the opener design isn't going to replace the traditional models of pitching-staff configurations. But it's also unlikely to go anywhere. If teams can replace end-of- the-rotation talents with higher-quality relief arms, and they have the numbers to do it, the logic is strong. The Rays have those reliever numbers this season, and they've gotten the most they could from those guys.

Since you asked

Awards Index update

Since I rolled out my Awards Index, it's been fun to watch this year's close races fluctuate with each night's action. I'm kind of addicted to it. With just more than a week to go in the regular season, I'm going to list an update here, without much in the way of commentary. That will come next Friday, when I will present the numbers once again and offer my would-be ballot for each award. Spoiler alert: They will largely follow the Index ratings, but there will be deviations.

NL MVP Max Scherzer, Nationals (4.23 Awards Index) , Diamondbacks (4.19) Jacob deGrom, Mets (4.10)

29

Christian Yelich, Brewers (4.09) , Phillies (3.86) Freddie Freeman, Braves (3.46) Javier Baez, Cubs (3.34) Lorenzo Cain, Brewers (3.29) Matt Carpenter, Cardinals (3.18) , Rockies (3.04) Previously, I've presented the MVP boards with the pitchers broken out separately. But I've seen enough chatter about deGrom being in the running that I decided to merge the hitters and pitchers. The thing about deGrom is that he's opened up a big enough lead in Fangraphs WAR that he now has more than a 2-WAR advantage over Yelich, who is the top position player. Some see that as enough of a gap to go with deGrom as the highly non-traditional MVP candidate. However, when you look at how close the Index sees the race, it's still a muddle. Stay tuned.

NL CY YOUNG Max Scherzer, Nationals (4.23) Jacob deGrom, Mets (4.10) Aaron Nola, Phillies (3.86) Kyle Freeland, Rockies (3.04) Patrick Corbin, Diamondbacks (2.95) The Index still sees a three-pitcher race. Is it too late for Nola to change some minds if he has a big finish and the Phillies make a miracle run to the playoffs? From a buzz standpoint, despite these figures, it seems clear that deGrom has emerged as a heavy favorite in this category.

AL MVP Mookie Betts, Red Sox (5.28) Alex Bregman, Astros (5.00) , Angels (4.84) Jose Ramirez, Indians (4.30) J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (3.83) , Indians (3.73) Matt Chapman, Athletics (3.48) Chris Sale, Red Sox (3.42) Mitch Haniger, Mariners (3.35) Blake Treinen, Athletics (3.16) The Index has never wavered on Betts, though Trout has made up a lot of ground in a hurry. Bregman was threatening, but is currently mired in a 1-for-17 stretch.

30

AL CY YOUNG Chris Sale, Red Sox (3.42) Blake Treinen, Athletics (3.16) Justin Verlander, Astros (3.13) , Indians (2.97) Blake Snell, Rays (2.88) Statcast guru Tom Tango pointed this out, and it's amazing: Sale has a decent chance to win the Cy Young as a starting pitcher who doesn't qualify for the ERA title. What that tells me: Given the changes in what starters are asked to do, the minimum for that title needs to be lowered.

NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Ronald Acuna, Braves (2.21) Juan Soto, Nationals (1.93) Harrison Bader, Cardinals (1.77) Brian Anderson, Marlins (1.74) Walker Buehler, Dodgers (1.69) Acuna seems to have the edge, but there aren't many seasons where Soto would not be a league's top rookie.

AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Shohei Ohtani, Angels (2.17) Gleyber Torres, Yankees (1.73) Joey Wendle, Rays (1.60) Miguel Andujar, Yankees (1.35) Brad Keller, Royals (1.13) To me, this has become clear-cut.

Coming right up

Series of the week

We're in the stretch run, and while there are a few series remaining that could change the clarifying picture of the pennant races, there is one series in particular I'd like to highlight. From Monday to Wednesday, the Milwaukee Brewers will play a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The Brewers have emerged as a heavy favorite to host the NL wild-card game, though they are far from out of the NL Central race. But with the Cardinals fighting to stave off the Colorado

31

Rockies for final last playoff spot, and St. Louis still within three games of Milwaukee in the Central as of Friday, this series, more than any other, carries with it the biggest playoff implications of the week. If the Brewers can maintain their standing in St. Louis, they'll turn into Cardinals fans. Whereas Milwaukee will be finishing the season at home against the lowly Detroit Tigers, the Redbirds will be paying a season-ending visit to to face the Cubs. If Milwaukee is going to avoid that coin-flip game, it will need St. Louis' help to do it. These are the highest stakes games between the Cardinals and Brewers since they squared off in the 2011 National League Championship Series.

32