31 thoughts on “July 30, 2024: Alarmed”

  1. The White Sox lost their 15th consecutive game last night to break their franchise record of 14, which was tied last month. It was also their 82nd loss. Their last win was the day game of the doubleheader with the Twins.

    1. They're 27-82 now, ahead of the '62 Mets (29-80) and '03 Tigers (also 29-80). Through 110 games, there were only three other teams as bad as the White Sox have been: 1904 Senators, 1916 Athletics, and 1932 Red Sox.

      1. I find Ben Clemens’ hypothesis compelling:

        I understand why the Astros need Kikuchi. But based on returns at the past few trade deadlines, Bloss alone was right around what I’d expect the Jays to get for dealing him. Maybe a Wagner-type player or two if the Astros were particularly keen to get the deal done. Loperfido, too? That’s a lot of good young players for 2-3 months of a solid-but-not-overwhelming pitcher.

        The more I mull this over in my head, the more I think the Astros wanted Kikuchi specifically. If they were calling every team in baseball and saying “We need starting, and we’ll offer Jake Bloss plus…” someone would have dealt them an arm in fairly short order. I’d trade some of the starters who haven’t yet been moved (Jack Flaherty and Zack Littell spring to mind) for less than this return, and I suspect that their teams might too. This only makes sense to me if the Astros wanted Kikuchi specifically and weren’t willing to miss their guy. That’s how you end up making an offer that makes analysts across the board go “Whoa, really?”

        Kikuchi was the guy I hoped the Twins would go after, but I don’t think his expected return was this high.

        1. I was thinking the same thing. Lots of talk about Kikuchi's stuff being better than his numbers. I wouldn't be surprised that they spotted something they thought they could change.

    2. I had to Google Space Karen. It just strikes me as insane how much attention the media gives him. I guess when you have that much money, people will line up to smell your farts and tell the world about it.

            1. So help me understand the timing of it. Time ran out before she reached the end. Was there extra time still like in soccer, or are you allowed to finish any final play like in football?

              2. Yep, play continues on the final play regardless of what the clock says. If the team in posession is leading, they can kick it out of bounds to stop the play and end the game.

                If the team behind has the ball, they can keep going until either they commit an infraction or the other team gets the ball and they then kick it out. Physically losing the ball is not sufficient to stop the play. Until the ball goes out, the trailing team can legally regain it and keep going.

                If, in the course of trying to end the play, the leading team has the ball and commits an enfraction, then the play is not ended in a legal manner, the trailing team gets it and play continues.

                1. And there's no mandated amount of stoppage time.

                  The clock stops for TMO reviews and major injuries, so it's not added on at the end.

                  You just keep going long as it takes for the last play to be ended.

                    1. Given the stakes - the USA's first ever 7s medal or just getting out of the group stage of the WC- I'd say this

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