Week 1: First Saturday Roundup

With Christian Yelich in the outfield, the future is bright in Miami. Oh, wait...

Gabe Kapler has made 18 pitching changes 
in 27.2 innings this season. 

STUDS: Kenta Maeda (FF) went nuts against the Giants, striking out 10 and not allowing a run in a 5-inning win. Stephen Strasburg (FDD) struck out 7 and allowed 3 runs — 1 earned — in a 6.1-inning win. Jacob deGrom (FDD) fanned 7 and allowed 1 run in a 5.2-inning win. It was a great day for hitters, too. Adam Eaton (CB) went nuts against the Reds' sorry excuse of a pitching staff, going 5 for 5 with a homer, 2 doubles, 4 runs and 3 RBIs. Not to be outdone, Christian Yelich (M) went 5 for 5 with a double, 3 runs and 2 RBIs. Lorenzo Cain (M) went 3 for 4 with a steal, a double, a run and 2 RBIs. Ender Inciarte (BM) went 3 for 6 with a run and 4 RBIs. Kyle Schwarber (SG) hit a 2-run homer, doubled and scored twice. Charlie Blackmon (PYB) accounted for all of Colorado's offense in a 2-1 win by hitting a pair of solo homers.

DUDS: Michael Wacha (AL) allowed 4 runs and struck out 2 in a 4.2-inning loss. Phillies manager Gabe Kapler pulled his ace way too early in the season opener and has burned up his bullpen, used a position player to pitch, not started his opening-day No. 3 hitter since opening day, brought in a relief pitcher who hadn't warmed up and really ticked off the City of Brotherly Love. It could be a long season for anyone with Phillies on their team.

Week 1: First Friday Roundup

Gregory Polanco was unable to impress these Detroit fans, who still think Placido Polanco was the best Polanco.

Like our commissioner* said yesterday, we're likely going to mess around with the blog this year. ESPN still isn't factoring errors into the scoring until the next day, which complicates things for us. But we'll see what we can do.

*Yes, Rich and I are technically "co-commissioners," but we all know Rich does all the heavy lifting while I eat Cheez-Its and cheat at Sudoku. We're like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

STUDS: Max Scherzer (FF) shut down the Reds, striking out 10 and earning the win in 6 shutout innings. Alex Wood (PYB) flirted with a no-hitter and fanned 5 in 8 shutout innings. Johnny Cueto (AL) also flirted with a no-hitter and struck out 4 in 7 shutout innings. Lorenzo Cain (M) doubled twice, scored twice, stole a base and scored. Gregory Polanco (M) was phenomenal in the Pirates' 13-10 win. He was a triple short of a cycle, scored 3 runs, drove in 4, walked and stole a base. A.J. Pollock (AL) tripled, doubled, scored twice, drove in 2 and stole a base. Ryan Braun (BM) hit a 3-run, game-winning homer and had an RBI groundout and a sac fly.

Yes, Joe. We still think you're boring. 

DUDS: It was a terrible day to be a closer, folks. Brad Hand (CB) was more like Bad Hand, allowing 5 runs — only 2 earned because of his own error — blowing the save and taking the loss. The knockout punch was the 3-run homer by Braun. Felipe Rivero (R) also was terrible, allowing 4 runs and striking out 1 in 0.2 inning. He managed to avoid taking the loss, though. Kenley Jansen (SB) got 2 outs before serving up the game-winning homer to Joe Panik.

ARE YOU KIDDING? The Cubs' and Marlins' starting pitchers — Kyle Hendricks (CB) and Caleb Smith — pitched 6 and 5.1 innings, respectively. Eddie Butler pitched 7 innings of relief for Chicago, and Jarlin Garcia went 6 in relief for Miami. Go figure. Robbie Ray (FDD) allowed 7 runs — 6 earned — and still picked up the win. Noodle-bat shortstop Nick Ahmed went 3 for 4 with a homer and 5 RBIs. The Giants have scored 2 runs this year and are 2-0, thanks to a pair of solo homers by Panik — who hit them off Jansen and Clayton Kershaw (M). 

Week 1: Opening Day Roundup

One of baseball's best pitchers, or a member of the Spin Doctors?

And we're back! We'll likely mess around with the format a bit this year on the blog, so stay tuned to see what we come up with. For opening day, though, the classic format.

STUDS: Jake Lamb (FDD) singled, doubled and drove in 4. Noah Syndergaard (BM) surrendered 4 runs - including a homer by Yadi Molina - but struck out 10 for a 6-inning win. Freddie Freeman (R) homered, walked 3 times, drove in a pair of runs and scored thrice. David Peralta (R) had 3 singles, a steal, an RBI and 2 runs. Rhys Hoskins (CB) had 2 doubles, a run, an RBI and a steal.

DUDS: Cardinals and Project Mayhem teammates Tommy Pham and Marcell Ozuna combined to go 0-8 with 6 Ks. Carlos Martinez (SG) walked an impressive 6 Mets (METS!) in a 4.1-inning loss. He struck out 5 and allowed 4 runs. Hector Neris (AL) barfed all over himself, allowing a 3-run walk-off homer after giving up a hit to Charlie Culberson. Corey Knebel (PYB) blew a save by giving up a hit to Freddy Galvis. Not a banner day for closers.

GIF OF THE DAY: Ian Happ hitting the season's first pitch out of the ballpark and directly into Derek Jeter's soul.

This GIF of Ian Happ's HR swing hitting Wallach in the face sums up the Marlins season on just the first pitch of the year. pic.twitter.com/GkkEVdoROF

— Pitcher List (@PitcherList) March 29, 2018

Opening Day!

We here at FBLG blog headquarters are bubbling with excitement about the 2018 season. Here's to another six months of camaraderie and fun. Enjoy, everyone!

Spring Training Injury Report - Last Call

First Jeff Samardjiza, now Madison Bumgarner. The San Francisco rotation is getting thinner by the day.
Except for Johnny Cueto, who just keeps getting fatter.

It's draft day for FBLG! Let's take one last pre-draft look at the injuries plaguing the fellers in the National League.

ARIZONA: SP Zack Greinke (groin) won't start on opening day but should pitch in one of the first few games. OF Steven Souza (pectoral) is likely out until May. SP Shelby Miller (elbow) is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is expected to return midseason.

ATLANTA: 3B Johan Camargo (back) is eligible to return from the DL on April 6. SP Luiz Gohara (ankle sprain) is expected to miss the first month of the season.

CHICAGO: SP Drew Smyly (elbow) is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is not expected to return until after the all-star break.

CINCINNATI: SP Anthony DeSclafani (oblique) will start the season on the disabled list; there is no timeline for his return. SP Brandon Finnegan (biceps) is expected to be on the active roster for opening day or shortly thereafter.

The Dodgers will miss Justin Turner's scraggly beard
— and probably his offense and defense, too.

COLORADO: SP Jeff Hoffman (shoulder) is out, and his status is uncertain.

LOS ANGELES: 3B Justin Turner (broken wrist) does not need surgery and could return as soon as late April. SP Julio Urias (shoulder) might not return until late in the season.

MIAMI: OF Lewis Brinson (head) is day-to-day. SS J.T. Riddle (shoulder) might not be ready for opening day. SP Dan Straily (elbow) might return in mid-April. C J.T. Realmuto (back) and 3B Martin Prado (knee) are expected to open the season on the DL. SP Wei-Yin Chen (elbow) is not expected to be ready by opening day.

MILWAUKEE: C Stephen Vogt (shoulder) will start the season on the disabled list. SP Jimmy Nelson (shoulder) won't pitch off a mound until after the season starts; he might return around the all-star break.

NEW YORK: 1B Dominic Smith (quad) is expected to return in mid-April. INF T.J. Rivera (elbow) is recovering from Tommy John surgery and won't return soon. 3B David Wright (shoulder, back, etc.) is being held out for at least 8 more weeks. OF Michael Conforto (shoulder) is expected to return in mid-April. SP Jason Vargas (hand) is expected to miss at least one start with a broken bone in his non-pitching hand. SP Rafael Montero (elbow) needs Tommy John surgery and will miss the season.

PHILADELPHIA: SP Jerad Eickhoff (lat) will miss 8 to 10 weeks. SP Mark Leiter (arm) is expected to be out until late April or early May.

Did you have Rafael Montero on your draft list?
If so, why? 

PITTSBURGH: None.

SAN DIEGO: C Austin Hedges (calf) is day-to-day. OF Alex Dickerson (elbow) is rehabbing rather than having Tommy John surgery. His return date is unknown. SP Colin Rea (elbow, lat) has not resumed throwing, and his return date is unknown.

SAN FRANCISCO: SP Madison Bumgarner (hand) is expected to be out until at least late May. SP Jeff Samardzija (pectoral) is expected to be out until at least late April. 3B Evan Longoria (ankle, foot) should be ready for opening day.

ST. LOUIS: SP Alex Reyes (elbow) will not pitch this spring and is expected to throw only 100 innings this season. RP Luke Gregerson (hamstring) will start the season on the DL.

WASHINGTON: 2B Daniel Murphy (knee) is recovering from microfracture surgery and is expected to return by mid-April. SP Joe Ross (elbow) might not return until August.