Best, worst of first half
From Giolito’s turnaround to Rizzo losing his shoes
is 3-8 with a 4.04 ERA while the Red Sox are 6-12 in his 18 starts, falling 11 games behind the Yankees in the AL East and having to settle for being a wildcard contender.
“I’m supposed to be a big part of this team and a big part of this pitching staff,” Sale said. “I know who I am and who I’m supposed to be for this team, and I haven’t even been anything close. What am I, 3-8? That’s absolutely embarrassing. That’s not what I need to be and that’s not who I need to be for this team.
“On a team like this, they need me to be better, and I haven’t been there for them. I’m standing before you as frustrated as I’ve ever been, just to be honest. ... I’m not locating fastballs, my changeup is terrible, breaking ball is hit or miss. I just haven’t been myself for a while. I just haven’t been good.”
Best-pitched inning: Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg threw an immaculate inning last week against the Marlins, becoming the 91st pitcher to do so in major-league history (97 times). An immaculate inning is one in which a pitcher strikes out the side on nine pitches.
Best-pitched game: While A’s right-hander Mike Fiers threw a nohitter against the Reds on May 7, it might not have been as impressive as Kyle Hendricks’ 81-pitch shutout against the Cardinals on May 3 at Wrigley Field. After Matt Carpenter struck out to begin the game, the next 24 Cardinals put the ball in play, a stretch that ended when Harrison Bader was called out on strikes to end the eighth. In an era of home runs and strikeouts, Hendricks’ masterpiece, known as a “Maddux” — a completegame shutout in less than 100 pitches — was an anomaly.
Best turnaround: White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito had a 6.13 ERA in 2018, worst in the majors among qualified starters. He changed his delivery in spring training, making it more compact, and refused to lose confidence. Giolito entered his start Saturday with a 2.72 ERA, ranked eighth among starters, and was tied for the league lead with 11 wins. “It’s fun to finally be able to do what I know I’ve been capable of,” he said. “I just haven’t shown it.”
Weirdest factoid: The Orioles had lost 13 of 14 games when they posted back-to-back 13-0 victories over the Indians on June 28-29, becoming the first team in history with consecutive shutout wins of at least 13 runs. It was the first time they had won two straight since May 4-6. The O’s finished June with a 6-20 record and are well on their way to back-to-back seasons of 100-plus losses.
Worst umpiring: This category could be debated for days, but first-base ump Vic Carapazza gets the nod for making history June 28 when replay overturned four of his calls during a Cardinals-Padres game. Even Enrico Pallazzo had a better day in “The Naked Gun.”
Best quote: Giants lefthander Madison Bumgarner yelled at Dodgers slugger Max Muncy after Muncy hit one of his pitches into McCovey
Cove.
Bumgarner understands the kids want to pose, bat flip and admire their home runs, but he argued that he also should be able to holler at them if he wants.
“They want to let everybody be themselves,” he said. “Let me by myself — that’s me, you know? I’d just as soon fight than walk or whatever. You just do your thing, I’ll do mine. Everybody is different. I can’t speak for everybody else, but that’s just how I want to play. And that’s how I’m going to.”
Amen, MadBum.
Best viral ad: MLB decided to promote next year’s Cubs-Cardinals series in London with a photo of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Paul Goldschmidt and Yadier Molina pretending to be the
Beatles in their famous stroll across Abbey Road.
Rizzo is even barefoot in the photo, meaning he was supposed to be Paul McCartney.
But as every Baby Boomer knows, the photo led to false rumors McCartney was dead, and walking barefoot on the “Abbey Road” album cover allegedly was one of the clues. Rizzo is alive and well.