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Good morning baseball fans!
Just when they need it the most, reinforcements may be on the way for the Mets. Both Neil Walker and Yoenis Cespedes are due back in the lineup for New York.
ESPN’s Keith Law made it quite clear on Thursday: it’s time for the Diamondbacks to make major changes (insider required).
The Arizona Diamondbacks have some major decisions to make on the future of their front office, including a contract option for GM Dave Stewart for 2017 that must be exercised or declined by Aug. 31 and the soon-to-expire contract of "Chief Baseball Officer" Tony La Russa. These decisions should be incredibly easy for an organization that has done nothing but go backward since their hires. The La Russa/Stewart Reign of Error has been as mistake-filled as any front office regime in the last five years, with most of their gaffes becoming public embarrassments to the organization, contributing to the perception around the sport that Arizona's front office is a laughingstock, falling well behind the rest of the industry in its processes and capabilities.
Speaking of some of those mistakes, Dansby Swanson made his debut for the Braves.
Calling up Swanson is a sign of things to come for the Braves. In many of their recent trades, the Braves have prioritized proximity to the big leagues. In the past year, they’ve acquired a bevy of prospects who appear likely to be ready sooner rather than later, including Sean Newcomb, Rio Ruiz, Aaron Blair, Max Fried, and, of course, Dansby Swanson. Along with prospects like Ozzie Albies and Lucas Sims, who have been Braves since they entered pro ball, the Braves have a imminent good future, with a quality stable of young talent on the verge of the big leagues. Obviously, the Braves have a lot of holes to fill even with those players, but there’s a very real chance for improvement in Atlanta in the near future.
Swanson’s overall profile as a guy with a plus hit tool, plus defense and plus run all at shortstop leaves little question as to why he’s so highly touted. In him, Braves fans may have the cornerstone player that their franchise needs so desperately to carry them into competing again.
One thing that may be going right for the Diamonbacks is the surge that Yasmany Tomas is putting together.
Here is a roundup of news from around the American League East.
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Today in Baseball History: In 1909, for the 10th consecutive day, the Phillies were rained out.