Win - Lose - Rain: Lugo, Ohtani's Opponents, Momentum

Some good things, bad things, and other things from last week.

May 06, 2024

It’s a day that ends in “y” in the Midwest springtime, so you know what that means. It’s time to stand outside and look at storm clouds before the tornado sirens blare. I do hope everyone stays safe with this latest round of potentially severe weather tonight.

This week on Win-Lose-Rain, I’ve got a few notes on a good pitcher, pitchers deserving of sympathy, a rap beef, and much more.

WIN

You go, Seth Lugo

In Lugo’s first five starts, I wouldn’t have blamed you for wondering where his strikeouts had gone. Before 2024, Lugo typically struck out roughly one-quarter of the batters he faced, even when he transitioned to the rotation in 2023. After five starts, his strikeout rate was at 11.1 percent.

In his last two starts, Lugo struck out 34 percent of the batters he faced. His season-long rate is still just 17.6 percent, but his extensive repertoire appears to be rounding into form, and I would expect to continue seeing more whiffs. Outside of the start against the Orioles - from which he has clearly rebounded - Lugo has looked like one of the best starters in the league.

Everyone but Drake

I am not fully immersed in the genesis or details of the Kendrick Lamar/Drake beef that played out over the weekend, but what I do know is that if Kendrick Lamar dropped that many devastating diss tracks about me, I would walk directly in to the ocean.

Grilling weather

While tonight looks rough, this weekend was positively lovely. We played outside with the girls quite a bit, I got the yard mowed, and grilled up some delicious steaks and chicken. Did my daughters then ask for ranch and ketchup to dip their meat in? Yes, and I did get the condiments for them after I dried my tears and questioned my ability as a parent.

Pitchers facing Shohei Ohtani

I’d suggest pitchers should start intentionally walking Ohtani every time up, but then we would miss out on the sound made when his bat detonates baseballs, and that’s too great a sacrifice for humanity. Seriously, turn up your speakers and listen to this:

Per Statcast data, Ohtani has 28 barrels this season, nine more than the man in second, Juan Soto. His OPS+ is 212 after going 4-4 with two homers on Sunday. I guess this is what happens when he focuses solely on hitting.

The man is simply unreal and I have so much pity for the pitchers who are contractually required to throw pitches in the vicinity of his bat.

TorontOH NO

Between Drake, the Blue Jays, and the Maple Leafs, there were a lot of L’s taken in Canada last week. That’s what you get for adding extra letters in the middle of words, you MONSTERS.

RAIN

Things change quickly in baseball

On Friday night, Salvador Perez hit a home run to emphatically cap off a six-run inning and send the Kauffman Stadium crowd into a frenzy.

After the game I noted that Salvy’s season is completely bananas, with his OPS north of 1.000 while he also led the league in hitting and RBIs. He entered play on Saturday with zero strikeouts in his previous 40 plate appearances. Then he struck out in five of his next eight plate appearances, including Sunday with a critical insurance run 90 feet away.

Now, Salvy’s OPS is still .954, and he’s still incredible. But, along with James McArthur struggling on Sunday afternoon after a month of dominance, it was a reminder that momentum only exists until it doesn’t, and players are only in the zone until they’re not.

People really just go to work every day, huh?

My six-week sabbatical ended last week, and I forgot (1) how to interact with people, and (2) how to do my job. Not literally, but it was an adjustment. I truly love my job and my coworkers, but holy cow I was EXHAUSTED at the end of those two days of work. And now we just keep doing this? Five times every week??

I can’t wait until I get to retire when I- hahahahahahaha just kidding I’m a millennial I’ll never be able to retire.