Angel Hernandez Belongs In Prison Next To The Criminals From The Padres Fight (MLB Roundup Blog)

Matt Slocum. Shutterstock Images.

Angel Hernandez is a complete doofus and we're gonna talk about it but first we need a good Standings Check. All good MLB round up blogs on Monday need a standings check so lets do it.

AL Standings Check

Predictable action in the AL East. Similar sentiment in the West. The Mariners and Blue Jays continue a step forward to start the year while perennial contenders still warm up. Way too early to really care too much about big success, but same time it's never too soon to get fired up about bad performances. On that front the White Sox have stumbled bad due to several injuries and borderline psychotic lineup cards. The longer the Twins and Guardians hang around, the more alarmed Sox fans should get. But again, it's early in the season and they got some studs coming back. 

The real disgust should be with the Rangers. They gave out half a billion worth of contracts this offseason and it couldn't look worse so far. Interesting situation to monitor with how putrid Marcus Semien has been. 

Also kinda funny to listen to Yankees fans bitch and moan all year and then you look and see they're 10-6 and doing okay. Those guys never quit. Always miserable. 

NL Standings Update

You could probably start the NL playoffs right now and it won't make a difference. Dodgers, Giants, Cardinals, Brewers, Mets and Braves. I want my Cubs to squeak in there miraculously but I won't let my biases affect my national perspective. It's clear who belongs and who doesn't in the NL. The top is just so much better than the rest. 

Then there's the Phillies. Just so much power across the entire lineup and they still look terrible. Not the most polished in the field and probably the slowest team ever assembled. But there's enough barrels in the lineup where 6-10 just doesn't cut it. 

The Pirates have been surprisingly fun to watch. They play their dicks off and you can actually tell that they want to surprise people and play hard. Derek Shelton said early that he actually loves his mix of player personalities which isn't something a manager says before losing 90+ games. Usually the manager already hates your guts when he knows you suck. Shelton hasn't crossed that line yet which gives me faith the Pirates are actually underrated. Also = Bednar and Crowe are pretty filthy out of that bullpen. They're not terrible.

The Reds? They're terrible. 

Damn shame because Lodolo and India are studs. Some really good looking players on that club but just all time bad management. I see these two clubs working in complete opposite directions despite the overwhelming public sentiment that they're both equally shitty. They're not. The Reds are way worse. 

Schwarber Tossed

Angel Hernandez sucks. People forget he has MAJOR beef with MLB and that's honestly the only explanation for why he keeps sticking it to people across the league. What a bum. That was the 6th time he called somebody out on strikes last night on a pitch OUTSIDE the strike zone. I understand the concept of imperfection, but this guy actively fucking blows at his job and I can't take it any more. Obviously neither can Kyle Schwarber as he put on one of the best ejections I've ever witnessed. One we'll be watching and talking about for decades I can imagine. 

Byron Buxton Is A Beast

Byron Buxton is so much better than anyone else right now. Guy has a .946 slugging in 41 plate appearances. His 162-game WAR is projected around 19.2.

Yes, 19.2.

Speaking of walk offs.

Jeremy Pena Has Arrived

Nice work from Correa's replacement who is off to a remarkably hot start - on pace for a 12+ WAR season with a 156 OPS+ through his first 50 career at bats. That's good baseball, but selfishly I like him a lot more because he played college baseball at Maine. He was a 3rd rounder, not a top pick and there's extra bonus points for him being born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. Any college-drafted shortstops that originate north of the Mason Dixon will always get my attention and now Jeremy Pena is firmly on that list. 

Speaking of mashing things, there was a wild fight in San Diego on Friday night.

Fight Of The Weekend

I would be mad too if I got outscored 18-6 in three games at home but that doesn't mean you start throwing punches for chrissakes. Everyone just needs to calm down in California. Wayyyyy too many baseball fights from a populace that quite literally lives in paradise. Imagine these fans showing up day-in, day-out for the Pirates or some equally embarrassing rust belt organization. That's when life sucks. That's when you should be pissed off. Not drinking pina coladas and working on your tan in California. Grow up you fucking imbeciles. 

The Mets Are Legit

I forget to say this but the Mets are very very very good. That needs to be called out each and every Monday morning. 

Miguel Cabrera Joins The History Books

Congratulations. I'll never fully embrace Miggy because he was a major part of the 2003 Cubs collapse that permanently stunted my emotional growth. But even so it's very cool to see this milestone get broken. I really hope Cano does it too because after them it's pretty slim pickings. Maybe Machado but who thinks a 30-something year old Manny is going to age deep? Unless the change the rules on paying out contracts, I can see him really slowing down. So I'll pick Juan Soto as my next guy. Somebody get me a price on that. I would love to hold a 14-year future on my Barstool Sportsbook app. 

Finally, some power rankings: 

5. Giants

4. Rays 

3. Blue Jays

2. Mets

1. Dodgers

These are my power rankings so spare me major arguments. There's no super computer or inputs or whatever. Just my brain sizing up the league and this is how I see it. The Giants can pitch and platoon better than just about anyone. The Rays are just waking up and about to do one of those 20-10 stretches. The Blue Jays should never be an underdog in a series price again while the Mets are murdering everyone without the best player in baseball. That's a terrifying thought but not nearly as scary as the Dodgers lineup. Just look at what they put out yesterday: 

1. Mookie Betts

2. Freddie Freeman

3. Trea Turner

4. Max Muncy

5. Justin Turner

6. Will Smith

7. Cody Bellinger

8. Chris Taylor

9. Gavin Lux

Legitimate all star team. Murderer's row. Whatever you want to call it, these guys are an absolute fucking wagon. 

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