Quick Thoughts

Mariano Rivera's injury obviously can only hurt the Yankees, but it will be very interesting to see how life after Mo will be like in New York. Further, it will be very intriguing to see how it will affect the discussion of closers in baseball. As Aaron Gleeman has said countless times, closing is a role not a skill, and how David Robertson does in that role should play a part in that conversation. If/when David Robertson is successful in the 9th inning, the same way he's been in the 8th inning, hopefully we can end the idea of closers needing experience. Every successful closer started without experience, just saying. 

SAFE!

What has gotten into the Baltimore Orioles? They are 19-9, leading the vaunted AL East with a run differential that supports their record. Baseball Prospectus has their playoff odds at only 4.5%, but is it time that we start taking them seriously? Color me skeptical, as there are often surprise teams early on that don't last, but clearly the Orioles are better than we expected and we should respect them from here on out. 

Bryce Harper looks like he belongs in the big leagues. Easily. That doesn't mean he's going to light up the league at 19 years old, but we don't need more than a week of watching to realize he's ready for primetime. I guess that happens when you steal home, after going first to third on a single, after being hit in the back as a "welcome to the big leagues". Not too shabby. Harper's teammate Jayson Werth however, isn't looking so good after breaking his wrist last night. He should be out for the next 12 weeks and Bryce Harper may have to  single-handedly keep this lineup afloat as Werth and Morse are out with injuries.