Leave it up to the MLB owners to always find loopholes in the rules. So this might not be on them if it happens, but they could prevent it. I am talking about Mike Clevinger being optioned to the minor leagues. This could have a huge financial impact on him. Another major headline is a Cincinnati Red’s player test positive for COVID-19 causing their weekend games to be postponed.

MAJOR HEADLINES

Mike Clevinger And Zach Plesac Get Optioned

Both Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac went out in Chicago on August 7th. They broke team protocol to go get some drinks. This caused a huge rift in the Cleveland Indians clubhouse. One player even threatened to opt-out if the remainder of the season if they stayed on the team. So this resulted in Clevinger and Plesac getting optioned to the alternative site. There is a one major complication to this.

As my title says MLB Owners stink! So what could happen with this option is Clevinger could miss getting enough service time for this team. That means his free agency will be pushed back a whole season. If you want to read how it works read Jeff Passan’s article. We have been seeing a lot of this recently with players like Kris Bryant and Vlady Jr. Their teams will hold them in the minors for a couple weeks to begin the season just to get another year of control. We all know the Cleveland Indian’s owner, Paul Doland, is very cheap. So he might do this just to save money.

Opinion

I HATE THIS RULE! Teams will just keep a player in the minors just to have them for one more season. I get it you want to have this player for as long as possible, but also that player needs to get his money. If Clevinger is kept down for more than 16 days someone needs to change this rule yesterday. This loophole needs to be shut. If a team just keeps him down for that reason they should lose a year of control. Kris Bryant lead Spring Training in homeruns then had to spend 3 weeks in the minors. He would go on to win Rookie Of The Year, MVP, and a World Series in his first 2 seasons. I do not think he needed those 3 weeks in the minors.

Reds Player Test Positive

And a 3rd team has game postponed due to a positive COVID test. This time it is the Reds. Their games on Saturday and Sunday against the Pirates were postponed. They are hoping that it remains only 1 player and does not spread to the whole team. If they can keep it to the 1 player they might be able to get back to playing this week. The Cardinals have finally returned to play this weekend. We do not want another team going down for 2 weeks.

WEEKLY RECAP (8/10 – 8/16)

AL East

Orioles: 4-2 Swept the Phillies on the road then lost 2 of 3 at home against the Nationals.

Red Sox: 0-7 Swept in a 4 game home series verse the Rays then lost the first 3 games verse the Yankees in New York.

Yankees: 5-0 Swept a 2 game series at home verse the Braves then won the first 3 home games verse the Red Sox.

Rays: 7-1 Swept a 4 game road series against the Red Sox then won 3 of 4 on the road verse the Blue Jays.

Bleu Jays: 2-4 Split a 2 game home series against the Marlins then lost 3 of 4 verse the Rays at home.

AL Central

White Sox: 3-3 Won 2 of 3 at the Tigers then lost 2 of 3 at home verse the Cardinals.

Indians: 3-2 Swept at home in a 2 game series by the Cubs then swept the Tigers in Detroit.

Tigers: 1-5 Won 1 of 3 at home verse the White Sox then got swept at home by the Indians.

Royals: 2-3 Split a 2 game road series at the Reds the only one 1 of 3 at the Twins.

Twins: 4-2 Won 2 of 3 at the Brewers then won 2 of 3 at home verse the Royals.

AL West

Astros: 5-1 Won 2 of 3 home games against the Giants then swept the Mariners at home.

Angels: 2-4 Won the first 2 home games verse the A’s then got swept at home by the Dodgers.

Athletics: 4-2 Lost 2 of 3 road games at the Angels then swept the Giants on the road.

Mariners: 1-5 Won the first game on the road against the Rangers only to lose the next 2 then get swept by the Astros.

Rangers: 4-2 Won 2 of 3 at home verse the Mariners then won 2 of 3 road games at the Rockies.

NL East

Braves: 2-4 Lost the last game against the Phillies then swept in a 2 game series by the Yankees then won 2 of 3 verse the Marlins.

Marlins: 2-3 Split a 2 game road series at the Blue Jays then lost 2 of 3 verse the Braves.

Mets: 2-5 Split a 4 game home series verse the Nationals then got swept by the Phillies on the road.

Phillies: 4-3 Lost the last game verse the Braves then got swept by the Orioles only to sweep the Mets.

Nationals: 4-3 Split a 4 game road series at the Mets then won 2 of 3 at the Orioles.

NL Central

Cubs: 3-3 Swept the Indians in a 2 game road series only to lose 3 of 4 against the Brewers.

Reds: 2-2 Split a 2 game home series verse the Royals then split the first 2 games verse the Pirates only to have the next 2 games postponed due to COVID.

Brewers: 4-3 Lost 2 of 3 at home verse thee Twins then won 3 of 4 verse the Cubs on the road.

Pirates: 1-1 had 3 games verse the Cardinals postpone then split 2 games verse the Reds before the last 2 got postponed.

Cardinals: Finally returned from COVID on 8/15 went 2-1 on the week winning 2 of 3 verse the White Sox.

NL West

Diamondbacks: 5-1 Won 2 of 3 at the Rockies then swept the Padres at home.

Rockies: 2-4 Lost 2 of 3 at both the Diamondbacks and the Rangers.

Dodgers: 5-2 Split a 4 game series at home verse the Padres then swept the Angels.

Padres: 2-5 won the first 2 at the Dodgers only to lose the next 2 then get swept by the Diamondbacks.

Giants: 1-5 Won 1 of 3 at the Astros then got swept at home verse the A’s.

RECAP

So I understand why Clevinger and Plesac got sent down. But if they are there for a long time and have their free agency pushed back I will be very upset. It is not right that owners have the ability to push back free agency when they went. Also a Reds’ player test positive for COVID. Let’s hope it stays at 1 player. As always if you like my writing listen to my podcast Legends Lingo!

-Tom “Powder” Cadmus (@powder42308)