Listen, we know it's tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans every day. Trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk just isn't easy. It's OK, though, we're going to do the heavy lifting for you each morning, and find the things you need to see from within the SB Nation baseball network as well as from elsewhere. Please hold your applause until the end, or at least until after you subscribe to the newsletter.
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Five games ago, the Giants were 2.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and 4.5 games back of a Wild Card spot. They had over a month left to catch someone, be it Los Angeles or one of the Cubs or Pirates, and while there were no guarantees they would, they were at least in a good place. Then they lost their next five games, a stretch that included a three-game sweep by the Dodgers, and now sit 6.5 out of both first in the West and the Cubs in the Wild Card race.
The season isn’t over for the Giants -- they still have 29 games left, with four more against the Dodgers and a relatively easy schedule otherwise. They don’t face another team currently over .500 until they meet the Dodgers again on September 28, with their next 22 games coming against the Rockies, Diamondbacks, Padres, Reds and Athletics -- three of those teams are last-place ones. Then they get to close out the season against Colorado, too, so this thing is far from over, even if 6.5 games feels insurmountable with just a month to go.
Joe Panik is set to be activated on Monday. Hunter Pence should be back eventually, and if not, at least Alejandro De Aza gives them another big league outfielder along with Marlon Byrd to try to make things work. The pitching remains suspect, but with the schedule they have remaining, that might not be as significant of an issue as it should or could be. Their chances are slim at this stage -- they have just a nine percent probability of a playoff spot according to Baseball Prospectus’ odds -- but until they’re mathematically eliminated, it might be too soon to say they’re done.
- What can history tell us about Hanley Ramirez's chances at becoming a capable first baseman? That position change is his only way onto the 2016 roster, and even if his glove is adequate, his bat needs to come back for it to matter.
- Wondering how Marcus Stroman was able to return from a torn ACL so quickly? Science!
- Closers should pitch in tie games on the road. Closers should pitch in tie games on the road. Closers should pitch in tie games on the road. You know, closers should probably pitch in tie games, even on the road!
- MLB players are really stepping up their slide game lately, with Justin Turner the latest to pull off some ninja baserunning.
- Chris Davis hit a walk-off homer for the Orioles on Wednesday, one that woke up a sleeping fan.
- Domonic Brown has had some embarrassing defensive plays over the years. This might be the most embarrassing attempt he's ever made.
- Sure, Marlins' management is in turmoil, but this coach doesn't even need a glove to make a nifty catch.
- Jake Arrieta was gifted the rubber he threw his no-hitter off of. It weighs 60 pounds!
- Yordano Ventura was once again dominant for the Royals, striking out 11 in a 12-1 rout of the Tigers. Ventura has a 2.82 ERA with over a strikeout per inning across his last eight starts, and suddenly the Royals look unstoppable.
- Hey, not everything about the Reds' last-place season is awful. Just most of it.
- Remember when Matt Wieters wanted an enormous extension from the Orioles because he was going to be a super rich free agent otherwise? Now he doesn't even look productive enough to earn the O's a compensation pick when he leaves.
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