MLBbro Tom “Flash” Gordon was a supreme Melanated Mound Marauder who began his career as a starter and ended it as an elite closer for eight MLB teams spanning 21 seasons. Flash was selected to three All-Star Games, won 138 games while saving 158. Standing just 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, the diminutive dynamo won 17 games as a starter in 1989 and saved 46 games in 1998 in the second half of his career as a fireman.
O’s rising star Dillon Tate talks about what has been a breakthrough season for him coming out of the Baltimore bullpen in a loaded American League East.
This year’s MLB trade deadline was one to remember, with several stars finding new homes. While it is easy to think that positional players and big bats are what you need in October, the real unsung heroes are the elite pitching with not just the starters, but in the bullpen. Whenever your team gets in a jam, it’s critical for the bullpen to try and get out of it and keep the team in the game.
Two moves that could be really crucial for the upcoming playoffs, but not as discussed compared to the bigger names, is Mychal Givens getting dealt to the first-place Mets, and Jay Jackson getting promoted to the team nipping at the Mets’ heels. Jackson’s promotion to the defending World Champion Atlanta Braves bullpen came with the departure of both Will Smith and Jesse Chavez.
Givens started this season in Chicago with the Cubs. He spent the first six seasons of his career in Baltimore, getting traded to the Rockies back in 2020, and had brief stints with them and in Cincinnati with the Reds, before ending up on the north side of Chicago.
During his tenure in Chicago, he earned a 6-2 record, with a 2.66 ERA. The Cubs are currently 15.5 games back from the final wild card slot, so it makes sense that they would be willing to relinquish one of their best relievers.
His debut in Queens could not have gone any worse. He made his first appearance on August 3rd in D.C. and got in the game in the ninth inning with the Mets having a comfortable 9-0 lead. He gave up five runs in two-thirds of the inning and couldn’t finish the game.
He ended up pitching again on Friday against the Braves and did significantly better. He pitched one inning, giving up no runs, no hits, with just one walk in the 9-6 loss. A much-needed bounce back performance and huge confidence booster for the eight-year vet, who was obviously a bit nervous in his first outing for a contending team.
The Braves are 4.5 games behind the Mets and five games up in the wild card race, so they are still making adjustments to the roster as they chase NY.
Going down south within the division, Jackson got promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett as the trade deadline came to a close. This is the 34-year-old’s fourth run in the majors, as he played with the Padres back in 2015, then made his return in 2019 with the Brewers, once again in 2021 with the Giants, and finally now with the Braves.
With Jackson posting a 1.80 ERA in 10 appearances with the Stripers, the Braves clearly felt that they could trust him to help carry the load for one of the best bullpens in baseball. However, as he turns 35 in late October, this could very much be Jackson’s last shot to have a permanent place on an MLB roster. He has been an underdog throughout his entire career, bouncing throughout the minors, spending brief time in the majors, and part of his career in the Japanese league. It’s time for him to finally overcome that obstacle and stay up in the majors.
The NL East is going to be an absolute force in the playoffs, as it looks like both the Braves and Mets will be playing in the postseason, and the Phillies are looking like they may sneak in as well. All three teams have reasons to believe they can be in the Fall Classic, but it will be the elite bullpens that will separate the contenders from the pretenders.
Carl Edwards Jr. is playing with his fifth team in the last three seasons. The brother has certainly bounced around the league. The Washington Nationals took a shot on Edwards this season despite his struggles the past few years.
Edwards has shown that he can be effective on the mound and that people should not write him off.
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When he joined the team in May, he immediately made his presence felt on the mound. After allowing three runs in his season debut, Edwards did not allow a run in his next 13 appearances.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez is very familiar with Edwards, as the two were together in Chicago with the Cubs. Martinez remembers what Edwards brought to the mound and he wanted Edwards to be a part of his team in the nation’s capital.
“I knew all along if he could stay healthy, and throw strikes, that he could help us, and he’s doing that right now,” Martinez said of Edwards back in June according to an article from NBC Sports. “I’ve had him, like I said, he was with me in Chicago, we knew what he could do if he pounded the strike zone, and his focus right now is throwing strikes, and he’s done a great job. I’ve used him in different situations, but he’s really done a great job for us.”
Edwards dealt with multiple injuries in 2021 and he only made seven appearances that entire season playing with two teams. He appeared in one game with the Atlanta Braves giving up three earned runs in 0.1 innings of work and then made six appearances with the Toronto Blue Jays, giving up four earned in 5.1 innings.
It was a trying year for Edwards as he looked to get back healthy and to make a comeback going forward. He’s certainly been doing just that this season and has been effective out of the bullpen for the Nationals by cutting down on the finesse and just rearing back and letting it loose.
“I’m not trying to nibble,” he said. “The more you’re in the strike zone, the more contact you get so the best thing for me with the way I have been pitching is if I’m getting weak contact and throwing 15 pitches less in an inning, it helps me out for the next day’s recovery. I have a speedier recovery. If I throw more, the recovery takes a little longer.”
Carl Edwards Jr. watching the Father’s Day message from his kids on the video board is everything. 💙
@CEdwardsSBS pic.twitter.com/yMu0Xz0EIK
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 19, 2022
Through 26 games, he has a 2-3 record with a 3.60 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 30 innings of work. He has not appeared in this many games since the 2018 season when he made 58 appearances for the Cubs.
This is definitely a good sign to see from Edwards and although the Nationals have struggled this year, he’s been a bright spot out of the bullpen.
And Edwards is having fun being a part of the team as well.
“I love this team,” he said. “I’m relaxed here, but it just goes to show if anything happens and I’m not here, I’m still gonna wish these guys the best for the upcoming years. It’s because, like I said, these guys was the team that really had interest in me and was willing to give me the opportunity so it’s all I can do is say than you and continue to be myself.”
Watching Edwards throughout the season just goes to show you that you should never give up when adversity hits, and always put your best foot forward and work hard every day. That’s what grinding out a career at the major league level is all about.
NATIONALS PARK — Melanated Mound Marauder Carl Edwards Jr. throws gas for the Washington Nationals. Unfortunately, Tuesday night in Washington was just a quick trip in relief where he gave up three earned runs and a 2-0 lead to the New York Mets in his Nationals debut.
After their contentious series in Queens last month, the teams were well behaved as New York beat Washington 4-2 at Nationals Park.
During his only inning of work, Edwards turned Patrick Corbin’s best start of the season into a no decision. After a tremendous start in Rochester leading to dreams of staying in the District for the rest of the season, Edwards lived through the nightmare debut with help from one of his biggest clubhouse supporters.
Nationals manager Davey Martinez and new teammate Josh Bell came to his defense. Edwards definitely pulled his weight in his prior destination. During his extended stay in western New York, Edwards was killing it with a 1-0 record and a 0.63 ERA in 13 games. He had only walked four batters coming in, striking out 17 and opposing batters were hitting at a 0.68 clip. Washington was hoping Edwards could be a part of a remixed middle relief tandem that could relieve pressure from the already taxed bullpen.
Bell admitted that he was “pumped” to have Edwards on his side because he didn’t relish the notion of facing Edwards’ “elite cutter” anymore. He also gave his “homeboi” props for having a great, albeit short spring training. The latest edition to Washington’s evolving rotation
Bell didn’t help Edwards’ cause in his fateful fifth inning. Despite repping for his man with the media, the Nats first baseman played a tough out into what was ruled a two RBI double that gave the Mets a 3-2 lead. Bell did continue to scorch with the bat, going 2-for-4 in the game to lift his average to .349, good for fifth in the league.
He also has four homers.
ALL STAR JOSH BELL CANNOT BE STOPPED pic.twitter.com/bIB7oDYyKg
— Talkin Nats (@TalkinNats) May 8, 2022
The only Black starting first baseman in baseball is locking down an All-Star bid early in the season. The Nats haven’t gelled as a team yet, but MLBbro Carl Edwards adds another live arm that can help hold the fort during this rebuild.
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