If you prefer to watch/listen to this Buzz ..go to You-Tube link https://youtu.be/WmB61lDnjL0?si=cE5LD7MyQbG1zwMW
We have all seen games, work situations, family interactions come TUMBLING DOWN in performance, relationships, day-day activities, etc. Let’s look @ the sports world as some come players & teams come TUMBLING DOWN.
…the Atlanta Braves had a severe TUMBLING DOWN this year as they hold a miserable 65-83 record. They sit in 4th place in the NL East-23.5 games out of 1st place! This is a real shocker! They’ve held a winning season record every since 2018(about the duration of a players’ career) with consecutive 6 NL East Championships-2018-2023.
… Why? The two basics bit them! The Braves TUMBLED DOWN in 2025 primarily due to a season-long injuries in their starting rotation and across-the-board a severe drop off in offensive production. A team projected for another dominant season instead finished well below .500 and missed the playoffs. Check out the Unbelievable injuries (both quantity & Quality) below to the starting rotation for the Braves.
— Reynaldo López: Underwent shoulder surgery after only 1 start = missed the entire season! — AJ Smith-Shawver: Had Tommy John surgery in June after just 9 starts. –Spencer Schwellenbach: Fractured elbow in July and missed the rest of the season. –Bryce Elder: Was thrown into a full-time starting role but recorded a disappointing 6.12 ERA. –Chris Sale and Spencer Strider: Both missed significant time with injuries during the season.
…But it wasn’t just the pitching, the offense also sagged badly. The Braves, who scored 947 runs in 2023, were only on pace for about 714 runs in 2025. That’s a 24% drop from 2024….. Currently Atlanta is 12th (15 NL teams) in batting average; 10th in runs scored; 4th in most strikeouts as batters; 14th in stolen bases WOW!! Look for a busy off-season in Atlanta!!
…Over the last 30 days, several StL Cardinal batters have seen their batting marks come TUMBLING DOWN. Take a peek…to no one’s surprise, the best batting marks in the last 30 days for players with 50+ AB for that time frame. But, first the bright side– Ivan Herrara. His 6 HR; 15-RBI; OPS-.839; 2 stolen bases – were the best or tied for the team lead in the last 30 days. Further, our thoughts on Willson Contreras have not TUMBLED DOWN. He has been 2nd best in this time frame and probably all season. Even though his catching techniques were faulty (which is unimaginable to me after this long in the MLB), his batting marks have been consistent, he seems to have a positive attitude and has adapted to a new position-1b. A fresh, rejuvenated, Lars Nootbar as returned from injured list and holds a .273 batting mark since his return. His 2025 season long batting average is a more pedestrian .240.
…As frustrating as the fans & Cardinals are with some of their young players. Please note the difference between Nolan Arenado & Nolan Gorman this season. Remember one is getting paid $24m & the other $780,000 (a difference of $23.22M). As of today (Sept 18) morning–Arenado has 372-AB; 44-RUNS; 16 doubles,10 home runs, 45 RBI’s; 41 strikeouts, 28 walks; .234 average; .291-OBP, .363-slugging %: .654 OPS. Gorman’s numbers for the same categories: 332-AB; 46-RUNS; 13 doubles; 14 home runs; 46 RBI’s; 46 walks ; 126 strikeouts; .208-average; .301-OBP; .380 slugging% at 3% of the salary!
… Sooo.. give me & Gorman a break!! In 40 less at bats he has more RUNS, more Home Runs; more RBI’s; more walks; more strikeouts (not a plus), higher OBP; higher slugging % Yet, Arenado gets cheered each game & Gorman gets the Boo’s? I don’t get it. Who are you getting “more for your money?” I guess Gorman’s strikeouts REALLY do bother fans, more than it does me, to the point that it blots out his strong points to them. If strikeouts are so terrible…read the next topic!
…Which Cardinal is the All-Time Strike Out Leader? Lou Brock!!! Brock had 938 strikeouts in his 19 year career. Now…I’m not saying that Gorman is the next Lou Brock at all . But…it goes to show that some Good & some Great players do Strikeout a lot!
….Mickey Mantle saw 1 of his many solo HR records come TUMBLING DOWN. Seattle’s catcher, Cal Raleigh banged his 55th & 56th home runs of the season this week. It broke Mickey Mantle’s record for the most HR by a switch-hitter. It seems to me that Raleigh’s terrific accomplishments were largely overlooked by national media…maybe due to the fact that Seattle isn’t the giant metropolis like New York In addition his home games on the West Coast being are played far later in the evening than the East Coast & Midwest games. That makes it extremely difficult ,or for many—impossible, to send the Raleigh HR info out to other MLB games in progress.
…#12 Clemson’s football team was TUMBLED DOWN in a tough loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday. With the final Buzzer running after a short run to convert the 4th down, the entire FG team raced onto the field w/o a huddle, lined up on the LOS. It was a good snap and and barely beat the Buzzer as the FG took off just seconds before the final buzzer. Kicker Aidan Birr converted the 55-yard field goal as the time expired to give the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets an upset victory over the No. 12 Clemson Tigers 24-21 on Saturday. Georgia Tech is now 3-0.
…Mizzou’s football ranking continues to remain in the TUMBLED DOWN mode. Holding a 3-0 record has them #23 in the latest polls. Four teams with losses are ranked ahead of them. Come on…eveyone can see their schedule to this point. Sure most of the usual teams are ranked but also some new names like Utah, Texas Tech, Georgia Tech, Indiana and shockingly—Vanderbilt are ranked above Mizzou. Vandy long known for their education has struggled in the SEC for decades. But…it doesn’t seem to bother them. Their grads didn’t go there for football for the most part. On the other hand, Notre Dame who hasn’t won a game yet and holds a 0-2 record in losses of 27-24 to #10 Miami and 41-40 to #16 Texas A&M are ranked just 1 spot behind Mizzou @ #24.
…in the MLS, StL City overcame some hurdles to beat Montreal 2-0 last weekend. It’s of small consolation that City TUMBLED DOWN their chances of “winning” the Wooden Spoon Award for the year (the award to the league’s worst team!! Who thought up this crazy idea? An insulting award for finishing in last place? Just what a bad team needs to carry into the off-season!!! ). All StL soccers fans are hoping for “more”, much more, from their soccer team next year. Maybe it’ll probably take more money, probably much more money, to procure more talented players in City uniforms.
…when rookies reach the MLB…often they start with a “hot hand at the plate”. Then MLB pitchers pay more attention to them and their performance TUMBLES DOWNWARD. As a result, then new hitters often suffer as they adjust. Now…some young hitters NEVER adjust and their time in the league is short & sweet. For the last 14 days, as a team, the Cardinals, who play many young players daily hold a 5-7 won-lost record; .226 batting average; 43 runs in the last 12 games=3.58 run/game; 29 walks, 113 strikeouts (ouch). As the end of the season approaches, I’m sure that the players are looking forward to the end of 2025 and a new start in 2026.
…one of the factors that led to the Cardinals TUMBLING DOWNWARD in the standings was the Marcel Ozuna trade on Dec 14, 2017. Brought in from the Marlins in 2018 with expectations of being a “big bat” for the lineup as he held a .312 average with 37 HR & 124 RBI’s in 2017 for Miami. The Cardinals traded a plethora of promising young players–Sandy Alcantara (pitcher), Zac Gallen (pitcher), Daniel Castano (pitcher), and Magneuris Sierra (outfielder). Sierra & Castano faded quickly (about ½ of hot prospects actually “make it” in my opinion).
…However, Alcantara & Gallen are STILL in the MLB (albeit towards the end of their career) Alcantara has posted some really fantastic pitching numbers in his career but…playing for the Marlins who until this year seldom tasted the .500 waters, had a pedestrian W-L record of 50-67. But…an analysis of the other stats tell you the skill level of this pitcher. His lifetime ERA is 3.65 his best seasons were 2000-2022. During those 3 years, he posted these ERA number—3.00, 3.19, 2.28 (WOW). Think if he’d been our ace during those years. Gallen was traded by Marlins to the Diamondbacks in his 1st year there. He has posted 4 different years of an ERA under 3.00. His 65-51 won-lost record speaks for itself. Along with Wainwright, that 3-some in the rotation would have really been something for the Cards.
…On the other hand, In his 1st year a Cardinal, Ozuna, who hit close to his lifetime average of .280, after that .280 year was a .241 mark(a career low at that point of his career). He did produce some power at the plate with 52 total Home runs & back-back RBI years of 88 & 89. However, his fielding in the outfield, to me, was the worst I’ve ever seen of a MLB outfielder. Maybe he had eye issues because he couldn’t seem to judge fly balls correctly & quickly.
.. Just think if the Cardinals had passed on that one trade!! Alcantara & Gallen would have been stalwarts in the rotation for a sizable number of years.
…Still not TUMBLING DOWN from their usual top spot are the LA Dodgers. The Dodgers seem to have overcome an unusually high number of injuries to the squad … especially the pitching staff. Take a look—There were season-ending injuries to: Evan Phillips:– Tommy John surgery; Tony Gonsolin: Required a flexor tendon repair and internal brace procedure on his elbow; Gavin Stone: Missed the ENTIRE SEASON recovering from shoulder surgery performed in late 2024; Michael Grove: Underwent shoulder labrum surgery in March. River Ryan: MISSED THE SEASON while recovering from Tommy John surgery in August 2024. But that wasn’t all…of course, there were other injuries that weren’t for the entire year–
…Several additional pitchers had significant injury-related absences during the 2025 season.
Roki Sasaki: The prized offseason acquisition landed on the 60-day IL in May with a shoulder impingement. Then his return was delayed by a calf injury suffered during rehab.
Tyler Glasnow: Was out for more than 2 months with right shoulder inflammation.
Brusdar Graterol: A shoulder issue suffered in 2024 kept him on the 60-day IL for most of the season, and he was not expected to return. It was a wasted year for him & LA!
Blake Treinen: Missed 3 months with right forearm tightness (April–July).
Clayton Kershaw: The veteran made his season debut in May after starting the year on the injured list following left toe surgery.
…of course the pitchers weren’t the ONLY Dodger players on the IL, the list continues with injuries to field players: Will Smith: The All-Star catcher was placed on the 10-day IL in September with a right hand contusion. Max Muncy: The 3b had two separate IL stints in the 2nd half of the season for a knee bone bruise and an oblique strain. Tommy Edman: The infielder/outfielder battled persistent ankle inflammation and sprains throughout ‘25, twice landing on the injured list. Pitcher Hyeseong Kim went on the IL in July with left shoulder bursitis. Yet…the Dodgers are in still in 1st place holding an 85-64 record (4th best in MLB) as I write this!!! I’m not asking you to get out the “pity” flag for them but…rather to give them some credit for adjusting.
..btw..the 30 year old Tommy Edman is now in his 7th MLB season not bad for a guy drafted in the 6th round in the 2016 draft by the Cardinals. Btw…Edman signed a 5 year, $74m contract with the Dodgers that ends this year he’ll probably “move on” as he’s batting .229, 12 HR, 47 Rbi in 323 Ab’s. Soo… It doesn’t look like he’ll be wearing “Dodger” numbers in 2026. I guess he’ll be able to survive beyond his career with this last salary😊
…Thanks for your time & read! I really appreciate it Please share your thoughts…they are YOUR thoughts sooo everyone has an opinion!! You may put them directly onto my Facebook page, or send to me through email or messenger (I’ll post for you). Bob
bobryansportsblog 