Frogs in the Pros: The Boys of Summer are Back*

We finally got baseball back. 2020 tried to take it from us, but we stole it back and are making our way through a 60-game season. The MLB is acting like it’s no big deal to have masks on players, no (live) fans, and to play pre-recorded crowd noises (which still creeps me out). But we wanted baseball, so we’ll take what we can get.

The Pro Frogs are making their way through this season, too. Here are some highlights from the season so far (all screenshots from ESPN.com and links to each page can be found below):

Tyler Alexander (Tigers/P)

Welcome, Tyler Alexander! The Tigers are still terrible, but Alexander has done his best to make an impact. Most notably, Alexander caught everyone’s attention on August 2. He came in in the top of the 3rd, with the Reds up 3-0. Alexander proceeded to strike out 10 batters over 3.2 innings. He walked 1. The Tigers were able to come back and score 3 runs, but lost the game 4-3 after the Reds went ahead in the 7th. Alexander has a 1.10 WHIP and a 4.61 ERA. You can see all of his stats here.

Jake Arrieta (Phillies/P)

Arrieta has pitched three games so far this season. The former Cy Young winner had his first start August 3 at the Yankees. Arrieta allowed 3 runs on 7 hits through 5 innings, while striking out 4. He gave up 2 home runs. The Phillies lost 6-3.

On August 8, Arrieta was home to face the Braves. He allowed 3 hits, but didn’t give up any runs through 6 innings. He walked 1 and struck out 6. The Phillies won 5-0.

The Phillies were still home on August 13, when the Phillies played the Orioles. Arrieta lasted 4.2 innings and gave up 4 runs on 7 hits. He walked 1 and struck out 4. The Phillies lost 11-4. Ugh.

Arrieta currently has a 4.02 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. You can see all of his stats here.

Matt Carpenter (Cardinals/3B)

Carpenter is batting 5th in the lineup, down from his original #1-2 spot last year. The left-handed power hitter has had a bit of a slow start this season. However, that tends to be his M.O., when you look at how past seasons started. Two seasons ago he had a slow start and ended up in the running for the most home runs in the League by the end of it. Consistency is key for him.

After the Cardinals were quarantined at the end of July for COVID-19, Carpenter had his first RBI on August 15 in Chicago against the White Sox, in the first game of a double header. With bases loaded in the 1st, Carpenter was hit by a pitch, bringing in Wong and advancing the runners. It was 1-0 Cardinals. Two batters later, Knizner singled to right, bringing Carpenter home and making it a 3-0 game. The Cardinals went on to win the game 5-1.

Carpenter would have another RBI in Game 2 of the series against the Sox. He grounded out to second in the top of the 5th, bringing in Tommy Edman and making the score 3-2 Sox. In the top of the 7th, Carpenter singled to center and was brought home on a sac fly to right by Miller. That made it 6-3 Cards and gave them the win.

In Game 3, on August August 16, Carpenter singled to right in the top of the 6th, allowing Edman and Paul Goldschmidt to score. Those would be the only runs in a 7-2 loss for the Cards that came after the Sox hit 4 consecutive home runs off of Cardinals’ relief pitcher Roel Ramirez.

The Cardinals played a double header on August 17 against the Cubs. In Game 1, Carpenter hit a single to right. Miller later doubled to deep center, bringing Carpenter and O’Neill around and making it 3-1 Cards. That would be the final score.

In Game 2 of that double header, Carpenter walked at the bottom of the 2nd. Brad Miller came up behind him and hit 420 foot home run, bringing Carpenter in for the run and the 2-1 lead. Unfortunately, the Cubs would come back in the top of the 6th to win 5-4.

Carpenter has already improved in the month of August. He has a .194 AVG and 6 RBI so far this season. We’re still waiting for his first home run of the season. To see Carpenter’s full stats, click here.

Stefan Crichton (Diamondbacks/RP)

As a relief pitcher, Crichton has been utilized about every 2-3 days by the Diamondbacks. He had an ERA of 3.56 last season, with 33 total strikeouts over 30.1 innings pitched. This season, he has an ERA of 1.69 and 13 strikeouts over 10.2 innings pitched.

He’s had notable performances against the Padres (8/15) and the A’s (8/17). On August 15, Crichton entered in the top of the 6th with the teams tied at 1-1. He held the Padres scoreless for 2 innings, while Arizona’s bats came alive. The Diamondbacks won 7-6 and Crichton got the pitching W.

On August 17, Crichton came in at the top of the 9th with a score of 3-3. He held the A’s runless while the ‘Backs managed to squeak out a 4-3 win.

Crichton has a 1.69 ERA and a WHIP of 1.31. For all of his stats, click here.

Kevin Cron (Diamondbacks/1B)

Cron is currently a designated hitter for the Diamondbacks. He was called up in July but went 0-4, so he was optioned. The Diamondbacks brought him back on Monday to face the A’s. Cron struck out twice as the Diamondbacks managed a 4-3 victory. While Cron doesn’t have an AVG yet, we look forward to following him this season and hope to see him getting more play time this season. To follow him this season, click here.

Bryan Holaday (Orioles/C)

Bryan Holaday became an Oriole this season! His contract was purchased this summer, and he started playing August 1. I never thought I would say this, but....Baltimore is kinda GOOD(?!) this season! It really is 2020, y’all—anything can happen! Holaday is doing well and is playing every 2 days right now. His most notable games were on August 9 and 15 against the Nationals.

On August 9, Holaday hit a single to right in the top of the 5th, bringing Hays around for the run. That put the Orioles up 1-0. Then in the top of the 6th, he hit an infield single to second with just enough oomph to get Dwight Smith Jr. home. That made it 6-2 Orioles and secured the win for Baltimore.

On August 15, Holaday singled to left in the bottom of the 2nd. Andrew Velazquez hit a triple that brought Holaday in to make it 3-0 Baltimore. They went on to win 7-3.

Holaday has a .333 AVG. To see Holaday’s stats this season, click here.

Alex Young (Diamondbacks/P)

Welcome, Alex Young! After Mike Leake opted out of the season, Young’s name came up as a possibility for the Diamondbacks’ roster. He began pitching in July, and has put 14 total innings under his belt so far. His best game yet came this past Saturday, August 15, against the Padres. Young pitched for 4.1 innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits. That run? A home run by Fernando Tatis, Jr. Young got his revenge in the top of the 4th when Tatis, Jr. struck out swinging. He threw 63 pitches—42 of them were strikes. Young left the game tied at 1-1. With the help of his teammates, including Stefan Crichton, the Diamondbacks got a 7-6 win over the Padres.

Young’s ERA is currently 3.86, and he has a WHIP of 1.14. I’m really looking forward to seeing him get more innings each time he plays, and seeing what he does with this opportunity. Between Young, Crichton, and Cron, the Diamondbacks are Frog-heavy and looking to have themselves a great season—as awkward as 2020 may be. To follow Young’s stats this season, click here.