The second significant trade in two days, and both involve the Rays. This time they sent lefty starting pitcher Rich Hill to the Mets in exchange for reliever Tommy Hunter and a minor league catcher. The need for the Mets was clear. Syndergaard isn’t available this season. Carrasco has had a setback in rehab. de…… Continue reading Mets Get Rich Hill from Rays

Ummm…okay. The Cleveland Baseball Team just announced they will cease being called Indians as of the end of this season and become the Guardians. They had a video announcement narrated by Tom Hanks and posted a statement about how the name somehow reflects everyone in Cleveland. I’m no Clevelander, but my opinion is: meh. It’s…… Continue reading Cleveland Guardians

In the first big move of trade season, the Tampa Bay Rays have acquired Nelson Cruz from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for two minor leaguers. The Rays’ M.O. rarely includes rental players. However, they had a clear need for a middle of the order at bat as they look to try and overcome the…… Continue reading Rays Get Cruz

Yesterday the Oakland city council met regarding the A’s stadium proposal. The A’s were not happy with the result. Did the politicos shoot down the Howard Terminal site? No, they voted 6-1 to request the A’s ownership to kick in another $352M for area residential development, to be reimbursed later. The A’s were already proposing…… Continue reading Whither the A’s? The Saga Continues

1) Be the sort of jerk who would intercept a ball being tossed to a child fan. 2) Once the player (for the opposite team) who tried to be generous turns around, throw the ball and hit said player in the back. This actually happened at Yankee Stadium yesterday. Alex Verdugo tossed a ball to…… Continue reading How to Get Banned from Going to Games in 2 Easy Steps

The shooting was outside the stadium but heard inside well enough that many thought they were fired inside the stadium. Fernando Tatis, Jr ran in from the outfield, and the teams left the field. Some fans even scrambled into the Padres dugout at Nationals Park for cover. 4 people were shot; it’s being reported one…… Continue reading Padres-Nationals Game Halted Due to Gunshots

The Dunedin/Buffalo Blue Jays became the Toronto Blue Jays for the first time since 2019 starting July 30. (I’d previously predicted Aug 1, but paid no attention to their schedule—they have a home stand starting July 30.) It will be the first time Hyun Jin Ryu, George Springer, and Marcus Semien will have played in…… Continue reading Blue Jays Will Be in Toronto July 30

Excepting last year’s 5 rounds only draft, no team had ever used their entire draft allotment on pitchers only. (Miami did last year, but again, that was just 5 rounds.). However, that’s changed, as the Angels spent all 20 of their picks on pitchers, 18 of them from the college ranks, only 2 high schoolers.…… Continue reading Angels Draft: 20 Rounds, 20 Pitchers

Right now the AL leads the ASG 5-2 in the 9th. Whatever, it’s an exhibition game. No, to me the thing to really take note of isn’t Vladimir Guerrero, Jr’s home run in the game. It’s his glove. It’s custom made of course, and custom painted, with images of him and his father in Expos…… Continue reading Vlad Jr’s Sweet Glove at the All Star Game

The Home Run Derby is a silly exhibition, and not everyone’s cup of tea. Last night’s had the chance to be extra silly fun for those who do like it, though. It was at Coors Field, and the humidor was not in use. It was hoped the balls would fly far and often. Pete Alonso…… Continue reading Alonso Defended HR Derby Title

Yesterday was day 1 of the draft. Although round 1 was televised, it went off largely in obscurity. Part of that is because college baseball isn’t the big money maker that college basketball or especially college football are. The baseball draft also doesn’t immediately impact the teams the way they do in basketball or football.…… Continue reading Draft Day

Today the Rays swept their double header against the Cleveland Baseball Team 8-1 and 4-0. A committee of Rays held CBT hitless in the second game. Of course, because it was only scheduled for seven innings since that’s how MLB does double headers now, the only way an official no hitter could happen is with…… Continue reading Another “Non-“ No Hitter

I conclude my midseason update by hading out awards that really only come at the end of the year and for which I get no vote. I’d love to hear your vote, too. AL MVP: Shohei Ohtani. He’s pitched well. He’s leading MLB in home runs. He’s the first ever two way all star. He…… Continue reading MLB Midseason Awards

My division by division review of where teams stand at the season’s midpoint winds up with NL West. Each team in the division is addressed in order of the current standings. Remember the draft is Sunday, and trade deadline is July 30. San Francisco Giants—The biggest surprise of the season, easily. Preseason they were picked…… Continue reading NL West Midseason

I continue with my midseason snippets. Again, each team is addressed in order of the current standings. Remember the draft is Sunday, and the trade deadline is Friday, July 30. Milwaukee Brewers—They are relatively comfortable in first place despite Christian Yelich not being Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain spending most of the first half on…… Continue reading NL Central Midseason