The Texas Rangers fired manager Chris Woodward today. The Rangers are 51-63, in third place in the AL West and facing their fourth straight losing season. From that standpoint this isn’t much of a surprise. The Rangers front office also signed free agent contracts adding to over a half billion dollars in guaranteed money to…… Continue reading Woodward Fired as Rangers Skipper

It’s not a sure thing, but the signs point the Kevin Kiermeier being an X-Ray next season. It’s been a rough go for the Rays in terms of the IL this season. Indeed, they lead the majors in terms of how many players they have out due to injury. Kiermeier is one of those players,…… Continue reading We’ve Probably Seen the Last of Kiermeier as a Ray

The Rockies win the feel-good tweet of the week: https://mobile.twitter.com/Rockies/status/1558250182252249088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1558250182252249088%7Ctwgr%5E32b19e95271cfc739c147ac89a3f7c8c67fa4f9a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mlb.com%2Fnews%2Fwynton-bernard-makes-major-league-debut-for-rockies After 10 years in the wilderness…both affiliated minors, overseas, and independent leagues, he finally made his big league debut with the Rockies. The 31-year-old rookie got a hit in the seventh inning, stole second, and scored.

Yesterday I was asked if I thought Aaron Judge would break Barry Bonds’ single season home run record. I gave an honest “ I don’t know.” He now has 46 in 113 games. That’s a 66 home run pace. Obviously, he has to get even hotter to touch Bonds. However, remember Roger Maris? His 61…… Continue reading The Judge Home Run Watch Officially On

In the wake of Fernando Tatis’ 80 game suspension, Padres GM talked about Tatis showing a lack of maturity, that such had become a pattern with him. He also talked of trust issues. Obviously, the comment from Prellier was borne of emotion—disappointment and frustration at the development. However, it’s the sort of thing that can…… Continue reading “Maturity”—What Maybe Prellier Shouldn’t Say

Fernando Tatis, Jr has been out all season due to injury. Now he will be suspended 80 games due to testing positive for Clostebol, an anabolic steroid. The Padres have 48 games left. They are currently in the final NL playoff position—any games they participate in will also count toward the 80 game banishment. The…… Continue reading Tatis Will Not Play This Year

Chris Sale missed the 2020 season, and the first half of 2021, following Tommy John Surgery. This offseason he broke a rib during a workout, and didn’t return until last month. Then, in his second game back, a come-backer off Aaron Hicks’ bat fractured his little finger on the throwing hand. It required surgery. He…… Continue reading Chris Sale Snakebit

Full disclosure: I grew up a Reds fan in the 1970s/80s. As a teenager in FL, I went to spring training games every year (back then they trained in Tampa where the football Buccaneers stadium now sits). I collected many autographs—all my favorite members of the Big Red Machine. There is one player I never…… Continue reading Rose Is Rose

The greatest sports caster ever, Vin Scully died at his home in LA. He was 94. He became the voice of the Dodgers in Brooklyn in 1950 and remained so through their first half century in LA, retiring after the 2016 season. 67 seasons with one franchise is a record for any major sport. Along…… Continue reading Vin Scully Has Died

The Padres pulled to big trade today, landing Juan Soto from the Nationals. In the deal they also upgraded 1B by getting Josh Bell. They gave up a truckload to get them, but there is no arguing the Friars now have a truly formidable lineup. The Nationals, meanwhile solidified their hold on last place. However,…… Continue reading Soto a Padre…and Bell Too

We’re coming up on this year’s trade deadline in the next few days. We have the usual assortment of presumptive “buyers” (teams likely to make the playoffs hoping to strengthen their lineups for the stretch run) and “sellers” (bottom feeders hoping to pick up prospects to create hope for next year or just looking to…… Continue reading Trade Deadline Grumbling

Arizona Diamondbacks drafted Druw Jones in the first round. The son of Andruw Jones, a chip off the ‘ol’ block centerfielder, looked like a can’t miss prospect. The Diamondbacks signed him with a $8.2M bonus. Now, just a few days later, we receive a stark reminder that there are no can’t miss prospects in baseball.…… Continue reading Uh Oh

You may recall that, when the lockout ended with the signing of the new MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement, there remained a loose end. MLB has wanted a draft for international players for decades. The MLBPA has resisted it just as long. MLB wants it for cost containment, and the MLBPA (of course) wants players to…… Continue reading Viva el QO?

I have not put up posts as frequently as normal for me the past few weeks. My heart hasn’t been in it. I think I’ve mentioned before that my father-in-law was the sheriff of a rural county in South Carolina. Last year he retired after 43 years of service, always easily re-elected and often unopposed.…… Continue reading Requiem for a Good Man

“And another one’s gone and another one’s gone Another one bites the dust” —Queen The Blue Jays are 46-42 and currently in playoff position despite being in 4th in the AL East. Their front office has decided that is not good enough and that it’s Charlie Montoya’s fault. They fired him today. Many expected big…… Continue reading Jays Fire Skipper Montoya