Fan Interference

After Monday’s game Tony LaRussa criticized Yermin Mercedes over hitting a home run on a 3-0 pitch with the White Sox winning 16-4. He called it “clueless” at the time, later clarified that as meaning he feels hitting the ball in that situation is poor sportsmanship. There’s some additional points about that pitch—the pitcher was…… Continue reading LaRussa Rips Own Player Over Dumb Unwritten Rule

This time it was Corey Kluber of the Yankees against the Rangers on 101 pitches, 9 strikeouts and 1 walk. It’s the second one is as many days and 6 (7) less than 1/3 of the way into the season. The record is 7 in a season (1990, 1991, and 2012). That’s now been unofficially…… Continue reading Ho-Hum, Another Day, Another No-Hitter

If you’re wondering just how many no-hitters there will be this year, you are not alone. The Tigers’ Spencer Turnbull threw the 5the official one of the year yesterday. There’s actually been 6, but MLB illogically does not count Madison Bumgarner’s because it was only seven innings in a scheduled seven inning game (MLB does…… Continue reading Spencer Turnbull Pitches MLB’s 5th (6th) No-Hitter of the Season

I spent my day binge watching “The Ranch” and roasting bratwurst in my fire pit, so imagine my surprise and momentary disbelief when I heard the WS champion Dodgers have agreed to sign Albert Pujols. I thought why on earth would they do that? He’s only useful against lefties. Then I realized the Dodgers as…… Continue reading Pujols to Sign With Dodgers

On Feb 19 this year, Damon was pulled over and arrested for DUI. His BAC was .30…almost 4 times the legal limit. Today he reached a deal with prosecutors—an undisclosed donation to charity, an undisclosed number of hours of community service, and (upon completion) the charges get dropped. There was no word on whether he’s…… Continue reading Johnny Damon Cuts Deal to Get Out of DUI

Commissioner Manfred this week stated the A’s have been instructed to look for possible relocation sites outside of Oakland. They’ve long been associated with the possibility of a new stadium at Howard Terminal as part of a large development to include housing, shopping, and other entertainment venues. There’s been push from the A’s for the…… Continue reading A’s Still Looking for a New Stadium

The Houston Astros are doing something no other team has done before, but I hope it rapidly becomes the norm. They are providing furnished housing to the minor leaguers at every level. Minor leaguers can’t utilize host families due to COVID-19 restrictions, and it’s been common for multiple players to cram into small apartments and…… Continue reading A Step in the Right Direction By: the Astros

Well we’ve got our 5th no-hitter of the still young season (I count Mad-Bum’s even if MLB doesn’t). Wade Miley of the Reds has blanked the Cleveland Baseball Team 3-0. He gave up one walk, struck out 8. Only once in baseball history has there been 4 no-no’s before the end of May until now—1917,…… Continue reading Official No-Hitter #4

Where does Albert Pujols stand among first basemen in baseball history? Let’s look at a couple measures. WAR: Lou Gehrig, 114.1Albert Pujols, 99.4Cap Anson, 94.4Jimmie Foxx, 93.1Roger Connor, 84.3Jeff Bagwell, 79.9Dan Brouthers, 79.8Frank Thomas, 73.8Jim Thome, 73.1Rafael Palmeiro, 71.9 (Miguel Cabrera #13) JAWS: Lou GehrigAlbert PujolsJimmie FoxxCap AnsonRoger ConnorJeff Bagwell Dan BrouthersJohnny MizeFrank ThomasJim Thome…… Continue reading All-Time First Basemen

Okay, this is not a surprise in that Pujols has been a replacement level player the past few years, and he’s in the final year of his contract, which makes it no longer cost prohibitive to cut him. This is a huge surprise in that this would have been the correct baseball thing to do…… Continue reading Angels DFA Albert Pujols

I’ve previously profiled experimental rules being used in the Pioneer and Atlantic Leagues. However, there is a different experimental rule at each level of the affiliated minor leagues too, which started their season yesterday. Here they are: AAA—The bases are 18 inches across instead of 15. The idea is to reduce injury and make circling…… Continue reading More Experimental Rules

John Means was near perfect for the Orioles against the Mariners today. So close, in fact, that he faced only the minimum 27 batters. His line was 9-0-0-0-12…as in 9 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 12 K’s. So, why was this not a perfect game? In the third inning, he struck out Sam…… Continue reading Another No-No

The Blue Jays have announced their home games, starting in June, will again be played at Sahlen Field, where they played last year. Up til now this year, home games were at their spring training stadium in Dunedin, FL. It gets hot and rainy there staring in June, so they were motivated to not have…… Continue reading Blue Jays Headed Back to Buffalo

Remember when the Dodgers started the year with seven viable starting pitchers? Well, they’re down to four. Tony Gonsolin has been on the IL, expected back around the end of the month. David Price, who had been in long relief, is now out for 4-6 weeks with a hamstring strain. The worst news for them,…… Continue reading Dustin May Needs TJS

Max Scherzer was on a mission today. He dispatched the Marlins in 2:37. It was a complete game, 5 hits, 1 run, 9 strikeouts, 0 walks on 106 pitches. He faced 31 batters, 23 saw a first pitch strike. There was no time to waste as he lifted the Nationals to a .500 record. Immediately…… Continue reading Max Scherzer’s Day