Pretty much everything I was tracking ended last night. The Phillies beat the Dodgers, so the Dodgers undefeated streak is over. The Atlanta Braves beat Miami, so the Braves losing streak is done. And, while the Reds did lose again, they did not lose by a 1-0 score, so the consecutive 1-0 streak is over.
The Dodgers-Phillies series was good, with each game very close. The Phillies won 2 of 3, but honestly in each of LA's losses one hit could have changed the result. How close were these two teams? Over the 3-game series, each team scored 12 runs.
But let's acknowledge what is happening in the NL West: LA started 8-0, San Diego started 7-0 and what team is currently in first place (by percentage points)? Yeah, that would be...San Francisco, which has quietly put together a 7-game win streak after starting 1-1.
The tributes will be most prominent on the field. All MLB players and coaching staff will continue the tradition of wearing Robinson's No. 42 during Tuesday's games, with each team using a Dodger blue ‘42’ regardless of the club’s normal colors. Players, managers, coaches and umpires will also wear a ‘42’ patch on the side of their hats.
Apologies for the garbled last sentence in my previous post. I was trying for "I trust the President won't threaten MLB with a lawsuit" but posted in a hurry.
I will be interested in your thoughts on the book, @Caissa. I have heard of it but never seen a copy, much less read it.
The Pirates have asked their manager to spend more time with his family.
It is not totally unexpected. The Pirates had higher hopes coming into the season but have got off to a bad start. They have the third worst record in MLB (better than Colorado and Chicago White Sox, but worse than everybody else).
The Rockies are 6-33, on pace to go 25-137, far worse than last year's dreadful White Sox record and only very slightly better than the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, who went 20-134. The Padres walloped the Rox at Coors Field yesterday, 21-0.
And according to one of my favorite baseball podcasts, Locked on MLB, 38,000 fans were in attendance. I recently filled out a survey from MLB where I was asked if I felt valued as a fan and answered "no" because the Dodgers have jacked up their prices to ridiculous heights, but tens of thousands of Rockies fans are showing up for a team that doesn't know what to do with their primo draft pick placement or use modern analytics. The mind boggles.
The firing is no real surprise. Currently, Colorado has a 7-33 record (.175). Then comes the White Sox at 12-29 (.293), followed by the Pirates at 14-27 (.341). Next are the Marlins and Orioles, both at 15-24 (.385).
Both the Rockies and the Pirates have already fired their managers. The White Sox manager probably gets a little grace because he (IIRC) came on during last year and any place above bottom is an improvement. The Orioles, though, are surprisingly bad. Last year they finished at 91-71 (.562). I wonder how much longer before their manager is shown the door?
The Marlins, in case you were wondering, are playing almost exactly the same as they did last year. Like the White Sox, that may insulate the manager for a time.
What this means is that players like Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, who were placed on the list for betting on baseball, are now at least theoretically eligible to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rose, the all-time hits leader, was not eligible to be elected because he was on the "permanently ineligible" list.
The Orioles, though, are surprisingly bad. Last year they finished at 91-71 (.562). I wonder how much longer before their manager is shown the door?
A: May 17, Baltimore fired their manager. He was AL Manager of the Year in 2023, and, like I said, 91-71 in 2024. But this year the O's have been really bad. Not Colorado bad, but pretty bad.
Anyone keeping an eye on the Women's Colleges Softball World Series? I watched the first game on Sunday. This is the first time both teams are in the championship series. The person to watch is NiJaree Canady, the pitcher for Texas Tech. Transfer from Stanford. ERA of <1 run per game. Signed a million dollar Name, Image, Likeness contract. You go girl.
We are roughly at the halfway point of the season (most teams having played 81 out of 162 games).
Perhaps the biggest surprise for me is the Detroit Tigers. They are tied with LA Dodgers for the best record: 51-31. Detroit holds the biggest lead (9.5 games) of any division leader.
Meanwhile, NY Yankees have been struggling of late, with only a half game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays--who are playing in the Yankees' minor league park this year because of hurricane damage to the Rays regular stadium. There are discussions going on as to what to do if the Rays advance in the playoffs. They don't want to do playoff games in a minor league park (the minor league park can only seat about 25% of a major league park).
Any other stories that intrigue you at the halfway mark?
Toronto seems to be doing it with mirrors. Somehow holding down a wildcard position despite having less than five starters for most of the season to date.
Pittsburgh Pirate legend Dave Parker died today. just weeks short of the ceremony to induct him into Baseball's Hall of Fame. He, at least, got the joy of knowing he was elected last December, even if he did not survive long enough to enjoy the festivities.
Which puts him ahead of Dick Allen, also to be inducted in a few weeks, who died a few years before without ever knowing he would be elected. And that is a crime that will always be on the heads of the Baseball Writers Of America who vote for these things. There was NO rational reason Allen should not have won election a decade or so ago.
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But let's acknowledge what is happening in the NL West: LA started 8-0, San Diego started 7-0 and what team is currently in first place (by percentage points)? Yeah, that would be...San Francisco, which has quietly put together a 7-game win streak after starting 1-1.
Have you seen the news? $500 million, 14 years. And hopefully the Blue Jays can/will build a great team around him.
Yes, hopefully. They do need a couple more hitters.
I will be interested in your thoughts on the book, @Caissa. I have heard of it but never seen a copy, much less read it.
It is not totally unexpected. The Pirates had higher hopes coming into the season but have got off to a bad start. They have the third worst record in MLB (better than Colorado and Chicago White Sox, but worse than everybody else).
And according to one of my favorite baseball podcasts, Locked on MLB, 38,000 fans were in attendance. I recently filled out a survey from MLB where I was asked if I felt valued as a fan and answered "no" because the Dodgers have jacked up their prices to ridiculous heights, but tens of thousands of Rockies fans are showing up for a team that doesn't know what to do with their primo draft pick placement or use modern analytics. The mind boggles.
Both the Rockies and the Pirates have already fired their managers. The White Sox manager probably gets a little grace because he (IIRC) came on during last year and any place above bottom is an improvement. The Orioles, though, are surprisingly bad. Last year they finished at 91-71 (.562). I wonder how much longer before their manager is shown the door?
The Marlins, in case you were wondering, are playing almost exactly the same as they did last year. Like the White Sox, that may insulate the manager for a time.
What this means is that players like Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, who were placed on the list for betting on baseball, are now at least theoretically eligible to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rose, the all-time hits leader, was not eligible to be elected because he was on the "permanently ineligible" list.
A: May 17, Baltimore fired their manager. He was AL Manager of the Year in 2023, and, like I said, 91-71 in 2024. But this year the O's have been really bad. Not Colorado bad, but pretty bad.
Perhaps the biggest surprise for me is the Detroit Tigers. They are tied with LA Dodgers for the best record: 51-31. Detroit holds the biggest lead (9.5 games) of any division leader.
Meanwhile, NY Yankees have been struggling of late, with only a half game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays--who are playing in the Yankees' minor league park this year because of hurricane damage to the Rays regular stadium. There are discussions going on as to what to do if the Rays advance in the playoffs. They don't want to do playoff games in a minor league park (the minor league park can only seat about 25% of a major league park).
Any other stories that intrigue you at the halfway mark?
Which puts him ahead of Dick Allen, also to be inducted in a few weeks, who died a few years before without ever knowing he would be elected. And that is a crime that will always be on the heads of the Baseball Writers Of America who vote for these things. There was NO rational reason Allen should not have won election a decade or so ago.