March 17, 2019

Quote of the Week

“ Wishing Eloy the best of luck as he goes to AAA to work on...defense? baserunning? creating excess value for a $1.5 billion franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs in a decade? bunting? ”

– Colin McHugh, Astros pitcher

This Week in Baseball

Winner Winner $1 Million Chicken Dinner...

The 2019 Home Run Derby is giving away $2.5 million in prize money for the contestants, including $1 million for the winner. The league is trying to get high-profile players more interested in being in the competition. You know, guys like Mike Trout and Giancarlo Stanton—who combine to make nearly $60 million per year. And, I guess, want an extra $1 million to redecorate the guest house of one of their mansions?

Keeping Up with Kimbrel/Keuchel...

Welp. There still isn't anything to report with Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel. Each week we keep thinking there will be a resolution to this never-ending story. And like The Neverending Story, we have The Nothing. Hopefully Falkor can fly in and save them from the Swamp of Sadness.

Severe Injury for Severino...

Yankees pitcher Luis Severino is going to be out until at least May with rotator cuff inflammation. Severino has yet to throw in a spring training game. He was scratched from his scheduled debut on March 5 because of discomfort in his pitching shoulder. We can only hope the Yankees kept the receipt on Severino's $40 million contract extension.

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

MLB is dropping the convoluted August 31st waiver trade deadline this season. This simplifies things for teams who will now have to make up their minds by the end of July whether they want to buy or sell. This also simplifies things for when you used to try to explain to people that the trade deadline just passed, but the next trade deadline is a month away but it's a different kind of trade and the first deadline wasn't REALLY a deadline. Also, next year teams will add a 26th man to their rosters which many consider is just a gateway drug to getting a DH in the National League.

Lenny Being Lenny...

A judge has dropped drug and terroristic threat charges filed against former MLB outfielder Lenny Dykstra after an incident with an Uber driver. The charges were dismissed after Dykstra pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was fined $125. Dykstra said that he is happy this chapter of his life is behind him. We are now figuring out the chapters of his life are in a crime novel.

On the Air

“ Maybe Bryce Harper is just a big softy and wants to just play with one team. ”

Going Deep

  • Braves
    What Are the Atlanta Braves Even Doing?

    Last year the Atlanta Braves started the season with one of the best farm teams in the league and hopes to soon be a team in contention. And then a funny thing happened on their way to to the end …

  • Billy Heywood
    Why Billy Heywood Is the Greatest Fictional Baseball Manager of All Time

    George Knox managed the California Angels in Angles in the Outfield. Lou Brown managed the Cleveland Indians in Major League. Jimmy Dugan, at times, managed the Rockford Peaches in A League of Their Own. None of these managers come close …

  • Dallas Kuechel
    Why Doesn’t Anyone Want Cy Young Winner Dallas Keuchel?

    Pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training a couple weeks ago. We’re less than a month from the start of the season. The off-season is usually over by now. But Dallas Keuchel, one of baseball’s best free agent starting pitchers, …

Off Base