February 10, 2019

Quote of the Week

“ All I’m saying is, baseball is a sport that’s still played wearing a button down shirt tucked into knee high pants with a leather belt so I think anytime we have conversations about updating the game it’s a good thing. ”

– Sean Doolittle, Nationals pitcher

This Week in Baseball

Let's Get Real...

After several months of rumors about trading J.T. Realmuto, Miami found a return they liked for the best catcher in the game and traded him to the Phillies. The rebuilding Marlins received major league catcher Jorge Alfaro and two pitching prospects. Realmuto had made it clear this off-season that he wanted to get out of Miami. But there's no truth to the rumor that he was holed up in the Canadian embassy while Ben Affleck planned his escape.

I Left My Harper in San Francisco...

Bryce Harper met with the Giants this week in Las Vegas with both sides expressed interest in a potential deal. The news got out after a fan posted that he spotted Giants CEO Larry Baer in the Bellagio. So, next time you sneak off to Vegas for a weekend of gambling, drinking and fooling around, just tell anyone that asks that you were meeting with Bryce Harper.

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

MLB and the MLBPA exchanged a number of proposed rules changes for the upcoming season. Among the more significant proposals were: adding the DH to the NL, reducing to one trade deadline and a three-batter minimum for new pitchers. It's fine that they're discussing these kinds of things. But when will they take a look at the terrifying infestation of beards throughout the league?

Stealing bags...

The Nationals announced that backpacks will not be permitted inside Nationals Park this season. “The safety of our fans, staff and players at Nationals Park is always a top priority,” said team representative Scott Fear. For those of you who don't speak B.S., this translates to: "We don't like people sneaking in food and avoiding paying the astronomical prices at our vendors."

RIP, Frank Robinson

Frank Robinson, one of Major League Baseball's all-time great contributors as a player and as the first African-American manager, passed away at 83. Robinson hit 586 home runs and was a 14-time All-Star. He was the only player to win Most Valuable Player Awards in both leagues—for the Reds and Orioles. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1982.

On the Air

“ Everyone knows if you put glasses on, you're smarter. Haven't you ever seen a film or a television show ever? ”

Going Deep

  • Craig Kimbrel
    What Is Happening with Craig Kimbrel?

    This baseball offseason was supposed to be the record-setting cash grab and talent redistribution that only comes around once a decade. Yet here we all are, a few days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to camps, and we still …

  • The Rays
    There Might Be a Fan Experience in Tampa Bay

    I realize I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus. It wasn’t because I don’t love using this platform for my insane baseball thoughts. Rather, it was in solidarity with the free agents out there. I’m not just going to …

  • 5 Teams that Need to Sign Manny Machado

    Here we are now near the end of January, just a couple weeks away from pitchers and catchers, and we still have no real idea where Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are going to end up. Most of the baseball …

Off Base