Quote of the Week
“ Is Pete behind me? I’ll probably get some pitches to hit. They’re not going to want to face that big boy behind me. ”
– Michael Conforto, on batting ahead of Pete Alonso
This Week in Baseball
Rumor Has It...
With singular trade deadline closing in fast, teams will just have the next week or so to make additions to their teams to fortify themselves for the playoffs. This year it looks like most of the trades rumors are focusing on pitching. Ken Giles, Marcus Stroman, Matt Boyd, Madison Bumgarner and Shane Greene have been involved in the most rumors. Also, Jennifer Aniston was spotted kissing a mystery man.
Induction Tales...
The Baseball Hall of Fame added six former players this weekend: Mariano Rivera, Edgar Martinez, Roy Halladay, Mike Mussina, Lee Smith and Harold Baines. A crowd of over 50,000 attendees gathered to celebrate the careers of the truly exceptional players – and also Harold Baines and Lee Smith.
Premature Ejection...
Yankees manager Aaron Boone was suspended one game for a profanity-laden outburst at an umpire that got him ejected from a game against the Rays. Some have suggested he was trying to get his team fired up, but with the crippling East Coast heat wave, he was probably just trying to get back inside to the AC.
Reignited and It Feels So Good...
The feud between Dennis Eckersley and David Price was stoked up again this week. It stems from a conflict a couple years ago when Price verbally confronted Eckersley on the team plane. “He’s my new Kirk Gibson,” Eckersley told the Boston Globe. “Everywhere I go people are asking me about David Price, telling me what he said about me. For years, I carried the Gibson thing around. Now I got this. I don’t get it." Yes, Dennis, it's everyone else and not you at all.
Darkest Knight...
The Angels released veteran right-hander Matt Harvey. He had signed a one-year $11 million deal in the offseason but he struggled this year, posting a 7.09 ERA in 12 starts. He walked 29 batters and gave up 13 homers in 59 2/3 innings – so we know he's good for throwing batting practice.
On the Air
“ If we're not going to dwell on the negative, then don't even mention the Marlins. ”
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Tyler Skaggs RIP; MLB All-Star Selections; Albert Pujols in St. Louis; Mets’ Ongoing Dumpster Fire; Taylor Swift (Ep.106)
First and foremost, our condolences go out to the friends and family of Tyler Skaggs following his unexpected passing this week. Horrible day for baseball. RIP Tyler. Episode 106 of Foul Territory: A Baseball Podcast—the “Young Frankenstein” edition—kicks off on …
Going Deep
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Mets, Yankees Trade Partners? Why Not?
Stop the world. The Yankees and Mets may actually consider doing business with one another at the trade deadline. Even thinking of such a transaction has the feel of blasphemy. Much as any deal between the Yankees and Red Sox. …
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New York Mets Display Art of Futility in 16-Inning Loss
The New York Mets won four games in a row beating up on the Miami Marlins and the Minnesota Twins. Had the Mets won the extra-inning contest the club played Thursday night in San Francisco, they might have felt as …
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The Real Strike Zone: Swinging for the Fences
Strike zones have come and gone over the years to suit the temper of the game. That’s because the strike zone has been a tool to tweak the hitting zone, adjusting offense as per the perceptions of MLB. This imaginary …
Off Base
