April 15, 2021
1. Carlos Rodon throws the second MLB no-hitter in a week
Eight months after Lucas Giolito threw one, both at home in Chicago, and six days after Joe Musgrove threw one for the Padres — now Carlos Rodon, coming inches away from a perfect game:
An unbelievable story, unreal journey for the guy:
2. Not the Onion: Pete Rose is becoming a gambling pick-em guru
“I’m not hurting Rob Manfred,” Rose said (via ESPN). “I’m not trying to show him up by doing that. I’m trying to make a living like everyone else.”
To be fair, you see gambling ads at every ballpark now, on every MLB broadcast, so maybe the whole gambling has no place in baseball thing is coming to an end (without the support of this Newsletter):
3. A Justin Turner HR hit a guy straight in the nachos
It was just a very elaborate way of Turner saying: “That’s nat cho cheese.”
4. Today is Jackie Robinson Day, every team wearing #42
Robinson debuted with the Dodgers 74 years ago on this date, at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn:
5. More on the no-hitter — this insane play saved it in the ninth
Jose Abreu completely bailed out Carlos Rodon, who forgot to cover first — saving the perfect game by a toe. Moments later, it was lost by another toe, but without the Abreu play the no-hitter would’ve been gone as well:
6. Bo Bichette hit two HRs, one for a walk-off over the Yankees
The headline of the afternoon started with Aaron Judge, hitting two home runs in the same game. But then came Bichette, the ninth inning, his second home run of the day and a walk-off win for the Blue Jays:
7. The Red Sox are hot, the Astros are cold
Five losses in a row for the Astros, after a 6–1 start, yikes. And something special is happening in Boston, nine straight wins for the Red Sox, after starting the season with a horrible sweep to the Orioles.
8. Akil Baddoo, baseball’s favorite rookie, is still playing out of his mind
Home runs in back to back games, and a double last night. Batting .370. With a 1.342 OPS. This guy, the name, the whole story — incredible:
9. Adolis Garcia and the almost home run, twice
Cuban rookie outfielder for the Rangers, who played in Japan for a bit, and here at the Trop he missed his first career HR by an inch — bouncing off the very top of the wall. Then he runs for third, runs for home, and he’s gunned down at the plate going for an inside-the-parker (called out after a replay review).
Completely wild sequence, watch here:
10. Quote of the day, Pete Alonso: “I miss the boos”
He’s batting .207 so far, with one home run, .673 OPS, so you wonder how long the whole “enjoying the boos” will really last. But 53 home runs in his rookie season — guys like this just have to bounce back.
11. Alex Verdugo made a game-ending catch almost identically to the Benintendi one in 2018
The rare, the exquisite walk-off catch, and to seal the deal on an eight-game win streak (nine, after they won the second game of the doubleheader).
12. Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has no idea who new owner Alex Rodriguez is
This is hilarious — his team’s got a new owner, arguably the most famous owner in the NBA, and the guy (who’s American, grew up in Atlanta, etc) has never heard of A-Rod:
13. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Yermin Mercedes are still going off
Acuña has a 1.3 WAR already for 2021 and we’re not even two weeks into the season. Add two home runs last night to his tally — here are his stats so far:
.447 AVG, 6 HR, 6 2B, 1.500 OPS
And then, Yermin Mercedes. The guy who filled in for Eloy Jimenez — now an immediate sensation in Chicago. With another monster home run last night in the first inning, as the White Sox batted around for a 6–0 lead:
14. Error of the day: E8, Lane Thomas
15. Lastly, here’s Randy Arozarena juggling a baseball for an entire minute straight, with cowboy boots on
The man is multi-multi-talented.
If you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, send me a DM on Twitter! I’ll be doing them all year, to package the best highlights and stories from around the league — and to make baseball easier and quicker to follow. I’ll likely start an email list soon, or a Patreon, and would appreciate any and all feedback and support 🙏
Twitter: @bbletter
