April 15, 2022
1. Happy Jackie Robinson Day
This year, every team will not only wear #42 on their uniforms, but the numbers will be in blue.
And in Times Square, 42nd Street is now (for a day) Jackie Robinson Way.
2. The wind in Chicago yesterday was completely absurd
It’s the Windy City, yes (though I’d always thought that came from the idea of politicians being full of “hot air”, and not meteorological conditions) — but I was on the North Side all afternoon, all seemed normal, until you check out the absolute chaos on the South Side:
3. Manny Machado went 5-for-5 with a HR in his home opener
And just like that, in one night his batting average jumped from .231 to .344. Early season stats are the greatest.
4. Tom Seaver gets his statue unveiled at Citi Field
He passed away two years ago now, and so it’s an emotional day in Metsworld, on the morning of their home opener.
From today’s article in the New York Post:
5. There won’t be any more Game 163 tiebreakers
If the format has to end, as rare as these games are, that 2018 season finale that featured two such games (Cubs vs. Brewers, Dodgers vs. Rockies) was a worthy ending.
6. The comical steal attempt of the year
Albert Pujols. 42 years old. Rumbling. Rolling. Just quicker than crawling.
And out at third base.
7. Freddie Freeman gets welcomed to L.A.
The Dodgers win their home opener, and a fancy new Hollywood starlet debuted on stage.
8. Shohei Ohtani is still struggling, a week into the season
The CPR on his bat didn’t seem to work:
.172 batting average | 0 HR | .441 OPS
And now the arm isn’t looking too solid, either (7.56 ERA, 0–2)—while just about everyone who loves baseball hopes he turns it around soon. Very soon. We’re ready for another Ohtani super year.
9. The painful baseball moment of the day
Ouch.
10. Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit the ball twice in one swing
You’ve probably seen that Hunter Pence clip from years ago, where he may have even hit the ball three times in one swing — and now it’s happened again, completely fooling the third baseman.
11. Buck Showalter wants a sticky substance legally provided to pitchers
We already have the universal DH, bring on the universal sticky rag.
From the article:
12. Jose Ramirez officially signs a big contract extension in Cleveland
The most unfathomably low payroll team in baseball, to their credit, inks their superstar to a huge deal.
With a fantastic video edit posted to his Twitter, too:
13. Corey Seager hits his first home run with the Rangers
And since coming to Texas, he’s been using the very same locker when he won MVP of the 2020 World Series — a good omen:
14. Lastly, here are the standings a week into the 2022 season
