August 30, 2021
1. The Mets have become a complete disaster
The team crumbling in the standings. The owner criticizing the players. The fans booing the manager, and then booing the players. The players booing the fans. The GM attacking the players.
Could there be any better symbol for the state of baseball in Queens, New York than two thumbs down?
More reactions, from around the New York baseball world — as the Mets prepare for another home game tomorrow night:
2. Michigan wins the Little League World Series
It’s been ten years since Michigan beat Ohio State on the gridiron, so this has to count for something, right? A 5–2 win in the final over Ohio.
Go Blue.
3. Yoshi Tsutsugo hits a walk-off home run to deflate the Wild Card hopeful Cardinals
Down by two in the ninth, and a three-run HR almost into the Allegheny River, for the walk-off win. A career moment for Yoshi “Tsu-tsu-tsu-gio!” Tsutsugo, making Phil Collins references on baseball broadcasts “cool” again.
4. Former baseball writer Jonah Keri pleads guilty to domestic assault
You may have known him from the Bill Simmons and Grantland ecosystem, and the fall from grace has been very unfortunate to see, all around.
5. Tony Kemp hits the non-Tsutsugo clutch hit of the weekend
Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN, A’s vs. Yankees, tie game, eighth inning, and he smacks a two-run homer to right field, the eventual winner.
In case you missed it:
The A’s beat the Yankees on back-to-back nights, ended that 13-game win streak, and just keep pace for now in the AL postseason picture:
6. Costumed fan themes of the week: “South of France” and Magnum P.I.
In Seattle, for Ty France, it was “South of France Night”, replete with berets and baguettes and the tricolor flag on poster boards:
And then in Detroit, unclear exactly why — Magnum, P.I. Day:
7. Wholesome moment of the weekend: Orioles fan dad and son
Summer baseball is forever the best, most wholesome, smile-inducing thing on TV. This is how you handle a surplus of home run balls:
8. Wander Franco continues his historic on-base streak
He’s up there with very elite company:
9. The catches of the weekend: Joc Pederson, Cody Bellinger
A big few days for current and former Dodgers center fielders:
10. The awful umpiring moments of the weekend
There were more, many more (there are always many more) — but the ones that’ll stick in your craw might just be these:
11. The Red Sox blew the game on an obstruction play
Their games are increasingly becoming must-win, as the Rays and Yankees keep winning, and yesterday a sure W for Boston quickly evaporated — as the Indians scored seven runs in the last three innings, culminating with this:
12. And lastly, Justin Turner pitched at Dodger Stadium
Shades on.
