June 16, 2021
1. Streak update: The D’Backs lose yet again, in brutal fashion
That’s 21 straight road losses now. At this point, the newsletter might just become a full-on Diamondbacks ineptitude page.
Here’s what happened. Mike Yastrzemski happened:
Giants down by three. Bottom of the eighth. Two outs. And just like that, the ball soars into the bay, four runs score, Giants lead. Wow.
One of the biggest hits of the entire MLB season. And maybe the single most painful loss in the entire streak for the D’Backs. They’d been leading 7–0 in the second inning. And then. Ouch.
2. A guy in Buffalo caught a Yankee’s first career HR and had a stand-off before giving the ball back
You just hang out on the grassy berm beside a freeway in Buffalo, the Yankees are in town to play the Blue Jays, and just like that you’ve finagled (scammed) your way to a full courtesy package in return for the ball:
Wow, the internet is awesome. Just found video of the negotiation itself:
3. The “sticky stuff” crackdown is starting to backfire for MLB
Yesterday, Tyler Glasnow got injury news that might keep him out the rest of the season — and it’s not a good look for MLB when that happens to the best pitcher on the best team in baseball, and he blames you.
In my mind, Glasnow is 100% right. The sticky stuff isn’t exactly “cheating” (he didn’t use Spider Tack), when every team does it, the majority of pitchers do it, the managers all have a mutual gentlemen’s agreement to not call each other out, the league, fans, umpires and everyone has known about it for years, it’s accepted practice despite breaking a rule (as it’s never enforced). So, to suddenly enforce it midseason as a way to boost offense numbers, that absolutely will lead to injuries, and now Glasnow is out for months or more.
It’s the right move for MLB to end the whole charade, and finally enforce the rule, but not in the middle of a season. Not when pitchers can’t adjust. Not when elbow ligaments will tear and some of the best players might be knocked out completely, without the time to adjust.
4. More reactions to Glasnow and the crackdown
5. A guy named “Skye Bolt” just made his name into a catch
Names and baseball moves don’t get more perfect than that:
And you imagine some corny 1960’s superhero show theme song:
Skye Bolt. Bolting in the sky. Skye Bolt. He’s… our guy!
6. Throws of the night: Willy Adames and Luis Guillorme
And it was more a Marisnick and third-base coach blunder here than anything else, but still — a great relay from the Mets:
7. Quote of the night: Pedro Martinez
No comment necessary.
8. Dodger Stadium opened last night to 100% capacity
And Mookie Betts went yard for the first time in front of a full house, at Chavez Ravine (in Dodgers colors, that is):
9. The Reds won last night on a hit by pitch
Two HBPs in the tenth inning, and the Reds hang on to win, 2–1.
They’re hot, they have the two best hitters in the National League this year (Castellanos and Winker), and the N.L. Central standings are getting a little interesting this week:
10. Amazing tag of the night: Trevor Story
Watch for the second angle, looks even more acrobatic:
Long-rumored (or hoped for) as a possible trade target for the Yankees, and after that Brian Cashman press conference yesterday, you never know:
11. Minor-league players are almost sleeping in their cars
There’s been a lot of talk this year about minor-league salaries and living conditions, without many good solutions — and this week the Baysox (Orioles affiliate) announced that players would “be on their own” for living arrangements:
Remember a few weeks ago, those meals from the A’s organization?
12. Pitchers hitting: Yu Darvish and Julio Urias
Who wants the universal DH when you’ve got these gems?
13. Paul Goldschmidt hits a walk-off solo HR
Getting the Cardinals back over .500 by a game, after a bad two-week stretch. Four games back in the NL Central now:
14. Masahiro Tanaka will pitch in the Tokyo Olympics for Japan
He went back to Japan this offseason to play for the Rakuten Golden Eagles, instead of resigning with the Yankees or any other MLB team, in case you missed it. And so maybe the Olympic team was his plan the whole time?
15. Lastly: The pitcher who puked on the mound just got DFA’d
Step one.
And step two. Brutal turn of events here, for the guy (Beau Burrows):
See you tomorrow, everyone.
