Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter

Happy Days are Here Again?

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:18:15 GMT

Pregame Pepper

. . . Back on the Job Dept.—Three Dodgers have returned from the injured list for the stretch drive: catchers Will Smith (neck) and Dalton Rushing (right arm); and, pitcher Juston Wrobleski (left forearm inflammation).

. . . Crash Text Dummy Dept.—Guardians relief pitcher Carlos Hernandez has returned after recovering from multiple career-t…

Did You Hug Your Opponent Tonight?

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:30:54 GMT

Pregame Pepper

. . . End of an Error Dept.—That would be the end of the Arte Moreno era in Anaheim, which saw five American League West titles in six years, before devolving into the logic-defiant morass that wasted the best years of future Hall of Famer Mike Trout’s career while reducing the organisation’s farm and scouting systems.

Published reports say Moreno has agreed to sell the Angels to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke. Subject to MLB approval, Kroenke will pay a reported $4 billion, more than the price Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones paid to buy the Padres last month.

. . . To the Nine Dept.—The Cubs didn’t end August with a bang; they ended it with a series of nuclear explosions. They massacred their National League Central rival Brewers, 17-3, on Monday . . . including hitting nine home runs (three by reviving third baseman Alex Bregman), the most the Cubs have ever hit in a single game.

. . . Inaccurate Deception Dept.—The Feds have asked a judge to allow proof that disgraced Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz tried to put one over on investigators probing their involvement in a pitch-rigging-for-profit scheme.

Justice Department attorneys want evidence admitted saying Clase told Ortiz to report a $5,000 payment as the price for a horse and that Ortiz failed to report it when MLB investigators asked him, The Athletic reports. Their trial is scheduled to start on 2 November.

Leading Off

Have You Hugged Your Opponent Tonight?

Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle did Monday. Mom and the Bird should be proud.

By Jeff Kallman

I don’t dare suggest that now I or we have seen everything. This is baseball. Every time you think you’ve seen it all, you get disabused.

One thing you’ve seen too much of a lot of is pitchers soothing their egoes after being taken downtown by making the next batter up pay the price. Throwing up and in. Throwing behind. Throwing into the guy. More often than not, that’s a bench-clearing brawl, perhaps a suspension or three, assuredly some very nasty blood.

My own take has always been that, if a pitcher throws at the next guy up because his ego was sent over the fence, if he’s a starter he ought to be suspended two starts without pay, and if he’s a reliever he should get an unpaid week off. No appeal.

Baseballs aren’t spongeballs. They can turn brains into oatmeal. (Never mind who’s got oatmeal for brains.) Even if those brains are protected by batting helmets. Why should Swinger Slappstein face a hole in the head because he made the mistake of being the next batter up after Adam Bomber sent one into the seats?

I don’t know if Red Sox lefthander Payton Tolle had that thought in mind in the third inning Monday night. But Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena turned on a one-out, 0-1 hanging changeup and changed its address to the Green Monster seats. The next man up, designated hitter Dominic Canzone, looked at a strike right down the pipe and nowhere near his jaw, nose, or dome.

Then Canzone swung on a cutter and chopped it off the plate toward the first base side. Tolle pounced off the mound to field it, then met Canzone going up the line and . . . hugged him gregariously, while tagging him out simultaneously, the ball remaining in the pitcher’s glove.

Canzone didn’t exactly look embarrassed. In fact, he grinned and kept smiling after the tag, as he jogged back to the Mariners dugout. Maybe he knew Tolle came by his slightly shocking warm fuzzy honestly.

Too many parents teach their children sports as warfare. Too many players tell each other it’s an honour to share the field of battle. Too many coaches train their charges to be killing machines in ballplayers’ bodies; too many players think they’re supposed to destroy, not merely defeat opponents. Even baseball isn’t immune to that kind of drilling.

Tolle is the product of a mother who taught him to play baseball with nothing but joy. Some of her teaching would have been called embarrassing once upon a time. Jina Tolle habitually hollered out to her son, “You’re so pretty,” when he took the field growing up.

Most boys would have cringed. They might not have bought what Tolle learned early and often, that it was Mom’s way of saying, “I love you,” and they should play the game joyously.

Any sourpusses fuming that someone on the Mariners should have made someone on the Red Sox eat dirt for that hug can just shut the hell up. “You’re so pretty” sure beats the hell out of Kill ‘em all! or Do damage!

If you’re my age, you haven’t seen a pitcher this outgoing on the mound since Mark (The Bird) Fidrych half a century ago. But God spare Tolle the rest of Fidrych’s riches-to-rag-arm story.

Like Tolle, Fidrych got the bulk of his personality from his mother. Virginia Fidrych was once quoted by Thomas Boswell as having told her son, when he went into professional baseball, “You make sure you come home the same nut you’ve always been.”*

I don’t remember Fidrych ever hugging an opponent. (I wouldn’t have put it past him, either.) But I do remember him slapping teammates on the butts with his glove after they made great plays getting him out of temporary jams. He also led the Show with his 2.34 ERA; he led the American League with 24 complete games in 250.1 innings pitched. This Bird was going to fly long distance. Wasn’t he? Not quite.

The Bird in his too-brief flight. Pray that Tolle keeps only the same shameless love for the game.

Fidrych suffered a knee injury the following spring. Then, after an early return that only looked encouraging (and got him a second All-Star berth), shoulder trouble arrived. To stay. Thank a) Fidrych’s own tendency to rush his way back, and b) the Tigers of that era doing little enough to discourage it. Out of the Show for good at 25.**

The Bird was 6’3”, lithe and curls, the perfect doppleganger for the Sesame Street character that lent him his nickname. He returned to his native New England, married, raised a daughter, worked between farming and trucking, and became a popular draw for nonprofits and at Tigers’ alumni events, until his accidental death at 54.

Tolle is a 6’6”, mustachioed steer, the guy you might mistake for the friendly lug who served you a shot and a beer after the previous day’s game. But his mother died of colon cancer at 48 two months before the Red Sox took him number fifty in the draft two years ago. Fidrych talked to baseballs. Tolle ambles out to center field during pre-game warmups and talks to Mom.

“She told me to play with joy and show people why you love this game, and I get to go out there every fifth day, and I get to do that," Tolle told the Sports ON Tap. "She was my best friend and I still talk to her quite a bit. For her to go through that with the mindset she had, it poured into my brother and myself.” (Also in tribute, Tolle’s glove has “You’re So Pretty” embroidered on one finger.)

The good news is that Tolle didn’t quite knock the earth off its axis out of the gate the way Fidrych did. He had a shaky cup of coffee with the Red Sox last year. He’s been terrific, not quite spectacular this season. He cut his fielding-independent pitching in half, from 6.26 in seven games last season to 3.27 in 23 this season. He’s raised his K/BB ratio +1.39; he’s cut his home runs per nine to 1.0; his WHIP has shrunk to 1.10. And he has a 127 ERA+ so far this year.

The better news is that he isn’t being worked to death at 22 the way Fidrych was at 21. He’s on pace to post maybe 160+ innings this year. The Bird? He threw 250.1 innings that Rookie of the Year 1976. Tolle hasn’t seen a complete game yet. He’s averaged about six innings a start. That’s precisely the way to bring and build a 22-year-old, no matter how round, firm, fully packed he looks.

And there’d better not be any movements among the Red Sox veterans to cut the joy out of him, either.

“Maybe this won’t resonate to anyone else, but there are a lot of guys who present as baseball players first and humans as a secondary classification,” writes Lookout Landing’s Isabelle Minasian. “Tolle is distinctly a human playing baseball, and it’s one of the highest compliments I can pay.”

Distinctly a human playing baseball. If you hear a long, lyric whistle coming down from the Elysian Fields, that just might be the Bird tweeting his unapologetic approval.

Jeff Kallman edits the Wednesday and Thursday editions of Here’s the Pitch. He lives and works in Las Vegas. You can reach him at easyace1955@gmail.com or easyace1955@outlook.com.

* The Bronx Zoo Yankees found Mark Fidrych as entertaining as a colonoscopy. They threw things at him on the mound, with ever-genteel manager Billy Martin crowing, “We were feeding the Bird.” Fidrych prevailed against them twice in ‘76, including a complete game shutout in the House That Ruthless Rebuilt that September.

When catching Fidrych talking to the ball before he set to pitch, Yankee third baseman Graig Nettles—one of the few in the Zoo with a real sense of humour—stopped to talk to his bat before stepping into the box. “Now, don’t you listen to that ball,” he said. “You just hit that ball right into the upper deck.”

Nettles struck out. “Japanese bat,” he cracked. “Didn’t understand English.”

** In due course, it was discovered that Fidrych’s rotator cuff was long ruined. But the discovery and repair surgery came in 1985—two years after he ended a final comeback bid in the Red Sox system.

—Ed.

Extra Innings: They Said It, We Didn’t

On the pending sale of the Los Angeles Angels

The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market. We look forward to an exciting future with the Angels organization.

—Stan Kroenke, who’s agreed to buy the Angels through his Kroenke Sports and Entertainment holding company, in a formal statement.

The Moreno Family has been honored to steward the Angels for 23 years and we believe with KSE’s experience and success they are the best next owner for the franchise. The Angels organization looks forward to continuing its commitment to the fans, our employees, the players and our business partner.

—Arte Moreno, Angels owner, in his own formal statement.

Seeing the reaction from the fans and some of the guys and the whole vibe, I think it was needed for a fresh start. The biggest thing is getting that feeling of getting that winning culture back and having that vibe in the clubhouse.

—Mike Trout, the longtime face of the Angels.

Change is what I came in to try to start doing. I wasn't thinking it would be at the very top, but we've certainly been working our way through the organization. We now know there's going to be new ownership here, and as far as our day-to-day jobs, we're going to keep doing what we're supposed to do and keep working toward the future.

—John Mozeliak, Angels general manager, who succeeded the dismissed Perry Minasian this season.

Know Your Editors

Here’s the Pitch is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Benjamin Chase [gopherben@gmail.com] handles the Monday issue with Dan Freedman [dfreedman@lionsgate.com] editing Tuesday and Jeff Kallman [easyace1955@outlook.com] at the helm Wednesday and Thursday. Original editor Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com], does the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Former editor Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] is now co-director [with Benjamin Chase and Jonathan Becker] of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, which publishes this newsletter and the annual ACTA book of the same name. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HtP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.

Pete Crow-Armstrong Can Be Matched But Not Beaten This Season

IBWAA — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 13:32:04 GMT

A Review of The Incredible Chicago Cubs Trivia Book By Al Yellon

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:03:23 GMT

Pregame Pepper

. . . Two trailblazing players celebrate birthdays today. The one no longer with us is Frank Robinson. Robinson was an inner-circle Hall of Fame player, finishing his playing career with 586 home runs. Robinson won the Rookie of the Year in 1956 with Cincinnati, before taking home the MVP award in 1961 with the Reds and the MVP award in 1966 with Baltimore, becoming the first player to win the MVP award in both leagues.

Robinson then blazed a trail that took many years for him to have players join. He became the Cleveland manager in 1975, the first Black manager in MLB. It would take until 1992 for the first Black manager to win a World Series. Now, one of the most revered recent managerial retirees, Dusty Baker, and the current manager of back-to-back champion Los Angeles Dodgers, Dave Roberts, are both Black.

He passed in 2019, but today, he would be 91 years old if he were still alive.

. . . Hideo Nomo turns 58 today. Nomo played five seasons in Japan before coming to the United States in 1995, when he won Rookie of the Year for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He would win 123 games in his major league career. While Nomo was by no means the first Japanese player to play in the majors, he opened the Japanese professional league to a potential signing ground for Major League teams, and while Nomo was the fifth player to debut who was born in Japan. There have now been 83 players who have followed Nomo since 1995.

Leading Off

Review of The Incredible Chicago Cubs Trivia Book [301 Questions for the Super Fan], by Al Yellon; Skyhorse Publishing, INC [Sports Publishing] 2026

By W.H. Johnson

Chicago-based journalist, author and all-around Cubs aficionado Al Yellon has published a remarkable volume of baseball trivia, an aggregation of tough questions presented in a way rarely enjoyed by even the most knowledgeable baseball fan or historian. The Incredible Chicago Cubs Trivia Book contains a staggering number of baseball questions, with difficulty ranging from the obvious to the obscure to the opaque, but it presents both question and answer in such a way as to compel the reader to press on and learn. Missed the question about where the Cubs conducted Spring Training between 1922 and 1951? Catalina Island, of course. Who knew? But the reader quickly moves on to ponder where they spent their pre-seasons during World War II [French Lick, Indiana, naturally]. The chapters are mentally magnetic. It is not an easy book to set aside.

Yellon was formerly a director at ABC-7, a Chicago television station, but has transitioned from that vocation to full-time Cubs [and baseball] enthusiast. Not only does he write for SABR and the IBWAA, he is the managing editor of SB Nation’s Chicago Cubs community site, Bleed Cubbie Blue. He co-authored Cubs By The Numbers [Skyhorse Publishing] and continues to write about all things Cubs in a number of different outlets. His profound knowledge of, and passion for, his subject matter, along with a career of communications experience, has enabled him to produce a trivia compilation far beyond mere Q and A. With every answer, Yellon adds fascinating contextual information, elevating participation in what would otherwise seem like a generic quiz collection.

The entire volume is only 149 pages, including acknowledgments, broken into eight chapters. The contents begin with team history, then move into players and managers, Wrigley Field itself, broadcasters, and several sections of miscellaneous topics that stand alone. Again, though, it is not the questions that fascinate nearly so much as the answers.

Two examples:

“Cap Anson played 146 games in 1892, when he turned 40. He played at least 100 in four of his five later seasons. Name the only Cub in the Modern Era who played 100 or more games in his age-40 season.” Even within the framework of the question, the reader learns [or is reminded] about the durability of Anson over a century earlier. The actual answer to the question is surprising. Gary Gaetti, most notably of Minnesota Twins fame, played two of his final three seasons for the Cubs in 1998 and 1999, appearing in 113 games in the latter at age 40. That the answer was not Ernie Banks or Billy Williams or Ron Santo is perhaps surprising, but at no point would most of us even guess Gary Gaetti.

“Who was the broadcaster originally named by WGN-TV to succeed Jack Brickhouse when he retired?” At first glance, this seems like a ‘gotcha’, an obscure question known only the oldest and most faithful Cub fans. But the answer is, again, fascinating. It turns out that Milo Hamilton, the future Ford Frick Award winner who had so famously called Hank Aaron’s 715^th home run less than a decade earlier, was WGN’s intended replacement for the legendary Brickhouse, but after a season sharing the microphone with Harry Caray, Hamilton headed south to take over the Astros’ broadcast duties for the next 28 years.

Those are just two of the gems in this book.

The most appealing aspect of Incredible Cubs Trivia is that it is worthwhile for everyone, including ardent Cardinals’ fans. While that rivalry between Chicago and St. Louis, on the field, has been almost bitter at times, this volume is never polarizing. The Chicago Cubs are as old as any team in the history of the professional game, so their story routinely intersects with baseball’s collective narrative. The questions are certainly Cub-centric, but the answers and the associated context flesh out an array of baseball anecdotes and facts that might otherwise be ignored or forgotten. Anyone investing the time in going through this book will almost necessarily come away better informed about, and entertained by, the game we all love.

Al Yellon is to be commended for compiling this wonderful collection. I cannot recommend it highly enough to every baseball fan, especially North-siders. This is a joyful read, and resonates with the author’s love of the game and his team. Reading it may not convert you into a Cub fan, but it will definitely affirm your interest in baseball.

Bill Johnson has contributed over 50 essays to SABR’s Biography Project and presented papers at the 2011 Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture, the 2017 and 2023 Jerry Malloy Negro League Conferences, and the inaugural Southern Negro League Conference. He has authored a biography of Hal Trosky (McFarland and Co., 2017), an article about Negro American League All-Star Art “Superman” Pennington in the journal Black Ball, and publishes a Substack newsletter “Baseball Marks the Time” among his various outlets.

Extra Innings

On this day in 1990, Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr. both suited up for the Seattle Mariners, the first time a father and son ever played in the same lineup for a team in Major League Baseball (Willie Wells and Willie Wells Jr did so in the Negro Leagues). Senior went 1-for-4 with a walk in the second spot in the lineup. He also had an outfield assist, throwing out Bo Jackson at second base. Junior went 1-for-4 in the third spot in the lineup. Randy Johnson got the win in a 5-2 Mariners victory. Later that same season, they would have back-to-back homers:

Know Your Editors

Here’s the Pitch is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Benjamin Chase [biggentleben@hotmail.com] handles the Monday issue with Dan Freedman [dfreedman@lionsgate.com] editing Tuesday and Jeff Kallman [easyace1955@outlook.com] at the helm Wednesday and Thursday. Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com], does the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Former editor Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] is now co-director [with Benjamin Chase and Jonathan Becker] of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, which publishes this newsletter and the annual ACTA book of the same name. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HtP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.

Color Me Lavender, Mets Bullpen Boasts

IBWAA — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 11:02:31 GMT

Pregame Pepper

A bunch of American League teams struggling to play .500 ball are still in the hunt for undeserved playoff spots:

the Red Sox and Yankees occupy the top two spots by a wide margin, meaning eight teams are hovering around the .500 mark (or even below it) and clamoring for just one remaining spot . . .

Timing is everything: the pitching-short Cubs hope erstwhile ace Justin Steele (3.30 career ERA) can return by late September or at least for postseason play, which the team should reach for the second straight year . . .

Cincy slugger Sal Stewart could have control of the NL rookie race if he finishes first in RBIs, though Mets Carson Benge and Nolan McLean plus St. Louis second baseman JJ Wetherholt may give him competition . . .

Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki, a surprise star in last year’s World Series, left the game in Atlanta Wednesday with a finger blister likely to idle him for much of September . . .

The next night, Chris Sale’s first complete game since 2019 was a masterful 1-0 shutout that included 11 strikeouts but no walks — Atlanta’s first 1-0 win over the Dodgers since 2010 as the Braves closed to within one game in its bid for the second NL playoff bye . . .

The joint decision of Sale and new Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner that he throw more often between starts mirrors the philosophy of Leo Mazzone, the team’s pitching coach throughout its record 14-year title run . . .

Hard to believe the Reds put Eugenio Suarez on waivers the night after his ninth-inning grand slam fueled a 10-9 win over the Giants.

Leading Off

Giving Nate Lavender His Well-Deserved Flowers

By Allen Settle

Rookie reliever Nate Lavender is making a name for himself. Credit: New York Mets

The New York Mets’ disappointing season drove them to become aggressive sellers at the 2026 trade deadline. In the blink of an eye, the Mets shipped away bullpen stalwarts to other clubs. Luke Weaver became a Pirate. AJ Minter became a Twin. Brooks Raley joined the rival Phillies. And Huascar Brazabon was traded to the White Sox. That left massive holes in the bullpen.

Thankfully, President David Stearns has been able to recreate some of the magic that he built a reputation for during his time with the Milwaukee Brewers: finding bullpen diamonds in the rough. While talents like Daniel Duarte, Jefry Yan, Dedniel Núñez, and a repurposed Kodai Senga have all exceeded expectations, no one has burst onto the scene with more force than lefty Nate Lavender!

The rookie reliever did not appear to have the makings of an MLB asset. The former 14th-round draft pick (by the Mets in 2021) attended a small college near his hometown (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). Lavender’s slow progress to Triple-A also suffered a massive blow when he had a variation of Tommy John’s surgery in 2024. This led to him leaving the Mets after being selected in the Rule-5 draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.

The hurdles appeared insurmountable. He had no prospect pedigree. He suffered a major elbow injury. And any goodwill with the franchise that drafted him was now gone. Yet, Lavender continued to produce.

He pitched to a solid 2.78 ERA across 158.2 innings pitched across all minor-league levels, including a 3.54 mark in 84 innings in Triple-A. Lavender returned to the Mets organization in November 2025 and earned his first MLB callup after the trade deadline firesale.

As he has done at every other turn, Lavender has made the very most of his opportunity. The lefty has yet to allow a run in his first nine MLB appearances. He also boasts a dazzling ratio of 11 strikeouts to just two walks (albeit across a small sample size).

In addition to the stretch of scoreless production, Lavender has also opened his career by retiring 28 of the 31 batters he’s faced, allowing only one hit in that span (per MLB’s Anthony DiComo).

Over the course of a few weeks, Lavender is making the transition from a minor-leaguer to a potential staple of the Mets bullpen in 2027 and beyond. Credit to Stearns and his staff for identifying and developing a starting-caliber talent. And even more credit to Nate Lavender for overcoming the gauntlet of early-career hurdles and proving he belongs in The Show!

Allen Settle is an MLB writer who has never given up his passion for the beautiful game of baseball! He is an IBWAA member who has written as a contributor for the Fansided network, covering the New York Mets and Miami Marlins. You can connect with him on X at @AllenSettleMLB or at settledownsport@gmail.com.

Cleaning Up

Pope’s New Crown Bears White Sox Logo

White Sox version of Pope Hat

By Dan Schlossberg

Now that they’ve moved from worst to first, Pope Leo is pleased to pose for photos in the Pope hat distributed to fans at the Aug. 11 game of the Chicago White Sox.

Leo XIV, a Chicago native and unabashed Sox fan, received a custom, team-themed papal miter at the Vatican.

Some 40,000 fans at Guaranteed Rate Park got similar hats, bearing one lone sock emblematic of the team, before a game against the Reds.

Pope Leo was a civilian when he attended the 2005 World Series and has been known to wear traditional Sox caps around the Vatican.

The first American pope received the custom-made hat from another Chicago native, Augustinian Father Tom McCarthy, after it arrived in Vatican City.

No word yet on seeing the game when seated behind anyone modeling the pointed headware.

Perhaps the pope hat has magical qualities: Will Venable should be the unanimous AL Manager of the Year for turning a 100-loss team into a powerful pennant contender overnight.

HtP weekend editor Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ has never seen a pope hat in person. Maybe a trip to Chicago’s South Side this post-season will fill that void. Dan’s email is ballauthor@gmail.com.

Extra Innings: No-Hitters Of Note

Two unrelated right-handed pitchers named Sam Jones threw no-hitters in the major leagues . . .

“Sad” Sam Jones threw one on Sept. 4, 1923, for the Yankees against the Philadelphia Athletics at Shibe Park, while Sam “Toothpick” Jones pitched one for the Chicago Cubs against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 12, 1955 . . .

Sad Sam’s gem was unusual because he did not strike out a single opposing hitter . . .

The latter was not only the first no-hitter thrown by a black pitcher in the big leagues but also had a crazy ending: Jones walked the first three men in the ninth before striking out the side . . .

The three men he fanned with the bases loaded were Dick Groat, the rookie Roberto Clemente, and the original Frank Thomas . . .

Jones, who had a penchant for wildness, walked seven in his no-hit effort . . .

The record for walks in a no-hitter is 11, by Blue Moon Odom and Francisco Barrios of the White Sox on June 28, 1976, though two other no-hitters had 10 (Jim Maloney in 1965 and Steve Barber two years later in a nine-inning stint before removal) . . .

The most free passes ever yielded in a complete-game no-hitter were 9 by A.J. Burnett of the Marlins against the Padres on May 12, 2001.

Know Your Editors

End of August = End of “Dog Days”

IBWAA — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:02:41 GMT

Pregame Pepper

Before their six-run, ninth-inning rally at Citizens Bank Park Sunday, the Phillies hadn’t swept three straight series since September 2022, hadn’t overcome a four-run deficit in the ninth inning since August 2019, and hadn’t hit a walk-off home run since Kyle Schwarber, hero of the comeback 6-4 win against the Cards, hit one against the Dodgers on June 9, 2023 . . .

Philadelphia’s ninth straight win cut its NL East deficit to three by Monday morning as the team prepared for a tough, three-city road trip through the NL West . . .

That trip started with a crushing 9-2 loss Monday at Seattle, where Cal Raleigh emerged from his season-long slump with the first three-homer game of his career . . .

Philly starter Zack Wheeler gave up five in the first and eight earned runs in four innings as his troubling performance continued . . .

The visiting Phils lost the second game, too, with “Furious” George Kirby dominating for the Mariners . . .

Michael Harris II, elevated to Atlanta’s leadoff spot for the Little League Classic Sunday, provided a key insurance run with a ninth-inning solo homer, capping a 4-2 win over Milwaukee that was the first ever posted by the visiting team . . .

Ozzie Albies, diminutive second baseman of the Braves, once played for the Curacao Little League team that watched the big-leaguers play after winning a 1-0 game in the Little League World Series . . .

Seating capacity at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport is 2,600 . . .

The Dodgers already miss Andy Pages at bat and in the field while he spends the next month on the sidelines with a fractured left hand though he’s expected back before the playoffs . . .

Yankees ace Max Fried, out with a recurrence of left elbow pain, is expected back this weekend — not a moment too soon as the team also copes with injuries to sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton . . .

Willy Adames, on the other hand, could be lost to the struggling Giants for the year after injuring his elbow while sliding last weekend.

Leading Off

End of the ‘Dog Days’

By W.H. Johnson

The Dog Days of Summer: “The time of year when the weather is hot, the body tired and, for the handful of teams that aren’t close to the wild card, the games meaningless.”

–- Stephen Cannella, Sports Illustrated, Aug. 20, 2001

The phrase has long been a part of the collective lexicon of baseball broadcasters.

“The Dog Days of Summer” are the period –- generally in August -– when summer heat dominates the US and imposes desires for idle languor, lemonade, a shady tree, and stillness.

It’s not the gentle, Spanish-moss-swaying-in-the-live-oak-trees type of summer heat that one might imagine from a visceral reading of Faulkner or Tennessee Williams, warm and moist, inviting romance and contemplation.

This time of year, the heat soaks into the bones, sapping strength and the will to move. Its origin dates back to ancient Greece, when astronomers noted that the appearance of the star Sirius, the Dog Star, in the night sky accompanied the hottest season in the Northern hemisphere. The Dog Days were annually heralded by the cosmos themselves.

Today, in the “real” world of baseball, the days are announced on the air and in the media, with that period marking the inevitable transition from early-season hope and trade-deadline hype to the reality that it’s time to wait ‘til next year.

The [insert one of 20 or-so-team names here] aren’t getting any better. The prospects too often play like under-developed 20-somethings. The veterans are banged up, if even able to stay on the field, and the media is predicting various October matchups of the few elite teams with zealous anticipation.

In the past, the positive side of the hot weather has been an uptick in offense, especially slugging. But even that is out of play this year. As Joe Sheehan wrote a few weeks ago, “…this year, slugging, home runs, and overall offense have been shockingly low.” So here we are.

There have been surprises, as there always are: teams that have not faded, such as a Cubs team that continues to refuse to let Milwaukee run away with the division.

There have been extraordinary resurrections, like this year’s Boston Red Sox. Left for [figurative] dead with a 32-46 record in a rigorous AL East division on June 24, the team ran off a 34-5 span through early August and propelled itself into serious post-season contention. Yes, they have cooled a bit, but their resurgence is what all fans of every team seek, and that glimmer of ‘the unexpected yet possible’ is one source of our collective hope.

There have been teams that, after early-season slumps, were supposed to improve.

The Mets, Reds and Mariners -– the latter two having made the post-season last year –- all left spring training with rosters judged acceptable for the 2026 campaign. Per FanGraphs, none of the three are expected to finish above .500. Teams like the Angels, the Rockies, and the Athletics take the field every day knowing they are playing for shreds of pride only, nothing more. The fans understand this as well, but that shared awareness does not make the pill any less bitter.

The Dog Days too often mark the end of the road for teams. The 2026 Giants are going to suffer another losing season, the World Series parades of the 2010s long ago marching into the proverbial sunset. This year, adding insult to injury, the Dog Days ushered in an even more painful twist with the announcement of long-time superstar broadcaster Mike Krukow’s retirement at the end of the year.

“Kruk” has been with the organization since the mid-1980s, first as a survivor of the worst team in Giants’ storied franchise history, the 100-loss 1985 squad, and then as a 20-game winner for the team in 1986. He and partner Duane Kuiper have entertained the Bay Area faithful for 36 years and have made seasons like 2026 watchable to the fan base. That his body has forced him into retirement, that the inevitable contest against Father Time is once again a losing proposition, makes the announcement at this particular time of year so very appropriate.

The is no value in lamenting the Dog Days. They are relentlessly consistent, arriving each season with some version of unpalatable reality, or confirmation that the next two months may be enormously entertaining. But come they do.

As they give way to pennant chases and football season, the passage of the Dog Days also offer an opportunity to appreciate the joy of watching baseball. If the majority of prognosticators are accurate, there is a near-zero chance that there will be no baseball in February, no balm for snow and ice and bitter cold, and no prospect of your team shocking the world and winning a pennant. Now is the time, the Dog Days imply, to appreciate the blessings of the game and the joy it brings on a daily basis.

Unless you are a Giants’ fan, in which case there are still 28 other teams to cheer for in pursuit of Dodger demise.

Either way, enjoy!

Cleaning Up

Arraez Chases 4th Batting Crown — With 4th Team

By Dan Schlossberg

They don’t call him Line-Drive Luis for nothing. Credit: Philadelphia Phillies

Before 2026, Luis Arraez was the only baseball player to win batting titles with three different teams. Now he’s likely to do it again.

Arraez, who has played second base and batted fourth for Philadelphia ever since the Phillies obtained him from San Francisco at the trade deadline, is simply the game’s penultimate contact hitter.

He led his league in hitting with the 2022 Twins, 2023 Marlins, and 2024 Padres. He’ll finish this season with the Phillies after starting it with the Giants.

Players have won more batting titles but no one has spread the wealth among four different teams.

Rogers Hornsby and Bill Madlock led the National League twice apiece, as did Lefty O’Doul and Ernie Lombardi. Jimmie Foxx and Napoleon Lajoie did the same for American League clubs. DJ LeMahieu also won a pair — one in each league.

And then there was Arraez, a good-hit, no-field infielder with such bad hands at second base that was actually moved to first by the Fish.

But that was before he and infield guru Ron Washington crossed paths in San Francisco.

As if possessed by magic, Arraez suddenly became a highly-capable fielder. In fact, he insisted he would not report to any team that acquired him unless he could play second base.

All of a sudden, Arraez is batting fourth for the Phillies, a team that used the trade deadline as a springboard to get back into contention for their third straight NL East crown — even though Atlanta has led the race throughout the campaign.

Line-Drive Luis doesn’t hit with much power but the proximity of the fences in Citizens Bank Park have helped him hit more than expected since he landed in the City of Brotherly Love.

When his contract expires this fall, Arraez will have increased his stock on the free agent market enormously. But he’d be even more valuable if willing to play first or serve as a full-time designated hitter.

Only time will tell.

HtP weekend editor Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ covers baseball for Lucas Communications, USA TODAY Sports Weekly, Sports Collectors Digest, and many other outlets. His email is ballauthor@gmail.com.

Extra Innings: Price of Long Lockout

Things that could be lost during the likely lockout:

Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego

Hall of Fame Veterans Committee announcement (Baker, Bochy, etc.)

Free agent signings

All player transactions

Salaries for players, coaches managers

Jobs of stadium vendors, hoteliers, airline workers, security men

Spring Training exhibition games

Integrity of 2027 schedule

All-Star Game at Wrigley Field, Chicago

Little League Classic (Cubs v Blue Jays) on Thursday, Aug. 19

Know Your Editors

Hometown Props for Negro Leagues Legend at Last

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:31:13 GMT

Pregame Pepper

. . . The Answer Isn’t Dept.—The Cubs spent three games scoring a club-record thirty unanswered runs, from their come-from-behind 19-2 demolition of the Mariners Sunday until the Diamondbacks scored three in the eighth Tuesday. (The Cubs shut the Snakes out 7-0, Monday, but fell 5-4 Tuesday after losing a 4-0 lead.) They broke their prior …

Who Should Have a License to Steal?

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:30:52 GMT

Pregame Pepper

. . . Out-of-Town Brown Dept.—The Astros executed general manager Dana Brown Monday just after finishing a losing homestand. The issues, according to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome:

1) He promised “a bevy” of player extensions but delivered only two.
2) Trading and free agency signings haven’t “aged well,” though he did get three members of today’s Astros when sending Kyle Tucker to the Cubs.
3) He added six pitchers to the big league roster—three of whom have since been designated for assignment after all six combined for a 5.51 ERA.

. . . Prove It Dept.—Commissioner Milquetoast swore during a Little League Classic television interview Sunday that he wants MLB in action next season. Now read it without giving in to the temptation to laugh.

. . . Family Affair Dept.—The new, husband-and-wife owners of the Padres, José E. Feliciano (no known relation to the legendary singer/guitarist) and Kwanza Jones, swore at a Monday press conference they’ll spend ambitiously but judiciously. They also swore to revert to the legacy of late, fan-and-player-friendly owner Peter Seidler.

. . . Up from the Dumps Dept.—Season-slumping Cal Raleigh arose from the baseball dead with a roar against the Phillies Monday: the first three-home run game of the switch-hitting catcher’s major league career, which played large enough in ending the Phillies’s nine-game winning streak, 9-2:

Eno Sarris of The Athletic has analysed Raleigh’s season and concluded, among other things, that Raleigh’s prime issue this year—he’s already bound to finish with the lowest home run total the season following a 60-homer campaign—has been swinging at more balls than strikes, including taking pitches coming right down the pipe.

Leading Off

Who Should Have a License to Steal (Signs)?

Players? Sure. Coaches? “Bulls—t.” So says one D’Backs pitcher, anyway.

By Jeff Kallman

Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) and his mates thought Cubs third base coach Quintin Berry’s open left hand was sending a fifth-inning sign that Kelly was about to throw his changeup Monday. The Cubs batter is Michael Busch—who struck out twice on Kelly changeups.

Merrill Kelly was not amused. Neither were those on the Diamondbacks’s bench Monday. Especially not bench coach Jeff Banister and pitching coach Brian Kaplan. With the Cubs up 2-0, Kelly stepped off the mound in the fifth. He wanted a quick reset, with Seiya Suzuki on second following an RBI double.

But he also wanted Cubs third base coach Quintin Berry arrested for grand theft changeup. “Every time I was throwing a changeup,” the husky righthander said postgame, “we felt like he was relaying that.”

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, who’d had enough recent headaches over the Ketel Marte disappearance-turned-injured list term, did his level best to keep his man’s head on business, not monkey business. Let’s reset, the skipper urged. You pitch. I’ll manage. We get out of this inning. And, we get you off the hook with some runs.

Lovullo should have waved a magic wand. The Diamondbacks got no runs Monday. Not for Kelly or anyone else. Not off Kevin Gausman or two other Cub pitchers. The Cubs won, 7-0. And nobody was arrested, frisked, arraigned, indicted, tried, convicted, or executed.

If Berry were a player, Kelly wouldn’t take umbrage. He said it himself. “Stealing signs is as old as baseball,” Kelly said. “I think it’s a little bulls—t when it comes from a coach.”

I think if it’s a guy on second base and they see the grip in your glove or if the hitters can see something that you’re doing with your glove, I think that’s fair game. I think guys have been doing that since the beginning of baseball. I think it’s a little bush league when it comes from outside that.

We ought to pause to remember Berry was a player once upon a time. He’s probably remembered best for three pinch running appearances in the 2013 Red Sox’s march to their third of four 21st Century World Series conquests. And, for each one of those appearances resulting in a stolen base. It’s not unrealistic to presume Berry learned a few things about tells and spells in such roles.

Never mind that the long arm of Astrogate made illegal, off-field-based, electronic sign stealing something you try only if you leave your brains in a formaldehyde jar. Busting those Astros, not to mention busting those using MLB-provided replay rooms for sign stealing (we’re talking about you, 2018 Boston Rogue Sox), wasn’t going to put an end to on-field games of Spy vs. Spy.

Diamondbacks coaches Jeff Banister (bench) and Brian Kaplan (pitching) either jawing toward the Cubs dugout or demanding plate umpire Larry Barnett take action—or both . . .

Doing it on and from the field? Kelly’s desires notwithstanding, Berry broke no written baseball law. The coaches were less than thrilled when baseball government cracked down on keeping them in their designated coaching lanes. But those alarms had most to do with safety issues. They were far more fearful of getting drilled by line drives than getting caught cracking codes or with their pants down when their counterparts cracked them.

“The tradition of professional baseball,” sportswriting legend Heywood Broun wrote in 1923, “always has been agreeably free of chivalry.” Kelly thinks there should be a kind of chivalry about sign-stealing. Namely, that coaches shouldn’t. If you’re a player, steal away. If you’re a coach, keep your meathooks to yourself. (And, your eyes, ears, and anything else on your person.)

The verbal sniping between Kelly, the Snakes, and the Cubs, didn’t stop when Kelly worked his way out of the fifth. It didn’t stop when Lovullo lifted Kelly for Taylor Clarke after a two-out single in the sixth. It didn’t necessarily stop when Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly welcomed Clarke with a pair of back-to-back home runs. It seemed to continue to a lesser extent by the time Ian Happ (RBI double) and Nico Hoerner (sacrifice fly) parked the final two Cub runs home in the seventh.

There is a certain new paranoia across the game when it comes to pitch tipping. “[T]he increase in multi-camera operating systems,” writes The Athletic’s Johnny Flores, Jr., “has created a scenario in which every little movement can be further scrutinized, potentially putting one club at an advantage over another.”

. . . That, plus dugout iPads and the presence of a pitch-clock that puts every pitcher on a strict timeline, have teams more fearful than ever. A crackdown on iPad usage in mid-July was meant to assuage some of the issue; however, as Monday night illustrated, even one step or sign could have players fearing the worst.

Kelly may be unaware that coaches who weren’t illegally or unethically based off field to steal signs (hello, Herman Franks, 1951 Giants) were still involved in codebreakings from their coaching lines. Long as they did it on the field—not from the stands or the bullpens (hello, Mick Billyer) or behind the fences or even beyond the ballpark*—very few really complained.

As recorded by ESPN.com, Kelly threw 28 changeups while he was on the mound Monday, only one of which produced an earned run, when Pedro Ramírex tripled Happ home with two out in the second. Both Happ and Ramírez reached base hitting changeups. The Cubs got five hits off Kelly but those were the only hits on changeups.

If Berry really did have Kelly’s changeup cold, however, maybe the Cubs missed the signs. The righthander got two of his four strikeouts (both Michael Busch) on changeups; he got two ground outs and a fly out on changeups.

Will players agreeing with Kelly hold to their no-coaches-involved stance when their own coaches might hand them valuably decoded on-field intelligence? We’ll wait for the signs.

Jeff Kallman edits the Wednesday and Thursday editions of Here’s the Pitch. He lives and works in Las Vegas. You can reach him at easyace1955@gmail.com or easyace1955@outlook.com.

* Once upon a time, it was alleged that the sign stealing tricks used by the 1910-1914 Philadelphia Athletics included stationing someone with a telescopic device atop a building beyond the center field end of their ballpark, to steal signs and relay them by turning a flag on that roof one way or another.—Ed.

Extra Innings: They Said It, We Didn’t

On whether 2027 will be disrupted or disappeared by a lockout

We’re meeting regularly, which is good. Every week, we’ve had days where we’ve met with the players. It’s early, but we’ve got a lot of work to do, and we’re at it.

Look, our goal is to make a deal. We want to make a deal. We want to play baseball next year. We’re planning on playing baseball next year.

—Rob Manfred, baseball commissioner.

On Cal Raleigh’s slump-busting three-homer night

—T-Mobile Park scoreboard operators, Seattle.

On whether Cubs coach Quintin Berry caught Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly tipping his changeups

We were barking at their third-base coach and he was barking back. And what’s funny in April is not funny in August, everybody’s edgy. And they’re protecting their side, we’re protecting our side. And that’s as far as I wanna go with that.

—Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks manager.

That’s gamesmanship that goes on every day in the league.

—Craig Counsell, Cubs manager.

Know Your Editors

Joshua Báez Has A Debut For The Ages

IBWAA — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 04:30:33 GMT

What’s Behind the Dodgers’ Super Payroll?

IBWAA — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:03:34 GMT

Pregame Pepper

. . . Today is the anniversary of rare pitching appearances for two Hall of Fame hitters. In the first game of a doubleheader, George Sisler pitched five innings of relief, allowing one run. Sisler made 24 appearances in his career, throwing 111 innings, throwing 70 innings in 1915, his rookie year.

. . . In 1940, Ted Williams made the only pitching appearance of his illustrious career. He threw the final two innings of a 12-1 loss to Detroit. He allowed one run and struck out one.

. . . On the flip side, on this day in 2010, in a 16-inning marathon against his former team, the Houston Astros, Roy Oswalt ends up in left field for the Phillies in his first and only appearance anywhere but the pitcher’s mound in his career. He made a putout on his only chance in the field.

Leading Off

What’s Behind the Dodgers’ Super Payroll?

By Miguel Riera

The Los Angeles Dodgers have turned spending into one of their primary competitive tools. While other teams try to balance talent and payroll, Los Angeles continues to find ways to add stars, take on enormous contracts and commit money for decades. But behind that ability to spend lies a financial structure far more complex than a baseball payroll.

In recent weeks, that structure has drawn attention from a place far removed from the field: financial documents and investigations involving companies connected to the business environment of Mark Walter, the Dodgers’ controlling owner. The story gained particular relevance through the analysis of regulatory filings by financial researcher Nick Nemeth, who identified approximately $1.45 billion in American Media Productions (AMP) debt spread across five insurance companies connected, to varying degrees, to Walter’s business ecosystem.

Reuters subsequently reported that the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating certain financial relationships within that ecosystem. It is important to separate the two: Nemeth’s financial analysis brought certain investments and corporate relationships into focus; the federal investigation is a separate matter and does not mean the Dodgers have been accused of wrongdoing.

So why does this matter to baseball?

AMP is the company behind SportsNet LA, the network that broadcasts Dodgers games and one of the organization’s most important economic assets. The regulatory filings analyzed show approximately $277 million in exposure at Delaware Life, $310 million at Clear Spring Life, $371.5 million at Security Benefit, $350 million at EquiTrust and $140 million at Heritage Life.

The figure is substantial, but it is also important to understand what it means. This is not $1.45 billion that the Dodgers personally owe, nor is there public evidence that this money was used directly to finance player contracts. These are obligations of AMP. The relevant question is the relationship between these entities and how some of those investments were classified in regulatory filings.

One of the situations drawing the most attention involves Delaware Life. Some investments connected to AMP that had previously been identified as affiliated were later classified as unaffiliated. Reuters reported that an internal review found errors related to the presentation of certain investments and that Delaware Life plans to replace as much as $6.5 billion in related investments with assets classified as independent.

All of this is happening while the Dodgers continue to benefit from an extraordinary television structure. In 2013, the Dodgers and Time Warner Cable agreed to a 25-year deal valued at approximately $8.35 billion for SportsNet LA. Forbes also documented a historical peculiarity in how those television rights were treated for revenue-sharing purposes. During the sale of the Dodgers following Frank McCourt’s bankruptcy, MLB and Guggenheim established a market value for the television rights considerably below the average value of the contract that was ultimately reached. Forbes estimated that the difference could represent an accumulated advantage of nearly $2 billion over the life of the agreement.

That helps explain why the Dodgers’ financial position cannot be analyzed simply by looking at their payroll. Behind it is an extraordinarily valuable television asset and a historical structure that allows the organization to retain enormous financial capacity.

Then there is another tool: deferred money.

Shohei Ohtani’s contract is the best-known example. Of his $700 million deal, approximately $680 million will be paid after his playing career is over. The Dodgers will have to pay that money, but deferring it allows them to preserve greater liquidity in the present and use resources to build a competitive roster. Los Angeles’ deferred salary obligations to multiple players now exceed $1 billion.

The organization, therefore, does not simply have the ability to generate money. It also has the ability to decide when to use it.

Could this situation eventually influence MLB’s discussions about competitive balance?

It is too early to know. There is not enough evidence to conclude that these structures were designed to circumvent MLB rules, artificially reduce revenue sharing or directly finance the Dodgers’ payroll. But the case could contribute to a discussion that is likely to return during the next CBA: how far should financial-transparency rules go when owners can use corporate structures far more complex than those of a traditional sports franchise?

There is another element that could become relevant if the Dodgers’ ownership structure ever changes. ESPN reported that Ohtani’s contract contains a clause allowing him to opt out under certain circumstances involving the continued presence of Mark Walter or Andrew Friedman with the organization. That does not mean the Dodgers are currently being sold, nor does it establish a connection between the Lakers’ sale and this investigation. It simply demonstrates how closely financial and baseball decisions are connected in the modern game.

For now, there is no definitive conclusion about the legality of these structures. There are documents, investments, corporate relationships and an investigation that still has to run its course.

But one reality is already clear: the Dodgers do not simply have a large payroll. They have built a financial machine capable of sustaining it.

And perhaps that is the question MLB will eventually have to answer: where does the competitive advantage of an exceptionally well-run organization end, and where does a financial advantage begin that baseball’s rules should attempt to limit?

To understand the Dodgers’ true power, perhaps it is no longer enough to watch the field.

You have to follow the money.

Miguel Riera is an IBWAA member and covers baseball for Lineup al Dia. He can be found on a number of platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Riera is a member of the IBWAA and SABR, and is currently enrolled in the Baseball General Manager & Scouting program at Sports Management Worldwide (SMWW).

Extra Innings

The second-longest career of any player born today is shared by former catcher Hank Gowdy, who played between 1910 and 1930. Gowdy played sparingly in his first five seasons before capturing the starting job for the Boston Braves, famously known as the “Miracle Braves” of 1914. Gowdy was known as the first player to volunteer for military service during World War I. He finished his career with 24.6 bWAR. Gowdy was born on this day in 1889 and died on Aug. 1, 1966.

Know Your Editors

Here’s the Pitch is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Benjamin Chase [biggentleben@hotmail.com] handles the Monday issue with Dan Freedman [dfreedman@lionsgate.com] editing Tuesday and Jeff Kallman [easyace1955@outlook.com] at the helm Wednesday and Thursday. Original editor Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com], does the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Former editor Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] is now co-director [with Benjamin Chase and Jonathan Becker] of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, which publishes this newsletter and the annual ACTA book of the same name. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HtP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.

Mets Were Right To Dump 3 Former Stars

IBWAA — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:01:21 GMT

Reader Reacts on Tommy John & More

“Just read your piece about Tommy John being or not being in The Hall of Fame [Friday newsletter] and I could not agree more.
But let’s go a tad deeper…to my way of thinking. For me, a player (or person) to be considered for Hall Induction should have made a difference in the era he played.
I agree wholeheartedly with all your reasons TJ should have been elected by the writers, but an even bigger difference was because of the courage he had to change the course of history for so many after him. If his courage didn’t make a difference, that’s another reason the Hall has been diminished.
I also think Dr. Jobe should have a special place in the Hall too. What a difference he made for so many AND for the game also.
As long as I’m on this ‘rant’, no way a vet committee doesn’t elect Joe West a plaque.
West literally donned a big league uniform and walked onto a big-league field more then anyone EVER. If that’s not making a difference I don’t know what is. And oh yeah, his post-season credentials are of Hall caliber too. (As an aside, Bill Haller should be in too)
The writers have done an injustice to Dale Murphy and Lou Whitaker too, in my humble opinion.
I think you were perhaps a tad in front of your time too when you questioned and wrote a book about not seeing another 300-game winner.
My, how our game has changed over our lifetimes!

— Al Clark, Williamsburg, VA

[Editor’s Note: Al Clark, a major-league umpire for 26 years, authored many more opinions in his autobiography Called Out But Safe. He once considered following in his sportswriter father’s footsteps.]

Pregame Pepper

Since Andy Green replaced Carlos Mendoza as manager of the Mets June 26, the team has gone 24-23 to spark faint hopes of a miracle finish . . .

When play started this weekend, the team needed to win 25 of its final 34 to reach 83 wins — matching the total won by the third and final NL wild-card club last year . . .

FanGraphs gives the Mets an 0.1 per cent chance of qualifying for post-season play . . .

If nothing else, the denizens of Flushing have unveiled rookie outfielders Carson Benge and AJ Ewing, both harbingers of a bright future in Queens . . .

Benge is the only Mets rookie since Darryl Strawberry in 1983 to produce at least 15 homers and 15 steals — not to mention extraordinary right field defense . . .

He threw out Padres base-runners at home twice in the first inning, on consecutive plays in the first inning . . .

One season-long bright spot for the Mets — the radio work of retiring play-by-play man Howie Rose — will be recognized Sept. 20 before the last CitiField home game of the season . . .

Ex-Met Jacob deGrom has stayed off the Texas IL this year but suffered issues with his hip, right glute, and triceps — not to mention advancing athletic age (37).

Leading Off

Mets Boss Stearns Made Right Decisions on Nimmo, McNeil, and Diaz

By Allen Settle

Edwin Diaz was a stud in New York but a bust in L.A. Credit: Dan Schlossberg

Everyone wants to be a leader … until it is time to make difficult leadership decisions.

New York Mets president David Stearns has lived out this mantra in 2026. The adversity began when he made the controversial decisions to move on from homegrown stars Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil while also failing to retain star closer Edwin Díaz or first baseman Pete Alonso, the team’s all-time home run leader.

The second wave of hardship came when the club, which entered the season with strong postseason aspirations, stumbled to an abysmal 40-57 record at the All-Star break.

Despite the Mets’ disappointing season, it is now clear that Stearns may have misjudged his decision to let Alonso leave but made the correct decision to move on from Nimmo, Díaz, and McNeil. While all three played important roles for New York in 2025, none would have benefited the 2026 club as much as the players now occupying their roster spots.

McNeil, the 2022 NL batting champion, is in the midst of the worst season of his career at age 34. Despite playing in the hitter-friendly Sacramento ballpark, the veteran is batting just .262 with a career-low 86 OPS+ (meaning he has been 14 per cent worse than a league-average hitter). He has also graded out as a poor defender.

Meanwhile, 2025 All-Star Edwin Díaz has struggled mightily in his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Normally one of baseball’s most dominant ninth-inning options, Díaz has battled multiple injuries and owns an unplayable 11.85 ERA and 2.651 WHIP. While current Mets closer Devin Williams has been far from perfect, his 4.66 ERA and 16 saves make him appear to be the safer bet to provide value in 2027.

Then there is the case of long-time Met Brandon Nimmo. The 11-year veteran has performed well in his first season with the Texas Rangers, posting a solid .273 batting average with 13 home runs, 48 RBI, and a 123 OPS+.

Many will naturally compare Nimmo’s impressive production with Marcus Semien’s lackluster .208 average, 14 home runs, 41 RBI, and ugly 73 OPS+. On the surface, that looks like a clear downgrade for New York.

However, fans must also consider that moving Nimmo helped open the door for the most exciting development of the 2026 season: the emergence of rookie outfielders Carson Benge and AJ Ewing.

Benge, a top-three NL Rookie of the Year candidate, has established himself as a potential future cornerstone. He has nearly matched Nimmo’s production with a .270 average, 14 home runs, 49 RBI, and a 108 OPS+. He has also added 18 stolen bases and Gold Glove-caliber defense.

Meanwhile, Ewing has thrived since his May 12 call-up. He has posted solid numbers across the board, batting .247 with seven home runs and seven stolen bases. His 89th-percentile range, 93rd-percentile arm strength, and 94th-percentile sprint speed make him the perfect package of elite defense and electric athleticism.

If New York had retained Nimmo, the club would have been hard-pressed to find enough playing time for him, Ewing, Benge, Juan Soto, and Luis Robert Jr. In that scenario, Benge likely would not have received the Opening Day call-up, and Ewing could still be stuck in the minor leagues.

While Nimmo was undoubtedly the hardest piece to lose, building a future around Soto, Benge, and Ewing is a far more compelling scenario than continuing to trot out a 33-year-old Nimmo.

Stearns and the Mets still have plenty of work to do as they attempt to turn this potential-laden but underachieving roster into a consistent winner. Stearns has certainly not been a perfect decision-maker.

But when it comes to Nimmo, Díaz, and McNeil, Stearns made the difficult calls—and, at least so far, they look like the right ones.

Cleaning Up

Why Are Punchless Braves Playing Three Men Short?

By Dan Schlossberg

Ha-seong Kim hasn’t been worth a dime of his $20 million contract.

Major-league teams are allowed to carry 26 players on their rosters — usually 13 pitchers and the same number of position players.

That being said, it’s amazing the Atlanta Braves continue to play three men short.

Surely they could add players who would provide better production than Ha-suong Kim, Sean Murphy, or Dom Smith.

While Smith surprised observers with his strong start this season, he has fallen into his usual spot below the Mendoza Line this month. Kim and Murphy have been there all season — after spending the first half on the Injured List.

With the red-hot Phillies suddenly in hot pursuit of the NL East title they won each of the last two years, the Braves can’t continue to coast with 23 able-bodied ballplayers while teams in the rest of the division — even the last-place Mets — have 26.

Murphy may remain a better defender than Drake Baldwin but his batting has been putrid three years in a row, with consecutive marks of .193 and .199 before slipping out of sight with .136 this year, albeit in limited action (11 games). But why would Walt Weiss give him more?

He’s no better than Chadwick Tromp or Sandy Leon at the plate — and Kim is even worse. Signed to a one-year pact, Kim injured his thumb so severely that he missed the first half. Since returning, he’s “hit” a robust .066 with a .165 on-base percentage.

With those numbers, he doesn’t even deserve a spot on the bench.

Neither does Smith, whose lack of power makes him a dubious choice for designated hitter — especially when the team could sign veteran free agents Marcell Ozuna or Jorge Soler or promote lefty slugger Rowdy Tellez, who has 13 homers at AAA Gwinnett.

We also wonder why the Braves signed Andrew McCutchen and Carlos Santana, DH types who showed they could still perform during just-ended lengthy trials in Triple-A. Either would be better than Smith too.

Tellez, who hit 35 home runs for Milwaukee just four years ago, is precisely the kind of left-handed power threat the Atlanta DH slot needs. And did we mention Santana is a switch-hitter with an excellent eye at the plate? He drew more than 100 walks in four different seasons.

Atlanta has lost five games off its recent nine-and-a-half game division lead. But the hitting — or lack of it — is more to blame than the pitching.

Losing speedsters Jorge Mateo (released) and Eli White (traded) hasn’t helped and keeping Jonah Heim, a switch-hitting catcher who’s hit 10 homers in 67 games with the Athletics, would have been preferable to keeping Murphy (both are Gold Glove winners). The Braves have also traded All-Star catchers William Contreras and Shea Langeliers in recent years.

Starting Aug. 7, they lost two of three at Yankee Stadium, then went home to win two of three from the Mets before dropping two of three against Arizona and losing three straight to Minnesota, a former Atlanta punching bag. The overall offensive output — even in a 2-0 win against the White Sox Thursday — was pitiful.

Their next six games, starting tonight, are at Milwaukee and then at home against the Dodgers. They also face the Phillies seven times in 10 days starting Sept. 4. Oy.

At least the pitching hasn’t been bad. But most of the hitters, with the notable exception of Matt Olson and Michael Harris, haven’t kept up.

Now the Braves will have to work to keep a lead that gets smaller every day.

HtP weekend editor Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ covers baseball for Lucas Communications, USA TODAY Sports Weekly, Sports Collectors Digest, Memories & Dreams, and assorted other outlets. His email is ballauthor@gmail.com.

Extra Innings: Stinkers by the Dozen

“You move from the West Coast to the East Coast and it’s a culture shock. It’s a completely different place and it takes time to adjust.”

— Helot Ramos after his Deadline Day trade from the Giants to the Yankees

When the story of the 2026 season is written, the Ugly may take the race over the Good and the Bad. Here’s why:

The Dodgers haven’t gotten a dime’s worth of help from star free agents Kyle Tucker (four years, $240 million) or Edwin Diaz (three years, $69 million) . . .

Two-time World Series MVP Corey Seager, on the Texas IL much of the season, just raised his batting average to an anemic .213 . . .

In Atlanta, former MVP Ronald Acuna, Jr. is striking out so often that observers wonder whether he needs glasses . . .

Teammate Austin Riley, previously a notorious streak hitter, hasn’t had his usual hot streak and is threatening the Braves’ club record for striking out . . .

Ha-seong Kim, in his first full year with the Braves, is so far below the Mendoza Line that the team is considering cutting his varsity spot despite his guaranteed $20 million pact . . .

The Money Pit: Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. hasn’t homered in hitter-friendly Rogers Centre in more than a year . . .

Another pre-season pick to dethrone Aaron Judge as American League MVP, Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh dropped from 60 home runs last year to 13 this time, accompanied by a .156 batting mark that would be decent only as an ERA . . .

And Jorge Polanco, signed to succeed Pete Alonso as first baseman for the New York Mets, finished an injury-riddled campaign with two homers and six RBIs — as compared to Alonso’s 29 homers and 82 RBIs (so far) for Baltimore.

Know Your Editors

CJ Abrams Makes a Name For Himself

IBWAA — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:03:22 GMT

Pregame Pepper

Before he became the first man in baseball history to homer in his first three at-bats, Joshua Baez of the Cardinals had a four-homer game in Triple-A . . .

At the opposite extreme, Kyle Tucker has been a $60 million boondoggle for the Dodgers, who watched the free agent signee struggle to reach the Mendoza Line since the All-Star break . . .

After three starts for the Dodgers, Tarik Skubal had yet to record his first National League victory . . .

Meanwhile, closer Edwin Diaz is back on the IL: he worked seven times before hitting the Dodger IL in April and undergoing surgery to address loose bodies in his elbow. He was Reinstated at the end of July, he has allowed 11 earned runs in 7 2/3 innings since coming off the IL and is now back on the list again, this time with neck problems . . .

In a baseball version of Whack-a-Mole, his arrival coincided with the return of Blake Snell, another lefty with two Cy Young trophies, who had made only one start over the first four months . . .

Max Fried never made more than 30 as a Brave because of a myriad of injuries but last year led the majors with 19 wins in 32 starts spanning 195 1/3 innings — all career peaks after signing an eight-year, $218 million free agent contract with the Yankees . . .

His elbow began to bark early in 2026, his second season in pinstripes, and eventually cost him nine weeks on the injured list — the first time around — and perhaps the rest of the season now that he’s sidelined again . . .

When the original Yankee Stadium opened in 1923, it was the first ballpark with a warning track instead of an incline that alerted outfielders they were approaching the wall . . .

Ace Atlanta southpaw Chris Sale could join Dazzy Vance (1928 Brooklyn Dodgers) as the only Lively Ball (since 1920) pitchers age 37 or older to post a sub-2.10 ERA and 200+ strikeouts in the same campaign.

Leading Off

Abrams is July 2026 NL Player of the Month

By Andrew Sharp

CJ Abrams has taken the capital by storm.

[Editor’s Note: CJ Abrams was expected to play second base for the first time last night, but sprained his ankle and wasn’t in the lineup. Neither were James Wood, another injured All-Star, or the traded Luis Garcia, Jr. and Curtis Mead.]

Two-time All-Star CJ Abrams was named NL Player of the Month for July. The Nationals’ shortstop hit .348 with five doubles, 10 homers, 23 RBI and six stolen bases, scored 17 runs, had a .742 slugging percentage and posted a 1.149 OPS in 23 games.

Abrams, voted the NL’s starting shortstop for the All-Star game, also showed improved selectivity at the plate in July, walking 11 times. He had 42 bases-on-balls at the end of the month after walking just 37 times all season in 2025. His .360 on-base percentage was .45 higher than his lifetime mark.

Obtained from San Diego in the Juan Soto trade at the 2022 deadline, Abrams has been the Nats’ starting shortstop since then. Like Abrams, two others obtained in the trade –- James Wood and MacKenzie Gore -- also became all-stars for the Nats.

Nationals’ fans were relieved that Paul Tobani, the team’s president of baseball operations, resisted trade offers at the 2026 deadline, despite the swirling rumors about all the teams that wanted the 25-year-old shortstop.

Abrams frequently flashes brilliance in the field, although he makes too many bad throws and muffs more than his share on routine grounders. As a result, the Nats are moving him to second base this week, presumably for the rest of this season and beyond.

Still, his renewed focus and training, weight and diet have paid off this season as he has exceeded his career highs in all the frequently-cited offensive statistics, with more than a month to go in 2026.

His 29 homers rank second on the Nationals to the still-injured Wood’s 30. CJ’s 91 RBIs as of Aug. 18 was one behind the league leader.

Abrams is the second current National to be named Player of the Month. Daylen Lile was recognized for the honor in September 2025, paired with Lile also being named September’s Rookie of the Month.

Andrew Sharp is a retired newspaper journalist and a SABR member. He was raised in the D.C. area as a fan of Senators I and II. He blogs about D.C. baseball at washingtonbaseballhistory.com

Cleaning Up

Tommy John Belongs in Cooperstown

By Dan Schlossberg

Tommy John once told me he’d rather have 12 more wins than have a surgery named after him.

The handsome Indiana native, who passed away last weekend at age 83, won 288 games over 26 seasons, one short of Nolan Ryan’s record for longevity. No pitcher not associated with steroids ever won more.

But the Hall of Fame never came calling, with writers instead considering John a compiler rather than a pitcher of Cooperstown caliber.

The four-time All-Star had a 3.34 career earned run average — excellent in the era of the designated hitter — and 46 shutouts, another stat that jumps off the page when compared to the current quick-hook days of 100 pitches or five innings, whichever comes first. He led his league in shutouts three times.

John went all the way 162 times — matching the number of games in a season — while reaching 20 wins three times, most recently with a career-best 22 for the 1980 Yankees.

He also pitched for the Indians, White Sox, Dodgers, Angels, and Athletics.

The soft-tossing southpaw averaged only 4.3 strikeouts per nine innings, never exceeding 138 in a season, and never stepped into the enormous shoes of strikeout artists Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, who preceded him with the Dodgers. That may be the reason he doesn’t share their wall space in Cooperstown.

Another reason for his absence could have been his failure to win a World Series ring. He reached the Fall Classic three times, posting a 2-1 record and 2.67 ERA, but never got to celebrate a world championship.

Just 31 when he tore his UCL during the 1975 season, John submitted to the elbow ligament transplant surgery that was then considered experimental. Performed by Dr. Frank Jobe, then team physician for the Dodgers, the operation worked, allowing the lefty to win 164 games after his return in 1977.

He never won a Cy Young but finished second in the voting twice — in ‘77 and again two years later.

“He did so much in the game,” said Ron Guidry, another star southpaw who wore Yankee pinstripes. “It was great having him on the team. He was so knowledgable.

“When we were together, we were pretty much 1-2 on the staff and having him around gave me great comfort. He would answer any question you had.”

Current Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, who also recovered from Tommy John surgery, called the former Yankee a trailblazer. “What great perserverance he had, venturing into the unknown and writing the book — writing the script for how to push through it, overcome, and ultimately have success afterwards.”

Hundreds of hurlers, including Hall of Famer John Smoltz, have bounced back from the operation, in which a tendon from John’s right forearm was used to rewire his left elbow. Max Fried, the star southpaw on the Yankees staff, is also a survivor.

“I wouldn’t have been able to continue pitching without it,” John said, speaking for the growing fraternity that had the surgery.

Always available to the media, the well-spoken pitcher served as a broadcaster and minor-league manager after his retirement as a player in 1989.

HtP weekend editor Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ covers baseball for Lucas Communications, Sports Collectors Digest, USA TODAY Sports Weekly, Sports Byline USA, Memories & Dreams, and other outlets. His email is ballauthor@gmail.com.

Extra Innings

Atlanta had won 11 straight games from the Twins before losing all three of this week’s series at Target Field, where they never even had a lead in any game . . .

The Braves began their current road trip in an offensive malaise similar to the one that afflicted them in the month of June, when the Phillies closed to within two games of the NL East lead . . .

Compounding the problem is the fact that Atlanta has the third-toughest remaining schedule, including the next six games against the Brewers and Dodgers . . .

When the Twins played in the Metrodome, players hated the 44 steps they needed to navigate between the field and the clubhouse — and Cal Ripken, Jr. figured out a way to make the run in 12 steps . . .

Kudos to the Brewers for their 22-0 win over Seattle that featured a nine-run outburst in the bottom of the eighth inning . . .

Consistency counts: Shohei Ohtani, still the front-runner in an MVP race that also includes Matt Olson and Pete Crow-Armstrong, has produced his eighth straight 30-homer season.

Know Your Editors

Fun Playoff Race Doesn’t Mean Expanding the Field

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:31:07 GMT

Pregame Pepper

. . . Knee Rambler Dept.—Ketel Marte apparently jumped the Diamondbacks to return to Arizona for a left knee MRI. It didn’t make manager Torey Lovullo’s life any simpler.

. . . Sunken Dept.—The 22-0 torpedoing the Brewers fired upon the Mariners Tuesday tied MLB’s modern-era (1900 forward) demolition record. (The two other such 22-0 destroy…

A Career 150 OPS+: Almost a Cooperstown Ticket

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:31:10 GMT

Pregame Pepper

. . . Coming In with a Bang (or Three) Dept.—In the immortal words of Vin Scully, you really ought to see and hear it for yourselves, so we’re just going to keep our mouths shut:

. . . Josh the Ripper Dept.—You may have noticed young Joshua Baéz wears the uniform number (22) once worn by once-upon-a-time Cardinals first baseman/bomber Jack (the Ripper) Clark.

. . . Welcome Back to the Club Dept.—The 30-30 club, that is. The newest repeat member: Pete Crow-Armstrong, who had a day to remember against the Cubs’s rival White Sox Monday: a four-hit day that included two home runs to make 30 (one a walkoff) and a stolen base to make 30. This gave PCA back-to-back 30-30s.

. . . Bookends Dept.—In the same game, Crow-Armstrong became the first player in sixteen years to open a game with a home run (he hit Luis Castillo’s first pitch of the game into the right field bleachers) and win it with a home run. (A leadoff blast against reliever Hagen Smith in the bottom of the tenth.)

. . . Soul Brothers Six Dept.—From the indispensable Sarah Langs: Five other players have opened and closed games with home runs in major league history: Chris Young (7 August 2010), Ian Kinsler (19 July 2009), Reed Johnson (15 June 2003), Darin Erstad (25 June 2000), and Vic Power (7 May 1957).

. . . Total Bases Tandem Dept.—Incidentally, Ms. Langs informs further that PCA also became one of only two players to have four games with ten or more total bases in two seasons. (PCA: 2025, 2026.) The other: Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx (1933, 1938).

. . . Elbowed Aside Dept.—It’s a second left elbow bone bruise for Yankees LHP Max Fried and a second injured list term (retroactive to 14 August) with it. Friend missed time with a similar injury earlier this season. This the day before Carlos Rodon (LHP) returns from the IL.

. . . Designated Hider Dept.—That would be Diamondbacks DH Ketel Marte, who was a no-show for the Snakes’s game against the Red Sox in Fenway Park Monday. Manager Torey Lovullo said Marte’s placement on the restricted list is because of a “personal issue” on which neither the skipper nor the team elaborated.

Last season, Marte missed three games including two on the restricted list when he high-tailed it home to the Dominican Republic after his house was burglarised.

Leading Off

A 150 OPS+: Almost a Cooperstown Ticket

By Mark Kolier

Gavy Cravath, the Dead Ball Era’s home run king.

I find Adjusted On-Base-Plus-Slugging (OPS+), to be a useful measure of a player’s performance. It’s not a statistic I grew up knowing anything about. Thanks to the advances in analytics, stemming in large part from the work of the great Bill James, fans are familiar with the idea that a player could be x% better than the ‘statistical average’ player.

It’s important to note that OPS+ adjusts for factors such as different ballparks and overall league scoring environments. Many of the career leaders in Adjusted OPS+ never knew they were leading in that category, because the statistic had not yet been thought up!

As of early August 2026, there are 42 players in MLB history that have a career Adjusted OPS+ of 150 or more. (In baseball, the number 42 always seems to turn up, doesn’t it?) For the charts below I had to break up the list of 42 into two sections and repeated Hall of Famer Roger Connor as a placeholder.

I included a few of the players with 149 career OPS+ so you could see that two of the three are Hall of Famers, but Benny Kauff did not play the required ten major league seasons to be eligible.

Even if he had, Kauff never would get in, as he was banned from baseball in 1921 by Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis (who was fond of bans), due to a controversial arrest of Kauff and indictment for auto theft. Kauff was acquitted of the auto-theft charge, yet Landis nevertheless refused to reinstate him because Landis believed the trial revealed undesirable associations/conduct. But that’s another story.

The Hall of Famers are indicated with the + sign, so non-Hall of Famers currently total fourteen; or, 33% of the total. Active players Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Yordan Alvarez are all currently ineligible, with the first four already possessing or rapidly building compelling Hall cases.

The best of the non-Hall of Fame 150+ OPS+ players

Gavy Cravath (151)—I’ve written about Gavy before. He would be a worthy inclusion.*

Charlie Keller (152)—It always amused me that he did not like being called King Kong Keller, which it seems he took as an insult instead of a compliment. Keller had a strange career, never playing more than 83 games after his age 29 season. Being overshadowed by such Hall of Fame Yankee teammates as Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, and a late-career Lou Gehrig didn’t help. Sometimes, being a great Yankee can still get you lost amongst other great Yankees.

Pete Browning (163) – Browning played from 1882-1894 and had a career .341 batting average. He played more than fifty percent of his career (eight seasons) in the American Association**, which may have impacted his being elected. Browning continues to be a glaring omission to the Hall of Fame in the eyes of many, including me.

The ‘woulda’, ‘coulda’, ‘shoulda’ group

Manny Ramirez (154), Mark McGwire (163), Joe Jackson (170), and Barry Bonds (182), are all excluded from Cooperstown for reasons that have been well documented. On their playing records alone, all four have obvious Hall of Fame credentials.

Like Pete Browning, Charley Jones (150), and Dave Orr (162) were 19^th century stars. Orr did not play the required 10 MLB seasons, so that lets him out.

Charley Jones was the 268^th player to ever play major league baseball. Statistics included on his Baseball Reference page include his time in the National Association, which predates the National League but generally is not recognized by MLB as a major league. That makes him more difficult to evaluate.

Jones led his league in home runs in 1877 with two in 57 games. He was born Benjamin Wesley Rippay on April 30, 1852, on a farm in Alamance County, North Carolina. It’s a shame he changed his name. ‘Rippay rips one’ has a nice ring to it!

Not counting Mr. Jones, out of the 42 players with career 150+ OPS+, only Cravath, Keller, and Browning are arguably HOFers. It would be nice if a number like 150 OPS+, fifty percent better offensively than league average, was a mandate for having your ticket stamped for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. But it doesn’t work that way. The exceptions are interesting and worth discussion since there are so few.

Also, having five active players in the top twenty for Adjusted Career OPS+ is impressive.

Among modern eligible players with 150+ career OPS+, Charlie Keller is essentially the only Hall omission whose candidacy isn’t explained by eligibility, a short career, or an extraordinary off-field issue. Among modern eligible players with 150+ career OPS+, Keller is essentially the only Hall omission without an obvious explanation beyond the relatively short length of his career.***

Barring extraordinary circumstances, I think it’s safe to say that a player who puts together a substantial career of ten or more seasons and finishes with an OPS+ of 150 or better will ultimately find his way to Cooperstown.

About the Author: Mark Kolier along with his son Gordon co-hosts a baseball podcast called ‘Almost Cooperstown’. He also has written baseball-related articles that can be accessed on Medium.com and Substack.com.

Editor’s Notes:

* A dead-ball era power hitter, Cravath the opposite-field-hitting righty hit 78 percent of his lifetime home runs at home, in Baker Bowl:

** The original American Association was formed in 1882 and disbanded in 1891. Four of its franchises joined and survived a downsizing in the National League. You know them today as the Cincinnati Reds, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the St. Louis Cardinals. The original AA is recognised officially as having been a major league.

*** Charlie Keller was a great power hitter before he missed a year and a half to wartime service in the merchant marine. He returned to the Yankees in August 1945, according to his Society for American Baseball Research biography, posted a splendid 1946, but suffered a slipped disc in 1947.

Surgery to remove the disc was successful, but Keller was never the same player again: he was never able to play another full season—and never hit more than six home runs in any of his final seasons, including two with the Tigers—before his retirement in 1952.

King Kong bought land for farming, expanded it in due course, and enjoyed the farming life until his death at 73 in 1990.

Extra Innings: They Said It, We Didn’t

On going 30-30 in the same game:

Today, I was like, “Man, it's pedal to the metal.” Have some conviction in the swings that you're taking. Don't be afraid to swing and miss kind of stuff. Simple as that really.

—Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs center fielder, after his two-bomb, one-steal 30-30 entry Monday.

This might be his best game in the big leagues right here. It was an amazing game.

—Craig Counsell, Cubs manager.

On power hitting in the Dead Ball Era

Short singles are like left-hand jabs in the boxing ring, but a home run is a knock-out punch. It is the clean-up man of the club that does the heavy scoring work even if he is wide in the shoulders and slow on his feet. There is no advice I can give in batting, except to hammer the ball. Some players steal bases with hook slides and speed. I steal bases with my bat.

—Gavy Cravath, whose single-season home run record Babe Ruth broke in 1919.

On Baker Bowl’s uber-short-distance right field wall

That fence isn’t always a friend to the home run slugger. I have hit that fence a good many times with a long drive that would have kept right on for a triple or a home run if the fence hadn’t been there. There are always two sides to every fence.

—Cravath, to Baseball Magazine editor F.C. Lane.

Last Licks: Tommy John, RIP

Longtime major league lefthanded pitcher Tommy John died last Saturday at 83, a week after he made a public farewell statement following his entry into hospice care. The first patient for the ulnat collateral ligament replacement surgery that’s borne his name since, John pitched fourteen major league seasons after rehabbing from the procedure.

Here’s the Pitch extends condolences to the John family and offers a few recollections of the brainy southpaw.

On the post-surgery durability of the late Tommy John

[It] wasn’t defined by Ryan-like velocity or anything remotely close to it. To watch John pitch was to wonder how it was possible he could be so good for so long. He didn’t strike out many hitters, and he didn’t move with the easy athleticism you might expect from a basketball prospect out of the Hoosier state, Indiana, who fielded numerous Division I offers.

The sinkerballer instead beat people with his willpower and guile. He became what the Yankees called Sunday “a bedrock of our rotation” and, despite failing to win a World Series ring, finished his career with a record of 6-3 and an ERA of 2.65 in 14 postseason games.

—Ian O’Connor, The Athletic.

Tommy John was the joker in the 1969 Topps baseball card deck.

On the immediate results

I know they had to give him a new arm. But did they have to give him Sandy Koufax’s?

—Pete Rose, after facing Tommy John post-surgery. (Lifetime, Rose’s slash line against Koufax was .175/.217/.193. Against John: .231/.286/.277.)

When they operated, I told them to put in a [Sandy] Koufax fastball. They did—but it was Mrs. Koufax’s.

—Tommy John.

On the other side of Tommy John’s, shall we say, guile . . .

Tommy John is the elegant Rhett Butler of outlaws. In the fine Whitey Ford tradition of mudballers and scuffballers, the gentlemanly John can turn a tiny scratch into a double play grounder. Asked how many pitches he has, John said, “Four basic ones—fastball, curve, slider, and changeup—plus eight illegal ones.” Then he gave his best Sunday school smile.

—Thomas Boswell, in “Salvation by Salivation,” How Life Imitates the World Series (1982).

That’s much, much more than a real scuffballer would need. God, Gaylord Perry or Tommy John could make this ball sing “The Star Spangled Banner.”

—Mike Flanagan, Orioles pitcher, showing Boswell a fresh ball into which he cut three inch-long scars with a coat hanger’s hook end.

Tommy John and Don Sutton. If anyone can find one smooth ball from that game, he ought to send it to Cooperstown.

—Anonymous scout in the Anaheim Stadium press box, 28 August 1987, after John and Sutton were the starting pitchers for the Yankees and the Angels, a game the Yankees won in eleven innings, 3-2. (Neither pitcher factored in the decision; they both came out with the score tied at two.)

Know Your Editors

The Sad And Forgotten Story Of Hank Thompson

IBWAA — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 13:30:56 GMT

The Seattle Mariners: Built In Everett

IBWAA — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:03:16 GMT

Pregame Pepper

. . . The namesake of the biggest innovation in recent MLB history passed away when Tommy John passed away on Saturday. John was a strong pitcher for the Dodgers in the early 1970s when his elbow failed. So many pitchers before him had the same injury happen, but John connected with surgeon Frank Jobe and had a revolutionary ligament surgery. He returned to the mound in 1976, and in his first full season back to the mound in 1977, he won 20 games. Overall, he won 288 games, and between his on-field success and his off-field impact on the game, John absolutely should be enshrined in Cooperstown. He was 83.

. . . While certainly nowhere near the impact of the game as John, Butch Huskey was innovative in his own way. Playing with the New York Mets, Huskey wore number 42 as a tribute to Jackie Robinson. Two years into his career, Major League Baseball retired Robinson’s number across the league, and Huskey was among a small group of players grandfathered in to wear the number in the future after the retirement. Huskey played 642 games across seven MLB seasons. He passed away on Friday at age 54.

. . . The weekend also saw the passing of a college baseball legend. Skip Bertman began his legendary coaching career as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for Miami in 1976. He won a national title with the Hurricanes in that role before moving to LSU in 1984 as the head coach. He turned around the program, heading to Omaha four times before winning his first championship in 1991. That would be the first of five titles in a 10-year span for LSU and Bertman. He retired from the field to become LSU’s athletic director in 2001. Bertman is widely considered among the top coaches in college baseball history. He passed on Friday at 88 years old.

Leading Off

Seattle, We Have a Problem

By Miguel Riera

Before reaching the Major Leagues, a baseball player goes through different levels and stages of development designed to maximize his talent and help him pursue the dream of reaching the highest level of the game.

Before reaching T-Mobile Park, a player in the Seattle Mariners organization must move through different levels, cities, coaches, teammates and competitive situations that help shape and refine him—not only as a baseball player, but also as a person.

For the Mariners, an important part of that process happens in Everett, Wash., through their High-A affiliate, the Everett AquaSox.

The AquaSox represent much more than another level within the organization. They are an important piece of a structure designed to turn talent into players prepared to compete at the highest levels of professional baseball, while also developing a winning mindset.

Because the process begins long before a player arrives in Everett.

Scouts and the teams responsible for the draft and international player identification and signings have the responsibility of finding the pieces that could become part of the organization’s future. But once that talent is selected and signed, another challenge begins: finding the best way to maximize each player’s potential.

And to do that, it is not enough to select well.

You have to develop well.

That process requires a structure capable of working with each player, understanding his needs and finding the right tools to take his talent to the next level. It requires good coaches and managers, but also a front-office structure that allows all those pieces to work in the same direction.

An Organization Built Around Development

The work being done in Everett is the result of a structure that involves much more than the coaching staff.

People such as Dan Tzlaft, Mike McCallaghan and Evan Morud have helped build an organization capable of serving as a true partner in the Seattle Mariners’ player-development process.

Each from his own area, but with a common objective: creating an environment where players, coaches and staff can do their jobs and where Everett can fulfill its role within the organization it belongs to.

The most visible result of that work came in 2025, when the AquaSox won the Northwest League championship.

But the championship can be viewed as more than the result of a successful season. It can also be seen as the realization of a competitive culture in which individual development and a winning mentality are part of the same process.

The Talent Behind the Talent

Once a player arrives in Everett, a new stage begins.

Ryan Scott, Zach Vincej, Hecmart Nieves and Edgardo Rivera represent different experiences within professional baseball and are part of a structure designed to address the different areas a young player needs to develop.

They are joined by specialized coaches and professionals who can work with players on specific aspects of their game and help improve the smallest details. Even figures with the experience of Franklin Gutiérrez can provide specialized knowledge that complements the coaching staff’s daily work.

Experience in winter baseball also brings a particular value.

Those who have worked in winter leagues understand an environment where players from different countries, cultures, playing styles and levels of experience share the same clubhouse. It is a different school of baseball, one that forces players and coaches to adapt quickly and understand different ways of competing.

That experience can be critical in player development.

It is not simply about teaching mechanics.

It is about understanding the game and finding the best way to communicate it to each player.

Everett and Seattle: A Proximity That Matters

Everett’s location is also part of its value within the Mariners’ system.

Its proximity to Seattle can become an advantage when circumstances require quick decisions.

This season provided a perfect example.

Seattle was dealing with a difficult stretch of injuries and needed an additional outfielder. At the same time, Tacoma, the organization’s Triple-A affiliate, was playing on the road.

Everett was at home.

The solution came from there.

Curtis Washington received the call from the AquaSox and had the opportunity to join the Seattle Mariners.

For the player, it was a chance to move closer to the dream of reaching the Major Leagues.

For the organization, it was a practical demonstration of how a development system works when several elements come together: prepared talent, roster needs, player availability and geographic proximity.

The path to the Major Leagues is not always linear.

Sometimes a player can move from High-A directly to the Major Leagues because circumstances require it.

When that happens, the preparation has to be there.

Building a Winning DNA

Individual development and a winning mentality do not have to be opposing concepts.

A player can improve his swing while learning how to compete.

He can develop his defensive tools while learning how to handle pressure.

He can improve his decision-making while understanding what it means to be part of a team that expects to win.

That is part of what Everett has been building.

The 2025 Northwest League championship demonstrated that development and competitiveness can coexist.

The primary purpose of High-A remains developing players for the levels ahead. But teaching them how to compete, respond to adversity and understand what it means to win is also part of preparing them for Seattle.

A winning DNA does not appear overnight.

It is built.

It is passed down.

And eventually, it becomes culture.

A New Chapter

For years, Everett Memorial Stadium has been part of the history of the AquaSox and baseball in the city.

Now Everett is preparing for a new chapter with the development of a new stadium that will give the organization better facilities and new opportunities to continue developing players.

But the future of the AquaSox should not be measured only by the characteristics of the new stadium.

The true value of a player-development organization is found in its people.

In the coaches who teach.

In the specialists who work on every detail.

In the people building the structure from the front office.

In those who identify the talent.

And in those responsible for turning that talent into players prepared for the next level.

The stadium can change the setting.

Culture can change careers.

And Everett has already shown that it can be much more than a stop on the road to Seattle.

This is where the next group of players headed to T-Mobile Park begins to take shape—players who could one day help the Seattle Mariners pursue the first World Series championship in franchise history.

Extra Innings

Turning 43 today is former MVP, All-Star, and World Series champion Dustin Pedroia. The Red Sox drafted Pedroia out of Arizona State in the second round in 2004. By 2006, Pedroia had reached the majors, and he won the Rookie of the Year award in 2007 and the MVP in 2008, then was the Wilson Overall Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, showing how balanced his excellence was between his hitting and fielding. Unfortunately, Pedroia’s 30s were rough, primarily due to injury, as he played just 496 games over six seasons before retiring after the 2019 season. Pedroia’s JAWS mark is above new Hall of Famer Jeff Kent among second basemen, and nearly doubling his Hall of Fame vote total in his second year of balloting could indicate that Pedroia will eventually also find his plaque hanging in Cooperstown.

Know Your Editors

Here’s the Pitch is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Benjamin Chase [biggentleben@hotmail.com] handles the Monday issue with Dan Freedman [dfreedman@lionsgate.com] editing Tuesday and Jeff Kallman [easyace1955@outlook.com] at the helm Wednesday and Thursday. Original editor Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com], does the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Former editor Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] is now co-director [with Benjamin Chase and Jonathan Becker] of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, which publishes this newsletter and the annual ACTA book of the same name. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HtP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.

Astros' Alvarez Bids For MLB Triple Crown

IBWAA — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:01:05 GMT

Pregame Pepper

The rich get richer: two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell has returned to the Dodgers, fortifying their rotation for the stretch drive after injuries (shoulder and more) held him to one start and three innings before Tuesday night this season . . .

Entering play Wednesday, the streaking San Diego Padres forged a three-way tie with the Phillies and Diamondbacks for the final two NL wild-card spots — a dead heat with 41 games left on the schedule . . .

Three World Series have involved non-championship teams — wild-card winners who advanced in both leagues at the same time . . .

Since Pope Leo grew up in Chicago and went to White Sox games, the team gave out “Pope hats” to fans as a promotion . . .

Speaking of the surprising Sox, the rival Cleveland Guardians have been sinking in the AL Central standings since the trade deadline . . .

Leading Off

The Great Home Run Race: Triple Crown Is In Play

By Dan Schlossberg

Matt Olson is on pace to break his own team home run record with the Braves. Credit: Atlanta Braves

Triple Crowns are so rare that the last time one player led both leagues in batting, home runs, and runs batted in was 70 years ago.

But the record of Mickey Mantle, who did it for the Yankees in 1956, could have company this summer.

Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros found himself locked in a four-way tie for the major-league home run lead when he woke up Wednesday morning.

Kyle Schwarber, Matt Olson, and Junior Caminero also had 35 home runs at that point in time.

Alvarez, 29, is a 6’4” left-handed hitter now in his eighth season in the majors. And he’s just about clinched this year’s Most Valuable Player Award in the American League.

Two mornings ago, he was leading the league with a .322 batting average, .435 on-base percentage, .623 slugging mark, and 1.058 OPS (on-base plus slugging).

In addition, nobody had more than his 269 total bases, 139 hits, or 80 runs scored — all achieved in 119 games.

No one has won even a single-league Triple Crown since Miguel Cabrera of the 2012 Detroit Tigers. And no one has won the elusive trophy in the National League since Joe Medwick did it with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1937 (that’s no typo).

It’s just so rare for a power-hitter to also produce a winning batting average.

Schwarber, to cite the best example, had a .250 average on Wednesday but even that was rare air for him. He owns a .233 career mark.

As for Olson, he went into Wednesday night action with a .266 mark for 2026 but only .258 lifetime.

Caminero was only slightly better: .277 for this year, .266 for his four-year career.

Alvarez, on the other hand, has a .300 lifetime average and has reached that mark in three previous seasons.

The race may depend upon the various team schedules. Schwarber, for example, got a boost by smacking two into-the-cornfield homers Thursday in the annual Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa.

He also plays 81 home games in a notorious bandbox, Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.

Alvarez would have an even easier target in Daikin Park, formerly called Minute Maid Park, if he batted right-handed. As a left-handed slugger, he faces the same handicap as Ted Williams did in Fenway, where the short wall in left field is an easy target.

Caminero hit a career-peak 45 home runs last year, when the Rays played home games in a minor-league park in Tampa, but the domed Tropicana Field is hardly a haven for home run hitters.

All American League hitters love playing in West Sacramento, temporary home of the Athletics while their new Las Vegas stadium is under construction. The ball simply flies there.

With Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers likely sidelined for the season, the Athletics are virtually certain to suffer the consequences, with pitchers giving up far more home runs to visitors than the home team produces.

As for The Great Home Run Race, all four participants play for contending clubs.

Tampa Bay and Atlanta reside atop the two Eastern Divisions but Philadelphia is second to the Braves in the NL. The two teams have seven games left against each other but Atlanta’s current lead looks formidable.

Houston, meanwhile, is engaged in a tight divisional race with the upstate Texas Rangers for supremacy of the AL West, with Seattle also within a hot streak of the lead. What Alvarez does down the stretch could be as critical as what Cal Raleigh did for the Mariners last year.

The Olson-Schwarber contest has the added flair of both men chasing career records. Schwarber led the majors with a personal-best 56 home runs last season but Olson has a clear shot at topping his own 2023 record of 54, which was also a Braves club mark.

Olson, closing in on 900 consecutive games played, will be in the lineup every day as long as he avoids injury. Had Schwarber not missed some time earlier in the 2026 campaign, he would likely be leading the league right now.

The upcoming seven-game matchup of the two behemoths could decide more than one race.

HtP weekend editor Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ covers baseball for Lucas Communications, Sports Collectors Digest, USA TODAY Sports Weekly, Here’s the Pitch, and various other outlets. His email is ballauthor@gmail.com.

Cleaning Up

Padres Push Playoff Dreams With Sizzling Stretch

By Dan Schlossberg

Manny Machado is living proof that No. 13 is not an unlucky number. Credit: Topps

When you’re hot, you’re hot.

The San Diego Padres are even hotter than the Southern California summer.

After struggling to score more than the teenaged wallflower at the high school prom, they have come alive just in time to salvage their season — and save the job of rookie manager Craig Stammen. They stretched their winning streak to six last night.

Here’s a statistical look at the turnaround as it existed on Wednesday afternoon:

Padres in the 1st half:

.226 BA (worst in MLB)
.302 OBP (worst in MLB)
.370 SLG (2nd worst in MLB)
.672 OPS (worst in MLB)
379 runs scored (worst in MLB)

Padres in the 2nd half

.283 BA (best in MLB)
.356 OBP (best in MLB)
.457 SLG (2nd best in MLB)
.813 OPS (best in MLB)
139 runs scored (2nd best in MLB)

San Diego can’t be as bad as it was in the first half but probably can’t be as good as it’s been in the second half.

Still, the Friars are flush with stars. Fernando Tatis, Jr. Manny Machado. Xander Bogaerts. Jackson Merrill. Even the unheralded Ty France.

The Padres protect their starting pitchers with a closer feared around the league. And it’s a good thing they resisted numerous tempting offers to lure Mason Miller away.

On July 10, the Padres were 5 1/2 games out of any playoff spot — even the third and final wild-card. On August 12, they finished a sweep of the league-leading Brewers with an 11-inning victory. In less than a month, they’ve leapfrogged six would-be contenders in the wild-card race.

Although some 40 games remain, San Diego is set to sprint to the finish line.

In the month before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, the Padres played 17 games in 17 days before the All-Star break, then 26 games in 27 days. But they added two quality starters — impending free agents

Robbie Ray from San Francisco and Casey Mize from Detroit — for three of the team’s top nine prospects. None of the men on the 26-man roster were involved.

Thanks to an offense that slumbered through most of the first half, the Padres won eight of nine just before the deadline. That changed their mindset from seller to buyer.

Taking advantage of untimely slumps by the Phillies and Diamondbacks, the Padres went 15-4 and moved up in the standings. When they woke up Thursday morning, they stood one full game ahead of both Philadelphia and Arizona, who were deadlocked for the National League’s final playoff spot.

San Diego seeks to win the NL West, which it hasn’t done since 2006; the league pennant, an elusive target since 1998; and its first world championship. The 1969 expansion team has reached the World Series twice (1984 and 1998) but lost both times.

Getting past the stacked Los Angeles Dodgers, seeking their third straight world title, won’t be easy. But the often-overlooked upstarts are planning to give it the old college try.

HtP weekend editor Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ covers baseball for Lucas Communications, USA TODAY Sports Weekly, Sports Collectors Digest, Memories & Dreams, and numerous other outlets. The author of 43 baseball books is available for public appearances, which may be booked through ballauthor@gmail.com.

Extra Innings

Kudos to Alex Bregman, hot after a cold start in his first year with the Cubs: after the first three-homer game of his career a few days ago, he had a massive 1.123 OPS with five home runs and 14 RBI in August, proving there were no Dog Days for him . . .

Though heavily criticized for not acquiring a front-line starter before the trade deadline, the Atlanta Braves could have an over-abundance of quality arms in their rotation if any of Reynaldo Lopez, AJ Smith-Sharver, Spencer Schwellenbach, or Spencer Strider return from injury in time for the playoffs . . .

Don’t be surprised if one or more of them wind up in the bullpen . . .

With Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton all sidelined, the Yankees made slugging rookie Spencer Jones their No. 3 hitter . . .

They also received solid late-summer production from fellow rookie George Lombard, Jr., whose father is the bench coach under A.J. Hinch in Detroit . . .

Leather-lunged Yankee fans, emulating the behavior of Yankee Stadium bleacher bums, greeted the Parade of Legends in Cooperstown by shouting out the names of the women accompanying the stars in the open pick-ups . . .

Most of them responded with surprise, delight, air kisses, smiles, waves and open arms.

Know Your Editors

3 Big Stories! Arizona's NL West Challenge; the Edwin Diaz Disaster; and Fond Memories of Jeff Kent's Tenure in Texas

IBWAA — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:02:10 GMT

Pregame Pepper

Three time MVP Mike Trout has homered on his birthday three different times . . .

Trout, in the big leagues since 2011, has never played in a post-season game his team won . . .

Chris Sale’s ejection Sunday, before the finale of a three-game Braves-Yankees series even started, was the second of his career and only one since April 23, 2015, when he was playing for the Chicago White Sox . . .

Sale’s pre-game remarks to the umps Sunday followed a balk call that ultimately made the difference in a 5-4 Yankees win over the Braves . . .

Slumping closer Raisel Iglesias blew a save last weekend at Yankee Stadium when he allowed three hits, a walk, and a hit batsman — and made a two-base throwing error — in two-thirds of an inning, failing to protect a 2-0 Atlanta lead . . .

The outing, the continuation of a long skid that started July 1, was directly responsible for the end of the eight-game winning streak the Braves brought to the Bronx . . .

Ex-Brave Max Fried, facing his old mates for the first time since defecting via free agency, matched six scoreless innings with Atlanta import Tyler Mahle . . .

The Braves have now had two Mahlers (Mickey and Rick) and one Mahle (Tyler) . . .

Atlanta now has matching left-handed Dylans (Dodd and Lee) in the bullpen.

Leading Off

Why Arizona Could Be the Dodgers’ Biggest Post-season Threat

By Allen Settle

All-Star outfielder Corbin Carroll offers speed, power, and defense to the D’backs.

The Arizona Diamondbacks secured the season-series edge over the vaunted Los Angeles Dodgers with a 4–2 victory last Sunday, August 9. The D-backs, who have shown little fear of the back-to-back World Series champions, finished the year with an impressive 7–6 record against their NL West rivals.

As things currently stand, the Dodgers remain poised to capture their fourth consecutive (and 12th in the last 13 seasons) NL West title. But for this modern-day dynasty, there may be one final showdown with their pesky rivals, this time on baseball’s grandest stage.

On paper, Arizona is one of the few clubs in baseball with enough offensive firepower to contend with Los Angeles. The trio of Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and Geraldo Perdomo is capable of matching the star power of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts. Meanwhile, veterans like Nolan Arenado and Ildemaro Vargas, combined with budding stars such as Gabriel Moreno and Ryan Waldschmidt, give Arizona the lineup depth to match up with virtually any offense in MLB.

If healthy, however, the Dodgers hold a decided advantage on the mound. Two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell’s return has provided a significant boost to the rotation, but the status of Ohtani as a pitcher and Tyler Glasnow remains uncertain. The club is also carefully working Edwin Díaz back into a high-leverage bullpen role, with mixed results so far.

On the other side, the Diamondbacks are expected to welcome 2021 Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes back to the rotation in late August or early September. The ace is already throwing bullpen sessions as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. His return, combined with a breakout season from All-Star Eduardo Rodríguez, who has posted a dazzling 1.88 ERA in four starts against the Dodgers this season, could give Arizona a rotation capable of going toe-to-toe with Los Angeles.

As a cherry on top, former closer Justin Martinez is also expected to return by late August, providing an upgrade over the recently-released Paul Sewald. His return would allow arms like Brandyn Garcia, Kevin Ginkel, and Juan Morillo to settle back into more natural roles in the bullpen.

The Diamondbacks have played the Dodgers with confidence, energy, and, most importantly, success. If injuries, age, fatigue, or prolonged slumps continue to plague the defending champions, there may not be a team in the National League better equipped to dethrone the juggernaut than Arizona. Those chances only improve if Burnes and Martinez return anything close to their previous form.

The other top NL contenders have notable weaknesses of their own. The Brewers have struggled in the postseason, particularly against Los Angeles. The Braves and Cubs possess plenty of offensive firepower but appear to lack comparable depth at the top of their rotations. And while the Phillies have plenty of star power, the bottom half of their lineup lacks the same level of impact.

That makes the Arizona Diamondbacks perhaps the most under-the-radar team in baseball, and one of the most intriguing candidates to play Cinderella in the 2026 MLB postseason.

Between the Lines

Oy! Edwin Diaz Does Not Deliver for Dodgers

By Dan Schlossberg

Donning a Dodger uniform does not guarantee success, as Edwin Diaz proves.

Lavishing big bucks on pitchers is always a gamble. That especially applies to relievers.

Consider the case of Edwin Diaz, once considered the most indispensable player on the Mets.

He’s been a disaster ever since joining the Dodgers on a three-year, $69 million deal in free agency.

Despite a 2.93 ERA and 144 saves in six-plus seasons with the Mets, the two-time NL Reliever of the Year has done nothing to justify a dime of his signing.

Diaz, 32, started the week with an ERA of 10.80 in 12 games — including an 18.00 mark in his first three August outings. It jumped to 11.57 last night, when he yielded three hits and three earned runs, blew his fourth save, and took the loss in a critical defeat by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Díaz was placed on the injured list on April 20 to remove loose bodies in his right elbow and missed over three months. Prior to landing on the shelf, the right-hander struggled at the start because of loose bodies in his prized right elbow.

But he hasn’t been much better since surgical repair.

The Dodgers thought signing Diaz would plug the biggest void on the varsity roster but so far, they were wrong.

They were also wrong about Tanner Scott last season, though L.A. waltzed to its second straight world championship anyway.

As Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained, “If we can’t trust Edwin Diaz in the postseason, then we’re going to have big problems. So I have to give him every opportunity to get comfortable, get back, cut his teeth, dust the rust off — whatever way you want to look at it — in that role.”

Entering play Thursday, Diaz had a lifetime average of 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings plus a 2.97 ERA. He also had 259 career saves — an impressive total for someone of his age. The three-time All-Star has twice finished in the Top 10 for the Cy Young Award.

That’s the guy the Dodgers thought they were getting when they gave him a three-year, $69 million contract that paid the highest annual average ever given a relief pitcher.

When he’s good, he’s lights out. But when he’s bad, he’s in big trouble.

He yields only 6.3 hits per nine innings but has also thrown 57 home run balls — including a recent ninth-inning, two-run shot by Arizona rookie Ryan Waldschmidt that won a game for the D’backs and extended the losing streak of the struggling Dodgers to seven games.

Diaz missed the entire 2023 season after breaking his leg while celebrating a Team Puerto Rico victory in the World Baseball Classic. And he missed the first half of this season after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his prized right elbow.

Since the Dodgers enjoy a huge lead in their division — eight-and-a-half games over San Diego on Thursday morning — they have ample time to let Diaz recapture his former form. But what if he doesn’t?

Diaz could join the long list of pitchers who suddenly lost their skills, often because of advancing athletic age, overuse, or unexpected injuries. That list includes Spencer Strider, Kyle Wright, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Wayne Garland, and many more erstwhile stars.

HtP weekend editor Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ is the author of 43 books, including Hank Aaron biographies written 50 years apart. His email is ballauthor@gmail.com.

Cleaning Up

A Writer’s Moving Tribute to Jeff Kent

Alyson Footer with Milo Hamilton, long-time radio voice of the Houston Astros.

By Dan Schlossberg

The best thing about covering such events as Hall of Fame Induction Weekend is running into fellow writers who are old friends — people you see only occasionally but wish it were more frequently.

That’s why I was so glad to see Alyson Footer of MLB.com in Cooperstown last month. She’s a gifted writer with roots in Houston, which is where I first met her while ghost-writing Making Airwaves: Sixty Years at Milo’s Mic, the autobiography of the late great Astros announcer Milo Hamilton.

After she posted Facebook memories of her encounters with newly-minted Hall of Famer Jeff Kent when both were in Houston, I asked her permission to reprint them here.

So I devote this space to her words this week:

By Alyson Footer

One more 2004 memory, and then we’ll return to our regularly scheduled 2026.

Jeff Kent signed with the Astros as a free agent before the 2003 season, and he brought with him a reputation that he would admit today was well-earned — standoffish, a little prickly, and, at times, downright strange.

I think I was a little intimidated by him, but at the same time, I liked him. I sensed his outward demeanor wasn’t telling the whole story. Good family. Educated. Generous. Smart.

I kept my distance as much as I could while also needing his quotes and insight, as is the case for any reporter-player dynamic. Through the gruffness, I saw a decent human. He had such a nice family. Raising really good kids. To borrow a phrase from more modern times, the math wasn’t mathing.

He was almost always professional, making sure he was regularly available to the few of us who covered the team at home and on the road. Over the years, I always laughed and said Jeff and I bonded over our shared intolerance for stupidity. Neither of us were very good at playing that “game within the game” — where you sometimes have to wade through the b.s. in baseball to get what you need. I liked his realness, and I think he appreciated mine.

I remember one time saying to him, “I’m on to you. If you’re not careful, I’m going to ‘out’ you as a nice guy.” He laughed. (And then scowled and turned away, always staying in character.)

The Astros’ Game 7 loss in the NLCS in 2004 was the worst post-game scene I’ve ever witnessed in my career. It was 100 times worse than their World Series loss the next season. Most players were crying. It was completely devastating. They had the series. And then, in a blink, it was over.

So I’m standing in the clubhouse, trying to figure out how I’m going to put this into written words. And I see Jeff Kent, standing at his locker, motioning for me to come over.

He thanked me for my good work and professionalism. He told me he appreciated my diligent approach to my job. He wished me well.

Jeff wanted to stay with the Astros beyond that season, but I think he already knew it was probably not happening. (And it didn’t — he signed with the Dodgers that winter.)

That encounter always stuck with me. It was just so unlike him, and it came at the lowest, most awful moment, in those first minutes after the Game 7 loss.

When Jeff was elected to the Hall of Fame in January, I felt like I really needed to go to Cooperstown and cover the induction. We send only a couple of reporters every year, and I’m not even a reporter anymore. But I threw my hat into the ring and went for it.

So here’s how Induction Week went for Jeff Kent -- he did just short of a billion interviews, and he never got through a single one without crying. Every time he spoke publicly, he cried. I don’t want to say this is the Jeff Kent I knew in 2004, but this version was a heck of a lot closer than anything he tried to convince us he was all those years ago.

I loved catching up with him in Cooperstown. We had a lot of laughs; he was gracious and thoughtful. His soft side became one of the main storylines of the weekend. I like to think I scooped everyone 22 (!) years ago when I sensed there was way more to this guy than the scowling, distant person he tried so hard to be.

I didn’t take many pictures in Cooperstown. I just wanted to be present. But here is one snapshot I took of Jeff as he started his pre-ceremony media session the day before the induction (spoiler alert: he cried):

Newly-minted Hall of Famer Jeff Kent (smiling, at right) with Hall of Fame communications director Craig Muder. Credit: Alyson Footer

Alyson Footer was a Houston beat writer before joining MLB.com.

Extra Innings

When this week began, only five of the 15 American League teams had won more than they lost. So how are they going to send six teams into the post-season? . . .

Craig Kimbrel, one of a half-dozen veterans released when their teams were unable to find trade partners before deadline, has hooked on with the Kansas City Royals — his 12th major-league team and third this year (after Mets and Rays) . . .

The Los Angeles Angels compounded the felony of bad trading by firing highly-respected pitching coach Mike Maddux (brother of Greg) and several colleagues . . .

Former Mets infielder Jose Iglesias has traded his glove for a mic — on Broadway. For the next six weeks, he’ll be the narrator for the Tony award-winning show Buena Vista Social Club — and didn’t even apply for the spot . . .

Meanwhile, there’s always something happening in the minors that’s better than anything going on in the majors. For example:

Pioneer League linescore:

Know Your Editors

Skenes Agonistes

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:31:42 GMT

Pregame Pepper

. . . Fallen Angels Dept.—Well, fallen coaches. Never mind that the Angels don’t have a virtuoso pitching staff in the first place, that didn’t stop them from firing pitching coach Mike Maddux, assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott, and bullpen coach Dom Chiti Tuesday. Maddux’s and Scott’s interim replacements, in order: Tim Leveque and Mi…

Arraez is Just What the Phillies Needed

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:30:54 GMT

Pregame Pepper

. . . Retirement Dept.—As baseball approaches the revived Field of Dreams game, the player who won the first with a walkoff home run announced his retirement. Two-time All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson—colourful, occasionally controversial—said in his announcement that the game became too painful, an allusion to the physical issues of the past few years.

Last seen playing for the Angels in 2025, Anderson will retire as a member of the White Sox for whom he played his first eight seasons.

Tim Anderson sending a Zach Britton (Yankees) pitch the other way into the right field corn to win the first Field of Dreams game. (MLB TV screen capture.)

. . . Only Human Dept.—By his own admission, Tarik Skubal “kinda sprayed the ball a little bit” in his home debut as a Dodger Monday. (He surrendered a two-run homer to Jac Caglianone in the bargain.) But the Dodgers still managed to beat the Royals, 6-5, the decisive hit Freddie Freeman’s tie-breaking second RBI single (both of which sent Shohei Ohtani home) in the seventh that held up.

The win made the Damn Dodgers—who ended July and opened August with a seven-game losing streak—a whopping 2-7 for the month thus far.

. . . You Better, You Bet Dept.—Three Capitol Hill figures—Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT); Reps. Valerie Foushee (D-NC) and Paul Tonko (D-NY)—demand (their word) MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association ban promotional deals between players and betting operators such as FanDuel.

The three lawmakers’ letter to both sides claim such deals allowing personalised player content “drive vulnerable fans into debt and addiction.” They want a response by August 24.

It follows an incident in which FanDuel sent a customer—who later sued the book—a video featuring Phillies star Bryce Harper to which Harper said he never consented for such use.

. . . Karma’s a Giant Dept.—A week after Giants center fielder Harrison Bader incurred a scooter riding-related injury, which prompted the Giants to suspend his pay, rookie Giants catcher Daniel Susac couldn’t resist trolling Bader after whacking a double in a game against the Rangers (and notice Bader didn’t take it personally):

Whoops.

Susac himself turned up with an injury during Sunday’s game against the Tigers, incurring a left kneecap fracture when fouling a pitch right into it during the fifth inning. The injury will cost Susac the rest of this season. Owitch!

Leading Off

Arraez is Just What the Phillies Needed

So what took them so long to figure it out?

By Russ Walsh

Luis Arraez may be the classic throwback to the contact-hitting pest, but even he’s not immune to ringing the bell, or the foul pole, now and then—as he did against Washington’s Jake Irvin leading off the second inning in his second game as a Phillie.

I was in the stands at Citizens Bank Park when contact hitter extraordinaire Luis Arraez made his Philadelphia Phillies debut on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 6:40 PM. My baseball buddy, Don, and I barely had time to get our Yuengling Lagers settled in their Koozies, before Arraez, batting fourth, singled home Trea Turner in his first ever Phillies at-bat.

The fans celebrated by rising to their feet a second time (moments earlier, they greeted his walk up to the plate with a standing O) and cheering wildly. Arraez celebrated the RBI hit with a dramatic fist pump and chest thump as he pointed to his new teammates in the first base dugout, as if to say, “I’m here for you boys!”

Arraez came to the Phillies from the San Francisco Giants in a trade deadline deal on August 3. Phillies President of Baseball Operations, Dave Dombrowski said, “[Arraez] is a different type of hitter than we have.” If he means a guy who hits for high average, doesn’t strike out much, makes consistent hard contact, sprays the ball around (hence the nickname La Regadera: The Sprinkler), and plays with a high level of energy, Dombrowski is exactly right.

All of that was on display in his first at-bat in a Phillies uniform. He followed his RBI single with an RBI double in his second at-bat. The question might be asked, “What took the Phillies so long to figure out Arraez is exactly the player they needed?”

The Phillies have several fine hitters: Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Brandon Marsh. What they didn’t have, and lacked for many years, was the spark plug, the catalyst setting the offense in motion. As a result, the team is caught in a constant cycle of feast or famine. When the big bangers are clicking, they can pummel the opposition. In the frequent stretches when they are not clicking, however, they look like a bunch of muscle-bound behemoths swatting at butterflies.

Perhaps the Phillies were waiting for one of their “Day Care” youngsters* like Alec Bohm or Bryson Stott to fill the table setter role. But after occasional bright spots of consistent ball striking, both players have settled into careers marked by below average offensive performance.

Perhaps Turner should be the answer; after all, he did lead the league in hitting in 2025 and owns a generous long-term contract. But throughout his Phillies career, he has been wildly inconsistent, and this year he is struggling to reach the .250 mark.

Ultimately, the answer to why it took the Phillies so long to act is most likely that players like Arraez are out of fashion. For all his offensive prowess, Arraez rarely appears in the top ten in categories that teams seem to value these days—wOBA, OPS+, ISO, etc. He is not a base stealer. His defense, especially at his preferred position of second base, has improved, but he is not an elite defender.

Still as he has already demonstrated with the Phillies, consistent hard contact from an everyday player in your lineup can make a significant difference. In the games he has played since he joined the club, interim manager Don Mattingly batted Arraez fourth in the order.

The cleanup spot may seem an unusual place for a contact hitter, but on the Phillies, with Turner, Schwarber, and Harper ensconced at the top, and with no viable threat to hit behind Harper, the fourth spot made a certain sense. It has proven effective in a small sample size, as Arraez managed to drive in a run in the first inning in each of his first three games in Phillies’ pinstripes.

As Mattingly told the Philadelphia Inquirer, “It is different from when I played, for sure. You would never have thought about hitting [Arraez] fourth. It would have been Schwarber fourth, for sure. [In today’s game I think batting him fourth] puts Luis in a spot where his hits create runs. I feel like it’s protection for Bryce. They really don’t want to pitch to Arraez, either.”

The Phillies have not had a player with Arraez’ particular set of batting skills in a very long time. They have certainly had some great hitters, including, besides the current crop, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Scott Rolen, Lenny Dykstra, John Kruk, Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski and Bobby Abreu to name a few. Only one player in my memory, however, consistently brought the bat-to-ball skills that Arraez possesses to the plate in a Phillies uniform.

That would be Hall of Fame centerfielder Richie Ashburn.

Like Arraez, Ashburn put the ball in play with hard contact. Like Arraez, Ashburn didn’t strike out much. Like Arraez, Ashburn could foul off balls until he found a pitch he liked. Like Arraez, Ashburn was a National League batting champion. Ashburn would eventually capture two titles; Arraez has three and counting.

Here is a comparison that matches Arraez’ offensive numbers for his eight-year major league career with Ashburn’s first eight years in the league.

The comparison isn’t perfect, of course. Ashburn used speed as a major part of his game; Arraez is not a speed demon. Ashburn was also a superior defender in a premium position; Arraez has more power than Ashburn.

But as far as what they bring to their team, the two are strikingly similar. Ashburn, of course, batted leadoff for most of his career, setting the table for the Phillies’s “Whiz Kids” thumpers like Del Ennis and Willie (Puddin’ Head) Jones. Arraez is being asked to be an RBI guy from the fourth spot in the batting order, getting the hits that drive in Turner, Schwarber, and Harper, and providing cover so that pitchers are not as inclined to pitch around Harper.

As indispensable as Ashburn was to the Phillies of the 1950s, Arraez may prove to be the same for the current Phillies offense, which has underachieved through most of the Harper/Schwarber/Turner tenure. If that proves to be true, count me among those who will smile with a certain self-satisfaction.

For years, I have fretted about baseball undervaluing the contact hitter. The small ball guy. There should, it seems to me, be a place in the game for the pesky hitter, who finds the holes in the defense, and fills up the basepaths. For me guys like Arraez and Ashburn, Rod Carew, and Nellie Fox, and Tony Gynn are like little brothers. They may be irritating little buggers, but the family isn’t complete without them.

* “Day Care” is the Phillies team name for a group of younger players who support the older heads like Schwarber and Harper on the team. At this point, the Day Care group (generally Bohm, Stott, and Marsh) has graduated, not all with high marks.

Russ Walsh is a retired teacher, writer, baseball coach, and long-suffering Phillies fan, who writes for the Society for American Baseball Research and has recently begun posting his own newsletter about baseball history called The Faith of a Phillies Fan on Substack. You can reach him at ruswalsh@comcast.net.

Editor’s Note: Since agreeing to shift to right field as part of a shuffle to accommodate Luis Arraez’s arrival, Bryce Harper has experienced a return of knee soreness that emerged but dissipated in early July. The Phillies limited him to a DH role a few games to enable the soreness to recede again.

Extra Innings: They Said It, We Didn’t

On retiring after ten major league seasons

[J]ust throughout playing, it definitely was a lot of dark moments. And it just got to a point where I couldn’t enjoy it . . . I still love the game; it just brought too much pain for me. So going back to play is not for me right now in life.

I fought for the last two, three years. You know, I trained and I just couldn’t get the body to operate like it used to. So I mean, I’m not one of those guys that’s going to just continue to try to get back to somewhere where I just, you know, I couldn’t get it back there.

—Tim Anderson, longtime White Sox shortstop and part of their 2021 American League Central winner.

On increasing motorised scooter use among MLB players—and its risks

The [Harrison Bader] incident brought to life fears some within the game have harbored as motorized scooters have become more ubiquitous, according to interviews with big-league officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to freely discuss the situation. Coaches and executives worry about the horsepower contained within the devices. They fret about the stability of ride-share scooters found on city streets. They wonder if the players wear helmets. And there is little teams can do to proactively police their usage.

—Andy McCullough, The Athletic.

I don’t ride mine on the street. I would park at the field, and then take it out of the car and then ride to the clubhouse.

—Michael Harris II, Braves outfielder. (Harris’s bobblehead night last September featured Harris and his scooter.)

I don’t see nothing wrong with it. No harm, no foul . . . You have to do something extreme to get hurt on a scooter.

—Kenley Jansen, Tigers relief pitcher, who told McCullough he began using a scooter as an Angel when he saw teammates using them for lengthy trek from the players’ parking lot to the clubhouse entrance at Angel Stadium.