Jimmy Piersall, Whose Mental Illness Was Portrayed in ‘Fear Strikes Out,’ Dies at 87

Jimmy Piersall, the often outrageous outfielder and broadcaster whose emotional breakdown while a rookie with the Boston Red Sox was portrayed in the 1957 movie “Fear Strikes Out,” a rare glimpse, for its time, at an athlete’s mental illness, died on Saturday in Wheaton, Ill. He was 87.

His death was announced by the Red Sox.

Piersall was an outstanding center fielder, a solid hitter and a two-time All-Star, playing in the major leagues for 17 seasons. But his career nearly ended just ...

OTP 5 June 2017: Venezuelan big leaguers strike back

Back to baseball this week, as patriotic players highlight resistance to a disastrous President. 

Since March, massive anti-government rallies have erupted in Caracas and other big cities, with demonstrators protesting the country’s runaway inflation, deadly shortages of food and medicine, and the politician they blame for pushing Venezuela into crisis: current president Nicolas Maduro.

At least 60 protestors have died in clashes with government forces. As the conflict deepens, a series of ...

LoDo: A renaissance owed to Coors Field, urban pioneers and smart politics

The role played by Coors Field in the rebirth of Lower Downtown Denver.

If OMNICHATTER is guilty of anything, it’s of loving too much, for June 4, 2017

Wrigleyville - SCHWARBER AND THE SHIFT

Does anyone who has been watching him everyday think he’s been selling out too much to go yard? It seems like he’s not staying on the ball as long as he used to stay on the ball. Thoughts?

There are lots of things Schwarber still does well. The power is still present, as demonstrated by his grand slam yesterday, and he has the discipline to take walks even when he’s struggling this badly. His luck won’t stay as bad as it did in May either, even if we might expect shifts to take more hits ...

Rockies: Kid’s Stuff Paying Off – Inside the Seams

On rookie Rockies.

Reds’ Scott Schebler injures left shoulder | MLB.com

When will the Reds install softer grass?

Not only did the Reds have to absorb dropping a very winnable game in extra innings on Saturday, they had to play half of it minus two-thirds of their starting outfield. Both Billy Hamilton and Scott Schebler were forced out with left shoulder injuries in the sixth inning.

Diving plays were at the root of both players’ injuries during the 6-5 loss to the Braves in 12 innings. Hamilton was lifted before the top of the sixth in the wake of two unsuccessful ...

Angels’ Albert Pujols’ 600th HR is grand slam | MLB.com

Albert Pujols’ march to 600 is complete, and he got there in unprecedented, grand fashion.

The 37-year-old Angels slugger crushed the milestone home run—a two-out grand slam into left field—off Twins right-hander Ervin Santana in the bottom of the fourth inning on Saturday in the Angels’ 7-2 win over the Twins.

Sunday Notes: Acta’s Analytics, Banister’s Fire, Phillips’ Folly, Porcello Up Down, Rowdy, more | FanGraphs Baseball

Brandon Phillips told reporters this week that it was “a slap in the face” to see Scooter Gennett wearing No. 4 on his jersey. Apparently, the erstwhile Cincinnati second baseman feels the Reds should be well into the process of retiring his old number.

Phillips might want to use that slap in the face as a wakeup call. Yes, he had a good career in the Queen City before being exiled to Atlanta. ‘Dat Dude’ has every right to be proud of what he accomplished as a Red. But to suggest that ...

Yankees hit 4 homers in 8th inning vs. Jays | MLB.com

Four.

The friendly competition between the Yankees’ odd couple of Brett Gardner and Matt Holliday (“The Bald Brothers?”) introduced a couple of guest stars on Saturday, with Starlin Castro and Didi Gregorius joining the fun in an eighth inning that won’t be soon forgotten.

Marlins’ Edinson Volquez no-hits D-backs | MLB.com

hen Edinson Volquez tangled with Rey Fuentes on a play at first base to open the game on Saturday, it appeared the veteran right-hander was headed for a short outing. Instead, the 33-year-old was on a collision course with destiny.

Volquez collected himself and went on to make history by tossing a no-hitter in the Marlins’ 3-0 victory over the D-backs at Marlins Park. The 98-pitch, 10-strikeout gem was the first “Maddux” no-no since Henderson Alvarez needed 99 pitches to get through his on ...

Nick Cafardo: After two months of baseball, which teams are trending up and down?

Need or want? Jon Gray is coming back soon. Jeff Hoffman has looked good in fill-in time.

4. Colorado Rockies — Bud Black has done a terrific job pulling this team together. The Rockies’ offense is explosive and their starting pitching has been much better than anyone could have imagined. Whether that keeps up will be the story leading up to the All-Star Game. Greg Holland has been the signing of the year. Observers say they will need a pitcher, but will they pay the price for one?

Why Yankees believe Gleyber Torres can handle 3B in majors soon | NJ.com

The great hype machine is setting some big expectations for this kid.

Shortstop part of Luis Urias’ baseball education - The San Diego Union-Tribune

There, the 5-foot-9 Urias’ focus is on lateral footwork and getting in position to allow momentum to take him toward first base on throws. The hope, Hooper said, is the strides he takes on the left side of the diamond improves his defense at second.

“He’s improving,” Hooper said. “I do know that. Is he going to be an everyday shortstop in the big leagues? Probably not. It’s just the foot speed and the range to be a big league shortstop might be tough on an everyday basis, but the arm ...

Godzilla ain’t got nothin’ on OMNICHATTER! for June 3, 2017

Sorry for the slow post. Yesterday was a travel day for me.

Sandoval’s solo home run | MLB.com

OK, seeing Pablo get a hit is a pretty rare event, nevermind a homer. That’s not why I’m linking this though. Although the broadcast had extended replay you’ll have to pay attention around the ten second mark of the clip. A fan bought tickets in the first row in the outfield and then wore his glove during the game. If you are going to do that, you have to make the play when the ball gets hit right to you.

FAN FAIL!

Dodgers tie MLB record by striking out 26 Brewers

“The Milwaukee Brewers reached a special level of futility in Friday night’s 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, becoming only the third team in Major League Baseball history to strike out 26 times in a single game.”

Kershaw:  7 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 14k, no decision.  The Won/Loss Gods are furious ..

A METICULOUS METRIC OF BASEBALL TEAM NAMES VOL. 2

This isn’t news, but I thought this poster was cute.

Our baseball team taxonomy is back ... This crackerjack cataloguing covers more than 150 years of baseball history, sorting squads from the bigs, minors, independents, and more into semantic categories like “Derived from City Name” and “Big Cats.” Whether your team is the Mets, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, or, somehow, the Amsterdam-Gloversville-Johnstown Hyphens, this is the definitive guide to the nation’s pastime.

Forbes: Hundreds Of Unopened Sports Card Packs Found In Aunt’s Attic Likely To Top $1 Million

In mid-afternoon a few weeks ago, Brian Drent received a mind-blowing phone call: “Hello, I have some unopened full boxes and almost full boxes from the 1950s and 1960s that I am considering for your auction.”

Mets Fan Kicked Out Game For FIRE TERRY COLLINS Sign - May 30&31; 2017

This is atrocious.  Needs to go viral.

West Michigan reliever handed 30-game ban for role in MWL fight

Tigers prospect Eduardo Jimenez received a 30-game suspension this week when the Midwest League issued punishments to five players for their roles in Sunday’s brawl.

Jimenez, a 22-year-old reliever, received the biggest suspension handed out by the league after he ran onto the field and threw a ball at an opposing player during a melee between Class A West Michigan and Dayton on May 28. The Whitecaps said his punishment is retroactive to May 29.

Whitecaps shortstop Daniel Pinero was ...

Park Factors and Other Early-Season Statcast Fun | FanGraphs Baseball

Park factors are an endeavor fraught with peril.

The Friday Fire Farrell Index: Ask for courage, not for victory! - Over the Monster

First, my friends and enemies, a mea culpa. A perceptive reader suggested that the 1-11 scale of the inaugural Friday Fire Farrell Index was backward, and that a higher number should indicate a better chance Red Sox manager John Farrell is fired, not worse. My instinct to lash out aside, this is correct, and last week’s 8, indicating job strength, is now a 4, indicating job strength. I regret the error. It seems pretty obvious. This is where we’re at right now.

Fan says Mr. Met showered with profane heckles before bird-flip | New York Post

As if holding up that head isn’t tough enough.

“The fans were cursing at Mr. Met with the F-word and saying derogatory things about Mr. Met’s mom . . . which led to the gesture because of a personal matter with his mom,” the source said.

“It triggered something that recently happened. It was his breaking point.”

Yonder Alonso finds power stroke with Oakland Athletics, hopes to land in All-Star Game

Alonso had to overhaul his swing if he wanted to stay in the game. He talked to everyone from Carlos Beltran to Rougned Odor to Pujols to Adrian Beltre to Bryce Harper to Eric Hosmer, discussing their individual hitting approach and trying to design a swing that could work for him.

He incorporated video work along with his offseason batting cage efforts, analyzing different swings frame by frame.

“I wanted him to do this for years,” Machado says. “We would argue back and forth on what ...

Khris Davis Me in Real Life | MLB.com

In his own words.

My name is Khris Davis. I’m an outfielder for the Oakland A’s, and for me, it all starts with my parents. They are my role models, and they taught me that hard work pays off. They also showed me that happiness is important and is worth pursuing.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 6-2-2017

Pittsburgh Gazette Times, June 2, 1917:

Hank Gowdy, catcher and hero of the 1914 world’s series, [yesterday] gained the distinction of being the first ball player to relinquish voluntarily the luxurious life of a big league ball player to carry a rifle as a private in the Army. Gowdy [yesterday] left for his home in Columbus, O., to enlist.
...
His teammates were infested with the military fever by his decisive step and a day off, and Stallings fears others will follow suit.

Gowdy spent time on ...

OMNICHATTER is calling its shot, for June 2, 2017

Ken Rosenthal on Twitter: “Sources: Struggling reliever Sam Dyson will be designated for assignment by

According to Rosenthal, the Rangers are looking to trade him.

Sources: Struggling reliever Sam Dyson will be designated for assignment by #Rangers. Jose Leclerc will come off DL to take Dyson’s place.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 2, 2017

Phillies prospect Mickey Moniak is only 19, but he’s already shown a power swing

“He has shown true gap power to right-center and left-center, and at 19 years old he is still getting there,” Malloy said. “I don’t see why he can’t be a 15-20 home-run guy at the next level.”

One scout who has seen Moniak with Lakewood agreed.

“The ball jumps off his bat, and I think he is going to be a very good hitter, and the power will come,” the scout said. “When you look at it, he is such a young kid, and it’s hard to play in that league, playing against some 23-, 24-year-olds.”

“I ...