CENTRAL PARK - JULY 1, 2017 10 AM - BBTF ANNUAL SOFTBALL EXTRAVAGANZA

I think this year we should make t-shirts.

The Central Park field for 10 AM on July 1st has been submitted for approval to the Parks Department, but not yet assigned.  We’re waiting to hear back.  It’s never been a problem as yet, so hopefully it won’t be this year as well. UPDATE: 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM, Great Lawn, Field #2. -vi

Note: This is the same weekend as the massive SABR extravaganza in NYC.  I would expect all connections and all favors to be called in to get some retired MLB players ...

Jorge Mas To Offer $1.1 Billion For Miami Marlins

The latest bidder is Jorge Mas, as first reported by the Miami Herald. My sources tell me that Mas is going to offer somewhere close to $1.1 billion for the MLB team, $500 million less than the handshake agreement Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria had in February to sell the franchise he bought for $158 million in 2002.

Bloomberg reported yesterday that Jeb Bush has joined forces with Tagg Romney and Wayne Rothbaum to make a bid of more than $1.1 billion for the Marlins. Bush and Derek Jeter had ...

Tim Tebow moves up a level, proving Mets only care about one thing

The New York Mets seem determined to make this Tim Tebow thing work. Despite a .222/.311/.340 slash line, the organization announced Tebow will be promoted to St. Lucie following Sunday’s game.

It’s a step forward for the 29-year-old, though not a huge one. Tebow began the season with the Columbia Fireflies. They are considered a Class A organization. The St. Lucie Mets are Class A Advanced. It is a legitimate promotion, but Tebow still remains far from the majors.

That last part might be ...

It’s all OMNICHATTER and lollipops from here on out, for June 25, 2017

Creeping Coachism

In 1972, the Rangers’ inaugural season, the team had five coaches: Joe Camacho, Nellie Fox, Sid Hudson, George Susce and Wayne Terwilliger. This was not unusual. During that season, some teams had five and some had four. A cursory examination of major league teams during the nadir of the Depression reveals that the number varied from one to three.

In 2017 the Rangers’ on-line roster contains 12 — count ‘em, twelve – names listed under the Manager & Coaches category. Aside from ...

Tangotiger Blog: Statcast Lab: Is playing CF about opportunities or degree of difficulty or both?

Some of the most interesting work being done right now.

IronPigs’ Crawford heating up after brief break | MiLB.com News

He’s not dead yet.

Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna dealing with anxiety issue

Toronto Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna said he is dealing with an anxiety issue and is unsure when he will be available to pitch again.

Osuna disclosed his situation to reporters on Saturday morning, less than 24 hours after not pitching in a save situation for the Blue Jays. The hard-throwing right-hander did not pitch again Saturday against the Kansas City Royals, although Toronto was not faced with a save situation in the 3-2 loss.

Whit Merrifield hit a two-run, two-out double that capped ...

Absence makes OMNICHATTER grow fonder, for June 24, 2017

Kenley Jansen vs Craig Kimbrel as top reliever | MLB.com

I dig expected wOBA. If you look over the list of Top 400, who’s the first guy you don’t recognize? Asking for a friend.

Column | Freddie Freeman Shouldn’t Play 3B To Accommodate Adams

What’s the downside to trying Freeman at third? I guess he could get hurt but he’s been hurt as a first baseman. If he can’t play there, they move him back.

OMNICHATTER 6-24-17

Gorgeous Ladies of OMNICHATTER*

Yankees designate Chris Carter for assignment, call up Tyler Austin from Triple-A

It’s over for Chris Carter.

The struggling first baseman was designated for assignment after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Friday’s game. Tyler Austin will be called up to take his place and ostensibly will get the lions share of the first base time for now.

Carter was signed to a one year deal for $3.5 million.

Rays designate catcher Derek Norris for assignment

C Derek Norris tied a career-high with three hits in Friday’s 15-5 win against the Orioles then was designated for assignment after the game to make room on the 25-man roster for C Wilson Ramos.

Ramos, signed in December to a two-year, $12.5 million, has been out since late September after suffering a right knee injury while playing for the Nationals.

“I feel so comfortable, really good moving behind the plate,” Ramos said. “Right now I feel very good and ready to play, ready to get ...

Royals sign former Brewers closer Neftalí Feliz and drop Chris Young

“Neftali has a power arm, and he’s healthy,” Moore said. “He also had a lot of success last year. It was pretty easy for us to move forward with this.”

Feliz’s struggles have stemmed from giving up the long ball. In just 27 innings for the Brewers, he allowed eight home runs, which is tied for second most in the MLB by a reliever in 2017. In 2016 with the Pirates, Feliz gave up 10 home runs in 53 2/3 innings.

In contrast, during Feliz’s two best seasons (2010 and 2011) in ...

Asdrubal Cabrera to Mets: Trade me

Asdrubal Cabrera, unhappy with the Mets’ decision to move him to second base on short notice, said Friday he wants to be traded.

The veteran infielder, who was activated from the disabled list, was in the lineup at second base against the Giants at AT&T Park and vowed to give “100 percent,” but he made it clear he is unhappy with his situation.

“If they don’t have a plan for me, I think it’s time to make a move,” Cabrera said, noting he has told his agent to facilitate a trade. ...

Dodgers’ Julio Urias to have shoulder surgery; he’s out for the season

Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias will undergo major shoulder surgery next week and will not pitch again in 2017.

Team doctor Neal ElAttrache will repair the anterior capsule in Urias’ left shoulder on Tuesday. Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, expects Urias to require 12 to 14 months of rehabilitation.

The injury occurred on one pitch during a minor league outing on June 10, Friedman said.

Detroit Tigers release struggling closer Francisco Rodriguez

The Tiger opted today to release Rodriguez, who had continued to struggle after losing the closer’s job to Justin Wilson. The Tigers announced this afternoon they have recalled right-handed pitcher Bruce Rondon from Triple-A Toledo.

The Tigers also announced that outfielder Alex Presley has been placed on the 7-day concussion disabled list and they have selected the contract of outfielder Matt den Dekker from Toledo.

Rodriguez questioned the communication skills of manager Brad Ausmus and ...

Trout got extension but longer deal was broached

Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout was that rare young positional superstar who took a long-term deal with his team, and sources say the idea of a “lifetime” 14- or 15-year deal was even mentioned in talks with the Angels before he and the team settled for a straight six years that brings him to free agency at barely 29….

After Trout’s suggestion of a possible lifetime deal wasn’t immediately accepted by the Angels (word is, he preferred shorter if not very long), the sides wound ...

Red Sox Sign Jhonny Peralta

The Red Sox have agreed to a minors deal with veteran infielder Jhonny Peralta, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe was among those to tweet. He’ll report to Triple-A for the time being, where he’ll line up at third base and attempt to give the organization another option at that area of need.

Mets are open for a selloff: Here’s how it can work

So the Mets not only should be open-minded now, they should be open for business. In Bruce, Granderson, Lucas Duda, Addison Reed and Neil Walker (currently on the DL), they have five walk-year players unlikely to return or receive the qualifying offer, which would guarantee a contract of more than $18 million next season if accepted and – as part of the new CBA – return only a draft pick following the second round if the free agent signs elsewhere.

Since they still control all of their ...

AP source: Jeter doesn’t have money needed to buy Marlins

Brother, can you spare a dime?

Derek Jeter told Major League Baseball on Thursday he doesn’t yet have the necessary money to buy the Miami Marlins and is still seeking help from other investors, a person familiar with the negotiations said.

The person described the status of the Marlins’ sale talks to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team isn’t discussing the negotiations publicly.

The person said Jeter, a 14-time All-Star shortstop, met with MLB and Marlins ...

Analytics haven’t ruined baseball, but that doesn’t mean they won’t

Verducci does, however, touch on an operative point. Analytics makes teams perform better than conventional wisdom. But analytics is indifferent to entertainment, a prime concern for what is an entertainment product. Teams are getting more efficient. That does not mean efficiency is better to watch.

Sports must engage fans. Inherent to fan engagement is a working understanding of what’s happening in front of them. That’s true whether it’s the child fantasizing about running his favorite ...

Baseball’s tumultuous relationship with the female fan

Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and bravely paving the way for Men’s Rights Activists, men in the ‘70s sued teams over Ladies’ Days, claiming these promotions discriminated against them, as male fans were barred entry and forced to walk over coals as punishment should they arrive at the ballpark on Ladies’ Day. The lawsuits were successful, and Ladies’ Day was no more. But women continued to press for equality, emboldened by these desperate attempts to curb their increasing ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 6-23-2017

Chicago Eagle, June 23, 1917:

The force-out of a runner at the plate on a ball that dropped in the outfield is the remarkable play made in a recent game between the Phillies and Cubs. With the bases full, and one out, Mann of the Cubs poked the ball to center field…[Gavy Cravath] caught the ball on the first bounce, and, actuated by almost a sixth sense, he hurled the ball straight to Catcher Killifer and forced out Doyle, hot-footing it from third.

I’ve seen 9-3 putouts at first base before, ...

For My Compadre, Big Papi

Where we come from, we had to hustle just for the 50 pesos it cost to take the bus to the Olympic stadium to play baseball. It was 25 pesos each way. If you happened to lose 25 pesos at the ballpark, you were walking back home.

No waters. No Gatorade. No food. Nothing. If you were lucky, somebody would find a hose. That’s how we made it. We are raised by our families to be survivors.

From the time you are a baby, you learn to eat whatever is on the table. You don’t get to pick. You bless ...

Aaron Judge More Than Halfway To Rookie HR Record

All Rise!

Aaron Judge is halfway to 50 home runs. This marks the 11th time that a New York Yankees player hit 25 home runs within the team’s first 70 games of the season. Babe Ruth had five of the other 10. Roger Maris had two such years (including 1961, when he broke Ruth’s record by hitting 61 home runs). Alex Rodriguez, Mickey Mantle and Lou Gehrig had one each.
.  .  .
Twenty-five home runs in 70 team games is at a season’s pace of 57 homers, which would shatter Mark McGwire’s major ...

Recounting the many ways baseball has changed in 20 years

While some of Kurkjian’s predictions might seem outlandish now, 20 years can bring all sorts of wild changes no one could have anticipated. If I took a time machine back to 1997 and wrote a column predicting all the things that would happen, I would be laughed out of the room or burned at the stake as a heretic. (Were they burning people at the stake in 1997? I was in college then—that year is a bit of a blur.)

So let’s imagine what things have happened in the past 20 years of baseball, and ...

My OMNI has a second name, it’s CHATTER, for June 22, 2017

Kyle Schwarber headed back to Triple-A Iowa

A spokesperson for the Chicago Cubs confirmed Thursday that Schwarber is being sent back to Triple-A Iowa after struggling through the first months of the 2017 season.

The 24-year-old outfielder/catcher was expected to play a major role for the defending world champions again this season but has hit just .171 (38-for-222) in 64 games.

Schwarber has been a fan favorite ever since the Cubs selected him in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft. That popularity skyrocketed when Schwarber shocked ...