Taking Back the Ballparks - Washington Nationals

Part 5: Nationals Park

The rare modern stadium without a corporate sponsor. Alas, Nationals Park doesn’t exactly ring out as requiring a lot of deep thought, though it is a nod to the place that predated old Griffith Stadium.

One would think the club’s D.C. location would offer ample naming opportunities for the ballpark. Then again, one would think the club’s D.C. location offered the architects ample opportunities for exciting backdrops, and they failed miserably in what’s an ...

How the Astros’ trade for Justin Verlander came together | SI.com

If you are interested in trade discussions, this is a must read.

“The reality is that any economic modeling that includes projections is not going to like a deadline deal, where you’re trading what could be an enormous amount of future value for a decent amount of present value,” says Luhnow. “The math does not support these types of deals. It’s a matter of using your best judgment.”

Alderson: Collins’ future won’t become a ‘public conversation’ | New York Post

Too late.

Arizona Diamondbacks had a dinosaur throw out the first pitch - SBNation.com

Don’t worry; it wasn’t a real dinosaur.

Wondering if Jiménez is making his final start with Orioles - School of Roch

He’s had an interesting career.

Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger sets NL rookie home-run record with 39th

Bellinger breaks the NL rookie home run record in the same game the Dodgers clinch their 5th straight division title. And he’s still got 8 games left to pad the record.

Canadian Fakin’ - Goins uses hidden ball trick to get Frazier

Ryan Goins is known for being a magician with the glove, but in Friday night’s 8-1 win over the Yanks at Rogers Centre, he unveiled his sneakiest move yet: The hidden ball trick.

Jeter Cleans House Via Remote Control

Derek Jeter doesn’t even own the Marlins yet, but he already has informed the team that he plans to fire two special assistants who are in Baseball’s Hall of Fame (Andre Dawson and Tony Perez), the manager who led them to the 2003 World Series championship (Jack McKeon), and the player known as Mr. Marlin (Jeff Conine), according to two MLB sources.

And here’s the twist: Jeter asked Marlins president David Samson to fire those four Marlins luminaries for him, because Jeter didn’t want ...

The subtle change that saved Aroldis Chapman’s season | New York Post

He stopped throwing pitches down the middle?

Karl Ravech on Twitter: There is no conversation worth having ...

What, he doesn’t care about the children in the bleachers?

There is no conversation worth having regarding whether all MLB teams should have nets running foul pole to foul pole. Of course they should https://t.co/ut2lXPEadB

— Karl Ravech (@karlravechespn) September 22, 2017

How Marlins pitcher Junichi Tazawa helped create 90 jobs in a North Carolina candy factory

Tazawa. Candy. Baseball. This is a fun one.

OMNICHATTER’s lookin’ forward to the weekend, Friday, Friday, September 22, 2017

Albert Pujols is having the worst season for a 37-year-old in MLB history

Pujols has four more years on this contract, making him the favorite for the worst ever season for a 38-year-old, a 39-year-old, a 40-year-old, and a a 41-year-old.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 9-22-2017

Updates on international baseball in the Chicago Eagle, September 22, 1917:

The American boys in France are finding out that they are not the only men who can play ball. Not counting the Canadians, or “Americans,” there are in the Australian part of the British empire’s army a lot of very nifty baseballers.

The Japanese government, it is reported, plans to send two college [baseball] teams in a tour of its territory in Manchuria, partly to make the Japanese colonists there feel in touch with the ...

Robinson Cano hits 300th home run | MLB.com

Moms dig the long ball.

Robinson Cano became the third second baseman in Major League history to hit 300 home runs in his career when he launched a solo shot off Rangers reliever Keone Kela in the bottom of the ninth inning in Thursday’s 4-2 loss at Safeco Field.

Cano had a special fan in attendance as his mom, Claribel, had flown in from the Dominican Republic earlier this week.

Marlins’ Brian Anderson — inspired by Brian Anderson and Brian Anderson — has one of the most common names in baseball history - Sun Sentinel

“It’s almost like you see yourself. Oh, there’s a Brian Anderson up there. Maybe that’ll be me one day,” Anderson said. “It’s a pretty cool experience, seeing a guy with your name. That said, it also makes you realize you’re really common, so you’re not going to stand out much with your name.”

Anderson, the Miami Marlins’ third baseman, stood out enough anyway to earn his first major league call-up this month, becoming the third Brian Anderson in major league history. Out ...

Baseballs Are More Consistently Juiced Than Ever | FiveThirtyEight

Making the balls more consistent might further affect MLB’s overall home run rate, but it also means pitchers and hitters should end up with a more even playing field. Such consistency won’t help every player, but at least they’ll have a better idea of what they’re working with — a ball that travels farther and flies faster than it used to.

Ozzie and the MVP | Articles | Bill James Online

Dave Fleming on the 1987 MVP race.

The Rangers release artists’ renderings of their new ballpark

Good news for BDC, I guess.

Never tell OMNICHATTER the odds! for September 21, 2017

Where have you gone, Tim Lincecum? In search of beloved Giants ace

He hasn’t retired yet, but when he does Baer is poised to bring him to San Francisco in some kind of official capacity. “There’s definitely a place in the Giants world for Linecum,” he said. “I mean, that goes without saying.”

Until then? Lincecum is believed to be back here inhabiting the shores of Lake Washington, although no one with the Giants could say for sure. Someone thought maybe he was in Arizona. When the team tried to invite him to throw out the first pitch before a ...

Inside Baseball AL Notes | Young Yankees Re-Writing Record Books

Heyman’s latest. You can find the NL Notes here.

Raul Mondesi, former Yankees outfielder, sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption while mayor of San Cristobal

Former Yankees outfielder Raul Mondesi was sentenced to eight years in prison on Wednesday for corruption he took part in while mayor of San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic.

Mondesi, who was mayor of San Cristobal from 2010 to 2016, was also fined 60 million pesos for the corruption, according to a report.

That’s $1,257,336.00 in US Dollars.

‘Highly unlikely’ Mets risk Harvey burning them — with another team | New York Post

The Mets appear willing to gamble on the disappointing right-hander, even at the risk of potentially wasting $6 million in 2018 should the struggles that have defined Harvey’s last two seasons persist.

And that means tendering a contract to the arbitration-eligible pitcher.

“It’s highly unlikely that we’re not going to bring him back next year,” general manager Sandy Alderson told The Post on Wednesday after the Mets’ 9-2 loss to the Marlins.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 9-21-2017

Bismarck Tribune, September 21, 1917:

The National baseball commission today announced that the world’s series would open on the grounds of the Chicago Americans, October 6, with the second game played there Sunday, October 7.
...
Soldiers now in France and also those who are preparing to fight for liberty, were remembered by the commission. Announcement was made that a 1,000 word story would be cabled to France after each game for the benefit of the soldiers there…

President Wilson and ...

MLB, Rob Manfred must expand protective netting | SI.com

Nets to the ends of the dugout wouldn’t have helped this child. Bringing a toddler to a game, sitting that close, and not paying attention is just stupid.

There are enough cases for Major League Baseball to merit mandatory protective netting to, at least, the ends of each dugout. Maybe Wednesday’s incident will be what prompts significant change.

If it doesn’t, then somebody will eventually be killed by a foul ball. And then they’ll have to make a change.

Dayton Moore on why Royals did not sell | MLB.com

Actually where they were on July 30th doesn’t matter. If they make the playoffs it was a good idea to keep the team together; if they don’t, it wasn’t.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore knows the question will be coming if his team doesn’t make a miraculous run down the stretch: Why didn’t you sell at the non-waiver Trade Deadline, considering all of Kansas City’s pending free agents?

“It’s a fair question,” Moore told MLB.com. “Those are good questions, and they should be asked. But where ...

Goold: Cards pitchers exploiting a pitch that can cut both ways | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com

The chicks don’t love the cutter.

This is baseball’s home run breaking point | New York Post

Breaking point?

And this?

And, let’s not be naïve, chemists somewhere have cooked up strengthening concoctions that currently evade MLB’s testing for illegal performance enhancers.

Pat Neshek rips Zack Greinke for not signing autograph | SI.com

Don’t bother sending Zach Greinke an autograph request. Pat Neshek is fair game.