2024 Regular Season- First Half

[Lance]

Twins stay hot against the poorer teams - three in a row vs the A’s and going for the sweep tonight. Suck a streaky team this season.

[C. John]

Paul Godfrey was apparently instrumental in bringing the Blue Jays to Toronto. I say instrumental as Wikipedia says he was and then doesn't given any details in his biography on how he did it. However I did note that he was Chairman of Metropolitan Toronto at the time so I daresay there is a connection there. We was part of the commission/corporation that was responsible for choosing the design and location of Skydome. By the way the Blue Jays purchased Skydome for 25 million and it cost over 500 million to construct. Now that is a fire sale. He was also President of the Jays at one time.

Rod Heisler
https://baseballhalloffame.ca/hall-of...

Howard Birnie
https://baseballhalloffame.ca/howard-...

And yes, Morneau was inducted in 2020.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Well, Padres were swept by the Mets. Now on to Philly, Brewers & Nationals (won 8 out of last 10). My heart says Go Go Pads but this looks like a difficult road trip.

[C. John]

An article from the CBC on sports betting and a plan to at least reign in the advertising for it.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cana...

[Brina]

I just wish the Cubs would tear it down. Yes- lots of injuries but position players are back. The starting pitching has been excellent but the bullpen has blown 15 saves and no one can hit with runners in scoring position and not very much at all. Shake things up. Do 8675309 (2-4) as your lineup like Maddon did once for the Rays. It couldn’t hurt at this point. Otherwise, teams I will support : NL- technically no one but we have a story about the Padres. Peggy message me about it. AL- hubby loves the Yankees so them but I’ve always liked the Twins even before I met Lance here. I actually watched the Twins last night instead of the Yankees. But really I wish the Cubs would shape up and make me want to be excited about them.

[C. John]

My only rooting interest in the NL is for the Mets and against the Dodgers. However if the Cubs manage to win the division I shalln't complain.

[C. John]

Card Corner is Oil Can Boyd. Always thought that was one of the more interesting nicknames in baseball at the time.
https://baseballhall.org/discover/car...

[Matthew]

Every time I watch a Cubs game and see the lineup, I'm baffled as to how they are fading so quickly. it feels like a month ago where they led the NL Central. as of this morning, they are in last. I'm hesitant to tear it down, because there is some talent there, but I'm also unsure whether management knows how to get talent in return.

[Lance]

Well, one good thing for them and the rest of the NL Central is that wild card race has allowed practically everyone to stay within striking distance except for the Marlins and Rockies. But the big question - will they be sellers or buyers?

[Brina]

G-D only knows but a few more games like last night and they pretty much can make the decision for mgmt.

[C. John]

An article from the Infinite Baseball Card set on one Julio Bonetti, who was tossed from baseball, minor league, for taking money from gamblers to throw a game. I don't know how many times he might have done it but they had the evidence for one.

https://infinitecardset.substack.com/...

[Brina]

This story has not broke and I guess I am first to hear because Cubs are playing Giants. Willie Mays has passed away. I just finished the Baseball 100 and then heard that he couldn’t make it to Rickwood Field. I knew he was old, not necessarily sick. My dad’s favorite moment has nothing to do with a hit. In the 1961 All Star game at Wrigley he and some buddies got seats in the bleachers and had a clear view of Mays and Mantle shaking hands before the game started. I always say I was born a generation too late. I would have loved to watch him and all the stars of that era.

[C. John]

Just read the same in my newsfeed.

[Beth]

Heartbroken.

[Lance]

Announced it at the ValleCats game I'm attending. Wish I could have seen him in his prime instead of a broken down player like he was his last year in SF and the Mets

[Beth]

Hope he was aware that his stats took a boost when MLB calculated his Negro League numbers into his lifetime achievements.

[Beth]

I had a funny encounter with Oil Can in 2005. I was working out at a gym across from Fenway Park the afternoon of their huge WS celebration from 2004. I was about to weigh myself when I saw this skinny man sitting next to the scale. I asked him to look the other way. He started to laugh and it took me a couple of seconds to recognize him. He gave me an autographed poster — I didn’t ask for it — and was pleasant. I gave up on weighing myself.


C. John wrote: "Card Corner is Oil Can Boyd. Always thought that was one of the more interesting nicknames in baseball at the time.
https://baseballhall.org/discover/car......"

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

By the time I went to my first Padres game in 1970 Mays was at the end of his playing days with Giants & Mets. At least with todays technology we can witness his great plays online. My sister is a die hard Dodgers fan who hates the Giants although Mays was one of her favorite players.

[C. John]

Well I suppose this is as good an explanation for a Mets resergence as any. From The Guardian, a newspaper read by the Wokerati, at least according to Suella Braverman.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/art...

[Harold]

Beth wrote: "Hope he was aware that his stats took a boost when MLB calculated his Negro League numbers into his lifetime achievements."

He was aware. I saw a short clip where he said i just added 10 hits to me record.

[Harold]

I have had the benefit of having seen Willie Mays in his nascent years and throughout his career. He was simply the greatest. I have never seen such jubilance on the field by a player. He loved to play, and it showed. He brought excitement to every game. He was the best base runner I ever saw. I'm glad I recently read one of his biographies. Griffey Jr. was the closest to him in terms of exuberance, in my opinion, but he still falls short. Aaron was tremendous, consistent, and reliable, but he didn't have the charisma and showmanship of the Say Hey Kid.

[Harold]

One other thing that some of you may not know. He went into the military in his second and third years, 1952 and 53. he had only 127 at bats before going in. He hit 20 HRs in his rookie year in only 121 games. In 1954 when he returned, he hit 41 HRs. I think it's fair to say, he if he had been able to play all of 52 and 53, would have hit at least 60 HRs. That would have given him 720 career HRs-beating the Babe.

[C. John]

And a lot of people would not have liked that. There were many for whom Babe Ruth was practically a god and they did not like when anyone went past him on a list. We won't mention the other reason.

[C. John]

The following is from the CBC and was part of a larger article.

Now that Mays is gone, who inherits the title of greatest living ballplayer? You might not like it, but it's probably Barry Bonds.

Mays' godson is tainted by his links to steroid use, which have kept him out of the Hall of Fame. But he holds the all-time home run record with 762, stole more than 500 bases, batted close to .300 and, for the advanced-stats crowd, has more Wins Above Replacement than anyone else alive. Before he juiced up to become the most feared power hitter in baseball, Bonds won eight Gold Gloves for his excellence in the outfield and was widely considered the best all-around player in the sport. Steroids aside, he's a worthy successor to his late godfather.

[Harold]

Unfortunately, it is true about Bonds.

[Lance]

I agree - Bonds is the best living player. There’s other reasons besides PEDs that’s keeping him out of the HOF.

[C. John]

From what I have read he was not the most personable of people.

[Lance]

Yup - that’s one.

[C. John]

The Cubs have DFA'ed catcher Yan Gomes and signed catcher Tomas Nido

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Life has been somewhat hectic so havent been following Padres as much as I would like. Did listen to part of yesterdays game against Brewers. Offense is heating up especially Croneworth. Worried about Tatis & Profar. Both injured yesterday. Couldnt find any info on Padres news & they're not on todays lineup & MLB hasnt posted who's on the bench.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Padres just posted. Tatis & Profar on the bench. Encouraging news!

[Lance]

Bailey Ober throws the first CG for a Twins pitcher this year and first of his career. Only 89 pitches in a 10-2 win vs Oakland. Last time I went to Target Field he was also the winning pitcher in a great outing for him 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball in a win over the White Sox in late September 2022

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Lance; Good for Ober! Not too many CG anymore. Husband will be pleased Twins beat Oakland as he's an Angel fan & this helps keep Angels out of the Al West cellar.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

C. John wrote: "Well so much for the Astros getting Cavan Biggio. He has gone to the Dodgers it seems."

This is a bit of a mystery to me. I think the change of scenery will be good for Cavan, and he will undoubtedly profit from some of the Dodgers' robust coaching and training. But there is just no way they will be able to keep him on their 40-man roster once some of their injured players - specifically Max Muncy - start to return. So are they going to trade him? Release him? Hope he clears waivers and accepts a trip back to the minors? He seems like a nice kid but I just don't think he brings much to the table on either side of the ball to be more than just an injury replacement, and it feels like the Dodgers could have gotten that from their current roster.

[Lance]

Interesting fact - Twins pitchers retired 34 consecutive Oakland hitters the last two days. Bailey Ober retired the last 17 batters he faced in yesterday’s complete game and Pablo Lopez retired the first 17 batters today. So a perfect game plus between them. Lopez at 88 pitches, 1 out in the 8th. Hoping he can get a CG as well!

[Ashley Marie]

C. John wrote: "The Cubs have DFA'ed catcher Yan Gomes and signed catcher Tomas Nido"

I always loved Gomes, hope he ends up somewhere else. I wish Cleveland could bring him back but they've already got Hedges for veteran/clubhouse presence and I think Gomes might be a bit redundant there, unfortunately. Best wishes to him, always.

[Ashley Marie]

Steven Kwan is on an absolute roll since coming back from the IL and I couldn't be more thrilled. Chasing that .400 batting average! He's such a fantastic all-around player to boot, offense and defense both.

...I do have to laugh, for whatever reason my dad has it stuck in his head that Kwan's given name is Michael 😂

[Lance]

Ashley Marie wrote: "Steven Kwan is on an absolute roll since coming back from the IL and I couldn't be more thrilled. Chasing that .400 batting average! He's such a fantastic all-around player to boot, offense and def..."

Maybe he skates for off season training? Can he do a triple Lutz?

[Brina]

Cubs unveil Sandberg statue today. That was my childhood- I only wanted to play 2nd base in softball because he made me a fan from the time I was not even in kindergarten. Unfortunately current iteration of Cubs- and pretty much ever- can’t win on Sunday night baseball. I can’t stand the Mets so that mars an otherwise perfect baseball day.

[C. John]

Call someone up, two days later he gets hit with a suspension for the use of performance enhancing drugs. That probably sums up the Blue Jays season. Oh well, just have to see where all this leads. Hopefully with Bichette and Vlad Jr. still on the team and signed to nice healthy extensions. Hey, I can dream can't I.

[Brina]

Honestly if I’m the Jays I fight MLB on this one. The guy and his wife were taking fertility treatments to try to start a family. I don’t think he was taking these particular drugs to help him become a 30-30 guy. Sometimes I think MLB has to look at the bigger picture when doling out all these punishments.

[C. John]

If this can be appealed then I am sure that will come up. Mind you it is supposed to be up to the player to make sure that any medicine he is taking will not be causing problems. As well I believe MLB can grant exemptions if circumstances warrant it. Guess we shall have to wait and see what happens.

[C. John]

Article on a speakeasy that exists in Dodger Stadium.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodger...

[C. John]

Card Corner this time is Randy Jones. I recognize the name, but as he seems to have spent most (if not all) of his career in the NL I didn't see him that much.
https://baseballhall.org/discover/car...

[Harold]

I can't get over how good the Guardians are playing. I figured they would end up in 4th place in the Central. They are 5th in all of baseball in + run differential. Congrats Ashley Marie!

[Harold]

Ashley Marie, here is a very interesting analytical look at how Kwan has become a power hitter and the breakdown of his swing.
https://www.mlb.com/news/steven-kwan-...

[Brina]

And the Cubs are in last and 10 games out of first. Starting pitching has been great but the rest of the team is trash. Second half should be interesting.

[C. John]

Brina wrote: "And the Cubs are in last and 10 games out of first. Starting pitching has been great but the rest of the team is trash. Second half should be interesting."

Maybe those rumours will come to pass and someone will switch from light blue to dark blue. As long as it isn't Dodgers Blue I can live with it, though my preference is no switch.

[Lance]

With the Twins out west, been watching the Guardians- Orioles series. The amount of offense generated by Cleveland shocks me. They’ve always had the pitching, but aside from Ramirez and Naylor, never thought there was much of an offensive threat there

[Beth]

Wow. I had no idea Ted Williams had to hide his Mexican ethnicity.

Negro Leagues advocacy sparked by Ted Williams, who hid a Latino past https://www.axios.com/2024/06/24/ted-...