MLB 2022: The Long and Winding Thread

"How you going to pound that Budweiser tonight if you don't fight that ham today?" - Joe Schultz, misquoted.

 

I have to think the shrinking of the minors and their efforts to stall a player from gaining free agency as long as possible are two parts of the same piece. As college baseball has improved, with more top players going to college (just a third of first round picks were HS players), MLB teams are a) relying on their play in college to deliver a better prospect for potential MLB success with more data and less risk involved in drafting them, and b) they aren't paying for those years of development and c) they'll still stick a guy from college in the minors for two years meaning by the time they DO hit their FA year, they'll be 29 or so and the team probably enjoyed the bulk of their productivity under the team control.

 

Quite a weekend for this kid:

 

Is there any sport that Texas used to be good in that they still are good in?

 

WTF has happened to Cody Bellinger? I'm pretty concerned if I'm the Dodgers.

 

The long and winding road

That leads to the Astros and Dodgers in the WS

 

Pujols returning to the Cardinals.

 

The manager heard and said, ah, that's nice....wait? For the whole YEAR? Not just a one-day deal?
But I get it - the best fans in baseball will be able to stomach the DH if its Pujols.

 

Pujols is expected to be a left-hand DH and pinch-hitter when needed, per ESPN. I expect he will retire after this season.

 

Verlander: 4.0 IP, 3H, 0R, 62 pitches, top speed 96.
Houston leads Nats 2-0.