The 2023 Running Baseball Thread

Have early work travel today so I had to tap out once they fell behind 5-3. Pleasantly surprised to see that result upon waking up this morning.

 

Happy to hear Aaron Hicks just had cramping last night. The reactions looked like it might be something worse.

And I just can't get over how Ryan O'Hearn hit reset on his career in the last five months. 5-for-5 last night, bringing his average to .309. Every time they need it, he's come up big.

 

This seems really unfair to Votto who IMO is a real HOFer even though he's not Cabrera.

 

I can't believe I had never watched this before. It's random, but worth a few minutes.

 

Really nice story from Derrick Goold about Wainwright's 200th victory.

Cardinals great Adam Wainwright wills his way to 200th win. 'For tonight, I was me.'

 

Flaherty is in the bullpen tonight just in case.

O’s could eye him as long relief in October.

 

Ryan O'Hearn is now 7-7 in the Houston series. Austin Hays just rocked a three-run homer. Goddamn this team is fun.

 

I want to explore the Rays stadium deal a little bit, at least partially because I’m still confused that it actually happened.

First, some details:






That last bit is huge. Like a lot of Florida jurisdictions, Pinellsas County has a tourist development tax (essentially, a hotel room tax or bed tax) at 6 percent on each accommodation rented for six months or less. So does Hillsborough County (Tampa), but Pinellas County brings in a lot more money. A big chunk of the public share of the new stadium is going to come from that, and for the almost-entire part local folks don’t pay that. A 30K-seat stadium is just about right, I think, for a team that makes most of its money from TV. Plus the Rays get "ancillary development rights,” which is what the Braves got when they fled to the northern Atlanta Suburbs.

Kudos to Bob Buckhorn and Jane Castor, mayors of Tampa who didn’t sell the farm to get a deal made in their city. And former St. Pete mayor Bill Foster deserves some congratulations as well, for not allowing the team to break the deal early. Apparently some people thought that wouldn’t work out either? Weird.

Oh, and you know who else is happy for the Rays? The Bucs.



Their stadium deal expires after the 2028 season.

 

Also, USF is getting ready to build its own stadium. And there’s always a spring training stadium somewhere that “needs” replacing.

 

I love this, because i know the feeling. I had to give a speech to our volleyball club members, parents and alumni after our founder (a great man named Mario Caruso) died and we were having a reunion celebrating everything he did for so many people. I got about 2 minutes into my speech and started bawling. This so much reminded me of that day, and I’m crying again now thinking about it.
Anyone who knew Mario could tell you a story about something, or many things, nice he did for them. He had a heart of gold. He also had 5 or 6 other organizations that he was involved with that would say the same, his high school alumni group, his church, people who rented from him. I could go on and on. He was also a barber and gave many free haircuts, including his entire team at nationals one year.
A great, great man who only saw, and brought out, the best in everyone.
Thanks to anyone who read this.

 

Suicide squeeze just executed, and McCann safe at first. Wow.