2021 MLB Regular Season thread

No Mantle?

 

Grew up in a National League market, so while I saw Mays in person several times a year, only saw Mantle on TV at the All-Star Game and Series.

 

Ah ha, a Jerry Grote reference.

He came to the Dodgers as a September reinforcement in 1981 (my rookie year on the beat). One of the veteran writers told me he was the biggest asshole in the league. I filed that away. A week or two later, we were in Cincinnati, then heading for San Diego. I got word that my grandmother died back in L.A.

My dad said I didn't need to come home immediately, so I stayed in Cincinnati and made plans with the traveling secretary to fly with the team to San Diego, then fly to L.A. from there, skipping the series against the Padres. He told me to take my luggage onto the plane, then when we were about to land in San Diego, move up to the front so I could exit quickly and make my connection.

As I was moving forward, Grote starts in. "Who the fuck are YOU? Where the fuck are YOU going? Why the fuck do YOU need to be first off the plane?" Stuff like that. I just looked at him and told him he didn't know what he was talking about.

He retired that offseason and said he wanted to spend more time with his family. And the writers rejoiced when his divorce was announced 6 months later. Wife couldn't stand him either.

 

deGrom out for the Mets, undergoing an MRI on his right side. Mets players had a team meeting with Mets bosses today regarding the firings of Chili Davis and Two Slater.

It’s a very Mets day.

 

FIFY.

 

Giants just hung a 10-spot to start off the first game of a twinbill at Coors. Methinks at least a couple folks are gonna be OK with giving 7-inning doubleheaders a try.

 

A record for innings by a non-pitcher may be established today. Even with the game length reduced.

 

Last time the Giants scored 10 or more runs in the first inning. Note starter for Cardinals.
Retrosheet Boxscore: San Francisco Giants 12, St. Louis Cardinals 4

 

Neither starter made it out of the first inning! And Bolin pitched nine innings in relief for the win.

 

Baseball really underestimated how much interleague play would take away the magic of those two events.

Would anybody really care if we scrapped interleague play? Maybe a couple markets like NY and Chicago. That’s about it.

 

Not what one would expect in a Gibson vs. Gibbon matchup.