CMU97

Chet was always one of my favorite players, and we were spoiled watching him in Center for long. I met him once in spring training 1990, and he couldn't have been a nicer human being. I mean he went above and beyond for all the fans that day, took time to ask everyone he met and asked how they were doing, etc. Although he was clearly an established star in what turned out to be his last year, he made it feel like he was honored that you wanted an autograph and wanted to talk to him, not the other way around. That has always stayed with me, especially when I see someone in A ball snub a kid for an autograph. He was a class player, but also an exceptional human being. RIP Chet.

The Upside of Anger. Not a bad overall movie, but not much baseball besides Costner trying to hang on to the glory days and stay in the spotlight although no one wants him there anymore. The BEST baseball movie ever is "The Slugger's Wife". And by best, I mean it is absolutely horrible. Lots of baseball in it, including Mark Fidrych pitching for the Astros. There were probably some other real baseball players in it too. Michael O'Keefe (the star of the movie) does not come as a baseball player. Or a very good actor. Edited because I cannot spell Fidrych.

The Pirates internal investigation determined the 20-year-old fan that fell out of the stands did not purchase, but did consume two beers during the course of the game. One legal person in his party purchased 7 beers on their credit card. A question for those of you who are much smarter on these things than me: Will, should, the Pirates be responsable for "serving" this underage fan? I have no idea what the legal answer would be. If the pirates are responsible, how do you keep this kind of thing from happening?

A story I read implied alcohol was involved. Right before the accident, witnesses said took off his shirt and poured a beer all over himself. To me, it looked liked he first grabbed the railing and pulled himself forward as he lept from his seat. The forward momentum was enough to kind of sling shot himself over the railing. Being 20, if he was drunk or even drinking, the Pirates are going to be in a lot of trouble. I don't think it was intentional at all, he was just excited, grabbed the railing and pulled himself up at the same time he was jumping to his feet. I hope he survives, and can live a normal life. My wife brought up a point I wouldn't have thought of. About 20 years ago she witnessed a college age man trying to cross a waterfall at the top. He didn't make it. He tumbled about 50 feet hitting every rock on his way down. He lived long enough to be taken to the hospital, but not long after. She said that every person that witnessed this guys fall in Pittsburgh will carry it with them for the rest of their life, and it will affect them. From seeing the look on his face, his attempt to grab the railing, and the fall. As a witness you are paralyzed at the event and can't do anything to stop it.

You got my hopes up on this one. I rushed right over to BR hoping, no praying. It would be a Sidd fynch grid. Or he at least was an answer. A couple of good ones; which former MLB player and felon did Fynch strike out in the tarped up batting cage? What MLB star played Fynch's French horn during drills? Now that would be a fun grid!

They don't mention the EV, but the articl posted above said of the 5 Yankees who are using the bats , 4 have increased their swing by 1-3 mph. The outlier was Goldschimdt, who only increased by .3 mph. Of course, he is 38.years old. Stanton used the bat last season, and had the fastest swing in MLB, a full 3 miles faster than the next guy.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44477141/mlb-2025-torpedo-bowling-pin-bats-new-york-yankees-taking-baseball Here is an excellent article describing the short history of the torpedo bat, the science behind it, and the early adapters. It was used by one player last year, with tremendous results.

From what I've read and heard, the concept has been around for a couple of years now. Different players have been experimenting with different types of the torpedo (wood, balance, taper, etc), and it has been a process to find what "feels right" to each hitter. Cody Bellinger said he used one last spring training with the Cubs, but never in a real game because it just didn't feel natural. Apparently, the Yankees were experimenting with these bats a lot during this year's spring training. I have no idea why no one noticed, or reported on it then. The concept is an excellent one, you want to hit the ball where the most wood, and therefore weight, of the bat lies. By moving the weight closer to the handle, you are also able to swing the same weight bat faster. If other teams weren't trying this before, they certainly will be now. BTW, Aaron Judge said he won't touch one for fear it will mess up his natural swing. And, his natural swing is working pretty well right now.

boo

Nice comeback Reese.

Really, Really good inning. Only 2 runs, but fantastic approaches and quality at bats.

We will see how the season plays out of course, but I think a big difference between the Harris/Hinch regime compared to anything else since Sparky, is that players are being told exactly what they need to do to play/stay in the big leagues. If they put in the work and show results, they will stay. If not, they are gone pretty quickly. None of this lets give them a huge leash and see what happens anymore. It is very refreshing from what we've had the past 7 years or so. And they are preforming. Battling. Getting better. So much better to watch. We can poo-poo Chris ilitch as much as we want, but he gets credit for hiring Harris and letting him do his thing.

Me too. I get to take in a local minor league hockey game tonight in Virginia. Blue Ridge Bobcats vs. Carolina Thunderbirds. At the end of two, Cats 4, Birds 2. In the beer line just now, I started a conversation with a guy wearing the English D, from Dearborn, and then the lady behind us joined in. She was from Lansing. What are the odds three people in the beer line at a hockey game in rural VA, would all be from Michigan?

Dita Von Teese?

After a walk no-less!!