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That’s all the City Connect garbage is about as well.

Several teams rolled out “City Connect” uniforms this year. I wonder if this 3rd uniform is for this purpose?

Al Avila, please say hello to the REAL drunken sailor.

We stayed up the end last night. This will be a tough game to top in the playoffs going forward. I Cardinal Nation is hoping St. Louis native Max Scherzer comes home next year.

We have 10 affiliated minor league teams here. If a major league team landed here, Charlotte for instance, we would likely lose a couple of those teams, the Charlotte Knights for sure. I’m not the MLB fan I was years ago but that’s for another discussion. I enjoy minor league games as they are, for the most part, local. We’re one hour from Charlotte. From where we live I can see four different minor league teams within 90 minutes of here. Years ago there was a push to place a MLB team in the Triad area (Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point). Thankfully that never occurred. Currently all three of those towns have a professional baseball team, two are affiliated. High Point now has a professional team that plays in the Atlantic League.

I’d much prefer a contraction of the number of teams over expansion. We attended a game in Charlotte this year. It was our first trip to the new park. It was the last NC MLB affiliated minor league park on my list where I had not attended a game. As congested as that area is I couldn’t imagine a MLB park there. I also can’t imagine walking away from as nice a facility as the Knights play in to put one elsewhere in Charlotte. I have always opposed having a MLB team in North Carolina.

Reminds me of the Marine Corps referring to that other branch of service, the Chair Force.

Gerrit Cole threw 50 pitches in two innings. Awesome. I love seeing the high and mighty Yankees lose. Now I want to see Boston eliminated.

Actually, he is in charge…and he is a simpleton.

I believe AJ was the one promoting Grossman as big splash. Avila is all about being noncommittal on practically anything. I get it to a point and I know he’s not expected to show his cards…but he goes so far out of his way to be somewhat evasive that he looks uncomfortable at times. I actually like what he did say and imply, they’re going to be selective in their process. I hope they succeed. AA would never ever pass for a motivational speaker. The clip is worth a listen.

There has been some talk of the A’s looking at Nashville. I have no idea how much substance there is to it. I do know that things are moving very slow in addressing their situation. We attended a game in Oakland in 2019. They are in dire need of an upgrade, wherever that is. Nashville is getting frequent mention as a relocation spot. I’d be happy to see the A’s or Rays land there. That Miami built a new ballpark with a pre-existing interest in the team registering around 0% is ridiculous. Other than the minor league complexes and spring training, I’d like to see MLB get out of Florida.

My impression from his comments is that he is going to spend judiciously. This may, and could, result in a big contract for a player. But there isn’t a promise out there that there is going to be a headliner signing.

And no wildcard teams. I’m in.

Al Avila isn’t going to dump a bundle on anyone. This off-season is going to be very interesting.

Tigers GM Al Avila on free agency: "I would caution you: This is not going to be spending like a drunken sailor. This is going to be a very measured process." I don’t want the organization to spend like a “drunken sailor.” That’s what got them in the mess they’ve been in for several years. We’ll see how sharp Al’s acumen is for ROI going forward. I sincerely hope he is successful for everyone’s sake. I fully expect the Tigers to compete for the playoffs beginning in spring training. It’s all yours Al. Make it happen.

My son played on a little league team one year that was sponsored by the town’s local hardware store that was a family run business. The store owner’s first name was Brewer. And with that, the Brewers took the field.

He can opt for the 2022 draft or sign an international contract overseas as I understand it.

Baddoo is the next Ricky Henderson.

The Lolich/Freehan battery holds the most games started in MLB at 324. With Wainwright and Molina signing on for one more year there is a good chance that the record might be broken. I believe the Wainwright/Molina combination is 304-305? I know they were at 300 the first week of September.

The only team that I would pull for in the AL is the Rays. I do think it’s cool seeing two of the old school guys managing AL teams-Baker and LaRussa. Pulling for Cards in the NL until they’re out and from that point on I’m for San Fran. Unlike the AL, I don’t have a deep dislike of any of the NL teams in the playoffs.

Is it spring training yet?

I enjoy Petry in the booth. I don’t know that he would have any interest in the job full time. If that opportunity arose, I would hope he would take it.

To my knowledge nothing has been announced one way or another. Mike Shannon, another 1968 World Series participant, is retiring from the booth this year. The Cardinals did a nice pregame ceremony for him today.

The idea is to give an appearance of fairness across the board on the final day of the season. A certain World Series Championship trophy sitting in Houston pretty much speaks for what Manfred and company accept as fairness.

I’m sure Manfred and his minions are delighted with how the way the final day of the season (or beyond) will play out. In essence, the playoffs start today for several teams.