Who better to break down Anthony Bender's incredible sweeper than Adam Ottavino? "The grip he showed was my grip, same grip."

Should I Become An Astronaut?

On top of everything else, John Ward is the only player with at least 100 wins as a pitcher and 2000 hits as a hitter. (Ruth only had 94 wins.)

Not enough people talk about John Ward • .275/.314/.341 (.655 OPS), 92 OPS • 164-103 (.614), 2.10 ERA, 119 ERA • Played 17 seasons from 1878-94 • Made his MLB debut at age 18 • 62.3 WAR, 2107 hits, 540 SB • 2469.2 IP, 245 CG, 24 SHO • Elite defensive shortstop • 2x WS Champ, ERA title • Perfected the curveball • Also a golfer & author • Threw with both hands • Married a Broadway star • (The celeb Helen Dauvray) • They would divorce in 1893 • Practiced law after baseball • Pitched 587.0 innings in 1879 • Then in 1880, threw 595 more • Went to Penn State at age 13 (?) • (Kicked out for stealing chickens) • Managed 751 games while a player • Was player-manager by 20 years old • Named the team after himself in 1890 • ("Ward's Wonders" lasted just one year) • In fact, the entire league folded after 1890 • Formed the first players' union in pro sports • Inducted into the @baseballhall in 1964 (Vets) • Like the Stanley Cup, the “Dauvray Cup” was a single championship trophy that was passed to the winning team rather than having a new trophy made each year; named for and presented by Ward’s wife, the Broadway actress Helen Dauvray, this was more or less the World Series trophy from 1887-93; but then it went missing and hasn’t been seen since 1893! Subscriber nomination by @PeteATurner

🎂George Brett Best player ever to have a first name as a last name?

Man, and to think I was an Edwin Diaz fan. A new article tying Diaz to an illegal cockfighting ring in Puerto Rico makes you wonder if MLB will address it or if it'll simply get brushed under the rug like Ohtani's gambling escapades. This is crazy.

Anthony Volpe is the Barry Bonds of Gary DiSarcinas

Hypothetical: You’re Buster Posey, President of Baseball Operations for the San Francisco Giants. I offer to take $0 salary and sign a minor league contract to manage in Low A. If the “he has no professional baseball experience” crowd is right, I’m still no worse than Tony Vitello, you cut me, lose $0 and there’s no risk to the big league club. If the “he doesn’t know his left from his right” crowd is right, you’ll immediately see me do the same thing Tony Vitello did in the big leagues at Low A and cut me. You lose $0 and there’s no risk to the big league club. If there’s massive negative PR, which we already know there won’t be, you just cut me and move on. The story is dead in a couple days, you lose $0, and there’s no risk to the big league club. But, assuming none of those things happen, which they obviously wouldn’t, if you like what you see, you can promote me to AA and re-evaluate me there. Then AAA. Then the big leagues. If I earn it, which you’d be 100% in control of deciding. If you don’t think I’m good enough, you lose $0 and there’s no risk to the big league club. You could take away my “antics.” You could take away my social media. You could ask anything of me. If I don’t comply, you cut me, lose $0, and there’s no risk to the big league club. What logical reason is there to not do this? At worst, you cut me and there’s no risk to the big league club. At best, you get someone that will clearly and obviously signal for either lefty or righty relief pitchers for $0 who could help the big league team if and when you see fit.

Not enough people talk about Tommy Lasorda • 0-4 (.000), 6.15 ERA, 1.869 WHIP, 67 ERA • But 1599-1439 (.526) as LAD's manager • Managed the Dodgers for 21 seasons • Bled Dodger Blue more than anyone • Elected to the Baseball HOF in 1997 • 4x NL pennant, 2x WS Champion • Knew his players' families' names • 2x Manager of the Year (1983, 1988) • Famously, fiercely loyal to his players • K.O.'d the Phillie Phanatic on 8/28/88 • His #2 jersey is retired by the Dodgers • Was the oldest living HOF'er 2018-2021 • Famous for his explicative-laden tirades • Was Dodgers interim GM for part of 1998 • Epic, years-long feud with Kurt Bevacqua • Led USA to Olympic Gold (2000 in Sydney) • (First manager to win a WS & Olympic Gold) • Coached 3B in the 2001 MLB All-Star Game • Missed 2 MiLB seasons to serve in the Army • Tied MLB record w/ 3 wild pitches in 1 inning • Struck out 25 in a 15-inning game on 5/31/48 • Managed LAD for part of spring training 2008 • Had one iconic outing as a pitcher on April 17, 1956, earning his only big league save after locking down a 2-1 victory over Detroit with the tying run at 3B • Lasorda is among the top-25 winningest managers of all time, and one of the most decorated; only 12 managers in MLB history have more wins *and* a higher winning percentages than he does Subscriber nomination by @PeteATurner

Who is the most “What if” player in MLB history?

My heart is heavy right now. Listening to John Sterling call games on the radio was part of the soundtrack of my life for a long time, all the way from childhood into my mid-30s. His voice was the kind of omnipresent fixture you almost take for granted. He called more than 5,000 consecutive games at one point, an incredible number. He was one of the best in the business, truly great at what he did; he made a terrific tag-team with Suzyn Waldman for all those years and they made me feel like we were all watching the game together even though I was usually in a car by myself and couldn't see a thing. I specifically and vividly remember driving home one night in 2007 after a day that had gone terribly, putting the game on the radio, and feeling an immediate and visceral sense of comfort from hearing John's voice. It was like he draped a warm blanket over my shoulders when I needed it most, even though he had no idea and was just talking about Chien-Ming Wang. RIP to a legend

Six guys, two names

Deep cut: Travis Hafner