Quote of the Week
“ I'm much better at getting high than getting low. ”
– Bill Walton, on why he wouldn't be a good catcher
This Week in Baseball
The Biggest Apple
Mets slugger Pete Alonso set the NL rookie home run record with his 40th bomb. The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger set the previous mark in 2017. With a month and a half left in the season, Alonso needs just two more homers to set the Mets’ single-season record, and 13 more to break Aaron Judge’s MLB rookie record. At this rate, he should pass those by the weekend.
What Happened in Vegas...
In a surprising turn, it's been reported that the Diamondbacks discussed a move to the city of Henderson, Nevada, about 15 miles outside Vegas. Over the last few years, Las Vegas has become a hotbed of professional sports but both sides are now saying the deal is dead – or at least it was taken out back and had its legs broken.
Phoolish Philing...
The Phillies have filed a lawsuit to keep the Phanatic as its mascot. As the team tell it, they’ve been threatened by the mascot's creators that if they don’t pay millions of dollars, the Phanatic will be declared a “free agent.” Even though he's almost 40 years old, he would probably fetch a nice price due to his elite Wins Above Replacement Mascot (WARM).
Small Ball...
Pedro Martinez has suggested that the sharp increase in home runs around the league is due to a smaller ball. Usually when guys get older, it's not balls getting smaller that they have to worry about.
#PujolsHits...
Albert Pujols set the MLB record for most hits by a foreign-born player. The Dominican Republic native surpassed Adrian Beltre's previous record of 3,166. Man, looking at Pujols hits, it's hard to believe people thought he would stink. But early in his career is was obvious Pujols would amass hits. #PujolsHits
On the Air
“ If only there was some way for the team to show Troy Tulowitzki their appreciation, like giving him $20 million a year. Oh wait. That's what they did. ”
-
Time for the Baldwin Scale—Grading GMs on Trade Deadline Performance; Troy Tulowitzki; Rutger Hauer RIP (Ep.108)
First and foremost, the Baldwin Scale is back! Did you miss it? We know you did! Episode 108 of Foul Territory: A Baseball Podcast—the Annie Hall edition—devotes most of the episode to the Jed Rigney’s brainchild from several years ago: …
Going Deep
-
Zac Gallen Leads Breakthrough, Forgotten Players in NL Wild Card Race
The National League Wild Card race has been nothing short of, well, wild. Eight teams currently are within five games of each other, vying for three postseason positions. And the National League Central is up for grabs with the Cubs …
-
Going, Going, Gone! … It’s a Single
I cannot remember as many balls rocketing off outfield fences resulting in long singles as I’ve seen this season. Going, going, gone … it’s a single. Part of the reason is superior outfield defense corralling the ball and firing it …
-
DJ LeMahieu vs. Bryce Harper: How to Choose a Free Agent
About 120 games into the Yankees season, the biggest question I ask myself almost every game is why the Colorado Rockies allowed DJ LeMahieu to declare free agency. Why didn’t they offer him a contract? Or at least make him …
Off Base
