Did you see this?
Our weekly look at some of the best and most interesting things I've seen over the last 7 days
GUESS I WON’T BE NEEDING THIS
But I had it ready to go, just in case.
IS HE WORTH IT?
Next up? 25-year-old Japanese righthander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to sign for more than $300 million this winter. Jayson Stark of The Athletic talks to people around the game to find out if he’s worth the risk.
A STAR-STUDDED TRIBUTE
I love the tribute to the East-West Classic Negro Leagues All-Star Game the Baseball Hall of Fame announced last week. It will include The Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball, a new exhibit that will debut in May in conjunction with the playing of an actual East-West Classic tribute game, featuring African-American former major league players.
Played at Cooperstown’s Doubleday Field, the legends game will be hosted by Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr., Ferguson Jenkins and Ozzie Smith. CC Sabathia and Chris Young will serve as team captains. Among the players already confirmed to appear are former Marlins Dontrelle Willis, Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson.
The first Negro Leagues East-West Classic was played at Comiskey Park in Chicago in 1933, 2 months after Major League Baseball’s first All-Star Game was contested on the same field. The East-West Classic remained an annual showcase for the biggest stars of the Negro Leagues through 1962.
I look forward to seeing the Hall of Fame’s exhibit on my next visit to Cooperstown.
I’ve said this many times over the years. No baseball fan’s resume is complete until he or she visits the incredible Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.
CATCHING UP WITH YADI
After one year of retirement, a former Cardinals great is returning to help the organization for which he starred. The great Derrick Goold writes about the plan for Yadier Molina’s next chapter in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
WINNING THE LOTTERY
The Cleveland Guardians defied the odds to win the first pick in the 2024 draft via the 2nd MLB Draft Lottery, held Tuesday at the Winter Meetings.
This story by Baseball America attempts to explain the convoluted process. I’d love for you to read to see if you understand it. I’m more confused after reading the story than I was before.
There has to be a less-complicated way to do this so we can avoid the Nationals winning the draw for the first pick, as they initially did Tuesday night, when, in fact, they’re ineligible for it.
THEY’LL MANAGE
I really enjoyed this piece by Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic, pulling back the curtain on how big league managers are hired.
The process has evolved a lot over the years, and it can be multi-faceted.
Here’s an interesting element that was added to the process in the one managerial search in which I played a small part, after the 2003 season when I was Vice President of Communications with the Red Sox. Then GM Theo Epstein decided to have each of the finalists who came to Boston to interview meet the media in a formal press conference.
The challenge of dealing with the media in Boston is significant relative to many major league markets, so the decision was made to see how various candidates handled the press at the end of a long day of meetings.
While it was far from the determining factor in his hiring, Athletics bench coach Terry Francona dazzled in the lengthy session in the bowels of Fenway Park that late November afternoon in 2003.
THE BRONX’S NEWEST BOMBER
Jayson Stark of The Athletic examines what the Yankees are getting in recently acquired star Juan Soto.
If nothing else, this piece is worth reading for Jayson summing up Soto’s 16-month stay in San Diego thusly:
“How can it be possible that Juan Soto’s entire tenure as a San Diego Padre went by so fast it fit in between seasons of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’?”
Which reminds, me. Let’s go, Larry. We’re ready for season 12.
HUNGRY FOR INNINGS
Are innings eaters coming back into vogue? Chad Jennings of The Athletic says they may well be.
ICYMI
In case you didn’t check out VFTB daily, here’s what you missed this very busy past week:
What kind of big leaguer might Nasim Nunez become? The Marlins will have to find out from the other side of the field.
A celebration of a beloved and respected Baseball voice being honored by the Hall of Fame.
Should the Marlins trade pitching to enhance their lineup? It’s not as easy as some may think.
Already one of the 10 most-read pieces I’ve published on VFTB: A behind-the-scenes look at Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings, which were held this week in Nashville.
While you’re here…
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Love the X post about Ohtani!