The magic number, is magically delicious.
Team News
What needs to happen for Diamondbacks to win a wild-card spot
Padres blast A.J. Puk with 9th-inning homers, push Diamondbacks to brink of elimination
“Try and win it,” Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll said of the team’s mindset entering Sunday. “There’s one game. Give ourselves the best shot to play some postseason ball. It’s all we can do is flip the page and try to go 1-0 tomorrow. Come out here, forget this one and move on and compete tomorrow.”
D-backs in precarious position on final day
“My message would be, if I were speaking to the players right now, is just go out there, control the zone, control the at-bat by controlling the zone, don’t try and do too much,” Lovullo said. “Don’t try to be the hero. We are a damn good offensive team, and I know their pitcher had it going on today, but I felt like we were trying to roll it up all into a ball and make it happen right now.”
https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/dbacks-seek-win-help-as-regular-season-closes
Cold Bats, Puk’s 9th Inning Meltdown Send D-backs to Defeat
Padres score 5 runs in 9th inning, Diamondbacks’ postseason hopes take hit
https://arizonasports.com/story/3559798/padres-5-runs-9th-inning-diamondbacks/
Torey Lovullo wants to make Zac Gallen available for season finale, Brandon Pfaadt to start
The Arizona Diamondbacks will start Brandon Pfaadt on the mound for their season finale Sunday against the San Diego Padres, but ace Zac Gallen may be an option in relief along with Ryne Nelson.
https://arizonasports.com/story/3559816/zac-gallen-available-season-finale/
Other Baseball
Estes, A’s proud to represent Oakland to the end
“I’ve met so many fans that I consider family now,” Estes said. “Getting to know every single one of them, it’s just a good feeling to be a part of this. It’s not just a fan base, it’s a family. They really make you feel like that. I’ll appreciate Oakland forever and I’ll continue to talk about Oakland.”
https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/joey-estes-reflects-on-2024-season-oakland-athletics-fans
We could see another long World Series title drought end this year
https://www.mlb.com/news/longest-world-series-title-droughts-2024-postseason-teams
Skenes caps brilliant rookie season with strikeout and a smile in Bronx
https://www.mlb.com/news/paul-skenes-pitches-2-perfect-innings-vs-yankees-in-2024-finale
Verlander shines in potential finale to ‘incredible journey’ with Astros
https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-win-justin-verlander-final-regular-season-start
The Detroit Tigers can’t stop winning. How are they doing this?
https://sports.yahoo.com/the-detroit-tigers-cant-stop-winning-how-are-they-doing-this-182345098.html
Sunday Notes
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/sunday-notes-all-hail-the-detroit-tigers-and-kudos-al-central/
Yankees secure AL’s top record thanks to Guardians’ loss
https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-american-league-home-field-advantage-2024-mlb-playoffs
What to watch during the final weekend of the MLB season
Eyeing Triple Crown, Ohtani closes on batting leader Arráez
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41503945/eyeing-triple-crown-ohtani-closes-batting-leader-arraez
Shohei Ohtani since the All-Star break:
25 HR, most in MLB
35 SB, most in MLBonly player to lead MLB in both HR & SB for a 2nd half (since 1st ASG in 1933): 1955 Willie Mays
Ohtani will join him if he maintains his leads
h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/ZcFgbNpyYS
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 29, 2024
Pirates’ Oneil Cruz finally gets to meet his namesake, Yankees legend Paul O’Neill
In case you missed it…
Oneil Cruz, who’s named after @PaulONeillYES, had the opportunity to meet the former Yankee outfielder before today’s matchup. pic.twitter.com/GuQ1aHexJk
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 28, 2024
Anything Goes
This day in history:
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/day/september-29
This day in baseball:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/September_29
A french pig was executed for killing a child.
A pig from the middle ages was tied to a crime involving a murder. The pig was said to have come in contact with a child’s face which caused complications due to the injuries. Ultimately, this led to the death of the 3-month old child. The pig was sent to jail and eventually publicly executed.
The Russians showed up 12 days late to the 1908 Olympics.
It was no sweat, though: back then, the Olympics lasted for 6 months. The Russians showed up late to the 1908 London Olympics because they were using the Julian calendar, which is 2 weeks behind the Gregorian calendar already used by the rest of the world.
(ignore the title and the display image of this one, its the final seconds of the game. )