The Yankees teed off on the underbelly of the Dodgers’ bullpen to extend the series at least one more day
Diamondbacks News
Sporting News: Diamondbacks expected to pursue reunion with former MVP, per insider. By Curt Bishop. In news that should surprise absolutely no one, the Diamondbacks might be in the Paul Goldschmidt market. While his season got off to a rough start, he would be expected by most to be better both offensively and defensively than Pavin Smith, and he would also provide a lower-cost DH option.
Arizona Republic: Could Diamondbacks land star Japanese pitcher? By Nick Piecoro.
We all know Sasaki will sign with the Dodgers (in the somewhat unlikely event he is posted), but that doesn’t stop Piecoro from speculating. Realistically, though, the Dodgers have five times the international bonus pool money left that the Diamondbacks do. I’d put the chances of signing Sasaki as slightly less than Randy Johnson deciding to come back and pitching well enough to win another Cy Young award.
SI: D-backs top 40 prospects in 2024: No. 36, Joe Elbis. By Aaron Hughes.
SI: Arizona Diamondbacks 2024 Player Review: Luis Guillorme. By Aaron Hughes
Elsewhere in Baseball
Ministry of Sport: Women’s Pro Baseball League to Launch in the U.S. by 2026
Former trailblazing MLB manager Cito Gaston is among the advisors. Former coach Justine Siegal is a co-founder.
NBC: Japanese Americans play historic baseball games at prison camp. By Lynda Lyn Grigsby and Emilie Ikeda.
One of the darkest times in our nation’s history was when American citizens were imprisoned because of their race during World War II. Now may be the perfect time to remember them.
A World of Interference
Yankees’ fan Austin Capobianco did more than just join Jeffrey Maier and Steve Bartman. He surpassed them. Maier and Bartman were kids who reached for balls they should not have. But theirs were spur-of-the-moment decisions that, truth be told, many fans in their position would have done. Bartman was far from the only person reaching for the ball.
The Capobianco brothers, on the other hand, pinned down the arm of a player to literally pry the ball from his glove. Austin Capobianco has revealed that the plan to interfere was pre-meditated (if not the scale of it) and has shown no remorse for his actions. Furthermore, he claims he will be allowed back for Game 5 tonight. It is not a stretch to say that—if he is in fact allowed to attend—this may be one of the more substantial miscarriages of justice in a sport full of them. A lifetime ban from every major league stadium might be an appropriate move.
NESN: Yankees’ fan reveals interference was pre-meditated. By Adam London.
AP: Yankee Stadium fans ejected after one pries ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove. By Larry Fleischer.
World Series
MLB.com: Anthony Volpe makes World Series history
While we might feel for Daniel Hudson, the victim of Volpe’s slam, hey, he plays for the Dodgers.
MLB.com: Yankees put pressure on Dodgers in World Series Game 4
Saying that the Dodgers are now under pressure seems a little extreme, given that they still lead 3-1 in the series and Dave Roberts was purposely not using any of his top relievers. But hey, there’s one more day in the series.
AP: World Series Game 3 averages 13.64 million, beats ‘Monday Night Football’
It was a rare loss for the NFL, likely because the Yankees’ presence in the World Series took some of the fans who otherwise would have watched the Giants fall short in Pittsburgh. But, even though MLB is trumpeting ratings success this year (and more than a little bit slighting the Diamondbacks and their fans in the way they are doing it) we would do well to remember that these numbers would have been dismal prior to 2008, and the women’s college basketball final outdrew all of these games by a not-small margin. There’s still a ratings problem; this only papers over things for a short while.
In Other News
Will Venable is now White Sox manager. The Japan Series is now tied 2-2. Caleb Durbin of the Salt River Rafters was named AFL Hitter of the Week. UCLA baseball will be allowed to use Jackie Robinson Stadium through July 4, but their illegal lease of the stadium will need to be resolved somehow thereafter. Bob Uecker is still incredible.