Category: Sports News

It’s Alumni Weekend at Citizens Bank Park. The Blue Jays are in town, and a familiar face will be joining the Wall of Fame.

On to the links.

Phillies news

A Phillies fan won the chance to do the radio broadcast for an inning of Wednesday’s game, and knocked it out of the park. ($)

The Phillies have plans for how to handle Harper’s return to right field.

Chase Utley’s dad tells some tales on the occasion of his son’s induction to the Wall of Fame.

The Field of Dreams game is coming up fast.

MLB news

ESPN gives out their trade deadline awards.

And MLB executives give their anonymous opinions on the trades.

A hilarious blooper-aided homer is always fun, though it’d be more fun if it wasn’t hit by a Brave.

Happy Friday, Camden Chatters. The weekend has arrived! Are we still scoreboard watching? If so, after the Orioles lost yesterday they fell to one game out the final Wild Card spot. And the team that has that last spot just happens to be the team the Orioles are playing this weekend. The Texas Rangers.

The Orioles and Rangers faced each other in the second series of the season. The Rangers won two out of three that time. Not ideal.

This time, if the Orioles lose two out of three, they’ll find themselves two games behind the Rangers. If they get swept, it’ll be four games behind and that, frankly, will be all she wrote. If they somehow take two of three, they will leave Texas tied with the Rangers. So it’s a pretty big series. And if they survive this one, they are off to Minnesota to face the team that is currently a half-game ahead of them in the WC race. And that’s to say nothing of the Guardians, who are also a half-game up on the Orioles.

So they’re in it, for now. But the problem, as I see it, is this: they can’t hit. They’re just so bad at hitting! If you take a glance at the team’s Baseball Reference page, there are four players on the top section with an OPS+ over 100, which is league average. They are Pete Alonso, Samuel Basallo, Adley Rutschman, and Taylor Ward. Uh…get well soon, Samuel! Also, Blaze Alexander while we’re at it.

In yesterday’s game, the Orioles were facing Ryan Johnson, a starter with an ERA over 7 and they couldn’t do anything with him. In the first five innings, they have five walks, three hits, and a HBP. But they also hit into two double plays and had a runner caught stealing. Their only runs scored came on a home run from Yohel Pozo. So good for him!

Even in their two wins over the Angels, one of the worst teams in baseball, they struggled to score runs. On Tuesday they scored just three runs in a game started by Grayson Rodriguez, and on Wednesday they were clinging to a one-run lead until an unlikely Leody Taveras home run.

Well, this turned into a downer. They should hire me to be their hitting coach so I can tell them to be better hitters.

Links

David Rubenstein talks Orioles trades, payroll and World Series hopes – The Baltimore Banner
Andy Kostka recounted an event the Orioles’ owner had to promote his new book. This headline had me hoping for answers. I don’t know that I got them.

Orioles offense can’t convert opportunities in 4-1 loss to Angels – MASN Sports
Roch Kubatko’s game story from yesterday’s loss.

Orioles Legend Jim Palmer Tackles a Challenging Career Quiz – FanGraphs
Well know Jim Palmer has an incredible memory. Take a trip down memory lane with him.

Birthdays and History

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have seven Orioles birthday buddies. That’s a lot! Gerónimo Gil is 51 years old today. Gil spent five seasons with the Orioles, 2001-05. He spent that time as a backup catcher, except in 2002 when he got into 125 games.

Also born on this day in history are former Orioles Wade LeBlanc (42), Jason Grimsley (59), Tex Nelson (b. 1936, d. 2011), Don Larsen (b. 1929, d. 2020), Art Houtteman (b. 1927, d. 2003), and Bob Alexander (b. 1922, d. 1993).

On this day in 1964, the Orioles defeated the Yankees 2-0. Steve Barber pitched 6.2 shutout innings and Harvey Haddix finished the game. Brooks Robinson had an RBI single and Jerry Adair hit a home run.

In 1998, the Orioles pounded the Twins 16-9. Brady Anderson had five hits with two doubles and two home runs. Harold Baines and Cal Ripken also homered. Starter Scott Erickson was knocked out after four innings and seven runs, but that’s ok in this instance.

In 2016, Manny Machado hit three home runs in his first three at-bats in a 10-2 Orioles win over the White Sox. He had three more chances to hit four homers, but went hitless for the rest of the game. He had seven RBI.

In 2019, in the midst of a 14-2 loss to the Yankees, Chris Davis and Brandon Hyde got into a fight in the dugout. It was the most exciting thing that happened for the Orioles in the game.

Free of charge for the discerning reader.

Happy birthday to Marc Pisciotta, and a mighty host of others.

Today in baseball history, in1984 – The Cubs sweep a pair from the visiting Mets, winning 8-6 and 8-4. Rick Sutcliffe (9-1) beats Ron Darling (10-5) in the opener, benefiting from a six-run fifth inning. Keith Moreland hits a three-run home run and Ron Cey a two-run shot in the fourth. A five-run fourth in the second game propels Chicago to the win for reliever Tim Stoddard. Lee Smith notches his 25th save, and other stories as well.

Today in baseball history:

• 1907 – Senator hurler Walter Johnson wins his first major league game beating the Naps, 7-2. The “Big Train” will tally 416 victories during his 21-year career.
• 1915 – In Chicago, the White Sox top the Senators, 6-2. Relieving for losing pitcher Jim Shaw is future Hall of Famer Sam Rice, who will pitch only eight more times before going to the outfield for two decades. Playing RF in the game for Washington is Walter Johnson, filling in for the injured Danny Moeller.
• 1915 – At Fenway Park, Smoky Joe Wood fires a one-hitter, beating Cleveland, 2-0. Bill Wambsganss‘ single is the only Cleveland hit. For Wood, it is his fifth one-hitter, and the third over regulation distance.
• 1929 – For the second game in a row, Babe Ruth hits a grand slam home run as the Yanks roll to a 13-1 win over the A’s in the lidlifter. Mickey Cochrane homers in his one at bat for the A’s only run.
• 1999 – For the second consecutive day, a major leaguer gets his 3000th career hit as Wade Boggs homers in the 6th off the Indians’ Chris Haney. The Devil Rays’ third baseman, who is the first player to reach the milestone with a home run, rounds the bases pointing skyward blowing a kiss in memory of his mom and gets down on his knees to kiss home plate. Tony Gwynn also collected hit No. 3,000 yeaterday.
• 2001 – Passing the mark of 68, established Christy Mathewson (with the Giants in 1913) and Randy Jones (with the Padres in 1976), Braves right-hander Greg Maddux sets the National League record for consecutive innings without allowing a walk as he pitches six innings without giving up a base on balls to extend the new record to 70.1 innings.
• 2010 – For the first time since May, the major leagues’ all-time save leader, Trevor Hoffman, gets the ball in a save situation. He disposes of the Astros in order on eight pitches to preserve a 5-2 Brewers win for his 597th career save. Hoffman blew five of his first ten save opportunities this year to earn relegation to the outer reaches of the Brewers’ bullpen.
• 2016 – Ichiro Suzuki of the Marlins becomes the 30th member of the 3,000 hit club with a seventh-inning triple off Chris Rusin of the Rockies in a 10-7 Marlins win. What makes it more remarkable is that Ichiro did not collect his first major league hit until he was 27. He is only the second player to reach the milestone with a triple, after Paul Molitor, and the hit comes on the day when the last player to join the club before him, Alex Rodriguez, announced his retirement.

Today in Cubs history:

• 1906 – On John McGraw‘s orders, umpire James Johnstone is refused admittance to the Polo Grounds, and the ump, standing outside the ballpark, forfeits the match to the Cubs. McGraw insists the game go on with a player from each team umpiring. McGraw picks reserve Sammy Strang, but Cubs manager Frank Chance refuses to go along, pointing out the game has already been forfeited. National League President Harry Pulliam will uphold Johnstone’s decision the next day.
• 1911 – The match-up between Three Finger Brown and Christy Mathewson is something less than a pitching duel as Chicago bangs out ten hits, including two singles, a double and a triple by Joe Tinker. Tinker also adds a steal of home. The Giants collect 13 hits, but Chicago wins the game, 8-6.
• 1963 – At Chicago, Sandy Koufax locks horns for the second time this year with Dick Ellsworth, a battle that ends in a 1-1 draw. Koufax is removed with one out in the 10th inning, while Ellsworth is replaced after the 10th. The Dodgers go on to win, 3-1, over the Cubs with neither starter getting a decision.
• 2001 – Home plate umpire Angel Hernandez ejects Steve “Mongo” McMichael from Wrigley Field as the former Chicago Bears football player is about to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch. McMichael, presently a pro wrestler, tells the crowd over the P.A. system “he’ll have a talk with the ump” concerning a close call made by Hernandez earlier in the game and then boos and blows a kiss toward the ump.
• 2004 – Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux enters the history books with his 300th career win in Chicago’s 8-4 triumph over San Francisco at SBC Park.

Cubs Birthdays:Marc Pisciotta*, Don Larsen, Adonis Terry. Also notable: Bill McKechnie HOF,

Today in history:

• 1420 – Construction begins on the dome of Florence Cathedral, designed by Renaissance architect Filippo Brunelleschi.
• 1606 – Possible first performance of Shakespeare‘s tragedy “Macbeth” takes place in the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace for King James I.
• 1782 – Commander of the Continental Army, George Washington, creates two Honorary Badges of Distinction and a Badge of Military Merit (now the Purple Heart). First time military awards are presented to common soldiers.
• 1882 – Hatfields of southwest West Virginia and McCoys of eastern Kentucky feud, with 100 wounded or dead.
• 1969 – Fantasy Records releases “Green River”, the third studio album by the American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, featuring the title track and “Bad Moon Rising”, and “Lodi”.
• 2016 – United States men’s 4 × 100 m freestyle relay team wins the final in 3:09.92 at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, earning Michael Phelps his record 19th Olympic gold medal.
• 2021 – As part of the winning American 4 × 400 m relay team in Tokyo, Allyson Felix takes her total to 11 Olympic medals and becomes the most decorated female Olympian in track and field history.
• 2021 – Kevin Durant, with 29 points, leads the USA to his third and the team’s fourth consecutive Olympic men’s basketball gold medal with an 87-82 win over France in Tokyo.

*pictured.

Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. The trade deadline is officially in the rearview, and we’re now less than two months from the end of the regular season. The Brewers are trying to fend off a comeback in the NL Central from the Cubs while also maintaining their status with the top record in baseball, as they became the first team to 70 wins earlier this week.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread:

You’ll be relieved to know that these 2026 Giants are still 4 games off the pace of the 100-loss 1985 Giants. Will that have any bearing on this weekend’s series against the Detroit Tigers aka The Team That Just Traded The Best Pitcher In The World To The Los Angeles Dodgers?

Well, if they’re swept, it will prevent them from winning their 50th game. Haha, what am I thinking? They’d have to win the series to get to that mark. That seems like a stretch!

For as much as the Tigers signaled they’re punting on 2026 with their deadline deal of Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers (2.9 fWAR) and Casey Mize (3.0) to the Padres, it’s worth pointing out that their pitching remains solid, along with their lineup. They’re now led by Framber Valdez, who’s having a rough transition to a new team this season (1.3 fWAR in 120.1 IP) but shutout the Mariners for 7 innings just last night. The Giants will miss him, but they won’t avoid the two other valuable starters: 25-year olds Keider Montero (a righty; 2.2 fWAR) and 25 Troy Melton (a lefty; 1.2).

But what you really want to pay attention to is that lineup. They’ve got a 27-year old catcher named Dillon Dingler and he seems to have stolen the crown of thumping catcher from Big Dumper Cal Raleigh by Dinglering 25 dingers so far this season. He also leads the Tigers in value (5.4 fWAR). He’s a very Giantsy player, too, with a line of .275/.339/.529 and a walk rate of just 6.1%. They’ve also got 21-year old Kevin McGonigle, who just hits and hits and hits and hits (.282/.388/.422 in 495 PA). Riley Greene (.458 slug), Spencer Torkelson (20 dinlgers), and Gleyber Torres round out a solid core that will almost certainly frustrate the Giants’ prospects in training.

The big news on Detroit’s side will be the season debut of flamethrower Jackson Jobe, who will step onto a major league mound for the first time in 14 months following Tommy John surgery. The former first rounder (#3 overall in the 2021 draft) last pitched in May. The 23-year old will almost certainly be on a pitch count.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Tigers are 14-16 in interleague (-4 run diff.) and 26-32 on the road (+37); but, after an awful month of May (6-22), they’ve been the fourth-best team in the sport with a record of 34-21. The Giants are 25-31 over the same span. They’re just 12-21 in interleague (-15 run diff.). They’re also 26-27 at home (-14). They’ll be throwing the best of what’s left of their rotation at the best of what’s left of the Tigers’ rotation and I think, you know, it seems like a pretty lopsided matchup.

Series Overview

Who: San Francisco Giants (48-67) vs. Detroit Tigers (56-59)
Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California
When: Friday at 7:15pm PT, Saturday at 4:15pm PT, Sunday at 1:05pm PT
National broadcasts: Fox TV (Saturday)

Projected starters
Friday: Keider Montero (RHP 8-6, 3.17 ERA) vs. TBD
Saturday: Jackson Jobe (RHP season debut) vs. Landen Roupp (RHP 7-10, 4.34 ERA)
Sunday: Troy Melton (LHP 7-1, 1.58 ERA) vs. Logan Webb (RHP 7-7, 3.74 ERA)

PHILADELPHIA — When Cody Bellinger made the cross-country flight to participate in the 2007 Little League World Series, he had no clue where Williamsport was located in Pennsylvania.

How about almost two decades later for the now-New York Yankees outfielder? 

"I still don't know," Bellinger jokingly told USA TODAY Sports last month.  

While Williamsport's exact location may still escape Bellinger, the memories haven’t. Nearly two decades later, the 2026 MLB All-Star Game MVP can still vividly recall what he considers the "100%" no-questions-asked most fun summer of his life before turning pro.

To reach Williamsport, Bellinger and his team defeated Hawaii 8-1 in the championship game of the West Region Tournament in San Bernardino, California. It marked just the second time that Chandler National had sent a team to the Little League World Series. 

"It was just so fun. It’s a lot of baseball to get there," Bellinger said. "... San Bernardino was cool because that was one of the nicest fields and we had a new dorm set up. That was our first time living together. I thought that was really fun. Then we got to Williamsport. 

"It's just a sleepover with your boys for however long you’re there."

The Pittsburgh Pirates will be bringing back and honoring a former Bucco All-Star, as Josh Harrison is set to officially retire as a Pirate.

Harrison was visiting PNC Park in June for the first time since he was there as a visiting player with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023. In the swirl of emotions and interactions, it was one conversation with owner and chairman Bob Nutting that sparked this reunion for Harrison. Despite not playing for the Pirates since 2018, Nutting made it a point to express his fondness of “JHay” and the time he spent in Pittsburgh.

“Throughout his career, Josh Harrison embodied what it means to be a Pittsburgh Pirate: a gritty, hardworking player, a great teammate and a kind person who was always gracious with his time. He was and remains a cherished member of our organization,” Nutting said. “Josh is incredibly deserving of this celebration, and we look forward to honoring him alongside his family and friends in front of our fans at PNC Park.”

Harrison expressed that while he never thought about it seriously, he was excited at the opportunity to retire with the team that he became a star with.

“It’s not anything I thought much about,” Harrison said. “It’s easy when someone plays for one team their whole career. I played for six. But I know when people talk about my body of work, mostly the Pirates come to mind. “I was never gonna say, ‘Let me retire a Pirate.’ But it’s always cool when it happens naturally and organically. That’s how I wanted it to be.”

JHay said his conversation with Nutting was surprising but was one that he was excited was happening.

“Bob said the Pirates wanted to bring me and my family back and have me retire as a Pirate,” Harrison said. “I was excited. I thought it was pretty cool. “I don’t know how those things work, but when Bob mentioned it, I thought, ‘Oh, yeah. We can definitely make something happen.’”

At this point in his life he Harrison also has the opportunity to bring his family back to the city where he started his major league career.

“The city means a lot to us,” Harrison said. “It’s our home away from home. I had some of my better years in Pittsburgh and grew a lot. That’s where me and my family started. For it to come full circle is really special.”

During his career as a member of the Pirates, Harrison became one of the most electrifying players in baseball. While in Pittsburgh he was named to two All-Star teams and collected 773 hits while hitting .277 with 73 home runs and 91 stolen bases. He had a breakout season in 2014 when he finished second in the NL batting title race with a career high .315 batting average. That season he had 13 home runs and snagged 18 stolen bases. In 2017 as a member of the Pirates, he also represented Team USA at the World Baseball classic when the team won Gold.

JHay will officially retire as a Pirate on Friday with a corresponding press conference, before being honored on Saturday with a pre-game ceremony, a game-time first pitch and the first 20,000 fans at PNC Park will receive a commemorative T-shirt as a part of the weekend’s celebrations.

Harrison was a key part of the Pirates’ post season run from 2013-2015 and was undoubtedly one of the most exciting Pirates of the 21st century. Very few had the talent that he had to play at five different positions at any given time, while also being one of the most elusive baserunners in baseball. He enjoyed the most success in his career in Pittsburgh and it’s only fitting that Harrison officially retires with the Pirates.

“As a player, you don’t sit there and think about your numbers or what you meant to a city,” Harrison said. “I just kind of lived in the moment.” “But it’s cool to be acknowledged that way. I was just in the right place at the right time with those guys. Pittsburgh gave me an opportunity. I’ll always be a Pirate.”