What a week for this Baseball-holic!

Posted on by Charlie Ricker

When the calendar flipped to 2021 leaving 2020 behind, I had a feeling things would get better. After COVID-19 ravaged our lives, everyone looks ahead to the normalcy that COVID took from us. That better life includes a full season of baseball after Major League Baseball played only sixty games in 2020. Consequently, Minor League Baseball didn’t play a game, as the season was cancelled completely.

On Tuesday, May 18, Tigers pitcher Spencer Turnbull pitched MLB’s fifth no-hitter of the young 2021 season. The 28 year old righty held the Mariners hitless in a 117 pitch masterpiece. Two years ago, Turnbull suffered through a 3-17 season, but owns a 2.88 ERA this year. Meanwhile, Seattle has been no hit twice this year after Orioles lefty John Means mastered them exactly one week before.

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In addition to Turnbull’s effort, the next evening Corey Kluber locked in from the beginning. The Klubot had every weapon in his arsenal working. Coupled with his marksman control, he carved his way through the Texas Rangers, for a no-no in a tidy 101 pitch effort in a 2-0 New York Yankees win.

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With that, MLB has six no-hitters less than two months into the season. If you include Madison Bumgarner‘s seven inning performance in Atlanta, there’s seven (yes, it should count).

Friday night, the Yankees turned a triple-play in the top of the 9th inning, snuffing out a White Sox rally. The game was tied at one apiece, and swung the momentum in the Yankees’ favor. They won on a walk-off hit by Gleyber Torres, giving the Yankees 21 wins in their last 30 games.

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On a personal level, I took in a few minor league games in Rochester, where I live. In light of the cancelled minor league season, the Rochester Red Wings played in their home ballpark, Frontier Field, for the first time in 624 days. They hosted the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees Triple-A affiliate.

Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders CF Estevan Florial steps in as Rochester’s Ben Braymer checks his fielders before first pitch. It had been 624 days since the last Red Wings game was played at Frontier Field. (Author’s photo)

 

It’s an incredible feeling to have Minor League Baseball back. Please support your local minor league team. So much fun at an affordable price. See ya next time! 😎

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Baseball is Back – Spring Training Starts Tomorrow!

Posted on by Charlie Ricker

As I type this from my living room just northwest of Rochester, NY, it is 21 degrees and we’re digging out from an overnight snowstorm. It feels like forever since we have enjoyed warm weather and the beautiful sport of baseball.

That changes tomorrow, thank goodness. Baseball fans young and old are looking forward to what should be the first full season since 2019. COVID-19 (I am SO sick of that term) has robbed us of family members, friends, and loved ones. On a much smaller scale, it took away sports the way we’re all used to consuming them.

With vaccines out, the country is working (albeit glacially) toward immunity and getting back to lives as we knew them. Major League Baseball is planning a full 162 game schedule, and Minor League Baseball will be returning after taking the 2020 season off. Fans will be allowed back in ballparks across MLB and MiLB, however, at small capacities to start.

A new baseball season is dawning. The darkness of night that was 2020 and a long winter will soon be gone. Let the sun rise on baseball season. I can almost smell the morning dew on freshly cut grass. We’ve made it! 😎⚾

MLB: Just Find a Way to Make it Work

Posted on by Charlie Ricker

It’s been a hot minute since I have written anything on The Titanium Spine. My last post was on March 6, but with everything the country has gone through with COVID-19, it feels longer. I hope everyone reading this has stayed healthy along with your families and friends.

Major League Baseball owners and the Player’s Union are currently battling over finances and salaries for this season, and if it’s not resolved there may not be baseball in 2020. Yesterday, the owners submitted a proposal to the players union that would pay players on a sliding-scale. Players who are under team control, and thus generally paid less than one who has a larger contract stand to benefit the most.

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1265422054880358402

 

Needless to say, the players aren’t happy with this proposal. Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer tweeted this out late Wednesday night.

 

Keep in mind this was a baseline offer and the players union will counter. Minor league players are already suffering, although for now all teams are paying them a monthly stipend. But the Oakland A’s intend to stop paying after this month ends.

https://twitter.com/craigcalcaterra/status/1265694529191018496

 

Not all teams are taking this hard stance. The San Diego Padres plan to pay their kids through August, so this is by no means a universal thing in Major League Baseball.

https://twitter.com/dennistlin/status/1265704963998535680

 

Hopefully cooler heads will prevail and baseball can return this summer. A lot of players, workers and fans could really use some normalcy in their lives.