MLB Election Day: Your Vote Matters!

There is a rumor going around that today we will be electing a new President. Actually, this is an Election Day that far supersedes who will become the leader of the free world. May I present to you the first-ever Threeunassisted vote for the Hall of Fame! Avoid the stress of politics and read on to participate in something a little bit more fun and less aggravating. I have gone through a deep vetting process to choose a nominee for each of the teams that are covered in this blog. I have run the numbers, conducted my own internal polling and have arrived at the three candidates that are most worthy of this inaugural event. These are three players who are steeped in their respective franchise’s history and who may one day get into Cooperstown thanks to either the Veterans’ Committee or the Classic Era ballot. It also just so happens that they all played first base.

The real election is taking place on this blog! Photo from the NY Post

Introducing the nominees:

Don Mattingly-New York Yankees

Despite never winning a World Series championship, Mattingly remains one of the most beloved players in Yankees’ history. Fans regard him as a sympathetic figure. He was the star in arguably the darkest period of Yankee baseball in my lifetime and his back injuries kept him from championships and Hall of Fame induction. For a four or five year span, Donnie Baseball was regarded as the best player in the game. He won a batting title in 1984 and was the American League Most Valuable Player the following season. His 1986 campaign was arguably better as he led the league in hits with 238, doubles with 53, slugging at .573 and OPS at .967. He was a nine time Gold Glove winner and captured three Silver Sluggers. In his one playoff series, he batted .417 in 25 plate appearances. Had he stuck around in 1996 to win a World Series, his Hall of Fame credentials would have been even more enhanced.

Ryan Howard–Philadelphia Phillies

He was the slugger on those great Phillies teams that won five consecutive division titles from 2007 through 2011. Howard was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 2005 and captured the National League MVP the following season. When the Phillies became World Series Champions in 2008, Howard led the NL in home runs with 48 and RBI’s with 146. He was also named the MVP of the 2009 National League Championship Series. The Big Piece totaled five other top 10 MVP finishes and ranks second only behind Mike Schmidt in Phillies’ history with 384 home runs. Like Mattingly, injury robbed Howard of his full potential. He tore his Achilles tendon at the end of Game 5 of the 2011 Division series and was never able to eclipse 30 home runs again. His descent as a player coincided with the decline of the Phillies as the team did not finish above .500 again until 2021.

Keith Hernandez-New York Mets

It is hard to believe that Hernandez has been broadcasting Mets’ games longer than his actual Major League playing career. Because first base is primarily known as a power-hitting position, Hernandez’s Hall of Fame voting results have been skewed. He was an MVP in 1979 and is a two time World Series Champion, once with the Mets and the other with the St. Louis Cardinals. He won 11 Gold Gloves and is arguably the best fielding first baseman in baseball history. His on base percentage exceeded .400 six times during his 17 year career. Hernandez had three top ten MVP finishes while with the Mets and was one of the leaders on both of his championship teams. He is a lifetime .296 hitter with a .384 OBP and was a guy you wanted at the plate in a tough situation. His work in the booth alongside Gary Cohen and Ron Darling enhances his Hall of Fame credentials much like it did for Phil Rizzuto.

Put your vote in the comments section along with a simple reason for doing so. I’d love to see how this turns out!

Checking in on the Arizona Fall League

Did you think baseball ended with the conclusion of the World Series? Think again. The Arizona Fall League is in full swing, with 21 games for most teams already in the books. I gave a preview of the players from our three teams that are playing in the AFL that you can read here. The league is structured so that all players can be showcased at least somewhat equally. The goal for these organizations is to get a longer look at players, whether they are top prospects or are intriguing enough to warrant a more in depth look. Listed below are the three players (one each from the Yankees, Mets and Phillies) that are having an impact and could potentially land in the Majors in 2025.

Andrew Painter has a 2.70 ERA in four AFL outings. Photo from Sports Illustrated

Caleb Durbin-New York Yankees

The 24-year old Durbin is a rarity: this is the second straight year he is spending time in Arizona. Originally a 2021 14th round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves, Durbin came to the Yankees as part of the deal that sent Lucas Luetge to the Braves. He is hoping this stint in the AFL solidifies a spot on the Yankees 40 man roster. If not, he will be exposed in the Rule 5 Draft, and most likely, a ticket out of the organization. Durbin has something the Yankees should be interested in: speed. He leads the league in stolen bases with 22 in just 18 games, this after finishing the 2023 AFL season with 21. Playing multiple positions during the Fall, Durbin also has three home runs to go along with a .393 on base percentage. For his efforts, he was named the AFL Player of the Week for the week ending October 26.

Drew Gilbert-New York Mets

Most Met fans know who Gilbert is. As the the organization’s #3 prospect according to MLB.com, he has been on the radar since being acquired from the Houston Astros for Justin Verlander. MLB.com also projects Gilbert to be playing with the big club in 2025. His AFL batting average is a pedestrian .216 but he is tied for sixth in home runs with four. However, he has scored 11 runs in 14 games and has drawn ten walks. The Mets’ outfield does have some room for Gilbert next year. Starling Marte is almost guaranteed to miss time with injury and will be in the final year of his contract. Harrison Bader and Jesse Winker are both free agents. The signs point to Gilbert’s arrival in Queens at some point, perhaps as early as Opening Day.

Andrew Painter-Phillies

Phillies’ fans are salivating at the possibility of the 6-7 right-hander in the rotation in 2025. His performance in the AFL is only ramping up those expectations. In ten innings pitched through four games, the 21-year old Painter has ten strikeouts and a WHIP of .90. His fastball has been close to 100 and he introduced a slider during his last outing. Painter lost the last two seasons because of Tommy John surgery after being taken with the 13th overall pick of the 2021 Draft. Philadelphia’s starting rotation has four locked down spots with Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez. Should the Phillies slide Taijuan Walker back into the fifth spot, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Painter break Spring Training in the bullpen.

MLB World Series: Another Disappointment

Of course the most painful game was the one that ended the latest. It was slightly after midnight when the Los Angeles Dodgers put the finishing touches on a World Series Championship and celebrated in the house of the New York Yankees. The only good news about this outcome is that I actually get to have more than six hours of sleep. The bad news? It will be extremely difficult to get this Series loss out of my head. After all, this is the fourth straight year that the Yankees’ season has ended in embarrassing fashion.

I’m pretty sure Brian Cashman’s job is safe. Photo from the New York Times

Ryan and I were texting throughout the entirety of Game 5, long after everyone else went to sleep. To say Ryan was unhappy is a major understatement. He waited all his life to see his most favorite team play for a championship. The result he got, particularly in the clinching game, was nothing short of disgusting. From the pulling of Gerrit Cole in Game 1, to the final whiff of Alex Verdugo, it felt as though the Yankees were a JV team compared to the Dodgers fielding a varsity squad. As much as he tries to love Aaron Judge, him striking out in nearly half of his playoff at bats gives him pause on judging (no pun intended) how to rate this team since 2017. Despite the payroll, despite the talent, the franchise has consistently come up short when it mattered most. In case you have forgotten, this is how each of the last four years have ended:

2021-Wild card blowout vs. the Red Sox

2022-Swept in the ALCS vs. the Astros (lost the clincher at home)

2023-No playoffs, 82-80 record

2024-Lost the World Series in five games (again, lost the clincher at home)

Some of you reading this might say, “But at least they get to the playoffs almost every year. Most teams would kill for that”. Sorry, that’s not good enough. Talk to fans of the Milwaukee Brewers who have made the playoffs five out of the last six years with nothing to show for it. Ask Caitlyn. Do you think she is thrilled with the Phillies coming up short three straight seasons? Making the World Series in 2022 was great but these last two years have ended in frustration. Do you think those fans feel lucky?

I have my own feelings about what needs to happen to next. I don’t want to say them out loud yet because I could change my mind next week. One thing I do know is that the status quo cannot remain the same. If that means Brian Cashman and/or Aaron Boone are relived of their duties, then so be it. Their pairing as a team was good but ultimately fell short of what every Yankee fan should experience: a World Series championship.

MLB World Series: One Kid Left Standing

This post meant to come out earlier in the week. However, life occasionally gets in the way of my little writing treats. So, it really doesn’t matter that the World Series has already played a classic game and that the Los Angeles Dodgers hold a 1-0 lead over the New York Yankees. The confidence that Ryan and I both have for the Yankees to ultimately prevail in the Fall Classic remains unshaken. The most important footnote to all this is that out of my three children that had a playoff rooting interest, Ryan is the only one that remains.

Friday was not the last we see of Gerrit Cole. Photo from Sports Illustrated

Because of the gap between the end of the LCS and the beginning of the World Series., it feels as though Caitlyn has been without a team for about two months. She tells me each morning that she wishes the Phillies were playing right now. She half-jokingly says that the Phillies gave up and they are chasing the bag. Opening Day for her can’t come quickly enough. As for Matthew, he couldn’t have been more depressed about how the Mets’ season ended. However, he at least got to see the final game at Citi Field in 2024 end with a victory. He said during the week he was very happy with the season. He keeps saying that the Mets have so many decisions to make but is still optimistic for 2025.

As for Ryan, I am extremely happy to see he finally got a chance to see his favorite team play for a championship. The only drawback for me is that he will be 140 miles away at school during the course of the series. Despite the disastrous loss, his reaction surprised me a little bit. I thought he would lose faith and predict a Dodgers’ victory. However, he assured me there is still a lot of baseball left and was still big on a Yankees’ victory. I’ll take my cue from him. Yankees in 6.

MLB Playoffs: Subway Series Dreams Are Far From Dead

It’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon in more ways than one. The sun is shining and for the first time in a week the temperature will hit 70 degrees. Perhaps nothing is more beautiful than knowing that the dreams of all New Yorkers are still very much alive. The Mets gave Citi Field one more party in 2024 with their 12-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers while the Yankees showed more resiliency with their 8-6 win over the Cleveland Guardians. We in New York get one more weekend of full baseball, one more chance to get both of our teams in the World Series, much to the chagrin of MLB executives and Fox.

Gleyber Torres has been a big time playoff performer. Photo from Sports Illustrated

First, let’s look at the easy road. The Yankees will be in the World Series. As difficult as the Guardians are as an opponent, the Yanks have proven to be just a shade better. Cleveland’s renowned bullpen, and Emmanuel Clase in particular, has faltered just enough to give New York the edge. New York’s bullpen has been a little bit better, despite Luke Weaver giving up a big home run in Game 3. Giancarlo Stanton has proven to be a playoff difference maker with his home runs in big spots. Gleyber Torres has left his regular season woes in the rearview mirror. There is a chance Carlos Rodon doesn’t pitch quite as well in Game 5 as he did in Game 1, potentially allowing the Guardians to extend the series. However, Gerrit Cole will certainly fare better than his Game 2 performance, launching his team into the World Series.

It won’t be easy for the Mets. Not only do they have to win consecutive road games to clinch, but they are playing against a club that has looked great while also displaying their own brand of resolve. The Dodgers were a game away from elimination in the previous round against a hot San Diego Padres team and won two straight to advance to this round. Although the Mets’ three losses look like lopsided scores, they really were in every game. A big problem has been their inability to score with runners on base. Nothing epitomizes that more than their bases loaded, no out situation in the sixth inning of Game 4. they failed to score a single run. Credit must be given to the Dodgers’ staff for working out of those jams. However, if you are a championship ballclub, your lineup needs to push runs across the plate. I really believe that the Mets hitters will turn those missed opportunities into runs. The question is, can the Met pitching keep the potent Dodgers’ lineup down just enough to get a lead to Edwin Diaz?

The Yankees will be playing at this time next week. The Mets, that is less certain. It is going to be a big hill to climb. Have faith, New York baseball fans. At this time next week, both of our teams will be preparing for Game 1 of the World Series.

New York Yankees: Ryan Needs to See the Mountaintop

For seven, long seasons Ryan has waited for a moment like this. It’s not the first American League Championship Series he will have seen his New York Yankees play. However, this ALCS represents the best chance the Yankees have had to reach the World Series since he became a fan. New York is the clear favorite this time around; however the Cleveland Guardians are not to be taken lightly. Jose Ramirez is one of the best players in baseball and their bullpen is better and deeper than it was when these teams met in the ALDS two seasons ago. Still, as I’ve told this to Ryan (and everyone else) since August: if not now, when?

It’s all set up for Aaron Boone and the Yankees to win the ALCS. Photo from Yanksgoyard

Ryan is excited but pessimistic. I can’t blame him. Year after year they (for the most part) make the playoffs and then inevitably lose (usually to the Astros). You can talk about Yankee tradition all you want, 27 World Series titles, countless icons of the game, 32 straight winning seasons, on and on and on. However, what does all that tradition mean to him? He hasn’t seen one of those titles. The best player of his generation, Aaron Judge, routinely underperforms at this time of year. The manager who got them the farthest out of any of these playoff runs, Joe Girardi, is no longer here. They haven’t made the World Series in 15 years, one year short of their longest stretch without playing for a championship. There is only so much, “hey this time it will be different” that I can tell him. This has to be the year the Yankees win the ALCS.

Carlos Rodon will be starting Game 1 of the series. Given how his start in the last round went, do you think Ryan (or any Yankee fan) is happy right now? The team is good enough to overcome any potential deficit against the Guardians. I am rooting as hard for the Yankees in this round as I have at any point in my life. After all, my eldest son deserves some good fortune with his baseball team.

New York Mets: New Territory for Matthew

Because it is just a two day turnaround for the start of the National League Championship Series, there hasn’t been much time for hype. Not much time for thoughts on the opponent. The New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers are about to clash for the right to play in the World Series. This represents the first time Matthew gets to see his baseball team play in an NLCS. He can lean on his brother and sister for solace in case the Mets’ magical ride comes to an end. If they win, then it’s only Caitlyn that can tell him what it is like to watch your team in the World Series.

Sean Manaea will take the ball in Game 2. Photo from Sports Illustrated

Matthew is ready. We had a talk about the Mets’ rotation. He thought they would use a full five man rotation. I explained that in a seven game series they only go four starters deep. That means David Peterson will most likely pitch out of the bullpen again. Kodai Senga gets the start in Game 1 ; expect to see Peterson go multiple innings right out of the gate. Sean Manaea gets the call in Game 2. After that, it is TBD. Matthew is not nervous. In fact, he is supremely confident that the Mets will win in six games. He predicts Shohei Ohtani will go 7 for 20 with two home runs. Most importantly, he says that Francisco Lindor will win the NLCS MVP.

My only piece of advice for Matthew is that he should enjoy the moment. I told him I was 8 when I watched the Yankees play in the World Series. I had some memories of those games but I didn’t stay awake for all of them. The next time I saw them play in an ALCS, I was out of college. He will be lucky enough to watch the conclusion of all the games. Cherish the next week. Celebrate the wins. Don’t give up after the defeats. Realize that win or lose, you will always remember the journey and how much fun it was.

MLB in October: More Than Just the Postseason

I get it, the Major League Baseball playoffs are a big deal. This is what every player dreams of, fighting for the chance to win a World Series. However, there are many more teams whose seasons have concluded and are now focusing on 2025. For those fans who love baseball but just can’t bear to watch the postseason without their favorite team, there is still competitive baseball being played. In fact, even the teams still left in the playoffs have a vested interest in this “other” baseball currently in action.

Austin Wells is one of many guys who have played in the AFL. Photo from Sports Illustrated

The Arizona Fall League was formed in 1992 with the purpose of giving all Major League organizations a chance to take a longer look at a certain group of prospects. The AFL consists of six teams, with MLB clubs sending seven (or more) prospects each to form the league. Play for 2024 began on October 7th and will wrap up the season with a championship game on November 16th. It also features a Home Run Derby on November 8th and an All Star Game on November 9th. The list of players to play in the AFL reads like a laundry list of All-Stars and even some Hall of Famers like Derek Jeter. Prominent current players from our respective teams that have participated include Aaron Judge, Austin Wells, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the players from each of our teams who are getting extended paying time in Arizona. Team names of the respective AFL squads are in parenthesis.

New York Yankees (Salt River Rafters): Harrison Cohen (RHP), Jackson Fristoe (LHP), Ryan Harvey (RHP), Carlos Lagrange (RHP), Luis Pacheco (RHP), Rafael Flores (C), Caleb Durbin (SS), and Garrett Martin (RF)

Cohen was 5-0 with a 1.35 ERA at three Minor League levels, finishing up by dominating at High Class A Hudson Valley. Fristoe started 12 games at Hudson Valley, pitching to a 3/79 ERA and holding opponents to a .201 batting average. Harvey signed as an undrafted free agent and started 12 games for Class A Tampa. Lagrange is 21 and is 6-7, pitching nine games total at Rookie ball and Tampa. Pacheco pitched at three different levels in 2024, finishing at Double A Somerset. Flores is only 17 and stole 19 bases 49 Rookie ball games. Durbin spent much of the year at Triple A Scranton-Wilkes Barre, posting a .394 on base percentage. Martin slugged 12 home runs at Hudson Valley.

New York Mets (Scottsdale Scorpions) : Noah Hall (RHP), Jonathan Pintaro (RHP), Jawilme Ramirez (RHP), Dylan Ross (RHP), Jett Williams (SS), and Drew Gilbert (CF)

Hall started the season with High Class A Brooklyn but was injured early and did not pitch after April 26. Pintaro, who finished with a 2.68 ERA, worked his way up the ladder in 2024, landing at Triple A Syracuse for his final start of the year. Ramirez also ended up in Syracuse at season’s end, recording a 3.58 ERA. Ross had his season wrecked by injury, pitching in only one game. Williams, the Mets’ #1 pick in 2022, hit .364 in 22 at-bats at Syracuse. Gilbert, the #2 organizational prospect, hit .205 at Syracuse.

PS-Jeff McNeil is also on the AFL roster, presumably to get at bats in anticipation of being added to the NLCS roster.

Philadelphia Phillies (Glendale Desert Dogs): Tristan Garnett (LHP), Griff McGarry (LHP), Christian McGowan (RHP), Wesley Moore (LHP), Andrew Painter (RHP), Wen-Hui Pan (RHP), Jordan Dissin (C), Otto Kemp (3B), Bryan Rincon (SS), and Gabriel Rincones, Jr. (OF)

The 6-6 Garnett climbed the ladder, ending at Triple A Lehigh Valley, and struck out 56 batters in 41 innings. McGary recorded 40 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings at Lehigh Valley. McGowan was injured off and on, pitching in 11 games at Double A Reading. In two Minor League seasons, Moore has posted a 2.33 ERA in 70 games. Painter, the Phillies’ #1 prospect missed all of 2023 and 2024 with Tommy John surgery. Pan registered a 1.29 ERA in 14 games at High Class A Jersey Shore. Dissin registered .354 OBP between Single A and Double A. Kemp played at four different levels in 2024, with 16 home runs and a .392 OBP. Rincon struggled in 2024, spending ten weeks on the injured list. Rincones, Jr has 26 home runs in 188 Minor League games.

I will be periodically checking in on these players until the AFL seasons ends.

MLB Playoffs: Checking in on the Family Vibe

I write this in anticipation of the New York Yankees clinching their divisional series against the Kansas City Royals this evening. I’ve checked in with Ryan today who, like most Yankee fans is waiting for the bats to wake up. As far as the other two kids go, well, their series is over. The New York Mets next play on Sunday vs. either the San Diego Padres or the Los Angeles Dodgers. Unfortunately, the Philadelphia Phillies next play a game in 2025, a fact that Caitlyn is trying to come to grips with.

Giancarlo Stanton is the best Yankee in the playoffs. Photo from Sports Illustrated

I knew this would be a really hard week. Someone has to win and someone has to lose, but knowing that didn’t make it better with the realization that one of my kids would be sad. At the end of each game, no matter who won, Caitlyn and Matthew would shake hands and say, “good game” to one another. It speaks to their excellent character and their love for one another. I firmly believe that if it is the Yankees playing the Mets in the World Series, Ryan and Matthew will exhibit the same affection for one another.

On to the three teams:

Yankees: It’s amazing how much Giancarlo Stanton can disappear in the regular season only to become the Yanks’ best hitter during the playoffs. It happened in 2022 and it is happening again now. Aaron Judge is slumping once again and the barbs regarding this on Ryan’s texts continue. His confidence level is not great but he believes that with just enough offense tonight New York moves on. He might even put in a good word for Gleyber Torres if they win. Ryan will be home next weekend so it represents a great chance to get his facial expression on either a Yankee victory or a Yankee face plant.

Phillies: Well, Caitlyn’s greatest fear came true. A regression from World Series in 2022 to NLCS in 2023 to NLDS in 2024 materialized in the most painful way possible. Now she is convinced they will lose in the Wild Card round next year and then miss the playoffs for the next ten years. I told her that as long as Bryce Harper is around, that will not happen. She doesn’t want them to win the division next year given the track record of division winners in the divisional round. I countered that the Mets were the best team in baseball since June 1. The first goal any team makes is win the division. All is not lost in 2024. I told her to pay attention to the Phillies’ prospects in the Arizona Fall League.

Mets: I suspect that Matthew would have celebrated a little bit more had the Mets beaten a team other than the Phillies. He said that he felt bad for Caitlyn as he knows what she is feeling. With that said, he is amped for Sunday. He would like the Dodgers to beat the Padres Friday as he believes San Diego is the better team. It’s a good thing there is no school Monday as Game 1 will begin at 8:15 PM EST. I think for as long as the Mets are in the playoffs, he can breeze past his bedtime to watch the finish of each game. Just think, the last time the Mets made it this far, he was 4. It’s now official: everyone in my family will have seen at least one League Championship Series with their favorite team playing.

Do You Remember the New York Yankees?

There has been so much excitement around here for the last week involving the New York Mets that the other New York baseball team seems to be have been overlooked. Yes, the Yankees won their first playoff game last night, defeating the Kansas City Royals by a score of 6-5. But now they get another day off before resuming their series Monday night. So now that they have played exactly one game in a week, it almost seems like they are coming back from Japan after playing an exhibition game.

Gerrit Cole finally pitched on Saturday. It felt like forever. Photo from the Sporting News.

We got the chance to see Ryan this weekend so it made for a doubly good opportunity to see the Yankees play Game 1. However, though the Yanks won, some of the things Ryan fears about this team popped up during the game. Aaron Judge struck out three times. Gerrit Cole was shaky. Anthony Volpe committed a huge error. Needless to say, the victory did not stir a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings for the boy. I look at it as a Game 1 victory and now they are ready to drop the hammer on the Royals the next two games. But again, it doesn’t even feel like they are part of the playoffs. The Mets and Phillies just finished an instant classic with their Game 2. Meanwhile, the Yankees sit idle once again and now I ask the question. Did they really win last night?

It doesn’t get much better. The Yanks and Royals will get another off day for travel after tomorrow’s game and potentially another one if the series goes five games. This isn’t an MLB playoff series, it feels more like an NBA playoff series. This is supposed to be the most exciting time of the baseball calendar. For a team sharing the same city as the exciting Mets, the Yankees feel like an afterthought.