Now Warming Up…MLB!

Let's start with the Opener.

***MLB  lost a great one last week with the passing of Willie Mays.  The “Say-Hey Kid", who ended his illustrious career with the New York Mets in 1973, perhaps was MLB’s first five-tool player. MLB fans can argue who the greatest living player is with the loss of Mays.  Greg Maddux and Albert Pujols are the first pitcher and first hitter that come to mind.  Perhaps, one, not myself, could argue Barry Bonds. Who do you think is the greatest living MLB player?

Now to the Set Up Man.

***With the Chicago Cubs in last place, albeit only 8 games out of first place, one has to wonder how David Ross is feeling watching this team.  The Cubs now have a track record of dismissing an effective manager for a higher-profile skipper.  When the Cubbies bounced Rick Renteria in favor of Joe Maddon, it worked out with a World Series championship. However, the dumping of Ross for the Craig Counsell looks curious, at least at this point of the 2024 season.

Now the Closer.

***Shohei Ohtani continues to marvel.  He may currently be the best player in MLB, as a designated hitter.  Imagine his value if/when he returned to pitching in 2025. It begs the question if the Dodgers should even have him throw from the mound next season? Shohei is batting .322 with 22 homers and 55 RBI, as of this writing, while scoring 60 runs. Ohtani has benefitted from the abolishment of the shift for infielders and is the most well-rounded hitter in the league.

As Yogi Berra once stated about the 1973 New York Mets, "We were overwhelming underdogs."