Joseph Zarr

Boy, Scottsdale is on some kind of heater the past two weeks. Yowch.

Ummm, I hate to be the harbinger of bad news: the Brewers can't make another Caleb Durbin trade this off-season. He's on the Red Sox. They already made the Caleb Durbin trade.

Yeah, from another angle just a filthy filthy Shootout Winner:

Epic celly. That's on a Top 10 NHL 1st Rd pick, no less:

Also, have any of you seen this disgusting hit in the Mankato match vs E Superior St? Absurd loss of sensibilities here. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a deeper inquiry here: Young man only got a 4-Game suspension. I don't know. This is the type of hit that could ruin someone's life.

This is elite Social Media work. Absolutely Gold:

Just grateful my Minnesota Wild's First Line is clearly the best Line in NHL hockey. Sans an injured (tho skating and ramping up) Faber, it doesn't even matter with the way they are flying out there. They've not allowed a goal in 5 v 5 play all season. 17 Games, 181:04 TOI, 14 G, 0 GA. They are a wagon.

The Standings picture after the 8-0 drubbing Jim refers to above:

Yeah, to add further nuance to another Sveumsy Spesh based on feeeeeeel: Woodsy arrived at Double-A last season (ie 2025 season) and wowed with a surge in productive out getting on the base paths. That regressed in 2026 to the place where he (and, also, Damian Miller) has/have generally resided - ie sub 20% CS. However, the bat seems to have actually arrived given we have seen increased power production steadily for a year and a half. 'The Martir Effect'?

RHP Bradley Blalock has been released by the Miami Marlins. It would appear he is seeking an overseas opportunity:

Honestly, I thought that was the One time a year we'd be lucky enough to see Him batting 7th...🤭

I understand that part of this equation. What I don't understand, however, is this is also ostensibly a deeper and continual committed wrinkle within the third consecutive iteration of hiring a manager with little to zero experience leading an MLB clubhouse. In this case, well, he hasn't led any clubhouse. This could be my own calcified thinking and I readily admit that. I just tend to leave these types of guys - in my own thinking processes (likely quite flawed. Ha!) - behind the clubhouse doors and in the personnel departments. A guy like Kanzler? I would have him moving and shaking among the various Minor and Major League Development Ops. Leading big contract personalities in an under-performing clubhouse? That's a recipe for another disappointing season. It also smells a bit of Dipoto desperation knowing after last season his days are being scrutinized more heavily. Regardless, I hope it works out for you Mariners fans!

I wonder aloud today: What are the Seattle Mariners doing? I mean, on one hand, I get it. BUT, on the other hand, I find their hire of a young man who has never led a clubhouse at any level...how shall I put it: a huge risk?

I would gather they are definitely a Top 20 World Series Champion - their path to Glory was arduous indeed. Best team in the regular season has certainly not proven the best post-season team in the modern game. The only reason I was downtrodden after losing Game 4 was the fact they lost out on the ability to claim as the only team to ever win the NLCS and WS via 4-Game sweeps. I, for one, never doubted they'd win it all after that slip up - they'd proven all second half (and, especially since September) they'd bounce back. Water off a duck's back. IF they had managed that Game 4 victory via Pratt's HR? I think they are instantly debated as a potential Top 10 team ever. So it goes. But, I never doubted it for a moment and lauded Yeli's post-game level-head. The true mark of Champions they had exhibited throughout their season. In the end, it's all subjective and I don't care enough to hash it out. The fact they even won the World Series just fills me with incredible awe, admiration, and deep reverence.

The Ryan Birchard career arc, to date, in GIFs: