1776

Gipson-Didn’t Last-Long

Not surprising…. Today’s WSJ- Surveys Show Republicans and Democrats Are Moving Further Apart By Aaron Zitner Animosity between Republicans and Democrats has risen in recent years. More than 80% of Democrats and 80% of Republicans hold not only an unfavorable view of the opposing party but a “very unfavorable” view, The Wall Street Journal found in a survey this July. By contrast, 50% of Republicans and 40% of Democrats held “very negative” views of the opposing party when the Journal and NBC News surveyed voters in 2010. Political disagreements have grown to the point where each party feels that losing an election means more than losing a policy debate; it means one’s way of life is at risk. When NBC News asked in 2022 if the opposing party’s agenda would destroy America if enacted, 79% of Republicans and 81% of Democrats agreed.

In today’s America, everything is political. All day, everyday.

Bullpen Day

The game of baseball can really be fun sometimes.

That Chris Illitch doesn’t provide paid maternity leave for his employees is all you need to know about the guy.

Enjoy your trip, Sir Bert, and be safe! Recalibrate for the stretch drive.

White Caps get a call out for their success. Awesome! https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball/west-michigan-whitecaps-detroit-tigers-85afe9a0?mod=mhp

Not officially MLB but… https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6599707/2025/09/05/artificial-intelligence-baseball-manager-oakland-ballers/ On Saturday, Ballers manager Aaron Miles will cede his decision-making duties to an AI. It is believed to be the first time a professional sports team will be managed by an AI in a regular-season game. The AI will determine most of the regular in-game decisions a typical manager would make. It isn’t choosing the starting pitcher since the Ballers are on a set rotation, but the AI will create the starting lineup, decide when pitchers need to be replaced and when to use pinch hitters, and position the infielders and outfielders. The Ballers will not be using the AI for base-running decisions, as it would be too difficult to relay in signs for a stolen base attempt or a runner attempting to score on a base hit in real time.

Finnegan: Right groin tightness

Agree. Fun would be an understatement if “Chapel Bill” 🙄 lost both those games. The tail is wagging the dog over there. Embarrassing but not surprising.

Well, the Bill Belichick era kicked off in style last night. The “33rd NFL team” got exactly what I had hoped it would get, crushed on national prime time.

According to the Lakeland office, the 2026 spring training schedule is to be released this month.

It’s hard to believe he’s in a MLB uniform. Worst of all, it’s a Tigers uni.

Poor poor pitch location in that count.

Yes, I have serious concerns about this rotation at this point of the season.

For their own reasons, I don’t see the Tigers being interested in Verlander. Harris signing a guy like Cobb, who was already going to miss time from the beginning, over JV made no sense to me.

JV was averaging right at 25 pitches per inning through the first four innings. I think he went back out to start the fifth at 95-96 pitches. They wanted him to get the win so it was his call as to whether he would continue beyond four innings. Of course he went back out for the fifth and finished up with 117 pitches as I recall. He struck out 10 batters and battled all day. He said that he didn’t have his best stuff. Early walks ran his count up. In the end, he gave up nothing. If there was ever a time for the, “gutting it out,” expression, this was it. Not to mention, the SF temperature at game time was around 85 degrees. That’s 20 degrees above their average game time temp out there. The Giants have blown four or five of his leads after he left a game this year. Yesterday was a very rare day that he got offensive support. And yes, he’s had some bad outings as well. My wife and I are big JV fans. We make it a point to watch his starts if at all possible. A couple of starts ago he said that this is one of the most trying years for him on the field. JV has been total class this year. The Giants have some younger pitchers on that staff behind Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Verlander has been a very good influence on the younger guys there. His start yesterday was a good example.

Jack Flaherty start…

Flaherty, Morton, and Paddock are all a roll of the dice.

From the AP: Former vice presidents typically get federal government protection for six months after leaving office, while ex-presidents do so for life. But then-President Joe Biden quietly signed a directive, at Harris' request, that had extended protection for her beyond the traditional six months, according to another person familiar with the matter. The people insisted on anonymity to discuss a matter not made public.

Too, the trade that brought Maton over was part of a five player trade. It’s not as if Harris whiffed on a center piece for the future. If you look at the trade several years removed, Matt Vierling made the trade worth it.

Updates on cities considered to be in contention. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6577020/2025/08/27/mlb-expansion-cities-salt-lake-city-nashville-raleigh-portland/

As I’ve been told, normal times ain’t coming back. With the current two party system and leadership (leadership 😂) there is no return to normal.

It’s probably not a good thing that Charlie Morton’s nickname is, Ground Chuck.