The Departed

[GhostOfPitthorn]

Knuckleballers can be late bloomers...especially if you begin your pro career as an outfielder as Wakefield did. The oldsters might remember Wilbur Wood, a guy who kicked around both the Red Sox and Pirates before finding success with the White Sox.

[Bobster]

Knuckleballers can be late bloomers...especially if you begin your pro career as an outfielder as Wakefield did. The oldsters might remember Wilbur Wood, a guy who kicked around both the Red Sox and Pirates before finding success with the White Sox.

With the Pirates, Wood was an average fastball, curveball pitcher with an occasional knuckler. When the Pirates traded him to the White Sox, he had a chance to work with Hoyt Wilhelm who worked with him and convinced him that he could excel as a knuckleball pitcher.

[Bobster]

Seems that Daniel Vogelbach was the source of conflict between Buck Showalter and his GM. As seems to be the case more and more in MLB these days, Showalter did not have control over his lineup. Showalter (whose job it is to know) felt Vogelbach was too slow and didn't have enough power to justify keeping him in the lineup as the DH vs RHPs and lacked the defensive skills to play in the field. Showalter felt he could best utilize the DH spot by rotating better hitters to occasionally hit without having to play in the field. But the Mets GM told Showalter that he was to keep Vogelbach in the lineup. Showalter was recently fired after his 2nd season with the Mets and just one year after winning 101 games. Showalter's experience with his GM was similar to what Joe Maddon wrote about in his experience with the Angels. I have no doubt that Cherington makes a lot of the lineup decisions for Shelton. Unlike Maddon and Showalter, Shelton won't rock the boat. So he's the perfect manager for Cherington.


https://nypost.com/2023/10/04/buck-show ... p5Rykco8MU

[Surgnbuck]

Seems that Daniel Vogelbach was the source of conflict between Buck Showalter and his GM. As seems to be the case more and more in MLB these days, Showalter did not have control over his lineup. Showalter (whose job it is to know) felt Vogelbach was too slow and didn't have enough power to justify keeping him in the lineup as the DH vs RHPs and lacked the defensive skills to play in the field. Showalter felt he could best utilize the DH spot by rotating better hitters to occasionally hit without having to play in the field. But the Mets GM told Showalter that he was to keep Vogelbach in the lineup. Showalter was recently fired after his 2nd season with the Mets and just one year after winning 101 games. Showalter's experience with his GM was similar to what Joe Maddon wrote about in his experience with the Angels. I have no doubt that Cherington makes a lot of the lineup decisions for Shelton. Unlike Maddon and Showalter, Shelton won't rock the boat. So he's the perfect manager for Cherington.


https://nypost.com/2023/10/04/buck-show ... p5Rykco8MU

Guess that means no chance he'll be coming here

[Babe Adams]

Joe Christopher, spare outfielder for the 1960 World Champions, passed away at his home in Maryland at 88.

RIP

[3pirates3]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/ ... -away.html

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/ ... -away.html

[Doc]

Joe Christopher, spare outfielder for the 1960 World Champions, passed away at his home in Maryland at 88.

RIP

Sad news. He was a favorite of mine in that wonderful year.

[Wildwoodcoach]

I echo those sentiments doc

[Possum]

Neal Huntington Interviews for Bo Sox GM post

[Doc]

I wish he’d interview for a job with the Brewers.