Rockers Rip Oakland Sale At MLB Ballparks
Rockers Rip Oakland Sale At MLB Ballparks
PLUS: OHTANI, JUDGE HAVE MVP AWARDS LOCKED UP
Pregame Pepper
Did you know…
Today is the last day teams can add players who would be eligible for the playoffs . . .
After nobody claimed Tommy Pham off waivers, the struggling Cardinals designated him for assignment . . .
With seven games left against first-place Philadelphia in the NL East, the New York Mets face a daunting task if they hope to reach the postseason . . .
Atlanta is likely to add erstwhile World Series star Ian Anderson, whose rehab is complete at Triple-A Gwinnett, for the September stretch drive . . .
With rosters expanding from 26 to 28 players on Sept. 1, the Braves could also promote former American League batting champion Yuli Gurriel, capable of playing the infield corners or left field. He’s having a solid season at age 40.
Leading Off
Punk Rockers Rancid Urge Sale of Oakland Athletics While Performing at MLB Stadiums
By Paul Banks
Green Day, in support of their new album ("Saviors"), and to honor the 30th anniversary of their breakthrough album ("Dookie") and 20th anniversary of their most critically-acclaimed album ("American Idiot"), have been playing to sold out shows at Major League Baseball stadiums this summer. Smashing Pumpkins, a headliner in their own right, have been opening for them.
These shows have also featured two more opening acts, the Linda Lindas and Rancid, which is where we find the second direct baseball connection to this tour.
Lars Frederiksen, the front man of Rancid made this observation last Saturday night at American Family Field (everyone still calls it Miller Park): “I see some folks in Oakland Athletics gear. I’m from Oakland. I just don’t like what’s going on with the A’s. So John Fisher, the statement remains the same: “SELL THE FUC*ING TEAM.”
To which the crowd responded with a roar of approval. Rancid then went straight into one of their biggest hits, "Time Bomb," which they dedicated to the fans dressed in Oakland A's regalia. The A's fans have shown up to other shows on this tour, with Frederiksen calling this a "phenomena," and repeating the routine at other ballparks.
You can see the rendition at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, in both of the links below.
https://twitter.com/Mattyplayzbass/status/1827488938539262454
https://twitter.com/robduncan_27/status/1825172521106526259
Sometimes Frederiksen refers to Fisher as "a silver-spooned prick," and/or a "piece of shit," so he has made his feelings on the Oakland A's ownership abundantly clear. He isn't subtle about it either. In April of 2023, the Athletics announced a their plan to build a new stadium on the Las Vegas Strip at the former site of the Wild Wild West Gambling Hall & Hotel casino, adjacent to Interstate 15.
At the same time, the club ended negotiations with the city of Oakland. Since then, we have seen protests by fans against the relocation with a "reverse boycott," with A's supporters wearing green t-shirts reading "Sell." They also hold up signs reading "Sell the team!" and chant this slogan during the game.
In April of 2022, Forbes estimated Fisher's net worth at $2.4 billion.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
Cleaning Up
Yet ANOTHER Season Of Unanimous MVPs?
By Dan Schlossberg
Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge are not only about to become multiple MVPs but the second straight players to win the trophies by unanimous vote.
That has never happened before.
Last year, Ohtani won the award in the American League for the second time while completing his career with the Los Angeles Angels. The National League’s winner was Ronald Acuna, Jr. of the Atlanta Braves in the wake of his 40/70 campaign — a baseball first.
Now Ohtani is the owner of a baseball first. He’s already become the first 43/43 player and is on track to top 50 in both home runs and stolen bases.
All that in his first season for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who conjured up a 10-year, $700,000 contract that is a professional sports record.
Even the president doesn’t make that much, but Ohtani doesn’t have to answer to Congress.
As for Judge, he’s within range of breaking his own record for the most prolific power season in American League history.
He hit 62 home runs — one more than Roger Maris — in 2022 and may wind up with more this season, especially since the survival of his Yankees in the American League East is primarily dependent upon the tandem of Judge and newcomer Juan Soto.
If not for the lofty batting average of Bobby Witt Jr., the sterling shortstop of the Kansas City Royals, Judge would almost certainly win the first Triple Crown in the majors since Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers in 2012.
In fact, Ohtani could be a Triple Crown contender too if he had a better average. He’s pulled away from Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna in home runs, though Ozuna could wind up with his first batting crown if he outlasts San Diego’s Luis (Line Drive) Arraez, who’s trying for his third in a row. One of them will lead the league in RBIs, with Ozuna the leader into Labor Day weekend.
No National Leaguer has won the elusive Triple Crown since Hall of Famer Joe Medwick in 1937.
Thanks largely to Ohtani and Judge, the Dodgers and Yankees might meet in the World Series for the first time since 1981. FOX would like nothing better — especially after ratings plunged for the all-wild-card matchup of Arizona and Texas last year.
Former AP sportswriter Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ is the author of Home Run King: the Remarkable Record of Hank Aaron. He covers baseball for forbes.com, Memories & Dreams, USA TODAY Sports Weekly, Sports Collectors Digest, and a myriad of other outlets. His email is ballauthor@gmail.com.
Timeless Trivia
“He’s figuring out how to use his stuff. He’s a real nice piece to have.”
— Atlanta manager Brian Snitker on rookie starter Spencer Schwellenbach
Braves starters, including Schwellenbach, have not yielded more than three runs over their last 19 games . . .
Chris Sale has more strikeouts this season than any left-hander in Braves franchise history, including Hall of Famers Warren Spahn and Tom Glavine . . .
Spahn won four strikeout crowns from 1949-53 but never fanned 200 in a single season at any time in his career . . .
Sale is on track for his first Cy Young Award, though he was a perennial contender during his long tenure in the American League . . .
Looking back, it’s amazing the Red Sox got only injury-riddled infielder Vaughn Grissom in exchange for the 6’6” southpaw . . .
The Phillies faced Sale only once this season but would be certain to see him again if Atlanta and Philadelphia meet again in the playoffs.
Know Your Editors
HERE’S THE PITCH is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Benjamin Chase [gopherben@gmail.com] handles Monday and Tuesday editions, Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] does Wednesday and Thursday, and Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com] edits the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HTP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.