G-Fafif

Vogey has been non-tendered.

Deal isn't done until it's done. From the Athletic… The approval of baseball's owners was long expected and moves the A's a step closer to realizing the move, which is ultimately likely to happen. But the team's exodus from Oakland isn't finalized yet. Nevada's legislature and governor have approved $380 million in funding, but a political action committee backed by teachers in the state is attempting to get the funding on a public ballot next November. Were that to happen, and were the public to subsequently vote against providing the money, the move could be, at the least, delayed. The availability of public money is a major lure to owners, and is what led Fisher to pursue a stadium outside of Oakland, despite protests from the city's mayor that similar funding could be arranged.

MLB has approved the A's move one state east. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2023/11/16/oakland-athletics-move-to-las-vegas-approved-mlb-owners/71602944007/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2023/11/16/oakland-athletics-move-to-las-vegas-approved-mlb-owners/71602944007/

Second in ROY voting Seventh in Cy Young voting First in the hearts of his countrymen

The new head Brewer is longtime bench coach Pat Murphy. The Padres are the only crew still seeking a skipper.

No longer tied.

Kodai finishes ahead of every NL rookie not named Corbin Carroll.

Official release: The New York Mets today announced that they have named Carlos Mendoza the 25th manager in team history, agreeing to terms on a three-year contract with a club option for a fourth year. He will be introduced in a press conference in the Piazza 31 Club at Citi Field on Tuesday, November 14 at 12 p.m. Mendoza, who turns 44 on November 27, spent the last 15 years in the Yankees organization, including the previous four as the team's major league bench coach. “We are excited to begin this new chapter of Mets baseball,” Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen said. “Carlos brings a wealth of experience to the Mets that includes more than a decade managing and coaching in the minors as well as serving as bench coach the last four years with our cross-town rivals. Carlos is full of energy, passion and it was easy to see he'll have a great rapport with both our veteran and young players.” Mendoza, who will wear uniform #28, served two seasons (2018-2019) as the Yankees' major league quality control coach and infield coach before he was promoted to bench coach. “We promised an exhaustive search and we are thrilled to introduce Carlos as the next manager of the Mets,” President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said. “Carlos has a brilliant baseball mind and a finely honed ability to collaborate with others. He comes with a fantastic reputation as a trusted leader and someone who has been beloved in every stop of his career. Carlos knows what it takes to lead, especially here in New York, and I am looking forward to partnering with him to bring sustained success to this franchise.” Mendoza, a native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, is the second Venezuelan-born manager in Major League history, joining Ozzie Guillén. He served as the bench coach for Venezuela during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Additionally, Mendoza managed the Cardenales de Lara of the Venezuelan Winter League in 2021 and 2022. He had previously been their beach coach for the 2017-2018 campaign. “I couldn't be more excited to manage this tremendous franchise,” Mendoza said. “I want Mets fans to know that I will pour every ounce of energy into this job and we share a common goal of bringing a championship to Queens. I'm proud to represent Venezuela and the Mets and I'm grateful Steve, Alex and David gave me this wonderful opportunity.” Mendoza was the Yankees' lower level field coordinator in 2017 and infield coordinator from 2013-17. He managed Charleston, the Yankees' Single-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League in 2012. He managed the Gulf Coast League Yankees to the 2011 championship. Mendoza coached with short-season Single-A Staten Island in the New York-Penn League in 2009 and with Charleston in 2010. He served as the Scottsdale Scorpions manager in the Arizona Fall League in 2012 and 2016. Mendoza was the bench coach for the Gigantes de Carolina in the Puerto Rican Winter League during the 2014-15 campaign. Mendoza played 10 minor league seasons (1997-2009) as an infielder in the San Francisco Giants and Yankees organizations as well as a three-years for the independent Pensacola Pelicans (2004-2006). He was originally signed by the Giants as a non-drafted free agent in 1996. Carlos and his wife, Francis, have two sons, Adrian and Andres.

Will Sammon in the Athletic collects testimonials that indicate Carlos Mendoza (or “Mendy”) has surpassed sliced bread in the Best Thing category. He'd often begin meetings with a small touch of humor. Then he'd dive into the details of scouting reports and game plans with thoroughness and a direct tone. A portrait of an unfamiliar character is being painted in the above paragraph, but it leaves me wondering if most bench coaches scowl at first, then dispense information in a superficial manner while scrolling through their phone. Anyway, he's great and the Mets couldn't have gotten a better manager, says everybody who's ever crossed paths with the guy. https://theathletic.com/5057871/2023/11/13/tales-of-new-mets-manager-carlos-mendoza-hell-be-in-the-fight-with-the-guys/https://theathletic.com/5057871/2023/11/13/tales-of-new-mets-manager-carlos-mendoza-hell-be-in-the-fight-with-the-guys/

Martino says official announcement Monday, press conference Tuesday.

The Joe Espada Cafe opens in Houston, with the perennial managerial candidate becoming the new Astros manager.

Back page designers are addicted to insets.

Our 30-30 shortstop has won the NL Silver Slugger at his position.

Quite the dive by New York's Andrew Rice on how all this is (or msy not be) coming together. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/steve-cohen-mets-citi-field-queens-casino-bid.htmlhttps://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/steve-cohen-mets-citi-field-queens-casino-bid.html

Highly esteemed Atlanta coach heads to Anaheim as the new Angels manager, taking a job Buck Showalter sought.

Our most recent third base coach has run through the stop sign and to the Tigers to do what he does there.

Ha, those lowly Marlins sure do suck in 2023, especially compared to the mighty Mets.

Not the Carlos Mendoza who played for the 1997 Mets.

An appreciation of Howard's Mets days and other days https://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2023/11/06/interim-pleasures/here.

Kid's name was Bill Simmons (actually, if I recall correctly from the story he's told a few times, he stood in as the batter to simulate game conditions). https://grantland.com/features/do-i-have-anything-left/https://grantland.com/features/do-i-have-anything-left/

A slice of audio heaven here, from Howie fielding a call about how Keith and Gary will respond to Tom's homecoming, all the way to Bob describing Crazy Eddie's prices (spoiler: they're insane). No last names necessary. [media=youtube]uM22i4zrubY[/media] Welcome to the early afternoon of June 6, 1987 and how WHN covered Seaver III.

Awesome teammate, reportedly. The least he can be for the money. The Texas Rangers, high off a playoff win, boarded a late-night flight from Baltimore to Dallas. The club had just taken a commanding 2-0 lead over the Orioles in the American League Division Series. The Rangers were one win away from advancing to the franchise's first ALCS since 2011. But, first, there was an unforgettable three-hour flight standing in their way. Several players played cards in the back of the plane, a common pastime for those who ply their craft in America's pastime. Max Scherzer, who was dealing with a stomach bug, was one of those players. This, Jacob deGrom decided, provided the perfect opportunity to pull off an epic prank. DeGrom discreetly asked the flight assistant, Missy, to tell Scherzer to wear his mask if he's going to play cards so that no one else would get sick. Missy, per deGrom's direction, told Scherzer the request was coming from the Rangers manager, Bruce Bochy. "He was probably cussing me out," Bochy laughed. "He actually wore it. He was respectful with everything. He put it on." "He wore it the whole freaking flight," said a teammate, who was only comfortable speaking about this very serious prank on the condition of anonymity. "Three hours. It was hysterical. Whole flight he's wearing it. We're all cracking up. He had no idea. No idea." The following day, the Rangers held a workout at Globe Life Field. DeGrom told Bochy about the prank he'd pulled off, but the horseplay wasn't over yet. He asked the skipper to add another layer to the joke by being a part of it. So Bochy walked up to Scherzer at the team workout. "What the hell were you wearing a mask for?" Bochy asked. Scherzer responded, "You told me to wear it." Then Bochy lied and said he was anti-mask. "I don't know what you're talking about," the manager replied, faking his confusion well enough to merit Oscar consideration. For Scherzer, the mystery of who pulled off the mask prank went on for days. Finally, more than a week later, players told Scherzer that deGrom was behind the joke. "He's just a goofball," teammate Will Smith said of deGrom. "Florida redneck, goofball. He likes to hunt. He's fun. The Max prank is his best one so far. We finally told him. Max gave deGrom his props. He said, ‘That's one of the best ones you've pulled off.' DeGrom got him pretty good." That clever, slightly wicked, prank was just one of many jokes deGrom has pulled off this year with Texas. It's the star pitcher's own way of contributing to the Rangers' historic World Series run, even though deGrom hasn't pitched since June following his second career Tommy John surgery. Because deGrom can't torture opposing hitters, he teases his teammates instead. "Obviously, I wish I was out there," deGrom told FOX Sports after Texas edged Arizona in Game 3 of the World Series. "But now it's about these guys and what they're doing. It's very cool." https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/remember-jacob-degrom-hes-fueling-the-rangers-world-series-run-without-pitchinghttps://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/remember-jacob-degrom-hes-fueling-the-rangers-world-series-run-without-pitching

It's all about the likes of this guy.