Cowtipper

Soto's got that home run look in his eye. I'm thinking a home run right now.

I remember when Randy Dobnak pitched for the Red Wings those many years ago. I remember thinking "Dobnak" sounded like an insult. Like "don't be a dobnak." "That's guy's such a dobnak." Etc.

Paul Adomites died. https://www.morrisonhome.com/obituaries/Paul-D-Adomites?obId=44426760 Who was Paul Adomites? Paul D. Adomites (August 20, 1948 – August 21, 2025) was an American baseball and oil historian, author, and former member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). A prolific writer, he authored or contributed to numerous books on baseball history, including October's Game, Babe Ruth: His Life and Times, Baseball in Pittsburgh, Sluggers!, The Love of Baseball, and Extra Innings Baseball, while also publishing works on the history of the Pennsylvania oil industry such as Pennsylvania Crude and Oil Fields, Oil People. Beyond his books, Adomites wrote articles on subjects ranging from jazz and food to science fiction and old-time radio, earning a reputation as a versatile historian whose work preserved the stories of both America's national pastime and its early petroleum industry.

Toby needs to go-by. Forever.

Who was Phil Regan? Phil Regan (1937–2026) was an American professional baseball pitcher, manager, scout, and coach whose career in the game spanned more than six decades. After debuting with the Detroit Tigers in 1960, he found his greatest success as a relief pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers, earning the nickname "The Vulture" from teammate Sandy Koufax for his remarkable ability to collect victories in late-inning relief appearances. Regan was a National League All-Star in 1966, won two National League saves titles, twice earned The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award, and helped the Dodgers reach the 1966 World Series before finishing his playing career with the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox. Following his retirement as a player, Regan became a respected coach and manager at both the collegiate and professional levels. He managed Grand Valley State University, served as pitching coach for several major league clubs, spent one season as manager of the Baltimore Orioles in 1995, and coached extensively in winter leagues and the minor leagues. In 2019, he made headlines by returning to the majors as the New York Mets' interim pitching coach at age 82, one of the oldest coaches in MLB history. Regan remained active in baseball well into his 80s and was remembered as one of the sport's enduring baseball lifers following his death on July 8, 2026, at the age of 89.

New York Mets sent RHP Dedniel Núñez on a rehab assignment to Syracuse Mets. Marcus Semien: Semien (hip) is unlikely to return before the end of July, Tim Britton and Will Sammon of The Athletic report. Semien landed on the 10-day injured list in late June with a left hip flexor strain that's bothered him at least since early May. He believes the nagging injury affected his performance and was a result of compensating for an old foot injury, noting that "it got to the point where sprinting 100 percent was not possible." However, after working to "strengthen some things," Semien is "feeling really good." Semien will likely require a rehab assignment before returning to the Mets' active roster. Injury Hip. Est. Return 8/1/2026. Austin Warren: Out with strained forearm. The Mets placed Warren on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right forearm strain. The injury could help explain Warren's recent struggles, as he's coughed up nine runs over his last two outings. Prior to those two appearances, Warren had posted a 2.45 ERA and 36:16 K:BB over 33 innings. The Mets have not provided a timeline for Warren's return, but the nature of the injury suggests it will likely be longer than a minimum absence. Injury Forearm. Est. Return 7/24/2026.

And like clockwork, he's been DFA'd. Now we get to see what Xzavion Curry can do, because cycling through washups has worked so well. We also get Tobias Myers (6.21 ERA this year) back in response to Austin Warren going on the IL.

Phil Regan, who served as Mets interim pitching coach in 2019 after Dave Eiland was fired*, has passed away at 89. He pitched in the majors from 1960 to 1972, winning 15 games as a starter in 1963 -- though he made his name in the bullpen. In 1966 and 1968, he led the league in saves and games finished; the former year, he went 14-1 and the latter, 12-5. He was also an All-Star in 1966 and received MVP votes both years. He got more votes than Hank Aaron, Pete Rose, Orlando Cepeda, Willie Stargell and Willie McCovey in 1966! From 2009 to 2015, he was the St. Lucie Mets pitching coach and from 2016 to 2019, he was the minor league assistant pitching coordinator. https://sny.tv/articles/former-mets-pitching-coach-phil-regan-dies-at-89 *remember when Dave Eiland was pitching coach? I barely could

Anyone wanna give the last one a shot? Hint:

His debut went from a feel-good story to a nightmare pretty quickly. Two genius Stearns moves in this one: Trading for him in the first place, then DFA'ing Guillo Zuniga, who pitched a scoreless inning in his lone appearance, to make room for him. The Mets wasted cash, the solid performance of Zuniga and an active roster spot for 2 innings, 7 earned runs and a 31.00 ERA.

Young held up better, longer than I'd think a mediocre Quadruple-A player could, but I'm glad we have another actual established major leaguer back. Now we just wait for the departure of Wagaman.

Well, ain't this a blast from the past. Jorge Polanco, who hasn't appeared in a game for the Mets since April 14, has been activated from the injured list, with Alex Carrillo being designated for assignment to make room for him on the 40-man and Ronny Mauricio being demoted to make room for him on the active roster. Polanco was one of the big names brought aboard to help bolster the club in 2026, however he was ineffective in his brief stint before getting hurt, hitting just .179 with a homer and two ribbies in 56 at-bats. However, he is an established veteran, so I can't imagine he won't be of some benefit to the club. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/07/mets-activate-jorge-polanco-dfa-alex-carrillo.html

Mets trade for Matt Seelinger. Mets DFA Zuniga. Mets call up Seelinger. Robert sent on rehab to Binghamton. Dedniel Nunez sent on rehab to Binghamton.

Good call! They have DFA'd Zuniga and called up Matt Seelinger. It'll be a feel good story for Seelinger, as he is a 31-year-old rookie making his debut.

Mets are slowly improving, I guess. Their team OBP is above .300 for the first time in what seems like forever and they now have multiple active guys with averages at or over .250 ... Soto, Bichette, Ewing, Benge and Alvarez.

Don Zimmer is correct! Nobody is correct! Zambrano, Zeile, Zamora, Zachry and Zimmer are correct! Though there's one more...

Brooklyn Cyclones transferred RHP Felix Cepeda from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Brooklyn Cyclones transferred RHP Irving Cota from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. St. Lucie Mets transferred RHP Jorge De Leon from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Brooklyn Cyclones transferred RHP Brady Miller from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. New York Mets sent CF Luis Robert Jr. on a rehab assignment to Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Syracuse Mets transferred 3B Jose Rojas from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Syracuse Mets activated C Ben Rortvedt from the 7-day injured list. Syracuse Mets sent RF Mike Tauchman on a rehab assignment to FCL Mets. Brooklyn Cyclones sent RHP Calvin Ziegler on a rehab assignment to St. Lucie Mets.

Zoobs held the title for only about a year, as he joined the Mets in 2025. Some trivia questions: 1. Who did Tyler Zuber replace on the list? Don Zimmer 2. Who did the guy Zuber replaced replace on the list? Nobody 3. Who are all the Mets players with last names ending in 'Z'? Pat Zachry Victor Zambrano Daniel Zamora Rob Zastryzny Todd Zeile Don Zimmer Tyler Zuber Guillo Zuniga

Because I have nothing else to do today, he's another list of notable 2024 deaths that were passed over previously. We missed a major leaguer who died in 2024: Greg Mahlberg. The only confirmation of his death is a SABR member saying a family member told him Mahlberg died. Who was Greg Mahlberg? Greg Mahlberg (1952–2024) was an American professional baseball catcher, coach, and minor league manager from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After playing college baseball at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he signed with the Texas Rangers as an undrafted free agent in 1973 and spent a decade in the minor leagues before reaching the major leagues in 1978. Mahlberg appeared in eight MLB games for the Rangers during the 1978 and 1979 seasons, collecting two hits in 18 at-bats, including his only major league home run, a solo shot against Floyd Bannister of the Seattle Mariners on September 3, 1979. After his playing career ended, Mahlberg became a respected minor league manager, spending 15 years guiding teams in the farm systems of the Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He managed 1,954 games and compiled a 904–1,050 record, earning particular recognition in the California League, where he held the league record for managerial victories for several years. Mahlberg also worked as a minor league coach and helped develop young players throughout his long career in professional baseball. He died on April 23, 2024, at the age of 71. Tony Attanasio (October 24, 1939 – August 30, 2024) was an American minor league baseball player born in Stamford, Connecticut, who played five seasons in the early 1960s, reaching the Triple-A level. After his playing career, he became a prominent player agent beginning in the early 1970s, representing numerous major leaguers, including Ichiro Suzuki. Gerry Collis (June 3, 1930 – January 24, 2024) was an American athlete and coach who played football and baseball at University of Denver before pursuing a long career in coaching. As head football coach at Bakersfield College from 1967 to 1983, he compiled a 121–49–2 record, won five conference titles, and led the 1976 team to a junior college national championship, while also serving as the school's baseball coach from 1958 to 1967. Luis Cordova (June 11, 1973 – July 30, 2024) was an American left-handed pitcher born in the Bronx, New York, who played in the minor leagues during the 1990s. He spent time with the DSL Yankees/Padres, the Catskill Cougars, and the Massachusetts Mad Dogs, appearing in affiliated and independent baseball before the end of his professional career. Miguel Cuevas (February 24, 1935 – May 24, 2024), known as "Don Miguel," was a Cuban baseball standout who excelled as both an infielder and outfielder, winning batting, home run, and RBI titles while starring for the Cuban national team in international competition. Over a 13-season career he batted .279, set a long-standing Serie Nacional RBI record with 86 in 1967–68, later managed Camagüey from 1979 to 1981, and helped Cuba capture the gold medal at the 1963 Pan American Games. Tom "Dutch" Dotterer (December 19, 1935 – October 15, 2024) was an American minor league baseball player born in Syracuse, New York, who spent eight professional seasons in the game between 1954 and 1963, with military service interrupting his career, and was part of a prominent baseball family that included his brother Dutch Dotterer. Following his playing career, Dotterer became one of New York state's most accomplished high school baseball coaches, leading the program at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse for many years. Maxine Drinkwater (May 19, 1936 – February 11, 2024) was an American baseball player from Searsmont, Maine, who played first base and second base for the South Bend Blue Sox during the 1954 season, the final year of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Known for her defensive ability, she was later honored with inclusion in the permanent National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit celebrating the league and became the first woman inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. Mike Easley (April 6, 1967 – October 26, 2024) was an American minor league infielder born in Brussels, Belgium, who played college baseball at Texas A&M University before beginning his professional career in the Cleveland Indians organization. After playing from 1989 to 1992, including a final season with the Shreveport Captains in the San Francisco Giants system, he concluded his professional baseball career. Mary Lou Graham (August 15, 1936 – December 24, 2024) was an American baseball player born in South Bend, Indiana, who served as a batgirl on the 1952 championship-winning South Bend Blue Sox before pitching in relief for the club during the 1953 season. After her baseball career, she excelled as a bowler, earning induction into the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 1989, and was later recognized as part of the permanent National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit honoring the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Bill Griffin (February 14, 1935 – June 17, 2024) was an American left-handed pitcher born in Omaha, Nebraska, who spent nearly a decade in the minor leagues before finishing his professional career with the Kintetsu Buffaloes in Japan during the 1963 season. After retiring from baseball, he worked for McCall Oil for 40 years, earning a reputation for never taking a single sick day throughout his career. Masao Idezawa (March 5, 1927 – May 24, 2024) was a Japanese left-handed pitcher born in Nagano Prefecture who briefly played professional baseball with the Tokyu Flyers. He appeared in just two games during the 1947 season before retiring from the sport. Félix Isasi (August 18, 1945 – February 2, 2024) was a Cuban second baseman from Matanzas who starred for the Cuban national team for a decade, earning international recognition as one of the country’s top offensive players in the 1960s and 1970s. Over an 18-year Cuban league career, he batted .293, stole 231 bases, won numerous tournament honors including the 1972 Haarlem Baseball Week MVP award, and later managed in Cuba. Eiji Iwakiri (October 8, 1961 – September 15, 2024) was a Japanese professional baseball player born in Osaka who spent his career as an infielder with the Hanshin Tigers and Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. Drafted in the sixth round of the 1983 NPB draft, he appeared sparingly during his playing career before retiring in 1994 and later serving as a coach for the Hawks from 1995 to 2000. Mary Ellen Kimball (April 1, 1929 – December 17, 2024) was an American professional baseball player born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, who played briefly for the Racine Belles during the 1948 season as an outfielder and later attempted a transition to pitcher. Although her playing career lasted just two games, she was among the women honored through the permanent National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit recognizing the legacy of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Marty Kuehnert (July 19, 1946 – November 8, 2024) was an American sports executive, educator, and author born in Los Angeles, California, who became the first foreign general manager in Nippon Professional Baseball as the inaugural GM of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. A longtime advocate of analytics and modern sports management, he also led minor league clubs in the United States, taught at Sendai University, and remained an influential advisor and commentator on Japanese baseball throughout his career. Mike Lude (June 30, 1922 – March 14, 2024) was an American college football and baseball coach and athletics administrator who played both sports at Hillsdale College before building a long career in collegiate athletics. He coached football at Colorado State University, won baseball championships at Hillsdale, and later became a highly respected athletic director at University of Washington, Kent State University, and Auburn University before his death at age 101. Marie Mansfield (November 4, 1931 – January 28, 2024) was an American pitcher from Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1950 to 1954, primarily with the Rockford Peaches. A key member of Rockford’s pitching staff, she won a championship in 1950, led the league in strikeouts in 1953, and finished her career with a 34–42 record and 3.33 ERA before later helping preserve the league’s legacy through the AAGPBL Players Association. Harry Mauch (June 2, 1956 – November 30, 2024) was an American minor league baseball player from Klamath Falls, Oregon, and the nephew of longtime major league manager Gene Mauch. A switch-hitting outfielder, he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 1978 and spent two seasons in the minor leagues with the Butte Copper Kings, Bellingham Mariners, and Medford A's before his professional career ended. Yataro Oishi (October 6, 1943 – February 22, 2024) was a Japanese right-handed pitcher who spent 19 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, earning four All-Star selections and compiling a 79–81 record with a 3.22 ERA. After his playing career, he became a successful manager of the Uni-President Lions, leading the club to consecutive Chinese Professional Baseball League championships in 1995 and 1996 and winning Manager of the Year honors both seasons. Tsutomu Osawa (May 23, 1948 – July 12, 2024) was a Japanese professional baseball player from Noshiro, Akita, who was drafted by the Toei Flyers in the seventh round of the 1970 NPB draft. He spent several seasons with the organization but saw limited playing time at the top level, appearing in only a handful of games before retiring from professional baseball in 1976. Toni Ann Palermo (February 5, 1933 – April 5, 2024) was an American baseball player who competed in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League as a shortstop for the Chicago Colleens and Springfield Sallies, batting .376 during the 1950 season. After baseball, she became a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis, earned a Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin–Madison, and built a long career as an educator, counselor, and advocate for women’s sports. Barbara Payne (September 18, 1932 – March 11, 2024) was an American infielder and occasional pitcher from Shreveport, Louisiana, who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1949 to 1951 for several teams, including the Rockford Peaches, reaching the postseason in 1951. After retiring from baseball, she spent 40 years as a radiology technician and was later honored as part of the permanent National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit celebrating the legacy of the AAGPBL. Katsutoshi Sano (June 25, 1945 – August 31, 2024) was a Japanese professional baseball infielder who played second and third base after being drafted by the Kintetsu Buffaloes in the fifth round of the 1970 NPB draft. He appeared in parts of three seasons with the Buffaloes from 1971 to 1973 before retiring from professional baseball in 1974. Gentaro Shimada (1939–2024) was a Japanese professional pitcher who spent 15 seasons with the Taiyo Whales of Nippon Professional Baseball, earning All-Star honors and throwing a perfect game in 1960, when he went 19–10 with a 2.29 ERA and helped lead the team to a Japan Series championship. After injuries and inconsistency slowed his career, Shimada mounted a late-career comeback in 1968 with a 14–6 record before retiring with a 70–77 record and 3.18 ERA, later working as a broadcaster and pitching coach. Tetsuya Tsuji (1949–2024) was a Japanese baseball player who represented Japan in international competitions, including the 1969 Asian Championship and 1972 Amateur World Series, before joining the Chunichi Dragons in Nippon Professional Baseball. He appeared briefly in the NPB, recording one hit in three at-bats during the 1973 season, and retired after the 1975 season while later being known as the father of NPB outfielder Ryutaro Tsuji. Tomoo Wako (1937–2024) was a Japanese professional pitcher who spent 21 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, earning All-Star honors in 1969 and compiling a 121–120 record with a 2.71 ERA, 1,396 strikeouts, and 628 appearances for the Mainichi/Daimai Orions, Hanshin Tigers, and Hiroshima Carp. Known for his durability and control, Wako became one of NPB’s long-serving pitchers, later transitioning into a coaching and scouting career with several teams after his retirement. Jim Weber (1945–2024) was a longtime baseball broadcaster who became the play-by-play voice of the Toledo Mud Hens in 1975 and later also served as the team's traveling secretary beginning in 1984. In 2014, he was inducted into the International League Hall of Fame, becoming the first broadcaster ever selected for the honor. Ernesto Wong (1973 – April 15, 2024) was a Cuban-born baseball player and coach who competed in Cuba’s national baseball system before moving to Italy, where he became a prominent figure in youth and competitive baseball development. As a coach with clubs in Settimo Torinese and Milan, he helped expand baseball programs, develop young players, and guide teams to higher levels of Italian competition before his death in a workplace accident in China at age 50. Luis Zayas (1937–2024) was a Cuban baseball player who spent 11 seasons in the minor leagues and Mexican League, where he became a standout offensive player known for his power, speed, and plate discipline, including three Mexican League stolen-base titles. After his playing career, Zayas managed in Cuban baseball, guided teams including the Metropolitanos and Isla de la Juventud, and remained involved in the sport as a technical commissioner into the 21st century. Mitch Zwolensky (1959–2024) was a right-handed minor league pitcher who spent eight seasons in professional baseball, reaching the Triple-A level with the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs organizations but never making the major leagues. After his playing career, he became a coach and manager, including a stint as a player-manager in independent leagues and earning Prairie League Manager of the Year honors in 1996.

I'm not confident.

So, trade Devin Williams, too.

A Juan wallop! Mets ahead 5-3!

First and third! Soto's up! Ya gotta believe!

First and second! One out! Something's cooking! OMG!

Single! Base hit! LGM!