Dome Pondering

There's a lot that can be said about John Sterling. So much of it has already been said this week after his passing.  For me, as a Yankee fan, who, like millions of others, can recall his voice filling the space and void of Yankee baseball throughout the years, it's the end of constant privilege. Whether it was in your car, your backyard, on a walk, or wherever, it was Sterling (with Michael Kay, and then Suzyn Waldman) whose unique voice and cadence ebbed and flowed through so many games.  He had a style and flair that was so signature. One of a kind. Like many of the greats, Sterling provided stories and narration for moments in a game that seamlessly gave the game itself life and lent eloquence to a game we were simply imagining being played out while we listened.  There were stories, flair, and the often-happening and unexplainable that were wrapped into one amazing phrase: "Well, that's baseball, Suzyn." I'll miss the home run calls...obviously.  My favor...

The upcoming baseball season is bringing with it something bittersweet. I'm excited for baseball to return, especially after an amazing World Baseball Classic. Also, there is a work stoppage on the other side of this season that feels too real, too certain, and in many ways, too necessary to fix some of the game's continued issues.  We can only hope for the best.  For now, let's throw out some predictions and wild guesses for the upcoming MLB 2026 season.  --- STANDINGS (WINS) AL EAST Yankees - 93 Blue Jays - 91 Red Sox - 88 Rays - 85 Orioles - 80 AL CENTRAL Royals - 89 Tigers - 88 Guardians - 82 Twins - 75 White Sox - 69 AL WEST Mariners - 92 Astros - 89 Athletics - 85 Rangers - 80 Angels - 74  NL EAST Phillies - 93 Braves - 89 Mets - 88 Marlins - 77 Nationals - 71 NL CENTRAL Cubs - 91 Brewers - 88 Pirates - 81 Reds - 81 Cardinals - 69 NL WEST Dodgers - 101 Padres - 90 Giants - 84 Diamondbacks - 82 Rockies - 68 GOALS/AWARDS/LEADERS AMERICAN LEAGUE Batting Champion: ...

Welp, four more years until we get another crack at winning the World Baseball Classic. Are we now a hockey country?! In all seriousness, the WBC was awesome! I've been a fan of the concept since its installation in 2006, and every version has continued to improve.  This one was especially good, and I'm so ready for baseball season! Before we get there, here are a few quick thoughts from the 2026 World Baseball Classic: It's Fine As Is I'm jumping right into this - keep the World Baseball Classic as is! It's especially frustrating to listen to those in the media, who are now discovering the beauty of the WBC, chime in with ways to "fix it," find "the right time for it," or to "improve the tournament".  Here is the truth - The WBC is fine!  Please don't have it replace the All-Star Game (one of the more ludicrous ideas being thrown out there). Keep it special by having it every four years and not watering it down with gimmicks and ov...

That was amazing.  These MLB playoffs have given us baseball junkies some awesome performances, moments, and overall happenings to be amazed by. Of them all, the final cap on the 2025 season was that of Yohsinobu Yamamoto.  Jealousy aside of him spurning my New York Yankees to join the (new evil empire in the) Los Angeles Dodgers, what Yamamoto did has no precise words to describe it.  I'll try. However, the only thing I can mention is comparisons from my lifetime that have marveled me.  Randy Johnson in 2001 .  Madison Bumgarner in 2014 .  A VERY rare group of pitchers. Dawgs. Rubber arms. Insane guts. And somehow, as I punch a few words following his performance this postseason, Yamamoto's legend may surpass them both into another stratosphere once the moment has a chance to settle.  For now, this was special. Amazing. All of the words. 

Because of the response I received last year for my ponderings on last year's World Series , I decided to do the same for this year's MLB Postseason run. I'll drop some quick ponderings on the Yankees and their playoff run here. Because, well, I don't do "response videos".  Yeah, still a words guy. Still a nerd. Nonetheless, who knows? If the Yankees drop a quick two to the despised Boston Red Sox, this might be a quick wrap-up. Orrrrrrrrrr, we're looking at a collection of thoughts for a World Series title.  I'll calm down.  Dropping some ponderings below - thanks in advance for following along... --- Game 1  Red Sox d. Yankees, 3-1 (BOS leads series 1-0) And. Here. We. Go. [in your favorite Joker voice] Yankee fandom is likely going to be in full insufferable panic mode after this loss. I'm expecting the usual takes of "it's Boone's fault" and something to do with Cashman, and other bad takes on why "they trust anayltics ...

Before the playoffs get going, let’s get this out of the way: Aaron Judge is the American League Most Valuable Player. Co-signing and confirming the statement above - Yes, I believe Aaron Judge should be awarded the MVP award. But what about Cal Raleigh? He’s a catcher?!! More on that in a bit… My reasoning for Judge is very simple and very straightforward. I’m also removing my Yankee fandom from this assessment. Yeah, sure. Whatever, Yankee boy! Aaron Judge leads in all of the important categories that hold the most weight in baseball.  The most important being fWAR, which accounts for defensive (and if needed, pitching) value.  Aaron Judge leads ALL of baseball with a 10+ fWAR, which is extremely rare.  For me, that is enough (and historically, the trend usually supports this). But if you’re not a fWAR person - or one of those “analytics ruined the game” folks - there’s more… In a world where so many baseball romantics get angry about the diminishing value of batting av...

A possible change is coming to Major League Baseball!  That statement alone has triggered every baseball fan into their feelings, and what possibly could Rob Manfred have cooking for the game's future? As he's done before , Manfred dropped yet another controversial nugget, this time regarding possible expansion and realignment for MLB in the future.  To begin, I don't think this is set in stone...yet. I truly believe, like the "Golden Bat" rule was mentioned, Manfred is floating this out there to gauge the reception of it from fans and how it plays in the overall fan-o-sphere of sports discourse.  Second, I believe this is also a strategy for upcoming labor discussions. Everyone is geared up for the inevitable doom that is "to salary cap" or "not to salary cap". Work stoppage is likely, but a gentle early toss on the table of possibly adding more jobs for players can't be overlooked in labor negitoations.  Expansion Let's start here, as...

Well, after that off-season where the Dodgers deferred enough money to build the Athletics a new ballpark, it's time for the remaining fanbases who don't have Guggenheim money to hope for the best. Even with Opening Day finally here, it's the only time of the year we can actually pretend everyone has a chance, and hope feels, well, somewhat authentic.  White Sox fans, how are we feeling?  As we do every year around these parts, I'm throwing out some predictions and wild guesses for the upcoming MLB 2025 season.  Good luck, White Sox.  --- STANDINGS (WIN) AL EAST  Yankees - 92 Red Sox - 90 Orioles - 88 Rays - 85 Blue Jays - 82 AL CENTRAL Royals - 90 Tigers - 90 Guardians - 88 Twins - 87 White Sox - 65 AL WEST Rangers - 92 Astros - 92 Athletics - 86 Mariners - 85 Angels - 77 NL EAST Phillies - 94 Mets - 92 Braves - 88 Nationals - 78 Marlins - 75 NL CENTRAL Cubs - 88 Brewers - 88 Reds - 87 Pirates - 83 Cardinals - 80 NL WEST Dodgers - 96 Diamondbacks - 90 Padres - ...

So, have you heard that Juan Soto is now a member of the New York Mets?!  Yes, that was a little tongue-in-cheek comment there, but the conversation and narratives have been exhausting in various ways. Maybe it's because I live in the New York market, so the entire Mets vs. Yankees dynamic is at play and has to be examined from every angle, including whether Soto ever donned a slight sliver of orange giving reason why he made his home for the next fifteen years in Flushing, Queens.  For me, the answer is so straightforward. Money.  That's it.  Soto's free agency reminds me so much of what I experienced when I was a teenager with theAlex Rodriguez free agency. A-Rod made his way to the Texas Rangers in what once felt like earth-shattering money. He didn't go for the future. He didn't go for the school system. He didn't go for the tax breaks. In the moment, and still in hindsight, it felt like he should've stayed with the Mariners, or sign on with these same N...

I thought I would try something different for the 2024 World Series, especially since my Yankees are in it, and offer some quick ponderings and share some stuff from my thought process. Why not?  I expect a tough and arduous series. In many ways in approaching it, I would be shocked if this goes five or fewer games to either side. Obviously, I wouldn't mind if it happened for the Yankees.  Whoever wins, maybe they should also get claim to the 2017 World Series title. I'm kidding. Sort of... Game 1 Dodgers d. Yankees, 6-3  (LAD Leads Series 1-0) This is one of those games where I love baseball, but I hate it. That was a tremendous game if I didn't have a rooting interest. However, I do. And baseball, by nature, has a flair for creating moments that can rip your heart out as a fan. This one did. It's up there, to be honest. In this time, it feels worse than Sandy Alomar's home run off of Mo in 1997. But likely to not leave me in my feelings like the 2001 World Series...