logo
Marvel at these sweet home run robberies. Plus, are we buying the Twins?

Marvel at these sweet home run robberies. Plus, are we buying the Twins?

New York Times15-05-2025
The Windup Newsletter ⚾ | This is The Athletic's MLB newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Windup directly in your inbox.
There's a crime spree: Home runs are disappearing at an alarming rate.
Plus: Pete Rose's daughter speaks, the Dodgers replace a clubhouse 'pillar' with their top prospect and are we buying the Twins' hot streak?
I'm Levi Weaver, here with Ken Rosenthal. Welcome to The Windup!
I am really proud of the work our MLB crew here at The Athletic does. Every day in The Windup, I get to highlight some of our best work and keep you, the readers, informed on the fruits of their labor.
But once in a while, we all just get to sit back and marvel at the actual baseball being played. In yesterday's Yankees-Mariners game, the very first play of the game gave us one such moment. Watch this catch by Julio Rodríguez:
JULIOOOOOO!
Julio Rodríguez brings one back! 😤 pic.twitter.com/MVqV1RDZQG
— MLB (@MLB) May 14, 2025
Most days, that's gonna be your play of the day. Not today. Not when the Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela teamed up to do … this.
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK pic.twitter.com/DIgyEzwWfp
— MLB (@MLB) May 15, 2025
Perhaps you prefer the Rodríguez catch — the perfectly timed jump, the classic home run robbery, the slight delay in revealing the ball. Or maybe you're a merchant of chaos and the novelty of the one-in-several-million tip drill is more your style.
Pick one! Or don't! Not everything has to be a competition. They were both fun to watch (assuming you're not a Yankees or Tigers fan).
More single-serving greatness: that of Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., distilled into a single swing.
From my latest column:
Pete Rose's daughter was in the Seattle airport, getting ready to fly to Cincinnati for a night honoring her father, when she learned the news.
'The emotion just kind of came over me,' Fawn Rose, the oldest of Pete's five children, said. 'I didn't think the commissioner's decision was going to affect me as much as it did.'
Advertisement
Fawn Rose's 17-year-old twins, her son Jude and daughter Eden, saw their mother getting teary and looked at her as if to say, 'Oh my God, what happened?' But quickly, they came to understand that what happened was good.
Fawn said she wasn't shocked Tuesday when commissioner Rob Manfred removed her father and other deceased players from Major League Baseball's permanently ineligible list. But her brother, Pete Jr., 55, and sister Cara, 35, had the same emotional reaction when she phoned them to share Manfred's decision. And they all thought the same thing.
'I wish our dad was here to share this with our family and with all the fans,' Fawn said.
Pete Rose died last Sept. 30 at 83. The very next day, the family's attorney, Jeffrey Lenkov, called Fawn. Referencing his nearly decade-long quest to get Pete reinstated, Lenkov told Fawn, 'We're going to get it done.'
Lenkov originally did not plan to bring Fawn with him to meet in New York with Manfred and MLB chief communications officer Pat Courtney on Dec. 17. But before the meeting, Lenkov realized it might be the only opportunity he and the family would have to plead Pete's case.
'It was vital to hear Pete's voice through his children, that Fawn was the proper choice as the oldest,' Lenkov said. 'I didn't prep Fawn. I wanted her to organically express her opinion.' Which Fawn did.
'I didn't sugarcoat anything. It was the good, bad and the ugly,' she said. 'He's at fault. But he's our dad. And he's human.'
Courtney, speaking for Manfred, declined to discuss details of a private meeting and the impact Fawn might have made on the commissioner. But following the league's announcement Tuesday, Fawn said she joked to Pete Jr., 'Dad should have sent me in years ago. I would have closed it quick (with) the commissioner.'
The reality, of course, was more complicated.
Advertisement
The late commissioner Bart Giamatti banned Rose in 1989 after investigator John Dowd confirmed Rose had violated Rule 21 (d) (2), which states that any player, umpire or club or league official who bets upon a game in which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.
Giamatti told Rose he needed to 'reconfigure' his life as a condition for reinstatement. The next three commissioners, Fay Vincent, Bud Selig and Manfred, kept the ban intact. Manfred twice rejected Rose's petitions for reinstatement, in 2015 and 2020.
More Pete Rose:
MLB's hottest team isn't the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets or even the Padres.
With yesterday's sweep of a doubleheader with the Orioles, the Minnesota Twins have boosted their record from a disappointing 13-20 to 23-20, climbing from fourth place and six games back in the division to … fourth place and 5 1/2 games back in the division.
Ah right. The Tigers are 8-2 in their last 10 games, and the Royals and Guardians are both 'only' 6-4.
So while the 10-win streak has been a lot of fun for Twins fans, it has also been a matter of survival. I remember not so long ago when it seemed like the AL Central title went to the first team to lazily raise their hand and go, 'OK fine, I guess. We'll take it.'
Not any more.
So how do we feel about the Twins? The hole they dug themselves into shouldn't be insurmountable. But they were streaky last year, too (remember the gross sausage?). Is the duo of a healthy Byron Buxton and new arrival Harrison Bader enough to convince you? Is the pitching as good as it has seemed lately?
I'm not ready to say they're my favorites to win the division. I think the Tigers are legitimate World Series contenders, and I think the Royals have some juice. I somehow always underestimate the Guardians. Like I said, it's a rough division.
Advertisement
But the Twins aren't rolling over.
More Twins: Three under-the-radar Minnesota prospects off to stock-raising starts, led by 'McCrusher.'
It is one thing to announce that a team is calling up a star prospect. Dalton Rushing definitely qualifies as that — Keith Law had the 24-year-old as the Dodgers' top prospect coming into this season, and the No. 16 prospect in the sport.
It's another when that call-up comes at the cost of the team's longest-tenured position player and clubhouse 'pillar.' That's what happened in Los Angeles yesterday, with Austin Barnes on the tough end of a DFA to make room on the 40-man roster for Rushing.
Barnes, 35, has spent his entire big-league career with the Dodgers. He debuted in 2015 after a 2014 trade that is a fun little trip down memory lane:
(Hernández made his Dodgers debut before Barnes, but spent two-plus years with the Red Sox, the last an 86-game stint in 2023, so his tenure counter was reset.)
As for Rushing, he was hitting .308 (.938 OPS) in Triple A and basically forced the issue. But where will he play? After all, he's primarily a catcher (the Dodgers have Will Smith), but also plays first base (Freddie Freeman) and designated hitter (literally Shohei Ohtani). He has also played two games in left field this year (Michael Conforto).
As Fabian Ardaya informs us here, 'That versatility, along with Rushing's left-handed bat, could open up a path to playing time.'
In other words … stay tuned?
Two similar stories: Cubs prospect Moisés Ballesteros was playing MLB The Show when he got the call that he was being called up to the real big leagues. And at Auburn, Andrew Dutton has spent the season as the first-base coach. He finally got his shot at taking an at-bat. Guess what happened?
All is well in Atlanta. Ronald Acuña Jr. has apologized to manager Brian Snitker, and everyone's ready for him to return from his rehab assignment.
Advertisement
Juan Soto says he's excited to hear the reaction when he returns to the Bronx as a member of the Mets tomorrow. Even the boos? Even the boos.
Two pitchers of note have hit the IL: flame-throwing Angels reliever Ben Joyce (out for the season) and Red Sox starter Tanner Houck (no timetable for a return).
The Giants' hot start has cooled. What's going on?
Three-time All-Star Matt Carpenter announced his retirement at age 39.
Jim Bowden gives us this year's 10 biggest surprises.
On the pods: Chandler Rome joined 'Rates & Barrels' to talk about all things Astros, including a pitching staff that has been surprisingly effective.
Twins Win Streak Counter: The Cardinals lost the first game of a doubleheader against the Phillies, but the Twins now have that 10-game winning streak, so let's change horses mid-stream!
Most-clicked in our last newsletter: The 2019 piece correcting some of the myths around the Black Sox, 100 years later.
📫 Love The Windup? Check out The Athletic's other newsletters.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Astros place left-hander Brandon Walter on injured list with elbow inflammation
Astros place left-hander Brandon Walter on injured list with elbow inflammation

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Astros place left-hander Brandon Walter on injured list with elbow inflammation

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros placed left-handed starter Brandon Walter on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Thursday, with left elbow inflammation. Walter becomes the 18th Houston player currently on the team's IL. In a corresponding move, right-handed reliever Nick Hernandez was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land. Walter is 1-3 with a 3.35 ERA in nine starts for the Astros this season with 52 strikeouts and four walks. He allowed two or fewer runs in seven starts and limited the Diamondbacks to one run over a career-high seven innings on Wednesday. Walter is Houston's eighth starting pitcher on the injured list. Right-handers Hayden Wesneski and Ronel Blanco are out for the season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery. Right-handers Cristian Javier, Spencer Arrighetti, Luis Garcia, and J.P. France have recently started rehab assignments. Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. was placed in the injured list Saturday due to a blister on a finger of his right hand. ___ AP MLB:

MLB trade deadline: Eugenio Suárez, Mitch Keller, Seth Lugo among prized players who could move
MLB trade deadline: Eugenio Suárez, Mitch Keller, Seth Lugo among prized players who could move

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

MLB trade deadline: Eugenio Suárez, Mitch Keller, Seth Lugo among prized players who could move

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks got the trade deadline party started on Thursday night when they dealt 2024 All-Star Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners for two pitching prospects. That probably won't be the last time the D-backs make news before the July 31 deadline. Arizona has had a disappointing season with a 50-53 record and now appears to be one of the most active sellers on the MLB market, dangling third baseman Eugenio Suárez and starting pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. The potential buyers include teams like the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, who are all trying to beef up their rosters in hopes of a deep playoff run. The market is heating up quickly: The Yankees acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Rockies on Friday while the Mets added left-handed reliever Gregory Soto from the Orioles. The D-backs have been one of the most intriguing teams in baseball over the past few weeks because management has had to make a tough decision whether to buy or sell. Arizona had a 50-50 record after sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals following the All-Star break but were then swept by the Houston Astros. Those three losses appeared to seal their fate as sellers — though Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said he's still open to changing course. 'I want to see this team to continue to go out there and play,' Hazen said. 'I haven't decided what it's going to look like, honestly. I'm open-minded to a number of different things. ... Quite frankly, we're listening to what people have to say and what people have to offer and we're going to do what's best for the long term for this organization.' Naylor's already gone and he'll help a Seattle lineup that could use a little more punch. Suárez is having one of the best seasons of his career, slugging 36 homers over 101 games, and is arguably the best bat on the market. Here's a look at some of the top players who could be available as teams try to upgrade for the stretch run: Eugenio Suárez, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks Suarez is just an average defensive third baseman these days, but that's not why teams want to acquire him. He's got the kind of bat that can carry a team for weeks at a time, major pop from the right side of the plate. He has 312 career homers, is well-liked in the locker room and has been productive in limited postseason at-bats with a .300 average. Mitch Keller, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates The 29-year-old Keller has been overshadowed in the Pirates' rotation thanks to the emergence of young star Paul Skenes, but the right-hander has been a reliable starter for the past four seasons and was an All-Star in 2023. The one catch is it'll take a sizable haul for the Pirates to make a deal: He's under contract through 2028 as part of a relatively reasonable $77 million, five-year deal. Seth Lugo, SP, Kansas City Royals Lugo has thrived in Kanas City over the past three seasons, moving to the starting rotation from the bullpen and providing consistent results. The 2024 All-Star has a 7-5 record with a 2.95 ERA over 19 starts this year. Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks Gallen is having the worst full season of his career with a 7-11 record and 5.58 ERA but could still be an attractive add for a team that needs a starter. The 29-year-old right-hander has been one of the top pitchers in the National League over the past five years, finishing in the top 10 of the Cy Young voting in 2020, 2022 and 2023. His stuff is still good and he's had a handful of dominant starts this season. Merrill Kelly, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks The 36-year-old righty has quietly been one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball with a 9-5 record and 3.32 ERA. He was also excellent during the D-backs' postseason run in 2023 with a 3-1 record, 2.25 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 24 innings. Kelly doesn't have an overpowering fastball but has a five-pitch mix that has consistently delivered results. Sandy Alcantara, SP, Miami Marlins The 29-year-old Alcantara isn't the same pitcher he was when he won the 2022 NL Cy Young Award, but the right-hander still has quite a bit of upside. He gave up just one unearned run over seven innings in a win against the Padres on Wednesday, which might help his value. His rotation partner Edward Cabrera — another right-hander — could also garner attention with a 3.48 ERA over 17 starts. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/DH, Baltimore Orioles The 31-year-old is having a career year with a .281 average, .375 on-base percentage and 14 homers, helping him earn All-Star honors for the first time in his career. His left-handed bat would be useful in a contender's lineup. ___ AP MLB:

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Drake Baldwin, Ryan McMahon and Kyle Bradish
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Drake Baldwin, Ryan McMahon and Kyle Bradish

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Drake Baldwin, Ryan McMahon and Kyle Bradish

FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS Drake Baldwin (C Braves): Rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues Even for those who weren't fortunate enough to land Cal Raleigh, it's been pretty easy to get solid production from the catcher spot in one-backstop leagues this year, easy enough that most seem too content to make a change at this point. For that reason, Baldwin remains available in 80 percent of Yahoo leagues, even after the Braves turned him into a full-time player by putting Marcell Ozuna on the bench last weekend. He's since started seven straight games, four at catcher and three at DH. With Ozuna seemingly likely to be moved at the deadline, Baldwin should get all of the playing time he can handle the rest of the way, making him the NL Rookie of the Year favorite. He's certainly looked the part thus far in batting .284/.353/.479 with 11 homers. The league as a whole this year has 27% more hard-hit balls than strikeouts. Baldwin has 123% more (89 hard-hit balls, 40 strikeouts). His 50.9% hard-hit rate places him 31st of the 268 batters with 200 plate appearances. Will Smith and Hunter Goodwin are the only catchers hitting at least .280 with at least 10 homers. Maybe Baldwin will wear down some, but all of the DH time will help. If the Braves pivot and trade Sean Murphy instead of Ozuna, I would drop Baldwin in my rankings some. Right now, though, I have him eighth among catchers, and I'd be willing to move on from guys like J.T. Realmuto, Alejandro Kirk, Shea Langeliers, Logan O'Hoppe and Agustin Ramírez in order to add him. Ryan McMahon (3B Yankees): Rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues It's hard to spin being traded out of Coors Field as a good thing, but getting away from the disaster of an organization that is the Colorado Rockies might pay off for McMahon, an eternally disappointing offensive player who nevertheless possesses excellent exit velocity numbers. Those numbers are actually better than usual this season. McMahon, who was dealt to the Yankees for two pitching prospects on Friday, is currently averaging 94.0 mph off the bat, seventh best in the majors. His top-end numbers aren't as great -- for instance, he's just 46th when it comes to 90th percentile exit velocity -- but that's still a lot of hard contact. He's also hitting more flyballs and pulling the ball more than usual this year. It seems like a recipe for success, but there have been a lot of shots to the warning track thus far. He's also probably been unlucky; Statcast has him with a .466 xSLG, compared to .403 in reality. He's never experienced any sort of gap like that previously. Obviously, the strikeouts really hold McMahon back. He was leading the NL with 127 this season, which is remarkable for a guy playing in the league's preeminent strikeout-suppressing ballpark. The Yankees probably have some ideas on how to help him there, but one can't really expect him to improve much in the near future. If McMahon's value does come up in the short term, it will be a product of hitting in a far better lineup and sneaking balls over the right field wall in Yankee Stadium. It's a far worse offensive ballpark, but it's one that yields more homers to left-handers than Coors does. Unless the Yankees platoon him against southpaws -- they probably ought to, but I'm guessing he'll be a full-timer initially -- he's probably a better rest-of-season bet today than he was yesterday. Kyle Bradish (SP Orioles): Rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues Bradish pitched in a game Thursday for the first time since Tommy John surgery, throwing two innings and allowing one run for High-A Aberdeen. The stadium gun had him at 94-96 mph, said Jake Rill, putting right back where he was before getting hurt. That bodes well for a right-hander who had emerged as one of the AL's best pitchers at the time of his injury. A subpar pitcher as a rookie in 2022, Bradish busted out about a month into the 2023 season and wound up posting a 2.42 ERA and a 150/35 K/BB in his final 25 starts that year. Last season, he was just as effective, and his strikeout rate jumped from 25 percent to 33 percent in the eight starts before he got hurt. The league had a hard-hit rate of just 29 percent against his arsenal of two fastballs, a slider and a curve. That's not to say Bradish is going to experience the same sort of success right away after returning next month. He might even have a setback before then, and given that the Orioles are out of contention, any sort of setback would probably get him shut down until 2026. However, if his rehab continues to progress smoothly, he could be quite an asset over the final six weeks of the season. Those who look to wait until his rehab is complete to pick him up will probably find they missed out. Waiver Wire Quick Hits - I'm not going to write about rotation-bound Joe Boyle again so soon after featuring him recently, but he ought to be picked up everywhere after the Rays' demotion of Taj Bradley. Instead, he's only 15 percent rostered now. - The Astros' Cristian Javier doesn't need to be picked up just yet as he works his way back from Tommy John, but it was really encouraging that he averaged 93.6 mph with his fastball in his first Triple-A start. That's back where he was in 2021 and '22 before falling off in 2023 (92.8 mph) and 2024 (91.7). I doubt we'll ever again see the Javier of 2022 (2.54 ERA, 33% K rate in 149 IP), but on a fine Houston team, he doesn't need to be that good to offer some value.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store