On Tuesday, the Mets beat the Cardinals and in so doing won the first six series of the season for the first time in franchise history (est. 1962). Same game: possibly retributive batter-beaning got both teams het up in the late innings—which was to continue and escalate Wednesday, when Cards LHP Génesis Cabrera pegged Mets 3B J.D. Davis in the ankle, top 8; then in the bottom of that inning Mets RHP Yoan López seemingly aimed a pitch directly at the first batter's (3B Nolan Arenado's) big ol' haid. Dugouts and bullpens cleared and there was actual fisticuffs, not just poshching and shevving and hair ballet. Arenado got ejected, along with the Mets first base coach—and I will never not name this person—Stubby Clapp. (Arenado also got a 2-day suspension but appealed it down to one day, which he served Saturday.)
I should mention—in full disclosure and in sharp departure from my recent lament—that of the four umpires who dealt with the brawl—TV lingered on them hobnobbing—two, Jeremie Rehak and Alan Porter, are African American. This still doesn't change the ridiculous preponderance of white guys policing a gorgeously color-diverse field of players on a daily basis.
On Wednesday, Nationals SS Lucius Fox and Marlins 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.—who have been best friends since childhood—became the first two Bahamians to play in the same MLB game since April 22, 1961. N(Y Y)ankee (Poo) Giancarlo Stanton hit his 350th career home run, bottom 1, against Orioles RHP Tyler Wells.
Mark Kolozsvary debuted in the majors for the Cincinnati Reds and hit a double on his first AB, nudging the Reds (temporarily) into the lead, 2-1. Alas, 'the lead' is just not the Reds' place so far this season. They are doing heart-breakingly poorly: 3 wins, 18 losses and .143 average—at least for the next few hours.
As of Thursday, Ronald Acuña Jr. is *finally* back in the Braves' lineup! (He tored up his ACL last July.) The 24-y-o Venezuelan Acuña went 1 for 5 with two stolen bases in Atlanta's 5-1 win over the Cubs. The Braves, 'reigning' 'world' series champeens, are not doing great so far—10 wins, 12 losses—but their lineup (despite its conspicuous and disparaging lack of now-Dodger-Freddy Freeman) is fabulously strong and capable of more than it's been doing, especially now Ronald's back in the mix.
Friday, the Mets got only their second no-hitter (combined, five pitchers) in franchise history. Seattle Mariners CF Julio Rodriguez hit 9 for 9 stolen base attempts, two more than his closest competition. STL Cardinal 1B Paul Goldschmidt belatedly hit his first homer of the season—and broke a nasty weeklong no-homer streak for the Cards. LA Dodgers 3B Justin Turner finally hit his first 2022 homer as well.
Speaking of the Dodgers, twa thingies: One, leftie Clayton Kershaw busted the franchise strikeout record Friday—formerly held by Don Sutton at 2,696 Ks—in whiffing Detroit Tigers infielder Tenser Snorkelson, whose name may or may not have been changed to protect... fuck it, to amuse ME. Twa, SS and former Nat Trae Turner (whom I saw drinking a piña colada at Trader Vic's, and his hair was fucking fierce) has now been on base 39 games in a row (19 of which were last season).
The Colorado Rockies turned 4 double-plays against the Reds Friday, for a total of 27 on the season, an average of 1.26 double-plays turned per game in 2022 (up to 1.38 as of last night)—which extends their excellent good work from 2021, when they topped the majors with an average of 0.87 double-plays per game.
Padres are looking good, better than last year this time. As anecdotal evidence, they are the only team boasting two players (Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer) with OPS > 1. On Thursday, the former Orioles star Machado had the 17th 4-hit game of his career. MacKenzie Gore is a pitcher to watch—the 23-year-old North Carolinian debuted in MLB April 15; has pitched three games and won two; 20 strikeouts (including 10 Reds Wednesday); has a 1.76 ERA. Data sample too small, of course, but worth watching—esp inasmuch as he's cute as a particularly cute button. And Hosmer has clearly found his sometimes-mislaid bat: he leads the majors with a batting average of .389. Manny's right behind him at .386, and also leads the majors with most total hits (32; Hosmer has 28).
In my *ahem* home state, both Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins are doing... well enough. Rays are 12-9 (.571) and Marlins 12-8 (.600). On Thursday the Marlins completed a 3-game sweep of the Nationals in D.C. for the first time since 2011. And I assure you from the heart of my bottom, my unflagging love for and devotion to Marlins RHP Pablo Lopez would continue without the slightest diminution even if he were not the hottest pitcher in the majors right now with an ERA of motherfucking 0.39.
Curious but inconsequential fact: (unless this has changed in the last half hour) the current stat for most doubles in 2022 is shared by Yuli Gurriel (Houston), Owen Miller (Cleveland), and Matt Olson (Atlanta), with 9 doubles each. The curious part is: all three are first basement for their respective teams.
Another niftoid: Toronto has 14 wins and 8 losses; no two of those losses were consecutive games.
Finally, and this is really cute: the Phillies think they're people.
