Portrait of soprano Reri Grist as Rosina in Rossini's opera, "The Barber of Seville." Printed on front: "Louis Melancon. Metropolitan Opera House, New York City." Louis Melancon, New York, N.Y." Label on back: "Metropolitan Opera Assn., Inc. Press Dept. Reri Grist as Rosina in Rossini's 'Il barbiere di Siviglia.'"

E. Azalia Hackley Collection of African Americans in the Performing Arts, Detroit Public Library

Arizona Diamondbacks-Minnesota Twins Series Preview

8.4.23-Merrill Kelly RHP (9-5) 3.23 ERA Vs. Bailey Ober RHP (6-5) 3.19 ERA

8.5.23-Ryne Nelson RHP (6-5) 4.84 ERA Vs. Kenta Maeda RHP (2-6) 4.53 ERA

8.6.23-Zac Gallen RHP (11-5) 3.41 ERA Vs. Pablo Lopez RHP (6-6) 4.01 ERA

The Diamondbacks At A Glance- The Diamondbacks were a big suprise in the first half with a (52-39) record. They are (5-13) since the All-Star Break and are 1.5 games behind the Reds for the final Wild-Card spot. The Giants won three out of four from the D-Backs in San Francisco this week. Corbin Carroll is just about a lock for Rookie of the Year. He is hitting .276 with twenty-one homers, fifty-nine RBI, and thirty-four stolen bases. He has taken the National League by storm. Christian Walker leads the team with twenty-two homers and sixty-eight RBI. Evan Longoria is on the injured list with a back issue and Gabriel Moreno has missed time with a shoulder injury. Mark Melancon is slowly working his way back from a shoulder injury. The Arizona rotation has a 4.74 ERA, which is twenty-fourth in baseball. That's not very good considering they have Zac Gallen, who started the All-Star Game this year. The Diamondbacks bullpen isn't much better with a 4.45 ERA. The closer spot has been fluid for the Diamondbacks. Kevin Ginkel has three saves, Miguel Castro has seven saves, Scott McGough has nine saves, and recently traded away Andrew Chafin had eight saves.

The Twins At A Glance- The Twins tried to redeem a tough road trip with a series win over the Cardinals is St. Louis this week. The team returned home early-Friday morning and take on a young Diamondbacks team this weekend. Byron Buxton has missed a few games with a hamstring issue. The severity of it is undetermined. Joe Ryan went on the injured list with a groin injury. This opens the door for Dallas Keuchel, who was very good for the Saints. He had a 1.13 ERA in thirty-two innings over six starts for the Saints. He does give the Twins a left-handed starter, which they haven't had for a long time. Ryan Jeffers has been on a tear with a .382 average since the All-Star Break. Donovan Solano went 4-for-7 in St. Louis with two RBI. Caleb Thielbar returned to the mound on Wednesday and threw a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.

What To Watch For- The Twins are (14-10) all-time against the D-Backs. Arizona did take two of three games last year against Minnesota in Phoenix. The Twins did sweep the Diamondbacks in 2017 in August. The Twins are (8-1) against the D-Backs in their last nine games played in Minneapolis. Merrill Kelly allowed one run over seven innings in his lone start against the Twins. Joey Gallo has two career homers off Kelly. Kenta Maeda is (6-5) with a 4.14 ERA in eighteen games against the D-Backs. Zac Gallen threw seven innings and allowed two runs in his only start versus the Twins. Pablo Lopez is (0-2) with a 5.40 ERA in four starts against Arizona. The Twins only return home for three games before heading back out on the road again.

-Chris Kreibich-

Gloria Davy, American-born Swiss soprano (1931--2012), as Pamina in a New York Metropolitan Opera House production of Mozart's opera The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte), circa 1958 | photo: Louis Mélançon, New York, N.Y.; source: Detroit Public Library

2020 MLB National League All-Stars

Pitchers

#29 Alex Reyes (St. Louis Cardinals/Elizabeth, New Jersey)

#31 Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals/Chesterfield, Missouri)

#39 Corbin Burnes (Milwaukee Brewers/Bakersfield, California)

#41 Mark Melancon (San Diego Padres/Golden, Colorado)

#45 Zach Wheeler (Philadelphia Phillies/Dallas, Georgia)

#46 Craig Kimbrel (Chicago Cubs/Huntsville, Alabama)

#48 Germán Márquez (Colorado Rockies/Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela)

#51 Freddy Peralta (Milwaukee Brewers/Moca, Dominican Republic)

#64 Walker Buehler (Los Angeles Dodgers/Lexington, Kentucky)

#71 Josh Hader (Milwaukee Brewers/Anne Arundel County, Maryland)

#95 Trevor Rogers (Miami Marlins/Carlsbad, New Mexico)

#99 Taijuan Walker (New York Mets/Yucaipa, California)

Catchers

#10 J.T. Realmuto (Philadelphia Phillies/Midwest City, Oklahoma)

#22 Omar Narváez (Milwaukee Brewers/Maracay, Venezuela)

Infielders

#1 Ozie Albies (Atlanta Braves/Willemstad, Curacao)

#2 Justin Turner (Los Angeles Dodgers/Lakewood, California)

#4 Eduardo Escobar (Arizona Diamondbacks/Villa De Cura, Venezuela)

#5 Freddie Freeman (Atlanta Braves/Fountain Valley, California)

#7 Trea Turner (Washington Nationals/Lake Worth Beach, Florida)

#8 Manny Machado (San Diego Padres/Miami, Florida)

#9 Jake Cronenworth (San Diego Padres/St. Clair, Michigan)

#13 Max Muncy (Los Angeles Dodgers/Keller, Texas)

#17 Kris Bryant (Chicago Cubs/Las Vegas, Nevada)

#23 Fernando Tatís; Jr. (San Diego Padres/San Pedro De Macorís, DR)

#26 Adam Frazier (Pittsburgh Pirates/Watkinsville, Georgia)

#28 Nolan Arenado (St. Louis Cardinals/Lake Forest, California)

#35 Brandon Crawford (San Francisco Giants/Menlo Park, California)

Outfielders

#3 Chris Taylor; Jr. (Los Angeles Dodgers/Virginia Beach, Virginia)

#6 Nicholas Castellanos (Cincinnati Reds/Plantation, Florida)

#11 Bryan Reynolds (Pittsburgh Pirates/Brentwood, Tennessee)

#21 Juan Soto (Washington Nationals/Santo Domingo, DOM REP)

#33 Jesse Winker (Cincinnati Reds/Orlando, Florida)

Manager

Dave Roberts (Los Angeles Dodgers/San Diego, California)

LSWA 클래스 3A 올스테이트 풋볼 팀에는 유니온 교구, 매디슨 준비 선수가 있습니다.

Union Parish가 2021년 9월 17일 금요일 Lee Hedges Stadium에서 Captain Shreve를 연기할 때 Trey Holly가 앞장섰습니다. 선수 면에서는 Union Parish의 Trey Holly와 Madison Prep의 Quency Wiggins가 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 3A All-State 팀을 이끌고 있습니다. Holly는 2시즌 연속 Farmers의 Outstanding Offensive Player 상을 수상했습니다. 320개의 캐리로 주니어는 2,815야드를 돌진했�� 34개의 터치다운을 기록했습니다. 또한 Holly는 26-24로 패한 동안 총 265야드와 2개의 터치다운을 기록한 후 MVP(Most Outstanding Player)로 선정되었습니다. LSU 서명자인 Wiggins는 복귀 올스테이트 선수로서 56개의 태클, 26개의 패패 태클, 13개의 자루, 4개의 패스 편향 및 3개의 강제 펌블을 기록하여 뛰어난 수비 선수 상을 수상했습니다. 받는 사람 중에는 Sterlingtons Lee Doty가 있습니다. Panthers는 Madison Prep, Church Point 및 Union을 두 번 꺾은 후 완벽한 15-0 기록으로 끝냈습니다. Ouachita 교구에서 유일하게 무패 코치는 Doty였습니다. LHSAA Class 3A 축구 주립 선수권 대회의 주 선수권 트로피는 학교에서 Stety에게 수여했습니다. Panthers는 Doty의 지도하에 15-0으로 승리했습니다. LSWA 3A 팀에는 Staunton, Madison Prep 및 Union에서 각각 2명의 선수가 포함되었습니다. Payton Parks-Smith와 Armod Mills는 Sterlington을 위해 이 영예를 얻었고 쿼터백 Zeon Chriss와 Wiggins는 Chargers에서 이 영예를 얻었습니다. 연합 파견대는 홀리와 수비 라인맨 블레이크 램지로 구성되었습니다. 올 스테이트 풋볼 팀: 2021 LSWA 클래스 3A 트레이 홀리, Union Parish Outstanding Defensive Player: Quency Wiggins, Madison Prep Coach of the Year: Lee Doty, 스털링턴 오펜스 WR 샤즈 프레스턴, Caraboo Heights 6-0 190 Jr. WR Jason Barnes, 트리니티 University 5-8 170 Sr. WR DeColdest Crawford, High Oaks 6-2 185 Sr. OL Payton Parks-Smith, St. Louis 6-4 289 Sr. OL Reginald Burks, Lawrence College Prep 6-2 280 Sr. OL Donald Fleming, Lutcher 6-0 290 Sr. OL Miller Leach, 대학 6-3, 280 시니어 OL 매트 브루사드, 에드먼드 화이트 6-4 259 주니어 QB 지온 크리스, Madison Prep 6-2 200 Sr. 이야기 계속 RB Trey Holly, Union 5-9 185 Jr. RB Blake Saddler, Abbeville 5-10 170 Sr. PK Alec Mahler, St. James 5-9 190 Sr. ATH Dwayne Winfield, Lutcher 6-3 215 Sr. 국방 DL 블레이크 램지, Union 6-3 260 Sr. DL Javen Gibson, Church Point 6-3 215 Sr. DL Nick Williams, 프로비던스 6-1 295 Sr. DL Quency Wiggins, Madison Prep 6-6 275 Sr. LB Braxton Comeaux, 토마스 에디슨 6-1 220 So.LB 데이튼 시블리, Little College Prep 5-10 165 Jr. LB Jaiden Ausberry, 오하이오 주립 6-2 205 주니어 LB Keidrick Richardson, De La Salle 5-11 220 So. 다음 선수는 시니어 상태에 있습니다: DB Armod Mills, Sterlington 5-10 155;DB Ethan Lee, ED White 5-11 175;DB Mandrel Butler, St. Martinville 5-10 185;DB Austin Ausberry, 대학 6-0 195;P Kentrell Molette, De La Salle 6-1 200. RS 트레버 에티엔느, Jennings 5-10 220 Sr. Honorable mention Matthew Melancon, ED 백색 가톨릭;제이콥 귄, ED 백색 가톨릭;에이든 클레멘트, ED 백색 가톨릭;제이든 오베르, 세인트 제임스;하워드 킨첸, 패터슨;로니 킨첸, 패터슨;카일러 폴, 패터슨;다니엘 주피터, 세인트 제임스;제이스 필립, 세인트 제임스;제프리 디드리히, ED 백색 가톨릭;재규어 도날드, 노동 조합;루크 핸디, 스털링턴;체이스 미첼, 스털링턴;토마스 리틀, 캐롤;케일럽 앤드류스, 스털링턴;자이쿼리우스 브라운, 캐롤;노아 데틸리에, 러처;카일러 폴, 패터슨;케본 프리먼, LC 대학 준비;케빈 토마스, LC 대학 준비;자말 길로리, 서쪽 호수;에단 쿤스, 서쪽 호수;잘렌 기드리, 세인트루이스;스펜서 브릴리, 세인트루이스;마커스 두혼, 세인트루이스;하워드 킨첸, 패터슨;커티스 데빌, 아이오와;케쉴론 잭슨, LC 대학 준비;존 바, 스털링턴;엘리 모리슨 그랜트;크리스찬 필레, 에라스;하비 브루사드, 세인트 마틴빌;리즈 도밍그, 에라스;딜런 다본, 유니스;캠든 적갈색, 처치 포인트;태너 리틀, 처치 포인트;사미에이 스콧, 러처;로널드 해리스, 매디슨 준비;드류 허친슨, 노스 웹스터;린콘 로메로, 에라스;타이론 시민, 처치 포인트;케이든 캄피시, 카플란;제이콥 라피트, 로욜라 준비;태너 해리슨, 세인트 마틴빌;제이콥 그린, 스털링턴;제이코비 워싱턴, 예나;에이든 클레멘트, ED 화이트;퀸튼 버틀러, 세인트 마틴빌;세드릭 애플화이트, Bossier; Frankie Bentley De La Salle; Andrew Sanders, 예나;코너 아고스토, 승인하다;데이튼 분, 이오타;로건 르메르, 에라스;켈튼 마샬 III, 세인트 마틴빌;자테리온 로빈슨, 노스 웹스터;데이비드 존스, 매디슨 준비;에드릭 윌리엄스, BT 워싱턴;마이클 토마스, 드 라 살레;제이든 오베르, 세인트 제임스;제프리 닐, 예나;저스틴 웨스트, 부커 T. 워싱턴;도노반 그레이, 승인하다;브렛 슈어, 에라스;랜든 뺨, 카플란;매트 멜라논, ED 화이트. Holly가 헤드라인을 장식한 LSWA 클래스 3A 올스테이트 풋볼 팀, Wiggins는 원래 Shreveport Times에 출연했습니다. 먹튀검증

[ High Cascade 2018 | Session 5 ] Session 5 was the cherry on top of the summertime snowboarding sundae on Mt Hood. If you missed some of the action from this past week, don’t freak out, we have some of the heaviest clips from Session 5 stacked up for your viewing pleasure right here. Signature Session™ Pros Joe Sexton, Louif Paradis, Justin Fronius, Danimals and Tommy Gesme joined us for our last week on hill and neck braces were highly coveted because these dudes were turning heads all week long. Although our campers did step in and take the spotlight from the pros during some of the many on-hill events the Signature Sessioners™ put on, such as the front-board-off and the high ollie contest. Didn’t make it out here this summer? Don’t worry! Now you’ve got all winter to sign up for a 2019 Session and dive in on the summertime snowboarding fun! Featuring: Luke Winkelmann, Marcus Rand, Louis Paradis, Joe Sexton, Tommy Gesme, Chris Grenier, Denver Orr, Brendon Rego, Mike Rav, Ari Morrone, Harrison Gordon, Red Gerard, Liam Doyle, Shaun Murphy, Desiree Melancon, Alex Caccamo, and Max Lyons Filmed by : Brent McCarron, Miles Perreault, Kyle Hart Murray, and Devin Bernard Edited by: Brent McCarron

Portrait of mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry as Eboli in Verdi's opera "Don Carlo." Printed on front: "Louis Melancon, Metropolitan Opera House, New York City." Stamped on back: "The use of this photograph is granted with the understanding that it is for your publication only, and will not be syndicated, rented, loaned, or used for advertising purposes without written permission. When published, the customary credit line will be appreciated with the name in full: Louis Melancon. Louis Melancon, New York, N.Y." Label on back: "Metropolitan Opera Assn., Inc. Press Dept. Grace Bumbry as Eboli in Verdi's Don Carlo."

E. Azalia Hackley Collection of African Americans in the Performing Arts, Detroit Public Library

Fried, Flowers, Freeman Power Braves Past ChiSox 10-7 – CBS Chicago

ATLANTA (AP) — Max Fried pitched six-plus innings and received his 6th directly choice, Tyler Flowers hit a three-run homer and the surging Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago White Sox 10-7 on Friday night time. Freddie Freeman drove in two runs and Ozzie Albies went Four for five to assist the NL East-leading Braves, who’ve received 10 of 12 to stick 5½ video games up within the department. Fried (15-Four) confronted the minimal prior to Eloy Jiménez reached with one out within the 5th on a slow-rolling unmarried down the road at 3rd. The 25-year-old lefty allowed 5 hits and 4 runs and coupled a occupation top with 11 strikeouts. He is tied with Washington’s Stephen Strasburg for the NL lead in wins. The Braves led Four-Zero in the second one. Josh Donaldson were given it going with a stroll and used a headfirst slide to attain from 2nd on Dansby Swanson’s unmarried. Flowers’ 10th homer landed within the first few rows of the left-field seats. Atlanta went up Five-Zero within the fourth when Albies doubled and scored on Freeman’s double. The Braves led 6-1 within the 6th when Albies’ infield unmarried scored a runner from 3rd. Chicago starter Iván Nova (Nine-11) allowed 8 hits and 5 runs — 4 earned — in 4 innings. He had posted a nil.94 ERA in seven begins since July 22, the most efficient within the majors over that span. Adam Engel coated an RBI unmarried to chop the result in Five-1 within the 5th for Chicago. The White Sox scored 4 runs within the 7th when Yolmer Sánchez chased Fried with an RBI unmarried and Welington Castillo added a pinch-hit, three-run homer off Luke Jackson. Adeiny Hechavarria’s pinch-hit, two-run unmarried within the backside of the 7th put Atlanta up Eight-Five. In the 8th, Freeman singled to power in a run and scored on a fielder’s option to make it 10-Five. Anthony Swarzak gave up two runs within the 9th, prompting Braves supervisor Brian Snitker to herald nearer Mark Melancon. With a runner on 3rd, Melancon struck out Tim Anderson, his best batter, to earn his 5th save in 5 possibilities with Atlanta. TRAINER’S ROOM White Sox: OF Jon Jay (proper hip) will go through surgical treatment and can leave out the remainder of the season. The 34-year-old Jay started the season at the injured listing with a hip pressure and wasn’t activated till June 24 within the journeyman’s best season with the group. He hit .267 with out a homers and 9 RBIs in 47 video games. Braves: C Brian McCann (left knee) will go back from the injured listing Sunday. … Austin Riley (proper knee) has six hits in his closing 14 at-bats of a rehab task, but it surely’s too early to present an instantaneous timetable for his go back. … RF Nick Markakis (left wrist) performed catch for the primary time, however nonetheless hasn’t been cleared to take swings. Though Snitker mentioned Markakis is forward of time table, the 2018 All-Star most likely received’t go back till mid-September. KEEP PRODUCING Freeman started the sport with the NL lead in RBIs and added two extra to succeed in 109 and tie his single-season occupation top in 2013. WHIFFS Fried additionally struck out 11 on June 30, 2018, at St. Louis. BYE-BYE Chicago supervisor Rick Renteria used to be ejected after he argued with house plate umpire Brian Knight right through a pitching exchange within the 7th. UP NEXT White Sox: RHP Reynaldo López (Eight-11, Five.08 ERA) will make his 28th get started of the season. He has a 2.82 ERA in 9 begins for the reason that All-Star smash. Braves: LHP Dallas Keuchel (Five-Three, Three.78 ERA) will make his 14th get started since becoming a member of the Braves mid-season. Keuchel is Four-Four with a three.49 ERA in 9 occupation begins towards the White Sox.

from Moose Gazette https://ift.tt/2MPE9Mr via moosegazette.net

We Can Be Better, Pittsburgh Pirates

My Dearest Pittsburgh Pirates,

Happy Opening Day! A brand new season is upon us. Opening Day is always filled with hope and optimism. I’m here to ground it in reality. Last year was rough on both of us. I said some things I didn’t mean. You played mediocre baseball. We weren’t the best versions of ourselves. You won twenty less games than you did the previous year and didn’t make the playoffs for the first time in three years. I’m sure me and the other fans haven’t taken that for granted at all. You are in a division with the defending World Champs, the Chicago Cubs, who look they will be awesome forever. You also have the St. Louis Cardinals who just gave 34 year old Yadier Molina a 3 year 60 million dollar deal. That’s a deal you will never be able to give anyone. Ever. It’s hard to compete consistently when your spending is so limited. Whether it needs to be so limited or not is another discussion all together. The fact is you can’t/won’t spend much over 100 million dollars and therefore you have to be creative in your spending. That’s why you give Daniel Hudson a 2 year 11 million dollar deal instead of giving Mark Melancon a 4 year 62 million dollar deal like the Giants did. To return to the playoffs this year, you’re going to need a lot of things to go right because you have a relatively young but talented team. More than anything, it’s just good to see you again!

You found out the hard way last year that nothing is more important than your starting rotation. The Jeff Locke/Ryan Vogelsong/Juan Nicasio/Jon Niese disaster won’t soon be forgotten but this year’s rotation has a much higher ceiling. The sure-bets for the rotation were 1. Gerrit Cole 2. Jameson Taillon 3. Ivan Nova. Chad “He’s so” Kuhl always seemed like a lock for the 4th spot which came to fruition this week. The only remaining question was who takes the 5th spot. Friday it was announced that the uber-talented but always wild prospect Tyler Glasnow would fill that role. He didn’t really earn the role as much as he was given it by default. Drew Hutchison, acquired in the Francisco Liriano salary dump last season, was given 2 million this offseason and I guarantee was your first choice for the 5th spot. He had an abysmal spring training highlighted in his last start by giving up 9 ER in under 4 innings. That was after he gave up 6 ER in his previous start. After those back to back pathetic efforts, he was demoted to Triple-A. Honestly, I’m thrilled about this. You might as well put your most talented guy out there, toss him in the deep end, and see if he can swim. If he even pitches close to his potential, it changes the entire complexion of this rotation. Put your most talented foot forward. What do you have to lose? No one is giving you a chance in a division with the Cubs anyway.

Everyone will have many different opinions on who or what is the most important aspect to your success this year. I have one word for you: health. Maybe it’s the obvious answer but your roster is getting the reputation for getting injured A LOT. You don’t think so? How many Cubs players got hurt last year? Your ace, Gerrit Cole, missed most of the season last year with an injury. Your #2, Jameson Taillon, had missed the 2014 and 2015 seasons with injuries. Your catcher, Francisco Cervelli, gets injured constantly and missed over a month last year with a broken hand. He’s already injured himself this spring as did his backup Chris Stewart. Gregory Polanco played injured most of the second half and is already suffering from shoulder soreness. Starling Marte missed the last couple weeks of the season with back spasms and twisted his ankle during the World Baseball Classic this spring. Cutch was arguably hurt for at least some of last year which led to his down season. Catch my drift? Last year’s bats didn’t suffer as much as it could have due to your bench depth but with the departures of SRod and Matt Joyce and Jung-ho Kang’s inability to get into the country that depth is highly in question. You will have to rely on Adam Frazier, Alan Hanson, and Phil Gosselin to pick up the slack if someone goes down. Far from proven commodities. The quickest thing that could sink this season will be injuries especially to the pitching staff. 

I know on paper I really shouldn’t be but I’m worried about your lineup. The concern that injuries are inevitable and your lacking depth is one thing. The fact that there’s a very real possibility no one will hit more than 20 home runs on this team is scary especially considering that Jung-ho Kang might not play this year. Cutch could. Polanco could if he can stay healthy. You are more built to be a high on base percentage team which I do think is the smart way to go. I don’t really know why I’m concerned. Maybe because I’m not convinced Cutch will go back to being one of the better players in the league. Maybe the likelihood of Cervelli or Marte or Polanco getting hurt is clouding my judgment. Maybe I don’t think Adam Frazier’s current production is sustainable. Maybe I think that while Josh Harrison is a very good defensive option, he will bat about .260 with a .300 OBP. Same with Jordy Mercer. It’s not good to have too many guys like that in the lineup. The rotation is what everyone else is worried about and, believe me, I get it. I might also be comparing your lineup to teams like the Cubs who are the toast of the division so that might not be fair. You just don’t have the fire power that they do but that’s OK if you find a way to get on base. I might be overreacting. You were one of the better offenses in baseball last year but that also included 31 combined homers from Sean Rodriguez and Matt Joyce who respectfully had a .349 and a .403 OBP in a combined 531 at bats. You will not get that kind of production from your bench this year. I can promise you that. You very well might be fine. I just feel like I’m one of the only people questioning it. I’d love for you to prove me wrong.  

The season doesn’t start off easy for you. Your first series is in Boston against the Red Sox, a favorite to win their division and possibly the World Series. You get the reigning Cy Young award winner, Rick Porcello, in your first game and the biggest acquisition of the offseason, Chris Sale, in the second game. After that series, you go home to face the still rebuilding Atlanta Braves. I usually make my prediction of the opening day starting lineup but I wasn’t sure of Polanco’s status. After Hurdle announced that he will be the DH and Frazier will be in LF, here’s my prediction:

LF Frazier/CF Marte/RF Cutch/DH Polanco/3B Freese/1B Bell/C Cervelli/2B Harrison/SS Mercer

Frazier is going to be the JHay of this year. He will play multiple positions and start 4-5 games per week because you love him leading off. Will he continue to be the hit machine he has been? That’s one of the many questions surrounding you this year. Will Cutch be Cutch again? Will this extremely young rotation perform and/or stay healthy? Can Tony Watson be a better closer than he was last year? Can Alan Hanson and Phil Gosselin provide adequate depth? Can Polanco take it to the next level? Can you even be mediocre at running the bases after being horrendous now that you fired your base coaches? I honestly don’t know what to expect. You could be a 90 win team or a 70 win team. We will find out starting tomorrow. I hope I didn’t come off too pessimistic. There is just a lot of uncertainty surrounding you this year. We will find out if you can bounce back or if you will remain below average. Either way, I’m so happy that you’re back. It’s the best time of the year and that’s mostly because of you. Get off to a good start and most importantly have fun. Actually most importantly win but when you win you have fun so it still applies. I love you and I’m so glad you’re back. 

                                                                                        Your Eager Beaver,

                                                                                                    Brad

P.S. I am seriously concerned about Tony Watson as your closer. He’s been terrific over the past few years but when he was given the closer role last year after the brilliant Melancon trade (seriously with how good Rivero looks you could have done it straight up and it would have been a good deal but you also got Taylor Hearn) his ERA was over 5.00. I think there’s a good chance Rivero ends up in the role before the season is over especially because if you struggle you will trade Watson at the deadline. Same with Cutch. Everyone who freaked out at the thought of trading Cutch does know that he will either be gone at the deadline or at the latest next season, right?                                                                                              

ifffffffffff nobody minds i am gonna steal the nl teams ranking thing too...and i will try to be a bit Brutally Honest so @ everyone whos not a pirates/dodgers fan i apologize......

1) pittsburgh pirates even though a lot of my old favorites are gone now, there are just as many new guys coming up through the organization who've made me love them quickly, to say nothing of players like cervelli, polanco, and marte who are still sticking around. the dynamic of this team is what makes me love them - not their location, their performance, or even their colors - and i don't think that's likely to change very quickly. sure, there are some pirates i don't care for too much, but altogether they are a sorta scrappy bunch of guys who get along well and look nice out on the field even when they're stranding 672 runners per game and going on gigantic losing streaks.

2) los angeles dodgers speaking of dynamic, the dodgers have about just as much charm as the pirates for me. dave roberts makes a lot of the difference on his own (seriously have you heard him laugh?), but so many of the players have really won me over as well. i even like chase utley, no matter what anybody says! again, the most important thing about this team is how tightly-knit they are. it also helps that they have kershaw and are really good. i'm hoping they get to the world series this year, even if the pirates can't.

3) san francisco giants this is where it starts being about specific players. first of all, i really love mark melancon; i absolutely have to root for any team he's on, so that alone would make me a slightly reluctant giants fan. then there are matt moore, jeff samardzija, brandon belt, mike morse, and derek law, and i am pretty much almost entirely sold. i might not like the more popular players on the team, but whatever.

4) san diego padres all i know about the padres is that they have brad hand in their bullpen, and brad hand is my favorite player, so i love the padres. also wil myers makes me laugh for some reason.

5) new york mets i am a very big degrom fan - i like syndergaard a lot - i love gary, keith, and ron - there are some other players i like well enough, like grandy and yo. otherwise, i don't really know much about the team and don't care for some of the players. so unless jake or noah are starting a game, i'm kind of neutral.

6) washington nationals the big hook here for me is max! max max max max. i love max. i also like werth and rendon and roark...and joe blanton, who i forgot just signed recently, and it helps that vance worley is hanging around in the organization now too. but again, i won't really watch any games unless max is starting.

7) st louis cardinals again, i'm pretty much neutral. one of my lowkey favorite pitchers john gant recently arrived in st louis, so that gives me reason enough to pay attention. i also like brett cecil, michael wacha, randal grichuk, and yadi. granted, if the cards become a powerhouse again i won't be quite so neutral about them; but at the same time, i'll be glad to see them beating the cubs.

8) miami marlins well unfortunately jose was one of the biggest draws for me to be interested in the fish.... that aside, two of my favorite pitchers (jeff locke and kyle lobstein) are now down there, to say nothing of christian yelich, ichiro, giancarlo, and so on. they are a bunch of fun pals who id like to see do well for sure.

9) philadelphia phillies the phils used to be bigger favorites when charlie morton was on the team, but at this point the only player i'm really interested in is aaron nola. but when i say "really interested" i mean really interested. he's one of the most amazing pitchers to watch and i'm determined not to miss a single start of his in the future, particularly after his elbow issues last season. so he alone puts his entire team in this spot. (pedro florimon helps a bit too, but he'll probably just stay in the minors this season unfortunately.)

10) milwaukee brewers so there's scooter gennett, neftali feliz, junior guerra, keon broxton (who we really never should have gotten rid of)...and then matt garza is just sort of strangely fun to watch. that's about it here. plus, we lose to this team a ridiculous amount of times every year and i do not like miller park very much.

11) atlanta braves i was a bit more interested in the braves when john gant was with them, but now it's just colon, dickey, and dansby swanson whose face i admire more than i should. i also have to admit that i'm bizarrely fascinated by the chop and its song because of just how catchy it is. otherwise, neutral.

12) arizona diamondbacks i'm still mad at zack for deciding to come here, and aside from him there's just goldy. i am a very intense form of neutral for the dbacks.

13) cincinnati reds i like votto and suarez, but the reds tend to beat us up and we also have an odd rivalry with them where we get all mad and the benches clear, so...i don't really care about them too much. i did feel slightly bad for them having such an awful bullpen last year, though.

14) colorado rockies well, i like chad bettis (and am glad that he got cancer free after that scare he had). otherwise i slightly resent nolan arenado for looking like brad hand without brad hand's cuteness. it's also strange to me that this team exists in its current location because of the altitude issues, although i can't deny the park is beautiful. but i really don't pay attention to them at all.

15) chicago cubs so i can't say that i don't like any players on this team; i like baez and strop and hendricks, and there are a lot of others who i'm neutral about as well. but my dislike of the cubs isn't really about most of the players as much as it is about the culture around the team. the media has gone overboard for sure in hyping up their every move, but the stuff maddon does with goofy outfits and zoo animals, plus the attitude he holds in interviews and other moments, gets on my nerves big time. there's something condescending about the cubs, mainly stemming from him. i also don't like bryant, rizzo, arrietta, lackey, lester, schwarber, or zobrist (the first three in particular).