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Ray Ratto

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 15: Mike Yastrzemski #5, LaMonte Wade Jr #31 and Brandon Belt #9 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates after Yastrzemski hit a grand slam home run to put the Giants ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-8 in the bottom of the eighth inning at Oracle Park on June 15, 2021 in San Francisco, California. The Giants won the game 9-8. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The Biggest Surprise In Baseball Still Doesn’t Make Much Sense

Lauren Theisen

Paul O’Neill Forgets A Guy

Kelsey McKinney

My Enemy The Condiment Robot Has Been Vanquished And Prosperity Has Returned To These Lands

David Roth

Gerrit Cole, seen here looking uncomfortable on the mound, if notably less uncomfortable than he seemed when asked whether he cheats.

Podcasts

Napoleonic Wars, Baseball Cheating, And Pandemic Television, With Michael Schur

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Jake Fraley leaps to rob a walk-off home run.

10 Uninterrupted Minutes Of FRAYHAYLAYYYYY, Sure

There’s A Problem, And It’s Not Baserunning

<p>Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.</p>


Patrick Dubuque

Giovanny Gallegos, seen here not being bothered about whatever sticky stuff he does or doesn't have on his glove.

The Dirty Little Secret About Breaking The Rules

Ronald Acuña Jr. crushes a ball to the moon.

Dinger Beauty Is A Joy Forever

A shell-shocked Carlos Martinez hands the ball to manager Mike Shildt after registering just two outs.

Cardinals Pitcher Carlos Martinez Takes An All-Time Ass-Whupping


<p><a href="https://twitter.com/cdgoldstein">Craig Goldstein</a> is the editor-in-chief of <em>Baseball Prospectus</em> and the co-host of <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/five-and-dive/">the Five &amp; Dive podcast</a>.</p>



<p>Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.</p>


Craig Goldstein and Patrick Dubuque

Dave Roberts removes Scott Alexander from a Dodgers game in May.

We Need A Restrictor Plate For Pitchers

Stephen Strasburg looks bummed as he leaves the field following another injury.

More Like Stephen Hamburger

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div class="author-header-shares"></div>


Charles P. Pierce

All Of A Sudden, The Red Sox Are Too Good To Be Angry With

Barry Petchesky

Marcell Ozuna Arrested And Charged With Choking And Hitting His Wife

Albert Burneko

Walter Johnson grips what looks like a cut fastball in 1925.

What Is Dealing, And What Is Not

Patrick Redford

Pirates’ Will Craig Turns Routine Grounder Into Horrific Masterpiece

Mike Shildt argues with Joe West while Giovanny Gallegos shows off the offending hat.

Cardinals Manager Mike Shildt Calls Bullshit On MLB’s Handling Of Foreign Substances

White Sox Seating Area, Dedicated To Beloved Longtime Employee, Rededicated To Disliked Short-Term Employee

They Ruined The Damn Condiment Island

Oakland Athletics team president Dave Kaval waving his team's flag during the 2020 playoffs.

The Oakland Athletics Take Trolling Back Twenty Years

Matt Wieters, seen here catching for the Cardinals in a 2019 game.

Team USA’s Preliminary Roster Is A Damn Symphony Of Baseball Guys

Dave McKenna

Peter Angelos Couldn’t Stay A Hero Forever

Kalyn Kahler

Dave Martinez’s Base-Stealing Meltdown Was Almost Perfect

Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa, seen here trudging towards the pitcher's mound.

Tony La Russa Should Just Stay In His Office

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 18: Spencer Turnbull #56 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with his teammates after a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 18, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. The Tigers beat the Mariners 5-0. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Maybe It’s Time To Stick An Asterisk On No-Hitters Against The Mariners

<div id=":g4.ma" class="Mu SP" title="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:42 PM UTC-5"><span id=":g4.co" class="tL8wMe EMoHub" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/GoStevenGoldman">Steven Goldman</a> is a former BP editor-in-chief and current consulting editor. He is the author of the Casey Stengel biography <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forging-Genius-Making-Casey-Stengel/dp/1574888749">Forging Genius</a> </i>and host of the long-running <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/the-infinite-inning/"><i>Infinite Inning </i>podcast</a>, which sits at the crossroads of baseball, history, politics, and culture. His most recent book, which has an introduction by David Roth, is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baseballs-Brief-Lives-Inspired-Infinite/dp/B0BBJTPGDF"><i>Baseball&#8217;s Brief Lives: Player-Stories Inspired by the Infinite Inning</i></a>.</span></div>
<div id=":g5.ma" class="Mu SP" data-tooltip="January 26, 2021 at 2:34:45 PM UTC-5"></div>


Steven Goldman

Who Gets To Decide When A Contract Is Bad?