Indians star Francisco Lindor hit a memorable home run in last night’s tilt in Puerto Rico’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium, the San Juan landmark that was hit hard by Hurricane Maria. You can hear Lindor discuss the well-timed long ball ball in a video at MLB.com. And you’ll also want to review the huge effort that went into getting the ballpark ready to host a MLB game amidst the widespread devastation on the island, as Joe Mock writes for USA Today Sports.
Here are some other interesting recent stories from around the game:
- Dayn Perry of CBS Sports examines the ballpark history of the South Side of Chicago — and more generally — in an interesting piece that’s well worth your time. The machinations to replace Old Comiskey ultimately left the club playing in what’s now known as Guaranteed Rate Field, but the Sox missed a chance at a mythical park known in concept as Armour Field. Anyone with even a passing interest in how society interacts with stadiums ought to give this a read (or, at least, open it in a browser tab for future consideration).
- Though Shohei Ohtani struggled in a much-anticipated outing last night, the Angels’ new star remains the most interesting player in baseball. That’s true not only for North American fans just getting acquainted with the incredibly talented young player, but also those in Japan who have long been awed by his skill. As Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post writes, the insatiable appetite for news on Ohtani has left Japanese media members engaged in a non-stop drive for stories. That has put quite a strain on the journalists operating a long way from home, as Sheinin explores in this interesting piece.
- Hard-working scribes aren’t the only folks pushing themselves for sometimes meager rewards in the game of baseball. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently penned a valuable article on the minor-league grind, which often means long hours for little compensation. Pay for non-40-man players remains an important topic, and this is a good look at just why it matters for the many hopeful big leaguers who are plying their trade all around the country, waiting for a chance not only to play the game at its highest level, but also to achieve some financial security.
2 Innings Ohtani.
Ohtani is “ The most interesting player in baseball” because that’s with the media has pegged him to be. He is an excellent athlete to be sure but there have been and are many players who are capable of both pitching and hitting but MLB is far too competitive for teams to sacrifice a pitching rotation spot for a guy once every six games and to disrupt the batting order just because You’re two Way guy needs to get some AB’s.
The level of talent it takes to succeed at ONE thing in the majors is considerable… the odds of genuinely having the talent to succeed as a pitcher AND a hitter? Continuously adapting as opponents adjust? I’ll believe it when I see it.
He’s the most interesting player in baseball, in my view, for a variety of reasons, none of which really relate to media hype from his early success. Even if he was just one of many players capable of hitting and pitching at the MLB level, he’s the first to do so in a dedicated fashion. He’d be fascinating even just as a top-end young pitching prospect and Japan’s biggest star who decided to come over despite the fact that he could only receive a bonus that a top draft pick would scoff at.
Go get ’em Jeff!
He bette learn not to try to sneak an inside fastball past Mookie lol.
Ohtani is mediocre. Red Sox have been getting lucky playing bad teams. If other teams had their schedule, they’d be 14-2 also.
You should check out the jays schedule, played against the white sox, Rangers,Orioles, KC.
Lol Sure just look at the Yankees.
Haha
The games in Puerto Rico are good for baseball and all, but I can’t help but wonder if the $2 million that it took to get the stadium in order for a couple of games couldn’t have been used to better purpose elsewhere in the country.
You raise a valid point, but if I can play devil’s advocate for a moment, you could also argue that having something like these games to take everyone’s minds off of the devastation has some value as well. Puerto Ricans are a baseball-crazy people, and this is the only time they get to see MLB action in person. I’m not disagreeing that $2 million could have been very helpful as relief funds, but just pointing out that there could be non-monetary value in an event like this as part of the healing process.
And I completely agree with that point; people absolutely need a diversion from the realities of life. Still, once the two games have passed, the lightbulbs are pretty much inedible, as it were. In this situation (and admittedly only based on what I’ve read), the devastation in the country is so far-reaching and relief has been so tediously slow in coming that I’d truly think any kind of funds available would need to go for basics. Food and water before luxuries, at least until some semblance of a normal life has returned.
May I also offer compliments on the civil tone of your discussion? Thank you!
More important, it’s April. Lindor’s homerun will be forgotten in no time.
He didn’t do too hood against the Red Sox last night. Boston’s Mookie Betts stayed calm and Boston ‘d on!!
Gotta say I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to see more of Ohtani last night, but hey, as a Red Sox fan I’ll take it.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that! (laffing)
And the lights just went in Puerto Rico again.
*on
Good read on the White Sox. Things could’ve been a heck of a lot different with either Armour Field or the Addison stadium. It could’ve been really cool to see a Polo Grounds type outfield – or really practical to have a retractable roof at the Addison stadium.
I’m not really sold on the surrounding neighborhood “thriving” (like Wrigleyville) with that design though. That’s not really the area of the city where I’d like to take a casual stroll down the streets with my family pre/post game. I admit that everything could’ve been completely different if things went the way Bess wanted them to go, but I have my doubts. Looked like a cool idea either way though.
Thanks for posting.
Ohtani has surpassed my expectations. Despite last year’s nights outing (he was originally scheduled to start Sunday) he’s been a better pitcher and a better hitter than I thought he would be. He is the most interesting player in MLB because what he’s trying to accomplish is very hard to do. So far he’s doing ok, but will he be able to keep up? I still doubt it.