Jon Shepherd

And when folks pine for their idyllic youth, they basically are just saying they really liked the memory of more simple times.

I think a major reason why the late 80s and early 90s were such an awesome time to grow up was because video games were much worse, television wasnt catering to me, and I was vaguely unaware that terrible things were happening.

Basically, being 10 and having no major cares in the world is great.

Revenue sharing is kind of a fools errand without a salary cap. So maybe the solution is more about killing protected territory for teams.

I assume Mountcastle is gone. Tavares is 4th outfielder (but at 2MM can also be cut). Mayo...yeah, he might be trade fodder.

It makes me think they are looking at 1B or 3B for a veteran bat.

So Leody Tavares supposedly gets 2 million. What do I think that means?

Bradfield is staying in the minors. That the Orioles were highly frustrated in defensive abilities coming from Norfolk. And that they didn't want to get bogged down with an outfielder contract.

Also...

Caleb Joseph can be a difference maker as an analyst, but you have to limit him to 60 or 70 games or else he wears down.

This is really generic, but leadership studies tend to show that managers across industries tend to perform well when they are about 1.5x the age of the players.

Purely conjecture, but I assume the front office has observed that the younger players fell in line with older veteran free agents in a way that they didn't with Hyde and that leadership from a meaningfully younger coach was enticing.

Usually when writers write about religion in clubhouses, it focuses either on the novelty of things or, in the religious press, it is about Bible study and other minutia.

I dont think anyone has given it earnest attention from a sociological perspective.

When we looking at managerial hiring, sportswriters should probably take a deep dive in concepts around how religion, fundamentalism in particular, has a deep history in clubhouse. How it is used sometimes as a proxy for leadership and how it sometimes becomes a driving factor in how $ is spent.

I think Albert Pujols would be a mess as a manager. Maybe he has transformed in retirement.

I was thinking more Lex Luther's Ultraman clone of Jake Gyllenhaal.

I mean, I would probably hire Bob Melvin to lead the Orioles.

Linseneintopf in dosen.

I think my most unpopular sports opinion is that I think there should not be extra innings or overtime.

I am fine with ties/draws.

Juan Soto has played in 14.5% of his total career games this year. He has stolen 40% of his career stolen bases this year.

I think the Orioles underperformed so massively this year that I am kind of unsure what to think outside of Gunnar. I dont think they have an internal playoff window. I think they will need to supplement with free agency and I wonder if the attendance marks impact how willing the owner is to spend.

I believe 1954, 1955, and 1957 are the only other full season years where the team leader in home runs was under 20.

With 15.

If memory serves me correct, the last time a full season Orioles team leader in home runs had fewer than 20, it was 2001 with Jay Gibbons and Chris Ritchards tying.

I just feel more and more foolish as they dance-monkey-dance me and then I leave empty handed.

Oh well.

Hahaha. My 9yo likes the Savannah Bananas. So far we lost out on two lotteries. We got in a lottery draw, but tickets were sold out by the time we were permitted access. And so now I offered to buy K club membership to get early access, which was just now refused to be granted.

I am done with it.

So just jars of honey and submerged bog butter?

D also have Sicilian and Greek

I dont know. D is a tough one...middle eastern, Indian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, Malaysian, Australian (which is somewhat similar but not quite like American).

I was thinking he was a week into recovering from accidentally taking a hedge trimmer to a hornets nest.

Mums, it's been too long

I have such great memories of the Adventures of Brisco County Jr.

After several seasons, we are down to probably banning it because people get so entitled over it and cannot back down/compromise.