47 Comments
Aug 28, 2020Liked by Craig Calcaterra

Came for the baseball, stayed for the parenting stuff. (And axe murders.) Thanks for sharing.

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Aug 28, 2020Liked by Craig Calcaterra

The last paragraph is golden.

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“There is no bigger baseball fan in the world than me.” =

"I love it so much, I'm going to take it away from dozens of counties and municipalities that spent hundreds of millions of dollars on facilities that either the parent club or the owners should have paid for. And then, thanks to the pandemic, I'm going to buy out those minor-league teams for pennies on the dollar. Because I love baseball and have absolutely no long-term vision whatsoever."

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Aug 28, 2020Liked by Craig Calcaterra

Craig, great reading your newsletter today... "Craig Calcaterra unplugged." Thanks. I imagine the MLB Network will not be calling you anytime soon to have you come on and talk about Manfred. Be safe, Lou

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Goodbye, Mr. Manfred.

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This is silly, but looking at the lead photo of Manfred in an ill fitting suit, it strikes me that if I made 11 million a year, I would get my suits tailored.

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Aug 28, 2020Liked by Craig Calcaterra

“ To see a guy who once bought a chain of appliance stores for the purpose of liquidating their inventory, firing their workers, writing off losses to offset tax liabilities, and then flipping the land on which the stores were built to a company building mixed-use developments hoist that World Series trophy mere days before he tells his GM to let the team’s star right fielder walk in free agency in order to get under the luxury tax threshold.”

Rendon plays third, not right field, actually.

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Since you did the deep dive on Manfred, I’ll just say this. I can;t hint of a worse commissioner in professional sports in my lifetime. I mean Gary Bettman has the thankless job of leading the NHL, but could you imagine him ever referring to Lord Stanleys trophy as “piece of metal”? Or being proud to hand it to an owner? Not the players who proudly take turns with it for one day after they have won it? His disconnect from the actual game is pretty startling.

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I am currently dog sitting at my exes house. Where I used to live for 14 years. It’s pretty drama free situation all around. But I tried to sleep in the room we used to share, and man was that uncomfortable. I guess I dozed off after a while. But eventually gave3 up any real rest, and took the dog out earlier than he normally goes, and managed to miss the massive thunderstorm that rolled through.

My point is, your story of hanging in the daughters room was very similar to my experience. She thoughtfully changed the sheets for me. Of course all 8 useless pillows were on the bed. But, while not necessarily dark, it was a very uncomfortable experience. I’ll just crash on the couch tonight. Oh, and one of the cats hissed at me when I tried to pet it. So that was a little dark.....

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Oh, and the universe just lining up Jackie Robinson day with the current unrest in the United States, and sports in general, but baseball specifically, is pretty sweet. Hope it’s not lost on Brian Urlacher. Tool.

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I feel it should be added that the Red Sox dithered for hours on making an announcement about whether they were playing yesterday. Even after the lone African-American on the team — Jackie Bradley — announced he wasn’t playing no matter what. And that, by the time they finally decided to have their teammate’s back, Mother Nature had sort of forced their hand.

https://twitter.com/peteabe/status/1299073956104806413?s=21

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My favorite part of the BVW mess is when BVW says his story is for "the three of us" and it "doesn't leave this room." A room with TV camera and mics. If only someone else in MLB had very recently been caught on a hot mike saying something awful...

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Aug 28, 2020Liked by Craig Calcaterra

It may just be me, but I'm finding that I appreciate your work today more than I ever have over the past 10 years. Great job on the first week of content!

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Aug 28, 2020Liked by Craig Calcaterra

I love both the sentiment on Rob Manfred and the sentiment on the energy from your daughter's room. This is why I bought the deluxe subscription, for these and the Anna insults. Thanks Craig.

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The baseball content was as great as always, Craig. But, honestly, saying you understand how much you don't understand about your teenage daughter (and respect it) may be your finest moment.❤

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If MLB makes it through the season and completes the World Series, I think Manfred should should hand "the piece of metal to a lucky owner" and declare him the series MVP. That would encapsulate his attitude about baseball perfectly.

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