Cup of Coffee: November 17, 2023

The MVPs, the Athletics move was approved, why baseball broadcasting and economics are all messed up, Atlanta gets another shot at an All-Star Game, dumb texts, a notable obit, and the post office

Good morning!

We have MVPs. Like all of the other awards, their identities are not a surprise.

In other news, Major League Baseball’s owners approved the Athletics’ move to Las Vegas. I talk about that today, but not before I talk about something to do with broadcast rights and a larger pattern in which Major League Baseball has engaged that, if you’re aware of it, makes the A’s move approval no surprise whatsoever. It’s all connected, people. At least on some level. I may one of only like 37 people who care about it, but you know me well enough by now to know that being on the losing side of arguments does not deter me.

Another thing that does not deter me: people not answering my questions. I posed one to Major League Baseball yesterday about its decision to award Atlanta the 2025 All-Star Game despite the fact that nothing has fundamentally changed since MLB took the 2021 All-Star Game away from the city. As of publication this morning I have received no response. Which, fine, I didn’t expect to, but that doesn’t mean my question isn’t a valid one.

In Other Stuff I decided to respond to a spam/bot/whatever text because I was bored. I also share an obituary of a reporter most of you probably do not know but who went through something crazy 17 years ago that I think about a lot. Finally, I ask why we expect the United States Postal Service to be profitable.