Cup of Coffee: September 12, 2022

Big hits from the Mariners and Albert Pujols, minor league union news, some health updates, a retirement, and a former player's death. Also, more death-of-the-Queen fallout and good news from Ukraine

Good morning!

The Seattle Mariners won in spectacular fashion yesterday and Albert Pujols passed up A-Rod on the all-time home run list. Major League Baseball announced that it will voluntarily recognize the MLBPA as the minor league players union on Friday and those rules changes were approved. We got a Tony La Russa update and Terry Francona talks about his health and his future as well. In sad news, a former relief pitcher-turned-police officer was killed yesterday morning and we catch up with a hero of the 2002 Angels whose life took a very long, unfortunate turn.

In Other Stuff, the Queen’s death disrupted one thing in a bad way but disrupted another thing in a good way, Ukraine is on the march, and — news flash — a 76 year-old white man does not appreciate pop songs from young women and does not think rap music is particularly compelling or particularly good. Which would be fine, I suppose, if he wasn’t still considered by some to matter.