caulfield12

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/43452580/way-too-early-college-football-top-25-ranking-2025 Wildly different takes on LSU/ISU... seven Big Ten, nine SEC

Kikuchi and Iguchi=Sasaki? Nah.....

Topps Skenes patch card worth at least $100k, 11 year old in LA finds it. Pirates offer: "Two season tickets behind home plate for the next 30 years A meet and greet with Skenes Two autographed Skenes jerseys A softball game at PNC Park with coaching from Pirates alumni A private tour of the Pirates’ Spring Training facilities of Pirates City and LECOM Park, plus other unique experiences at their Florida homes Taking batting practice and warming up with the team." https://www.mlb.com/news/paul-skenes-pirates-debut-patch-card-found

"In a story from 2016, they noted he had visited the Hall six times already, and he told Ken Rosenthal last year that “Out of anywhere in the world, besides the places I’ve lived, Cooperstown is the place I’ve visited the most.” He could surely lead this tour on his own, but the magic of baseball - and something the HoF Museum imbues beautifully - is that there is always more to be learned, some new pocket of history to tunnel into." https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2025/1/21/24348427/ichiro-suzuki-cooperstown-elected-to-the-hall-of-fame https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6078291/2025/01/21/ichiro-suzuki-hall-of-fame-archives/ https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/28/sports/baseball/parents-of-ichiro-suzuki-showcase-his-baseball-start-and-career-in-museum.html

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43414814/mlb-baseball-hall-fame-2025-ichiro-suzuki-stories-mariners-yankees-marlins Cracking up thinking about Buehrle and Crede. Really regret not going to the museum his family still maintain in his hometown...we called from Tokyo and the hotel concierge talked to one of his parents (they maintained very peculiar hours and didn't open every day...like maybe 3-4 days per week). Saw him play in mid 2000s at SafeCo and had an IchiRoll haha. Thought that last story was about Carlos Torres (Sox pitcher)...totally forgot the pitcher Silva from Twins/Ms, ended his career in 2010 with the Cubs. Of course teammates not getting along would be a Sox thing, right? Enjoyed the Griffey aspect too, as he'd just had that 2008 storybook ending to the season with the White Sox.

Iowas listed on the it's too early Top 25 list at #24. Ah, every year the hopes a new QB will make the offense at least passable... 9 Big 10, ten SEC...Illinois at 12 and no Iowa State. UGA #1. ND Top Ten. https://sports.yahoo.com/way-too-early-top-25-for-2025-26-college-football-season-043356775.html https://sports.yahoo.com/as-ohio-state-collects-big-tens-second-straight-national-title-the-sec-is-left-wondering-where-its-dominance-went-065524281.html

Maybe it's just because he is so popular with the ladies...

Well, I bought all that stuff at LAX in the fall of 2022 for my wife and son...but I ended up wearing ASG hat well before Ohtani. Cost around $50. Puig Memorial hat. Greg775 is soon to join the bandwagon. Maybe Ron too, if he can tear himself away from Fox News during inaugural week. https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2025-01-21/dodgers-kirby-yates-free-agent-bullpen-reinforcement

https://www.truebluela.com/2025/1/21/24348764/dodgers-kirby-yates-bullpen Meanwhile, Phil Gurnee completely dunked on the Mets and Padres in the comments section. "Since Ohtani signed with the Dodgers, they have signed Yamamoto, Teoscar, Sasaki, Kim, Scott, Yates, Treinen, Conforto, while trading for Glasnow, Edman, Flaherty, Hope, and Ferris" "Preller said when they lost Sasaki to the Dodgers even though they offered Sasaki more money " we only want players who want to play for us" (sounds like KW!) The Padres have signed zero free agents so maybe that says something about the two organizations?" https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/roki-sasaki-could-earn-dodgers-extra-mlb-draft-pick/

Didn't work out so well for Sosa.

Well, there goes our 2025 closer out the door. We hardly knew ye, Ron Marinara Sauce.

Having to defend low turnout from 2005 WS guys, Robert, Benintendi...they did get all their key players from the Crochet trade and the majority of top prospects at least.

https://www.mlb.com/news/white-sox-2025-soxfest-live-faq

https://nypost.com/2025/01/21/sports/the-shocking-price-bears-paid-to-land-ben-johnson-as-coach/ Has JR even paid a manager besides TLR an even "competitive" salary? Johnson starts at 7th highest NFL salary, at $13 million.

https://www.essentiallysports.com/mlb-baseball-news-tigers-three-point-five-m-international-signing-gains-baseball-worlds-attention-with-his-eerie-similarities-to-alex-rodriguez/

https://www.mlb.com/news/top-shortstop-prospects-for-2025?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage Colson Montgomery fell out of the Top Ten MiLB rankings at SS...couldn't find our Montgomery fielding debate thread. deVrieze with all the helium to move up fast.

https://www.mlb.com/news/jake-burger-number-21-to-honor-daughter

https://sports.yahoo.com/the-bears-needed-to-hire-a-coach-to-support-caleb-williams-with-ben-johnson-did-they-achieve-it-054758422.html

Didn't he already announce he was going pro? I know there was a rumor he was getting $6 million to go somewhere (with Manning taking over)...or maybe I'm confusing him with Beck. Don't see him drafted in the first round...but stranger things have happened. Back to ToSU?

Not much sympathy for professional athletes. Even less for billionaire owners.

And playing on turf...he ages even faster. Plus his career OPS is sub 700 in Toronto.

Thinking Sasaki going forward, looking at Santander's deal at $18 million, then that means he makes $9 million income that can be taxed in Toronto, Ontario. Here is what TurboTax said, $4.7 million in taxes on the $9 million he makes at home. That’s a big hit. Now we know why no HUGE star has signed there...they also went hard after Soto fwiw. That's not counting the 81 road game checks taxed in the US at somewhere in the 30-40% range. $18 million quickly becomes $10-11 million net after taxes.

Grandal Keuchel Meat + Potatoes Abreu Hendriks Graveman Kelly...yes, we can do this same exercise for 2006-2008, but that has zero to do with today's new moribund/desultory reality. We were actually generating solid broadcasting rights revenues back then as well.

Game back on...missed chip shot FG looms large. 390 to 293 total yards. Game now.

That was the theory behind Benintendi...JR wouldn't want his kids on the hook for future financial commitments.