MLB 2026

[Syt]

The attacks against Canada by USians don't stop.

[Syt]

Since we need some levity, opening day is not going well for the Pirates and Skenes.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

Meanwhile, the Yankees scored seven runs on a night where Aaron Judge has four strikeouts and a groundout.

[Valmy]

Since we need some levity, opening day is not going well for the Pirates and Skenes.

LOL.

The Pirates get 2 runs in the first. "Oh hell yeah guys! This is going to be the year!" And then in the bottom of the first inning the season is over.

[Syt]

LOL.

The Pirates get 2 runs in the first. "Oh hell yeah guys! This is going to be the year!" And then in the bottom of the first inning the season is over.

False hope and disappointment. The Pirates experience.

[Sophie Scholl]

Guards rookie Chase DeLauter has 3hr in the first two games so far. I just pray he can stay healthy. I'm cautiously optimistic about Cleveland's chances despite their incredibly low payroll and lack of big name offseason additions. I think, as per usual, their frugal front office has managed to make the right budget moves to compliment the young core that is there. We shall see...

Also, amusing musical match-up from opening day:
You cannot view this attachment.

[HVC]

Don't like the new ABS system. I mean it's fun to humiliate the umpire and all, but it doesn't seem baseball-y . Or make it more of a risk to use, like if the call isn't overturned you get an automatic out in your next at bat. Meh, I've probably just advanced to boomer level cranky, but whatever.

[Grey Fox]

It's a transition period, it's meant to be unsatisfying. On our way to 100% robo umpire.

I like it, incompetent Umpire have plagued the sport for decades now.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

It's going to be like electronic line calling in tennis.  Starts out as a challenge system, purists will bitch and moan for a while, but eventually it will just be the way calls are made.  Unlike tennis, it doesn't completely remove the umpire, but it will be a significant improvement.

[The Minsky Moment]

I think it's off to a good start.  It counters the travesty of games being decided by badly blown calls, while still keeping the human element of the umpire, and adding a tactical layer of deciding when and what calls to challenge.  The catchers with good framing skills will still have an advantage - just a little less - but the bad framers now have a chance to counteract by getting good on the challenge system (early returns but Salvador Perez may be rejuvenating his career behind the plate).  The fans seem to get into it.

[Syt]

[Syt]

The AAA team Lehigh IronPigs (Phillies affiliate) will have a theme night on the 6th of June where they will be ... SQUONK

https://www.milb.com/lehigh-valley/news/a-mythical-transformation-pigs-show-love-to-squonk-with-new-alternate-identity

Allentown, Pennsylvania (April 27, 2026) – Unseen for generations and now brought to life on the diamond, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs are excited to immortalize a long-overlooked Pennsylvania mythical legend with their newest alternate identity: Squonk!

The Squonk is a mythical creature that legend holds lives in the hemlock forests of northern Pennsylvania. The original written account of Squonk comes from William T. Cox in his book Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwood, published in 1910:

"The Squonk is of a very retiring disposition, generally traveling about at twilight and dusk. Because of its misfitting skin, which is covered with warts and moles, it is always unhappy ... Hunters who are good at tracking are able to follow a Squonk by its tear-stained trail, for the animal weeps constantly. When cornered and escape seems impossible, or when surprised and frightened, it may even dissolve itself in tears."

The Squonk is extremely self-conscious of its appearance. With its ragged wrinkly skin wracked with warts, pimples, boils, and more, the Squonk – often described as a resembling a small, distressed pig - hides in the deepest parts of the forest hoping to conceal its ugliness from the world. Leaving behind a stream of tears, owing to its depressed and self-loathing nature, the Squonk is an unbelievably hard creature to catch. As soon as eyes are laid upon it, the Squonk begins to dissolve into a puddle of its own tears, desperate to remain out of sight.

By highlighting the classic Pennsylvania folk legend, the IronPigs hope to show the Squonk that even despite its own self-loathing nature, that it too can be loved and will be found beautiful by the IronPigs fanbase. With enough love and support, the Squonk may very well feel emboldened enough to make an appearance on Squonk Night!

The Squonk alternate identity includes an on-field jersey and cap, slated to be worn on Saturday, June 6th at Coca-Cola Park. The jersey is a deep, dark green reminiscent of the hemlock forests where the Squonk resides with brown piping representing the tree of the forest. The wordmark of Squonk is in the same pinkish color of the Squonk with the design textured to look just as the Squonk's hide is rumored to be. The cap has a brown bill with dark green base. The Squonk logo on the front of the cap features the head of the Squonk (tears and all) pulling itself with its hoofs through an outline of the state of Pennsylvania, representing the Squonk pulling itself into the limelight for its first ever public appearance.

In addition to the on-field look, a full suite of Squonk merchandise is available, ranging from jerseys to t-shirt, sweatshirts, hats and more! The full line is available at shopironpigs.com

While the physical similarities between the Squonk and a pig are numerous, FeRROUS and FeFe deny any relation to the vile creature.

Whether you are a skeptic or a true believer, the Squonk will be taking over Coca-Cola Park when the 'Pigs don special jerseys and caps to complete their mythical transformation on Squonk Night, Saturday June 6th at Coca-Cola Park with first pitch at 6:35 p.m. against the Rochester Red Wings. Tickets are available at IronPigsbaseball.com or by calling the Provident Bank Ticket Office at 610-841-PIGS (7447).

IT'S BEAUTIFUL

[crazy canuck]

Hopefully the Yankees come back down to earth