/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58558989/usa_today_10154193.0.jpg)
Today’s headline is courtesy of BCB reader toppsmike, who posted this in the comments of yesterday’s DD:
Set us free, why don’t cha babe
Get out our life, why don’t cha babe
Cause Yu don’t really love us
Yu just keep us hangin’ on
Yu don’t really need us
But Yu keep us hangin’ on.With deepest apologies to Holland-Dozier-Holland, Diana, Florence and Mary
Well done, toppsmike. Well done.
We learned Friday that the Rangers are probably out on Yu Darvish:
Doesn't sound likely Yu Darvish will be returning to the #Rangers pic.twitter.com/6oicyXGnab
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) February 2, 2018
And this report is a couple of days old and repeats information we’ve known for a while:
Yu Darvish is waiting to see if the Dodgers or Yankees can clear enough salary to add him as a free agent, according to a report.
On MLB Network Monday morning, Ken Rosenthal said: “(The Yankees) would need to trade a big salary, probably (Jacoby) Ellsbury to get this done. What are the odds of the Yankees or Dodgers doing such a thing? Probably somewhat slim, but that’s why this thing isn’t over just yet.”
Slim? I’d say the chances of the Yankees being able to get another team to take Ellsbury’s contract are about the same as my chances of becoming the next Cubs manager. Which is to say, zero. Same for the Dodgers and clearing Matt Kemp’s contract. It’s likely that Kemp won’t be playing for the Dodgers this year, but they will probably have to eat the entire deal if they release or trade him.
And so that’s where we stand, 10 days before Cubs pitchers and catchers are due to report, 11 days until their first workout, and 20 days before the first spring training game. Cubs equipment is headed to Mesa:
Cubs loading truck for spring training. It's happening. pic.twitter.com/8Vqmtpb0Kw
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) February 2, 2018
And no, I don’t think you can read anything more into this than the Cubs are re-using some old boxes:
... hmmmmm .... that box on the bottom though ...
— Amanda Kaschube (@amandakaschube) February 2, 2018
Cubs pack up the trucks for spring training https://t.co/l9ieMzrqJ8
: @JoseMOsorio pic.twitter.com/QJm0BAyavm
It really is silly season. But then, what else do we have?
Here’s the 1968 psychedelic long version of today’s headline song:
Lastly, this proposal was made to the players from the owners — apparently in all seriousness:
Cool feature of speed-up-the-game negotiations between MLB and players: The return of bullpen carts! Union has asked MLB to consider them, and MLB is considering it, where possible, as early as 2018 season.
— Phil Rogers (@philgrogers) February 2, 2018
Notwithstanding the fact that getting a pitcher into a cart, driving slowly on the warning track, having the pitcher get out of the cart and walk to the mound (since you wouldn’t want the cart driving on the grass) would save maybe three seconds each time, where would you store such a device at Wrigley Field (or other parks, like Fenway, where there isn’t much extra space)?
Jim Deshaies has a better idea:
Absolutely! But also would approve of relievers entering on horseback with Lone Ranger theme playing
— Jim Deshaies (@JimDeshaies) February 2, 2018
And so, I ask you, the BCB reader:
Poll
Relief pitchers should enter games...
This poll is closed
-
28%
As they do now, slowly jogging in
-
7%
Running at top speed (like Todd Coffey)
-
11%
On a Segway
-
9%
Via a bullpen cart
-
12%
On horseback
-
9%
Flown in by drone
-
17%
Jetpack
-
2%
Some way not mentioned above (leave in comments)