Outside The Confines: Let’s go streaking!

Please know that it is taking every ounce of my self-control not to open this post with another rehash of the unbelievable Javier Báez escapades from yesterday. Truly, I want nothing more than to do a complete play-by-play of the event, but here at OTC we focus on what’s going on, well, OUTSIDE the Friendly Confines, and both Al and Sara have given us some incredible pieces on the play, so I’ll just move onto another bit of foolishness we saw this week.

Streakers. Or notably, a very rain-soaked streaker at the Nationals game, who decided that rather than simply letting security catch him after he used the infield tarp as a slip-and-slide, he would hide himself inside the giant roll used for said tarp and avoid capture at least a little longer. I am generally not a fan of people running on the field, nor of streakers in general, but I have to admire this young man’s gumption and commitment to the bit.

Here’s a video of the event, which probably contains nudity, since it’s a streaker, but you also won’t really see anything.

There were, obviously, stories written about the event.

• David Moye shared some snaps of the event, which do get a little, er, cheeky.
• Dustin Foote wonders if streakers could be our solution to boring baseball.
• Jack Baer establishes that this particular streaker must have gone in with a plan.

There are plenty more, but we can only share so many stories about a guy running naked across a field. Let’s get into the rest of the links.

• Is there still life in the Rays plan to move to Ybor? C.T. Bowen and Josh Solomon explore the ongoing stadium saga.
• ESPN power rankings have a new number one team, meaning the Dodgers are not on top, at least for now.
• Our Sara Sanchez looks at some of the best storylines to follow in the American League right now.
• Nick Selbe looks into one of baseball’s worst-kept secrets as Cardinals manager Mike Shildt talks about the new crackdown on foreign substances.
• In “it’s about time” news that I’m shocked doesn’t have more coverage, the Angels have finally fired Mickey Callaway and he has been banned from MLB through at least 2022. Story by Madeline Coleman.
• There has been a massive number of players felled by injury early this season, and Peter Gammons explores what might be causing it. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• This is quite the story.

• If you want a little more on the story of that traffic delaying Ohtani’s start, the AP has you covered.
• Michael Baumann looks at the incredible comeback of Carlos Rodon.
• New stadium bag policies are puzzling to say the least, so RJ McDaniel breaks down what you can and cannot bring to the park these days.
• One of the more bizarre stories of late is how brick and mortar stores like Target have had to stop carrying trading cards, including baseball cards, because of violent outbursts from collectors. Molly Knight looks at the incidents that made major chains pull cards off their shelves. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• There’s a very good chance Josh shared this article on Wednesday, but I’m sharing it again because the story of these absolutely hideous New Era Local Market caps just cracks me up to no end. Levi Weaver gives us the abbreviated version of how Twitter killed an entire line of ball caps in a day. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Wait, I thought he wasn’t supposed to swing on 3-0 pitches anymore?

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.