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Never mind, the NL doesn’t want the DH after all
Tuesday’s Say Hey, Baseball includes a step backwards in the great DH debate, Anthony Rizzo’s WWE videobomb, and Scrabble’s plans for 50 gallons of lube.
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
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After some teasing that the designated hitter could be coming to the NL sooner than later with this iteration of the collective bargaining agreement coming to an end, the dream is dead. Or the nightmare, if you’re anti-DH. Either way: dead! Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke about the universal DH (among other things) on Monday, and clarified that NL execs are not in favor of it and that the status quo is the most likely outcome.
That’s a shame if you’re pro-DH, and for the MLBPA, which would love to get an extra 15 full-time jobs going around the league. For those who either outright despise the DH or want to keep the leagues different, this is good news, though -- I’m not one of those people, but I’m also a fan of an American League team who has had David Ortiz for the last decade-plus, so you can understand where I’m coming from.
At some point, the discussion will come up again, and it will be used as an actual bargaining chip and point of negotiation in CBA talks. It just doesn’t look like the upcoming CBA will be the one where it happens, not unless this is teams taking a unified stance so as to make it even tougher for the MLBPA to negotiate for the DH this December. That seems unlikely, but owners and front offices have had craftier moments than this to get what they want.
- Something strange is going on with the Phillies' social media, but it's also kind of wonderful.
- Nothing has gone right for the Nationals this winter. Yes, they signed Daniel Murphy, and they upgraded at manager, but those items aren't balancing the scales back in their favor.
- Anthony Rizzo attended WWE's Monday Night RAW on, well, Monday night. He videobombed rapper Flo Rida while he was there, which also means he had a front row seat to Flo Rida losing a rap battle to wrestler Bo Dallas. Even if you don't care about wrestling, you should enjoy that clip.
- Charlie Blackmon hit a backwards halfcourt shot at the Nuggets' game. Yes, the Rockies' outfielder.
- Josh Donaldson was a guest star on History Channel's Vikings, presumably because he already had the hair and the beard for it.
- The Mets will retire Mike Piazza's number during Mike Piazza Weekend.
- Once again, we have free agents who received the qualifying offer just hanging around instead of being signed because teams would rather hold on to a late first-round pick than sign a player who could help them win. Please change this awful compensation system.
- Mookie Betts' contact skills are legit, and they're a significant part of why big things are expected from him (again) in 2016.
- Jose Fernandez's representatives believe their client is worth $30 million annually. Jose Fernandez's representatives probably know what they are talking about.
- The Cardinals chased Jason Heyward but left the less expensive Yoenis Cespedes alone. Why?
- Remember that time Marc Rzepczynski asked for a 50-gallon drum of lube as part of the Brandon Moss 100th homer hostage situation? Now he's been asked about what he planned to do with 50 gallons of lube.
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