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Breaking Barriers

Later today, a woman is scheduled to umpire a regular season major league game for the first time.  Jen Pawol, who has been a minor-league umpire since 2016, is being called up for a doubleheader between the Marlins and the Braves, working the bases in place of the home plate umpires, who only work the one game.  She is then slated to work behind the plate for Sunday’s series finale.

Pawol, a 48-year-old graduate of Hofstra University, worked spring training games in 2024, becoming the first woman to do so since 2007. She is only the third woman to ever umpire a major-league spring training game.  She also became a crew chief in the International League last season.

MLB is behind the times in this area.  The NBA had its first female referee debut 28 years ago, while the NFL has had female officials for the past ten years.  Hopefully this leads to more opportunities for interested women to find a career in baseball.

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Fitbit XI – Week 28

My 30,000-step week streak continues on, reaching twelve weeks by the skin of my teeth.  The week got off to a decent start on Sunday, scoring 4500 steps as I enjoyed the environs of the Rate Club with Michael.  Another White Sox game on Monday saw a nice improvement, coming 38 steps shy of 5400.  Tuesday and Wednesday tied for the worst days of the week came, finishing with the exact same total that was 39 steps away from 3700.  A break in the weather on Thursday led to a walk around the block, which pushed me up to 5000 steps.  Another walk on Friday left me only 9 steps shy of 5000.  Saturday fell back down again, scoring just 2 more steps than Tuesday and Wednesday’s total.

Total steps: 30,902

Daily average: 4414.6

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iTunes Top 200 Wrap-Up

Music.  It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions.  It is the universal language that speaks to the soul.  It forms the soundtrack of our lives.

It had been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 songs in my iTunes library.  Last week, we finished our journey through the latest list of my most listened to songs since late 2007.  Now it’s time to take a final look at those 210 songs and the artists that made them.  The average number of listens was just over 52, with the median number being 41.  There were 35 new entries, and, overall, there was an average increase of just a tad over nine listens per song.

Most Represented Band

15 – Foo Fighters
9 – The Beatles
8 – The Cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
7 – Garbage
6 – The Lonely Island

Largest Increase

74 – Harry Caray – Take Me Out To The Ballgame
71 – Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers –Let’s Go-Go-Go White Sox
69 – Steam – Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye
68 – AC/DC – Thunderstruck
64 – Blues Brothers – Sweet Home Chicago

Smallest Increase

0 – The Beatles – Can’t Buy Me Love
0 – The Crystal Method – Bones Theme
2 – Dr. John – My Opinionation
2 – Chance The Rapper – Stand Up Part 2
2 – The Lonely Island – Natalie’s Rap (ft. Natalie Portman & Chris Parnell)
2 – P.O.D. – Boom

Most Recently Played

12/27/2024 7:51 PM – Mott the Hoople – All the Young Dudes
12/18/2024 5:26 PM – Foo Fighters – Everlong
12/18/2024 4:48 PM – Jay Z – Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
12/18/2024 11:59 AM – Steam – Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye
12/18/2024 4:27 PM – The Beatles – Eight Days a Week

Least Recently Played

9/30/2019 5:13 PM – The Beates – Can’t Buy Me Love
11/27/2019 6:02 PM – The Crystal Method – Bones Theme
10/11/2021 12:09 AM – Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child o’ Mine
10/29/2021 11:32 PM – The Wonders – That Thing You Do
1/4/2022 12:16 PM – Aerosmith – Janie’s Got a Gun

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Book 38 (of 52) – This Book Will Bury Me

This Book Will Bury Me – Ashley Winstead

Following the death of her father, a young Florida woman becomes enmeshed in the online world of true crime.  After helping to solve a local case, she is invited to join an exclusive group of volunteer investigators.  When a triple homicide occurs at a small college in Idaho, her group joins the fray looking for clues and potential suspects.  After a second trio of girls are killed on the same campus, they put boots on the ground hoping to root out the killer, who may be closer than they think.

This Book Will Bury Me is my introduction to the work of Ashley Winstead.  I’ve had my dalliances with true crime over the years, including a brief obsession with the Zodiac Killer and a nightly appointment with Forensic Files, so this was right up my alley.  I may have to look into what else Winstead has put out.

 

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The Stars Will Shine At Wrigley In 2027

In a ceremony at Wrigley Field yesterday morning, Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the Cubs would host the 2027 All-Star Game at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, July 13.  Wrigley will become the third stadium to host four All-Star games, having previously hosted in 1947, 1962, and 1990.  “This is an honor for our team, our city and our state,” said Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts. “We can’t wait to showcase how we have preserved this iconic ballpark. Wrigley Field means so much to Cubs fans and millions of people who have visited what we believe is a baseball cathedral and one of Illinois’ top tourist destinations.

The very first All-Star Game was held in Chicago at Comiskey Park in 1933, as was the 50th anniversary game in 1983.  With just six years separating 2027 and 2033, it would be surprising, but not unprecedented, for Chicago to get the 100th anniversary game.

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And That Deadline Was A Bit Of A Dud

The MLB trade deadline has come and gone and neither the Cubs nor the White Sox made the big moves they were expected to make.  The Cubs made two late moves, adding utility man Willi Castro from the Twins and reliever Taylor Rogers from the Pirates.  The White Sox made a single move, sending Adrian Houser to the Rays.

Castro, 28, is a switch hitter who can play pretty much anywhere.  He’s posted a .742 OPS with the Twins this year and will hit free agency at year end.  Going back to the Twins are two Double A pitchers: Ryan Gallagher and Sam Armstrong.  Rogers, 34, was acquired by the Pirates on Wednesday in the Ke’Bryan Hayes trade before being flipped to the Cubs.  His walk rate this year is the highest it has been in his career, but a veteran lefty is always good to have around down the stretch.  High A outfielder Ivan Brethowr is headed back to the Pirates.  He is 22 and striking out in nearly 30% of his at bats this season.

Houser, 32, joined the White Sox in late May and has had the best stretch of his career.  In return, the Rays are sending infielder Curtis Mead, pitcher Duncan Davitt, and pitcher Ben Peoples.  Mead, 24, is a former top 100 prospect who has yet to find his way in the big leagues, spending parts of three seasons with the Rays and posting 0.4 career WAR.  Davitt, 25, and Peoples, 24, were both in Triple A for the Rays.

Despite those moves, when the bell rang at 5 PM CT yesterday, the Cubs were still lacking a proven starter who can help their beleaguered rotation, and the White Sox still employed Luis Robert, Mike Tauchman, and Aaron Civale.  None of which was the expected outcome of the day.

 

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Reinforcing The Pen

The Cubs made two moves to bolster their pitching corps last night, acquiring Michael Soroka from the Nationals and Andrew Kittredge from the Orioles.  Soroka, who spent the 2024 season with the White Sox, can start or relieve while Kittredge is strictly a bullpen arm.

For Soroka, who is due $3 million for the remainder of the season, the Cubs will send Triple-A outfielder Christian Franklin and rookie ball shortstop Ronny Cruz back to the Nationals.  Franklin, 25, is eligible for the Rule V draft if he is not added to the 40-man roster following this season.  Cruz, 18, was the Cubs’ third round draft pick last year.

Kittredge is due $9 million this year with a $9 million team option for next year.  Wilfri De La Cruz, a 17-year-old shortstop signed during this year’s International Signing Period, is going back to the Orioles.

 

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Fitbit XI – Week 27

My 30,000-step week streak hits eleven, the longest such streak in over four years.  The week got off to a decent start on Sunday, scoring 4200 steps.  Monday saw a nice improvement, rising to 5000 steps thanks to a midday trip to Wrigley Field to get my picture taken with Carson Kelly.  The worst day of the week came on Tuesday as I needed 26 additional steps to reach 3500.  Things improved on Wednesday, going up to 4400 steps.  A small decrease on Thursday dropped me to 4100 steps.  The beginning of crosstown baseball on Friday pushed me over my daily goal, falling a single step shy of 7600.  Another trip to Rate Field to see the Cubs battle the White Sox on Saturday ended the week with 4800 steps.

Total steps: 33,768

Daily average: 4824

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The Annual Selloff Begins

With the trade deadline approaching, the White Sox made their first deal, sending outfielder Austin Slater to the Yankees for right-handed pitcher Gage Ziehl.  Slater, 32, was signed as a free agent last November and has five home runs in 123 at bats this season.  Ziehl, 22, was the Yankees’ fourth round pick in the 2024 draft and has split time between three levels in the Yankee system and is their 18th ranked prospect.

We have less than 29 hours to go until the deadline, so I expect there to be more moves, both by the White Sox and the Cubs, coming soon.