When Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino boasted in the offseason that he could strike out Babe Ruth “every time,” it was understandable. Ruth didn’t have to face pitching nearly as nasty as Ottavino in his time, and besides, how could anyone disprove it?
Well, Ottavino proved he could make fun of himself by agreeing to a Yankees commercial in which Ruth disproves it, sort of. The ad has Ottavino waking up from a nightmare in which the Great Bambino hit home run after home run off of him, complete with old-timey uniform and gloves.
Back in the reality of today’s Major League Baseball, the Cubs and Pirates each lost a starting pitcher, Chris Davis continues to be miserably bad and the Giants and Twins made a minor trade.
You’ve got to hand it to Adam Ottavino; he’s stayed in the headlines a lot more than a middle reliever should.
The long-awaited Babe Ruth vs. Adam Ottavino match-up. 😂😂😂
pic.twitter.com/2hoZKjqMNM— YES Network (@YESNetwork) March 22, 2019
It wasn’t a good day for either starting pitcher in the Monday matinee between the Pirates and Cubs. Pittsburgh starter Jameson Taillon was hit in the head with a batted ball, and Chicago starter Jon Lester left with an apparent hamstring injury.
VIDEO: Jameson Taillon somehow kept pitching after taking a 102-MPH line drive to the head https://t.co/HOBqhLEWEC pic.twitter.com/UC3vELt9WJ
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) April 8, 2019
The White House said Monday that the Cuban Baseball Federation is part of the country’s government and therefore Major League Baseball again can’t sign Cuban players unless they defect.
News at ESPN: The latest on the Trump Administration negating MLB’s agreement with the Cuban Baseball Federation, including a meeting that never took place and fears that the old system, replete with human trafficking, is the only option for Cuban players. https://t.co/tfVhj8oDoS
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 8, 2019
Poor Chris Davis is two hitless at-bats away from the all-time mark for futility.
Chris Davis hasn’t had a:
– run scored since September 18, 2018
– hit since September 14, 2018
– RBI since September 4, 2018
– home run since August 24, 2018
– road home run since July 20, 2018
– batting average above .186 since October 1, 2017The Orioles owe him $92 million. pic.twitter.com/ix1FyQ9nLX
— David Blattman (@davidblattman) April 7, 2019
The Giants picked up first baseman/outfielder Tyler Austin from the Twins in exchange for a minor leaguer.
Now I can say I’ve covered a Tyler Austin and a Tyler Houston. Can Tyler Beaumont be next? Tyler Amarillo? Tyler Nacogdoches?
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) April 8, 2019
T op Stories
• Ottavino feels Ruth’s wrath in digital commerical | Newsday
• Cubs’ Lester injured; Taillon hit in head | ESPN.com
• White House scuttles MLB’s Cuban agreement | ESPN.com
• Chris Davis is closing in on some miserable history | Deadspin
• SF Giants trade for Tyler Austin | San Francisco Chronicle
