Dad to the best kiddo. Writer for @PSAcard. Baseball HoF voter. Outdoors explorer. Ex: Sporting News. rcfagan at gmail. also, @myjunkwax. IG: @ryanfagan_psa
St Louis, MO
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The joy of transcribing interviews is reliving great conversations with great people. The misery of transcribing is, well, transcribing.
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Sean Doolittle, on Daniel Hudson choosing the birth of his daughter over Game 1 of the NLCS ...
“If your reaction to someone having a baby is anything other than, ‘Congratulations, I hope everybody’s healthy,’ you’re an asshole.”
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Want to see something really cool?
The Brewers are all still on the top step, waiting for Wainwright.
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Once interviewed Bill Walton on the phone. Asked him two questions and he talked for 25 minutes, about everything. I laughed the whole time. 30 seconds after we hung up, the phone rang.
“Ryan! Bill Walton! I thought about another story to tell you.”
So awesome. RIP, Bill.
Bill Walton laughed at himself; cared deeply about people history ignored; and was one of the greatest athletes to ever walk the Earth. A planet he both adored and transcended. RIP 💔
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Before every game. Doesn’t matter if it’s spring training or the World Series.
Before every game, Ron Washington and the Atlanta infielders are out here, working through Wash’s fielding drills. sportingnews.com/us/amp/mlb/…
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Florida Gulf Coast isn't the only Dunk City in Orlando, apparently. Seems @ETSUAthletics has big-time dunkers, too
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I've never understood why MLB teams making crazy amounts of money make insulting low-ball offers to fans who catch historically significant home run baseballs.
The latest example happened in Detroit, where Albert Pujols homered for his 2,000th RBI. readsn.com/2VUgmzm
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History HAS TO remember this as "The WKRP to Cincinnati Trade," right?
W (Wood)
K (Kemp)
R (Reds)
P (Puig)
#ItsDestiny
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Shohei Ohtani kinda looks like he’d probably rather be throwing 101 to Aaron Judge or facing 101 from Gerrit Cole, but here he is on the Red Carpet …
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when you strike out 13 opponents in five innings (tying a major league record), get three hits at the plate (each with an exit velo of 105-plus) and your team stages a dramatic comeback victory (and you score the insurance run after doubling), you earn a postgame smile like this.
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The "unfairly stacked" East Region had ...
Virginia
Cincinnati
Tennessee
Arizona
Kentucky
And Loyola-Chicago will play Kansas State for a spot in the Final Four.
March, y'all
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I have a card listed on eBay for $6.25.
Someone sent me an offer for $4.
I countered at $5.
They countered at $4.
I thought, "This must be what the MLB lockout negotiations have felt like."
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If Atlanta beats Houston in the 2021 World Series, that will mean that 15 of baseball's 30 franchises will have won a World Series championship in a 21-year stretch.
Only three franchises -- Boston, San Francisco and St. Louis -- have multiple titles since 2001.
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Mike Trout won his first AL MVP award in 2014.
In 157 games that year, he had a 7.6 bWAR, 36 homers, 16 stolen bases, 83 walks and a .377 on-base percentage.
In 106 games this year, he has a 7.9 bWAR, 29 homers, 20 stolen bases, 98 walks and a .462 on-base percentage
Yep.
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The Nationals trailed, 3-1, heading into the bottom of the eighth inning in the NL Wild Card game against the Brewers.
Three weeks later, they have a 2-0 series lead in the World Series, heading home for Game 3.
That's kind of incredible.
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Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina both singled in their final career ABs. Both times with the game on the line. Hard to be surprised by either ending. Fighters to the finish.
Wasn't enough, though.
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I didn't know until right now I was a fan of Sam Panopoulos ...
Sam Panopoulos, 83, Canadian inventor of the Hawaiian pizza has died. Our Feb 2017 intvu with him here: cbc.ca/1.3992890
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I asked Ty France about the folks who seemed surprised that Julio Rodríguez was competing in the HR Derby.
He laughed.
"Those are obviously people who haven't watched Julio Rodríguez take batting practice."
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Ken Griffey Jr. giving Pete Alonso thoughts. Heck of a hitting coach for the USA to have, eh?
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you saw the guy topple over the railing trying to catch. Matt Olson home run, right?
here’s what happened, in his words
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Shohei Ohtani getting in his day-before-his-start work with a weighted ball in the outfield.
In slo-mo, because why not
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Tarik Skubal is a 25-year-old lefty with a 2.92 FIP in 19 starts. He's not even arbitration-eligible until 2024.
If the Tigers — who haven't been .500 since 2016 — feel they have to trade him to finally build a playoff-caliber roster, the better move is to fire the front office.
Sources: Tigers willing to trade Tarik Skubal and “just about everyone.”theathletic.com/3450781/2022…
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imagine any other pitcher in baseball taking Cole deep like this (pre-universal DH, of course). it would be a damn career highlight. for Ohtani, it’s a mildly better-than-average Wednesday.
may we never, ever take Ohtani for granted.
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For the Cardinals today ...
— 40-year-old Adam Wainwright threw 7 shutout innings, with 7 Ks, 3 H and 0 BB
— 40-year-old Yadier Molina threw out the only COL runner trying to steal
— 42-year-old Albert Pujols had 5 RBIs, on a grand slam and an RBI single
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Anyone else thinking of the great Vin Scully line from For Love of the Game, with Adam Wainwright channeling Billy Chapel?
"Tonight I think he might be able to use that aching old arm one more time to push the sun back up in the sky and give us one more day of summer."
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Seriously: Jose Quintana made 32 starts last year, with a 2.93 ERA/2.99 FIP. He had an NL-best 0.4 HR/9, a 4.4 fWAR/3.5 bWAR. And then he threw 5 1/3 shutout playoff innings vs. the Phillies, with just two hits and one walk allowed.
Two years, $26 million is a steal, folks.
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Wrote about Daniel Hudson and his correct priorities this afternoon, but I didn't say it nearly as well as Doolittle. readsn.com/33sooiZ
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That, um, feels like a STEAL for the Mets.
Free-agent left-hander José Quintana in agreement with Mets on a two-year, $26M contract, pending physical, sources tell me and @WillSammon.
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Jon Gray tonight:
9 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 12 K
His Rangers lost, 1-0. Gray got the L.
That seems amazing, right? Yeah, it is.
It's only the second time in MLB history a pitcher has had 9+ IP and 12+ K, with 4 or fewer hits, 1 R & 0 BB and got the L.
Second. Time. Ever.
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Since a "miserable" 9-24 start to the season, the @tigers have gone 52-43, beating a lot of good teams along the way.
I've spent the past few days watching a club that's going to contend for the postseason as soon as 2022, and for many years beyond. bit.ly/3gwBIeX
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the ballpark got quiet when Ohtani stepped to the plate. the fans stopped walking. they stopped talking. they just watched.
not gonna lie, that was pretty cool.
Ohtani walked, btw
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best investment the Cardinals ever made the Asia baseball market was letting Lars Nootbaar play for Team Japan in the WBC
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2020 World Series stats
Blake Snell: 161 pitches, 10 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 18K
Tyler Glasnow: 214 pitches, 9.1 IP, 9 H, 10 ER, 9 BB, 15K
Feels like the wrong guy is on the short leash, eh?
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So, I was laid off from The Sporting News yesterday, along with a bunch of talented people.
TSN was the first magazine subscription I ever paid for myself, and to work there for 18 years, 3 months and a couple weeks was, truly, a dream job.
Hurts right now. But, I'm lucky.
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Hall of Famer Stan Musial had exactly 1,815 career hits at home and 1,815 career hits on the road.
The father/son duo of Cecil & Prince Fielder each finished with exactly 319 homers.
Crazy, right? So, crowdsourcing: What are your favorite "wait, what?" 🤯 baseball stats/facts?
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who remembers these? from McDonalds in 1993, apparently. i don’t but they’re kinda awesome.
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“there will be a consequence”
- for hitting a home run
- for a guy enjoying the breakthrough season he always dreamed of
- for a guy who spent 10 years in the minors waiting for his shot
- for a guy who played 7 years of winter ball trying to improve/earn money
what the hell
Tony La Russa was 'upset' that Yermin Mercedes hit a home run on a 3-0 count last night in a blowout win.
"He made a mistake. There will be a consequence he has to endure here within our family."
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Jordan Walker, on the excitement of playing Opening Day at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
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Matt Costello bear hugs Tom Izzo. Awesome. vine.co/v/iiaQtruaQ1i
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As always, honored to be part of the @baseballhall process. Here's my ballot and always-lengthy explanation column: sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news…
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Texas Tech’s strategy of never missing on offense and never allowing good looks on defense is solid. More teams should try that.
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now THIS is my kinda find at a baseball card show.
me: “$20 for the whole box?”
dealer: “yep”
me: “i’ll take it. i have a soft spot for this crap.”
dealer: “i don’t.”
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If I had the power to change MLB history and grant any one injury-plagued player a healthy career, pretty sure I'd pick Eric Davis.
Just a breathtaking talent, but a long, cruel list of injuries kept him from his Cooperstown destiny. readsn.com/2wdOCr3
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let’s do a giveaway, shall we?
2022 Topps Series 1 blaster
to win …
1. follow me!
2. RT this tweet
3. reply and tell me the player you’re most looking forward to watching in 2022 and — this is important — why.
winner picked Sunday, March 27 at 3 pm ET
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During Larry Walker's nine full seasons with the Rockies, his on-base percentage away from Coors Field was .385.
Tony Gwynn's career on-base percentage — home and road — was .388.
Don't tell me Larry Walker was a Coors Field fabrication.
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An ode to 1987 Topps, the most nostalgic baseball card set of all time: ng-sportingnews.com/us/mlb/n…
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Hi all.
I'd like everyone to meet Greg Poole, the selfless soul who has spent the past two decades using baseball cards to help meet the needs of his Southern Illinois community. His story really is amazing. sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news…
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My cousin took his kiddo to the ballgame today. I remember, as a kid, the excitement of walking through the dark tunnel and seeing the baseball field shining like a beacon of awesomeness. Hell, I still get that rush of excitement even today. It's special.
All the damn feels ...
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First pitch of Game 5 is six hours from right now.
This is the line to get into the team store outside Truist Park. Wow.
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Happy Monday, all.
Here's my Class of 2022 Hall of Fame ballot and the annual lengthy explanation column. readsn.com/3eJdsVV
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I tried to find Soler’s baseball.
The area is closed off. Aargh. This stadium employee is pointing to where it landed. Somewhere among those trees.
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Anthony Rizzo is 1-for-20 with 10 strikeouts since his "Respect me!" game-winner against the Nationals in Game 3 of the NLCS.
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1.1.21 card of the day: 1992 Studio Steve Lake
the parrot cracks me up. an all-time favorite card
(new “feature” for the timeline this year; going to post a card from my collection each day that stands out to me for whatever reason)
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I can't stop looking at this Marcus Paige pic from USA Today's Robert Deutsch. It has everything. Amazing.
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I asked Lars Nootbaar if he’s looking forward to facing his WBC teammate, Shohei Ohtani, when the Angels’ ace starts on Wednesday
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Long before Mark Adams was preparing to lead his Texas Tech team into a Sweet 16 showdown with Coach K and Duke, he was the co-owner and GM of a minor-league hockey team in West Texas.
No, really.
Want to know more about Adams' hockey years? Here ya go: readsn.com/3tvhlWB
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a bit of news ...
Our little family is moving from Charlotte to St. Louis this summer!
I've written both MLB and college hoops in the past, but my Sporting News present and future is baseball, and it's time to live in an MLB town. My hometown. ETA July/August. Very excited.
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Early in his career, Sporting News mag included Tommy Hanson in a rising stars feature. Loved this pic. RIP Tommy
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This NC Central- North Dakota State game is fun.
I was at NC Central this year as part of my five-games-in-one-day college hoops road trip. Trust me, that is one hell of a great basketball atmosphere.
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Take a moment and look at the minimum salary numbers for on-the cusp players in Triple-A (MLB), the G-League (NBA) and AHL (NHL).
The disparity is, quite honestly, appalling. readsn.com/2FgfLvo
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