I’ll start today with an item from before my “unexcused absence” … The Phillies hired Don Mattingly to be their manager for the next two years. On one hand, that is not surprising; Mattingly took over a team that was well below .500 and managed to make the playoffs in 2026. If you take his record as an interim manager and extrapolate that to a full MLB season the record would be 96-66. However, there was a caveat that came with this announcement:
- The Phillies hired Mattingly after at least one other candidate turned down the job offer.
So, why the hesitancy to hire Mattingly “full time”? And why would another candidate turn down a job where the team made the playoffs in the previous season? Normally new managers take over teams that are sub-.500.
The Phillies’ roster is starting to look long-in-the-tooth but there are no overt signs that the team is going to enter a “tear-down and rebuild” phase. So, the fact that a “preferred candidate” for the managerial position said, “No, thanks,” makes me wonder…
Speaking of MLB managerial positions, there is a report on AP today that the Astros will interview Albert Pujols for their open managerial position. Pujols has no managerial entries on his résumé, but he was a league MVP three times and a World Champion too. He may have a few things to learn about being a manager, but no one can call him a naif when it comes to major league baseball.
Moving on … The criminal trial of Guardians’ pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz began in NY this week. They stand accused of giving gamblers a heads-up as to specific pitches within MLB games on which the gamblers could reliably bet and collect on the wagers. In the strictest sense, their alleged actions were only minor affronts to “the integrity of the games” but if indeed it is determined that those allegations are factual, then both men need to be banned from baseball. More to follow …
Sticking with baseball … The December 1 deadline for the expiration of the existing CBA between the owners and the players’ union draws closer and closer. That could make for an interesting free agent market in November prior to the end of the existing CBA. It could well be that the free agent signing period under any new CBA could be severely compressed and that might motivate both free agents and GMs to act now when there is some time to think about offers and contracts.
On the other hand, if MLB gets the cap and floor system that it wants, that can significantly change the way MLB rosters need to be constructed. And that sort of change cannot be seriously considered now in the current free agent time until December 1. November 2026 could be an interesting month for MLB news.
Switching gears … The Cleveland Browns could find themselves in an interesting situation next week. Beleaguered QB, Deshaun Watson has led the team to a 5-3-0 record which has the Browns only 1 game behind the division-leading Steelers as of now. There are reports this week, however, that Watson is in the concussion protocol after “suffering symptoms” on Monday of this week. If he is not cleared to play – – a possibility – – that would mean Shedeur Sanders would get the start on Sunday against the Saints. Notwithstanding Watson’s positive results on the field so far this year, there has been a continuing backbeat among fans in Cleveland to bench Watson and play Sanders. That backbeat will only get louder if Watson cannot go and Sanders steps in and shines against a Saints team that has given up 27.7 points per game so far in 2026. Fun times to come in Cleveland …???
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens have had buzzards’ luck with their QBs this year.
- Lamar Jackson returned from a 3-game absence last week. He lasted exactly one play from scrimmage and left with a thumb injury that will require surgery.
- Tyler Huntley has been filling in for Jackson, so he entered the game when Jackson left. Huntley suffered a turf toe injury soon after that and he will be out for the year.
- Joe Fagnano took over and played about the way an undrafted free agent who had no expectation of playing in the game would be expected to play.
Reports this week say that the Ravens are trying to finalize a trade with the Cards to acquire Jacoby Brisset. However, the Ravens play tonight on Thursday Night Football; so, it is doubtful that Brisset will be of much use this week even if the trade is consummated.
Finally, a little wisdom from Mark Twain:
“A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.”
But don’t get me wrong, I love sports ………