Some post-hospital Observations

By Hal McCoy

UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave after a mild scare, a 30-second mini-stroke. After a one-night stay in the hospital, I passed all the tests with the so-called ‘flying colors.’ But they told me it was a warning and I need to change a few things. And I thank all you great people who sent along prayers and well-wishes. I am truly blessed.

Now. . .back to work.

—THE HAT TRICK: When Shohei Ohtani was a free agent and shopping his skills, he visited Toronto and reports say he almost signed with the Blue Jays before the Dodgers spirited him away with 700 million reasons.

Before the World Series began, Toronto manager John Schneider was asked what the Blue Jays were going to do with Ohtani.

“Well, I expect he should bring back the hat we gave him, and the jacket, too.” he said.

And how are they going to handle the Dodgers?

“I hope we don’t look over there and see Goliath,” he said. “They do have their flaws and we have to find them and exploit them.”

LA’s biggest flaw is a bullpen as leaky as the Johnstown Flood and the B-Jays exploited in Game 1’s 11-4 victory. But they couldn’t get into the bullpen in Game 2, a complete game 5-2 victory pitched by Yosh Yamamoto.

Ohtani? The only flaw Ohtani has might be dandruff, but even that is in doubt. And it was so sad and ridiculous that during the 18-inning Game Four, the Blue Jays walked him intentionally five times. Five! That is beyond absurd. It’s cowardly.

—HE MUST WEAR SPEED-O’S: Baseball always provides stories that challenge the senses. Toronto pitcher Trey Yesavage’s story is one that even Cecil B. DeMille wouldn’t dare put on celluloid.

But this one is true and probably has never happened. . .in one season. Yesavage has gone from Low-A to High-A to Double-A to Triple-A to the ALDS to the ALCS to starting Game 1 of the World Series in a six-month span.

He was 3-0 in seven starts at Low-A Dunedin. He was 1-0 in four starts at High-A Vancouver. He was 1-1 in three starts at Double-A New Hampshire. He was 0-0 in four starts at Triple-A Buffalo. He was 1-0 in three starts at Toronto.

For the mathematically challenged, that’s 6-1 in 25 starts.

A year ago, the 22-year-old right-hander was pitching at East Carolina University and was 11-1 with a 2.03 earned run average in 15 starts. In three years at ECU, he was 19-2 over 29 starts with a 2.58 ERA.

Yesavage is a real-life Horatio Alger story, but Alger didn’t have Yesavage’s high-90s fastball, slider and splitter.

—LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: When the Toronto Blue Jays took the field for Game 1 of the World Series, three sons of former major leaguers were in the lineup.

There was Vladimir Gurerro Jr., son of Vlad Sr., there was Bo Bichette, son of Dante, and there was Daulton Varsho, son of Gary. Both Dante Bichette and Gary Varsho made cameo appearances with the Cincinnati Reds late in their careers.

Three sons of major leaguers starting a World Series game is a record. . .and it could have been four.

Up until 2023, Cavan Biggio, son of Craig, was with the Blue Jays. Now he is trying to hang on after playing 37 games this season with the Kansas Ciity Royals.

—TOMKO’S TRAIL: When it comes to being a baseball nomad, Brett Tomko is on the lead camel. During his career, he wore 25 different uniforms — 10 major league and 15 minor league.

He was Cincinnati’s No. 2 draft pick in 1995, then spent three years in the Reds rotation (1997-99) and was 29-26 in 79 starts. Then came what he is most remembered for: He was part of the package the Reds sent to Seattle for Ken Griffey Jr.

And that began Tomko’s travel odyssey: Cincinnati, Seattle, San Diego, St. Louis, San Francisco, Los Angeles (Dodgers), Kansas City, New York (Yankees), Oakland and Texas.

He finished his career with 100 wins. . .and 102 losses and a basement full of paintings. He was an artist and painted in his hotel rooms on the road and sold some of his renderings.

Tomko was born near Cleveland, but never pitched for the Indians. But his father, Jerry, is credited with coming up with the Cavaliers nickname for the NBA franchise in Cleveland.

When the NBA awarded Cleveland a franchise, the Cleveland Plain Dealer conducted a contest to give the team its nickname and Jerry Tomko won it.

—JUST HOLD ON: If you are a Cincinnati Reds fans, there is hope. . .well, hope for your great grandkids if you believe ChatGPT.

ChatGPT, an advance AI chatbot (????), predicted the winners of the World Series for the next 50 years. And it says the Reds will win their next World Series in 2071. It didn’t say, but that team probably will be led by center fielder Elly De La Cruz III.

—BROWN-OUT: Since Cleveland Browns fans have quit watching them, for good reason, as a public disservice I’ll publish the score (loss) every week with no comment: New England 32, Cleveland 13.

—QUOTE MACHINE: Sports people say the darndest things:

—From LA Dodgers outfielder Kike Hernandez, talking about Shohei Ohtani hitting three home runs in a game: “I’ve done that, but mine were close to the walls and Ohtani’s were close to the parking lot.”

—F rom Colorado football coach Deion Sanders after his team lost to Utah, 56-6, a game they trailed at the half by 43-0: “That’s the worst beating I ever had since my mama whipped me as a kid.”

—From manager/philosopher Casey Stengel: “You have to have a catcher or you’ll have all passed balls.”

—From former first baseman/broadcaster Keith Hernandez: “You’d be surprised how many catchers call for what they can’t hit themselves.”

—TRIVIA TIME: Stuff that’s fun, at least for me:

—Only two former MLB pitchers gave up home runs to both Henry Aaron and Barry Bonds: Rick Reuschel and Frank Tanana.

Tanana was a flame-thrower until he hurt his arm, then re-invented himself as a finesse pitcher. He once said, “I threw 90 in the 70s, then I threw 70 in the 90s.”

—There is no doubt James Franklin didn’t want to get fired as Penn State’s football coach. Shed no tears. He isn’t. Penn State will be paying him $20,350 a day, every day for the next six years.

And the nonsense continues. LSU fired Brian Kelly and owes him $52.4 million through 2031. So Kelly tops Franklin’s daily stipend at $23,300 a day, also for the next six years.

—Only two switch-hitters have ever hit 500 career home runs. That would be Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray. Only one has hit 500 home runs and accumulated 3,000 hits. . .and it isn’t Mantle. It’s Murray.

—Another of baseball’s amazing coincidences. Pitcher Warren Spahn won 363 games — 356 for the Braves, four for the Mets and three for the Giants. And the man could hit (when pitchers still hit) He had 363 career hits, 356 for the Braves, four for the Mets and three for the Giants.

You can’t make this stuff up, but you can look it up.

—Spell ‘Damm it I’m mad’ backwards and see what you get. Yep, too much time on my hands.

—PLAYLIST NUMBER 117: As composer Aaron Copeland put it, “To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself — incredible and inconceivable.”

—The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me (Gladys Knight & The Pips), Give A Little Bit (Supertramp), Cool Night (Paul Davis) Mama Told Me (Three Dog Night), Carry On Wayward Son (Kansas), All I Need (Jack Wagner), Just Once (Quincy Jones).

—Say You Love Me (Fleetwood Mac), Couldn’t Get It Right (Climax Blues Band), Drift Away (Dobie Gray), Rich Girl (Daryl Hall & John Oates), You Got It (Roy Orbison), Shoop John B (Beach Boys), If I Could Bring Back Time (Cher).