This Week

• ⚾️The First Pitch

• 🧢Good, Bad, Ugly

• 🌭The Hot Dog and the Ostrich

• 🏝️The One and Only

• 👓Hairspray

• 👴🏻Like Father Like Son

• 🧢Coach’s Korner

• ⚙️Gearin’ Up

• ⁉️They said what?

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🔥 First Pitch

This week had it all—drama, dominance, and old grudges bubbling hotter than Dodger Dogs in July.

Shohei returned to the mound—rusty, sure, but still slinging 100 mph heat.
Boston? They dumped disgruntled slugger Rafael Devers like a bad habit.
And the Yankees? Those torpedo bats have gone as quiet as a library during finals week.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers and Padres reminded us why their rivalry is still must-see TV.
A four-game series packed with hit batters, bench-clearing confrontations, and ejections. Even the managers had to be separated.

Speaking of the Dodgers—
Owner Mark Walter just scooped up a majority stake in another iconic L.A. franchise: the Lakers. That’s right. The deal reportedly values the Lakers at a cool $10 billion.
For perspective, Walter bought the Dodgers in 2012 for a mere $2 billion.

Pocket change, apparently.

Nice little portfolio you’ve got there, Mr. Walter.

That said—let’s get into our Good, Bad, and Ugly:

💥 The Big Dumper

💥 Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners Catcher

Baseball’s always had a thing for “Big.”
Big Papi. The Big Unit. The Big Hurt.

And now?
The Big Dumper. Yep.

Unless you live in the Pacific Northwest, you might not even know the name Cal Raleigh.
 But you should—because right now, this dude is the best catcher in baseball.

He leads the majors with 29 bombs, breaking the record for most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break.
And at his current pace?
We’re talking 60. Roger Maris, Aaron Judge territory—the kind of season people write books about.

He’s already a Gold Glover.
And next month, he’s likely to become the first Mariners catcher to ever start in the All-Star game.

Oh—and he crushed two more home runs at Wrigley last night.

A switch-hitting wrecking ball, Raleigh is dragging the Mariners (and their long-suffering fans) onto the national stage—one moonshot at a time.

And that nickname? The Big Dumper?
Let’s just say it’s about as subtle as a 450-foot no-doubter into the upper deck.

We’re not asking follow-up questions.

We’re just watching in awe.

The Big Dumper is real.
No ifs, ands, or… butts about it.

💥 Runner-Up: Jacob Misiorowski’s Electric Debut

Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski is making history—and making hitters look silly.

In his first two MLB starts, the 6-foot-7 flamethrower threw 11 no-hit innings to begin his career—the longest streak by a starting pitcher in the Modern Era.

😬 The Bronx Bummer
New York Yankees

A few weeks ago, the chatter was all about a Yankees–Dodgers World Series.

Now?
The question is whether the Yankees can even score a run.

During a brutal 6-game losing streak, they were shut out three straight times.
Those so-called torpedo bats? Flatlined.

Even the herculean Aaron Judge has hit a wall.
Over his last 8 games: 6-for-30 with 16 strikeouts.

Yikes.

Yep—it’s a rough patch in the Bronx.
Might wanna put those World Series tickets on hold.

😬 The Red Sox–Devers Breakup

One Ugly Split.

The Red Sox had just swept the Yankees.
Devers homered in the finale…

Hours later?
Boom. Gone. Shipped to San Francisco

Boston flipped their disgruntled slugger to the Giants for two pitchers and a pair of prospects.
And Red Sox Nation?
Losing. Its. Mind.

The vibes? Full-on Mookie Betts déjà vu.

ESPN’s Damien Woody couldn’t hold back.
The front office? In meltdown mode—with most of the heat aimed at Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow.
One report called it an “internal revolt.”

And because baseball thrives on chaos…
Guess who Boston is playing this weekend?

Yep—Devers’ new team.

Last night, in their reunion? Devers went 0-for-5.

So yeah…
Buckle up. This one’s personal—chaotic, ugly, and oh-so-baseball.

Gearin’ Up

🚀 Torpedo Bats: Hype or Game-Changer?

Everyone’s talking about ’em.
From Little League diamonds to MLB dugouts, torpedo bats are 2025’s hottest swing weapon.

Why the buzz?
These sleek, tapered-barrel beasts shift the weight forward, stretch the sweet spot, and let hitters whip through the zone with serious speed and control.

Some promise “next-level balance.”
A few actually deliver.

⚠️ But here’s the thing—
Not every torpedo bat is worth your money. Some are just hype in a fancy wrapper.

Whether you’re a travel baller, high school slugger, or coach looking to level up your lineup, there’s a torpedo out there built for your game.

👉 [Read our full report] 🚀 The 5 Best Torpedo Bats in 2025

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—at no extra cost to you.

⚠️ Is Your Child Burned Out?

When baseball stops being fun—and starts feeling like a chore.

😓 “Do I have to go to practice today?”
If that line’s become a regular soundtrack in your house, it might not be just a phase.

For parents, it’s tough to hear—but it’s often the first sign your child needs a break.

Youth baseball burnout is real—and it’s on the rise.

With year-round schedules, relentless pressure, and no time to reset, some kids are hitting the wall physically, mentally, and emotionally.

🚨 Top Burnout Triggers:

• Too much training, not enough rest

• Constant pressure, zero downtime

• Specializing too early in one sport

🧠 Think of Their Brain Like a Smartphone:

Leave every app running nonstop... and eventually it crashes.

🔍 Red Flags to Watch For:

• Dreading practice or hoping for rainouts

• Always sore or low energy

• Mood swings around baseball

• Slipping performance

• Losing interest in backyard catch

👉 [Read the full blog] for signs, solutions, and when it’s time to hit pause.

🌴 From Bermuda... to the Bigs?

Bermuda is known for pink sand, overpriced rum, and of course—the Bermuda Triangle.
But baseball? Not so much.

No high school league. Just six fields.

But somehow, out of this quiet Atlantic island, one kid made it out.

Adam Hall.

“We were fortunate enough, my dad and I, to kind of have access to the baseball field,” Hall said.
Translation: nobody else was using it.

He trained wherever he could.
Backyard cages. Open grass. Empty diamonds near the beach.
Maybe seven games a year. No showcases. No travel ball. Just swings. And belief.

At 18, the Orioles drafted him.

Now he’s playing Double-A ball with the Biloxi Shuckers.
And back home? His at-bats are an event.

No pipeline. No program.
Just one island kid putting Bermuda baseball on the map.

They don’t have a tradition.
They have Adam.
The one. The only.

🧢 She Doesn’t Just Throw Heat—She’s Changing the Look of the Game

You look at Sam Landry and think: librarian.
Clear-frame glasses. Calm expression.
Not your typical sports stereotype.

But then—boom.
She’s on the mound throwing smoke.

88 career wins. Perfect games. No-hitters.
AUSL No. 1 overall pick.

She doesn’t just break the mold—
She windmills through it at 70 mph.

And yeah, she does it all in glasses held on by… hairspray.
Because why not?

Forget trends. Forget function-over-fashion.
Sam Landry doesn’t just wear glasses—she owns them.

While other athletes fuss with goggles or contacts—or just pray a foul ball doesn’t rearrange their face—
Landry’s out here dealing filth in clear frames like it’s nothing.

And guess what?
It’s everything.

This isn’t some optical endorsement deal.
This is superstition turned swagger.

First perfect game in high school? Glasses on.
Dominating at OU? Still rocking ‘em.
Now mowing down hitters in the pros?

Come on—you already know.

Her glasses are the game.
And the fans? They’re all in.

OU sold out of replica frames.
Kids wore them. Landry signed them.
It’s a whole vibe.

And the best part? These things don’t move.
No fancy tech. No elastic strap.
Just hairspray and audacity.

🧴 Hairspray. Who knew?!

So yeah, glasses are cool now.
Because Sam Landry said so.

And if you’ve got a problem with that?
Step into the box.

We’ll wait.

👴🏻 Like Father, Like Son… (With Ejections to Match)

A few weeks back, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo made headlines for hilariously ejecting umpires one by one during a heated on-field meltdown.

Turns out baseball drama runs in the family.

Just last Sunday, his son Nick—manager of the High-A South Bend Cubs—got tossed arguing a call at second base. But before heading for the showers, he gave the ump a little parting gift:

He mimicked his dad’s now-famous gesture and theatrically ejected the ump right back.

💬 “Happy Father’s Day, Dad—I got thrown out for you,” Nick later told him.

That’s love. That’s legacy.
That’s baseball.

Because sometimes the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…
It gets tossed, too.

Bet you’ve never gotten a hot dog at the ballpark quite like this.

Forget Batman. Forget Thor.
The Reading Fightin’ Phils have The Crazy Hot Dog Vendor.

In the second inning, he mounts his trusty ostrich, Rodrigo—OK, not a real ostrich—and gallops around the field, frantically launching hot dogs into the stands like a man possessed.

Decked out like a barbershop quartet member on a sugar high—bow tie, thick glasses, striped shirt, and a wig—he’s become a cult hero in Reading.

There’s even a statue of him.
Because of course there is.

The man behind the madness? Matt Jackson.
For over 20 years, he’s been slinging franks faster than you can say “pass the mustard.”

He “inherited” the role back in 2004 after another performer bailed.
The team figured: Why risk it again? Jackson’ll do anything.

After the on-field chaos, he mingles with fans, signs autographs, poses for pics—then disappears.

“As soon as I get out of the costume, I walk right by [the fans],” he said.
“They have no idea.”

Just another mild-mannered baseball guy.
Clark Kent… with ketchup stains.

📣 Quote of the Week

"If a horse can't eat it, I don't want to play on it."
— Hall of Famer Dick Allen, on artificial turf

That’s it for this week.

Enjoy the weekend! Thanks for checking in.

John Boxley - High N Tight

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