High N Tight
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High N Tight

High N Tight

Let The Games Begin!

john boxley
March 29, 2025

Happy Saturday! Welcome To Another Edition Of High N Tight!

Salt River Fields, Spring Training 2025

⚾️ Have the White Sox Been Mathematically Eliminated Yet?

Sorry, Chi-Town, but that was too easy!

Oddsmakers have the Sox pegged for 53.5 wins this season.

Ouch. But that’s progress. A 12-game improvement over last year’s historic disaster.

Here’s hoping that things only get better for our friends on the South Side.

🍩 A Sweet Debut for Cam Smith

Cam Smith’s MLB debut was one to remember.

Earlier this week, he learned he had made the Houston Astros big league roster in an emotional moment with his family.

Then, on Opening Day, Smith arrived—bearing gifts—three dozen donuts for his teammates.

But the best was yet to come—the 22-year-old rookie delivering a clutch hit in the Astros’ win.

Now that’s how you make an entrance!

🧢 $765 Million Doesn’t Buy What It Used To

Case in point: Juan Soto.

The owner of the biggest contract in baseball history had his first big moment as a Met—ninth inning, runners on, game on the line.

And?

The mighty ‘Casey struck out to end it.(Shout out to “Centerfield”).

Relax, New York. Juan's got 15 years and 2,400 games left to make up for it.

⚾️ Shohei Being Shohei … and Tom Hanks the Scorekeeper?

Of course, Shohei Ohtani homered on Opening Day—because, well, of course he did.

But let’s talk about something else—Actor Tom Hanks was at the game with his son, Colin.

The two-time Oscar winner could be seen keeping score with pen and notebook. Even posting his scorecard!

Come on, Tom! Live a little!

You’re at Dodger Stadium—grab a beer, enjoy a Dodger Dog, and let someone else worry about the K’s!

I Already Miss ABS

ABS (Automated Balls and Strikes) was one of the biggest storylines of Spring Training, allowing pitchers, catchers and batters to challenge ball-and-strike calls.

And it worked out really well.

Fans loved how MLB's new ABS challenge system exposed the umpire's terrible call in real time

If you have tuned in for any of the spring training games thus far, you've probably noticed that MLB has started testing an automated strike zone. And the best part about the system may be that umpires are getting a dose of accountability in real time. That's exactly…

ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2025/02/24/padres-dodgers-abs-challenge-umpire-missed-call-reaction/80491708007

The best part? Umpires were held accountable on the spot.

But now, ABS is done for the moment. MLB is back to 100% human home plate umpires—no oversight.

Here’s hoping we get our ABS friends back full-time in 2026. We miss you!.

Canva

Gee Wiz! The Future of Baseball Is in Your Brain

As we know, AI is changing the way baseball is played, coached, and scouted—but this one really caught my attention.

Pison Technology, specializing in AI-infused cognitive performance apps and wearables, has created the world’s first mental performance training tool.

The Pison Pro wristband tracks brain activity in real time, reading electrical signals from the brain and nervous system to monitor:
✔ Focus
✔ Stress levels
✔ Decision-making speed
✔ Mental fatigue

This isn’t just some cool gadget—it could be a game-changer.

Scouts and coaches have always relied on batting averages, pitch speeds, and fielding percentages to evaluate talent.

Now?

They’re about to quantify mental toughness the same way they measure exit velocity and spin rate.

Pison Baseball Pro

Already used by MLB and NCAA players, Pison is now rolling out the device to 175,000 young athletes through a partnership with Prep Baseball.

Baseball has long been called a “thinking man’s game.”

Now, for the first time, players and coaches can track, train, and optimize their mental performance.

That’s some heady stuff!

☕️ That Cup of Coffee: Baseball’s Brutal Reality

In the history of the game, 20,790 players have worn a Major League uniform. Of those, 1,519 have played in just one-game. The one-game wonders.

Baseball’s gut-wrenching truth.

SF Giants, Scottsdale Stadium 2025

The Cold, Hard Truth:

🔹 Total MLB Players: 20,790
🔹 One-Game Careers: 1,519
🔹 Chance of Lasting? Thinner than a toothpick.

A few of them:

🏅 John Paciorek – A perfect 3-for-3 in his ONE game. That 1.000 batting average will live forever in baseball lore.

🎩 Larry Yount – Entered the game, blew out his arm before throwing a pitch. His one moment was gone before it even began. Baseball’s cruelest slight of hand.

One pitch. One at bat. One ground ball.

A fine between a Major League career and merely a field of dreams.

❓ Will They or Won’t They?

You win a championship. The ultimate thrill for a professional athlete. You celebrate with a ticker-tape parade.

Then come off season decisions. Who do we bring back? Who walks?

But in recent years…Do we accept the President’s invitation to visit the White House?

It used to be a given. Win a championship, pack your bags, and head to DC.

Now? Not so simple.

🔷 Eagles(Super Bowl Champions) : Declined.
🔷 Dodgers(World Series Champions) Accepted.

In today's world, visiting the White House isn’t just about celebrating the win—it’s about navigating politics, public opinion, and those internal debates.

The decision isn’t just a team tradition; it’s a team conversation.

Political football (or baseball) indeed.

Championship teams are left to ponder the ultimate question...

Will we or won’t we?