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Greetings, fellow baseball enjoyers! And welcome to our thrice-weekly newsletter/blog.
We’ve got MLB finally fixing the uniforms, Mike Trout on the sidelines again, and why more stolen bases is a good thing.
My name’s AJ… and this is Two-Strike Count.
Nike says it’s fixing the uniforms… finally
MLB’s new uniforms have been a hot topic of conversation since Spring Training. And not in a good way. Issues like mismatched colors, sweat stains soaking through the fabric, pants tearing too easily, and way-too-small lettering have drawn the ire of both fans and players.
But at long last, it seems like Nike is paying attention.
In a memo to the MLB Players Association, they’ve promised to address several uniform issues and essentially go back to the old ones. Well it’s about damn time. Like the old saying goes, “if it ain’t broke… don’t fix it.” And there was nothing wrong with the Majestic Athletics uniforms that MLB had been using since 2020.
Sure, they might not have been as lightweight or breathable as the new ones claim to be, but at least players didn’t have to worry about their pants shredding like cheddar cheese every time they dove for a ball or slid into second base.
According to the memo, the fixes are set to be made before the start of next season. It’s something, I guess, but if I were them I’d put a rush on it. I mean, what exactly is the holdup?
All they’re doing is going back to the old uniforms. I don’t care if they keep the “high-performance” material (as long as the pants aren’t see-through anymore)... but it’s embarrassing that players have had to endure these monstrosities for this long.
We’re not talkin about the California Penal League here. This is Major League Baseball, home of the best players in the world.
And they deserve nothing but the best.
Trout on the shelf again
Walking back to the dugout. That’s how Angels superstar Mike Trout tore the meniscus in his knee. Even Hollywood couldn’t dream this stuff up. The 32-year-old Trout will undergo surgery to repair the damage and could be out til as late as August. And that’s the optimistic timeline… it could be longer.
This is an all-too-familiar situation for Trout, but hasn’t always been the case. From 2013 to 2016, he played in at least 157 games per season. But over the last 4 seasons, Trout’s missed some significant time. He missed 126 games with a season-ending calf strain in 2021, spent five weeks on the IL in 2022 with a back injury, and last year he broke his hamate bone in July. Trout came back for one game in August before shutting it down for the season.
You never wanna see players get hurt. Especially a player like Trout. He’s hands down one of the best players in baseball (maybe the best) and you’ll never hear a bad word about him on or off the field.
So here’s wishing Mike Trout all the best for a speedy recovery. And fingers crossed that he’s able to get back on the field this year. Because there’s no denying that baseball is better (and more fun to watch) when he’s at his best.
The Case of the Pilfered Pillows
I’m old enough to remember when stolen bases were seemingly as rare as a solar eclipse. There was a time when it was surprising to see someone swipe a bag. And that was just fine. It’s what makes Rickey Henderson’s record-breaking 1,406 career steals so impressive.
But, as players have gotten faster and more athletic (and with recent rule changes like bigger bases and limiting pick-off attempts) pillows are being pilfered at a staggering rate. Last there were 3,500 bases stolen across MLB… the most since 2011. And with the aforementioned rule changes, which have led teams to put a bigger emphasis on the running game, that number should only get bigger.
That’s great news if you’re a fan of base stealing. Or a player who can motor around the bases with ease like Elly De La Cruz. Or a team that’s got a speedster or two in their lineup.
But what about players on the other side? What about the pitchers and catchers… the ones tasked with preventing stolen bases. Players like Phillies catcher JT Realmuto and Brewers first base coach Quintin Berry who have used words like “tougher to throw guys out” and “handcuffed.”
I understand the frustration, but stolen bases make the game more exciting. More fun to watch. And base running has led to some of the game’s most exciting moments… even before the rule changes.
In the end it’s a trade-off. The new rules are here to stay, and teams have adapted their offense to suit them. Defenses will have to do the same.
That’s it for this edition of Two-Strike Count, baseball fans. Until next time!
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