8-1-2020 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this version of the program by bringing up Joe Kelly’s decision to police the Houston Astros cheating scandal by throwing at Alex Bregman. John has made it clear that he has no problem with players policing the sport. It has been part of the game for years. When MLB did very little to Chase Utley for hurting Mets infielder Ruben Tejada in a playoff game in 2015, Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard took matters in his own hands. While John has no problem with that, nor Kelly’s actions by themselves, he has an issue with the timing. MLB has put health and safety protocols in place with the intention of preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Part of it involves the avoidance of any team to team altercations. Kelly could have waited until the virus boils over or until next season to the season after. He was selfish to allow his agenda to override the need to be safe. A team (the Miami Marlins) is on the verge of losing their season and this guy wants to be the poster child for revenge on the Astros. Time and place. John then talks about how the use of starting pitchers may completely change the game forever. It has already cause the need for 12-14 pitchers on a staff and the universal designated hitter. It may very well be responsible for the change of the game length from nine to seven innings. Contemporary starting pitchers are ruining the game of baseball. Finally, John has a message for Mets General Manager Brodie VanWagenen- Stop trying to justify the trade for Edwin Diaz and put the best players in position to compete for a playoff spot. Diaz is not good, he is a bad pitcher. And it has nothing to do with the “bright lights of New York City.”
