Shift reshift
Not unlike our Tuesday essays in college basketball season, we will examine the MLB in general on Tuesdays for the summer. (Or at least until football returns.)
Today we will start with what I hope to be the return of common sense in baseball.
Forget the rule changes to outlaw the shift, let’s make the shift pay.
Meet Matt Carpenter, the Cardinals outfielder who on Monday dropped your everyday clean bunt double down the third-base line.
Yes, a bunt double, which normally only happens in youth baseball and it only happens for the kid whose momma keeps the book.
But Carpenter rolled a bunt all the way into left field and forced the pitcher to run it down as he cruised unchallenged into second base.
Yes, we are here for some of the interesting conversations about modernizing the game.
But baseball players need to start beating the shift like Carpenter did, and it would really help the game’s biggest issue, and that’s not longer times, it’s less action.
Beyond the strikeouts, which like homers, are on an all-time record-pace, the actual ball-in-play action is at a staggering low.
Betting trend
Daniel Wallach has been on Press Row a few times. No one in the country knows more about the law and sports betting.
No one.
He has joined on with The Athletic – a pay site to which I subscribe – and his recent story highlights the next trend in the legalization of sports betting.
His story is here, but it is a pay site remember, and one I recommend by the way. (Side note: As someone who works and writes behind a paywall, I know it can get pricey, but please accept my many thanks to those of you who play along regularly. Your support and patronage is greatly appreciated. Now and always.)
Wallach tells us that eight states, including Nevada, have sports betting up and running. Seven more states and Washington D.C. have approved the law change to legalize sports betting but those states are finalizing the details.
Tennessee is one of those seven, and it goes into effect July 1 with online betting.
The next trend Wallach discusses is the soon-to-be growth in the idea of sports betting kiosks inside team’s stadiums and arenas.
Illinois and New York are two of the states exploring that avenue and stories of the Cubs having betting windows Wrigley are already circulating.
And believe this, because we have discussed this before: As college programs continue to explore ways to expand the revenue-generating streams, do we really think it will not be that long before major college programs are pondering the same questions?
Roster construction
The fallout from the Lakers-Pelicans trade has far-reaching ripples.
After acquiring Anthony Davis, the Lakers became the favorite to win the NBA title next year. Here are those odds from Westgate Superbook: Lakers 3-to-1; Bucks 6-to-1; Clippers 7-to-1; Rockets 8-to-1; Raptors 10-to-1; Warriors, 76ers 12-to-1; Celtics, Nuggets 16-to-1; Thunder 20-to-1; Nets 25-to-1; Jazz, Blazers 30-to-1; Mavericks 40-to-1; Knicks 50-to-1; Spurs, Pacers, Pelicans 60-to-1; Magic, Hawks 80-to-1; Grizzlies, Bulls, Kings, Suns 100-to-1; Pistons, Hornets, Heat, Wizards, Cavs, T-Wolves 200-to-1. (Side note: Vegas must believe that a) The Knicks are going to get noticeably better and b) that the Warriors are going to really slide.)
Certainly the injuries and uncertainty for Golden State and free-agents-to-be Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant helps that.
Certainly the unknown landing spot for Kawhi Leonard helps that, although, not unlike the overwhelming odds Vegas posted for the Lakers to land AD, the fact that the L.A. Clippers are listed as the fourth-favorite means Vegas really likes Leonard to also be in L.A.
But the joining of Davis and James is simply put the best tandem in the league since Kobe and Shaq.
To that point, James and Davis were both first-team All-NBA as recently as 2017-18, something they accomplished three times since 2014-15.
But the Lakers have only five players on their roster – James, Davis, Kyle Kozma, Moe Wagner and Issac Bonga – and one more – Jermerrio Jones – who the Lakers have a team option for if they decide to use.
If the trade is made official on July 6 – the first day of free agency – then the Lakers would have $27.8 million in cap room if Anthony Davis waves his $4 million trade bonus, and considering that AD is going to get a super max extension from the Lakers sooner rather than later, here’s betting that gets waved.
If the Lakers can get the Pelicans to agree to wait until late July to announce the deal, they will have $32.5 million, which would allow a max player to come to L.A. but not a ton else. (To that end, Damon Jones said on The Jump on ESPN that the Lakers are in play for Kawhi. Wow, that would be an all-time super three but the Lakers may need the 5-at-10 – at the tender age of 48 – to be a role guy off the bench and play 10-12 minutes a game.)
Either way, they have some work to do to fill out a squad.
Here are some names of some soon-to-be and what they made in 2018-19:
Former 76ers shooter JJ Reddick ($12.5 million): He could be had for a little less with a multi-year deal according to reports. Plus, like a lot of veterans without a ring, how many would be willing to roll the dice to be part of the LeBron-AD Lake Show?
Former Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley ($5 million): Cagey defender who made more than 2 3s per game last year.
Former Blazers shooting guard Seth Curry ($2.7 million): He will get a much-deserved raise after making 45 percent of his 3s last season.
And finally, what about DeMarcus Cousins.? Hmmmmmmm.
This and that
– Braves played. Braves pounded the ball. Braves won 12-3 over the Mets on Monday. Atlanta got homers from Father Time (Brian McCann, his seventh) and the baby Braves (Albies, 11, and Acuna, 17). Atlanta was 16-for-40 (.400) last night.
– Side Braves question: Why have we not seen more Grant Dayton, the lefty reliever who was recalled from the minors on Monday and fanned the three Mets he faced?
– One more thing about the Lakers’ situation: This is the single best year to be a fringe guy who has entered the NBA draft. Why you ask? Because depending on how the Lakers assemble their top seven- or eight-man rotation, they are going to have to fill seats on the bench with undrafted dudes. If I’m a Bryce Brown or some other college dude who has range, if my does not get called Thursday, may agent better be begging the Lakers for a spot in camp.
– Kind of remiss we did not discuss Monday being the 25th anniversary of the OJ chase in the white Bronco. The 30-for-30 on that day – which also included the start of the World Cup in America, Arnold Palmer’s last U.S. Open round, the Stanley Cup parade for the Rangers, and the Knicks last NBA Finals game in MSG – is pretty doggone good.
– Speaking of parades, three people were shot and four injured amid the 1.5 million people in Toronto on Monday celebrating the Raptors’ NBA title.
– Be wary of your portfolio friends, because if Wal-Mart is closing stores, well, all the BID-ness models for all genres needs to make sure they are ready for the future. Here’s more, and there are two of the 17 closing SuperCenters in Tennessee – in Knoxville and Morristown.
– Who knew? Former world No. 1 tennis player Caroline Wozniacki married former NBA all-star David Lee over the weekend.
Today’s questions
True or false, it’s Tuesday.
True or false, you would make in-game sports bets at the stadiums of your favorite teams.
True or false, the Lakers will win the West next season.
True or false, OJ’s Bronco chase is one of the “remember where you were” moments of the last 40 years.
As for today, June 18, let’s explore.
On this day in 1815, Napoleon lost at Waterloo, which then became a general term, so there’s that. So did Napoleon in terms of height.
Fifty years ago today, “The Wild Bunch” was released. In 1991, Bryan Adams’ “Everything I Do I Do It for You” was released. Gross.
The first Fast and Furious was released on this day in 2001.
Paul McCartney is 77 today.
Rushmore of Beatles songs. Go.