Random Images and Ideas

Gerrit Cole must have felt like an airline passenger without TSA pre-check. It wasn't right seeing the way he and other pitchers were frisked and searched as the new phase of MLB's crackdown on foreign substances began. Tensions flare in several ballparks: Max Scherzer ripped open his belt after being checked for the third time in just four innings; A's reliever Sergio Romo topped that by pulling down his pants to mock the official intrusion to pitchers bodies and gear. Isn't there a more subtle way to check that rules are being followed?
 
Can't we even get through one day without a top level pitcher leaving with an injury? Tuesday night, it was Marcus Stroman of the Mets, who lasted just the 1st inning before an apparent hip injury forced him out. Working to a sub 2.5 ERA, and striking out more than three times as many batters as he walks, the Long Island product has been a steady number-two in manager Luis Rojas' rotation all season.
The injury wave isn't confined to pitchers. Brewers 1st baseman Daniel Vogelbach (seen here in his Mariner days) popped a hamstring on his way to scoring in Milwaukee's 5-0 win over the Diamondbacks. He hopped off the field; next stop: the I-L.
Dylan Cozens (#25, standing behind teammate Rhys Hoskins), once a Phillies slugging prospect, announced he was changing sports. Struggling this season in the Brewers farm system, the 6-foot-6 son of onetime U of Pittsburgh linebacker (and Denver Broncos draft choice) Randy Cozens wants to see if his future is brighter in football. 
Padres second-year 2nd baseman Jake Cronenworth blasted his second two-run homer in as many nights as San Diego held off the Dodgers 3-2 at a sold-out Petco Park on Tuesday night. In keeping it numerically consistent, it was San Diego's second straight win over their LA rivals.
 
(Below) After several veterans, such as the Yankees' Aaron Judge, said they'd pass on next month's Home Run Derby, another rising star is headed for the big stage. Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette has signed on for the July 12th prime time spectacle at Coors Field.
And finally, from 10 years ago, June 2011, Ivan Nova on the mound at Yankee Stadium. Do you think the now-34 year old hurler will make it back to the majors sometime this season?

 

 

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