Also, Arenado Intrigue Heats Up! Red Sox involved.
More Nolan Arenado trade speculation! https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/cardinals-red-sox-have-reportedly-had-recent-communication-on-arenado.html I have heard everything from acquiring some not prospect(s) from the Red Sox because Chaim Bloom used to be there, to acquiring a player already at the MLB level:
Discussions between the Sox and Cardinals could theoretically involve Yoshida. Chaim Bloom, who will take over as president of baseball operations in St. Louis at the end of the season, was the top executive when the Red Sox signed Yoshida. At one point, Bloom believed strongly that his bat would translate against MLB pitching. Yoshida has been a good, not great, major league hitter. Even if Bloom still feels there’s untapped upside, the Cardinals are unlikely to eat a big portion of the contract. Their efforts to trade Arenado have been largely motivated by finances, recent comments from Mozeliak and DeWitt notwithstanding.
Masataka Yoshida is a DH/OF that Bloom may be attached to, that perhaps retains some offensive upside potential. Yoshida was 30 years old last season, came over from Japan at age 29, and hasn’t played very good defense, while being above average on offense already after two seasons: a 115 wRC+ in 2024. He has made slight improvements since his first season, lowering his K rate and upping his walk rate a little, so maybe this would be his breakout year. However, I just don’t see much of a need for him unless you want an upgrade over Burleson at DH, or maybe a little outfield depth/insurance.
Personally, I think this is pretty unlikely and unnecessary because Yoshida bats left handed and they should be and probably are seeking out a right handed batter.
Now it is time for the third installment of my Most Baseball Baseball Names series. This time it is last names starting with D or E:
- Con Daily (1885-1896) is he a daily, con then?
- Eggie Dallard (1924-1932) this one is off the charts cool, I wish I could hear the announcer say that name
- Porter Dallas (1929-1932) I’m not gonna lie, the D’s and E’s have are absolutely stacked with top tier baseball names, and this is one of them
- Dom Dallessandro (1937-1947) a masterful performance
- Abner Dalrymple (1878-1891) a name so old timey that it just somehow must make the list, plus I’ve never heard of a Dalrymple so that qualifies this as a baseball name somehow
- Pepper Daniels (1921-1935) another absolute banger of a baseball name
- Tyler Danish (2016-2022) so silly that it makes the list
- Ron Darling (1983-1995) a name that makes you go, what? and you hear it again and say, yep that’s a baseball player
- Yu Darvish (2012-2024) it conjures thoughts of baseballs being thrown from every angle, an unforgettable name
- Darren Daulton (1983-1997) this fits the mold of a very 80’s sounding baseball name, and well, he played half his career int he 1980’s so there’s that
- Hooks Dauss (1912-1926) dude’s gonna douse you with a bunch of nasty curves
- Chili Davis (1981-1999) another very 80’s ballplayer, advancing well into the 90’s
- Peaches Davis (1936-1939) why not have a food theme now, peaches, chili, and…
- Peanuts Davis (1943-1946) Peanuts! that might be one of the best first names around
- Steel Arm Davis (1920-1935) Steel Arm cannot be left off this list, hopefully he’s a pitcher
- Andre Dawson+ (1976-1996) another very 80’s name, to me at least and yes, an 80’s player
- Bingo DeMoss (1920-1930) ahahahahahha that name! I am absolutely amazed, in the best way Bingo DeMoss!
- Ducky Detweiler (1942-1946) yessssss! this is one of the most fun writing projects around
- Buttercup Dickerson (1878-1885) ok, so this must have been a tough guy
- Pickles Dillhoefer (1917-1921) more food! Pickles! Dill! absolutely astounding
- Art Doll (1935-1938) almost left this off the list but how could I? so simple, so… weird?
- Bunny Downs (1923-1929) Bunny! Bunny Downs
- Leo Durocher+ (1925-1945) just exudes baseball for some reason
- Lenny Dykstra (1985-1996) an absolute legend for all the wrong reasons but his name just makes it all the more impressive… another unforgettable baseball name. as a kid growing up seeing him spray brown tobacco drool everywhere was disturbing and he seemed like the opposite of a good influence and that proved to be very, very true
- Dennis Eckersley+ (1975-1998) a very unique character, and he sounds like a ballplayer
- Butch Edge (1979-1979) ok so I have this loose rule with this writing project where I don’t include one year players… except when the name is just too much to ignore. these one year players basically stomp their way onto the list. if I am ever on the fence about if a name should make it, they don’t make it. but there are exceptions and this is certainly one of them
- Tommy Edman (2019-2024) how can I leave Tommy off this list?
- Jim Edmonds (1993-2010) almost didn’t include Jim here but I think his name does sound like a baseball name… just has that ring to it
- Doc Edwards (1962-1970) sometimes I just like to step back and think, what if someone asked does this name sound like a baseball player or not? and if they said Doc Edwards, I would say yes, that does sound like a baseball player’s name.
- Weedy Edwards (1944-1947) heh heh heh heh heh heh, cough
- Wish Egan (1902-1906) Wish? I have never heard that name before, so Wish Egan is pretty next level considering I don’t know many Egans either
- Mack Eggleston (1920-1934) very baseball, somehow, I don’t know but it just adds up
- Juan Eichelberger (1978-1988) a juxtaposition that makes sense for baseball
- Kid Elberfeld (1898-1914) don’t mess with the Kid
- Hod Eller (1917-1921) huh? what?
- Jumbo Elliott (1923-1934) I wonder if he’s Rowdy’s brother
- Rowdy Elliott (1910-1920) ok so there’s a precursor to the name Rowdy I didn’t know that
- Dock Ellis (1968-1979) an absolute legend and an unforgettable baseball name
- Rocky Ellis (1934-1940) just sounds baseball
- Rube Ellis (1909-1912) hey, ya Rube! just another fun baseball name
- Jacoby Ellsbury (2007-2017) always that mystery player that everyone wanted, he never lived up to that one insane good season, and a few other good seasons… but he sounds super cool
- Narciso Elvira (1990-1990) another one year player whose name just had to be mentioned
- Bones Ely (1884-1902) my dad apparently wanted to name my brother Ely so he would make a deep, creepy voice to taunt my brother calling him Ely at random… anyway, any baseball player named Bones who was born in the 1800’s is gonna make this list
- Woody English (1927-1938) Woody is always a good baseball name and combine that with the word English and it’s just this weird funky combo that has gotta make it
- Dick Estelle (1964-1965) huh huh huh
- Dude Esterbrook (1880-1891) I am proud to know that there was a baseball player named Dude, combine that with a last name like Esterbrook and it’s just a little absurd
- Hoot Evers (1941-1956) and last but not least, we go out with a hoot and celebrate the name Hoot Evers!
Hopefully we will get some baseball news soon in this austere offseason. If not, spring training is getting really close now, and that deserves a toast.
Perfect Album Hall of Fame
Since I wrote a lot about 2024 music recently, I am going to continue on with that theme, but bring it back to some jazz, which I started this series with John Coltrane’s ‘Giant Steps’ and compared jazz with baseball. The new album I’d like to induct is some free jazz.
Andrew Hill’s 2024 remix and remastered version of his 2002 album ‘A Beautiful Day’ was called ‘A Beautiful Day: Revisited’ and it is one of the most truly moving accomplishments in music you could ever hear. To give you an idea of the scope of what I am talking about here, I will just quote a Downbeat jazz review:
In addition to Hill’s piano, we hear from master improvisers of the day like tenor saxophonist Greg Tardy, multi-reedist Marty Ehrlich and trumpeter Ron Horton (all members of Hill’s working sextet at the time), as well as esteemed virtuosos such as John Savage on flute and alto, tuba player Jose Davila, tenor saxophonist Aaron Stewart, baritone saxophonist J.D. Parron, trombonist Charley Gordon and trumpeters Dave Ballou and Bruce Staelens. Other horn section players contributing to the dense and punchy ensemble passages include trumpeter Laurie Frink and trombonists Mike Fahn and Joe Fielder. From start to finish, Hill’s regular rhythm section anchors Scott Colley (bass) and Nasheet Waits (drums) sustain the music’s unstoppable flow — which sometimes manifests as a detectable groove but more often emerges in waves of momentum that will resonate with listeners familiar with the free-jazz end of the jazz spectrum. But A Beautiful Day, Revisited is far from a chaotic affair; indeed, its beauty stems from Hill’s exquisite compositional touch, his gorgeous melodies, his distinctly nontraditional ensemble passages (conducted by Horton in the role of music director) and his mandate for transformative interpretation.
If you want to have your mind, soul, spirit, and body all evaporated and ported over to the next dimension, you should probably listen to ‘A Beautiful Day: Revisited’ today, tomorrow, this weekend, asap. This is top tier American jazz.
This was recorded at one of the best jazz clubs in the world in NYC the year after 9/11 while the city was still reeling, and recovering. If this music doesn’t move you, I cannot imagine what does. So many layers, angles, and skilled musicianship await.
