Welcome to ‘Marty’s Musings’, my weekly column of numbers summarizing the happenings in the baseball world. I am your guide for taking an analytic look at the news and notes throughout the game, and highlighting key pitching matchups.
Last week was a busy week of transactions, but all paled in comparison to the sorrow felt throughout the game with the passing of Henry Aaron.
News & Notes
23 - Years Hank Aaron played in MLB, following a three month stint with the Negro League Indianapolis Clowns. Amidst a storied career in baseball, Aaron passed Babe Ruth as home run king in 1974, and handled everything with exceptional patience, class, and dignity.
Despite death threats in that home run record-breaking season, and having been the target of racism, a segregated society, and an impoverished upbringing, Aason never had a chip on his shoulder, and was known as one of the ‘good guys’ in the game. Later this week we’ll celebrate the life of Henry ‘Hank’ Aaron in a feature article.
4 - Prospects the Yankees sent to the Pirates in exchange for hard-throwing right hurler Jamieson Taillon. Taillon has missed the last season-and-a-half, recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. Not having to give up any top prospects, the Yankees decided to take their chances, particularly with J.A. Happ signing a one-year deal with the Twins last week. Taillon joins Corey Kluber is a high-upside, high-risk rotation behind number one starter Gerrit Cole.
6 - Year, $150 million contract slugger George Springer agreed to with the Toronto Blue Jays. The former Astro star set the record for the largest contract inked by the Jays, as they try to keep pace in a tough AL East.
38 - Days Mets’ General Manager Jared Porter lasted in the job before being justifiably fired for sending inappropriate sexual texts to a female reporter. Following more than 60 ignored texts, Porter sealed the stupidity by sending a vulgar photo. Good on the Mets for their swift and decisive action in firing Porter, but there’s plenty to be learned about thorough background checks and diverse referencing moving forward.
66 - Days until Opening Day 2021. It will be different, no doubt, but it looks like the season will start on time with limited capacity seating to begin the season.
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Steven Martano is an Editor at Beyond the Box Score, a Contributing Prospect Writer for the Colorado Rockies at Purple Row, and a contributing writer for The Hardball Times. You can follow him on Twitter at @SMartano