Right-Center Gap

Well folks, it’s 83 days until Pitchers and Catchers report for Spring Training, and the timelines as of late have been running a little bit quiet when it comes to baseball talk, so here I am to give you a brief update to things that are happening on and off the diamond this off-season.

After failing yet another steroid test, perennial all-star, former Home-Run Derby Champion, and World Series Champion, Robinson Cano has landed himself in some hot water to the tune of a complete 162-game suspension (barring that next season is 162 games as per usual). This is Cano’s second or third run in with steroid issues that has caused him to miss substantial time, and certainly calls into question just why the hell Manfred continually gives chances to guys that violate the league policy on PEDs. What ultimately sucks is the fact that there are these pitchers around the league that are working their asses off to get ahead in the ways they can, whether it be DriveLine or other training methods that will add velo to their fastballs, and spin rate to their breaking balls, and that completely goes by the wayside when hitters, as we’ve seen have found their ways to cheat the system and succeed by unethical means (i.e. – banging on trashcans, buzzers, and steroids).

What is a sliver lining for the Mets in this situation is the fact that the multiple million dollar contract the Cano has on the books is not forfeited due to his suspension, allowing new owner, and multi-millionaire, Steve Cohen to really hunt after some of the top free-agent names this offseason with an “unlimited” checkbook eyeing down names like MVP – finalist DJ LeMahieu, Cy Young Winner Trevor Bauer, J.T. Realmuto, and George Springer, as well as locking down Michael Conforto for the long-term, which would be massive for the team. Things are going to be looking potentially very different in Queens this coming year, and I would not surprised to see this team takeover the NL East in the next 3 – 5 years.

Now, lawsuits and baseball is something I never really thought too deeply into, especially after a college career playing the game. However, I feel like the lawsuit proposed by Mike Bolsinger, former pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, in attempt to remedy lost wages, and a major rift in future employment for Bolsinger has some legs to it. According to Dodgersnation.com (completely unbiased source, I’m sure), “Mike Bolsinger had already issued a lawsuit against Astros’ owner Jim Crane back in February of this year in the wake of the cheating scandal coming to light. Bolsinger alleged that the Astros crushing him in the 2017 playoffs made it impossible for him to get a job in the MLB… Bolsinger pitched for the Dodgers in 2015 and 2016, but it was 2017 when he faced the Astros with Toronto. In his 2 appearances against Houston that year, Bolsinger allowed 8 earned runs in 5.2 innings and gave up 3 homeruns. He has not played in the MLB since that final appearance against the Astros in August of 2017.”

Granted, this is a very specific case for Bolsinger, I honestly do feel that this lawsuit has some legitimate legs to it, and I could definitely see this going a long way into the court system to which I’m sure we will see it on E-60, or maybe even a 30-for-30 one day.

I have to admit, I’m jealous… I am thinking about it now that I should file a lawsuit against any left-handed pitcher, or any right-handed pitcher with a shred of what looks like a change-up to sue to potential lost wages of a baseball career.

And finally, the rich get richer this morning. With mentions of players being on the move or testing the free agency waters, workhorse third man in the Rays rotation, Charlie Morton, is now on the move to the Atlanta Braves, giving that team down in ATL another stud to add to their ranks as they look to make a deep playoff run for next season. The NL East is looking like it could become one of the best divisions in baseball once again!

Check back here as the off-season continues to get more updates on MLB news, stories, and commentary from the Fourth Man Up crew on Right - Center Gap.