On Wednesday the Baltimore Orioles called up their top prospect, Jackson Holliday. While exciting, the move had another effect. MLBbro Tony Kemp, an eight-year MLB veteran signed with the Baltimore Orioles a couple weeks before the season hoping to provide some experience on a young and upcoming team.
Kemp is not an All-Star caliber player, but he is a savvy left-handed hitting second baseman, also capable of handling all outfield positions. This move made perfect sense to add depth and versatility to the Orioles lineup at the time, but things have since gone in a different direction. The MLBbro started only two games, and only saw action in five out of 11 total games.
The MLBbro was designated for assignment by the Orioles to make space for the rookie phenom. Kemp is more than familiar with Jackson from his college days at Vanderbilt the young prospect’s uncle Josh Holiday (the brother of former major league baseball player Matt Holliday (Jackson’s father), was his hitting coach.
Tony Kemp Is The Consummate Pro: Moves Out So Jackson Holiday Can Move In
The MLBbro could have easily expressed disdain or ill will towards Holliday, but he opted for grace and support. A tweet from Kemp showed that he displayed nothing but class even though this will ultimately leave him without a job presently.
Kemp was with the Oakland Athletics for four years prior to this brief stint with Baltimore, and there are sure to be suitors for his veteran presence around the league. It may not happen immediately, but the MLB season is long, and opportunities are certain to arise.
Kemp has always been outstanding off the field and great in the local communities in cities which he has played. This is just the other side of the business that is sports. While this was the first major step in the career of Jackson Holliday, it is just a small detour in the career of the veteran MLBbro. Hopefully he lands with another team that can use a utility left-handed hitter and a great clubhouse influence.
The MLBbro was with the Oakland Athletics for four years prior to this brief stint with Baltimore, and there are sure to be suitors for his veteran presence around the league. It may not happen immediately, but the MLB season is long, and opportunities are certain to arise. Kemp has always been outstanding off the field and great in the local communities in cities which he has played.
This is just the other side of the business that is sports. While this was the first major step in the career of Jackson Holliday, it is just a small detour in the career of the veteran MLBbro. Hopefully he lands with another team that can use a utility left-handed hitter and the move ultimately benefits both parties.
When Yankees ace Gerrit Cole went down with right elbow concerns with reports predicting 10-12 weeks on the shelf, the Bro community got excited because the next logical candidate to fill the March 28 Opening Day void in Houston would be veteran hurler Marcus Stroman.
Stroman is built for the big moment and says he came back home to New York to help the Yankees make history.
Marcus Stroman Refuses Opening Day Start
Stroman would probably love the opportunity, but he has a finely-tuned body that must remain on a delicate schedule in order for him to remain healthy and effective throughout the 162-game grind, plus the playoffs.
With all that is at stake with his new two-year $37M dollar deal, Stroman prefers to stay on his current schedule, which has the meticulous righty lined up to pitch March 30 (Game 3 of the Astros series), and the April 5 home opener against the Blue Jays, which of course, he prefers.
Family and friends will be in attendance to see the Medford, L.I. kid toss his first inning on the iconic Yankee Stadium hill.
GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone approached Stroman to gauge his interest for the Opening Day assignment.
According to reports, Boone is still holding out hope that Stroman will change his mind, but Stroman isn’t going to start changing routines just because it’s Game 1.
He wasn’t shy about it either.
“I think they thought I was going to be like, ‘Hey, let me get it,’ ” Stroman said of the conversation after a Spring Training outing against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on Thursday.
“But like I said, that’s not my nature, man. Doesn’t matter to me.”
The way Storman operates is, he locks into a certain mental space and then he’s able to trigger all of the attributes, training and various preparations he puts into gearing up for an MLB season.
Marcus Stroman Doesn’t Want To Break Routine To Cover Cole’s Opening Day Start
Being mentally locked in from the beginning is just as important as how you feel physically.
Stroman failed to make 30 starts in each of his two seasons with the Cubs (25), after leading the league with 33 starts for the New York Mets in 2021.
When the Yankees invested in Stroman, they invested in his program for achieving maximum results.
Therefore, you can’t knock him for refusing the assignment and setting his boundaries.
Do NOT come asking me to do any wacky stuff.
“People don’t understand how much changing your schedule at this point in the spring — might seem like it’s easy — but every little day matters,” said Stroman, who has pitched in three Opening Days, including last year for the Cubs.
Yankees Should Be Thinking Long-Term
This shouldn’t be a big deal to the Yankees organization or Yankees fans. The long-term success of the team and health of the pitching staff in the wake of Cole’s unforeseen misfortunes, is most important. Let another professional starter on your staff have the honor of pitching an Opening Day. It’s a bucket-lister for any MLB pitcher of any talent level.
For Stroman, there will be many more festive games.
Every game will be a must-win game for Yankees starters as they navigate a brutal AL East Division without the Cy Young award winner and best pitcher in the game.
This certainly wasn’t in the plans, after a productive offseason that saw the Bronx Bombers coral Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham, to balance out the Yankees’ lineup.
Plus, Storman is in the Bronx to get wins and make headlines. He certainly craves that Opening Day slot at the stadium and barring mother nature impeding, he’s not letting anyone take that opportunity away from him.
Stroman Makes MLBbro History With Second Yankees Home-Opener Start
How many MLBbros have even started an Opening Day for the Yankees?
One to be exact, and his name is CC Sabathia, who started a record six straight Opening Days for the Yankees from the season they signed him in 2009 until 2014. However, only two of those starts came at Yankees Stadium. A 2011 no decision against the Detroit Tigers and a loss to the Boston Red Sox in 2013.
Either way, Stroman will be the second Black pitcher to ever tote the rubber for a Yankees season home-opener.
There’s nothing better than that. Stroman is in the perfect position to start his Yankees career with a bang. No need to disrupt the money train, especially with Cole out for a significant amount of time to begin the 2024 campaign.
The LA Dodgers continue to build a dynastic and diverse looking organization from top to bottom.
Four seasons removed from facing MLB pitching, former Dodgers star Matt Kemp is back with the organization that saw him rise to superstardom as a perennial MVP candidate from 2006-2014. The three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove outfielder returned to the Dodgers in 2018 and earned his final All-Star selection, along with high praise from manager Dave Roberts.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Kemp will serve in an advisory role for the Dodgers. The 39-year-old MLBbro is the second former Black star to take a front office job with the Dodgers this offseason.
Former Tampa Bay Rays ace Chris Archer has a flexible role in the Dodgers front office to explore a wide range of interests.
The Dodgers already had a Matt Kemp bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium planned for Aug. 11, so bringing him into the fold is the icing on the cake. He will probably help former Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier aid in Miguel Vargas’ adjustment to left field, along with helping the group of outfielders who have to roam without Gold Glover Mookie Betts holding down the corner.
Betts is on his way to trying to become the first player to ever win Gold Gloves in both the outfield and an infield position other than first base. The 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers promotional and giveaway schedule includes 18 bobblehead dates, headlined by two for Shohei Ohtani.
Freddie Freeman will kick it off on Saturday, March 30. The first Ohtani bobblehead is scheduled for Thursday, May 16. The design has been revealed to have the two-way star in a batting pose while wearing the home Dodgers uniform. The second Ohtani bobblehead is being given away on Wednesday, August 28.
Matt Kemp Should Have Won 2011 NL MVP: Had 287 Career Homers, 184 Steals
Over a 15-year career, Kemp hit 287 career homers with 1031 RBI and 184 steals. His MLB buzz during his time with the Dodgers. In his 10 seasons there, Kemp hit .292/.348/.494 with 240 doubles, 203 home runs and 733 RBI, won two Gold Glove Awards, two Silver Sluggers, made three All-Star Games and should have won the 2011 MVP, but lost in a controversial decision to Ryan Braun for 2011 NL MVP. Kemp had a heavily-brocentric season.
Kemp led the NL in runs (115), homers (39) and RBI (126). He had 40 stolen bases, falling just one-homer short of the exclusive 40-40 club. He also had more walks, hits and games played than Braun, who had a higher slugging percentage and OPS.
Ryan Braun Had PED Drama But Beat 50-Game Suspension On Technicality
It’s truly one of the worst robberies of all time considering Braun tested positive in October for elevated testosterone, and ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” revealed the positive test in December.
Braun was able to skate on the 50-game suspension, by exploiting a loophole. Multiple sources said the sample was not shipped for testing as soon as possible, as required by the drug testing policy, and instead was kept in a cool place in the sample collector’s home.
Sources told ESPN at the time that the collector left Braun’s sample on a desk in a Tupperware container and left it there for two days. Braun didn’t argue the legitimacy of the science, but the mishandling of his sample, which negates the test results. Braun is still considered a player who failed a PED test in the court of public opinion and is further proof that the award should have just gone to Kemp.
It’s not the last time you can say he was snubbed.
But now he’s back home and, in any event, what Magic Johnson and Dave Roberts and the Dodgers are building is a baseball paradise. An all-inclusive resort where players from all over the world, old and new, can become a part of Dodgers Nation as they become the “it” MLB franchise as move towards the 2030s.
As the old saying goes, “hard work pays off,” and that is the case with outfielder Jason Heyward of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers basically saved Heyward from retiring prior to last season. The 34-year-old outfielder decided to take one more crack at it and put together a highly productive season in his backup role.
Jason Heyward Signs One-Year/$9M Deal With Dodgers
With much less hesitance, Heyward ran it back with the LA Dodgers, signing a deal this offseason worth one year, $9 million.
Heyward recently expressed his gratitude toward the organization for the opportunity: “It’s amazing to have people believe in you, that’s something that’s earned, for sure, especially with the Dodgers. They don’t hand out these jerseys lightly. It’s just a privilege to come back here and wear No. 23 for this group, this fan base, and city.”
“Just want to work hard, have fun and compete.”
In 98 starts, while appearing in 124 games for the Dodgers last season where he faced all right-handed pitchers, the former Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals star batted .269/.340/.473 with 23 doubles, 15 home runs, 40 RBI, 56 runs scored.
There isn’t a safer place in the world to hit than hidden within this current star-studded Dodgers lineup. In fact, Heyward’s time with the Dodgers – from fine-tuning his swing to being able to be just one of the guys – has prolonged his career.
Heyward is someone who overcame adversity as he was cut by the Chicago Cubs in 2022. Having a strong 2023 was imperative for Heyward to continue prolonging his professional career in the majors.
Jason Heyward Is Shohei Ohtani’s “Unofficial Spokesperson”
Now entering his 15th MLB season, Heyward has a very specific role on this LA Dodgers team, beyond his contributions on the field and his personal goal to “work hard, have fun and compete.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has nominated Jason Heyward to assume the role of the team’s “unofficial spokesperson” for the Japanese media. Heyward will handle all things ” Shohei Ohtani” as the superstar’s arrival in Los Angeles will draw hundreds, maybe even thousands, of international media to American ballparks.
In a recent interview with SportsNet LA, Roberts addressed the challenge of handling the media onslaught accompanying Ohtani’s presence on the team. Referencing his own experience playing alongside Barry Bonds, Roberts acknowledged the importance of having a seasoned player who can field media inquiries, allowing others to focus on the game.
He emphasized that the unique situation with Ohtani and the curiosity surrounding other new players such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto, necessitates a respected lifer such as Heyward to handle media interaction.
“I played with Barry Bonds […] and I was that player, a teammate that answered a lot of questions because other teammates didn’t care to.” – Dave Roberts
Barry Bonds sits the bench next to Dave Roberts as the Colorado Rockies as the Rockies defeated the Giants 7-4 at Coors Field September 3, 2007, in Denver
LA Dodgers Are A Rock Star Team With Mucho Talent
Heyward will be rejoining perhaps the most talented and most dynamic team in all of baseball this coming season as they signed two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani to a historic 10-year, $700 million contract as well as signing rookie Japanese star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the largest contract by a pitcher in league history (12 years, $325 million.)
Having new additions like those players bolsters a roster that was already supreme beforehand. We haven’t even gotten to three-time Silver Slugger first baseman Freddie Freeman (whom Heyward is good friends with) and outfielder Mookie Betts, a six-time Golden Glove recipient and a former AL MVP himself.
The ‘J-Hey Kid’, as he was called back in his early days as a young Atlanta Braves phenom, can slide in at any outfield position and hold down the forte if any of the starters get injured. Heyward is also someone who can produce RBI in the box and help manufacture runs.
He’s a veteran presence with championship pedigree who will be a solid influence on young and incoming players.
Heyward is also someone who gives back to the community as he has the Jason Heyward Baseball Academy in Chicago, which he recently established.
The club will provide hands-on instruction for young boys and girls ages 6-14 who love baseball as a nonprofit organization that will be hosted in the North Austin Center.
His academy not only offers baseball but also will have a FIFA regulation-sized indoor soccer turf field, classrooms to have proactive learning sessions, indoor courts, a workout facility, and more.
The Dodgers are the betting favorites to win the 2024 World Series at +350 according to Fox Sports and Heyward is elated to be along for the ride.
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