Weekly Scorecard: Jan. 27 - Feb. 2, 2026

Could the Mariners trade details be releasing any slower while I write this newsletter? Isn't it bad enough that they're trading away prospects I like? And Jerry Dipoto, if you're reading this, just know that you are once again my sworn enemy and your nefarious deeds shall not be forgotten.

The Scoreboard

It's finally a week with plenty of non-stove-related news as we inch ever closer to the beginning of spring training, though there are still a handful of notable unsigned free agents floating around out there. To that end, I'll keep things focused on the big stuff, of which there's plenty to talk about:

• The aforementioned Mariners trade finally went through, and if you're a prospect hugger like me, it's a rough one. Seattle is getting the bat they wanted in Brendan Donovan, but losing highly touted pitching prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje to the Cardinals and defensive prodigy Ben Williamson to the Rays, who are also involved for some reason. I was a big believer in Williamson having a breakout season at the dish, and it seems downright cruel of the organization to do this right after featuring him (and Cijntje!) heavily at Mariners FanFest this weekend. Like, the 20-minute solo interview kind of heavily, which is even more egregious than trading away one of your Christmas elves.
• The Mariners have taken a couple other significant blows: one to their rotation, with Logan Evans out for 2026 after having Tommy John surgery, and one to their broadcasting team, as beloved radio commentator Rick Rizzs has announced that 2026 will be his last season on the air.
• In more positive news, however, the Mariners are replacing their Sunday home uniforms with ones honoring the Seattle Steelheads, the Negro league team that called Sick's Stadium home during their brief existence. The organization is also creating the Steelheads Community Fund to support Black baseball, softball, and community initiatives. This is an awesome move, and I really hope it pushes other teams to follow suit.
• Eugenio Suárez is returning to Cincinnati, as the space-time continuum of his career seemingly continues to rewind. It makes sense that the Mariners didn't re-sign him, but even so, it's sad to see the champion of good vibes leave once more.
• While Vinnie Pasquantino is avoiding arbitration, Tarik Skubal and the Tigers are headed to a formal hearing on Wednesday. Do you think Scott Boras is going to show up and speak in goofy-ass riddles, or does he reserve that tomfoolery for us?
• The Twins' disintegration shows no signs of stopping, as dual president Derek Falvey is leaving the organization. I can't really blame him, since working under Tom Pohlad sounds like a complete nightmare.
• The deluge of insurance issues affecting the World Baseball Classic continues, with Puerto Rico considering withdrawing from the tournament after big hits to their roster—including captain Francisco Lindor having his coverage denied following his elbow debridement procedure. Of course, the guy whose knee exploded in 2023 is somehow good to go.

A few smaller things of interest did go down, such as Jacob Wilson getting a hefty extension, the Giants signing Luis Arraez to play second base, the Mets picking up former Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes, Jose Siri's minor-league deal with the Angels, and the Rockies trading Angel Chivilli to the Yankees. If the rumors of the Mets taking a look at Ty France are true, I would love to have him—mainly because he's still got a cult following in Seattle, but he also played a very nice first base this year, and we could use an established backup for the oft-injured Jorge Polanco. Speaking of cult followings in Seattle, it stung to see the Phillies snatching up Dylan Moore, not least because his final hit in a Mariners uniform was against the Mets (and I was there for it).

Oh, and the White Sox are finally making some real upgrades in the form of putting bidets in their clubhouse.

Home Plate

Thank you to everyone who's sent support my way since I opened up my donations last week! It really means a lot, and it helped me snag a Baseball Prospectus subscription, which I've been meaning to do for a while. The final push that got me to commit was this excellent article by Steven Goldman, discussing the relationship between baseball and society—or what bad-faith actors like to call "politics"—in the wake of BP receiving plenty of "just stick to sports"-type comments after publishing this article on TwinsFest and Minneapolis by Matthew Trueblood. Both articles are free to read, so I highly recommend checking them out!

The Bo Bichette essay I've been alluding to has remained on the backburner because I realized at about the 80% mark that I was essentially reinventing parts of The Book from first principles. Having never actually read The Book, I figured I should do that before I accidentally put bad statistical analysis into your inbox, so that's been taking up a lot of my time. The good news is that I'm almost done with it, and will be able to resume putting the finishing touches on (the first part of) my writeup soon.

Finally, the true heart of this week's newsletter is a message from Bull Durham's Annie Savoy herself, written by Susan Sarandon for the October 15–21 edition of TV Guide in 1988. Thank you to Rob Ferrara for bringing it to my attention in the comments of last week's Weekly Scorecard!

Without further ado, Annie's sermon (and my notes):

The most important thing about watching the World Series on TV is figuring out whom to root for if your special team hasn't made it. And since the Durham Bulls—barring spiritual providence or Presidential order—will never make it, it becomes critical to know just how to choose a team to bestow your passions upon.

The first rules are easy. Never root for a team whose uniforms have elastic stretch waistbands. They are unsightly and without grace. I would as soon see Baryshnikov dance in a leisure suit. It is the reason the Cubs never make it—the problem is in their waistbands, not their starting rotation.

Makes sense to me!

Always root for a team whose uniforms have belt loops. Good belt loops are critical. The Detroit Tigers have great belt loops—classically spaced interstices like a Bernini colonnade, almost—on their home whites, but their traveling grays are a disgrace.

Therefore, I root for them at home, but for their opponent on the road. Unless their opponent is the Seattle Mariners, who have great belt loops but also have a domed stadium. Listen to me—you cannot root for any team that plays on plastic grass or under a roof. The biorhythms get jammed amidst all those petroleum byproducts. Domed stadia are a symbol of the violation of the ozone layer—it's very depressing when you think about it—but that's another issue. So...

Unfortunately I can't fully agree with Annie here, even though her message resonates with me in spirit. I would hope that she'd give T-Mobile Park a pass, though, since not only is the roof retractable, but it also doesn't even close fully.

Keep an eye on the Oakland A's. They play on grass, under the sky and have terrific belt loops. Plus, they've got a circus elephant on their sleeves. They've also got Jose Canseco, a fabulous-looking guy with Aztec roots. Or maybe Greek. I get them mixed up. Anyway...

The only real problem about watching a game on TV rather than in person is that I can't send notes to the guys so easily, though I sometimes send telegrams in the middle of a game. I let the Red Sox' Pudge Fisk know a high fastball was coming when he went downtown for his epic homer in the 1975 Series, and I consoled Billy Buckner after he booted that grounder against the Mets in '86. I reminded him he will be going to the Hall of Fame someday, which he will. I know these things. He felt better.

Someone should probably tell the Hall of Fame that.

It's an unbearable thought, but if the Houston Astros ever played the Minnesota Twins in a Series, whom would you root for? Two domed stadia. Two artificial surfaces. It's an easy call, actually. Only one has belt loops. Twins in seven games.

I have good news for Annie from the future: barring another league swap, this won't happen. But if it does, I'm taking her advice.

Which brings me to my last point: All Series should go seven games. It's a holy, magic number, a prime number, and a seventh game assures the longest possible baseball season. And the shortest possible winter, unless you go to Puerto Rico for winter ball, where you can discover the next Jose Canseco while eating fish soup in the bleachers at Santurce. I tried to get fish soup served in the bleachers at Durham, but it didn't catch on.

Anyway, once you know whom you're rooting for, there are only a few tips you need to make watching the Series on TV as rich and fulfilling a life experience as being there in person. I mean, you can't just pop a brewskie and start yelling.

It feels right to post this after a seven-game World Series. And I can't imagine why the fish soup didn't catch on, especially in North Carolina in the summer.

ANNIE'S TIPS: HOW TO WATCH THE WORLD SERIES ON TV

1. Take your phone off the hook.
2. Remove the batteries from your remote control. To be shopping around, switching channels, shows a lack of respect. The guys need you there for the small moments as well as the big, not to mention the fact that switching channels during a game disrupts the electromagnetic connection you make with your team. Which brings us to...
3. The TV set, like the human body, has a magnetic field that should not be placed in opposition to the magnetic current of the earth. It is suggested that the TV be placed with the screen facing north, the feet of the viewer facing south, and your refreshments at equidistant points to the east and west.
4. Never munch on health food. Nachos, dip, beer and hot dogs are spiritually correct. Your biosystem will adjust and forgive you. And needless to say, all foodstuffs should be in place before the National Anthem.
5. Never watch a game in curlers.
6. Always wear loose clothes so that when emotions are running high you don't faint and miss something. These clothes should be in your most stylish mode, in respect for the occasion.
7. My last but most important tip: once you have chosen your team, stick with them. Believe in them. Yell at them. Coax them. Cry for them... but don't give up. Remember, even if it's the bottom of the ninth in the seventh game and you're down 10 runs, anything can happen... which is why I love baseball. Miracles can happen. They have in the past and they will again. You've just gotta believe in the Church of Baseball.

I think these are some pretty solid rules, even if many of us are watching on laptop screens instead of TVs these days. #7, of course, is one to live by all season long.

The Backstop

I'll keep it short and sweet here: not much is going on for me that isn't baseball, but I finished reading Rachel Reid's Heated Rivalry and am now cracking open The Long Game. I definitely think the show is better than the original text, but it's still good stuff!

There are only 8 days left until pitchers and catchers begin reporting. Enjoy the countdown!