BIG DOG BASEBALL WEEKLY BULLETIN
The Seventh Inning Stretch
What’s Happening In The World Of Baseball!
August 2024
MLB Playoff Race
There are only 40 games to go in the 2024 regular season. What teams have a chance at the 12 playoff spots (6 in each league)? As of August 28th, there are 9 teams in the AL and 9 teams in the NL with records of .500 or better. Realistically, they all have a shot as well as a few teams hovering just below the .500 mark. If the playoffs were starting today, here would be the lineup:
American League: Yankees, Guardians and Astros are in as Division Leaders. The Orioles, Royals and Twins would qualify as Wild Cards.
National League: Dodgers, Phillies and Brewers are in as Division Leaders. Diamondbacks, Padres and Braves would qualify as Wild Cards.
This will most likely change. Will your team make the cut? Stay tuned.
Pro Baseball From Around The World
Japan: Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)
Opening Day March 29th
Every MLB team has at least one Japanese born player on their roster.
Korea: Korea Baseball Organization (KBO)
Opening Day March 23rd
Chan Ho Park joined the Dodgers in 1994 as the first Korean born player in the MLB. 26 Korean Players have followed him and the list continues to grow.
Dominican Republic: Dominican Republic Baseball League
Opening Day Oct. 19th 2023
Notice the Dominican League is active in the winter? This is because there are over 90 Dominican players in the MLB and many will play for the DRBL in the off season.
Mexico: Mexican Baseball League (LMB)
Opening Day April 11th
Fernando Valenzuela is arguably the best Mexican born pitcher to ever play in the MLB. Surprisingly, he has never been elected to the MLB Hall of Fame. What's up with that?
THE USA TRIUMPHS AGAIN IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES
Thanks to the awesome pitching by starter Jacob Bibaub and reliever Latham Norton, the Lake Mary, Florida Little League team defeated Chinese Taipei 2-1 in extra innings to become the World Champions! The Florida pitchers were helped by the "lights out" fielding and timely hitting, but ultimately, it was a botched play by the Taipei team that led to the walk-off run being scored in the bottom of the eighth inning. This was the USA's 6th straight Little League title. Congrats Lake Mary!
? FUN BASEBALL TRIVIA ?
FUN TRIVIA QUESTION: This player had only one at bat against major league pitching. He hit an inside the park Home Run against one of the greatest pitchers of all time.
Who is this player?
Answer below.
EVER HEAR OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE CHALLENGER LEAGUE?
The challenger league is a remarkable organization that allows kids of all ages and disabilities to participate in the great sport of Little League Baseball. Big Dog Baseball will be bringing you heartwarming and informative stories of this remarkable league. We'll be asking all our members to join us in giving our 100% support.
THERE IS LAUGHING IN BASEBALL
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What are the two seasons for Big Doggers? Answer: “Baseball Season” and “Waiting for Baseball Season”. Do any other seasons really matter?
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Why did the Dodgers add Casper the Ghost to their roster? They wanted to add a “Little Team Spirit”.
“Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical.”
-Yogi Berra
“You have to have fun. Regardless of how you look at it, we’re playing a game.” -Derek Jeter
Good Ump, Bad Ump
The player was Mr. Ed, the talking horse. In his one and only at bat, he hit an inside the park home run off Sandy Koufax, arguably the GOAT!
Watch it here on YouTube!
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