The San Diego Padres are changing hands.

Private equity billionaire Jose Feliciano is closing a $3.9B deal — the largest sale in MLB history.

Since the passing of Peter Seidler, the Padres have struggled to keep pace.

Farm system gutted.

Payroll tightened.

Meanwhile the Dodgers just kept spending.

Now? Deep pockets walk in.

Global ties. Big money. Big expectations.

The past few seasons, AJ Preller has had to do more with less.

The question now — will Feliciano actually open the checkbook?

San Diego's waiting.

The MLBPA has a problem.

The union just fired its COO and head of HR. With cause. This comes after Tony Clark stepped down in February — amid a federal investigation into the union's own business dealings.

Oh, and the CBA expires December 1.

For years the MLBPA has been the gold standard. Unified. Disciplined. Unmovable.

Right now? Cracks are showing.

That matters more than people realize. Labor fights run on leverage — and leverage starts with stability.

And yes, the owners are watching.

Quick hits:

⚡️ Mason Miller — 30 batters faced. 23 strikeouts. 76.7% strikeout rate. Best start to a season in 120 years. Ridiculous.

🇯🇵 Imai — didn't want to join the Dodgers. Signed with Houston to beat LA. Now he's on the DL with arm fatigue and reportedly struggling to adjust on and off the field. That escalated fast.

🐟 Trout — thought he was finished? Not close. Five home runs in New York. Judge had four. Best series of the young season.

Ok, I gotta rant.

MLB blackout rules are a joke.

I’m in Hawaii this week. Vacation. Cocktail in hand.

So I fire up Peacock TV—Dodgers–Mets on my iPad..

Blacked out.

In Hawaii.

I’m 2,500 miles from Dodger Stadium—
and somehow I’m “too local” to watch.

Apparently, Hawaii is still Dodgers territory.

MLB says blackouts are to protect RSNs and “encourage in-person attendance.”

From Hawaii?

Stop it.

And yes—I pay for Peacock.

Paid customer. Locked out.

We’ve all heard about Iowa—
where six teams claim the TV territory…
and fans still get blacked out.

And this makes sense?

The league’s job is to put the game in front of fans—
not hide it from them.

Fix it, MLB.

You still think ABS doesn't matter?

Ask Miguel Vargas.

Rung up on a pitch that missed inside. Challenged it. Overturned.

Next pitch? Gone. Home run. Snapped an 0-for-19 slump.

One call. Completely changed.

A bad strike-three used to end everything. Now it gets reviewed. Hitters have reached base 43 times this season after overturning strike three.

Innings changing — one tap at a time.

Our “gee whiz” tech story of the week—
involves an 80-inch TV.

Not exactly cutting-edge.

But… kinda brilliant.

Last week, the Orioles rolled out an 80-inch screen
onto the field.

Pregame.

For baserunning drills.

On it?

That night’s opposing pitchers.

Life-size—like they were standing on the mound.

Runners taking leads..
taking off for second…
diving back to first.

All staring into an 80-inch screen.

It’s about as close as you get
to live reps… without a live arm.

All powered by what looks like
a Best Buy floor model.

So next time you’re watching the O’s…

as a runner takes his lead—
times it perfectly—
stealing second…

you might want to thank
that big, beautiful 80-inch TV.

Gender reveals are having a moment in baseball.

This week, Pirates catcher Joey Bart jogged out wearing a hot pink sleeve.
On the mound — Braxton Ashcraft.
In the stands — his family, waiting.

The sleeve said everything.

It’s a girl.

The broadcast cut to the stands—
hugs, smiles… everything landing at once.

And Joey—
playing his part to perfection.

Then Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt took the mound with pink laces—
a signal to his brother Brett, his wife Hannah, and family back home in Kentucky.

Waiting.

Then the announcement on the broadcast:

“Congratulations Brett and Hannah. It’s a girl.”

And finally—Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee took the field Friday wearing pink shoelaces…
revealing his brother and sister-in-law are expecting a girl.

No balloons.
No smoke.
No production.

Sometimes baseball isn’t about the score.

Not every big moment shows up in the box score.

— Box

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