We are nearing the trade deadline.
So, brush up on two of the most important terms for it:
First off, you’ll no doubt hear about HUG-WATCH. Hug-Watch (#HugWatch) is when people interpret every semi-unusual removal of a ballplayer from a game and the amount of hugs he then receives in the dugouts as proof of an impending trade. Or maybe they are just injured or have found out their wife has just gone into labor.
Doesn’t matter, really, because any such occasion will be taken as proof of a trade coming up.
Next off, there is the Mystery Team. The Mystery Team is a darkness that stalks the days and nights around every trade deadline and winter meeting, always rumored to be the possible wild card that will ruin your team’s pursuit of that big starting ace or who is offering a top prospect for your HR-hitting outfielder who is in the last year of his contract.
Who are they? Are they the Yankees? The Red Sox? The Angels? The Dodgers? Usually it’s assumed to be a team like that, a big market team. But sometimes it’s assumed to be a smaller market club looking to make a splash. But the truth is… we don’t know! The Mystery Team may not even exist! It could be a conglomeration of rumors colliding into each other! It could be the Nippon Ham Fighters for all we know!
But, wait! What if the hugs have been made and the mystery team has been unmasked!?! Well, then we all look into our crystal balls and see exactly how this deal turns out. Sometimes we are right… sometimes we are wrong.
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LINKS!
“The Secret History of Black Baseball Players in Japan”
Zach Schonbrun on how neuroscientists are trying to change scouting
Tom Verducci road-trips with Pete Rose
Cliff Corcoran assembles the All-Time All-Star Game Team
SELF-PROMOTION OF THE WEEK: Bizarre Baseball Culture looks at Yankee Stadium cameos in Marvel Comics
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Seriously, what is the Mystery Team? Are you the Mystery Team? Am I the Mystery Team? Is he the Mystery Team? IS ANYONE THE MYSTERY TEAM!?! ARE ALL THE MYSTERY TEAM?!?!?!
Until next time…Dan Glickman.
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