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Expos documentary: David Samson realizes he’s the villain of the piece

Do you feel like getting a little angry?

David Samson, who is hated by Quebec ball fans (and with good reason), will, as you may know, be in the documentary about the end of Expos history. We’re talking about “Who Killed the Montreal Expos?” which will be released on Netflix next month.

And he’d missed something important.

As it turns out, the former high flyer for the Montreal Expos and Miami Marlins (who haven’t exactly been healthy since his time there, either) didn’t know he was the villain in Expos history.

He got a call to take part in an Expos documentary and didn’t think too much of it. He answered the Netflix team’s questions for nine hours.

And it was when he saw the documentary’s title this week that he realized he’d made a mistake.

He really did say that it was when he heard the documentary was called “Who Killed the Montreal Expos” that he understood everything. It prompted him to call his agent, his lawyer and his children to tell them he’d made a mistake.

Did he call Jeffrey Loria, another culprit in the Expos’ demise? History doesn’t say.

The fact that he didn’t realize he was the villain in the Expos story and didn’t light up after nine hours of questions about the club’s demise tells us how out of touch he is with reality.

He could have asked us and we’d have told him that he’s a big part of the answer to the question posed in the documentary’s title. We talked about it this week on the Passion MLB podcast.

Big Gallop and Little Trot aren’t the most popular people in Expos history, and now Samson has added even more fuel to the fire.

Not strong, Chief…

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Anthony Volpe to continue playing despite injury

Anthony Volpe is having a tough 2025 campaign, to say the least. And part of the reason may be that the New York Yankees shortstop is playing through a shoulder injury.

According to manager Aaron Boone, Volpe has been diagnosed with a partially torn labrum. The skipper added that the 24-year-old had aggravated his injury several times this season, including last weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post also reported that Volpe received a cortisone injection in his left shoulder on September 10, and that the injury stemmed from a dive on May 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays in which he felt a “pop” in his shoulder.

Volpe is still expected to continue playing despite the injury, and to remain with the New York squad through the playoffs.

BUT WHY?!

Volpe started the season on a high note, posting an OPS of .768 with five home runs, 19 runs batted in and four stolen bases before his injury on May 3.

Since then, however, he’s posted a low batting average of .197 with 14 home runs, 51 runs batted in and 12 stolen bases, while ranking in the bottom half of above-average strikeouts (OAA) across the league with a lofty -9.

One of the best defensive players in Major League Baseball during the first two seasons of his career, Volpe’s injury probably played a major role in his descent into hell on the defensive side of the ball.

So why continue to play him despite what’s slowing him down, and despite the fact that Jose Caballero can more than do the job at the number six position?

Welcome to the Bronx.

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Phillies sweep the Mets

Nothing is going right for the New York Mets.

Yesterday, we talked about the fact that the New York team was possibly on the verge of missing the playoffs. And let’s just say that Steve Cohen’s club didn’t help itself yesterday.

Even though the Mets had taken a 4-0 lead against Jesus Luzardo (Phillies) in the first inning, the Philadelphia pitcher got his act together afterwards: he gave nothing away all game. Nor did his reliever.

Meanwhile, the forward got up and scored six runs.

The result? The Phillies swept their four-game series against their division rivals. This gives them an 11-game lead in the division with less than three weeks to go. #Formality

And more than ever, the Mets are at risk of missing the playoffs.

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The Reds and Giants, who weren’t playing yesterday, won a half-game over the Mets. Both teams are currently a game and a half behind the Mets in the Nationals standings.

And the Reds even have the advantage in the tie-breaker against New York.

The other top five teams in the Nationals have a good chance of staying in the playoffs by the end of the season – even if San Diego has to watch itself a bit. But the Mets? Nothing less certain.

Remember that Jacob deGrom will face his former team tonight in New York. The Padres, Nationals, Cubs and Marlins are also in play between now and the end of the regular season for the Mets.

PMLB
  • The Mariners won dramatically yesterday: they’re tied with the Astros.
MLB
  • Home run for Anthony Santander for the Bisons yesterday.

  • Two home runs for Aaron Judge yesterday. He’s at 361 for his career, tied for fourth in Yankees history with Joe DiMaggio.

  • A long absence awaits Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

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Alek Manoah officially transferred to AAA | Orelvis Martinez DFA

For a few weeks, the Blue Jays kept Alek Manoah in AAA for rehab purposes. The club was buying itself some time before having to make a decision about his future.

But then it was taken.

The Blue Jays had to end his rehabilitation process by taking him off the 60-day injured list. The club did just that… while officially releasing him to AAA.

Before, he was there for rehab purposes. Now, he’s just a minor league player who isn’t accumulating service time in the Majors.

That said, to get him back into the 40-man roster (a long-term injured player can come out), the club had to get someone out of its 40-man roster.

And it was Orelvis Martinez. He has been designated for assignment.

The club didn’t call up Martinez, who isn’t having a good season down under in 2025, since he was suspended for doping in 2024. He’s not the same player anymore, and the former prospect had no future in Toronto. Where else would he play?

It’s a descent into hell for the former top prospect. Will another club trust him?

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Kevin Gausman’s whitewash against the Astros

It was to the Blue Jays’ advantage to win today’s game against the Astros. And clearly, Kevin Gausman understood the mandate.

In a game that lasted just over two hours, Gausman delivered a superb performance. He pitched nine innings, giving up just two hits and one walk.

He didn’t give up a run and put nine guys in the mitt. He needed 100 pitches to do so.

Unsurprisingly, he picked up the win. His teammates helped him win the series against the Astros by scoring six runs in an important duel in Toronto. That’s a good one.

Things have been going really well for veteran Gausman in recent games, and he could be the Blue Jays’ first playoff starter. He wouldn’t have stolen it, in any case.

He received a standing ovation as he left the field.

Offensively speaking, the guys didn’t break everything. But they did just enough (in addition to making the most of their opportunities via fine efficiency) to get out of there with an important win against a playoff club.

Nathan Lukes (two sure shots, one point produced), Addison Barger (one sure shot, two points produced), Daulton Varsho (two sure shots, one point produced) and Davis Schneider (two sure shots, one point produced) had the most notable performances.

Starting tomorrow, the Baltimore Orioles will be in town for a three-game series. After that, the Toronto club will travel to Tampa Bay and Kansas City for a week, before returning to host the Red Sox and Rays.

There are 16 games left in the season. The club has 84 wins and 62 losses.

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MLB in brief: Mike Elias the president | Red Sox on Alex Bregman

Mike Elias the president

He was promoted from GM to President in Baltimore a few months ago. No one knew.

Red Sox on Alex Bregman

They refuse to comment on the fact that he’s expected to opt out of his contract at the end of the season.

Anthony Santander back tonight

The Bisons will welcome him back.

Anthony Volpe has a sore shoulder

Does that excuse everything?

Xander Bogaerts makes progress

When can we expect a return to action?

Jacob deGrom to pitch tomorrow at Citi Field

It’s going to be special.

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Mets in real danger of missing the playoffs: it would be a catastrophe

Will the Mets really miss the playoffs?

The way things are shaping up right now, there’s a good chance the New York outfit won’t be able to make the playoffs in 2025.

Who would have thought it after the signing of Juan Soto?

As of this morning, the Mets (3-7 in their last 10 duels) are just two games ahead of the Reds and Giants. And the Reds have the tie-breaking advantage over the Metropolitans…

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So, what does this mean?

It means that the Mets, who signed Juan Soto in the off-season, might not make the playoffs – despite their huge payroll – after reaching the Final Four last year.

A catastrophe, you say? Of course it would.

According to Ken Rosenthal, should the Mets fail to make the playoffs, it would be one of the most disappointing seasons in the history of Major League Baseball. And he’s right!

We agree that the Mets’ problem is in the club’s rotation. That’s why, as of June 13, the Mets are one of the five worst clubs in the entire MLB.

As of June 12, the Mets were at the top of their division, their league and Major League Baseball in general. The change is drastic.

There’s a reason so many youngsters are getting their shot in the Mets’ rotation right now: quality pitchers aren’t plentiful in the rotation. This could hurt in the playoffs.

Colleague Sébastien Berrouard has often said that the Mets don’t have a good rotation. He was right about this one for once.

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2016 World Series: Anthony Rizzo’s ring found at the bottom of Lake Michigan

As recently as the end of August, I was in beautiful Chicago (among other things, to see a New York Yankees mach), on the shores of Lake Michigan. Let’s just say I wouldn’t have wanted to drop anything of great value into that vast expanse of water, for fear of never seeing it again.

But if that had been the case, I could have turned to diver Yohei Yamada, who has built a reputation for diving into Lake Michigan to recover lost items when called. He’s managed to recover everything from cell phones to wallets, including a $30,000 Rolex watch.

But probably the most special item recovered from the shallows of this Great Lake is the World Series ring of former Chicago Cubs and Yankees star Anthony Rizzo. Yamada said Rizzo gave him a few $100 bills as a generous tip for a successful dive.

Rizzo had lost weight and washed his hands in his boat. He shook them and the ring flew off. Someone gave him my number.

That’s what you call getting the right number.

In the Cubs’ historic 2016 season, Rizzo led the team with 109 runs produced and hit 32 regular-season home runs. The first baseman hit three more long balls in the playoffs, including one in Game Six of the World Series, which the Bears won to force a Game Seven and then take top honors.

Memories Rizzo won’t soon forget, especially with a ring on his finger. And he’ll have plenty of time to relive those great moments, as his retirement was announced just yesterday (Wednesday).

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Passion MLB’s state of the forces: Yankees back in the top-5

Less than three weeks to go until the end of the 2025 regular season and, more than ever, every game counts.

So, without further ado, here’s the latest version of Passion MLB’s State of the Force. You’ll find last week’s rankings in brackets.

1 – Milwaukee Brewers (1)
2 – Philadelphia Phillies (2)
3 – Toronto Blue Jays (4)
4 – Detroit Tigers (3)
5 – New York Yankees (8)

6 – Chicago Cubs (6)
7 – Los Angeles Dodgers (5)
8 – Boston Red Sox (7)
9 – San Diego Padres (9)
10 – Houston Astros (10)
11 – New York Mets (12)
12 – Seattle Mariners (11)
13 – Texas Rangers (14)

14 – Kansas City Royals (13)
15 – San Francisco Giants (17)
16 – Cincinnati Reds (15)
17 – Cleveland Guardians (16)
18 – Arizona Diamondbacks (18)
19 – Tampa Bay Rays (20)
20 – St. Louis Cardinals (19)
21 – Baltimore Orioles (25)
22 – Sacramento Athletics (23)
23 – Atlanta Braves (24)
24 – Los Angeles Angels (22)
25 – Miami Marlins (21)
26 – Pittsburgh Pirates (27)
27 – Minnesota Twins (26)
28 – Washington Nationals (28)

29 – Chicago White Sox (29)
30 – Colorado Rockies (30)

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Race to the playoffs: the Blue Jays, Yankees and Red Sox lost

The race in the American East continues to be interesting.

That said, yesterday, it should be noted that all three teams aspiring to finish at the top of the division lost. This favours the Blue Jays, who have a three-game lead over the Yankees and Red Sox… and the tie-breaker against both teams.

The Red Sox were the first to play. They were in Sacramento and lost 5-4. Aroldis Chapman inherited the loss, losing the game by one run.

Is he… human?

For the Yankees, the Bronx club suffered another major setback. After losing 12-2 on Tuesday, it ended 11-1 in favor of the Tigers last night. Not exactly ideal, you say?

In two games against Gleyber Torres’ club, it ended 23-3.

And the Blue Jays? The club rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the eighth inning against the Astros. But Jeff Hoffman, who’s been on a tear lately, hit the winning home run in the ninth.

It’s his 13th of the season in the ninth inning or later.

As a result, the Blue Jays are no longer in first place in the American League: the Tigers are, by half a game. As for the Red Sox and Yankees, they’re four games ahead of the Rangers and 2.5 games ahead of Seattle.

It’s a tight race, then.

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PMLB
  • The Mets are in danger of missing the playoffs.
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  • Happy listening.

  • Why just five innings for the man with 203 strikeouts this season?

  • Trey Yesavage did well in AAA yesterday.

  • Mookie Betts makes himself comfortable.

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