All weekend it was Ugly Cap Day at all major league ballparks. Good things happened anyway. Friday, Wilmer Flores hit three home runs for 8 RBI as the Giants beat the A’s, 9-1. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred showed, earlier last week, why he leads the league in hypocrisy with his comments about Hall of Fame eligibility for dead former players. Pete Rose can’t hurt the game anymore since he’s dead, Manfred said. The fact that online gambling outfits sponsor games doesn’t seem to bother anyone and Pope Donald has vouched for Charlie Hustle because his baseball betting was for his team to win. Pope Donald is everyone’s favorite expert on matters of ethics as well as geography, the Constitution, and history, we all agree. The Commissioner ‘s office became important to the future of major league baseball after what is known as the Black Sox scandal after the World Series of 1919 was corrupted by payments to Chicago White Sox players to influence their play in favor of the Cincinnati Reds, who won the championship as a result. The commish was directed to enforce strictly all conduct by players and others that made certain they were acting for “the good of the game”. The phrase “good of the game” has had different interpretations over time. Manfred clearly interprets the phrase to mean “money”. Others interpret the phrase to mean the integrity of the game, meaning things like fairness,trust,sportsmanship and honesty of the participants. Muskytrumps sneer at such notions. It used to be that more owners of major league figoodwill,sportsmanship and honesty of . It used to be that more owners of baseball teams had executives who knew how to B.S. the public without embarrassing themselves.

The first quarter of the season has passed. Certain things are now evident. It is possible, for instance, to lose 20 of your first 33 games and then just win the next thirteen. The Twins did that.

Also, the traditional “Fire the Manager” strategy has already, in three places, been utilized. As someone, perhaps not Casey Stengel, once said, it’s easier to fire one manager than a room full of players. It’s also convenient to not mention who in fact has been responsible for finding and employing good players as well as managers. Derek Shelton, Brandon Hyde, and, especially Bud Black can really be held responsible for the many games lost, although it’s been a wonder how long Black could endure working for people who were so deficient about giving a damn. Sometimes, as with the Phillies a few years back, the strategy works.

Another observation for mid May is that the L.A. Dodgers are not separating themselves from the pack, leading the Padres and Giants each by one game. They have a lot more money to spend if they need to, however. The Yankees are rapidly running out of contenders. The Mets appear to be very capable of holding off the Phillies and the Tigers look more and more real every day. Seattle looks good but may be fearing warm weather and the Rangers’ bats. Atlanta breathes.

Sacrovegas has a definite future star in Jacob Wilson, son of the former Pittsburgh Pirate shortstop Jack Wilson. Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani can still hit. Until Ohtani pitches again, Judge remains the best player in baseball. St. Louis is hot right now and, just like you, I have no clear idea why.