Mark Whicker

1 week ago | canadianbaseballnetwork.com | Mark Whicker

It might be a little early to wonder what you’ll be doing on June 9. In San Diego, that date is being circled, squared and embroidered on pillows. That will be the first meeting between the Padres and Dodgers, and it’s in Petco Park. For years this was only a unilateral rivalry, which is mathematically impossible anyway. Padres’ fans hated the Dodgers, and Dodgers’ fans loved the Padres, because they were a palate-cleanser that always landed on the schedule just in time to discontinue a slump.

4 weeks ago | canadianbaseballnetwork.com | Mark Whicker

. NEW YORK METS: Luisangel Acuna is Ronald’s little brother, literally, at 5-foot-8. He hit three home runs once he was called up late last season, and will get a lot more time with the Mets in 2025. They got him from the Rangers for Max Scherzer. WASHINGTON: It’s a big year for James Wood, the 6-foot-7 would-be slugger who came from San Diego in the Juan Soto trade. Wood had nine home runs in 79 games and with an OPS of .781.

1 month ago | canadianbaseballnetwork.com | Mark Whicker

By Mark WhickerCanadian Baseball NetworkBaseball fever invaded the Tampa-St. Petersburg area in 1998, when the brand new Devil Rays drew 2.5 million fans. Then the vaccines came. A million fewer fans watched Tampa Bay win 63 games in 1999, after a 69-win inaugural season. The club topped 1.8 million beginning in 2008, when the Rays shockingly and simultaneously had their first winning season and won their first American League pennant.

1 month ago | canadianbaseballnetwork.com | Mark Whicker

July 22 vs. Detroit: Paul Skenes Bobblehead Night. The Rookie of the Year is shown releasing one of his 100 mph fastballs while his girlfriend Livvy Dunne gives him his weekly allowance. NEW YORK METSMay 1 vs. Arizona: Sean Manaea Bobblehead Night for the first 40,000 fans. The hair also serves as a handy place to store 7 Train tokens. July 2 vs. Milwaukee: Pete Alonso Go Fund Me Night. Proceeds from the $11 pretzels and $23 burgers will go to alleviate Alonso’s paltry $54 million, two-year deal.

2 months ago | bookreporter.com | Mark Whicker

It’s hard to believe that a Hall of Famer actually was a second fiddle during a good chunk of his career. But Don Drysdale, an imposing 6’5” hard-throwing righty, had the “misfortune” of pitching on the same staff as Sandy Koufax. Veteran journalist Mark Whicker looks to give “Big D” his due in DON DRYSDALE: UP AND IN. Drysdale grew up in California but was signed by the Dodgers while they were still in Brooklyn.