McGonigle & Stewart Win 2026 AL/NL ROY Honors

Two players who were bright spots on disappointing teams in 2026 have won the AL and NL Rookie of the Year Awards.

In the AL, Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle, who split his time between shortstop and third base, won the honors hitting .278 with 18 HR and 72 RBI while leading the league with 707 plate appearances and with a 7.1 WAR earning an AL All-Star Team selection. McGonigle earned 28 out of 30 first place votes with Cleveland Guardians hurler Parker Messick earning the other two votes with Boston Red Sox southpaw Peyton Tolle finishing a distant third in AL ROY balloting.

McGonigle, 22, is a Pennsylvania native who was a first-round draft pick by the Tigers in 2023 & 37th overall pick in the nation. He is the first Tiger to win AL ROY honors since pitcher Michael Fulmer did so in 2016. McGonigle is signed with the Detroit through the 2034 season.

Over in the NL, Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart took home the prize playing in all 162 games hitting .263 with 32 HR and 112 RBI and also had an NL All-Star Team selection. Stewart had a cup of coffee with Cincinnati in 2025 belting 5 HR in only 55 at bats. Stewart bested New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge and St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt for the trophy.

Stewart, also 22, can play first, second and third base. A Miami native, Stewart was a first-round draft pick by the Reds in 2022 and the 32nd overall pick in the nation. He is the first Red to win NL ROY honors since fellow infielder Jonathan India did so in 2021. Stewart is eligible for arbitration in 2029 and barring a contract extension will become a free agent in 2032.

Tomorrow we will learn who will win AL and NL Manager of the Year honors.

Thomas Massie vs. Pete Hegseth: One Jerk vs. Another Jerk

Today, soon to be former Congressman Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

From where I sit, it is one jerk against another jerk.

Massie is a bigot who is bitter that he lost the Republican primary and I loathe the fact that Democrats are indulging and elevating a man who should go crawl under the rock from which he came. 

In all, Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment. Half of the articles concern war powers resolution concerning Iran and Yemen which are reminiscent of the sort of impeachment article the late Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Gonzalez would issue against President Reagan for military action in Grenada and against the first President Bush for the first Gulf War. 

At least, Gonzalez aimed those impeachment articles against the President of the United States while Massie takes aim at the Secretary of Defense or Secretary of War. Whatever you want to call him, he serves at the pleasure of the President. If Massie were serious about this, he would have targeted Trump as well.

Another article of impeachment concerns the removal of former Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro. Even Henry Gonzalez didn't see fit to introduce an article of impeachment against Bush for ousting Manuel Noreiga from power in Panama although he vigorously opposed U.S. military action there.

There is another article of impeachment concerning civilian casualties specifically with regard to the bombing of a girl's school during the early days of U.S. military involvement in Iran. While the deaths of children warrant outrage, U.S. intelligence believed the facility was part of an Iranian military base which had evidently converted into a school. As I asked at the time, "Why is there a girls' school situated near one of Iran's military bases?"

Another article of impeachment centers around Hegseth's efforts to demote Arizona Senator Mark Kelly's military ranks after he participated in a video along with other lawmakers who had served in the military that they can refuse unlawful orders. However, Kelly sued Hegseth in federal court which has blocked Hegseth from taking any further action against the Senator. While Hegseth has appealed the ruling, this matter is before the courts, and an article of impeachment is not necessary here. 

The only article of impeachment which I believe has some merit is the extrajudicial killings against alleged drug boats. There is testimony which claims that Hegseth gave orders to leave no survivors on these boats. This certainly demonstrates a deliberate lack of care on Hegseth's part to ensure the vessels in question were actually drug boats. Even if these strikes were in fact against drug boats why couldn't these vessels have been given an opportunity to surrender?

Had Massie narrowed his focus to this single article of impeachment where Hegseth's actions were willfully unlawful then this exercise would have more precision and purpose. As it stands, it seems like Massie's motivations are motivated by revenge rather than any sense of justice. 

If Massie's impeachment articles go to the House floor, it may pass but will be dead on arrival in the Senate. At most, it could force Trump to ask Hegseth to resign. But with Stephen Miller as the new sheriff in town, I think Trump will stand by Hegseth to the bitter end because I believe he views him as his true heir apparent. Of course, this would not be a good thing.

Pete Hegseth ought to be held to account for his actions. But aside from his conduct concerning drug boats, Thomas Massie's impeachment crusade is little more than a self-serving act of a pathetic public official on his way out of office.

Reggie Jackson Comes Through in The Clutch One More Time; But Who Else Will Step Up To Bat Against Anti-Semitism?

In my post yesterday praising the people of Philadelphia for standing up against anti-Semitism, I mentioned that MLB Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, a Philly native, made his voice heard and stirred the drink once more. His words are well worth examining. Here are a couple portions of his post on X this past Saturday, the day before the Philly Bike on Your Left rally:

It is heartbreaking to see antisemitism in my hometown. I was born in Wyncote, near Philadelphia, and it makes me angry and ashamed to see hatred tolerated there.

t takes me back to the racism I experienced in the 1960s: signs throughout the South declaring that Black people could be refused service, along with separate “white” and “colored” signs on bathrooms and drinking fountains,”no niggers”. I remember what that hatred looked and felt like. We cannot accept it in any form, directed at any people. I wish I could be there to stand with those protesting HATE. I am asking elected officials and other leaders in Philadelphia: Where are the clear statements condemning antisemitism? When hateful language is excused or repeated, it can make hostility seem acceptable and deepen fear and division. Leaders should speak plainly and consistently: antisemitism and hate have no place in our communities. What the hell? We have to speak up.

What the hell, indeed.

As far as I know, Jackson is the most prominent public figure, certainly the most prominent non-Jewish public figure, to stand up for the Jewish community regarding this planned procession.

Of course, I am heartened that Mr. October has come through in the clutch one more time. But who else will step up to bat against anti-Semitism?

No doubt having a large number of people show up in solidarity with Jewish owned restaurants is heartening. But we also need public figures to stand tall and, if at all possible, a new generation of said figures.

After all, Reggie Jackson is now 80. While his words will resonate with Baby Boomers and Gen Xers who watched him win World Series rings with the Oakland A's and the New York Yankees, sadly I suspect most people under 40 who aren't diehard baseball fans have no idea what a Reggie Bar is. 

Indeed, "Free Palestine" has become a mantra of young celebrities who either have no clue what it means or know all too well and feel they can express their hatred with Jews without fear of consequence. 

Then again, this younger generation which speaks of oppression never had to live through Jim Crow segregation as Reggie did during his early years in the Oakland A's organization. For too many Millennials and Gen Zers, oppression is an abstract concept. They may have romantic views about revolution but have never truly experienced injustice. 

All of which makes the challenge of finding a new generation of All-Stars to step up to bat against anti-Semitism that much more difficult. 

Will Eisenkot Form a Coalition & Become Israel's Next PM?

Yesterday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog picked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government following last month's legislative elections.

While Eisenkot's Yashar Party won fewer seats in the Israeli Knesset than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party, a majority of Knesset members nominated Eisenkot to form a government.

Eisenkot will now have 4 to 6 weeks to do so. If he fails to do so, then Netanyahu will have crack at it. There is a possibility that someone else could be called upon to form a government if both Eisenkot and Netanyahu fail. But it is more likely than not that another election would need to be called.

It isn't clear what path Eisenkot has before him. He will not form a national unity government with Netanyahu. I don't blame him because when Benny Gantz formed a national unity government with Netanyahu along the lines of the power sharing arrangement Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir had in the 1980s, Bibi reneged on his end of the deal after failing to pass a budget. Eisenkot has ruled out working with the Arab parties and he has no love lost for the ultra-Orthodox parties. This pretty much leaves allies of Bibi. But even if they decide to go with Eisenkot who can say that Bibi won't be able to lure them back as he did when he undercut Naftali Bennett?

There are those who dismiss Eisenkot as Bibi-lite. Aside from their temperaments, I think Eisenkot differs from Netanyahu in two related respects. Eisenkot would reverse Netanyahu's attempts to rein in the independence of Israel's judiciary and consequently permit an independent inquiry into October 7th proceed.

Of course, Hamas is responsible for carrying out the attacks of October 7th. But as with the Yom Kippur War half a century earlier, an independent inquiry is necessary to determine if the government could have taken steps to either prevent the attack or at least mitigate it. It is also necessary to scrutinize the prosecution of the war itself. 

In this area, Eisenkot has credibility due to being a former IDF Chief of Staff as well as the fact that he has lost his son as well as two nephews since October 7th. 

If Eisenkot does become Prime Minister and does maintain the independence of Israel's judiciary and holds an independent inquiry into October 7th, I still think Israel will be treated as a pariah nation. The people and political leaders who hate Israel because it is Jewish now will continue to hate Israel because it is Jewish no matter who leads it. 

With that said, no one can be Prime Minister forever. While the onus is on Eisenkot to form a coalition, if he is successful in doing so, I would like to see what he can do with the power with which he is bestowed.

Cindy Hyde-Smith Deserves To Lose Mississippi Senate Seat to Scott Colom

{YouTube screenshot from WLOX of Scott Colom (D) & MS Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)}

There are still several significant races which have yet to be determined from Tuesday's 2026 mid-term elections.

One of these races is for the U.S. Senate seat in Mississippi. As of this writing, with 97% of the votes counted, Democratic challenger Scott Colom has a lead of 2,574 votes over Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith. Hyde-Smith would need to win at least 53% of the remaining ballots to be re-elected.

This is simply astounding. Mississippi is about as safely Republican as you can get. While there were rumblings about the race last month, The Cook Political Report modestly changed its assessment of the race from solid Republican to likely Republican.

Well, with each passing voting tabulation, it is looking like this seat is increasingly unlikely Republican.

If this does come to pass, it will be because Hyde-Smith deserved to lose the seat. 

For starters, she did little or no campaigning or town halls and Colom cut an ad and yet another ad reminiscent of the late Democrat Paul Wellstone seeking Republican incumbent Rudy Boschwitz in the 1990 Minnesota Senate race.

And when Hyde-Smith did speak she came off like Marie Antoinette. When she was asked about higher beef prices during a local news interview, Hyde-Smith said, "You have some many proteins to choose from." 

Colom's campaign responded with the now viral "Pick Another Protein? Pick Another Senator Instead!" ad followed by a second ad in which Colom referred to the Republican incumbent as Cindy High Prices. 

And there was the parody ad of the film Sinners called Sinators. 

The common denominator of these ads was that it managed to make a point with good humor rather than negative nastiness.

It also doesn't hurt that Colom takes pride in being from Mississippi with his campaign slogan "Mississippi Matters". Lest we forget the phrase, "Thank God for Mississippi!" especially in other Southern states as it often ranks at the very bottom of various quality of life indexes.

Electing someone who is proud of Mississippi and wants to make it better would be a point of pride for Mississippians. Should Colom prevail, he will also become the first African American Senator from Mississippi since Reconstruction. 

Cindy Hyde-Smith treated the Senate seat like it was her property and she was an absentee landlady. She did not take care of it much less the needs of the people of Mississippi. But a seat in the Senate isn't anyone's personal property. It belongs to the people who may see fit to take it away. 

If the results do hold then Cindy Hyde-Smith will have truly deserved to lose. 

Philadelphia Stands Up To Anti-Semitism

(YouTube screenshot of Fox 29 Philadelphia's coverage of counterprotest to Philly Bike On Your Left anti-Semitic protest)

I am pleased to hear that the people of Philadelphia stood up to anti-Semitism today.

They did so in response to effort by a left-wing, anti-Semitic organization called Philly Bike On Your Left who today carried out an event targeting "Zionist businesses" in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square with declarations "These Zionist establishments must go! Not in our city!" This event coincided with the anniversary of Kristallnacht. 

The anti-Semites were met with pro-Israel counterdemonstrators as well as the community at large which saw fit to business with the restaurants who were targeted because they are Jews. While several arrests were made, the event was for the most part non-violent. 

The act against Jewish businesses was broadly condemned by city and state officials as well as Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson who is a Philadelphia native.

Alas, Philly Bike On Your Left has scheduled another event for next Sunday called the "Ride of Return" around Philadelphia Art Museum made famous by the Rocky movies. I hope the people of Philadelphia will continue to be vigilant in case the group decides to target these Jewish businesses, community centers or synagogues.

Thoughts on Anthony Santander's Instagram Posts on Abdul El-Sayed

Following Abdul El-Sayed's election to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday night, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander reposted two videos on his Instagram account. 

The first video claimed "America voted for Sharia last night" while the other indicated "Islam is not peaceful."

The Blue Jays denounced the post and Santander subsequently deleted the posts.

Lord knows I am no fan of El-Sayed as demonstrated here, here and here. I have described El-Sayed as "an Islamist with a leftist facade."

Yet I don't believe the videos Santander posted are helpful. If one is to be critical of El-Sayed, it must be done with precision rather than with broad brushes. 

In particular, the "Islam is not peaceful" video isn't helpful because it denies Muslims any semblance of humanity and I think the world should be compassionate towards Uyghur Muslims and Rohingya Muslims being persecuted and subjected to genocides by China and Myanmar, respectively. 

As for Santander, the 32-year-old Venezuelan was originally signed by the Cleveland Indians when he was 16. Prior to the 2017 season, Santander was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft which required him to be on the club's big-league roster or be sent back to Cleveland. In 2024, Santander had a career year with the Orioles hitting a career high 44 HR with 102 RBI earning an AL All-Star Team selection. 

Following the season, Santander signed a 5-year, $92.5 million free agent contract with the Blue Jays. Although Santander was a member of last year's AL champions, a shoulder injury limited him to 54 games hitting a paltry .175 with 6 HR and 18 RBI. While Santander played in the ALCS, he did not play in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Santander missed all of the 2026 season due to surgery on his hip. He is signed with the Blue Jays through 2029 with a team option for 2030. In 9 MLB seasons, Santander has played 800 games collecting 729 hits for a lifetime batting average of .241 with 161 HR and 453 RBI. 

Given that Santander's contract with the Blue Jays has thus far been a bust, in view of this act it will be interesting to see if the Blue Jays decide to cut ties with Santander and eat his large contract.