Why Bill Belichick's Hall of Fame Snub is The Best Thing That Could Have Happened to Him

Bill Belichick's exclusion from the Pro Football Hall of Fame has caused considerable consternation.

Tom Brady, who shard 6 Super Bowl rings with Belichick, was flabbergasted:

I don't understand it .... if he's not a first-ballot Hall of Famer there's really no coach that should ever be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Former Pats tight end Rob Gronkowski said, "There had to be some voters that have some ill will against Coach Bill Belichick, for whatever reason” 

Former Pats wide receiver Julian Edelman simply wrote, "smh". 

In the grand scheme of things, this is the best thing that could have happened to Belichick.

I say this because Belichick has been getting a litany of bad press for the past 18 months much of it centered around his relationship with Jordon Hudson, a woman nearly 50 years his junior and her influence over him particularly as it concerns his thus far disastrous tenure as head coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. There's little doubt that his association with her contributed to his snub.

By snubbing him in this manner, Belichick is now viewed in a sympathetic light. Belichick's liaisons do not erase his 8 Super Bowl rings (6 with the Pats as a head coach and 2 with the New York Giants as an assistant coach). Belichick accumulated 333 career wins in the regular season and the playoffs. Only Don Shula of Miami Dolphins fame won more than Belichick with 347.

In fairness, I don't begrudge writers like Vahe Gregorian of The Kansas City Star for not voting for Belichick in the desire to see the likes of L.C. Greenwood, Ken Anderson and Roger Craig finally get enshrined in Canton.

But make no mistake. This snub was a "fuck you" to Belichick. But now its blown back on voters for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and put them on the defensive forcing them to issue a statement indicating it would investigate any voter who violated "selection process bylaws" which would include not voting for someone for reasons unrelated to football. But given the selection process is confidential, this is not likely to happen.

What is likely to happen is that the sports media will start to root for Belichick as an underdog story at North Carolina. If Belichick can rebound at North Carolina and get into a Bowl game, it will result in a feel-good story and give Belichick's candidacy for Canton momentum for the Class of 2027.

But what if Belichick doesn't rebound at North Carolina? That still doesn't take away his NFL achievements. Given the scrutiny heaped on Pro Football Hall of Fame voters and the selection process, they can ill-afford to snub Belichick next year without compromising the credibility of both sports' journalism and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The MBTA Isn't Weathering the Storm

When you live in and around Boston, complaining about the MBTA is part of the natural order of things.

I have done so on any number of occasions.

On this occasion, it concerns the snowstorm we had on Sunday into Monday which dropped nearly two feet of snow. Although the snow has stopped, its impact continues particularly with the MBTA. For me and a lot of other commuters, it involves the Red Line.

I was late for work both yesterday and today because of it. Today was substantially worse. I waited at Porter Square for more than an hour to catch a train. The sign said, "Southbound trains Every 6 to 10 min". More like every 20 to 30 minutes. Of course, if you the Southbound notice on a weekday instead of when the next Ashmont or Braintree train is going to arrive then there's going to be a problem.

I arrived at Porter Square at 8:18 a.m. Trains arrived at 8:43 a.m. and again at 9:09 a.m. and was unable to board either of them as both trains were at capacity. The latter train had a disabled car. I did contemplate trying the Commuter Rail, but it too has seen lengthy delays.

Fortunately, it was third time the charm took place at 9:30 on the nose. This train was one of "all new Red Line cars". I'm generally not a fan of the newer Red Line trains because there is less seating. But if it hadn't the been the new Red Line train, I likely would not have been able to board this train either. Still, we were packed like sardines. 

It proved to be a long ride but delays at nearly every station. As a result, I did not arrive at work until 10:10 a.m. Complicating matters is that we have a new time entry system and this system doles out penalties if you are late more than 5 minutes even under extenuating circumstances. Accumulate enough of these penalties and face disciplinary action up to and including termination. The thought of losing my employment due to circumstances beyond my control is utterly infuriating and grossly unfair.

Going home wasn't much better. This evening, I had to wait 26 minutes to catch a Red Line from South Station back home.

Under the circumstances, I plan to leave the house an hour earlier tomorrow. Then again, it might not make a bit of difference. 

Trump Isn't Going De-Escalate the Situation in Minneapolis - Not Even a Little Bit

When President Trump says he plans to "de-escalate a little bit" in Minneapolis, I do not believe him.

Given his strong predisposition to lying, he does not get the benefit of the doubt from me and shouldn't get it from anyone else.

In this particular situation, the reason I do not believe Trump is because a) Trump is always about escalation b) in fact he hasn't de-escalated at all and c) having ICE and border patrol agents is exactly what he wants.

Escalation is Trump's stock and trade. It is how he got to the White House - twice. Trump has the threat of the Insurrection Act in his back pocket and, sooner or later, he will trigger it. When Trump tells his generals of an enemy within his objective is to declare war on the American people and our rights enshrined in the Constitution including the First, Second and Fourth Amendments. Alex Pretti found this out in the hardest way imaginable.

Trump's escalatory disposition is reflected in the values of ICE. As I argued following the execution of Renee Good:

I wish I could say that I am surprised an ICE agent would shoot and kill an American citizen.

My only surprise is that it did not happen before now.

But now that it has happened, let there be no doubt that ICE is a paramilitary organization who sees fit to use violence as a first resort. Consequently, aside from removing people deemed by the Trump Administration as undesirable, killing American citizens is now part of ICE's job description.

If there is a situation, they will be sure to escalate it. There is no incentive nor reward for restraint.

The only way Trump can de-escalate the situation is if he orders ICE and their accomplices to get the fuck out of Minneapolis and never bother anyone again. 

The odds of Trump doing this are about as likely as publicly admitting that Joe Biden beat him in the 2020 election.

So long as Trump wields power, Minneapolis let alone America will never again no peace. We voted for escalation and this is exactly what we have been given. In the first term, it was the spread of COVID. In this term, it's the spread of authoritarianism.

Authoritarians don't de-escalate. Not even a little bit.

Trump's Board of Peace Will Be Meaningless Unless It Disarms Hamas

A few quick thoughts on President Trump's Board of Peace where it concerns Gaza and in a broader context.

Where it concerns Gaza, The Board of Peace has no meaning unless it succeeds in disarming Hamas. With the presence of countries like Qatar and Turkey on the Board of Peace, not only will Hamas not disarm but it will be given the space necessary to regroup, rearm and launch another October 7th attack on Israel. It is very cold comfort following yesterday's release of the remains of Ran Gvili, the final hostage held in captivity by Hamas.

The Board of Peace wasn't established on a set of guiding principles, but rather a vehicle by which President Trump can receive an elusive Nobel Peace Prize, possibly several in quick succession. After all, Trump is Chairman for Life.

It has been argued the Board of Peace might be intended to supplant the UN. I have no particular fondness for the UN owing not only to its anti-Israel dogma, but the fact that Hamas held hostages at facilities run by the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA), the entity devoted to Palestinian refugees.

But if the Board of Peace is seeking to supplant the UN, then it is simply exchanging one corrupt international institution for another as it seeks contributions of $1 billion from member states. How long will it be before Trump, under the auspices of the Board of Peace, will ask member states to bear him gifts more extravagant than a new Air Force One, a new White House ballroom or a series of Arc de Trumps? Under these conditions, who can say Hamas wouldn't eventually join the Board of Peace itself?

Long story short, Trump's Board of Peace is a Congregation of Grift that will bring no peace to anyone. It will be yet another entity devoted to his enrichment.

It Doesn't Matter Who's in Charge of ICE, They Still Need to Get The F*#k Out of Minneapolis

Things aren't quite going to plan for the Trump Administration in Minneapolis.

Turns out that smearing a VA nurse who saw fit to pay tribute to the fallen after executing him in the streets isn't going down well with most people.

Even the NRA has seen fit to speak up in defense of Alex Pretti after MAGA world suddenly decided to jettison its support for the Second Amendment. Pretti was in possession of a legally owned handgun, but at no time did he brandish it against anyone much less planning a mass casualty incident. The only cowards were the Border Patrol agents who executed by shooting him in the back.

With Republican politicians now demanding an independent investigation at least one head appeared to have rolled with reports of U.S. Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino having been relieved of his duty and to be replaced by White House Border Czar Tom Homan. However, DHS is denying this is the case. Bovino went as far as to claim that the Border Patrol agents who executed Pretti were actually "the victims".

But quite honestly, it doesn't matter who is in charge of ICE operations in Minneapolis be it Bovino, Homan, Kristi Noem or anyone else with the Trump Administration. So long as ICE is in Minneapolis (or anywhere else in the country) in its current iteration, they are going to escalate tensions and anyone who gets in their way will be assaulted or executed in a hail of bullets as was done to Renee Good and now Alex Pretti

To quote Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, "ICE needs to get the fuck out of Minneapolis."

And they need to leave without getting their hands on Minnesota's voter rolls and list of SNAP beneficiaries. That has nothing to do with enforcing immigration law.

When ICE leaves then order will be restored to Minneapolis. Whatever Minneapolis' problems, they did not need a swarm of armed, masked agents behaving like hooligans and terrorists coming into their city.

Nothing good has come of ICE's presence in Minneapolis. 

Then again nothing good has come of President Trump's presence in the White House.

In 8 Days, Trump Went From Being OK with a Canada-China Trade Deal to Threatening 100% Tariffs Against Canada

 

Yesterday, President Trump turned his ire back against Canada by threatening it with 100% tariffs if it made a trade deal with China.

Yet 8 days earlier, Trump was perfectly fine with such an arrangement telling reporters outside the White House. Trump said, “It’s a good thing for (Carney) to sign a trade deal. If you can get a deal with China, he should do that.”

So, what happened in that 8-day stretch to make Trump do a 180?

Well, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made his Davos speech in which he declared there was a "rupture" in the world order. Although Carney made no mention of the United States, much less Trump, it was clear that it was Trump and his administration which were the cause of said rupture.

In other words, Trump's fragile ego got bruised. Again.

It is this fragile ego which impulsively threatens to impose tariffs against a significant trading partner, threaten a military takeover of land belonging to a NATO ally and send goons into in Minneapolis to execute American citizens. In Canada's case, in addition to threatening yet more tariffs, Trump withdrew his invitation to Canada to join the so-called Gaza Board of Peace.

For his part, Carney has denied that Canada is pursuing a free trade agreement with China. Although one could not blame Carney for seeking closer economic ties to China as long as Trump persists in claiming the United States does not need Canadian products let alone continue the existing free trade relationship with Canada and Mexico.

This isn't to say that pursuing closer economic ties with China doesn't have its own risks. Russian dissident and former chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov pointed out that Canada risks trading one authoritarian entity for another and, in so doing, will encourage China to undermine Canadian sovereignty as it already has done by conducting surveillance operations against Chinese dissidents living in Canada.

Nevertheless, Canada must act in its national interest and if China proves a more stable option than an America run by Trump and/or Trumpism then pursuing deeper economic ties with China is Carney's least bad option despite China's atrocious human rights record. At the rate things are going, American brutality under Trump could match that of China before the decade is out.

It is this arbitrary and capricious behavior by Trump which will help drive Canada (and other countries) into the waiting arms of Beijing.

The Pats Return to the Super Bowl for First Time in 7 Years

Amid a major snowstorm here and in much of the country, New Englanders had good reason to stay indoors as our Patriots just bested the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game 10-7 in a Rocky Mountain Way also full of blowing snow. 

This marks the first time the Patriots have gone to the Super Bowl in 7 years when they bested the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII, the last of their six championships during the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era. Of course, the Pats won their first Super Bowl title in 2002 against the Rams when they were based out of St. Louis.

It is quite possible the Pats could face the Rams in Super Bowl LX as the Rams will soon face the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game. The Pats also faced the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX 11 years ago earning their fourth Super Bowl title.

The Pats had some lean years after Brady finished his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers adding one last Super Bowl title to his resume. Belichick retired before joining the collegiate ranks and acquiring a collegiate age paramour in the process. Jared Mayo was placed in the unenviable position to take over head coaching reigns lasting only a single season. However, it does appear that hiring ex-Tennessee Titans head coach and former Pats linebacker Mike Vrabel has paid off at least for now. Of course, a breakout season from Pats quarterback Drake Maye helped matters considerably.

In a country which is falling apart at the seams, the Patriots being back in the Super Bowl seems like a return to the natural order of things however short-lived.

BU College Republican President Zac Segal Has Only Himself to Blame

A couple of months ago, I commented on Zac Segal, the President of BU's College Republicans, who saw fit to call ICE regarding the employees at Allston Car Wash falsely claiming the employees were in the country illegally.

Now a conservative legal foundation which was co-founded by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller is demanding the BU bear the costs of moving Segal to its D.C. area campus. America First Legal alleges that Segal has been unable to attend classes, has been required to make his own academic arrangements and has been harassed and threatened online.

For starters, Segal is lucky th at BU did not see fit to suspend or expel him. The fact that Segal would falsely accuse people of being here illegally as a representative of a campus organization and brag about it is an act which warrants disciplinary action. The individuals Segal alleged were here illegally in fact had work permits.

Do I think Segal should be subject to harassment and threats? No, I don't. Yet it does not change the fact that Segal caused great harm against 9 individuals who did nothing wrong and is unrepentant concerning his conduct. That Segal views himself as a victim and that the America First Legal is encouraging this narrative is foolish and irresponsible.

I also question America First's remedy. What makes them think that the student body at BU's D.C. campus would be any less outraged with Segal than here in Boston? What Segal did was reprehensible. As best as I can tell, Segal saw people with brown skin working at a car wash and simply assumed they were here illegally. On this basis, he saw fit to contact ICE.

While no one ought to threaten Zac Segal with violence, his conduct was contemptible. BU is under no obligation to roll out the welcome mat for him to its D.C. campus. Indeed, he ought to have been suspended or expelled for his actions.

At a time when federal agencies see fit to kill American citizens who they believe are getting in the way of enforcing immigration law, Zac Segal's behavior ought not be tolerated.

I remember there was a time when conservative believed in individual responsibility. It's about time that conservatives started believing this again because Zac Segal is responsible for his actions having endangered the safety of the 9 employees of the Allston Car Wash by bearing false witness against them.

For this, Zac Segal has only himself to blame.

Another Execution of an American Citizen in Minneapolis

 

I've now seen the horrific video of DHS goons executing yet another American citizen in Minneapolis and the Trump Administration, true to form, lying about it.

The man who was executed this morning has been identified as a VA nurse named Alex Pretti, an American citizen. Like Renee Good before him, Pretti was also 37 at the time of his death. His execution comes 17 days after an ICE agent executed Good in broad daylight in Minneapolis. 

DHS claims that Pretti approached federal officers with a gun claiming he was intending to massacre them. Both the video only shows Pretti holding a phone and recording their activities.

Like Renee Good, I don't think Alex Pretti had any idea he was down to his last minute on Earth.

It was federal officers who tackled Pretti and shot him at least 10 to 12 times mostly while he was on the ground. While it appears that they have recovered a gun, Pretti was a registered owner and allowed to carry it. Contrary to DHS claims, there is no evidence Pretti brandished his weapon much less had any plans to use it against anyone.

At this point, we cannot trust anything the federal government tell us. Period. 

They are not interested in the facts. They are only interested in parroting propaganda to please President Trump.

For the moment, I have these four questions.

How many more American citizens will be murdered by Trump's goons?

If there are more Renee Goods and Alex Prettis to come, how much longer will we tolerate this state of affairs?

Will we be strong enough to force the Trump Administration to back down?

Or will executing anyone who gets in the Trump Administration's way become a fact of life?

The answer to the first question is yes. It is up to us to answer the remaining three questions.

If Tucker Carlson is Being Isolated by Republicans for His Anti-Semitism, Then Why Is He in The Oval Office with Trump?

In an article written in the Washington Examiner, Edward Blum asks, "How will we treat the cancer of anti-Semitism?"

An important question to ask, but Blum falls short in answering it. As with many conservatives, Blum focuses on left-wing anti-Semitism while minimizing right-wing anti-Semitism though he does acknowledge it. In his acknowledgment, Blum makes a very curious statement:

Critics of this op-ed might point out that the Republican Party is similarly afflicted this cancer. Absolutely true, but Republicans are making a more substantial (though still insufficient) effort at siloing the problem. Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes, who aren't in government, are increasingly viewed in isolation.

Well, tell that to President Trump. Three weeks into January, Carlson has twice had an audience with Trump and other White House officials.

If you're having an audience with the President of the United States in the Oval Office, then you cannot be viewed as being in isolation.

As I have argued previously, JD Vance is not Donald Trump's running mate without Tucker Carlson.

As for Nick Fuentes, Carlson had no trouble platforming him and Trump didn't have a problem with Carlson platforming Fuentes either.

If Edward Blum wants to treat the cancer of anti-Semitism, then he must treat its causes and one of those causes is Donald Trump. 

If Blum cannot recognize Trump as one of the causes of anti-Semitism in this country, then he is not serious about treating it. 

Trump: A Sad Summary of Term 2, Year 1

How can one best sum up the first year of President Trump's second term in office.

Well, there was the time he and JD Vance became two Russian assets and publicly berated Ukrainian President Zelensky. 

Trump had Elon Musk and DOGE decimate USAID causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands from preventable diseases.

Trump took over the Kennedy Center and added his name to it.

Trump unilaterally demolished the East Wing of the White House to turn it into a monument for himself. 

Trump renamed the Department of Defense the Department of War and told generals of an "enemy within" and also sent in the National Guard into several American cities.

There were tariffs, tariffs and more tariffs including to countries with which we already had trade surpluses. He showed special contempt for Canada declaring it the 51st state from which he didn't need anything.

There was the naked corruption of accepting a $400 million bribe from Qatar in the form of a new Air Force One, giving himself a "golden share" in Nippon Steel's purchase of U.S. Steel and various crypto schemes.

Trump intimidated law firms by telling them who they can and cannot represent, abruptly fired the Chair of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for a jobs report he didn't like and appointed inexperienced loyalists to dubious indictments brought against former FBI Director James Comey and current New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Trump was also cruel for its own sake. Sometimes it was directed at a group of people such withholding citizenship minutes from immigrants minutes before they were to be sworn in and who came here legally and played by the rules. Sometimes it was directed against a single individual such as Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Then there was his cruelty towards Rob Reiner only hours after and his wife were murdered claiming that his death was caused by Trump Derangement Syndrome,    

In a new year less than three weeks old, Trump has removed a head of state of Venezuela only to install his VP as the new president effectively keeping their regime intact while accepting their opposition leader's Nobel Peace medal. In the meantime, he is threatening to invade Greenland unless the Norwegians bequeath Trump with a Nobel with his name on it.

And then there is the madness in Minnesota highlighted by the cold-blooded murder of Renee Good by an ICE officer and Trump's equally cold-blooded efforts to defame her name while investigating her widow instead of her killer. Needless to say, given that Trump is not deterring ICE from its boorish behavior it has no qualms about dragging women out of cars and dragging men out of their homes even if they are U.S. citizens.

I would ask where it all ends, but it has only just begun.

This is what we voted for and there is a lot more of this to come.

And it will only get worse.

Andruw Jones Deserves to be in Cooperstown; Carlos Beltrán Does Not

The BBWAA announced that it elected Andruw Jones and Carlos Beltrán to the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026.

I am delighted that Jones will get a plaque in Cooperstown.

However, I am disappointed that the BBWAA saw fit to elect Beltrán.

With that, let's start with Andruw Jones who earned 78.4% of the vote in his ninth (and next to last) year of eligibility on the BBWAA ballot.

Of note, Jones is the first player from the Dutch island of Curacao to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He will not be the last.

I have had Jones on my unofficial ballot since his second year of eligibility in 2019. Actually, I came this close to putting him on my unofficial 2018 ballot on the strength of his 10 Gold Gloves, but I was prioritizing other defensive stalwarts like Larry Walker, Scott Rolen and Omar Vizquel (before the allegations of sexual assault against him).

Jones earned all 10 of his Gold Gloves during his days with the Atlanta Braves. He would decline significantly as a player after the age of 30 during brief tenures with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees.

But still 10 Gold Gloves is 10 Gold Gloves. Ken Griffey, Jr, Ichiro Suzuki and Al Kaline had 10 Gold Gloves for their outfield play and they are bonafide Hall of Famers. The only outfielders with more Gold Gloves are Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente who each won 12 Gold Gloves. Also bonafide Hall of Famers. Andruw Jones belongs with this elite group and belongs in Cooperstown.

I wish I could say the same for Carlos Beltrán.

His stats as a player are Hall of Fame worthy. My objection is to Beltrán's character or lack thereof.

Yesterday, I expressed concern about his involvement in the Houston Astros electronic sign-stealing scandal in 2017 and 2018. 

Today, I express disgust. After being hired as an analyst with the New York Yankees' YES Network in 2022, Beltrán claimed:

We all did what we did. Looking back today, we were wrong. I wish I would’ve asked more questions about what we were doing. I wish the organization would’ve said to us, `Hey man, what you guys are doing, we need to stop this.

Nonsense. There would have been no sign stealing scandal without Beltrán. When veteran catcher Brian McCann approached Beltrán about stopping the scheme, he was flatly ignored. In 2019, Beltrán falsely denied any shenanigans were taking place. The idea that it was the responsibility of the Houston Astros to tell him it was wrong to do something he knew to be wrong is preposterous. 

Unfortunately, in our Trumpian age, good character no longer matters. And taking page out of Trump's book, 84.2% of the BBWAA has rewarded Beltrán for his dishonest and duplicitous behavior. Shame on them.

Kamala Harris' Defamatory & Disgraceful Treatment of Josh Shapiro

(Tyger Williams/Philadelphia Inquirer)

In an excerpt from his forthcoming memoir Where We Keep the Light, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro revealed that while he was being vetted as Kamala Harris' possible running mate, he was asked if he was "an agent of the Israeli government."

Shapiro indicated that the question was posed to him by Dana Remus, who served as White House Counsel during the Biden Administration and previously worked for the Obamas both during and after their time in the White House.

When Shapiro told Remus he found the question offensive, she said, "Well, we have to ask. We have to check." Remus then pressed Shapiro if he had ever communicated with an undercover Israeli agent. Shapiro retorted, "If they were undercover, how the hell would I know?"

So why was it necessary for the Harris campaign to ask such a question of Shapiro. Does Harris think all Jews work as Israeli double agents?

Deborah Lipstadt, who served as the anti-Semitism envoy during the Biden Administration, denounced the treatment Shapiro received:

This report is extremely distressing. When vetted by the White House for my position as special envoy, I was not asked anything akin to this. Had I been, I would have responded that the question is an example of why an envoy is necessary. It is classic antisemitism.

If that wasn't enough, Harris herself asked Shapiro if he would apologize for condemning campus protests at UPenn. Shapiro declined to do so.

Harris was essentially asking Shapiro to apologize for demanding an end to the encampment of UPenn by pro-Hamas students so all students could feel safe on campus. The fact that she believed this warranted an apology by Shapiro says a great deal more about Harris and her attitudes towards Jews than it does about Shapiro.

Under the circumstances, a Harris-Shapiro ticket would have never worked. In this sense, Shapiro dodged a bullet when Harris picked Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate instead.

But the fact the Harris campaign team saw fit to presume a Jewish elected official was automatically an Israeli double agent and that Harris herself thought Shapiro ought to apologize for bringing order back to UPenn guarantees that I will absolutely not vote for her should she be chosen as the Democratic Party's presidential nominee yet again in 2028.

Harris' retrospective bashing of President Biden was bad enough. Her personal conduct and that of her campaign towards Josh Shapiro is both defamatory and disgraceful. Above all, it is anti-Semitic.

My 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot (If I Were a BBWAA Member)

Tomorrow the Baseball Writers Association of America will announce who they have elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for the Class of 2026. To gain entry into Cooperstown, a player must earn 75% of the vote. Members of the BBWAA can enter up to 10 names on their individual ballots.

If I were a BBWAA member, this would be my list from the 2026 ballot:

1. Francisco Rodriguez

2. Andruw Jones

3. Torii Hunter

4. Jimmy Rollins

5. Chase Utley

6. Felix Hernandez

7. Dustin Pedroia

Six of the seven names on this ballot were on my 2025 ballot.

The only addition I have made is Dustin Pedroia who is in his second year of eligibility. I think his offensive stats are comparable to those of Chase Utley who is projected to make a dramatic surge in his support after attaining just under 40% of the vote in his third year on the ballot in 2025. Pedroia was also a better defensive second baseman than Utley. Yes, seeing Pedroia play in person during his prime is a factor. 

It is curious to me why Utley is gaining momentum, but not his double play partner Rollins whose offensive stats are considerably better than Utley's and was also the better defender of the pair. But, as I argued last year, I view Rollins and Utley as the Whitaker and Trammell of their era. They belong in the Hall, and they should go in together. 

Of the names on the list, the most likely to go in is Andruw Jones who earned 10 Gold Gloves while patrolling center field for the Atlanta Braves. Jones, who is in his penultimate year of eligibility garnered just over 66.2% of the vote last year. Yet Torii Hunter, who earned 9 Gold Gloves for his outfield play, only earned 5.1% of the BBWAA vote last year and nearly fell off the ballot.

I should note that I left Carlos Beltran off my ballot. However, after earning just over 70% of the vote last year, will likely get a plaque in Cooperstown in his fourth year of eligibility. I remain uneasy over his involvement in the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal as he willfully disregarded efforts to stop it. His election to Cooperstown sends a bad message in our troubled times. I'll be especially troubled if Beltran is the only person elected by the BBWAA tomorrow.

Trump Demands NATO Give Him Greenland Because Norway Wouldn't Give Him the Nobel Peace Prize

(Saul Loeb AFP)

Here is an actual communique from President Trump to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre:

Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT.

The hubris, insanity and stupidity are utterly breathtaking.

The Nobel Peace Prize is not bestowed by the Norwegian government. Despite this fact, Trump sees fit to blame the Norwegian government for not being handed one and because of this blame now tells us he no longer feels on obligation to peace. 

From there, Trump not only asserts that Denmark cannot protect Greenland from Russia and China but also questions the legitimacy of its claims to the world's largest island.

Trump then claims he has done more for NATO than anyone ever and now NATO should do something for the United States. Of course, when Trump says the United States, he means himself. 

He concludes by making the preposterous claim that the world is not safe unless he has "Complete and Total Control of Greenland."

These are not the words of a rational man. 

They are also certainly not the words of a man operating in good faith.

I would be tempted to call for the invocation of the 25th Amendment. But such an invocation would bring us JD Vance who is every bit as committed to this madness as Trump.

Well, I knew Maria Corina Machado gifting him her Nobel Peace Prize would only make him want the award for himself even more.

I also predicted that before the end of this year that Trump would launch a military invasion of Greenland and launch strikes against Denmark. Given his anger at Norway for not bestowing him with a million Nobel Prizes, I guess we can expect bombs to drop on Oslo too. 

Simply put, there was no issue with Greenland until Trump decided to make it one. As with his obsessive imposition of tariffs, this is a crisis of Trump's own making. Yet it is quite possible that Greenland will fly under a U.S. flag before the end of 2026.

Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of his second term back in the White House. The damage Trump has done has only scratched the surface and is going to get worse with untold bloodshed, carnage and death. Most frightening of all is that 40% of this country will gladly go along with it.

Wilbur Wood Was the Greatest Left-Handed Knuckleball Pitcher in MLB History

Former MLB pitcher Wilbur Wood passed away yesterday at the age of 84.

Wood was born here in Cambridge, Massachusetts and grew up in neighboring Belmont where he excelled in baseball, football and hockey. 

Prior to the 1960 season, Wood signed with the hometown Boston Red Sox and would make his MLB debut in 1961 at the age of 19. However, in 36 appearances with the Bosox over four seasons, Wood went 0-5 with a 4.85 ERA. 

The Red Sox sold Wood's contract to the Pittsburgh Pirates late in the 1964 season and he would not earn his first MLB win until August 29, 1965, during a one inning relief appearance against the Houston Astros. It proved be Wood's only win in a Bucs uniform as he would spend the entire 1966 season with the Pirates' Triple-AAA affiliate in Columbus, Ohio.

Late in 1966, Pittsburgh traded Wood to the Chicago White Sox where his fortunes would be dramatically reversed. It was in Chicago that Wood had the good fortune to be acquainted with future Hall of Fame knuckleball pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm. Although Wood had learned the pitch from his father who had pitched semipro baseball, it wasn't until Wilhelm became his mentor that he became comfortable and confident with the pitch.

Wood's breakout season came in 1968 when he appeared in then MLB record 88 games as a pitcher (86 of which came in relief) posting a 1.87 ERA in 159 innings pitched. He would lead the AL in appearances again in both 1969 and in 1970 with 76 and 77, respectively. 

In 1971, the White Sox would hire Johnny Sain as their pitching coach. Three years earlier, Sain was the pitching coach on the 1968 Detroit Tigers which would win the World Series featuring a staff of 30-game winner Denny McLain and Mickey Lolich. However, Sain would clash with Tigers manager Mayo Smith, and he would be out of a job the following season. Sain had similar trouble with Minnesota Twins manager Sam Mele after the team won the AL pennant in 1965.

When Sain joined the Chisox, among his first decisions was to move Wood to the starting rotation. With the blessing of manager Chuck Tanner, Sain reasoned that a knuckleballer like Wood required fewer days of rest and could start more frequently. Over the next four seasons, often working on two days of rest, would enjoy 20 plus win campaigns. 

Aside from these 20-win seasons, Wood would lead the AL in starts four times, wins and innings pitched twice and was named to three AL All-Star Teams. In 1971, Wood would finish third in AL Cy Young balloting behind Vida Blue and Mickey Lolich. In 1972, Wood would finish runner up in AL Cy Young balloting to future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry. That season Wood pitched an astounding 376.2 innings. In 1973, despite losing 20 games against 24 wins, Wood still managed to finish fifth in AL Cy Young balloting. That year, Wood would win both ends of a doubleheader and lose both ends of a doubleheader.

For nine seasons, Wood was the White Sox's workhorse first out of the bullpen and then the starting rotation. This would come to an abrupt end during the 1976 season when Wood's kneecap was shattered on a line drive by Ron LeFlore of the Detroit Tigers. This would put Wood out of action for the rest of the year. Unfortunately, Wood was never the same pitcher after returning from the injury struggling with his control in both the 1977 and 1978 seasons. 

In 17 MLB seasons, Wood made 651 appearances (297 of them as a starting pitcher) and went 164-156 with a 3.24 ERA striking out 1411 batters while walking only 724 over 2684 innings pitched. All but one of his wins came in a Chicago White Sox uniform making him one of the best pitchers in team history. 

Wood's most significant baseball legacy was that he was the best left-handed knuckleball pitcher to wear a big-league uniform. R.I.P.

Will MAGA Continue Charlie Kirk's Mission to Discredit MLK, Jr.?

With Martin Luther King, Jr. Day taking place tomorrow, I cannot help but think of Charlie Kirk.

I cannot help this for two reasons.

First, because both men were struck down by the bullets of an assassin.

Second, because in the final years of his life, Kirk went from admiring King to launching an effort to discredit his name. 

During his remarks at TurningPoint USA's AmericaFest in December 2023, Kirk said this about King:

MLK was awful. He's not a good person. He said one good thing he actually didn't believe.

Mind you, in 2015, Kirk described King as a "hero" and even as late as 2022 called him "a civil rights icon." By the following year, Kirk had changed his tune considerably:

I have a very, very radical view on this, but I can defend it, and I’ve thought about it. We made a huge mistake when we passed the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s.

In reality, Charlie Kirk's thought was that if he could discredit Dr. King then he could delegitimize the Civil Rights Act.  

On MLK, Jr. Day in 2024 Kirk said that King is "not worthy of a national holiday" describing such an honor as "harmful."

Alas, Kirk did not live to see his plan come to pass.

The question remains whether MAGA or specific figures within MAGA will pick up Kirk's cudgel to bash King and ultimately eliminate the Civil Rights Act.

I suspect that someone will pick up the mantel at some point although at the moment I think MAGA is more fixated ICE rounding up and deporting as many people as possible, be they here illegally or not, and those who get in the way of said fixation.

For its part, while the Trump Administration cannot unilaterally end MLK, Jr. Day, it has tried to diminish its status such as ending "fee-free" days with the National Parks Service. Still, it is a far cry from not recognizing MLK, Jr. Day at all.

Yet who can where we will be in 2040 or in 2050? Will the United States exist as we have previously understood it? By mid-century, anyone who was around when Dr. King was alive will be next to no one. At which time, Charlie Kirk's successors might have a far easier time to discredit Dr. King and to delegitimize the Civil Rights Act.

Why I Believe Trump Will Launch a Military Attack on Both Greenland & Denmark Before The End of The Year

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump announced that 8 European countries including Denmark will be subjected to new tariffs "until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,”

The 10% tariff takes effect on February 1st with an increase to 25% on June 1st. 

Given how frequently Trump has arbitrarily imposed new tariffs, Denmark and its European allies will stand firm.

In which case, I believe that before the end of the year President Trump will seize Greenland by military force. Not only do I believe that Trump will begin an occupation of Greenland but that it will drop bombs in Copenhagen.

This, of course, would mean the end of NATO and I believe this is precisely what Trump wants. Or should I say what Vladimir Putin wants. 

Let us consider several statements.

The first was made by Trump in an interview with the New York Times in which he was asked if there were any limits to his global powers. To which Trump replied, “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me."

In the context of Greenland, Trump has said, "We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not."

When VP Vance visited Greenland in March 2025, he remarked:

Well, the president said we have to have Greenland. And I think that we do have to be more serious about the security of Greenland. We can't just ignore this place. We can't just ignore the president's desires.

In other words, the destiny of the people of Greenland is based solely on the desires of Donald Trump. In which case, Trump is giving Greenland the E. Jean Carroll treatment. 

Now let's consider remarks made by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller in an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News concerning Denmark's ability to control Greenland:

To control a territory, you have to be able to defend a territory, improve a territory, inhabit a territory. Denmark has failed at every single one of these tests.

In a previous interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Miller said, “Nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland.” 

So, what do these statements tell me?

First, Trump views himself as a dictator along the lines of Putin and China's Xi Jinping accountable only to himself and his own sense of morality. In the words of his Vice-President, that morality centers around his desires. Needless to say, Trump's view of morality diverges a great deal from that of most people. But most people do not have the power he has and the willingness to use it as he sees fit.

Second, Miller does not believe Denmark can militarily defend Greenland nor does he believe anyone will come to its defense. Loathe as I am to agree with Miller, I cannot dispute his assessment. While it is true that Miller has denied that an American military response is necessary, for all intents and purposes there is nothing to stop Trump from launching a military takeover of Greenland outside of his mind and his morality such as they are. While such an attack would spark global outrage, it would also very likely expose NATO as a paper tiger.

However far-fetched you might think a military occupation of Greenland coupled with an attack on Denmark might be, let us keep this in mind. The Trump Administration has seen fit to bomb ships off Venezuela it believes to be shipping drugs and has seen fit to kill survivors. The Trump Administration has seen fit to murder an American citizen protesting ICE's actions in Minneapolis, smear her as a terrorist and launch an investigation against her widow. 

If the Trump Administration is prepared to do these things, then what makes anyone think they aren't capable of dropping bombs on Copenhagen in pursuit of taking control of Greenland? Especially if there are no meaningful consequences to be faced for their actions. 

Walz & Frey Are Trump's Newest DOJ Targets for Retribution

It would seem that the DOJ, not content to investigate a grieving widow, is now seeking to investigate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for impeding ICE through, wait for it, making public statements.

In which case, Trump's DOJ wants to make publicly disagreeing with ICE a crime. Well, if President Trump thinks ICE was warranted in shooting and killing Renee Good because she was "disrespectful" can we really be surprised that they would see fit to prosecute public officials for having the temerity to criticize ICE.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche (who was once President Trump's personal attorney) telegraphed the DOJ's plan when he took to X scarcely 48 hours ago:

Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence against law enforcement. It’s disgusting. Walz and Frey - I’m focused on stopping YOU from your terrorism by whatever means necessary. This is not a threat. It’s a promise.

This isn't a legal opinion; it's a wrestling promo.

Well, at least Walz and Frey have Jesse Ventura on their side. 

I also suspect Walz and Frey will have the law on their side as well if past prosecutions (or perhaps persecutions) of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James are any indication. When you also consider the fact DOJ is also investigating Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell for not lowering interest rates on Trump's demand, their latest salvo against Walz and Frey demonstrate that Trump should just go ahead and rename the DOJ the DOR (Department of Retribution) for that is what he promised.

Because when it comes to the Trump Administration there is no justice.

Tucker Chooses Dodgers Over Mets While Bichette Picks Mets Over Phillies

 

In the space of 24 hours, two free agents picked their destinations.

Outfielder Kyle Tucker, who spent 2025 with the Chicago Cubs after seven seasons with the Houston Astros, has agreed to a four-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tucker can opt out of the deal after the 2027 and 2028 seasons. But when you're now the highest paid player in the game by average annual value, why would you? Meanwhile infielder Bo Bichette, who had spent his entire 7-year MLB career with the Toronto Blue Jays, has chosen to play for the New York Mets for $126 million over the next three seasons. 

Tucker, who turns 29 tomorrow, chose the Dodgers over the Mets who had offered him a four-year deal worth $220 million. Without missing a beat, the Mets turned their sights and landed the 27-year-old Bichette who had been offered $200 million over seven seasons from their NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies. Although the Phillies were offering more money over a longer period of time, Bichette opted for a salary of a higher average annual value and another opportunity to hit the free agent market at 30.

Both Tucker and Bichette are very good players but I'm not sure either warranted their contracts. While Tucker has been named to four consecutive NL All-Star Teams, he did significant time in both 2024 and 2025 due to a shin fracture and a calf injury, respectively. Bichette also had injury issues in both 2024 and 2025 with a calf issue of his own as well as a sprained knee. Complicating matters for Bichette is that he is expected to play third base for the Mets, a position he has never played.

Yes, the Dodgers have won back-to-back World Series, so Tucker isn't necessarily a centerpiece of the team but when you're getting more money than Shohei Ohtani then you're bound to be subject to scrutiny. Yet Bichette is under every bit as much pressure as he heads to a Mets organization which had a major collapse last season and a huge overhaul. New York is not an easy place to learn a new position.

Well, both players will be handsomely compensated for their travails. As they say, nice work if you can get it.

Trump Gets His Nobel Peace Prize & Soon He Will Want Another

 

When Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was bestowed with the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, President Trump claimed that Machado said he actually deserved it instead.

Well, today Trump got his wish. 

Machado gave him her Nobel Peace Prize.

And what did she get in return?

Absolutely nothing.

I'm sure Machado thought that by giving him the Nobel, he would earn his support to be Venezuela's next leader.

But she's a day late and many dollars short. Trump is firmly behind Delcy Rodriguez as the Latin American nation's new President. That she was Nicolas Maduro's second-in-command for seven years and every bit a part of his regime made no difference in Trump's mind. As far as Trump is concerned, Machado doesn't have the "respect" to run Venezuela. And now she doesn't even have her Nobel Prize. Nor does she have her dignity.

Meanwhile, the Nobel Prize itself has lost its meaning. As I argued when Trump was clamoring for the prize after the Nobel Committee selected Machado, "The prize would probably sit along with the golf trophies for tournaments he won on golf courses that he owns."

Worst of all, it won't be enough. Trump will demand another Nobel. Given that Machado is not actually allowed to give away her prize, Trump will want the Nobel committee to give him a prize in his own right irrespective if he deserves it or not. Perhaps he will want the Nobel Prize for Literature for The Art of The Deal. If Trump's base wasn't so anti-vax, he would demand the Nobel Prize for Medicine for fast track the COVID vaccines. In which case, another Nobel Peace Prize will do. 

Donald Trump wants to be the one to say he is the first person in the world to earn Nobel Peace Prizes.

Red Sox Add Ranger Suárez to Rotation

The starting rotation of the 2026 Boston Red Sox improved with the signing of free agent pitcher Ranger Suárez.

The 30-year-old Venezuelan born southpaw signed with the Bosox for $130 million over five seasons.

Suárez had spent his entire professional baseball career in the Philadelphia Phillies organization signing with the club in 2012 when he was 16. He made his big-league debut in 2018 but didn't emerge as a significant presence until 2021. Suárez was part of the NL pennant winning team in 2022 earning a win in Game 3 of the World Series against the Houston Astros.

For three of the past four seasons, Suárez has won in double digits with back-to-back 12-win campaigns in 2024 and 2025. Suárez would earn a spot on the 2024 NL All-Star Team. In 187 appearances over 8 seasons (119 starts), Suárez has gone 53-37 with a 3.38 ERA with 705 strikeouts over 762 innings pitched against only 240 walks.

Suárez is one of three off-season additions to the Red Sox starting rotation along with Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals and Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates. They join AL Cy Young runner up Garrett Crochet and homegrown talent Brayan Bello to make a formidable starting five. Should any of them, however, falter or get hurt then the likes of Kutter Crawford, Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, Kyle Harrison (acquired in the Rafael Devers deal) and ex-Angels castoff Patrick Sandoval will get an opportunity to claim a spot. 

While the Red Sox might not have re-signed Alex Bregman, they have added to their pitching and got some pop in Wilson Contreras. 

As for Suárez, if he can pitch in Philly then he can surely pitch in Boston.

Does the DOJ Plan to Charge Renee Good's Widow for Being Disrespectful?

Yesterday, six federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned amid efforts by the DOJ to investigate Becca Good, the widow of Renee Good who was executed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in broad daylight last week.

As for Jonathan Ross and his actions, the DOJ has no interest there declining even to launch a civil rights probe into the shooting.

Given the determination with which the feds are pursuing Becca Good, one can only wonder what charges they intend to bring against a grieving widow.

Will they charge her for being disrespectful?

On Sunday, President Trump justified the killing of Good by stating, “At a very minimum, that woman was very, very disrespectful to law enforcement.”

As always Trump is lying through his teeth. You might recall that nary an hour after her murder, Trump proclaimed that Good "violently, willfully and viciously ran over the ICE officer" who was "recovering in hospital." On the contrary, her murderer came out unscathed. 

As for Good, she was being Minnesota Nice. As I wrote last week:

If anything, Good was cordial and polite making a point of telling Ross, "I'm not mad at you." Her demeanor is not that of someone about to engage in an act of domestic terrorism. Ross and his other ICE colleagues, however, were quite angry and saw fit to escalate the situation.

But in Trump's eyes and those of his quislings, being insufficiently respectful to ICE is grounds for instantaneous execution.

With this in mind, one must wonder what Trump's DOJ have in mind for Becca Good who, if you watch the footage, was far more vocal in her "disrespect" of ICE than her now deceased wife. 

Becca Good did not have kind words for ICE in the moments before one of their goons killed her wife. She certainly has no reason to have kind words for ICE now.

So, what crime did Becca Good commit?

I'm sure Trump's DOJ will make something up. Just about the only thing they are good at is creating stories. That and making a living hell of the lives of people with whom they see as enemies.

Can Arenado Ascend in Arizona?

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league pitcher Jack Martinez.

The Redbirds have been trying to move Arenado for some time now and nearly dealt him to the Houston Astros following the 2024 season. However, Arenado vetoed the deal.

But now the Cardinals in a sell mode having sent both Sonny Gray and Wilson Contreras to the Boston Red Sox. While the Red Sox could use a third baseman, Arenado is probably better off in lower-key place like Phoenix than here in Boston.

Arenado, who turns 35 in April, began his career with the Colorado Rockies where he spent his first 8 MLB seasons. Prior to the 2021 season, the Rockies sent Arenado to the Cardinals for four players including starting pitcher Austin Gomber who didn't exactly set the world afire before being released last August.

While it was a lot to ask Arenado to replicate his offensive numbers in St. Louis which he had at Coors Field, as recently as 2022, he finished third in NL MVP balloting. That same year, Arenado won his 10th consecutive Gold Glove at third base.

Unfortunately, both Arenado's offense and defense have declined over the past several seasons. In 2025, Arenado hit a career low .237 with 12 HR and 52 RBI. A shoulder strain caused him to miss all of August and half of September.

This might be a classic case of Arenado simply needing a change of scenery to enjoy a rebound season. That doesn't necessarily mean hitting 40 HR or earning another Gold Glove. If Arenado hit .280 with 25 HR and 75 RBI, I think the D'Backs would be more than happy with that output. 

Arenado is under contract through 2027, and the Cardinals are footing the bill for most of his salary. In the grand scheme of things, this is a fairly low risk acquisition for Arizona. If nothing else, the D'Backs have acquired the services of a future Hall of Famer.