Back-to--Back AL Cy Youngs for Skubal; Skenes Become First Pirate to Win NL Cy Young Since 1990

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal earned his second consecutive AL Cy Young Award tonight while Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes earned his first NL Cy Young becoming the first Buc to win the honor since Doug Drabek did so in 1990.

Skubal, who turns 29 later this month, went 13-6 with a league leading 2.21 ERA striking out 241 batters in 195.1 innings while walking only 33. A good argument could be made that Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, who finished runner up in AL Cy Young balloting, would have been the better choice than the Tigers' southpaw. 

After spending 2024 with the Chicago White Sox, the worst team in modern MLB history, Crochet went 18-5 with a 2.59 fanning a league leading 255 batters in 205.1 innings pitched against only 46 walks. On a personal note, I saw Crochet pitch at Fenway back in August and he was outstanding against the Miami Marlins. Unfortunately, the Red Sox bullpen could not hold his lead and Crochet ended up with a no-decision.

Still, Skubal did have an exceptional campaign in 2025. While Skubal had fewer wins than he did a year ago, his ERA was lower and strikeouts were up. While I would have cast my vote for Crochet if I were a BBWAA member, I don't think Skubal winning again is an injustice.

Meanwhile, the 23-year-ol Skenes, won the NL Cy Young unanimously. In only his second MLB season, the number one pick in the 2024 MLB Draft led the league with a 1.97 ERA striking out 216 batters against 42 walks in 187.2 innings pitched despite having a 10-10 record. Yet it is important to keep in mind that in all 10 of Skenes; losses, the Pirates never scored more than 3 runs and were shutout on four of those occasions. 

There is an open question as to whether Skubal and Skenes will be with their respective teams at this time a year from now. 

Skubal is a free agent after the 2026 season. The Tigers have tried to extend Skubal without success thus far. The New York Mets, who spectacularly missed this year's post-season, are said to be in hot pursuit of Skubal. But the Tigers have come off back-to-back post-season appearances in no small part due to Skubal. If the Tigers have a chance to win their first World Series since 1984, I very much doubt Detroit will part ways with Skubal. The only way I can see this changing is if the Tigers are out of contention by the All-Star Break. 

Unlike the Tigers, however, the Pirates have been a moribund franchise under Bob Nutting with fans clamoring for him to sell the team. The team actually tried to trade Skenes to the New York Yankees during the trading deadline in July without success despite Skenes' apparent desire to come to the Big Apple. For his part, Bucs GM Ben Cherington insists that Skenes isn't going anywhere in 2026 and that the team plans to spend money for free agents. 

I suspect that Pirates fans will believe this when they see it. I'm also inclined to think prospective free agents might share a similar cynicism regarding Pittsburgh and the team might not be able to lure new players despite promises to do so. It is also worth remembering that Cherington said Skenes will be a Pirate in 2026. But what about 2027 and beyond? Skenes isn't actually eligible for free agency until after the 2029 season. The fact that Cherington can't say that Skenes will be a Buc for the rest of the decade is quite telling indeed.

But at least for the moment the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates have the two best pitchers in MLB.

Vogt & Murphy Win Back-to-Back AL/NL Manager of the Year Awards (But They Would Trade Those Awards for a World Series)

For the second straight year both Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt and Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy won AL Manager of the Year and NL Manager of the Year, respectively.

Vogt, of course, guided a Guardians club once 15½ games of the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central only to overtake them and win the division crown. Meanwhile, Murphy led an injury plagued Brew Crew to an MLB best 97-65 record.

While I have no doubt Vogt and Murphy are pleased to receive these honors, I believe both men would have preferred to face each other in the World Series. After all, Cleveland has not had a World Series parade since 1948 while the Brewers have never won a title in the history of their franchise which began in Seattle in 1969.

The Guardians may have overtaken the Tigers to win the AL Central, but the Tigers would get the last laugh in the AL Wild Card. Having the best record in MLB didn't prevent the Brewers from being swept in the NLCS by the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Don't get me wrong. Stephen Vogt and Pat Murphy took their clubs to the post-season yet again. But they would both agree they didn't get far enough.

Kurtz Unanimously Wins AL ROY While Baldwin Becomes 1st Catcher to Win NL ROY Since 2010

 

Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz unanimously won the 2025 AL Rookie of the Year while Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin took home NL Rookie of the Year honors.

In his inaugural campaign for the Athletics, Kurtz, 22, hit .290 with 36 HR and 86 RBI. Kurtz truly put himself on the map when he became the first rookie in MLB history to slug 4 HRs in a game in late July. The A's selected Kurtz as the fourth overall pick in the nation during the 2024 MLB Draft. 

In what proved to be a disappointing season for the Atlanta Braves, the 24-year-old Baldwin was a bright spot hitting .274 with 19 HR and 80 RBI. A third-round draft pick by the Braves in 2022, Baldwin become the first catcher to win NL Rookie of the Year honors since Buster Posey did so with the San Francisco Giants in 2010. Fifteen years later, Posey is now President of the ballclub. Who knows what life will be like for Baldwin in 15 years from now in 2040? Indeed, the same could be said for Kurtz.

Micky Dolenz is Still Monkeeing Aound

 

This evening, I went to City Winery in Boston to see and hear Micky Dolenz in concert.

It is the third time I have seen and heard Dolenz live on stage. The first time was in May 2016 at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston where he was joined by fellow Monkee, Peter Tork. The second time was nearly three years later in March 2019 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. On this occasion, he was joined by Mike Nesmith. I had not originally planned to attend this show but in light of Tork's passing a month earlier, I reconsidered.

I'm glad I went because, of course, Nesmith passed away in December 2021 leaving Dolenz the last surviving member of The Monkees. Alas, I never saw nor heard Davy Jones live. Jones passed away of a heart attack in February 2012 at the age of 66.

Dolenz, who turned 80 earlier this year, is at the stage of his life where a good many of his contemporaries have left this world. Aside from his bandmates, Bobby Hart (who co-wrote many of The Monkees' hits with Tommy Boyce) passed away in September. During that same month, Mark Volman of The Turtles passed away. Following Volman's death, Dolenz posted a picture of himself, Volman, Keith Moon and Olivia Newton-John at a charity tennis tournament. Yet again, Dolenz is the sole survivor.

Under the circumstances, one could quite easily become maudlin and morose. But this was not in evidence during Dolenz's show this evening. The proceedings began with Dolenz's younger sister Coco singing several 1960's and 1970's covers - Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good", "A Little Bit of Love in Your Heart" by Jackie DeShannon and Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit."

From there, her big brother took to the stage launching into The Monkees' "I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone" followed by the group's 1986 comeback hit "That Was Then, This Is Now" before returning to the 60's with "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You." Dolenz then paid tribute to Tork by singing "For Pete's Sake" which was the closing theme to The Monkees' TV show during its second season.

This was followed by Dolenz reminiscing about being at Abbey Road Studios with The Beatles where John Lennon called him "Monkee Man." Dolenz paid homage by singing "Good Morning Good Morning" and the reprise of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". I have to admit I was hoping that Dolenz would segue into "A Day in the Life" but this was not to be. 

Instead, Dolenz continued his homage by turning his attention to Chuck Berry and then Jimi Hendrix. He sang "Johnny Be Good" because this was the song he sang at his audition for The Monkees TV show. From there, Dolenz covered "Purple Haze" as Hendrix was the opening act for The Monkees on their first international tour much to the consternation of the band's fan base of 10-year-old girls and their mothers who could not figure out why that man was burning his guitar.

Dolenz and sister Coco sang a duet "Me and Magdalena" which appeared on The Monkees' final studio album Good Times which was released in 2016. Written by Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, I had actually heard Dolenz and Nesmith sing it together in New York in 2019. But the version I heard tonight struck a deeper chord with me. Dolenz then ended the first set with "Last Train to Clarksville."

Following a 20-minute intermission, Dolenz returned to the stage where he paid homage to Stephen Stills who had auditioned for The Monkees but would recommend his then roommate, Peter Tork, and the rest as they say is history. In honor of Stills, Dolenz sang the Buffalo Springfield classic "For What's Its Worth".

Dolenz then turned his attention to The Troubadour in Los Angeles. I had a feeling I knew where he would be going with this train of thought and sure enough, he was talking about Elton John who made his U.S. debut at the venerated venue in 1970. Dolenz then paid homage to Reginald Dwight with "Your Song." 

I had this feeling because these days when I think of The Troubadour, I not only think of John's debut, but I think a great deal of his opening act David Ackles who I wrote about over the summer. Although it was interesting to hear Dolenz meeting up with John at an afterparty and discovering they were wearing the same Andy Warhol/Marilyn Monroe t-shirt, if I had the chance to meet Dolenz in person I would ask if he remembered David Ackles.

After a stirring rendition of "Valleri", Dolenz paid tribute to Nesmith with a trio of his songs - "Different Drum" (which, of course, became a hit for The Stone Poneys featuring the aforementioned Linda Ronstadt, "(Look Out) Here Comes Tomorrow" and "You Just May Be the One". This was followed by "Daydream Believer" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday".

Then came the "encore". Dolenz said he didn't want to walk all the way back to the dressing room only to have to come back to the stage two minutes later. So why bother with the formalities? The encore consisted of "Gimme Some Lovin'" by The Spencer Davis Group and funky version of "We're the Monkees" which morphed into a deep cut called "No Time" from their 1967 album Headquarters. Of course, the evening concluded with "I'm a Believer" with Dolenz making his oft repeated comment, "I sang this song long before Shrek."

I've had some mixed experiences at City Winery particularly with Gilbert O'Sullivan, Leonid and Friends and Wild Taxi although it is mostly with the venue rather than the artists themselves. Tonight, however, was good. While there was a big crowd, I was seated towards the back of the room at the end of a banquet table with no one in my immediate vicinity. This worked out nicely.

The audience itself was fairly enthusiastic, and age demographics were reasonably mixed. Certainly there were people who grew up with them in the 1960's, a fair number of Gen-Xers who watched the Monkees TV show on MTV in the 1980s along with some Millennials and Gen-Zers with a modicum of good taste in music. The room doesn't lend itself to dancing, but that didn't stop two young women from dancing most of the evening. An older gentleman joined them. I think it is fair to say a good time was had by all.

With that, I'm glad Micky Dolenz is still Monkeeing around.

Steve Hargan Was the Last Starting Pitcher in MLB History to Hit a Walk-Off HR

 

Former MLB pitcher Steve Hargan passed away on October 30th at the age of 83. His death was not announced until this past Saturday.

A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Hargan pitched collegiate baseball at Ball State University. Prior to the 1961 season, he would be signed by the Cleveland Indians where he would spend the bulk of his professional career.

Hargan would make his big-league debut with the Tribe during the 1965 season and by the middle of the following season would join the team's starting rotation which consisted of Luis Tiant, "Sudden" Sam McDowell and Sonny Siebert. His finest season came in 1967 when he posted a 14-13 record with a 2.62 ERA tossing 15 complete games while leading the AL with 6 shutouts. In of those shutouts, Hargan blanked the Baltimore Orioles for 12 innings until Tony Horton hit a walk-off HR off O's reliever Moe Drabowsky. 

That season Hargan would hit a walk-off HR of his own in a game against the Kansas City A's. It would be the last time any starting pitcher or any AL pitcher would ever hit a walk-off HR. The only other pitcher to hit a walk-off HR since Hargan was San Diego Padres reliever Craig Lefferts in a game against the San Francisco Giants in April 1986. 

Hargan would be named to the 1967 AL All-Star Team but did not pitch due to a hamstring injury he sustained running the bases prior to the midsummer classic. It would be a harbinger of things to come for Hargan as tendonitis and an ulnar nerve reduced his effectiveness in both the 1968 and 1969 seasons going 8-15 with a 4.15 ERA and 5-14 with a 5.70 ERA in these respective campaigns.

Hargan appeared to regain his form in 1970 going 11-3 with a 2.90 ERA. But he would regress yet again in 1971 going 1-13 with a 6.19 ERA. His struggles continued into 1972 when he was eventually sent to Triple-AAA Portland Beavers before spending all of 1973 with the Double-AA Oklahoma City 89ers. 

Prior to the 1974, the Tribe sent Hargan to the Texas Rangers which proved to be the shot in the arm he needed. Hargan was part of a Rangers team that would contend in the AL West and finish only 5 games back of the eventual World Series champion Oakland A's. Hargan went a respectable 12-9 with a 3.95 ERA in a starting rotation which included future Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, Jim Bibby, Jackie Brown and the teenaged David Clyde. Hargan would pitch decently in 1975 going 9-10 with a 3.80 ERA before largely working out of the bullpen during the 1976 season.

The Rangers would leave Hargan unprotected during the off-season expansion draft and he would be selected by the Toronto Blue Jays. However, Hargan would only pitch in a half a dozen games for the Jays in 1977 before he was reacquired by the Rangers along with infielder Jim Mason in exchange for Roy Howell who would become the Jays' every third baseman in their early years. 

However, Hargan's return to the Rangers was equally short-lived and he would be sold to the Atlanta Braves after only half a dozen appearances. Hargan would split the 1978 season in the minor leagues with the Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates, but he would never pitch in the big leagues again. In 354 appearances over 12 seasons (including 215 starts), Hargan went 87-107 with a 3.92 ERA striking out 891 batters over 1632 innings pitched against 614 walks along with 56 career complete games and 17 career shutouts.

Hargan retreated from baseball once his playing days ended living the life of a bachelor in Palm Springs, California in a condo he bought during his pitching career. R.I.P.

Axelrod's Accusations Against ADL Over Mamdani Are Shockingly Gratuitous, Inflammatory & Deeply Irresponsible

David Axelrod, the former senior advisor to President Obama, became the latest figure to attack the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). 

Axelrod took the ADL to task following Zohran Mamdani's election victory to be the next Mayor of New York. The ADL announced it was launching a Mamdani Monitor concerning actions "that impact Jewish community safety and security."

The former Obama adviser stated:

As a Jew & son of a Jewish refugee, I'm alarmed by the rise of antisemitism. The ADL's mission is to call it out when they see it. But I found their response to Mamdani's election shockingly gratuitous, inflammatory and deeply irresponsible.

What exactly Axelrod finds shocking gratuitous, inflammatory and deeply responsible about the ADL concerning Mamdani, however, he did not specify.

All of which begs the following questions.

Does Axelrod believe Mamdani isn't anti-Semitic?

Does Axelrod support the globalization of the intifada, as Mamdani does?

Does Axelrod support BDS, as Mamdani does?

Does Axelrod believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested the next time he is in New York City, as Mamdani does?

I suspect that Axelrod's answers along with his ad hominem attacks on the ADL will be shockingly gratuitous, inflammatory and deeply irresponsible.

Some Thoughts on Elise Stefanik's Bid to be Governor of NY

Yesterday, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik announced her bid to seek the GOP nomination in next year's gubernatorial race in New York.

Of course, there is no guarantee she would get the blessing of the party although methinks President Trump is more likely than not to support her. However, let us remember that Trump nominated Stefanik to be his UN Ambassador only to pull the rug out from under her. The position subsequently went to Stefanik's former GOP congressional colleague Mike Waltz who had been forced to resign as National Security Adviser earlier in the year due to Signalgate. 

Yet I think it is more likely than not that Trump would endorse Stefanik. Should Stefanik oust Democrat Kathy Hochul as Governor she could help Trump carry out any schemes he might conjure up against New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. While sending the National Guard into NYC would be wrong, I must admit there is a part of me which wouldn't mind Stefanik help give Mamdani a swift kick in the ass.

With that said, I do have considerable reservations regarding Stefanik. While I have lauded Stefanik for exposing campus anti-Semitism to a national audience, I am deeply troubled about her echoing Trump in likening those who were convicted of crimes committed on January 6th as "hostages", Those who were responsible for criminal acts on January 6, 2021 were no danger of being starved, raped or murdered unlike those who were taken into captivity by Hamas on October 7th. I consider such statements unconscionable. 

Assuming Stefanik gets her party's nomination and Trump doesn't undermine her, there remains the question of whether she can defeat Governor Hochul. This depends on one question. Who will New Yorkers hate more at this time a year from now - Mayor Mamdani or President Trump? If it is the former, then she can win. If it is the latter, then she will lose.

Let's keep in mind that across the Hudson, Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill was considered a less than ideal gubernatorial candidate and was called "the Kamala Harris of New Jersey." Yet Sherrill won her race by more than 13 points. Well, she ran aggressively against Trump and even Trump ceded the ongoing government shutdown benefited Sherrill. 

In which case one can expect Hochul to campaign aggressively against Trump and paint Stefanik as an acolyte of Trump which she is. There is certainly the possibility of Mamdani doing more damage than Trump in the next year should there be anti-Semitic pogroms accompanied by capital leaving NYC and possibly the state altogether. Yet there is also a good chance that Trump's response to any catastrophe under Mamdani's watch will only make matters worse. In which case, I think the odds would seem to favor Hochul prevailing against Stefanik.