Sunday Notes: Jake Burger Is a Diehard Tottenham Fan Watching the World Cup

Like many people, Jake Burger is tuning in to as many World Cup matches as his schedule permits. The Texas Rangers first baseman is a giant fan of “the gorgeous recreation,” and has been for effectively over a decade. Furthermore, it isn’t simply the US nationwide staff that captures his consideration. Burger is an ardent supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, one of many extra distinguished sides within the English Premier League.

How and when did the 30-year-old St. Louis native come to embrace a staff primarily based in North London?

“I turned a Spurs fan in all probability round 2011-2012,” Burger instructed me. “Gareth Bale and Luka Modrić have been my two favourite gamers. It type of began with me taking part in [the FIFA video game] and realizing a number of these names. Modrić was a wizard on the market. Bale, too. Then, clearly, Harry Kane came visiting to Spurs and I turned a giant fan of his. They type of went on a run when Mauricio Pochettino got here in [as manager], so following them simply turned extra part of my life.

“In 2019, I acquired to go over there to the brand new stadium and watch a recreation,” Burger added. “They performed Bournemouth and gained 3-2. I went over with Ryan Burr and Jimmy Lambert, who have been within the White Sox group with me, and we noticed a couple of different matches, as effectively. Lambert is a Liverpool fan, and Burr a Man Metropolis fan, so together with the Tottenham recreation we went to a Manchester Derby and a Merseyside Derby; we noticed Liverpool play Everton.”

Being a Tottenham fan this previous season was something however straightforward. Had they misplaced their ultimate match, they might have been relegated from England’s prime league for the primary time in almost 50 years. A lot to the reduction of Spurs supporters all over the place, they defeated Everton 1-0 to stay secure.

“It was positively nail-biting,” Burger mentioned of the last-day outcomes, which noticed West Ham drop right down to the second tier. “I used to be assured, however it’s nonetheless going to be nerve-racking any time you’re battling relegation. Any time you assist a staff, you’re going to like them to demise to the very finish, so it was unlucky how the season went total, however with [new manager] Roberto De Zerbi there, I feel it’ll change the tradition somewhat bit. He’ll deliver a few of that vitality that Pochettino introduced when he got here in.”

The vitality that the World Cup brings each 4 years is felt across the globe, and Burger is hoping to expertise it up shut when England performs Croatia this coming Wednesday at AT&T Stadium, in Arlington. The Rangers have an off day, which is able to permit the soccer-loving slugger to attend if he can procure tickets. And whereas a chance to see the US staff play stay in all probability gained’t current itself, he’ll proceed to observe as intently as potential.

“I’m positively excited for them,” mentioned Burger, who bashed his one centesimal big-league house run yesterday afternoon. “Pochettino being there [as the US manager] will get my spirits even greater. It was a fantastic win in opposition to Paraguay. I clearly didn’t get to observe, as a result of we have been taking part in, however from the highlights it seemed prefer it was a high-energy recreation for the USA. It seemed enjoyable.”

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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS

Gene Richards went 12 for 18 in opposition to Preston Hanna.

David Freese went 11 for 23 in opposition to Bud Norris.

Brooks Robinson went 10 for 13 in opposition to Ed Sprague.

Freddie Freeman went 9 for 16 in opposition to Ian Kennedy.

Matt Adams went 8 for 12 in opposition to Tyson Ross.

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Skip Schumaker performed as just lately as 2015, so it’s not fully stunning that he went head-to-head in opposition to a pair of veteran pitchers now underneath his path. He had success in opposition to each of them. The 46-year-old Texas Rangers supervisor went 2-for-3 with a double in opposition to Jacob deGrom, and 3-for-9 with a double in opposition to Nathan Eovaldi.

What does he keep in mind about these matchups?

“deGrom, one jam shot,” Schumaker instructed me. “[Another], the left fielder fell. A fantastic swing. It was like a bad-read, dive, double. A single or a double. However that was one of many hits.

“With Evo, it was a special time,” continued Schumaker, who performed principally for the St. Louis Cardinals over an 11-year profession. “He was throwing completely different pitches. If he threw the break up that he’s throwing proper now, I’d have zero probability. So, it was simply type of attempting to beat him to the spot, as a result of he threw so onerous. Evo was only a energy pitcher. It felt like he was a more in-depth as a starter, for seven innings. My at-bats weren’t barrels.”

Upon hanging up his spikes, Schumaker spent six years with the Padres, initially within the entrance workplace after which as a coach on the big-league workers. deGrom got here into his personal throughout that point, profitable back-to-back Cy Younger Awards with the New York Mets in 2018 and 2019.

“In San Diego, deGrom was so good that if anyone acquired on first base, it was a hit-and-run,” recalled Schumaker. “All people. It didn’t matter who you have been. The primary pitch. We knew that we needed to create motion, and power motion, as a result of it’s both going to be a strikeout or a weak-contact double play. We really beat them 1-0. That’s how dominant he was. The truth that he’s nonetheless doing it proper now’s insane to me.”

As for the mixed 5-for-12 success he had in opposition to the veteran hurlers 10-plus years in the past, they actually learn about it. Not that the supervisor goes into extra element than needed when the topic is broached.

“I simply point out the stats.” Schumaker mentioned with a smile.

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A quiz:

Charlie Hough has probably the most wins, strikeouts, and full video games in Texas Rangers franchise historical past. Which Rangers pitcher has logged probably the most shutouts? (A touch: he spent six seasons in Texas and is healthier identified for his success with one other staff.)

The reply could be discovered under.

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NEWS NOTES

SABR has revealed a brand new e book in regards to the Cape Cod League. Extra data could be discovered right here.

Trayce Thompson signed with the unbiased Atlantic League’s Lexington Legends earlier this week. The erstwhile MLB outfielder performed for Nice Britain on this 12 months’s WBC and was just lately with the Mexican League’s Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos.

Mike Johnson, a right-hander who appeared in 18 video games for the San Diego Padres in 1974, died again on Could 20 at age 75. The native of Slayton, Minnesota was on the dropping finish of his two choices and posted a 4.64 ERA. Initially within the Cincinnati Reds system, he went 10-4 with a 1.82 ERA for the Double-A Jap League’s Trois-Rivieres Aigles in 1971.

Wes Gardner, a right-hander whose profession spanned the 1984-1991 seasons, died on June 10 at age 65. Initially with the New York Mets, Gardner spent 5 of his eight campaigns with the Boston Crimson Sox, with whom he made 142 of his 189 appearances, logged all however certainly one of his 18 wins, and 12 of his 14 saves. He performed for each the San Diego Padres and Kansas Metropolis Royals in his ultimate MLB season.

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The reply to the quiz is Fergie Jenkins, who logged 17 shutouts whereas sporting a Rangers uniform. The Corridor of Famer performed in Texas in 1974 and 1975, and once more from 1978-1981. His glory years got here with the Chicago Cubs, for whom he had six straight seasons with 20 or extra wins and gained a Cy Younger Award.

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The Baltimore Orioles aren’t certainly one of this season’s bunt-happy groups, nor are they averse to laying one down. With 10 sacrifice hits and 6 bunt hits, they’re roughly center of the pack in each classes.

Craig Albernaz’s ideas on the small-ball staple, which is seemingly making a comeback after changing into considerably of a misplaced artwork?

“It’s very difficult,” the Orioles supervisor just lately instructed a small group of reporters. “Bunting shouldn’t be as straightforward as everybody thinks it’s. [That’s] from expertise. I bunted rather a lot in my skilled profession, which talks rather a lot about my offensive prowess. However bunting is tough. You possibly can dial up the machine, you are able to do a bunch of coaching, however nothing replicates a stay arm, in-game, with a protection bearing in on you [and] placing down the right bunt.

“That’s why, for all our guys, getting these reps within the minor leagues is big,” added Albernaz, who batted .199 with a .530 OPS throughout his days as a minor-league catcher. “Simply since you hit third in Excessive-A or Double-A doesn’t imply you’re going to hit third within the huge leagues instantly. So, being prepared to bunt, particularly left-on-left, you’re capable of survive that matchup in a giant spot and keep within the recreation.”

I requested the 43-year-old first-year skipper if bunting has at all times been onerous, or if it has change into onerous.

“Bunting is extraordinarily troublesome now, simply with what these pitchers are throwing,” Albernaz replied. “It’s excessive octane. The motion is ridiculous. You’ve acquired guys throwing 92-mph splits, 93-mph sliders, cutters. The evolution of the sport, the place the pitching is, how superior it’s change into. That’s the precise difficult a part of bunting. It’s not the precise method, it’s the pitcher throwing the ball with all this motion and getting your nostril in there to get it down. That’s what makes it powerful now.”

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Teruaki Sato is slashing .356/.436/.671 with 15 house runs and a 238 wRC+ in 257 plate appearances for the Hanshin Tigers. NPB’s most-dominant hitter, the 27-year-old third baseman/outfielder left the yard 40 instances final 12 months whereas logging a 182 wRC+. He’s anticipated to be posted on the conclusion of the present marketing campaign.

Kazuyuki Takemaru is 5-5 with a 2.76 ERA and a 2.72 FIP over 62 innings for the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants. A primary-round choose in final 12 months’s NPB draft, the 24-year-old, rookie left-hander was the Giants’ opening day starter.

Yonathan Perlaza is slashing .328/.422/.557 with 13 house runs and a 158 wRC+ in 291 plate appearances for the KBO’s Hanwha Eagles. The 27-year-old outfielder from Páramo Tucaní, Venezuela was with the San Diego Padres Triple-A affiliate final after beforehand taking part in within the Chicago Cubs system.

River City modified Mexican League groups earlier this week, the 26-year-old outfielder going from Pericos de Puebla to Saraperos de Saltillo. A local of Zachary, Louisiana who performed within the Kansas Metropolis Royals system from 2021-2024, City was batting .306 on the time he was moved.

Hungary’s Jánossomorja Rascals beat Lithuania’s Utenos Titanai 5–2 to win the 2026 European Federation Cup Qualifier title. Jánossomorja’s Martin Morua, a 19-year-old, two-way participant, was named tourney MVP after throwing eight-and-two thirds scoreless innings and driving in 9 runs over 4 video games.

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A random obscure former participant snapshot:

Cotton Nash performed in simply 13 MLB video games, three with the Chicago White Sox in 1967, and 10 with the Minnesota Twins throughout the 1969-1970 seasons. Initially signed by the Los Angeles Angels in 1964 out of the College of Kentucky, he was later swapped to the South Facet membership in trade for Moose Skowron. Nash recorded simply three big-league hits, certainly one of them off of Tommy John.

His declare to fame was on the hardwood. The Wildcats’ all-time main scorer on the conclusion of his collegiate profession, Nash went on to play for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and San Francisco Warriors, in addition to for the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels. His teammates on the court docket included Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor. On the diamond, they included Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, and Harmon Killebrew.

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FARM NOTES

The Lansing Lugnuts scored 9 runs within the eighth inning final evening, however that wasn’t almost sufficient because the Athletics’ Excessive-A affiliate fell to the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins) by an outlandish rating of 23-15. The Kernels’ 30-hit assault was led by Jay Thomason (6-for-6) and Marek Houston (5-for-6), the latter a 22-year-old shortstop who was drafted sixteenth total final 12 months out of Wake Forest College. No. 7 on our Twins High Prospects listing with a forty five FV, Hosuton is slashing ,326/.394/,460.

The Palm Seaside Cardinals (Low-A St. Louis) outhit the St. Lucie Mets 20-1 on Wednesday in a 17-0 shellacking of the New York affiliate. Ryan Mitchell, a 19-year-old outfielder who’s No. 13 on our Cardinals High Prospects listing with a 40+ FV, went yard with the sacks juiced for certainly one of his membership’s 4 round-trippers. Mitchell has a 110 wRC+ on the season.

On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Excessive-A Brewers) rallied with three within the eighth, one within the ninth, two within the tenth, and one ultimate run within the eleventh to stroll off the Nice Lakes Loons (Dodgers) by a rating of 10-9. Josh Adamczewski, a 21-year-old infielder/outfielder who’s ranked ninth within the Milwaukee system, went 3-for-5 with a two-bagger and a pair of RBIs. Adamczewski is slashing .331/.467/.591 with 9 house runs and a 161 wRC+ in 200 plate appearances.

Zach Root has a 1.55 ERA, a 2.82 FIP, and a 38.1% strikeout charge over 29 innings for the Loons. Drafted fortieth total by the Dodgers final 12 months out of the College of Arkansas, the 22-year-old southpaw got here into the season ranked sixteenth within the LA system with a 40+ FV.

Joseph Dzierwa is 6-2 with a 2.31 ERA, a 2.37 ERA, and a 31.19% strikeout charge over 62-and-a-third innings between Excessive-A Frederick and Double-A Chesapeake. Drafted within the second spherical final 12 months out of Michigan State College, the 22-year-old left-hander is No. 12 on our Baltimore Orioles High Prospects listing with a forty five FV.

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Jacob Misiorowski produced probably the most overpowering pitching performances in MLB historical past on Friday. One 12 months to the day after debuting with the Milwaukee Brewers, the 24-year-old right-hander fanned 15 batters and didn’t difficulty a stroll over 9 one-hit innings in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies. The lone baserunner was promptly erased on a double play.

I had the pleasure of being readily available for a not-dissimilar outing on April 22, 2014. Pitching for the Miami Marlins, 21-year-old José Fernández punched out 14 Atlanta Braves batters over eight shutout frames, strolling none and permitting three hits, one of many infield selection. The outing, which got here one 12 months and 15 days after his MLB debut, noticed Fernández give up a single to the primary hitter he confronted, then promptly induce a double play. Except an E-5, no Braves batter subsequently reached base till the eighth inning. Twice he struck out the aspect.

The parallels embrace their strike totals. Of the 95 pitches Misiorowski threw, 74 have been strikes, and he elicited 22 whiffs and 16 known as strikes. Of the 109 pitches Fernández threw, 77 have been strikes, and he elicited 26 whiffs and 20 known as strikes.

Misiorowski’s efficiency is the extra spectacular of the 2, however not by a large margin. Feráández — God relaxation his soul — was actually sensible on that Atlanta night. I’ve acknowledged beforehand that it’s in all probability probably the most spectacular outing I’ve seen stay.

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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE

Rick Candy is approaching the file for many wins by a minor-league supervisor. Tyler Kepner wrote in regards to the 73-year-old Nashville Sounds skipper for The Athletic.

An umpire’s resolution to not rule Ernie Clement out for taking liberties on the bottom paths stirred controversy. Joshua Rodriguez delved into the play at Foundations on the Subject.

The San Francisco Giants held their annual Pleasure Night time on Friday, and 4 of the 5 pitchers who took the mound for them wore caps that have been disrespectful of the event. Brady Klopfer provided his opinion of their actions at McCovey Chronicles.

The Giants’ Spanish-language broadcaster crew — certainly one of simply 4 to cowl all 162 of their staff’s video games — was relegated to limited-view space of the press field on a current go to to Wrigley Subject. John Shea has the story at The San Francisco Normal.

Sports activities Data Options‘ Mark Simon talked to Dusty Baker about analytics earlier than there have been analytics, and rather more.

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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS

Sal Stewart has made 30 ABS challenges this season, probably the most of any participant. The Cincinnati Reds rookie has had 20 profitable challenges, additionally probably the most of any participant.

A pair of Washington Nationals teammates have had far completely different problem outcomes. CJ Abrams is an ideal 7-for-7, whereas James Wooden is simply 3-for-15. Woods’s 12 unsuccessful challenges are probably the most within the majors.

Mike Trout has a 1.000 batting common in opposition to 114 completely different pitchers, and a .000 batting common in opposition to 483 completely different pitchers. By way of most at-bats for every excessive, Trout went 4-for-4 versus Barry Zito and 0-for-13 versus Hyun Jin Ryu.

Dennis Rasmussen pitched in 256 video games and allowed 1,424 hits, together with 175 house runs, in addition to 673 earned runs. Kyle Kendrick pitched in 255 video games and allowed 1,424 hits, together with 177 house runs, in addition to 671 earned runs.

On right now’s date in 1997, Pedro Martínez fanned 14 batters and allowed simply three hits whereas going the gap because the Montreal Expos blanked the Detroit Tigers 1-0. Rondell White plated Mike Lansing with a sacrifice fly for the sport’s lone run, making a hard-luck loser out of Justin Thompson.

On right now’s date in 1965, Cincinnati Reds right-hander Jim Maloney tossed 10 no-hit innings in opposition to the New York Mets earlier than being taken deep by Johnny Lewis for the sport’s solely run within the prime of the eleventh. Maloney completed with 18 strikeouts, in addition to the loss.

Warren Spahn fanned 18 batters whereas taking a loss on right now’s date in 1952. The Boston Braves southpaw went all 15 innings because the Chicago Cubs prevailed by a rating of 3-1.

Gamers born on right now’s date embrace Brian Turang, an infielder/outfielder whose MLB profession comprised 78 video games for the Seattle Mariners throughout the 1993-1994 seasons. The daddy of Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang, he totaled 56 hits, certainly one of them a house run off of Jimmy Key at Yankee Stadium.

Additionally born on right now’s date was Johnny Weekly, an outfielder from Waterproof, Louisiana who performed in 53 video games for the Houston Colt .45s from 1962-1964. The primary of his 25 profession hits was a house run off of Don Cardwell at Wrigley Subject.

Tom Lovett went 30-11 for the Nationwide League’s Brooklyn Bridegrooms in 1890. The best-hander from Windfall, Rhode Island proceeded to separate 4 choices in opposition to the American Affiliation’s Louisville Colonels within the final Nineteenth-century World Collection, which was finally determined and not using a champion being topped. Every staff captured three wins — there was additionally a tie — and the would-be deciding recreation was cancelled as a result of rain and bitter chilly.