James Smyth
@jamessmyth621.bsky.social
Sports Researcher/Booth Statistician (YES Network), used to do Toeing The Slab podcast & KayRod, former MiLB play-by-play broadcaster, IATSE 100, He/Him
An NYC view that doesn’t get old: going over the Manhattan Bridge on the Q train, looking south at Lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge & Statue of Liberty
November 29, 2025 at 4:01 AM
An NYC view that doesn’t get old: going over the Manhattan Bridge on the Q train, looking south at Lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge & Statue of Liberty
Reposted by James Smyth
Patrick Mahomes keeps his balance and gets off this throw to Xavier Worthy
November 28, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Patrick Mahomes keeps his balance and gets off this throw to Xavier Worthy
It’s that time again
Wrote about arguably my favorite topic in all of sports: Jerry Jones spending $1.2 billion on a stadium built at the exact orientation so the sun shines directly into players eyes during the months when the Cowboys play football:
open.substack.com/pub/rodgersh...
open.substack.com/pub/rodgersh...
The Old Man and the Sun
A breakdown of how and why the Cowboys have the only stadium in the league where players regularly get blinded by the sun.
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:36 PM
It’s that time again
Reposted by James Smyth
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, now an Angels affiliate, went back to red as a primary color, and I love this cap
November 25, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, now an Angels affiliate, went back to red as a primary color, and I love this cap
Reposted by James Smyth
Collin Gillespie gets the winner for the Suns after missed FTs from Ant
November 22, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Collin Gillespie gets the winner for the Suns after missed FTs from Ant
Reposted by James Smyth
A disastrous sequence of basketball from the Timberwolves
November 22, 2025 at 4:38 AM
A disastrous sequence of basketball from the Timberwolves
Reposted by James Smyth
The Yankees non-tendered Mark Leiter Jr., Scott Effross, Ian Hamilton, Jake Cousins, and Michael Arias. Arias is a Double-A reliever they could re-sign to a minor league deal. Cousins had Tommy John surgery in June and will most/all of 2026. Tough to carry him on the 40-man roster all offseason.
November 21, 2025 at 10:58 PM
The Yankees non-tendered Mark Leiter Jr., Scott Effross, Ian Hamilton, Jake Cousins, and Michael Arias. Arias is a Double-A reliever they could re-sign to a minor league deal. Cousins had Tommy John surgery in June and will most/all of 2026. Tough to carry him on the 40-man roster all offseason.
Reposted by James Smyth
Ken Griffey Jr. turns 56 years old today. Stan Musial was born 105 years ago today
Also, happy 7th birthday to the as yet unknown future Hall of Famer who was born on this day in 2018 in Donora, Pennsylvania
Also, happy 7th birthday to the as yet unknown future Hall of Famer who was born on this day in 2018 in Donora, Pennsylvania
November 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Ken Griffey Jr. turns 56 years old today. Stan Musial was born 105 years ago today
Also, happy 7th birthday to the as yet unknown future Hall of Famer who was born on this day in 2018 in Donora, Pennsylvania
Also, happy 7th birthday to the as yet unknown future Hall of Famer who was born on this day in 2018 in Donora, Pennsylvania
Reposted by James Smyth
Late, but here's USC's 3OT buzzer beating winner (via Fox CBB)
November 21, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Late, but here's USC's 3OT buzzer beating winner (via Fox CBB)
Everybody needs pitching depth...More than that. No, even more than that.
The average team used 13 starting pitchers last season, with an average of 39 starts made by pitchers who weren't in their team's top 5 in starts!
The average team used 13 starting pitchers last season, with an average of 39 starts made by pitchers who weren't in their team's top 5 in starts!
I love the assumption by ... just about everyone that each team needs five starters when, in the real world, a team needs to be eight deep.
November 19, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Everybody needs pitching depth...More than that. No, even more than that.
The average team used 13 starting pitchers last season, with an average of 39 starts made by pitchers who weren't in their team's top 5 in starts!
The average team used 13 starting pitchers last season, with an average of 39 starts made by pitchers who weren't in their team's top 5 in starts!
Reposted by James Smyth
honestly I'm not sure you can show me medicals bad enough for me not to risk it for one year of Taylor Ward
His medicals must turn you to stone after looking at them there’s no other reason to do this
November 19, 2025 at 3:52 AM
honestly I'm not sure you can show me medicals bad enough for me not to risk it for one year of Taylor Ward
Sure but it’s still ACTION in November
The Angels and Orioles are having a mid-off
November 19, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Sure but it’s still ACTION in November
Reposted by James Smyth
Fun fact: there are 82 players on rosters right now that were born AFTER LeBron James made his NBA debut on Oct 29, 2003.
November 19, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Fun fact: there are 82 players on rosters right now that were born AFTER LeBron James made his NBA debut on Oct 29, 2003.
In the first 13 years of the qualifying offer, only 14 of 144 players accepted (10%)
Today we had a record 4 out of 13 accept the 1-year/$22.025-million deal:
Trent Grisham back to the Yankees
Shota Imanaga back to the Cubs
Gleyber Torres back to the Tigers
Brandon Woodruff back to the Brewers
Today we had a record 4 out of 13 accept the 1-year/$22.025-million deal:
Trent Grisham back to the Yankees
Shota Imanaga back to the Cubs
Gleyber Torres back to the Tigers
Brandon Woodruff back to the Brewers
November 18, 2025 at 9:12 PM
In the first 13 years of the qualifying offer, only 14 of 144 players accepted (10%)
Today we had a record 4 out of 13 accept the 1-year/$22.025-million deal:
Trent Grisham back to the Yankees
Shota Imanaga back to the Cubs
Gleyber Torres back to the Tigers
Brandon Woodruff back to the Brewers
Today we had a record 4 out of 13 accept the 1-year/$22.025-million deal:
Trent Grisham back to the Yankees
Shota Imanaga back to the Cubs
Gleyber Torres back to the Tigers
Brandon Woodruff back to the Brewers
Reposted by James Smyth
GOLDENEYE Pause Music
#JamesBond #Videogames #MusicSky #90s #Nostalgia #Gaming #GoldenEye #Movies #OTD #FilmSky
#JamesBond #Videogames #MusicSky #90s #Nostalgia #Gaming #GoldenEye #Movies #OTD #FilmSky
November 17, 2025 at 2:53 PM
GOLDENEYE Pause Music
#JamesBond #Videogames #MusicSky #90s #Nostalgia #Gaming #GoldenEye #Movies #OTD #FilmSky
#JamesBond #Videogames #MusicSky #90s #Nostalgia #Gaming #GoldenEye #Movies #OTD #FilmSky
ehhhh let’s move on to another Expos closer, how bout Mel Rojas
Ugueth Urbina
Pitcher
Debut: 1995 - Retired: 2005
DET - PHI - BOS - TEX - FLA - MON
Pitcher
Debut: 1995 - Retired: 2005
DET - PHI - BOS - TEX - FLA - MON
Ugueth Urbina at baseball-reference.com
Career stats of Ugueth Urbina
baseball-reference.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:03 AM
ehhhh let’s move on to another Expos closer, how bout Mel Rojas
Reposted by James Smyth
The real MVPs:
Decoy, Penny & Gus
Decoy, Penny & Gus
November 14, 2025 at 1:25 AM
The real MVPs:
Decoy, Penny & Gus
Decoy, Penny & Gus
If you turned 50 Raleigh outs into hits, he'd still have a lower AVG than Judge's .331
Flip 68 Raleigh outs into times on base and his OBP would still be lower than Judge's .457
Josh Naylor was great (.490 SLG), Raleigh outslugged him by 99 points (.589), Judge outslugged Raleigh by 99 (.688)
Flip 68 Raleigh outs into times on base and his OBP would still be lower than Judge's .457
Josh Naylor was great (.490 SLG), Raleigh outslugged him by 99 points (.589), Judge outslugged Raleigh by 99 (.688)
Cal Raleigh had an exceptional year. Good for MVP in a great many seasons. In my view, this wasn't particularly close though. Judge is doing absolute freak shit at the plate, but he's been doing it so consistently that it doesn't feel that crazy anymore. Which is nuts!
November 14, 2025 at 1:22 AM
If you turned 50 Raleigh outs into hits, he'd still have a lower AVG than Judge's .331
Flip 68 Raleigh outs into times on base and his OBP would still be lower than Judge's .457
Josh Naylor was great (.490 SLG), Raleigh outslugged him by 99 points (.589), Judge outslugged Raleigh by 99 (.688)
Flip 68 Raleigh outs into times on base and his OBP would still be lower than Judge's .457
Josh Naylor was great (.490 SLG), Raleigh outslugged him by 99 points (.589), Judge outslugged Raleigh by 99 (.688)
3 MVP Awards in 4 Seasons
Barry Bonds
1990, 1992, 1993
Barry Bonds
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Shohei Ohtani
2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Aaron Judge
2022, 2024, 2025
Barry Bonds
1990, 1992, 1993
Barry Bonds
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Shohei Ohtani
2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Aaron Judge
2022, 2024, 2025
November 14, 2025 at 1:02 AM
3 MVP Awards in 4 Seasons
Barry Bonds
1990, 1992, 1993
Barry Bonds
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Shohei Ohtani
2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Aaron Judge
2022, 2024, 2025
Barry Bonds
1990, 1992, 1993
Barry Bonds
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Shohei Ohtani
2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Aaron Judge
2022, 2024, 2025
MLB Most MVP Awards
7 Barry Bonds
4 Shohei Ohtani ***
3 Jimmie Foxx
3 Joe DiMaggio
3 Stan Musial
3 Yogi Berra
3 Roy Campanella
3 Mickey Mantle
3 Mike Schmidt
3 Alex Rodriguez
3 Albert Pujols
3 Mike Trout
3 Aaron Judge ***
7 Barry Bonds
4 Shohei Ohtani ***
3 Jimmie Foxx
3 Joe DiMaggio
3 Stan Musial
3 Yogi Berra
3 Roy Campanella
3 Mickey Mantle
3 Mike Schmidt
3 Alex Rodriguez
3 Albert Pujols
3 Mike Trout
3 Aaron Judge ***
November 14, 2025 at 1:00 AM
MLB Most MVP Awards
7 Barry Bonds
4 Shohei Ohtani ***
3 Jimmie Foxx
3 Joe DiMaggio
3 Stan Musial
3 Yogi Berra
3 Roy Campanella
3 Mickey Mantle
3 Mike Schmidt
3 Alex Rodriguez
3 Albert Pujols
3 Mike Trout
3 Aaron Judge ***
7 Barry Bonds
4 Shohei Ohtani ***
3 Jimmie Foxx
3 Joe DiMaggio
3 Stan Musial
3 Yogi Berra
3 Roy Campanella
3 Mickey Mantle
3 Mike Schmidt
3 Alex Rodriguez
3 Albert Pujols
3 Mike Trout
3 Aaron Judge ***
Judge wins AL MVP
Close! 17 voters had Judge-Raleigh and 13 had Raleigh-Judge
Close! 17 voters had Judge-Raleigh and 13 had Raleigh-Judge
Assuming Judge & Raleigh are 1-2 or 2-1 on all 30 ballots, is there actually a decent chance that it's a 345-345 tie with them getting 15 first-and-second-place votes apiece?
November 14, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Judge wins AL MVP
Close! 17 voters had Judge-Raleigh and 13 had Raleigh-Judge
Close! 17 voters had Judge-Raleigh and 13 had Raleigh-Judge
Tonight's the night for the funniest AL MVP outcome
Assuming Judge & Raleigh are 1-2 or 2-1 on all 30 ballots, is there actually a decent chance that it's a 345-345 tie with them getting 15 first-and-second-place votes apiece?
November 13, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Tonight's the night for the funniest AL MVP outcome
Paul Skenes had 4 "Tough Losses" (losses in a Quality Start), but not a single "Cheap Win" (win in a non-Quality Start)
He also had 7 "Wins Lost" (in line for a win only to watch the bullpen blow it), but not a single "Loss Saved" (in line for a loss but the offense got him off the hook)
He also had 7 "Wins Lost" (in line for a win only to watch the bullpen blow it), but not a single "Loss Saved" (in line for a loss but the offense got him off the hook)
Worst W-L Record in Cy Young Season (Starters)
10-10 Paul Skenes 2025 Pirates (.500)
13-12 Felix Hernandez 2010 Mariners (.520)
10-9 Jacob deGrom 2018 Mets (.526)
10-10 Paul Skenes 2025 Pirates (.500)
13-12 Felix Hernandez 2010 Mariners (.520)
10-9 Jacob deGrom 2018 Mets (.526)
November 13, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Paul Skenes had 4 "Tough Losses" (losses in a Quality Start), but not a single "Cheap Win" (win in a non-Quality Start)
He also had 7 "Wins Lost" (in line for a win only to watch the bullpen blow it), but not a single "Loss Saved" (in line for a loss but the offense got him off the hook)
He also had 7 "Wins Lost" (in line for a win only to watch the bullpen blow it), but not a single "Loss Saved" (in line for a loss but the offense got him off the hook)
Worst W-L Record in Cy Young Season (Starters)
10-10 Paul Skenes 2025 Pirates (.500)
13-12 Felix Hernandez 2010 Mariners (.520)
10-9 Jacob deGrom 2018 Mets (.526)
10-10 Paul Skenes 2025 Pirates (.500)
13-12 Felix Hernandez 2010 Mariners (.520)
10-9 Jacob deGrom 2018 Mets (.526)
November 13, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Worst W-L Record in Cy Young Season (Starters)
10-10 Paul Skenes 2025 Pirates (.500)
13-12 Felix Hernandez 2010 Mariners (.520)
10-9 Jacob deGrom 2018 Mets (.526)
10-10 Paul Skenes 2025 Pirates (.500)
13-12 Felix Hernandez 2010 Mariners (.520)
10-9 Jacob deGrom 2018 Mets (.526)
“Smooth Operator” just came on so I’ll take that as a sign
With lots of moving parts in their rotation, the #Yankees have shown interest in re-signing Ryan Yarbrough, a source said.
The swingman would give NY depth & flexibility. However, a reunion shouldn't stop NY from pursuing a frontline starter.
The swingman would give NY depth & flexibility. However, a reunion shouldn't stop NY from pursuing a frontline starter.
Yankees interested in Ryan Yarbrough reunion with rotation featuring lots of moving parts
A career swingman, Yarbrough could provide cost-efficient rotation depth and flexibility for the Yankees with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt all starting the 2026 season on the injure…
www.nydailynews.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:55 AM
“Smooth Operator” just came on so I’ll take that as a sign