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Michael Clair

@michaelclair.bsky.social

3.7K followers 280 following 1.7K posts

I like baseball and I write about it for MLB.com. Special focus on the World Baseball Classic, culture, and freaky little oddities. I also like rock n roll.

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · Mar 24

66,000 words, thousands of miles traveled, and hundreds of hours at my desk later, my manuscript on Baseball Czech is complete!

It’s now in the hands of @univnebpress.bsky.social for the next round of work and edits. Hopefully next time you see this, there will be a cover and pre-order link!

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 13h

Victor Robles stepping forward in the box AND making contact with a 100 mph fastball is proof that baseball players and I do not share a genome

Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 1d

oh man, early video games probably were equally important in locking that info into my brain

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 1d

Some WBC-related news: Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina is in discussion to take a coaching job with the Cardinals.

www.elvocero.com/deportes/exc...

EXCLUSIVO: Yadier Molina en conversaciones para ser coach de los Cardenales de San Luis

Yadier Molina reveló que mantiene conversaciones con los Cardenales de San Luis para unirse al cuerpo técnico del dirigente Oliver Mármol en la próxima temporada de las Grandes Ligas.

www.elvocero.com

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 1d

Mike Greenwell is the first player I remember. Growing up on the South Shore of Massachusetts, my first game was at Fenway. I don't remember much except asking my Dad, "Who is good?" and he told me "Mike Greenwell."

Then and forever, he was a "good player" to me.
Rest in peace

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 3d

Actually was signed in Atlantic League a few years back too!

Stone Pony of South Side Sox @stonedpony.bsky.social · 4d

I pledge my eternal loyalty to whichever team who drafts Scrappy Hopkins.

Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 3d

“Oops all berries” is the worst mistake Cap’n Crunch ever made. Rather than projecting an air of confidence derived from a life spent exploring the high cereals, we are instead to think he is some bumbling, ineffective longshoreman? Terrible marketing, destroyed billions in value

Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 4d

The Women's Pro Baseball League draft pool is out and it's a true global affair. There are players from the USA, Canada, Japan, Mexico, UK, France, Korea, and Puerto Rico. Includes the biggest names like Ashton Lansdell, Melissa Mayeaux, Laura Hirai...
www.womensprobaseballleague.com/prospect-ran...

Prospect Ranking - WPBL: Women's Pro Baseball League

2025 Draft

www.womensprobaseballleague.com

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 4d

Panama beat Puerto Rico for the U-23 World Cup Qualifier with former A's minor leaguer Adriel Gonzalez pitching a complete game in the victory.

(Which underscores why I wish it would move back to U-21 level as few if any prospects play at this level)

www.wbsc.org/en/news/pana...

Panama win WBSC Americas Qualifier, qualify for WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2026 with Puerto Rico and Cuba - World Baseball Softball Confederation

The first of two WBSC Americas Qualifiers included teams representing North, Central America and the Caribbean. Panama defeated Puerto Rico in the final, while Cuba overcame Mexico in the bronze-medal...

www.wbsc.org

Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 4d

brings a tear to the eye

Andrew Mearns @mearns.bsky.social · 4d

25 years ago today, the Mariners bunted their way to the ALCS, no doubt making a young @michaelclair.bsky.social ecstatic

CWS@SEA Gm 3: Walk-off advances Mariners to ALCS

YouTube video by MLB

www.youtube.com

Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 5d

21. FACES OF THE LIVING DEAD - Martyn Jolly

They were scams, yes, but awfully evocative and artistic scams

Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 7d

Some real classic notgraphsing here

Reposted by Michael Clair

Baseball Prospectus @baseballprospectus.com · 7d

Various Great Philosophers and How They Would Feel About the Automated Ball-Strike System
by Patrick Dubuque (@euqubud.baseballprospectus.com)

Various Great Philosophers and How They Would Feel About the Automated Ball-Strike System | Baseball Prospectus

Gathering the greatest minds of two and a half millennia to embrace a little debate.

www.baseballprospectus.com

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 7d

No way! I've interviewed Burgos in the past and it was a great convo. Will need to add the book to my TBR

Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 7d

If you're in Chicago, the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture has a new exhibit on baseball! Called Pleibol!, it's a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian. Free to visit!

nmprac.org/exhibitions/...

¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues – National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture

nmprac.org

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 7d

Happy Bandcamp Friday! You can get a digital copy of our EP today if you want!

We'll have EXTREMELY limited 12" records up for sale soon.

thesubwayghosts.bandcamp.com/album/underg...

Underground Mutants, by The Subway Ghosts

6 track album

thesubwayghosts.bandcamp.com

Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 9d

My copy of Rob Fitts’ new book (from the fine, FINE folks at @univnebpress.bsky.social) on the people and moments behind the scenes in the NPB arrived! Can’t wait to crack it open.

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 9d

20. SWEETHEART, SWEETHEART - Bernard Taylor

A real slooooooooow burner before going absolutely nuts at the end. Sadly, this edition and its ghoulish cover is not the version I read, but it's perfect.

Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 9d

This is cool! SABR just added 60 Negro Leagues triple plays to its triple play database!

sabr.org/latest/sabr-...

SABR adds Negro Leagues plays to Triple Plays Database – Society for American Baseball Research

sabr.org

Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 10d

I did not like the idea of having Aroldis Chapman coming in and then having to wait again before the 9th inning. This is the exact scenario I thought might happen

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 10d

I think we might be in the fifth inning pre pitch clock

Reposted by Michael Clair

DocBites @nomowoe.bsky.social · 10d

A bunt also got them into the playoffs

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 10d

I would just like to point out to everyone: THE BUNT WON THE GAME FOR THE TIGERS.

MORE BUNTS BABY

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 10d

I must continue pointing to the sign: FREE RYAN WARD

Eric Stephen @ericstephen.bsky.social · 10d

lol the Dodgers played Michael Conforto all year and he's not on the wild card roster

also, 15 position players and 11 pitchers

Will Smith is one of 3 catchers
Justin Dean, Hyeseong Kim are active
no Anthony Banda

it's the active pitchers from Sunday minus Kershaw, Knack, Banda

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 10d

OH LORD WE GOT OUR BEAUTIFUL BUNT

Reposted by Michael Clair

Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 11d

Martin Červenka went supernova, Kevin Kelly struck out 16 batters IN A SINGLE RELIEF OUTING, and Didi Gregorius won the MVP.

Here are the standouts from this year's #EuroBaseball: www.mlb.com/news/standou...

The standout former MLBers and World Baseball Classic stars who led way at EuroBaseball 2025

For the 27th time in 38 European Baseball Championships -- the biggest national baseball team event in Europe that is held biennially -- it came down to the two European superpowers: The Netherlands a...

www.mlb.com

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