Cup of Coffee: August 11, 2025

The Brewers keep rolling, the Yankees and Mets keep sinking, Jen Pawol made history, I got to pet capybaras, an Ohio proposal, "Join Ice," the AriZona tax, and Jeff Buckley

Cup of Coffee: August 11, 2025

Good morning!

A lot of stuff happened this weekend but the fact that I got to pet capybaras pretty much trumped it all. I call that a win.

Also: most of the non-game baseball news involved old guys. Not sure why, but sometimes that just happens.

But hey, a lot of us are old guys/gals, so who cares?


And That Happened

Here are the scores. Here are the highlights:

Brewers 7, Mets 6: New York built up a 5-0 lead by the fourth but these days there are no shortage of ways for the Mets to lose games and no shortage of ways for the Brewers to win 'em. As it was, Milwaukee plated four in the bottom of the fourth to make it a ballgame, they tied it a six-all in the eighth thanks to Joey Ortiz’s two-out RBI single, and then Isaac Collins hit a walkoff solo homer in the ninth to complete the sweep and to give the Brewers their ninth straight win. They've won 12 of 13 overall and look like the best damn team in baseball at the moment. The Mets, meanwhile, lost their seventh straight and fell five and a half games behind Philadelphia.

Astros 7, Yankees 1: Jason Alexander (6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER) kept the Yankees bats almost completely silent for six innings while Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa homered and Cam Smith and Christian Walker each hit RBI doubles. The Astros take two of three. In related news, the day after the trade deadline, this story ran in The Athletic:

Headline: Now the Yankees have no excuse not to win the whole thing

Since then the Yankees are 2-7 and have gone from second place in the AL East, 3.5 games behind the Blue Jays, to third place in the AL East, two and a half games behind the Red Sox for second and six and a half games behind the Jays for first. Sinkin' like a stone, man.

Twins 5, Royals 3: Luke Keaschall hit a two-run walkoff homer in the bottom of the 11th and ran the bases with jumps, leaps, and joy like some player on a newsreel after winning a big game in 1939 or something, God love him. Ryan Fitzgerald also homered. It was his first career hit, so he'll have a better story about that than most dudes who get hits in the majors. Take Keaschall, for example. He probably struggles to even remember his first big league hit.

[Editor: it was an RBI single against Atlanta on April 18 of this year. Including yesterday he's only played in 12 big league games and has 17 hits total – at least one in every game he's played – so I'm guessing he remembers.]

But it wasn't a homer. That's what I'm saying.

Reds 14, Pirates 8: Spencer Steer and Noelvi Marte each homered, each had three hits, and each drove in four and Miguel Andújar homered for the first time since joining the Reds. Fourteen hits in all helped Cincinnati earn the series sweep. The Pirates actually had more hits – 16 – but none of 'em went "boom" and they left 12 souls on base. Reds fans know this – and Mets fans know this too because they've been watching their team drop – but but for those who haven't been paying attention, the Reds are breathing down the Mets' necks for that third Wild Card spot at the moment.

Atlanta 7, Marlins 1: Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna and Michael Harris II each went deep – Ozuna's was a three-run shot – and Atlanta starter Joey Wentz allowed one run in five and a third. Atlanta takes four of five in a series that featured an extra game because of a makeup of a rainout earlier this year. The game also featured Jen Pawol working the plate, but I talk more about that down in The Daily Briefing.

Athletics 3, Orioles 2: The O's clung to a one-run lead in the late innings but then Willie MacIver hit a two-run double in the ninth to put the A's over the top. The winning run there came when Lawrence Butler ran through third base coach Eric Martins' stop sign. Reject authority, man. It'll never steer you wrong. Sacramento takes two of three.

Tigers 9, Angels 5: Kerry Carpenter doubled and scored in the first, hit a sac fly in the second, and added a three-run homer in the fourth. By that time the Tigers led 7-0 and there was not much left besides the paperwork. The Angels probably made starter Jack Kochanowicz do the paperwork as he gave up seven runs on 10 hits in fewer than four innings, so it logically fell to him.

White Sox 6, Guardians 4: The Chisox snap a six-game skid thanks to homers from Lenyn Sosa and Colson Montgomery. The Guardians' Kyle Manzardo hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and a two-run shot in the seventh in a losing cause. A fun fact that I never would've believed if I didn't see it in an AP writeup: the White Sox lead the league in home runs since the All-Star break with 42.

Phillies 4, Rangers 2: Zack Wheeler struck out seven while allowing two runs on just three hits while Edmundo Sosa homered and Bryce Harper doubled one in. The Phillies sweep the three-game series and put one more game between them and the Mets in the East.

Nationals 8, Giants 0: Mackenzie Gore struck out ten while allowing just three hits in six shutout innings and he had plenty of help from his lineup. CJ Abrams homered, Josh Bell and Paul DeJong had three hits each, and James Wood had a pair of two-run doubles. Justin Verlander did become the 10th pitcher in MLB history to get to 3,500 strikeouts, but he also allowed five runs on 11 hits in five innings. Someone run the dishwasher. We're getting short on forks. The Nats take two of three.

Padres 6, Red Sox 2: Dylan Cease held the Sox to two runs, just one of which was earned. Luis Arraez doubled in two. Jake Cronenworth drew a bases-loaded walk, Ryan O'Hearn hit a sac fly, and Fernando Tatis and Xander Bogaerts each singled one in. The Dads take two of three and have won four of five overall.

Diamondbacks 13, Rockies 6: It's hard to find interesting things to say about yet another obliteration of the Rockies. Teams hang a dozen or more on them on the regular these days and at some point just listing the litany of RBI hits against a team becomes a real bore. But here's an interesting factoid: the Dbacks had nine consecutive hits during their eight-run fifth inning. And Adrian Del Castillo hit an automatic double that went into the pool, so that's fun. He also hit a three-run homer. Arizona sweeps the Rockies, who have lost seven games in a row and have given up 79 goddamn runs in those seven games.

Mariners 6, Rays 3: The M's got four runs in the first on a two-run homer from Cal Raleigh and a two-run single from Eugenio Suárez. Josh Naylor added a homer in the seventh. Bryan Woo allowed three over six and Seattle's bullpen notched three scoreless. The Mariners sweep the three-game set and win their seventh straight.

Blue Jays 5, Dodgers 4: Toronto used eight pitchers who walked 13 – THIRTEEN! – Dodgers batters while giving up ten hits yet, somehow, only allowed four runs. L.A. stranded 16 damn runners. That's really, really hard to do, especially given that the Jays only turned one double play, but dammit they did it. Ernie Clement's solo homer put Toronto up in the ninth and that held. Earlier Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Addison Barger homered. The Jays avoid being swept.

Cardinals 3, Cubs 2: Sonny Gray allowed two over seven, Pedro Pagés homered, and Nolan Gorman knocked in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the seventh.


The Daily Briefing

Jen Pawol umpiring

Jen Pawol made history over the weekend

I mentioned this last week in anticipation, but over the weekend Jen Pawol made history by becoming the first woman to serve as an umpire in a regular season major league game. She worked both ends of Saturday's doubleheader between Miami and Atlanta at Truist Park, working first base in the first game and third base in the nightcap. Yesterday she worked home plate. Here was the first pitch she called:

It may have been her first pitch at the big league level but she showed, by totally botching that call, that she is at the same level as the hundreds of men who came before her. She belongs, dammit.

I kid because I love. But also: umpires are gonna umpire and the surest sign of equality among the umps will be when we groan at the calls the women make just as much as the men. I mean, Angel Hernández made calls like that for 33 damn years. Pawol improved as the game went on. They are not the same.

Seriously, though: Pawol's work this weekend was a big deal, and congratulations to her for breaking a big damn barrier.

A matchup of venerables

The Blue Jays were in Los Angles over the weekend and on Friday night that gave us a Clayton Kershaw-Max Scherzer matchup. Kershaw is 37, Scherzer is 41. Each of them is in their 18th and, perhaps, final MLB season. Between them they have six Cy Young Awards, they each have over 3,000 strikeouts, and each have two World Series rings. Both of them are, without question, bound for Cooperstown.

Another fun fact, which crossed my Bluesky timeline on Friday afternoon: On September 7, 2008, the Diamondbacks faced the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. On that day future Hall of Famers Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux were set to square off, but both pitchers were scratched before the game. Their replacements were . . . rookies Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw. It was Scherzer's 13th career appearance and it was Kershaw's 18th. On that day Scherzer went five innings, allowed three runs, and struck out 11. Kershaw only went four innings, also allowing three, but the Dodgers bullpen was better and L.A. bested Arizona 5-3.

On Friday night the Dodgers once again defeated Scherzer's squad, with Kershaw going six innings while allowing one run on seven hits while picking up his sixth win of 2025 and the 218th of his career. Scherzer only allowed two over six and was handed the tough luck loss, the 114th of his career. He also has 218 wins.

It was only the fourth time Scherzer and Kershaw, who were briefly Dodgers teammates, have faced each other over the course of their careers. Kershaw’s Dodgers teams lead their individual series 3-1 and Kershaw has two wins to Scherzer's one.

You don't get matchups like that very often.

Seattle Mariners retire Ichiro's no. 51

This was the scene in Seattle before Saturday's game:

Ichiro getting his number retired

It's obviously well-deserved. Ichiro was just inducted into the Hall of Fame and stands as one of the greatest hitters in the game's history, with the single-season hits record (262) and 4,367 career hits between Japan and America, 3,089 of which came in MLB.

Obviously Ichiro is not the only notable Mariners player to have worn number 51. Before he had it that number belonged to Randy Johnson, who is also in the Hall of Fame. The Mariners are going to give Johnson a separate number retirement next season, which Ichiro said in his remarks on Saturday that he is looking forward to attending. Johnson attended Ichiro's ceremony over the weekend and there a bunch of photos of the two of them clowning around if you search for them.

No word yet on when Rey Quiñones' number 51 retirement ceremony will take place, but he and mid-80s reliever Bill Wilkinson each wore that number for the M's as well. The two of them should both be invited as far as I'm concerned. For the yuks.

Mariano Rivera tore his achilles during the Yankees Old-Timers' Game

Back in 2012, Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera tore the ACL in his right knee while shagging fly balls during batting practice in Kansas City. He missed the rest of that season but came back for his final bow in 2013, still as dominant as ever.

On Saturday Rivera was in the outfield again, this time playing in game action during the Yankees annual Old-Timers' Game. And he got injured again. This time he tore his achilles tendon while chasing down a fly ball hit by Willie Randolph. He went to the ground and they ended up taking him to the hospital. He's expected to undergo surgery in the next couple of days.

The last time Rivera played in an Old-Timers' Game was in 2019. In that one he hit an inside-the-park home run. Life, and age, come at you fast, man.

What's wrong with this photo?

Reader Bernie L. sent me this screenshot from Saturday's Phillies-Rangers game on Fox:

Graphic: "Most HR by lefthanded batters vs. LH relievers in a single season: Barry Bonds, 11, Kyle Schwarber and Ken Griffey Jr. 10. It shows Schwarber with a Phillies logo behind him, Griffey with a National Baseball Hall of Fame logo and Bonds with . . . a National Baseball Hall of Fame logo.

Congratulations on Barry Bonds making the Hall of Fame on the shadow docket.


Other Stuff

How was your Friday?

Mine was pretty good:

My wife Allison and me petting capybaras

That happened at a place called Majestic Meadows Alpaca Farm in Medina, Ohio. In addition to the alpacas and capybaras they have a couple of camels, some kangaroos, porcupines, an armadillo, some sheep, some goats, and other such beasts. It's a nice place with plenty of room and a lot of greenery for everyone and it seems like a pretty well-run place. Just outside of the room we're sitting in this pic is a big pond in which the capybaras swim and roll around in mud and stuff.

This stands as proof that you can, at least for a couple of hours, be happy and pretend that you don't live in a failed state. At least if you find something fun to do.

Meanwhile, in another part of Ohio . . .

This was literally top-of-the-website news for the Columbus newspaper yesterday:

How amazing would it be if Caroline plowed the next field over with "Oh, Timothy, I really, really like you – I do! – but I just don't know if I'm ready for that sort of thing. I thought we were on the same page, but now I see that's not the case. I'm so sorry." Sure, it would need to be a bigger field, but this is Ohio. Most of the damn state is cornfields.

Actually, she said yes. Which is more boring but also more uplifting.

"Join ICE"

"They're in need of you needing to feel like a man"

That's a fuckin' lyric from the closest thing we have to Woody Guthrie right now:

The AriZona tax

A tallboy can of AriZona iced tea has been 99 cents since 1997. This despite the fact that, if the pricing had tracked inflation, the cans would now be sold for around $1.99. But the company has held the line. AriZona is so insistent that its 99 cent price hold that it prints the price on the can in order to prevent retailers from marking it up. That 99-cent pricing a huge point of pride and marketing for the brand, and has created some pretty insane brand loyalty.

But that may change thanks to Trump's tariffs:

AriZona uses more than 100 million pounds of aluminum a year for its cans, and about 20 percent of that comes from Canada. Mr. Vultaggio is hopeful that the tariff dispute will be resolved, but if it is not, he said, “at some point the consumer is going to have to pay the price.”
“I hate even the thought of it,” Mr. Vultaggio, 73, said, adding, “It would be a hell of a shame after 30-plus years.”

I don't share Democratic consultants' view that all people care about or should care about are kitchen table issues and the cost of consumer products – we're dealing with literal white supremacist authoritarianism right now – but it's certainly the case that this is the sort of thing which can and will grab people's attention and lead to a lot of bad press given how simple it is to illustrate.

"It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley"

The late singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley put out one album, 1994's "Grace," and then tragically died in 1997 just before he began recording its followup. There's one song on "Grace" that a lot of people have heard – Buckley's transcendent cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" – but for as good as that is, it only scratches the surface.

While I'm not a music writer I can normally write fairly intelligently and arguably insightfully about music. But I don't think I could hope to do justice to Buckley, whose intensely emotional, acrobatic high tenor voice paired with hard and soulful guitar-based backing defied categorization at the time and still sounds unlike anything or anyone else. As such, I'll leave it to my friend Caryn Rose, who is a music writer, to offer some description:

Do you have a memory of the first time you heard Grace, Buckley’s first record? I remember I was so stunned when it finished that all I could do was hit the play button again. And again. And again. Where did this even COME from, how did we not know about this voice before this moment, how could it have existed for as long as it did and we didn’t know . . . Jeff Buckley’s voice sounds like falling in love, like an audible euphoria, it would smell like the surprise sultriness of night blooming jasmine and if I had to give it a color it would be a dark lilac, it feels like purple velvet and as open and endless as looking at the stars in dark sky territory. It made – it still makes – me homesick for some kind of past life or alternate universe where this is one of the soundtracks.

I bring up Buckley, and link Caryn's article, because this past weekend each of us saw the new documentary about him called "It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley." It's on a brief theatrical run now and will wind up on HBOMax soon. If you're a Buckley fan, or if you're just Buckley-curious, it's an absolute must-see.

It's also a hard watch. Not just because one knows its tragic ending going in, but because in telling Buckley's story it gives us insight into the pain and empathy which inspired that dark lilac, purple velvet, and audible euphoria which Caryn describes. It shows us how and why there was only one Jeff Buckley and reminds us that we don't have Jeff Buckley or anyone like him anymore. Indeed, for as often as people wonder what artists such as Buddy Holly, Duane Allman, Jimi Hendrix, or Kurt Cobain might've done if they had lived longer, there is no artist, I would argue, whose death inspires a bigger "what if?" than Buckley's.

Those others all had more music in the can and had established themselves in a given genre and with a given style from which one might reasonably extrapolate possible futures. Even now, however, nearly 30 years later, I don't think anyone can say what Buckley's life and career would've looked like had he lived, other than that it would've been fascinating and quite possibly brilliant. What musical paths would he have taken? Hard to say, because what little he left us was so big, so undefinable, and so filled with possibility that we're left to only make wild guesses. I can imagine him composing and performing full-blown rock operas. I can picture a 27-minute thrash masterpiece. I could see him doing Chicago or Delta blues-based albums, prog rock experiments, or a double album full of torch ballads that would melt your fucking heart. Based on just a couple of the songs on "Grace" I am fairly certain that, had his life gone that way, he could've made a divorce album that would've ranked up there with "Blood on the Tracks" and "Sea Change," except even more painful and heart-wrenching.

I'm not a guy who cries at movies, but I got misty a bunch of times while watching "It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley." Allison was a total mess, as were several others in the theater. As was Caryn, whose review of the movie is well worth your time. As she winds up:

This movie is going to make people listen to Jeff Buckley again, either for the first time or listen anew. It keeps him alive, it gives his friends and loved ones the space to tell their stories about him, it keeps his work in our consciousness.  That’s exactly what a great documentary should do. 

Definitely check it out if you get the chance. But, more importantly, check out "Grace" if anything Caryn or I wrote makes it sound interesting to you.

Have a great day everyone.