Jayson Stark
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jaysonst.bsky.social
Jayson Stark
@jaysonst.bsky.social
54K followers 860 following 840 posts
Baseball writer at The Athletic. Starkville pod. MLB Net. Winner of 2019 BBWAA Career Excellence Award. Launched hot dogs with the Phanatic. Living the dream
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Jayson Stark @jaysonst.bsky.social · 7d
A 404-foot “ground-ball” double play?

A pitcher who struck out a hitter he never pitched to?

A HR “trot” that went on so long, half the infield got ejected before the hitter made it to home plate?

That & more in my Strange But True Feats of 2025!

www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
MLB’s Strange But True 2025: The plays, moments and stuff we couldn’t believe
It’s time for that end-of-year extravaganza you’ve been eagerly awaiting. Let's celebrate another Strange But True baseball season.
www.nytimes.com
jaysonst.bsky.social
A friend in baseball once told me:

It's amazing how far away spring training feels on Dec. 31 ...

And how close it feels on Jan. 1

Just to prove that ...

The first spring training game of 2026 is 7 weeks from today!

Feel warmer yet?
January 2, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by Jayson Stark
jaysonst.bsky.social
The whole Strange But True Feats of 2025 series:

Weirdest injuries www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
Crazy games of the Year www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
Paul Skenes strangeness www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
Wildest hitting/pitching feats www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
Here's to a Strange 2026!
MLB’s weirdest injuries of 2025: Home run trots, bathroom breaks and Target runs gone bad
Celebrating the brilliantly creative ways that baseball players find to take their place in our annual SBT Injuries of the Year column.
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Reposted by Jayson Stark
jaysonst.bsky.social
The Nick Kurtz Game
The Schwarber Game
The strangest bullpen box-score line ever
Walkoff triples and triple plays
Skubal & Judge & Aroldis Chapman
A hilarious "game played"

It's the Strange But True ode to the wildest hitting & pitching exploits of 2025
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
MLB’s Strange But True 2025: Wildest hitting and pitching feats of the year
We’ve reached the end of 2025 — and the final piece in our Strange But True series. Presenting the hitting and pitching feats of the year!
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:44 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
Here's a really fun new episode of the Best of Starkville 2025.

Two of the most engaging managers in baseball - John Schneider & Pat Murphy - stop by to visit me, @dougglanville.bsky.social and you! It's an incredible listen.
theathletic.lnk.to/windTX
December 31, 2025 at 3:09 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
The Nick Kurtz Game
The Schwarber Game
The strangest bullpen box-score line ever
Walkoff triples and triple plays
Skubal & Judge & Aroldis Chapman
A hilarious "game played"

It's the Strange But True ode to the wildest hitting & pitching exploits of 2025
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
MLB’s Strange But True 2025: Wildest hitting and pitching feats of the year
We’ve reached the end of 2025 — and the final piece in our Strange But True series. Presenting the hitting and pitching feats of the year!
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:44 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
Today we reveal the Strange But True Player of the Year ...

Um, Paul Skenes?

OK, so there's nothing strange about him. But ...

Do strange things happen when he takes the mound?

He's a Pirate, so of course!

So I took a dive into all that strangeness
www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
MLB’s Strange But True Player of the Year? Paul Skenes for the win!
When the unhittable ace of the Pirates takes the mound, amazing things happen. It would be cool if winning was one of those things.
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Jayson Stark
jaysonst.bsky.social
18 innings of World Series madness?
Ohtani did what?
Why would the All-Star Game box score lie?
A team that gave up 10 in an inning & won?
A pitcher whose first win came in a state he never set foot in that day?

It's the Strange But True Games of 2025!
www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
MLB’s Strange But True 2025: Wildest games of the year, including 3 postseason classics
What happens when a sport gives us 15 games a day, pretty much every day for six months? Some of those games can get downright wacky!
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:29 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
Here are the links to the whole Strange But True Feats of the Year collection (so far):

SBT Games of the Year www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...

SBT Plays, Moments & Stuff We Couldn't Believe www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...

SBT's Craziest Injuries of 2025 www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
MLB’s Strange But True 2025: The plays, moments and stuff we couldn’t believe
It’s time for that end-of-year extravaganza you’ve been eagerly awaiting. Let's celebrate another Strange But True baseball season.
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:32 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
18 innings of World Series madness?
Ohtani did what?
Why would the All-Star Game box score lie?
A team that gave up 10 in an inning & won?
A pitcher whose first win came in a state he never set foot in that day?

It's the Strange But True Games of 2025!
www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
MLB’s Strange But True 2025: Wildest games of the year, including 3 postseason classics
What happens when a sport gives us 15 games a day, pretty much every day for six months? Some of those games can get downright wacky!
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:29 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
My Strange But True Feats of the Year just keep on coming

Today it’s the weirdest injuries of 2025

You know what was hazardous to baseball players’ health?

Home run trots, bathroom breaks and Target runs gone bad

www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
MLB’s weirdest injuries of 2025: Home run trots, bathroom breaks and Target runs gone bad
Celebrating the brilliantly creative ways that baseball players find to take their place in our annual SBT Injuries of the Year column.
www.nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 1:14 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
A 404-foot “ground-ball” double play?

A pitcher who struck out a hitter he never pitched to?

A HR “trot” that went on so long, half the infield got ejected before the hitter made it to home plate?

That & more in my Strange But True Feats of 2025!

www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
MLB’s Strange But True 2025: The plays, moments and stuff we couldn’t believe
It’s time for that end-of-year extravaganza you’ve been eagerly awaiting. Let's celebrate another Strange But True baseball season.
www.nytimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Reposted by Jayson Stark
jaysonst.bsky.social
It's a fantastic episode of the Best of Starkville.

An unforgettable conversation with Max Scherzer. Great listening!

theathletic.lnk.to/windTX
The Windup
The Athletic's flagship baseball podcast features some of the best writers and thinkers in the game. With rumors, analytics, trivia, prospects, rankings and big name interviews, we've got you covered ...
theathletic.lnk.to
December 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
It's a fantastic episode of the Best of Starkville.

An unforgettable conversation with Max Scherzer. Great listening!

theathletic.lnk.to/windTX
The Windup
The Athletic's flagship baseball podcast features some of the best writers and thinkers in the game. With rumors, analytics, trivia, prospects, rankings and big name interviews, we've got you covered ...
theathletic.lnk.to
December 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
Quick perspective on the Phillies' trade of Matt Strahm to the Royals
www.nytimes.com/athletic/690...
Phillies trade Matt Strahm to Royals for Jonathan Bowlan in cost-saving reliever swap
The Phillies traded the lefty set-up man to Kansas City in a move designed to free up money — nearly $7M in 2026 — to address other needs.
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by Jayson Stark
ken-rosenthal.bsky.social
Latest notes:

*First Burnes, then Bregman for AZ?

*Kim’s four-year offer

*Mariners’ infield pursuits

*Rockies’ Doyle

*More

www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
December 17, 2025 at 4:03 AM
jaysonst.bsky.social
I love stories that pull back the curtain on the pursuit of excellence.

Great look here by ⁦Chad Jennings at the blunt, obsessive hitting guru who pushed Kyle Schwarber to greatness
www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
The blunt, obsessive hitting guru who pushed Kyle Schwarber to greatness
Schwarber just signed a five-year, $150-million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, based partly on his intensive work with Aaron Capista.
www.nytimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Reposted by Jayson Stark
mattgelb.bsky.social
The initial news on Adolis García's pending deal with the Phillies. More to come: www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
Phillies finalizing 1-year, $10 million deal with Adolis García: Sources
The Phillies are making a bet on a bounce-back season from García, who was non-tendered last month by the Rangers.
www.nytimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:01 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
ICYMI Kyle Schwarber ranks only 70th among active players in WAR.

So why did the Phillies just make him one of the highest paid players in baseball?

I tried my best to explain the unique qualities that make him bigger than his WAR www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
Kyle Schwarber: A unique contract for a unique player — and Phillies legend in the making
Why has there never been a contract like this? Possibly because it’s practically impossible to find another player quite like this.
www.nytimes.com
December 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
I’ve covered baseball for a long time.

The intense debate over this piece reminded me that Pete Rose is still the No. 1 lightning rod of modern times
jaysonst.bsky.social Jayson Stark @jaysonst.bsky.social · 21d
“Do Pete's statistics say that he should be in? Yeah. But I think character has a lot to do with it”

He’s 2 years away from his debut on the Hall of Fame ballot. So is baseball ready for Pete Rose, Hall of Famer?

@TylerKepner.bluesky.social and I wrote about that!

www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
Is baseball ready for Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame? Surveying people in the game
We asked prominent people in the sport whether Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame. The answers were as conflicted as you would expect.
www.nytimes.com
December 13, 2025 at 1:54 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
“Do Pete's statistics say that he should be in? Yeah. But I think character has a lot to do with it.”

He’s 2 years away from his debut on the Hall of Fame ballot. So is baseball ready for Pete Rose, Hall of Famer?

@TylerKepner.bluesky.social and I wrote about that!
www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
Is baseball ready for Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame? Surveying people in the game
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Reposted by Jayson Stark
jaysonst.bsky.social
“Do Pete's statistics say that he should be in? Yeah. But I think character has a lot to do with it”

He’s 2 years away from his debut on the Hall of Fame ballot. So is baseball ready for Pete Rose, Hall of Famer?

@TylerKepner.bluesky.social and I wrote about that!

www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
Is baseball ready for Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame? Surveying people in the game
We asked prominent people in the sport whether Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame. The answers were as conflicted as you would expect.
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:50 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
“Do Pete's statistics say that he should be in? Yeah. But I think character has a lot to do with it”

He’s 2 years away from his debut on the Hall of Fame ballot. So is baseball ready for Pete Rose, Hall of Famer?

@TylerKepner.bluesky.social and I wrote about that!

www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
Is baseball ready for Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame? Surveying people in the game
We asked prominent people in the sport whether Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame. The answers were as conflicted as you would expect.
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:50 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
We've never had a father and son in the broadcasters' wing of the Hall of Fame ... until now

Congratulations to Joe Buck, just announced as the winner of the 2026 Ford Frick Award

His father, Jack Buck, won in 1987. What an amazing family legacy the Bucks will be celebrating in Cooperstown in July
December 10, 2025 at 5:08 PM
jaysonst.bsky.social
Just posted from me:

Minor-league rule change experiment could eliminate timeouts for hitters

www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
Minor-league rule change experiment could eliminate hitter timeouts: Sources
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by Jayson Stark
jaysonst.bsky.social
New from me:

No true DH has ever gotten a contract like Kyle Schwarber. So what explains this one?

A unique contract befitting a unique player
www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
Kyle Schwarber: A unique contract for a unique player — and Phillies legend in the making
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 12:11 AM