Michael Clair
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michaelclair.bsky.social
Michael Clair
@michaelclair.bsky.social
4.2K followers 290 following 2.1K 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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michaelclair.bsky.social
Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · Dec 17
I am so insanely excited to share that WE SACRIFICE EVERYTHING TO BASEBALL, about the remarkable run Czechia made in the WBC, is out on April 1. And if you order from @univnebpress.bsky.social with code 6HLW25 you can get 50% off through 12/31!

www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/978...
michaelclair.bsky.social
i see twins oosterhaut and i retweet
ginnysearle.bsky.social ginny searle @ginnysearle.bsky.social · 3h
this the fourth year i've done PECOTA superlatives since creating it, and every year i strive to make it stranger
www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...
The Perennial 101st Annual Gabriel García Márquez Award for Magical Realism: Ayumu Ishikawa, Twins Oosterhaut At Baseball Prospectus, we draw much of our identifying player information directly from MLB’s databases. So when you dutifully each year sort each PECOTA sheet by player height and weight, as I and we all do, you were surely struck, as was I, by new NPB export Ishikawa’s buoyant weight, which is reflected on his MLB page as 17 pounds. If I had to guess, I’d say that Ishikawa has been affected by a curious affliction whereby he loses weight on the scale not visibly in evidence, but nevertheless with an absolute effect on his ability to influence the world around him. If we use Stephen King’s research paper Elevation as a reasonable yardstick of Ishikawa’s half-life, I’d say he’s got just about until Opening Day before he floats away entirely. If that seems cruel, just before his pending international debut, King et at. would note that “what you deserve has nothing to do with where you finish.” Ishikawa can take heart, though: “In their time of dying, everybody rises.”
February 11, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Michael Clair
mikepetriello.bsky.social
Who threw all the splitters last time? Ah, yes.

baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast-sea...
February 11, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Reposted by Michael Clair
mikepetriello.bsky.social
Hey, cool new thing alert. I'm getting excited for WBC and so are you, so ..

@darenw.com spun us up a World Baseball Classic Statcast search. 2023 data is included, and it'll have 2026 updated daily.

So: hardest-hit balls in 2023? Yes: baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast-sea...
February 11, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Reposted by Michael Clair
daveycurry.bsky.social
Very well written . Good choice of quotes, love this
February 11, 2026 at 8:53 PM
michaelclair.bsky.social
Great piece from Elizabeth Muratore on how Great Britain baseball has become a pathway to the professional coaching ranks. www.mlb.com/world-baseba...
The mantra that has brought British baseball coaches to MLB
You can get there from here. Drew Spencer first heard those words many years ago while visiting Dartmouth. He was a prospective college student from sunny California taking a trip to the frigid East C...
www.mlb.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:47 PM
michaelclair.bsky.social
Pure speculation and with no inside info whatsoever, here are a few intriguing names that I could see filling Corbin Carroll's Team USA spot and role:
- Wyatt Langford
- Ian Happ
- Steven Kwan
- Riley Greene (though he's turned down Puerto Rico)
February 11, 2026 at 3:44 PM
michaelclair.bsky.social
Huge loss for Team USA with Corbin Carroll breaking his hamate bone. Team is obviously stacked, but Carroll was a big part of what made the batting order and the defense so incredible.

Lots of choices for who could take the new roster spot that will likely open up ...
February 11, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Reposted by Michael Clair
factpostnews.bsky.social
US Olympic Curling Team member speaks out against ICE:

"I'm proud to represent Team USA. But we'd be remiss if we didn't mention what's going on in Minnesota and what a tough time it's been. What's happening is wrong. There's no shades of gray."
February 10, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Reposted by Michael Clair
ericablockparty.bsky.social
Bidets in MLB ⛲️🚽 (pre-CWS)

2002: Bidet sprays David Eckstein in face (MLB Japan All-Star Series in Tokyo)

2004: Lou Piniella holds bidet demo for Rays (MLB Opening Series in Tokyo)

2020: Rays install bidets for Yoshi Tsutsugo

2025: Dodgers add bidets to clubhouse at Roki Sasaki’s request
David Eckstein sprays himself in the face with a bidet and teammate AJ Pierzynski records a video of it
February 10, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by Michael Clair
mattwinkelman.bsky.social
A bunch of current and former Phillies on this list, but more specifically we have a Severino Gonzalez sighting.
February 10, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Reposted by Michael Clair
ericstephen.bsky.social
Dodgers minor league RHP Michael Vilchez, a 22-year-old from Curacao who last season pitched in Class-A, is listed in the designated pitcher pool for The Netherlands
February 10, 2026 at 8:40 PM
michaelclair.bsky.social
Luis Castillo, Jesus Luzardo, Jose Berríos, Liam Hendriks and - yes -- Jerry Dipoto's son are on the World Baseball Classic designated player pools.

Full list inside: www.mlb.com/news/world-b...
These pitchers are ready in reserve for their World Baseball Classic clubs
After the official 30-man World Baseball Classic rosters were announced last week, there was just one question left ahead of the tournament’s opening on March 4: Who would be listed in the Designated ...
www.mlb.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:34 PM
michaelclair.bsky.social
god damn i love the olympics
rodger.bsky.social Rodger Sherman @rodger.bsky.social · 1d
new most bizarre moment of the Olympics just dropped

Norwegian biathlete wins bronze medal, then, totally unprompted, reveal he cheated on his GF, she left him, and he wants to apologize publicly hoping she takes him back

www.vg.no/sport/i/vr5g...
a Norwegian man crying on air while being interviewed, with his biathlon stats besides him In the interview with NRK, he first started by thanking everyone who has helped him on the path to his first individual Olympic medal. And then – unprompted – he made an admission: – And then there's someone I wanted to share it with who might not be watching today. Six months ago I met the love of my life. The most beautiful and kindest person in the world. Three months ago I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her, and I told her about it a week ago. It's been the worst week of my life, he says tearfully in the interview.
February 10, 2026 at 5:16 PM
michaelclair.bsky.social
Adam's the best, he's got his own amazing book he's working on (along with a killer B-Ref video series this month and his music projects), and he CLEARLY has great taste in sports literature.

Be like Adam! (Order the book and email proof to WeSacrificeEverythingATGmail for your own bookmarks!)
adarowski.bsky.social Adam Darowski @adarowski.bsky.social · 1d
Czech out these sick bookmarks from @michaelclair.bsky.social to commemorate his forthcoming book on Czech baseball. Do yourself a favor and order this book. Mike’s passion comes through in everything he does. Can’t wait to get my hands on this.
February 10, 2026 at 4:05 PM
michaelclair.bsky.social
I’ve been way behind to start my year, but here is my 2026 books I enjoyed list! As always, just the books I liked.

1. NOT A SPECK OF LIGHT - @lairdbarron.bsky.social

A remarkable combination of weird lit, cosmic horror, noir, and a love of dogs. Laird Barron is a favorite of mine.
February 10, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by Michael Clair
jayjaffe.bsky.social
Good mail day as I’ve received a galley copy of @michaelclair.bsky.social’s forthcoming book on the Czech Republic national team, as they prepare for their 2nd trip to the World Baseball Classic.
February 7, 2026 at 7:34 PM
michaelclair.bsky.social
Absolutely crushing. RIP Terrance Gore.
wyattswickedgoods.com Wyatt Sinclair @wyattswickedgoods.com · 4d
Him and I have been friends on Facebook for years. His wife and other friends have made posts this morning about it.
This post is extremely tough to write. Last night, I lost my best friend/husband from complications after what was supposed to have been a simple procedure. Our hearts are shattered, my babies are shattered. Our whole family is lost. This was so unexpected. Everything Zane does is centered around his dad. Baseball,hunting,fishing. Skylyn said “i dont have a daddy anymore,he’s up in heaven in the stars”. I don’t know where to go from here. I feel like I’m living my biggest nightmare and feel so lost. He loved his children with everything in him. He loved coaching the youth and those boys absolutely loved him. Please keep our family in your prayers for the coming days and for the strength to get through this. Life is precious and is too short. What I would do to give you one more hug or kiss. We had so many more memories to make 🙏🏼 I love you forever Terrance Gore and I’ll continue to watch over our babies.
February 7, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Michael Clair
ripmlb.bsky.social
Awful news this morning. Terrance Gore, one of the fastest men in baseball in the last 20 years, died last night, evidently from unexpected complications during a routine surgery. He was 34 years old.
A Facebook message from Coastal Elite on the passing of Terrance Gore. “A loss like this hits deep. In a small baseball community, this game is more than wins & losses… it’s people, families & the ones who BUILT it before us. We honor a fellow baseball founder whose passion & dedication helped shape this community & have so many kids a place to belong. Terrance Gore - Your legacy will live on. Please keep the Gore family & the whole Hurricanes baseball family in your thoughts.
February 7, 2026 at 3:04 PM
michaelclair.bsky.social
Mateo Gil -- Benji Gil's son -- just hit an RBI single to tie Santurce at 6 in the bottom of the 7th with a spot in the Caribbean Series final on the line. I'd recommend flipping it on
February 7, 2026 at 5:04 AM
michaelclair.bsky.social
Thanks @williamfleitch.bsky.social for having me on the Morning Lineup pod today to talk about the World Baseabll Classic rosters. Quick run down of everything you need to know from last night: open.spotify.com/episode/6A3y...
Rosters rolled out for World Baseball Classic
open.spotify.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:02 PM
michaelclair.bsky.social
www.mlb.com/world-baseba...
Reigning MVPs, Cy Youngs among 78 All-Stars on Classic rosters
Twenty years ago, the first World Baseball Classic in history began, forever reshaping the global game. Plenty of superstars and future Hall of Famers took the field that year, with Ken Griffey Jr., I...
www.mlb.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:32 AM
michaelclair.bsky.social
Cuba's roster is rough. Liván Moinelo is an ace, winning the Pacific League MVP and I'm excited to see all-time WBC HR leader Alfredo Despaigne return but otherwise?

Alexei Ramirez is also back after appearing in the 2006 tourney and not appearing in MLB since 2016!
February 6, 2026 at 1:25 AM
michaelclair.bsky.social
Alessandro Ercolani will represent Italy this year. He is from the nation of San Marino, a country of just 34,000. I spoke with him last summer: www.mlb.com/news/alessan...
Meet the only Minor Leaguer from one of the world’s smallest nations
This is an excerpt from the latest edition of Michael Clair's International Beat Newsletter, bringing global baseball news to your inbox every month. Sign up for future installments HERE and check out...
www.mlb.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:12 AM
michaelclair.bsky.social
Two really interesting players are on Brazil's roster, too:

Shortstop Vitor Ito works in baseball ... as a translator for the Hanshin Tigers: www.mlb.com/news/vitor-i...

DH Osvaldo Carvalho is a construction worker who plays for a local team in Sao Paolo: www.mlb.com/news/brazil-...
Interpreter at short: Brazil's Vitor Ito is also the Hanshin Tigers' translator
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Vitor Ito speaks Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish. Unfortunately, I only speak English. That meant that this time, the translator needed his own translator. "I'm being careful not to ...
www.mlb.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:07 AM
michaelclair.bsky.social
Three sons on Brazil's roster: Dante Bichette Jr., Lucas Ramirez (son of Manny Ramirez) and 17-year-old Vanderbilt commit Joseph Contreras (son of Jose Contreras.)

Can you imagine if Bo Bichette was also on the team?
February 6, 2026 at 1:06 AM