This is the online version of our morning newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning.
There are many great positions in sports – like being a star QB who is known for leading his team down the field in key moments and getting big wins, or being the shooting guard who buries big shots when things matter the most.
But nothing really beats the life a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball, which is something we’re learning again this week.
Did you see that deal Stephen Strasburg signed earlier this week to remain with the Nationals – 7-years for $245 million… all of which is guaranteed!?
And then just after midnight on Wednesday it was announced that Gerrit Cole agreed to a 9-year, $324 million deal with the Yankees.
$324 million!
I mean, come on. It doesn’t get any better than that.
While NFL players are putting their brains on the line every play and NBA players are running up and down a wood floor in playing 82 games a year (unless you’re a really great player and get load management nights off), starting pitchers are over there in a beautiful ballpark smiling on a nice summer day and taking it all in.
These guys only really have to work every fifth day. If they start on three-days rest they’re hailed as gosh darn heroes, though heroes that could break apart at any point, but still – heroes!
In between starts they spend their time playing long toss in the outfield (who doesn’t like some long toss!?) before spending the day or night sitting on the bench and spitting seeds while watching their pals play a good ol’ game of baseball.
Then after some nice time off they finally take the mound. After six innings their bosses are usually like, “OK, man. You did great. Let me have that ball and you go enjoy the rest of the game from the clubhouse.” There they can shower and watch on TV as the pressure falls on their teammates to wrap things up in a victorious way. Plus there are usually snacks in the clubhouse, so they can eat those while watching.
Then it’s back to a few days of long toss and seeds.
Sure, things can get a little intense in the postseason but even then if you go seven innings and leave with a lead people will rise and give you a boisterous ovation as you politely tip your cap and head for shower and snacks.
It’s a great life!
Plus, if you’re really good you make a boatload of money and never have to worry about a darned thing again. Sure, you’re elbow will probably blow out at some point but that’s fixable and then you get even more time off.
Starting pitchers, man. Living the dream!
Tuesday’s biggest winner: Celine Dion? Celine Dion!
The legendary singer is on tour in Toronto and she was given a very big championship ring by the Raptors’ mascot, because of course? It looks cold in Toronto because she has what looks like 19 layers on, but that ring sure is noticeable. She had some nice things to say about Toronto, too.
Quick hits: Best NBA teams of the decade… Worst NFL calls of the year… Le’Veon has a career (bowling) game… And more!
– We’re getting into our “Best of the Decade” content and Mike Sykes ranks the best NBA teams of the 2010s. Did he get things right?
– We also have some year-end content coming your way. Check out the worst calls by NFL refs this season… there were a lot to choose from!
– Le’Veon Bell spoke Tuesday about that trip to the bowling alley he took last Saturday night when he was still rebounding from the flu. He rolled a career-high score that night of 251, which isn’t bad. But still, Jets fans can’t like that.
– New Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman was an emotional wreck at his introductory press conference.
(Follow me on Twitter at @anezbitt. It might change your life. Just don’t tell me about your fantasy team.)