Tag: Irish in MLB

Two former Notre Dame players on move at trade deadline

Neither player has done much in 2023.

The MLB trade deadline officially has passed, and that meant two former Notre Dame players were off their respective teams. One player is heading to another team, and the other’s future is in limbo. Neither player has been particularly good this season.

[autotag]AJ Pollock[/autotag] was acquired by the San Francisco Giants from the Seattle Mariners, landing him on his fifth team in 12 MLB seasons. Pollock currently is on the injured list with a strained left hamstring but could be activated soon despite a career-worst slash line of .173/.225/.323. The playoff-contending Giants need some outfield depth to offset the temporary loss of the injured Mike Yastrzemski.

Meanwhile, [autotag]Trey Mancini[/autotag] has been designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs to make room for Jeimer Candelario, who was acquired from the Washington Nationals. Mancini has been the Cubs’ primary first baseman for much of the season, but he also has had an off year. His slash line is .234/.299/.336, and his four home runs are by far the fewest he’s hit in any full season.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

ChatGPT ranks top 10 receivers in Notre Dame history

Please note that tight ends are not included on this list.

We’ve been asking AI writing tool ChatGPT to give its opinions of the top 10 Notre Dame players by position. It’s been a great way to generate discussion and debate amongst our readers. So far, we’ve asked it to list the top quarterbacks and running backs. Now, we move onto the receivers.

Please note that this list will not include tight ends but rather pure receivers. Even though it’s becoming more difficult to differentiate between receivers and tight ends these days, they still are different enough that they need to be separated. So please don’t ask why Michael Mayer or Cole Kmet aren’t on this list, but we also will get more into that when we ask ChatGPT about Irish tight ends.

Please also note that ChatGPT’s last knowledge update was in September 2021, and this list is based on historical data that was available at that time. Also, some entries have been edited for clarity and accuracy:

Craig Counsell becomes Brewers all-time winningest manager

Pretty good week so far for Notre Dame baseball…

What a week it has been for Notre Dame’s baseball program.  We’re all aware this past Sunday saw the Irish upset No. 1 Tennessee in a series that won’t be soon forgotten by any college baseball fan, but a former Notre Dame player got on board the accomplishment train this week as well.

Craig Counsell, a 1992 graduate of Notre Dame and 1997 World Series hero for the then Florida Marlins, has managed the Milwaukee Brewers since early in the 2015 season.  Wednesday night saw the Brewers win their 564th game under Counsell’s direction, making him the winningest manager in Brewers history.

Counsell has led the Brewers to a 564-508 (.526) record since taking over and they’ve made the postseason each of the last four years.

Counsell and the Brewers currently sit at 35-29, 1.5 games back of the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.

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Top 10 Notre Dame baseball players according to ChatGPT

How many of these players do you recognize?

So Notre Dame will not make the College World Series for a second straight season. In fact, it didn’t make the NCAA Tournament at all. So what are Irish fans left to do? Look into the past, of course.

Not long ago, we took the liberty of asking ChatGPT, the AI information bot that supposedly is threatening to put all of us writers out of work, its opinion on Notre Dame athletic history. Specifically, we asked it to rank what it believed were the top 10 Notre Dame football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball players. Now, we’re bringing it back to seek its opinion about Irish baseball players.

Keep in mind that ChatGPT gives this disclaimer:

“As an AI, I don’t have access to real-time information or the ability to provide subjective opinions. However, I can tell you about some notable baseball players who have had successful careers at the University of Notre Dame. Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive and does not rank them in any particular order.”

There’s also this:

“Please note that this is not an exhaustive or ranked list, and there have been many other talented baseball players who have represented the University of Notre Dame.”

So with all of that said, let’s see who ChatGPT came up with. Please note that some of these have been edited to remove inaccurate or outdated information:

Watch: Matt Vierling completes four-hit game with winning homer

Have yourself a game, young man.

[autotag]Matt Vierling[/autotag] felt the heartache last fall when his Philadelphia Phillies fell to the Houston Astros in the World Series. It turns out he didn’t have to wait long for revenge against the defending champions.

Trying to make his mark with the Detroit Tigers after being traded to them in the offseason, Vierling did just that by pounding out four hits in the opener of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park. His first three hits went for singles, but his fourth, a two-run homer in the 11th inning, made the difference in the Tigers’ 7-6 victory:

If breaking out offensively after going hitless in his first seven at-bats wasn’t enough, his diving catch in the fifth with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth preserved a tie game. The Tigers needed to get in the win column for 2023, and Vierling made it happen almost singlehandedly.

It will be interesting to watch Vierling’s progress for a team not expected to do much this season. This is his second full season in the bigs, and he should get plenty of opportunities to prove himself.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Trey Mancini plays first in Houston Astros’ World Series clincher

A great night for the former Irish slugger.

With Yuli Gurriel off the Houston Astros’ World Series roster because of an injury, Notre Dame alumnus [autotag]Trey Mancini[/autotag] was the next man up. He was the Astros’ starting first baseman in Game 6, and he played the whole game. That means he was on the field during the final out of the Astros’ 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, giving them their second championship in six years.

As a bonus for Mancini, he singled to lead off the third inning, giving him his only hit in 21 at-bats this postseason. He didn’t stay on the bases for long as he promptly was thrown out at second base on a fielder’s choice. Still, it’s unlikely he cares about that as much as the partying he’ll be doing for the next few days.

[autotag]Matt Vierling[/autotag] started for the Phillies in center field and recorded one walk in two plate appearances before being pulled for a pinch-hitter in the eighth. He finished the post season hitting 2 for 13.

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Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Listen to Geoffrey’s World Series history podcast: “Then There Were Two: A History of the World Series”.

Trey Mancini is late substitute for Astros in Game 5 World Series win

Mancini shows more value with his glove than his bat.

Once again, Notre Dame alumni were absent from both starting lineups of a World Series contest. That changed in the eighth inning en route to a 3-2 Houston Astros win, giving them a 3-2 series lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. With two outs, [autotag]Trey Mancini[/autotag] was called on to pinch-hit for Yuli Gurriel, but he struck out to end the inning, bringing him to 0 for 18 in the postseason. However, he stayed in the game to take over at first base.

Mancini was much more productive with his glove. He fielded Kyle Schwarber’s ground ball and recorded the unassisted third out in the bottom of the eighth, snuffing out a Phillies rally that had produced one run. Then, he got the final putout of the ninth and the game when Nick Castellanos grounded out to shortstop Jeremy Pena.

[autotag]Matt Vierling[/autotag] did not appear for the Phillies at all. He has not played since he appeared as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning of Game 3, when Mancini flied out to him.

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Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Listen to Geoffrey’s World Series history podcast: “Then There Were Two: A History of the World Series”.

Trey Mancini flies out to Matt Vierling in ninth inning of Game 3

If you blinked, you missed it.

For eight innings of the Philadelphia Phillies’ 7-0 Game 3 win over the Houston Astros, Notre Dame alumni were nowhere to be seen. Neither the Astros’ [autotag]Trey Mancini[/autotag], nor the Phillies’ [autotag]Matt Vierling[/autotag] were in their respective teams’ starting lineup. The idea that the two would intersect at all during this year’s World Series seemed to be fading. Then, it all changed.

With the game pretty much decided, Vierling entered right field as a defensive substitute in the ninth inning. Then, with one out, Mancini was called upon as a pinch hitter. That’s when the moment Irish fans were waiting for happened. On a 3-1 count, Mancini hit a fly ball to right, and Vierling was there to catch it.

No, it wasn’t a very exciting play, and it’s unlikely anyone will remember it. What people care about more is that Vierling is two wins away from a World Series title, and Mancini is 0 for 17 so far in his first postseason. Still, for one brief moment on baseball’s biggest stage, the Irish alumni came together.

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Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Listen to Geoffrey’s World Series history podcast: “Then There Were Two: A History of the World Series”.

Notre Dame representation silent again in Game 2 of World Series

Still nothing to see here.

Game 2 of the World Series featured a slightly different script from Game 1. The Houston Astros scored three runs in the first inning, and this time, that was all the runs they needed to beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-2. The series now is tied at a victory apiece as it heads to the City of Brotherly Love for the next three games.

One thing that didn’t change from Game 1? No impact from the two former Notre Dame players. One night after being lifted for a pinch hitter, [autotag]Trey Mancini[/autotag] did not appear for the Astros. [autotag]Chris Vierling[/autotag] started in center field for the Phillies but went 0 for 2 and left two men on base before being pinch-hit for in the seventh inning.

Irish fans should be lucky at least one more game will be played as it provides more potential opportunities for Mancini and Vierling to contribute. Whether they actually will contribute remains to be seen and also depends on their respective managers’ faith in them.

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Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Listen to Geoffrey’s World Series history podcast: “Then There Were Two: A History of the World Series”.

Notre Dame alumni don’t factor into Game 1 of World Series

Nothing to see if you’re a Notre Dame fan.

The 2022 World Series got off to a thrilling start Friday. The Philadelphia Phillies overcame a five-run deficit to steal Game 1 from the host Houston Astros, 6-5, after J.T. Realmuto led off the 10th inning with the game-winning home run. Suddenly, a team that everyone wrote off at the start of the postseason is looking very formidable.

As exciting as the game was, Notre Dame’s two alumni didn’t have any impact on it. [autotag]Matt Vierling[/autotag] was not in the Phillies’ lineup. [autotag]Trey Mancini[/autotag] started as the designated hitter, which has been his usual spot in these playoffs, but he went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and left a team-high three men on base. When the Astros had two runners on with two outs in the bottom of the 10th of a one-run game, Dusty Baker pinch-hit Aledmys Diaz for Mancini, only for Diaz to ground out to third to end the game.

Here’s hoping the former Irish hitters are able to do more going forward in the series.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Listen to Geoffrey’s World Series history podcast: “Then There Were Two: A History of the World Series”.