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Michael Clair

@michaelclair.bsky.social
4.8K followers 324 following 3.3K posts

I like baseball and I write about it for MLB.com. Special focus on the World Baseball Classic, culture, and freaky little oddities. My book, WE SACRIFICE EVERYTHING TO BASEBALL, is out April 1!

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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 1h
Great story from Rob Terranova who talked with Milan, Italy prospect Nicolo Pinazzi, who had the longest streak without an earned run in MiLB since 2016! Read it here: www.mlb.com/milb/news/it...
mlb.com
This Italian-born reliever wants to throw 105 mph, 'play like my head is on fire'
Mamma mia! Nicolo Pinazzi -- an Italian pitcher from Milan -- etched his name into Minor League history while enjoying a breakout campaign this season. The 26-year-old journeyman prospect climbed thre...
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Todd Radom @toddradom.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I see you… and I raise you!
“We Sacrifice Everything to Baseball.” by Michael Clair
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
An absolute banger of a book that needs a spot on your bookshelf
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
always up!
ESPN Unlimited plan increasing price to 319.99
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The love I have for Payton Tolle is eternal and never-ending
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Patrick Dubuque @euqubud.baseballprospectus.com · 28/09/2026
Fantastic writing by @seatoseabaseball.com in our last Box Score Banter of the year. Hard to believe the series has been going for five years now, but it's still going strong as ever. Proud to work with all these folks. www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...
Meaning isn’t something you create on your own. We do nothing in isolation, least of all this. Meaning is a dialectic, both process and product, an invisible mass filling the space between us that we breathe and shape as easily as air. It’s a conversation between teammates, between pitcher and hitter, between a fielder and a fan with a particularly tasty-looking basket of nachos, between TV and radio, between writer and reader, between the audience behind home plate and the one tuning in from an ocean away. It’s a dialogue with the memories of playing catch and ripping open card packs, with the faded marks of your parent’s pencil in a scorebook, with the winners and losers of ages past, with the hopes and dreams of every soul who was shut out from the game and kept on playing anyway.
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Baseball Prospectus @baseballprospectus.com · 28/09/2026
Playoff Prospectus 2026: NL Wild Card Series Previews by Daniel R. Epstein (@depstein1983.bsky.social) www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...
baseballprospectus.com
Playoff Prospectus 2026: NL Wild Card Series Previews | Baseball Prospectus
Familiar foes match up in the top-seeded NL matchup, while teams moving in very different directions square off in the 4-5 pairing.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Was searching for something I had written in the past and came across this story from the 2016 WBC qualifiers. Turns out I've been writing about Czech baseball for over a decade now. www.mlb.com/cut4/video-c...
mlb.com
The Czech Republic's only active MiLBer helped upset Germany with this grand slam
The Official Site of Major League Baseball
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Mike Petriello @mikepetriello.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Farewell to Miles Mikolas, the only man over 28 years old to take a single plate appearance for the Nationals this year www.mlb.com/nationals/ne...
mlb.com
MLB's highest-scoring offense is also its all-time youngest
When Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas stepped to the plate in extra innings on Thursday and put down a successful bunt to drive home a run, it was viewed mostly as an unexpectedly entertaining moment i...
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T.J. Lauerman aka ThatSportsGamer @thatsportsgamer.com · 27/09/2026
"Sweet Caroline" being played in Czechia, during a baseball game between Italian and Dutch teams, is what this game is all about.
static.klipy.com
Good Times Never Seemed So Good Coach Jake
ALT: Good Times Never Seemed So Good Coach Jake
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Drake Maye is playing football the way I do on Xbox. And by that I mean, very poorly. There’s nothing I — and therefore, by extension Maye — love to do more than throw directly into coverage.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Drake Maye, I’m not mad. But I am disappointed
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
At the bar for NFL Sunday with @mikepetriello.bsky.social. You can tell he was thrilled to take this photo with our stream of Parma-Neptunus in the Champions League final today.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Bringing the strongest roster in the Asian Games, Korea defeated Japan, 3-1, for the gold medal. Ace Been Gwak, a top MLB prospect, went 6.1 with 9 Ks and 1 R and WBC star Bo Gyeong Moon was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Top 3B prospect Do-Yeong Kim went 2-for-5.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
News is a few days old, but huge under-the-radar announcement from France. When they released their roster for the upcoming games against Spain, there was a new coaching staff: Former Czechia mgr Mike Griffin and his pitching coach, Corey Lee, have joined. Quentin Becquey of Rouen Huskies is also in
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The Savigny-sur-Orge Lions of French Division I just won their first title since 2004! Their 6-5 victory also ended the Rouen Huskies' remarkable 19 year(!) streak of titles. Royals' Spencer Bivens, a former Lion, sent the team a message ahead of the championship. 📷 France Baseball Softball
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Draci Brno, the Yankees of the Czech extraliga, finished 3rd in the European Baseball Champions League after defeating the Tenerife Marlins 7-1. National team pitcher Tomáš Ondra got the win (5 IP, 1 R, 2 K, 0 BB) while former NPB legend Takashi Ogino went 3-4 with 2 RBI. 📷Draci Brno on IG
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
If UMass goes to 4-0 tonight, then I fully expect a movie just as overwrought as Rudy
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T.J. Lauerman aka ThatSportsGamer @thatsportsgamer.com · 25/09/2026
DO IT!!! Also, perfect time for @michaelclair.bsky.social to post this, because I just finished making thatsportsgamer.com/books/ as my own personal bookshelf because I don't love some of the goodreads layout/rules. I gave We Sacrifice Everything to Baseball ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!!!
thatsportsgamer.com
Books – ThatSportsGamer
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
MLBx's world tour continues! And this time, it's a group of some of global baseball's biggest stars: www.mlb.com/news/adam-jo...
mlb.com
Big league stars and NPB heroes to play in MLBx: Fukuoka
MLBx, the 3-on-3 co-ed modified home run derby, has traveled the world, making stops in Mexico City, Seoul, London and -- next month -- Mumbai. Now it's coming to Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka, home to N...
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Amazon REALLY wants to sell you a copy of WE SACRIFICE EVERYTHING TO BASEBALL. Today, it's on sale for 75% off -- by far biggest discount I've seen. If you don't want to support Amazon, go to your fave indie store or you can order a copy direct from me: www.michaelclair.com
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Adam Ottavino just revealed that Matt Festa wore a gabagool tee shirt every day at the WBC. This is the kind of inside information I’m looking for.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
After struggling much of the year, Ayami Sato tossed a complete game shutout to help the Queens win the first WPBL championship. But for the players in the league, this was about much more than one game. "This has been everything to me," Amanda Gianelloni said. www.mlb.com/news/queens-...
mlb.com
Superstar Ayami Sato sends Queens to inaugural WPBL title
Ayami Sato may be the most decorated player in women’s baseball. The Kagoshima, Japan, native has three Women’s Baseball World Cup MVP Awards. No other pitcher has more than one. She held multiple rec...
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The IX Sports @theixsports.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
How the LA Queens won the first-ever WPBL championship on the night that Ayumi Sato pitched the first-ever WPBL shutout. ✍️ @cliffcorcoran.bsky.social: www.theixsports.com/features/que...
theixsports.com
Queens win first WPBL championship as Sato shuts out Firebells | The IX Sports
Ayami Sato threw the first complete game and shutout in WPBL history to secure the league's first championship for the Los Angeles Queens.
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Bradley Woodrum @bradleywoodrum.com · 23/09/2026
Man, what a #WPBL season, and what a finale! I say, let's play two [seasons]! www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...
baseballprospectus.com
The Queen of Baseball | Baseball Prospectus
With the WPBL Championship on the line, Ayomi Sato pitched the league's greatest game.
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Aaron @aaronjsomers.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Michael is always a good read, but this one was especially good.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Today’s research materials for a video I’m working on with the great @joshjacksonmilb.bsky.social
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
After struggling much of the year, Ayami Sato tossed a complete game shutout to help the Queens win the first WPBL championship. But for the players in the league, this was about much more than one game. "This has been everything to me," Amanda Gianelloni said. www.mlb.com/news/queens-...
mlb.com
Superstar Ayami Sato sends Queens to inaugural WPBL title
Ayami Sato may be the most decorated player in women’s baseball. The Kagoshima, Japan, native has three Women’s Baseball World Cup MVP Awards. No other pitcher has more than one. She held multiple rec...
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
She's a legendary player. She was the 2nd overall pick. But for much of the year, the Queens' Ayami Sato was disappointed in herself. “In the first meeting we had together, Sato said, ‘I want to be a champion,’” manager Eric Young Sr. said. “And now she’s a champion.” www.mlb.com/news/queens-...
mlb.com
Superstar Ayami Sato sends Queens to inaugural WPBL title
Ayami Sato may be the most decorated player in women’s baseball. The Kagoshima, Japan, native has three Women’s Baseball World Cup MVP Awards. No other pitcher has more than one. She held multiple rec...
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Jacob Pomrenke @buckweaver.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This might be the closest AAGPBL comp to what Sato did tonight. Helen Nicol Fox was a dominant pitcher in the league’s early underhand days and was still strong enough to win a Game 7 shutout pitching overhanded: sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...
sabr.org
September 17, 1950: Rockford Peaches win third straight AAGPBL title on Helen Nicol Fox’s Game 7 shutout – Society for American Baseball Research
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Jacob Pomrenke @buckweaver.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Not sure about that, but this game might come close. Racine’s Jo Winter pitched a 14-inning 1-0 shutout — and the Belles didn’t have a single hit off Rockford’s Carolyn Morris in the first nine innings — in the clincher of the 1946 championship series: sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...
sabr.org
September 16, 1946: Racine Belles win 14-inning thriller, claim second AAGPBL championship – Society for American Baseball Research
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
She's a legendary player. She was the 2nd overall pick. But for much of the year, the Queens' Ayami Sato was disappointed in herself. “In the first meeting we had together, Sato said, ‘I want to be a champion,’” manager Eric Young Sr. said. “And now she’s a champion.” www.mlb.com/news/queens-...
mlb.com
Superstar Ayami Sato sends Queens to inaugural WPBL title
Ayami Sato may be the most decorated player in women’s baseball. The Kagoshima, Japan, native has three Women’s Baseball World Cup MVP Awards. No other pitcher has more than one. She held multiple rec...
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Marisa Ingemi @mingemi.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The LA Queens are WPBL champions -- I profiled two of their stars, Mo'ne Davis and Ashton Lansdell, from their first weekend in Springfield this season for @latimes.com Davis: www.latimes.com/sports/story... Lansdell: www.latimes.com/sports/story...
latimes.com
Ex-Little League star Mo'ne Davis joins women's pro baseball league with focus on fun
Mo'ne Davis rocketed to fame after a historic run in the Little League World Series. She's making history again with the Women's Professional Baseball League.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
What does Ashton Lansdell want everyone in the crowd to know? "That women can play some dang good baseball. That's all I got."
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Championship merch is up on the WPBL site! shop.womensprobaseballleague.com/collections/...
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
And that's it! Ayami Sato throws the first complete game shutout in WPBL history and she does it in a winner-take-all Game 5 of the WPBL championship! The LA Queens have the inaugural title! What a remarkable finish to the season.
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Harry Pavlidis @harrypav.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
She also got Kelsie Whitmore to pop up. That was a scary inning but she escaped.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The Firebells get two runners on, but Ayami Sato gets power-hitting Andreanne Leblanc to hit a weak grounder to second to end the inning. We head to the 7th and final inning, the Queens still leading 2-0 -- DESPITE ONLY ONE HIT. Last three outs should be a doozy!
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Another 1-2-3 inning -- up to 8 in a row now -- and Ayami Sato is through five shutout innings. It's still 2-0 Queens wiht just two innings left to play. After the offensive explosions of the last few games, will be strange if this is the final score!
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
With two outs and two on after Ashton Lansdell drew a walk, Firebells manager Matt Williams goes to his pen. He summons another Team USA pitcher in lefty Niki Eckert. Albayati moves to third base after 4 2/3 innings with one earned run (two total) on her ledger.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Ayami Sato was struggling this season, but tonight she's looking like the pitcher everyone was expecting. Four shutout innings so far and the Queens are 9 outs away from the first WPBL championship. How long will Sato go? Is Meidlinger awaiting for the 7th? 2-0 Queens after 4
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Nice drawing from a young fan for Ayami Sato. Don't know what it is, exactly, but it's still nice!
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Casey Drottar @caseydrottar.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Seiya Suzuki is handling the fall temps in Chicago by placing hand warmers in his hat to keep his ears warm. That's certainly one way to get the job done, I guess.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Ayuri Shimano, who could win series MVP tonight, drives in the first run tonight with a smash to first that Andreanne Leblanc couldn't corral. Ashton Lansdell then drives in another run with a fielder's choice on a great play from shortstop Joely Leguizamon. 2-0 in the top of the third now.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The WPBL is a league defined by its offense (it makes sense when there is NO women's baseball pitching development). But tonight, with two national team aces in Ayami Sato and Jill Albayati, of course we have a 0-0 tie after 2 innings. Big Q: Will the mgrs have short leashes or trust their aces?
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Matt Trueblood @matrueblood.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
This is extremely important work. I need you all to see this. Emmanuel Rodríguez, when he barrels one, is absolutely adorable. twinsdaily.com/news-rumors/...
A four-photo collage of Emmanuel Rodríguez following through on extra-base hits and cracking a big ol' involuntary smile.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Women's baseball superstar and three-time World Cup MVP Ayami Sato takes the mound tonight for Los Angeles and will take on Team USA and Firebells ace Jill Albayati. It's Game 5 of the WPBL Championship. What a great game we've got on hand.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The WPBL season is going the distance. We'll have a Game 5 on Wednesday.
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The Firebells set a new WPBL record on Sunday with 20 hits in a 17-4 win to force a winner-take-all Game 5 on Tuesday. “We came out swinging today,” Jill Albayati said. “We came out a lot looser these last two days. We’re having fun.” www.mlb.com/news/firebel...
mlb.com
Firebells set WPBL record with 20 hits to force winner-take-all Game 5
The San Francisco Firebells were the most dominant offensive team during the Women's Professional Baseball League’s inaugural regular season. They scored the most runs (142), hit the most home runs (1...
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Michael Clair @michaelclair.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
High school student Addisyn Baird is now in for Meidlinger, who is likely out to save her arm for Game 5. Assuming Queens go with Sato and Meidlinger, that has to give LA the edge -- even if technically they'll be the away team.
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