"In some ways, baseball seems better positioned than other sports to draw in gamblers because of the deliberate pace, with its built-in breaks between pitches. Those pauses, far less frequent in other sports, could allow fans additional opportunities to place bets during a game. For example, a fan could bet on whether Boston’s Mookie Betts hits a single, double, home run, a groundout or a strikeout in his next at-bat."

I can hear already imagine The Master's new calls...

It is high, it is far, it is... BLACKJACK!

Ballgame over. Yankees cover! THUUUUH YANKEES COVER!

You can't predict baseball, Suzyn, but something tells me CC's next pitch will be a strike. Here it comes. PAPA NEEDS A NEW PAIR A SHOES!

And so it goes.

Yesterday, the Major League Baseball company won a doubleheader. 

1. Its preferred candidate, Cindy Hyde-Whitelady, won election to the U.S. Senate from Mississippi. By sending Miss Cindy to Washington, the owners helped restore an old-fashioned, pearl-clutching, plantation-running oil can to the national interest - plus, they got back their original $5,000 donation - dip money - which they sort of had to request after the goddamm news media - the parts they don't own - reported on it. They were embarrassed by Miss Cindy's sidesplitting jokes about hangings and her smiling photograph while wearing  Confederate gear. So it goes.

(Side note: Neither SF Giants owner Charles Johnson nor his wife Peaches took back their maximum individual contributions of $2,700 each. Rest in Peace: Willie McCovey.)

2. The company announced a deal with MGM Resorts - aka Las Vegas - to allow betting on games, pitches, at bats - hell, if Miguel Andujar double-pumps on a throw to first, maybe they can squeeze in some wagers before he lets go - as a means of improving baseball's  popularity bottom line. 

Commissioner Rob Manifort Manfred told the failing New York Times, translated here:

“Our research is really strong on the idea that sports gaming can be an important source of fan engagement (revenue). We operate in a really competitive environment and we have to take advantage of every opportunity to drive engagement by  (squeeze money out of) our fans.”

So it goes. By the end of the day, MLB should start selling Black Sox jerseys, and plans should be made for Pete Rose's induction into the Hall of Fame. 

After a century of holding the line, MLB should start games not by yelling "Play ball," but, "Gentlemen, place your bets!"