Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch

So here we are. It's  November  and the winter weather is here. The madness has begun. Tis' the season for shopping, but for  baseball  it's the time for the  Hot Stove  season and a cup of Java — your choice Starbucks, Seattle's Best, D&D, 7-Eleven, etc. As I write this, and sip on my  Chocolate Swirl Java , the  Hot Stove  is slowly heating up. We can thank the  Braves  for the start,  as they have made it known that they are raising their payroll . All I'm saying right now: I like what the  Braves  are doing already.  Last season I predicted the  Mets  in the  Fall Classic , but my prediction fell short. This upcoming season, I think the  Rangers, Braves & Dodgers  are going to make some noise. No predictions on the World Series yet, but I do have some teams I like. I'll just say one of them is down South, near maybe Atlanta? Now back to the Ohtani watch. Where will he end up? ...

Here's a breakdown of the lowest selling Topps Now 2023 baseball cards. Role reversal from the top selling. 1. 482 Braxton Garrett – Sets Career-High Mark with 13 Ks. vs. Pirates – 156 copies 2. 227 Christian Walker – Two HR Game Powers D-Backs to a Win – 189 copies 3. 299 Jorge Soler – Hammers a 2-Run Walk-Off HR to Complete Comeback – 202 copies 4. 196 Jean Segura – 9th-Inning RBI Single Caps Off Marlins 1st Walk-Off Win of 2023 – 205 copies 5. 279 José Abreu – Given Standing Ovation in Return to Chicago – 205 copies 6. 293 Lourdes Gurriel Jr. – Walks Off Giants with 9th-Inning RBI Double – 209 copies 7. 215 San Diego Padres – Complete Two-Game Sweep of Giants Down in Mexico City – 210 copies 8. 248 Isaac Paredes – Walks Off Yankees in Exciting 10-Inning Affair – 210 copies 9. 214 Charlie Blackmon / Larry Walker – Scores 893rd Run, Passes Hall-of-Famer in Franchise History – 214 copies 10. 208 Nathan Eovaldi – Blanks Yankees, 2-0, on 1st Career Nine-Inning Shutout – 217 copies — ...

So here it is, the dreary winter and the "rat race" begins. Tis the season for dreaming of baseball and the summer. Well, to keep the imagination of the mind going I give to you a list of baseball movies that may be good for a stocking stuffer or two. The list is in no specific order: The Natural  with Robert Redford. 61  produced by Billy Crystal. When It Was A Game:  Triple Play Collection. Ken Burns' Baseball  produced by Ken Burns. Field of Dreams  with Kevin Costner. For Love of the Game  with Kevin Costner. Bang the Drum Slowly  by John Hancock. A League of Their Own  by Penny Marshall. Bull Durham  with Kevin Costner. 100th Anniversary of the New York Yankees . While there are many movies to list, in my mind the above are worth watching to the baseball fan. Until then, see ya at the park! — Joe Boesch 

Listen up:  Audio rewind with Gary Bedingfield of Baseball in Wartime interviewed on January 10, 2010 on WGBB 1240AM Sports Radio New York.  Listen at:   https://diamondnotes.substack.com/ — Joe Boesch 

I've always just kind of prided myself on just taking the ball and just trying to give your team a chance to win, and I really don't try to make it any more complicated than that.  — Gerrit Cole — Joe Boesch 

Baseball is only a game, a game of inches and a lot of luck. During a time of all-out war, sports are very insignificant.  — Bob Feller — Joe Boesch 

If you're into collecting baseball cards, Beckett put out the following regarding Topps Now Top 10 highest selling 2023 bestselling cards. Below is the list. Top 10 Highest Selling 2023 Topps Now Baseball Cards 1. 472 Victor Wembanyama – Basketball Star Throws Out 1st Pitch in the Bronx – 48,654 copies 2. 927 Ronald Acuña Jr. – 1st Player MLB History w/ a 40 HR & 70 SB Season – 36,544 copies 3. 625 Shohei Ohtani – MLB Doubleheader First: 1st SHO of Career in Game 1, 2 HR Encore in Game 2 – 33,887 copies 4. 736 LeBron James / Mookie Betts – Salute to Greatness: LA Legends Salute After Power Display in Dodger Stadium – 32,719 copies 5. 541 Elly De La Cruz – 2nd Player Since 1961 to Steal Three Bases in a Plate Appearance – 30,759 copies 6. 485 Elly De La Cruz – Youngest Player to Hit for Cycle in 51 Seasons – 28,242 copies 7. 392 Elly De La Cruz – Smokes 112-MPH Double for First MLB Hit – 25,773 copies 8. 798 Jasson Domínguez – "The Martian" Takes Flight with HR in MLB ...