Please watch this Daulton Varsho catch. Plus: Guess the Padres bullpen ERA!

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The Yankees did it again.

Plus: The Padres bullpen is unbelievably good, the Rockies are unbelievably bad, Daulton Varsho made an unbelievable catch and Ken has praise for Wilmer Flores. I’m Levi Weaver, here with Ken Rosenthal. Welcome to The Windup!

I’m Sorry, But … : We have to lead with this Daulton Varsho catch

How in the —

I audibly yelped — yelped, and in a press box, where you’re supposed to be professional — when I saw this play. Here’s another angle.

I have watched this roughly 100 times. Now, back to your regularly scheduled Windup.

Back-to-Back-to-Back: Yankees’ new monthly routine

Yesterday was the 29th of April. You know what that means! Time for the Yankees to hit three straight home runs in a four-homer first inning!

The last time it happened — also on a 29th day of a month, back in March — was against the Brewers and former Yankee Nestor Cortes. Here’s what Jayson Stark dug up in that week’s Weird & Wild column:

Also, you know how many pitchers in the division-play era (1969-present) have ever allowed homers to the first three hitters they faced for their new team? That, according to STATS, would also be none. Of course.

I’m not sure if this one counts as the second time or not. Kyle Gibson pitched for the Orioles in 2023 before spending last year with the Cardinals. But as the Orioles’ pitching depth waned this spring, they called their ol’ pal Gibby to run it back in 2025.

This was his first start with the Orioles this year, and sure enough: Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge and Ben Rice greeted him with back-to-back-to-back home runs. After a Paul Goldschmidt groundout, Cody Bellinger made it four dingers in the first inning. (Again.)

The Yankees (18-12) have an off day on May 29 between an Angels/Dodgers road trip, but the 29ths of June-July-August will see them facing the A’s, Rays and White Sox, so … stay tuned?

Ken’s Notebook: Give Wilmer his due

From my latest notes column:

Nearly 10 years later, it’s a shame San Francisco Giants designated hitter Wilmer Flores is still probably best known for the trade that wasn’t.

Flores, now 33, evolved into one of the game’s most respected veterans, revered by teammates and opponents alike. He also developed into an underappreciated hitter who began the week leading the majors with 28 RBIs.

“Flo’s one of the most flexible, intelligent, prepared, and easygoing teammates I’ve ever been around,” former Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “Give me my choice of right-handed hitters, give me a big moment with everything on the line — and he’s right there, shoulder to shoulder with the biggest stars in the game. Quiet assassin.”

In 2015, Flores was with the Mets, a 23-year-old, homegrown utility infielder. As the trade deadline neared, the Mets agreed to send him to the Milwaukee Brewers. News of the deal — Flores and Zack Wheeler, who was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, for outfielder Carlos Gomez — leaked out while the Mets were playing at Citi Field.

Flores, upon learning of the reports, grew visibly teary, but remained in the game because the deal was pending the standard medical review. As it turned out, the trade never came to fruition. The Mets backed out due to concern over a hip issue with Gomez.

Flores spent three more seasons with the Mets and one with the Diamondbacks before joining the Giants as a free agent in 2020. He has never been an All-Star and never won a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger. But after a difficult 2024 — Flores underwent season-ending knee surgery in August — he is again a force.

While Flores will never be a Statcast darling — his average exit velocity is better than only 14 percent of all hitters, his bat speed only 3 percent better — he draws raves for his situational hitting.

More notes here.

Seriously!: In praise of the Padres bullpen

I was looking for some other stat last night when I came across a shocking number. Would you like to guess what the Padres’ bullpen ERA is? No really, take a guess. I asked a few others in the press box in Texas last night, and nobody got close.

If I put the answer here, it’ll spoil it, so here: click on this Google Doc.

I was so surprised that I went back and double-checked that I had entered the parameters correctly. Really?! Yep! Here’s the FanGraphs link if you wanna look for yourself.

Going into last night’s game against the Giants, the Padres (18-11) had three relievers with sub-1.00 ERAs: Robert Suarez (0.75), Jason Adam (0.60) and Wandy Peralta (0.77). The highest reliever ERA by anyone with more than five innings pitched? Yuki Matsui (2.92).

So, what are they doing well?

I asked our resident Padres expert Dennis Lin to help me understand, in one paragraph or less. Here’s his answer:

💬 Pitcher-friendly Petco Park has done its part; Padres relievers collectively entered Tuesday with a ridiculous 0.80 ERA and a more reasonable (but still first-place) 2.71 xFIP at home. But the relievers themselves have just kept doing their parts, including on the road. While Suarez, Adam, Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon form one of the nastiest high-leverage quartets in the sport, middle relievers Yuki Matsui, Peralta and Alek Jacob have taken significant steps forward under beloved pitching coach Ruben Niebla.

Who’s Worse?: 2025 Rockies vs. 2024 White Sox

Remember the 2024 White Sox? Unless you’re a fan who has successfully memory-holed all of it, of course you do. They broke records for futility. They lost so many games, it got nearly to “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” levels of yikes on the South Side.

Through 29 games this year, the Rockies have an even worse record. In fact, at 4-25, it’s the worst 29-game start in MLB history.

Even those White Sox were 6-23 at this point last year! They’re still not good this year, but they currently have almost twice as many wins (seven) as the Rockies.

How bad is it? I decided to investigate if the Rockies are actually worse than last year’s White Sox. Here are a couple of context markers through the same number of games:

1. Colorado’s -78 run differential is 28 runs worse than the second-worst team (Baltimore, -50). By contrast, the best run differential in the league is the Mets at +55. That’s right, there’s an over 100-run difference already. Last year’s White Sox were at -80 at this point. Worse team: It’s a toss-up.
   
2. Let’s break that down a little further. The Rockies have scored 94 runs this year, compared to 79 last year for the White Sox. Advantage: Rockies. But of course, that means that the pitching must be worse. Answer: yes, but not drastically so. The White Sox had “only” given up 159 runs by this point. The Rockies have allowed 172. Worse team: I mean … *deep sigh*
   
3. It’s a bit early for “clutch” stats, but I think these stats can tell us something. WPA is “win probability added” (explainer here), which tends to swing more wildly in close games. I also added steals, defensive value added and base-running value added — just to get a more well-rounded comparison. Worse team: OK, this is making me sad.

Handshakes and High Fives

Every team has pitcher injuries, but the Dodgers have been a virtual triage unit recently. Fabian Ardaya spoke to pitching coach Mark Prior about what the team is doing to change that.

In an ongoing story that has captivated the hearts and minds of countless dozens of people, Rob Manfred says he might reinstate Pete Rose.

Tom Brady, Derek Jeter and Bobby Witt Jr. never gave up the card-collecting bug. Now they’ve each embarked on business ventures in the industry.

You wouldn’t think that 30 years old and playing backup catcher would be a prime circumstance for a breakout year, but that’s how it’s shaking out for Carson Kelly with the Cubs.

The Reds are calling up a top prospect: Chase Petty will debut tonight against the Cardinals.

A Mets fan who delighted a generation has passed away. Rest in peace, Seymour Weiner.

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(Photo: John Froschauer / USA Today Sports)

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