Sports this 'n' that

While it's still more than a year away, there was some news related to the 2021 World Baseball Classic Wednesday with the announcement that Hall of Famer Mike Piazza was named manager of the Italian team. Could this be a case of Piazza, who played for the Mets, Dodgers, Marlins, A's, & Padres in his 16 year career, testing the waters toward a major league managing job? One only wonders.
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After a 2 year run in Philadelphia, Gabe Kapler has quickly found a new home, hired by San Francisco on Wednesday to succeed the retired Bruce Bochy. Somehow, I've a feeling the Giants will regret this move.
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Proving once again that ownership of a major league sports franchise is treated more as a hobby than a serious business venture, Jests CEO Christopher Johnson, heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, announced Wednesday that Adam Gase will return next season.

So the Jests have won two games this season, and could've won a couple of others.. They do have a winnable game this week against the Washington Trumpets, but it'd be in character for the Jests if they blow that one.
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Former beef jerky salesman and Niners DB Richard Sherman is sounding the warning that the NFL Players Association could go on strike after the 2020 season if the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement don't meet with the union's seal of approval. The owners want to expand the season for the first time in more than 40 years, cutting the preseason down to 2-3 games, but the wear & tear, physically and mentally, the current schedule creates for players is enough of a problem. Expanding the season should not be an option. If it ain't broken, don't fix it, but it seems some owners are looking to fatten their wallets when it isn't necessary. Stay tuned.
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Later today, the Most Valuable Players in baseball will be announced. It's been a big week for a couple of teams. If you're keeping score at home, here's what you've missed.

Rookies of The Year:

AL: Yordan Alvarez, Houston.
NL: Pete Alonso, Mets.

Manager of The Year:

AL: Rocco Baldelli, Minnesota.
NL: MIke Shildt, St. Louis.

Cy Young Awards:

AL: Justin Verlander, Houston.
NL: Jacob deGrom, Mets.

In the case of each of the Mets' winners, the voting was not unanimous. Atlanta's Mike Sirotka prevented Alonso from matching Alvarez's unanimous vote, for example. The Dodgers' Hyun-Jin Ryu likewise had the one Cy Young vote that prevented deGrom from being a unanimous pick. Sirotka also had a top 5 finish in the NL Cy Young balloting.
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While it may be some time before he tries the octagon again, former WWE champion CM Punk (Phil Brooks) is back in the fold, but under contract to the Fox networks.

Punk will be a recurring contributor to WWE Backstage, airing Tuesdays on FS1, and made a cameo appearance on the 11/12 episode. One gets the feeling that if all the broken fences can be mended, Punk, who was previously with WWE from 2006-14, could turn up at the Royal Rumble in January, which, coincidentally, was the last time he was in a WWE ring. Wife April Mendez-Brooks is making her debut as a comics writer with the release of GLOW vs. The Babyface for IDW next week, and you wonder if that, along with Punk's own comics resume, will be brought up at some point. Again, stay tuned.