2020 Favorites — despite a really ‘eh’ year
I managed to have a decent 2020 all things considered.
I launched two baseball podcasts: NBC Sports Bay Area’s Balk Talk and Momentum’s Cork’d Up. Both of which I have become very emotionally invested in and probably will name my future children after. *Could you imagine, wittle bebe Balk just running around?*
I also didn’t text any of my exes “Happy Thanksgiving.”
Killing it, Jess.
Anyways …
I also managed to cover an A’s season after a lot of back-and-forth from MLB and the Player’s Association. The A’s were unbelievable: The players, staff, front office, communications — all of it. I also discovered outfielder Mark Canha can understand my questions when my very expensive microphone wants to be a butthead and make it sound like I’m underwater.
With that said, here’s a collection of my favorite pieces of content I created, or was a part of during a very lonely, busy year. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for following along, clicking, reading, listening and making this a very special year for my career.
Mound meetings from … like everyone
This might be the most fun, draining piece I’ve ever written. Growing up a ball player myself, I loved talking shit during mound meetings. The stories I got from Jered Weaver, Joba Chamberlain, Dallas Braden and more, did not disappoint. Enjoy!
Kim Ng makes history and Trevor Bauer inspires me
When Kim Ng was hired to be the Mariners GM, I felt I could finally breathe. Mama did it! After years of saying she “almost got the job,” I got to write SHE GOT THE JOB. Rach also talked about the journey it took for Trevor Bauer to win his 2020 NL Cy Young Award and what I did to follow in his footsteps.
I also wrote on Kim Ng for NBC Sports and how it was bigger than baseball:
Jess, huge Robbie Grossman guy
Grossman came on my radar last year when everyone thought I was crazy for seeing something special in him. Welp …
No baseball is fine by me
I got wind of both of the A’s walk-off protests of the recent shooting of Jacob Blake. I forever will be thankful for Marcus Semien and Tony Kemp for allowing me to voice their message and letting me learn about Black Lives Matter. Both teams lined up in front of their dugouts and stood for a 42-second moment of silence to honor MLB legend Jackie Robinson.
They then laid their uniforms next to one another with Jackie’s №42:
Had SO much fun getting to know DeShields
Bauer and I talked Barry Bonds
I love a good troll job …
Dallas Braden called me psychotic
I asked Jonah Heim’s family to adopt me
Huge Chris Bassitt fan — and that curveball …
Chadwick Tromp is the best
I promise you’ll love this fun interview with Michael Morse
Pat Light loves baseball more than I do (and he struck out Mike Trout once)
Boog Sciambi is a great storyteller and a wonderful human being
All the Dallas Braden, please
My first episode … ahh, memories:
Montas throws to Paige Halstead
The A’s/Astros brawl
No, I am not condoning violence at all, but what a sight to see. And maybe don’t talk bad about someone’s mom — especially as a coach:
This also is a Dustin Garneau stan account:
I got to wish Alyssa Nakken congratulations on being the first female first base coach in an MLB game:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CC7icJiJoJr/
The most informative salary arbitration YouTube you will ever watch. Rach goes into detail:
Love me some Joba
Come back to baseball, Kyler
Don’t leave us, Yaz
Oh yeah, mama writes about other sports too
A little about me:
