Day 474

• It appears that the Delta variant is what felled NC State at the College World Series.  At least eight players on the team have now been confirmed positive for the variant.  At least some of them were vaccinated.
• Racial slurs have been pointed toward Vanderbilt parents at the College World Series championship.  It appears as if Vanderbilt is about to win back to back titles after an 8-2 win yesterday over Mississippi State.  It is barely, if that, known who did the slurs, because once security were notified, the parties committing the offense left the stadium.  The NCAA and the stadium have condemned the slurs.
• Hector Santiago was officially suspended 10 games today.  He is appealing, stating he was only using rosin.  The suspension was solely based on the umpire ejection -- it appears as if the 10-game suspension is an automatic once the umpire tosses for an illegal substance.
• Giants AAA prospect Gregory Santos:  80 games for PEDs.
• Add Germany to the R16 casualties at Euro 2021.  And add a fourth clean sheet for England, who won 2-0.  The entire group-stage "Group of Death" is now eliminated.
• Conversely, three of the four "best third places" who made the R16 field defeated group champions to make the quarterfinals.
• An ESPN study of spin rates on the baseballs indicates that MLB had a serious foreign-substances problem.  Over 70% of the pitchers surveyed who threw at least 200 pitches before and after the apparent start of discussion of the enforcement of the rule on May 31st had at least a 100 RPM average drop in spin rage.  The season batting average for the players has already risen 3% in three weeks (probably evidencing an almost 10% rise within that period!).
• The Dodger pitching staff is basically 100 RPM down across the board since June 3.  The Dodgers are 15-8, though, since that date.
• Gerrit Cole has all but been outed.  Since the word got out on enforcement, his ERA:  4.65
• Serena Williams is out of Wimbledon.  Ankle injury after a fall.
• Court conditions also claimed Roger Federer's first round opponent -- which Federer admits was fortunate.  They were 2 sets all when the opponent had to withdraw!
• Another piece of evidence as to the rise of sports betting in America?  Sports Illustrated will be branding a casino/sportsbook online.  29 states and DC now legalize sports gambling in the United States.
• It will be at least 2023, however, until my home state does.  And that's IF it passes a ballot muster in about 18 months.
• IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO TELL US, TREVOR BAUER?????  Pasadena police now investigating possible assault/rape charges against Bauer by a 30 year old woman he met online!!!!  (TMZ)  The assault apparently took place six weeks ago.
• The District Attorney could file as soon as tomorrow -- meaning Trevor Bauer could be suspended as soon as tomorrow, for at least seven days pending an investigation by Major League Baseball.