Jayson Stark

"We should never play an extra-inning game again." If ever an All-Star Game was made for a Weird & Wild column, this was it. So...you're welcome! What a nutty baseball game - and ending. nytimes.com/athletic/64971…

Just when you thought the Phillies-Red Sox walkoff catchers interference couldn’t get any weirder… Retrosheet founder Dave Smith reports that the last walkoff catchers interference was on Johnny Bench in 1971… For stepping in front of the plate as Manny Mota tried to steal…

We have an answer to the pressing question: Who's the last player before David Robertson to spend 3 separate stints with the Phillies? The answer, according to the Phillies: Chuck Klein - in 1928, 1936 and 1940. The last before him: Bill Hallnan (1888, 1892 and 1901)

Rich Hill faced Jamie Moyer Moyer faced Steve Carlton Carlton pitched in the same game as Warren Spahn Spahn faced Satchel Paige Paige was a teammate of Bill Gatewood, who was born in 1881

No idea on this, but Otto Kemp has to be the first person in the history of baseball to be on the field for multiple walk off catchers interferences

Then there was this game!

What a night in baseball. Shohei Ohtani just became the first pitcher to hit and allow a HR in the first inning of the same game since Randy Lerch did it for the Phillies in the craziest game ever. By which I mean this one ⬇️ baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN1…

The Phillies’ double-A team in Reading won a game on a walkoff catchers interference in 2007! facebook.com/Fightins/video…

The Phillies!!! The second walk-off catcher’s interference in at least the divisional era (1969), joining: 8/1/71 LAD With Johnny Bench behind the plate for the Reds

This is the second walk-off catcher’s interference in at least the divisional era (1969), joining: 8/1/71 Dodgers

So if the last walkoff catchers interference was in 1971, we know no Zombie Runners scored on that one! Meaning there couldn’t possibly have ever been any game that ended on an inning like that one. Baseball! It makes no sense.

The #Phillies are the first team to win a game on a walk-off catcher interference since the #Dodgers beat the #Reds on Aug. 1, 1971.

Phillies-Red Sox just ended on the Strangest But Truest inning I’ve ever seen. Zombie runner 4-pitch walk Wild pitch Intentional walk Walkoff catchers interference. Whaaaaat? Baseball!

Players since 1901 to have 300+ strikeouts and a sub-2.00 ERA through 44 career MLB games: Paul Skenes That’s it.

Latest notes: *DBacks predicament *Mason Miller possibilities *Available A’s starters *Why Gore trade is unlikely *Rutschman future *Originator of swing-off *Schwarber legend grows nytimes.com/athletic/65056…

MLB trade deadline intel: Where all 30 teams stand with 10 days to go nytimes.com/athletic/65059…

For the third time, the Phillies are acquiring David Robertson. The 40-year-old is signing a big-league deal. He threw Saturday for scouts.

David Robertson has agreed to a deal with the Phillies for the rest of the season, per source. @Ken_Rosenthal was on it.

Kyle Schwarber is the second player to homer in each of his first two games immediately following winning All-Star MVP, joining: 1973 Bobby Bonds h/t @EliasSports

It's last call for Starkville #trivia It's your shot to stump me & @dougglanville with baseball #trivia *live* on our show Hit us with a fun question, add hashtag #starkvilleqs & you could join us This week’s suggestion: all-stars! Or most ASGs!

"I can see it happening, but I hope not.” The World Series on Netflix? Or YouTube? As Richard writes, it's almost certainly coming - but when ... and why ... are fascinating topics.