Jason Kipnis’ struggles roll on as Tribe falls to San Diego, 1-0
July 5, 2017RJ to return to Cavs for another season; James Jones may retire
July 6, 2017Happy Thursday, gang! I hope y’all have come down from that collective, patriotism-induced, ‘MERICA hangover. Two days removed from America’s annual celebration of independence and bald eagles, and I’m no longer sporting stars and stripes from head to toe… but I am still feeling that too-many-hotdogs-and-Bud-Lights bloat. (Just as our forefathers intended, I’m sure.)
Have you noticed the boom that’s sweeping through Cleveland? I’m not talking about dudes in cut-off jorts lighting oversized fire crackers that they swear are legal; I’m talking about the paternity boom that’s making its way through the Cleveland Indians’ clubhouse.
Seriously, have you noticed? Yesterday, the Tribe announced that first baseman Carlos Santana would be going on paternity leave for the birth of his third child. Santana would be out for Wednesday’s run-deprived loss the San Diego Padres, and could be out until Saturday at the latest.
That announcement came just two weeks after Tribe closer Cody Allen was placed on the team’s paternity list following the birth of his child. A week before that, outfielder/smooth operator Michael Brantley went on paternity leave, as well.
The timing is interesting, no? A quick glance at the calendar confirmed this rash of new Tribe-tots is no coincidence… the American League Championship Series was almost exactly nine months ago. Oh. So… we kind of know how Carlos, Cody and Michael (and their respective wives) celebrated the Indians’ American League championship. Turns out the clubhouse champagne showers were just the appetizer.
And then, I was reminded that two more Indians, Carlos Carrasco and Mike Clevinger, also went on paternity leave during the team’s 2017 spring training—about nine months after the Golden State Warriors blew a 3-1 lead and the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Finals.
Tom Hamilton went on air Wednesday night to credit the team’s youthful exuberance with being the root of this not-so-coincidental flurry of babies, but it’s clear this is a team that likes to get down after major victories, and I am here for it. But this clubhouse baby boom got me thinking… What’s the deal with the MLB’s paternity-leave policy, anyway?
It turns out, the MLB didn’t institute its paternity leave policy until 2011. As a lifelong Tribe fan, I honestly don’t recall its inception. I also don’t remember it not existing. It just seems like the option to step away from the team for a few days should have always just been a thing, right?
Well it wasn’t, but it is now. So, how does it work? From Fangraphs:
The basic procedure for putting a player on the paternity list is simple: The club submits a written request to the commissioner’s office for a player whose child’s birth is imminent or has occurred within the previous 48 hours. Players can miss between one and three days.
Three days doesn’t seem like a lot of time to bond with one’s wife and new baby, but I suppose it’s better than nothing. It’s up to each player (and probably more so his wife) to determine how many of the three available days he’ll take.
As someone who’s been to a lot of baby showers over the last five years, my thoughts then turned to gifts. What do you get for the new Tribe dad who (probably) has everything?
For Carlos Santana:
As a former catcher, Carlos should feel right at home in this baby carrier, right? Plus, he’s a dad of three now–he’ll probably need to be hands-free as much as he can. Also: Carlos.
For Cody Allen:
Like father, like son? This baby hat is equal parts adorable and awesome, and is available on Etsy.
For Michael Brantley:
My sources could not confirm whether Dr. Smooth assisted in the birth of his child, but this outfit would be a perfect gift either way.
Speaking of perfect, I hope your Thursday is just that, Cleveland. I’ll keep an eye on the Tribe’s baby count for now.
87 Comments
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Captain of the 1964 NFL Championship team.
He was huge in that championship game.
It’s July 6, 2017… 9:19 am EST…
Michigan still sucks, and the Cavs still don’t have a GM
Apparently Gilbert views GMs in the same way Farmer viewed WRs.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e3989a9a4cccf3c49dee85cba7512228136810b7dd65eee2aa04fa560968370d.jpg
During the finale vs the orioles, before Brantley was activated off DL, I asked him how baby was doing, got the thumbs up. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bf4436519dc73e2398db59a660a3ecc7fffb5251f18d468fc4599c354c690ba9.jpg Perhaps some of you saw me on that Monday game?
An original thought here… maybe do a daily pictorial countdown of some sort. Or maybe not.
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“On June 19, 2017, the Cavaliers announced that they would not renew their contract with Griffin after no agreement could be reached”
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Good luck.
There’s a good one tomorrow.
Let’s hope, for multiple reasons, this doesn’t go beyond 99 days.
“It just seems like the option to step away from the team for a few days should have always just been a thing, right?”
The fact that it’s a thing for MLB means that MLB players have an option that is not available to the vast majority of other men.
hi NATE … is that REALLY you and do i have to guess which one is you ??
After 27 there are a lot of numbers that Cavs have never worn.
Well, I guess ol’ Dan has 10 days to get it together.
The baby beard hats will probably be funny forever.
dang. Was irrationally hoping for Bo Scott. Just because he was a long-time mediocre adored by young me cuz I didn’t know better. Similar to how some desperately dig up skewed stats to defend Brook Jacoby because he was the guy on tv when they got their first mitt.
I think it is pretty obvious which one I am there
it’s not obvious to me … okay , i got a 50/50 shot … “wild thing” ??
Yeah, given your avatar, your face either grew perfectly into your age (if that’s you) or the apple didn’t fall far from the tree (if that’s your son).
hi GARRY … yes , my 1st gut reaction was the guy in the red hat , but i waffled.
Not that I in anyway question the great RGB’s judgement, but because I share your love of mediocre early 70’s Browns players.
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… the girl in the Orioles shirt ?? … *smile*.
… those mediocre guys from the early 70’s is what did it for me.
I caption this great pic “Plodding Bug v. Hall of Fame Windshield.” Or maybe it’s an alligator/baby giraffe thing because Lambert sure looks hungry.
The paternity leave might be only 3 days, but let’s just say that I don’t fully believe Brantley’s 10-day DL stint appended onto his paternity leave had much to do with his ankle.
And the Indians are in first place in the AL Central.
You are famous!
Throw em the heater Ricky. Here are 2 of the 4 boys. We got Kluber, Miller, Perez, Gonzales and Otero autographs https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b06cab9b2f9f39343ab15ccd5ba9037240efd4c7d6c232b3232cff9d2f8717cc.jpg
that’s my bro
Good thing we brought in Korver… that gave Dan a few more days.
No Jerome Harrison love? Good. With all the great backs the Browns have had, the fact that he holds the all-time single-game rushing record is a tad, shall we say, sacrilegious. Ditto for Josh Doobie Brother’s receiving records.
Sweet.
I thought about Jerome…he has some good pics…but I wanted to give the old guy some love.
good stuff , NATE … pump out 5 more boys & you can field your own team … thanks for sharing.
I’ll see you at ’26”
Yeah 3 days is nothing in terms of new parenthood bonding but sadly it’s more than a lot of us get (myself included with our first). Wish our country would have a paid maternity/paternity leave system like other major civilized countries..and actually be in support of families.
Freshly squeezed new take: Perhaps there were a lot of nervous dads to be in Tribe land or otherwise stressed or preoccupied, thus leading to our inconsistent season so far? Let’s go with that.
Okay, so far we’ve had
1. Boobie
2. Kyrie
3. Ehlo
4. Fatboy Kemp
5. J.R.
6. ?
7. Bingo
8. Delly
9. Channing Frye
10. Dick Snyder
11. Z
12. ?
13. Tristan
14. ?
15. ?
16. ?
Little help?
You did the right thing.
no. No no no no. That’s like calling Shelley Duncan a memorable Yankee based on 4 weeks in 2007.
6. Andrew Bogut
12. Brevin Knight
14. Bobby Phils
15. Anthony Bennett LOL
16. Johnny Davis
YOU. DA. MAN.
That’s like putting Joba in Monument Park. (Posada’s bad enough.)
I know who you want.
I am afraid the pump has run dry my friend. Last one was a result of the 2016 Cavs Championship. He came a month early too so I think I may have been the first.
I’m going with us being better on the road because our players are getting better sleep 🙂
well , if the Indians win the world series , you will probably be so excited that quintuplets (and an immaculate conception) may be in order … and if it’s a matter of “the pump” , well , that’s just a minor detail … you simply adopt 5 boys at once … problem solved.
good luck to the Indians … it looks like the Tigers will be breaking this team up & Ausmus is on the hot eat as well.
Three days? Here’s how the loafing Germans handle paternity leave – “As an employee, you are entitled to parental leave until your child’s turns three. You are not obliged to work during this
period. Your job remains open to you and your contract cannot be terminated by your employer. Parental leave can be taken by the mother and father individually or jointly.”
I know it can be apples to oranges comparing countries, but it’s insane
to me that European countries can get away with years of
paternity leave while the American economy can’t handle any.
I would just like for it to be a cultural thing (like with MLB), not a government-mandated thing. It’s a wonderful benefit, not a “right.”
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Posada’s in there? Yikes. On the other hand, not sure that’s worse than Elston Howard. And as long as the numbers of Bingo Smith and Nate Thurmond are retired, Clevelanders live in the most fragile of glass houses,