*Joel Sherman says the Mets' top targets include George Springer and Trevor Bauer. And it wouldn't be the first time that a beloved Astros outfielder signed a free agent deal with the Mets.
*Alex Bregman got married, if that's the sort of news that interests you.
*Back in 2014, growing weary of thinking of the Astros in their current form, I started profiles of the eight players who only appeared in one MLB game, that one game coming with the Astros. I made it through five before the Astros started, like, winning more games than they were losing. There were seven. McTaggart wrote up shorter profiles on all seven.
*This is from about a week ago, but the Nationals' Spencer Kieboom built his life around baseball, and then quietly walked away. Good article.
*Leeds United lost to The Bastard Frank Lampard's Chelsea 3-1 on Saturday, and I was still so mad last night putting up the Christmas Tree that my wife got mad at me. Leeds are at 8% to get relegated, according to FiveThirtyEight. With 14 points after 11 games, Leeds are in a decent position. What's more, out of Leeds' first 11 games, they've played teams currently in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th (with 3 wins, 1 tie, 4 losses in those eight games). I did the math, and in the last ten seasons of the Premier League, the 18th place team - the highest of the relegated teams - averaged 35 points. Leeds still has 27 games to get 22 points and remain in the Premier League AND THEN DOMINATE.
*Consequence of Sound's Top 50 Songs of 2020.
*I requested this from my library today and I am very excited about it.
*Wired: A race car crash from hell - and the science that saved its driver.
*Outside: Meet the twins who thru-hiked the AT, PCT, and CDT.
*Texas Observer: 60 years ago, San Antonio teenagers invented the Westside Sound.
*A Musical Selection: