Lawyer quits job to watch the Texas Rangers in the World Series - MLB

OK, I’ve found something dumber than believing that your team is fated to win the World Series. Quitting your job to go watch them win (or maybe lose) the World Series. Meet Boris Briskin:

The Plano native has been dreaming the Rangers would make it to the World Series since he was 10 years old. It was a dream he took with him to Los Angeles, where he works at a law firm. So when Briskin realized the Rangers might actually go all the way, he knew he had to be back in Texas. With little hesitation, he quit his job and has been staying with friends in Dallas for the past week.

“If I wasn’t here right now I would definitely be at work. And if the Rangers weren’t in the playoffs I would not be in Dallas right now,” he said.

Look, normally I’m the number one “quit your job at a law firm” advocate on the planet, but it’s a pretty rough economy out there. I know lawyers who’ve been looking for work for a long time now. I know Buck and McCarver will take about 78% of the joy out of seeing your team win the World Series, but watching it all on TV has to beat unemployment, right? I mean, the guy went to law school, so he has to be able to see the logic inherit in that, doesn’t he?

He is confident he will find a new job when he returns to California.

Well, then. OK. Maybe not.

(link via Big League Stew)

SAN DIEGO — The scuffling San Diego Padres claimed catcher Gary Sánchez off waivers from the New York Mets.

The two-time All-Star was designated for assignment after playing in three games for the Mets. He went 1 for 6 with three strikeouts and an RBI, looking shaky at times behind the plate.

With the disappointing Padres (24-29) getting meager offensive production at catcher, they hope Sánchez can provide a boost. Austin Nola is batting .131 with three extra-base hits and a paltry .434 OPS in 39 games. His part-time platoon partner, second-stringer Brett Sullivan, is hitting .170 with four extra-base hits and a .482 OPS in 21 games since getting called up from the minors April 16.

Luis Campusano has been on the injured list since April 17 and is expected to be sidelined until around the All-Star break following left thumb surgery.

San Diego is responsible for just over $1 million in salary for Sánchez after assuming his $1.5 million, one-year contract.

The star-studded Padres have lost seven of 11 and are 3-3 on a nine-game East Coast trip. They open a three-game series at Miami.

San Diego becomes the third National League team to take a close look at the 30-year-old Sánchez this season. He spent time in the minors with San Francisco before getting released May 2 and signing a minor league contract a week later with the Mets, who were minus a couple of injured catchers at the time.

After hitting well in a short stint at Triple-A Syracuse, he was promoted to the big leagues May 19. When the Mets reinstated catcher Tomás Nido from the injured list last week, Sánchez was cut.

Sánchez’s best seasons came early in his career with the New York Yankees, where he was runner-up in 2016 AL Rookie of the Year voting and made the AL All-Star team in 2017 and 2019.

He was traded to Minnesota before the 2022 season and batted .205 with 16 homers and 61 RBIs in 128 games last year.

With the Padres, Sánchez could also be a candidate for at-bats at designated hitter, where 42-year-old Nelson Cruz is batting .245 with three homers, 16 RBIs and a .670 OPS, and 37-year-old Matt Carpenter is hitting .174 with four homers, 21 RBIs and a .652 OPS.