Jim: Everybody thought it was bush-league. Juan Soto gave it to him back, doing the same thing when he hit his HR, but Juan is young and full of pep. Both Bregman and his manager later apologized, and Juan was rebuked by his.

Baseball has so many unwritten rules because it’s so old. You don’t do on-field displays when you hit one out. You don’t step on the pitcher’s mound when you trot by on the way to the dugout, and so on. Sadly, many traditions are vanishing. Once a pitcher being relieved would wait for his relief, hand him the ball and pat him on the back–now they just slink off. Once broadcasters never said the words “no hitter” until it was in the books. Mel Allen would pan a camera at the scoreboard and say, “that’s all you have to see.” Now most of them blab about no hitters as early as the fourth inning. MLB.com even started flashing “no hitter” in red on the score by mid-game. No class.

Yes indeed, that’s the next worry. @MarkZuckerman reports that one day after the big win, “Asdrubal Cabrera, Brian Dozier, Jeremy Hellickson, Daniel Hudson, Howie Kendrick, Gerardo Parra, Anthony Rendon, Fernando Rodney and Jonny Venters all became free agents. Can’t negotiate with other clubs for another 5 days, though. Welcome back to reality.” The current active roster (1Nov19) is decimated.

Mark also says the Nationals have declined the $4 million mutual option next season for LH slugger Matt Adams (who was barely used, but could have been helpful at 1B against RH pitchers). “They’ll owe a $1 million buyout and he too becomes a free agent, though he could still re-sign with them.” Hope he does.

We don’t have to like the things free agency has done. All too often, no sooner does a guy build a following than he’s lured away by beckoning dollars. Still, players like Rendon, Strasburg (who has an opt-out in his contact) and Kendrick are low-key guys, not show-offs, and seem to enjoy our fans and their teammates. Hopefully they’ll consider that factor, as well as the money. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.