Awww look - tiny Aldemys and Jose! - A Hunt and Peck

Aledmys Diaz had quite a night against Jose Fernandez. It made one wonder if the two, both being from Cuba, had met before. And while Cuba is an entire country full of people, the baseball world is still quite small. Surely the pair have met in some way or...

Wait, wait, wait, they were on the same little league team?

This is a gem: Here's Diaz (front row, red hat) and Fernandez (front row, white hat) on the same Cuban youth team. pic.twitter.com/lSeHnas9Rn

— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) July 28, 2016

According to this photo provided to Jenifer Langosh of mlb.com by Aldemys's dad, they were, and not just that, they were buddies, too!

Their days were consumed by games of catch, whether on the street where their houses stood just a few feet apart or on the field two miles from their homes. As they grew older, they talked about maybe playing together on the Cuban national baseball team...

For his father, Rigoberto, the trip allowed him an opportunity not just to watch his own son, but also Fernandez, whom he helped mentor years ago. Fernandez said he greeted Rigoberto with "one of the biggest hugs I've given somebody in a long time" upon seeing him.
"I play baseball thanks to his dad," Fernandez said. "His dad is the one who told my mom to take me to the baseball field. I love him. I love his family."

It is so adorable I'm gunna die!

Shoutout to longtime VEBer and excellent librarian @miss_k for the link!

Aledmys Diaz enjoys All-Star Cuban reunion | cardinals.com

what else is going on in baseball...

before we get to links, I want to present this to you all without comment:

When Scooter and I reunite..... pic.twitter.com/gyB3qRnFsa

— Noah Syndergaard (@Noahsyndergaard) July 17, 2016

• Trade Deadline: Latest news and rumors | MLB.com
• Eduardo Nunez and the Case of the Minus-28 | FanGraphs Baseball
• Wade Davis, the Ultimate Deadline Gamble | FanGraphs Baseball
• Another Name for the Royals to Float | FanGraphs Baseball
• Ranking the potential mystery teams of the 2016 MLB trade deadline | SBNation.com
• Giants acquire Eduardo Nunez from Twins | SBNation.com
• Chris Sale happy to be back with Chicago White Sox after being 'on island' during suspension | ESPN
• Jose Bautista's bat flip now an 'NHL 17' goal celebration | ESPN
• You can do Jose Bautista's bat flip as a goal celebration in 'NHL 17' | SBNation.com

what the cardinals are up to...

• Jedd Gyorko grounded out after the ball decided to take a hard left turn into fair territory | MLB.com
• Molina, Cardinals beat Jeurys Familia, Mets | MLB.com
• 2016 Scotts MLB Pitch, Hit & Run Competition | Cards in the Community
• Multiple teams linked to Los Angeles Angels' Joe Smith | MLB Rumor Central | ESPN
• Cards choose to go with Garcia for start Saturday | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com
• BenFred: Cardinals starting Garcia on short rest comes with risk | Ben Frederickson | stltoday.com
• With Enhanced Depth the Cardinals Are Getting Through Their Injuries | 101Sports.com
• In a Strange Season, Are the Cardinals Finally Turning the Corner? | 101Sports.com
• Aledmys Diaz enjoys All-Star Cuban reunion | cardinals.com

KNOW THINE ENEMY...

the miami marlins

• The umpire called time during Jose Fernandez's delivery, so he tossed the ball into the crowd | MLB.com
• Marlins acquire Andrew Cashner and Colin Rea from Padres | SBNation.com
• Andrew Cashner trade: Marlins pick up help now and later for rotation | Fish Stripes
• Miami Marlins, wanting to win now, overpay for coveted starting pitchers | Fish Stripes
• Miami Marlins' Ichiro Suzuki on hitting 3,000, the 'real' Hit King and Lou Piniella | ESPN
• Cardinals should destroy the Marlins | Viva El Birdos
• A Miami Marlins Community | Fish Stripes

the nl central

• David Freese and Gerrit Cole teamed up for a play straight out of the Harlem Globetrotters handbook | MLB.com
• Let's count just how many times Jonathan Lucroy can touch his shoulder in one at-bat | MLB.com
• Indians, Red Sox and Mets still seeking Jonathan Lucroy trade | SBNation.com
• A relentless Anthony Rizzo teased Dioner Navarro as only an ex-teammate could | MLB.com
• Cubs give a preview of their October bullpen in 3-1 win over White Sox | Chicago Cubs Blog | ESPN
• Listen to Charles 'Peanut' Tillman pour his heart into 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' at Wrigley | MLB.com
• When Chapman gets a save, this woman donates to anit-domestic violence | dnainfo
  I also pledge to do this, with $5 going to the organization Caitlin chose, DVLCChicago, and $5 going to Cardinals Care.
  

  So I've decided I'm going to donate $10 to a Chicago domestic violence org every time Chapman gets a save.

  — Caitlin Swieca (@CaitlinSwieca) July 28, 2016

viva el stuff...

• FANPOSTS:
  An Improbable 24 hours... | Viva El Birdos
  Base Balling Snacx: A Crying Grocery List | Viva El Birdos
  How To Save The 2016 Bullpen | Viva El Birdos
  VEB Day 2016 Part 2: The Reckoning: Details and Signup | Viva El Birdos
• 2016 St. Louis Cardinals Game Recaps & Scores | Viva El Birdos.

other things...

• 'Space Jam 3' with Jeremy Lin is not a sequel, but a loving tribute to anime and video games | SBNation.com
• 'Gleason' is a story of family, love and triumph despite ALS | SBNation.com