Barry Zito just pitched his fifth career shutout. Let that sink in for a second. Continue reading “MLB Season 2012: Barry Zito Reminds Us There Were Better Days Before San Francisco”
Tag: baseball
MLB Season 2012: Yu Darvish Gets Best Of Both Worlds In Rocky First Outing
Yu Darvish had an interesting beginning to his regular season on Monday night.
In front of an electric crowd in Arlington (that stayed that way all night) Texas’ Yu Darvish started off about as rough as any pitcher could. Continue reading “MLB Season 2012: Yu Darvish Gets Best Of Both Worlds In Rocky First Outing”
MLB Season 2012: Brandon Phillips, Reds Reach Six-Year Deal
The Cincinnati Reds reached an agreement with All-Star second basemen Brandon Phillips on Tuesday. The deal is for six-years, $72.5 million dollars. In 2017 Phillips will make $14 million dollars. Continue reading “MLB Season 2012: Brandon Phillips, Reds Reach Six-Year Deal”
MLB Season 2012: Ozzie Guillen Needs To Learn A Valuable Lesson In Silence
“I respect Fidel Castro. You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that (SOB) is still here.” – Ozzie Guillen, Miami Marlins manager
Well that didn’t take long. Continue reading “MLB Season 2012: Ozzie Guillen Needs To Learn A Valuable Lesson In Silence”
MLB 2012: Week One Power Rankings
Week one of my weekly power rankings. After the first week we see some teams (Rays, Cardinals and Tigers) are better than even we could advertise. While others (Yankees, Braves and Red Sox) need to get it together quickly. I’ll have to try and figure out when the last time those three franchises were swept the first three games of the season at the same time. I’m also fully prepared for the backlash from Orioles fans. Continue reading “MLB 2012: Week One Power Rankings”
MLB 2012: Opening Day Quick Notes (4/4/2012 to 4/5/2012)
- Marlins Park looks phenomenal, Ali sighting dampened mood: Everything was set for a magical first night in baseball. Baseball in South Beach never looked so right as it did in the Miami Marlins new stadium on Wednesday night. The only hitch was the unfortunate vision of Muhammad Ali, clearly no longer able to hold back the devastating conditions of Parkinson’s disease, as he was carted onto the field. I think I can relate to everyone when I say that seeing the “Greatest” like that hurt. Continue reading “MLB 2012: Opening Day Quick Notes (4/4/2012 to 4/5/2012)”
MLB 2012: Joey Votto, Matt Cain Deals Show Baseball’s New Way Of Business
Joey Votto and Matt Cain are signs of the times in Major League Baseball.
While other sports might be battling for shares and pieces of pies for the players or more control for the owners, baseball is playing by, what seems to be, a completely different set of rules. Continue reading “MLB 2012: Joey Votto, Matt Cain Deals Show Baseball’s New Way Of Business”
MLB 2012 Predictions: National League Landscape Shaped By Young Talent
In the National League, I don’t think the phrase “Senior Circuit” is as applicable as it once was.
Sure, there are no designated hitters, stadiums are generally larger and more accommodating to pitchers, the double-switch is as common as a Wrigley Field seventh inning stretch sung to “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” and yes the league does have Jamie Moyer.
Jokes aside, even with the exodus of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder to the American League, the talent is as young and hungry as ever. Continue reading “MLB 2012 Predictions: National League Landscape Shaped By Young Talent”
MLB 2012 Predictions: American League Division Races Will Come Down To Pitching
In the American League, things aren’t always what they seem.
Last season, the Boston Red Sox spent over a quarter of a billion dollars reloading their lineup for what they thought was a World Series run. Many (this writer included) picked them to win their division, their league, and the World Series.
Like most who made this knee-jerk reaction, many still brought up the fact that their pitching wasn’t as dominant past Jon Lester as it could have been, and while no one could have predicted their epic meltdown, many saw their pitching as something to be concerned about and proved prophetic. Continue reading “MLB 2012 Predictions: American League Division Races Will Come Down To Pitching”
MLB 2012 Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Fortunes Changing In A Big Way
In middle school, I read a book written by Orel Hershiser called Out Of The Blue. In it described a pitcher who, in 1988 and at top of the pitching world, was able to put together one of the finest seasons in recent baseball memory because he knew the importance of a regimen, focus, and not worrying about the outside influences that don’t involve the game of baseball.
In 2012, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to put some of the lessons from that book into play. Continue reading “MLB 2012 Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Fortunes Changing In A Big Way”