Major League Baseball 2015: The Locker’s First-Half MLB All-Stars

Joe Panik was inserted into the Giants starting lineup just before their World Series run in 2014. He's an All-Star in 2015, and a First-Half All-Star here as well.(Photo By: Scott Strazzante)
Joe Panik was inserted into the Giants starting lineup just before their World Series run in 2014. Now he’s an All-Star in 2015, and a First-Half All-Star here on the blog as well.(Photo By: Scott Strazzante)

First-half of the 2015 Major League Baseball season is in the books. That means it’s that time of year when debate will rage on about who made the All-Star teams and who should have made the All-Star teams.  Continue reading “Major League Baseball 2015: The Locker’s First-Half MLB All-Stars”

First Impressions From the 2015 MLB Season and (Finally) My Division and Wild Card Predictions (Part One)

Kris Bryant, the #1 Prospect in baseball, has arrived in Chicago. They still have more young help on the way.
Kris Bryant, the #1 Prospect in baseball, has arrived in Chicago and they still have more young, top-flight prospects on the way.

It’s been almost three weeks since the season started and there are quite a few storylines to discuss. I figured I would break this into two parts and give a few first impressions starting with the National League. I also will (finally) dole out division predictions so without further delay let’s get to it. Continue reading “First Impressions From the 2015 MLB Season and (Finally) My Division and Wild Card Predictions (Part One)”

Major League Baseball 2014: The Division Races and Other Second-Half Predictions Pt. 2

Mike Trout of the Angels and Robinson Cano of the Mariners make the AL West as exciting a race as ever (Harry How/Getty Images North America)
Mike Trout of the Angels and Robinson Cano of the Mariners make the 2014 AL West as exciting a race as ever to watch in the second half (Harry How/Getty Images North America)

What a second-half it is shaping up to be.

I saw the other day a statistic that said for the first time in Major League Baseball’s history four divisions are separated by no more than a game and a half. Four! So where does that put things for those contenders who are, not only fighting to avoid the Wild Card play-in game, but fighting for the opportunity to be in that playoff conversation? Continue reading “Major League Baseball 2014: The Division Races and Other Second-Half Predictions Pt. 2”

Major League Baseball 2014: Clayton Kershaw Is Your 2014 National League MVP And Other Second-Half Predictions Pt.1

(Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America)
Clayton Kershaw (11-2, 1.92 ERA) has been one of the most dominant players at any position in baseball in 2014 (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America)

I know what month it is, but I don’t care.

I’m not going to bore you with names like Jonathan Lucroy or Giancarlos Stanton. I’m also not going to debate with you about Troy Tulowitzki because, quite frankly, there isn’t an argument as far as I’m concerned. Anyone who has paid attention to the 2014 Major League Baseball season knows where the National League’s Most Valuable Player resides; and it also happens to be where the best pitcher in baseball resides.  Continue reading “Major League Baseball 2014: Clayton Kershaw Is Your 2014 National League MVP And Other Second-Half Predictions Pt.1”

Major League Baseball Preview 2014: National League West

Madison Bumgarner (13-9, 2.77 ERA, 199 K's, 1.033 WHIP) has next level ability and will flourish in 2014
Madison Bumgarner (13-9, 2.77 ERA, 199 K’s, 1.033 WHIP) has next level ability and will flourish in 2014

Well call me crazy, but I’m thinking going against the national grain is warranted here.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were picked by 43 of 44 baseball analysts to make the postseason as the National League West champion. Count me among that minority in thinking they will get in some other way. Continue reading “Major League Baseball Preview 2014: National League West”

Major League Baseball 2013: Time To Believe In The Arizona Diamondbacks

Paul Goldschmidt a budding star in Arizona? Try all of baseball (Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America)
Paul Goldschmidt a budding star in Arizona? Try all of baseball (Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America)

To this point in the 2013 Major League Baseball season the Diamondbacks have shown us plenty.

They were afterthoughts within their division; the trade of their franchise player (Justin Upton) to the Atlanta Braves made them afterthoughts everywhere else. Continue reading “Major League Baseball 2013: Time To Believe In The Arizona Diamondbacks”

Major League Baseball 2013: The Week That Was (4/17/2013)

MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego PadresThis is a day late, but lots to get to from the week that was in major league baseball. Onward.

The Locker Major League Baseball Preview 2013: National League West

The Dodgers have provided Clayton Kershaw enough help to surpass the Giants in 2013
The Dodgers have provided Clayton Kershaw enough help to surpass the Giants in 2013

The National League West has everything a baseball fan could want. The Dodgers, Giants and Diamondbacks will make this about as fun a race to watch all season. Continue reading “The Locker Major League Baseball Preview 2013: National League West”

Ranking Major League Baseball’s Offseason Part, 1: Who Lost

Three-years, $25 million for Jeremy Guthrie is just one of Dayton Moore's missteps
Three-years, $25 million for Jeremy Guthrie is just one of Dayton Moore’s missteps

Today is the start of the new season, folks. Pitchers and catchers (and some positional players) have reported and baseball is back. That said, we will turn the hot stove off and review what we have in this two-part post of “who won, who lost” beginning with the winter losers. Here are the top-3 teams who could have (and should have) done more this offseason.  Continue reading “Ranking Major League Baseball’s Offseason Part, 1: Who Lost”

Major League Baseball Notes 4/24/2012: Jamie Moyer Has Had An Impressive Career, But He’s Not A Hall of Famer

Jamie Moyer has been defying the odds since 1995. Some odds, however, are longer than others.  Continue reading “Major League Baseball Notes 4/24/2012: Jamie Moyer Has Had An Impressive Career, But He’s Not A Hall of Famer”