Michael Bourn Is Having A Career Year, Should Braves Reward Him With A Long-Term Deal?

(Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

“Just give me 25 guys on the last year of their contracts; I’ll win a pennant every year” -Sparky Anderson, Former Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers Manager, Hall of Famer

Darren Dreifort, Chone Figgins, and Barry Zito. What do you think of every time you hear these names? Recipients of contracts that aren’t working out.  Continue reading “Michael Bourn Is Having A Career Year, Should Braves Reward Him With A Long-Term Deal?”

Bryce Harper Is Fun, Mike Trout Is Better

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Before this season started I wrote an a post regarding the top-five fantasy baseball  rookies for 2012. Within it, I spoke of Bryce Harper and Mike Trout, two guys we all expected to pay immediate dividends in 2012. While I ranked Harper higher (second) because of his power it pained me to do so, for reasons only Anaheim might understand. Continue reading “Bryce Harper Is Fun, Mike Trout Is Better”

Mike Minor’s Struggles Have Put Atlanta Braves In A Tough Spot

(Photo: John Bazemore / AP)

 

“If they don’t have room for me here, then there’s no reason they shouldn’t trade me or just do something with me.” Continue reading “Mike Minor’s Struggles Have Put Atlanta Braves In A Tough Spot”

Texas Rangers Are A Good team, Lets Not Get Carried Away Yet

[Image courtesy of DeadCode]

The Texas Rangers have put together a fine baseball team. As a matter of fact, they might have the best team in baseball right now. Right-this-very-moment.

Other than that, lets stop getting carried away.  Continue reading “Texas Rangers Are A Good team, Lets Not Get Carried Away Yet”

Cleveland Indians Benefiting From Underachieving American League Central, Good Baseball

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Cleveland, you’ve got yourself a division leader.

Like the Baltimore Orioles, an unexpected sight atop the Central division has the Cleveland Indians in first place by two games. It seems to be redemption week for the clubs I wasn’t too keen on. Here was my initial review back on April 2: Continue reading “Cleveland Indians Benefiting From Underachieving American League Central, Good Baseball”

Baltimore Orioles Continue To Put Baseball On Notice

I’ve tried to convince myself it wasn’t real.

I will be the first to admit, I was adamantly against this Orioles team and with good reason. In fact here was my assessment of this ball club in my preseason predictions: Continue reading “Baltimore Orioles Continue To Put Baseball On Notice”

Despite ACL Injury, Mariano Rivera Vows Comeback

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

When Chipper Jones tore his ACL on a play in Houston back in 2010 it was a devastating scene.

My childhood hero, aging and in the twilight of his career, laid in a heap on the field. With his future uncertain, Jones announced he would come back and made good. He was an All-Star in 2011, and is rounding out his Hall of Fame career in 2012 in spectacular fashion.

Which is why the announcement that Mariano Rivera would work his way back from an ACL injury he incurred snagging fly balls in Kansas City (ironically the sight of this years All-Star game where he hoped to make a different last impression) was a welcome one. Not just for New York Yankee fans, but for baseball in general. If anyone will be able to come back and finish it out with style, it’s Mariano Rivera.  Continue reading “Despite ACL Injury, Mariano Rivera Vows Comeback”

Major League Baseball Notes 5/9/2012: Josh Hamilton Hits Four Home Runs

(Patrick Smith/REUTERS)

Josh Hamilton continued his magnificent start to 2012 by putting on a show in Baltimore last night.

Not that there isn’t anything to see in Baltimore these days (more on that to come) but what Hamilton did last night, hitting four home runs in a game, had only been done 15 times prior in Major League Baseball history and not once since 2003.  Continue reading “Major League Baseball Notes 5/9/2012: Josh Hamilton Hits Four Home Runs”

Major League Baseball Notes 5/8/2012: Nothing “Old School” About Cole Hamels Drilling Of Bryce Harper

(Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

I think Cole Hamels might want to leave the tough guy act at home for a while.

In receiving a five-game suspension he not only hurt his team, which is currently 1-3 against the Nationals and Mets in their last four games, but also his own reputation.  Continue reading “Major League Baseball Notes 5/8/2012: Nothing “Old School” About Cole Hamels Drilling Of Bryce Harper”

Major League Baseball Power Rankings Week 4 (4/30/2012)

Late edition of my weekly power rankings this weekend after a packed weekend. The Rangers, Nationals, Braves and Dodgers continue their recent stretches of great baseball, the Boston Red Sox have shown new life, and one team takes a nosedive. On to it!

  1. Texas Rangers (17-6)- Since his first start, Yu Darvish has given up three earned runs in 27.1 innings pitched; striking out 28 batters and lowering his season opening ERA from 7.94 to 2.18 to go along with a 4-0 start. Continue reading “Major League Baseball Power Rankings Week 4 (4/30/2012)”