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”
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”
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”
“It’s just throwing and catching and hitting and running. What’s simpler then that?” -Paul Richards, Baltimore Orioles Manager (1955-1961)
In the Beltway (Washington D.C./Baltimore etc.) area, baseball means lot more than people may realize.
The capital didn’t get a baseball team because of a hunch by the league when the Expos were searching for a new home. They got a team because someone recognized the untapped potential of that market. A market left dormant, since 1997 by a franchise that once epitomized how things were done in baseball. Continue reading “MLB 2012 Preview: Baltimore Orioles Searching For An Identity”
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”
Lets be honest, everyone wants Tim Lincecum on their team. No one who plays fantasy baseball is immune to not wanting one of Philadelphia’s “big three” of Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, or Cliff Lee.
Reality check: there are only so many of those guys before you realize you’re gonna need a plan “B, C, D and E.” Continue reading “MLB Fantasy Baseball 2012: Three Sleeper Starters Who Bring Value After The “Aces””
In Kansas City, you could say they’ve experienced something of a rough patch.
By the numbers, here is what the Kansas City Royals have looked like since 1985: Continue reading “MLB Preview 2012: Kansas City Royals Are Close, But Lack Pitching To Make Run In ’12”
“There were times when I could have went out on the free-agent market and see if the grass was greener but I really didn’t think that it was, I never wanted to play [anywhere else]. I’m a southern kid. I wanted to play in a southern town where I felt comfortable and I felt comfortable from day one in the Braves organization. I bleed red, white and blue.” -Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves, In front of media announcing his retirement after 2012 baseball season Continue reading “Major League Baseball 2012: Chipper Jones, As Always, Makes The Right Call At The Right Time”
Second base is a position that, if selected correctly, can give you a leg up on the competition. Continue reading “2012 MLB Fantasy Baseball: Dustin Pedroia Or Ian Kinsler? A Case For Both But Who Should Get Your Pick?”
In 2011 the National League East truly began to show us something. Continue reading “MLB 2012 Season Preview: National League East Division Race A Test Of Endurance, Player Development”