Clearing The Bases
September 1, 2011 by George Kurtz · 2 Comments
We’ve had to take a few weeks off due to some software problems, but we’re back today, just in time to watch all of the players that major league teams will call up to fortify their bullpen and bench during this final month. The Yanks and Red Sox have been playing a big series this […]
The Punishment Doesn’t Fit The Crime
July 15, 2011 by Jess Coleman · 5 Comments
Following a vicious brawl between the Red Sox’s David Ortiz and the Orioles’ Kevin Gregg, Major League Baseball has punished both with a four-game suspension and a fine of an undisclosed amount. However, many initial media reports speculate the amount is around $2,500. This situation once again exemplifies the severe lack of respect players have […]
The Most Egregious MVP Snubs of All Time (at Least on Paper)
July 6, 2011 by Mike Lynch · 10 Comments
Not long ago I was watching an episode of “Prime 9” on the MLB Network about the nine biggest MVP snubs of all time. Before the show even began, I knew what would be ranked number one because it’s always mentioned as the biggest injustice in the history of MVP voting: Yankees second baseman Joe […]
Boston Sweeps Yanks but Playoff Hopes Remain Dim
May 15, 2011 by Andrew Tuttle · 6 Comments
Boston has finally reached .500 this season but now midway through May it’s a likely bet the Red Sox playoff hopes in this overly-hyped season remain iffy at best. Their position in the standings is certainly not bleak, however, for the Red Sox to have any chance of reaching the playoffs, the team would have […]
Red Sox Front Office Must Confront The Lackey Dilemma
May 13, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Red Sox pitcher John Lackey, with his wife Krista, during less troubling times… More than a dozen years ago, I struggled as my first marriage was disintegrating. While I had always prided myself on being able to separate my personal life and my professional life, I suddenly found myself unable to do so. I brought […]
Terry Francona’s Do or Die Mission
April 18, 2011 by Andrew Tuttle · 2 Comments
“I think Francona should be gone by the end of the month and the pitching coach also. They both suck.†That’s not me saying it. I intercepted a message on an answering machine from one lifelong Red Sox fan (who lives in Rhode Island) to another lifelong fan. And, no I’m not talking the Twenty-oh-fours. […]
Red Sox Poor Start The Result Of A Lack Of Discipline And Poor Execution
April 7, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Home plate ump Dale Scott tells a chagrined Jason Varitek the play at home plate required a tag because Youk had tagged the third base bag The Red Sox put forth an embarrassing effort last night and, in the process, saw their record fall to 0-5… just the sixth time in the franchise’s history that […]
Fearless forecast for 2011 flag chases
March 30, 2011 by Dan Schlossberg · 1 Comment
The first rule in making baseball predictions is to expect the unexpected. Don’t go with last year’s winners, popular favorites, or big-money ballclubs. Unless they deserve it, of course. Now that we’ve gotten past the obvious rules, there are the string of unknowns that can pop up anywhere during the course of a 162-game schedule, […]
Guaranteed 2011 AL East Predictions!
March 30, 2011 by Austin Gisriel · 1 Comment
Led by a rejuvenated Manny Ramirez, Tampa Bay will lead the division at the all-star break. On his return from the All-Star game in Phoenix, Manny will become rejuveniled and absent-mindedly enter Boston’s clubhouse when the Rays resume their season in Beantown on July 15th. He’ll don a Red Sox uniform and shag balls in […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: AL Central – Kansas City Royals
March 26, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Royals Designated Hitter Billy Butler Kansas City Royals (2010 record: 67-95) Kansas City is one more year away from beginning their slow, inexorable climb up the standings. While Royals fans have heard similar promises for years, their patience is finally (mercifully) about to pay off. GM Dayton Moore and his front office staff have developed […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: AL Central – Cleveland Indians
March 26, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Indians CF Grady Sizemore Cleveland Indians (2010 record: 69-93) If there is little reason to buy a ticket in Houston, there is even less reason to buy a ticket in Cleveland. The Indians did very little this winter in terms of improving the roster… and since everyone else in the division is as good or […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: AL West – Texas Rangers
March 25, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
 Rangers LF Josh Hamilton Texas Rangers (2010 record: 90-72) The Texas Rangers won their first American League pennant, but eventually lost the World Series to the San Francisco Giants. Their drive to the Fall Classic was spurred by an MVP season from LF Josh Hamilton, a Rookie-of-the-Year campaign from closer Neftali Feliz, and all-star […]
2011 MLB Pre-Season Preview: AL West – Oakland Athletics
March 25, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Athletics staff ace, Brett Anderson Oakland Athletics (2010 record: 81-81) The Oakland Athletics finished last season with a .500 record after three consecutive losing seasons. They were able to do so thanks largely to an excellent young rotation, a good bullpen and a solid defense. Little of what they accomplished was owing to their offense […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: AL West – Los Angeles Angels
March 24, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · 1 Comment
LA Angels right fielder Torii Hunter Los Angeles Angels (2010 record: 80-82) The Angels had a rough off-season. It pales in comparison to the one suffered by the NY Mets (the Madoff effects, a lawsuit, a loan from MLB, cleaning house in the front office, etc), but it was bad nonetheless. The team failed to […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: AL West – Seattle Mariners
March 23, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Staff ace, Felix Hernandez Seattle Mariners (2010 record: 61-101) Many pundits believed the Mariners could win the American League West last season – I am numbered among those people. The joke was on us. Instead of making a run at the Angels and the Rangers, the Mariners turned in one of the more disappointing efforts […]
Gonzalez’ Agent Encouraged After Negotiation Session With Red Sox
March 22, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
John Boggs, the agent for Red Sox 1B Adrian Gonzalez, arrived in Fort Myers yesterday afternoon. He didn’t waste any time getting down to business, as he met earlier today with Theo Epstein and Ben Cherington to discuss a contract extension for A-Gon. After the meeting, he said he would be “extremely surprised†if the […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL East – Philadelphia Phillies
March 22, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Phillies 1B Ryan Howard Philadelphia Phillies (2010 record: 97-65) The Phillies entered the new year as one of the handful of teams with a legitimate claim to the designation as the best team in baseball. They entered the free agent fray towards the end of the process and lured southpaw Cliff Lee away from both […]
Is Marco Scutaro Clearly The Starting Shortstop For The Red Sox In 2011?
March 21, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Red Sox shortstop Marco Scutaro There was an excellent article about Marco Scutaro in today’s Boston Globe. Columnist Nick Cafardo crafted an insightful story in which he detailed the shortstop’s health issues last season, providing a considerable amount of behind-the-scenes information that fans had not previously known. But does that mean Scutaro should be the […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL East – Atlanta Braves
March 21, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Braves 3B Chipper Jones The Braves begin the new season without long-time manager, Bobby Cox, who stewarded the team to a succession of fourteen consecutive division titles (from 1991-2005, absent the strike-shortened 1994 season), five World Series appearances and a world championship in his 20+ years at the help. The 2011 season will usher in […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL East – Florida Marlins
March 20, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · 1 Comment
Florida’s enigmatic shortstop, Hanley Ramirez Florida Marlins (2010 record: 80-82) The Marlins finished 2010 with an 80-82 record, in third place in the National League East, and it appears they’re destined to finish the upcoming season in much the same position. They won’t be able to compete with the Phillies and it is unlikely they’ll […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL East – New York Mets
March 19, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Mets 3B David Wright New York Mets (2010 record: 79-83) The NY Mets had what is widely considered to be the worst off-season among all of Major League Baseball’s thirty clubs… maybe it was a case of “lesson learnedâ€. Like their cross-town rivals, the Metropolitans have tried to buy a contending team over the last […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL East – Washington Nationals
March 19, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · 1 Comment
Washington Nationals (2010 record: 69-93) The addition of free agent Jayson Werth speaks volumes about the Nationals’ growth in terms of the perception of the team as it continues its journey towards baseball relevance. The trade-off from Adam Dunn to Werth may or may not make an impact on the field in terms of wins […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL Central – Cincinnati Reds
March 18, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Reigning NL MVP, Joey Votto Cincinnati Reds (2010 record: 91-71) The Cincinnati Reds won the National League Central last year and, in the process, made the post-season for the first time since 1995, when they swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS but were, in turn, swept by the Atlanta Braves in the Championship […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL Central – Milwaukee Brewers
March 17, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Brewers all-star 1B Prince Fielder Milwaukee Brewers (2010 record: 77-85) The Milwaukee Brewers front office entered the off-season with one primary task: improve the pitching staff. The club finished last season with the third-worst ERA in the National League – the primary reason the club finished with a sub-.500 record. General Manager Mark Attanasio immersed […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL Central – St Louis Cardinals
March 16, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · 2 Comments
Could 2011 be Albert Pujols’ last season in a Cardinals uniform? St. Louis Cardinals (2010 record: 86-76) As spring training got underway a few weeks ago, the Cardinals were a serious threat to win the NL Central division title. But with the Albert Pujols contract situation hanging like The Sword of Damocles above everyone’s head […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL Central – Chicago Cubs
March 16, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro Chicago Cubs (2010 record: 75-87) Notable additions: RHP Matt Garza, 1B Carlos Peña, RHP Kerry Wood Notable subtractions: 1B Xavier Nady The Cubs suffered through a disappointing 75-87 campaign and a fourth-place finish in the NL Central last season. They looked on as the other clubs in the division improved this […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL Central – Houston Astros
March 14, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Astros RF Hunter Pence Houston Astros (2010 record: 76-86) Notable additions: SP Ryan Rowand-Smith, 2B Clint Barmes, INF Billy Hall Notable subtractions: SP Felipe Paulino, IF Geoff Blum, RHP Matt Lindstrom It doesn’t appear the 50th-anniversary season for the former Colt-45’s will be much of a celebration. The team played pretty well last year after […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL Central –Pittsburgh Pirates
March 12, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Pittsburgh Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen Pittsburgh Pirates (2010 record: 57-105) Notable additions: SP Kevin Correia, LF Matt Diaz, SP Scott Olsen, 1B Lyle Overbay Notable subtractions: SP Zach Duke The Pittsburgh Pirates’ current streak of 18 consecutive losing seasons is the longest such streak in history for any North American professional sports franchise. The drought […]
Only a Friend Would Know
March 10, 2011 by Sam Miller · Leave a Comment
Learned. The dictionary defines the adjective “learned” as “having much knowledge”; “acquired by experience.” Yep, I’d say 95 years of life qualified Elden Auker. This week, read the righty’s take on baseball’s biggest stars along with proud and humbling moments from his years around the game. “Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms“ by Elden Auker with […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL West – San Francisco Giants
March 10, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
2010 NL Rookie of the Year, Buster Posey San Francisco Giants (2010 record: 92-70) Notable additions: SS Miguel Tejada Notable subtractions: SS Edgar Renteria, INF Juan Uribe The offense: Catcher: Buster Posey Infield: Aubrey Huff (1B), Freddie Sanchez (2B), Miguel Tejada (SS) and Pablo Sandoval (3B) Outfield: Mark DeRosa (LF), Andres Torres (CF), Cody Ross […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL West – Colorado Rockies
March 9, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Colorado Rockies (2010 record: 83-79) Notable additions: RHP Matt Lindstrom, INF Jose Lopez, C Jose Morales, INF/OF Ty Wiggington Notable subtractions: 2B Clint Barmes, RHP Octavio Dotel, SP Jeff Francis, 3B Melvin Mora, C Miguel Olivo The offense: Catcher: Chris Iannetta Infield: Todd Helton (1B), Eric Young Jr (2B), Troy Tulowitzki (SS) and Ian Stewart […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL West – Los Angeles Dodgers
March 9, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Dodgers starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda Los Angeles Dodgers (2010 record: 80-82) Notable additions: C Rod Barajas, RHP Jon Garland, RHP Matt Guerrier, C Dioner Navarro, LF Marcus Thames, 2B Juan Uribe Notable subtractions: C Russell Martin, LF Scott Podsednik The offense: Catcher: Rod Barajas Infield: James Loney (1B), Juan Uribe (2B), Rafael Furcal (SS), Casey […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL West – San Diego Padres
March 8, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · 1 Comment
San Diego Padres (2010 record: 90-72) Notable additions: SS Jason Bartlett, 1B Jorge Cantu, RHP Aaron Harang, 1B Brad Hawpe, 2B Orlando Hudson, CF Cameron Maybin, SP Dustin Moseley, C Gregg Zaun Notable subtractions: 2B David Eckstein, RHP Jon Garland, 1B Adrian Gonzalez, CF Tony Gwynn Jr., SS Miguel Tejada, C Yorvit Torrealba, RHP Chris […]
2011 Pre-Season Preview: NL West – Arizona Diamondbacks
March 7, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
Arizona Diamondbacks (2010 record: 65-97) Notable additions: 1B Russell Branyan, LHP Zach Duke, RHP Armando Gallaraga, RHP David Hernandez, 3B Melvin Mora, OF Xavier Nady, RHP J.J. Putz Notable subtractions: 1B Adam LaRoche, 3B Mark Reynolds, RHP Brandon Webb Arizona is an organization that is floundering, always taking a step to one side and then […]
MLB Preview, 2011: Red Sox Rank Best in Positional Analysis of the AL East
March 6, 2011 by Jeffrey Brown · Leave a Comment
A few weeks ago, I initiated a series of articles analyzing and ranking the starters for all of the clubs in the American League East. The series concluded with the belated publication of my analysis of the DH’s on Friday. So, now it’s time to rank the organizations within the division on the relative strength […]