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Friday October 5th, 2012

Featured today on MLB reports, we are proud to present the return of Robby Rowland, Pittsburgh Pirates Pitching Prospect. Robby is back on MLB Reports with his latest MLB Blog. We have been very fortunate to have Robby appear several times on MLB reports, in interviews and MLB Blogs prepared by Robby in his own words. One of our fave alumni returns with thoughts from Robby’s World. Robby looks at his transformation as a pitcher, trade to the Pirates organization and much more. Get ready for a special treat. Robby Rowland is real, funny and informative. We know you missed him…as we all did! Get ready to fulfill your Robby Rowland fix!

Robby Rowland- Guest MLB Blogger:

For those of you who have followed my journey through these blogs, I apologize for taking so much time to write this one. I would like to say thank you to MLB reports for having me on once again. For those of you who are reading one of my blogs for the first time, I want to apologize ahead of time for the writing style. I have so much that I would like to touch upon and I may not always use the proper commas or periods that some English major would… or something like that, I’m not sure. One more thanks is to my computer class teacher, who taught me how to type without looking. I’m glad I can use this skill in my baseball career, unlike all the other subjects in school that seem useless now. I also am known to ramble on a little bit, so bear with me here. Hopefully you will enjoy reading this as much as I did when I wrote it.

As I sit here, listening to a country music Pandora station, I try to think of some things that you guys would like to read about. I’ve heard some good topics via twitter and I will try my best to write about those and try to pick out topics that I can elaborate on. I will try to make this blog entry as entertaining as possible because I know how boring reading can get… if what you are reading doesn’t interest you. I had to do it ALL 4 years in high school… well, I had to read the sparknotes of whatever, which were still boring when they didn’t have anything to do with sports!

I will first talk about my transformation of becoming a “sinker ball pitcher” just over a year ago. Then I will talk about getting traded at the beginning of the season. After I have covered those 2 subjects, I will go on to write about lighter topics. Hope you enjoy and I don’t bore you! Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in Interviews with MLB Stars

3 Comments

Tags: arizona diamondbacks, baseball, cloverdale, guest blog, minor leagues, missoula, mlb, offseason, pitcher, pittsurgh pirates, pre-game ritual, robby rowland, starting pitcher, toledo mud hens

Why Kris Medlen Is The Braves X-Factor For Postseason Success

Sep 19

Posted by Jake Dal Porto

Wednesday September 19th, 2012

Jake Dal Porto: Ever heard of a pitcher named Kris Medlen? By now, you should have at least come across the name. The Nationals were the most recent victims of Medlen’s dominance, as the unknown starter fanned 13 Nats hitters.

The Braves loss of ace Brandon Beachy was a void that supposedly couldn’t be filled. Medlen has seemingly done the impossible since being thrown into the starting rotation. But, with success comes higher expectations. And yes, going 7-0 with a 0.86 ERA is certainly a successful stint. Meaning, Medlen is the Braves X-factor for late season success, and barring a collapse, aka 2011, he is their X-Factor for a successful postseason run.

Why? Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in MLB Player Profiles

Tags: Atlanta Braves, baseball, brandon beachy, craig kimbrel, Jonny Venters, kris medlen, mike minor, mlb, Playoffs 2012, starting pitcher, tim hudson, tommy hanson, washington nationals, wild card, world series

Was Edwin Jackson The Most Valuable Free Agent Signing During The Offseason? Smart Move By The Nationals

Sep 12

Posted by Jake Dal Porto

Wednesday September 12th, 2012

Jake Dal Porto: During all the chaos that surrounded Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder during the offseason, the Washington Nationals made a very sneaky addition to their pitching staff by adding Edwin Jackson. The deal was signed in early February, which made it the final piece to their rotation, as Gio Gonzalez was added before Jackson. But this move flew under the radar as Pujols and Fielder garnered most of the media. Obviously that didn’t come as a surprise. Now, Jackson looks like the most valuable offseason signing.

The thing about Jackson, is that he didn’t break the Nationals’ bank. He came at a reasonable $11 million price tag, and compared to the contracts that Pujols (10 Year, $254 Million) and Fielder (10 Year $214 Million) brought in, Jackson’s contract is practically nothing. Simply, he’s a value player. Talent-wise, he clearly isn’t as respected and accomplished as Pujols and Fielder. But that’s not the point.

However, Jackson won’t be flying under the radar for much longer now that Stephen Strasburg is out of the equation. He will have to play a much bigger role in a starting pitching staff that leads the National League in ERA (3.32). Yes, the Nationals have decent alternatives to fill Strasburg’s void. Those alternatives being Ross Detwiler and John Lannan, but Jackson takes an immense step up depth chart pyramid. Gio Gonzalez now assumes the “ace” role, Jordan Zimmerman follows him, and now Edwin Jackson is third option which means higher expectations. It also means that Jackson’s production can’t be taken as a bonus anymore. His production is now crucial for the Nationals to continue to find success on the pitching area of the game. If he depletes, the Nats are suddenly down to two consistent arms— Gonzalez and Zimmerman. That’s no longer intimidating.

Can he thrive under the pressure? Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in MLB Player Profiles

Tags: albert pujols, baseball, bryce harper, drew storen, edwin jackson, free agent, jayson werth, mlb, mlb reports, NL east, playoffs, prince fielder, starting pitcher, stephen strasburg, washington nationals

Josh Beckett: Will The Change Of Scenery Deliver A Hollywood Ending For the Struggling Veteran?

Aug 28

Posted by Jake Dal Porto

Tuesday August 28th, 2012

Jake Dal Porto: Josh Beckett, or more formerly known as the most hated man in Boston, won’t nearly have as much pressure on him with the Dodgers. That will be a vastly different change for him considering the hefty amount of heat he took in Boston. Granted, the criticism was for the most part deserved, but the Dodgers and their fans don’t view Beckett as the main piece in a deal that also landed them Adrian Gonzalez, Nick Punto, and Carl Crawford. They view him as a bonus piece. If he rejuvenates himself in Los Angeles, great. If he doesn’t, the pressure from the organization won’t be as substantial. On the other side of the coin, it won’t go unnoticed, nor will his large contract.

However, it’s assuming too much to say that he’s going to struggle with his new team. Sure, his 5.21 ERA isn’t great, but he’s moving to one of the most pitcher’s friendly ballparks in Dodger Stadium. To be specific, it’s the eighth best pitcher’s park in the majors per ESPN Park Factors. What should be noted is the fact that Chris Capuano and Clayton Kershaw both boast elite home ERAs. While the success isn’t entirely due to the fact that Dodger stadium is spacious, it’s a piece of the pie. In comparison, Fenway Park is the third best hitters park in baseball. So the difference is substantial. In spite of the difference, his first start in a Dodgers uniform came in the worst pitcher’s ballpark in the majors, Coors Field. He wasn’t great, but he wasn’t terrible, surrendering three runs over 5 2/3 innings.

Dodger Stadium alone isn’t going to transform Beckett into an ace, though. It’s not that pitcher friendly. Beckett will have to make some tweaks to get back to “ace” form. Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in MLB Player Profiles

Tags: aaron harang, ace, adrian gonzalez, baseball, boston red sox, carl crawford, chad billingsley, chris capuano, clayton kershaw, josh beckett, los angeles dodgers, mlb, nick punto, starting pitcher, tampa bay rays

The Interesting Case of Francisco Liriano: Twins Look to Move a Starter by the Trade Deadline

Jul 26

Posted by Bryan Sheehan

Thursday July 26th, 2012

Bryan Sheehan (MLB Writer): There is no doubt that the Minnesota Twins are going to be sellers this year at the trade deadline. At 18 games under .500, they have the worst record in the American League, and with a team ERA of an even 5.00, they find themselves only ahead of the Colorado Rockies at the bottom in terms of pitching. According to Jayson Stark , the Twins are willing to move “just about anybody” on their roster, and all signs point to starter Francisco Liriano’s departure. The troubled starter ranks 93 out of 101 qualified pitchers in ERA (5.31) and is just one loss off a league worst 11. Liriano’s $5.5 million salary is fifth highest among Twins players, and it goes without saying that his performances are well below what he’s being paid. But does that mean he has no trade value? Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in MLB Player Profiles

Tags: baseball, brandon morrow, brett cecil, daisuke matsuzaka, ervin santana, francisco liriano, henderson alvarez, john lackey, kyle drabek, minnesota twins, mlb, ricky romero, starting pitcher, tommy hunter, toronto blue jays, trade deadline, zack greinke

David Price: The Best Starting Pitcher in the American League?

Jul 24

Posted by Jake Dal Porto

Tuesday July 24th, 2012

Jake Dal Porto (MLB reports Intern Candidate): The American league consists of several dominant pitchers, but David Price is arguably the best of the crop. Better yet, he hasn’t even reached his full potential as a pitcher at the ripe age of just 26 years-old. While his stats are far ahead of his experience in the major leagues, there’s still room for him to grow… which is actually quite scary.

Price took the American League by a storm in 2010. Leading the Rays’ rotation at the age of just 23, he finished the season with an astounding 19-6 record accompanied by a stellar 2.72 ERA, nearly winning the A.L. Cy Young award. Although the Mariners’ Felix Hernandez edged him out for the honor, baseball took notice on Price’s exceptional season. Yet, this was just the tip of the iceberg for him. Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in MLB Player Profiles

Tags: baseball, cy young award, david price, felix hernandez, james shields, jered weaver, jeremy hellickson, justin verlander, matt moore, mlb, pitcher, rotation, starting pitcher, tampa bay rays, wade davis

What to Expect from Tim Lincecum in the Second Half: The Return of the Giants Ace to Form?

Jul 12

Posted by samevans87

Thursday July 12th, 2012

Sam Evans: Tim Lincecum has been proving doubters wrong his whole life. Despite his small frame, Lincecum has managed to win the Golden Spikes award and two N.L. Cy Young awards. However, in 2012 Lincecum hasn’t looked like the same pitcher. He has not only lost velocity on his fastball, but his numbers across the board are not what we expected from one of the best pitchers in the game. It’s hard to conclude what has caused Lincecum to struggle in his first fifteen starts. But the question on everyone’s mind is: what is next for Lincecum?

From 2007 to 2011, Tim Lincecum ranked fifth in Wins Above Replacement among all starting pitchers. He was simply dominant. In 2008 and 2009, Lincecum became the first pitcher ever to win back-to-back Cy Young awards in their first two full seasons. The Giants largely owe their 2010 World Series title to Lincecum and his 2.43 ERA in the playoffs. Heading into the 2012 season, the Giants reportedly offered Lincecum a five-year, $100 million contract, which he turned down to sign a two-year deal worth about $40 million. Looking back at it, Lincecum probably should have taken the deal which offered him long-term security. Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in MLB Player Profiles, Players: Fantasy Baseball Articles

1 Comment

Tags: analysis, baseball, cy young, fantasy, giants, injury, jeremy hellickson, madison bumgarner, matt cain, mlb, nl west, projections, ryan dempster, ryan vogelsong, san francisco giants, san fransisco, starting pitcher, the freak, tim lincecum

Roy Oswalt Working Back to True Form

Jun 27

Posted by Bryan Sheehan

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Bryan Sheehan (MLB Writer): Fourteen months ago, Roy Oswalt took a leave from the Philadelphia Phillies to be with his family after a series of tornadoes ripped through Mississippi. He left the team, where he was one of the showcased “Four Aces,” with a 3-1 record and a 3.33 ERA and returned with a sore back. He spent a short time on the disabled list, but returned to start in eight more games before once again landing on the DL with “lower back inflammation.” It is unclear whether his back troubles arose during his leave of absence, but Oswalt continued to pitch because he didn’t “want to be labeled a quitter.” Ultimately, his injury became too much, and during his latter stint on the DL there was doubt that he’d ever pitch again. He did return, though, and finished the year with a 9-10 record and 3.69 ERA. After his team faltered (or imploded, depending on how you look at it) in the playoffs, Oswalt declared free agency; his career was not over after all.

At age 34, Oswalt has appeared in eight playoff series, one World Series and three NLCS. When he hit the market last offseason, Oswalt made it clear that he wanted to play for a winner. More specifically, he wanted to play for a team that would have a great chance of winning it all. Like Roger Clemens in 2006 and 2007, Oswalt told teams that he would continue to stay in shape but wait until midseason to sign with the team that he thought would do the best in the postseason. On May 29th, Oswalt picked the 31-19 Texas Rangers and began his road back to the MLB.

Posted in MLB Player Profiles

Tags: baseball, ian kinsler, joe nathan, josh hamilton, miguel cabrera, mlb, pitcher, prince fielder, roy oswalt, starting pitcher, texas rangers, yu davrvish

Johan Santana: Proving Doubters Wrong Since 2000

Jun 10

Posted by rwhitmer99

Sunday June 10th, 2012

Robert Whitmer (Baseball Writer):

Pregame: He walks in slowly and sits in front of his locker while listening to the banter in the New York Metropolitans clubhouse between the other players. A couple of players pat him on the shoulder and offer their “good lucks” and “go get ems” as he methodically puts his jersey around his shoulders and buttons it up; his half sleeved shirt showing slightly under the shorter sleeves of his #57 Mets jersey. He grabs his glove, stops at the bathroom, and heads to onto the soft grass at Citi Field. He saunters out to the home bullpen to begin his warm-up routine as he prepares to take to the bump against the defending world champions. His mind is sharp. He sends up a quick prayer that his changeup will be the same. As the tosses begin to loosen up his arm, his mind drifts back to the year 2000 when he did this for the first time at the major league level.

2000 – 2003: Man these were a rough years. I know one thing. I really didn’t like coming out of the bullpen. I’m meant to be a starter, not a reliever. Oh and another thing. What’s up with that minor league stint? Sent down to perfect my changeup, bah! I mean it helped and all, but I don’t want to be in the minors forever and sometimes I wonder if I will ever stick in this league. Good thing it was only two months down there. All I need is a chance to show them that I can be a quality starter and they will see; everyone will see!

Johan got just what he wanted in 2003. He was transitioned 100% from reliever to starter and never looked back. After four months of the season in the bullpen he was made a starter and recorded a win in his last eight starts of the season, helping the twins into the playoffs. He ended the season with a 12-3 record, 3.07 ERA and tallied 169 strikeouts while walking only 48. He showed them exactly what he could do and the front office liked it. So much so that it earned him the right to start the ALDS against the eventual American League champion Yankees. So the legend of the Johan begins. Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in MLB Player Profiles

2 Comments

Tags: baseball, carlos gomez, citi field, johan santana, kevin mulvey, minnesota twins, mlb, new york mets, no hitter, philip humber, pitcher, starting pitcher

Stephen Strasburg: One Hit Wonder, or Platinum Artist?

May 21

Posted by rwhitmer99

Monday May 21st, 2012

Robert Whitmer: Fate….. It’s a funny word. Others call it “destiny.” It’s a word that some see one way, and others don’t even believe in it. I believe that things happen for a reason. I am a very religious person, but this will not turn into a religious piece. I believe that things happen to us to teach us something so that, in the future, we can see the lesson that was taught and apply it to not make a mistake that would have cost us dearly. Now, on the other hand of things, we still have the ability to choose if we apply those teachings in our life to avoid those situations. People might argue that if someone believes in destiny or fate, their path has already been chosen so what is the purpose of the decisions we make. No matter which side you are on, fate or fake, we all are going somewhere. We all have an ability inside of us to be great. It is up to us whether we get there or not. Such is the same with the topic of my writing this week. Mr. Stephen Strasburg is at a crossroads with his career. The path that he chooses is up to him. Right or wrong, good or bad, he has the ability to be a Justin Verlander, or a Mark Prior. Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in MLB Player Profiles

1 Comment

Tags: baseball, chicago cubs, gio gonzalez, jordan zimmerman, justin verlander, mark prior, mlb, ryan zimmerman, starting pitcher, stephen strasburg, washington nationals

Who is the Best Starter in Baseball?

May 10

Posted by Bryan Sheehan

Thursday May 10, 2012

Bryan Sheehan (MLB Writer): It could be said that the starting pitcher is the most important player in the game. A great starter, like Justin Verlander, puts his team in a position to win every time he hits the mound, while a poor starter, like A.J. Burnett, puts pressure on the bullpen when he gets run after just a couple of innings of work. A great starter, or even a mediocre one, can stay in the game for years with consistency (see: Jamie Moyer), but the drop off is steep and a pitcher underperforming is usually the first to be sent down. The best hurlers in the game combine dominance with consistency, rarely ever having a bad appearance. After the jump, we’ll be taking a look at who the best starters are in the game right now, and what makes them so great.

Posted in MLB Player Profiles, The Rest: Everything Baseball

Tags: baseball, clayton kershaw, jered weaver, justin verlander, mlb, roy halladay, starter, starting pitcher

Michael Pineda’s Early Demise

Saturday April 28th, 2012

Bernie Olshansky: Exactly one year ago today, Michael Pineda was just a few starts into his major league career. He had a fastball upwards of ninety-five miles per hour and seemed to be the next Felix Hernandez in the Mariners organization. It would have been impossible to predict where he is now and what he is going through. The Yankees announced Wednesday that Pineda would miss the rest of the season due to an anterior labrum tear in his shoulder and would need to undergo arthroscopic surgery. The best-case recovery time is 12 months, making a return for Opening Day 2013 nearly impossible.

A shoulder injury is one of the worst possible injuries a pitcher could have. Compared to elbow injuries and the recovery from Tommy John surgery, the recovery from a torn labrum is a much longer and tougher process. Pineda most likely suffered this injury due to fatigue from his large workload last year (171.0 IP). The good news for Pineda is that the rotator cuff is not damaged, and the surgery is successful 85-90 percent of the time. A couple of recent pitchers who recovered successfully from this type of surgery are Curt Schilling and Chris Carpenter. Schilling had a similar injury in 1995 when he was 28 years old, which caused him to miss most of the 1995 season. For Schilling, it only took ten months to fully recover and by May 1996, he was pitching again. Carpenter tore his labrum in 2003 and made a full recovery to come back to have a great 2004 season. Pineda’s return isn’t impossible by any means, especially because he just turned 23. Talk about a sophomore jinx for Pineda — he didn’t even get to start his sophomore campaign.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, their highly touted prize in the Jesus Montero trade must be placed on the disabled list for the rest of this season. Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik claims he had no knowledge whatsoever about a possible injury for Pineda when he made the trade, so it seems that the Yankees just got unlucky. At the time of the trade, it seemed that both teams were getting a great deal for each of their needs. The Yankees needed pitching and got exactly that from Pineda with a solid 3.74 ERA in his Rookie year with 171.0 innings pitched and 173 strikeouts. This type of performance earned him All Star honors. The only concern was the large number of innings pitched, which, in my opinion, ended up doing him in. The Mariners, knowing that they were going to have sufficient pitching in the future with Felix Hernandez and highly regarded prospect Danny Hultzen, traded Pineda for Yankees prospect Jesus Montero who was ready to be on the big club after spending the majority of 2011 in the minors (tearing it up, I might add with an overall .308 average over a five-year span). For the anemic Mariners offense that needed some pop, Montero promised to help improve a club that, in 2011 ranked dead last in average, runs, slugging percentage, on base percentage, and 25th in home runs. This already perfect deal for the Mariners turned out even better sadly when Pineda went down with this injury.

Now the Yankees are stuck with an injured Pineda, and do not have Jesus Montero in their lineup (who was hitting .263 as of today, but hey, at least he’s playing). The Mariners also got pitcher Hector Noesi, who is also part of the Mariners’ rotation, and the Yankees received minor league pitcher Jose Campos, who has posted a 1.23 ERA so far for the Charleston RiverDogs Single-A team (I guess that’s the only silver lining for the Yankees). Five years from now when all of the players who were involved in the trade are established major leaguers, this may all be a distant memory. But right now for the Yankees, it hurts a lot.

**Today’s feature was prepared by Bernie Olshanksy, MLB reports Intern candidate. We highly encourage you to leave your comments and feedback at the bottom of the page and share in the discussion with our readers. You can also follow Bernie on Twitter. (@BernieOlshansky)***

Please e-mail us at: mlbeports@me.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook . To subscribe to our website and have the daily Reports sent directly to your inbox , click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.

Posted on April 28, 2012 | Image

Michael Pineda is Out for the Year: When Will the Yankees Pitcher Return?

Apr 27

Posted by samevans87

Friday April 27th, 2012

Sam Evans: On this past Wednesday, we learned that twenty-three year old Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda was diagnosed with an anterior labral tear, and that he will undergo surgery on May 1st. Pineda is definitely out for the year, and there is a chance he could never pitch in the majors again. There is talk though that he could be out for less than a year and come back stronger than ever. But that possibility is hopeful at best. Thus is the nature of Pineda’s situation. Let’s take a look at his injury, and when the Yankees could hope to see him pitching in New York.

When Michael Pineda was acquired from the Mariners this offseason, Yankees fans were feeling pretty good about their rotation. They had just traded for one of the top young arms in the majors. In 2011, Pineda was an All-Star and started twenty-eight incredible games for the Mariners. He barely had any issues with control, he struck out a ton of batters, and he had the poise of a veteran. He wore down as the season came to an end, but that was normal given his age and experience. Even though the Yankees gave up two talented players to get Pineda and a prospect, he had a chance to be the #2 starter that they were looking for when they signed A.J. Burnett. Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in MLB Player Profiles

Tags: AL East, baseball, brian cashman, jesus montero, joe girardi, labrum, michael pineda, mlb, new york yankees, seattle mariners, starting pitcher, surgery

Jamie Moyer: A Pitcher Older than the Rockies

Apr 20

Posted by Bryan Sheehan

Friday April 20, 2012

Bryan Sheehan: Jamie Moyer is old (I’ll give you a second to wipe up the coffee undoubtably spilled onto your computer after reading this shocking fact). So old, in fact, that he is older than thirteen of the thirty current MLB teams, if relocated teams such as the Atlanta Braves are considered unique from their Milwaukee counterpart. So ancient, that his 25 year career is longer than the life of Wilin Rosario, who caught his record-setting win Tuesday. This performance, which came in the form of a seven-inning shutout gem against the woeful San Diego Padres, made Moyer the oldest starter, at 49 years and 150 days, to win a game of baseball. In a time when power pitchers and young flamethrowers, like Washington’s Stephen Strasburg, are lauded, Moyer and his sub-80 MPH fastball (he never got higher than 79 MPH on Tuesday, according to the Denver Post) are still effective enough to win. Tied for 35th all time in wins and just 32 away from the famed 300 club, it would be nice to think that he could stick around a few more years and break even more records. But looking at his current status, it’s hard to tell when his fairytale career will end.

Posted in MLB Player Profiles

Tags: baseball, chicago cubs, colorado rockies, cooperstown, hall of fame, jamie moyer, mlb, phil niekro, pitcher, satchel paige, starting pitcher, stephen strasburg, steve carlton

Losing Burnett Is a Huge Loss for the Pirates

Mar 7

Posted by Jonathan Hacohen

Wednesday March 7th, 2012

Sam Evans: The Pittsburgh Pirates made a very aggressive move, acquiring Yankees starter A.J. Burnett a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, due to a freakish injury, the Pirates will miss Burnett for the first couple months of the season. Let’s look at Burnett’s injury and the effect it will have on the Pirates roster.

During his healthy years with the Marlins, A.J. Burnett was one of the top pitchers in the N.L. East. After seven years with the Marlins, and three solid years with the Blue Jays, Burnett signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the New York Yankees. Burnett’s last three years with the Yankees haven’t been pretty. He had a decent year in 2009, but in 2010 and 2011 Burnett had ERAs over 5.00, and he didn’t eclipse two hundred innings in either year.

Burnett, the thirty-four year old right-handed pitcher came to Pittsburgh in a trade this past February 17th. The Pirates traded Diego Moreno and Exicardo Cayones for Burnett. The Yankees will pay part of the $30.375 million dollars left on Burnett’s contract. Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in MLB Player Profiles

Tags: a.j. burnett, aj burnett, baseball, brad lincoln, miami marlins, mlb, new york yankees, NL Central, pirates, pittsburgh, starting pitcher

Ricky Romero: Future CY Young Award Winner?

Feb 17

Posted by MLB reports

Friday February 17th, 2012

Rob Bland: When Ricky Romero was taken 6th overall in the 2005 MLB Draft, ahead of the likes of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, and outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Jay Bruce, I was shocked, and to be honest, a little bit angry. Romero was a good pitcher at Cal State – Fullerton, but he was raw; an unfinished product that still needed a lot of work. Tulowitzki was a tremendous defensive shortstop with plus power potential. He was bound to be a good Major League shortstop, whereas Romero was still very much a question mark. McCutchen is a superstar in the making in Pittsburgh, and Jay Bruce is really starting to come together, hitting 100 home runs in his first four seasons. While these three position players often come up in conversation that they will be perennial All-Stars or future MVPs, Romero has not quite garnered that attention. He was an All-Star in 2011, albeit after a number of players declined their invitation to participate. But will Romero ever gain notoriety as a potential Cy Young Award candidate? Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in MLB Player Profiles

Tags: al, American league, baseball, brandon morrow, brett lawrie, cy young award, jay bruce, mlb, ricky romero, shaun marcum, starting pitcher, toronto blue jays, troy tulowitzki

The Aroldis Effect: What’s In Store for the Game’s Hardest Throwing Pitcher?

Feb 16

Posted by samevans87

Thursday February 16th, 2012

Sam Evans: In the history of baseball, no pitcher has ever thrown a baseball faster than Aroldis Chapman. In 1876, when the National League was founded, Alexander Graham Bell made the first ever telephone call. The athleticism of baseball players and overall talent in the league has improved significantly since then, but it is amazing that we now have over four hundred Major League pitchers that have an average fastball speed that’s at least 90 MPH. Aroldis Chapman is a phenomenal talent, who with the right coaching, has a chance to make more than a few All-Star teams. Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in The Rest: Everything Baseball

1 Comment

Tags: aroldis chapman, baseball, cincinnati reds, closer, cuban baseball, fastball, francisco cordero, mlb, NL Central, pitcher, starting pitcher

Ben Henry Interview: Representin’ the Hickory Crawdads Bullpen

Monday February 6th 2012

MLB reports – Jonathan Hacohen: Featured today on MLB reports, we bring you our conversation with pitching prospect Ben Henry. Drafted by the Rangers in 2007, Ben is best known for being a member of the feared Hickory Crawdads Bullpen. Heck, this guy cannot walk down the street of Hickory, North Carolina without getting mobbed for an autograph or photograph. Can you blame the fans? The man known in those parts as the “Mayor of Hickory” certainly laid down a deep hurt on the South Atlantic League hitters last season. Ben finished with a 6-3 record, 2.38 ERA and 1.166 WHIP. Breaking out at the tender age of 22, Ben Henry put himself on the baseball map and the road to the show. Standing 6’4″, the right-handed Henry is a reliever/spot starter. Pitching in a pitching-rich organization like the Rangers, I could certainly see Ben working well with Ryan and Maddux in perfecting his craft.

When he is not breaking bats and getting hitters out, this mustache aficionado is a social media superstar. Teaming up with his good friend Michael Schlact, the duo are well-known Twitter powerhouses. They also enjoy getting fans addicted to the hit iPhone game “Temple Run” (thanks a lot for that guys!) One of the most approachable athletes that I have spoken to, Ben is soft-spoken and lets his pitching do the talking. A true lover of the game, Ben appreciates every day that he gets to go out onto the baseball field. With that being said, we proudly present today our exclusive interview with Rangers pitching prospect, Ben Henry:

(more…)

Posted on February 6, 2012 | Image

Robby Rowland Guest MLB Blog: Inside the Life of a Minor League Player

Feb 6

Posted by Jonathan Hacohen

Monday February 6, 2012

Jonathan Hacohen: Featured today on MLB reports, we are proud to present Arizona Diamondbacks pitching prospect, Robby Rowland and his 2nd Guest MLB Blog. After a little bit of arm twisting, we were able to get Robby back on the Reports. Just kidding. Robby is a super guy and was very gracious in agreeing to return. For his latest Guest MLB Blog, Robby took in some suggestions from his followers on Twitter to come up with different topics to cover today. From all his entries, Robby chose to discuss life on the road, springtime and pre-game rituals. Exclusively on MLB reports, Robby Rowland is back with his latest blog entry:

Robby Rowland- Guest MLB Blog: Hello all! I am honored to say that I have been welcomed back onto the Reports. Once again, I would like to thank Jonathan for having me on here. It truly is an honor to be asked to share my experiences with the world. For those of you who have not met me in person, you should know that I just love to talk… I got kicked out of a lot of classrooms in my day because I love to chat. That’s why I am honored to be on here- because I am allowed to express my love of talking… but just on paper. I have some great topics to discuss with all of you today. The way I like to prepare my blog entries is by asking my twitter followers about subjects they would like to hear about. I like to first write them down on paper and later type in my blog. And once again I apologize if everything is just thrown down with no sense of proper writing. Boy would my english teacher in high school be upset if he/she read these…

So without further adieu, I would like to discuss several of the topics that you have all brought to my attention!