Daily Archives: February 7, 2013
MLB.com Top 100 Prospects Features Six Cardinals
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The Cardinals will start another year without an ace pitcher. They have survived without Carpenter and Wainwright is recent seasons.
By Landen Crouch ( Cardinals Correspondent) Follow @LandenCrouch
The Future for the St. Louis Cardinals is pretty clear – they are a team that will continue to win at a high level and compete in the playoffs. Many teams in Major League Baseball have developed habits of heavy spending, looking to buy a potential World Series Title. But the Cardinals have remained true to what has proved to be a winning formula: draft well and develop talent. It will for sure pay off for them. The Cardinals received some devastating news recently that Chris Carpenter will likely miss the entire 2013 season. With that news hitting hard, the Cardinals have to feel good about how they have built their farm system recently. The Cardinals‘ Minor League teams are loaded with talent, mostly pitchers. Last week, mlb.com released their Top 100 Minor League Prospects in 2013, featuring six players from the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization that could possibly see action with the top club in St. Louis during the 2013 regular season.
Trevor Rosenthal vs Oscar Taveras:
Who Is Thomas (Aaron) Roberts?: He Is A Top 52 Finalist For The 2013 MLB FanCave!
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By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
All of us hardcore fans have seen the MLB Fan Cave for the last few years. Heck, if it wasn’t for the MLB accepting applications for the Season 1 – I personally would have never joined Twitter, interacted with winners Mike O’ Hara and Ryan, before eventually meeting the MLB Reports Founder (Jonathan Hacohen) through conversing with those guys over my baseball travel book. Jonathan did a book review for me, then asked me to guest blog for him during the 2012 World Series. 1 year and half later, I bought the website, meanwhile our site has continued a friendship with the Cave Dwellers from the 1st 2 seasons. Last year, we interviewed Eddie Mata – and did a follow up story with Mike O ‘ Hara on life after the Cave.
A few months ago, I came across a genuine fan of the LA Dodgers and baseball in general. Thomas (Aaron) Roberts has since been our Dodgers Correspondent here. I can tell you that the man loves baseball and anything to do with it. I never even knew he applied for the MLB Fan Cave in 2013, then last week he sent me a link that he was a top 52 finalist.
This is no small feat and any of us would love to be in Roberts shoes. I will do anything within my power to help him along, because he is a deserving person to be sent to New York. Just by watching his video entry, it is abundantly clear that he belongs at the Fan Cave. So please click the link and then after viewing, read the interview I conducted with Thomas (Aaron) Roberts afterwards.
Thomas (Aaron) Roberts MLB Fancave Video:
Top HR Hitters Projected For The 2013 MLB Baseball Season
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Thursday February 7th, 2013
Bernie Olshansky (Baseball Writer): Follow @BernieOlshansky
2012 was an exciting year for the long ball. The MLB saw its first Triple Crown winner since 1967, and there were six guys that hit over 40 HR. It seems as if 2013 will be more of the same with the emergence of new sluggers in Mike Trout and Bryce Harper. In this feature, I will highlight some of the hitters who I think will have the most dingers (and how many) by the end of 2013. I don’t think Joey Bats will stay healthy enough to reach this list (although he will have a chance if he can miss the injury bug.
Adam Dunn: 40
In the years that Dunn has not slumped, he has been pretty consistent. This past season proved to the baseball community that the slugger is not quite done yet. Although he hit for a very low average, Dunn still managed to club over 40 bombs. Knowing this, I have no problem putting Adam Dunn down to hit at least 40 this year. He will have more confidence than he did in 2012 – and will most likely be in better shape to start off the year. The White Sox might have a shot at the playoffs if Dunn can stay healthy and keep his average above the Mendoza Line.
Mike Trout: 41

Trout had 49 SB, 129 Runs 30 HRs and 83 RBI in just 138 Games. Might he improve on these numbers with a full year and the addition of Josh Hamilton to the cleanup spot in 2013?
The Angels prized possession did not even start the year with the big club, yet he still hit 30 HR. A legitimate candidate for MVP, Trout will not have a problem hitting 41 HR this season. The protection for Trout in Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton makes this argument even more convincing. I could see Trout driving in 100 runs this year and winning the MVP. Just like Dunn, Trout needs to maintain his health. With Trout, Hamilton, and Pujols running on all cylinders, the Angels will not have a problem reaching the playoffs after failing to do so in 2012. The Athletics and Rangers will not be a match for the powerful offense that now includes Josh Hamilton.
HRs 2012 (Explicit Music Lyrics-Parental Guidance Advised)
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 6, 2013

Ryan Braun is once again having his name swirl around a PED scandal. And like before, he is insisting his innocence.
On this edition of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I talk about PED’s, why the conversation is exhausting and why Brewers’ star Ryan Braun is reminding me of Cary Grant in the Alfred Hitchcock film North by Northwest.
Aroldis Chapman – Starter Or Closer: Perhaps 2013 Will Solve The Answer?
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Chapman was filthy dominant in the 2012 season, with a 1.51 ERA, WHIP of 0.809 and 38 Saves as the teams closer. He made the ALL-Star Team, finished 8th in NL Cy Young Voting and 12th in NL MVP Voting. Will moving him to starter be a mistake?
By Matt Steinmann (Reds Correspondent): Follow @thesteinmann
The biggest question from Reds fans this offseason has been if the move from the bullpen to the rotation is the best move for Reds pitcher, Aroldis Chapman and the team. Why fix what isn’t broken? Does he have enough pitches? Can he pitch enough innings?….the answer to these and all of the questions you can think of is pretty simple; we’ll find out.
This plan wasn’t something the Reds came up with overnight, when he was signed to a 6 year $30 Million deal in 2010 it wasn’t to close ballgames. It was to eventually be a member of the rotation. In 2010, the rotation consisted of Aaron Harang, Edinson Volquez, Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto, and Homer Bailey. Out are Harang and Volquez, in are Mat Latos and Mike Leake, who looks to be the odd man out in 2013 for Chapman. In his final season for his Cuban team, Chapman pitched 118 Innings as a Starting Pitcher, which won’t nearly be enough for the Major Leagues. The only taste of Chapman as starter against at least some semblance of Major League hitters came last year in Spring Training before closer Ryan Madson suffered a season-ending elbow injury. Chapman went 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA, striking out 17 in 18 Innings, walking only 2.
Aroldis Chapman – Fastest Pitcher ever recorded at 107 MPH:
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