Monthly Archives: November 2014
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 30, 2014
It is time for The Sunday Request.
@sullybaseball what level of achievement is needed for the Sandoval trade to be seen as a success for both parties? Less than WS berth?
— En Æ Wakeman (@wakemanna) November 25, 2014
How will the Sandoval trade work out?
It is more than just looking at the numbers. Fans have to love and embrace him and there needs to be a “Sandoval Game.”
It is a tall order broken down on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 29, 2014
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Josh Donaldson was traded? WHAT?
The A’s sent their MVP candidate for 4 players including 3 minor leaguers who could be great or could fizzle?
Forget the evergreen podcast I had ready to go.
This is an emergency episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast!
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 28, 2014
The A’s and Marlins are reminding me of scalpers and someone could fleece the Padres
It is another “Stuck at the airport” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 27, 2014
Stuck at the airport at Thanksgiving, I began to think about potential Cespedes deals and why the Cole Hamels trade is so critical for the Phillies.
It is a give thanks for our blessings episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 26, 2014
USA Today Sports
The Giants are moving on from Pablo Sandoval. And with the money they saved, they could fill a lot of holes and be back to the playoffs before you can say Joe Panik.
It is an out with the old and in with the new episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 25, 2014
AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
The Mariners signed Kyle Seager to a big contract, assuring the Mariners will have yet ANOTHER All Star to play a decade with them.
So when are they going to win a pennant?
It is a Pacific Northwest episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 24, 2014
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
It looks like the Red Sox are signing Pablo Sandoval to a big huge long term deal. And your pal Sully, a life long Red Sox fan, is NOT happy.
It is a “You heard it here first” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 23, 2014
It is time for The Sunday Request.
@sullybaseball @AceballStats where do you think he’d rank all-time if he didn’t take time off to serve in the war?
— Nicholas Leavenworth (@NikoliHabibulin) November 18, 2014
Had Ted Williams not missed 3 years of his prime and 2 more seasons of solid numbers, his final stats would still put him among the best of all time.
I guess that made him an even bigger bad ass serving our country.
It is an episode of hypotheticals on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
The History Of Extreme Ballpark Chasing (1993 – 2013)
The days of not being able to visit all MLB parks in consecutive days ended in 1993, when the Rockies were introduced, and enhanced even more with the Arizona Diamondbacks entering the league in 1998. In the last 15 years, several people have tried to see all 30 MLB parks in under a month. Some successful, some broke some rules, and one guy even bought this website 6 months after he set the World Record for visiting all 30 MLB Parks in just 23 Calendar Days – completing 7 Doubleheaders.
Ballpark Chaser definition: Someone who is actively pursuing quests to view Baseball Parks.
Guys talked about in this Article: Completely Insane!
By Josh Robbins (Special Guest Writer And Co – Creator for The Factor12 Rating Pitching Metric.) Factor 12 (F12) is an analytic measurement utilizing league average performance to compare the value of all MLB pitchers on 60ft6in.com.
View original post 2,049 more words
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 22, 2014
Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports
Driving to San Jose Airport, I struck up a conversation with my dad about Pablo Sandoval and whether or not he will end up with the Red Sox or Giants.
Why have a private conversation when you can turn it into a podcast?
It is father and son episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Yankees Off-Season Outlook: Big Shoes To Fill For Jeter, But How Do They?
By Nicholas Delahanty (MLB Reports Writer) Follow @Nick_Delahanty
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The 2015 off-season is very important for the New York Yankees, as they have a lot of major questions surrounding their current roster. With an aging roster and the return of recently reinstated Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees have some holes to fix, but those issues might not be their biggest concern this off-season.
We all knew the time would come, but no one was ready to start talking about how the Yankees would replace Derek Jeter. Jeter leaves very big shoes to fill in the Bronx, and the Yankees must try their best to find a successor who can not only handle the pressures of New York, but also can step up and produce.
Filling the void might be difficult at first, as past experiences have shown that Yankee fans are very impatient when it comes to replacing some of the best to wear the Yankee pinstripes. The only legitimate shortstop on the roster, Brendan Ryan, won’t be the Yankees everyday shortstop in 2015, so the Bronx Bombers must go through the trade market or free agency to fill a void that right now is larger than life.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 21, 2014
The brilliant Mike Nichols died the other day.
The maestro was so brilliant and prolific in his career that he would have been a legend even if he had never directed The Graduate, which was the Citizen Kane of comedies.
His career reminded me of Branch Rickey’s, who transformed baseball in ways that are still felt today and would have been one of its greatest pioneers even if he never broke the color barrier.
It is another strange comparison episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 20, 2014
Comedian and friend of Sully Baseball, Poppi Kramer, joins the podcast to continue her conversation about her love for the Mets.
She likes to think of herself as an Esoteric Lunatic. I can’t argue with her.
It is an F— bomb filled episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Follow Poppi on Twitter by clicking HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 19, 2014
AP Photo -Scott Strazzante / San Francisco Chronicle
Thinking of the good will already in the bank with the fan bases, I hope Jon Lester goes back to Boston and the Panda returns to San Francisco.
It is a “go where the love is” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 18, 2014
The Marlins make a long term deal for Giancarlo Stanton to win over fans in the short term.
The Cardinals make a short term deal for Jason Heyward to keep fans for the long term.
It all makes sense.
Recorded from outside Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, it is the latest episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Russell Martin Inks A Deal With The Jays (5 YRs/$82.5 MIL) In A Classic Overpay
Russell Martin is a great game caller – and has been on teams making the playoffs in 6 of the last 7 years between LAD/NYY and Pit. He will turn 32 before next season, and has logged 1163 Games in the Majors as a backstopper. Signing him to a 5 Year deal, at $16.5 MIL per annum is not wise..
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Jays Acquire Russell Martin
I get it, the guy may help you for the next 2 years, but to spend $82 MIL on a 5 year contract for a Catcher north of 30, who doesn’t have 20 HRs per year is beyond stupid.
Keep in mind, you are now paying him more cash than you pay Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, Those were steals for deals on signings, but that will be now trumped by Martin.
I will say the man will help the Pitching Staff in the future years. Honestly though, this team needed to sign an ace pitcher like Max Scherzer or Jon Lester, and at the least, a proven innings eater like James Shields. Now you have effectively killed that chance.
The Blue Jays better hope that Justin Smoak can fill the bill at DH in a tandem with Dioner Navarro or Juan Francisco in the upcoming year, because as it stands right now, they are very heavy at the Right Handed side of their lineup.
Bautista, Encarnacion and Lawrie are all right handed, as is the newly acquired Catcher.
They still don’t have a bonafide LF yet, with Melky Cabrera as a Free Agent, and Dalton Pompey is just 22, to be given the reigns as a permanent CF is not 100% ironclad. Read the rest of this entry
Stanton’s Deal Will Set Off A Collective Groan For Small To Mid Market Clubs
Giancarlo Stanton’s new 13 Year Deal worth $325 MIL has got to be a red flag for other small to mid market franchises who are looking to extend their own talent. Everything is a cumulative effect on another when a deal like this goes down. Many teams are going to be asked to grant contracts of more than 10 plus years, and for ridiculous sums of money.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Giancarlo Stanton signing his whopper of a deal has to be shaking the foundation of all but the many low to mid level market’s boots. He just raised the bar on what young franchise players will make in terms of years and dollars, Not good.
Arizona you better thank the lord you inked Paul Goldschmidt before he took off in his career,. The same can be said for Andrew McCutchen in Pittsburgh and Chris Sale in Chicago. All among the better valued deals in the game right now.
These 3 would all enter in the top 25 contracts of ALL – Time if they were Free Agents on the open market presently…. Meaning at least $135 MIL for a deal in the 6 to 7 year window. Read the rest of this entry
Giancarlo Stanton Signs Record 13 YRs/$325 MIL Deal, Will He Be Worth It? + Top 50 Salary Deals ALL – Time
Giancarlo Stanton, who will turn just 25 in a few days, ended the year with the HR crown at 37 and added 105 RBI in just 539 AB before having his season ended with a Hit By Pitch. With the big slugger due for huge Arbitration awards in the next few years, the club started bargaining withe their young superstar towards a long-term contract once the year was over. They came up with a record breaking 13 Year Deal worth $325 MIL at the end of it. Stanton also holds his own ticket for the future as well, with a full no no-trade clause, and an opt year after the 2020 campaign.
Chuck Booth (Lead Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
With the ink not even being finalized on the historic deal between the Marlins and Giancarlo Stanton, it has been confirmed the deal is for 13 years at a clip of $325 MIL.
Among the provisions includes a no-trade clause, and an opt-out after the 2020 season, which would be 6 years into the deal.
It will be interesting to see how the dollars are broken up per year. If I were Stanton, I would have wanted for the Annual Average money be even throughout the pact, otherwise I may be leery of the club trying to let him walk out after the 6 years – by not having a competitive club.
Although, if it is back end loaded the team would certainly have the flexibility to spend more cash on their current roster for the next 6 campaigns, Tough dilemma for sure to be in.
No matter how long the 2014 NL MVP runnerup stays in South Beach, this is a smart business transaction for the franchise, regardless of the outcome. It just may backfire from a baseball operational sense in terms of finances for signing other players too.
The Miami Marlins had to do this contract to save face from the 2012 break up of the squad. Now while the big blockbuster trade has given the team the ability to contend for a playoff spot in the near future – and was a smart organizational move, as the fans also have been sold a bill of goods from the Marlins ownership since day 1 of the teams existence.
This is a marketing plan as much as anything that will be brought forth by the baseball impact. Stanton is the marquee player on the team, and trading him away in the next 2 years would have had a devastating effect on the fanbase.
One isn’t sure whether they can sustain enough revenues to produce a winning product on the field for an extended period of time, however having the most dynamic power hitter in your lineup for the next 13 years will be a nice reason to come to the yard. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 17, 2014
How should the San Diego Padres try to rebuild their team?
Should they grab any free agent bat they can get?
Or should they deal their valuable pitchers?
Recorded from PetCo Park in San Diego, it is the latest episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
The Evil Empire Is About To Crumble In The Bronx!
With almost $100 MIL tied up in contracts for Sabathia, A-Rod, Teixeira and a potential Tommy John Surgery candidate in Masahiro Tanaka, this New York squad is in some deep trouble for next season. Despite the recent playoff misses, and injury prone players brought in by Brian Cashman, the club saw fit to grant him a 3 year extension last month. It may take a small miracle for them to make a playoff spot next campaign.
The Evil Empire Is About To Crumble In The Bronx!
Jordan Gluck (Featured Writer): Follow @jgluck777
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Yankees have long used the prolong success of the “core four” to drive them to go far in the playoffs. They then surrounded them by free agents and other homegrown players.
Today the Yankees are in some trouble and if they aren’t smart this offseason they will remain hampered by large contracts for a long time instead of a quick retool to be VERY competitive in two years.
Let me show you what I’m talking about
Here is their Starting lineup and their ages:
LF Brett Gardner 31
3B/2B Martin Prado 31
CF Jacoby Ellsbury 31
C Brian McCann 30
RF Carlos Beltran 37
1B Mark Teixeira 34
DH Alex Rodriguez 39
2B Robert Refsnyder 23 (Or acquisition at 3B, Prado plays 2B)
SS Brendan Ryan 32
Not exactly Spring chickens over there. The only player under 30 is one that will almost absolutely be replaced by someone who is most likely over 30. This at this moment isn’t exactly a star studded lineup, but the way that their being paid might make it seem that way. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 16, 2014
CNN
It is Sunday, which at The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast. means it is time for the Sunday Request
@The_Tooth_Hurts Listen on Sunday to the Sunday Request where I will answer this question
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) November 14, 2014
Of course pitchers should be eligible to win the MVP.
But the winners need to be announced BEFORE the playoffs begin. In fact they can track the voting like the Presidential elections.
If they can tabulate a nationwide election in one day, why not the post season awards?
It is an election coverage episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Why Boston Should Do What It Takes To Sign Pablo Sandoval: He Could Eventually Replace Ortiz!
Pablo Sandoval is a hitter out of his mind for his playoff career. How does a 3 Slash Line of .344/.389/.545 sound? His OPS of .935 is 124 PTS higher than his totals in the regular season. “Kung-Fu Panda” has added 6 HRs and 20 RBI in his 154 AB. Included in his numbers, were a historical Game #1 of the 2012 World Series, where he clubbed 3 HRs en route to sweeping the Tigers can roll out. This latest World Series triumph, the rotund 3B set a playoff record with 26 base knocks (hitting .366 – with a .423 OBP for the October season). There is no doubt that when the game is on the line he has been proven clutch. Boston should think of him as a possible long-term DH replacement for Ortiz, meanwhile he would be a big jolt out for the 3B position on Boston right now. Signing him would free the franchise up with several infielders if they were so inclined to pull off a trade with the likes of Mookie Betts, Will Middlebrooks and Brock Holt. Perhaps they could receive a Starting Pitcher for these guys.
Chuck Booth (Lead Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Picture the year 2017 when David Ortiz may finally retire,, Who will be the Designated Hitter for the Boston Red Sox? They will be huge shoes to fill, for what has been a great advantage over the rest of the American League for the last dozen years.
There is no coincidence that Boston finally kicked their 86 year drought, and have enjoyed 3 World Series Titles since “Big Papi” entered the scene.
If you think about it for a second, Kung-Fu Panda and Ortiz have a lot in common. Both have won 3 World Series, and have been integral parts of the offenses that brought home the titles.
Both don’t look like they are athletes considering their body frames, however these guys have provided the most clutch hits in the sport for the last 10 years.
The Boston Red Sox need to add hitters to their lineup for sure. Yes right now they have Yoenis Cespedes to hit behind Ortiz, however he will be taking his talents to Free Agency after this next campaign.
Can the Beantowners count on a comeback year for Allen Craig or Shane Victorino?
Inking the 3B would create even more tradeable pieces to add in a deal to acquire another Starting Pitcher ace. Read the rest of this entry
With V – Mart’s 4 YR Deal For $68 MIL, The Market Threshold Is Set For Nelson Cruz
Victor Martinez has thrived offensively in Detroit hitting behind Miguel Cabrera. Aside from the 2012 injury where he missed the whole season to a broken ankle. V-Mart’s 3 Slash Line for the Tigers is .321/.381/.487 – with 58 HR and 289 RBI in 1706 AB for the squad. 2014 was the last year of the 35 year old’s 4 YRs/$50 MIL deal. There was no guarantee the Tigers could afford to bring him back for 2015 or beyond because of the chance they would move Cabrera to DH in a few years. However, the “Motown Boys” will have the best Designated Hitter in the game right now, back in the fold for the next 4 campaigns. The one person who may not like the $ portion of the contract is Nelson Cruz, who is seeking a deal of 5 years at above the dollars per year V-Mart just reeled in.
Chuck Booth (Lead Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Yesterday Victor Martinez finalized re-signing with the Detroit Tigers for 4 YRs/$68 MIL. This both was a great deal for the “Motown Boys” and also set a likely threshold for Free Agent DH slugger Nelson Cruz.
The Orioles DH/OF must not be happy with the amount of cash that V-Mart signed with, because there is no way he should reach that stratosphere.
2014 Stats
Victor Martinez (35): .335/.409/.565, with 32 HRs 103 RBI and only 42 SO in 561 AB.
Nelson Cruz (34): .271/.333/.525, with 40 HRs 108 RBI and 140 SO in 613 AB.
Career
Martinez: .306/.373/.475
Cruz: .268/.328/.501 Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 15, 2014
Justin Edmonds / Getty Images
I can not tell you for sure what is going to happen with Giancarlo Stanton’s career.
One thing I DO know is that in 13 years, he will NOT be a member of the Marlins.
That and other brave predictions of today’s Sully Baseball Daily Podcast
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 14, 2014
AP Photo – Eric Gay
I propose a trade before the 2015 season between two broken down former MVPs owed $60 million.
The Yankees should trade A-Rod to the Phillies for Ryan Howard.
Which side turns down that trade?
Which side is burned?
Also MVP thoughts and Cy Young winner Corey Kluber is NOT an All Star on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 13, 2014
Universal Studios
Detroit Tiger fans need to treat 2015 like it is a Toga Party.
Also thoughts on the Cy Young award and remembering Alvin Dark on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 12, 2014
See this Giants shirt? It is kind of obnoxious but true for this decade.
Do the Giants want to keep up this winning? Then they have some work to do this off season.
It is a keep the dynasty going episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Baseball Book Review: My Ballpark Summer: What Taking Myself Out To The Ballgame Taught Me – By Alicia Barnhart
Chuck Booth (Lead Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I don’t read many baseball books, heck, I have written more books in the last 6 years (3), than I have actually read (2). This book I finished awhile back and is subject of today’s Book Review.
The book is called “My Ball Park Summer: What Taking Myself Out To The Ballgame Taught Me.” It is authored by Alicia Barnhart. You can follow her brilliant blog at http://www.ballparksonabudget.com
I first met Alicia online earlier this year and was impressed at her knowledge of the baseball parks. After a few brief discussions, and following her on twitter Follow @alicia_barnhart , I realized she ventured to all 30 MLB Parks during the summer of 2012. Coincidentally, this is the same year I broke my own record for ‘attending all 30 MLB Parks” in 23 days.
Miss Barnhart is among a small percentage of ballpark chasers that have actually seen all 30 parks in one year, and she is the only woman that I have ever seen to do them all by herself in one baseball campaign.
Why I was drawn to buying her book, is that I wrote a book “The Fastest Thirty Ballgames” in chronicling my previous record trips (2008 and 2009) for 30 MLB Park tours in 2011.
Again, Alicia is part of a small percentage of people that have compiled a book based on her baseball journey to all of the baseball stadiums.
I purchased the E-Book format from Amazon (In the Kindle Reader). The cost was $3, which itself lends to her motto of “Ballparks On A Budget”, and I started to read about her baseball quest. It was such an intriguing read, I never finished reading it until I ran out of pages on my computer screen. Read the rest of this entry
Baseball News Of The Week, Baseball News Of The Weak, Baseball News That Wreaks
Joe Maddon signing with the Cubs to skipper the club for the next 5 years/at $5 MIL per annum is the biggest story of the hotstove season so far. He is also the clubhouse leader of adult beverages bought, although we will still give the consumed adult beverage lead to Madison Bumgarner.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Welcome to the new offseason segment. I will try to do this once again. It has been a slower winter than the previous two years, however it is starting to pick up.
Anybody miss the live action yet? Yes there is still the Japan exhibition series and the Arizona Fall League, but for the people like myself, I live and die for the major league action.
I would much rather watch Major League Baseball any day of the week. It is not that I begrudge anyone for attending Minor League attendance, heck in some campaigns, the Minor Leagues have outdrawn the MLB.
This will be sort of like the good, the bad and the ugly from (insert show here). Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 11, 2014
Getty Images
Why haven’t the Rays hired Dave Martinez to be their manager yet?
And where the hell are they going to wind up playing?
It is a Tampa centered this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
MLB Reports 
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