Monthly Archives: February 2016
Youngsters Making An Impact In 2016; National League West
Shane Kay (Featured Baseball Writer/Owner – sonsof84tigers.mlblogs.com Follow @sonsof84tigers
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Position players are in camp and games are just around the corner! For the last week, we;ve been taking a look at a couple of young players for each team that I think will have a larger impact in 2016.
We started with theAmerican League East, moved to the AL Central, hit the AL West, swung it to the National League East, NL Central and today we take our final look at the NL West!
Arizona Diamondbacks
Archie Bradley, RHP – This one is part pipe dream and part reality as I’m not sure Robbie Raywill hold the 5th spot all year.
Bradley had been on top prospect lists since 2012 and finally made his debut in 2015 with Arizona and started off with four strong starts where he was 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA, but was hit in the face by a line drive by Carlos Gonzalez that knocked Bradley unconscious for 3-minutes.
Bradley made his way back two weeks later, but it was pretty clear he wasn’t the same pitcher. His ERA ballooned to 5.80 by June 1st and Bradley was sent to the minors shortly after.
The potential is there and Bradley showed it, if it wasn’t for bad luck, who knows what would have transpired last year and who knows if Bradley will be the pitcher he once was after this trauma.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast Archives Apr.1, 2013 – Apr.30, 2013 (Episodes 160 – 189)
Paul Francis Sullivan (please call him Sully) does a podcast 365 days a year – unless it is a leap year – then he will do another 1. He has done a show everyday since Oct.24/2012. This to date represents a streak of 1216 days consecutively!
Past the CLICK TO READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY are episodes 160 – 189 of the Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
We will also archive all of his podcasts to date (in coming weeks) so they are easily accessible for all his fans. Check out all his Archived info here.
Our website followers have grown larger each year for his podcast.
Follow Sully Baseball On Twitter Follow @sullybaseball
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE. Read the rest of this entry
Youngsters Making An Impact In 2016; National League Central
Shane Kay (Featured Baseball Writer/Owner – sonsof84tigers.mlblogs.com Follow @sonsof84tigers
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Spring training camps are up and running with games just around the corner and we’re taking a look at a couple of young players for each team that I think will have a larger impact in 2016.
We started with the American League East, moved to the AL Central, hit the AL West, swung it to the National League East and today we touch on the NL Central. Keep on reading as we go division by division!
Chicago Cubs
Kyle Schwarber, OF – I’ve got Schwarber on this list for numerous reasons. The first of course is his power potential and seeing that over the length of a season (played 69 games in 2015).
Second, we’re going to see a more disciplined hitter I think. Schwarber as a minor leaguer carried a .333 batting average in his two seasons, but only hit .246 with the Cubs, and struck out 28% of time in the Majors compared to 20% in the Minors, so adjustments will be made.
Additionally, Schwarber had a very good .842 OPS for Chicago last year, but his Minor Leaguer career shows room for improvement as well where he had a 1.042 OPS.
The main focus for Kyle this year though, will have to be working on hitting lefties much better, as he hit just .143 off of them, with just a .481 OPS in 61 plate appearances. This is one guy I am seriously excited to watch grow this year.
Is This The End Of Cliff Lee?
Ground Rule Triple Blog (Featured Baseball Website – groundruletriple.com)
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Philadelphia Phillies’ Cliff Lee works against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 6, 2013, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
The 37-year-old’s career might be over, after his agent remarked that Lee’s camp “doesn’t anticipate him playing at this point”.
It was reported earlier in the offseason that there was plenty of interest in the veteran left-hander, but Lee has stated before that he would only pitch if it was the perfect situation for him.
READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY 349 more words
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 23, 2016
Rick Scuteri / USA TODAY Sports
The Cubs are the team to beat.
Read that sentence again. It seems strange to think about it, doesn’t it?
But seeing that they are the team to beat, don’t be surprise of someone beats them!
It is a don’t mention the Billy Goat episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
What To Expect From The Dutchies This Year? Andrelton Simmons
Chris Kabout (Featured Baseball Writer – Owner www.yankeebiscuitfansdutchblog.mlblogs.com/) Follow @dutch_ball
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With Spring Training here, it is time to see how the players from the Kingdom of the Netherlands will do in the upcoming season.
Of course there is no crystal ball and it is still up in the air, but in general you can make a decent prediction based on the performance of previous years.
Andrelton Simmons, new shortstop of the Anaheim Angels (sorry, I refused to call them Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), was acquired in a trade with the Braves that sent Erick Aybar, Sean Newcomb, Chris Ellis and cash to the Braves.
Since the Braves are shedding salary and have two top prospects at the position of shortstop in the minors, they could make this move. One of the prospects is Simmons’ fellow countryman from Curacao, Ozainho Albies.
But with Aybar, they can let Albies mature a bit in the minors before calling him up.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 22, 2016
Today is part 2 of my conversation with Ted Sullivan, TV writer and producer who also happens to be my brother.
It is an all in the family episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
For Part 1 of my conversation with Ted, click here
Twins Roster Make Up From 2006 – 2015
John Swol (Featured Baseball Website – twinstrivia.com)
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
We are on the cusp of a new baseball season and that means that Spring Training is underway and players from all over the world including peach-fuzz faced rookies and grizzly old veterans are beginning their fight for a MLB roster spot, they want to be one of the 750 players on a 25-man roster participating in “The Show“.
Some players are already guaranteed spots, others will win a job, and still others will get a job because someone else had the misfortune to get injured.
Baseball fans all over have been watching free agency, hot stove league action as well as play in the winter leagues and everyone has their own idea what each of the 30 GM’s should have done and what they can still do to improve the home team.
One of the fun aspects of spring training is pretending to be the GM and manager and decide who gets to make the 25 man roster for the big trip up north when April rolls around.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast Archives Mar.1, 2013 – Mar.31, 2013 (Episodes 129 – 159)
Paul Francis Sullivan (please call him Sully) does a podcast 365 days a year – unless it is a leap year – then he will do another 1. He has done a show everyday since Oct.24/2012. This to date represents a streak of 1216 days consecutively!
Past the CLICK TO READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY are episodes 129 – 159 of the Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
We will also archive all of his podcasts to date (in coming weeks) so they are easily accessible for all his fans. Check out all his Archived info here.
Our website followers have grown larger each year for his podcast.
Follow Sully Baseball On Twitter Follow @sullybaseball
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast Archives Feb.1, 2013 – Feb.28, 2013 (Episodes 101 – 128)
Paul Francis Sullivan (please call him Sully) does a podcast 365 days a year – unless it is a leap year – then he will do another 1. He has done a show everyday since Oct.24/2012. This to date represents a streak of 1216 days consecutively!
Past the CLICK TO READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY are episodes 101 – 128 of the Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully starting posting his daily podcasts at the mlbreports.com on Feb.6, 2013. We will also archive all of his podcasts to date (in coming weeks) so they are easily accessible for all his fans. Check out all his Archived info here.
Our website followers have grown larger each year for his podcast.
Follow Sully Baseball On Twitter Follow @sullybaseball
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE. Read the rest of this entry
2016 AL MVP Candidates
Ground Rule Triple Blog (Featured Baseball Website – groundruletriple.com)
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We’ve taken a look at Rookie of the Year candidates as well as potential Cy Young’s. It’s time to look at the Most Valuable Player award, starting with the Junior Circuit as always!
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 21, 2016
JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES
It is time for the Sunday Request.
@sullybaseball Do you think that Pablo will help eat up ground on the other AL East contenders? Nice off season working out, Kung Fu Whale.
— Pat Tarantino (@PATJAY13) February 18, 2016
Yup. Pablo Sandoval is fat. He was fat. He is fat. He may always be fat. And that is no way to win over fans.
That and some spring cleaning on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast Archives Jan.1, 2013 – Jan.31, 2013 (Lost Eps 70 – 100)
Paul Francis Sullivan (please call him Sully) does a podcast 365 days a year – unless it is a leap year – then he will do another 1. He has done a show everyday since Oct.24/2012. This to date represents a streak of 1216 days consecutively!
Past the CLICK TO READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY are episodes 70 – 100 of the Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully starting posting his daily podcasts at the mlbreports.com on Feb.6, 2013. So we will add the dates between Oct.24, 2012 and Feb.6, 2013 in case you missed any of his awesome 1st 105 episodes.
But we will also archive all of his podcasts to date (in coming weeks) so they are easily accessible for all his fans.
Our website followers have grown larger each year for his podcast.
Follow Sully Baseball On Twitter Follow @sullybaseball
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE. Read the rest of this entry
Alex George: The Teen Baseball Phenom
Photo courtesy of http://www.kansascitybaseballhistoricalsociety.com
Andrew Martin (Featured Baseball Writer/Owner – baseballhistorian.blogspot.ca) Follow @historianandrew
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
What would be tougher? Being good enough to play major league baseball but only get in to five games? Or having all of those five games come before your 17th birthday?
Only one person knows that answer for sure, and its former shortstop Alex George, who reached the pinnacle of his baseball career as a teenager in the autumn of 1955.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast Archives Dec.1, 2012 – Dec.31, 2012 (Lost Eps 39 – 69)
Paul Francis Sullivan (please call him Sully) does a podcast 365 days a year – unless it is a leap year – then he will do another 1. He has done a show everyday since Oct.24/2012. This to date represents a streak of 1215 days consecutively!
Past the CLICK TO READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY are episodes 39 – 69 of the Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully starting posting his daily podcasts at the mlbreports.com on Feb.6, 2013. So we will add the dates between Oct.24, 2012 and Feb.6, 2013 in case you missed any of his awesome 1st 105 episodes.
But we will also archive all of his podcasts to date (in coming weeks) – so they are easily accessible for all his fans.
Our website followers have grown larger each year for his podcast.
Follow Sully Baseball On Twitter Follow @sullybaseball
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE. Read the rest of this entry
Reed And Flores Happy To Still Be Mets In 2016
If things had played out differently – perhaps to Mets on the club wouldn’t be. But Wilmer Flores and Addison Reed are – plus are looking forward to a 2016 season in Flushing Meadows, NY.
Freddy Vasquez (Featured Baseball Writer/Owner – metshotcorner.com) Follow @metshotcorner
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Addison Reed spent only a mere two months with the New York Mets, but within that time frame he went from playing for Arizona with no hopes of making the postseason, to making an appearance in the 2015 World Series.
Wilmer Flores says his ankle is 100% since the injury and that 2015 will be a season he will never forget thanks to the fans.
Can The Miami Marlins Be The Ones To Disrupt The NL East Narrative This Season?
The Miami Marlins have not had a winning season since finishing 87 – 75 in 2009. With some deft maneuvers and the right allocation of team salary (like the latest Chen signing) – this club could contend in the NL East with Atlanta and Philadelphia both rebuilding. With all questions pointing to how Jeffrey Loria will behave if they were in contention halfway through, it will be an entertaining season.
Matt Musico (Featured Baseball Writer/Owner – chinmusicbaseball.com) Follow @mmusico8
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Heading into 2015, the narrative in the NL East was mostly focused on the Washington Nationals being heavy World Series favorites. Narratives are great, but they don’t always hold true once the season actually starts.
We all know how this one turned out. Instead of Bryce Harper and the Nats in the Fall Classic, it was David Wright and the New York Mets.
With 2016 officially kicking off as teams begin reporting for Spring Training, there’s a new narrative surrounding the NL East. It’s now about this division being a two-horse race between these squads, leaving the other three out in the proverbial cold.
For the Miami Marlins, they’re hoping a strong finish to 2015, a new manager and a full season of Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez can help them crash the party and be the second consecutive team to disrupt this narrative.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 20, 2016
Photo: Daniel Lippitt DFP
Tony Phillips passed away on Friday. I pay tribute to a man who may have played at the wrong time.
That and more on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast Archives Oct. 24, 2012 – Nov.30, 2012 (Lost Eps 1 – 38)
Paul Francis Sullivan (please call him Sully) does a podcast 365 days a year – unless it is a leap year – then he will do another 1. He has done a show everyday since Oct.24/2012. This to date represents a streak of 1214 days consecutively!
Past the CLICK TO READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY are Sully’s 1st 38 episodes of the Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully starting posting his daily podcasts at the mlbreports.com on Feb.6, 2013. So we will add the dates between Oct.24, 2012 and Feb.6, 2013 in case you missed any of his awesome 1st 103 episodes.
But we will also archive all of his podcasts to date (in coming weeks) so they are easily accessible for all his fans.
Our website followers have grown larger each year for his podcast.
Follow Sully Baseball On Twitter Follow @sullybaseball
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE. Read the rest of this entry
Youngsters Making An Impact In 2016; National League East
Shane Kay (Featured Baseball Writer/Owner – sonsof84tigers.mlblogs.com Follow @sonsof84tigers
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Spring training camps are opening up and we’re taking a look at a couple of young players for each team that I think will have a larger impact in 2016. We started with the American League East, moved to the AL Central, hit the AL West and swung it around today to the National League East. Keep on reading as we go division by division!
Atlanta Braves
Matt Wisler, RHP – The 22-year old Wisler was a highly thought of prospect in the Padres organization before being part of the Craig Kimbrel trade.
Wisler entering his age 23 season already has 19 starts (20 games) under his belt with mixed results.
Regardless, he’s young, has much to learn, but will also be a building block as Atlanta tries to return to relevancy in the NL East over the next few years.
Wisler impressed in his debut, as he went 8 innings giving up 6 hits and an earned run against the Mets for his first career win.
He was then properly hit hard in his next start against Washington where he last just 4 innings. His ERA remained a respectable 3.43 through his first 7 starts until he was shelled in for 12 combined runs his next two starts. Wisler did finish …
BBBA Audio Podcasts For The Week That Was
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast Follow @sullybaseball
(Sully has a Streak of 20 minute shows everyday since Oct.24/2012 – archives for the week listed below) |
- Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 19, 2016
- Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 18, 2016
- Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 17, 2016
- Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 16, 2016
- Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 15, 2016
- Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 14, 2016
- Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 13, 2016
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 19, 2016
Maybe it is time to retire the name Indians in Cleveland. But what should they be called?
It is a “Let’s be advanced in our thinking” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 18, 2016
Lionsgate – Millenium Films
Lots of players are still available as free agents.
Maybe they should team up and create a renegade team like The Expendables.
It is a “Loner Gun For Hire” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
New York Yankees Need To Go Full Bore To Start 2016: Seek Reinforcements Midway Through If Need Be
The Yankees were almost flawless in their 1st 33 games to start the 2015 campaign. Quick starts by Teixeira and A-Rod fueled the offense, while Miller and Betances did not yield a run in this stretch either. Pineda was 5 – 0, Tanaka was healthy, and their duo of Ellsbury and Gardner were hitting north of .300. The club was able to coast for the last 129 games of the year when injuries and age caught up to them. Considering they spent no real money in the winter, they should go for bore early in the season, and then bring in a boatload of people late via trade to compensate for injuries that will probably occur to their roster.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
On May.11, 2015 – the New York Yankees had just finished an 11 – 5 drubbing of the Tampa Bay Rays – and this led to a record of 21 – 12 to start their first 33 games. It would be important on so many levels in completing the campaign.
You see – in the next 129 games the club would go just 66 – 63 to secure the 1st Wild Card Berth.
Mark Teixeira had clubbed 11 HRs over the wall with 27 RBI. Alex Rodriguez had 8 big fly’s with many of them giving the Bronx Bombers a shot in the arm for victory.
Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances both had not yielded a run to that point. Michael Pineda was a brilliant 5 – 0, and that was about the time that Masahiro Tanaka began having health issues.
You throw in Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner both hitting well over .300 – and it was easy to see how the Pinstripers had taken off to a great start. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Reports Placed Bets: MLB Gambling 101 In 2016
I take my betting style from a philosophy used from a few decades of research. This book was one of the templates followed for success.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
So I have let my profits ride on this winter heading into futures betting in 2016 MLB. I thought I would take you into a little look on what I have thrown down so far – and what got me here over the last few seasons.
In 2014, I made 3 over/under selections (Washington over 91.5 wins, Kansas City over 81.5 Wins, and the Padres under 79.5 wins). Made a nice profit of a few hundred dollars for that – sporting a perfect 3 – 0 clip.
For my initial World Series picks in 2014, I wagered the Rangers, Rays but I was smart enough to take a +2500 preseason SF Giants selection.
Halfway through the season I plunked down some money on the Royals when they were near .500, talking of firing Ned Yost, and running at an +8000 odd to win the World Series.
I also was able to win money on the Orioles for the AL East Division, and at +5000 to win the World Series, I was able to hedge bet both KC and BAL in the 1st round of the postseason, and also the World Series. Read the rest of this entry
Perhaps It Is Time For The MLB To Adopt The ‘Boomerang Concept’ For Drafting Rounds In The Amateur Draft
The MLB should consider doing what all ‘even level playing field’ sports pools do and that is to use the boomerang method of each draft round. A team that drafts 1st in round one would draft last in round 2, before picking 1st in round 3 again and so forth. It wouldn’t alleviate tanking altogether – with the best talent still being absorbed in the top 10 most times, but it would level out the middle rounds for sure.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
We have all gone into pools/player drafts where we drew the worst card possible and then picked last. To offset the sting of this a lot – in the ‘interest of fairness’, the draft worked like a boomerang.
If there are 30 guys picking, the 30th guy picks the last selection in the 1st round, but then he is able to pick 1st in the 2nd round. Maybe it is time for the MLB to take this action for its Amateur Draft each year?
There has been so much talk about tanking by the teams like Phillies, Braves, Reds, Brewers, Padres and Rockies all following the path paved by the Cubs, Astros, Royals, Pirates, Nationals, Rays and Twins in yesteryear.
KC and Pittsburgh both had 2 decades of shame before they turned their franchises around to respectability. The Rays (once named the Devil Rays) failed to top 72 wins for the first 9 seasons since their inception to the MLB in 1998. before showcasing 80 wins for every year since 2008. Read the rest of this entry
The 2016 Red Sox Outfield Has A Lot Of Questions
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Andrew Martin (Featured Baseball Writer/Owner – baseballhistorian.blogspot.com) Follow @historianandrew
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Hopes are high for the 2016 Boston Red Sox. A strong offseason that saw them land a number of players, including beefing up a lackluster pitching staff, has optimism running high.
However, not everything is necessarily rosy. Although nary a game has been played, one area of potential concern is the outfield, which could be an area of weakness for the team if things don’t go just right.
The ‘PECOTA’ System For MLB Team Win Projections Should Be Thrown Into The ‘Woodchipper’ Fargo Style!
I wish the “PECOTA” system allowed for wagers based on their totals like Atlantis Casino did last week. Plenty of cabbage would be flung around on those totals.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
This winter has brought my attention to the gambling world more often than I ever would have guessed. I already spent an impromptu weekend in Reno/Carson City after throwing down some serious cabbage at Atlantis Casino based on their over/unders last week.
I have been fortunate to nail down two straight years in which I have turned a $1000 profit on MLB futures. For those people who have been following our Gambling 101 series of bets, this is one of the best streaks I have been on all – time, and maybe it will end with me ‘letting it ride’ this year, but I am also confident it won’t.
I only wish that PECOTA’s win totals (BY BP) would come with the ability to win moolah just like Atlantis offered.
Oh, where to begin. LOL. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The Overall Homer Crown In 2016 MLB Baseball: Battle Of The Big Fly’s
Stanton has light tower power – and should lead the NL and MLB in Homers if he can remain healthy for a whole year. In just 74 Games Played last campaign, the big slugger belted 27 HRs. The problem is always staying on the field. There is no reason to think he can’t crack 50+ HRs if he played a full season. To aid his efforts as the biggest favorite to win this years MLB Homer crown – is that Marlins Park is bringing in the fences and also lowering them.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I am flat-out wondering why these guys failed to include Chris Carter on this list? For a prolific Home Run Hitter over the last 3 years (90 bombs), this guy is getting no respect.
I mean they have Corey Seager, Matt Adams and Freddie Freeman at the +20000 clip, but no word for a guy who finished 2nd in 2014 MLB Homers?
Carter is headed to the best home run park in the Major Leagues in Milwaukee, and will not be on a competitive club, where his AB may be in question. Sure the guy might fan 250 times in 600 AB this season, but he may crack 40 taters for all we know.
I have requested this gambling website send me the odd for Carter (you can request a player that wasn’t listed), and I will get back to you shortly.
Let me start by saying that if Giancarlo Stanton remains healthy for a full year that he should definitely lead the Majors in longballs. Despite us predicting him to do this, his odd only is listed as our #5 value best bet on the board. Read the rest of this entry
6 MLB Teams Facing The Most Pressure To Win In 2016
Matt Musico (Featured Baseball Writer/Owner – chinmusicbaseball.com) Follow @mmusico8
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
With Spring Training officially starting this week at MLB team complexes around Arizona and Florida, optimism for the upcoming season is high. However, optimism also brings expectations – both realistic and not so realistic.
Whether it’s fueled by last year’s performance or the moves made (or not made) this winter, the pressure to win is higher than normal for a handful of teams.
Here’s one team from each division that needs to see results once September rolls around.
MLB Reports 
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