Monthly Archives: February 2016
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 17, 2016
From San Francisco, I talk about the crap I keep getting from Giants fans about Pablo Sandoval and why those same fans will miss Tim Lincecum.
It is a “Love Those Even Years” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Projected Top 5 Save Leaders In The American And National League For MLB 2016
Craig Kimbrel is still about as filthy as they come in nailing down games in the Majors. With 225 Saves and a 1.63 ERA in the last 5 years of his career, this 27 year old flamethrower brings his talents to Beantown and a top rated club. Last year was the 1st season he didn’t lead the National League after four consecutive years of leading the Senior Circuit. He still managed 39 Saves for a 74 win San Diego team. Since the Red Sox are going to be somewhere in the 90 win range, Kimbrel should at least be in the mid 40’s in Saves again for 2016.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Figuring out the Saves Leaders for the 2016 year is a lot easier to project than the Holds Leaders we did last week. Perhaps the easiest to discern is also the National League.
Since I projected 7 teams will win 90+ games in the Senior Circuit I have listed 5 teams with their Closer out of the fold there. I did however, leave out Hector Rondon and Mark Melancon.
I feel the Bucs may trade Melancon despite being in a position to make the playoffs. I also think the Cubs will blow out a ton of clubs this season in games, and therefore not need Rondon to lockdown a 3 run or under lead.
This is the same reason why I won’t label Roberto Osuna for the top 5 in the American League either. It is also not unfathomable to see the Jays go with Drew Storen to close down games.
I fully think that Craig Kimbrel will lead the entire Major Leagues for the Boston Red Sox as their Closer.
I may have gone with Aroldis Chapman on the list as well, however his pending suspension for his domestic violence call in should see him riding pine for at least 25 games. The New York Yankees should still lead the Junior Circuit for total team Saves.
Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 16, 2016
Credit R. Scott Rogers
Phil Hecken and Jim Vilk return to the podcast for more uniform talk, including a few potential styles for the Washington Nationals.
It is a “Don’t win with ugly uniforms” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Follow Phil Hecken on Twitter by clicking HERE
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 15, 2016
For today, Episode 1210, I FINALLY got my brother Ted on the show.
Ted is a successful TV writer (Supergirl, Revenge, Rissoli and Isles). We grew up together watching baseball and reading comic books.
We talked about whiffle ball, buying hats and making terrible signs for Larry Bird.
It is a brotherly love episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Follow my brother on Twitter by clicking HERE.
For Part 2 of my conversation with Ted – click HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 14, 2016
ESPN
It is time for the Sunday Request.
@sullybaseball Sully please do the ‘Phil Hecken discussion on what the best Indians uniform would be’ podcast. Can’t wait for that!
— Heavy Sid (@heavy_sid) February 4, 2016
Today I am bringing on Uniwatch editor Phil Hecken back to the show along with writer Jim Vilk to talk about the confusing uniform history of the Cleveland Indians.
It is a no tradition traditional episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Follow Phil Hecken on Twitter by clicking HERE
The MLB Reports + BBBA Are Actively Seeking Bloggers To Join Staffs
Interested in Joining the Baseball Bloggers Alliance? Email Us, BaseballBloggersAlliance@Gmail.com
The Baseball Bloggers Alliance was founded in 2009 with the purpose of encouraging collaboration and communication among bloggers from across baseball. As a secondary goal, the Alliance also votes on various awards at different times in the year.
Why becoming a member of the BBBA can help?
You get a instant follow plus always are able to tweet to Follow @mlbreports (13.9 K followers) and the BBBA also has (2.7 K Followers) for guaranteed RT’s. Follow @baseballblogs
Each member can also use the @baseballblogs twitter feed to send out their own links at anytime by using tweetdeck.com If you are approved for the BBBA, you will receive an invite for this.
You could have your blog featured on our bbba.work website and/or mlbreports.com.
It takes only about 5 minutes to copy and paste a paragraph back to your original site from one of your articles – and you reach 16.6 K Twitter Followers and 2.4K Facebook followers, hundreds of our email followers will be emailed the link, plus a ton of more views will arise from google search engines.
Your BBBA membership has never had more people working to help enhance your site. Take advantage. Use our social media platforms. Several of our members (new and old) have done this and it has grown their sites views.
If you are serious, please read the requirements in our constitution here.
If you are interested in the BBBA, and feel you meet the criteria please e-mail the president of the organization Chuck Booth – baseballbloggersalliance@gmail.com, or at his personal email, at mlbreports@gmail.com.
The BBBA can also be found on Twitter at @baseballblogs (official hashtag is #BBBA) and Facebook.
Playoff Bound Teams Spend Smart
Ground Rule Triple Blog (Featured Baseball Website/groundruletriple.com)
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The teams that make the biggest moves in the offseason, giving out huge amounts of money for an aging star or deal three prospects from your future of the franchise for a “proven” star, almost never are the teams that make it to the playoffs.
Rather the teams that do make it are the ones that make smaller under-the-radar moves that are cost-effective options that turn out to pay huge dividends.
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Gavvy Cravath: From Slugger To Hard Hitting Judge
Andrew Martin (Featured Baseball Writer/Owner baseballhistorian.blogspot.ca)
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Before Babe Ruth, perhaps the most feared power hitter in baseball history was outfielder Gavvy Cravath. Leading his league in home runs in six of his nine full major league seasons during the Dead Ball Era, the right-handed hitter struck fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers across baseball.
Despite his near-Hall of Fame career, it turned out to be his work as a judge after his playing days were over that ended up most defining the intimidating slugger.
The History Of MLB Dynasties
Ground Rule Triple Blog (Featured Baseball Website/groundruletriple.com)
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It’s hard for a team to reach and win the World Series, and it’s even harder to return in multiple years and form a true dynasty.
Baseball might be the one professional league that has the most parity among its teams today where its ball clubs can go from last-place finishes to World Series winners in just a single season.
But there’s been times where a team has utterly dominated for a stretch of years in the MLB, as well. So, let’s take a look at the past, present, and future of potential MLB dynasties.
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Why It Is Time To Allow Marijuana In Baseball
Jordan Gluck (Part Owner/Featured Writer): Follow @jgluck777
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Why Its Time To Allow Marijuana In baseball
The Green Revolution has become a hot button topic recently constantly becoming one of the most recommended issues people have wanted national politicians including potential presidential nominees to talk about.
The issue is about to get really get on the hot stove as it could potentially be on the ballot in a dozen states and potentially pass in a couple of state legislators. Off those states include baseball hotbeds Arizona, Florida and California which not only all have major league teams but minor league affiliates as well.
As it currently stands players on a 40 man roster dont face penalties more than fines for smoking weed but players in the minor leagues (and for now D1 Colleges) face extreme penalties starting at 50 games.
Below is a quote I took from a Yahoo Sports article:
“Most stories about weed and baseball are rather funny.”
Like guys smoking their way onto the 40-man roster. Or the big leaguer who wrote a check for twice the size of his fine to cover the next one. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 13, 2016
AP
A tweet I wrote about Billy Martin.
He was going to manage the @Yankees in 1990 before he was killed, setting in motion the events that led to Joe Torre pic.twitter.com/K3jmUblXtZ
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 13, 2016
It got an interesting response.
@sullybaseball Joe didn’t manage them until 6 years after that WTF you talking about?
— applehead (@apple_head2000) February 13, 2016
I admit my phrasing was not that clear. But trust me, the chain reaction of events that went from Billy Martin’s death in 1989 to the hiring of Joe Torre is clear, if not direct.
It is a “connecting baseball to the meaning of the universe” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Don’t Cry For Players That Were Given The Qualifying Offer: And Are Not Being Signed
The Players of the MLBPA will have their chance to collectively bargain the rule of Qualifying Offer after the current CBA ends at the end of this year. Despite hearing a ton of groaning on radio airwaves from MLB hosts, the problem is just not as dire as they project. I may say they are trying to shock their audience for 24/7/365 programming. I argue the point that the ‘QO’ is not that bad. The Draft Picks assigned for the players should not dissuade teams from singing them, as the percentage of picks 11 – 30 of the 1st Round do not have a huge conversion rate in the Majors that would trump these players current production anyway.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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I will spare a ton of rhetoric and cut right to the chase. 3 out of the 20 players are still without a deal that were linked to the Qualifying Offer of $15.8 MIL in November. This not egregious in any way in my view.
Dexter Fowler, Yovani Gallardo and Ian Desmond all could have taken the deal, played one more year and then hit the open market again. Heck, they still can, but probably are not going to get in the vicinity of that cash for a one year deal with a Draft Pick nailed to it.
If anyone is to blame it is their agents. This is simply the price of doing business.
Desmond for sure has no one to blame when the Nats hit him with a 7 year deal worth $107 MIL prior to 2014. Don’t you think he would love a Mulligan on that one? Read the rest of this entry
Dear Atlantis Casino: I Am Coming Right Away To Throw Down Some Cabbage On Your 2016 MLB Team Over/Unders!
It is time to start placing bets on what you think all 30 MLB Clubs will do victory wise. I can only hope that Atlantis Casino in Las Vegas keeps these win totals before I come crashing through the door with a bag full of dough to bet tonight. While I agree with their stance on the American League for the most part, their National League prognostications border on dumb.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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2016 MLB win totals over / unders – baseball futures
Forget Prospects When Your Window Is Open To Win With Good (To ALL – Star) MLB Players Available!
I am sick and tired of hearing about Draft Picks being coveted by clubs, and in particular with the picks 11 – 30th having to be given up as compensation for signing a guy who was extended a Qualifying Offer. Prospects turn into Suspects in a real hurry. Only 4 or 5 out of the picks 11 – 30 contribute significantly within 4 years usually. Meaning if your roster is poised to win right now, go ahead and burn your pick by signing proven players that can help your squad right now!
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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I can’t stand it when I hear that ready to win Major League Clubs are holding off on good Free Agent Signing because of a pending Draft Pick in the coming MLB Amateur Draft being forfeited.
For current organizations like the Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers, KC Royals, Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants – all of them project to be contenders in 2016 except the O’s, and the last 6 clubs listed here are acting on that – while the 1st 4 are not.
Let me kind of qualify that. The Jays did in 2015 – and may do so in 2016. The real truth will be told by the August.1 Trade Deadline. Not picking up a top end rotation guy by then will hurt their chances to win in the last few months and definitely in the playoffs. Read the rest of this entry
2016 NL Cy Young Award Candidates
Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports
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The Senior Circuit had a very close Cy Young race last season when Zack Greinke’s 1.66 ERA and 19-3 record went against Jake Arrieta’s 1.77 ERA and 22-6 record and Clayton Kershaw’s 300 strikeouts.
Arrieta beat out Greinke and Kershaw in the end but if it was any other year, there’s a good chance any of the other two would’ve won it. So who will be the NL Cy Young in 2016?
This year’s class will have a tough job of surpassing the statistics of last year’s finalists, but who knows?
Past Cy Young Winners
Bartolo Colón (2005 Angels; Padres): The 42-year-old Bartolo Colón will be returning to the Mets this year where he’s expected to fill that back-end rotation spot until Zack Wheeler returns in 2016. His most recent productive season was 2013 when was an All-Star.
After Wheeler returns, Colón won’t have a spot in the young Mets’ rotation and it’s highly unlikely he’ll be able to contend for the Cy Young at age 42.
BBBA Members Audio Podcasts + Links This Week
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast Follow @sullybaseball
(Sully has a Streak of 20 minute shows everyday since Oct.24/2012) |
(1207th Straight Day With An episode)
What the hell are the Angels doing?
It is a “far from heaven” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 12, 2016
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 11, 2016
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 10, 2016
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 9, 2016
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 8, 2016
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 7, 2016
Top 5 Projected MLB Holds Leaders (AL + NL) In 2016
With so much uncertainty in the air about Mark Melancon’s fate with the club, I can’t pick Tony Watson to win this category for a 2nd straight year. He was also the runner-up in the 2014 season. I say he is the Closer in the 2nd half of the year. His teammate Jared Hughes will get plenty of opportunities all year in late inning relief.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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It is time to get our fantasy teams ready in 2016. Because of the long winter year for certain players, the Relievers market has a pile of roster moves to go down before opening weekend in April. There are some guys that could make the list, but I am itching to write my list.
For the reasons I was just talking about, Jeremy Affeldt, Matt Thornton, Casey Janssen, Manny Parra, Eric O’Flaherty, Tommy Hunter, Franklin Morales, Neal Cotts, Nathan Adcock, Wesley Wright, Matt Capps, Sergio Santos, Ryan Webb and Joe Beimel won’t appear – although only a couple of those guys are even relevant to the Holds stat.
The biggest questions to think of include trade possibilities. Will the Pirates trade Mark Melancon? If this happens, NL Leader of Holds last year, Tony Watson, may see some time as the Closer for the Bucs. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 11, 2016
It has been 11 years since Jose Canseco published “Juiced.” What is the book’s legacy?
It is a performance enhanced episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
WBC Qualifier 1: New Zealand no match for South Africa
Blog was done by Chris Kabout, click the link to follow to his original post
Three Reasons Why Miguel Cabrera Is A Top 10 Fantasy Pickup
Cabrera is already the Active leader for Career Batting Average among players. He has a .326 Lifetime Average for the Tigers. Provided he can maintain relatively healthy, he should make it into the top 5 ALL – Time for Hits – with a chance for 4000 Hits if he can be dominant for the next 3 – 4 seasons..
Ground Rule Triple Blog (Featured Baseball Website/groundruletriple.com)
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Opening Day is in less than 2 months. So that can only mean one thing: time to think about fantasy baseball! Check out to see how Miguel Cabrera could do in 2016 MLB Fantasy.
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Songs You Hear The Most At The MLB BallParks
Who can forget Neil Diamond singing Sweet Caroline at Fenway Park right after the Boston Marathon bombing?
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
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I saw a ton of MLB games live last year. 224 to be exact. I spent a lot of time listening to music at the park before and after the game.
I was also fed a steady dose of ‘Uptown Funk’ by Bruno Mars, ‘Shake It Off’ by Taylor Swift, and if I hear “Shut up and Dance with me” one more time by Walk the Moon, I am just going to snap.
Baltimore played the best music at the yard hands down. They were huge into Silento’s Whip, Nae-Nae, but also one can’t not love the “Thank God I’m a country boy” (which I have seen played numerous times at Kauffman Stadium as well.”
During several games at Camden Yards they also played “(Apache – Jump On it”) by Sugarhill Gang, and this little number is played every where.
I started to think of the most common played tunes at the park.
Rob Base’s and EZ Rock’s “It Takes Two” is routinely played at baseball venue’s after a doubleplay. Michael Jackson’s “Wanna be Starting Something” seems to find its way onto the audio deck when a rally is started. Read the rest of this entry
The White Sox Need To Sign 1 Of Fowler Or Desmond To Stay Competitive
The White Sox have had a decent offseason – however every team that was near or beneath them in the standings have also upgrade their rosters going into 2016. With a need for an upgrade for the OF, and the chance to put forth an incredible homer-centric Infield, I would love to see them go after Ian Desmond, and or Dexter Fowler.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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I like the moves the White Sox have done in the offseason. The only problem is what the Royals and Tigers also have done this winter will make it tough for Chicago to keep up.
The Pale Hose finished a disappointing 76 – 86 in 2015 – and almost 20 games behind Division winner KC for the AL Central.
2014 winter moves of Adam LaRoche, Jeff Samardzija and Melky Cabrera just didn’t work out like they thought.
Despite the poor results off those player acquisitions Rich Hahn acquired Todd Frazier and Brett Lawrie so far in the hot stove this year, and also inked catchers Alex Avila and Dioner Navarro as key moves.
I love this aggression – and even believe that LaRoche and Cabrera will have bounce back seasons for the White Sox this season. Cabrera was pretty decent in the 2nd half, and LaRoche suffered the Adam Dunn NL to AL syndrome.
Having said this already, the Royals are sitting with a talented squad as reigning World Series Champs, and the Tigers added Jordan Zimmermann, Justin Upton, and bushel full of relievers and Cameron Maybin.
There is no doubt in my mind that Detroit will be much better than their cellar dweller 2015 campaign.
The White Sox have a decent pitching staff in its entirety. Maybe not as talented as the Cleveland Indians, but the Tribe doesn’t have the sticks as Chicago either.
KC has the best bullpen in the Division, and will rely heavily on it again with their grinder offense backing it up.
Minnesota has a ton of young offensive superstars in Miguel Sano, Brian Dozier and Byron Buxton, yet also lost team leader Torii Hunter.
Chicago is still spending at a decent clip – having a budget of near $123 MIL so far, but Detroit has crept up to near $200 MIL, and KC has paid for its title, by going near the $140 MIL team salary barrier. Read the rest of this entry
2016 AL Cy Young Candidates
Ground Rule Triple Blog (Featured Baseball Website/groundruletriple.com)
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Spring Training is right around the corner and that means the start of 2016 baseball! Of course with every season, there are the wins, championships, and awards.
I’d like to continue looking at awards’ candidates for 2016 with the American League Cy Young award.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 10, 2016
John McGraw is a towering figure in baseball. He deserves a statue as much as anyone in baseball. Plus I ask my listeners for some help.
It is carved idol episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Odds To Win The American And National League In 2016 MLB Action
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Spring time is coming fast and frequent and now we are seeing daily odds placed on the League Champions for the 2016 MLB Season. In most cases I hate picking these odds since the World Series odds tend to be more valued for the punters.
But sometimes it is still easier to prognosticate an AL Or NL winner instead of winning the whole thing. 14 clubs in the Junior Circuit are in play in my view, as are 9 potential Senior Circuit squads.
If you are here to wager on the A’s, Reds, Brewers, Braves, Phillies, Padres or Rockies for the upcoming season you are certainly delusional about baseball betting. However if you are only wishing to bet a few dollars, than who really cares. Read the rest of this entry
2016 Dynasty/Fantasy Baseball League Starting Pitching Rankings
Trey Rose (Featured Fantasy Baseball Writer/Owner – dynastydigest.sportsblog.com) Follow @Dynasty_Digest
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I am still working on my new statistic to value pitchers in dynasty leagues, so in the meantime, I will post my personal rankings.
The following rankings are for dynasty leagues.
Dynasty leagues keep the same roster every year following the initial draft.
These leagues place significantly more value on younger players, which is why my rankings may look different from a lot of other fantasy baseball rankings online.
If you have any questions, tweet me Enjoy! To read the rest of the rankings, click the link below:
Please Sign The Petition For Bob Feller For The Presidential Medal of Freedom
(Featured Baseball Website/216clevelandgirl.blogspot.com/) Follow @clevelandgirl23
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Bob Feller has got to be the one Cleveland Indians player who I most wish I could have seen live. But alas, I was born in the wrong time.
I can’t even say I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him. but I have read a multitude of stories about our beloved Rapid Robert, and I know what an icon the man is, not only to the Indians franchise, but also to baseball as a whole.
therefore I, 216clevelandgirl, am going to plead with you–yes you, the person reading this right now–and ask you to please sign a petition that the Cleveland Indians started to award Bob Feller the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Feller willingly put his baseball career on hold after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and became the first professional baseball player to join the U.S. Navy during World War II.
His bravery and courage earned him the rank of Chief Petty Officer. After Feller returned, he refused to be recognized as a hero, stating, “I’m no hero. heroes don’t come back.”
Youngsters Making An Impact In 2016; American League Central
By Shane Kay (Featured Baseball Writer/sonsof84.mlblogs.com) Follow @sonsof84tigers
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With spring training around the corner, 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 yesterday and will move through division by division. Today we look at AL Central…
Chicago White Sox
Carlos Rodon, LHP – The 23-year old first round (3rd pick) draft pick, had created a ton of buzz coming into last season.
Rodon ultimately started out in Triple-A Charlotte before being called up to make his Major League debut on April 21st.
Although shaky at times with control issues, Rodon really put it together at the end of the season in his last 9 starts; he was 5-2 with a 2.28 ERA, .209 average against with a 8.7 k per 9 rate.
In total, Rodon was 9-6, with a 3.75 ERA, 1.443 WHIP in 139.1 innings, but it’s that last 9 starts that showed what he could really do.
2016 NL Rookie Of The Year Candidates
Ground Rule Triple Blog (Featured Baseball Website/groundruletriple.com)
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Now on to the Senior Circuit! In 2015, NL Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant led an impressive crop of players that included Maikel Franco, Randal Grichuk, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Duffy, Jung-ho Kang, Kyle Schwarber and Joc Pederson. Which 2016 NL rookies will break out this year? Let’s take a look…
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2016 AL Rookie Of The Year Candidates
MLB Reports 
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