Category Archives: MLB Podcast Network

Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 9, 2016

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Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press

 

Does Albert Pujols have a shot to become the new Home Run King?

And if he does, will he get any love for it?

I am all about love in this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 8, 2016

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BRYAN R. SMITH – NY DAILY NEWS

Is Derek Jeter connected to PEDs? People’s attitudes towards PEDs, users and accusations have everything to do with their own personal opinions of the players… even Saint Derek Jeter.

It is all about perceptions in this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 7, 2016

VLADIMIR GUERRERO TIM RAINES

AP Photo

The day after the Hall of Fame announcement has me looking at the candidacy of Vlad Guerrero and Tim Raines for next year.

Time to campaign on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 6, 2016

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AP – Reuters

Mike Piazza and Ken Griffey Jr. are in. Tim Raines came oh so close.

These are my Hall of Fame predictions and reactions are thoughts.

Those plus my Alex Gordon observations on this episode of;

 The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 2, 2016

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AP File

Major League teams should have a Triple A team that can expand their regional appeal. Some teams have their teams way too far away.

Send them to the farm on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 1, 2016 (Includes All 30 MLB Teams Written New Years Resolutions)

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Happy New Year. 2016 has begun and we will have 366 episodes this year.

As I do every January 1, I give a New Years resolution for each of the 30 teams.

Let old acquaintance be forgot on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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Chapman To The Yanks Means ‘New York’ is In It To Win It For 2016

Aroldis Chapman is the most dominant Left Handed Reliever in the game right now - and is heading to the Bronx with the 2 other top Strikeout Ratio artists in Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances.  The Yankees will be able to hold down plenty of leads.  But this deal means more than just the player coming to New York.  It is the first time we have seen the brass step up to say we are going to win this thing in 2016.  Look for subsequent moves to be made now that this is the mindset.

Aroldis Chapman is the most dominant Left Handed Reliever in the game right now – and is heading to the Bronx with the 2 other top Strikeout Ratio artists in Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances. The Yankees will be able to hold down plenty of leads. But this deal means more than just the player coming to New York. It is the first time we have seen the brass step up to say we are going to win this thing in 2016. Look for subsequent moves to be made now that this is the mindset.  Chapman has 1 Year of Arbitration left before hitting the open market next winter).

Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) 

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We have given Brian Cashman a lot of flak about how he has run the Yankees in the last half dozen year or so.  While I like the Aaron Hicks and Starlin Castro deals, this is the first deal where I felt the Pinstripers were serious about winning again.

Read about the deal for Chapman from MLB Trade Rumors

Everyone will be proclaiming them the best 1/2/3 knockout punch in late inning relief in the entire Majors.  You will also hear a ton of things about Strikeout Rates – and historical Bullpens.

You will also hear a lot about player integrity and character.  Since when do the Bronx Bombers ever care about whether a guy has some off field issues?

What I took out of yesterday’s deal is that the brass has given the green light to play ball in 2016.

With a payroll reaching $220 MIL now (easily payable with a team that makes as much as the Yankees), who cares if the team spends another $25 – $30 MIL after the Chapman deal? Read the rest of this entry

Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 25, 2015

xmas

Recorded while everyone was asleep and waiting for Santa, I talked about how many of the things on my baseball Christmas wish list have already come through.

I have a few more wishes however, and some are very easy to fulfill.

It is the very special Christmas episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 24, 2015

Todd Radom, the famous and prolific sports graphic designer, joins the podcast.

We talk about logos, hats, our 1970’s nostalgia and I attempt one of his uniform and logo quizzes.

It is a throw back design episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 23, 2015

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Fleer

Glenn Braggs, former Cincinnati Reds outfielder, is my guest today.

We talked about his time in 1990 World Series, his dramatic catch in the playoffs and he reveals which teammate had a hand grenade in their locker.

It is a World Champion episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 22, 2015

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Baseball Hall of Fame

I help a town in North Carolina honor Hoyt Wilhelm and finally Wade Boggs will get his number retired by the Red Sox.

Meanwhile I fight my allergies.

It is a small deed leading to good things episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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Teams That Should Take Advantage Of A Weak Penalty For The Luxury Tax In 2016

In the last year of the current CBA, there is potentially only one more year to take advantage of a feeble penalty as a first time abuser in 2016. With Boston set to join the Dodgers and Yankees as abusers, I took a look at other teams who should consider the 2016 campaign as a rare gamble to dole out some cash in seeking a World Series trophy before the new CBA is authored in prior to the 2017 season.

In the last year of the current CBA, there is potentially only one more year to take advantage of a feeble penalty as a first time abuser in 2016. With Boston set to join the Dodgers and Yankees as abusers, I took a look at other teams who should consider the 2016 campaign as a rare gamble to dole out some cash in seeking a World Series trophy before the new CBA is authored in prior to the 2017 season.

Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part-Owner) 

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The Boston Red Sox might just be on to something.  They will be penalized for the 1st year of going over the new $189 MIL limit in 2016, but it is also the last year the CBA may have the percentages.

Currently right now, there is a 17.5% penalty for spending dollars over $189 MIL.  The Dodgers and Yankees are the only other teams that are budgeted over the mark in addition to Boston.

On the cusp are the Detroit Tigers, sitting at around $177 MIL – while the Giants and Angels are nearly at $170 MIL.  The Cubs are also near the $165 MIL area.

Why not spend like crazy in 2016 – and take advantage of the system as it is presented towards you? Read the rest of this entry

Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 17, 2015

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Marvel Studios

What are the Dodgers up to?

Is the team falling apart and letting the other NL West clubs, like San Francisco and Arizona, take over? Or are they building something that we can’t quite see right now but will be dominating.

It reminds me of Tony Stark in the cave during the first Iron Man movie. He built something powerful right under everyone’s noses and turned failure into victory.

Maybe that’s what the Dodgers are doing.

Avengers Assemble for this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 15, 2015

 

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Jamie Squire / Getty Images

I thought the Dodgers interest in Johnny Cueto was risky.

Now he signed with the Giants. I get the deal. Huge potential reward. Gigantic risk.

It also means the end of the Tim Linceum era.

Meanwhile Pete Rose is back in the news again and Serena Williams needs to compete with a horse.

Go ahead an bet on today’s episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 11, 2015

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Will the Dodgers panic and sign Johnny Cueto to a long term deal? If they do, then why didn’t they just keep Zack Greinke?

Meanwhile the Giants are taking a more low key approach.

It is a Dodger blue episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 27, 2015

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Photo Credit – Brian Wilmer

We came so very close to having a major league team whose stadium was in South Carolina.

Their ballpark was built in 1990. By 1992, it was totally obsolete.

It is a parallel universe episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 26, 2015

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Baseball Hall of Fame

Today I give thanks to the Pilgrims… specifically the Boston Pilgrims, whose victory in the 1903 World Series paved the way to baseball in its current state.

It is the Thanksgiving episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 22, 2015

Marc Serota/Getty Images

Marc Serota/Getty Images

It is time for the SUNDAY REQUEST.

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The chain reaction of Bud Selig playing favorites with the fraternity of owners can still be felt. The new commissioner needs to step in and save the Miami Market.

You can’t collude on THIS episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

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On The Trading Block In The NL East

The Phillies have not had a winning season since 2011 after putting forth a decade straight of them. A promising second half to the season - couple with full seasons by Aaron Nola and Maikel Franco could have them inch closer back to achieving that mark in the next few years.

The Phillies have not had a winning season since 2011 after putting forth a decade straight of them. A promising second half to the season – couple with full seasons by Aaron Nola and Maikel Franco could have them inch closer back to achieving that mark in the next few years.

Jordan Gluck (Part Owner/Featured Writer): 

Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter 

On the Trading Block NL East

Atlanta Braves: The Braves have quite a few players that they can trade and under John Hart you don’t know what direction they will go in this offseason.

Can they be in a position to compete moving into the new Sun Trust Stadium next year or is it a longer term rebuild

I think this team really isn’t 2 bad and could compete for a wild card this season with the addition of a 3B (Rio Ruiz?) and consistent starting pitching.

However it is clear their sights are not set on this season but on the future as indicated by their trade of Andrelton Simmons. Read the rest of this entry

David Oritz Is Retiring After 2016: It Is A Perfect Time To Eliminate The DH!

David Ortiz has been the quintessential DH in the AL over the last 15 years. Boston is in contention perennially because he put up great #s compared to his competition. Realistically, only he and a few other players are even at the All-Star level, and if given the choice if there were no DH slot in the game, I guarantee you their teams would brave their physical defiencies - in order to keep their bat in the lineup. The AL has had the Designated Hitter Position since the start of the 1973 season.

David Ortiz has been the quintessential DH in the AL over the last 15 years. Boston is in contention perennially because he put up great #s compared to his competition. Realistically, only he and a few other players are even at the All-Star level, and if given the choice if there were no DH slot in the game, I guarantee you their teams would brave their physical deficiencies – in order to keep their bat in the lineup. The AL has had the Designated Hitter Position since the start of the 1973 season.  But that was before Free Agency where the American League has an advantage for signing top guys because of the DH slot, and then there were no Interleague Games, where the AL has a 12 year winning streak, and is routinely posting over a .540 Win Percentage against.

Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Onwer) 

Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter 

David Ortiz has announced he is retiring after the next season.  Thus ends the greatest Left Handed DH of ALL-Time, (sorry Harold Baines).

The Designated Hitter Position has been taking a hit for effectiveness more and more over the last several years, and more teams than not use it as a rest for veterans.

Listed on MLB.com, only 5 DH’s qualified for the Batting Title race in 2015.

Billy Butler had a crappy year.

David Ortiz started slowly being hampered by the new foot in the box rule, before settling in to a 37 HRs and 108 RBI campaign – with a .913 OPS. Read the rest of this entry

Toronto Should Sign A Free Agent Slugger/Leadoff Guy Then Flip Encarnacion: Blue Jays State Of The Union 2016

The Blue Jays ended the longest MLB playoff drought in 2015 - and made it to game 6 of the ALCS. With losing David Price and Mark Buehrle after this year, how should the team work this off year? I say they should treat 2016 as World Series or bust. Sign a bopping Left Handed Bat, or at least a left handed Leadoff Batter, and then trade everyone they possibly can at the Deadline for a run at the World Series. After next season, Edwin Encarnacion and Joey Bats are also Free Agents. More onus to go for it this upcoming year.

The Blue Jays ended the longest MLB playoff drought in 2015 – and made it to game 6 of the ALCS. With losing David Price and Mark Buehrle after this year, how should the team work this off year? I say they should treat 2016 as World Series or bust. Sign a bopping Left Handed Bat, or at least a Lef Handed Leadoff Batter, and then trade everyone they possibly can at the Deadline for a run at the World Series. After next season, Edwin Encarnacion and Joey Bats are also Free Agents. More onus to go for it this upcoming year.

Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) 

Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter 

The Jays are coming off an awesome year for the franchise.  Yet all of this coincided with them losing GM Alex Anthopoulos and may see David Price and Mark Buehrle not return in 2016.

This offense and fielding defense is hands above the rest of the Division right now.  With the Yankees holding off father time in 2015, they may not be able to do it in 2016, and the Red Sox not having enough resources to sign a pile of Free Agents in the winter, the only Canadian franchise should be favored heavily to win the AL East in 2016 right now.

For the organization there within lies a dilemma.  The team is on the cusp of a championship so how do they add the last pieces? Read the rest of this entry

Its Time For Boston To Break From Philosophy + Sign An Ace: Red Sox State Of The Union 2016

The Red Sox will need to spend some money on Pitching this season. But don't be surprised if they overstock on a few more offensive pieces in the lineup, and then use some of their prospects to obtain even more pitching. They orchestrated a trade for Closer Craig KImbrel on Friday. A bona fide shutdown guy with 225 Career Saves and an ERA of 1.63 lifetime. The winter has just started for the Beantowners.

The Red Sox will need to spend some money on Starting Pitching this season – and preferably and ace.. They orchestrated a trade for Closer Craig Kimbrel on Friday. A bona fide shutdown guy with 225 Career Saves and an ERA of 1.63 lifetime. The winter has just started for the Beantowners.  With many veterans currently aging, and the young nucleus all being under team control, the time to capitalize on the higher drafting as a result of finishing last in the AL East 3 times in 4 years is right now.

Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) 

Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter 

Okay, for years the Boston Red Sox would never pay for a #1 Starter on the Free Agent Market – even their owns. They traded away Jon Lester prior to trying to resign him in 2014, and it backfired on them when he hit the Free Agency market not having played his entire career in Boston.

For the most part, I have agreed with the idea of not paying a guy as an ace.  Here is the problem..The team had finished last in the AL East 3 of the last four campaigns, and that is unacceptable.

You add in Ben Cherington doling out long term deals to Rick Porcello, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval in the last year, and all had bad years.  So the temptation may not be to sign anyway.  Again, wrong.. You are the Boston Red Sox.

Well mired in the lower tiers of records the last 4 years (except for the 2013 season), the club has accumulated a great deal of talent in the Minor Leagues.

The franchise is in great shape heading forward, but this comes down to the right time to strike on the rest of the league. Read the rest of this entry

MLB Top Free Agent Predictions (Picks 1 – 25)

The Red Sox will need to spend some money on Pitching this season. But don't be surprised if they overstock on a few more offensive pieces in the lineup, and then use some of their prospects to obtain even more pitching. They orchestrated a trade for Closer Craig KImbrel on Friday. A bona fide shutdown guy with 225 Career Saves and an ERA of 1.63 lifetime. The winter has just started for the Beantowners.

The Red Sox will need to spend some money on Pitching this season. But don’t be surprised if they overstock on a few more offensive pieces in the lineup, and then use some of their prospects to obtain even more pitching. They orchestrated a trade for Closer Craig Kimbrel on Friday. A bona fide shutdown guy with 225 Career Saves and an ERA of 1.63 lifetime. The winter has just started for the Beantowners.

Jordan Gluck (Part Owner/Featured Writer)

Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter 

MLB Free Agent Predictions

I will be using mlbtraderumors.com top 50 free agents to make things easy. To be clear there are other free agents outside this list (some who I think should be on it) who will be available and many could have breakout or comeback seasons.

Additionally there will be players that get non tendered during arbitration. Well so here are my predictions.

 

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MLB Top Free Agent Predictions (Picks 26 – 50)

Matt Wieters accepted the 1 Year Qualifying Offer with the Baltimore Orioles. He joined both Colby Rasmus and Brett Anderson as the 1st 3 men to ever accept the 'QO' under the new format. Marco Estrada was also taken off off the market Friday, accepting a 2 YR/$26 MIL deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Matt Wieters accepted the 1 Year Qualifying Offer with the Baltimore Orioles. He joined both Colby Rasmus and Brett Anderson as the 1st 3 men to ever accept the ‘QO’ under the new format. Marco Estrada was also taken off off the market Friday, accepting a 2 YR/$26 MIL deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Jordan Gluck (Part Owner/Featured Writer): 

Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter 

MLB Free Agent Predictions

I will be using mlbtraderumors.com top 50 free agents to make things easy. To be clear there are other free agents outside this list (some who I think should be on it) who will be available and many could have breakout or comeback seasons.

Additionally there will be players that get non tendered during arbitration. Well so here are my predictions.

Players 1 – 25 link

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30 MLB Teams Needs/Notes And Financials For The Offseason

Perhaps no team is more top-heavy than the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They need a Catcher/3B/OF/2B and have Erick Aybar, C.J. Wilson and Jered Weaver clearing off the books after next campaign. It is an important off year for them.

Perhaps no team is more top-heavy than the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They need a Catcher/3B/OF/2B and have Erick Aybar, C.J. Wilson and Jered Weaver clearing off the books after next campaign. It is an important off year for them.  Will they spend a lot of money, or will they wait until next winter?

Jordan Gluck (Part Owner/Featured Writer): 

Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter 

Team Needs notes and financials

Braves: need 4/5 SP depth Setup/Closer type and Catcher budget 15-30M -but will likely save huge splash signings for next years new stadium.

Marlins: maybe 1B Could trade Marcell Ozuna and sign an OF will likely acquire 2 SP one of them being a #2 starter the other lower end. needs lefty reliever. Budget 10-25M.

Mets: Could trade Matt Harvey or Jon Niese/Need MI (at least 1)/ and a big bat for Yoenis Cespedes replacement. Budget 20 -30M.

Phillies: Needs all over especially SP Needs all over offense except SS and 3B Bullpen can use beefing up 10-100M Budget don’t know what they are going for but should wait for next season to make some game changing moves new GM.  Unknown philosophy could sell Odubel Herrera high.

Nationals: 7th/8th inning man maybe SP (Would only be high end) Possible CF. Budget could be -10M to upwards of 30M.

Cubs: SP 3/CF/RF/CL. if needed but not urgent Quagmire at 2B High end SP a priority Should acquire shutdown closer. 40-80M budget. Read the rest of this entry

Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 10, 2015

MARK J. TERRILL/AP

MARK J. TERRILL/AP

It is Sunday and time for The Sunday Request!

 

Look, success is NEVER a bad thing, even if it comes ahead of schedule.

I also wish a Happy Mothers Day on Episode 929 of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

Jon Niese, Wei-Yin Chen, Edwin Encarnacion, Khris Davis, Mike Trout, Chase Anderson and Matt Holliday all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball?

 

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 9, 2015

Getty Images

Getty Images

Remembering the moments where both teams had a chance to clinch at the same time. Plus my brother witnesses another grand slam

It is a paying respect Episode 928 of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

Jered Weaver, Cole Hamels, Ian Kinsler, Bryce Harper, Alex Gordon, Jimmy Nelson, Ryan Braun and Roberto Hernandez all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball?

The link to my article about clinching can be found here.

 

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 26, 2015

Matt Slocumb - AP

Matt Slocumb – AP

The AL East is wide open and Rangers fans need to welcome Josh Hamilton back with open arms.

That and more on Episode 915 of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

Matt Harvey, Angel Pagan, Wei-Yin Chen, Jimmy Paredes, Justin Upton, Michael Brantley, Rubby De La Rosa and Daniel Norris all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball?

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 11, 2015

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900 straight days with an original podcast every single day. Not a bad showing.

Today’s episode was recorded on the campus of The University of Idaho, a state that is not exactly a major league baseball hot bed.Neither is Iowa and it will never become a big baseball state if insane blackout rules continue to take effect.

Do you know what piece of video entertainment baseball is competing with? ALL of it. Best not make it harder to get eyeballs.

It is a 90% of the way to 1,000 episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.

Xander Bogaerts, Joey Votto, Tommy Milone, Brandon Morrow, Anthony Rizzo, Kevin Kiermaier, Chasen Shreve and Tim Lincecum all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball?

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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 10, 2015

Photo: Patric Schneider, AP

Photo: Patric Schneider, AP

A no hitter was nearly thrown, Matt Harvey returned and gum became a controversy.

Man I love the regular season.

That insanity and more on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast

Matt Harvey, Xander Bogaerts, Edinson Volquez, David Wright, Pedro Alvarez, Odrisamer Despaigne and John Ryan Murphy  all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball?

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