Category Archives: The Rest: Everything Baseball
From Cuba to Japan, Opening Day to the World Series and the WBC
Howie Rose Believes Syndergaard Is Close To Dr. K Status
Freddy Vasquez (Featured BBBA Writer/Owner – metshotcorner.com)
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Howie Rose, New York Mets radio broadcaster, was asked if he believed the hype surrounding Noah Syndergaard and if he was as electric as Dwight Gooden. Here is what he had to say:
We got there in 2013 with Harvey. That was the closest thing we’d seen to Doc. It was not only what we saw on the field, it’s the electricity that he produced not only in the stands, but in the city. What Syndergaard is doing now is just about there. I think the hype is just about for Noah where it was for Matt 3 years ago, and hopefully he has a little more linear path to success without the interruption that so many of these kids seem to have.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 28, 2016
Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images North America
How bad ARE these Braves?
I knew they were going to stink. Did ANYONE predict this level of awful?
It is a “burn it to the ground” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Dustin Pedroia, Brandon Belt, Chris Tillman, Jeremy Hellickson, Alex Rodriguez, Matt Moore and Freddie Freeman all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball yesterday.
See the updated listing of WOB on MLB Reports
Josh Robbins’ MLB Daily Fantasy Picks DFS For FanDuel 4/27/16
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Starting Pitchers (Expensive, Midlevel, Bargain)
1. Jake Arrieta ($12900) vs. Milwaukee Brewers
2. Gio Gonzalez ($9600) vs. Philadelphia Phillies
3. Steven Wright ($6900) vs. Atlanta Braves
Team Stacks
Colorado vs Jon Niese
Pittsburgh vs Jon Gray
Boston vs Bud Norris
Baltimore vs Matt Moore
BVP (Minimum 10 AB)
1. Mark Reynolds vs. Jon Niese (8-15/ 2 HR/ 1.496 OPS)
2. Matt Wieters vs. Matt Moore (8-17/ 2 HR/ 1.432 OPS)
3. Evan Longoria vs. Chris Tillman (17-51/ 7 HR/ 1.216 OPS)
Sample Lineup (Coors Field Lineup 1)
P – Steven Wright, ATL @ BOS, $6900
C – Stephen Vogt, OAK @ DET, $2600
1B – Mark Reynolds, PIT @ COL, $3300
2B – D.J. Lemahieu, PIT @ COL, $3400
3B – Nolan Arenado, PIT @ COL, $5100
SS – Jordy Mercer, PIT @ COL, $3400
OF – Carlos Gonzalez, PIT @ COL, $4000
OF – Gregory Polanco, PIT @ COL, $3800
OF – Jackie Bradley JR, ATL @ BOS, $2500
$35, 000, 000 ($0 Left)
Sample Lineup (Coors Field Lineup 2)
If you’re not familiar with the points breakdown, here’s the format utilizing a $35 million salary cap.
Scoring System: https://www.fanduel.com/spring-training?t=lobby
1 Starting Pitcher (SP)
1 Catcher (C)
1 First Baseman (1B)
1 Second Baseman (2B)
1 Third Baseman (3B)
1 Short Stop (SS)
3 Outfielders (OF)
Game Types: https://www.fanduel.com/how-it-works
50-50s
If you’re interested in playing DFS games, please use my Fanduel referral link to signup.
Please use the Referral Link for a signup bonus:
https://www.fanduel.com/?invitedby=bobadney&cnl=da
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their other partners.***
A big thanks goes out to our ‘Chief Writer/Part Owner’ Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s featured post.
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Ian Happ and Pierce Johnson showing depth of Chicago Cubs farm system
The Chicago Cubs witnessed a coming of age in 2015. Their highly acclaimed farm system saw the true rookie seasons of Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell and Jorge Soler as well as the debut of players like Carl Edwards. Somehow, the Cubs farm system is still deep and still quite elite.
While many people eagerly await the arrival of Albert Almora and the return of Duane Underwood, two former first round picks are starting to heat up on the farm for the Cubbies.
Ian Happ, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 2B
Looking to follow in Bryant and Schwarber’s footsteps, Happ was selected as the Cubs next great hitter ninth overall in the 2015 MLB Draft. He came to the Cubs with quite the resume, posting a solid three-year career at Cincinnati and two strong All Star campaigns in the prestigious Cape Cod League.
Happ became known…
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The New York Yankees Week In Review: The Good And The Bad Of Week Three
A frightening start to the week has quickly turned positive as the New York Yankees are on the verge of a sweep of division foes. I keep insisting that it is not time for fans and the Yankees to press the panic button, and the way this week has ended, it is the right course of action. Is it ugly right now? You bet, but it’s also April.
1. Can’t blame the starters this week.
As The Pooch said earlier in the week:
You get quality starts out of Pineda, Eovaldi and Severino… and get swept.
It’s true. Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi and Luis Severino came out against the first place Oakland As and threw 18 innings of quality baseball, allowing just six runs over that span. Equally impressive is that the three pitchers combined to walk just two batters.
The problem was the bullpen. Last week’s player of…
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Balk This Ump! Andy Green Gets His $300 Worth After Ejection
Trey Rose (Featured BBBA Fantasy Baseball Writer/Owner – dynastydigest.sportsblog.com) Follow @dynasty_digest Follow @mlbreports
Last night, during the San Diego Padres versus the Pittsburgh Pirates game, things got a little heated after a controversial call. With runners on second and third base, Padres’ pitcher, Colin Rea, began his windup.
During his windup, Andrew McCutchen sprinted down the third base line to distract Rea, who sped up his windup towards home plate in fear that McCutchen was trying to steal home.
The Pirates’ bench erupted as they demanded the umpires call a balk against Rea, which they did. McCutchen touched home plate to go up 2-0 in the third inning.
After the decision to call a balk, the umpires then decided to overturn the call and made the runners return to their previously occupied base.
This decision was made after the umpires discussed that Rea was going from the full windup and there is no rule against speeding up your windup in order to release the ball faster, meaning there is no balk call.
Pittsburgh’s manager, Clint Hurdle, then came out of the dugout and demanded they talk this situation over again. After a third time of talking, the umpires the reversed the reversal of the call and signaled for McCuthen to advance and score off of the balk.
This decision was made after the umpires discussed the fact that Rea’s back foot jumped off the back of the rubber during his pitching motion, which constitutes a balk.
It’s fair to say that the Padres’ manager, Andy Green, was not very happy with this decision. To see his reaction and the balk, click the link below:
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Five Minor League Prospects Who Will Be Fantasy Baseball Stars In 2016 And Beyond
Trey Rose (Featured BBBA Fantasy Baseball Writer/Owner – dynastydigest.sportsblog.com) Follow @dynasty_digest Follow @mlbreports
1. Lucas Giolito (RHP; 21 Years Old; Washington Nationals): Giolito is commonly known as the top pitching prospect in the minor leagues. After recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2012, he has done nothing but impress every baseball scout, fan, and especially the Washington Nationals organization.
Since his surgery, he has thrown 261 innings, with a 2.58 ERA, 83 walks (2.9 per nine innings), and 288 strikeouts (9.9 per nine innings). While his numbers are great, his physical projection is what makes him an elite prospect.
Giolotu stands 6’6 and weighs 255 pounds. His body-type projects for a hard fastball, a nasty slider, and an exciting future. He throws his fastball in the mid to high 90’s and compliments that with one of the most elite breaking balls in the minor leagues.
Assuming he can stay healthy, he has the ability to be a top 10 pitcher at his prime. He should get a promotion to the big leagues in 2016, but the Nationals will limit his innings this year as his career high (in 2015) is only 117 innings.
Before you know it, Giolito will be the household name in Washington, not Max Scherzer.
To see the other 4 potential stars, click the link below:
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Cards + White Sox Eliminated From MLB Shutout Survivor 2016: ALL AL Central Teams Are Also Gone
The Cardinals were shutout 5 – 0 by NL Division rival Chicago last night (in the 1st game of a 19 game head versus head this season). At least the RedBirds prevented them from scoring 3 runs, and completing the MLB Runs Scoring Survivor last night. The Cards could still finish in the top 15 depending on some outcomes coming up.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024 Follow @mlbreports
The teams are putting up zeroes faster than Vegas casino’s are padding their bottom lines now.
St. Louis couldn’t handle ex teammate John Lackey. and were effectively knocked out of the contest via a 5 – 0 loss.
The Angels wiped out the White Sox for a 7 – 0 victory on Monday night. In doing so, every club in the AL Central is now gone from MLB Shutout Survivor 2016.
Meanwhile the Padres are the squad that has been vanquished in the NL West by a Shutout so far. Yes, and they are making up for the other clubs by taking the egg-shaped number 5 separate times already.
There are only 5 teams left in the American League, and now there are 9 clubs still alive in the NL.
I am contemplating going all the way back to 1918 – in order to figure out who won this competition every year. That would be a lot easier than running through game scores for all of the seasons of MLB Runs Scoring Survivor.
With only 8 teams in play Monday night – there wasn’t much action in the MLB Runs Scoring Survivor. The only note was that the Cubs didn’t capitalize on their fist chance to complete the journey. They have another chance tonight against St. Louis (the magic number of runs is 3). Read the rest of this entry
MLB Power Rankings 2016: Week 2 – April
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_Hunter21
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Disclaimer: We based these rankings on best strength to win the World Series. Therefore some teams that have an easier division to play in, with the least path of resistance to the postseason overall may be ranked a lot higher than a club who is equally talented, yet may play in a juggernaut of a division.
The Cubs will top our list for a second straight week despite losing 2 out of 3 games to the Rockies at Wrigley Field this weekend. The biggest reason is the pitching.
Jake Arrieta is 3 – 0, and has picked up right where we he left off in 2015, and Jon Lester has thrown awesome too. The Bullpen has also been good.
The bats are too solid not to come around and gel as the season moves along. They are playing .750 baseball after a 4 – 2 week still.
Bryce Harper is the best player on the planet, and has homered in 6 straight contests at Citizens Bank Ball Park (4 overall in a row for the MLB this year.) Just were a Jonathan Papelbon last minute meltdown from going a perfect 7 – 0 for the week.
Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg. Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy are their top players – and all performing like it, the rest of the club is following through in their secondary roles. This team is scary.
I have the Royals as the top American League club. This squad is 8 – 1 in games that are not started by back end of the rotation man Chris Young.
The reigning 2 time pennant winners have company on the top of the Division to make it interesting, however this team has the better pedigree the last few years.
Some may say with a weekend series win – that the Dodgers should be put in front of the Giants, yet they are still only one game ahead of San Francisco.
With the Giants – there is no real weakness, while with the Los Angeles team, the Bullpen is not giving everyone confidence in the back half of games.
The Dodger Blue is still in the top 5, so I am high on them. Kenta Maeda could be the steal of the winter with how this guy is throwing so far. Reinforcements are starting to come back. Read the rest of this entry
Major League Baseball Honors An American Hero, Jackie Robinson
#42 – we all know what the number means.
Trey Rose (Featured BBBA Fantasy Baseball Writer/Owner – dynastydigest.sportsblog.com) Follow @dynasty_digest
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Today, April 15th, Major League Baseball honors a baseball hero named Jackie Robinson. Not only is he a baseball icon, but he is an American hero. Jackie Robinson will forever be remembered as the first professional baseball player to break the color barrier during an incredibly hard time period.
Jackie Robinson made his professional debut on April 15th, 1947, which is why today is so special to baseball history. He was the first African American ball player in the modern baseball era and broke the segregation barrier of baseball that lasted over 80 years.
Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers and played 10 years. During his 10 year career, he hit .311 with 137 home runs, 734 RBI’s, 947 runs, 197 stolen bases, and a .409 OBP. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
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Brew Crew + Rays Eliminated From MLB Shutout Survivor 2016 – (19 Teams Left): Cubs/Rangers Step Closer To Win MLB Runs Scoring Survivor 2016
It is no surprise to our website that the Rays are struggling offensively, and were finally knocked out of the Shutout Survivor competition. How does that Infield look now – with Brad Miller and Logan Morrison hit under .100 – and barely hitting the ball at all? We said they lost their 3 best Batting Average players last year (where they still finished 14th in total team offense), and also spoke of the Starting Pitching and Bullpen being overrated – and suffering talent losses as well. We are right thus far, but we will await the rest of the year.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
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I said it yesterday that last year the clubs were dropping more like flies than this year. Yesterday two more clubs were zeroed off by opponents, and thus eliminated from the MLB Shutout Survivor.
The Brewers were clipped 7 – 0 by Jaime Garcia, and Danny Salazar coupled with some brilliant late inning relief, carved up the Rays for a 6 – 0 bagel. We are still awaiting outcomes for teams that were shutout in Game 8 and Game 9 – as the Tribe is only at 7 games played themselves.
The Padres are clubhouse leaders for Shutouts against for the whole MLB, and are making history in doing so. They are the first club to score jack squat in 5 of their 1st 10 contests. Good news was they played some games at Coors Field last week – or it could have been worse.
Frankly I am amazed this squad lasting so long in this competition with what kind of lineup their putting forth on a daily basis. Milwaukee did start off the 1st 2 series at hitter friendly – Mlller Park. They were handled to the tune of just one hit yesterday in their loss by Jaime Garcia of the Cardinals – who tossed a Complete Game Shutout.
2016’s 30 MLB Park Home Openers Results: Fans Go Home Disappointed 19 Times
Best home win for all 30 clubs in winning 10 – 1 over the Milwaukee Brewers Monday Apr 11, 2016 9 runs difference was the best run differential for the home clubs.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
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It was a bad year for the home clubs in MLB Season Openers in 2016. The road clubs won 19 of the 30 MLB Park openers. The worst defeat was at Petco Park (where the Padres lost 15 – 0).
The Cardinals featured the best win for the home side, working over the Brewers for a 10 – 1 win yesterday.
Of note, it was the last home park openers for David Ortiz and the great Vin Scully announced the lineup for his last Dodger Stadium opener, in what was the 30th home opener on the itinerary.
The American League went 5 – 10 and the National League went 6 – 9.
Baltimore, San Francisco, Chicago Cubs and Detroit were the only four clubs that won openers, that also won another home opener to which they were on the road.
The Cardinals had the most lopsided win at home winning 10 – 1, the Giants scored the most runs with 12, and the biggest loss and defeat for a home squad, was San Diego being bageled 15 – 0 by the Dodgers in Game 1 at Petco, in what turned out to be a 3 game home series where they were shutout in all games and outscored 25 – 0.
To end the stats here, the NL Central was the only winning division at 4 – 1, where the Brewers lost the only contest at Miller Park to the Giants.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 12, 2016
The A’s are looking at new sites for a stadium and one could be kind of interesting.
But the simplest solution still is staring them in the face.
That and celebrating ANOTHER Nomar on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast
Chris Davis, Jeremy Hazelbaker, Collin McHugh, Michael Wacha, Mookie Betts, Nick Markakis and Brandon Finnegan all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball yesterday.
See the updated listing of WOB on MLB Reports
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Yasiel Puig: No Bravado, Just Baseball + Off To A Quick Start
Yasiel Puig is 6 for his 10 AB, with 1 HR, 2 Triples, 4 RBI and 5 runs scored through his 1st 3 games. His club outscored the Padres 25 – 0 in sweeping San Diego. This is somewhat reminiscent of 2013, when the Cuban player took the league by storm when he first made his debut. The better part if that he is doing it quietly. The 4th year player leads the league in BA, SLG and OPS through his 1st 3 games played.
Emily Siskin-Toy (Featured BBBA Writer – Owner Of The Website – behindenemylines32.blogspot.com) Follow @3BugBooks
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The Dodgers have come blasting out of the opening gates, and the “Wild Horse,” Yasiel Puig, is leading the charge. In the first three games, Puig has been on base in 9 out of 13 Plate Appearances, including a Little League home run as well as an easy three-bagger, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch where he didn’t even so much as glance at the pitcher (first time ever?).
He has also knocked in 4 runs and scored 5. Puig showed us this explosiveness when he first hit the scene in 2013, but there is something different about this Puig and it could be the key to the Dodgers’ season…
This post was done before yesterday’s game, so the full article will have information prior to.
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Trevor Story Continues To Hit The Ball Out Of The Ballpark, But How Long Will It Last?
Trey Rose (Featured BBBA Fantasy Baseball Writer/Owner – dynastydigest.sportsblog.com) Follow @dynasty_digest
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Just in case you haven’t been following the first few Major League Baseball games this year, let me introduce you to the hottest bat in baseball, Trevor Story.
Trevor Story made his major league debut with the Colorado Rockies on opening day this year. He had a very successful spring training, but no one expected him to produce like has throughout the first three games of his career.
In his first three games, he has 14 plate appearances, four hits, seven RBI’s, four runs… oh and those four hits are all home runs. Trevor Story is the first player since 1900 to hit a home run in his first three games.
Trevor Story continues to make history, but how long will this last? To read the rest of the article, click the link below:
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Doubleheader Master Schedule For MLB Parks In 2016 By Ground
Wrigley Field is perfect to double up with games at Miller Park all year. The classic move is the Friday 1:20 game, then head up to Miller Park by ground for a 7:10 contest. You can even catch an Amtrak Train from Union Station that leaves at 5:09 weekdays, and arrives in downtown Milwaukee at 6:35. You avoid the horrible traffic that way.
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As an expert in Major League Doubleheaders (I attended 47 of them in 2015, including one Triple Header, and have gone to 75 overall in the last 7 years), I have to say there is fewer opportunities to see 2 games in one day this year than last years schedule.
In 2015 alone, I started off seeing 37 games in April despite their only being 25 days of game action – as part of my 224 total games seen live.
Some of the previous years I really went all out with crazy flight doubleheader scenarios.. These are not really pragmatic unless you are chasing a world record.
Most of the criteria is to be able to see most (if not all) of both games of the twin bill.
There are 2 New York Doubleheaders on June 30th and Aug 27, and 1 all Chicago Doubleheader move on Sept 15, 2016.
Oakland and San Francisco represent the 3rd closest home parks to the New York and Chicago Parks. There are 2 opportunities to see the BAY area 2 fer.
On May 21st, the Yankees are in Oakland at 1:05, and the Giants host the Cubs at 5:05 on the ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME. With a quick run to the BART station after the 1st game, you could conceivably make both contests for the duration.
On June 15th, a more friendly timed doubleheader goes 12:45 at AT & T Park, with a 7:05 start for o.co coliseum.
Several of the doubleheaders with big drives like STL/KC, CIN/STL and CLE/CIN are all feasible to see most of the action for each, and a quick game may result in every pitch seen.
Yankee Stadium sees plenty of Doubleheaders every season with Citi Field and Citizens Bank Ball Park. Throw in multiple ESPN Sunday Night Games, and I have even same doubleheaders with Nationals Park. Camden Yards, Fenway Park and the Rogers Center (by air). Using Amtrak, Megabus and Greyhound Busses are a cheaper alternative method than driving – and paying a ton of tolls, along with gas.
There will be more doubleheaders forthcoming with more ESPN Sunday Night Games TBD, and other start times for games have not been posted yet other.
There are always cancellations that will also spawn more chances to Say “Let’s Watch Two.”
Doubleheaders that are makeable via the ground in 2016.
APR 13
NYM 1:05 /PHI 7:05
APR 16
NYY 1:05 /PHI 7:05
APR 20
CWS 1:10 /MIL 7:10
STL 12:45 /KC 7:10
APR 21
CLE 12:10/CIN 7:10
APR 23
CHC 1:20/MIL 7:10
APR 30
CHC 1:20/MIL 6:10
MAY 01
NYM 1:10/BOS 8:05 (ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME)
MAY 04
PIT 12:35/CLE 6:10
MIL 12:40/CWS 7:10
CIN 12:35/CWS 7:10
MAY 08
BAL 1:35/NYY 8:05 (ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME)
MAY 13
CHC 1:20/MIL 7:10
MAY 14
NYY 1:05/PHI 7:05
CHC 1:20/MIL 6:10
MAY 18
PHI 1:05/NYM 7:05
MAY 19
MIL 12:40/CWS 7:10
BAL 12:35/NYM 7:05
MAY 21
OAK 1:05/SF 5:05
MAY 27
CHC 1:20/MIL 7:10
MAY 29
WSH 1:35/NYM 8:00 (ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME)
MAY 30
BAL 1:35/PHI 7:05
NYM 1:10/PHI 7:05
JUNE 1
MIL 12:40/CHC 7:05
NYM 1:10/PHI 7:05
JUNE 5
LAD 1:10/SD 6:10
JUNE 8
PHI/NYY 1:05/7:05
PHI/BAL 1:05/7:05
SD/LAD 12:40/7:10
JUNE 11
WSH 12:05/NYY 7:05
JUNE 15
SD 12:40/LAA 7:05
SF 12:45/OAK 7:05
JUNE 22
NYM 1:10/BAL 7:05
NYY 1:05/BAL 7:05
JUNE 29
CIN 12:35/CWS 7:10
CIN 12:35/STL 7:15
JUNE 30
NYY 1:05/NYM 7:05
JULY 4
WSH 11:05 am/PHI 4:05
JULY 7
STL 12:40/KC 7:15
JULY 17
PHI 1:35/NYY 8:05 (ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME)
WSH 1:35/NYY 8:05 (ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME)
JULY 21
WSH 12:05/PHI 7:05
NYY 1:05/PHI 7:05
JULY 27
CLE 12:10/PIT 7:05
JULY 28
MIL 1:10/CHC 7:05
JULY 29
CHC 1:20/MIL 7:10
JULY 30
CHC 1:20/MIL 6:10
AUG 3
SD 12:40/LAA 7:05
AUG 4
PHI 1:05/NYY 7:05
AUG 11
NYM 12:10/BOS 7:05
PIT 12:35 /CLE 7:10
MIL 1:10/CHC 7:05
AUG 12
CHC 1:20/MIL 7:10
AUG 13
NYY 1:05/PHI 7:05
CHC 1:20/MIL 6:10
AUG 17
NYY 1:05/PHI 7:05
AUG 18
DET 1:10/CLE 7:10
AUG 24
SD 12:40/LAD 7:10
MIL 1:10/CWS 7:10
AUG 27
NYY 1:05/NYM 7:05
AUG 31
DET 1:10/CLE 7:10
SEPT 7
CWS 1:10/MIL 7:10
CLE 12:10/CIN 7:05
SEPT 8
CLE 12:10/PIT 7:05
SEPT 15
CWS 1:10/CHC 7:05
SEPT 23
CHC 1:20/MIL 7:10
Citizens Bank Ball Park hosts the most doubleheader chances every year. They are compatible with both New York Parks for doubleheaders, as well as Nats Park and Camden Yards. The best method to use is Amtrak here. but you can still drive to park from all, with Miles ranging from 100 – 135. The Phillies play enough 1:05 games, and those eastern seaboard clubs also see a lot of matinees each season.
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***
I am happy to be back at the helm of the MLB Reports, after completing my record 224 Games in the MLB Trip in 2015. It was the 4th time I have seen all 30 MLB Parks since 2008.
During that time away I was fortunate to do 100 Media Interviews and be named the Baseball Blogger Alliance President.
Interview on CSN Philly during the month of July.
To Subscribe and listen daily to ‘Our Lead Personality’ Sully’s 20 Minutes Daily (every day since Oct.24, 2012) Podcast click here. Guaranteed listening to the Sully Baseball Daily Podcast will be the best time you invest in online!
2016 MLB Team Salaries Links Page here.
Wrigley Field is perfect to double up with games at Miller Park all year. The classic move is the Friday 1:20 game, then head up to Miller Park by ground. You can even catch an Amtrak Train from Union Station that leaves at 5:09 weekdays, and arrives in downtown Milwaukee at 6;35. You avoid the horrible traffic that way.
Chuck Booth (BBBA President)
Follow The BBBA On Twitter
As an expert in Major League Doubleheaders (I attended 47 of them in 2015, including one Triple Header, and have gone to 75 overall in the last 7 years.)
I have to say there is fewer opportunities to see 2 games in one day this year than last years schedule.
In 2015 alone, I started off seeing 37 games in April despite their only being 25 days of game action – as part of my 224 total games seen live.
View original post 772 more words
2016 MLB Reports Staff MLB Predictions
Despite having a top heavy league – where I have predicted 7 teams will 90 games or more, the National League also has 6 clubs that will challenge 100 losses with Cincinnati, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, San Diego and Colorado all tanking it this year – and possibly providing all the talent for the Trade Deadline in July. The last two months of the year for these teams could be brutal record wise.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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One could argue that the top 6 teams (NYM/CHC/SF/WSH/STL/PIT) in all of the Majors reside in the NL right now, and you then you can counter that by saying they have the 6 worst squads as well (PHI/ATL/MIL/CIN/SD/COL).
The funny thing about this whole ordeal is that the AL is absolutely going to cream the NL in Interleague this forthcoming season. On a 12 year win streak already, I am predicting a 178 – 122 W – L for the games between both leagues. The AL speedbags the National League in my view.
Last year, the American League held a 167 – 133 mark over the National League so that prediction up there is not foreign by any means.
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The Top 8 Draftergies Guaranteed To Win Your Fantasy Baseball League
Blog Off The Bench (Featured BBBA Website – offthebenchbaseball.com) Follow @BlogOffTheBench
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Imagine it’s March 28th, it’s 40 degrees out, it’s 6:31 pm, you’re at a chain restaurant called “Just Salad,” and you just finished your salad so you’re loitering before your next appointment at 7:00 pm. You know what that means: it’s fantasy baseball season!
In this column (column looks like it should be spelled differently), we will be going over a few different Baseball Dratergies (Draft-Strategies, Ihavetosaveonmywordcount) that will make you the Fantasy Baseball All-Star GM/Manager/Shortstop/Clicky Guy you’ve always wanted to be! Unless you wanted to be a doctor or in the Air Force or something. Then go for that.
Draftergy 1: Hoard all the catchers
Hoarding all the catchers is a great strategy! At some point in the season, everyone is going to need a catcher and will be willing to give up an extra player for these notoriously low-offense guys. You could end up trading for a valuable middle infielder or fourth outfielder. Better plan on having a lot of bench spots because if your roster only has one you’ll have two players. Also plan on buying lots of equipment.
Sample Lineup:
Catcher: Yadier Molina
Bench: Yasmani Grandal, Francisco Cervelli, Brian McCann, Salvador Perez, …
Draftergy 2: The “Moneyball” Strategy
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The Cardinals Way: A Book Review From The Latest Howard Megdal Masterpiece
Andrew Martin (Featured Baseball Writer/Owner – baseballhistorian.blogspot.com) Follow @historianandrew
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To the uninformed, the game of major league baseball may look simplistic. You run; you throw; you hit; and at the end of a game, a winner is determined.
However, as fans know, an enormous amount of work goes into each franchise and how they cultivate and maintain their organization from year to year. Some teams have greater track records than others, and there are few that can match what the St. Louis Cardinals have done over the years.
Howard Megdal has thrown the curtain back and provided a glimpse behind the scenes at what makes the team click with his recent work, The Cardinals Way: How One Team Embraced Tradition and Moneyball at the Same Time (Thomas Dunne Books- an Imprint of St. Martin’s Press).
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Spring Training Standouts: AL Central
(Featured BBBA Baseball Website – groundruletriple.com)
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With less than a week away from Opening Day of the 2016 season, it’s time to look at who’s performing in the preseason.
Spring Training results aren’t entirely indicative of regular season results, but it does feel good when you know your players are producing very well as we get closer to the start of the season.
The first division we’ll look at is the AL Central!
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The All Time 25 Player Roster of Fictional Baseball Players
I got a tweet from my friend Andres DuBouchet. He has one of the great comedy brains of anyone in the world. It exists in a jar. He writes for Conanand frequently appears on the show.
He is also a lifelong Mets fan and is no doubt enjoying this September.
Here is the Tweet he sent me.
Hey @sullybaseball have you ever written an article in which you assemble a team of the best fictional baseball players ever?
— Andrés du Bouchet (@dubouchet) September 11, 2015
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Knowing my sweet spot of making lists, talking baseball and thinking about the movies, I could not resist.
So here is my 25 player roster of movie ballplayers.
9 starters, including a designated hitter, 5 starting pitchers, 5 relievers and 6 role players coming off the bench make up the roster.
Also a manager, coaches, a super fan. a scout and a…
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Baseball’s Biggest “Get Out Of Jail Free Cards” For Financial Contracts Over The Last Few Years
Several players have either retired for various reasons, or have served suspensions in which their organization has received an unexpected benefit of salary relief for it in recent years. This will need to be addressed in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement to be forthcoming after this next season.
Hunter Stokes (MLB Reports Part _Owner – Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Before I go into this fully, this is a bit different of an article than “Hoodini Acts” pulled by GM’s in getting out from under horrible contracts, such as the praise for former Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos fleecing the Angels to take Vernon Wells, and being lucky enough for the White Sox to claim Alex Rios.
Those moves paved the way for Toronto to sign Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion to replace those crappy deals with awesome ones, so there is a note of credit to AA.
The new CBA forthcoming should be addressing on how player contracts work towards team salaries when it is due for suspension or retirement. Last week’s sudden packing in the cleats from Adam LaRoche will actually benefit the White Sox with $13 MIL in salary relief.
It is not the 1st time a guy has retired during a contract, and it is the latest where a team may be drawing a sigh of relief.
It wasn’t even the 1st instance of the winter. Earlier this off year, Mets OF Michael Cuddyer retired with one year of service left on his deal. This move led the Mets to have a few extra dollars in their seat cushion to re-ink Yoenis Cespedes to a 1 Year $27.5 MIL deal
Cuddyer was still expensive for New York with a 1sr RD Draft pick forfeit, but at least he only cost the club $8.5 MIL on 1 season, as opposed to an additional $12.5 MIL this upcoming campaign.
If the Mets are still under contract with this guy it makes re-signing Cespedes a tougher deal. Not only cash wise, but it was also clogging up another spot on the Roster if New York had to keep the under-performing former Rockies and Twins player.
Instead, all of the fans wishes were granted when Cespedes came back to Flushing Meadows, and you can add the fact they also re-upped with Bartolo Colon for another year as yet another extension of the Cuddyer decision. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 21, 2016
THE VOYAGE HOME!
Today’s podcast starts in my hotel in London, continues in the car to Heathrow, then on the plane over the Atlantic Ocean and finishes at LAX.
It is a globe trotting episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast
Visit the British Baseball Federation by clicking HERE
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 20, 2016
The London Series continues this Sunday with the Sunday Request
@sullybaseball As a Belgian listener and baseball player:how can one make baseball popular in Europe?Everybody’s got to love baseball right?
— Fabrice Algoet (@cyberbeast41) March 4, 2016
I talked with Earl Dix, President of the British Baseball Federation to try and answer that question the best I could.
It is a spreading the good word episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast
Visit the British Baseball Federation by clicking HERE
Carlos Correa, Corey Seager And Others Could Be Ushering In The Next Golden Age at Shortstop
Carlos Correa was the 1st overall pick in the 2012 Amateur Draft for the Houston Astros. He came up in early June and proceeded to win the American League Rookie Of The Year Award with a 3 Slash of .279/.345/.512 with 22 HRs (led all shortstops in the MLB) and 22 Doubles in just 99 Games. This type of production will change the complexion of the team for the next 6 years. He is just going to be 21 for all of next season – and he looks exactly like a young Alex Rodriguez. In his 1st postseason action, Correa smacked 2 HRs in that pivotal game 4 of the ALDS for Houston, staking them to a 6 – 2 lead before the Bullpen gave up the game.
Matt Musico (Featured BBBA Writer/Owner – chinmusicbaseball.com) Follow @mmusico8
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What’s the most important position on a baseball diamond? The answer you get will likely depend on whom you ask.
It’s no secret that championship-caliber teams must be strong up the middle – catcher, pitcher, center field, shortstop and second base – to be successful. While I think having a quality catcher is a team’s most important asset, it’s tough to argue against shortstop being next in line.
As many people in fantasy baseball circles know, finding a player that can be an elite hitter without being a defensive liability at this position is difficult to find.
Over the past few years, it’s basically been Troy Tulowitzki and then everyone else. Tulo is still around and will be a great option with the Toronto Blue Jays, but there are already some young big-league shortstops – along with others on the cusp of getting promoted – that will make this position deep with elite options.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 18, 2016
MORE FROM LONDON: I chatted with Chris Ward, an infielder for the British baseball club, the Guildford Mavericks.
We talked about organized English ball, how cricket translates to baseball skillwise and why the All Star Game needs to come to England.
The National Pastime is going to explode in England, partly due to this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Visit the Guildford Mavericks on line by clicking HERE
Visit the British Baseball Federation by clicking HERE
Bat Flips, Pumped Fists, And Change In Baseball Culture
Trey Rose (Featured Fantasy Baseball Writer/Owner – dynastydigest.sportsblog.com) Follow @dynasty_digest
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Earlier this week, some of the league’s biggest superstars spoke out on how the culture of baseball needs to change. This charge was lead by players such as Bryce Harper, Jose Bautista, Jose Fernandez, Chris Archer, Carlos Correa,
and Yoenis Cespedes. All of these players have one thing in common, they love to show emotion on the field. Unfortunately, the culture of baseball frowns upon those who celebrate too much following a home run or pumping their fist after a big strikeout.
Perhaps the game would be even more exciting if there was more emotion on the field by other players, but as for now, this is not the norm. To hear more about the analysis from the players, please click the link below:
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BBBA Live Podcast – Year 2 Ep #4 – AL West Preview
BBA Live is the flagship Podcast of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance since 2015
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BBA Live! is entering its second season. Listen in as AC Wayne is again joined by Ricky Keeler of Yanks Go Yard and District On Deck (Nats). Tonight, we showcase the AL West as well as all the latest news and headlines throughout the league. Guest, as always. is Rich Rivera of Mets Public Record.
Follow and subscribe to the podcast http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mets-public-record
A casual look at Major League Baseball and The New York Mets. Call-in! #347-326-9300
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 16, 2016
Standing in front of Buckingham Palace, I talked about Bryce Harper and Rich Gossage. That’s what you are supposed to do, right?
It is a Royal Family episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
2017 World Baseball Classic Qualifier 3: Preview
Estadio Nacional de Panama / Rod Carew Stadium
Chris Kabout (Featured Baseball Writer/Owner – yankeebiscuitfansdtuchblog.mlblogs.com) Follow @dutch_ball
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On March 17 the third qualifier of the World Baseball Classic will start. Panama will host Columbia, France and Spain during this four day event.
The stadium where this four day event will be played is Rod Carew Stadium, which served as stadium for the 2011 World Cup final which was won by the Netherlands.
Also the 2012 Qualifiers were played in this stadium as Brazil surprisingly beat Panama 1-0 in the final. The stadium’s official name is Estadio Nacional de Panamá.
The stadium was constructed in 1999 and has a capacity of 27,000. Shortly before the Qualifiers start, the Yankees and the Marlins are scheduled to play two exhibition games at the stadium.
This group may have three favorites to advance to the main tournament: Colombia, Spain and Panama.
MLB Reports 
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