Blog Archives
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 25, 2014
I had never been to a World Series game in my life.
Neither had my dad, a lifelong Giants fan.
We went to Game 3 of the World Series together. I tried my best to share the experience of being at the game last night
It is fathers and son episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Alcides Escobar, Greg Holland, Michael Morse and Tim Hudson all owned October and the World Series last night.
Kansas City Royals Pitching Roster Tree In 2014 – World Series Edition: Shields Pivotal Despite Playoff Struggles
How All Of The 2014 Royals Pitchers Were Acquired:
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
While James Shields has not had a banner postseason – however it is important to remember his influence on culture change in the Royals clubhouse for this successful franchise turnaround.
The trade that brought the RHP, also brought in Wade Davis, who may be the most important pitcher on the squad other than Greg Holland this campaign.
Dayton Moore has done a fantastic job of assembling this franchise’s roster over the last 5 – 7 years. It came on the heels of a quarter century of futility yes, but the future definitely looks bright.
As we have said before, teams residing in either league’s Central Division have a fair chance of competing in a season every year.
The highest payroll team is the Detroit Tigers, but they are not in the stratosphere of the Dodgers, Yankees, Rangers, Angels and Phillies, were there is a 2nd team in the division who can go buck wild in contracts.
The Nationals and Giants are able to spend in the $150 MIL range to join Philly and the Dodgers. In the AL West, Texas and the Angels can mirror each other, whereas the Red Sox and Yankees own the AL East payroll leaders.
St. Louis is the highest NL Central club, and are always near the fringe of the top 10 for dollars spent annually only.
The Tigers are the only franchise spending big cash in the AL Central, although the White Sox have delved into higher salaries in previous seasons – when they drew well following the 2005 World Series. They have since scaled back.
The Royals should be able to field a nice team for the next 2 – 3 years, and it shouldn’t break the bank for the ownership.
Detroit has aging and hefty contract problems coming up, and KC has more depth for the 1 – 25 Roster, when it comes to withstanding injuries
For the foreseeable few seasons ahead, you will bank on the emergence of Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy to continue their development as aces, and the Relief Core is the still the strongest asset of the equation. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 24, 2014
Today is the second anniversary of the podcast.
For two straight years I have recorded 365 original podcasts a year. What drives me? The fact that baseball has never let me down nor has stopped giving me thrills.
Baseball allows me to live in the past, present and future all at once. And later tonight I will be doing a first for me: I will be attending a World Series Game
It is an anniversary celebration episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
San Francisco Giants Pitching Roster Tree In 2014: Sabean Should Not Be Overshadowed By Beane Any Longer!
Brian Sabean has been the architect behind the Giants brilliant 5 year run. His attention to building a Pitching Staff has to be noted, with several winning draft selections, mixed with key Free Agent signings, and waiver claims. With all of the hype surrounding the other “Bay Area” GM, it is time that this man is giving his due.
How All Of The Giants Pitchers Were Acquired:
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
With having gone through this exercise of finding out where all of the Giants Pitching Staff came from, there is a new-found appreciation for San Francisco Giants GM Brian Sabean.
While his fellow “Bay Area” counterpart Billy Beane is having books and movie’s written about him, Sabean has put forth a club that is on the verge of potentially winning its 3rd World Series Title in 5 years.
Most of the roster of hurlers was drafted by the franchise, or brought in by a nice Free Agent signing. The franchise hasn’t lost that many players the other way for their current pitchers, so that has to be commended.
Bumgarner, Lincecum and Cain were all team draft selections, as was Vogelsong, although he came back to the team after several season away in Japan.
Jake Peavy was acquired midway through this year, when the club knew Cain would be out for the year, and that Lincecum was heading to the Bullpen.
Hudson came into the fold this season, following the lead of his former A’s teammate Barry Zito. The deal was a smart one, as it cost the franchise nothing but money.
Even more impressive of how the roster was constructed, is how the Relief Core was put together.
Hunter Strickland was claimed off of waivers from Pittsburgh. and the club also pick-pocketed Javier Lopez from the Bucs for the talents of John Bowker and the immortal Joe Martinez.
Jeremy Affeldt, Santiago Casilla, Jean Machi and Yusmeiro Petit were all brought in through Free Agency, and the club drafted Sergio Romo to round out the late innings arms. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 22, 2014
ESPN
Take a look at the map above. It is from an ESPN survey of baseball fans asking them which team they are rooting for. The blue states are rooting for the Royals fans. The red ones are pulling for the San Francisco Giants.
That’s pretty cut and dry who most people are rooting for.
The Giants are indeed the bad guys in the 2014 World Series. Relish it, Giants Fans.
Also, what the hell was going on with Tim Lincecum? Is there a behind the scenes rift?
It is the Game 1 of the World Series episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Madison Bumgarner, Hunter Pence and Salvador Perez all Owned the World Series and October
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 21, 2014
Getty Images
Every team that made the playoffs has heart
Every team that made the playoffs has desire.
Every team that made the playoffs has a sense of camaraderie.
At this point at the eve of the World Series, making predictions is futile. It is all coming down to chance.
It is a recorded in the parking lot of Trader Joe’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 20, 2014
I credit the recent success of the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants to my wife.
Plus some people are already trashing this World Series match up. We have had some dud World Series before. Give the Giants and Royals some credit.
It is a thank the Mrs. episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 17, 2014
Ho hum… another mind boggling, jaw dropping, heart stopping, head scratching historic playoff game in 2014.
Travis Ishikawa joins an elite crew…
Michael Morse and Brandon Crawford have heroics almost as important…
And Mike Matheny might have managed himself right out of St. Louis.
It is a night of baseball I will never forget and I celebrate on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Travis Ishikawa (you think?), Madison Bumgarner, Adam Wainwright and Jon Jay all owned October yesterday.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 16, 2014
Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports.
Talking Royals, SF Symphony and answering an e mail from Michael Reisman.
The Giants are also only 1 win away from becoming the team of the decade, and it is only 5 years old.
San Francisco keeps scoring runs without actually getting hits. Insane… All of that and more on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Alcides Escobar, Yusmeiro Petit, Buster Posey, Jason Vargas, Ryan Flaherty and Kolten Wong all owned October yesterday
It Has Been Bizarro World In the MLB All Year For 2014: The Playoffs Are No Different
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Royals and O’s in the ALCS??? with KC halfway to running the table on the whole playoffs – winning 6 straight games – and looking like the reincarnation of the 1927 Yankees?
The Braintrust of the New York Yankees, (and some fans) are happy with a 84 win season – following an 85 win campaign the previous year – to miss the postseason for the 2nd season in a row, but lock the GM for 3 years?&*!@!
The Pirates made a 2nd consecutive playoff spot??
Jose Altuve and Justin Morneau led their respective leagues in Batting Average??
Okay so it has definitely been a bizarre year in the Majors. While I am happy to see the game return to more athleticism and talent (not aided by steroids), the game has never been any harder to predict.
As a professional handicapper I realized this much a long time ago about baseball. You never bet the favorite, and always take the value. Read the rest of this entry
NLCS Preview: Cardinals vs Giants In A Battle For Decade Supremacy!
It’s all about the Pennants in the LCS Round, The Cards are competing in their 4th straight NLCS, and 9th out of 14 years, while the GIants are in the series for the 3rd time in 5 years, and have never lost a playoff series under head coach Bruce Bochy.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I am not going to preview this from an analyst angle because our “Lead Podcast Personality” Paul Francis Sullivan ‘AKA Sully’ does a brilliant 20 minute podcast that he does daily, and he has described this matchup beautifully.
I will post the podcast at the end of the article.
Instead, I am looking at this series as a professional handicapper sense.
Opening Odds
STL -135
SF, +115
I have to give the nod to the Giants for value on this one. If you go down the rosters, the St. Louis franchise is a smidge better on the talent level, however how can you bet against San Francisco when they have won 8 straight playoff series from 2010 – 2014.
The Giants have also won 4 of 5 games in this year’s playoff. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2014 ALCS + NLCS In The MLB
Camden Yards will see home games in the ALCS for the 1st time since the 1997 season. Buck Showalter has a decisive edge in the managerial department over the Royals skipper Ned Yost. The O’s are the new owners of home field advantage all the way throughout the postseason now, as the top seed left in the American League.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Dog Days Of October
The 4 teams in the League Championship Series were all underdogs in the last round.
When you also factor the Wild Card Games were both won by the Giants and Royals, (both not being the favorite), it marks the 1st 6 rounds of this postseason go to the “Dogs”.
Baltimore defeating the Tigers was probably the least surprising as the other clubs winning against their opponents. Again via a sweep of the 3 straight Cy Young Winners is impressive though.
The Nationals and Cards losing to the Giants and Cardinals had a lot to do with playoff pedigree with the teams moving on, as they handled the pressure better than the two upstart clubs. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2014 MLB World Series For The Final Four In The MLB Playoffs
The Orioles are the favorite to win the World Series among the last 4 remaining teams. The O’s will have Chris Davis back in Game #4 of the ALCS, and have to be happy they are playing the Royals. It has lined up nicely for Baltimore to take out the ‘Cinderella’ KC Squad.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
After licking my wounds for the last rounds 0 – 4 predictions of series, I am laughing all the way to the bank.
While I still picked the Nationals, Tigers, Angels and Dodgers because I thought they would win their last round best of 5’s, I never took the bait to bet any of these clubs.
I was sitting on bets I made earlier in the year. Back in January, I wrote an article proclaiming the Giants at 25/1 (Can win $400) a great steal. I bet the Royals at 50/1 and 80/1 (I can win $1500 if they take the WS) and I bet the O’s at 50/1 and 20/1 (with a potential win total of $720).
So even though I took a header on my picks, I have put myself in a great position of profit for the remainder of the playoffs..
To hedge the series, I have wagered the Baltimore Orioles and Cards to win the LCS’s for $134 wager, that pays +213 or $414. It ensures me to make a profit regardless of the outcome. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2014 MLB World Series (All 10 Playoff Teams)
The Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos franchise still has never appeared in the World Series. That didn’t stop the oddsmakers from giving them the #1 favorite status heading into the playoffs today. They are the deepest team on both offense and defense, and only lack postseason experience. The Stephen Strasburg ‘decision’ of a few years back, will never be put to rest until this club wins a title. Despite them being favored, I am not sure the ranking is justified, as the Dodgers reside in the same league.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
It is time to place your bets on the World Series. The Washington Nationals are your favorites to win the whole thing at +450. The Tigers, Angels and Dodgers are both next at all tied for +500.
To round out the teams in sequence…5 – Baltimore is at +700, 6 – St. Louis at +900, 7 – Oakland at +1100, 8 – San Fran at +1400, and the Royals and the Bucs are the biggest odds on the board at +1600 for 9th.
At first glance I see the pattern. The Nationals are the most deep team across the board, with having all 4 starters as potential aces in Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister.
Each one of the players in the positional lineup, were over right near of plus.400 for Slugging Percentage, and this doesn’t even include Ryan Zimmerman – who will be an awesome bat off the bench at least to start. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Reports Playoff Predictions 2014
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The playoffs are upon us, and since we had such a great year predicting a lot of stuff, both Chuck Booth and I are putting our postseason prognostications up.
In other blogs we will take a look at the series and everything, but this is just pure bets.
American League
American League Wild Card Game
Oakland -104 @ Kansas City -106 (Jon Lester @ James Shields)
Chuck – Oakland, Hunter, Oakland
A Regional World Series In 2014? NYY/BOS/ATL Maybe All Out Of The Playoffs For 1st Time Since 1989
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst), with a heavy assist for the idea to Josh Robbins: Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Nationals and Orioles both locked down their respective league’s East Division’s last night. Could it be a possible Beltway World Series?
Or how about a Freeway Series (I-5) between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels Of Orange County near Disneyland and Fullerton (or whatever Arte Moreno’s team us called now).
If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, maybe iconic close series of 1985 and 1989 respectively, meaning the I-70 series (KC vs STL) or the Bay Bridge (Earthquake Series), between the A’s and Giants.
Both of those winning clubs have not won the Fall Classic since those years.
Even Detroit and Pittsburgh are only 284 Miles apart, should they have a chance meeting.
Who is not here for the 1st time in 20 years – will probably be the Braves (whose playoff chances are on fumes), and the Yankees/Red Sox all failed to have at least one representative of those 3 in the Post Season since 1989, when the Cubs, Dodgers, A’s and Blue Jays made the playoffs.
2009 was the last time teams within close proximity to each other squared off in the World Series – when the Yanks took out the defending champion Phillies in 6 games.
The Yankees/Mets 2000 “Subway Series” was the last time two teams in the same city played in the Fall Classic, something the 2 Los Angeles squad’s could do.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – September 9, 2014
Photo by Matt Brown/Angels Baseball LP
There is a real possibility that the Angels and Cardinals could meet in the World Series.
If that happens, my advice to Texas Rangers fans is DO NOT WATCH!
It is a missed opportunity episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
2014 MLB Shutout Survivor Results: Angels Are The Winner This Year
The Angels are holding their own in the AL West, and have watched as other teams in the Division have suffered massive pitching injuries. This team should be in the hunt all year for the playoffs. Mike Scioscia can also be thankful his team is playing better too. In 2012 and 2013, the club struggled mightily in the 1st 6 – 7 weeks into the year. It cost them a playoff spot in 2012, even with a late charge, and last year was a losing season, which is a rarity in the Scioscia era.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Angels have been flashing lumber all year. Despite me railing on them last week, it is also a respect factor for them having not being Shutout at that point.
On Friday night, the Rays finally bageled the Halo’s, with a 3 – 0 loss to Chris Archer and the Bullpen of Tampa Bay. LA returned a blanking to the Rays on Saturday.
The team only managed 4 hits in the game. Nevertheless, the lasted more 5 more games this year than the Colorado Rockies.
Los Angeles is in 2nd place in the AL West, and are looking to get Josh Hamilton back shortly.
I am still not relinquishing my request not to have Raul Ibanez hit 4th in the lineup. I wouldn’t play him as a starter to begin with, and leave the guy to Pinch Hit duty late in games. Read the rest of this entry
Defending Our MLB Power Rankings + What Is Strength Of Schedule?
Here at the MLB Reports we don’t pull punches. Earlier this week, our chief writer, Hunter Stokes worked his ass off to give a great rankings post for all 30 MLB teams. You want to debate us on the some of the clubs we choose to place in a standing then fine, but don’t say this website slacks off – or doesn’t invest their time for each piece. We eat, live and breathe baseball. We tell it like it is – no holds barred. Just to provide more clarity, I decided to write this ditty about how we come up with ratings on a weekly basis. I fully urge every other sports entity to at least offer that much to do their readers. This way, you know how these rankings came to be, and not it wasn’t just us flinging them out there.
I have come on to write an article fresh after talking all morning with people on twitter that have criticized our Rankings system. Then it occurred to me, a lot of the other main baseball websites do a different rankings system for their ratings.
I love ESPN and their baseball coverage, but seriously the Brewers and Braves don’t deserve to be #1 and #2 respectively in the latest week report.
I wish the website would define how they write their rankings. Is it how teams are playing? Maybe I could see that, but there should be a better definition in describing how their system is derived.
At the MLB Reports, there is no confusion at all. We base our 1 – 30 listings on how the teams rate in terms of the World Series – and if that particular squad has the talent to win the “Fall Classic” for the 2014 campaign. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 24, 2013
Photo Credit: Dr. Edith V. Sullivan
It is the Christmas Eve episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Today, I go over my wish list for the 2014 season, including what I want for the Red Sox, the Hall of Fame and all of baseball.
All I want for THIS Christmas is a hat.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 18, 2013
Today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast was recorded at the sports book of the Belaggio Hotel in Las Vegas.
There I placed an unusual but potentially lucrative bet on the 2014 World Series.
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Updated Odds To Win The 2014 World Series As Of Right Now
While I believe the Dodgers will win the NL West – and also represent that league in the World Series for 2014, the odds for betting them are not there. As the favorite, you can’t make any money. The Giants (+2500), D’Backs (+3300) and Rockies (+5500) all represent great value – considering all of them have already upgraded their franchises over this winter.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
9 days ago I posted my last article on these odds. One of my captions was to pick the Mariners at +4000 for a couple of bucks considering they may land Robinson Cano.
A day later they did, and now they are trading at +3300. The M’s also picked up Corey Hart and Logan Morrison in separate transactions. I still the team is a good bet at that value mark.
If they were to trade for David Price (by packaging Taijuan Walker, Nick Franklin, another prospect and maybe a relief pitcher, they would have 3 dominant top pitchers, plus a young fireballer in James Paxton still.
This team would vaguely resemble the type of squad the Giants were in 2010. A great deal of pitching and a decent enough offense. Read the rest of this entry
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