Blog Archives
Once Again: Why The MLB Should Consider A Geographical/Market Size Re-Alignment For The Next CBA:
The new CBA has been a godsend for the mid – market teams, and not so great for the 10 top markets, but even more devastating for the 10 lowest markets. One thing the CBA did address was to give the players an additional 4 days off during the league year – stretching from 183 Days to 187 – in lieu of expanding the rosters of 25 to 26.
This website has continued its stance since day 1, that while the economics have been a lot more fair to teams in the last 15 years, there is still much work to do. The best small market teams we have seen in the last 7 years have been the Oakland A’s, Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates and of course the 2015 World Series winning Kansas City Royals. Only one of these teams actually were a decent franchise for some time before they took off.
Pittsburgh lost for 22 years before they finally made 3 straight postseason appearances. With the new CBA not giving them 1st RD Draft Picks for departing players in future seasons like Andrew McCutchen, Gregory Polanco, Starling Marter and Gerrit Cole, this is a sure fire way for the brass to cut the cord on their service team a lot of time ahead of them hitting Free Agency.
Kansas City was a laughable organization from the mid 90’s to 2013 as well, and despite winning back to back pennants in the AL< and being the first small market team to win the World Series since the 2003 Marlins, they will soon start to see their team ripped apart under the same Free Agent terms like the Bucs – with Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Danny Duffy and Mike Moustakas likely all not re-signing with the franchise. Dayton Moore already had to trade ace Closer Wade Davis this past week.
The Tampa Bay Rays were awful from 1998 – 2007, and were able to stockpile #1 overall picks to build up the franchise. The Joe Maddon era ensued for 6 straight quality years where they competed beautifully, including a World Series Loss in 2008, but now they are at a crossroads again from a 68 win campaign. and teams all spending double what they can. Read the rest of this entry
The Oakland A’s Offensive Struggles, And Where They Go From Here
(Featured BBBA Website – offtthebenchbaseball.com)
Follow @blogoffthebench Follow @mlbreports
Saturday night, I had the pleasure of catching the Oakland A’s take on the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore’s Camden Yards. In addition to being a beautiful night, the first we’ve had on the East Coast in more than a week, and one of baseball’s best ballparks – if you haven’t been, go, its awesome- game 2 of Saturday’s day/night double header was a crisp and enjoyable game to watch.
Ubaldo Jimenez tossed 8 solid innings in his first start in forever and Chris Davis launched a mammoth 2 run shot to help Baltimore notch a 5-2 win and earn a doubleheader split after Oakland took game one. But in watching the A’s, I couldn’t help think there was something missing. Sure, it was game 2 of the day but most of Oakland’s starters were playing and the lineup lacked any sort of fearsomeness or hint that it might be capable of competing in the AL West.
Of course, the A’s aren’t a bad team, but it doesn’t feel like it’s a team capable of being a good team either. Watching them meekly go down against a pitcher with an ERA north of 5 and a fastball topping out at 91 inspired me to go back and look at the numbers.
Right now, Oakland is 14-17, 4.5 games behind Seattle for 1st in the West. They have a -16 run differential, good for 4th worst in the AL and are currently 10th in the AL in runs, 10th in batting average, and dead last in on base percentage.
That last number really jumps out at you.
READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY
The Oakland A’s Call Up Top Pitching Prospect Sean Manaea
Jen Rainwater (Featured BBBA Writer/Owner – bbstmlb.com)
Follow @OakAsSockGrl Follow @mlbreports
The Oakland Athletics had a choice to make. They had options for who would be their fifth starter this week and it’s not the more obvious of choices. It’s 24-year-old Sean Manaea, the A’s number two overall prospect and top pitching prospect.
According to multiple sources, including Sports Illustrated, MLB.com and the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s will call up Manaea to start Friday against the Houston Astros.
Manaea has barely spent time in the minors but vice president of baseball operations for the A’s Billy Beane has said that he wouldn’t bring him up unless he thought he was ready.
The A’s are likely just testing the waters, seeing if Manaea transition his unbelievable number of strike outs effectively in the majors.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE POST
MLB Power Rankings: April 2016
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
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.
Yesterday won’t change much for the rankings. Although it kicked off interleague with the Royals beating the Mets 4 – 3, and starts the Junior Circuit looking to win the AL vs NL competition for a 13th straight year.
Pittsburgh also beat the Cardinals. I have them both ending the year win 91 victories, but these squad’s really intrigue me.
There are a multitude of reasons why I have picked the Cubs as the #1 team. I explain them in the writeup.
Each Monday, we will post a new set of power rankings and go over the week that was. Read the rest of this entry
A’s Constant Competitive Ambition Is Admirable
Jen Rainwater (Featured Baseball Writer/Owner – www.bbstmlb.com) Follow @OakAsSockGrl
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Alright, you may have to bear with me a little bit here, as I am not 100% sure how I want to present this except to say this is what I say about the A’s A LOT of the time and ESPN’s Buster Olney said it in his “Insiders Only” piece on Saturday called,
“The Athletics drive to contend is admirable in today’s times.“
It IS admirable and using both Olney’s statistics and my own, I intend to show you exactly why their drive to contend has not only been successful but beyond that, that most team’s in their situation would not or choose not to try to compete. Instead they tank and have a long stretch of terrible years – only to reemerge with a lot of high draft picks who are ready for the big leagues.
It reminded me a lot of a similar piece that I wrote for Today’s Knuckleball that talked about how the A’s had their own unique way of “rebuilding.” It went on to explore how they’ve been able to maintain a high level of competitiveness despite having one of the league’s lowest payrolls and having to be creative in creating platoons that will put up similar numbers to those exhibited by the big name free agents that they cannot afford.
READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY
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
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
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
I Understand The River Boat Gambler Mentality, But Preller’s Method To Build SD Into A Winner Will Fail

A.J. Preller has revamped the roster of the Padres so much in the offseason, that I think it will take a full season for everyone to get used to their surroundings. Much like the 2012 Angels and Marlins, 2013 Blue Jays and 2014 Yankees, just when you thought they won the winter, it took them half to a full year to round out their talent. Having 10+ new faces on the roster usually doesn’t translate to immediate impact on the field. The Padres are listed as about an 84 win game club based on their squad. I think they will be far below that. For now, I have them ranked below the Dodgers, Giants, Mets, Cardinals, Pirates and Marlins in the National League.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
You are the San Diego Padres, and are looking at the Dodgers (north of $230 MIL in payroll the last 2 years and $267 MIL in 2015), and also the 3 times in 5 year champions (Giants) that also hail in your Division. Your franchise barely can scrape up enough dollars to crack the $100 MIL salary barrier, and you have 2 Pennants since your inception in 1969.
Petco Park’s attendance has been dropping since the park opened over a decade ago, and you needed to shake things up. I get that. Everyone and their grandma is calling A.J. Preller’s winter as a landmark win for any new executive that there has been.
Similar words were spoken in the winter of 2012 – going into 2013, when Alex Anthopoulos pulled off that mega trade with the Marlins, and everyone was casting them for the World Series (even the oddsmakers). He based that trade with several components from Miami that were riddled with injury troubles in their career. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Farm System Rankings (1 – 30) In 2015
By Jordan Gluck (Featured Writer): Follow @jgluck777
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
1. Chicago Cubs- They are still one of the top systems even with Javier Baez graduating from the list. I love the bats headed by what maybe the top prospect in baseball in Kris Bryant and high end talent in Addisson Russell, Jorge Soler, Kyle Schwarber and Dan Vogelbach.
They also have upside in Albert Almora, Eloy Jimenez and Jeimer Candelario. The pitching on the farm remains the main concern with a wiry C.J .Edwards, a mid ceiling Paul Blackburn and Pierce Johnson and a very far away Carson Sands.
The best farm system in the league that will see some graduates very soon.
2. Minnesota Twins- Last season was unfortunate for the twins and all of major league baseball as Byron Buxton got injured in spring training and Miguel Sano got TJ surgery.
I believe both of them will bounce back with ease and could be close to the major league level. Pitchers J.O Berrios, Alex Meyer and Kohl Stweart have frontline potential with Meyer possibly a candidate to make the rotation out of spring training.
They took Dee Gordons brother Nick in the first round last year and he can be a complete player. There is upside all over in Lewis Thorpe, Felix Jorge, and 50th overall pick Travis Harrison. A very solid farm that can hopefully bear some fruit this season.
Dear Santa: All AL Teams 2015 Wish List (By The Fans)
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Okay, so it is time to ask old Saint Nick, for some help for teams in the MLB to have their wishes come true.
New York Yankees:
Can someone please knock some sense into the brass in the Bronx to realize they are the friggin Yanks? Since we can’t bring the “Boss” back to kick some ass, maybe a losing season would force the team to pilfer the payroll, and believe it or not, if Cashman behaves himself before Spring Training, the club could get under the Luxury Tax Threshold this year with a few Trade Deals, and go an attack the 2016 Free Agent core of Jason Heyward, Jordan Zimmermann, David Price and Johnny Cueto…
Would it be too much to ask if the team could just release Alex Rodriguez? There is no way he should hit his 660th HR in Pinstripes. Release him before that day, or way prior, and don’t pay him that dumb $6 MIL Bonus. He ain’t worth it. Also don’t want him passing Lou Gehrig for the RBI list ALL – Time in a New York uniform either. Read the rest of this entry
Stanton’s Deal Will Set Off A Collective Groan For Small To Mid Market Clubs

Giancarlo Stanton’s new 13 Year Deal worth $325 MIL has got to be a red flag for other small to mid market franchises who are looking to extend their own talent. Everything is a cumulative effect on another when a deal like this goes down. Many teams are going to be asked to grant contracts of more than 10 plus years, and for ridiculous sums of money.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Giancarlo Stanton signing his whopper of a deal has to be shaking the foundation of all but the many low to mid level market’s boots. He just raised the bar on what young franchise players will make in terms of years and dollars, Not good.
Arizona you better thank the lord you inked Paul Goldschmidt before he took off in his career,. The same can be said for Andrew McCutchen in Pittsburgh and Chris Sale in Chicago. All among the better valued deals in the game right now.
These 3 would all enter in the top 25 contracts of ALL – Time if they were Free Agents on the open market presently…. Meaning at least $135 MIL for a deal in the 6 to 7 year window. Read the rest of this entry
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
The Dodgers Winning The Title Could Cure Baseball In The Future – Part 1

Magic Johnson said the new ownership group would put their money down on the players to stay or come to the franchise, and man he wasn’t kidding. The Los Angeles Dodgers now own 5 of the top 23 player contracts of ALL – Time in the MLB. With a total team payroll likely to be north of $240 MIL for the next few years, he was right. The team is presently the highest salaried team, and they will pay about $16 MIL in Luxury Tax, based on 30% penalty for $51 over the $189 MIL mark in 2014. Their cash infusion to the NL has spawned a rapid ascent for other teams in the Senior Circuit – who are looking just to keep up, while some franchises have no chance at all with their revenue streams.
A couple of years ago I wrote an article on how the Dodgers were going to change the way the MLB operates. I may be proven right this fall.
4 of the top 5 clubs were alive in the LDS round
1. LA Dodgers $240.7 MIL
2. NY Yankees $227 MIL
3. SF Giants – $172.4 MIL
4. Detroit Tigers – $170.5 MIL
5. LA Angels – $170.5 MIL Read the rest of this entry
NL Wild Cards Virtually Sewn Up With Giants/Bucs: Huge Night Monday/Week Ahead For AL Chase

The Pirates started the year almost 10 games under .500 in early May. Since that timeframe, they have operated 22 games over .500. The Pirates are within a magic number of 3 to collect their second straight playoff appearance. Heading into play tonight, they also own the #1 wildcard slot over the Giants, because even though they are tied, the Bucs have the tiebreaker – with best head to head season series record.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Pirates have done a fantastic job brushing off their competition in head to head battle the last few weeks. As such, they have moved their playoff magic number to 3 versus the Brewers.
This squad has done more than that though…With a the Giants being swept down in San Diego this weekend, they have taken over the #1 wild cards slot over San Francisco – by way of tiebreaker (they won the season series vs SF).
Vance Worley, Edinson Volquez and Josh Harrison have surprised us all this year, and have picked up the slack for the club’s reluctance to add high – priced talent through trades or Free Agency.
Pittsburgh ended the year at home with a 51 – 30 record, and will have to hold their own with 4 against the Braves @ Turner Field, before ending the campaign against the Reds at The Great American Ball Park. Read the rest of this entry
ATR (Ask The Reports) Sept.20, 2014: World Series Betting + MVP Talk!
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Every once in a while we will air the (ATR special, like our founder Jonathan Hacohen used to do every week). Sometimes a lot of good questions are asked, all at the same time.
Rather than go on for days on social twitter, it is easier writing in a format that doesn’t limit you to 140 characters:
We had 2 such questions that were good enough to write an article about.
Q: Who do you think should be the MVP in both the AL and NL this year?
A: This one is easier in the AL than the NL, but I would like to point out that the clear-cut favorite (Mike Trout) is not having as good of a year that he did in 2012 and 2013, however this trophy is going his way with the year LA has had.
Will finish with 35 HRs and 110+ RBI, with over 110 Runs scored, (currently has 81 Extra Base Hits for huge MLB Lead) and his stellar defense is definitely the difference separating him from Martinez (a primary DH) and Cabrera.
I will also point out that Victor Martinez (.970 OPS, 30 HRs and 104 RBI) would certainly be right up there if he weren’t playing on the Tigers.
His numbers, contact rate, and overall professionalism as a hitter have saved Detroit’s bacon this year.
V-Mart is hurt by the fact Cabrera is on the same club. For as much as the two time reigning MVP has been dealing with injury,. his so-called “down year” still has him with a 3 Slash Line of .318/.380/.527 with 104 RBI.
The big 1B for Detroit has seen his HRs cut nearly in half, but he is still leading the league in Doubles with 49 – and has 73 Extra Base Hits are even more than he had last year.
The Tigers never running away with the competition also is a drawback for both players. Read the rest of this entry
THE LONG BALL In 2014 MLB: TOP 5 HRs AL/NL + Who Will Win The HR Titles?

Chris Carter iis leading the Majors in bombs since May 09 – with 28 big flies and 66 RBI during that time frame in just 305 AB. He has fashioned his bolts in a short amount of time by having Multi HR Games, and also coupling it with consecutive streaks. This guy is looking like a keeper for Houston, and may be one of the guys that got away from Billy Beane. The massive DH/1B/OF burned his old squad last night by drilling a 3 run bomb in the bottom of the 8th inning to give the Astros a 4 – 2 win. The victory knocked Oakland out of 1st place. I think he will win the HR title in the AL now. Wouldn’t that be something if he won that, in addition to Jose Altuve possibly winning the Batting title?
THE LONG BALL In 2014
TOP 5 HRs AL/NL,
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
For Games Played Through Aug 26, 2014
Chris Carter… we have been preaching this man’s name at this website for years. Our founder and former lead writer Jonathan told me about this man 3 years ago.
When he was traded by Billy Beane, Jonathan explained it would be a deal that he will regret. Now with the A’s lacking some firepower, and Jed Lowrie on the shelf, plus having an off year, the Astros are looking good in this one.
I have also pointed out the A’s GM forced the Astros to go over their roster limit – exposing Nate Freiman for him to pluck as a Rule 5 Draft right after, however it is hard to argue the “Moneyball” man may end up on the wrong side of this deal long-term.
It would behoove Oakland to have Freiman see more Plate Appearances. The big 6 ft 7 behemoth clubs 3 HRs in 2 games in Atlanta – and then rides pine for 4 games in the next week.
That is a blog for another time.
We are talking about Chris Carter. This big man was once an afterthought in Houston this year, despite bombing 29 jacks in 2013. Bo Porter was taking flak for having CC still in the lineup back in May when he was hitting about ..153 with 4 HRs as of May 9th.
Since that day, he has crushed 28 HRs and added 64 RBI.in his last 302 AB. This represents about half of a season, and this guy has been completely on fire. Read the rest of this entry
The Bullet Version Of Monday’s MLB Games + Craig Kimbrel Is Filthy!

Season high 7 game winning streak – including 3 straight walk off hits at Nats Park. They hold a 6 game lead over 2nd place Atlanta, and the Nationals haven’t even hit full stride with several key players not maximizing on their talent level. With a weaker NL East schedule down the stretch, they just may hold home field advantage by season’s end in the National League.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Erik Kratz smacked 2 HRs and now has 23 HRs in just 472 AB. Thats a HR for every 20.52 AB or would equal about 29 Bolts in a 600 AB campaign. The guy is 34 so that is not likely to happen… but smart move on KC’s part to bring him in. Beats the alternative for what they had.
Washington is starting to heat up, and if you play them into late and extra innings, any of their hitters can beat you right now. This does not bode well for Atlanta.
Everybody just back off of Trevor Rosenthal, as all young relievers go through this. Besides what is a season if the Cardinals didn’t changeup their Closer at least once…
Everyone also needs to take a chill pill on the A’s missing Yoenis Cespedes so much it has destroyed the unity of the offense. Teams go through stretches where they don’t play well. It is just 17 games of a sample size so far. Read the rest of this entry
“Stoking The Fire Segment” – MLB Games Are Too Long But Fantasy Baseball Is a Godsend!

More and more fans are accessing the MLB from their own personal phones these days. Here is the problem. With games going too long, people lose interest in a real hurry – and especially just the casual fan..
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I tried to watch the Mariners vs Rangers a few months ago on MLBTV.
5 Instant Replay reviews, many pitching changes, and the game lasted 3 hours and 30 minutes – and this was a 4 – 3 9 inning game.
It is not hard to figure out why games are longer in length.
Money Ball has forced every team to wear down pitchers, see as many tosses from the Starting Chuckers as humanly possible.
30 years ago, it was more of a rip it and grip it approach.
Strikeouts and Walks are at an all time high, but also are some pre-pitch rituals. Read the rest of this entry
You must be logged in to post a comment.