Blog Archives
Why Boston Should Do What It Takes To Sign Pablo Sandoval: He Could Eventually Replace Ortiz!

Pablo Sandoval is a hitter out of his mind for his playoff career. How does a 3 Slash Line of .344/.389/.545 sound? His OPS of .935 is 124 PTS higher than his totals in the regular season. “Kung-Fu Panda” has added 6 HRs and 20 RBI in his 154 AB. Included in his numbers, were a historical Game #1 of the 2012 World Series, where he clubbed 3 HRs en route to sweeping the Tigers can roll out. This latest World Series triumph, the rotund 3B set a playoff record with 26 base knocks (hitting .366 – with a .423 OBP for the October season). There is no doubt that when the game is on the line he has been proven clutch. Boston should think of him as a possible long-term DH replacement for Ortiz, meanwhile he would be a big jolt out for the 3B position on Boston right now. Signing him would free the franchise up with several infielders if they were so inclined to pull off a trade with the likes of Mookie Betts, Will Middlebrooks and Brock Holt. Perhaps they could receive a Starting Pitcher for these guys.
Chuck Booth (Lead Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
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Picture the year 2017 when David Ortiz may finally retire,, Who will be the Designated Hitter for the Boston Red Sox? They will be huge shoes to fill, for what has been a great advantage over the rest of the American League for the last dozen years.
There is no coincidence that Boston finally kicked their 86 year drought, and have enjoyed 3 World Series Titles since “Big Papi” entered the scene.
If you think about it for a second, Kung-Fu Panda and Ortiz have a lot in common. Both have won 3 World Series, and have been integral parts of the offenses that brought home the titles.
Both don’t look like they are athletes considering their body frames, however these guys have provided the most clutch hits in the sport for the last 10 years.
The Boston Red Sox need to add hitters to their lineup for sure. Yes right now they have Yoenis Cespedes to hit behind Ortiz, however he will be taking his talents to Free Agency after this next campaign.
Can the Beantowners count on a comeback year for Allen Craig or Shane Victorino?
Inking the 3B would create even more tradeable pieces to add in a deal to acquire another Starting Pitcher ace. Read the rest of this entry
As Of Right Now – The Yankees Are A Mess For 2015: End Of The Year ‘State Of The Union’

With almost $100 MIL tied up in contracts for Sabathia, A-Rod, Teixeira and a potential Tommy John Surgery candidate in Masahiro Tanaka, this New York squad is in some deep trouble for next season. Despite the recent playoff misses, and injury prone players brought in by Brian Cashman, the club saw fit to grant him a 3 year extension last week
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Let me get this straight…The ‘Bronx Bombers’ have missed the playoff for 2 years straight and no one has lost their jobs? Man how times have changed in Yankees land.
If George Steinbrenner were alive still right now, the twitter and social media world would be trending his name for all of October.
Since when is it acceptable to miss the playoffs, underachieve and spend to the best payroll in the American League?
Firing Kevin Long is not going to solve the hit crisis the club has.
Before any of you throw daggers at our site, we have had this stance for a couple of years now.
The 1st mistake was to not get under the Luxury Tax Threshold this season. That was soon followed by inking Brett Gardner to a 4 Year Deal, when you have such a similar player in the Outfield like Jacoby Ellsbury. Read the rest of this entry
Stop Praising The Yankees For 2014! + Someone Should Be Held Accountable For This Disaster!

The Yankees can’t stop themselves from spending!! A self-imposed cap of under $189 MIL was shot when injuries began to mount. The club should have packed it in for the year, traded veterans near the deadline, with nothing but a hope and a prayer to make the playoffs. Now because they couldn’t fall under the Salary Tax Threshold, it will take a miracle to reach underneath this mark before the 2016 CBA. Welcome to financial hell Yanks, and your team is old – and have no Starting Pitcher’s likely above the #5 slot to begin the 2015 season currently on your 40 man roster under contract, and your payroll is already nearing $175 MIL on just 17 players as it is. Despite all of this, the Yankees are set to offer Cashman an extension? Are they for real?
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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I am sick and tired of hearing all this praise being bestowed on Brian Cashman for the job he is done.
I will not lump Joe Girardi into this conversation, Heck, he has done a great job manipulating the roster he has been given. With the amount of injuries (which happens to old players – hello!) the Yanks are lucky they are not cellar dwelling with the Red Sox.
Back near the Trade Deadline, Chuck Booth explained the “Pinstripers” were foolish to not take advantage of a seller’s market, giving them the ability to deal some veterans – in order to get under the $189 MIL Luxury Tax Threshold. They were 47 – 47 at the ALL – Star Break. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – September 5, 2014
I would hate for last night’s loss to be Koji Uehara‘s last game with the Red Sox… but it might be.
Closer’s flame out and Koji looks like no exception. Remember, he was never meant to be a long term solution.
Today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast. was recorded outside of Sunken Diamond at Stanford University.
How All Of The San Diego Padres Hitters Were Acquired: (2014 Roster Tree)

As a 2nd RD draft pick (2005) of the franchise, Chase Headley has pretty much been disappointment over the .last 2 seasons after setting the world on fire for the 2nd half of 2012. Headley led the NL with 115 RBI in 2012 amongst 31 HRs, Headley also captured a Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger in 2012. He ended up finishing 5th in NL MVP voting. He hit 23 HRs and 73 RBI in just 75 Games after the 2012 ALL-Star Game.. Chase Headley actually fared well at Petco Park in 2012 – with a 3 Slash Line of .272/.357/.812. He added 13 HRs and 51 RBI. In 600 AB during 2013, the man only had an OPS of .747 – with 13 HRs. 2014 has been worse, with a .620 OPS, .204 BA – with just 6 HRs in 211 AB. The franchise has been criticized for not capitalizing on his 2012 year via a trade. At least they never gave him a huge extension.
How All Of The Padres Hitters Were Acquired:
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
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Omar Minaya, A.J. Hinch and Fred Uhlman Jr. took over the “office of the GM” on June 22nd, when the Padres fired Josh Byrnes from his post.
In order to see if the canning was valid, one has to search through the transactions the man did under is tenure at the helm.
Some of the current squad was brought in by Byrnes (hired in Oct of 2011, after Jed Hoyer left to take the GM position with the Chicago Cubs. although through the course of the Roster Tree, you will see some of the players go back to the Kevin Towers era.
Crazy enough is that Byrnes was fired by Towers current team (ARI) as the GM in July of 2010.
Towers is also responsible for some of the assembled roster in 2014 for San Diego. KT is one of several possible replacements candidates for the vacant SD GM job.
It is a franchise that has made several ‘suspect’ trades over the last 10 years, and the drafting record hasn’t netted them the kind of ‘blue chippers’ to sustain a lengthy period of success despite drafting high a lot of years.
San Diego’s club in 2014 is injury prone, hitters and pitchers alike, and are headed for a brutal campaign, already at 35 – 47 heading into games June.30, 2014.
They are already 8.5 games behind the playoff bar. and 11 out of the NL West.
Yankees Hanging In the AL East + Wild Card Race

The New York Yankees have managed to stay afloat among injuries, old age and lackluster play at home so far. A lot of it can be attributed to Mashahiro Tanaka, the Bullpen as a whole, timely hits from bench players, a few streaks by Teixeira, and for unheralded players like Yangervis Solarte and Dellin Betances. The Bronx Bombers will have a tough time competing without the likes of Sabathia, Nova and Pineda for the next stretch, and will not see Nova for the whole year.
The Yankees spent $503 MIL on player salaries in the offseason, and half of the roster is comprised of different guys from last year.
It was a team that also splashed the biggest International signing plus posting fee with their 7 YRs/$175 MIL pact with acquiring Masahiro Tanaka.
Going into the second game of a 7 game homestand versus the Twins (3), a makeup game vs Mariners on Monday, then concluding with a 3 game set against Oakland., the Bronx Bombers are 28 – 25, and 2.5 Games Behind AL East leading Toronto.
While it is too early for the standings really, if the playoffs were to start today, the Yankees would be playing against the Angels in the Wild Card playoff spot.
Fresh from a 5 – 4 road trip through Chicago (both teams) and St. Louis, the team did well to salvage the trip after dropping the 1st two contests to begin with.
San Diego Padres State Of The Union For 2014

The Padres have not made the playoffs since 2006, and have only authored 2 winning seasons in the last 7 years. It is not from a lack of the coach, rather the NL West has far superior talent, while the San Diego franchise has been trying to replenish the farm, went through an ownership change, and now the team needs to make some decisions this offseason, that will shape the fortunes of the club for the next several years. I think the Pad Squad are in the mid 60’s wins range by the time it is all said and done this year.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
This season could get real ugly for the Padres in 2014.
As of right now, here are the injuries the team has endured for Spring Training.
Cameron Maybin is out till mid to late April with ruptured biceps tendon. Josh Johnson will miss a month with a strained right forearm, Corey Luebke is gone for the year with his 2nd Tommy John Surgery, and Joe Wieland also had an elbow surgery.
Among the latest issues, Carlos Quentin is doubtful for the opener today with a sore knee, Catcher Yasmani Grandal is questionable, recovering from knee surgery – while Chase Headley (strained right calf) and Chris Denorfia (sore right shoulder) are probable for tonight’s North American MLB Opener. Read the rest of this entry
Current Odds Over/Under Wins For All 30 MLB Teams In 2014: Best Bets On The Board

The regular season over/unders have been updated yet again. While most of them are right in the realm of where they should be – about 20% of the numbers scream out for me to bet some cabbage on.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Yes these are my predictions for the current state of the MLB.
Right beside the wins and losses, is the over.under totals and odd.
Next to that will be whether that would make it Over/Under based on my selections.
If I think an odd is worthy of plunking down some pesos, I will highlight it. Read the rest of this entry
30 MLB Team Power Rankings MAR 2014
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Okay, not much has changed in the last month.
They are about 20 unsigned Free Agents left in the open market pool, Baltimore inked Nelson Cruz and Ubaldo Jimenez – and Chris Capuano is with the Red Sox, Paul Maholm replaces him LA for the 2014 campaign.
Of note of the things I am watching in Spring Training. The Dodger Blue is also experiencing many injuries – and Yasiel Puig showed up to camp overweight.
LA is talking about not sending Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke to Australia in a few weeks.
I can understand with the RHP because he was yanked after four pitches last week, but withholding your star ace from the season opener, and possibly the North America starter the following week. Read the rest of this entry
Updated Odds To Win The 2014 MLB World Series As Of Right Now: Tanaka Could Influence These Later

Masahiro Tanaka has finally been posted by his team from the NPBL (Golden Lions). Mark my words, with the exception of a crazy bid coming from the Dodgers way out West, no one will outbid the Yankees for this guys services. Based on his age and wherewithal, the Pinstripers can alter their immediate future by landing the 25 Year Old Japanese Phenom. If they spend the $125 MIL – $140 MIL for a 6 or 7 year total ($20 MIL post, plus player contract, look for them to blow their $189 MIL budget out of control in 2014, – and opt to reset in 2015 instead.) Tanaka was 24 – 0 – with a miniscule 1.27 ERA in 2013.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Since nothing has changed since last week, I have two bets for you to take – and one for you to avoid.
As I mentioned last Saturday, the Rangers have confirmed on the Shin-Soo Choo signing. In my expert opinion this should have moved the line on Texas.
Instead, they are still the 3rd favorite to win the World Series coming out of the AL.
This is not right. Maybe I could see the Tigers still ahead of them based on the Division they are in, but the Red Sox have no business being ahead of them.
The Best Of Masahiro Tanaka
San Diego Padres In 2014: Maybe Without Headley And Volquez?
For Great Deadline Chat Click the Next LIne
Triple Play Podcast Special Trade Deadline Edition
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Follow @mlbreportsMonday July 29th, 2013

One trade that could be exemplary of what the Padres need to do is the Hunter Pence trade from the Astros to the Phillies. The Phillies had an abundance of young prospects, and the Astros were in a situation similar to that of the Padres. The Astros got Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singelton, and Josh Zeid for Pence, cash, and a PTBNL. Headley might not carry the same value that Pence did at the time, but I’m sure that the Padres could get a similar deal to the one that the Astros got.
Bernie Olshansky (Baseball Writer): Follow @BernieOlshansky
After the San Diego Padres looked promising in the early months of 2013, the team has finally come back down to Earth.
The team looked like it might contend for an NL West title – or a Wild Card about 45 games into the season, but from then on, the season went downhill.
In this feature, I’ll discuss at what the team could look like next year if Chase Headley and Edinson Volquez wind up elsewhere.
This year, Chase Headley has not been anywhere close to what he was in 2012.
Last season, the Padres third baseman was a legitimate MVP candidate, driving in 115 runs (Led NL – and had 73 after the ALL – Star Game) and hitting 31 HR.
This season, he started off on the DL and came back to hit only 8 HRs with 33 RBI while only hitting .238. This performance is a far cry from 2012.
Yasmani Grandal: Out For The 2013 Season
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Yasmani Grandal has been a big disappointment for the San Diego Padres. He was suspended for PED use in 2012 and was injured in 2013.
Bernie Olshansky (Baseball Writer): Follow @BernieOlshansky
When the San Diego Padres traded Mat Latos for Yasmani Grandal (among others), the team was hoping they would get a lot more out of him than they currently are. Grandal was suspended for PED use, and has only played in 28 games this year.
Unfortunately he will not play any more games in 2013 due to an injury to his ACL and MCL. In this piece, I will talk about the possible impact that Grandal’s departure has on the Padres.
When the Padres traded for him, they were hoping to get an everyday catcher with production down the road similar to that of Yadier Molina or Buster Posey. So far, it looks like that is very wishful thinking. Grandal is 24 years old.
In his two-year career, he has played in just 88 games. In a few years, the best-case scenario is the Padres looking back on this as a slow start. But for now, it hurts.
MLB 30 Team Rankings Week 15
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The Boston Red Sox started out the season 21 – 8 after their 1st 29 games, and have maintained over the last 61 games, with 33 Wins and 28 Losses. They are #1 on our rankings charts.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Past this page break or the Dodgers logo, is the written version of the rankings. If you want to listen to the audio podcast we did for this, we have the links below to download or just listen.
Triple Play Podcast Ep #15 Monthly Rankings For All 30 Teams
30 MLB Team Power Rankings: Week 13
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EE continues to show his metal this year – by clutching up for 21 HRs thus far . He has a 3 Slash Line of .274/.355/.900. EE had an OPS of 1.326 – with 3 HRs and 3 Doubles over the last 6 games, and also scored 7 Runs. He was part of key rallies that led to the clubs 6 – 0 week. The 1B only Struckout 1 time for the 6 Games. Encarnacion is now tied with Miggy Cabrera with 63 HRs since the start of the 2012 year. He is the MLB Reports hitter of the week!
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Another Week has come and gone in the MLB.
(MLB Reports) AL Hitter Of The Week – Edwin Encarnacion (See Picture Above).
Runners up were: Chris Davis (BAL) – (1.357 OPS, with 4 HRs and 10 RBI), Nelson Cruz (TEX) – (.379 BA, 3 HRS and 11 RBI) and Miguel Cabrera (.536 BA, 20 times reached on base in 7 Games, 15 Hits – with 2 HRs and 6 RBI).
(MLB Reports) AL Pitcher Of The Week– Max Scherzer – who went 2 – 0 with a 2.08 ERA in 2 Game Starts and 16 SO in 13 IP.
Runners Up were: Casey Janssen (1 – 0, with 3 Saves – while only yielding 1 Hit and 1 Walk in 4 IP), Jarrod Parker 2 GS (1 – 0, with a 0.79 WHIP in 14 IP.)
Could The New York Mets Have Three All-Star Representatives At Citi Field In 2013?
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Citi Field is one of the newest Ball Parks in the Majors and will have be host to the 2013 ALL – Star Game. It is light years ahead of where Shea Stadium was. The field made slight moderation’s to the fences last year prior to being awarding the event. Will they have 1, 2 or 3 players selected for the Mid – Summers Classic? We will find out in the next 5 – 6 weeks.
Jake Dal Porto (MLB Reports Writer) Follow @TheJakeMan24
The New York Mets haven’t had much team success in 2013, as they currently sit in fourth place in the National League East, 11 games out of first place.
Amid the rebuilding process, however, the Mets could produce three All-Stars in 2013. Sending three All-Stars would be ideal for the franchise’s sake, as the All-Star Game will be at Citi Field, and a good representation of the team would be something to rejoice over in dreadful times.
The first two are fairly obvious–David Wright and Matt Harvey. The third one in Daniel Murphy isn’t as obvious.
Do they have a case?
Chase Headley: Contract Talks Or Trade Bait?
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Monday May 6th, 2013

Headley led the NL with 115 RBI in 2012 amongst 31 HRs, he will need to put up monster numbers for the Padres to compete with the NL West teams going forward Chase Headley actually fared well at Petco Park in 2012 – with a 3 Slash Line of .272/.357/.812. He added 13 HRs and 51 RBI. He could potentially hit a few more out this season with the fences newly drawn in.
Bernie Olshansky (Baseball Writer): Follow @BernieOlshansky
For the past few seasons, Chase Headley has been the one guy on the roster that the San Diego Padres can rely on. Last year, he put up MVP-like numbers, hitting 31 HR and driving in 115 runs.
This year, he is really the only guy in the lineup that can truly produce runs. Yonder Alonso has that capability, but he is still a bit raw. Headley is signed to a one-year $8.58 million contract.
He becomes Arbitration-eligible in 2014 and is a Free Agent in 2015. The Padres are faced with a conundrum: should they trade Headley?
This third baseman is 28 years old—about the time when most players enter their prime. With the season we saw from Headley in 2012, I think it is safe to say that he has already entered his prime, and probably has two or three more years similar to 2012 ahead of him.
If the Padres are building for the future, which I sure hope they are, they need to trade Headley right away.
San Diego Padres 2013 Rotation: What To Make Of It?
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Wednesday April 24th, 2013

Volquez is coming off an up-and-down year with the Padres. He went .500 with an 11-11 record and had an average ERA at 4.14. He should be prepared for the 2013 season as he threw against real competition in the 2013 WBC so he’ll already have all of his stuff developed for the duration of 2013.
Bernie Olshansky (Baseball Writer): Follow @BernieOlshansky
The San Diego Padres currently have one of the most boring Starting Rotations in all of baseball. I cannot think of a rotation with more average pitchers than the one the San Diego organization has.
If someone presented me with the statistics of each pitcher in the Padres rotation, I probably would not be able to discern between the number one and five starters. The ace of the Padres — if we can call him that — is Jason Marquis. So far this season in four games, he has a 4.63 ERA to go with a 1-2 record.
Now some pitchers do get off to rough starts, so we cannot judge him based on his ERA and record. But, after looking further into Marquis, I found that his career ERA is 4.60. Is this really the career ERA a team would want for their “ace”?
Tyson Ross, whom the Padres acquired from the A’s was penciled in and made three starts in the five-slot in the rotation. Ross recently went on the 15-day DL with a left shoulder subluxation.
This year, Ross made three starts, none of them more than 5.1 Innings. Although Ross has a solid 3.86 ERA through those starts, it is unlikely that he will keep this up.
Edinson Volquez at the 2013 WBC:
MLB (R) Weekly Power Rankings – Week 2
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Billy Beane has seen his club roar out of the gates – leading in most offensive and defensive categories so far. This year’s team is 9 – 4 (Leading the AL West) – and have put up a 81 – 40 Record since starting last year 23 – 32. The Tigers seem to be the only toxic for the franchise. The Athletics at least played in front of decent crows at 0.co Coliseum on Saturday drawing 35K – with the team trying to go for a 10th straight win. Justin Verlander stopped the streak.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Well, the Atlanta Braves are the toast of the MLB right now, Prince Fielder is the hottest hitter on the planet, John Buck is doing his best Johnny Bench impersonation – while Chris Davis is giving new definition to the nickname ‘Crash’.
The Mets and Rockies have had the biggest ‘Cupcake Schedules’ thus far in the Major Leagues – and I am still not buying stock in these teams.
The Angels pulled out a couple of wins versus the Houston Astros to end the week 5 – 8 (You guys are supposed to beat Houston whenever you play them this year!
The Yankees rode a 4 – 1 week among a schedule that was blown apart by weather induced cancellations in Cleveland, to climb the standings.
To quote Joe Pesci in (‘ My Cousin Vinny” when Fred Gwynne tells him he is in contempt of court) in response to Jose Reyes being injured. “There is a f—— surprise!
MLB Weekly Rankings Week 1: MLB Reports
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The Nationals won a Major League leading 98 Games Last Year. They have the best roster in the Major Leagues in 2013 – and have started the year 4 – 2. The team receives a narrow edge for me over the Reds for the #1 Spot in the MLB reports 1st installment of the MLB Rankings. Check back weekly for updated rankings!
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
This is the first installment of my weekly Rankings for all MLB Teams. There are no real surprises here, I picked the Nationals just slightly over the Reds from top to bottom based on their current roster depth.
Really, the Reds may have an easier path to the playoffs playing in the NL Central -as opposed to the NL East lineup the Nationals would face.
I am not sold on the Rockies quick start because they beat up the Padres and Brewers. The DiamondBacks also look great, so look for them to possibly keep climbing the ranks
The AL East is already beating each other up.
The Braves might charge up the ranks again next week.
The White Sox have looked great so far with their pitching.
Oakland and Texas have ended the week on a hotstreak each by way of fattening up on the Houston Astros.
Washington Nationals On Opening Day:











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