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We’re A 1/3 Of The Way Home: 10 Braves Questions To Ponder For The Last 2/3

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Friday, May.31/2013

The Braves have entered the 1/3rd part of the NL East atop of the Division, The Nationals and Phillies have struggled, while the franchise has seen more ups and downs. Even with B.J. Upton, Dan Uggla and Jason Heyward having poor numbers (other than Uggla’s power,) the club may really take off if these guys get aboard the train.

By Bob McVinua (Special Guest Braves Writer – visit his website here): Follow @tomahawkchop95

I can’t believe it’s already the end of May and that baseball season is almost a 1/3 of the way over already. It’s been a fun two months and I’ve enjoyed cheering for and stressing over these Bravos for the past almost 60 days.

I thought that this was a good time to assess what I think the Braves have and what they don’t have. And moving forward what this team will have to do in order to be successful.

As usual I don’t want to bore anyone with stats, I may throw a few in there for reference points but I’ll try not to over load anyone. I can’t stand the fact that you can’t even read an article on baseball without it looking like a math problem.

Past the Read Entry Tag – or youtube clip – as there are the 10 questions to be answered in the last 108 Games.

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Posted in MLB Teams: Articles and Analysis, The Rest: Everything Baseball

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Tags: 15-day DL, @tomahawkchop95 on twitter, alex wood, andrelton simmons, Anthony Varvaro, arizona diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, b.j. upton, Blake DeWitt, bob mcvinua, Bob Melvin, chipper jones, chris johnson, Cory Gearrin, Craig Kimbrel (CL) Luis Avilan, Cristhian Martinez, david carpenter, eric o'flaherty, evan gattis, frank wren, freddie freeman, fredi gonzalez, gio gonzalez, jason heyward, john schuerholz, Jonny Venters, jordan schafer, jordan walden, julio teheran, justin upton, kris medlen, luis ayala, miami marlins, mike minor, NL east, oakland athlerics, philadelphia phillies, r.a. dickey, Ramiro Pena, reed johnson, stephen strasburg, tim hudson, washington nationals, www.braveschoptalk.wordpress.com

All-Star Studded Injury Report + Chipper Jones Retirement Effect On The Braves

Apr 1

Posted by kdana2012

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Monday, April 1/2013

Chipper had a lifetime slash line of .303/.401/.529 with 2726 Hits and 468 HRs. He played the game the way it was supposed to be played, with class and all out effort.

By Ryan Dana (MLB Reports Writer): Follow @ryandana1

The start of the 2013 Major League Baseball season is upon us. While that is beyond awesome, unfortunately there is a list of really good players who will likely not start the season playing for a Major League team. Most of these players are out due to injury, but there are also a few others I would like to mention that are out due to retirement, suspension, or the fact that they have still yet to sign with a team.

It will be a bittersweet Opening Day for the Atlanta Braves who will be without Chipper Jones this season. He spent his entire 19 years of Major League service time with the Braves, and after an MVP season in 1999, a 1995 World Series Championship, and 8 All-Star appearances, Chipper has decided to call it a career. Jones was one of, if not the best, switch hitter of all time.

Chipper Jones Highlights

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Tags: @ryandana1 on twitter, alex rodriguez, Brian McCann, brian wilson, cardinals, carlos ruiz, chipper jones, chris carpenter, corey hart, curtis granderson, david freese, david ortiz, david wright, derek jeter, grady sizemore, hanley ramirez, injury, jason motte, joakim soria, johan santana, kyle lohse, mark teixeira, michael pineda, mlb, neftali feliz, nick markakis, opening day, phil hughes, ra dickey, rafael furcal, ryan dana, yankees

Brian McCann To Rebound in 2013

Feb 15

Posted by kdana2012

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Friday, February. 15/2013

Brian McCann has established himself as one of the best offensive Catchers in the game, but will he be able to hold such a title? An injury to his right shoulder seemed to derail his 2012 campaign, but after having surgery in October he is poised to get back to his old ways.

By Ryan Dana (MLB Reports Writer): Follow @ryandana1

Brian McCann, Catcher for the Atlanta Braves, has had a great amount of success playing baseball in Georgia his whole life — but could he finally be leaving the Peach State following the 2013 MLB season? McCann was born in Athens Georgia, went to Duluth High School in Duluth Georgia, and currently resides in Lawrenceville Georgia while playing baseball in nearby Atlanta. McCann hasn’t strayed far from his roots to this point in his life. He was drafted out of high school in the 2^nd round of the 2002 MLB Draft by his hometown Braves, but his current contract with the team is up after the 2013 season. The Braves just invested a lot of money in the Upton brothers, and may not be so eager to throw a bunch of money at an offensive-minded Catcher whose production at the plate was the worst of his career in 2012. Add in the fact that they have a highly regarded Catching prospect named Christian Bethancourt – who may be ready to contribute to the big club by the start of 2014, or soon thereafter.

There is also Evan Gattis who, while most likely not a threat to steal McCann’s job behind the dish, could be a part of replacing him if need be. So while McCann is coming off surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, and a career worst season at the plate, he needs to show the Braves, or any other potential suitor for that matter, that he is still a major asset to any lineup and will be for years to come.

McCann’s accolades are quite impressive for a soon to be 29 Year old. McCann reached the Majors in 2005 at just 21 Years of Age, and never looked back. He is a 6 time All-Star (2006-2011), and 5 time Silver Slugger (2006, 2008-2011). He is a career .279/.351/.475 hitter who has averaged 22 HRs and 83 RBI per year since his 1^st full season in 2006. Prior to last season he had never hit less than .269 and never had an OPS of less than .772. Last season McCann hit .230/.300/.399 giving him an OPS of only .698. He added 20 HRs and 67 RBI, but overall his numbers were not what you would expect from Brian McCann.

2012 Brian McCann Highlights – Mature Lyrics may be present so Parental Guidance is advised:

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Tags: @Ryandana1 on tiwitter, all-star, American league, Atlanta Braves, Bill James, Brian McCann, buster posey, cardinals, catcher, chipper jones, christian bethancourt, contract year, david ross, dh, evan gattis, georgia, national league, red sox, ryan dana, Silver Slugger, tim hudson, yadier molina

Justin Upton Trade Opens A Window For The Braves And Ends An Era For The D’backs

Feb 4

Posted by nross56

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Monday, February.04, 2013

Justin Upton leaves Arizona on a down year after finishing 2012 with .280/.355/.430 slash line and only 17 HRs.

By Nicholas Rossoletti (MLB Reports Trade Correspondent): Follow @NRoss56

What many Arizona Diamondback fans once considered the unthinkable happened last week. The team decided to part with 25-Year-Old Right Fielder, Justin Upton. Upton was the franchise’s top draft pick in 2005, its Number 1 prospect in 2007 according to Baseball America, its best player in both the 2009 and 2011 seasons based upon Wins Above Replacement and the 13th best position player in the Major Leagues in 2011 as he added 6.4 Wins to the D’Backs.

The D’Backs shipped Upton to Atlanta where he will be reunited with his brother, BJ Upton, and in doing so, the team ended a relationship with another of its first round picks. None of Arizona’s top picks from 2003 through 2011 are still with the franchise. Upton was the type of player that teams normally build around especially at 25 Years Pld. Instead the D’Backs determined it was better to use Upton to acquire 5 pieces that they hope will provide several building blocks to replace the one they gave away. In that way, Upton still provided the D’Backs with foundation even when he is no longer playing for them.

Justin Upton Highlights Mature Lyrics so Parental Guidance is Advised:

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Posted in MLB Teams: Articles and Analysis, The Rest: Everything Baseball

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Tags: @Nross56 on twitter, arizona diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, brandon drury, chipper jones, chris johnson, didi gregorius, giants, jason heyward, justin upton, martin prado, michael bourn, Mike Morse, nicholas rossoletti, nick ahmed, randall delgado, ryan dempster, tampa bay rays, trevor bauer, U Conn huskies, zeke spruill

The Most Underrated Statistic: Extra Base Hits (XBH)

Feb 2

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Saturday, February.02/2013

Alex Rodriguez is the Active Leader for XBH with 1190, however who knows when he will have a chance to resume his career again and is still owed 114 Million Dollars over the next 5 years

Alex Rodriguez is the Active Leader for XBH with 1190, however who knows when he will have a chance to resume his career again with injuries + allegations of PED use perhaps sparking an investigation/suspension for the MLB and is still owed 114 Million Dollars over the next 5 years.

By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024

I have nothing against sabermetrics in baseball. Yes I know they are not going away and I will probably learn them one day as someone who can comprehend Math pretty good. However, I understand the frustration of the casual fan who will not set a foot near them – although they know what Home Runs and Runs Batted In are. I have thrown the topic out for discussion on Twitter – and am extremely curious to see what percentage of fans actually follow the new numbers formats. This site totally allows our writers to convey any form of statistical analysis they want. The only thing that I request, is that if they use sabermetrics, to also add some regular stats with them.

One of the stats that can gauge any era since the beginning of baseball is Extra Base Hits. Before the fences were brought in (or even put up), Doubles and Triples could be hit at any time. Singles are great in the game too. There have been several great baseball players that are singles hitters, that also compiled a bunch of Doubles and Triples. That is why this statistic is fairest to all of the hitters in the history of the game and the most comparable. Like the old saying, (hit’em where they ain’t), players that can hit the baseball into the open areas of the outfield are special. Babe Ruth re-coined the phrase later when he said “Well they ain’t over the fence, so that’s where I hit them!” The Bambino was right. In the course of this article, we will list the top active list for this category – and some underrated hitters that may stack up nicely against historical hitters.

(Pete Rose Highlights):

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Tags: 30/30 club, 40/40 Club, alex rodriguez, alfonso soriano, ALL-Time Doubles Leaders MLB, ALL-Time Extra Base Hits Leader Career, ALL-Time Extra Base Hits Leaders Active, ALL-Time Home Runs Leaders MLB, ALL-Time Stolen Base Leaders Active Players, ALL-Time Triples Leaders MLB, ALS, American league, andriuw jones, aramis ramirez, babe ruth, Bobby Abreu, Carl Yastremski, carlos beltran, Carlos lee, chicago white sox, chipper jones, Chuck Booth. fastest 30 ballgames, dave winfield, derek jeter, detroit tigers, eddie murray, george brett, hank aaron, harmon killebrew, ivan rodriguez, jason giambi, jim thome, jimmie foxx, jimmy rollins, jose canseco, ken griffey jr, lance berkman, manny ramirez, mel ott, Miguel Tejada, mlb, national league leaders, paul konerko, pete rose, rafael palmeiro, reggie jackson, sf giants, stan musial, ted williams, texas rangers, todd helton, Torii Hunter, tris speaker, twitter @chuckbooth3024, ty cobb, vladimir guerrero, willie mays

Part 1 of a Series: All-Time All-Star Teams By Regionality

Nov 23

Posted by mednickalex

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Friday November 23th, 2012

Note from Alex Mednick: I am going to be putting together a small project that accumulates all the best players of all time, and puts them together on teams according to their birthplace. For example, in this first edition I will be breaking down players from the United States of America into teams from the 1) Northeast, 2) Southeast, 3) Midwest, and 4) Southwest…(sorry, there really is not enough quality coming out of the northwest to compete with these teams…maybe I will put a Northwestern United States team in a later edition with less competitive teams). Later on I will bring you teams assembled from the all-time greats out Central and South American (Mexico, Venezuela, Panama, Panama Canal Zone, etc.) and the All-Caribbean Team (Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Curacao, etc). Also look forward to teams from Japan, Canada and the EU. Should be fun to sort of assemble an “Olympics” of Baseball. I love watching the World Baseball Classic and seeing players fight for their nations pride…but by grouping the teams by region, it might make the teams more competitive. Of course, this is all for the sake of speculation; Babe Ruth was a great player, but I don’t think he will be taking any at-bat’s soon. (Also, please note that I do not lend consideration to relief pitchers in this analysis). Read the rest of this entry →

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2012 MLB Playoffs: Cardinals Win Despite Controversy, While Rangers Face A Painful Offseason Ahead With Loss

Oct 6

Posted by Jake Dal Porto

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Saturday October 6th, 2012

Jake Dal Porto: It was the night of the “non-favorites” on Friday with the two “do or die” Wild Card games taking center stage. The Cardinals escaped a hostile environment at Turner Field (more on that later), while the Orioles beat the Rangers to begin a very long and painful offseason for the Rangers’ management group.

Here’s how each game went down:

St.Louis Cardinals (6) AT Atlanta Braves (3)- Cardinals will play Washington Sunday in game one of the NLDS

The storyline in this game wasn’t Chipper Jones’s career coming to an end, nor was it a specific play which defined the game. The storyline was a bad call by the umpires. More specifically, the added left field umpire.

The Braves were down 6-3 entering the bottom of the eighth inning. They had failed to capitalize on multiple opportunities to cut into the Cardinals lead. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons veered too far into the base path with runner on first and third and one out while trying to bunt. The ball ticked off Simmons’s helmet and kicked down the right field line. Originally, two runs would’ve scored on the play had the call not been reversed, but upon further review, Simmons did indeed interfere with the throw, and both runners were brought back to their respective bases while Simmons was ruled out. In that situation, a simple ground ball would’ve done the trick with his above average speed. Read the rest of this entry →

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Tags: 2012 MLB playoffs, Atlanta Braves, baltimore orioles, baseball, chipper jones, darren o'day, Division Series, jim johnson, josh hamilton, mlb, st louis cardinals, texas rangers, Umpires, wild cards, world series

2012 MLB Postseason Preview: Every Pitch Counts

Oct 4

Posted by mednickalex

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Thursday, October 4th, 2012

October is the time when there is a quiet current of electricity surrounding baseball. There is an intensity in every second between pitches, and the players really zone in. This is the reason they played 162 games through the regular season. They are all after one thing: A World Championship.

Alex Mednick (Baseball Analyst and Writer):

With the last games of the 2012 regular season being officially completed yesterday I get the same feeling I do every season…it’s a sickening pain in my stomach, that makes me want to hibernate and not wake up until April comes around. For baseball lovers, we are all very familiar with this feeling. We find solace in the fact that with the exception of the month of November, we can still follow baseball transactions all year-long. Furthermore, we cannot get too upset; baseball isn’t really over. In fact, some might argue that it is just beginning!

The boys of summer play all those games in the summer heat for one reason. The grueling 162 game schedule sees many ups and many downs, and all of these challenges are met with a firm resolve: to do whatever it takes to get to the postseason. October is the time when the weather turns cold, and ball players become unshaven warriors duking it out to be the victorious few who have the honor to take a championship ring home this offseason. Read the rest of this entry →

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Jason ‘J-Hey Kid’ Heyward and ‘Fast’ Freddie Freeman were keys to A Braves Playoff Berth

Sep 28

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Friday, September.28/2012

Even with Chipper Jones retiring at the end of this year, the Braves look to have a bright future with the likes of Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward taking over the club’s offensive lead.

Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer): Follow @chuckbooth3024

In Atlanta, making the playoffs became so common for the Braves that the fans would just shrug off the feat and stay away from coming to the ballpark until the NLCS if they happened to make it. 14 straight division titles from 1991-2005, (Now as a Expos than Nationals fan) I would like to point out that they were not anywhere near the Expos in the 1994 Strike Year), spoiled the fans each season to take it for granted. 5 World Series appearances (including a 1-4 record), 9 NLCS Appearances (including a 5-4 record) and the team had a 9-5 NLDS record. After a playoff loss in 2005, the team was smart enough to rebuild for 5 years before making another playoff appearance in 2010 as the National League Wild Card team. That was Jason Heyward‘s rookie campaign, in which he finished 2nd in Rookie of the Year Voting with a .277 Batting Avg, 18 HRs and 72 RBI. The team lost out to the eventual World Series Champions, the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS.

In 2011, it was Freddie Freeman‘s turn to finish 2nd in ‘Rookie of The Year’ Voting, batting .282 wih 21 HRs and 76 RBI. Freddie Freeman was arguably the best Atlanta Brave last year and he did all he could to help the team make the playoffs-only to see the club lose the Wild Card Spot to the St.Louis Cardinals on the last day of the season. It was one of the biggest collapses in playoff clinching history (stay tuned for a big article on playoff collapses next week from your truly.) In the post-mortem analysis of the club, the startling ‘sophomore’ drop-off from Jason Heyward was one of the biggest reasons why. Heyward battled injuries, plus a lack of plate discipline, to hit only .227 with 11 HRs and 44 RBI. He wasn’t alone in struggling with the Braves during the 2011, however patrolling a highly productive position like Right-Field surely didn’t help in the late season charge. Read the rest of this entry →

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Tags: 2012 MLB playoffs, Atlanta Braves, boston red sox, chipper jones, Chuck Booth. fastest 30 ballgames, freddie freeman, jason heyward, mlb, turner field, twitter @chuckbooth3024, washigton nationals

Post Chipper Jones Era: Is David the Wright Solution?

Sep 22

Posted by johnburnsmlb

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Saturday September 22nd, 2012

John Burns: As you all know, the almighty Chipper Jones will be retiring from baseball after this season. He is it calling it quits after 19 seasons in the Majors. The 40 year-old Chipper Jones has been one of the best players in baseball for a longtime. With his outstanding career numbers, it is no question that one day he will be inducted into Cooperstown. A lock to be a first-ballot inductee. Jones has been part of Atlanta’s organization for 22 years after being drafted number first overall to the Braves in the 1990 MLB Draft. That is a lot of years at the hot corner, as well as some time spent in the outfield.

How will Atlanta recover without Chipper playing third every day? Are there any possible replacements? Besides his play on the field, can his leadership be replaced? This might shock a lot of you… but could David Wright be the one to replace Chipper in Atlanta? Read the rest of this entry →

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Tags: aramis ramirez, Atlanta Braves, baseball, braves, chipper, chipper jones, david wright, gold glove, mets, mlb, mvp, new york mets, NL east, pedro alvarez, scott rolen, third base

Beltre and Hamilton Need to Carry the Rangers for a 3rd Straight WS Appearance

Aug 28

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Tuesday, August.28/2012

Hamilton and Beltre need to carry the Rangers to their 3rd straight World Series Appearance. This feat has not been done since the Yankees went to 4 straight WS Appearances from 1998-2001.

Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer): Follow @chuckbooth3024 It is Adrian Beltre Awareness Week! What is that exactly? I have adopted an idea to carry out on twitter-in order to provide the unheralded players of the MLB, their just credit. So far there has been Juan Pierre, Mike Morse , Jose Altuve Awareness Weeks and now it is Adrian Beltre’s turn. I decided on the Rangers 3rd base slugger because I believe that he is on a path for Cooperstown. Rather than bore you with details I have already written about before on the Reports, you can click here for my previous article on Beltre hitting himself into Hall Of Fame Consideration: click here.

Okay back to the point. It was right after Adrian Beltre’s 3 HR game that I started sending out my link on the article and hailing Beltre as a man worthy for Cooperstown if he keeps it up. I had many of my followers indicate they had never thought about him like that. In bullet point style here. Right after that he had a 3 hit game, in which he was a Triple short of the cycle. The next day he hit for his second career cycle. It made me feel really good about my stance on the guy. 5 HRs, 2 Doubles, a Triple and 2 singles is a month for some guys and Beltre accomplished this feat in 14 AB over 3 games. That is 29 total bases folks, a slugging percentage of over 2 and a .714 Average. The Rangers offense has several players that seem to blow up like this. Nelson Cruz had 8 RBI not so long ago. Beltre had that 3 homer game in the ALCS last year. Then there was Josh Hamilton and his 4 HR game. Hamilton has also had 3 games this year where he had collected 5 RBI or more.

The Rangers are a power house offense. They have guys like Mitch Moreland and Mike Napoli hitting 8th routinely. They are going to win the AL West for a 3rd Straight year. With all of this said, something doesn’t resonate with me in them making their 3rd straight World Series this year. That feat has not been accomplished since the Yankees made 4 fall classics in a row from 1998-2001. The Rangers are vulnerable and have weaknesses in their pitching. They don’t have C.J Wilson this year and Rookie Yu Darvish is slowing down after a great first half. I think with Darvish, it is the innings that are catching up to him. In Japan, they usually have 6 man rotations. This is new territory for the talented chucker.

Adrian Beltre Highlights!

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Tags: adrian beltre, albert pujols, alcs, baltimore orioles, baseball hall of fame, boston red sox, bull durham, chicago, chipper jones, Chuck Booth. fastest 30 ballgames, detroit, george brett, jose altuve, josh hamilton, juan pierre, kevin costner, la angels, Mike Morse, mike napoli, mike schmidt, mitch moreland, nelson cruz, new york yankees, oakland a's, tampa bay rays, texas rangers, yu darvish

MLB Reports Monthly Power Rankings: August 2012

Aug 6

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Monday August.6/2012

Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer and @chuckbooth3024 on twitter)- It has been a crazy month in which teams have stockpiled some heavy talent at the trade deadline to get ready for the playoffs. Amongst the biggest gainers for the rankings this month were: the Athletics, Reds, Braves, Tigers, Dodgers (because of the deals) and Mariners while the Mets, Red Sox, Indians and Royals saw brutal months all but seal their playoff fates. I do think that Boston has a punchers chance but that all is dependent on David Ortiz returning to the lineup swiftly. The power of the best teams is definitely leaning to the National League right now where several teams are playing great baseball. With one-third of the season left we are all in for a treat as baseball fans.

I will have one more regular season Power Rankings month of September (to be posted on Labor Day Weekend,) before I also provide a playoff style ranking of the 1-10 seeds right before the Wild Card Teams play the play in game. It certainly has been awesome to follow how the trade deadline has effected the Monthly Rankings this time around. I think it is safe to say that this years deadline provided more interest and following-from even the casual fan more than any other year before. I also believe that the Non-Waiver Trade Deadline is now the best Trade Deadline in all of sports. Social Media has a lot to do with this but so does parity. The 2nd Wild Card spot has also created more teams willing to trade prospects in lieu of going for it. Read the rest of this entry →

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Top Ten Stat of The Week: Team Wins Since The Start of the 2003 Season

Jul 23

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Monday July 23, 2012

With only one World Series Win and a 2003 Loss to the Florida Marlins, it hasn’t stopped the Yankees from raking in wins every year. They have averaged 95 wins a season since 2003.

Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer and @chuckbooth3024)- This weeks installment is actually a top 11. I bent the rules a little to accommodate the A’s. It is hard to maintain a great franchise in today’s Major Leagues. Sure the heavy hitters like New York and Boston will always be sniffing around the top of the league with their huge payrolls, but most teams don’t have the luxury to spend like these two teams do because of their limited revenue streams. In the last few years, the Phillies, Angels and Tigers have entered the echelon of top spenders. Spending money doesn’t always equal great results. The Texas Rangers have only had success lately and were often victim to heavy payrolls and not great results. How many years did Peter Angelos try to buy a contender with Baltimore? He has dedicated himself back to the right way of building a team the last couple of years and it has worked through player development.

Minnesota and Oakland have been run incredibly well for a long time. If this list was for a five-year stretch, you would have seen the Tampa Bay Rays as part of the top 10. These are the small market teams that have been consistently playing well against the big boys. The Twins have only faded back in the standings in the last couple of seasons. The Atlanta Braves finally had their consecutive playoff years stopped in 2005 and they were only mediocre for a few seasons. Right now, they might be the best team in the National League. The Angels, Twins, Dodgers, Athletics, Dodgers and Braves did not make any World Series appearances since 2003. Out of these teams, the Angels have the most wins.

According to the movie ‘The Natural,’ losing is a disease, and like other diseases, (insert disease here) it is curable. Most of these teams have not even struggled in the last 10 years. The Yankees have only won one World Series in this time frame, despite dominating the win total every year. In fact, the last time the Yankees has a losing season was 1991. The Cardinals and the Red Sox both have won 2 World Series, and the Cardinals are the only team to have appeared in the Fall Classic 3 times during this stretch. Read the rest of this entry →

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The Best Teams from 1980-2012: Will Texas claim the title this year from 2010-2012?

Jul 11

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Wednesday July.11, 2012

Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer and @chuckbooth3024 on twitter)- There is only so much one can read in an article, otherwise I would make these lists up from the turn of the 20th century. If you gave me enough time as a reader, I promise to backdate this topic with another article featuring the best teams dating back further in years. Eventually, all of the years may be dissected and we can have a healthy debate on some of my selections. I really started watching baseball in the early 1980’s. As I became older and discovered ways to research the history of the game, my knowledge and curious mind grew for more information. I have studied and read baseball stat books and breezed through the odd Bill James novel. If I ever take a break from writing or baseball park chasing, I may find some time down the road to watch the 9 part PBS documentary that Ken Burns did on baseball’s history.

Baseball lends itself more to the history than any other sport because of how it has been chronicled throughout their past. Writers, announcers, former players, parents etc.. have always carried on with the stories of America’s favorite pastime. I will never be sold that NFL is the greatest pastime in sports right now. NFL is the greatest gambling sport presently. It is my firm belief that the only reason why the NFL draws in more cash from its sport is because of the gambling factor. If you took that aspect out of it, I believe baseball is the #1 sport. Can you imagine how much attention we would pay to baseball if there were only a 16 game schedule? Enough with that rant, let’s get down to the list. Who were the best teams at any specific time period for the last 32 years? We will start with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1980-1983. Read the rest of this entry →

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Top 10 Stat of the Week ( Career HRs With One Team )

Jun 24

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Sunday June.24/2012

‘Hammering’ Hank passed the legendary Babe Ruth as the ALL-Time HR leader in 1974. Some still feel that he is the ALL-Time HR leader with the admitted steroid use from Leader Barry Bonds. –Photo courtesy of goldenagebaseballcards

Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer and @chuckbooth3024 on twitter)- Seemingly gone are the days where most of the MLB players stick with one team for their whole careers. As of right now there are not too many superstars that have spent their entire careers with one organization. Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are 1st ballot Hall of Famers. Chipper Jones should make the BBHOF. Todd Helton is close to retiring but I am not sure the voters will see him worthy. There are some promising chances that Ryan Braun and David Wright might play their entire careers with their current clubs, however with Braun’s PED fiasco last year I just don’t see him entering Cooperstown. Wright must re-sign with the ownership hemorrhaging, this will prove hard for the Wilpons funds thanks to Bernie Madoff. When it comes to starting pitching, the list is shrunken that much further. Justin Verlander is the active win leader with a player only having played for one team. He has 114 wins with the Tigers, anybody above him on the active ALL-Time Wins list has pitched for multiple teams already. The next active leader for one team pitched for is Ervin Santana with 91 wins for the Angels franchise. Felix Hernandez has 90 wins for the Mariners. Tim Lincecum, Cole Hamels and Matt Cain have played their entire careers for the same team so far and have CY Young titles amongst them, but have a long way to go in establishing Hall of Fame Careers.

That brings me to my next stat. There are 9 players in history who have hit 500 HRs or more for one team. All of them are in the Hall of Fame except for Barry Bonds (who becomes eligible next year.) I am not sure the writers will cast a vote for him because of his steroid use. When I got the idea for this article, it came to be because I was amazed that Paul Konerko has hit over 400 HRs with the Chicago White Sox. Again at age 36, Konerko has a look at 500 HRs with the Chicago team. Right now he can end the season with about 410-420 HRs. Provided he can play 3-4 years more and have productive seasons, he may reach the milestone. Chipper Jones is the only other active MLB Player to have 400 HRs with one team. Larry is slowing down though and will most likely retire after this year. Read the rest of this entry →

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Stat of the Week: Will Extra Base Hits Help Punch Tickets to BBHOF?

Jun 17

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Monday June.18/2012

Alex Rodriguez leads the list of active players and is already 10th All-time for XBH. If Rodriguez can hit 308 XBH before he retires, he will pass Hank Aaron for 1st overall. –Photo courtesy of nytimes.com

Chuck Booth (Baseball Writer and @chuckbooth3024 on twitter)- Extra base hits kind of go hand in hand with slugging percentage to an extent. I have often used this category every season as a gauge on how good a player does. Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances why a player hits more doubles and triples rather than home runs but they are all considered extra base hits. Adrian Beltre is a perfect example of this. During his Seattle Mariner days, he would blast about 15-20 baseballs off the fences at Safeco Field every year (for a double or triple) that would have been an HR if he did not play in such a pitcher friendly park. This list represents great careers. If a player can reach the magic 1000 extra base hits, they will be hard to ignore for consideration towards Cooperstown. I have omitted Manny Ramirez from an active player. It is my firm belief that the man served a 50 game suspension for a team like Oakland, only to quit on them and maybe land on another club. If he is able to catch on with another job with a club, I will gladly put his name back as #2 player on this active list.

TOP 10 as of June.17/2012

Player Extra Base Hits Leaders Active (Rank All-Time)

1. Alex Rodriguez NYY 1169 (10)

2. Jim Thome PHI 1079 (20)

3. Chipper Jones ATL 1026 (26)

4. Vladimir Guerrero (FA) 972 (39)

5. Todd Helton COL 956 (45)

6. Albert Pujols LAA 941 (50)

7. Bobby Abreu LAD 908 (60)

8. David Ortiz BOS 886 (64)

9. Johnny Damon CLE 859 (73)

10. Scott Rolen CIN 857 (75)

I fully think that Vladimir Guerrero will sign with someone soon. At 972 extra base hits, he is 28 extra base hits away from that 1000 marker. If a team signs him in the next few weeks, he may have a chance to get there before the end of the season. Below is a 5 minute highlight package of his career thus far. There is not many Expos highlights, you can always search Youtube for more.

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MLB Reports Monthly Power Rankings: June 2012

Jun 4

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Monday June.4, 2012

Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer and @chuckbooth3024 on twitter)-We are going to bring you monthly power rankings every month of the season. There will be a few notes written for each team. Please feel free to let us know your thoughts. The Texas Rangers are the top ranked team yet once again, although teams are certainly gaining on the them in the last week. Look out for Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees to make their move towards the top this month.

June Power Rankings-Last Month Rank in Parenthesis

1. Texas-32-22 (1) The Rangers rode Josh Hamilton in the month of May-who enters today on pace for about 60 HRs and 170 RBI while hitting .354. Nelson Cruz is starting to heat up and the duo of Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler are steady as as ever. Yu Darvish is 7-3 en route to the leading the group amongst Rookie of The Year Contention. Joe Nathan is looking like his old self again out of the pen with an ERA under 2.

2. LA Dodgers 33-21 (5) Even with Matt Kemp out of the lineup again, the Dodgers are winning ball games with solid contributions from Andre Ethier and A.J Ellis on offense. The pitching staff has been anchored by Clayton Kershaw and a fast 7-1 start by Chris Capuano. Ted Lilly was 5-1 before a stint on the DL. It is too bad because Lilly is 125-104 since 2004.

3. Tampa Bay 31-23 (2) Hideki Matsui homered in two of his first 3 games back with the Rays. The team has had steady pitching to stay in contention. Carlos Pena has really struggled in the last month and will need to pick it up. Luke Scott with 35 RBI has good production numbers in spite of his .225 AVG. Fernando Rodney has converted 17 out of 18 saves to pace the club.

4. Cincinnati 30-23 (12) Joey Votto has hit .404 in the last 30 days and maybe the best all-around hitter in the National League right now. Jay Bruce has 12 HRs and 34 RBI and is living up to his all-star potential. Aroldis Chapman has 27 Strikeouts in just over 14 innings and has yet to yield a run while opponents are hitting a paltry .043 against him.

5. NY Yankees 29-24 (6) The Bronx Bombers have 6 players with 8 HRs or more, which is a good thing because with the exception of Derek Jeter, a lot of them are hitting under their career averages. The return of Andy Pettitte has helped the rotation with the loss of Micheal Pineda. Phil Hughes threw a complete game over the weekend and CC Sabathia is on pace for another 20 win season. Read the rest of this entry →

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The Yankees and Their Milestones Tracker: Jeter, A-Rod, Teixeira and CC

May 23

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Wednesday, May.23/2012

Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer and @chuckbooth3024 on twitter)-Heading into tonight’s game versus the Kansas City Royals, Derek Jeter sits in 16th all time for the All-time hits list. He is only 3 hits behind Paul Waner and another 5 hits behind George Brett. If Jeter has a decent last 120 games, he could find himself already in the top 10 all time by collecting another 145 hits and passing Willie Mays for 10th all time with 3284 hits by the end of the year. I am not sure how much longer the captain will play, but I think it has to be at least another year or two based on how he has started this campaign out. If he plays another 300 games after this year, you have to think he is capable of averaging a hit per game the rest of his career. This would place him in the top 5 of hits all time behind Pete Rose (4256), Ty Cobb (4191) Hank Aaron (3771) and Stan Musial’s (3630). If I were a betting man, I think that 482 more hits might be asking a little much for the 37-year-old shortstop. Having said this, Jeter will undoubtedly take his place amongst these immortal men by the time he is done playing the game. Read the rest of this entry →

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MLB reports Monthly Power Rankings: May 2012

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Tuesday May 8th, 2012

Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer and @chuckbooth3024 on twitter)-We are going to bring you a monthly power rankings every month of the season. There will be a few verses for each team. Please feel free to let us know your thoughts.

May Power Rankings

Texas (19-10) Josh Hamilton is clubbing the ball at his 2010 like AL MVP clip. Yu Darvish appears to be the real deal. Mike Napoli hits 8^th on most nights. Michael Young might be the most under-appreciated hitter in the last decade. Ian Kinsler is on pace for 162 runs. If Nelson Cruz starts hitting and or Nathan rounds into form, than this team may blitz by every one.
Tampa Bay (19-10) The pitching staff is incredible right now. David Price is asserting himself as one of the premier left-handed pitchers in baseball. Strong starts from Evan Longoria, Luke Scott and Carlos Pena have helped. Joe Maddon may be the best ‘in-game manager’ of baseball now with Tony La Russa out of the Majors.
Atlanta (18-12) The reason I have Atlanta rated so high is they are not even having a good year from Tim Hudson yet and Jair Jurrjens has been atrocious. Still they sit near the top of the standings. Chipper Jones has 21 RBI and Freddie Freeman has taken the next step so far with 26 RBI. Last year the team had a lot of players with career worst years and they were only eliminated on the last day of the season. This year may be different.
St. Louis (18-11) You lose a franchise player like Albert Pujols and you spend half the money for Carlos Beltran and Rafael Furcal, who are finally hitting the numbers like the back of their bubble gum cards from 5 years ago. Are we giving enough credit to Mark McGwire here? Lance Lynn has morphed into Chris Carpenter with his 6-0 start.
LA Dodgers (19-10) Matt Kemp is the best player in baseball right now and may walk away with the triple crown this year. Andre Ethier has matured into the RBI guy he needs to be. Solid pitching by Clayton Kershaw, Chris Capuano and Ted Lilly have this team looking solid. Dodgers look good in the future when the new ownership takes over. (more…)

Posted on May 8, 2012 | Image

Chipper Jones Announces 2012 Will Be His Last Season: Is Mariano Rivera Next to Retire?

Mar 22

Posted by Bryan Sheehan

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Thursday March 22nd, 2012

Bryan Sheehan (MLB Reports Intern): At a press conference before a Grapefruit League Game today, Atlanta Braves third baseman Larry Wayne Jones (a.k.a. Chipper Jones) announced that 2012 would be his last season before retirement from baseball. At age 39, Jones has spent all of his 18 year career with the Braves, earning him the distinction of being the active player with the most time played for just one team. During this span, Jones has played in seven All-Star games, won an MVP and picked up a pair of Gold Glove Awards. His offensive WAR is a combined 84.9, good enough for 25th on the all-time list. Interestingly enough, the player with the second longest-one-team-tenure may also retire after this season. Closer Mariano Rivera, who has 16 years and 106 days of MLB service, all for the New York Yankees. Over the years Rivera has been one of the most consistently dominant closers in the league, and his record 603 career saves is the most in history. Read the rest of this entry →

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Tags: Atlanta Braves, baseball, chipper jones, closer cooperstown, hall of fame, mariano rivera, mlb, new york yankees

Ask the Reports: ATR Answers Your Baseball Questions – March 19th, 2012

Mar 19

Posted by Jonathan Hacohen

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Monday March 19th, 2012

Jonathan Hacohen: Posted every Weekend: Your top baseball questions from the past week are answered. E-mail all questions to mlbreports@me.com, message us on Twitter and post on our Facebook Wall!

Let’s get to your top questions of the week: Read the rest of this entry →

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Interview with Jake Elmore: Arizona Diamondbacks Prospect

Dec 24

Posted by Jonathan Hacohen

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Saturday December 24, 2011

Jonathan Hacohen: Today on MLB reports we are proud to feature Arizona Diamondbacks Prospect: Jacob Elmore (Jake). Originally drafted by the Marlins in 2007, Jake was later drafted and signed with the Diamondbacks in 2008. Jake just completed his 4th season in the Diamondbacks system, with a 2nd straight year in AA with the Mobile Bay Bears of the Southern League. During his professional career, Jake has played every position except for outfield. Yes, he did catch one game and pitched in four games! Jake’s greatest strengths are his batting eye and speed. He has shown close to a 1:1 walk to strikeout ratio (career .370 obp) and very good speed (career high 25 stolen bases in 2010 and 15 in 2011).

Featured on MLB reports, I proudly present my interview with Jake Elmore, Arizona Diamondbacks Prospect:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MLB reports: Who was your favorite baseball player growing up, that you most idolized and patterned your game after?

Jake Elmore: My favorite player growing up was Ken Griffey Jr. I loved how he played the game with a big smile on his face. He looked like he enjoyed playing baseball more than anyone I have ever witnessed. Being as great as he was, that was understandable. His excellence on the field had a great deal with me admiring him as well.

MLB reports: Which current MLB star do you most admire and why?

Jake Elmore: Chipper Jones would be my pick. I admire how he plays the game and his loyalty to his organization. Many players run for the higher paycheck but Chipper is beloved in Atlanta and has always found a way to make it work there. The player I try to model my game after is Brian Roberts. The tough, gritty approach he brings to the table is admirable and he always finds a way to impact a game.

MLB reports: Reflecting on your career to-date, what are your proudest accomplishments on the baseball field?

Jake Elmore: My proudest accomplishment would be winning the “Big Stick” award at the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction Colorado. This award is given to the player with the highest batting average at the World Series that qualifies with ample at bats. I hit .526 and took home the crown.

MLB reports: Did you fully expect from the start of the draft back in 2008 to sign with the Dbacks? When was the final decision made in the process to sign with Dbacks? Any disappointment with being drafted in the 34th round? What factors led you not to sign with the Marlins back in 2007 when you were originally drafted?

Jake Elmore: I had no expectation to be drafted in 2008. I was really excited to be drafted at all and feel fortunate to be given the opportunity. I had a really rough time at Arizona State and did not fit in well with that program. I thought there was no way I would be given a shot after the year I had, so when I was taken it brought me back to life and gave me extra motivation. I had no plans to sign with the Marlins after 2007 being such a low pick and a Junior year at Arizona State on the horizon.

MLB reports: What do you consider your greatest baseball skill(s)?

Jake Elmore: My greatest skill on the field would be my versatility and knowledge of the game. I feel that me being able to move all over the field and the batting lineup gives me an advantage against other players. I pride myself on being athletic and multi-faceted. The mental aspect of the game is really enhanced as you progress through a system and being able to adjust mentally is a key to success.

MLB reports: What facets of your game do you most wish to improve upon?

Jake Elmore: I would love to improve my power numbers and my stolen base success. I am known as a speedy guy, but know that I have been caught far too many times to be considered a top-notch stolen base threat. Power is something all organizations are looking for and I am striving to improve in that area.

MLB reports: I am very impressed with your displayed ability to get on base during your career. You have close to a 1:1 walk to strikeout ratio. How do strikeouts and walks figure into your game? Do you see any of these items changing over time and to what degree?

Jake Elmore: The ability to get on base is a key to my success as a player and being disciplined at the plate is the key to obp. Over time I hope to maintain this ratio because I do think it is important. Although, I would sacrifice a few strikeouts for a few more home runs in a season.

MLB reports: Long term what position do you see yourself playing? You have mainly played 2b and ss, but also some 3b, 1b, catcher and pitched! What’s the story on all these positions played? How do you see defense as part of your overall game?

Jake Elmore: Well, being versatile is something I take pride in so I make sure all the coaches I play for understand that I am serious about playing different positions. I told the organization I could catch and they laughed and took it in stride. Then when I got the chance to get behind the dish they were surprised that I actually had an idea back there. I caught throughout high school, got recruited as an infielder and catcher, started junior college as a center fielder due to an injury, played both at ASU, and played all the infield positions in pro ball. Still waiting on my first outfield appearance in the pros. As for pitching, I do not pretend to be good in that area but when the game is 17 innings in and our team is out of pitchers….”Jake get loose.” As for my projected position of the future, I would say middle infield is my ticket but the ability to catch can become valuable to my career.

MLB reports: If you had to look into a crystal ball, when do you see your expected time of arrival in the big leagues and what do you think you need to do most to get there?

Jake Elmore: Looking ahead and trying to predict the future can be dangerous and tricky. So… lets jump into the gauntlet. I feel that if I continue to get on base and score runs, playing solid defense and increase my power numbers, I will get a shot in the next few years.

MLB reports: What do you do for fun when you are not playing baseball?

Jake Elmore: I really enjoy working out. Not necessarily for baseball but for health in general. I enjoy learning how the body functions and why we do the workouts we do. MW3 is a time waster that I enjoy even though I am average at best. Lastly, I have recently started keeping a journal. I figure one day it will be intriguing to look back and remember what was going on at this time in my life.

MLB reports: Have you visited Arizona yet? How did you enjoy Chase Field?

Jake Elmore: Yes I have visited Arizona many times and have always enjoyed my time there. I have been to Chase Field as well. It is immaculate and gives you extra fuel in the tank to make it to the Show.

MLB reports: You just completed your second season in AA ball. Do you know where the Dbacks likely plan to start you this season?

Jake Elmore: I have no idea about the organizations plans and there is no need to even speculate. I am doing everything in my control to better myself to prove I am worthy of a promotion.

MLB reports: If you could send out a message to the Dbacks fans, what would it be?

Jake Elmore: Hopefully I will see you guys soon!

Thank you again to Jake Elmore for taking the time to join us today on MLB reports. We highly encourage our readers to post at the bottom of the article any questions and/or comments that you may have for Jake. You can also find Jake Elmore on Twitter (@JElmo6)

Jonathan Hacohen is the Lead Baseball Columnist & Editor for MLB reports: You can follow Jonathan on Twitter (@JHacohen)

Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook . To subscribe to our website and have the daily Reports sent directly to your inbox , click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.

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Posted in Interviews with MLB Stars

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Tags: arizona diamondbacks, baseball, brian robers, chase field, chipper jones, derek jeter, jacob elmore, jake elmore, ken griffey jr, mlb, mobile bay bears, southern league

Interview with Prospect Jeremy Patton: 2011 Cardinals Draftee

Dec 12

Posted by Jonathan Hacohen

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Monday December 12, 2011

Jonathan Hacohen: We are thrilled to welcome to MLB reports: 2011 St. Louis Cardinals draftee, Jeremy Patton. A steal of a pick in the 38th round, the 23-year-old Jeremy played this past year for the Batavia Muckdogs (Low-A Ball). Jeremy played nearly every position for the Muckdogs, except shortstop, catcher and pitcher. His primary position is second base, which gives him a good chance of shooting up to St. Louis in the next couple of years. Jeremy showed a very strong bat in his professional debut, which is rare for his position. I have often preached that the ideal hitter shows the “power and patience” combination. Jeremy has indeed done that. In 63 games, he popped 4 home runs, 20 doubles, while walking 30 times to 28 strikeouts. More walks than strikeouts? I’m sold! Jeremy hit .292 last season, with a .374 OBP and .451 SLG. A great start to his baseball career. But this is just the tip of the iceberg, as Jeremy begins his journey to St. Louis.

Featured on MLB reports, I proudly present my interview with Jeremy Patton – Prospect and 2011 Draft Pick of the St. Louis Cardinals:

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MLB reports: Welcome to the Reports Jeremy: First question- Who was your favorite baseball player growing up, that you most idolized and patterned your game after?

Jeremy Patton: My favorite player growing up was Chipper Jones.

MLB reports: Which current MLB star do you most admire and why?

Jeremy Patton: Derek Jeter, because you never hear his name in a negative way. When you hear his name it is always positive on and off the baseball field. And when his team needs him most, he always comes up with the big hit.

MLB reports: Reflecting on your career to-date, what are your proudest accomplishments on the baseball field?

Jeremy Patton: I feel like my greatest accomplishments were winning the 2010 Sun Belt Conference Tournament and being named the Sun Belt Conference Tournament MVP. My proudest accomplishment was being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.

MLB reports: What are your goals going into the 2012 season?

Jeremy Patton: My goals are to make a long season team after Spring Training, then keep working my way through the minors and making it as high as possible by the end of the season.

MLB reports: Were you surprised when you were drafted in the 38th round- did you have any expectations on the draft? What was the process like signing with the Cards?

Jeremy Patton: Yes, I was surprised when I was drafted. I was even more surprised that it was by the Cardinals because I am from Missouri and I am a Cardinals fan. Yes, I was expecting to be drafted sooner than I was, but I was drafted and that is all that matters. The process was very fast. They called me on June 8th and told me that I had been drafted and they would call me in a couple of days. Then a couple of days passed and they called me and told me that they had a flight booked for me to go to Batavia, New York on June 12th to sign my contract.

MLB reports: What do you consider your greatest baseball skill(s)?

Jeremy Patton: I have always considered Hitting to be my greatest skill. I also consider my leadership to be a great skill on the baseball field.

MLB reports: What facets of your game do you most wish to improve upon?

Jeremy Patton: I want to keep improving every aspect of my game. I feel that you can never get too good at this game and there is always room for improvement.

MLB reports: How do strikeouts and walks figure into your game? Do you see any of these items changing over time and to what degree? I was very impressed with your 2011 numbers, especially the fact that you had more walks than strikeouts.

Jeremy Patton: I always try to keep my strikeouts to a minimum. The less you strikeout, the more you put the ball in play and the higher your on-base percentage. My goal every year is to have more walks than strikeouts and I don’t ever see this goal changing. (Jonathan claps and gives Jeremy a standing ovation)

MLB reports: Long term- do you see yourself as a second baseman, third baseman, outfielder or at another position? How do you view your role in the organization?

Jeremy Patton: I see myself as a second baseman, but I am versatile and willing to play whatever position they need me to. I will know more about what my role is after spring training.

MLB reports: What do you need to do in order to be successful in this game?

Jeremy Patton: Stay confident because baseball is a game of confidence and without it you will never be successful. Also, keep putting up exceptional numbers consistently every season.

MLB reports: If you had to look into a crystal ball, when do you see your expected time of arrival in the big leagues and what do you think you need to do most to get there?

Jeremy Patton: I see myself in the big leagues in 2014. I need to keep improving my game and produce numbers at every level in the minors.

MLB reports: Has pro ball been everything you expected it to be thus far?

Jeremy Patton: Pro ball is everything I have always dreamed it to be. I am one step closer to my lifelong dream of playing in the big leagues.

MLB reports: What do you do for fun when you are not playing baseball?

Jeremy Patton: I like to go hunting, play golf, and spend time with family and friends.

MLB reports: Do you have a favorite pre-game meal?

Jeremy Patton: I don’t really have a favorite pre-game meal. I guess it would have to be whatever they put out, which is usually peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

MLB reports: Final Thoughts?

Jeremy Patton: Thanks for the interview and maybe we can do a follow-up when I make the big leagues

MLB reports: Maybe??!! Count on it! We would love to have you back on the Reports before then and of course, when you reach St. Louis. Good luck on the upcoming season Jeremy.

Thank you again to Jeremy Patton for taking the time to join us today on MLB reports. We highly encourage our readers to post at the bottom of the article any questions and/or comments that you may have for Jeremy. You can also find Jeremy Patton on Twitter (@PlayPat_22)

Jonathan Hacohen is the Lead Baseball Columnist & Editor for MLB reports: You can follow Jonathan on Twitter (@JHacohen)