Blog Archives
MLB Player Futures Bets In 2015: Player Performance Props Results From Hunter Stokes Predictions
What are your best Over/Under Bets for player performances in the upcoming campaign. We delve deep into the numbers and have given you our selections. Its time to throw down some cabbage!
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Fantasy Players are dusting off their notes, and getting ready for the 2016 year. We looked at how we did for our preseason projections based on player performances.
It was another banner year for MLB Reports predicting. We carried a 9 – 4 record (.692). Here is a look at we said back in March..
MLB Shutout Survivor 2015: Which Team Do You Have Last To Be Blanked This Year?
2014’s Shutout Survivor Winners were the Angels. The club nearly made it all the way to Memorial Day before they were shutout last year. The team had a great offense, and rode it to an MLB Best record last year. I would still put the Jays, Red Sox and O’s ahead of them in 2015 with those team’s respective lineups all being strong, and playing in a less pitcher friendly Division with the AL East.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Last Year the D’Backs, A’s, Braves and Cubs were the 1st teams to be blanked before March was even over. To their credit, Arizona was in their 3rd game while the others were in their season openers.
The winner of the competition last year were the Los Angeles Angels who almost made it all the way to Memorial Day weekend without being bageled.
It was between them and the Rockies (NL Winner) for the overall win, and the Halo’s won out.
Despite a depleted lineup early, the Rangers made it all the way to 3rd place in the category, and their pitching staff also took the most other clubs by hanging a zero on them.
In 2015, I still believe the favorites, if doing a betting line, would have to be the Colorado Rockies again. Not only do they play exceedingly well every first 6 weeks of the year, and they play at Coors Field, but they start the campaign at least with Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Reports – Drastic Changes To The Game Going Forward In The Next CBA?
With Bud Selig leaving as commissioner in Jan of 2015, we have given the new guy in charge (Rob Manfred) some ideas to chew on from our top 3 guys at this website. Agree or disagree with us, at least we are not afraid to speak our mind about the game we all love so much. We are here to help grow the game. If we are not hardcore fans, we wouldn’t be running this fan-based website.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21 w/assists to
Paul Sullivan (Sully) (Lead Personality): Follow @sullybaseball &
Chuck Booth (Lead Analyst/Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The game of baseball is in decline right? Loved hearing that yet once again from every non-baseball fan. I tend not to disagree, but to think that no changes going forward is the right call is entirely wrong.
With Bud Selig making his grand exit in 2 months, Rob Manfred has a daunting task of capturing the new age fan, while the core audience grows a little older next year.
Here at the Report we have suggested some radical thought-provoking topics towards how baseball can improve, so I thought I would put them all in one article.
This list coming forth is a compilation of our top personalities – and their stances towards how the game can improve.
In this blog, I am using a lot of (Paul Francis Sullivan) Sully’s ideas. He is our lead personality on this site, and has the pulse of all sorts of historical and new age references that make sense.
Listen/Subscribe to his daily podcast The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
We will also use some of our Owner/Lead Analyst’s (Chuck Booth) views to add to the puzzle.
Finally, the list is completed by yours truly. Read the rest of this entry
World Series Betting, MLB Reports SOTU + Happy 2nd Anniversary To Sully Baseball’s Daily Podcast
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
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Okay..It has been a trying month here at the MLB Reports..Damaged electronics, power outages, I moved (while working every single day) – and all of this in the eye of the Postseason. But we are finally 100% back, and all systems at go.
First off, I wanted to acknowledge Sully for his incredible work on his 20 minute daily podcast, and his ironman streak for a couple of different things.
Sully has done a brand new podcast every day for 732 days straight. That is incredible to say the least. We are ecstatic to have partnered with him for all but about 3 months of that time. If you don’t currently listening to it, you are missing out.
Paul Sullivan “Sully” is a walking historical book on the game of baseball, but he presents it in a way that anyone can be a fan of the game.
My girlfriend can even easily spend 20 minutes a day downloading his show on Soundcloud, because he makes it easy to follow – and entertaining.
He doesn’t beat you over the head with stats and spends a lot of time telling stories on the narrative, or just his personal views.. It is a gift to be able to translate the game to any specter of age or gender in audio fashion for 20 minutes a day.
Subscribe to The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Another thing Sully does, is watch every single game of the 2430 game regular season schedule, and all of the playoffs.
At the completion of the 2014 Postseason, he will have listed a daily MVP for the AL and NL Games for 2 years straight as well.
Much like his podcast, he posts these articles every day there was baseball the previous day of action.
You are talking about 200+ more posts per year. The guy doesn’t miss a day. That kind of devotion is and will become even more legendary as the season’s pile up.
Thank you Sully, looking forward to many more years of featuring your work on our website.
So because Paul Sullivan does these baseball posts every day, we are guaranteed at least an article of the Daily MVP, and also his podcast.
For those of you who have been lucky enough to become a follower, spread the word out there so we can make this daily show a huge paying gig for Sully one day. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2014 MLB World Series (All 10 Playoff Teams)
The Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos franchise still has never appeared in the World Series. That didn’t stop the oddsmakers from giving them the #1 favorite status heading into the playoffs today. They are the deepest team on both offense and defense, and only lack postseason experience. The Stephen Strasburg ‘decision’ of a few years back, will never be put to rest until this club wins a title. Despite them being favored, I am not sure the ranking is justified, as the Dodgers reside in the same league.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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It is time to place your bets on the World Series. The Washington Nationals are your favorites to win the whole thing at +450. The Tigers, Angels and Dodgers are both next at all tied for +500.
To round out the teams in sequence…5 – Baltimore is at +700, 6 – St. Louis at +900, 7 – Oakland at +1100, 8 – San Fran at +1400, and the Royals and the Bucs are the biggest odds on the board at +1600 for 9th.
At first glance I see the pattern. The Nationals are the most deep team across the board, with having all 4 starters as potential aces in Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister.
Each one of the players in the positional lineup, were over right near of plus.400 for Slugging Percentage, and this doesn’t even include Ryan Zimmerman – who will be an awesome bat off the bench at least to start. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Reports Playoff Predictions 2014
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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The playoffs are upon us, and since we had such a great year predicting a lot of stuff, both Chuck Booth and I are putting our postseason prognostications up.
In other blogs we will take a look at the series and everything, but this is just pure bets.
American League
American League Wild Card Game
Oakland -104 @ Kansas City -106 (Jon Lester @ James Shields)
Chuck – Oakland, Hunter, Oakland
Why Ruben Amaro Jr. Should Be Fired Right Now!
Ruben Amaro JR and the brass of the Phils should have faced the facts – and started dismantling their team before they lost any relevant value over the last few years. Now players like Rollins, Burnett and Utley have had their Vesting Options all exercised – and with the exception of the 2nd baseman, none of them have any trade value. Add brutal dollars owed to Howard and Papelbon, and this team is headed for financial peril.
Why Ruben Amaro Jr should be fired
Jordan Gluck (Prospects/Organization Expert): Follow @jgluck777
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I believe that if any GM were asked what is the organization that they would least like to take over the answer would be the Phillies. This team is a train wreck and it starts with up top where a new general manager is needed.
The Phillies even with the money that they generate are a long-term project that won’t be easy to fix. Rubens tenure started November 3rd 2008. The team had just won the World Series under the tutelage of Pat Gillick.
Amaro had a team that could have brought a dynasty type of run to the franchise. After a slow-moving regression that went from World Series Appearance in 2009, to NLCS in 2010, and then NLDS in 2011, the team finally missed the playoffs.
The core began to grow older and become expensive. It has been apparent the squad needed a rebuild on the fly, but the powers that be have sat on their diminishing assets too long, and now the apples have become rotten, and not useful to other 29 teams.
It is a flawed way of thinking – and will set the organization back 3 – 5 years.
Out of our entire staff here at MLB Reports, we all hold the same opinion about Amaro JR. – and in this article, we have all added our 2 cents in some form. Be sure to listen to Sully’s great podcasts about the Phillies at the end of the blog.
MLB Expansion, Possible Destination: Portland, Oregon
Portland: One of the largest cities without a team, this would be a safe bet for Major League Baseball. This city has been thrown around in almost every discussion on expansion. This one will likely happen. The population is over 600,000 – but it has a couple more Million in the Metropolitan area.
Jordan Gluck (Baseball Operations Analyst): Follow @jgluck777
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
MLB Expansion Destinations: Portland Oregon
The second city I think is a contender for MLB expansion is Portland Oregon. I think that MLB in the next 8 or so years will expand to 32 teams with one team absolutely somewhere on the west coast.
I think the west coast is a necessity due to division alignment and that the Astros who are located in the central time zone are in the American League West. Which West Coast team is the answer that we don’t know about yet.
I will Clarify that Portland WILL NOT receive the Oakland Athletics!!!!!!!!!!!
Portland due to high precipitation will require a retractable roof stadium. I would make the stadium kind of funky like the young “hip” town of Portland which is commonly referred by its natives as “Portlandia”. Read the rest of this entry
San Diego Is the 15th Team To Finish The 2014 MLB Run Survivor Contest (11 Totals)
The A’s were the 14th team to complete their mission of scoring all 11. They are the only squad that used a 5 run effort to complete the task.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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This should turn out to be quite fun. A lot of gambling establishments have this sort of deal, and it will be fun to see the results.
What Runs Survivor is, a MLB team scoring 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, 10 or (10+) in different games throughout the course of the season.
Once a club has one of these run totals once, you cross it off and keep going until they complete the 11 different variations. We are going to keep tracking this category – until all 30 MLB clubs are finished this season!
The Padres ran the gauntlet over the last few games, scoring 8, 9, 10 all to complete their mission of 11 totals. It was a surprise these guys finished in the top half of the league considering they only had 7/11 10 days ago – holding down the 30th spot in the rankings. Read the rest of this entry
Defending Our MLB Power Rankings + What Is Strength Of Schedule?
Here at the MLB Reports we don’t pull punches. Earlier this week, our chief writer, Hunter Stokes worked his ass off to give a great rankings post for all 30 MLB teams. You want to debate us on the some of the clubs we choose to place in a standing then fine, but don’t say this website slacks off – or doesn’t invest their time for each piece. We eat, live and breathe baseball. We tell it like it is – no holds barred. Just to provide more clarity, I decided to write this ditty about how we come up with ratings on a weekly basis. I fully urge every other sports entity to at least offer that much to do their readers. This way, you know how these rankings came to be, and not it wasn’t just us flinging them out there.
I have come on to write an article fresh after talking all morning with people on twitter that have criticized our Rankings system. Then it occurred to me, a lot of the other main baseball websites do a different rankings system for their ratings.
I love ESPN and their baseball coverage, but seriously the Brewers and Braves don’t deserve to be #1 and #2 respectively in the latest week report.
I wish the website would define how they write their rankings. Is it how teams are playing? Maybe I could see that, but there should be a better definition in describing how their system is derived.
At the MLB Reports, there is no confusion at all. We base our 1 – 30 listings on how the teams rate in terms of the World Series – and if that particular squad has the talent to win the “Fall Classic” for the 2014 campaign. Read the rest of this entry
The Rest Of The Best Free Agents Are Now Up For Auction: Some Deals Already Done
Grant Balfour has recently been throwing verbal jabs to the Orioles on XM Radio concerning the club bowing out of his 2 YRs/$15 MIL deal – and justifiably so. The Orioles lost credibility around the league for this bow out maneuver. Now Balfour will look to administer some payback to the O’s 19 times a year for the 2014 and 2015 campaings. The Aussie just signed a 2 Year Deal – to return to the Rays for $12 MIL.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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It was a tough time being an MLB fan the last 3 or 4 weeks – waiting for the Masahiro Tanaka deal to get done.
As of today, we are about 18 days away from Pitchers and Catchers to report.
With the logjam now being freed up with the Japanese superstar being inked to a deal with New York, a bevy of transactions have already occurred.
Grant Balfour is all set to sign a 2 YR deal worth $12 MIL, and will be ready to stick it to the Baltimore Orioles 19 times a year for the next 2 campaigns. Read the rest of this entry
There is A Major Problem At MLB.com With Their Active Players List: Part 1
Bobby Abreu was traded from the Rays to the Phillies for Kevin Stocker and had 7 straight 20 HR/20 SB seasons for the ‘Fightins from 1999 – 2005. After playing for both of the LA clubs in 2012, he did not play for any other club in 2013, but has since said he plans to make a comeback in 2014. If he does, he would become the active ALL – Time Leader for Doubles in the MLB. After seeing that the website mlb.com called him active, I investigated a massive flaw.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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When starting to compile a list at http://www.mlb.com of current Extra Base Hits Leaders – I was unimpressed about the slowness of the webmasters.
I love the MLB, and the coverage/video highlights is fantastic at the site. Their updating the stat leaders for active players needs to be seriously addressed. so the top 10 list will be posted tomorrow instead.
Manny Ramirez, Ivan Rodriguez and Todd Helton are on this list.
Okay, I can give them a slight pass on Helton, however he has filed his retirement papers already, but Pudge and Man-Ram – c’mon.
The Mets Signing Colon To 2 YRs/$20 MIL – Is Just Par For The Course Of Insane!
PED use or not, Stem Cell technology, and who knows what else has aided Colon’s body over the last 3 seasons of success. Yes he was 18 – 6, with a 2.65 ERA – finishing 6th in AL Voting, however the A’s went and paid someone else to fill his spot (Scott Kazmir), and usually they are not wrong on guys. The 40 Year Old from Dominican Republic, is also a gigantic man who decimated his hamstring during a routine PFP in 2011 with the Yankees. You have to think his lucky streak is numbered sooner or later. Whether it is another failed drug test, or he blows out a ligament running anything down, or just has father time come down on him, signing this man to a 2 YR deal, for a team not probably contending in 2014, is downright absurd.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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‘Stoking The Fire’ – Week 9
The Mets are like a gambling addict that has been clean for a few years, before suffering a serious relapse.
This club is just coming off a season where they doled out $18 MIL for Jason Bay (who they released – and still owe $3 MIL in 2014) and Johan Santana ($25.5 MIL and a $5 MIL Buyout for 2014).
These are guys that never played for you during the 2013 season. Oh yeah…They still contribute annually to the Bobby Bonilla ‘liquor fund’ – thanks to a long restructured contract from many moons ago.
So now that they have altered their club to don a new era of “Strike out Champs”, they have gone overboard in throwing down a 2 YR/$20 MIL contract for a 300 LB PED user like Bartolo Colon.
“It Was A Little More Than Stem Cell Technology”
Brian Wilson Re-signs For 2014 With The Dodgers – And Potentially In 2015 Too
Brian Wilson was given a 1 YR/$10 MIL deal with the Dodgers, that also has him having a Player Option for the 2015 year at $9 MIL. If Wilson has a great year in 2014, it will still benefit the Dodgers, but at the same time it may have been the deciding factor in retaining ‘The Beard’s’ services. Wilson has a 3.11 ERA in 333.2 IP worth of work in career, with 171 Saves in 196 Chances for an 87.2 % conversion Rate, Wilson is a 3 Time ALL – Star and 2 time World Series Winner. His winning pedigree will continue to be cherished in the Dodgers Pitching Relief Core.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Brian Wilson is a California guy now through and through and I couldn’t be happier that my favorite player of ALL – Time is still playing his home games as the closest park to my residence in Bakersfield, CA.
The Dodgers and Wilson both agreed on a 1 YR/$10 MIL in 2014 – with a $9 MIL Player Option in 2015 for the man originally from Londonderry, NH.
Wilson will turn 32 before next season, and has successfully returned from 2 Tommy John Surgeries to resume his career.
2013 saw him only give up 1 ER in his 24 Appearances – combining both the regular and post season in 19.2 IP – good for an ERA of 0.47 in that time frame.
Brian Wilson Contract Explained
“Stoking The Fire” Week 3: Kansas City Royals State Of The Union 2014 Part 1
James Shields turned in a workman like effort for the Royals (13 – 9, with a 3.15 ERA – AL leading 228.2 IP and 34 Game Starts) – only to have received little run support. With the Trade having going down seemingly to correct each other main ailments with the Rays needing offense and the Royals needing defense. It has worked for both teams. 2014 becomes the most pivotal year in the last 3 decades for the franchise – as it is “Big Game” James’ last year under contract. With them trading away Wil Myers for his services, the team needs to capitalize on this year. Ultimately the franchise should spend any amount of $$$ necessary in 2014 to compete with the big boys of the AL. With so many of their own core young players due to start receiving salaries increases, this next year has to be the time to go for it!!
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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I am officially calling out the Royals Management and ownership to buck up again for the 2014 season. If ever there was a year to spend the money it is now!
You have James Shields for one more year, and all of your core young players like Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer, Luke Hochevar and Mike Moustakas are heading for some payraises in the near future for Arbitration.
Wade Davis also will see his money bumped in 2015.
For all of the Rosters, Depth Charts, State of the Unions and Salaries Posts that we do, please visit our dedicated page link here.
The time to win is now!
Shields first inning as a Royal
Where Will Brian Wilson End Up?
Brian Wilson has a great comeback bid in the 2013 campaign. When you add up his Appearances in the regular season – and playoffs, he threw 19.2 IP – in which he entered 24 Games, and only gave up 1 ER in the process. Good for a cumulative 0.47 ERA. He also has yet to yield an ER in 17.2 Post Season Career Innings. Boston, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Dodgers should be his top suitors this winter.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Perhaps nobody is happier than Brian Wilson, that Tim Lincecum resigned in San Francisco for 2 YRs/$35 MIL. While I think that is a bit of an overspend, it was what the Free Agency Market is dictating.
Having said this, the Relief Core of Pitchers available on the open market is quite interesting.
It is my contention, that Brian Wilson has the best value out there for clubs.
Forget about ‘lets wear my hat at a 45 degree angle’ Fernando Rodney, who was a world beater in 2012, before he almost cost the Rays a playoff spot in 2013.
Grant Balfour has a good case for a big raise, however he will be 36 years old in a few months. My guess is Billy Beane will find a way for him to sign a short term deal anyway.
Mr. Fielder’s Name Might Be Prince, But He Is No King Of The Playoffs!
In 39 games for his Playoff Career, he holds a miniature .194 batting average with 5 home runs and 11 RBIs. This Playoff stretch of 11 Games in 2013 – there were no big flies and not even a solitary RBI. Fielder had 9 Hits out of 40 AB (.225) with just one Double.fans, we cannot blame Prince Fielder for wanting to play everyday. When you are going through personal issues, you may like to keep busy to stay away from the negative. You just have to wonder that if Fielder didn’t have an active consecutive games streak, would Leyland have rested him down the stretch when they had a commanding lead over the rest of the AL Central?. The bat points towards yes.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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I am still amazed that the Boston Red Sox won the ALCS. I mean they were leading Game #2 5 – 1 in the Bottom of the 8th, and the Red Sox players had a collective Batting Average – not much higher than their wives watching the game.
Cue in David Ortiz‘s Grand Slam HR to tie the game – and pesto, the fortunes of the Boston club were soon changed with a win in the 9th.
The Red Sox only managed to squeak a HR from Mike Napoli in Game #3 to top Justin Verlander. They had another crazy Grand Slam HR hit against them by Shane Victorino in the Bottom of the 8th in Game #6 to seal their playoff fate
I am also at a loss for words, that throughout the ALCS/NLCS, that Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, Adam Wainwright and Max Scherzer failed to win a game this round, yet other than Kershaw’s poor performance in Game #6 of the NLCS, these Cy Young Pitchers were virtually unhittable, but couldn’t win buy some run support.
Then there is Prince Fielder. I have been friends with Chuck Booth for 20 years, and he nailed it perfectly with the Reports in their coverage on this guy for the 2013 year.
Prince Fielder 2013 Highlights – Mature Lyrics so Parental guidance is advised.
Brian Wilson Has Earned Himself Some $$$ With His 2013 Showing: And Is The Best Relief Pitcher Left In The Playoffs!
From 2008-2011, Brian Wilson was one of the top closers in the Majors with 163 Saves. He Saved 48 Games with a 1.81 ERA only 3 years ago in 2010 for the World Champ Giants. He went through TJ Surgery for a 2nd time in April of 2012. He has since made an awesome comeback with the Dodgers, only giving up 1 ER in his Dodgers 24 Appearances, including 6 Scoreless frames in the 2013 playoffs. Who will give him a chance in 2014, by signing the pending Free Agent? Dodgers fans are hoping he stays.
Hunter Stokes (Featured Baseball Columnist): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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I am big Brian Wilson fan. Part of me was devastated when the Giants won the World Series in 2012, because he was not on the team.
I was happy to learn that he bid his time this season, made sure he was fully healed up from his 2nd Tommy John Surgery, and made a triumphant return with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He could have rushed back in the spring, signed with another club, and tried haphazardly to work through his pitching in game action, however the man knows his body tweaks.
Brian Wilson as Captain Highlander on George Lopez Show
