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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 10, 2015
MARK J. TERRILL/AP
It is Sunday and time for The Sunday Request!
@sullybaseball Is Cubs and Astros success bad for them in as they might make a foolish trade instead of growing sustainably. #SundayRequest
— cubsfan (@cu8sfan) May 7, 2015
Look, success is NEVER a bad thing, even if it comes ahead of schedule.
I also wish a Happy Mothers Day on Episode 929 of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Jon Niese, Wei-Yin Chen, Edwin Encarnacion, Khris Davis, Mike Trout, Chase Anderson and Matt Holliday all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball?
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 18, 2015
Fox Sports San Diego
In a crazy day for baseball, Kris Bryant made his debut today.
The next great can’t miss star was overshadowed by a previous can’t miss star, Wil Myers.
It is a temper your expectations Episode 907 of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Alex Rodriguez, Wil Myers, David Price, Josh Collmenter, Josh Donaldson, Khris David and Corey Kluber all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball?
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 22, 2015
AP Photo/Rick Scuteri
We may never have a perfect system for dealing with rookies and service time.
We may never have a perfect media rights package.
But we can not wring and hands about perfection when some systems can be kept the same and others slightly tweaked and make lots of people millionaires and provide a great product.
It is a “Let’s do what WORKS” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Kris Bryant Can Only Look To Himself Why He May Not Be On The Opening Day Roster
Kris Bryant is about as sure of a prospect there has been in the last 5 years. Will the Cubs let him start the year in 2015, or will they send him down until the middle of April to save service time?. The young slugger had 43 HRs in the Minor League’s last year – and has also smacked 6 big fly’s in Spring Training so far. But there are things to suggest that starting him off in the Minors is not such a bad idea. The 23 Year Old is not the slickest fielder, has already experienced shoulder fatigue, and the team will play its 1st 9 games in cold weather too. (Hosting 6 games at home, and playing the other 3 in Coors Field.) But really. he might have sealed his fate for the opener by having Scott Boras as his agent.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
So the talks continue to mount on the Kris Bryant Opening Day watch. With each passing day he hits a HR, or shows himself ready for the big leagues, the question will become even more serious. But if he is ultimately not pulled up to Wrigley Field on Sunday Apr.5th vs Division Rival Cards, he has no one to blame by himself.
By having Scott Boras as his Agent, it has pretty much implanted in the Cubs brass, that the prize prospect will never sign an extension, and when his service time has him approaching Free Agency, he will indeed hit the open market and look for the top bidder.
I don’t even blame Boras for this. He is a phenomenal representative of his players, and always seems to get the max dollar for the highest percentage of the time compared to other agents.
Perhaps it will serve as a deterrent to future awesome young studs, that Boras has been sticking it to team owners for years. Maybe they should opt for a different agent, as this man has shown his playing cards on too many occasions. The executives all know Boras will lead his client to the open market.
Even having said this, if the man was not under the direction of the Boras Corporation, the Cubs should not start the clock on him anyway. The talk of the Cubs contending in 2015 is much over-hyped in my view. Read the rest of this entry
Baltimore Orioles Payroll In 2015 + Contracts Going Forward
One could say that even in the most abysmal of circumstances last year, Davis still almost hit hat total last season, clubbing 26 Bolts in 127 Games Played. Look for him to crush between 35 – 42 HRs this season. The big 1B is among several key figures that are in contract years after the season concludes, including more than half of the Bullpen’s becoming Free Agents following this campaign as well.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Orioles have had a quiet off season, but where that not amount too much in terms of adding talent to their 2014 Roster, a lot of it has to do with some of their players maturing in salary via Arbitration.
I am sure there is a degree of urgency for the O’s brass, since they have a plethora of pending Free Agents after this year.
The franchise is slated to dole out about $120 MIL in team money this campaign. While that places them in the top half of the MLB, they only register 4th in the AL East.
With Chris Davis, Matt Wieters and Wie-Yin Chen all hitting the open market after this season, maybe the club should take a run at acquiring some guys for their World Series plight half way through this year.
If those aforementioned O’s aren’t enough, Chris Tillman, Darren O’Day, Bud Norris. Tommy Hunter, Alejandro De Aza, Ryan Webb and Steve Peace are also free to sign with all 30 clubs beyond 2015.
Past this campaign the team still has solid building blocks instilled with having Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy, Manny Machado, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy, Zach Britton and Jonathan Schoop under Team Control for years to come, but still the time to strike is right now.
For a Year to Year Breakdown For all of the O’s players salaries please visit here.
The 2nd Wild Card Team In The NL For 2015 Could Be Right Near .500
The National League is a very top heavy league with the Nats, Dodgers, Cardinals and Pirates having the best odds to qualify for the postseason in 2015. With parity at an all time high in the Senior Circuit, we may see a squad break the worst record ever to qualify for the playoffs as a Wild Card seed this campaign. The AL is not as big with the dominant clubs, and as such will have many teams hover around 90 wins that make the postseason. With the AL winning the Interleague matchup for 10 years consecutive, you also have to factor in a few more W’s per team.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
With all due respect to the rest of the Senior Circuit clubs, the Nationals and Dodgers are heads above the rest of the league. I am also throwing in stalwart franchise St. Louis and Pittsburgh (94 wins and 88 wins in the last 2 years) as other teams that should lock down the NL Central and the other 1 to win the 1st Wild Card – to round out the top 4 seeds in the NL.
Then there are the rest of the clubs.
From the surface odds wise, the gambling pundits are saying the Padres and Giants would be next on the list for wins, followed by the Mets, Cubs and Marlins.
Just below those last 5 teams, you have the fight for competing coming from Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and finally the teams most thought to struggle this campaign are the Rockies, D’Backs and the Phillies.
I believe Washington is going to run away from the rest of the league – and near 100 victories. The Dodgers while not as talented as they have been the last few seasons, should not have a problem topping 90 wins again with their Starting Rotation being so strong.
The Pirates did lose Russell Martin and Edinson Volquez, but you have to think bringing A.J. Burnett back replaces Volquez, and the internal improvements from Gregory Polanco, and a return to power from Pedro Alvarez should be enough to compensate for that.
When it comes down to my final prognostication for the Division, I may just jot the Bucs down to win the Division. Josh Harrison and Neil Walker at 3B and 2B, and if they receive anything from their Starting Catcher and Shortstop then look the hell out.
Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte also help Polanco round out the Outfield, and I think by the end of the year, they will be pronounced the best trio of players beyond the Infield, rather than the Marlins or Padres. Read the rest of this entry
The Top 100 MLB Prospects In 2015
Kris Bryant is about as sure of a prospect there has been in the last 5 years. Will the Cubs let him start the year in 2015, or will they send him down until the end of April to save service time. All you need to know about the franchises desire to win it all this campaign may be based on this decision. The young slugger had 40 HRs in the Minor League’s last year.
By Jordan Gluck (MLB Parts Writer/Part-Owner): Follow @jgluck777
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Top 100 Prospects
1-30
These are my top 100 prospects in baseball. There is a lot of talent in the minor leagues right now across almost all levels. Yoan Moncada signed after I wrote this but he would slot in the 8th slot right ahead of Joey Gallo and I do believe Moncada will be a stud.
1. Kris Bryant 3B CHC – He will hit for power and hit for a high average at what is an underrated position. He was the 2nd overall pick in 2013 and has the looks of a perennial all star.
2. Carlos Correa SS Hou- He was having a very nice season at the best hitters park in the minors in Lancaster before he broke his leg. I think he can stay at SS with almost all five tools with power rapidly emerging. He’s the future face of the Astros.
3. Corey Seager SS LAD- There are people who think he may get too big for SS and have to transfer to 3B but I think he has much more value at SS and can stick there for at least a few years. He should have an elite bat with plus plus power. Possibly the next Troy Tulowitzki with a slightly worse glove.
Odds To Win The MLB 2015 World Series + Best Bets
One of these years the absolute favorite of the preseason will take the home the World Series. I think 2015 will be that year. I am calling for the last 2 franchises not to make the Fall Classic, end up facing off in this year championship series. That would make it Washington vs Seattle. I believe the Nationals will win that series.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Last year’s opening 3 wagers for the World Series netted us an eventual winner. I plunked almost $14 down on a 25/1 bet for the Giants (and failed with Rangers and Rays bets). Throughout the year, I was able to secure odds of 50/1 and 80/1 for the Royals during down times, and then hedged those bets in the playoffs. It was a thousand dollar profit year for the selections.
In the next few weeks I will finalize the Over/Under Best bets that I put down yesterday. Again, last season I was 3 out of 3 for top Over/Under picks, and will likely pick the same 3 teams (KC and WSH over their opening regular season wins of 81.5 and 93.5, while I picked SD under 84.5) out of the 10 total wagers I go for this campaign).
But this article is about the Fall Classic Winner in 2015. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2015 World Series (Don’t Bet The Cubs Despite Of Back To The Future 2 Prediction)
Max Scherzer now is in the front of the best Starting Rotation in the National League in some time. His signing has made the Nationals the leading favorite to win the 2015 World Series This would mean the Expos/Nats franchise would make and win their 1st Fall Classic since Montreal joined the Major Leagues in 1969. Only their franchise and the Mariners have yet to make an appearance in the World Series.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Max Scherzer has tipped the scale to the Nats being the World Series favorite, whereas we left them in December, with them being tied with the Dodgers as the lowest odds to win the Fall Classic in 2015.
Not only did he affect his new team, he affected his old team of the Tigers to drop from +950 to +1100 now. The Mets also dipped from +3300 to +3500 on the news yesterday.
There is no doubt the Nationals are the best team in the National League now, and could very well improve on their 2014 win total of 96. Look for them to continuously punch the Phillies in the neck this year, and should beat up the Atlanta Braves pretty well across the board too.
There is no doubt in my mind this should be Washington’s season to go to the dance. I don’t think the Dodgers are as strong with their offense losing Dee Gordon and Hanley Ramirez, while adding Joc Pederson potentially, and stalwart 2B Howie Kendrick.
The Cardinals best 3 players of Adam Wainwright, Yadier Molina and Matt Holliday are another year older, and one of these years someone will take them out in the playoffs. When you add in all 5 NL Central teams being competitive, it could beat them up over the regular season a little,
After all, it also an odd year, do don’t expect the Giants to make the Post Season. But seriously, San Francisco has lost Pablo Sandoval and Michael Morse, while adding Nori Aoki and Casey McGehee. I can’t see this being an upgrade at all. Don’t forget the club also will not have Ryan Vogelsong either, while there are massive question marks surrounding the health of Matt Cain and pitching effectiveness of Tim Lincecum.
Tim Hudson is another year older, and Jake Peavy looked like he was hanging from a thread to finish the playoffs. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Reports Top 100 MLB Prospects In Mid – 2014 (1 – 50)
The Cubs at tied for 1st in having 5 players in our top 50 prospect list (3 in the top 12), and are stockpiling an impressive arsenal of young talent at the Minor League Level, and some players have already seeped into the Major Leagues. If most of these guys pan out, the Cubs will be a force to be reckoned with in the not too distant future!
Top 100 Prospects (1 – 50)
Jordan Gluck (Baseball Operations Analyst): Follow @jgluck777
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
To make this list you must be able to meet rookie eligibility. To be eligible for a list, a player must have rookie eligibility.
To qualify for rookie status, a player must not have exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues, or accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club or clubs during the 25-player limit period, excluding time on the disabled list or in military service.
This list doesn’t include players in the 2014 Draft nor the 2014 international signing period.
For Part 2 of our list – Click the Link Below
2014 MLB Rule IV Mock Draft (Top 27 Selections Predicted)
By Jordan Gluck Follow @jgluck777
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The only major professional sports league that does their entry draft during the season is major league baseball
There is plenty of talent available this year especially in the high school ranks.
The draft is the best way to build a franchise and position yourself in a position for long term success. Jim Callis in 2005 got the first 18 picks right … hopefully one day I will do the same. Read the rest of this entry
Chicago Cubs State Of The Union: Fall 2013
The Chicago Cubs are still reeling from an abysmal 66 – 96 2013 season. They finished 31 games back in the NL Central, which saw three of its five teams reach the playoffs. The wheels are churning in Chicago’s farm system as it’s seeing a meteoric rise in young talent, but even with the influx of fresh faces, success is still a season or two out of reach for the city’s Northsiders. With a rebuild in the process the Cubs needed a new manager with a proven track record for player development. Dale Sveum is out. Rick Renteria is in. 2014 may not be the Cubs’ year, but they’re working on it.
Chicago Cubs State of the Union: Mired in Mediocrity
By Robert Villarreal (MLB Reports Guest Cubs Writer): Follow @robmvillarreal
Follow The MLB Reports On Twiter Follow @mlbreports
It’s difficult to ask a Cubs fan to be patient.
The Cubs haven’t won a World Series since 1908, and every year we’re reminded of the enormity of a centuries worth of atrocious baseball that we must all endure year in and year out.
But in 2009, a man named Sam Zell purchased the Tribune company and decided to sell off some of its parts, namely the Chicago Cubs.
Tom Ricketts, a Chicago native, stepped up and was able to realize a boyhood dream, to own his favorite team. But owning it wasn’t enough.
Cubs fans are hoping the hometown boy can help deliver a promise of a Title in the near future.
Junior Lake Highlights – Mature Lyrics So Parental Guidance is Advised
Cubs’ Find Ideal Trade Partner For Matt Garza
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Matt Garza was the big fish in this year’s trade deadline. There were plenty of teams that him had him on their radar, and they scouted every game he pitched for the Cubs this season. He won six games for them this season with a 3.17 ERA in 71 innings pitched to go along with 62 strike outs and 20 walks. He has a WHIP of 1.14 and has only given up eight home runs on the season. Garza is holding the opposition to a .229 batting average, while righties only hit .224 when facing him. He is good when runners are in scoring position, as indicated by teams just managing a .245 average. The Rangers got the pitcher they wanted, and he should bring some stability to their rotation.
By Chris Lacey (Lead Baseball Columnist/Minority Website Owner) Follow @aecanada12
The Chicago Cubs were trying to find the perfect trade partner this season with them having the premier starting pitcher available this trade deadline.
Matt Garza was the best pitcher on the market for teams who needed help with their rotation could acquire. The one caveat is that those teams would have to give up very good prospects in their farm system to obtain his services.
Matt Garza Career Highlights – Parental Guidance Is Advised
Reviewing The Top 5 – 2013 MLB Draft Picks
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The 2013 Draft has come and gone – and will take years to decide how good each teams selection was in the 1st Round. We decided to take a look at the top 5 Picks again.
By Chris Lacey (Featured Baseball Columnist) Follow @aecanada12
How quickly can a teams fortune change with top 5 MLB Draft Picks?? Think of the 119 Loss 2003 Detroit Tigers drafting Justin Verlander – and going to a World Series just 3 years later.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays picked 1st for many years, finally having their players come together in 2008, once Evan Longoria, James Shields, B.J. Upton and David Price asserted themselves in 2008.
A horrid Washington Nationals team losing 95 -100 Games every year drafted Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper in successive drafts – before cranking out a franchise record 98 Wins just a couple of years later.
The Astros, Cubs, Rockies, Twins and Indians sure hope the 2013 Top 5 Picks will warrant heavy discussion as a great class of picks as the years go by.
Mark Appel is interviewed 3 Months Ago:
Read the rest of this entry
MLB Mock Rule4 Draft 2013
MLB Mock Draft
Before I start I just want to say that baseball is a very tough game so when I say he can be a all star or that he can have a curveball that is just unhittable – it may not happen……. and actually is very doubtful to fully reach the ceiling. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Reports 
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