Doug Fister was just traded away last night for Steve Lombardozzi, Ian Krol and a Minor League Pitcher. I definitely am seeing the vibe that this franchise is about to make another huge move towards a player in Free Agency. If this wasn’t the case, then what the hell are the Tigers doing trading away a pitcher like this?
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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The Detroit Tigers threw down the first gauntlet in transactions of the Division. But have they made their team any stronger? As of right now they are still weaker to start the 2014 year than they ended the 2013 campaign.
Things have been quiet out of Motown on offensive players, however they have been circling the world of Brian Wilson for the Relief core, before they finally lost interest.
Joe Nathan was signed to a 2 Year Deal today by the Tigers. It was a swift move to sign the guy, although financial terms have not been entirely disclosed yet.
By singing Joe Nathan to amp up the status of the Bullpen, the teams looks decisively better already.
They should not stop there for relievers.
I would still try to bring in a Grant Balfour or Jesse Crain as late inning assassins – before having any of the old crew of Joaquin Benoit or Jose Veras be the guys to depend on. Do not resign them Dombrowski!
Look for an upcoming article I am writing about the Detroit Tigers, that will ask the question, who would you rather have long – term, Miguel Cabrera or Max Scherzer?
Of course a lot of this is dependent on how much Mike Ilitch wants to spend on his club.
Brian Wilson 2013 Highlights – Mature Lyrics So Parental Guidance Is Advised
Hughes was signed to a 3 YRs/24 Million Dollar Contract by the Twins. The 27 Year Old from Mission Viejo, CA has a career record of 56 – 51, with a 4.54 ERA. But you simply have to dig deeper to find out why he has struggled at points in his career. Hughes finished the 2013 season 4 – 14, with a 5.19 ERA, but a lot of that was due to his clip of 1 – 10, and a 6.39 ERA at Yankee Stadium, compared to a 4 – 5, 3.89 on the road.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Minnesota Twins have decided to join the fight in the AL Central.
Over the course of the last week, they have added two Veteran Starting Pitchers in Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes in respective deals.
It is a sign the organization wants to be perched back up atop of the Division with other teams Detroit, and talented young teams in Kansas City and Cleveland.
With the club awaiting some top prospects, just a few years away, the stop – gap measure of a couple of cagey players is a great idea.
The team is also said to be near another deal with former Catcher A.J. Pierzynksi.
Phil Hughes 2013 Highlights – Mature Lyrics so parental guidance is advised
Ron Gardenhire and Tom Kelly have been the only 2 men to manage the Twins in the last 27 years. Having stability in the Manager and GM position lends itself for a proper run franchise in terms of on the field success. The Twins will give Gardenhire the chance to rebuild with this club yet again. Stocked with several young prospects, we could the club turn around to be a contender again in the next few years.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @mlbreports and Jeff Kleiner (Salary, Roster and Depth Chart Expert for the MLB) – visit his website here Follow @prosportsroster
The Minnesota Twins have had 3 – 90+ Losses Seasons in a row. This came right on the heels of the franchise having made the playoffs 6 out of 9 years.
All of those Post Season Appearances were made as Division Champions from the AL Central.
The Twins had enough smarts about them to understand where they were in the 1990’s. The management knew the club was better off building within – rather than spending via Free Agency.
From 1993 – 2000, the team never finished better than 4th in the Division they played. The club drafted really high for this time period, and had a nice renaissance by the time 2001 started.
For all of the Rosters, Depth Charts, State of the Unions and Salaries Posts that we do, please visit our dedicated page link here.
Joe Mauer 2013 Highlights
The Red Sox may have won the 2013 World Series, but they are not the 2014 favorites. No team has repeated since the Yankees won 3 straight titles from 1998 – 2000.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Now that the Boston Red Sox have won the 2013 World Series, the oddsmakers have already dropped them, plus fellow 2013 Fall Classic Participants (St. Louis) to be tied for the 3rd seed, with the Washington Nationals.
A massive surprise on the list are the Los Angeles Angels, who will have the 6th favorite slot to win the World Series at +1400.
If you are looking for value, you should consider the Reds (Tied for the 8th seed) at +1600. They are merely a few players, and perhaps a few tweaks from going far in one of these playoffs.
2013 World Series Champion – Red Sox
Jack Morris was a winner, a true throwback pitcher who came after hitters with reckless abandon. He pitched based on what the score was – and had no personal regard for his own personal statistics. It is this very reason why the debate has hit epic proportions on social media hubs, amongst bloggers, former players, analysts, broadcaster and statisticians. I intend to prove the case for the guy in a manner that will have some similarities to other pieces you may have read, yet promote a big look into the numbers that I have been bouncing around in my head for months.
BY Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports on Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The debate for whether or not Jack Morris belongs in the Baseball Hall Of Fame has heated up to an ALL-Time high with the big vote going down in Jan of 2014 for the final time.
575 members of BBWAA fraternity will decide whether or not the big man from Minnesota will enter one of the hardest Hall Of Fame’s to enter in pro sports (if not the hardest).
Morris will need a 75% (432 Minimum Votes) of them to write down his name on their ballot for enshrinement into Cooperstown.
Last year, Morris received 67.7 % of the writers votes in his 14th year of eligibility. He will have his name on a 14th ballot this year.
He has been trending up in recent years, so if he can improve in 2014, with the same amount of 2011-2012 jump of (+13.2%), then he will make it in.
If he fails to reach the Hall this year, it would be his last year of eligibility for the BBWAA Vote.
He could still make it via the Veterans Committee after that. But that could take some significant time.
2013 was, by far, one the worst years for the Chicago White Sox, but one of many in a long run of disappointments for the organization. Teams in major markets should have contending on the field regularly. The Sox have a ways to go in order to shore up their poor farm system, and put home grown talent on the field.
By ‘White Sox Correspondent’ Brian Madsen Follow @brianm731
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As much as I enjoy watching the MLB postseason, it’s a constant reminder of my favorite team’s failures.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching Juan Uribe hit a game winning HR, sending the Dodgers to the NLCS.
I just wish that was MY team headed to the League Championship Series.
It seems the only to way to build a team successfully – is to be atrocious for several (talking 6 – 8 seasons like the Twins, Nationals, Pirates, Rays in recent years – and now the Astros are following suit), stockpile top 5 Draft Picks, and have them all become your nucleus for a matter of a few seasons. The reason is because of Team Controllable Salaries. Teams like the Rays and Pirates have also held players in the Minor Leagues longer than needed – due to salary and Arbitration implications. I can think of Desmond Jennings, Wil Myers, Chris Archer for the Rays, while Gerrit Cole and Jeff Locke come to mind for the Bucs. If a player is ready for action in the Majors, he should playing – end of story.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Lets just take a look at the teams that have played well above their value. The Twins are a story much like the Marlins in 1997 and 2003.
The Twins had a good team in the late 80’s, and won 2 World Series Titles in 1987 and 1991. However the economics of the game hit them hard, and they struggled for an 8 year stretch in the AL Central.
For Part 1 of the MLB’s State Of the Union Part 1: Click here.
Major League Contraction Talk Again?
The MLB used to be the favorite Past time in America. Now with the NFL ruling the country as #1, the game continues to miss the mark of implementing a salary system – that helps all 30 MLB Teams be competitive from a spending type of structure on a yearly basis. Either you run your franchise perfectly from a transactions standpoint – or if you make a few contract mistakes – it could cripple your franchise for years. Despite many of different teams bucking the trend over the last decade – it doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
As I started a minor fight on Twitter last night (with a supposedly respected writer), it reminded me of how much I hate that social media outlet, yet how it is a necessary evil.
While there were some words caught up in a misunderstanding, it left me thinking about the state of Major League Baseball.
I love this game..I have centered my life around being fan, writer, website owner, by having a job that affords me that highest capacity to receive my fix.
I have gone on crazy ballpark chasing tours, that have also helped feed my addiction.
Yet watching the Oakland A’s lose last night, and then having someone mention a joke aimed at Billy Beane (not sure how much of a joke it was – another stupid flaw of Twitter’s 140 Characters), I began thinking of everything I don’t like about the MLB.
Part 2 of this Series: MLB’s Payroll Matters Part 2: Just Because Some Low Payroll Teams Have Bucked The Trend – Doesn’t Mean It Will Continue
Victor Martinez took exception to Grant Balfour blurbing something under his breath. Martinez has been around long enough to know that this is part of the Aussie’s act, however, when you hear the verbal exchange, you get a sense that something set off V-Mart. The Tigers ended up losing the game 6 – 3, and now face elimination in Game #4 at Comerica Park tonight, with Doug Fister towing the hill against Dan Straily. The Tigers are favored at -151.
By Matthew Lafave (Tigers Correspondent) Follow @MatthewLafave
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter: Follow @Mlbreports
The first postseason game in Detroit didn’t go as expected. It wasn’t even due to the 1:00 PM start time either.
Tigers Anibal Sanchez went only 4 1/3 innings and gave up home runs to Josh Reddick, Brandon Moss, and Seth Smith. Yes, that’s 3 home runs.
Though the Athletics jumped to a 3-0 lead early, the Tigers were able to claw back with 3 of their own in the bottom of the 4th.
Martinez and Balfour in a heated foul mouthed exchange – Parental Guidance Is Advised
For the 2014 MLB Schedule Links Page – that has Monthly, Weekly, Daily, 30 MLB Teams and all 2430 Games for on 1 running Page Post, click here
Do yourself a favor and read this blog on the 30 MLB Park Pass-Port here
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The AL have won 13 out of the 17 years for Interleague play. The American League has also won every year since the start of the 2004 year.
1997: NL won 117 – 97 (.547) NL up yearly series 1 – 0
1998: AL won 114 – 110 (.509) Yearly series tied 1 – 1
1999: NL won 135 – 116 (.538) NL up yearly series 2 – 1
2000: AL won 136 – 115 (.542) Yearly series tied 2 – 2
2001: AL won 132 – 120 (.524) AL up yearly series 3 – 2
2002: NL won 129 – 123 ( .512) Yearly series tied 3 – 3
2003: NL won 137 – 115 (.544) NL up yearly series 4 – 3
2004: AL won 127 – 125 (.504) Yearly series tied 4 – 4
2005: AL won 136 – 116 (.540) AL up yearly series 5 – 4
2006: AL won 154 – 98 (.611) AL up yearly series 6 – 4
2007: AL won 137 – 115 (.544) AL up yearly series 7 – 4
2008: AL won 149 – 103 (.591) AL up yearly series 8 – 4
2009: AL won 154 – 98 (.611) AL up yearly series 9 – 4
2010: AL won 138 – 114 (.548) AL up yearly series 10 – 4
2011: AL won 134 – 118 (.532) AL up yearly series 11 – 4
2012: AL won 142 – 110 (.611) AL up yearly series 12 – 4
2013: AL won 154 – 146 (.513) AL up yearly series 13 – 4
2014: AL Won Season Series for the 11th straight campaign – yearly season series AL Up 14 – 4
SUN Sept.28, 2014 Results: NYM 8 HOU 3, 2014 – AL wins season series 163 – 137 (.543)
ALL Time: AL leads the NL 2353 – 2126 (.525)
See Ya All in 2015 for Interleague
The Nationals are just the latest in a string of failures the city of Washington has seen. It has been 80 years since an MLB club from the District has seen World Series Baseball, and now they will have to wait another season. Despite being the Preseason favorite to make the Fall Classic, Washington has missed the playoffs outright in 2013.
By James O’Hara (Nationals Correspondent via Citizens of Natstown.com – view website here): Follow @nextyeardc
Follow the MLB Reports on Twitter Follow @mlbreports
On Oct. 1, 1971 in the last game played by the Washington Senators at RFK Stadium, fans began tearing apart the stadium and field to claim souvenirs. Much like the current Washington Nationals are tearing apart Washington, D.C.
A lot is made of the Chicago Cubs (not winning a World Series since 1909 – or playing in one since 1945) and Boston Red Sox decades long pursuit of World Series titles and the pressure from it – before knocking the monkey from their back in 2004.
But that cannot compare to the pressure of being in town without baseball for 33 years – and having not played in the World Series at all since the Joe Cronin led 1933 squad lost.
From 1971 – 2004, Thirty-three World Series champions were crowned without a team from Washington, D.C. even entering the fight.
It is almost fitting in a way that the Montreal Expos moved to Washington, as you are talking about 1 of 2 teams in the MLB currently, that have never played (other is Seattle) in a World Series before. The Expos/Nats club have now completed their 45th season in the Majors without showing up in the “Fall Classic”.
Baltimore entered last Friday night just 1 game behind the playoff bar. They were swept in a 4 game series down in Tampa Bay, in a wraparound series, that included a devastating 18 inning loss among the tough defeats. The club also lost Manny Machado to injury yesterday. The magic number to eliminate the team is just 3. The guys end the regular season with 6 straight at Camden Yards. The only real meaningful resolutions will be if Chris Davis can crack 4 Home Runs, to tie Ken Griffey Jr. (56 HRs) for the most HRs by a LHB in the AL for the last 52 years?
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
2013 WILDCARD Race Breakdown in AL
Team W – L GBL Games Left Upcoming in Sequence
Tampa Bay Rays 87 – 69 – ( 3 @ NYY, 3 @ TOR)
Cleveland Indians 86 – 70 – ( 2 vs CWS, 4 @ MIN)
Texas Rangers 85 – 71 1 (2 vs HOU, 4 vs LAA)
Kansas City Royals 83 – 73 3.0 (2 @ SEA, 4 @ CWS)
New York Yankees 82 – 74 4.0 (3 vs TB, 3 @ HOU)
Baltimore Orioles 81 – 75 5.0 ( 3 vs TOR, 3 vs BOS)
We have had some clarification occur over the last week in the AL Wild Card Race as the Rays and Indians have both won 4 straight in their goal to make the playoffs.
The Yankees went 3 – 3 for the week, including a heart – wrenching loss to the Giants late on Sunday, It must have pained them even more to see the Rays come back in the late innings versus the Orioles.
Had Baltimore won that game, the Yankees would start the series in New York versus the Rays tonight with a chance to cut their deficit to them by 3 games via a sweep.
The Bronx Bombers then waltz into Houston, where they might win their last 3 games. However, with Tampa’s come from behind win yesterday, it makes their Magic number versus the Yanks to 3.
Manny Machado’s Gruesome Injury – Sept.23/2013
The Cleveland Indians are in the driver seat in the AL Wild Card Race. While they may not overtake the #1 Wild Card Spot by Thursday, they can guarantee to be in a playoff position if they can simply win 3 out of the next 4 games. After Thursday, the Tribe has the easiest path to the Post Season out of any of these 6 clubs when it comes to Strength Of Schedule! Cleveland last made the playoffs in 2007, when they blew a 3 – 1 ALCS to the Boston Red Sox.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
2013 WILDCARD Race Breakdown in AL
Team W – L GBL Games Left Upcoming in Sequence
Tampa Bay Rays 81 – 67 – (4 vs TEX, 4 vs BAL, 3 @ NYY, 3 @ TOR)
Texas Rangers 81 – 67 – (4 @ TB, 3 @ KC, 3 vs HOU, 4 vs LAA)
Cleveland Indians 81 – 68 0.5 (3 @ KC, 4 vs HOU, 2 vs CWS, 4 @ MIN)
Baltimore Orioles 79 – 70 2.5 (3 @ BOS, 4 @ TB, 3 vs TOR, 3 vs BOS)
New York Yankees 79 – 71 3.0 (3 @ TOR, 3 @ SF, 3 vs TB, 3 vs HOU)
Kansas City Royals 78 – 71 3.5 (3 vs CLE, 3 vs TEX, 3 @ SEA, 4 @ CWS)
The American League Wild Card spots #1 and #2 are considerably up for grabs.
To make it an even tighter race, the teams trailing Tampa and Texas can all make up ground in their own individual series this week when those clubs play each other 4 times.
This is a perfect storm for these 4 clubs to narrow the gap.
What I am going to do is make in make a grid based on how the teams will do based on the Rays and the Rangers series.
KC Royals Win the 1985 World Series – Now Sit in a 28 Year Playoff Drought (Longest in the MLB)
The MLB Reports is going to be the #1 place to come for the 2014 Major League Baseball Schedule: Dates, Days, Home Openers, # Games Per Day: Break Downs into pages of a Year Long Calendar, Monthly Calendar, Weekly Calendar – all on one page for each, so you can know your favorite teams schedule, or plan to do a MLB Road Trip. I will also do a doubleheader Master Schedule for – two parks in one day for that extreme Ball Park Chaser (Coming in Feb). Also, we will have a Sunday Night ESPN schedule page, an Interleague Schedule Page for all year, 6 different 30 Ballparks in 30 days trip schedules, and a couple of schedules I feel could break the records for ballpark viewing. Those last few pages all are coming in February.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @mlbreports
A lot of things that will affect any given schedule for the ‘MLB’ are weather cancellations, ESPN Sunday Night Game positioning and of course if there any other delays.
The MLB Reports will work hard to keep up with the schedule changes as they come. While we are not going to be a big proponent of putting up links for tickets, we have many friends that do such a thing.
Plus if you haven’t done so yet. join http://www.ballparkchasers.com – and join the discussion with the gang over at Facebook here.
You will be doing yourselves a favor by joining – as a lot of the people in there have vast knowledge and expertise about all of the 30 MLB Parks.
All 30 MLB Parks – in 30 Days by Blind Fan Reggie Deal (He is the man!)
The MLB Reports is going to be the #1 place to come for the 2014 Major League Baseball Schedule: Dates, Days, Home Openers, # Games Per Day: Break Downs into pages of a Year Long Calendar, Monthly Calendar, Weekly Calendar – all on one page for each, so you can know your favorite teams schedule, or plan to do a MLB Road Trip. I will also do a doubleheader Master Schedule for – two parks in one day for that extreme Ball Park Chaser (Coming in Feb). Also, we will have a Sunday Night ESPN schedule page, an Interleague Schedule Page for all year, 6 different 30 Ballparks in 30 days trip schedulers, and a couple of schedules I feel could break the records for ballpark viewing. Those last few pages all are coming in February.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @mlbreports
With the exception of that we don’t know who is going to have the North American Home Opener on Sunday March.30/2014 yet, these are the tentative schedule – and I have highlighted home openers for each club.
Only a few teams like: St. Louis, New York (AL), Seattle, and San Francisco will not have hosted games from Mar.30 – April.06. Everybody will have played a home game by April.08/2014.
All 30 MLB Parks – Mature Lyrics So Parental Guidance Is Advised
The MLB Reports is going to be the #1 place to come for the 2014 Major League Baseball Schedule: Dates, Days, Home Openers, # Games Per Day: Break Downs into pages of a Year Long Calendar, Monthly Calendar, Weekly Calendar – all on one page for each, so you can know your favorite teams schedule, or plan to do a MLB Road Trip. I will also do a doubleheader Master Schedule for – two parks in one day for that extreme Ball Park Chaser (Coming in Feb). Also, we will have a Sunday Night ESPN schedule page, an Interleague Schedule Page for all year, 6 different 30 Ballparks in 30 days trip schedules, and a couple of schedules I feel could break the records for ballpark viewing. Those last few pages all are coming in February.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @mlbreports
With the exception of that we don’t know who is going to have the North American Home Opener on Sunday March.30/2014 yet, these are the tentative home openers for each club.
30 MLB Park Rankings – According to a Fan
The A’s have been hanging around the top of the AL West all season long, and have been blasting their way back to the top. With players like Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie, Brandon Moss and Alberto Callaspo leading the way of late, they are poised to make a run for not only the division but maybe the American league Pennant.
By Dan Wanser (MLB Reports Writer) Follow @DanWanser
Follow @mlbreports
The Oakland Athletics have been considered contenders to win the American League West the entire season, but now that the season is coming to an end they are blasting their way to the top in an attempt to overtake the Texas Rangers.
With key players doing their job offensively, Pitchers doing their job well and keeping the team in games, and a pretty easy schedule going down the stretch they have all the components to make a stretch run.
Oakland’s 2012-2013 season Highlights:
The Indians currently sit with a 71-63 record which puts them only 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot and 7.5 games out of the division. Many people didn’t really expect Cleveland to do too much but with better than expected performances from Giambi, Jimenez, and Kazmir – they are keeping up in the race for the playoffs.
By Dan Wanser (MLB Reports Writer) Follow @DanWanser
Follow @mlbreports
The Cleveland Indians currently sit in second place in the American League Central behind the Detroit Tigers and are in fourth place in the Wild Card behind Oakland, Tampa Bay, and Baltimore.
Right now, Key players like Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Kipnis and Just Masterson are leading the way, but is also surprise contributions from Jason Giambi, and Scott Kazmir that are also keeping them in the race for the playoffs.
With time running out, these players need to continue to lead and more players need to start to step up if this team wants to make the playoffs.
Kazmir Dominates:
The 30 MLB Park Road Trip has been mastered by about 25 people who have accomplished the feat in under a month. We are going to keep giving the extreme ballpark chasers some more food for thought here.
My grandfather was a traveling salesman for most of his working life. Frequently, he recalls stories about selling his wares in exotic places such as Keokuk, Iowa, Hannibal, Missouri, and Cairo, Illinois.
However, the real Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) asks this question: “Given a list of cities and the distances between each pair of cities, what is the shortest possible route that visits each city exactly once and returns to the origin city?”
Applying this computation to all 30 MLB stadiums is more complex given the nature of the regular season schedule. A handful of metropolitan cities host two clubs enabling for travel to occur in the same city more than once.
Without using a complex algorithm or formula based system, google maps will be utilized to determine the shortest distances between each city/stadium to determine the most logical route.
Extreme ballpark chasers are often left to the mercy of the schedule eliminating a perfect directional path.
After optimizing the mileage breakdown between stadiums, this is the shortest possible DRIVING route discovered:
30 Ballparks in 30 Days Documentary
30 in 21 chance by Jake Beham
The schedule of Jake Beham, who is trying to chase down my World Record of Seeing all 30 MLB Parks (every pitch) in 23 calendar days or less. This schedule must have been done without knowing you have to witness all plays of the game to qualify. Jake is going to have a tough time dodging a miss on day 2 – where he will try to beat Labor Day Monday traffic from after the game – in order to make 1st pitch at CBP. He will never make it by car. The Yankees always play games that are 3 Hours or longer as well. Even Amtrak train is a longshot. I give him a 10% chance to make it on his 1st Doubleheader attempt.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @mlbreports
2 days later he flies to Chase Field – and has scheduled a Doubleheader with Angel Stadium For DH #2. I am assuming he is planning on taking a Southwest Airlines flight that arrives at John Wayne Arpt. The flight leaves Phoenix at 455 PM.
That is 4 hours and 15 minutes after 1st pitch. The flight that arrives in SNA at 605. If he makes the flight, he could make this. However it is about a 67% chance. Most NL games last about 2 hours and 35 minutes.
The airport is close enough to the park in PHX – as is SNA airport. Any extra innings though, and it is over.
On FRI, Sept.6th, he has scheduled a Wrigley Field and Kauffman Stadium doubleheader for DH #3. This one is impossible. The game starts at 120 PM local Chicago Time.
The closest flight I saw that leaves ORD or MDW in time for Kansas City, leaves at 441 PM. That is 3 hours and 21 minutes from 1st pitch at Wrigley Field.
Photo: Leon Halip/Getty Images
Chris Herrmann doubled home a run in the first and drove in the winning run in the 8th with another double. He finished 3-5 as the Twins beat the Tigers in Detroit, 7-6.
Jose Tabata went 3-4 with an RBI double, drove in 3 and scored a pair as the Pirates demolished the Giants, 10-5.
Jose Quintana pitched 7 strong innings, letting up only 4 hits, 1 walk and 3 runs, striking out 7. He didn’t get the decision but his strong start set up the White Sox 4-3 12th inning win against the fading Royals.
Mat Latos was wonderful over 8 innings, letting up 1 run and walking none, as the Reds snuck past the Diamondbacks, 2-1.
They all owned baseball on August 22, 2013.
My explanation for “Who Owns Baseball” can be found here.
At the end of the year, we will tally up who owned baseball the most individual days and see how it compares to the final MVP and Cy Young vote.
To view the Yearly Leaders for Who Owned Baseball Standings – Click the READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY ICON
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To View The List of just the nightly winners (WOB dedicated Page) starting from Mar.31/2013 – today click here Read the rest of this entry
The days of not being able to visit all MLB parks in consecutive days ended in 1993, when the Rockies were introduced, and enhanced even more with the Arizona Diamondbacks entering the league in 1998. In the last 15 years, several people have tried to see all 30 MLB parks in under a month. Some successful, some broke some rules, and one guy even bought this website 6 months after he set the World Record for visiting all 30 MLB Parks in just 23 Calendar Days – completing 7 Doubleheaders.
By Josh Robbins (Special Guest Writer And Co – Creator for The Factor12 Rating Pitching Metric.) Factor 12 (F12) is an analytic measurement utilizing league average performance to compare the value of all MLB pitchers on 60ft6in.com.
MLB Expansion Makes Ballpark Chasing Possible
Twenty years ago, the course of history changed for ballpark chasing. In 1993, the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins debuted in the National League, increasing the total number of MLB teams to twenty-eight.
The two new franchises created positions for fifty players and expanded the pursuits for ballpark chasers.
In prior years, the nearest connection between a west coast team and the mid-west was Anaheim Stadium to Royals Stadium, a 23-hour drive covering 1,619 miles.
As a result, it was impossible for fans to attend games in consecutive days at every MLB stadium during one concurrent driving trip. Consequently, the only method to complete the entire circuit was to combine land and air travel.
The new league structure dramatically altered the traveling landscape by adding Mile High Stadium in Denver, a 14-hour, 1,011-mile drive from Anaheim Stadium.
Reggie Deal’s- 30 Day. 30 Park Compilation (A Blind Fan Who visited all 30 MLB Parks in 30 Days last year)
Photo: Denis Poroy – Getty Images
After a failed attempt to record a podcast today, I am indeed posting a new episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
For a million bucks in 2013, the Pirates found the best bargain in baseball in Francisco Liriano. Plus, I take a look at super talented teams that couldn’t win the pennant.
A. J. Pierzynski, Nate Schierholtz, Jarrod Parker and Francisco Liriano all owned baseball on August 19, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE.
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Follow @mlbreportsMonday, Aug.12, 2013
The Triple Play Show will have 5 shows per month. Each show will be about 1 hour. Chuck Booth will guest once a month for MLB Power Rankings,
By The Big Ticket Show ( AKA Triple Play Podcast on http://www.mlbreports.com) Follow @bigticketshow
Patrick sits in as the Producer and only representative of the Big Ticket Show – and Chuck Booth joins him to break down all 30 current rankings, plus what the clubs are up to.
To listen to the audio for this Click the READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY logo or past the Triple Play Logo.
If you want the written version of these rankings click here Read the rest of this entry
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Follow @mlbreportsSunday Aug.11/2013
Texas has fought off a July slump – and are 9 – 1 in their last 10 games. They have added reinforcements in the way of Alex Rios and Matt Garza. If they can just hold the course – and win the AL West, they have the horses and experience to challenge every other team in October. The club was the biggest mover upwards in our rankings this week – going from #10 – #4. It was not too long ago that the Rangers were sitting at just a half – dozen games above .500 – and behind the playoff bar.
Audio Version Of These Power Rankings
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
It is time for the MLB Power Rankings. These are based on my thoughts on whether who has the best chance to win the World Series.
A lot of these positions are based on who has the toughest Strength of Schedule left, who their competition is for the Division, and possibly even the League they are in,
The races for the Divisions in the NL are becoming less competitive every week. The NL East and NL West look to be done. The Pirates are within weeks of ending a 20 year playoff drought.
The Braves rattled off a 14 game winning streak – and should cruise to the NL East crown.
The Athletics are in big trouble with some of their talented offensive players not putting up numbers like they did in 2012. They now find themselves in 2nd place in the AL West.
Adrian Beltre 2 HR day in July
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Follow @mlbreportsSaturday Aug.10/2013
Mike Piazza has been linked to admission of using PED’s during. his career. This will probably not go down favorably with the BBWAA towards an entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Mike Piazza hit 427 HRs in his MLB Career (397 as a Catcher) to go along with a .308 Avg and 1335 RBI. From 1999 – 2005, he signed a 7 YR/$91 MIL deal with the New York Mets after being acquired from the Miami Marlins. He was full value for the franchise, hitting for a 3 Slash Line of .296/.373/.915. In the 7 years of his deal, he blasted 197 HRs and drove in 579 RBI – despite missing half of the 2003 year. He was the most prolific hitting Catcher during the era.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
In doing a recent article about the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays ways of contracts, I thought I would delve into some of the biggest contracts of ALL – Time – in order to dissect them.
I have decided to break the articles up into a 10 part series that will go through the top 53 contracts in the history of the MLB. We are going to count backwards.
Each week for the next 2 months, there will be a post over the weekend with a set of 5 or 6 players.
At the MLB Reports, we are committed to being the best overall payroll/roster/depth chart/state of the union site for each club. Bookmark our page dedicated for keeping track of this here.
Signing high 8 or 9 digit Salaries is a risky business that can cripple a franchise for many years. I mean who wouldn’t want to shed themselves of the biggest Free Agency contracts of late.
I think once we have gone through these all, you will see most of them have not lived up to the value they did – when they first received their deals.
Billy Beane, The A’s Management, The Rays front office and the Braves have been the best run franchises in terms of not making horrendous mistakes.
I have to give the ultimate edge to the A’s and Rays because of B.J. Upton‘s current 5 YR/$75 MIL contract looks to be the worst FA signing ever presently, he fell just short of being in this list.’
Tied for #49 are 5 players, and the 48 th biggest contract belongs to Mike Piazza.
Mike Piazza Post 9/11 HR
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Follow @mlbreportsSaturday, August.10, 2013
Cliff Lee is having another solid season in the rotation for the Phillies. If some team can pry him away from Philadelphia, their rotation improves dramatically. Lee has won 10 games with a 3.13 ERA in 149.2 innings pitched to include him having a WHIP of 1.04. He has excellent command of the strike zone by walking just 24 batters and striking out 139 on the season. He is seventh in the NL with a WAR of 4.0 for pitchers. He also knows how to pitch when the post season starts, with him starting 11 career games to go along with a 2.52 ERA in those games. He is holding opposing batters to a .235 batting average, with left-handed batters hitting .253 against him this season. He is superb by limiting teams to a .236 average once runners are in scoring position.
By Chris Lacey (Lead Baseball Columnist/Minority Website Owner) Follow @aecanada12
This year’s trade deadline just went by with not too many big trades taking place. The only one that could classify as a somewhat big deal was the three-team deal between the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers.
This deal saw Jake Peavy go to Boston, with shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias and outfield prospect Avisail Garcia going to the Tigers and White Sox respectively.
Cliff Lee 2011 Highlights – Parental Guidance Is Advised
Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images
Andrew Albers had a remarkable big league debut. The Twins left hander pitched shutout ball into the 9th inning. He finished with 8 1/3 innings, no runs, 4 hits and only one walk, topping the Kansas City Royals, 7-0.
Adam Jones went 4-4 with a homer and a stolen base. He drove in runs in the first and fourth and scored in the 8th as the Orioles beat the Padres, 4-1 at PetcoPark.
Matt Latos kept the Oakland A’s off the board during his 7 1/3 shutout innings, letting up only 4 hits. He got the win for the Reds, 3-1.
Eric Chavez hit a game tying RBI double and then added another run scoring double to extend the lead as Arizona topped Tampa Bay, 6-1.
They all owned baseball on August 6, 2013.
My explanation for “Who Owns Baseball” can be found here.
At the end of the year, we will tally up who owned baseball the most individual days and see how it compares to the final MVP and Cy Young vote.
To view the Yearly Leaders for Who Owned Baseball Standings – Click the READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY ICON.
To View The List of just the nightly winners (WOB dedicated Page) starting from Mar.31/2013 – today click here Read the rest of this entry
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Follow @mlbreportsSunday Aug.04/2013
The Braves have charged out of the ALL – Star Break at a pace like they did to start the year. They have an 11.5 Games Lead in the NL East over Washington, and most of their offense is starting to click – which have helped contributed to the team hold down the fort now that the pitching has had vast injuries.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
It is time for the MLB Power Rankings. These are based on my thoughts on whether who has the best chance to win the World Series.
A lot of these positions are based on who has the toughest Strength of Schedule left, who their competition is for the Division, and possibly even the League they are in.
How unfortunate it is for the Indians and the Royals to have the Tigers winning 9 of their last ten – to fend off their those absurdly hot AL Central counterparts?
The good news for the KC and CLE teams is that the AL East are beating up on each other in the last month, while Texas will see a Nelson Cruz suspension dampen their odds of making the Post Season.
Check out the Show we did on AL and NL Rankings Here on the 2 And A Hook Podcast
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Follow @mlbreportsThursday, August.1, 2013
Joe Thatcher was dealt to the Arizona Diamondbacks on the last day of the Trade Deadline. This acquisition makes their bullpen stronger with having a pitcher that can get lefties out on a consistent basis. He has 2.10 ERA in 30 innings pitched this season, while only giving three HRs, and walking four batters. He has a WHIP of 1.06 and has struck out 29 batters. He is holding the opposing batters to a .243 average this season, while holding left-handed batters to a .215 average. Thatcher is very good with runners in scoring position as well, by holding teams to a batting average of .121 in this situation. He does not throw hard with a fastball that sits in the mid 80s and a sweeping slider. He has held lefty batters to a 209./.269/.586 triple-slash in 344 career at-bats.
By Chris Lacey (Lead Baseball Columnist/Minority Website Owner) Follow @aecanada12
The Arizona Diamondbacks were the kings of the National League West division for most of this season, and that’s not saying much. That division is not what you would call competitive, with only two teams that have a record over. 500.
Arizona was able to maintain their lead in large part because the Los Angeles Dodgers were dealing with numerous injuries.Then once the Dodgers had key players healthy, Los Angeles started to play better.
Paul Goldschmidt 2013 Highlights – Parental Guidance Is Advised
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All Baseball Stats Courtesy of B-R
MLB Reports 
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