Blog Archives
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 4, 2015
The Angels reaction to the Josh Hamilton decision was deplorable. They don’t deserve Mike Trout.
Ervin Santana’s reaction to his positive test made me roll my eyes.
That and positive news from Montreal in this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 28, 2015
There are many possible World Series match ups. But historical, none will be as unique as a Mariners/Nationals fall classic.
The star power would be off the charts. And we would see a match up unlike anyone since 1980 for one reason, unlike any since 1906 for another and one we have NEVER seen for a third reason.
It is a “Let’s think of October in March” episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 16, 2015
Today your pal Sully acted in a movie called “The Wrong Stuff”. It is written and directed by Brett Rapkin, who previously made a documentary about the same subject, former Red Sox pitcher Bill Lee.
That film, entitled Spaceman – A Baseball Odyssey, also featured yours truly.
I play a mailman opposite Josh Duhamel, who plays Bill Lee. We had fun on the set today, improvised in an unusual manner and I also got to meet 2003 Cy Young winner Eric Gagne in the process.
It was a fun day of movie making magic on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast
For more info on the movie The Wrong Stuff, click here.
To check out the original documentary Spaceman – A Baseball Odyssey, click here.
The Falling Canadian Dollar Could Be A Major Roadblock In Any Montreal Bid For Another MLB Franchise

Toronto is the only team in the MLB not in the USA. With that comes foreign currency. For the years of 1990 – 2007, the Canadian Dollar was hovering around the 70 cents mark for the duration (62 cents at its worst). The last economic crash in the USA – had the dollar at par for the better part of the last 7 years, including once reaching $1.10 for every George Washington bill in America in late 2008. The average for the exchange rate had been in the mid 90 cents range for the most part of 2014. The loonie has been in a nosedive since the end of 2014 kicked in – and now it is around 80 cents for every US Dollar. It will cost you $1.263 Canadian for $1 American on today’s market, and it If it looks to go down much more. This economic factor could significantly derail any effort the city of Montreal has to ever regain an MLB franchise.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Canadian Dollar is in a free-fall against the American greenback. I woke up this morning to see that to buy a US $1, it now cost $1.263 Canadian dollars. Effectively that means any club in Canada is at 26.3% Luxury Tax before the season even starts, because the team pays out player salaries in USD, while the money brought in is Canadian currency.
So often people forget that the Montreal Expos problems became occurring not only as the 1994 Player Strike/1995 Lockout fanbase was angry at the MLB, with some of them never to return, but also a sagging loony.
At its worst price, was a 0.62 cent buck vs the USA back in the mid-90’s. With the oil prices being what they are, this has serious ramifications for any impending groups of people wishing to bring back baseball to Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
The Expos left after the 2004 season, and in some ways it is a total injustice. Perhaps no other franchise has been affected more by the two biggest work stoppages than the Montreal had been.
The 1981 Player strike happened when Montreal was filling Olympic Stadium to the tune of 2 Million Fans per year, and the young nucleus of players such as Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Gary Carter, Tim Wallach and Warren Cromartie were leading the charge to an uprising NL squad.
Of course everyone remembers “Blue Monday’s” HR to knock the Expos out of the 1981 playoff chase. The 1979 – 1994 teams carried out 12 out of 15 winning seasons, and possessed one of the greatest semblance of a drafting organization ever. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 26, 2014
Mark Anderson, the creator of MLB Cathedrals joins the podcast today.
In part 1 of our discussion, we talked about potential places for baseball to expand to or where a franchise can move.
And he was surprised by the support Montreal seems to be getting.
That and more on today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Follow MLB Cathedrals on Twitter by clicking HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 25, 2014
It is December 25th. HAPPY RICKEY HENDERSON’S BIRTHDAY!
The second best leadoff hitter of his time, Tim Raines, deserves to join Rickey in the Hall of Fame in 2015.
Did collusion help keep him out so far?
Tidings of comfort and joy in this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 16, 2014
We live in a world where PewDiePie is a sensation. What does that mean for baseball?
Plus thoughts on the Selig Experience on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Baseball News Of The Week, Baseball News Of The Weak, Baseball News That Wreaks

Joe Maddon signing with the Cubs to skipper the club for the next 5 years/at $5 MIL per annum is the biggest story of the hotstove season so far. He is also the clubhouse leader of adult beverages bought, although we will still give the consumed adult beverage lead to Madison Bumgarner.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Welcome to the new offseason segment. I will try to do this once again. It has been a slower winter than the previous two years, however it is starting to pick up.
Anybody miss the live action yet? Yes there is still the Japan exhibition series and the Arizona Fall League, but for the people like myself, I live and die for the major league action.
I would much rather watch Major League Baseball any day of the week. It is not that I begrudge anyone for attending Minor League attendance, heck in some campaigns, the Minor Leagues have outdrawn the MLB.
This will be sort of like the good, the bad and the ugly from (insert show here). Read the rest of this entry
The Best Teams In The MLB From 1980 – Now: SF Cements Their Place From 2010 – 2014 With WS Birth

The Giants won the World Series in 2010 and 2012, and now are in the 2014 World Series – with a great chance to win 3 titles in 5 years against Kansas City. The best teams for the last several years include the Red Sox from 2004 – 2007, the Phillies from 2008 – 2009, and then you would have to place the Giants as the best overall team from 2010 – 2014. Can they keep up the format of winning a World Series every 2 years again this year? The Red Sox (3 Titles), plus the Giants and Cards each having 2 Fall Classics, are the only 3 teams to have multiple World Series Trophies since the 2004 year.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
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.
A Regional World Series In 2014? NYY/BOS/ATL Maybe All Out Of The Playoffs For 1st Time Since 1989
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst), with a heavy assist for the idea to Josh Robbins: Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Nationals and Orioles both locked down their respective league’s East Division’s last night. Could it be a possible Beltway World Series?
Or how about a Freeway Series (I-5) between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels Of Orange County near Disneyland and Fullerton (or whatever Arte Moreno’s team us called now).
If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, maybe iconic close series of 1985 and 1989 respectively, meaning the I-70 series (KC vs STL) or the Bay Bridge (Earthquake Series), between the A’s and Giants.
Both of those winning clubs have not won the Fall Classic since those years.
Even Detroit and Pittsburgh are only 284 Miles apart, should they have a chance meeting.
Who is not here for the 1st time in 20 years – will probably be the Braves (whose playoff chances are on fumes), and the Yankees/Red Sox all failed to have at least one representative of those 3 in the Post Season since 1989, when the Cubs, Dodgers, A’s and Blue Jays made the playoffs.
2009 was the last time teams within close proximity to each other squared off in the World Series – when the Yanks took out the defending champion Phillies in 6 games.
The Yankees/Mets 2000 “Subway Series” was the last time two teams in the same city played in the Fall Classic, something the 2 Los Angeles squad’s could do.
How All Of The Nationals Hitters Were Acquired: 2014 Roster Tree

The city of Washington hasn’t hosted a World Series game since 1933, and while the club didn’t have an MLB organization for 30+ years, this 2014 team may mark the best year for the franchise to win the World Series ever. It was only 4 years ago that this franchise was wallowing in below average baseball. The team then singed a big cheque to haul in Jayson Werth as Free Agent. A few years later, through a couple of key trades, coupled with other Free Agent pickups and the team’s offensive core maturing, the club has complete depth from 1 – 8 in the lineup
How All Of The Nationals Hitters Were Acquired:
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Nationals came over to Washington from Montreal, Quebec, Canada to start the 2005 year. It took several last place finishes to stockpile draft picks, in order for this club to turn its fortunes around.
Aside from offensive lineup signing key Free Agents Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche in recent years, the club has been built within.
Some of the players like Wilson Ramos, Denard Span, Asdrubal Cabrera and Jose Lobaton were acquired from other teams with Draft Picks the Nats had already selected.
This team has been competitive since the beginning of the 2011 year, and made the franchise’s 1st playoff appearance in 2012, after a 31 Year absence.
Much will always be made about the Stephen Strasburg decision, and the only way to alleviate those causes and concerns – is for the team to win the World Series Title.
The ownership changed the culture of the team when he inked Werth to a 7 YR deal worth $126 MIL prior to the 2011 campaign. It shifted the 1 – 8 lineup with a new direction.
While the 1st year wasn’t kind to the former Phillies player, he has been an above average OF since, posting a near .300 Batting Average – with a high OBP and nice SLG% that falls within his career numbers.
The team has even withstood constant injuries to Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman this season. to lead the NL East right now. Read the rest of this entry
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
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 27, 2014
It is Sunday and time for The Sunday Request on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast..
@sullybaseball Is there anything they can do with old ballparks after the team moves out except demolition?
— James Johnson (@JDawgJohnson) April 25, 2014
While most stadiums see the wrecking ball or dynamite, there have been some ballparks that have found new life after their teams left.
Justin Upton, A.J. Pierzynski, Tanner Roark, Phil Hughes, A.J. Pollock, Jeremy Guthrie and Mike Trout all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball.
Could The Toronto Blue Jays Turn Into The Canada Blue Jays + Play In Montreal And Vancouver As Well?

Olympic Stadium was a building catastrophe from the get go. It was a contributing factor of the Expos leaving Montreal. Having said that, it would have been really cool if the North America opener were to have been opened in Montreal, with this past series with Toronto and the New York Mets. Instead it was just an exhibition. At least the Canadian park has hosted regular season MLB games unlike the Sydney Cricket Ground. Will another city other than Toronto ever host a regular season game again?
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I must be out of my mind right?
Having the Toronto Blue Jays play in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver during a regular season – and re-brand the club to a national team in the MLB? But stop and think about this for a minute.
The club just drew almost 100K total fans for the 2 exhibition games in Quebec on Mar.28 and Mar.29/2014.
This just reaffirmed my stance of last week. I admonished the MLB for not starting the season with this series in Montreal.
Having thought about it further this weekend, I came up with a new idea. Why not play some games in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver – and name the club the Canada Blue Jays? Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 30, 2014
It is The Sunday Request on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
@sullybaseball how cool would the AL East be w/Sox,Yanks,Orioles,Jays, #MontrealExpos? Lots of rivalries there! #movetheraystoMontreal #MLB
— Mike (@Boston_Braves) March 30, 2014
That is an interesting idea for potential rivalries in the AL East.
And the bar for an improved baseball situation in Montreal is kind of LOW!
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 15, 2014
Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I play part 2 of my interview with former All Star Ellis Valentine.
We talked about his days with the Mets, Angels and Rangers and also remembered his cameo on Fantasy Island.
Go to Ellis Valentine’s Past Pro’s Site and support The Tiny Tim Fund by clicking HERE.
Follow Ellis Valentine on Twitter HERE.
To subscribe to The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 15, 2014
Enjoy Ellis on Fantasy Island.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 14, 2014
It is Valentine’s Day and what better way to spend the day than with former Montreal Expos star Ellis Valentine?
He joins The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast to talk about his days with Montreal, his rivalry with Gary Carter and baseball returning to Olympic Stadium this spring for an exhibition game.
And I got to tell him that I voted for him in the All Star Game and his 3D card was a staple in my cereal box!
Go to Ellis Valentine’s Past Pro’s Site and support The Tiny Tim Fund by clicking HERE.
Follow Ellis Valentine on Twitter HERE.
To subscribe to The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 14, 2014
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 5, 2014
Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I am joined by former big league pitcher Rudy May.
Rudy pitched for 16 seasons in the big leagues along side many future Hall of Famers and for some of the best managers in baseball history.
In part one of our conversation, we discuss his days with the Montreal Expos and the Baltimore Orioles. He relays stories about pitching for the great Earl Weaver and knocking down Lou Brock on “Lou Brock Day” in St. Louis.
Rudy’s official website is found HERE.
Follow Rudy on Twitter by clicking HERE.
To subscribe to The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE.
The Toronto Blue Jays Could Be Facing Yet Another Challenge For Payroll

Toronto is the only team in the MLB not in the USA. With that comes foreign currency. For the years of 1990 – 2007, the Canadian Dollar was hovering around the 70 cents mark for the duration. The last economic crash in the USA – had the dollar at near par for the better part of the last 7 years, including once reaching $1.10 over every George Washington bill in America. The average for the exchange rate has been in the mid 90 cents range since 2008. The loonie has been in a nosedive since 2014 kicked in – and now it is around 90 cents for every US Dollar. If it goes down much more, it will be just another challenge the Jays will face in a vaunted AL East Division.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
It was a big reason the Montreal Expos are no longer in the MLB anymore. It also affected the only Canadian franchise left for that same stretch.
I am talking of course about the Canadian Dollar.
Luckily for Toronto, the last 6 years have been decent for the exchange rate.
The mark has fluctuated predominantly between .94 -.99 cents per US Dollar from 2008 – 2014.
This is even more crucial for the Blue Jays considering they reside in a tough AL East with payroll powerhouses Boston and New York. Read the rest of this entry
The Best Teams In The MLB From 1980 – 2017: The Biggest Question Is, Who Owns 2015 – 2017 Mark? Early Favorite Lends 2 Cubs With 3 Straight LCS Appearances, 1 World Series

With 3 straight LCS appearances and 1 World Series – the Cubs can lay claim to the best team from 2015 – 2017. If Houston were to win the 2018 World Series, they could be turned back to the 2015 – 2016 stretch, however Chicago can advance the years if they are able to go farther than the Stros this campaign
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
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.
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.

























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