Blog Archives
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 31, 2015
Topps
If the 1969 Cubs won the World Series, they would have been the most beloved champ of all time.
Which other teams would have been the most embraced by their fans? The 1971 Giants? The 1978 Red Sox?
I think of that and give much respect to my former boss, Bonnie Hunt, and her wonderful mom Alice on today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Here is the video of Bonnie and Alice singing with Ernie Banks.
mom ernie sing, from alice on Vimeo.
Follow Bonnie Hunt on Twitter by clicking HERE
Follow Alice Hunt on Twitter by clicking HERE
A Chase For A World Record Means Some Sacrifices To Full Year Schedule
With family leaving in New Jersey about a $5 public transit move away, I will be visiting CBP for another 30 games to help keep costs down for the whole year trip. In addition to this park being cool – it also has doubleheader chances with both New York teams and Baltimore?Washington. It is a good place to set up shop on the Eastern Seaboard. I will see 40 games at CBP this season.
What a rollercoaster of a month it has been. I may crumbled out of the gate before I even begin my year long baseball park journey. Of course I am kidding there.. But there have been several ups and downs.
The Good:
A great schedule for the most part. I have worked out several kinks, bought plenty of tickets already, made plans with countless other ballpark chasers. The ability to be able to do this trip is not lost on me. Bought several tickets when the dollar value was high.
I am seeing my favorite 2 teams almost a quarter of their games (Yankees and Nationals).
I will chase a world record down from June to July in some fashion.
Also purchasing partial season tickets for the Yankees, Red Sox, Mariners, Cubs, Phillies, Brewers and White Sox is awesome to have in the hopper. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 27, 2015
Jeff Chiu/Associated Press
The Yankees want to keep some money from A-Rod?
That doesn’t seem fair when you consider all the money he has made the Yankees!
The Yankees should act more like the Giants and just embrace their PED filled MVP.
It is a big box office episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Interleague 2015 Master Schedule (300 Games) All Times Posted So Far
The National League will be looking to shake an 11 year game losing streak to the American League in 2015.
Among the new things that AL vs NL has to offer, is a return to all teams in action at some point in the season during the time.
Of course the Astros were back in the Senior Circuit then, so there was 16 teams vs just 14 for the Junior Circuit.
Mark it on your calendars – from Monday June 15 – June 18 all 30 teams will take part in a 2 game home and away series versus the same club. This is sure to be a treat for Interleague fans.
Citizens Bank Ball Park, PNC Park and Fenway Park are the only 3 stadiums to have their venues host AL vs NL as their home openers.
The MLB Reports will try to update the game times as they come in until the start of next campaign. Read the rest of this entry
Game Start Times + Opponents For All 30 MLB Home Park Openers – 2015
The view of the Roberto Clemente Bridge is worth the price of admission alone at PNC Park. The 2013 fans saw the Bucs make the playoffs for the 1st time in 21 years. There were almost 2.3 Million people that went through the turnstiles. In 2014, they exceed that – with the team having adrawn 2.45 Million people, were the 1st Wild Card Holder, before losing the game in Pittsburgh to the eventual World Series winning Giants. Most ballpark fans have this iconic venue in their top list of stadiums in the MLB.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter: Follow @mlbreports
The Season Opener is on Sunday Apr.05, 2015, and will see Wrigley start their 101st season at the venue, despite not having the bleachers renovated in time.
Within 9 days of the opener, all parks will be accounted for in the year. Game Start times will come in sporadically in the offseason with variance on when the clubs all post them.
Generally there is a massive spike on game 1 of any year at a ball park, so a big tip is to wait for game #2. A lot of the squads love to offer great value priced tickets as a way to stop the catastrophic plummet from the opener.
Whatever the case, if you know ways to acquire your way in to one of these parks for the inaugural game of the season, it is always a memorable experience! Read the rest of this entry
Potential World Record Of All 30 MLB Parks In 21 Or 22 Days – 2015 (Air + Ground Streak)
BallparkChasers.com is a website where some of the fans dedicated to going to baseball parks meet. There are many members who have completed all current 30 MLB Parks in their travels. Go to the site and join the movement.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
We covered the ground attack yesterday for an all 30 MLB Parks World Record Pursuit. Now it is time to turn our attention to the schedule that would challenge the record chase of all 30 MLB Parks (done in 2012 by yours truly) in 23 days.
The odds are stacked favorably against anyone ever eclipsing this record. Even with a perfect schedule, I am not sure I could accomplish the task.
In 2012, I knocked off 7 out of 10 Doubleheaders – and put forth the new mark. None of the 3 misses were my fault from planning. I had 3 plane delays ruin attempts, all had mechanical failures, and the worst one was the 2nd officer’s seat belt not coming down completely. Lost an Atlanta/St. Louis double for that.
Realistically had the flights worked out, I may have set a 30-21 streak. But I was lucky. I had only one game of 30 even reach extra innings. Also faced no weather challenges, despite it being opening month if the game.
In 2013 and 2014 I put out scenarios that could have challenged the record, but all would have ended up in flames with bad game times and even a rainout. Read the rest of this entry
Ichiro Suzuki Maybe Older, But He Is a Perfect 4th OF/PH
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Okay so Ichiro Suzuki doesn’t possess as much speed as he once did, or even hit .320 like he routinely did for the Mariners. Plus yes, there is virtually no power…however he hit .284 last season, and for a 4th OF or Pinch Hitter in the Senior Circuit, that would be much likened.
I was sitting there last month debating on whether the Mariners should give him a call for a return to Seattle, considering they tried signing Franklin Gutierrez (hurt all of 2014, which was the biggest waste of a $MIL ever by M’s mgmt – considering the guy already burned the squad for 120 games missed in 2013) and employed friggin Endy Chavez for much of the 2014 year.
I am giving Jack Z. and the Mariners some chops for picking up Justin Ruggiano and Seth Smith instead in the last 30 days, but the point was, Ichiro may not have wanted to return to the PAC NW anyway even though he could have helped that club as they were constructed then.
Have you seen some of the 4th OF and PH that still have jobs in the Majors? Heck yeah… give me a guy who can put the bat on the ball still.
Suzuki is a great contact hitter even at his age, and he will likely see some AB roaming the outfield for the Marlins this year. I love Giancarlo Stanton, but it is not like he ever plays 162 games straight on the diamond. Read the rest of this entry
Potential 30 MLB Parks In 25 Days World Record Attempt In 2015 (All By Ground)
Petco Park is a doable Doubleheader Attempt with Angel Stadium, and especially with start times of 12:40/7:05.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
As I said before yesterday, the schedule maker was very kind to those looking to pursue records for ballpark chasing this season. I was hoping to have the option. Now it is a possibility.
From June 15th to July 9th, there is s schedule that lends itself to 30 games in 25 days (all by ground). I can honestly see this kind of itinerary is rare, How much? Well it is the first docket like this in 7 years, since Josh Robbins nailed all 30 MLB Parks in 26 days.
The all ground record is impressive. Josh made 4 Doubleheaders (including 3 straight in a row to end his streak), to make a 30 – 26 record happen.
He traveled 15,000 Miles in 26 Days. This potential record streak would add 5,000 Miles to the bid. The doubleheaders listed are: Petco Park/Angel Stadium, Progressive Field/PNC Park, Us Cellular Field/Wrigley Field, Citi Field/Citizens Bank Park, and Great American Ballpark and Busch Stadium (the hardest of them all to complete, with 354 Miles between venue’s.
There is even a special 6 doubleheader attempt listed, although it is a tough negotiation, and would nor shave off a day off the chase, rather it would give a rest day. There are about 4 different 1000+ Mile journey’s between the parks. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 23, 2015
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Lisa Swan, creator of Subway Squawkers and Jason Keidel of WFAN continue the roundtable discussion of the Yankees and Red Sox.
We talked about players we just could not root for and other aspects of the rivalry
It is an enemies having common ground episode The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Follow Subway Squawkers on Twitter by clicking HERE.
Follow Jason Keidel on Twitter by clicking HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 21, 2015
Linda Cataffo/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images
Green Bay’s loss reminded me of the Aaron Boone game… not in a good way.
And Bill Belichick reminds me of Billy Martin… in a good way. New Podcast
This is a fully inflated episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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
My New 2015 30 MLB Parks/183 Day Record Trip Is Revealed (226 Games)
The count is in, and it may increase a little – or decrease a little. It has taken me about a week’s worth of hours to formulate this game plan. I have had to revamp the itinerary several times for cost and time considerations.
I initially had wanted to spend the first few months on the West Coast, however the parks are too far from each other. Once I established that was a problem, it made life easier. Factor in some great scores on tickets for the Red Sox and Phillies, and I am looking at a ton of games on the Eastern Seaboard.
Highlighted in my April schedule are 12 Doubleheader Attempts. Yes I am crazy, but this a good way to put a lot of games up early while I am freshest.
ESPN has also placed its first 5 games for Sunday night contests and surprise…the Yankees are in 3 of the contests. I am attending 4 of these games as part of Doubleheader days. The only one not consisting of 2 games is the MLB Season Opener at Wrigley Field on Apr.5, 2015.
I have slated to see most teams at least 3 times at home (except for Tropicana Field which I will see 2x), and all teams at least once on the road. I will see Citizens Bank Park, Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Miller Park, Safeco Field, US Cellular Field, Nats Park and Citi Field at least 10games or more.
There are 46 Doubleheaders in the 179 games played, with potentially more coming on the way. I could have a few taken away with my schedule projections as well. Right now the Royals, Padres, White Sox, Astros and Indians have not placed their start times yet (Shame on them, LOL). Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 8, 2015
Lisa Swan, creator of Subway Squawkers and Jason Keidel of WFAN both return the podcast to talk Yankees.
Actually we started talking about the Yankees but wound up talking about The Facts of Life, The Blues Brothers, WKRP in Cincinnati and whether or not they should remake The Bonfire of the Vanities.
It is another “Let’s see where it goes!” discussion on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Follow Subway Squawkers on Twitter by clicking HERE.
Follow Jason Keidel on Twitter by clicking HERE.
2015 MLB Hall of Fame Voting: Who Deserves to Get In?
The MLB Hall of Fame will announce which players will be part of the Class of 2015. With players such as Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez being added to the ballot this year, the question remains as to which players will ultimately make the final cut this year?
By Nicholas Delahanty (MLB Reports Writer) Follow @Nick_Delahanty
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
It is very possible that history is made with regards to this year’s MLB Hall of Fame induction class. In the past, the committee has been hesitant to vote in more than three players in one class, and it has been very rare to see more than three voted in at one time. In the past, the committee voted in four players twice (1947 and 1955) and five players only once (1936- the first year of the voting process).
As the decision day quickly approaches, there is speculation that the BBWAA could possibly end the long drought and elect five players this year. With this year’s ballot having a ton of players who could make a legitimate case to be inducted, I decided to go to the process of picking my own ballot (which doesn’t count for the BBWAA), and after taking the time and effort to research my ballet, I realized that it was a much harder process then I anticipated it would be.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 5, 2015
Yankees.com
Lisa Swan, creator of Subway Squawkers and Jason Keidel of WFAN both join the podcast to talk about the state of the Yankees.
Somehow the discussion turned to food.
It is part one of a Yankee round table discussion on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Follow Subway Squawkers on Twitter by clicking HERE.
Follow Jason Keidel on Twitter by clicking HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – January 2, 2015
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
If Babe Ruth played today he would be the target of social media anger and conspiracy theorists. Forget Truthers. There would be Babe Ruthers.
It is a called shot episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
My 183 Day/30 MLB Park Trip Will Be About 229 Games.
Follow Chuck Booth On Twitter Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I have been waiting for every last team to post their times, so I can mark my way through the entire calendar for game action for every single day next year,
Two-Thirds of the teams have complied, and I am seeing about 44 – 50 Doubleheader Attempts for the calendar season.
From the season opener at Wrigley Field, I will be there… I am attending about 17 – 20 games on the North Side Of Chicago, and many of them will couple a game at Miller Park right afterwards.
Since my brother lives in Philadelphia, and is the hub for doublheaders on the Eastern Seaboard, I will see the most games there out of any other park.
I contemplated basing out of Seattle, but it is just too far away from other parks. I will still see about 20 games there next season.
I plan on seeing the Nationals in about 12 different road parks..
Barring Any Setbacks Schedule Wise, I Will Be Attempting An All 30 MLB Parks/20 Days Trip In 2015
Follow Chuck Booth On Twitter Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I have been waiting as patiently as I can for the 2015 time starts for the upcoming MLB season. It all started coming together when Wrigley Field was announced as the 2015 campaign opener.
I knew where I was going to start my quest of attending a game for every day in the 2015 year.
A lot of teams have put forth their start times for most games already, and even the Mets, Yankees and A’s are smart enough to have single game ticket sales up before Christmas holidays for 2015.
Scouring the June and July itinerary of games (for another ballpark chaser’s potential 30 Games in 30 Days via a ground trip) I started to see some Doubleheaders arise in the time frame of June 10 – July 4th time frame.
This is nothing new to me, as I have been scouting out Doubleheader possibilities since 2007. What was starting to take form is a sweetheart list of potential opportunities of 2 games in one day.
Now not every club has specified their start times. Teams like the Royals, Indians, Marlins, Astros, Padres, Angels and White Sox have yet to publish any game times this far. But from the games that are put in at this point, it is looking like I will have a streak chase to trek down my own World Record of 30 parks in 23 days set in 2012.
I will have to wait until the end of January to finish the schedule, as I am in need of the ESPN Sunday night schedule of games for those months too, but it is looking in my favor to have about 10 doubleheader attempts in a 20 day span. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2015 World Series (CWS Best Value Currently)
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
We are back from an extended period of not writing articles here at the MLB Reports to weigh in on the World Series Odds for next campaign.
As we did last year, we will update this as a weekly segment for the next 10 months until the winner is crowned.
I can tell you right now, the favorites based on so-called “winning the offseason” hardly ever pay off. If that were the case, the Yankees would have been crowned last year, with spending $503 MIL on 10 Free Agents, or also the Rangers would have been second with bringing in Prince Fielder and Shin Soo-Choo.
The odds doled out for free wheeling Padres and Cubs are my top two picks to stay clear of wagering with the value currently constituted. There are two teams in a similar view, not given enough credit.
The White Sox are looking decent in the AL Central, and play in the fairest of the Division in the American League, boast a 1 – 2 that can battle you with Chris Sale and Jeff Samardzija, while inking Free Agents Adam LaRoche and David Robertson gives the team nice depth all around,
The ‘Southsiders’ are definitely much improved in every facet heading into 2015., To say the Cubs, with their exuberant youth has more of a chance to win the 2015 title is not justified without seeing them perform on the field yet. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 9, 2014
Mitchell and Ness
White Sox fans had a bad start to their day seeing Dick Allen et al snubbed for the Hall of Fame.
Their day picked up when the team went on a shopping spree!
It is a South Side episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 7, 2014
Mike Stobe – Getty Images
It is Sunday which means it is time for The Sunday Request on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
@sullybaseball why do the ‘stros think they need a singular closer? I’m a firm believer in closer by committee.
— Alex Gibson (@Astros_Alex) December 4, 2014
I take a look at spending on a closer, how the right person can come out of nowhere and why it relates to the Howard Stern show.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 5, 2014
Photo: Matt Kartozian, USA TODAY Sports
The Yankees improve their bullpen and defense. Didi Gregorious doesn’t need to replace Hall of Fame Derek Jeter. He just needs to replace old and breaking down Derek Jeter.
It is a Bronx Zoo episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 3, 2014
Photo – Troy Taormina
Nobody cares if you report a trade or signing first. Meanwhile the Happ for Saunders deal is odd and why weren’t the Yankees in on Nick Markakis?
It is a first reported episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Yankees Off-Season Outlook: Big Shoes To Fill For Jeter, But How Do They?
By Nicholas Delahanty (MLB Reports Writer) Follow @Nick_Delahanty
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The 2015 off-season is very important for the New York Yankees, as they have a lot of major questions surrounding their current roster. With an aging roster and the return of recently reinstated Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees have some holes to fix, but those issues might not be their biggest concern this off-season.
We all knew the time would come, but no one was ready to start talking about how the Yankees would replace Derek Jeter. Jeter leaves very big shoes to fill in the Bronx, and the Yankees must try their best to find a successor who can not only handle the pressures of New York, but also can step up and produce.
Filling the void might be difficult at first, as past experiences have shown that Yankee fans are very impatient when it comes to replacing some of the best to wear the Yankee pinstripes. The only legitimate shortstop on the roster, Brendan Ryan, won’t be the Yankees everyday shortstop in 2015, so the Bronx Bombers must go through the trade market or free agency to fill a void that right now is larger than life.
The Evil Empire Is About To Crumble In The Bronx!
With almost $100 MIL tied up in contracts for Sabathia, A-Rod, Teixeira and a potential Tommy John Surgery candidate in Masahiro Tanaka, this New York squad is in some deep trouble for next season. Despite the recent playoff misses, and injury prone players brought in by Brian Cashman, the club saw fit to grant him a 3 year extension last month. It may take a small miracle for them to make a playoff spot next campaign.
The Evil Empire Is About To Crumble In The Bronx!
Jordan Gluck (Featured Writer): Follow @jgluck777
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Yankees have long used the prolong success of the “core four” to drive them to go far in the playoffs. They then surrounded them by free agents and other homegrown players.
Today the Yankees are in some trouble and if they aren’t smart this offseason they will remain hampered by large contracts for a long time instead of a quick retool to be VERY competitive in two years.
Let me show you what I’m talking about
Here is their Starting lineup and their ages:
LF Brett Gardner 31
3B/2B Martin Prado 31
CF Jacoby Ellsbury 31
C Brian McCann 30
RF Carlos Beltran 37
1B Mark Teixeira 34
DH Alex Rodriguez 39
2B Robert Refsnyder 23 (Or acquisition at 3B, Prado plays 2B)
SS Brendan Ryan 32
Not exactly Spring chickens over there. The only player under 30 is one that will almost absolutely be replaced by someone who is most likely over 30. This at this moment isn’t exactly a star studded lineup, but the way that their being paid might make it seem that way. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 14, 2014
AP Photo – Eric Gay
I propose a trade before the 2015 season between two broken down former MVPs owed $60 million.
The Yankees should trade A-Rod to the Phillies for Ryan Howard.
Which side turns down that trade?
Which side is burned?
Also MVP thoughts and Cy Young winner Corey Kluber is NOT an All Star on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Washington Nationals Pitching Roster Tree For 2015
How All Of The 2015 Nationals Pitchers Were Acquired:
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Nationals have done a great job of stockpiling pitching arms since relocated to the district in 2005. From Stephen Strasburg, to Jordan Zimmermann, and unheralded pitchers like Craig Stammen and Ross Detwiler.
The acquisitions tree saw Minor League Prospect A.J. Cole drafted by the organization, traded to Oakland in the Gio Gonzalez, only to be brought back in the 3 way deal with the A’s and Seattle, that saw Mike Morse sent to Seattle.
A small part of that transaction included Ian Krol, who was packaged with two Nats selections in the MLB Amateur Draft (Robbie Ray and Steve Lombardozzi).
We have even traced a tree that stems all the way back to the Montreal Expos Drafting Jose Vidro.
The Starting 5 pitchers all contributed to Washington being the top seed in the National League during the 2014 year,
A big thank-you must be send to Yanks GM Brian Cashman, for giving the Nationals Tyler Clippard first, but then to also let Matt Thornton be claimed for no parts going back the other way.
Drew Storen is yet another 1st RD Draft Pick that is part of the Pitching Staff for Washington.
Tanner Roark was also stolen in a deal for Christian Guzman from Texas, with the latter having just a small cup of coffee with the Rangers organization, while Roark might have been the best #5 Starter in baseball this past campaign.
Xavier Cedeno joins Thornton as the only players to have been claimed by the squad. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 6, 2014
AP Photo
Alfonso Soriano is calling it a career. And it was indeed a fine career.
But if Nomar Garciaparra had accepted a contract extension from Boston, Soriano would have been a revered Yankee legend.
Trust me. It makes sense in this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Why The Royals Can’t Sit Back After 2014: KC State Of The Union For 2015
Kansas City finally lived up to their expectations, and far exceeded beyond that, being just one swing away from calling themselves World Championships. With the success the team had, it also creates pay raises, roster turnover, and tough decisions from the brass on who to replace the outgoing cast. Dayton Moore must be aggressive with some of the changes, and realize this core group of players have about a 2 – 3 year window to win before everyone becomes too expensive. The time to strike is still now!
Why The Royals Can’t Sit Back After 2014 AL Pennant
Jordan Gluck (Featured Writer): Follow @jgluck777
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
First congrats to the San Fransisco Giants organization for winning a 3rd championship in 5 years!
Now for the losers who captured Americas heart, and why the Royals can’t sit back and do nothing all offseason.
Frequently after a team wins a championship (for almost any sport) and has that breakthrough season that team tends to try and retain its team from last year while making no additions.
Save for LeBrons Miami heat we haven’t had a team repeat in any sport since the 2004 Patriots and not in baseball since the 2000 Yankees.
Lets not forget that while the Royals did eventually get to game 7 of the World Series they barely got the wild card clinching the spot a couple games above the Mariners and winning that game late.
Here are recent examples of Championship teams who really made very few additions and flopped or performed less than expected the next year.
The 2013 Red Sox who basically retained the same team and suffered from injuries and substandard performance from players like Clay Buchholz and David Ortiz.
The biggest example might be the 2010 and 2012 San Francisco Giants who just retained their teams while making no additions and ended up making frantic moves such as trading for Carlos Beltran at the deadline to fill the holes.
They missed the 2011 and 2013 postseasons. When they made changes such as trading for Hunter Pence and signing Mike Morse they ended up winning it all again. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 4, 2014
Corey Sipkin – NY Daily News
Let’s not create fake controversies, shall we?
Alex Rodriguez paid off his cousin to not talk about steroids? Is that supposed to shock us?
Fox Sports
And please stop any talk that Mike Jirschele should have sent Alex Gordon home with 2 outs in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the World Series. Gordon would have been out by 20 feet.
It is a manufactured controversies episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
MLB Reports 
You must be logged in to post a comment.