Blog Archives
Classic Matchups – Milwaukee vs. New York on April 8, 1979
The Milwaukee Brewers played in the American League East division from 1972-93. In 2017, the Brewers will play many of their old foes from the East in Interleague matchups. Baltimore, Boston, Toronto, and the New York Yankees are all on the schedule this season. To celebrate the glory days of the old AL East, I’ve created a “classic opponents” series of blog posts.
New York was an incredibly tough opponent of those classic Brewers teams. When the two teams met, literally anything could happen from pitcher’s duels to slugfests. With so many classic games to choose from, I selected a great pitching matchup from early 1979 to profile for this blog post.
It was Tommy John’s first game in pinstripes.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – March 13, 2017
Picture by Wally Fong, AP
On the campus of UC Berkeley, I talked about Tommy John and how his career and impact on the game as a pioneer had more effect on the game than many Hall of Famers.
I did NOT risk my body on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Chris Sáenz – A History-making Cup of Coffee
Only four pitchers in baseball history have started only one major league game, thrown six scoreless innings or more, and recorded a win in the process. Chris Sáenz (pronounced SYNS) of the Milwaukee Brewers is the most recent, and actually the first hurler since 1899 to accomplish the feat.
As with most cup of coffee players, a perfect chain of events had to play out for Sáenz to make just one appearance and disappear, never to be heard from again. The early 2004 season for the Brewers was ripe with issues – enough in fact, for a Double A pitcher to be called up to face the Central Division rival St. Louis Cardinals in late April.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast -February 15, 2017
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images North America
Alex Reyes looks like he is going to have Tommy John surgery. These Tommy John surgeries are driving me crazy. Perhaps this is a case for good, clean PEDs.
Get a legal edge on this episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Former Padres Prospect Pete Kelich’s TJ Story: The Ups, Downs, And Turnarounds Of Tommy John Rehab
Pete Kelich (Special Guest Writer, Former MiLB Prospect, visit his site tommyjohninsider.com)
Follow @whytommyjohn Follow @mlbreports
My name is Pete Kelich and I am a former minor league pitcher with the San Diego Padres. I had Tommy John surgery in May of 2014 – and navigated my way to a successful recovery. My goal is to help others that are going through the same obstacle with insight into my personal experience.
Check out www.tommyjohninsider.com for more information. My objective of this blog is to highlight setbacks during Tommy John rehab and the importance of dealing with them in the right way.
The Mental Roller Coaster
The most difficult part of Tommy John rehab is understanding that there WILL BE some bumps along the way. Unfortunately, TJ surgery has one of the longer and more intricate recovery processes already. So combined with the inevitable distractions and setbacks, it can really be a difficult rehabilitation to get through mentally and emotionally.
Part of the reason why it can be such a mental and emotional roller coaster is the fact that as a player, you want to be out on the field doing what you love. You continue to see your friends or co-workers lacing up their spikes each day and after a while, that gets to be frustrating.
For me personally, it wasn’t a jealousy issue at all. It was purely the fact that I wanted to be playing the game I loved.
To put a positive spin on this topic, what sitting out for over a year will do for you is really make you appreciate each and every time you are able to lace them up.
While going through rehab and the early stages of the rehab throwing program, I realized how much I took for granted.
Even more so, I realized the importance of making each throw count and being smart during throwing sessions. Read the rest of this entry
tjohnsurgery.com Is Looking For Authors
Okay, so I have had this website domain for some time (tjohnsurgery.com) – and I am officially kicking it off in style. For Authors that love to talk about the surgery, now is your chance to hit the ground running on a trend that it is not going away any time soon.
I am looking for fellow writers to join in my in writing bio’s for all of the players that have had the surgery in history. Your articles will be posted on tjohnsurgery.com and also at our flagship website of mlbreports.com.
Now I am not looking for writers for the mlbreports.com right now – as we have over 1200 articles already committed from our ownership/crack writing team – however if you things work out, and you are strong enough to write, mlbreports.com is also an option.
Please take a look at our page that we have been running here at mlbreports.com for 2 years. https://mlbreports.com/tj-surgery/
If you are interested in applying for a writing position with us contact me (Chuck Booth) at mlbreports@gmail.com
Tommy John Surgery Thursdays: Player Profile – Brent Strom: 2nd Guy To Have TJ Surgery
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Welcome to the new feature we will be doing every week called TJ Surgery Thursdays. For the next several years I plan to write a weekly feature on a guy that went under the procedure.
This should only take about 10 years to be caught up with the epidemic growing exponentially over the last decade.
Today’s write-up is the 2nd ever player to go under the knife for the procedure. That guy is named Brent Strom, and he followed Tommy John‘s lead to take the UCL surgery repair in 1977. Read the rest of this entry
The Toronto Blue Jays Payroll In 2015 + Contracts Going Forward
Alex Anthopoulos had done a nice job of assembling his club with players from other teams. To construct a team with this type of caliber, it can be traced all the way back to the Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion brilliant extensions, while the Jays GM were able to break free from albatross contracts from Vernon Wells and Alex Rios. He is close to the finish line, but with a flailing Canadian Dollar, and his many guys with 1 or 2 years left on the club signed, he must go one step further to gun for a championship.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
What a difference from just a few seasons ago. Toronto is on the cusp of contention, and is yielding the best club they have probably since their 1993 World Series run. The payroll has crept up incrementally – and they are in the top 10 of the game.
The only Canadian franchise is estimated to have a budget of $127.3 MIL this year. This would slate them 10th in the Majors. The clubs ahead of them include: Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Nats, Angels, Giants, Rangers and Tigers. This total still only puts them 3rd in their own Division.
Having signed Russell Martin to a 5 YR deal worth $82 MIL jumps the teams salary big time, but one could argue he will help the team lower its ERA.
For a Year to Year Breakdown For all of the Jays players salaries please visit here. Read the rest of this entry
Dear Mr. Manfred: Shifts, Trying To Help Offense – How About 9 Fielders And 8 Hitters In Both AL + NL?
Under my proposed format of 9 fielders, with only 8 hitters – eliminating both the pitcher and DH from entering the box, having 8 batters only in every lineup would allow players such as Mike Trout a helluva lot more Plate Appearances in a full year. The National League would stand to gain almost a quarter of a run, and the American League would also knock off its worst hitter from each squad. So how do you do this with the players union? Offer a 26 man roster (with 25 activated for each game). Creating 30 new jobs would be a better way than having the NL adopt the DH into their game. That would not go well, and longtime would throw a conniption fit. The best way to uniform both leagues is to go with a lineup of 8 guys.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I like the way Rob Manfred came out blazing Sunday on heels of his 1st 24 hours as commissioner. I agree completely that we need more offense infused into the game.
Whether any of us like or not, the ;PED’ era while it was going, was at least fun to watch on the offensive side of it. I have even talked to fans that in my shop that would love for them not to be illegal – so we could see that HR’s creep up again. I can’t say I would go that far, but the recent trend of Runs scored on the decline is alarming.
I grew up in the 80’s, and if there were any season that has been similar to that timeframe, last season was. Pitching, speed, defense and clutch hitting was the key to winning in that decade, and there was a degree of parity that existed too.
I am still stunned that more people can tell the real reason why games take so long. How about Strikeouts at an ALL – Time rate? This is the biggest factor, and it is not even debatable. You add in the “Moneyball” concept of taking a pile of pitches, combined with tonnes of pitching changes, instant replay, TV time out, and players going through per pitch rituals that would make golf’s Sergio Garcia seem like a speed demon in contrast, and no wonder why games take forever. Read the rest of this entry
The MLB Reports Own State Of The Union (SOTU) – 2015 Address
Home Of Sully Baseball + #WOB, #WOO, #WOWS #SullyMetrics, Baseball Analysis (Audio + Written, Roster Trees, Salaries, Org. Depth Charts,+ Roster Trees + TJ Surgery Tracker – MLB Park Roadtripping + Wicked Daily Content,) + We are not your Cutter” Website. Also our motto is “THE TRUTH STINGS LIKE A CATCUS!”
What We are Up To This Campaign + Going Forward
The MLB Reports will be updating lots of posts for the 2015 schedule as it sits right now for the next 2 weeks. We will have all 26 weeks listed in 7 day increments from during the year. I will try to update those as much as possible.
I will do an all 2430 game schedule on 1 page post once. I will not update it that much though, this will be for mostly pre-season planning for most ballpark goers,
I will also compile a month to month schedule around the last week of each month. The MLB or ESPN still need to follow in the nhl.com’s footsteps and make these possible. I do like the ESPN 7 day module for any time frame. I still think they should have a 179 days module and a month module.
We will also be featuring our Interleague Master Schedule with updated start times. We already have a master grid of all 30 clubs and who they play in league versus league combat this season. Keep in mind of the special 4 day window in which Interleague has 15 – 2 home and 2 away games against one other club from Monday June 15th to Thursday June 18th, 2015. In essence a back to back – home and home series. Read the rest of this entry
ALL – Time TJ Surgery Tracker 1974 – 2014 (30 Updates Including Jonny Venters 3rd Time)
Dr. James Andrews – leading Tommy John surgeon is the new senior leader on this innovative and break through procedure, championed 1st over 40 years ago, and responsible for extending over 700 players careers now.
For all the talk of baseball players (pitchers mostly) that will be undergoing Tommy John Surgery, we will be keeping a running list! E-mail us at mlbreports@gmail.com if you have any names to add to our totals.
How many players are having or had TJ in history? You are about to find out:
Links
TOMMY JOHN SURGERY – 2014 (30)
2014
Jonny Venters – (3rd Time Probable) Braves: Aug/Sept 2014Jeremy Hefner, NYM Aug 2014 (TJ Watch List – Possible 2nd TJ Surgery)
Tyler Skaggs, Angels, Aug 10 – will have season ending TJ surgery soon. expected to be out til 2016
Nate Jones, White Sox, July.30
Tyler Chatwood, Rockies, July,19
Masahiro Tanaka, Yankees (Partially Torn UCL, (TJ Watch List), July 10th
Bronson Arroyo, D’Backs July Surgery.
Matt Wieters, Orioles, June 17th
Sean Burnett, Angels, June 5th
Chris Withrow, Dodgers, June 3rd
Jose Cisnero, Astros, May 28th
Martin Perez, Rangers, May 19th.
Jose Fernandez, Marlins, May 16th
A.J. Griffin, Athletics, Apr.25th .
Pedro Figueroa, Rangers, Apr.30th
Ivan Nova, Yankees, – Apr.29th
Josh Johnson, Padres, – Apr.24
Matt Moore, Rays – Apr.24, 2014 – Link: With Moore Out For TJ Surgery – The Rays Should Hold Onto Price Through 2015
Jameson Taillon – Pirates – April 9, 2014
Bobby Parnell – Mets – April 8th
Cory Gearrin – Braves – Mar.29 – Went on the 60 Day DL with partial ligament tear of right elbow Mar.29, 2014 – May Require TJ Surgery.”
David Hernandez – D’Backs – Surgery April 2014.
Bruce Rondon – Tigers – Mar.2014
Patrick Corbin – D’Backs – Mar.2014.
Jarrod Parker – Athletics – March 2014
Brandon Beachy – Braves – “2nd TJ Surgery” Mar 2014
Kris Medlen– Braves – Mar 2014
Luke Hochevar– Royals – March.07, 2014.
Miguel Sano – Twins (Position Player) Mar, 2014.
Cory Luebke – Padres: Luebke went under the knife for his 2nd TJ Surgery Feb 2014. Read the rest of this entry
How All Of The A’s Pitchers Were Acquired: Lots Of Depth Even For 2015 Without Breaking The Bank!
Part of the lure in acquiring Samardzija was that he had 1 year left of Arbitration. He will likely cost in the $12 – 15 MIL range for 2015. He tops the list of several A’s players that will be ARB eligible in 2015 like Moss, Donaldson, Cook, Parker, Jaso, Reddick and Gentry. While the club is going for it in 2014, their unloading of Cespdes’s $10.5 MIL 2015 salary will be used to pay these guys raises for next year, which should ensure them of another chance to compete for it all.. The Pitching Staff will remain almost intact, with losing just Lester, Hammel and Gregerson, while 12 guys are still under Team control, and 3 more guys with lots of MLB experience are in Sacramento waiting for a callup.
How All Of The A’s Pitchers Were Acquired:
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Billy Beane has assembled quite the Pitching Staff for his 2014 final playoff push despite having both Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin out for the year with Tommy John Surgery.
Sonny Gray, A.J. Griffin and Sean Doolittle (although he was drafted as a hitter) are the only active pitchers on their staff that are homegrown products.
Jon Lester was acquired with Yoenis Cespedes (who signed as an International Free Agent.
Much like the hitters, the ‘Moneyball GM’ has wheeled and dealt until he put together one of the best run prevention teams in the game baseball.
Bringing in Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel cost the team 2 young prospects and Dan Straily, all of whom were team draft picks. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – July 22, 2014
Shawn Anderson, creator of the terrific website Hall of Very Good, is the guest on today’s episode on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
He discusses the process of inducting players into his version of the Hall as he announced the new class on Monday, Luis Tiant, Tony Oliva and the San Diego Chicken.
Visit Hall of Very Good by clicking HERE.
Follow Hall of Very good on Twitter by clicking HERE.
Chris Sale, David Ortiz, Wily Peralta, Hunter Pence, Julio Teheran, Jimmy Rollins and Jacoby Ellsbury all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball?
MLB ALL – Star Break Report Cards – National League
The best letter grade we gave out was to the Milwaukee Brewers, The team pole vaulted out to a fast start, and despite other clubs having a lot more talent than this bunch, young players have emerged for the Brew Crew. Even with recent play, the other teams have had injury trouble while Milwaukee is relatively healthy. Still with 4 clubs within 3.5 games or better in the NL Central, this should be a dogfight to the bitter end.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Division GBL Letter Grade
NL EAST
T1. WSH 51 – 42: – (C+)
Have dealt with a plethora of injuries to Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Wilson Ramos, Adam LaRoche and Doug Fister.
Jayson Werth had a nice hot streak right before the end of the 1st half.
The team with limited flaws has just not taken off like it should.
Gio Gonzalez hasn’t found his form yet.
T1. ATL 52 – 43: – (B-)
This team has a nice 14 – 6 stretch to end the 1st half.
When you consider the club has withstood year ending injuries to Kris Medlen, Brandon Beachy and Gavin Floyd.
Dan Uggla and B.J. Upton are making 25% of the team payroll and are posting anemic numbers. The older Upton has done better in the last 10 games.
Evan Gattis and Freddie Freeman have kept the team afloat, and whenever Justin Upton hits, this team wins.
A great patchwork job done by the Starting Pitchers replacements. Aaron Harang and Alex Wood have done spade work.
Still one of the best Bullpens in the game. Read the rest of this entry
ALL – Time Tommy John Surgery List 1974 – Present
For all the talk of baseball players (pitchers mostly) that will be undergoing Tommy John Surgery, we will be keeping a running list! E-mail us at mlbreports@gmail.com if you have any names to add to our totals.
How many players are having or had TJ in history? You are about to find out: Read the rest of this entry
San Diego Padres State Of The Union For 2014
The Padres have not made the playoffs since 2006, and have only authored 2 winning seasons in the last 7 years. It is not from a lack of the coach, rather the NL West has far superior talent, while the San Diego franchise has been trying to replenish the farm, went through an ownership change, and now the team needs to make some decisions this offseason, that will shape the fortunes of the club for the next several years. I think the Pad Squad are in the mid 60’s wins range by the time it is all said and done this year.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
This season could get real ugly for the Padres in 2014.
As of right now, here are the injuries the team has endured for Spring Training.
Cameron Maybin is out till mid to late April with ruptured biceps tendon. Josh Johnson will miss a month with a strained right forearm, Corey Luebke is gone for the year with his 2nd Tommy John Surgery, and Joe Wieland also had an elbow surgery.
Among the latest issues, Carlos Quentin is doubtful for the opener today with a sore knee, Catcher Yasmani Grandal is questionable, recovering from knee surgery – while Chase Headley (strained right calf) and Chris Denorfia (sore right shoulder) are probable for tonight’s North American MLB Opener. Read the rest of this entry
More Tommy John Surgeries By The Numbers + Who Is the 1st $100 MIL Pitcher To Go Down With It? + A Scherzer Angle?
Yes Max Scherzer wrapped up the AL Cy Young with a most impressive season in 2013, but with TJ surgery becoming so common place with today’s chuckers, who would want to risk that kind of jack for a pitcher one throw way from being sidelined for 12 – 14 months? In my view it was a mistake not to accept the $$.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024 – Credit to Bill Chuck For the Idea: Follow @billyball
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
I think Max Scherzer should have taken the contract offer the Tigers threw his way this past weekend. Reports say it was in the Cole Hamels and Zack Greinke range of 6 YRs/$144 – $147 MIL.
So now that the reigning AL Cy Young Winner didn’t take the deal, he must hope to replicate his 2013 campaign, or at least come some where near it.
Do I think he could make more on the open market, potentially yes. But for a guy who has never been under a 3 ERA in any one given year, that is a tall order.
Also keep in mind his arm could sideline him with an injury at any point, so there is an inherent risk to not taking the deal.
One of out every 3 Major League Pitchers will go undergo Tommy John Surgery.
If you don’t think this procedure is an epidemic, go follow our ALL – Time TJ Surgery Tracker here.
The Braves Continue To Step Up To The Plate In The Ervin Santana Signing
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
It was a move that had to be done in my view. Atlanta has 60% of its Starting Rotation currently in the sick bay, or has questionable thoughts to whether it could pitch near Opening Day.
In the end it is a Win/Win situation for all above.
The Braves acquire a top end of the rotation guy, and it serves as great insurance, and Santana is able to play for a full season trying to re-establish his worth on next winter’s open market.
Sure Atlanta sacrifices a 1st RD pick, but they are still receiving the compensation Pick from the Yankees for the Brian McCann signing.
Santana flies right out the American League, and will look to pad his stats versus the likes of the Mets and Marlins this year, and to avoid the AL Beast, the only teams that were coveting him that he mutually was talking with Read the rest of this entry
The Rest Of The Best Free Agents Are Now Up For Auction: Some Deals Already Done
Grant Balfour has recently been throwing verbal jabs to the Orioles on XM Radio concerning the club bowing out of his 2 YRs/$15 MIL deal – and justifiably so. The Orioles lost credibility around the league for this bow out maneuver. Now Balfour will look to administer some payback to the O’s 19 times a year for the 2014 and 2015 campaings. The Aussie just signed a 2 Year Deal – to return to the Rays for $12 MIL.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
It was a tough time being an MLB fan the last 3 or 4 weeks – waiting for the Masahiro Tanaka deal to get done.
As of today, we are about 18 days away from Pitchers and Catchers to report.
With the logjam now being freed up with the Japanese superstar being inked to a deal with New York, a bevy of transactions have already occurred.
Grant Balfour is all set to sign a 2 YR deal worth $12 MIL, and will be ready to stick it to the Baltimore Orioles 19 times a year for the next 2 campaigns. Read the rest of this entry
Don’t Believe Everything You Read: A Response to The New Normal For the New York Yankees- Part II
Alfonso Soriano came back to New York – and thrashed on the competition, with 17 HRs and 50 RBI – in just 58 games with the Bronx Bombers. He also snuck in 18 SB for the campaign, but nobody even noticed. Still the experts have failed to recognize that the offense was significantly better once this man entered the fray. Even with his 38 year old season coming up, it is entirely possible he could club another 25 – 30 HRs and approach 85 – 95 RBI out of the DH slot. Along with McCann, Beltran, Ellsbury, a potentially full year of Teixeira and Jeter, this lineup is a hell of a lot different from the team that limped to a 85 – 77 mark for the 2013 year.
By Nicholas Rossoletti (Yankees Correspondent/Trade Correspondent): Follow @nross56
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
As with the first part of this piece, this article is in response to a piece written for Grantland by Rany Jazayerli (which can be found here) that paints a fairly negative picture of the near-future for the New York Yankees.
Once again, I would encourage everyone to visit Grantland.com as it is a one stop shop for some of the best internet based writers on the planet.
Again, a quick thank you to Fangraphs.com and Baseball-reference.com.
Those organizations are a huge reason for the increased understanding and intelligent discussion relating to baseball over the last decade, and they are used throughout as resources for all advanced statistics.
If you aren’t reading the content on those sites, I would strongly suggest you do.
We will start with our Point/Counter-Point structure with a discussion of the new Yankee line-up, and more so, the effect of the departure of Robinson Cano on that lineup.
For Part 1 Of Don’t Believe Everything You Read: A Response to The New Normal click here.
Alfonso 2013 Highlights as a Cub and a Yankee – Mature Lyrics so Parental Guidance Is Advised
Tommy John Surgeries Between 1974 – 1999
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024 & Website Founder Jonathan Hacohen Follow @jhacohen
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
DR. FRANK JOBE, who will turn 87 in the summer of 2012, is a renowned orthopedic surgeon who revolutionized the medical care and prolonged the careers of baseball pitchers with his groundbreaking tendon transplant procedure now known as the “Tommy John” surgery.
In 1974, Dodgers pitcher TOMMY JOHN was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his left (pitching) elbow, apparently ending his career.
In an experimental surgery, which he estimated at the time as having 1% odds for a successful outcome, Jobe transplanted a tendon from John’s right forearm to his left elbow.
Tommy John Surgeries List from 2000 – 2013 here.
What is Tommy John Surgery?
Red Sox Great Dwight Evans Falls Short Of 2013 Expansion Era Ballot For Hall Of Fame
By Patrick Languzzi (Cooperstown Correspondent) Follow @patricklanguzzi
Follow The MLB Reports On Twiter Follow @mlbreports
On November 4th the National Baseball Hall of Fame released the names of 12 candidates selected to the Expansion Era ballot of the Veterans Committee.
The Expansion Era is composed of players, executives and managers who made their greatest career contributions between 1973 – present.
Of the 12 selected, any candidate receiving 12 of 16 votes, (seventy-five percent) will gain election into The National Baseball Hall of Fame with a ceremonial induction scheduled for July of 2014.
Dwight Evans Cannon For An Arm
Jack Morris: It Is Time To Elect This Winner Into The Baseball Hall Of Fame!
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.
Should The Pirates Make A Deal? Huntington Should At Least Pick Up A Reliever!
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Follow @mlbreportsWednesday, July.24/2013
The trading deadline has been an exciting time of year for Pittsburgh Pirates fans the past two seasons and this year looks to be bordering on an extravaganza for the city, as the Bucs will be hosting the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals for a five-game series as the deadline approaches and passes. Although GM Neal Huntington will likely be active, the sound advice might be to hold onto prospects, do not mortgage the future and go with what got you a couple games back of the Cardinals in the NL Central and for the best record in all of MLB.
By Brad Cuprik (Pirates Correspondent) Follow @bradcuprik
If you read the newspapers in Pittsburgh or listen to talk show radio, the expectation is that Huntington is going to make a significant deal to upgrade the Pirates’ hitting, outfield, bullpen, and even starting pitching.
Realizing that baseball in October is a lot different than baseball in May, June and July, if the Bucs needed upgrades in all those areas, how are they winning about 60 percent of their games so far?
The Pirates have posted one of the best records in baseball so far in 2013.
An Update On The Nationals Top 15 Prospects
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Follow @mlbreportsFriday, May. 03/2013
Anthony Rendon was selected 6th overall in the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft by the Washington Nationals. In his limited time with the big club, he struggled at the plate, (.182/.308/.227 in 26 Plate Appearances) – while he also made 3 Errors in the field in just 22 Chances. Still the future is bright and Rendon could certainly play his way onto the Roster later in the year. He is TRENDING STEADY.
By Sean Hogan (Nationals Correspondent via Citizens of Natstown.com – view website here): Follow @seanhoganvt
When I put together my top 15 prospect list for the Washington Baseball Annual, I knew it was a bit risky. Only five of the top ten were not injury risks before the season, and out of those five, two have already been injured this year.
Through the first month of the season, the top part of the Nats’ farm system has been similarly mediocre to the Nats in general.
1) 3B Anthony Rendon – I didn’t think we’d see Rendon in the big leagues this soon, but he was the first call when Ryan Zimmerman went down with a hamstring injury.
Rendon put up a nice .292/.462/.500 triple slash in 65 Harrisburg Plate Appearances.
Anthony Rendon’s Highlight Package:
Kansas City Royals Starting Rotation: Built for Stability in 2013
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Follow @mlbreportsWednesday, April.10/2013
Dayton Moore has the task of taking the longest suffering MLB Team without making a Post Season Berth, (1985), back to the promise land of the playoffs. The club replaced 80 % of the Starting Rotation from Opening Day last year. Mr. Moore has to compete with GM’s that have double the payroll of his club. The Royals at least play in the AL Central, where Detroit is the only perennial favorite in the American League out of these 5 teams over the last few years. This GM gambled away Wil Myers + prospects – to land Wade Davis and ‘Big Game’ James Shields – so that they can contend right away.
By Michael McGraw ( Royals Correspondent) Follow @quickdraw29
It was obvious through General Manager Dayton Moore’s offseason moves that overhauled the team’s Starting Rotation was a primary goal. Moore accomplished this task by adding some of the game’s most durable Starters, resulting in a core of pitchers that should consume a considerable number of Starts and Frames.
It is difficult for any team to be successful without a dependable workhorse anchoring and staff, or providing a stopper who can put an end to any losing streak. The Royals hope James Shields is that pitcher in 2013.
The centerpiece-return of the offseason trade with the Tampa Bay that sent top prospect Wil Myers to the Rays, Shields has developed a formidable reputation for his durability.
James Shields 1st Inning as a Royals Starter:
3 Reasons That The Pirates Will – Or Won’t End 20 Years Of Consecutive Losing Records
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Follow @mlbreportsTuesday, April.2/2013
The Pirates are hoping to bring winning baseball for the beautiful PNC Park in 2013.
By Brad Cuprik (Pirates Correspondent) Follow @bradcuprik
The statistical improvements are easy to decipher in Clint Hurdle‘s first two years as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2011, the Bucs were 72-90, scored 610 Runs and gave up 712 Runs. Those were improvements of 15 victories, 23 Runs Scored and an impressive 154 less Runs Allowed.
This past season, Pittsburgh improved in all three categories again – earning 79 victories with 651 Runs Scored and 674 Runs Allowed. If it seems like an excruciatingly long time since Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, Andy Van Slyke and Doug Drabek were leading the Pirates to a winning season and a third consecutive NLCS, that’s because it has been – two decades to be exact.
Bill Clinton was just starting his first term as President of the United States and something called Color Me Badd was popular on the radio.
Questionable music aside, if the Pirates want to put an end to all that losing, another year of similar improvement will get them over the .500 hump.
Here are three reasons why 2013 will be the year it happens for them and three reasons why the longest consecutive streak of losing seasons in professional sports will reach 21 years.
Sid Breams 1992 NLCS Game 7 Slide kicked off a 20 Year Consecutive Losing Records Streak
Texas Rangers Staff – A Preseason Pitching Analysis: State Of The Union
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Joe Ortiz was brought up from the farm system, and although he is only 22, he has spent six years with the Rangers. Ortiz has had an impressive Spring Training – and has caught the eye of fans as well as pitching coach Mike Maddux. Ortiz posted a 1.97 ERA in 24 Appearances with AAA Round Rock last season – and has officially made the big league Bullpen this year.
By Brooke Robinson (Rangers Correspondent): Follow @bka_9
Though baseball season begins in Texas just hours away, there were many questions left for the team to answer throughout Spring Training. Who will become the fifth starter? Who will recover from surgery this season? And who will revive the Bullpen?
In the past month of training in Surprise, Arizona, some of the answers of these questions have come to light. The Rangers were plagued with injury in the latter part of the 2012 season, particularly with their pitching.
So it was no surprise that the front office brought in and up some new faces to test out this spring. Pitchers that will still be recovering at the beginning of the season include: RHP Colby Lewis, RHP Neftali Feliz, RHP Joakim Soria, and LHP Martin Perez.
Neftali Feliz hits 100 MPH!
Can The Cardinals Still Compete With Another Winter Of Losses For A 2nd Year?
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The Cardinals have been the most consistent Franchise in the National League, having appeared in 8 of the last 12 NLCS since 2000 (3-5). They have also won 2 World Series in that time (2006 and 2011.) They held a 3-1 NLCS lead over the San Francisco Giants before losing to the eventual 2012 World Champions. If there was an Atomic Bomb, I am sure that Cockroaches, Silly Puddy and the Cardinals would survive it because they just keep coming like Zombie’s. Will 2013 be any different for the team without being able for all of the NL Teams to fatten up on the Astros?
Jake Dal Porto (Baseball Writer) Follow @TheJakeMan24
The St.Louis Cardinals didn’t do much adding this offseason. Sometimes this isn’t such a bad thing, as constant tinkering to a roster isn’t always needed. But if anything, the Cardinals have become a weaker team since losing to the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS.
Perhaps the most concerning flaw to their roster revolves around the pitching staff.
Kyle Lohse just signed a deal with inner-division rivals, the Milwaukee Brewers. Lohse posted a 2.86 ERA in 2012, and finished seventh in Cy Young voting. Among other things, he also pitched a career-high 211 Innings, compiled a career-high 134 ERA+ and barely walked 1.5 batters per 9 IP. Read the rest of this entry
Baltimore Orioles Payroll In 2013 And Contracts Going Forward Mar.15/2013
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Buck Showalter had one of the best managerial season in recent vintage with the 2012 version of the Baltimore Orioles, will the fans and management turn on him if there is a small regression in 2013?
Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer): Follow @chuckbooth3024
I believe that 2013 will be a regressive season for the Baltimore Orioles. Much like the 2011 Arizona DiamondBacks in the National League, all of the bounces and luck went the Orioles way to have a magical year of a playoff berth in 2012. A crazy amount of 1 run wins, extra inning wins and a brilliant bullpen defied the odds in the American League in order to compete.
I still think the Baltimore Orioles will be competitive in 2013, I just don’t see a 90 win team. The team is not saddled with many outrageous contracts left, however it is a shame that Brian Roberts (10 Million Dollars Per Year) can’t stay healthy. They will need repeat years from Adam Jones and Chris Davis, plus significant increases in production from J.J. Hardy, Matt Wieters and Nick Markakis will need to hit his .300+.
This team has to take a run at a few players via trade or a remaining Free Agent. The need for a power hitting DH and another OF with Pop to play LF would be a wise decision. The ownership will need to extend the payroll for this very option. Also, they will need to plunk down some dough to sign an ace on the Free Agency market. You can’t tell me that a guy like Kyle Lohse won’t help the club!
2012 Winning Mix Highlights:
MLB Reports 
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