No one knows what Shohei Ohtani is going to do in free agency. His secrecy and silence has made the offseason that much better.
Three MLB free agent bargains for Black Friday
Now that Thanksgiving (at least stateside) is over, MLB teams are ready to start free agency in earnest. Yes, several players have already signed. The Cardinals jumped the gun by signing Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson. The Braves added Reynaldo Lopez to their bullpen. And Aaron Nola returned to Philadelphia, a seven year deal to... Continue Reading →
Breaking down the 2024 MLB Hall of Fame ballot
One of the more anticipated moments of the offseason has happened - the 2024 MLB Hall of Fame ballot has been released. The BBWAA elected one new member last year in Scott Rolen. He was joined by Fred McGriff, who was inducted via the Contemporary Era. This year, 26 candidates, 12 returning and 14 new,... Continue Reading →
MLB franchises may be facing financial reckoning
Major League Baseball and their franchises may be facing a reckoning. And it is one that MLB fans likely saw coming. Bally Sports announced that it would stop broadcasting baseball games entirely after the 2024 season. They were already in financial trouble, having declared bankruptcy in March. They had dropped several teams from their broadcasts... Continue Reading →
Could Bryce Harper be the first player to extend a contract of 10-plus years?
Recently, editor Dave Hill suggested that the Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper might very well deserve a contract extension, even though his contract still has eight years to run and owes him over $208 million. In 2023, Harper’s base salary was the second highest paid to a Philadelphia starter, behind only Trea Turner. Harper has... Continue Reading →
Making sense of the MLB manager carousel
Monday was a busy day for MLB teams looking for their next skipper. Three managerial openings were filled in short order. This included an opening that no one knew existed, as the Chicago Cubs surprisingly hired Craig Counsell. Not only does this leave the Brewers hunting for a new manager, but David Ross suddenly found... Continue Reading →
Yariel Rodriguez has plenty of MLB suitors
It is a matter of when, not if, Yariel Rodriguez signs with a major league team. Major League Baseball declared Rodriguez a free agent on Friday, seven months after he defected from Cuba. In theory, he can sign with any major league team immediately, getting a jump on free agency. Yariel Rodriguez has his pick... Continue Reading →
Finding the next first time World Series winner
And then there were five. Now that the Texas Rangers have won the World Series, only five teams are left without a championship. The Padres and Brewers are the oldest teams in the majors without a title, coming into existence in 1969. Joining them are the Mariners (1977), Rockies (1993), and Rays (1997). The Mariners... Continue Reading →
Joe West should not be near the Baseball Hall of Fame
Joe West was one of the worst parts of any game he umpired for years. It is fitting that West was around long enough to be part of the umpiring crew in the first Naked Gun movie. He appeared to have learned a great deal about how to call a game from watching Leslie Nielsen... Continue Reading →
Current MLB playoff format not helping AL East
In theory, the AL East should be the kings of the MLB postseason. It is arguably the most difficult division in baseball. The Yankees and Red Sox typically land amongst the highest payrolls in the majors. The Rays contend every year with a payroll that can be found under couch cushions. Add in the resurgent... Continue Reading →