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Is This The Year An NL Slugger Wins The Triple Crown?
The lowest average ever recorded by a batting champion was the .301 mark of Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski in 1968. Since this is the Year of the Pitcher Part II, that dubious achievement is in definite danger — at least in the National League.
Writing Sports Books: Insights and Experiences, Part 1
It’s not often that I am asked to share my writing experiences, so when an industry contact recently inquired, I decided to take the opportunity to review and reflect on my writing journey. This process of reflection is important to me as it allows me to appreciate how far I’ve come and to recognize the challenges I’ve faced along the way.
SABR Completes 52nd Convention On A High Note
Seldom have so few done so much for so many. If it weren’t for the devoted members of the Society for American Baseball Research, Walter Johnson would have fewer wins, Hack Wilson’s single-season RBI record would be one short, and Ty Cobb would have two more hits.
Alvin Dark And The Persistence Of Racism In The Major Leagues
I have spent much of this year researching the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Major League Baseball season and specifically the thrilling rise and spectacular fall of the Philadelphia Phillies, whose epic collapse has left a permanent scar on those Phillies fans old enough to remember. Recently my research brought to light an incident that I had forgotten, but which remains illustrative of how baseball continued to struggle with race relations 17 years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier.
Are We Headed to a New Era in the MLB Draft?
On August 1st, the Major League Baseball draft deadline passed with all of the first-round picks signing. However, four selections in the first 10 rounds of the draft did not sign, the most that have not signed in the “slotted” portion of the draft since 2018.
New York Yankees Can Control AL East By September
To say that the 2024 season has been a roller coaster for the New York Yankees would be an understatement. A season that started as well as anyone could have imagined took a quick nosedive after the team traveled to Boston in June. The skid saw injuries to Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo, and the team began to look like the 2023 Yankees team that just barely finished above .500 and missed the playoffs.
Opinion: Top 10 Who Should Be In Hall of Fame But Aren’t
Voters view the Hall of Fame election process from many different angles. Some use analytics, specifically WAR (Wins Against Replacement), before casting their ballots. Others bank on statistical comparisons. And still others count on the good old Eye Test, going by what they saw over years of watching the game.
Jose Miranda did not match Kling and Dropo
When Twins’ third-baseman Jose Miranda reached 12 hits in 12 at-bats on July 6, he was widely credited with becoming the fourth player to do so. Indeed, he joined Pinky Higgins of the Red Sox, who in 1938 similarly had 12 hits in 12 at-bats, one of the four players mentioned in every news story.
What The Baseball Hall of Fame Can Learn From Pro Football's Hall of Fame
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. That was a place I had always wanted to visit — and am so glad I finally did. My experience there was amazing. The Football Hall of Fame is an outstanding place to celebrate football's great history, to remember the big games and the legends, and to be inspired by greatness. I loved every minute I was there.
World Series MVPs Who Were Traded Midseason
The consensus is that this year’s MLB trade deadline was a big dud. Not one Top 100 prospect was traded and only two All-Stars (Tanner Scott and Isaac Parades) were traded. Good teams consider making deadline trades to position themselves for a World Series run. Do deadline-traded players ever win the World Series MVP?
Can New York Yankees Aaron Judge Reach 500 Home Runs?
Aaron Judge’s power output over the last three seasons is indescribable. The English language lacks powerful enough adjectives and baseball history has no relevant measuring stick. The only players in his class were PED users in the late 1990s and Babe Ruth himself.
Johnny Bench, G.O.A.T Catcher: His Four Greatest Cards
Many baseball historians consider Johnny Bench the best catcher to play the game. And honestly, it’s pretty difficult to argue against that. We’ve seen many great catchers come and go since, but very few have had the staying power and consistency of Bench, and also Carlton Fisk.
Talk of the Trades . . . or, Who Put the Zonks Into The Deadline?
Sometimes, you’d think the only thing missing from any annual run-up to baseball’s official trade deadline is Monty Hall brought back from the dead to moderate. That, of course, begs the question of whom among baseball’s big dealers comes out with the big deal(s) and whom, with zonks.
Detroit Tigers: Trade Deadline Reflections
The 2024 trade deadline has come and gone, and the Detroit Tigers were once again sellers for what they hope is the last time. In four trades during deadline week, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris flipped catcher Carson Kelly, outfielder Mark Canha, and pitchers Andrew Chafin and Jack Flaherty for seven prospects.
New Leadoff Hitter Could Help Braves Close Gap
When they rolled to 104 wins, 370 home runs, and a record .501 slugging percentage last summer, the Atlanta Braves got plenty of production from the leadoff spot. That was the home of Ronald Acuña, Jr., who not only had 41 home runs and a club-record 74 stolen bases but also a career-best .337 batting average, second in the National League.
Almost Every Major League Baseball Team Is Probably Going To Regret What They Just Did
There’s an old saying in baseball: flags fly forever. It’s a maxim that’s never better on display than during trade deadline season. Prospect chips are being pushed to the center of the table to get extra ammunition as teams decide just how much of their future to sacrifice for a present-day title chase. Many fans might even tell you that this is the most exciting time to be a baseball fan…although I would humbly submit that those fans need to get out more. Still, it’s hard to deny that something is fascinating about watching all the dominoes fall every July. If your team is trying to win, it’s high theater. If your team is being strip-mined for parts, it can feel a bit like watching a trainwreck.
Ten Teams — Ten! — Vie For National League Playoff Slots
Thanks to a system that allows 12 teams to reach the playoffs, the race for the National League’s three wild-card slots is gaining steam like a runaway locomotive. Entering play Wednesday, the free-falling Atlanta Braves barely maintained the top spot but were hotly pursued by the Cardinals and Mets, who held the second and third spots. The Padres, D-backs, Pirates, Cubs, Reds, Giants and even the Nationals were within five-and-a-half games.
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