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Nationals Stephen Strasburg Racking up Strikeouts
The Washington Nationals rotation is piling up strikeouts at a historic rate, and Stephen Strasburg is leading the pack. Through his first seven starts the right-hander is fanning hitters at a 33.3 percent rate, which is the second... More of this article »
Jose Abreu: Hot Start for Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu had his second multi-home run game in three days, helping the Sox down the Minnesota Twins 7-3. Through the first ten games of Abreu’s 2014 season, he’s hitting .300/.383/.725,... More of this article »
Josh Hamilton Reaping Rewards of Disciplined Approach
While Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton had to leave Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners with a thumb injury, the 32 year-old is off to an outstanding start. Through the Angels first eight games, he’s... More of this article »
Young Yankees Relievers Poised to Make Big Impressions
If there’s two things being treated as a given from Yankees’ critics, it’s that they have a weak farm system and did not address the bullpen this winter, particularly with the departure of Mariano Rivera. While the... More of this article »
Gray, Cingrani, Paxton: Young Pitchers Impressing in 2014
Young players stole the show in 2013, and just four days into the 2014 season, several young pitchers are already making their mark. Youthful hurlers Michael Wacha, Jose Fernandez, and Chris Archer have turned in strong outings after... More of this article »
New York Yankees Show Their Flaws Early
The New York Yankees spent a lot of money this winter on covering up a lot of flaws for a team who overachieved to win 85 games. And if you were to look back at the 2013 Opening Day lineup and compare it to today, you would see just... More of this article »
Yagervis Solarte, Michael Pineda, Lead List of Early Yankees’ Standouts
With their most turnover in five years, the Yankees have an especially important spring to monitor. Unlike the last few seasons when New York was perfectly moderate in its winter dealings, the Yankees went on a spree this off season,... More of this article »
Jordy Mercer: Pirates Look to Turn Shortstop Position into Strength
Clint Barmes, Ronny Cedeno , Jack Wilson, Mike Benjamin, Pat Meares, Lou Collier, Kevin Elster. Those names all have two things in common. 1) Over the last 15 seasons, they have been starters on opening day for the Pittsburgh Pirates.... More of this article »
What Would a Starling Marte Contract Extension Mean to the Pirates?
Unless you consider a fifth-starter reclamation job and a handful of wait-and-see organizational promotions exhilarating, it’s been an awfully quiet offseason for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Not so for the Atlanta Braves, who earlier... More of this article »
Five MLB Pitchers That Are Bounceback Candidates
Every year there are a handful of pitchers who fans would like to give up on. Whether it be injuries, age, poor performance, or some combination of the three, these hurlers have caused baseball aficionados to lose faith in them. 2013... More of this article »
Pirates Stockpiled Arms Before Rule Change On Slot Draft Picks
Before the new management regime in Pittsburgh, the Pirates were notoriously bad, even laughable when it came to drafting and developing players. Neal Huntington accepted the GM position for the Pirates in 2007. Shortly after, Huntington... More of this article »
The St. Louis Cardinals Rotation: A Good Problem to Have
The St. Louis Cardinals had one of baseball’s better starting rotations in 2013. They finished the regular season with a team ERA of 3.42, and 13.6 fWAR. Only their division rival, the Pittsburgh Pirates, could top their team... More of this article »
Pirates’ Liriano, Cole to Provide a Genuine Top of the Rotation
Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced that Francisco Liriano would be the team’s Opening Day starter for the 2014 season. “[Liriano] is another guy that models the behavior we want to instill in others,” Bucs manager Clint... More of this article »
What Should the Dodgers Do With Their Outfielders?
The Los Angeles Dodgers have a lot of money tied up in their outfield. Matt Kemp is owed $128 million over the next six seasons. They’re on the hook with Andre Ethier for at least $70 million in the next four years, and Carl... More of this article »
Depth of Red Sox Farm System Provides Flexibility For Future
Winning consecutive World Series championships is a daunting challenge in today’s era of Major League Baseball. It is so rare that the last team to accomplish the feat was the New York Yankees, which captured a third straight... More of this article »
MLB News: Seven Extension Candidates Before Season Starts
With Spring Training mercifully around the corner, it’s that time of the year when teams start negotiating contract extensions. Clayton Kershaw started off the extension season with a deal that guarantees him $215 million, and... More of this article »
What is A.J. Burnett Worth to the Pittsburgh Pirates?
Once A.J. Burnett stated that he will be putting off retirement for at least another year, he became the best available pitcher on the free agent market. Typing that sentence seems a little odd considering that it was only two years... More of this article »
Three Teams That Could Be Turnaround Stories in 2014
Nearly every year, a team that wasn’t a contender the previous year comes out of the woodwork and surprises everybody by making the playoffs. Last season it was the Cleveland Indians who improved from 68-94 to 92-70, and claimed... More of this article »
Six Hitters That Could Bounce Back in 2014
Every year there are a handful of hitters, whether the young and talented or the formerly successful, that most people want to give up on. In 2013 we saw outfielders Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino have impressive seasons at the... More of this article »
Xander Bogaerts, Rookies That Could Make Big Impact in 2014
Baseball is full of exciting young players right now, and nothing is more exciting than seeing a young player help carry his team into the playoffs. Last year saw big contributions from rookies such as Wil Myers, a 22 year-old who... More of this article »
Stephen Strasburg Will Again Lead Loaded Nationals Rotation
The Washington Nationals had a disappointing 2013 season. After winning a major-league best 98 games in 2012, they missed out on the playoffs. Late season surge notwithstanding, they finished 86-76, ten games back of the Atlanta... More of this article »
Pirates Coaching Staff Faces Familiar Task Fixing Edinson Volquez
The Pittsburgh Pirates have many young arms beginning to infiltrate the major league ball club and many still working their way through the system. Until there are enough home grown pitchers to fill out the rotation, management has... More of this article »
For Cincinnati Reds, its a New Year, New Season
For the second consecutive season, the Cincinnati Reds carried high hopes into the postseason last October. For the second consecutive season, they were dismissed from the playoffs earlier than expected. Editor’s Note: This “New... More of this article »
Michael Wacha, Sonny Gray, and Kevin Gausman Comparison
Young hurlers Michael Wacha, Sonny Gray, and Kevin Gausman all got their first taste of the big leagues in 2013. All three are college pitchers and former first-round draft picks. Gray was selected 18th overall out of Vanderbilt in... More of this article »
Atlanta Braves Quiet Offseason Heading into 2014
After capturing the National League East last season, the Atlanta Braves‘ World Series hopes were abruptly dashed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. Though they raced to a 96-66 record, the 2013 campaign ended in disappointment... More of this article »
St Louis Cardinals: More Moves Before Spring?
Every offseason, the St. Louis Cardinals lose valuable veterans and somehow seemingly always manage to find capable replacements, either through acquisitions or from their productive farm system. The reigning National League champions... More of this article »
Gerrit Cole and Danny Salazar, Aces on Your Radar
Who were two hardest throwing starting pitchers in baseball in 2013? The correct answer is Gerrit Cole of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Danny Salazar of the Cleveland Indians, who each averaged a touch over 96 miles per hour. Miami... More of this article »
Boston Red Sox: New Year, New Season, A Look Ahead
Editor’s Note: This “New Year, New Season” post marks the opener in a series where Baseball News Source columnist Jeff Louderback will chronicle each Major League team as spring training draws nearer. Last year at... More of this article »
The Best Low-Profile Moves of the MLB Offseason
With nearly all the big name free agent position players off the board, the rest of the hot stove buzz looks like it will revolve around Masahiro Tanaka and the rest of the free agent pitching market. Plenty of high-profile moves have... More of this article »
Is Jackie Bradley Jr. Ready to Be an Everyday Player ?
Jackie Bradley Jr. is not Jacoby Ellsbury – figuratively and literally. Now 30, Ellsbury is one of the best base stealers in Major League Baseball, and he is proven leadoff hitter who is productive at the plate, disruptive on the... More of this article »
Comparing Masahiro Tanaka With Yu Darvish, Daisuke Matsuzaka
On Christmas Eve, the Rakuten Golden Eagles finally decided to post ace pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. After weeks of negotiations, the MLB and the NPB agreed on a posting system that set a limit of $20 million. Previously there had been... More of this article »
Tigers Banking on Pitching Talent from 2013 MLB Draft Going Forward
The Detroit Tigers have made their fair share of deals to address pitching this winter. After trading starter Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals, inking closer Joe Nathan to a two-year deal, adding former Yankees right-hander... More of this article »
Yankees Offseason Should Be Reminder of Success
It’s mind-boggling to be a Yankees fan and to watch the sport as a whole closely. Being a Yankees’ fan is like nobody ever being happy for you even though you work hard everyday because your Dad had a major connection for... More of this article »
Red Sox – Yankees Rivalry Regaining Passion?
In most cases, when I write a baseball column, I do so as an objective professional journalist without reference to my team of choice, which is the Boston Red Sox. This column is an exception – an exuberantly striking exception. The... More of this article »
Yanks Sign McCann, Rays Sign Molina and So it Goes
Two teams in the American League East needed catchers this off season and both filled the need within a day of each other last week, albeit using vastly different strategies. The New York Yankees signed free-agent Brian McCann to... More of this article »
Avoid Ervin Santana – Breaking Down The Numbers
Free agent pitcher Ervin Santana is seeking a $100 million deal. That’s unlikely to happen. For various reasons, Santana is the riskiest pitcher in the free agent market. Pitchers tend to be risky, especially those on the wrong... More of this article »
Qualifying Offers Roulette: Perfect Offseason Approach for Yankees
The New York Yankees are one of just two teams who extended three qualifying offers this off season. Hiroki Kuroda, Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano are all in QO limbo right now and all three, most recently, are unlikely to accept. The... More of this article »
A-Rod Tested Positive in 2006: Here’s Why We Still Care
Alex Rodriguez allegedly failed a drug test for a banned stimulant in 2006, a good three years after he previously claimed he had stopped taking PEDs. Granted, the details behind the stimulant are unclear and it’s yet another... More of this article »
Edwin Encarnacion’s Fantastic Year for Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion had another great year with the bat in 2013. He posted a .272/.370/.534 line with a 148 wRC+ that was 6th in the AL. This was on the heels of a 2012 season where Encarnacion managed a 151... More of this article »
Cardinals Matt Carpenter and His Playoff Woes
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter had a great regular season. The former 13th round draft pick put up a .318/.392/.481 batting line. He led all second basemen in batting average and on-base percentage, and trailed... More of this article »
David Ross Key to Red Sox Victory
The Boston Red Sox downed the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 Monday night. Starting pitchers Jon Lester and Adam Wainwright each dominated, combining for 17 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 24 swings and misses. The game took just three hours. Red... More of this article »
Boston Red Sox: Felix Doubront’s Quality Outing
Yet another crazy game. Last night ended on a walkoff obstruction call, this one ended on a pickoff play. Never before had a playoff game ended on one of those plays. Horrible decision making once again played a big role. St. Louis... More of this article »
Boston Red Sox’ Quintin Berry Is a Speed Demon
Boston Red Sox pinch runner Quintin Berry is playing for his third different team in 2013. On Opening Day, the Detroit Tigers sent Berry down to Triple-A. After putting up a .168/.278/.234 line, he was designated for assignment... More of this article »
Boston Red Sox’ Koji Uehara Continues Run of Dominance
Boston Red Sox closer Koji Uehara was named ALCS MVP after closing out a 5-2 comeback victory over the Detroit Tigers Saturday night. Uehara threw six scoreless innings in the series, with nine strikeouts and no walks. Uehara’s... More of this article »
Boston Red Sox’ David Ross Does the Little Things
After signing a two-year deal last offseason, Boston Red Sox 36 year-old catcher David Ross only played 36 games this year, due to a couple concussions. Nevertheless, he’s started two games in each of Boston’s playoff... More of this article »
St. Louis Cardinals Relievers Bringing Heat in NLCS
Despite posting a .134/.190/.175 batting line through the first four games of the NLCS, the St. Louis Cardinals have a 3-1 series lead on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their bullpen has played a large role in the series. They have surrendered... More of this article »
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig, Dazed and Confused
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig had a sensational 2013 regular season. After a June callup, Puig set the baseball world on fire, posting an otherworldly .436/.467/.713 line in his first month. He didn’t maintain... More of this article »
2013 NLCS Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Hall of Famer and philosophical laureate Yogi Berra may have said it best, “in baseball, you don’t know nothing.” Contradictions aside, it may be plausible to assert that baseball is a game founded on the principle of unpredictability.... More of this article »