SyBaseball

2014-02-17T15:59:00.001-05:00

Montreal is next MLB franchise.

W B C

2013-03-13T14:50:00.000-04:00

All countries except US,Italy and Spain ,care alot about their team's fortune. Canada is still recovering from its devastating loss to Italy and well they should.Even though they are 90% Americans playing for Italy,its still hard to take.

Wild Cards

2012-09-11T17:47:00.000-04:00

The wild card extras have not added much in 2012.In theory they can add the divisional race element because of the fear of the one game elimination.The cities still in the running are in better shape as far as fan interest but for all of us others its not rivetting,to say the least.

STEROIDS EVERYWHERE

2012-05-03T16:24:00.001-04:00

They are still rampant. Minor leaguers use them for maintaining strength. High schoolers use them to bulk up.Its a shame.Could they be involved in deaths of retired athletes? What do you think? Opine or I'll crunch you with my 19" biceps.

PITTSBURG WOES

2012-04-09T11:16:00.000-04:00

Setting a new record for futility was the farthest thing on fans' minds in July. What happened? Did hitters learn how to hit their pitchers the second time around. Did their hitters tire? A combination of things led to their downfall. Management will have to pay. What must be done for a .500 team to emerge next year?

RAZOR SHINES

2012-04-09T11:15:00.002-04:00

A true-blue Expo and gentleman, I met Razor recently on a cruise.He introduced me to his son Devin, a future L.A. Dodger. We reminisced a little but mainly talked about his plans.He hopes to be his son's hitting coach, a role he does informally as a father.I wish them both well.

FIRST GAMES OF SEASON

2012-04-09T11:15:00.001-04:00

Certain patterns are already emerging.Boston struggling to put a whole game together,pitching and hitting.St.Louis able to feast on their weak division rivals,inflating their record compared to most other good teams. Yankees' pitching not strong yet.Pitching in general is not at full form.

Evaluations from Trip

2012-03-23T10:44:00.001-04:00

Astros will be better than advertised.Their hitting will be adequate.Their young live arms will ensure a .475 season. The Marlins under any name will suck. After Reyes,Ramirez and two starting pitchers they don't have enough to win consistently.
The Cardinals are the Cardinals,ie they will be there at the end of the season.They are deep everywhere so injuries don't impact them as much as most teams.

SPRING TRAINING- MARCH 2012

2012-03-12T17:11:00.000-04:00

Well its time to watch some live action and make some assessments.I will check out the Marlins and Cardinals and Astros.I will concentrate on the hitters. Its hard to assess pitching because they all pitch only short stints so most look good. The swings of the team can be judged and thats what I will report on at end of month.

Blue Jays Starting Pitching

2012-02-22T19:17:00.000-05:00

Its iffy at best.After Romero who can you rely on? Who is next to or even in the proximity of a sure thing? Lets face the reality that unless the starters pull near-miracles and career years,it will be a very long season for BJ fans. That includes me but I am a realist and must call it as it is.

SPRING TRAINING

2012-01-26T12:18:00.001-05:00

Its becoming more of a money-making activity.I hope the teams really work on teamwork,staying in shape,strategies,signs,other pitchers' analysis during March.Tickets are expensive even then and so total excellence has got to prevail,especially by the time April rolls around.

The Rich Get Richer

2012-01-25T14:18:00.000-05:00

Detroit wins their division but still gets a top free agent the following year. How do teams like K.C. stand a chance in the long term? The fate of the Cubs over the next 2 years will be the test case of baseball's parity.

RAZOR SHINES

2012-01-16T17:43:00.001-05:00

A true baseball man and a gentleman too. A lifer who hopes, along with all of us, that his son Devin succeeds in the Dodger organization. He will be a good hitting coach at the A level in 2012 because of his personality which is honest and direct.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2011-12-30T15:54:00.001-05:00

Its the annual baseball break when we take off January and recharge our batteries for another long season.The only big thing left is where the Prince lands.Hold off analysis till February when the brain will be more amenable to warm weather type musings.Of course you can think,wonder and calculate; just don't put it down "on paper",so to speak. By the way,check out realsportswithdan. blog. See you in a month.

Braun

2011-12-27T18:40:00.000-05:00

He won't get away with it. He is as guilty as a shill at an auction.Who is he hurting? His future,not his legacy.That's overrated ,as it can change with the winds and on a dime. The pressure is tough on young ballplayers.They have to maintain their level and sometimes it seems impossible. The money and fawning attention they receive is too much for some people to manage.

PUJOL'S DECISION

2011-12-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

One of the main reasons he declined the Cardinals' offer is he knew he is already on the decline and in the last few years of his new contract his St.Louis legacy would be tarnished.By leaving now he conserves that greatness.Its flawed thinking but that is a thought process he went through.In L.A. he has a chance to build a new legacy aided by the designated hitter position.

HALL OF FAME NAME

2011-12-05T13:17:00.000-05:00

As someone pointed out to me,its the Hall of Fame not the Hall of Great Players. Either it should be renamed or allow entry to very famous baseball players like Roger Maris,Pete Rose and Tommy John.They all are famous names in baseball history and should be so recognized.

MARIS IN HALL OF FAME

2011-11-29T17:12:00.000-05:00

Roger Maris will enter the Hall of Fame in 2012. The Veterans Committee will finally see the truth and correct their long-held folly. He was a great outfielder as well as hitter.How many players won 2 MVP's? When he went to the Cardinals he was among their best players.His OBP would be alot higher if he didn't have to bat in front of Mickey Mantle.He could steal a base if you needed one. Fess up,he should be in there already.

MVP's

2011-11-25T12:42:00.000-05:00

Great choices. Rare season by Verly clinched it for him.Braun got it based on his history as well as current season.That explains why he beat out Kemp.Nothing is in complete isolation.Voters want to see if its a blip in Kemp's case. Probably not but time will tell.

NEW PLAYOFF SCENARIO- ITS GREAT

2011-11-22T15:43:00.000-05:00

Six teams out of fifteen qualify. Top 2 get byes.Same schedule for every team,11 times each team, except for eight additional games randomly chosen from other league. After 5 game series' winners move on to play the top two,best against worst,next against next.

2012 Leagues

2011-11-21T19:38:00.000-05:00

Less interleague play not more? Its a conundrum. Would you like to see more teams at your park or more appearances by the same team? Does familiarity breed contempt? Is that a good thing? Do you want to see all the stars against your team? Do you want more travel or less? Answers to these questions will come later.

2012 MANAGERS

2011-11-11T10:56:00.000-05:00

Its the short quiet time for players,not for some teams and their future managers. A new crop would be nice,not a simple recycling.A year off for a fired manager is a good idea for their development-they can step back and observe and analyse more.Short-term stints in the broadcast booth seem to be successful for both sides.Very recent insights would obviously be products valued by fans.

2011 HISTORY WISE

2011-11-07T13:54:00.000-05:00

Looking back on 2011,years from now,it will be only the September comebacks that will be cited.But that is more than enough- the two greatest team chocking/winning results in history and one per league to boot.The Boston meltdown which noone could foresee brings back the curse concept though not to the previous level .That can never be replicated.The National League equivalent wasn't as dramatic.

THE FIRST SEASON

2011-11-01T16:21:00.000-04:00

What a run and its just started.2012 will be even better though I'm not sure that is possible.Many free-agents might stick with their current teams.Many will move, especially the second tier ones. None of these moves alone will drastically change the fortunes of any team. Good trades over several years is the winning formula.St.Louis is the latest example of that.

2011- ITS OVER

2011-10-31T12:07:00.000-04:00

Surprise winner but with a long hallowed history combined with a continuing non-winning streak. Not fairytale but rather a metaphor of life. It gives Texas its goal.Every team is again in first place and the spring is something to look forward to. Please comment/give your overall impression of 2011 and suggestions for future articles and writings.