(1) (0)

William Gum

Time for Rockies to Deal Holliday

posted 2008-07-02 23:39:39

The Rockies would love to retain Holliday's services long-term, but there are just too many variables working against it.

(2) (0)

Jeff Moore

Ranking Baseball's Best Rivalries

posted 2008-07-02 23:39:30

So then what makes a good rivalry? Is it a history between the teams, or significance right now? Is a rivalry made by the fans or the players, or both?

(1) (0)

Bill Chuck

Wacky Moments In Baseball History – July 1 to July 10

posted 2008-07-02 23:39:17

July 9, 1953: What a wuss! The Phils’ starting pitcher Robin Roberts was relieved in the 8th inning against the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking his streak of 28 consecutive complete games.

(1) (0)

Dugout Staff

Trading Melky: Point/Counter-point

posted 2008-07-02 08:43:52

But if the Yankees trade Cabrera now they would be guilty of the classic mistake of selling low.

(1) (0)

Bill Chuck

Season Review by the Numbers

posted 2008-07-02 07:53:35

More facts about team standings, statistics, trends, attendance, etc. than you could ever want.

(2) (0)

Thomas Wayne

Fans Have Done Decently with All-Star Picks

posted 2008-07-02 06:45:26

What I consider a huge fan balloting mistake in the NL outfield and AL designated hitter voting dampers an otherwise solid year of "educated" fan balloting.

(0) (1)

Rick Swanson

UCP - Umpire Call Percentage

posted 2008-07-01 14:53:49

If NESN has the technology to do this, why can’t MLB?

(1) (0)

Harvey Frommer

Baseball Names and How They Got That Way! – Part II

posted 2008-07-01 14:17:09

The stories behind the terms Bat Day, Polo Grounds and Dugout.

(1) (0)

Paul Catalano

Milestones Not Proper Measure of Hall-Worthiness (see Sheffield)

posted 2008-07-01 08:13:19

Had Roberto Clemente not ripped a Jon Matlack pitch for his 3,000th hit and instead had ended his career with 2,999 hits, would he have been skipped over for a place in Cooperstown?

(4) (0)

John Paciorek

John Paciorek Salutes Ted Williams

posted 2008-07-01 08:07:45

Welcome to former major leaguer John Paciorek, whose regular column debuts today with a tribute to Ted Williams. This coming Saturday will be the sixth anniversary of the Splendid Splinter’s death.

(1) (1)

Rick Swanson

Sox Should Say Sayonara to Okie

posted 2008-06-30 10:47:10

The Okajima of 2008 has turned into the Gagne of 2007.

(0) (0)

Robert Moyer

Schilling and the Hall of Fame, Redux

posted 2008-06-30 08:12:42

Stats are great. I love stats. At times in my life I have literally lived them, and better ones are being developed constantly. But let’s not get lost in them, folks.

(1) (0)

Don Ehrke

Mets Have Failed to Learn the Yankee Lesson: Championships Can’t Be Bought

posted 2008-06-30 06:31:56

The Mets need to overcome both their sense of inadequacy and their rivalry with the Yankees to learn from them.

(2) (0)

Scott Jensen

Ron Mahay: Most Under-Appreciated AL Pitcher

posted 2008-06-29 21:46:00

The AL's most underrated pitcher used to be an outfielder. That’s Ron Mahay, reliever for the Kansas City Royals. Let’s pause for a moment and give the man some credit.

(3) (0)

Dugout Staff

Discussion of the Week: The Omar Vizquel Hall of Fame Debate

posted 2008-06-29 14:05:23

Editor's Note: We're toying with the idea of each Sunday re-posting the best article and discussion of the previous week. Either that or the Editor's choice for "under-noticed" article of the week.

(1) (0)

Thomas Wayne

Pre-Season American League Predictions Re-Visited – Halfway Home

posted 2008-06-28 23:28:45

(1) (0)

Harvey Frommer

Baseball Names - and How They Got That Way! Part 1

posted 2008-06-28 23:26:49

"Bonehead," "Chili" and "Big Poison" ... The words and phrases are spoken and written day after day, year after year - generally without any wonderment as to how they became part of the language. All have a history, a story. A brief sampler follows.

(2) (0)

Doug Bird

Firings and Hirings, Hirings and Firings

posted 2008-06-28 07:54:09

Man oh man, it hasn’t been a good time to be a manager or, in the case of Seattle, a general manager. Next to go will certainly be Mets GM Omar Minaya and Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi.

(2) (0)

Thomas Wayne

Pre-Season National League Predictions Re-Visited – Halfway Home

posted 2008-06-28 07:54:00

With a 50% sampling of games in the books let’s check in with my predictions to see how well or poorly I’ve done.

(2) (0)

Bill Chuck

Baseball Facts for Your Weekend Pleasure

posted 2008-06-28 07:53:49

3. Pittsburgh outfielder Morgan should be playing for Newark or some team in greater New York – his first name is Nyjer.

(2) (0)

Phil Melita

Schilling a Poor Man's Kevin Brown - Not a Hall of Famer

posted 2008-06-27 06:50:38

Let’s take a breath and get some perspective here before we anoint Curt Schilling the greatest gift to humanity between fire and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

(1) (0)

Dugout Scout

Chase Utley Scouting Report

posted 2008-06-27 06:49:36

Utley has made a deliberate attempt to be more relaxed with his upper body via a rocking motion with his hips and legs, with his hands lower than their normal position.

(1) (0)

Dugout Staff

Oswalt to the Yankees: Point/Counterpoint

posted 2008-06-27 06:44:40

We heard a rumor on WFAN about a Cano/Kennedy for Oswalt deal. Hard to say if there's any truth to it, but it's a fun one to discuss. So, we asked our writers to debate the merits of such a trade.

(1) (0)

Bill Chuck

Jackie, Roberto and Art Pennington

posted 2008-06-26 15:52:27

The Hall of Fame introduced a new plaque that pays tribute to the cultural impact he had on the game...

(3) (0)

Thomas Wayne

Interview with Brooks Robinson

posted 2008-06-26 15:37:01

So, when the 3rd Annual Brooks Robinson Classic came to a close a week ago, I thought it would be nice to check in with the 16-time Gold Glove winning Hall of Famer

(1) (0)

Dugout Staff

Interview with Former Red Sox Manager Eddie Kasko

posted 2008-06-26 06:45:40

Former Red Sox Manager talks Tony C., Frank Robinson, Joe Nuxhall and more.

(1) (0)

Rick Kaplan

Barry Zito Would Be Good Fit with Yankees

posted 2008-06-26 06:23:05

With his durability, Yankee Stadium's pitcher-friendly dimensions for southpaws and the confidence of having hitters who can rake behind him, Zito could be a productive pitcher.

(3) (0)

Thomas Wayne

Iowa Floods Destroy Home of Negro League Star Art Pennington

posted 2008-06-25 21:30:32

Pennington, an 85-year-old former Negro League All-Star, lost his home - a small musuem devoted to the great men who played black men - in Cedar Rapids to the recent swell of flooding.

(0) (0)

Bill Chuck

World Series Flashback Week

posted 2008-06-25 15:27:47

In the wonderful world of interleague play we are constantly pressed to find connections between the teams that are facing off against one another.

(1) (1)

Rick Swanson

Boston's Three Young B's Coming Up Soon

posted 2008-06-25 09:22:33

How great does a young pitcher need to be before they will let him pitch in Boston?

(2) (0)

Joe DelGrippo

Prince Fielder - Yankees' First Baseman of the Future

posted 2008-06-25 06:32:56

The Yankees are better off trying to trade for their first baseman of the present and future, and their target should be Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder.

(2) (0)

Steve Caimano

The First Right Fielder in New Yankee Stadium

posted 2008-06-25 06:32:44

"Batting sixth and playing right field, Juan Rivera." It rolls off the tongue, and I’m sure it will sound good in the new Yankee Stadium.

(1) (0)

Bill Chuck

A Night With the Pawtucket Red Sox

posted 2008-06-24 21:21:54

A good game, featuring a meltdown by now AAA closer Jorge Julio and a morgue-like environment.

(2) (0)

Mike Pagliarulo

Pags' Mailbag: Drafting College Pitchers Bad Idea

posted 2008-06-24 14:44:12

Speaking in general terms, college coaching for pitchers is really lacking. A lot of coaches are killing their pitchers, and by the time the pitchers get to the pros, they’re breaking down or just about to break down.

(3) (0)

Thomas Wayne

MLB Muffs All-Star Game Plans

posted 2008-06-24 07:27:25

is it wrong to think that a bunch of miniature Lady Liberties scattered around a Red Carpet parade featuring dozens of players who never played for the Yankees is a stupid way to honor the Yankees and Yankee Stadium?

(3) (0)

Illya Harrell

Statis Pro Baseball Cost Me Millions

posted 2008-06-24 07:27:12

Had I never walked into that hobby store, thus ending my computer programming career, I am sure that by now I would be the CEO of EA Sports.

(2) (0)

Bill Chuck

Remembering George Carlin and His Thoughts on Baseball

posted 2008-06-23 11:57:08

In football the specialist comes in to kick. In baseball the specialist comes in to relieve somebody.

(2) (0)

Joey Smith

Saluting Dale Murphy

posted 2008-06-23 07:03:07

Why do fans still love Murph? Because year in/year out, he busted his butt and was conscious about the example he set for kids.

(4) (1)

Thomas Wayne

Jealousy, Derek Jeter and the Overrated Survey

posted 2008-06-23 06:45:50

The survey is the Major League equivalent of a bunch of junior high girls talking smack about one another in secret on their myspace pages.

(2) (0)

Mike Silva

Could Krivsky Be Mets GM In Waiting?

posted 2008-06-22 23:26:37

With all the focus on Tony Bernazard and how the Mets handled the Willie Randolph firing, a small transaction went unnoticed: the Mets have hired former Reds GM Wayne Krivsky.

(1) (0)

Peter Fritsch

Father's Day Baseball: Frank Coonelly "Undercover"

posted 2008-06-22 14:50:59

To further delay our departure, my 2-year-old peed through his Pirates "onesie", forcing a change of clothes. I viewed this as an ominous sign for the Pirates’ fortunes.

(2) (0)

Jim Dilk

Got Drew? The Red Sox Do

posted 2008-06-22 07:25:01

Drew is finally showing the Red Sox fans what Theo Epstein envisioned. Well, somewhat.

(2) (0)

Thomas Wayne

Manager Firings Don't Solve GM Incompetence

posted 2008-06-21 14:46:56

Which will be the next team with a group of over-paid under-achievers and an ownership and GM who escape blame for their decisions and moves to give a field manager the heave ho?

(1) (0)

Scott Jensen

Sal Fasano? Indians Showing More Organizational Weakness

posted 2008-06-21 07:48:24

Not having internal catching depth is like your local Starbucks having just one person trained on ordering coffee.

(3) (0)

Bill Chuck

Baseball Facts For Your Weekend

posted 2008-06-21 07:10:11

We're approaching the one year anniversary of Mike Hargrove’s abrupt resignation from the Seattle Mariners. He’s now coaching semi-pro ball in Liberal, Kansas (talk about oxymorons!).

(2) (0)

Dugout Scout

Carlos Quentin Scouting Report

posted 2008-06-21 07:09:05

Full scouting report on Carlos Quentin, who projects to top out as perhaps Trot Nixon at his peak - despite his strong start.

(1) (0)

Kenny Doyle

What To Do With Jeff Francoeur

posted 2008-06-20 20:50:27

Should the Braves bother expending the time and money needed to continue to develop Francoeur while he is a flawed, mediocre corner outfielder - in the hopes that in 2011 he may finally blossom into a superstar just as he's hitting free agency?

(3) (0)

Bill Chuck

Oh-Fer Crying Out Loud

posted 2008-06-20 14:00:23

Phils' manager Charlie Manuel recently said Ted Williams once went 0-20. A trip down Google Avenue didn't reveal proof of this, but it did provide some good fodder on some of the more notable hitless streaks.

(1) (0)

Joe D

An Open Letter To Jerry Manuel

posted 2008-06-20 07:15:41

9. When Ian O'Connor comes around, only mention race when referring to the New York Marathon.

(2) (0)

Paul Catalano

What Might Have Been

posted 2008-06-20 07:14:47

The reason I've been thinking of J.R. Richard, Brien Taylor and Len Bias was because of Josh Hamilton.

(0) (0)

Mike Silva

Fickle New York Media Makes Randolph a Martyr

posted 2008-06-19 21:57:03

In the end I will be bashed, criticized, and mocked for this, but honestly I don’t care: Willie Randolph got what he deserved.

(1) (0)

Joe DelGrippo

Signing Ponson Counter To Yanks’ Building Plan

posted 2008-06-19 10:22:39

The Yankees are telling McCutchen, Marquez and Horne: "we don't think you're good enough, so we've signed a two-time DUI guy who has a history of putting himself over his team.

(2) (0)

Catal Breen

Cashman Gives Ponson Another Try in the Bronx

posted 2008-06-19 10:01:52

In 2006, the gamble didn’t pay off as Ponson compiled a 10.47 ERA in 16.1 innings with the Yankees.

(1) (0)

Shaun Payne

Yanks Take Chance on Troubled Ponson

posted 2008-06-19 09:22:35

Ponson was 4-1 with the Rangers, but he wasn't fooling anyone.

(4) (0)

Scott Jensen

Jim Bowden - Trash Collector

posted 2008-06-19 07:56:14

Bowden's incompetence demands a new stat for GMs: % of roster deemed as having trade value.

(2) (0)

Mike Pagliarulo

Mike Pagliarulo’s Fantasy Advice: Carlos Quentin

posted 2008-06-19 06:33:31

Long term, Quentin projects to be somewhere around the level of Twins outfielders Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer. If he continues to improve, he could max out at around Trot Nixon’s peak.

(1) (3)

Rick Swanson

Baseball Scheduling Unfair

posted 2008-06-18 21:46:36

Maybe the schedule is made up by New Yorkers who want to make it easier for their team.

(3) (0)

Bill Chuck

Congratulations Celtics – Now It’s Time For Baseball

posted 2008-06-18 14:14:39

A recounting of the years the Boston Celtics won their championships and the baseball champions of that year.

(3) (0)

Joey Smith

Eddie Mathews: The Forgotten Brave

posted 2008-06-18 06:51:12

The Braves have six retired numbers. Ask the average modern Braves fan, and they probably couldn’t tell you who #41 belonged to.

(2) (0)

Catal Breen

Mets' Failures Not a Reflection Upon Randolph's Abilities

posted 2008-06-18 06:50:40

Sometimes in life things just don't work out the way you'd hoped. Sometimes, two great people can't stay married, but they are still great people.

(3) (0)

Thomas Wayne

Unheralded Genius: The Coaching Career of Dave Duncan

posted 2008-06-18 06:48:47

Tony LaRussa has become arguably the greatest manager to ever live because he was wise enough to see what Dave Duncan can bring to the table.

(2) (0)

John Quemere

Mets Classless; Blame Should Go Around

posted 2008-06-17 16:07:16

How is Willie supposed to win games with Delgado, Chavez, Anderson, Schneider and the Pitcher batting five through nine?

(3) (0)

Bill Chuck

Willary is Finally Gone

posted 2008-06-17 15:50:45

The way this was handled that makes it so transparent that the problems that exist with the New York Mets run from the field upward, way past the manager.

(1) (0)

Scott Jensen

Ben Cherington Will Be Next Mariners’ General Manager

posted 2008-06-17 09:52:56

Rather than being a young team that is maturing, as the team’s performance from 2004 to 2008 would indicate, today’s Mariners are largely devoid of players that have value over the next three to five years.

(2) (0)

Bill Chuck

Yankees Need to Kick the Tires on the Rent-A-Wells

posted 2008-06-17 07:06:11

Losing an ace to injury is like losing the family car to an accident: finding an affordable replacement is never easy.

(1) (1)

Joe DelGrippo

The Blue Jays Need Bonds

posted 2008-06-17 06:32:19

As a Yankee fan, I can't believe I am trying to help the Jays, but it’s a great deal for them … if they can get Bonds on their own terms.

(1) (0)

Brian Sparhawk

NECBL Update Week 2: Team USA Exhibitions

posted 2008-06-16 21:25:13

A highlight this week was playing against team USA, which will face seven NECBL teams before finalizing their roster.

(2) (0)

Bill Chuck

Baseball Loses Friend in Tim Russert

posted 2008-06-16 14:24:21

He loved baseball as well and was deeply involved in the sport, far beyond being a Yankees fan and Washington Nationals season ticket holder.

(1) (0)

Joe DelGrippo

Yankees Need to Look Internally for Wang Replacement

posted 2008-06-16 13:02:24

Typical, short-sighted Yankee fans will want GM Brian Cashman to go out and trade for Cleveland’s C.C. Sabathia.

(2) (0)

Thomas Wayne

Bull Durham – 20 Years Later: An Appreciation

posted 2008-06-16 07:03:19

Strikeouts are boring and fascist; ground ball outs are more Democratic.

(1) (0)

Mike Silva

Beware of Tampa, Yankee Fans

posted 2008-06-16 07:02:41

So while those in the media, specifically New York, discount the Rays, I will continue to watch them closely.

(2) (0)

Thomas Wayne

Dave Winfield and the 2008 Negro League Player Draft

posted 2008-06-15 11:06:50

When Bud Selig and his "yes" men finally get something right, we should stand up and take notice.

(0) (0)

Harvey Frommer

Remembering the Great American Home Run Derby: Ruth vs. Gehrig

posted 2008-06-15 10:43:04

Like two mighty boxers they slugged home runs trying to out-do each other and everyone else in 1927.

(0) (0)

Harvey Frommer

Baseball Book Reviews by Harvey Frommer

posted 2008-06-15 10:20:28

Books by two giants of the craft and some nifty reads from Bison Books are yours for delightful summer reading.

(2) (1)

Steve Myers

If Not Bill James, Then Who?

posted 2008-06-14 08:12:52

This data has changed our baseball consciousnesses. Shouldn't this change and the forces behind the change be recognized?

(0) (0)

Nick Gagalis

Love For the Dodgers Organization – For a Red Sox Fan

posted 2008-06-14 08:10:24

They have the perfect storyteller as their broadcaster, a color named after their team, and a deep history of changing the game in one way or another.

(1) (0)

Bill Chuck

Baseball Facts for Your Weekend

posted 2008-06-14 08:09:16

The Twins have been carrying 13 pitchers forcing them to use starter Kevin Slowey as a pinch-runner. Is there a more inappropriate last name for a pinch-runner?

(1) (0)

Doug Bird

The 2008 Season So Far – AL Central

posted 2008-06-14 01:27:18

(2) (0)

Thomas Wayne

Ryan Ludwick: National League MVP 2008

posted 2008-06-12 23:34:11

So in a year where Chase Utley, Lance Berkman, and Chipper Jones are putting up monstrous numbers in the National League, for your consideration I give you…

(1) (0)

Arne Christensen

Scoring Efficiency: Relationship Between Runs Scored and Runners Left On Base

posted 2008-06-12 23:33:18

It comes from the basic notion that the most offensively successful teams are those that are the most efficient at bringing their runners home.

(1) (0)

Scott Jensen

12 Outfielders I’d Rather Have Than Ichiro

posted 2008-06-12 23:31:19

Ichiro has an OPS+ this year of 104, so basically he’s just a teeny bit above league average. David DeJesus is at 113 and Tony Clark is at 100. Point made?

(1) (0)

Doug Bird

The 2008 Season So Far – AL East

posted 2008-06-12 22:23:23

But even getting the maximum effort out of his players won’t help Trembley and the Orioles that much; they just don’t have the players to contend.

(1) (0)

Joe D

The Mets Won Last Night, So Why Am I Not Jumping For Joy?

posted 2008-06-12 12:58:19

The Mets missed a golden opportunity to do something that could have resonated for years and years to come.

(1) (0)

Don Ehrke

OPS+ and ERA+ Trends Say Rays Are For Real

posted 2008-06-12 10:57:30

If dating and baseball are analogous we won’t know until September whether the Rays are a "keeper." In the meantime, they’re certainly worth asking out again.

(0) (0)

Jon Lane

Bobby Murcer: Yankee for Life, Forever a Survivor - Part III

posted 2008-06-12 08:26:19

The bell curve for Bobby’s form of glioblastoma is 14 months. He’s been working and living with it for 17 and counting, because Bobby Murcer has never – and will never – accept defeat.

(1) (0)

Dugout Scout

Chipper Jones Scouting Report

posted 2008-06-12 07:03:30

Being short to the ball enables Jones to wait longer before committing to swinging, and thus he gets a better read on pitches.

(1) (0)

Brian Sparhawk

Sanford Mainers Season Underway

posted 2008-06-11 21:44:50

Three former Mainers were selected in the MLB draft, including Jeremy Beckham - #1 pick Tim Beckham's brother.

(1) (0)

Willie Fraser

Willie Fraser’s Fantasy Plays: "Buy" Rating for Cabrera, Guerrero and Sabathia

posted 2008-06-11 15:54:46

Sabathia: A Big Hold if you already own him, and a "You Can Give it The Old College Try" Buy.