Category: MLB

MLB

MLB Power Rankings for April 11th- 2007

Post author By Garrett Rudolph
Post date April 11, 2007
9 Comments on MLB Power Rankings for April 11th- 2007

Week one of the Sportscolumn MLB Power Rankings and the top spot should really come as no surprise. Granted, the Yankees have pitching problems, but until somebody proves otherwise they’re the best team in baseball.

It’s too early in the season for records to matter much, but it is interesting to take a look at the teams with the best and worst records in the league. The Phillies are my dark-horse pick to win the World Series, but they’ve stumbled out of the gate with the worst record in baseball. The Atlanta Braves, on the other hand, have the best record in baseball and look more like the Braves team that didn’t miss the playoffs for a decade and a half than they do last year’s team.

As always, I look forward to your questions, comments and complaints throughout the season.

Tags mlb power rankings

MLB General

JDWC’s 2007 MLB Preview…Fashionably Late

Post author By JDWC
Post date April 10, 2007
6 Comments on JDWC’s 2007 MLB Preview…Fashionably Late

Can you smell it? It’s the smell of fresh cut infield grass, Gatorade, and newly-oiled leather. Can you see it? The dusty cleats, sunflower seed-covered dugout floors, and brand new jerseys. Can you hear it? The sounds of popping mitts, cracking bats, and Barry Bonds denying. If you can do all these things, well congratu-frickin-lations, you don’t have allergies.

Even though my nose is stuffed up, my eyes water and my ears are plugged, I can still feel the baseball season starting, and that’s all that matters. Also, as far as I know, my allergies do not affect my brain, so I can still put together my annual predictions. So here goes; better late than never right?

Tags MLB, preview

MLB General

Sifting Through Baseball’s Breakout Stars

Post author By Vtknowitall
Post date April 9, 2007
3 Comments on Sifting Through Baseball’s Breakout Stars

Every season, the first week holds a mystical excitement, a throbbing urge to anoint many young players as breakout stars. However, each season holds a bag of tricks and treats, and more than not are tricks.

Tags MLB

Boston Red Sox

Spring Training and the Future of Red Sox Pitching

Post author By DoNoUhOh
Post date April 7, 2007
No Comments on Spring Training and the Future of Red Sox Pitching

I can still remember the day I stopped being a baseball fan. It was the day Tony Tarasco’s career was snatched away by a boy named Jeffrey Maier. It was the day that my beloved Orioles led the AL East wire to wire only to fall to the Yankees. The Yankees became a dynasty of champions. The Orioles became a dynasty of losers. Baseball was never the same for me. Innocence lost around the time I turned 11. I’ll tune in for a couple playoff games if the teams are interesting or the game is close in the late innings but the love is lost. I guess it wasn’t meant to be.

Somehow ten years later I find myself watching a Boston Red Sox spring training game. Flipping channels I saw that Daisuke Matsuzaka was pitching. Apparently hype does work. The hundred million dollar myth from Japan had piqued my interest.

Tags Boston Red Sox, daisuke matsuzaka, papelbon, spring training

MLB General

Strange Tale from Spring Training- 2004

Post author By Garrett Rudolph
Post date April 7, 2007
4 Comments on Strange Tale from Spring Training- 2004

Surprise, Arizona. A city with a name befitting of Paradise.

Like Boring, Oregon. Lovely, Kentucky. And Hell, Michigan.

Surprise… As in Surprise! We came here for spring break instead of Mexico?!?

My friend McWhite and I had this brilliant idea for an adventure. We would drive non-stop from Seattle to Las Vegas, spend three days there with little sleep, and then head east to Arizona for spring training, the blazing sun, and the Monastery Too.

Tags MLB

San Francisco Giants

Breaking Down the 2007 San Francisco Giants

Post author By DLoque25
Post date April 6, 2007
1 Comment on Breaking Down the 2007 San Francisco Giants

Could this be the first year since 1954 that the Giants take the crown?

From 1997 to 2003, the San Francisco Giants made General Manager Brian Sabean look good. Damn good. His GM skills took the Giants to seven straight winning seasons and playoff appearances, even a World Series appearance which was taken to seven games. But in the last three years, the team that was once best in the west, has taken huge steps backwards and has missed not only the playoffs, but also a winning record. Luckily for the fans of the Bay Area, the Giants play in the best ballpark in the world. So with all that money from the countless sold out games, they had the resources to make a push at the pennant this year. Here is my break down of the 2007 Giants.

Tags sf giants

MLB General

Native American Prospects Hold Key Between Past & Present

Post author By Diane M. Grassi
Post date April 6, 2007
1 Comment on Native American Prospects Hold Key Between Past & Present

Although Native Americans entered the world of professional baseball 50 years prior to African Americans, who competed in the Negro Leagues, until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier by signing his minor league contract with Dodgers in 1945, there have been less than 50 Native Americans of full Indian ancestry to compete in the Major Leagues since 1897.

Tags diversity, MLB, native americans, ncaa, youth sports

MLB General

Opening Day

By Billy Fellin

After seven months of anticipation, more steroid talk, the drama out of the Bronx and the roulette game that is free agency, Opening Day has finally arrived. Opening Day is arguably one of the greatest days in a sports fanatic’s life, such as mine. There’s just something about Opening Day, the anticipation of it and the aura surrounding the first pitch, the first home run or the first win of the year.

Tags Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, ny yankees, opening day, Tampa Bay Rays

Cincinnati Reds

The Last Thoroughbred

It’s all illusion, the accolades, awards and accomplishments. These aren’t etched in stone, untouchable by time.

Seconds stop for nobody.

Perseverance is found on the field, never peace.

No matter the amount of success, or degree of failure, our competition will always return, different pitches and arm angles, different stances and strategies.

Adjustments become worthless, effort expended, and than, at breaking point, talent rises above, for a fortunate few.

Tags josh hamilton, reds

MLB General