Archive for February, 2009
Reflections on the Cub’s Off Season
The Chicago Cubs and their fans can congratulate themselves on a page-turning 2008 season. In what was the centennial year of World Series drought for the lovable losers, the Cubs managed to convince their fans that this was “The Year” before being summarily dismissed from the post-season by the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the process, [...]
Odds Listed for Possible Steroid Users
While BaseballReflections.com does not in anyway promote gambling, this story is an interesting one. If someone thought that betting on football and basketball had overtaken the game in the baseball arena, they just have to look at the current odds on BookMaker.com to see where society is today. Due to the fact that the recent [...]
Nick’s Fantasy Focus
If you are new to fantasy baseball, or are just unsure where to play or what to look for in a league, you’ve come to the right place! As a 10 year veteran of fantasy baseball, I’ve endured several different types of leagues. Some bad, and others good, but over the years I’ve learned what [...]
Indians Sign The MLB’s First European Player
Indians Sign European Catcher Cervenka to Minor League Deal The Indians announced on February 21 that they had come to terms with Martin Cervenka to a minor league deal. The deal was originally done on January 24 and the team was just waiting for the right time to make this news public. To most, this [...]
February Diamondbacks Reflections
Image via Wikipedia Generally speaking, when a team enjoys a productive offseason, you should predict good things for that team in the following season. Conversely, a team’s poor offseason will lead to pessimism for the upcoming campaign. Seemingly simple enough, it doesn’t always work that way. Last winter, the Detroit Tigers acquired Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle [...]
Indians Acquire Salas in Trade with Rays, Designate Marte for Assignment
On Thursday, the Indians made a few roster moves, one in particular which raised some eyebrows in Northeast Ohio. To start things off, the Tribe traded with the Tampa Bay Rays and acquired reliever Juan Salas for minor league infielder Isaias Velasquez. Salas has seen action with the Rays during the past three seasons, but [...]
Miracle Man by Nolan Ryan: A Book Review
Image via Wikipedia Over the past two decades, it has become the popular thing for athletes to write a book with a ghost writer, presumably as a way to make some fast cash. Even though Nolan Ryan’s book came at the beginning of this period, many readers could probably lean towards the publication of a [...]
Stadium Review: Firestone Stadium Home of the NPF’s Akron Racers
Image via Wikipedia Firestone Stadium is currently the home of the Akron Racers women’s softball team of the professional league called National Pro Fastpitch. While it may be serving the teams that play with the larger balls and shorter base paths today, there was a time when the stadium played home to some of the [...]
Reflections On the White Sox
2008 was an odd year in the AL Central. A lot of people–this commentator included– thought that the Tigers had the division won before pitchers and catchers even reported to camp. Oops. They ended up in last place. And while it took an extra game, the Chicago White Sox were your AL Central champs. Cue [...]
Stadium Review: Jerry Uht Park of the Erie Seawolves
It would be easy to drive through downtown Erie, Pa. and not notice their baseball stadium known as Jerry Uht Park home of the Erie Seawolves of the Eastern League. The AA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers have played in the “Uht” since 1995 and according to the team’s website, more than one million fans [...]
Reflections on the Rays
In pre-season of 2008, I picked the Tampa Bay Rays to make some noise in the American League, to win 25 more games than they had the year before, to top the Seattle Mariners by 18 games, and to make a run at the wild card in the American League. And if you managed to [...]
Tribe Signs Graffanino to Minor League Deal
With a busy, yet slow off season still yet to end, even though pitchers and catchers have already reported to spring training, the Indians decided that they didn’t have enough veteran talent with minor league contracts and major league invites to spring training, so they signed Tony Graffanino to one. Graffanino was originally drafted in [...]
Stadium Review: Eastwood Field of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Built in 1999, Eastwood Field is the home of the Cleveland Indians’ rookie level club, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. The ballpark itself looks great from the outside with brick pillars that come down to give it sort of an old school feel. The entire stadium is well done with brick, mainly light red and grey, [...]
Kurt’s Reflections on the Tigers Off Season
With the difficult economic situation in Detroit, we (recognize) that people will turn to our team for three hours of daily relief from the stress of everyday life. The Detroit Tigers have filled that role through World Wars, depressions and riots. With the bedrock industry of the city struggling to survive, our fans want to [...]
MLB.TV and the NHL Team Up in Viewing Package
Image via Wikipedia On February 9, two of America’s premium sports leagues made an agreement. MLB.TV agreed with the National Hockey League (NHL) that they were going to be partners in a television package that would combine their two products into one subscription. According to a press release, the deal will start on February 16. [...]
Another Writers Update
I wanted to send out an official site update announcing our newest writers. From the site Baseball Evolution , we have Asher who participated in my post/interview on InterLeague Play and Keith . Asher will write monthly reflections on both the Rays and the Cubs. Keith will reflect upon the Diamondbacks. We are now just [...]
The Indians Add Another Cy Young Award Winner
The Cleveland Indians have added another Cy Young Award winner to their staff. Well, sort of. Frank Viola, who won the award with the Minnesota Twins in 1988, has signed on to work with the Indians’ pitchers during spring training in Goodyear Arizona. The former big leaguer will work along side pitching coach Carl Willis. [...]
Stadium Review: Melaleuca Field of the Idaho Falls Chukars
Most people probably have never heard of the Idaho Falls Chukars, the class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, but they are thriving in the small western town. Due to their location, the team has experienced a turnover in organization affiliation and names during their existence, but that does not take away from their [...]
I Guess Canseco Was Right
Image via Wikipedia I usually try to stay clear of the controversial issues in baseball, but I couldn’t resist this topic. To start things off, here are some quotes from the baseball world by some past and present players. In the MLB.com article, “A-Rod is talk of MLB after admission “, George Brett was quoted [...]
Stadium Review: Municipal Stadium of the Hagerstown Suns
Municipal Stadium is on record as being the third oldest baseball stadium in the world, and one can certainly tell that when they visit the park. The ballpark is in no way showing age by falling apart or being unsafe, it just looks exactly like the old parks seen in documentaries about the history of [...]
Red Sox Reflections
Here’s a few notes concerning recent Red Sox news… Boston signed 1B/3B Kevin Youkilis to a a four-year contract with a club option for a fifth year for around $41M (not including the 5th year option). In order to make room on the 40 man roster for some of the moves they’ve made this off [...]
Stadium Review: Fifth Third Field Home of the Toledo Mudhens
Fifth Third Field is located in the center of downtown Toledo and provides a picturesque addition to the city. Although it is obviously a modern day ballpark, it is built with brick and illustrates the deep history that Toledo baseball possesses. The Mudhens were recently voted as having the best nickname in all of sports [...]
Indians Sign Chulk to Minor League Deal
On Tuesday the Indians signed pitcher Vinnie Chulk to a minor league contract. The right hander was originally a 12th round draft pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2000. The reliever made his major league debut on September 8, 2003 as an end of the season call up to the Jays. He has spent [...]
How MLB Expansion Has Affected Hall of Fame Voting
Image by Getty Images via Daylife By way of comparison, lets look at the careers of newly elected Hall of Famer Jim Rice and current Free Agent who is being touted as a first ballot Hall of Famer himself, Manny Ramirez. As luck would have it, they have both played 16 seasons, making the timing [...]
Bad News Bears: A DVD of the 2005 Film
Obviously, this film was not an original idea as it had originally come out (in various forms) decades earlier. Even though this is the case, Billy Bob Thornton and his crew allowed a new generation of people to learn the story of the Bears with a modern touch to the story. The new film follows [...]
Review of the New York Yankees Off Season
To start, I want to thank Peter Schiller, Baseball Reflections, and you, the readers for allowing me to provide you with the breaking news, rumors, and information regarding the New York Yankees. This is my first post here at Baseball Reflections, and I hope you like what you read. I would like to start by [...]
License to Deal: A Book Review
When Moneyball by Michael Lewis came out about five years ago, many thought they would never see a book about baseball that provided the same unique perspective on the game. Jerry Crasnick has done with agents in License to Deal what Michael Lewis did for general managers in Moneyball. By giving a day to day [...]
Reflections on the Blue Jays’ Off Season
Hi everyone, and greetings from the great white north (metaphorically speaking, in my case– I actually live in Washington DC). I’m Hugo, and Rincewind and I (more on that later) run Bluebird Banter, a blog dedicated to discussions and ruminations on our favourite azure-tinged corvids. It’s a great site full of great folks and we’d [...]
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