Archive for July, 2009
Reflections on the Brewers at the Trade Deadline
The Milwaukee Brewers are in a precarious situation. A team that was built from the inside with three-fourths of an infield (Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy), a pair of slugging corner outfielders (Ryan Braun, Corey Hart) and an ace in the making (Yovani Gallardo), is now being looked at as thin when it comes [...]
The Current Mindset of the Rays
It’s hard to believe that in this decade, Tampa Bay major sports franchises have been to the Super Bowl, the World Series, and the Stanley Cup Finals. Not bad for a city that has, at other times, been synonymous with horrendous teams (the Buccaneers before this decade, and the Rays before last season). What have [...]
How Good Is Dan Haren?
When the Arizona Diamondbacks traded six of their best prospects for Dan Haren in December of 2007, I was vehemently opposed to the deal from the Diamondbacks’ perspective. Not only was I extremely high on the prospects involved – Outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Aaron Cunningham, Southpaws Brett Anderson, Greg Smith, and Dana Eveland, and first [...]
Baltimore Orioles Need To Provide Young Pitchers With Offensive Support
The Baltimore Orioles couldn’t ask for much more from rookie hurler Brad Bergesen than what he has given them in his first 18 major league starts, but the right-hander sure should expect more from his teammates than what they have given back to him. Image by Getty Images via Daylife It is inevitable that every [...]
Cubs Reflections on Being in First Place
Despite all my nay-saying and doom-daying, the Chicago Cubs woke up on July 27th and found themselves in first place in the NL Central. Outside of any performance by the Cubs, here are five reasons which this has happened: 5. The St. Louis Cardinals have no hitting. A month into the season, the Cardinals looked [...]
Reflections on the Mariners in July
It’s been 10 days since the All-Star break, the Mariners have been 5-3; 51-45 overall, 25-19 at home, and .500 on the road. The momentum is good. Since the All-Star break Felix Hernandez won his 50th game, becoming the 15th-youngest to reach that mark since 1919. The Mariners won the series against Detroit. Ryan Rowland-Smith [...]
Nick Kappel’s Fantasy Focus: Second Half Studs Part Two
In last week’s fantasy focus, I outlined eight batters who have historically performed at a higher level in the second half of the season. This week, I’m suggesting eight starting pitchers who meet the same criteria. Johan Santana Santana’s first half totals are incredible, but his second half splits are phenomenal. [...]
A Royal Thirty Days of Stink
There were once high hopes for the Kansas City Royals, but no longer. While the problems plaguing the Royals began even as they raced out of the 2009 starting gate to an 18-11 record and three game Central Division lead, the last thirty days provide a perfect illustration of the state of this franchise. Since [...]
Friday Night Links
This week’s installment of links will focus on a repeat of Saturday night’s review of WholesaleKeychain.com and their MLB keychains. But there’s a lot more than just MLB keychains there, in fact, they are only a small portion of the types of keychains they provide. Here’s a list of some of the others: Automotive Muscle [...]
Yesterday, Buehrle Was Perfect!
Image via Wikipedia Mark Buehrle led the White Sox to victory in grand fashion today, by tossing a perfect game, and his second career no-hitter. His first came on April 18th, 2007, also at U.S. Comiscular Field. This is only the 18th perfect game in MLB history, Randy Johnson being the last to do so [...]
Yeah, I’m talking about Practice
Most everyone agrees that sports should be fun and, for most, playing games is usually fun. Practice can be a different story and making practice fun should be the goal of sports parents and coaches. Parents, who have attained the proper perspective and patience, as previously discussed, will have a great head start with getting [...]
Schmidt’s long road back ends with victory, tentative hope for future
In a Dodgers season full of compelling stories, add one more that is perhaps the most unlikely: The return of Jason Schmidt. Image by Getty Images via Daylife The veteran right-hander signed a three-year $47 million contract before the 2007 season and, before the other night, had given the Dodgers just six starts in return. [...]
Boston Adds a Bat
The Red Sox have aquired a new left handed bat and insurance if 3B Mike Lowell needs to miss any time in the second half. This will be an upgrade over Jeff Bailey, Adam Bates and even Mark Kotsay (who can still play in the OF). Here is what Boston’s sports talk radio station WEEI, [...]
2009 Yankees: (Almost as) easy as pie
It’s not just a new stadium for the Yankees this year. It’s a new team atmosphere. In recent years, the Yanks have acted more like ultra-serious businessmen than giddy schoolboys. But the corporate era is over with the club this season, thanks to spirited new teammates like A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia and Nick Swisher. This [...]
Steriods, It’s Not All Equal!
On Monday night, July the 13th., we managed to see 7 of the best home run hitters in baseball and Brandon Inge get together in an attempt to put on a power display where batting practice pitchers grooved balls at 70—75 MPH and in turn the likes of Pujols, Fielder, Cruz, and Howard deposited them [...]
Nick Kappel’s Fantasy Focus: Second Half Studs
The All-Star Break has come and gone, and the dog days of summer are upon us. In some leagues, only six weeks of regular season play remain, meaning now is the time to make your playoff push. Every piece of information is important, and if history is any indicator, these eight batters are likely to [...]
Wholesale Keychains Product Review & 10% off Coupon
When I was first approached by Jeff at Wholesale Keychains and he told me he wanted to send Baseball Reflections some sample keychains to review, I have to admit that my first thought was, “Wow! I really need a new Red Sox Keychain”. But then Jeff later told me that we could also give some [...]
Astros Attendance By the Numbers
Image via Wikipedia So we briefly touched on this a while back at Astros County, but I thought…off day and all, we can revisit it a little more closely (editor’s note: this was written during the All Star Break). This is the issue of attendance among MLB teams, specifically the Astros, from 2008 to 2009. [...]
Red Sox Trade Bait & Prospects
Sometimes you can improve your team by way of addition by subtraction. This year’s Red Sox are in this situation in 2009. We have a great bullpen and an excess of starting pitching and more real glaring needs except for a little more power off the bench. To get to that you need to either [...]
Can the Rockies stay hot after the break?
Coming off a June record of 21-7 and finishing with a 10 game home-stand before the break, but there are still many questions to be answered in Colorado regarding the second half of the season. The Colorado Rockies began the season as many fans would have anticipated, slowly. But after the firing of Clint Hurdle [...]
Why the Braves will (not) make the playoffs
The Braves have made some good moves recently that we all know about. The starting pitching is above average, the relief pitching adequate, the offense is also adequate and the defense is excellent. It appears to a Braves fan that the Braves are in the best position to take first in the East. Under the [...]
Great Moments in All-Star Game History: Part 3 (1990-2008)
Over the last two decades, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game has transformed from being simply a game to being a multi-day extravaganza where the game itself is simply one component. For that reason, the game has at times seemed to be anti-climatic, but has still produced some great memories. After the National League dominated [...]
Great Moments in All-Star Game History: Part 2 (1960-1989)
After becoming an American tradition following its inception in 1933, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game evolved into the “Midsummer Classic” through some memorable moments in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The exhibition eventually moved beyond being just a game to include a home run contest and many other activities that gave fans the opportunity [...]
Nats Fans HAD High Hopes for 2009 Season
The Washington National fans entered this season with high hopes. Not with the typical hopes of baseball fans, that their team may be winning the pennant or even the World Series. No, Nationals fans were finally hopeful that their team had turned the corner and would be in the beginning of an upswing that would [...]
Great Moments in All-Star Game History: Part 1, 1933-1959
Since its inception in 1933, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game has provided fans an annual opportunity to see most of the great stars of the game on the same field. While the game is an exhibition and has withstood periods of indifference by some players, management and fans, it remains a special mid-season moment. [...]
Torii Hunter Beats the Odds
Image by Getty Images via Daylife The nice people at Guideposts.com have been kind enough to allow us to bring these stories of current Major League players in their entirety while I’m away on vacation. So without further ado…Torii Hunter Beats the Odds by Louis Berney. He rose above his father’s addiction to make it [...]
Developing Patience with Your Kids in Sports Begins with Understanding
Patience is a lot like perspective. People have it UNTIL there own child is involved. Most of us parents are guilty of it. We display patience with other people’s kids, but when our own child does not perform up to expectations, we get upset and display our displeasure with words or actions. Unfortunately, it only [...]
Jamie Moyer proves that good guys can finish first
Image via Wikipedia The nice people at Guideposts.com have been kind enough to allow us to bring these stories of current Major League players in their entirety while I’m away on vacation. So without further ado…Jamie Moyer proves that good guys can finish first By Louis Berney. This Good Guy Finishes First Phillies pitcher Jamie [...]
How Josh Hamilton Defeated His Demons
Image by Keith Allison via Flickr The nice people at Guideposts.com have been kind enough to allow us to bring these stories of current Major League players in their entirety while I’m away on vacation. So without further ado…The Natural by Josh Hamilton (himself): How faith and family helped big leaguer Josh Hamilton beat his [...]
Melvin Mora, an All-Star Dad, too!
Image by Keith Allison via Flickr The nice people at Guideposts.com have been kind enough to allow us to bring these stories of current Major League players in their entirety. So without further ado…An All-Star Dad By Louis Berney: Melvin Mora has won baseball honors, but what he prizes most are his children. One day, [...]
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