Archive for September, 2011
Women In Baseball: Interviews by Norm Coleman
With the possibility of Kim Ng possibly being considered as a General Manager this off season (in places like possibly Chicago (Cubs), Baltimore and any others that open up), I thought it might be the best time to put together this list of articles by my friend Norm Coleman did on Women in Baseball. Norm [...]
Developing Clutch Baseball Players
Clutch baseball players are able to focus in the moment. They do this by understanding the things they can control, which is simply the ball and the situation at hand. Clutch hitters understand that they can only control two things: getting a good pitch and taking a good swing. Clutch pitchers believe in the pitch [...]
Baseball Pitching Tips: How You Can Get To Know The Tendencies Of A Hitter Very Quickly!
It is mandatory for baseball pitchers to find out the strengths and weaknesses of the baseball hitters they face. There are certain very clever things a pitcher can do. If the hitter takes a practice swing before facing you, pay attention to his practice swing! If he appears to be hitting an inside pitch [...]
Fantasy Baseball: An Early Look at 2012 Sleeper Possibilities
A fantasy baseball sleeper can be defined in a number of different ways. What it really comes down to is the ability to draft a player at a lower position than they should be positioned. In other words, a fantasy baseball sleeper is any player who will perform significantly better than other players drafted in or around the same [...]
The Importance of Kendrick and Worley to the Phillies
The Phillies clinched the division with 12 games left and should still (we hope) have the most wins ever for the franchise. Now imagine where they would be without Kyle Kendrick or Vance Worley. Kendrick and Worley’s contributions to this Phillies team aren’t just nice stories; they changed the entire complexion of the [...]
Fantasy Baseball: Who’s Running Hot & Cold
HOT Allen Craig (STL) – With Matt Holliday down with injury, Craig has seen a spike in his playing time and has made the most of things, going 8-for-23 over the past week. He has also put up 6 R, 3 HR and 6 RBI over that span. Danny Espinosa (WAS)– It’s been a season of ups and downs [...]
Vizquel, Thome Warrant One More Shot
The next time you see them together might be in Cooperstown. It was a nice gesture to have to Cleveland legends Omar Vizquel and Jim Thome bring the line-up cards out for their respective teams when the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians squared off for the last time this season Thursday night in Cleveland. [...]
Israeli Baseball’s First Game
Here’s a video from the first game of the Israel Professional Baseball League. Help support Baseball Reflections and buy me a coffee with PayPal!
Luis Salazar Talks Baseball, Recovery from being Hit in the Eye by a Batted Ball
Braves minor league manager Luis Salazar on recovering from a batted ball to his eye. Video: Salazar talks baseball, recovery Help support Baseball Reflections and buy me a coffee with PayPal!
Settling the Nixon vs. Drew Debate
Every team incites a certain level of continuous discussion amongst their fanbase. Over the past few seasons one of the more frequent debates that I continue to hear amongst fans of the Boston Red Sox revolves around right field. Production from the position has been disappointing. The revolving door of players has been a source [...]
2011 Red Sox Charity Wines: ChardonClay and CabernAce
Here is some basic information on this particular charity event/wines…Debuting from Longball Cellars are charity wines for Boston baseball pitching aces Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester. The players do not profit a single dime. Instead, 100% of their proceeds will raise big league dollars for charity: – Clay Buchholz: ChardonClay, a chardonnay, benefits the Jimmy [...]
Fantasy Late Bloomers: Turning a Strong Second Half in 2011 into 2012 Success
There are those who subscribe to the idea that when a baseball player has a strong second half in one season, it means that they are in line to put up good numbers the following season. This can particularly hold true for a player that may have struggled in previous seasons, one who has finally gotten a chance with additional [...]
Tigers win A.L. Central for First Time, Set Sights on Larger Goals
The second half of the Detroit Tigers season hasn’t gone like many anticipated. And that’s a good thing. For the first time since 1987, the Detroit Tigers are division winners. Exercising the Demons In order to win the division the Tigers needed to overcome some of the past that has haunted them. [...]
Fantasy Baseball: Who’s Running Hot & Cold
HOT Mike Moustakas (KC) – The highly-regarded Royals’ rookie third baseman has been showing what all the hype is about with a recent offensive surge. Moustakas has gone 11-21 with 7 R, 3 HR and 7 RBI over the past week. He also chipped in his 1st stolen base. Erick Aybar (LAA) – After a brutal August in [...]
CELEBRITY GOLF TOURNAMENT BENEFITING THE FLORIDA LEAGUE
CELEBRITY GOLF TOURNAMENT IN FULL SWING Each year, the Florida League puts on a prestigious golf tournament in November that baseball fans should not miss. The event features an opportunity for participants to openly mingle with Major League Baseball stars of yesterday and today over a two day period. The night before the tournament, golfers [...]
Arizona Wins the West
For all intents and purposes, the NL West race is over. Improbably, the Diamondbacks sit at the top of the division, a year after finishing dead last in the division and 27 games out of the playoff picture. Back in June, I said that I expected the D’Backs to stay in the race, but at [...]
There’s Always Next Year – Looking Ahead to Fantasy 2012
With the fantasy baseball playoffs started, you may find yourself on the outside looking in, or perhaps in danger of losing in the first or second round. Either way, you will no doubt be looking ahead to next year. Even if you are moving on in the 2011 fantasy baseball playoffs, you will soon be considering your options [...]
MLB Revenue Sharing: Why doesn’t it seem to work?
When baseball implemented a revenue sharing plan as part of their collective bargaining agreement in 1997, the premise behind the plan was that it would create a more competitive atmosphere between all teams in baseball. So rather than the elite, large market teams such as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox who can [...]
Baseball’s Record Setting Pace…Here and To Come
It’s been a busy year in the big time record breaking (and setting) department around Major League Baseball. Derek Jeter became the 28th member of the 3,000 hit club in July, and is rapidly climbing up the list still (he currently sits at 20th all-time in total hits). Jim Thome hit his 600th home run in August with the Minnesota Twins, and [...]
A Pre Game Infield Alternative You should be Using
As coaches, we constantly try to convince our players to practice the same way they play in games, with the same focus and intensity. Then coaches proceed to take pre-game infield practice in an un-game like manner. Hitting the ball to a player, who knows the ball is coming in a position-by-position designated way, is [...]
Fantasy Baseball Spot Starter Split Stats
Now that the fantasy baseball playoffs are upon us, a good number of fantasy owners turn to the practice of streaming pitchers in the hopes of increasing their edge in the pitching statistical categories. This can be risky business however. By using spot starters in and out of your fantasy line up, you increase the chance of amassing counting stats (wins and [...]
Reflecting on the Giants: September and Beyond
Well, it looks like the 2011 NL West Champions will be the surprising and over-achieving Arizona Diamondbacks. I think that it would take a miracle for the Giants to repeat as NL West Champs and make the playoffs. If the Giants did repeat as NL West Champs, I honestly do not believe that they would [...]
Fantasy Baseball: Who’s Running Hot & Cold – September 11, 2011
HOT Shelley Duncan (CLE) – The Indians DH/1B/OF has been scorching of late in going 9-for-25 with 8 R and 10 RBI over the past 7 games. 5 of his 9 HR on the season have come in the past week (including a pair of 2-run shots off AL Cy Young favorite Justin Verlander). Now that is a hot streak. [...]
In Honor of the 10th Anniversary of 911
In lieu of a moment of silence, which we obviously cannot do on a blog, a volunteered group of members of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance (BBA) are participating in a site blackout tomorrow, 9/11/2011. In honor of the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, we have agreed to collectively go “dark” for the entire day of [...]
The 8th Annual 100 Innings of Baseball Game for ALS
The 8th Annual 100 innings of Baseball game for ALS will be held once again at Adams Field in Quincy, MA over Columbus Day weekend starting at 9:00am on Saturday, 10/08, and continuing for 33+ straight hours, ending sometime Sunday afternoon, 10/09. Details from prior years, and graphics can be found at www.bostonbaseball.com/100innings.php. Curt Schilling will once [...]
Big Leagues Banking on Dominican Prospects
DRSEA INFORMER Volume IV, Issue 6: A Publication For Your Reading Enjoyment The accelerated signings of Dominican baseball prospects, coupled with a record signing bonus by the Texas Rangers, appears to be an indication that Major League Baseball teams have increasing faith that efforts to curb age and identity fraud in the Dominican Republic are [...]
Fantasy Baseball Players with Strong September Statistics
They’re here. The fantasy baseball playoffs have now begun for many fantasy baseball leagues. That means you will be looking for any edge you can get to give yourself a little extra push to the finish line. Especially true for head-to-head leagues, each and every advantage you can squeeze out of your line up will make a difference. Knowing [...]
“A GLOVE OF THEIR OWN”-PAY IT FORWARD CONTEST 2011
Winners: to be announced December 1st 2011 All children must submit your entry with permission from your parents and use a valid parent’s email address. Must be 16 or younger (parent feel free to help your child). Describe in 200 words or less something that you have done to make a difference in someone’s life. [...]
Who’s Running Hot & Cold as of September 4th
HOT Austin Jackson (DET) – Although Curtis Granderson is an MVP candidate, Jackson (involved in the 2010 trade which sent Granderson to the Yankees) hasn’t exactly been a slouch either, especially in recent days. He has hit a nifty .500 (16-for-32) over the past week with 10 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI and 2 SB. He has also been [...]
Not Exactly Cooperstown: an Exhibit at the Burbank Central Library
Lots of tourists who visit the Los Angeles area might explore Hollywood, do Disney, tour the movie studios and check out the beaches. That’s what I did my first time out here. And some poor souls might take one of those bus tours that specialize in drive-bys of movie star homes. That I didn’t do. [...]
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