MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, Should He Be Replaced & By Whom?
Back on January 25th 2015, Rob Manfred became just the 10th Commissioner of Baseball after Bud Selig held the office since 1998 (although he was acting Commissioner since 9/7/1992). Manfred earned his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University in 1980 & his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1983. Manfred 1st began working for […]
How the MLB is Adapting to Sustainability
In theory, baseball is an incredibly wasteful sport. The evergreen fields of the outdoor stadiums combined with the white-hot lights and the unending use of single-use plastic cups of beer all suggest that Major League Baseball has a long way to go to clean up its act. While the MLB does have work to do, […]
Is Obesity a Problem Among MLB Players?
Obesity is an epidemic that has swept across the entire country. Over 160 million Americans are currently considered overweight or obese, and that includes a rising number of children. There are many factors that play into the obesity epidemic, but two of the biggest issues are diet and a lack of physical activity. So, when […]
Real Fantasy Baseball
In preparation for the upcoming season, here at Baseball Reflections we have decided to do something to get us even more excited for the start of baseball than we already were. We are putting a different spin on fantasy baseball. The writers of BR.com will be submitting their all-time fantasy teams for readers to see […]
The Mexican Babe Ruth
Hey baseball fans! Obviously you’ve heard of Babe Ruth, possibly the best hitter in MLB history. You may have also heard of Josh Gibson, who is considered by many to be the best hitter in Negro Leagues history. However, have you heard of Hector Espino, arguably the best hitter in Mexico’s baseball history? Neither did […]
Who’s a Better Hitter: Cobb, Ruth, or Wagner?
Hey baseball fans! There’s a question on my mind that I, for the longest time, was never able to figure out the answer. The question is who is the best hitter from the first Hall of Fame class? In case you don’t know, in 1936, the first three hitters inducted into the Baseball Hall of […]
A (Sort of) Interview with Ty Cobb
Hey baseball fans! Today I have a special interview! It’s with the Hall of Famer who has the best lifetime batting average of all time (.366), Ty Cobb! But wait: Ty Cobb has been dead since 1961, so how could I have possibly interviewed him? Good question. Remember my “interviews” with Jackie Robinson and Babe […]
The National League’s Babe Ruth
Hey baseball fans! Unlike a lot of people, I tend to root for many underrated players in baseball history. I’m sure not a lot of people say that their favorite player ever is Mike Schmidt and I’m also sure not a lot of people say that one of their favorite current MLB players is Adam […]
An Interview with the President and CEO of Little League Baseball, Stephen Keener!
Hey baseball fans! I have a very exciting interview for you today with Stephen Keener, the CEO and President of Little League International! However, before I get into the Q&A, here is a quick bio on Keener. A graduate of Westminster College, Stephen Keener joined the executive staff of Little League Baseball in 1980 and […]
The Underrated Squad: Part One
Today, I will be introducing a new series which primarily focuses on the underrated professional baseball player in the MLB! Over the course of the next year, we will construct a roster of twenty-five ( 25 ) underrated players that deserve more attention by not only the fans, but by front offices, scouts, and even teammates. Catcher : Derek Norris […]
GM of the Week: Billy Beane, Oakland A’s
Hello! I’m introducing a brand new series! Every week, I will be drawing out a random team name from a hat. The team selected will have their General Manager evaluated and reviewed. This year is a special week, as I am evaluating and reviewing the Oakland Athletics General Manager, Billy Beane. However, here is […]
Pitchers Intentionally Hitting Batters: Take it or leave it?
Baseball is still a game steeped in tradition and one of the less favorable traditions is when pitchers intentionally hit batters. I am usually not in favor of this, but at the professional level, I think a retaliatory hitting of a batter is almost a gentlemanly act … when done correctly. Yes, I said it! […]
If I Had a Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot
Hey baseball fans! The 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot is now announced with a lot of stars’ names on the list for the first time. However, there are only five players on the list for the first time that I think deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. So, without further ado, let […]
Pitchers Who Can Hit? WHAAAAAAATTTTTT?
Hey baseball fans! Most pitchers in baseball history are meant for pitching (obviously). However, before the creation of the designated hitter rule in 1973, every single team in the MLB had to have a pitcher somewhere in the lineup. Even though every American League team has to have a DH in the lineup today, there […]
The Hitting Version of Sandy Koufax
Hey baseball fans! There were many stars in baseball in the 1940s and ’50s that came out of the Giants, Cardinals, Braves, Yankees, Red Sox and Tigers. But this post is about a very underrated Hall of Famer who played mainly on the Pirates. He had a very short career, but is considered one of […]
How To Hit Tough Low And Away Strikes!
When trying to overcome any baseball hitting struggles, you should always look for the “easy fix” first before getting more complicated. Why get overly involved and complex unless necessary? You simply can’t bombard a baseball hitter with the thirty five thing necessary for the so called perfect baseball swing. The finest hitters on the planet […]
8 Ways To Know That Your Pitcher Is Getting Tired!
I can’t think of anything on the baseball field that’s more important than the well being of my players. Can you? This really holds true when it comes to your pitchers. When they are tiring, the risk of injury to their throwing arm skyrockets. Skyrockets! Hey, let’s forget that the outcome of the baseball game […]
My Top Five Most Notorious Records in Baseball History
Hey baseball fans! There are some records in baseball history that everyone strives to break: Rickey Henderson‘s stolen bases and runs scored records, Nolan Ryan‘s strikeout record, or Cy Young‘s wins record. However, there are some records that no one would ever want to break. With that, I give you my top five most notorious records in baseball […]
Baseball Tips On Hitting: Ten Basics You Really Should Know!
I truly believe in giving a baseball hitter some good guidelines and starting points and then “backing off.” Here are ten very good guidelines and then it’s going to be up to you. 1. Stand close enough to the plate so that when you’re bent over slightly at the waist, you can extend the bat […]
My Trip to the Newark Bears
Hey baseball fans! A couple of days ago, I was invited to go to Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium to see a Newark Bears game (in Newark, NJ) and to meet some of the players and coaches. It was a very fun experience and I got to meet some great people. Let me tell you […]
Getting Hit By A Pitch Can Be Disheartening For All
If anyone involved in baseball coaching doesn’t make this the first thing they teach a player, they are making a huge mistake. Especially, if it is a young player who is just learning the game of baseball. I can’t think of any baseball tips on hitting that are more important. Getting hit by a pitch […]
An Interview with MLB Commissioner Selig
Hey baseball fans! Today I have a very special interview for you. One of my biggest ones yet. It’s with a very famous baseball figure and someone who I am very honored to have interviewed via email. He used to be the owner of the Brewers, but he is currently the Commissioner of Major League […]
Matt’s Interview with President George W. Bush
Hey baseball fans! Today I have a very special interview for you. Probably my biggest one yet. It’s with a very famous political figure in American history and someone who I am very honored to have interviewed via email. He used to be the President of the United States, and actually co-owned the Texas Rangers […]
How To Field Grounders From A To Z!
Here is an alphabetized list of baseball fielding tips for grounders. All bases are covered. Sorry, but the pun was intended. Arm Extension: You should extend your arms almost straight out and field the ball in front of your body. You should never field grounders near your body or underneath your body. In at least […]
My Interview with Rickey Henderson
Hey baseball fans! Here’s the last video in my series of Baseball Hall of Fame Classic live interviews. If you don’t know who it is, here’s a hint: this outfielder played in four decades and is most remembered for his ability to steal bases and score runs. If you haven’t guessed who he is, I’m […]
Do Not Listen To These Popular Coaching Tips!
Here is a list of seven baseball coaching tips or beliefs that were either wrong from the start or have become totally obsolete: Come On Johnny, Get Your Elbow Up: The reference is to the height of the back elbow when hitting. You will very often hear this hollered to a young player by a […]
An Interview with Cito Gaston and Bobby Cox
Hey baseball fans! As you know, I just went to the Hall of Fame Classic and got to interview some of the greatest players and managers in baseball history. The two managers I briefly interviewed were Cito Gaston and Bobby Cox. Because the interviews were not filmed, I will be tell you their answers to the two questions […]
August Reflections on the Cleveland Indians
Indians fans are currently partying like its 1995! As of this writing, the team has just won eight straight games and is heading to Miami to face the Marlins after a convincing sweep of the Chicago White Sox. While in past years, the team has tailed off after the All Star Break, this team certainly […]
Do You Know When Not To Slide Into Second Base?
If you are a runner on first base and a ground ball is headed to the second baseman, make a quick observation as to where the second baseman is going to field the ball. If the second baseman has to go pretty far to his left to field the grounder, it would be very wise […]
Book Review: Color Blind
With the release of the new Jackie Robinson movie, 42, the awareness of the famous story of how Robinson broke the color line in baseball is more rampant than ever. In his new book, Color Blind: The Forgotten Team that Broke Baseball’s Color Line, Tom Dunkel introduces America to a long lost team that once […]
