BRAVES UPDATE
“No matter how good you are, you’re going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you’re going to win one-third of your games. It’s the other third that makes the difference.” — Tommy Lasorda The Braves were 42 and 47 as of July 15, 2015 and on a 5 game […]
The Greatest Historical MLB Second-Half Comebacks
Have no fear, Atlanta Braves. No need to worry, Seattle Mariners. There is plenty of time to come back and make the playoffs. You want proof? As the second half of the baseball season begins, here is just a sampling of some teams that overcame large deficits to get into the postseason. 1951 New York […]
Twins’ Time to Call Somebody
Call someone in to fix this mess. Call a few people and let them know that they need to start looking for new employers at the end of the season. Call in some grief counselors for the fans of this “team”. The Twins are beyond just being in trouble, this is another season that is […]
July Reflections on the Cleveland Indians
What makes this year’s version of the Cleveland Indians different from those the past few years? They seem to have more staying power. Well, that remains to be seen, but at least they have the power to come back after getting knocked down. During the 2011 and 2012 seasons, the Indians shot out of the […]
Midseason Pythagorean Projections
In the midst of the muggy swelter of July, it’s not just baseball aficionados who look forward to the crisp, cool days of October. But with twice as many wild cards this year, fully one third of all major league teams will be suiting up when the season ends, giving fans an additional reason to […]
All-Star Angst: Taking Our Nation’s Pulse on Baseball
As spring fades into summer, one can feel the anticipation for the Midsummer Classic building through the baseball community. The Commissioner’s Office makes sure we go batty over our ballots, and articles on ideal All-Star squads flood cyberspace. I wrote a few columns of my own about my ideal assemblage […]
“It’s Not a Break:” My Selections for the 2012 American League All-Star Team
“I am a Major League Baseball All-Star. I didn’t get here by chance. I did not take the road of easy or the path of the painless. I worked hard to take this field, for my team, and for my league… Some call it an All-Star break. It’s not a break: we play on, because […]
Pushing the Panic Button in the Second Week of the Fantasy Baseball Season
If there is one thing that never ceases to amaze, it is the sheer number of fantasy baseball owners that panic as early as the second week of the baseball season. With such a small sample size, it is easy to overreact when players have a poor start to the season. However, there are often […]
Who’s On First? Fantasy Baseball First Basemen for the Second Half of 2011
As we approach the second half of the 2011 season, it may be time to start looking at potential key moves to make a second half push toward your fantasy baseballleague title. When considering the position of first base, there is no lack of players who are underachieving, overachieving, sleeper picks or possible ‘buy low’ […]
The 2011 All-Star Futures Game
On Tuesday night, the 2011 All Star game will take place. Of course, it’s supposed to be a battle of the biggest stars of the sport, and for the most part, it is. I’ll leave my reservations about the voting process for another day. MLB has done a great job advertising the Home Run Derby, […]
The Japanese All-Star Series
Image via Wikipedia While watching the recent MLB All-Star game, I started thinking about what the All-Star game is like in Japan. Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann and Chicago Cubs outfielder Marlon Byrd performed late-inning heroics, propelling the National League to victory. Now that the MLB’s mid-summer classic “counts,” the win assures a National League […]
Early 2011 Fantasy Baseball Value Plays
We are not even at the All-Star Break yet so you may be asking, “Why the hell are you talking about values for 2011?” Certainly a fair question but it is never too early to start getting a feel for the next season – even in non-keeper leagues. Here is a look at some players […]
All-Star Shame; Prospects Flame
Image by Evan Wohrman via Flickr I’m going to go on my annual rant about the All-Star Game albeit somewhat less harsh. This game is at a crossroads. What is it really and what has it become? Historically the All-Star Game was created to offer some excitement during the Great Depression. No fewer than 19 […]
The SF Giants June Swoon
I can recall one time when I was a kid, one of my sisters asked me “What about the Giants’ “June swoon?” At the time she asked I was not familiar with what the phrase “June swoon” actually meant. Now, many years later I am painfully aware of what the June swoon is, and it […]
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 […]
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 […]
