I start this year’s previews with what I think is the hardest division to predict. All 5 teams could finish .500 (they won’t). I think all the top 3 could win the division and all 3 will make the playoffs. I address each team in the order I am predicting they will finish. Tampa Bay…… Continue reading 2023 AL East Preview

Japan won the World Baseball Classic, taking the championship game over Team USA 3-2. While personally don’t like the format of single-elimination following the round robin portion…single elimination in a baseball tournament just doesn’t sit well with me…I will admit the final culminated in a narrative writer’s dream. Down 3-1 in the 8th, Kyle Schwarber…… Continue reading Japan Wins WBC

For those who don’t know, Gary Rossington was the last surviving original member of Lynrd Skynrd. He was 71. No cause of death was given, but he had a long history of heart disease. Three other founding members died in a plane crash in 1977. Rossington survived but with multiple major injuries…from which he recovered.…… Continue reading Gary Rossington Died Today

Last week we were told Manny Machado would, unsurprisingly, opt out of the last five years/$150M of his contract with the Padres. Instead, it now appears he will replace that with an 11 year, $350M deal that will keep him with the Padres until he is 41. His original $305M deal that would have carried…… Continue reading Machado Apparently Extending with Padres

I haven’t posted in a while, but baseball goes on. Los Tigres del Licey won their 11th Caribbean Series. The college baseball regular season is ongoing. The arbitration decisions are all made. Spring training games have begun. Some teams have already been bitten by the injury bug (Yankees pitcher Frankie Montas had to have shoulder…… Continue reading Doings

MLB has released this year’s schedule. Opening Day is March 30. All 30 teams are in action that day. Game 162 for everyone is Oct 1. There will be games in London and Mexico City this year. The big change is the more balanced schedule. Instead of nearly half the games being intradivisional, each team…… Continue reading 2023 MLB Schedule Release

The US Open bowling tournament is ongoing in Indianapolis. One of the bowlers is Mookie Betts. After rolling 16 games, he was tied for 19th of 36 bowlers. He was averaging 192.75. The bowler he’s tied with, Jason Belmonte has won 14 major tournaments and been the PBA bowler of the year 7 times. Betts…… Continue reading Mookie Betts, World Class Bowler

Chip Caray has been announced as the new TV announcer for the St Louis Cardinals. This follows being the voice of Braves games the past two decades. He replaces Dan McLaughlin, had been announcing Cardinals games for 24 years but who also last month got his third DUI. I wouldn’t normally bother putting up a…… Continue reading Chip Caray Joins Cards Booth

In December I posted that the Rays were one of four groups that met a deadline to submit a proposal to redevelop the area where Tropicana Field now sits. From that post: “Their proposal includes a new stadium, housing with 5700 multi-family units, 1.4 million square feet of office, 300,000 square feet of retail, 700…… Continue reading Update on Rays’ Quest for New Stadium

Saturday night was the annual BBWAA awards dinner. Justin Verlander and Sandy Alcantara picked up their Cy Young Awards. The BBWAA changed the wording in the trophy for this year—switching out “most outstanding pitcher” to “most valuable pitcher”…or so they thought. Instead, this prized trophy…from the writers but apparently not the editors…read “most valuble” pitcher.…… Continue reading Cy Young Gaffe

Braves manager has a 542-451 record through six seasons at the helm, following >1300 wins as a minor league manager, mostly in the Braves’ system, and three stints as a coach in Atlanta. In his six seasons as skipper, he has won five straight division titles, a World Series championship, a Manager of the Year…… Continue reading Braves Extend Snitker

Okay, I started working on this last night, then today saw a very similar post at ESPN.com. Now, they get paid for this kind of thing, and I’m doing it for free. Also, I swear I’m not plagiarizing! Anyway, each year after the BBWAA Hall of Fame selection announcement is made, I start thinking about…… Continue reading Looking Ahead at Upcoming Hall of Fame Ballots

In 2019 with the Rangers, Jeffrey Springs had a 6.40 ERA out of the pen. In 2020 with the Red Sox, it was 7.08. Nonetheless, the Rays’ scouts/front office saw something in him and brought him to Florida. He responded with a 3.46 ERA. Rays management then thought maybe he could be a starter…and in…… Continue reading Jeffrey Springs Signs Extension with Rays

1997 NL Rookie of the Year. 7 times an All Star. 8 Gold Gloves. 70.1 WAR. 122 OPS+. Mike Schmidt once said he was a superior third baseman to himself. Now, in his sixth year of eligibility, Scott Rolen pulled 76.3% of the BBWAA vote, making him the newest baseball Hall of Famer. It’s well…… Continue reading Scott Rolen a Hall of Famer

This year’s BBWAA Hall of Fame vote will be announced in one week. Approximately 41% of the expected ballots have been revealed as published at http://www.bbhoftracker.com/2022/11/2023-bbhof-tracker-summary-and-leaderboard/#main-navigation Right now Scott Rolen and Todd Helton are hovering in the 80% range. That doesn’t mean for sure they will get in. A large percentage of the, um, grumpier…… Continue reading HoF Voting Update