0 comments by Ian Casselberry on 4/15/2015
We’re nearly two weeks into the 2015 season, and are already getting some initial ideas of who the standout performers of the year could be. But of course, it’s early and more than 150 games remain on the schedule. That leaves an enormous amount of time for players to either maintain hot starts or break […]
0 comments by Ian Casselberry on 4/14/2015
Yes, it’s early. We’re just into the second week of the 2015 MLB season, and most teams have 155 games left to play. But after five months without meaningful baseball, it’s easy to react to what we’ve seen early on and form early impressions based on that. It takes a bit of time to reacquaint ourselves […]
0 comments by TOC Locker on 4/9/2015
We already know that Adrian Beltre has a tremendous sense of humor, as demonstrated by how he’s reacted over the years to teammates and colleagues rubbing his head. The Rangers third baseman again displayed his (un)willingness to laugh at himself after spinning himself to the ground on a swing-and-miss at an Evan Scribner curveball. Swinging so […]
0 comments by TOC Locker
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of MLB’s opening week and make grand declarations that completely lack perspective. But the diving catch Adam Eaton made in Thursday’s game between the White Sox and Royals has a damn good chance of being viewed as the best catch of the 2015 season. Yes, the […]
:LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 08: Adrian Gonzalez #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on April 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ian Casselberry
Yes, it’s early. The 2015 MLB season hasn’t even completed its first week yet. As of this writing, no team has played more than three games. But if MVP awards were handed out before teams have finished their opening series of the year, Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez would probably hoard all the votes. In his […]
BOSTON, MA – MAY 17: Rick Porcello #21 of the Detroit Tigers reacts in the fifth inning after a putout against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on May 17, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ian Casselberry on 4/7/2015
The Boston Red Sox surely didn’t acquire pitcher Rick Porcello last December with the intention of him being a one-year rental for them. Even if general manager Ben Cherington traded a surplus piece in outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who was unlikely to re-sign with Boston, a 26-year-old starter with six MLB seasons on his résumé looked […]
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 15: National League All-Star Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the American League All-Stars during the 85th MLB All-Star Game at Target Field on July 15, 2014 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ian Casselberry on 4/6/2015
The internet typically rewards the quickest reaction. Had I written about the San Diego Padres trading for Craig Kimbrel in the hours immediately following that news breaking, I would have said that the Pads and general manager A.J. Preller made a great deal. Actually, I did say something like that on Twitter.
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 04: Bryce Harper #34, Denard Span #2 and Jayson Werth #28 of the Washington Nationals look on during a pitching change in the twelfth inning against the San Francisco Giants during Game Two of the National League Division Series at Nationals Park on October 4, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ian Casselberry on 4/3/2015
The Washington Nationals are a popular pick among baseball writers (including the crew here at The Outside Corner) to win the 2015 World Series. (Personally, I’m rolling with the Nats for the third year in a row. This is the year!) Winning the NL East seems like a formality for a team that already had […]
0 comments by TOC Locker on 3/25/2015
A few years ago, I was at a ballgame when my friend inexplicably lost control of the nachos he was holding, and they went all over the back of the guy sitting in front of him. It was a bit awkward watching the last few innings behind a guy who had cheese and onions on […]
0 comments by TOC Locker
It probably sounded like a fun idea for fans of the Fresno Grizzlies, the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. The Astros were deemed 2017’s World Series champions by Sports Illustrated last June, touting the young talent that the organization had stockpiled and developed. With potential stars like George Springer, Jon Singleton, Collin McHugh, Mark […]
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
0 comments by Ian Casselberry on 3/24/2015
Signing Cuban infielders hasn’t worked out terribly well for the Dodgers in recent years, as neither Alexander Guerrero nor Erisbel Arruebarrena has developed as hoped. Perhaps the third time will be the charm. The Dodgers are obviously hoping so, banking $62.5 million on infielder Hector Olivera, winning the latest bidding for a Cuban import. According […]
GOODYEAR, AZ – FEBRUARY 26: Brandon Phillips #4 of the Cincinnati Reds poses for a portrait during Photo Day on February 26, 2015 at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Rich Pilling/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ian Casselberry
So I guess this is why Brandon Phillips doesn’t go by “@DatDudeOBP” on Twitter. (That Twitter handle is already taken, as I was informed Monday night.) When asked if he was down with OBP, the Reds second baseman basically said, “No, you know me.” While talking to USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, Phillips spoke out against […]
0 comments by TOC Locker on 3/23/2015
Among Cuban prospects, right-hander Pablo Millan Fernandez has not drawn as much buzz as some of his fellow countrymen. The Dodgers apparently aren’t concerned about that, as they reached a minor league agreement with the 25-year-old pitcher on Monday worth $8 million. The deal was first reported by Baseball America‘s Ben Badler. However, Fernandez won’t […]
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – OCTOBER 15: Kolten Wong #16 of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the San Francisco Giants during Game Four of the National League Championship Series at AT&T Park on October 15, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ian Casselberry on 3/13/2015
Lack of middle relief and deer-in-the-headlights managing by Mike Matheny prevented the Cardinals from advancing to the World Series. But once again, St. Louis was one of the top clubs in the National League and will stay on that pedestal this year. General manager John Mozeliak made one of the biggest deals of the offseason, […]
FORT MYERS, FL – MARCH 6: David Ortiz #34 and Hanley Ramirez #13 of the Boston Red Sox look on before the game against the Miami Marlins at Jet Blue Park on March 6, 2015 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ian Casselberry on 3/11/2015
Marcus Stroman’s season-ending knee injury will obviously have a significant impact on the Blue Jays going into the 2015 season. Tim Livingston looked at the ripple effects losing Stroman will have on Toronto’s pitching staff. But how will this affect the rest of the AL East? Right now, the competition is dealing with pitching problems of […]
