There may not be a lot of excitement surrounding baseball’s division races this season, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some pressing issues going on behind the scenes. Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires this winter. While there are many subjects on the negotiation table – adding an additional wild card team being […]

Unlike the National League, where the Philadelphia Phillies are the clear favorites to march on to yet another World Series, the American League sees five teams, all with their own appeals, in the mix to win a shot at a World Series berth. Let’s take a look at what each of the five teams bring, […]

Never heard of Phipps? Even most prospect mavens haven’t heard of Denis Phipps, but after a .346/.397/.527 season in AA and AAA parts of the Cincinnati Reds organization, he’s put himself on the radar. And it is put himself on the radar. Phipps has never been on a Baseball America list, John Sickels didn’t even […]

The human condition isn’t defined by how we respond in times of joy. After all it’s easy to maintain a clear head and a strong heart when things are going your way. Rather who we are as individuals and as a society is defined by how we respond when the odds are stacked against us, […]

With Justin Verlander’s 22 wins re-igniting the “do pitcher’s wins matter” debate in the American League, Ian Kennedy may be very quietly doing the same thing himself in the National League. Last night, he threw 7 2/3 innings, allowing one run and striking out 11 Padres to earn his 19th victory of 2011, most on […]

In today’s edition of the Three Strikes Roundtable, we look at eagerly anticipated, season-ending storylines, races and awards that need to still be decided, and seasons that have been great, but you haven’t been paying any attention to. 1) What storyline are you most interested in over the final three weeks of the season?Garrett Wilson: I’m […]

Over the four previous games, the Twins had scored 2 whole runs. Over the past 20 innings, they had scored 0. Over their previous 32 games, the Twins had won 7. To say that things haven’t gone according to plan for the Twins this season would be an understatement, but the Twins got a 5-4 […]

The news has broken today that Colts QB Peyton Manning will miss the first game of the NFL season this weekend due to a neck injury. The Colts offense revolves around Manning, and without him playing, fans everywhere are wondering just how bad Indianapolis will be. That made me think of this: are there any […]

Louisville Bats When I first saw Neftali Soto, I thought, “This is the guy limited to first base?” He looks to be in excellent shape, but I haven’t seen him in the field at any position other than first, at which he looked fine showing good hands on a couple scoops and flashing range on […]

Before the 2004 season, Baseball America ranked Dustin McGowan as the 18th best prospect in baseball. He ranked just below Cole Hamels and just in front of J.J. Hardy. He was ranked ahead of current major league starters Gavin Flyod (23), Ervin Santana (29), Felix Hernandez (30) and Adam Wainwright (49). Now, ranking prospects in […]

Last week, I took a look at Stephen Strasburg’s final rehab start. On Wednesday, Strasburg made his first start in the majors in a year against the Dodgers. The results were encouraging for Strasburg, the Nationals, and Nats fans alike. Strasburg threw five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, not walking a batter, and striking […]

The Yankee organization is known for being ruthlessly competitive and willing to do whatever it takes to win.  In their storied past, they’ve literally spent billions of dollars in the pursuit of a championship, hired and fired managers on whims and even resorted to under-handed tactics like hiring private investigators to dig up dirt on […]

When the Tigers made a deadline deal with the Seattle Mariners this season, Tigers fans let out a collective groan and couldn’t help but conjure up repressed memories of Jarrod Washburn, the overrated Mariners lefty that single-handedly lost the Tigers the division in 2009. Okay, not single-handedly (the Tigers actually were 4-3 in his 7 […]

(Reality TV show producers — make this happen.) The greatest potential athlete reality show was born today in the form of an innocuous