0 comments by Jaymes Langrehr on 11/4/2013
The 2013 season was a disaster for Philadelphia. Despite spending nearly $160 million, the Phillies had their first losing season since 2002 and narrowly avoided their first 90-loss season since 2000. So what happened? It appears age and injuries finally caught up with them — few offenses in baseball were worse, and even the usually-strong […]
0 comments by Joe Lucia
The Marlins won the winter following the 2011 season. Last winter, they clearly did not, trading nearly every player of consequence on their team between the All-Star Break and Christmas. This winter, the Marlins seem to have more of a plan in place. They've got a young core, and there's really only one player on […]
0 comments by Joe Lucia
At midnight tonight, free agency begins. Teams can sign wherever they want. This isn't NBA or NFL free agency, though: there's not a giant rash of signings at 12:01 and everything generally isn't settled within a week. The next three plus months are going to be chaotic yet slow-moving, and you're probably going to end […]
0 comments by Ian Casselberry on 11/3/2013
If Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski wanted to make a bold departure from Jim Leyland's eight-year tenure as the team's field manager, mission accomplished. According to reports, Brad Ausmus will become Detroit's next manager.
0 comments by Ian Casselberry on 11/1/2013
Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington will take his victory lap this offseason, building a seemingly improbable World Series champion one year after finishing last in the AL East and overhauling his roster through trades and less expensive free agent signings. With most of the team set to return in 2014, Boston should be viewed […]
0 comments by Jaymes Langrehr
It isn’t surprising news, but it’s at least official now — Derek Jeter will be returning to the New York Yankees in 2014. The Yankees are giving Jeter a one-year, $12 million deal for next season, giving the soon-to-be 40-year-old shortstop a raise over the $9.5 million he would have earned by executing his player […]
0 comments by Joe Lucia
This is why we can't have nice things, America: John Coomer, a Kansas City Royals fan who was hit in the eye with a hot dog, is suing the team for medical expenses after undergoing two eye surgeries. Coomer, of Overland Park, Kan., says he was injured at a September 2009 Royals game when the […]
0 comments by Joe Lucia
There was no need for a late rally in 2013. The A's took over the lead in the AL West for good on September 6th, and clinched the division on the second to last weekend of the season. Oakland took a 2-1 lead in the ALDS against the Tigers, and led 3-0 in Game 4 […]
0 comments by Ian Casselberry
The expectations were World Series or bust with the Tigers, so falling short in the ALCS (albeit to the eventual champion Red Sox) has to be viewed as a disappointment. However, virtually the entire team that won 93 games, an AL Central title and got within one game of a second consecutive World Series is […]
0 comments by Joe Lucia
What's this? No baseball for the next five months? Oh. Dammit. Congratulations to the World Champion Boston Red Sox, and their World Series win on Wednesday night has sent us into the offseason. Just because the regular season is over, that doesn't mean we here at TOC are going to leave you hanging. Our coverage […]
0 comments by Joe Lucia on 10/31/2013
Here we are, folks: the End of Season Post-Mortem series. If you're new here (which about 50% of our reader base is in comparison to last year), here's a brief explanation: after a team is eliminated from playoff contention, we're going to put their season under a microscope and look at just what the hell […]
0 comments by Ian Casselberry
With Terry Francona signing on as the Indians' manager, any plans to bide time and wait for younger players to develop likely changed. Cleveland saw an opportunity to challenge the Tigers in the AL Central and contend for a wild-card spot and suddenly became big offseason spenders. Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn filled two major […]
0 comments by Joe Lucia
The oft-tumultuous Chris Perez era in Cleveland is over, as the Tribe has released the 28-year old reliever. Perez made $7.3 million in 2013, and was entering his final year of arbitration. Perez's 2013 was his worst season yet. He saved 25 games and blew five for the Indians, pitching to a career-worst 4.33 ERA […]
0 comments by Joe Lucia
Here we are, folks: the End of Season Post-Mortem series. If you're new here (which about 50% of our reader base is in comparison to last year), here's a brief explanation: after a team is eliminated from playoff contention, we're going to put their season under a microscope and look at just what the hell […]
0 comments by Joe Lucia
2013 was another one of those seasons that the Rays have seemingly been having for years. Tampa Bay won 92 games with a solid defense, a great pitching staff, and unlike in past years, an above average offense. And once again, in typical Rays fashion, they have numerous holes to fill this offseason. Needs The […]
