Author Archives: Eric Goudreau

About Eric Goudreau

It's pronounced "GOOD" not "GOWD". I'm just a guy who loves to watch baseball. I like stats but don't bleed them. I don't really care about launch angle and if I show my bias to the Red Sox too much you can kiss my rookie Nomar card that's above my bed every night. I started up my own site almost two years ago called Goudblogs.com that gave me a chance to throw out my wild sports opinions. I also have written for Wicked Local Sports in Danvers. I love anything and everything baseball. I have found myself sitting on Backyard Baseball for countless hours instead of working on my 40-page thesis. So join my journey in relentless distraction by reading these articles!

RED SOX HOT STOVE: Whose Job is Safe

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After last season, it’s hard to think that this list is very long. Yes, the Red Sox could be putting up statistics with this team that no opponent can match. But it is quite obvious that something isn’t working to produce those numbers in the current clubhouse. You can see those players that may be packing their bags in the post that this one was inspired by here.

Whether new management will change the Red Sox clubhouse next season or not is up for debate. But no matter how many people could be traded, there is a core group of guys on this team that won’t be going anywhere.

Chris Sale:

 

Is this even close to being a debate? Runner-up to the Cy Young, 308 strikeout season, 2.90 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. Those numbers speak for themselves, so you gotta bet the entire house that this gamer is coming back to Boston. Hopefully for many more years to come. But to me, this is the conversational part. Sale threw 214.1 innings this season. That my friends were the most in the 2017 season, period. To me, this might be a John Farrell trend due to the fact he threw David Price for the most in baseball in 2016 with a cool 230.0. When John gets his new toys, he loves to play with them. A bit too much. Cora will have to focus on limiting Sale’s innings, yet hone the results at special points in the season.

Rafael Devers:

A slight improvement from Pablo Sandoval I’d say. Who would have thought a guy nicknamed the “Kung Fu Panda” wouldn’t work out?! All that misery aside, Rafael Devers at this point seems irreplaceable. While there certainly could be quite the return for Devers, I doubt the Red Sox would want to get rid of the face of this clubhouse for years to come. With some of our stars’ abysmal seasons (Mookie Betts), Devers picked up the slack that a lot of 21-year-olds do in a video game with their created players. Looking at his stats, they each look a bit more impressive when remembering this kid’s age. Like Sale, it seems that at the moment Boston baseball is satisfying this guy. Until Devers picks up an agent like Scott Boris, who will tell him what his actual worth is, I think you’re safe to pick up his jersey at Fenway.

Craig Kimbrel:

When thinking of any World Series Red Sox team, you always think about the dominant closer who finished off your favorite moments. Kieth Foulke, Jonathon Pablebon, and Koji Uehara would be some that come to mind. Craig Kimbrel has proven he can be just as dominant, if not more. A WAR of 3.6, 1.43 ERA, 0.681 WHIP in a 35 save season is the cream of the crop in the MLB. Seeing as though Kimbrel is not a free agent until 2019, it seems like the Fenway faithful will see this man through the prime of his career.

Carson Smith:

It’s nice to finally see what Carson Smith can bring to Boston. Although he only made appearances in eight games, Carson Smith seems like the compliment to the flamethrower above we’ve waited for. A slider that comes around the corner similar to that of Sale, and a sinker that will hit you like a two-seam sometimes at 97 MPH. Looks like Dr. Andrews did it again. I doubt after waiting all this time for Smith’s arm to be Frankenstien’d back together that Dombrowski is in any rush to send out a trade with him in it. Smith will hit free agency in 2021 at the age of 33. This is an attractive contract for the Red Sox to keep depending on when and if Smith hits a decline.

Eduardo Núñez:

Absolute heartbreak to see this guy go down in one of the most crucial parts of the postseason this year. It’s sad to think of what difference he would have made offensively in that Houston series. Núñez wasn’t exactly the player all Boston fans wanted at the deadline. Yet, he played like that player anyways. Núñez impressed with a .321 AVG, with 53 hits and 23 runs in just 38 games. To me, Red Sox fans will see Dustin Pedroia leave in a wheelchair before seeing Núñez go. Given the fact Pedroia’s games and innings will have to be limited this season, the Sox need a platoon player like Núñez to fill in roles. Who knows, maybe if/when they finally tell Xander to kick rocks, Núñez may have a starting stop…

Jackie Bradley Jr.:

This one is a bit controversial in my eyes. Not just because this site already put out a piece about JBJ leaving to go to the Giants. Also because it seems like, out of all the core players on this team, Jackie Bradley seems like every fan’s top candidate to go. But will Dave Dombrowski ever be wow’d with a Jackie Bradley Jr. trade? Let me explain.

Who Would YOU Want:

First, you need to compare him to the other outfielders on this team. It seems too perfect that the Sox keep all three of the “Killer B’s” their entire careers. Especially since last year, those B’s weren’t very “killer” at all. If they did fulfill their nickname all at once, there may not be enough contracts to throw around. At some point, we might have to all part ways. Out of all three of them in trade talks, it’s quite obvious Jackie Bradley has the least value in a trade.

Mookie Betts, the runner-up to an MVP in 2016, appeared to be a five-tool player that can make an instant impact for any team in the MLB at his peak. At the age of 25, Mookie still yet to hit the prime years of his career. Whether or not he believes that is up for debate after going on talk radio and saying that he will never come close to his 2016 stats again. It doesn’t seem like Red Sox management loves hearing that. A .264 AVG Betts is a player I’d cast away while there’s still a chance. It’s very obvious he has incredible value at the moment from an outside perspective. But Mookie in Boston forever doesn’t seem like a reality.

Andrew Benintendi has a contract that, to many suitors, seems most appealing. Benintendi, age 24, will not be a free agent until the 2023 season. Which will be perfect, because at this point it will be very clear what his ceiling will be. For whatever team has him. A 20 home run season in his rookie season and runner-up up in AL ROY is what gives GMs whiplash. The question really seems, to be who you could get more for getting rid of in the trade market, Benny Baseball or Mookie.

JBJ Conclusion:

How does this effect JBJ? To me, it does not seem like the Red Sox will get a trade in any situation that will amount to the value Bradley Jr. has on THIS team. The only trade I’d be comfortable with in San Fransisco in return for Jackie Braldey Jr. would be him and Jason Groome for Mad Bum or Posey. Which would happen after you pinch me awake from that dream.

Although he might have the worth of a Cueto straight up, I doubt the Red Sox would open that defensive gap in their outfield to get a coin flip like Cueto. Especially after his abysmal 2016 season. Who else do you want from the San Fransisco Giants (64-98 in 2016)? Unless they can bring back a healthy and untraceable Barry Bonds, I’ll pass. The Red Sox are looking for a power bat. Although every trade they approach a team with may start with Jackie Bradley Jr., I’m sure that goes nowhere fast. Out of the names in this outfield, I don’t think the rebuttal back has JBJ/ headlining it.

Also, I’m not gonna lie. I’ll be very sad going to Fenway and not hearing “They Just Don’t Know” by Gyft when he walks up to the plate. You’ve danced to it, don’t lie, you know you have…

TWITTER STANTON SOURCES TO BE TRUSTED

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Did Stanton pack his bags yet? Because on social media yesterday in the baseball hot stove world, it really seemed like it. Pure chaos. Every person was a Stanton expert. Every person had a “source.” This led to a lot of posts speculating on his desired location before any actual confirmation of what he actually said came out.

For example, an article put on a certain website that started a majority of the uproar yesterday was posted from a complete non-credible source. Not naming the writer, but his bio on his unverified Twitter read all about his glory as a “Roller Derby Coach”.

Really? This is the person we are trusting with breaking news regarding the top free agent in the world not wanting to be in Boston? I understand Stanton will probably end up back at home in the sunny state of Cali. But Derek Jeter himself has yet to have a discussion with Stanton (sources). Hit pieces coming out regarding information about this cause quite the storm on social media. It’s comical because one of the actual verified Red Sox insider’s listed bellow refuted everything this other man said, but people still retweeted the bogus article. For the people who want clear knowledge of where players will be packing their bags this offseason, there are a few insiders you need to follow.

So below, I’m giving you three major MLB insiders to follow on Twitter.  For the Red Sox diehards, I’ll give you a small list of who to follow for straight up Sox news. Finally,  a Marlins/MLB insider for the people who want to know when and where the top free agent is going. These people actually are baseball minds. Not a derby coach coming out of AMF Bowling alleys after blading it up to MJ’s “Thriller”.

THREE MLB WISE MEN

When it comes to breaking news these are the basic guy’s everybody has to be watching. They don’t tweet or post without some credibility behind the source. I have had notifications on all of Ken Rosenthal’s tweets for a while, and trust me,  it pays off. I got the notification about Chris Sale practically as it left Ken’s beautiful fingers. You may remember seeing Jon Heyman from the trade deadline special on MLB Network. In fact, all three of these gentlemen are insiders on MLB Network, and deservedly so. It’s simple.  You need to follow these three reporters.  Even when the “Stanton Sweepstakes” is through, these guys are worth the follow for any pure baseball fan. An honorable mention as well would be Bob Nightengale.

(@Ken_Rosenthal,@jonmorosi,@JonHeyman)

RED SOX INSIDERS

For basic Red Sox insider knowledge, all four of these guys have basic inside info on the clubhouse and management. Although Pete Abraham has possibly the lowest approval rating out of any person here, he did break the David Price trade. If Ken Rosenthal was the top dog in the past group, the head honcho for me here is Evan Drellich. He not only has inside information on the team, but he also has well-backed overall insight about the club. So if Stanton does end up in LA, look for these four to be all over any J.D. Martinez/ Eric Hosmer news.

(@EvanDrellich,@Sean_McAdam, @jcmccaffrey, @PeteAbe)

TOKEN MARLINS MAN

If you’re just a Stanton-or-bust kind of fan, this is the man for you. Frisaro isn’t just an insider with the Marlins management. He is also an on-site reporter for MLB Network. I followed Frisaro around the deadline, as he threw out general MLB trade news. So whether you’re all in on the Stanton deal or just a common baseball fan, this man is just a good follow.

(@JoeFrisaro)

RED SOX HOT STOVE: Who Could Be Leaving Boston

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Every morning I look out my window, see a dark gloomy sky and realize there is no baseball on for the next few months. I watched a rerun of the Red Sox getting spanked in Game 1, against the Astros, in the ALDS. Why? If you clicked on this article, much like myself, you’re missing baseball. Although the offseason is not that good, it’s not that bad since the Hot Stove for trade rumors is constantly on broil. Since this team is not the top World Series team going into the season, there are some pieces that need to be moved to get to that level. Here are some of the Red Sox players I can see packing their bags this offseason:

Sam Travis:

It’s sad to see Sam Travis on this list for me. Aside from any new acquisitions, he was the most talked about player all spring last year. He hit a hand full of home runs, and became the instant thought of power for the future, well before Devers. It certainly didn’t carry into the regular season. Travis hit .263, in only 76 at-bats. In those at-bats, the one stat that mattered most with Dr.Chill, is 0 HR. I personally believe we are going to have another year of Mitch Moreland being the first baseman due to his season last year. There still is a lot of value with Travis, and I could see him in a deal to get immediate power.

Christian Vazquez:

This one may seem strange for people who watched Christian Vazquez in 2017, but this is exactly why I could see him hitting the road. Vazquez hit a clean .290 AVG this year, and although he only hit 5 HR, I think I can remember each one. Two of them were walk-offs, and at home, Vazquez came to ball. At Fenway, the man hit .348 AVG, with an OPS of .905. Do you think Dave Dombrowski really thinks this can happen again? There seems to be a lot of value right now for Vazquez, than this time last year. While the stock for Christian Vazquez is up, I won’t be surprised to see him traded.

Ben Taylor:

For those of you who aren’t aware, Ben Taylor was the guy you saw some time around April, with the sick stache. Although his caterpillar might make it out of November, I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t.  One of the top guys on this roster who has a secured job is Craig Kimbrel. If you asked me last year, I’d have said Taylor was safe due to a shaky year for Kimbrel. However, judging by the fact the flamethrower could be the reliever of the year in the AL, I think Taylor’s days are numbered. Taylor is one of the Red Sox top reliever prospects, and could bring a lot of value to a team with a struggling bullpen.

Eduardo Rodriguez:

Eduardo had quite the start to the 2017 season. At one point, he was in the All-Star conversations, and the number two to Chris Sale. Injuries have been the killer for E-Rod. After undergoing another surgery, I’m not sure how much longer this club can wait for his potential. E-Rod is only 24, and the signs of injury this early in his career could be alarming for most clubs. There are still teams out there willing to take a chance at what he can bring to a rotation. Even when healthy, finishing with a 4.19 ERA, it was disheartening to end the season. The wear and tear of the MLB season does not seem a good fit for E-Rod in Boston. Yuck.

Xander Bogearts:

Thirty-four. No, I am not talking about David Ortiz every one’s favorite home run threat, couldn’t be further from the subject. That is the number of how many games it took the two time Silver Slugger, Xander Bogaerts, to hit a home run this season. Maybe a batting average of .273 isn’t terrible, but for the player Xander should/could be, I really think that number should be higher. He only hit 10 home runs in a season.

Personally, I’m not sure what Xander’s value might be. If Xander does not hit well with a new hitting coach, and a new system of management in 2018, you have to think that’s the last straw. Xander is entering his year 26 season, where most players start to hit their prime.  I’m not sure if value is discussed with him on the phone, or in the locker room, but with a tool like Eduardo Nunez on the team now, it’s unclear if that value is in Boston.

Andrew Benintendi:

*ONLY IF BOSTON GETS STANTON*

LET ME MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR, I don’t think anyone wants this to happen. Benintendi is one of the ROY finalists. Although he will probably not win the award, Benintendi didn’t have a terrible rookie season with the Red Sox. An average of.271, hitting 20 HR, and .776 OPS, is not as well as most thought he’d perform this year. Considering it was his rookie year at the age of 23, I’m not exactly upset with that performance. The bottom line is, Andrew Benintendi has top value out of the entire Red Sox roster. Defensively, he can be a threat, he has speed on the base paths, and is an all-around athlete.

Either Andrew Benintendi is a Sox player for life, or will be sent away for a power hitter from South Beach. It’s the difference between what this team wants in the future, or immediate present. Benintendi has three more years secured on his contract than Hot Stove favorite, Jackie Bradley Jr. If it were me, I’d rather give more around a package with JBJ, than settle for giving away Benintendi. If you’re a fan of Stanton being with the Red Sox, you may have to part ways with Benny Baseball. PRAY with me for JD Martinez.

Red Sox Signing Tony La Russa is HUGE

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Quick little post here. When the Sox lost their final game, I tweeted (@goudtweets) I believed the Red Sox needed a veteran in their system. One who has been “there” before. Vague I know, but my mind was thinking of a certain list of players. At the top was Yadier Molina. Boston fans remember him as the pesky, clinical, defensive catcher for every amazing Cardinals team since 2004. You remember his manager?

Fast-forward to the World Series game 7 finale last night. I receive a notification that said something along the lines of what this most recent Red Sox tweet says:

 

Initial Reaction:

What an insane time to throw this news out there. I was relaxing, watching two teams that I have no strong feelings towards, duke it out on the big stage. Now my head was spinning into 2018. These are the kind of moves Boston fans need this winter. I realized this is the next best thing to Yadier’s experience. This is just as good as getting anyone from the 2004 team in the front office.

Flash It Back:

2004 was a magical year for the Sox. Everyone in Boston knows that. If someone from the outside knows that, it’s probably someone from the ’04 Cardinals team. The team won 105 games, had one of the best teams I have ever seen, and was dismantled by the Red Sox. Tony La Russa, the Hall of Fame manager, and manager of the Cardinals at that time, knows what went into that team. Maybe he didn’t at the time of battle, but he had front row seats to one of the top teams Boston has produced in any sport.

Now we fast forward to a couple of this man’s World Series titles in 2006, and 2011. He left the game in 2011, after winning a World Series. He went to the Diamondbacks as Chief Baseball Officer front office, and played a crucial role in turning them into what we saw this season. The D-backs team he left had a very sound rebuild, and went from something deplorable to a Wild Card team. Now he comes to the team that caused the demise of one of his best creations in 2004.  Why would he do that? He wants to be with the better chapter of Boston history. It’s time to start believing in what this team is about to turn into with this small move.

What This Does:

Tony La Russa isn’t going to fetch Dombrowski’s his ice mocha lattes, my friends. In fact, there’s a better chance Dave goes to get Tony’s. Larussa is one of the greatest baseballs organizational minds we’ve seen. From helping operate a sound Arizona team, to conducting 15 years of great Cardinals teams. Dave Dombrowski has money he doesn’t even know how to spend at this point. Having Tony sit behind him as a war general telling him where to drop the bombs helps a lot. The Red Sox have gotten the best candidate for the spots they need every offseason. Someone who knows the tactical side of it all can sure help.

There are a lot of veterans with on-field experience like Yadier, that the Sox can find. Someone who is aware of what is going on the league now, and has history to build his credibility. La Russa checks those boxes. This Red Sox team is not a lost cause at all. There is a lot of untapped talent this team can grab hold of. Yet there are some things this team desperately needs, and that’s where Tony comes in to help Dave make those moves. Everyone is concerned with Alex Cora’s managerial experience. What would it do for someone like Cora to have Tony helping out a little bit? The growth and wisdom is endless.

Conclusion:

Respect what the Red Sox will be doing this offseason. This team isn’t rebuilding. Besides Chris Sale, Devers and Kimbrel, it seems everyone’s job is at risk. It is clear changes had to be made. Tony La Russa, behind closed doors, using his baseball knowledge is a step into a bright future. It will also be nice to have a line of defense between Dombrowski and specific harsh Boston media. Tony doesn’t back down.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g64Ae58SvEk]

MLB Best World Series: Top 10 Teams That Haven’t Won Since 1992

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When the champagne is popped at the end of the MLB season, there is one team that stays dry. It only seems fitting on the day when the Dodgers or Astros will end their season with a loss in Game 7, that I put this piece together.

There are so many incredible teams that have made it to the World Series, then not been rewarded for their work. It is quite specific, but 1992 is a nice benchmark of teams we all loved to watch. So let’s see what teams made the cut.

*DISCLAIMER*

This is my opinion. The opinion of a guy who was born in 1996, and didn’t have the pleasure of seeing some of the best teams of all-time in action. Based on what I know, I believe this list is fair.

I’d also like to say, if the Dodgers or Astros lose tonight, I’d easily sneak either of them into the top five spot on this list.

 

10. 1998 San Diego Padres (98-64): Lost to NYY (114-48)

And they were never the same again folks. To me, it seems obvious this was the best Padres team in recent memory. Not much competition, but some of these guys knew how to swing the stick. This Padres team was one of my bubble teams on this huge list, until I realized Trevor Hoffman was a bad, bad man. The man threw up 53 saves, easily in 74 innings, pitched at the age of 30. Didn’t hurt either to have Tony Gwynn lurking in the shadows with a .321 AVG. Then to be complemented by the machine himself, Greg Vaughn. This beast was relaxed in his prime with a 6.3 WAR and 50 long balls in 1998. Have you ever heard of Kevin Brown? He pitched without thinking, with a 257 strikeout season and a 9.1 WAR. You’re welcome, now you have heard of him.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1XE0kGfJqY]

 

9. 2011 Texas Rangers (96-66): Lost to STL (90-72)

There’s a good reason I put this video under this little blurb. These boys hit 210 home runs as a unit, with big boys like Beltre, Napoli, Cruz, Hamilton all hitting 20+. I don’t have to say their first names, you know them all. I bet you didn’t know Chris Davis (BAL) was on this team, wonder where he learned that swing from? Ian Kindler, with a slight 32 homers and a 7.1 WAR, had him slated as the best second baseman in the league at the time. Niftily Feliz wasn’t too shabby out of the pen either! Not to mention, C.J. Wilson was the pretty boy every pitcher wanted in their rotation. He was pretty because he made the batter look ugly with 206 strikeouts and a 2.94 ERA.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUEbP227mdI]

8. 2012 Detroit Tigers (88-74): Lost to SF (94-68)

It blows my mind to think that this team only won 88 games. The Tiger’s uncaged animal, Miguel Cabrera, claimed the first triple crown in the MLB since 1967 (Carl Yastrzemski) with a .330 AVG.606 SLG, 139 RBI’s, 205 hits and 44 of those being the long ball. Just a year after Verlander won the MVP, who leads off a rotation with Max Scherzer (231 strikeouts), Rick Porcello (107) and Doug Fister (107). I wish they could have done that in Boston this year! I don’t want to harp on Miggy, but an OPS of .999. These stats don’t make sense with their record, but their postseason run ended them. Onto the West side!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y4TAH7hWA4]

7. 2002 San Fransisco Giants (95-66): Lost to LAA (99-63)

If I go a week without watching a Barry Bonds clip on YouTube, check my pulse. There’s too much to even talk about with this man, but an 11.8 WAR, 46 HR, 110 RBI, .799 SLG, and 1.381 OPS season doesn’t sound like a human beings numbers. I do know what steroids do, and how legal or illegal they may be now, but this man was just plain fun to watch. The Robin to his Batman came in the form of Jeff Kent, who grabbed 195 hits, 108 RBIs, and a .313 AVG. That average would be slightly less cute if it weren’t for Bonds hitting an easy .370. Jason Schmidt was 4 strikeout’s shy of being placed in the 200 club, and each pitcher hit double digits in the win column. Needless to say, this was more than enough. Trust me, the video is comical.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MCThZ4bluI]

 

 6. 2015 New York Mets (90-72): Lost to KC (95-67)

Heartbreak. DeGrom (205), Harvey (188), Syndergaard (166), Colon (136) and even Niese (113), all with 100+ punchouts this season. Familia looked like the wipeout closer that every World Series team should have. All this combined with Daniel Murphy hitting absolute soul-crushing bombs every game, should have had them dancing in the end. Unhinging the Cubbies a year before they won it all. It’s all a real shame. If this team had an even better cast hitting, would they even be on this list?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQQvMmiUooY]

 

5. 1999 Atlanta Braves (103-59): Lost to NYY (98-64)

With 103 wins, this Braves team seemed unbeatable all season long. Bobby Cox’s masterpiece consisted of Andruw (7.1 WAR) and Chipper Jones both putting fright in opposing pitchers. Chip hit an OPS of 1.074 by going bridge 45 times, claiming 181 hits and hitting for an average of .319. It’s amazing the man didn’t grab the triple crown this year. The pitchers are a story of their own. With slingers like Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz, it’s shocking to see the pitcher in the rotation with the highest WAR was Kevin Millwood (6.0). Millwood led the rotation with 205 punchouts, a 2.68 ERA and a .966 WHIP. This bad man could do it all. The chance for the other three kings would come far earlier than 1999…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HA_J5s1HZo]

 

4. 1995 Cleveland Indians (100-44): Lost to ATL (90-54)

By far the best Indians team of all time right here. Charles Nagy and Orel Hershiser commanded the bump for this team, each with 16 wins and 100+ strikeouts. They had all the speed they needed on the paths with Kenny Lofton grabbing an easy 54. Albert Belle hit Bond’s numbers with 50 home runs, a 317 AVG and a 6.9 WAR. Manny Ramirez started to prove his value with 31 home runs, learning from one of the games great power hitters Jim Thome (.558 SLG and .314 AVG). There was danger all through this lineup. Eddie Murray hit a clean AVG of .323, and topping everyone in the lineup. Together this team hit for .291, which somehow wasn’t enough to slay the Yanks. If you’d argue that this team could have been in the top three, I would almost agree with you.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtPAZcCAefs]

3. 2004 St.Louis Cardinals (105-57): Lost to BOS (98-64)

We all played MVP Baseball 2005.  In that game, getting this team or the Red Sox was a cheat code. This team didn’t win 105 games on accident. The triple-headed dragon of Scott Rolen (9.2 WAR), Albert Pujols (8.5) and Jim Edmonds (7.2) was as lethal as it gets. The Cardinals watched the Red Sox and Yankees 7 game battle, and seemingly got cold when it mattered most. The rotation stayed consistent all season long with their four top pitchers all having 15 or more wins. Overall, this team was a force to face.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmRSxk1Mf08]

2. 2003 New York Yankees (101-61): Lost to FLA (91-71)

Grady Little you terrible, terrible, terrible man. This had to be the video for this team, it was arguably the craziest moment of the entire 2003 post-season. This team felt like the golden Yankees, from the catcher to the closer. The cast included some real household names New York will never forget like. Jeter (.324 AVG), Posada (30 HR), Matsui (106 RBI), Giambi (41 HR), Pettite (21-8), Mussina (195 K), Clemens (190), and I could still go on. The “X-Factor” for this team is better than the 2004 Cardinals: The Sandman (Mariano Rivera) himself. Having the best closer of all time on your team does help quite a bit, with 40 saves as an off year. Would it scare you if I told you this was Mo’s 9th worst year of all time in saves? This team was incredible, but to me doesn’t beat out the next group of guys.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVlHEkh4Jeg]

 1. 1996 Atlanta Braves (96-66): Lost to NYY (92-70)

If you thought 1996 was a nice time to be in Atlanta, you must be forgetting the start of it all. This 76 pitch game that Maddux threw has always fascinated me, as it takes some pitchers half of this just to get through the 3rd inning (Drew Pomeranz 2016, looking at you). Maddux (7.1 WAR) along with John Smoltz (7.7) and Tom Glavine (6.9) were three pitchers that could, by themselves, go through an entire season. Chipper Jones (.309 AVG), Ryan Kelsko (31 HR), Marquise Grissom (207 H) and Fred McGriff (107 RBI), all did something different to make this lineup consistent enough to support their aces. Geez, they might hate those pinstripes more than I do.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTSZ9xbD4JM]

 

Juiced Baseballs, Who Really Cares?

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Quick Flashback

If you’re a late 80’s to 90’s baby, there is a good chance you grew up watching the steroid era. We both remember watching titans like Jose Canseco walk up and turn balls into dust. Barry Bonds sending 600-foot nuclear attacks into the cove, then come back to the dugout like it was a routine flip to second. These guys were animals. Until we started scratching our heads and doing some digging, it was the best entertainment for sports television. Who is juiced now?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDJB_7hVpRs]

(Youtube: Evan William)

 

Whole new ballgame?

Fans who watch closely know this season had the most home runs launched out of any year since Abner Doubleday picked up the stick. Alex Gordon hit number 5,694 for the entire league in September, and it certainly didn’t stop there. Is there something behind the curtain that we aren’t seeing? What is causing these monster seasons? A hot theory that took a new life this season– the balls are juiced. Tightly woven, stuffed with atomic bombs and whatever it takes to help Stanton hit 59.

 

Average Joe

Speaking of average Joe, Joey Gallo hit 41 home runs this year. In the two seasons Gallo played prior to this year, he hit a combined seven home runs. It’s possible to point a finger at the at-bats he’s getting, but the man is not a bonafide all-star. Forty-one home runs is not an easy milestone in a single season. The strikeouts he accumulated make it seem like there might be more helping Gallo’s power swing when he does make contact.

Gallo ended the season with a slight 196 in the K-department. Home run or strike out hitter is not a foreign concept to the game, but the gap Gallo saw this year is incredible. I’m no stats guy, but that means 53% of the time this guy was running the bases or striking out. Sounds to me like a guy who knows his baseball, swinging the big fly or bust, most times he steps into the box. This is just one example from hundreds of players in the MLB. When power hitters emerge, or there is a surge in power, the strikeout totals do add up. It’s been evident as the seasons have progressed past the steroid era.

“The average number of strikeouts per team per game has climbed every season since 2005, from 6.3 to the current 8.25. There are no indications the trend will reverse.” (USA Today, Jorge Ortiz)

The balls are juiced, or Joey Gallo is the new Matt Stairs of our generation. It seems like the rest of the league is starting to follow suit.

 

World Series 2017 Game 2

The playoffs came under the same theme of balls finding the stands pretty quick. Studs who get past the 7th inning without problems in the regular season get knocked out in three in the postseason. This, in part, has led to the concept of “bullpening.” No manager wants their starter wasting time watching balls leave the yard all day. After Game 2, there were fans who took to Twitter and other social media saying how sad it was to see the MLB juicing balls to gain viewers. This had me scratching a hole in my head.

The game, highlighted by eight incredible home runs, turned the tide of the battle. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the screen because I might have missed the next game-changing swing.

To me, this breaks down the entire concept of “Make Baseball Fun Again.” This game got people watching late into the night, just for the entertainment value of those guys swinging.

 

Pitchers Perspective

Dallas Keuchel felt the brunt of a Justin Turner colossal drive in Game 1. Then had front row seats to Game 2’s fiasco. This is what he had to say:

“Obviously, the balls are juiced,” said Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel, via USA Today. “I think they’re juiced 100%. But it is what it is. I’m just glad we came out on top.”

Keuchel, who lost Game 1 of the Series, says average guys are now hitting the ball out for the park.

“There are really powerful guys in this league,” Keuchel said, “and they’re going to get theirs. But where you can tell a difference is the mid-range guy who’s hitting 20-plus home runs now.

That doesn’t happen. That’s not supposed to happen.”- (Sports Illustrated)

To be honest, though, I’m okay with that happening Dallas. It’s exciting baseball. Not once have I complained about seeing a home run leave the yard, except when it was coming out of Chris Sale’s hand in Game 1 of the ALDS.

There are opposite ends of this spectrum! This isn’t a one way (Houston) street. I love watching those balls leave the yard, but seeing Clayton Kershaw send 11 guys packing in 7 innings is just as therapeutic for my baseball crave. It felt like I was watching Pedro wrap up those steroid users 313 times back in 1999. The cream of the crop will always rise, and if Keuchel’s right, I guess Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher of all time. Pitchers, like in the steroid era, should want the feeling of being known as Hercules for slaying the monsters at the plate, rather than falling victim to them.

As we sit back and wait for game 5, I personally don’t think I’ll see a better game than the firework show of Game 2. Wake me up when it happens, and hopefully the Red Sox won’t be on the bleak side of it.

 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSMeh1ZtT68]

(Youtube:Highlight Heaven)