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Jackie Bradley Jr. Is What the Red Sox Need

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“He cannot hit!”  “Send him down.”  Blah, blah, blah.  When discussing Jackie Bradley Jr. and what he means to the Red Sox, these are the responses I get.  However, I disagree.  Jackie Bradley Jr. is doing exactly what the Red Sox need him to do.  Jackie Bradley Jr. is currently hitting .225 with two homeruns and six runs batted in.  If his average climbs to the .240-.250 range for the season, that is all we need.

Defensive Wizard

In case you are living under a rock, Jackie Bradley Jr. is already making jaw-dropping plays.  His spectacular catch against the Marlins is pretty much forgotten because of the catch he made against the Orioles.

Watch the catch here:

I mean, this ball is about a millionth of a centimeter from touching the ground, and JBJ swoops in and catches it.  The fact that Jackie Bradley Jr. was not a finalist for a Golden Glove last season is a joke.  If you search “Jackie Bradley Jr. Catch”, about thirty different shocking plays will pop up.  JBJ takes so many runs away from opposing teams.  In addition to Craig Kimbrel, David Price and Chris Sale, all owe him a debt of gratitude.  The hits he takes away from teams more than makes up for his (sometimes) disappointing bat.  However, by no means is Jackie Bradley Jr. a slouch at the plate.

Hitting

Is Jackie Bradley Jr. the best hitter on the Red Sox? No.  Is he an instant out?  Absolutely not.  JBJ can drive the ball.  When he gets a hold of one, it flies off his bat.  His numbers from the 2016 campaign are outstanding.  A .267 average, 26 homeruns, and 87 RBIs.  Many players only dream of achieving these stats.  Not to mention an All-Star selection and a 29-game hitting streak mixed in? Wow.  As a matter of fact, JBJ is one of only five Red Sox players to hit a homerun onto Eutaw Street at Camden Yards.  Only 89 dingers have reached Eutaw Street.  Jackie joins David Ortiz, who hit two, Mo Vaughn, Carl Everett, and Troy O’Leary. Not bad company to be in.

If Jackie Bradley Jr. keeps playing the way he is, there is no reason not to keep him in Boston long term.  With Scott Boras as his agent, he might look to get his client overpaid.  However, JBJ is a smart guy.  Despite this, I hope to see him manning center field for years to come.

#AllthewaywithJBJ

 

Follow Matt McGurn on twitter: @MickGurn

Why Mookie Betts Is Poised for a Huge 2018

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Mookie Betts is arguably the best hitter in baseball right now. He is seeing the ball so well and smoking it. He massacred the Yankees’ pitching staff, raking in a grand slam in a 14-1 win. Mookie is also off the heels of a four home run series against the Angels. The man is insane.

Betts currently leads the MLB in AVG (.366). Obviously this won’t be sustainable for an entire season, but it’s a damn good start. Consequently, it could be a sign of even better things to come for Betts. Mookie is doing damage early, and if he can continue, the Red Sox are going to be very dangerous this season.

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2017

2017 was a very disappointing season for Betts. He had a steady offensive decline coming off of an insane MVP caliber year in 2016. Many fans put the blame on the absence of David Ortiz, which put the pressure on Betts to carry the offense.

He was also flip-flopped in the batting order a few times by former manager John Farrell, which could have affected his thought process throughout the season. It’s more difficult to hit if you aren’t sure whether you’d be hitting leadoff, or batting cleanup.

Having a rough 2017 was obviously something that Mookie did not want to do, but the silver-lining is that it was a wake-up call. He needed to get better and make adjustments.

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THE ALEX CORA EFFECT

Earlier, I mentioned how Farrell had swapped Mookie around throughout the 2017 season. That’s something that Alex Cora is not all about. From the time he was hired as the Sox manager, he has made Betts’ position in the batting order clear.

Betts knowing every day that he will be batting leadoff is a very overlooked thing. This allows him to go up to the plate with the same thought process each game and just try to do his part. Although he has the ability to hit home runs, it is important for him to get on base early and use his speed to score.

Alex Cora is known for his communication with younger players, as he was the bench coach for the Astros. The presence of Cora will pay dividends for Betts, as we have already seen from Xander Bogaerts this season.

FINE TUNING

None other than David Ortiz. Of course it was the “Large Father”, as Betts likes to call him, to point out mechanical issues he noticed with Betts in 2017.

Betts said in Spring Training they sat down, and Ortiz pointed out that his stride was off, causing his stance to be too open. It’s hard to say that was the sole reason for the tough time that Betts had last year.

The start that Mookie Betts is having in 2018 is no fluke. This kid is the real deal. He is a true five-tool player, and there is no ceiling for him. He’s just getting started, and I don’t think there’s anything the rest of the league can do about it.

Can the Red Sox Sweep the Athletics?

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Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox are 17-2 with the best record in the MLB. They have yet to lose a series and are on another win streak. The Sox have hit more grand slams in the past three weeks than they have in two years. After Xander Bogaerts was placed on the DL, there was a question of whether or not the Sox would continue their win streak. They did and hit more grand slams (and even more runs). Mookie Betts came back after missing a game due to his bruised ankle. His hot bat never went away and he became the king of Anaheim. He hit at least one home run every game while playing the Angels. The Red Sox also shut down Shohei Ohtani quick in the second inning on Tuesday to prove that they were no one to be taken lightly. Drew Pomeranz also made his season debut Friday after spending time playing in Pawtucket and Portland.

Oakland Athletics

The A’s are 9-11 and fourth in the AL West. They recently swept Chicago in a series. Oakland also brought in bullpen reinforcements to prepare for the series against the Red Sox. Oakland has lost every series except one against the White Sox earlier this week. Lou Trevino made his Major League debut on Tuesday and pitched his first scoreless inning. He has not given up a run yet. Stephen Piscotty seems to be the A’s number one hitter, and the most reliable.

Will the Sox Sweep?

The Red Sox are off to the best start in franchise history, they have hit more grand slams than they have over a two year time span. After taking game one against Oakland yesterday, can the Red Sox sweep yet another series this early into the season?

Sources

BJ Weiss

Boston Red Sox

Oakland Athletics

MLB

Paw Sox Longest Game Ever Played

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It was some 37 years ago today, on a frigid Saturday night, that the Pawtucket Red Sox hosted the Rochester Red Wings.  No one at the time ever realized how historically important this game would be.  The game between the Paw Sox and Red Wings began on April 18th, 1981.  The two teams battled up to the 32nd inning.  At 4:07 A.M. on April 19th, 1981, play was suspended.  While there were a solid group of fans at the beginning of the game (1740), only 17 fans stuck around until 4:07 AM.  Nevertheless, Harold Cooper, the International League President, shockingly ordered the game to suspend play.  Had I been there, I like to think I would be sticking it out with the other 17 fans.  Nevertheless, I was not yet born.

Paw Sox Longest Game

Pawtucket’s Dave Koza gets a pat on the head from teammate Mike Smithson after driving in the winning run in the bottom of the 33rd inning

Interesting Facts

This 33-inning game is historically significant for many reasons other than the length.  One of the most notable facts about this game is that two Hall of Famers played on both sides.  Wade Boggs for Pawtucket, and Cal Ripken Jr. for Rochester.  Cal Ripken Jr.’s nickname “Iron Man” is on display here, as he played all 33-innings.  Sticking with the theme of the Hall of Fame, Cooperstown is now home to the official score card from the game.  A whooping 822 pitches met the 822 batters during the three-day game.  Wade Boggs went 4-12.  Cal Ripken Jr. went 2-13.

Both Cooperstown residents spoke about the game years later.  Ripken saying, “Of all the games I’ve played in, that’s one of the few that I easily remember.  It’s still fresh in my mind. We’ve all played in marathon nine-inning games and extra-inning games, but that game was different.”  Wade Boggs spoke in a 2006 interview saying, “When I doubled in the tying run in the 21st inning, I didn’t know if the guys wanted to hug me or slug me.  But, being competitors, we did want to win the game.”  Boggs continued speaking later on, “I remember calling my father the next day and telling him I got four hits. “He said, ‘That’s great.’ I said: ‘Yeah, but I was up 12 times. We went 32 last night.”

June 23rd, 1981

The triumphant return of the game took place on June 23rd, 1981.  Fans came into McCoy Stadium unsure of what to expect. Not to mention, 5,800 fans sold out McCoy Stadium.  Nearly five times the amount of fans than April 18th.  They were curious as to if the long game would keep going on.  Nevertheless, the fans got a quick 18 minute inning.  Pawtucket’s Bob Ojeda came in to continue the game.  The eighth Paw Sox pitcher to appear gives up a single to Cal Ripken Jr.  Ojeda went on the strike out Floyd Rayford and pop out John Valle to keep the game tied.

Steve Grilli came into pitch for Rochester.  Grilli was not a member of the Rochester Red Wings on April 18th.  Grilli hit Marty Barret by a pitch to get things going.  Chico Walker stepped up to plate and ripped a single that Barret was running on to move him to third.  To set up a force on any base, Russ Laribee was intentionally walked.  Cliff Speck came in to save the game for Rochester but ended up only throwing four pitches.  Dave Koza came up to the plate confidently.  Koza was the best player in the game at the moment with a 4-13 day(s).  Koza was able to groove a 2-2 curve ball into left field to bring Marty Barret home and, mercifully, ending the game.

 

Relive the game here:

Remember this when you are complaining that baseball games are too long.

photo credit - The Boston Globe

Q&A with Lou Merloni

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2018 Boston Red Sox Q&A with Lou Merloni (@LouMerloni)

photo credit- www.americaninno.com

I’d like to give a HUGE shout out and thank you to the man himself, Lou Merloni. Lou and I follow one another on Twitter and when I asked him if he would be interested in a quick Q&A for our site, he could have easily ignored me, said no, or said he is too busy. Instead, Lou answered right away and took time out of his day between shows and broadcasts to do me a solid. I have been a Sox fan my entire life and always thought it was cool a guy playing baseball for Providence College wound up playing for our boys in Boston. Lou is one of the better on-air personalities in New England when it comes to talking sports, and brings great insight when talking baseball. Especially Red Sox baseball.

Once again Lou, thank you for doing this….

 

Now, let’s get this Q&A started, shall we?

 

Q:  How do you see Alex Cora doing with this team and as a first time manager? Do you see him being the long-term solution at the helm?

A(Lou): Breath of fresh air and they needed it. I just think he can relate to the players in a way that John Farrell was incapable of. Communication is key. I also love that Ron Roenicke is his bench coach. His experience will help Alex out especially early in the year.

 

Q: Which position player and which pitcher will be the key to the success of this ball club in 2018?

A (Lou): It really does come down to David Price. Lost in all the chaos surrounding Price, we forget that he is one the best pitchers in the league. If he can get back to that, The Sox will have the best 1-2 punch in the AL. Offensively, its Hanley Ramirez. The addition of JD Martinez is nice but they need Hanley to be a force in the middle of that lineup like he was in 2016

 

Q: With the Sox off to a fast start (9-1), which area of the team are you most surprised with out of the gate, and do you think the Sox have this potential all season long and when it comes to facing a more dangerous opponent?

A(Lou): Starting pitching has been outstanding, but I’ve been most impressed with their ability to come back in games and win the 1 run games. It’s tough in April when the weather is brutal. It’s really easy to give up on a game in the cold and move onto the next one. They don’t. My biggest concern continues to be getting the ball to Kimbrel. They don’t have a shutdown 8th inning guy so they will continue to go with matchups late in games. That puts Alex in a tough spot because no matter who he goes with, if it doesn’t work out, he will be criticized. The difference between he and Farrell is that I believe he will explain his reasoning better than John postgame.

 

Q: Do you see the Sox making a move this year to possibly acquire a more solidified set-up man to get to Kimbrel in the 9th?

A(Lou): They are going to have to. They have guys out there but who do you trust? Smith, Kelly, Barnes and Hembree are all “good” pieces but when you watch the post season and you see the high pressure spots late in games, do you trust any of them?

 

Q: With Bogey going down with what looks to be a significant ankle injury, who do you see filling in for the time being at SS? Holt, Nunez, Lin (AAA), or do the Sox make a move to grab a veteran to fill in.

A(Lou): We’re not sure how long Bogaerts is out, but short term I think you’ll see Holt at SS with Lin eventually taking over at SS. Unfortunately, you can’t get what Bogey gives you offensively so you need to make sure you put out the best defensive SS to replace him. I think we are a ways off before we start talking about needing to trade for help.

 

Q: How do you think J.D. Martinez will fare hitting in Fenway? (Let’s keep him off the defensive side by the way)

A(Lou): He’ll be fine and once the weather warms up a bit, you’ll see that RF can’t hold him. He has monster power the other way which will make it difficult for teams to pitch to him at that park. Pitcher’s keep the ball away from most right handed hitters to take advantage of that big RF and to keep them away from the Green Monster. They won’t be able to do that with JD at Fenway.

 

Q:  What is the most memorable/historic moment you witnessed playing in Fenway?

A(Lou): I’ll never forget that 2003 ALCS. Game 3 especially. Roger vs Pedro. Pedro drills Karim Garcia and we all were waiting for Roger to retaliate and he never did. He just poured in strike one and went on to beat us. It was also the game where Pedro tossed Don Zimmer to the ground. It was crazy. We all respected the hell out of Zim. I know he was embarrassed for going after Pedro but honestly, that’s why we all loved him. He cared. He was passionate and he showed it.

(One of my favorite moments as well, nice to hear the insight of someone who was on the field for it)

 

Q: Your Prediction: Where do the Sox finish, and if you have them making the playoffs, how deep could their playoff run be with a healthy roster?

A(Lou):  I had them for 96 wins and I’ll stay with it. But I could see Yanks right there with them. ALCS is a reasonable expectation. They need to win a round in the post season. Not just for this fan base to believe in them but also for themselves. They have a lot of guys on this roster that need to prove they can win in October

 

 

That wraps up my Q&A with Lou Merloni on the 2018 Boston Red Sox! HUGE thank you to Lou again, make sure you give him a follow on twitter @LouMerloni and tune in M-F from 10 AM-2 PM on WEEI (103.7 or 93.7).

 

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LETS GO SOX!

Down the Farm: 2018 Paw Sox Outlook

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For Pawtucket Red Sox Opening Day on Friday, April 6th , there is a 100% chance of rain.  Somewhat fitting for all the news that surrounds the team and their future.  Nevertheless, the excitement for a new upcoming season is what Pawtucket needs.  Tickets remain cheap, parking is free, and amazing fan giveaways will continue this season.  Attendance is going to make or break the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox this season.  I encourage all readers to make the trip down, it is well worth it.

Roster

The powerhouse Bryce Brentz and his 30 homeruns will not be on display in Pawtucket this season.  The roster is hurting following the prospects that were sent away in trades involving Chris Sale and Craig Kimbrel.  I am not saying those trades are bad.  However, the Red Sox farm system is not what it once was.  Also, players graduating to the majors as well.  Although this may be true, there are some names to look out for this season at McCoy Stadium.

Sam Travis continued his tradition of raking in Spring Training.  Although the first base position is currently in use, Travis is not out of the running for the foreseeable future.  In spite of Hanley Ramirez, Mitch Moreland, maybe even Blake Swihart and Brock Holt manning the bag this season, it is unclear if they will be here next season.  Tzu-Wei Lin, who made his name known this past season, is also a guy to watch out for.  The $72.5 million man, Rusney Castillo looks to repeat his strong 2017 Minor League campaign.  Ivan DeJesus Jr. and his Mexico career .289 batting average looks to make his name known as well.

Michael Chavis, who is currently recovering from his oblique injury, is going to start the season in Portland.  If Chavis can continue to put up impressive numbers, a Triple-A call up is in his future.  When that happens, all eyes are going to be on him.  The only way Chavis is going to play at Fenway Park this season is if they continue the Futures at Fenway Series.  Be that as it may, the McCoy Stadium faithful look upon future stars with high expectations.

Jeremy Barfield is looking to be the reincarnate of Bryce Brentz.  The 29 year-old sent 27 long balls over the fence in Portland last season.  If he mashes the ball in Pawtucket like he did last season, fans are going to be clamoring for him to make an appearance during September call ups.

Giveaways

Minor League baseball is famous for the wacky and incredible giveaways throughout the season.  This season is no different for the Paw Sox.  The Paw Sox will be giving away wall calendars, ceramic mugs, replica jerseys, and everyone’s favorite; bobbleheads. Rafael Devers, the G.O.A.T., and Mo Vaughn bobbleheads will be given away to the first 3,000 fans on the respective day.  Replica jerseys will include Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs.  Of course, Saturday night fireworks will continue with a new theme each week.

This season for the Paw Sox can sway the relocation process either way.  If it is successful and every game is sold out, it makes it harder for Larry Lucchino to move them away.  If every game is empty, what is the point in staying?

 

Follow Matt McGurn on Twitter: @MickGurn

 

Cover image courtesy of Rhode Island Public Radio.

Opening Day Is Just One Game of 162

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Started the Season with an Upset

Clearly Opening Day didn’t end the way Red Sox Nation had hoped it to. Playing Tampa Bay was supposed to be an easy win. The Sox were doing great up until the 8th inning. Tampa Bay had the bases loaded and only one out. Sox Nation’s worst nightmare was coming into fruition. The Tampa Bay Rays had a chance to win the game after trailing 4-0 all day.

The Bullpen

Sale Day is always taken very seriously with the Red Sox, and he certainly proved why he was the Opening Day pitcher. He wasn’t perfect, as he showed some rustiness on the mound. He pitched six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. Matt Barnes replaced Sale first. He had a quick appearance but held off any runs. Then possibly the biggest disappointment happened. Joe Kelly was on the mound, allowing Matt Duffy to hit and RBI double to cut the Sox lead 4-1. Carson Smith was the final pitcher for the Sox, he struck out one batter, providing a little bit of hope. Denard Span, Tampa Bays left fielder, drove in three players, causing Tampa to tie the game. Allowing Hechavarria to bring in Span, and unfortunately win the game.

Eduardo Nuñez

He re-signed with the Red Sox organization at the beginning of Spring Training. Nuñez had to prove to the organization that he is still a good addition to the team. In the top of the second inning, Eduardo Nuñez hit a two run homer in a picture perfect way. The play went straight out to center field where Kiermaier and Span both dove for the ball, but the ball went right past them. Nuñez ran the bases in a speedy 15.87 seconds. Pregame polls showed that fans thought either Mookie or J.D. Martinez would hit the first home run of the season. No one expected it to be Nuñez. But with Pedroia still on the DL, Nuñez holds the potential and ability that the Sox need.

Opening Day Is Only Game One

Luckily we have today to look forward to. It was Alex Cora’s first game as a manager. The loss is not his fault. It’s baseball. Some lose and some win. The next eight games are split between Tampa and Miami. Two teams that should be easy to beat. Fenway Opening Day is under a week away, and the Sox can finally play at home. Then there are the games we’ve been waiting for. NYY vs. BOSTON. Giancarlo Stanton vs. J.D. Martinez. Arguably, the biggest rivalry in MLB. It’s only game one of the season, and there’s plenty of wins and records to look forward to.

Sources

Boston Red Sox

Billie Weiss

Tampa Bay Rays

Boston Sports Extra’s MLB Divisional Picks

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Our baseball writers have once again collaborated to make our picks for the coming baseball season. The first collaboration, we predicted who would win the major awards for this coming baseball season. Here in our second installment, we decide which teams will win their divisions, which teams will sneak in as a wild card, and most importantly, which two teams will play in the World Series.

American League East

Kyle Flanagan: Boston Red Sox

Boston will take the division over New York, simply because of pitching. Boston contains a deep staff led by Sale, Price and Porcello. In New York with Tanaka and Severino, it leaves the rest of the rotation as a toss-up.

David Latham: Boston Red Sox 

The Yankees may have acquired Giancarlo Stanton, but this is still the Red Sox division to lose. The offense should improve tremendously from last season, and the pitching should be as good as ever. This team could easily win 95-98 games this year.

Scott Frizzell: Boston Red Sox

This should be one of the better division races this season. I envision both the Sox and the Yankees winning in the low to mid nineties for games. Ultimately, I think the Red Sox will pull it out in the final week of the season. The Red Sox won the division last year with two-thirds of the lineup under-performing.

Matt O’Halloran: New York Yankees

The Yankees came close to the World Series last year, and they should win the division with the additions of Giancarlo Stanton and Brandon Drury. The Red Sox will come close, but the Yankees are more talented.

Brandon Fazzolari: New York Yankees

The Yankees will win the division because they have too much offensive firepower to overcome.

Justin Gonzalez: Boston Red Sox

The division race between the Yankees and Sox is going to be full of action from Opening Day to September 30th. The Sox have the better rotation and defense (saving runs is just as important as producing them, in my mind), but the Yankees have a slightly better offense with a deeper bullpen. Overall, I see the Red Sox as the team to beat still even though the Yankees may be better on paper. Just remember, games aren’t played on paper, they’re played on grass.

American League Central

Kyle Flanagan: Cleveland Indians

Not enough, I feel, was done around the division where any team could dethrone Cleveland.

David Latham: Cleveland Indians

So long as it’s not an elimination game, the Cleveland Indians are a very tough team to beat. They’ve still got ace Corey Kluber and star shortstop Francisco Lindor, but I feel like they take a step back this season. They’ll win a sub-par division, but won’t have much more than 90 wins.

Scott Frizzell: Cleveland Indians

The Indians are the clear team to beat in the division. Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco headline the best pitching staff in the division, and Trevor Bauer is showing some breakout potential as well. With Edwin Encarnacion, Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez, they will probably also score more runs than any other team in the Central.

Matt O’Halloran: Minnesota Twins

The Twins surprisingly made the Wild Card game last year, and the young players will develop into stars. The Indians have dominated the division for a few years, but Carlos Santana departing and an underrated division will knock them out.

Brandon Fazzolari: Cleveland Indians

The Indians should have no problem winning their third consecutive division title.

Justin Gonzalez: Cleveland Indians

It’s hard to fathom the Indians not winning this division by a good amount of games. Sure, the Twins bolstered their team by acquiring Lance Lynn, Fernando Rodney, Addison Reed, and Logan Morrison, but the Indians haven’t exactly lost any talent. Cleveland lost Carlos Santana to the Phillies, but signed a pretty good replacement in Yonder Alonso, who had 28 home runs in 2017. The Indians still have reigning Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, a great arm in Carlos Carrasco, some of the best late inning relievers in Andrew Miller and Cody Allen and an offense that can be the best in the majors.

American League West

Kyle Flanagan: Houston Astros

They got better.

David Latham: Houston Astros

This team has the roster to be dominant for at least the next five years. They just signed Jose Altuve long-term, and I can’t see a way the Astros don’t comfortably win their division.

Scott Frizzell: Houston Astros

With a full season of Justin Verlander, the Astros may be even better this season. The Astros might win their division by more games than any other division winner.

Matt O’Halloran: Houston Astros

The defending champions have a very similar roster to last year, which should lead them to a 100 win season again. Teams on the rise, such as the Angels and Athletics, are not good enough this year to dethrone Houston.

Brandon Fazzolari: Houston Astros

I cannot foresee a tight contest in this divisional race.

Justin Gonzalez: Houston Astros

There really isn’t a whole lot going on in this division other than the highly talented Astros getting even better this off-season with the Gerrit Cole trade. The Astros are just too good of a team to submit their division dominance this early.

American League Wild Cards

Kyle Flanagan: New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels

New York was a no doubter for me, but I was close to taking Minnesota over LA. What made my decision was pitching and LA has a staff that could make a run into the Wild Card.

David Latham: New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels

The top four teams should be world’s better than whichever team clinches the final wild card spot, but right now I’m going with the Angels. They still have Mike Trout, and Shohei Ohtani should eventually become a great contributor.

Scott Frizzell: New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins

The Yankees are an obvious choice; whichever team does win the AL East will have a playoff spot wrapped up before the division. I’ve been stumping all off-season for the Twins to sign Lance Lynn, and with him now in tow, their chances at the playoffs are greatly improved. They now have a chance at four starters with a sub-4.00 ERA to go along with a young and improving lineup. The Blue Jays could surprise and be the first team out.

Matt O’Halloran: Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels

The Red Sox should keep the division close and ultimately settle for a wild card spot. The Angels are a team on the rise.

Brandon Fazzolari: Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox

I think the Angels will be the best wild card team as long as Big Mike stays healthy. The last wild card is going to be the spot up for grabs. It should come down to Boston, Minnesota, Seattle, Texas and even the White Sox can get in the mix. I just think over the long haul, with the Red Sox having Chris Sale available for 30+ starts and a great closer like Kimbrel provides Boston with enough to get in.

Justin Gonzalez: New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins

We are potentially looking at a repeat of last season when the AL East literally came down to the last few games. I believe the entire season is going to fluctuate between New York and Boston possessing first place with the loser taking a wild card spot. The Los Angeles Angels signed Shohei Ohtani, who could be good but most likely won’t be in his first MLB season. They also possess the greatest baseball player on the planet (which doesn’t hurt).

National League East

Kyle Flanagan: Washington Nationals

Not much of an argument here. It mainly depends on how New York’s pitching staff performs this season for them to contend against Washington.

David Latham: Washington Nationals

This is the last chance this core has. Bryce Harper is set to be the highest-paid baseball player in the league next off-season, and the Nationals know he’s not coming back. They’ll do everything in their power to finally take home a World Series. They should come close to winning 100 games, but they’ll probably still find a way to lose in the NLDS.

Scott Frizzell: Washington Nationals

This team has too much talent not to win this division. Quite frankly, they also have too much talent to not have gone further in the postseason the past couple years. With Harper being a free agent after the season, and Max Scherzer being 33 years old, the time is now for Washington.

Matt O’Halloran: Washington Nationals

The Nationals have dominated the regular season for most of Bryce Harper’s career, and there is no reason to believe that should stop this year. The NL East will be competitive because the Mets are scary when healthy, but the Nationals rotation is too dominant to be overthrown.

Brandon Fazzolari: Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals will easily win the NL East with Harper, Scherzer and Strasburg.

Justin Gonzalez: Washington Nationals

Two Cy Young award candidates in their rotation, an MVP caliber player in Bryce Harper, all important speed in Trea Turner, and a great supporting offense with Daniel Murphy (136 wRC+), Anthony Rendon (142 wRC+) and Ryan Zimmerman (138 wRC+). This is a no-brainer.

National League Central

Kyle Flanagan: Chicago Cubs

Chicago’s only competition is Milwaukee. Milwaukee still needs the pieces in the rotation to contend against the Cubs.

David Latham: Chicago Cubs

Last year was one long World Series hangover for this club. They still boast enviable talent at just about every position, and should look more like the dominant 2016 team than the streaky 2017 unit.

Scott Frizzell: Chicago Cubs

This team didn’t seem quite as good last year following their World Series win in 2016, and yet they still won 92 games. They replaced Jake Arrieta with Yu Darvish, and John Lackey with Tyler Chatwood in the rotation. They also have a full season of Jose Quintana. I think the rotation will perform better overall and this club could approach 100 wins. The Brewers just don’t have the pitching to hang with them all season.

Matt O’Halloran: Milwaukee Brewers

A bold prediction considering that the Cubs have dominated the division for the past few years, but the Brewers were the best team in the NL Central for a good portion of last season. If they play consistently, then they will be better than the Cubs. The Cardinals are always competitive but their roster is not good enough to win the division.

Brandon Fazzolari: St. Louis Cardinals

I think the Cubs will regress some more this season and the Cardinals will overtake them.

Justin Gonzalez: Milwaukee Brewers

Finally, a team that won’t repeat in 2018. The NL Central is a division that can have a really interesting three-team race when it’s all said and done. The Chicago Cubs may still be the favorite to win the division title, but they are definitely closely followed by the Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers have an offense that can go toe to toe with almost any team and a top 10 ERA pitching staff in 2017 that is returning for 2018, barring the delay of Jimmy Nelson.

National League West

Kyle Flanagan: Los Angeles Dodgers

Scariest team in baseball in means of talent: Kershaw, Bellinger, Seager, Puig, Jansen, Turner, the list goes on. Legitimate World Series contenders yet again.

David Latham: Los Angeles Dodgers

Losing a World Series like they did last season hurts, but it’s not the end of the road for the team. They still had the best record in baseball, and should remain one of the best teams in the league. Having Cody Bellinger doesn’t hurt, either.

Scott Frizzell: Los Angeles Dodgers

Barring disaster, the Dodgers should win this division handily. Fronted by Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill, the Dodgers have a lot of pitching depth. Potential future ace Walker Buehler is waiting in the wings if injury happens. Forgotten top prospect Julio Urias should make his way back in the summer to add to the depth. Youngsters Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger lead the way for a good offense.

Matt O’Halloran: Los Angeles Dodgers

A competitive division last year with two wild-card teams, the NL West should be competitive again. However, in a league full of parody, the Diamondbacks and Rockies will have hangover years. The Giants are a sleeper team, but the Dodgers are too talented to be dethroned.

Brandon Fazzolari: Colorado Rockies

I have the Dodgers taking a step back from last season. The Rockies can slug their way to a division title.

Justin Gonzalez: Arizona Diamondbacks

The Los Angeles Dodgers seem like the easy way out, but let us not forget that the Diamondbacks had the third best record in the NL and bring back mostly everyone from their impressive 2017 season. Sure, they lost J.D. Martinez to the Red Sox this offseason but here is something to note: The Diamondbacks acquired Martinez in a trade from the Tigers around the time of the All-Star game. Pre-All Star game the Diamondbacks had an OPS of .771 and Post-All Star game they had an OPS of .778. This is a team that can really thrive without JD Martinez and can pose a serious threat to the Dodgers in the end. The Diamondbacks also had the third best ERA in the majors in 2017 and can go toe to toe with any pitching staff out there.

National League Wild Cards

Kyle Flanagan: Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants

The Brewers lineup gets them to this point. The Giants pitching and health will be the deciding factor in this Wild Card.

David Latham: Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers

I’m going out on a limb with the Brewers, but I really like what the organization has built. Travis Shaw was one of the best power hitters in baseball last season, and Mauricio Dubon should soon become one of the best shortstops in the game.

Scott Frizzell: Milwaukee Brewers and Arizona Diamondbacks

The Brewers don’t have the pitching staff I would like to see, and it will cost them some wins. They really could’ve used one of the decent free agent pitchers to come aboard this season. With the additions of Yelich and Cain though, they have one of the best outfields in baseball. The Diamondbacks have installed a humidor to limit offense, and their pitching staff actually appears to be their strength. It can help them to another wild card. I like the Phillies as a surprise, “cardiac kids,” team this season under first year manager Gabe Kapler. Look for them to impress and hang in the race until late in the season. Ultimately, I think it is a year too early for a playoff berth though.

Matt O’Halloran: Chicago Cubs and New York Mets

Watch out for the Mets if their rotation can stay healthy this season.

Brandon Fazzolari: Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers

I think both of these teams will take a step back this season, but not far enough back they miss the postseason entirely.

Justin Gonzalez: Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies

Do not sleep on the Colorado Rockies as they could be seen as a dark horse in this division as well. MVP caliber talents in Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon headline this sneakily talented team and could make a name for themselves in the baseball world.

World Series

Kyle Flanagan: Red Sox over Dodgers in 7 games

If I didn’t have the Red Sox in the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers will win the World Series. I mainly made my decision based on what the most exciting matchup would be for me. Bellinger and Benintendi, Sale and Kershaw, Seager and Pedroia, and let’s not forget Hanley and Puig! Sox in 7. Go Sox.

David Latham: Astros over Cubs in 5 games

The Red Sox and the Cubs both have enviable rosters, but frankly the talent on Houston is unrivaled throughout the league. They genuinely have the chance to be what the New York Yankees were at the turn of the millennium.

Scott Frizzell: Indians over Cubs in 6 games

The Indians get their revenge on the Cubs after losing a series lead in 2016. Now it’s Cleveland’s turn to end a World Series victory drought.

Matt O’Halloran: Astros over Dodgers (again)

These two teams are just too talented to bet against.

Brandon Fazzolari: Astros over Nationals in 7 games

Houston will repeat as World Champs, this time outlasting the Nationals with Verlander beating Scherzer in the deciding game!

Justin Gonzalez: Astros over Nationals in 4 games

The Astros come with a huge bulls-eye on their backs, but can be the best possibility of a team to win back to back World Series championships in recent memory.

 

 

 

A British Perspective: Sox and Yanks in London for 2019

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Reports from Bloomberg pointed to the Yankees and Red Sox finalizing a two game series that will be played in London for the 2019 season. This will not be the first time MLB takes a sample of games to other countries (Japan 2004/2008, Australia 2014, Mexico 1996/1999), and will also play some games this season in Puerto Rico and Monterrey, Mexico. However, what is the reception going to be like for baseball’s best rivalry when the Sox and Yanks battle each other in London Stadium? I had some questions, and John from the UK’s only baseball podcast had answers. 

Justin: How well do you think the game of baseball in general will translate once many people from the UK will finally get to see a game or two in person?

John: Good question! I know there’s a view in the States that UK fans like ‘all action’ and ‘non stop’ games based on the dominance of soccer and rugby here, but I don’t buy it. Cricket, even in its livelier forms, is really sedate and the American sports that have a foothold here – especially NFL – are really stop start. It feels vital to me that the organizers aim to capture the ballpark environment, though. That’s the real point of difference that MLB has, like the tailgate in football. Two games isn’t enough to explain to people why you throw an outside fastball in a 3-1 count; MLB needs to be smart and think about their pitch (no pun intended). Everything we’ve heard from them so far has been positive – make it about the cultural experience as much as the game, but don’t ignore that as there’ll be seasoned fans tuning in too.

JG: Reports say that the two game series would be played at London stadium. In your opinion, is this the best venue for a professional baseball game in the area?

John: I’m not sure. I think ‘least worst’ is potentially a better way of putting it. Obviously cricket grounds have better dimensions, but they’re quite small (20-25k max) and England is hosting the Cricket World Cup around the same time as these games are billed, anyway. The London Stadium’s selling point is that it can be adapted for different events, and that feels important – there’s also plenty of space for events around it too, which is lacking at stadiums like Wembley or Arsenal’s home, Emirates Stadium. I’m a bit nervous about the atmosphere – on my one trip to the Stadium for a West Ham game it was pretty flat; they did lose 6-0 to Man City, though!

JG: How big has the sport of baseball become in recent years in the UK?

John: That’s a difficult question to give a straight answer. Arguably, it’s less popular than its peak in the early 2000s when it was on network TV and had a proper cult following. That said, there are plenty of die hards, and it feels (from our viewpoint at least) that it’s swelling. In the Opening Week of the season there are going to be ‘watch parties’ in five different UK cities, and the fact we are running a podcast with a growing, sustained listenership, didn’t seem likely when we started a couple of years ago. The sport is a popular, if niche, participatory activity too – along with softball the estimates are around 20,000 people playing regularly in the UK, which isn’t bad for a sport with little coverage and an ‘amateur’ domestic league.

JG: Rob Manfred has briefly touched up on a possibility for an expansion team in Mexico City. Do you think this could eventually lead to a possible expansion team for London?

John: It feels highly unlikely. I know the NFL trajectory feels like it’s going this way, but 8 games a year, with a week of rest, is different to managing a 162 game schedule across two continents with a minimum of 5 hours in time differences.

JG: Which player(s) between the Yankees Red Sox rivalry are you looking forward to see play in London the most?

John: There’s a difference between who I’m most looking forward to, and the consensus! As a Red Sox fan, I’m biased, but even I appreciate the idea of seeing Judge and Stanton in London would be a thrill. Personally, I’m a massive fan of Craig Kimbrel and Jackie Bradley Jr, so I’ll say those two. My fellow podcast hosts would tell you it’s Joe Kelly, who they think I have a soft spot for on account of being a fellow glasses wearer (they’re right).

JG: Any tips for Americans that will be making the trip over especially for their first time visiting London?

John: How long have you got? I don’t live in London now, having moved away just over a year ago but was there long enough to give some ideas!
 
I would say to travelling fans to consider staying near the venue if it is at the Olympic Park. There’ll be loads going on and that part of East London, and the couple of miles around it (especially Hackney, Dalston, Stoke Newington and Leyton), are some of the most interesting, creative and picturesque – think craft breweries, idyllic parks and cool music venues – which not many visitors see. Transport in London – especially the bus – is cheap and excellent, and none of the main tourist sights will take longer than an hour to get to if you must (though many of them are not worth bothering).
 
Eat at Dishoom for breakfast (there are a few sites) for their INCREDIBLE naan bread breakfast rolls, and Kiln in Soho in the evening; the best Thai food this side of Bangkok.

JG: If you could name a London expansion team, what would you name it and who would you want to manage it?
John: Given my previous answer, maybe the London Jetlaggers? Seriously, it’s a shame the Royals have gone isn’t it? Maybe the London Cavaliers, or the Red, White and Blue Sox?
 
In terms of management, I feel duty bound to give it to GB Baseball’s awesome coach, Liam Carroll. He’s a real spark plug for the game here, and has earned it! Pitching coach would be Trevor Hoffman, who helped Liam at last year’s WBC – his Mom’s English and he’s very proud of his British heritage.
John and the rest of the crew for the Batflips and Nerds podcast can be found here. These guys really do know what they’re talking about. Do NOT underestimate them!
As for me, I am super excited to see the great reception that one of the best rivalries in sports receives. For foreign fans, this is as big as El Clasico and should really put into perspective just how exciting baseball can be at its peak.

Featured Image: Melissa Bell

The Ruination of Baseball: Pace of Play

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On Wednesday March 14th 2018, Minor League Baseball announced changes made to the rules in regards to “speeding up the game”. These changes include mound visits, a 15-20 second pitch clock, and most importantly: beginning every half inning with a man on second base in extra innings. These changes naturally do not settle well with avid baseball fans, let alone baseball purists. To change the sport to fit the needs of an audience that it was never meant to target in the first place is unethical and quite simply not the right move.

Patience is Key

Baseball has always been the sport for the patient man. To outsiders, it is a sport like any other. The team that achieves the most runs (I hate the word “points” when talking about baseball) will win. Basically view it as a shootout. Although, when it comes to baseball, patience has a lot to do with how a team accumulates runs.

Think about it like a chess match; there are intricate strategies, statistics that could change the way a pitcher operates uniquely for each batter, signs for plays, warm ups between each half inning, among others. It is a sport for someone who realizes something new could happen in any game. Now I understand times and people change and some things should be tweaked for the sake of not having a rule from 1839 in 2018, but it has gone too far.

The Good

Just to clarify, I like the limitation of mound visits in all levels of the game. In Triple-A each team gets six visits, Double-A is eight, Single-A is ten, and unlimited for short season and rookie league. I can’t help but chuckle when I see Gary Sanchez go out to Masahiro Tanaka during a game. What could they be saying? Does Gary speak Japanese and nobody but those two know it? On a serious note, there doesn’t have to be a mound visit from a catcher between every single pitch. They may last 20-30 seconds, but they could add up quickly and disrupt the natural flow of the game if abused. Limiting mound visits is good.

The Bad and the Ugly

Let’s now discuss the bad. The MILB also dropped a bombshell on fans when they announced extra innings will begin with a runner on second base. Whoever is poised to leadoff the inning will have the previous batter be the second base runner. Basically it works like this: It’s the top of the 10th and your number seven batter is up to bat. The number 6 batter will be the extra inning runner. That extra inning runner is deemed to be a runner that has reached base by way of a fielding error. However, an error wont be charged to the opposing team or an opposing player. Which means they will not count as an RBI as per rule 9.04 (b,2). Also, it will not affect the opposing pitcher’s ERA as per rule 9.16 (b,3).

Think about this though: a 9 inning game could, in theory, last infinitely in regards to time. There have been 9 inning games that have reached four hours. So I am baffled as to how randomly adding a base runner in extra innings improves pace of play. Even still, both teams would be deadlocked once extra innings begin, but they are both still competing evenly. Extra innings could resume if both extra inning runners score resulting in a continued game.

Being on Base Is Earned

In my eyes, this is the first time base runners will consistently reach base and not earn it. Players earn the right to reach base by hitting, walking, hustling to first on a called third strike in the dirt, etc. The point is that it is almost always earned.

This also would disrupt the strategies of many managers. For instance, say you have your number one hitter due up in extra innings, and your pitcher is due to be the extra inning runner. Being that, I have been witness to one of the pitchers on my team injure himself when he was used as a pinch runner. Thus negatively effecting his season (Stephen Wright), this is not ideal. Sure, you could use a pinch runner but then that pinch runner will be gone unless he scores. Thus possibly making managers expend their bench players at a faster rate.

I get it, baseball is really trying to make the game more interesting for those who can’t sit still for more than two hours at a time. But maybe that innocence should be preserved for someone like me, who appreciates every moment of baseball possible. This rule should never even be considered to reach the Major League level and fans of the game should fight for it’s best interest. The game hasn’t lasted this long for no reason, after all.

@ELJGON

Featured Photo: Jeff Curry – USA Today Sports