A gross overachievement out of the gate later, the Tampa Bay Rays should revert more to the mean in 2024. Starting 13-0 was grossly unprecedented for this shoestring budget squad, as was being 30-9 on May 11. The Yankees underachieving and the Blue Jays Wild Carding (again) also helped. It turned out to be an … Continued
“What we did last year was a trailer,” said Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. during spring training in 2022. “Now, you guys are going to see the movie.” Two years later, that movie is stuck in development hell. Every passing day is one closer to it being completely shelved. Even in an upside-down … Continued
The New York Mets and veteran slugger J.D. Martinez have agreed on a one-year, $12 million contract per the Post’s Jon Heyman. Breaking: JD Martinez to Mets. $12M — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 22, 2024 Martinez, 36, is a six-time All-Star and hit .271 with an .893 OPS and a 135 wRC+ with the Dodgers … Continued
Spring training games are meaningless, but don’t tell that to Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton. The former MVP desperately needs a bounceback season and had himself quite a tuneup against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the Yankees’ 12-0 win, Stanton smashed three home runs, including a grand slam, with eight RBI. The first went over the batter’s … Continued
The Philadelphia Phillies did not have the loud and bombastic offseason for which president Dave Dombrowski is known. Looking back on the last couple of years, they didn’t need to. It was a relatively short to-do list. Aaron Nola had a short free agency and signed a long-term, team-friendly contract. Zack Wheeler signed his own … Continued
You have to admire how the Atlanta Braves do business, especially with the players they developed themselves. They pick the players they like, they pay the players they like, and then pat them on the back before sending them on the field to win. Atlanta’s lineup is practically a modern Murderers’ Row. From reigning National … Continued
The New York Yankees could be without a key piece of their lineup to start the season, all because of a poorly timed injury. Manager Aaron Boone reported Monday that infielder DJ LeMahieu has a “pretty significant bone bruise” and may not be ready for Opening Day. Worse luck, it’s the same right foot that … Continued
Last year was supposed to be a test-the-waters-with-the-youth season for the Baltimore Orioles. Instead, the Birds won 101 games and the AL East, securing their first playoff berth since 2016. The season ended with an ALDS sweep at the hands of the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers, but it became official. The next generation … Continued
The Yankees have announced that crafty lefty and fan favorite Nestor Cortes will start on Opening Day in Houston on March 28. Cortes takes the place of staff ace and reigning Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole, who’s currently shut down with elbow soreness. He will thankfully not need Tommy John surgery. YES Network analyst Meredith … Continued
In 2024, the St. Louis Cardinals looked like something we don’t see often from the storied franchise: A bad team. Granted, this wasn’t the anticipated game script. Out with future Hall of Fame catcher Yadier Molina, in with former Cub and better hitter Willson Contreras. Paul Goldschmidt was fresh off an MVP season and the … Continued
Twenty-six men on a half-dead team, yo-ho-ho and a Primanti’s sub. So goes the timeless Pittsburgh Pirates fan’s refrain whose siren-like echoes have traveled the Three Rivers for over 30 years. Not even three straight Wild Card berths ten years ago brought any hope to the Steel City. The Pirates, one of Major League Baseball’s … Continued
The New York Yankees can breathe a sigh of relief about pitching staff ace and reigning AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. The New York Post reports that after several consultations and an MRI, Cole’s ulnar collateral ligament is intact and he will not need Tommy John surgery. He will instead opt for a month … Continued
The Kansas City Royals are, in their own weird way, unlike any of their Central Division counterparts across both leagues. Don’t get me wrong, they still check most of the boxes. Kansas City continually operates on a shoestring budget. Free agency isn’t a non-factor, but sometimes feels like a quick McDonald’s binge as opposed to … Continued
Remember when the Chicago Cubs let World Series-winning manager Joe Maddon go, hired David Ross to oversee an inevitable rebuild, and then surprised everyone by looking like an actual NL Central contender? ESNY remembers. The Northsiders are ready to light up Wrigleyville again, and they’re bringing Cody Bellinger back on a new contract. Ross is … Continued
A 101-loss season later, the Chicago White Sox can finally wipe the slate clean. Chaos no longer reigns now that executives Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams’ toxic office culture forced both out the door. Former infielder and new general manager Chris Getz is now tasked with building a ChiSox dynasty. As in one that doesn’t … Continued
The Yankees are holding their breath as staff ace and reigning Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole is set to have an MRI on his pitching elbow. Several sources reported the development as the fans panicked on X/Twitter. Gerrit Cole has elbow discomfort and will have an MRI on his elbow today, Aaron Boone told reporters … Continued
Two years ago, the Detroit Tigers were a hot mess. Organizational infrastructure was barely out of the 1970s and the team seemed more the demure Daniel Tiger than the sinister Shere Khan. Enter new team president Scott Harris in 2023, and the Tigers proved a very pleasant surprise despite the weak AL Central. Detroit finished … Continued
Juan Soto’s spectacular spring with the New York Yankees continued at Steinbrenner Field on Sunday. Facing Atlanta Braves righty Patrick Halligan, the Yankees’ new star outfielder blasted a 91 mph fastball 447 feet to right-center field. The home run put the Yankees ahead 7-6 after New York trailed 4-0 and 6-2. Juan. Gone. pic.twitter.com/MMgQUtk1aW — … Continued
Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Saturday morning that infielder Oswald Peraza will shut down for six to eight weeks with a strained shoulder. Oswald Peraza won't throw for the next six to eight weeks due to a subscapularis strain in his right shoulder, per Aaron Boone (down in Fort Myers). Peraza is expected to speak … Continued
In case this is your first time reading, I really like the Cincinnati Reds. No, like, I really like the Cincinnati Reds. I might even like their manager David Bell more. His team, despite stagnant and skittish ownership from the Castellini family, has always played hard for him and punched above their weight. Playing in the … Continued
With the pre-registration for North Carolina sports betting closing Sunday night, there are four days left to lock in the ESPN BET NC promo with code ELITENC for new users that scores a total of $225 in bonus bets. ESPN BET, the newest sportsbook in the U.S. legal space, will have an opportunity to enter … Continued
The Cleveland Guardians just don’t make sense, and perhaps it took coming in third place in the AL Central last year for them to see it. The team finished dead last in home runs, 27th in runs scored, and didn’t draw nearly enough walks. Despite that, Cleveland still struck out the least and team batting … Continued
The AL Central is easily the weakest division in baseball, and the Minnesota Twins can look forward to ruling it for the foreseeable future. Not only did they clinch the division last year with, brace yourselves, 87 wins, but the Twins also won their first playoff series in over a decade! And better yet for … Continued
Stick the Milwaukee Brewers organization next to your garden variety mom-and-pop business, and it’d be hard to tell the difference. Such has been the story of the Brew Crew ever since Mark Attanasio bought the team 20 years ago. Milwaukee puts most if not all of its money into player development and does almost nothing … Continued
With a whopping 112 losses in 2023 and a similar number a near certainty in ’24, it’s a bad time to be associated with the Oakland A’s. It’s been the same song and dance for over 20 years. Moneyball the roster to death, maybe enjoy a few trips to the playoffs, reset when everyone gets … Continued
Three years ago, Ken Rosenthal and Nick Groke wrote in The Athletic how multiple issues had the Colorado Rockies racing towards the bottom. Three years later, nothing has changed. The Rockies’ defining factor is letting its player development cycles fail or succeed while enjoying shockingly strong attendance. For some reason or another, the fans keep … Continued
We’ve known for years that at some point, the wheels would finally fall off the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. And on Dec. 11, months after a 73 win season, it finally happened. Two-time MVP and two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani drove 30 minutes up US-101 to Dodger Stadium and signed a record-setting contract. A once-in-a-generation … Continued
Star outfielder Juan Soto continued to show how perfect a fit he’ll be on the New York Yankees with another spring training home run. Facing Tigers righty Matt Manning on Sunday, Soto clubbed a solo shot deep to right-center field. The home run capped an eight-pitch at-bat and traveled 405 feet. Statcast measured the exit … Continued
When the San Francisco Giants won three World Series rings under Bruce Bochy, they were carried by their pitching. Pre-Arizona Madison Bumgarner and two-time Cy Young-winner Tim Lincecum headlined rotations that just dominated in October. The Giants are still known for their home-farmed pitching today. Logan Webb might be the best ace nobody knows. Camilo … Continued
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Almost a year ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with former Yankees star center fielder Bernie Williams. As we are all well aware, his life after baseball has largely featured everything except baseball. Williams turned his talent on the guitar into a Latin Grammy nomination and continues to perform live. As we noted last … Continued
If Major League Baseball had a forever bridesmaid, she would be the Seattle Mariners. So many times has this team been so close to breaking out and truly establishing so uniquely special. From Ken Griffey’s Kingdome days to Ichiro’s immediate influence to Julio Rodriguez today, it’s not as though Seattle hasn’t had a fair shake. … Continued
For the umpteenth time, Blake Snell is almost certainly not signing with the New York Yankees. And yet, the rumors just won’t die. On Tuesday, new star outfielder and Snell’s former Padres teammate Juan Soto threw his support behind the idea of the big lefty in pinstripes. “I know if he’s coming over, he’s going to … Continued
Less than five years ago, the San Diego Padres seemed destined for a championship. They had a great homegrown prospect in Fernando Tatis Jr., and then went the extra mile to sign (and later extend) star infielder Manny Machado. Lots of young pitching, plus Yu Darvish! Now add a trade for Juan Soto and overpaying, … Continued
The Los Angeles Dodgers don’t care how much money has to be spent. They will not be simply the best regular season team in baseball. It’s time to win, and aplenty. It’s astounding how much the team has underachieved. LA has finished in first place in the NL West in 10 of the last 11 … Continued
It’s hard to explain where the Houston Astros are at. Their important players are talented, but either aging or approaching free agency. There’s lots of exciting young talent on the rise, but the previous dynasty has set the bar so high. Whether they’ll clear it remains to be seen. In the meantime, the Astros must … Continued
Juan Soto showed the fans exactly why the Yankees traded for him in Sunday’s spring training tilt against Toronto. Facing Blue Jays righty Trevor Richards, Soto slugged a three-run home run off the scoreboard to make it 7-1 Yankees. JUAN SOTO 3-RUN SHOT OFF THE SCOREBOARD!! 💪#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/pMmpkqok3h — YES Network (@YESNetwork) February 25, 2024 … Continued
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We took a look at the Arizona Diamondbacks before last season and the conclusion was simple: the Wild Card is their ceiling. Sure enough, the Snakes fought and slithered their way into the playoffs on a Wild Card berth. What nobody anticipated was Arizona upsetting the NL Central-winning Brewers in the Wild Card, sweeping their … Continued
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This time last year, I predicted the Bruce Bochy-led Texas Rangers would make the most of their top-tier offense, but the World Series was a stretch. That would mean the Houston Astros’ pitching melting down. Well, talk about being half-correct. Texas slugged and pitched its way to 90 wins and a Wild Card, finishing tied … Continued
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New York Mets righty Kodai Senga has arm fatigue and is being assessed by trainers, manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday. Senga first felt something was off while throwing a side session on Tuesday, though no MRI is currently scheduled. This is his second season in Flushing after 11 with Japan’s Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. Senga brought … Continued
Gleyber Torres wants to be a New York Yankee for life. The veteran second baseman said as much during a media scrum on Wednesday. Forget the Yankees’ infield depth or that it’s his contract year. Pinstripes are who he is. “I don’t want to leave here,” Torres said. “I want to be a Yankee for … Continued
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Juan Soto is with the Yankees for at least this season, and fans would love if he re-signed in free agency next winter. The feeling could very well be mutual. Soto gave a press conference at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa on Monday and was practically poetic in describing playing in New York. Juan Soto on … Continued
Spring training is underway and, like general manager Brian Cashman said last week, the New York Yankees don’t seem to be “pencils down.” Appearing on MLB Network, insider Jon Morosi reported the Bronx Bombers still have “serious interest” in reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell. The Yankees reportedly still have "serious interest" in Blake … Continued