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April MLB Quirkjians — From Jazz and Pop to Ryan, Ryan, Ryan and Brian
The Quirkjians are of my own making, an obsession for nearly 60 years. I’ve always loved arcane stats, odd connections of arbitrary names and numbers, amazing coincidences that baseball, more than any other sport, always provides. Every night that you go to a major league game, or watch one on TV, you might see something […]
Continue readingMLB Power Rankings Week 1: Who are the biggest risers and fallers in the first week of the season?
How much can really change in one week of a 162-game MLB season? Exactly one week since the excitement of Opening Day had fans of, well, almost every MLB team thinking positive thoughts about the possibilities to come in 2021, our first regular-season rankings of the young season offer something of a reality check for […]
Continue reading2021 MLB Opening Day: Here’s what we’re watching in every single matchup
It all begins today. Every team was scheduled to begin play on the first day of the MLB season — the way it should be every season — before weather forced a rainout in Boston and the Nationals-Mets opener was postponed due to COVID-19 issues. The Los Angeles Dodgers begin their chase for history. They […]
Continue readingAs postseason drought continues to hover, manager Joe Girardi focuses on Philadelphia Phillies playing ‘up to their potential’
“This paper doesn’t mean a lot, right? We have to go out and prove it and guys have to play up to their potential,” Girardi said during a virtual session with reporters on Wednesday. “And that’s what spring training is all about, getting guys in the best possible position to go out and compete starting […]
Continue readingHow the Philadelphia Phillies botched their rebuild — and what it tells us about tanking
Since mid-2015, when the recent Phillies hit their lowest point — bad, expensive and with a barren farm system — they have had four managers, not to mention five hitting instructors and five pitching coaches. “Managers,” Roger Angell once wrote, “are changed whenever it becomes apparent that something must be done, even though it is […]
Continue readingHector Neris, Zach Eflin among 5 to reach deals with Philadelphia Phillies
Neris gets $5 million and the chance to earn $50,000 in bonuses for games finished: $10,000 each for 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40. Eflin receives $4.45 million, and Hale $850,000 plus the chance to earn $300,000 for games: $60,000 apiece for 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50. Domínguez gets $727,500, and Knapp $1.1 million. […]
Continue readingFantasy baseball daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Friday’s games
The final twin bill is in San Francisco with the Giants hosting the Padres. The two clubs will also flip-flop home team designation with the hosts serving as the away team in the nightcap. Good luck entering the final weekend of the 2020 season. It was a bumpy road, but we made it. Here are […]
Continue readingFantasy baseball daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Saturday’s games
Here’s a look at Saturday’s top streaming options, focusing on players rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues. Create or join a league today >> Cheat Sheet Central >> Kwang-Hyun Kim (L), rostered in 56% of ESPN leagues, St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates: Kim is rostered in slightly more than 50% of leagues, […]
Continue readingFantasy baseball daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Monday’s games
A few of the added games have an early start, so be sure to tend to your rosters before they lock. Here are some players to consider, each available in at least half of all ESPN leagues. Joe Musgrove (R), rostered in 32% of ESPN leagues, Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds: Musgrove was a popular […]
Continue readingFantasy baseball daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Sunday’s games
Good luck on the third to last Sunday of the season. Here are the day’s picks to click, all available in more than half of all ESPN leagues. Create or join a league today >> Cheat Sheet Central >> Michael Pineda (R), rostered in 36% of ESPN leagues, Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Indians: Pineda has […]
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