SPOTLIGHTS
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Musings From the Bleachers 07.03.08: Beast of The East
(07.03.2008)
- Frank Fedele
The American League East contains two of the biggest hitters in MLB at this time, the Red Sox and the Yankees. Both teams are consistently among the biggest spending teams and have been in the playoff hunt for almost a decade. The Red Sox are the defending World Series champs and came in the season the favorites for a repeat performance this fall. Right now, however both teams are looking up in the standings to the leader of the division. The Tampa Bay Rays. No really, those former Devil Rays are the leaders in the American League East right now and have the best record in Major League Baseball. Can this team keep it up? Read further and find out. |
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Curveballs and Sliders 07.01.08: All-Star Selections
(07.01.2008)
- A.J. Stevens
Curveballs and Sliders is back with the selections of all 62 all-stars plus the unveiling of the final five man ballots for each league. Also the all-time rotation/lineup feature continues with the teams of the NL Central and a rant about 411mania fantasy baseball!! |
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MLB Fastball 06.27.08: Slap On The Wrist For Ump?
(06.27.2008)
- Neil Borenstein
Major League Baseball umpires have long been some of the most egotistical refs in all of sport. Always treated like they’re above the law by the league, umpires have gotten away with quite a bit, including ejecting managers and players for seemingly no reason at all. The MLB was forced, however, to punish one of its angelic authority figures following a bait ‘n bump routine in the Mets vs. Mariners game on June 24 – FOR ONE GAME! In this edition of MLB Fastball, Neil Borenstein examines the happenings from that game at Shea, in addition to Shawn Chacon pulling a Sprewell and a little reader feedback. |
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The Weekly MLB Rundown 06.27.08
(06.27.2008)
- A.J. Stevens
It's another week of interleague play in the books! With a little over two weeks left until the All-Star Break, we've got a slightly abbreviated edition while we prep for the big Independence Day spectacular! Come inside and join us, won't you? |
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Musings From the Bleachers 06:26:08: Surging to the Top
(06.26.2008)
- Frank Fedele
This week we look at a team that made a big trade in the offseason by shipping out their two best players for youngsters. The Marlins were thought to be battling the Nationals for the basement of the National League East. Instead they are battling the Phillies and the Braves for the top spot in the division. How did this team surpass expectations? Read further and find out.
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MLB Fastball 06.21.08: Randolph’s Firing Mishandled
(06.21.2008)
- Neil Borenstein
Omar Minaya had weeks to turn speculation into truth and fire Willie Randolph. Instead of choosing the right time and place, he decided to let the Mets’ 18th manager in team history go one game into a series in Los Angeles in a hotel room at midnight. In this edition of MLB Fastball, Neil Borenstein shares his thoughts on the situation, as well as Derek Jeter being labeled the league’s most overrated player and Curt Schilling’s potentially career-ending surgery. |
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Musings From the Bleachers 06.19.08: The Carnage Begins
(06.19.2008)
- Frank Fedele
We are now 60 games into the season and the surprises and disappointments have come more into the focus. The Mariners team that thought that an offseason trade for Erik Bedard would be enough to push them over the top is presently the worst team in baseball. This has cost the hitting coach and the general manager their jobs. A Mets team that stumbled down the stretch last season, but made a big pitching acquisition of their own in Johan Santana have struggled to stay about the .500 mark. It cost Willie Randolph his job as well as the job of his pitching coach. Who else is on the bubble? Read further and find out. |
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MLB Fastball 06.14.08: Indians Might Have Sabathia On Trade Block
(06.14.2008)
- Neil Borenstein
The Cleveland Indians have something to think about before the July 31st trade deadline. If playoff hopes are slipping and the right offer comes their way, is the time right to deal ace C.C. Sabathia, who is unlikely to be re-signed over the offseason because of the amount of money he can command? In this edition of MLB Fastball, Neil Borenstein examines the situation and the potential trade partners with a reported interest in the services of the 28-year old lefty. |
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Musings From the Bleachers 06:12:08: The Big Trade
(06.12.2008)
- Frank Fedele
The biggest bat available in the offseason was a young slugger from the Florida Marlins whose price tag had grown beyond the Marlins budget. Miguel Cabrera was an all-star at a young age and young enough to have many prime years for the team that traded for him. The Marlins were also looking to move their young ace, Dontrelle Willis. Many teams were rumored to acquire one or the other, but the team from Motown made the move to acquire both and solidify their chances in the tough American League Central. How has it worked so far???? Read and find out. |
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MLB Fastball 06.06.08: Fighting For Respect
(06.06.2008)
- Neil Borenstein
In one day, the Tampa Bay Rays were reminded of where they once were, where they are now and where they hope to be. After drafting first overall in the first-year player draft, they brawled with the team currently occupying the first place spot in the AL East they have a realistic opportunity of sitting in for the first time in the team’s 11-year existence. In the newest edition of MLB Fastball, Neil Borenstein chimes in with his thoughts on the Rays’ busy Thursday. |
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Musings From the Bleachers 06.05.08: Pitching Transitions
(06.05.2008)
- Frank Fedele
The big news this week came from the pitching mound in two baseball cities. In New York city a young pitcher attempted to make the move from the 8th inning to starter. News also came from Atlanta as an old pro had to have season ending surgery. In this edition of Musings, we look at the old pro that smoothly made the transition from the bullpen to starter and the youngster in New York that begins that journey. |
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Musings From the Bleachers 05.29.08: It Came From the Minors
(05.29.2008)
- Frank Fedele
The season is far enough along that teams have a good feel for what they have for the rest of the season. Teams that expected to be contending for division champions (Detroit and Seattle, I am looking at you) have to decide if they can turn around the season. Some teams decide that they were a lost cause and started dipping into the minors for help. Others decided that the youngster pounding the ball down in Triple-A or throwing it by hitters at great frequency were the spark they need to start their team on the path back into contention. It began in earnest this week with two marquee players making their major league debut. |
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The House of Crouse 05.24.08
(05.24.2008)
- Mark Crouse
The House of Crouse Close to Mid-Season All Stars have arrived! Check out who is making their owners smile like the producers of Iron Man in this week's edition. |
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MLB Fastball 05.23.08: Giants, Rockies and Padres Bringing Down The NL West
(05.23.2008)
- Neil Borenstein
The National League West grabbed the NL Wild Card playoff spot in each of the last two seasons and even had a representative in the World Series last year. In 2008, however, the NL West has taken a few steps back. In this week’s return edition of MLB Fastball, Neil Borenstein takes a look at three of the four worst teams in the entire league right now – the San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres. |
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Musings From the Bleachers 05:22:08: A Tale of Two Trade Partners
(05.22.2008)
- Frank Fedele
The big prize in the offseason was Johan Santana. The Twins had decided that they had to move him before he left as a free agent and lined up suitors. Two power house teams from the AL East made offers with young pitching as the key component before pulling those offers off the table. One team has been very happy with their decision, the other much less so. |
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The House of Crouse 5.17.08
(05.17.2008)
- Mark Crouse
This week in the House...we open a spanking new self-created mailbag. Also, season two of American Gladiators is reviewed, and The Soapbox goes to work on Spygate. |
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The House of Crouse 5.10.08
(05.10.2008)
- Mark Crouse
This week in The House...more fantasy baseball news and notes, and we talk about the greatest sports video games of all time! And in The Soapbox, I give PETA what for after the Kentucky Derby tragedy. |
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Musings From the Bleachers 05.08.08: A Young Gun Analysis, American League
(05.08.2008)
- Frank Fedele
There was a change this offseason on how teams, even contending teams, were constructing their starting rotations. Gone was the idea of bringing in hired guns to fill in the staff holes. A renewed emphasis on young pitching has begun with even the mighty Red Sox and Yankees leaning on young pitchers to fill out their staffs. How has this worked thus far this season in the American League?? |
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The House of Crouse 05.03.08
(05.03.2008)
- Mark Crouse
Come on into The House and check out the debut of the Snap Judgement Awards, where one month of stats is used to evaluate how your fantasy baseball players will produce this season. Also, NFL Draft insight, and The Soapbox takes a distraction-causing reciver to task. |
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The House of Crouse 4.25.08
(04.25.2008)
- Mark Crouse
It's the Mark's birthday edition of the House! All the latest fantasy baseball news, NFL Draft and NBA playoff analysis, and good clean sports talk fun await you! And an Orioles fan gives Yankees fans a peek into their future! |
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The Weekly MLB Rundown 04.25.08: Week Four
(04.25.2008)
- A.J. Stevens
It's the "All-Miguel" edition of the Rundown this week! Watch what happens as I try to write a column with as few references to the Diamondbacks as possible! Won't you come join us as we talk about all things baseball? |
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Musing from the Bleachers 04:17:08: The Foiled Curse
(04.17.2008)
- Frank Fedele
Seems like a title for a black and white movie, but no, it is something more sinister than that. A Boston Redsox fan buried a David Ortiz jersey in the concrete of the new stadium to curse the Yankees new park. Thankfully, the jersey was removed so this curse will not be completed. |
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The House of Crouse 04.11.08
(04.11.2008)
- Mark Crouse
Witness the dawning of a new day in hack internet journalism! The column formerly known as This Week in Fantasy Baseball has spread its wings and become The House of Crouse, the most distilled blend of opinion and fact available to the masses! Behold! |
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Pelletier's Perspective 4.08.08: American League Preview Edition
(04.08.2008)
- Justin Pelletier
The Perspective is back for round two of its three part MLB preview. Can the Tigers bounce back? Will Texas and Baltimore each lose 100 games? Will it be New York or Boston in the East? Join 411's Justin Pelletier as he examines these questions, and more, in the lattest addition of Pelletier's Perspective. |
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The MLB Rizz Rankings 4.07.08: Week Two
(04.07.2008)
- Randy Isbelle
Baltimore has the best record in the AL, Detroit was swept by the Royals and then the White Sox and Marlins have the same record as my Yankees. What crazy out of this world thing will happen next? Somebody might actually listen to the Coast 2 Coast Sports Report podcast this week? Nah, that's just crazy talk. |
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