Baseball teams come to be defined by their players as much as the successes or failures they have with their win/loss records. In particular, the Boston Red Sox have a rich tradition of players who have left indelible marks on the franchise and its fans. One player who is surely in that category is Troy O’Leary, who came to Boston under humble circumstances, but left as a tremendous success. Read more »
Filed under: Down and Dirty - Interviews | Tagged: Red Sox, Troy O'Leary | Leave a Comment »
Baseball in just about any context is a good thing. During the regular season, the attention of fans is typically riveted to the on-field action, but there are many fascinating nuggets of baseball awesomeness hidden all over in the form of its history. You just have to know where to look to find them. To help you on your way to discovering some of the delights from baseball’s past, I have dug up some items that should both engross and entertain.
Baseball is a game that can be enjoyed as much in the moment as it can be in projecting its future and discovering its past. Without further ado, let’s see how well I can do at putting the historian in “Baseball Historian.” Read more »
Filed under: Digging Deep - Analysis | Tagged: Boston Red Sox, Frank Robinson, Ken Griffey, Otis Nixon, Steve Carlton | Leave a Comment »
Cheating has a long and interesting history in baseball. From sharpened cleats, corked bats, banned substances and doctored pitches, players and teams are seemingly always in search of an edge. As former Chicago Cubs’ first baseman Mark Grace once famously said, “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.”
That being said, there can be a fine line between what is cheating and what is simply gaining an edge. When something questionable is identified, there is typically a race to classify it as legitimate or cheating. Hardly a year passes without at least one instance of a player being caught or being accused of nefarious actions. This year is no exception. Read more »
Filed under: Digging Deep - Analysis | Tagged: Atlanta Braves, Bob Lemon, Boston Red Sox, Chris Carpenter, Clay Buchholz, David Price, Dirk Hayhurst, Jack Morris, Mark Grace, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Tim Hudson, Wally Backman | Leave a Comment »
The Boston Red Sox have some of the better-known pitching prospects in baseball with Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster and Matt Barnes all leading most peoples’ lists. It turns out that they are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Boston’s farm system, as there are a number of other promising young arms being developed, including last year’s fifth-round draft choice, Mike Augliera.
The 22-year-old right-hander attended Old Bridge High School in New Jersey. He later became a college star at Binghamton University, where he is the all-time leader in wins (23) and innings (298.1). As a senior, he led the NCAA with an 83/7 strikeout-to-walk ratio, showing his excellent control. Read more »
Filed under: Down and Dirty - Interviews, On the Farm - Prospects | Tagged: Boston Red Sox, Interview, Mike Augliera, Prospects | Leave a Comment »
“Who’s on first. What’s on second. I Don’t Know’s on third.” This classic comedy routine by Golden Age comedians, Abbott and Costello has been illustrated by artist John Martz in a book. This sketch is well known and loved by baseball fans alike and I make no exception for myself. What got me excited about this book was reading it to my five year old son, who’s just starting to take an interest in learning more about baseball. We play catch and hit balls fairly often and he’s really taking a shine to doing that. Read more »
Filed under: Book/Game Reviews | Tagged: Abbot and Costello, Book Review, John Martz, Who's On First | 1 Comment »
The length of a baseball team’s disabled list can have such a strong impact on the outcome of their season. Injuries not only deprive teams of talented players, but alter the chemistry that was so carefully constructed during the offseason and spring training.
The ability of backup players, minor league prospects and the length of time needed for the injured to come back healthy can all determine whether or not a season will be derailed. Just a month into the 2013 season, a number of major league teams have felt the pinch of losing players to the DL. The scrambling has already begun for some to overcome a fractured roster. Read more »
Filed under: Digging Deep - Analysis | Tagged: Alex Rodriguez, Anibal Sanchez, Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Detroit Tigers, Hanley Ramirez, Jason Kipnis, Justin Verlander, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mark Teixeira, Max Scherzer, New York Yankees | Leave a Comment »
When star outfielder Josh Hamilton left the Texas Rangers to sign with the divisional rival Los Angeles Angels this past offseason, it was believed the team would struggle to find his replacement. After all, the former MVP has 162 game averages of .320 with 35 home runs and 120 RBI during his career.
While it may take a little time, the Rangers may already have Hamilton’s replacement in their system. His name is Lewis Brinson, and he is one of the best young players in the minor leagues. Read more »
Filed under: Down and Dirty - Interviews, On the Farm - Prospects | Tagged: Interview, Lewis Brinson, Prospects, Texas Rangers | Leave a Comment »
Junius Worth
David Kerr
Charlie Nehl
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Andrew Martin
Jonathan C. Mitchell
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Daniel Marino
Michael Schwartze
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Spencer Schneier
William J. Tasker
