Tag Archives: mlb

2013 MLB Team Preview: San Diego Padres

The biggest news to come out of San Diego this offseason is the Padres moving in the walls at PETCO Park. I’m not sure if doing that is a good move strategically. The team has been built around pitching since the park opened (13 of their top 20 prospects are pitching). Is this move a not-so-subtle way of increasing attendance?

Chase Headley and Carlos Quentin will benefit from the walls being moved in, but can their pitching hold up?

Can San Diego keep up with the Dodgers and Giants in the NL West?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the San Diego Padres. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals did the impossible last season. They lost Albert Pujols to the Angels and their longtime manager Tony LaRussa retired. Most people wrote them off, but they scratched and clawed their way into a Wild Card spot.

The Cardinals didn’t do much this offseason. Was standing pat a poor decision? Can they catch lightning in a bottle for a second year in a row?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the St. Louis Cardinals.

(Yes, that is Nelly wearing some Cardinals gear….excuse me while I go listen to “Air Force Ones”.) Continue reading →

2013 Fantasy Baseball: Top 40 Fantasy Sleepers

My site has been flooded with Google search results from people wanting to know which sleeper they can target in their fantasy baseball drafts this season.

There are some great young candidates emerging (Wil Myers, Jurickson Profar) and some veterans picked to have a bounce back year (Josh Beckett, Heath Bell).

Fantasy baseball is going to be really fun this season. There are so many sleepers that could help you win your league this season.

I made a list of the top 40 best sleepers for the 2013 fantasy baseball season. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates

The last time the Pirates ended the season with a record better than .500 was 1992. I included a picture of Russell Crowe wearing a Pirates jacket, because it he’s had a streak of bad movies to rival the Pirates futility.

I picked Pittsburgh to win more than 81 games last season, but they fell just shy of that. They are headed in the right direction, but they are still a few players away from being on the same level as Cincinnati and St. Louis.

Can Andrew McCutchen repeat his MVP-level 2012 season?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have been perennial World Series contenders since Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley were in their first years in the Majors. The Phillies have spent a king’s ransom on pitching, yet the rest of the lineup have aged poorly. Could Philadelphia become sellers at the trade deadline this season?

Will Philly regret signing Cole Hamels to a superstar contract when he is the team’s third best starter?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Philadelphia Phillies. Continue reading →

The Best Player Nicknames in Baseball History

Anyone can have a nickname, it’s easy. If you’re name is William or Robert, you can go by Billy or Bobby. You can even have a nickname that goes with your name. An example of that would be “Quick Nick” or “Slow Joe”. See how easy it is?

Well, people have gotten very lazy with nicknames in my generation. Alex Rodriguez is “A-Rod” and Derek Jeter is often referred to as “Jeets.” You see how lame we’ve become?

We scoured the list of players who have ever played in the Majors and we picked the best of all-time.

Here is our baseball player nicknames ‘Hall of Fame”. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Oakland Athletics

The Oakland A’s were one of the major surprises in 2012. Not only did “Moneyball” do well at the box office, but the A’s made their first playoff appearance since 2001.

The A’s have a few breakout performances last season. Josh Reddick, Yoenis Cespedes, Jarrod Parker and Ryan Cook pushed Oakland to the next level. Manager Bob Melvin really outdone himself with his roster.

Can Oakland repeat last year’s performance or was it a case of being lucky in one-run games?

Are the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers too talented to surpass in the AL West?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Oakland A’s. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: New York Yankees

It is impossible for the New York Yankees to have a scandal-free offseason.

First, you have a New York Post picture of an overweight Derek Jeter. Second, you have a report linking Alex Rodriguez to BioGenesis PED scandal.

The Blue Jays and Rays improved their rosters with big trades and the Yankees, besides signing Kevin Youkilis, they did not sign any top free agents.

Can the Yankees win another AL East crown?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the New York Yankees. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: New York Mets

A pitcher on the New York Mets won a Cy Young in 2012. Unfortunately for Mets fans, he’s no longer on the team. R.A. Dickey was shipped to Toronto for “hopefully” the Mets future franchise catcher, Travis d’Arnaud.

Will the Mets survive without R.A. Dickey anchoring their rotation?

Is the Mets financial woes still occurring or is the team still looking to dump more salary?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the New York Mets. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins are in pretty bad shape…in the short-term. Joe Mauer and Trevor Plouffe had great years last season,

Denard Span and Ben Revere are no longer on the team and their outfield replacements don’t replace their speed and the defensive outputs. Aaron Hicks could proven me wrong, but the jump from Double-A to the Majors is a lot to ask of him this season.

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Minnesota Twins. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Milwaukee Brewers

Many believed the loss of Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun’s ~~steroid suspension~~ (almost suspension) and the eventually trading Zack Greinke away, would push the Brewers down a few spots in the NL Central. They finished the season over .500 and one could argue if they had a competent closer, they could have received a Wild Card spot.

Are the Brewers still on the same level as the Reds and Cardinals?

Will Milwaukee overachieve again or will they come back down to Earth?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Milwaukee Brewers. Continue reading →

2013 Fantasy Baseball: Top 30 Second Baseman + Sleepers

Second Base, as always, is one of the trickiest positions to fill in fantasy baseball. Unlike the corner infield positions, it’s hard to find power and average without missing out on steals.

There are a few elite second baseman, but the position isn’t as deep as 1B, 3B and outfield. If you want a top-tier second baseman, you will have to use a high pick.

Here are the top 30 second baseman for 2013 fantasy baseball season. We even pick a few sleepers and the busts you should avoid!

My rankings are based on a standard 5×5 league. If you have any specific questions about a different league, email me BobbyMcrib@gmail.com. Continue reading →