Billy Collins | Baseball Essential

Evaluating Starting Pitcher Trade Candidates

Jun 27, 2017

As is the case every year, teams will be looking to add pitching at the trade deadline. For most contending teams, their biggest weakness is starting pitching. The Houston Astros rotation could use a steady,...

Two Examples of the Fly Ball Revolution

Billy Collins

Jun 5, 2017

Headlines, Statistics

The last two seasons in MLB have seen a significant uptick in home runs from previous seasons. These home run numbers even compare favorably to the steroid era. The reason for this is that hitters are hitting f...

Brett Cecil: Big Bucks, But No Payoff

Billy Collins

May 16, 2017

Opinions & Predictions, St. Louis Cardinals

This past offseason, the St. Louis Cardinals signed relief pitcher Brett Cecil to a four-year contract worth $30.5 million. This deal was one of many in the deepest free agent class of bullpen arms in recent me...

The Case of the Rebuilding Chicago White Sox

Billy Collins

May 10, 2017

Chicago White Sox

One of the biggest early surprises of the 2017 season is the success of the Chicago White Sox. The trades of Adam Eaton and Chris Sale indicated that the front office was on board with a total rebuild. The e...

ESPN Layoffs Reflect the Changing State of Baseball Journalism

Billy Collins

Apr 27, 2017

Headlines, Opinions & Predictions

The journalism industry is a complex one to say the least. In today’s world, hard-hitting, high quality journalism is not valued nearly as much as what I’m going to call “ratings drivers.” Hot takes are a bette...

How to Manage in 2017, Starring Bryan Price

Billy Collins

Apr 19, 2017

Cincinnati Reds, Features

Managing a major-league team does not seem like too arduous of a task. In terms of decision making, there is only so much a manager can do. One of those few things a manager must decide on is who is going to co...

Jake Arrieta’s Velocity is Down. No, It’s Not a Big Deal

Billy Collins

Apr 11, 2017

Chicago Cubs

Jake Arrieta set the baseball world on fire two years ago, pitching to the tune of a 1.77 ERA and 236 strikeouts, winning the National League Cy Young Award. Looking at the numbers, there are a few anomalies fr...

Seth Lugo has UCL injury, will bypass Tommy John surgery

Billy Collins

Apr 4, 2017

Injuries, New York Mets

New York Mets righty Seth Lugo has a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing elbow. Traditionally this injury would lead to Tommy John surgery. Instead, Lugo was injected with platel...

Pitching Matchups to Watch on Opening Day

Billy Collins

Mar 31, 2017

Headlines, Major League Baseball, Opinions & Predictions

Opening Day is easily one of the most exciting times of the baseball year. More people watch these two days of baseball than at any other point during the season, save for the postseason and All-Star game. P...

Author Billy Collins