Ryan Chichester, Author at Baseball Essential

Biggest Early Surprises of the 2017 Season

Apr 19, 2017

"You can't predict baseball." We hear this tired cliché every spring, summer, and autumn. Baseball's predictable unpredictability has reared its head already in the first three weeks of the season. Of course...

Lack of Star Power in MLB? It’s the Nature of the Sport, and It’s Okay

Ryan Chichester

Apr 7, 2017

Major League Baseball, Opinions & Predictions

ESPN senior writer Jayson Stark wrote a detailed and compelling case regarding the state of Major League Baseball and its search to find a "face" of the league. Stark brings up numerous valid points using recen...

Stroman’s gem leads United States to their first World Baseball Classic Championship

Ryan Chichester

Mar 23, 2017

Major League Baseball, Offseason

The United States is finally crowned the king of their pastime. Everything was clicking for the US on Wednesday night as they cruised past undefeated Puerto Rico, 8-0, to claim their first World Baseball Cla...

Chris Carter Brings Much-Needed (and Inexpensive) Power to Yankees

Ryan Chichester

Feb 9, 2017

New York Yankees, Transactions

After failing to live up to their usual "Bronx Bombers" identity for the past few years, Brian Cashman and the Yankees pulled the trigger on a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the reigning National League co-ho...

Why is Fred McGriff So Far Away From the Hall of Fame?

Ryan Chichester

Jan 19, 2017

Features, Opinions & Predictions

The 2017 Hall of Fame class is set, and while many are clamoring over the absence of sluggers like Vladimir Guerrero, there is another slugger who remains buried beneath a crowded ballot. Fred McGriff failed to...

A’s Sign Rajai Davis to One-Year Deal

Ryan Chichester

Jan 5, 2017

Oakland Athletics, Transactions

Looking to help their depleted outfield, the Oakland A's have signed free-agent outfielder Rajai Davis to a one-year, $6 million deal. It has been reported that the 36-year-old Davis has already passed his phys...

With Encarnacion in Cleveland, Who Is the Favorite in the American League?

Ryan Chichester

Dec 28, 2016

American League, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians saw the Boston Red Sox acquire Chris Sale, and raised them with the signing of slugger Edwin Encarnacion, inking the best offensive player on the market to a three-year deal. Encarnacion w...

Marlins Add Tazawa, But Still Have a Gaping Hole in the Pen

Ryan Chichester

Dec 16, 2016

Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins signed free-agent reliever Junichi Tazawa to a two-year deal on Thursday worth $12 million, in an effort to make up for striking out on big market relievers such as Aroldis Chapman and Kenley ...

Positional Power Rankings: Shortstop

Ryan Chichester

Dec 13, 2016

Features, Major League Baseball, Opinions & Predictions

Welcome to the new Golden Age of shortstops. Not since the days of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Nomar Garciaparra have we seen such a strong core of talented players occupying the position between second an...

Chapman Signing a Relapse in Mindset for Yankees

Ryan Chichester

Dec 9, 2016

American League, American League East, New York Yankees, Opinions & Predictions

The New York Yankees signed free agent closer Aroldis Chapman late Wednesday night to a lucrative five-year deal worth $86 million, fully equipped with a three-year full no-trade clause with an option after yea...

Author Ryan Chichester