Opinions & Predictions Archives | Baseball Essential

Most Versatile Player: Paul Goldschmidt Should Win NL MVP

Jun 20, 2017

Arizona Diamondbacks, Opinions & Predictions, Statistics

When Paul Goldschmidt trotted onto the field in his August 1, 2011, major-league debut, fans and experts denoted the 6'3" righty as potentially the next Jeff Bagwell. Goldschmidt shares a position with the form...

Relax Philadelphia, Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Ryan Waterman

May 30, 2017

Opinions & Predictions, Philadelphia Phillies

If you're a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, the past month has been absolutely brutal. Through their first 20 games, Philadelphia seemed to be living up to the expectations that many fans had for this seas...

Opinion: Fastball-Oriented Pitching Is Ultimately Bad For Baseball

Tom Dorsa

May 30, 2017

Opinions & Predictions

From a baseball fan's standpoint, taking in masterful pitchers like Clayton Kershaw or Dallas Keuchel is a goosebumps-inducing activity. Their variety on the mound and their pure ability to keep the batters gue...

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...

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...

The Unlucky Blue Jays Offense

Raza Malik

Apr 24, 2017

Opinions & Predictions, Statistics, Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays started the 2017 season following back-to-back trips to the American League Championship Series. The roster was relatively the same, besides the painful departures of Edwin Encarnacion and...

Clayton Kershaw Starts Are Simply Must-Watch Games

Tom Dorsa

Apr 21, 2017

Features, Los Angeles Dodgers, Opinions & Predictions

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Nowadays, appreciating Hall of Fame-caliber talent is a must, as we never know who and what the voters in Cooperstown will be thinking. Only a few of the active players in Major League Baseball are surefire ele...

Starling Marte New Addition to Baseball’s Steroid Problem

Colby Guy

Apr 19, 2017

Opinions & Predictions, Pittsburgh Pirates

Steroids have been a part of baseball for decades, making headlines every single year, and with Starling Marte's 80-game suspension, the steroid problem still has yet to be solved. Stemming from legends like...

Dodgers Begin the Year of Tough Roster Decisions

Jeff J. Snider

Apr 13, 2017

Features, Los Angeles Dodgers, Opinions & Predictions

The 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers were not built around a 25-man roster. That team, due mostly to a record number of disabled list trips, had 55 different players (including 31 pitchers) make at least one appearance...

Is Dave Dombrowski Overrated in Boston?

Evan Marinofsky

Apr 12, 2017

Boston Red Sox, Opinions & Predictions

To call Dave Dombrowski, one of baseball's top and most successful executives, overrated is rare in the baseball world. He has spent years in Major League Baseball and is one of the top minds in the game. As...