Features

Why the All-Star Game Should Not Matter Anymore

Jun 23, 2014

Hello again everybody. Louie here, back for my second time around to talk about something that's been upsetting me for years now, as it's getting around that time of year again, for the MLB All Star Game. I wou...

The 2014 Starlin Castro

Ryan Smith

Jun 22, 2014

Chicago Cubs, Headlines, National League, National League Central, Opinions & Predictions

Has there ever been a time when you were doing a puzzle and the pieces just wouldn't fit? You move the piece around, different positions and still nothing. Well, that's how the Chicago Cubs felt in 2013 when it...

Should we be worried about Justin Verlander?

Steve Benko

Jun 22, 2014

American League, American League Central, Detroit Tigers, Headlines, Opinions & Predictions

Should we be worried about Justin Verlander? That is the $180 million question. Since he won the Cy Young award in 2011, his stats have gradually gotten worse. In 2011, he went 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA, in 2012 he ...

Joe Mauer is bad, but will probably be an All-Star, and it’s a crime

Baseball Essential

Jun 21, 2014

American League, American League Central, Headlines, Minnesota Twins, Opinions & Predictions

All-Star week is not just a game, it’s an entire event filled with festivities throughout the host city during the break. One of the reasons you always find a player who plays in the host city, deserving or not...

Sleeper Candidates for the American League All-Star team

Baseball Essential

Jun 20, 2014

American League, American League Central, American League East, American League West, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Opinions & Predictions

You have your Trout’s, your Miggy’s, and your Bautista’s. Guys who absolutely deserve to be in Minneapolis on July 15th, and deserving of starting in the All-Star game. But, the roster does not just cater to th...

Let’s Talk About Jason Heyward

Baseball Essential

Jun 19, 2014

Atlanta Braves, Headlines, National League, National League East, Opinions & Predictions

Jason Heyward is an excellent player. He's streaky, but a very solid offensive player who gets on base and compiles a ton of extra base hits, a fantastic baserunner, and since the start of the 2010 season (his ...

Tony Gwynn: A Baseball Great

Baseball Essential

Jun 17, 2014

Headlines, Opinions & Predictions

By now everyone close to baseball knows of the passing of Padres legend Tony Gwynn. He died of oral cancer at the age of 54. Gwynn was taken far too young and he will forever be remembered as one hell of a play...

Manny Machado’s literal attempt at the Bat-Flip Royale concept

Baseball Essential

Jun 9, 2014

American League, American League East, American League West, Baltimore Orioles, Headlines, Oakland Athletics, Opinions & Predictions

When I first started writing about the Bat-Flip Royale, detailing individual's attempts to gain entry into a (fictional) season-ending bracket of Bat-Flips, the winner of which would be granted the 2014 belt, i...

White Sox: Keys to Future Success

Louie Penna

Jun 8, 2014

American League Central, Chicago White Sox, Headlines, Opinions & Predictions, Rumors

Hello, my name is Louis, and this is my first post with On Base Talk. I just want to start by saying thanks to everybody who has read my work, and thanks to these guys here for trusting me to try and bring some...

The Senior Class: NL Power Rankings – Week 10

Baseball Essential

Jun 8, 2014

Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Headlines, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milestone, National League, National League Central, National League East, National League West, Opinions & Predictions, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals

Every week throughout the season I’m separately assessing the fortunes of teams in the NL and AL, and ranking them accordingly. Standings aren't dependent on record alone and factor in such elements a...