Major League Baseball Archives | Baseball Essential

Where The Yankees Have An Advantage Come Playoff Time

Sep 22, 2017

New York Yankees, Opinions & Predictions

As it stands, the New York Yankees are a Wild Card team, meaning they will be forced to compete in a one-game, winner-take-all matchup with an American League foe for the chance to play in the American League D...

Rebuild in Kansas City Will Be Royally Long, Ugly

Tom Dorsa

Sep 14, 2017

Kansas City Royals, Opinions & Predictions

Over the past few years, the Kansas City Royals have been perhaps the most fascinating and intriguing team in Major League Baseball. They have never been the most powerful team at the plate, but their exception...

Chris Sale’s Struggles Against the Indians are Bad News for the Red Sox

Varun Tekur

Aug 28, 2017

Boston Red Sox, Features

Chris Sale is unquestionably having one of the best seasons by a Boston Red Sox pitcher, or any American League pitcher, in recent years. His absurd 12.77 K/9 ratio is the highest figure in the major leagues, a...

What Boston Pressure? Eduardo Nunez Is Tearing It Up For Red Sox

Tom Dorsa

Aug 28, 2017

Boston Red Sox, Features

Can he handle the pressure that comes with playing in Boston? That's the first thing you'll hear from writers and analysts when the Boston Red Sox sign a high-level free agent, promote a promising prospect, or ...

Confessions of a Baseball Jinx

Jeff J. Snider

Aug 11, 2017

Features, Los Angeles Dodgers

I'm no scientist, but I know enough to know that baseball jinxes aren't real. An announcer saying the phrase "no-hitter" does not mysteriously impart added skills to the struggling hitters. No player ever got w...

Giancarlo Stanton Is Quietly Delivering On His Expected Greatness

Tom Dorsa

Aug 8, 2017

Miami Marlins

There are 52 games remaining in the Miami Marlins' likely unsuccessful quest to earn a Wild Card berth in October's National League Playoffs, as they look to qualify for the postseason for the first time since ...

Drew Pomeranz Quietly Putting Together a Stellar Season for the Boston Red Sox

Varun Tekur

Aug 8, 2017

Boston Red Sox, Features

By giving up highly regarded minor league pitcher Anderson Espinoza to the San Diego Padres, the Boston Red Sox seemingly paid a steep price for Drew Pomeranz in mid-July of the 2016 season. So, when Pomeranz s...

Oracular Voting Process Will Hurt Jose Altuve’s MVP Case

Tom Dorsa

Aug 2, 2017

American League, Opinions & Predictions

Just two weeks ago, baseball fans and experts alike had made the somewhat safe assumption that New York Yankees rookie sensation Aaron Judge could be penciled in as the American League's Most Valuable Player. H...

Analyzing Arizona’s Acquisition of J.D. Martinez

Ryan Waterman

Jul 31, 2017

Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Headlines, Transactions

The National League West has been referred to as (arguably) the best division in baseball this season. As of this writing, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, and Arizona Diamondbacks all have records th...

Blockbuster: Sonny Gray Shipped to Yankees in Four-Player Deal

Ryan Waterman

Jul 31, 2017

Breaking News, Headlines, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Transactions

Sonny Gray is heading east, as the Oakland Athletics announced earlier this afternoon that their staff ace has been dealt to the New York Yankees. RHP Sonny Gray traded to NYY with $1.5M in int'l bonus slot ...