baseball
Sabermetric analysis of all things baseball - on-and-off the field. Barry Bonds fan club.
John Jay Volleyball Heads to Semifinals
John Jay rode their successful regular season to a fourth seed and opened the Sectionals at John Jay versus Edgemont. The Wolves didn’t wait to get started by jumping out to a 7-3 lead, and the tone set early, the match went as expected
Rich MonettiPublished 5 days ago in Unbalanced
My Thoughts About the Houston Astros
Houston Trashtros and Houston Asterisks are two of the names many baseball fans call the Houston Astros since their infamous cheating scandal transpired in 2017 that helped them win their first ever World Series. For those who aren't familiar with this scandal, suspicions about the Astros cheating have been spreading for years. It wasn't until 2019 that the Los Angeles Dodgers organization started to blow the whistle on a claim that the Astros were stealing signs during the World Series two years earlier. Other teams claimed that they used other cheating tactics, such as whistling to relay signs to batters. In January 2020, Commissioner Rob Manfred released the results of an investigation conducted by Major League Baseball and they concluded that the Astros illegally used a video camera system to steal signs during their World Series run three years prior. As a result to the other aforementioned schemes, the Houston Astros were fined $5 million, gave up two draft picks (first and second round), and suspended both Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and field manager A.J. Hinch for the entire 2020 season. They were later both relieved of their duties. Basically, all of this was a slap on the wrist for the players and for the owner to save his own behind.
Mark Wesley PritchardPublished 7 days ago in Unbalanced
Unapologetically Defending the Texas Rangers
Recently, I celebrated a birthday and very thankful to see another year. Witnessing the Texas Rangers winning their first ever World Series was the best birthday gift I ever asked for. I've noticed in the nearly three weeks since they defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games was an act of disrespect towards the World Series champions. What do I mean by that? Stick around for a while and by the time you've finished reading this story, you'll have a full understanding of why I felt the need to strongly come to the Rangers' defense. I'll start off with the bad and then with the good, because I want my readers and everyone else to understand where I'm coming from.
Mark Wesley PritchardPublished 9 days ago in Unbalanced
Texas Rangers: From Heartbreak to Triumph
November 1, 2023: a night that faithful Rangers fans will remember forever If there's one word to describe the 2023 MLB Postseason, it would be exciting. Exciting might be an understatement to you, but to me, it was exactly that. In my personal opinion, this particular postseason was my overall favorite. When most people think of the word postseason, they most likely associate it with two teams: the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
Mark Wesley PritchardPublished 24 days ago in Unbalanced
World Series Game Five: Go, Go, Texas Rangers!
On April 10, 1961, the second Washington Senators team played their first game of existence, with the team replacing the original franchise, who moved to Minnesota and became the Twins. The team went 61-100 in their first year of play, and in 11 seasons in Washington, the team only had one winning season, coming in 1969. The Senators moved to Arlington, Texas in 1972, becoming the Texas Rangers. It would take them three seasons to enjoy their first winning season, but playoffs would be a long wait for them.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 27 days ago in Unbalanced
World Series Game Four: Don't Mess With Texas
Entering Game Four of this year's World Series, the Texas Rangers had two things: a 2-1 lead and some scary news on a Halloween night. A pair of their top players are down for the Fall Classic. First off, Max Scherzer. "Mad Max" left Game Three due to injury, doing so after pitching just three innings. The second one is as shocker: Adolis Garcia. The possible frontrunner for the World Series MVP nod also became injured, and is done for the rest of the Series. That is a big blow to the Rangers, as the Arizona Diamondbacks looked to even things up, with a chance to take the Series lead at home.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 28 days ago in Unbalanced
World Series Game Three: Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself
November 4, 2001. On that day, the Arizona Diamondbacks won Game Seven of the World Series in walkoff fashion; Luis Gonzalez's famous bases loaded single. Safe money says that "Gonzo" hasn't had to buy a drink in Phoenix since then. That evening was one of celebration, pomp, and circumstance, but it was also the last time that the World Series hit the 48th state. Just a few days shy of 22 years later, the Diamondbacks took the field in front of their home fans for the first time in this year's Fall Classic against the Texas Rangers, with Arizona coming off a dominant win in Game Two to tie the Series.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished 29 days ago in Unbalanced
World Series Game Two: Why Did It Have to be Snakes?!
The 2023 World Series kicked off with an amazing extra innings victory for the Texas Rangers, a comeback victory at that. The Rangers trailed 5-3, and it looked like the Arizona Diamondbacks would steal Game One, but Corey Seager tied the game with a two-run homer in the 9th, and the 11th (and the game overall) ended with Adolis Garcia walking it off. The Rangers struck first in this year's Fall Classic, moving three wins away from their first championship.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished about a month ago in Unbalanced
World Series Game One: Even the Home Runs are Bigger in Texas
When this year's World Series matchup became official, I wanted two things out of this year's edition. One, I wanted extra inning games. And two, I wanted a seven-game Series. With a matchup as unorthodox as the Texas Rangers facing the Arizona Diamondbacks, I wanted all of the insanity and chaos that could come from this. I would get my first request; time would tell if the other comes true.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished about a month ago in Unbalanced
2023 World Series Preview
I always enjoy the World Series, and there are so many reasons. For one, it's absolutely prestigious; there is a lot of history involved, as the Fall Classic's been around since 1903. Another reason is that the World Series marks the end of a very long season with so many games and few days off, but there's also another factor involved: it's the last championship of the sports calendar year. The Super Bowl's in February, the Stanley Cup and NBA Championship are awarded in June, and the World Series occurs in late October/early November.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished about a month ago in Unbalanced
What Went Wrong: A Taste of Their Own Medicine
I just want to say that I haven't seen a League Championship Series this captivating since 2003. That year also was both LCSes go the maximum seven games. In the National League, it was the Florida Marlins and the Chicago Cubs; the Cubs were up 3-2 entering Game Six, where they had a 3-0 lead, and then...Steve Bartman happened. Marlins came back and won Game Six, and took Game Seven to win the pennant. In the American League, it was the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox; another chapter in that bitter rivalry. We all know how Game Seven went. Boston up 4-0, and then 5-2, they were close to the curse being broken, then Pedro Martinez was left in to give up three clutch Yankee runs. Mariano Rivera pitches a shutout 9th, 10th, and 11th, and in the bottom of the 11th, Aaron Boone (the future Yankees manager) hits a walk-off shot off the legendary knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished about a month ago in Unbalanced
What Went Wrong: Home Field Disadvantage
As the saying goes, "When the Astros lose in the postseason, an angel gets its wings." Sadly, that angel is not any of the ones who play in Anaheim.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished about a month ago in Unbalanced
