baseball
Sabermetric analysis of all things baseball - on-and-off the field. Barry Bonds fan club.
Somers Red Storm Does the Little Things En Route to Undefeated Season
When compiling a 15-0 record in which your team outscores opponents 263-43, paring the unavoidable bloop with a multitude of blasts must be the general mindset. But en route to this undefeated onslaught, the coaches of the Somers Red Storm WPBA Little League team drills an understanding that baseball success largely hinges on maximizing the minutia
Rich MonettiPublished 6 years ago in UnbalancedThe Grind
To make a beautiful baseball bat you slowly use a gouge, whittling away at the wood as it turns. A baseball career tends to work in a similar fashion. You start as a raw player who needs to have his skills redefined after the exciting draft day occurs. The amount of whittling needed varies depending on age, skill, and IQ. This "whittling" or development all occurs in the same place, the minor leagues.
Mike BPublished 6 years ago in UnbalancedThe Fantasy Baseball Players You Are Missing Out On
Fantasy Baseball can be just as suprising as the stock market, but that does not mean it has to be as secretive or complicated. One of the best ways to get ahead of the game is to pick up the hidden gems that no one has signed yet, to ensure that your team is the Ultimate Fantasy Baseball team. To help here is a list of some of those hidden players that have a lot to offer in helping your fantasy team become the winning one.
Jordon DumenilPublished 6 years ago in UnbalancedTop 9 Catcher's Mitts You Can Buy Right Now
Whether you're a first baseman or a catcher, you're probably used to the having different kinds of mitts than the rest of your teammates. The difference between catcher's mitts and standard fielder's gloves is the circumference and length.
Dave SchneiderPublished 6 years ago in UnbalancedBiggest MLB Draft Busts of All Time
Reaching the major leagues is the ultimate goal for a baseball player. It's also one of the most difficult things to accomplish. Players selected in the first round of the draft are often seen as difference makers and future faces of the franchise. Although it's virtually impossible to predict these players' futures, their potential is obvious. However, due to a variety of factors including injury, ability and maturity, some of these players never reach their ceiling. Here are the biggest MLB draft busts of all time.
Chris GennonePublished 6 years ago in UnbalancedTop 10 Baseball Cleats You Can Buy Right Now
If you want to be the best you need to have the best gear. In baseball, if you aren't a pitcher, that means having a pair of the best selling batting gloves and baseball cleats of the highest quality. In order to become a five-tool player you need to be able to steal bases and field your position well, and that's where cleats come in.
Jesse KinneyPublished 6 years ago in UnbalancedMinor League Baseball is Better Than Major League Baseball
This is one of my hottest takes I've ever had. The minors are more electric than the majors. I'm talking atmosphere mostly but the play on the field can be just as good.
Nate QuellhorstPublished 6 years ago in UnbalancedSomething Silly This Way Comes (And Probably Goes Very Quickly)
May 8, 2018 will most likely not be a date that lives on in the minds of Mets fans forever. Or Reds fans for that matter. It most certainly will not sting like the "Midnight Massacre" of June 15, 1977. The day the Mets shipped Seaver to the Reds for four players that no one in New York had ever heard of. Because, at 33, Seaver was called a "headache" by M. Donald Grant. Seaver thought he deserved more than his $225,000 salary (ya think?).
Brian HammPublished 6 years ago in UnbalancedBest BBCOR Baseball Bats in 2018
Everyone knows the sound of a bat. Whether it's wood or aluminum, its noise is distinct. Each player has a different sound when they make contact, depending on where they hit the ball. At one time, in the major leagues, the most common bat used was Louisville Slugger. But things have changed across all levels of the game. Aluminum bats are now equipped with modern technologies to improve a player's game. These bats now include vibration reduction technology, larger barrels, and unique grips. Some of the top switch-hitters of all time may have trained with these bats. While BBCOR bats are primarily used for high school and college level ball, they can also be used for lower levels with certification. Here are the best BBCOR baseball bats in 2018.
Chris GennonePublished 6 years ago in Unbalanced10 Best-Selling Baseball Batting Gloves
I often marvel at the abilities of MLB hitters. They see triple-digit fastballs, 12-to-6 curveballs, nasty sliders, and various other pitches meant to make them look silly. They don't always come out ahead, but being able to even make contact with those pitches is almost a superhuman feat. The best hitters, the Mike Trout's, Bryce Harper's, and Jose Altuve's, all are able to take those pitches and spray them all over the ballpark.
Jesse KinneyPublished 6 years ago in UnbalancedJohn Jay’s Amanda Gisonni Let’s Others do the Talking - Especially Her Uncle
About seven years ago on Easter, I suddenly learned my niece Amanda was something of a natural as a pitcher. Dinner finished, we all went to a nearby park and got a look at the 10 year old prodigy. Not bad, but all I had to do was sit on her fastball to sure up my place as the best softball player in the family. As I made my way to Yorktown last week to see her on the hill for John Jay High School, I still wait for another chance to let her know where we stand in terms of our common lineage.
Rich MonettiPublished 6 years ago in UnbalancedBest MLB Lineup of the 2010s
Major League Baseball has had an influx of superstar-level talent in the past decade. Most teams have a superstar or two, with a lucky portion having an entire ensemble of game-changing talents. With so much skill in the league, debates about which players are best, and what the perfect lineup would be are frequent and intense.
Jesse KinneyPublished 6 years ago in Unbalanced