June 19, 2013

Top Stories

From Dylan to Steinbrenner: The ‘Catfish’ Chronicles

June 17, 2013 · by · Leave a Comment 

Ashes and Diamonds …In the early ’60-s Bob Dylan wrote “Poor Boy Blues,” a song about the travails of a young man down on his luck. It’s a life of struggle for Dylan’s protagonist as he seeks to hop a train, convince a bartender he’s of legal age and assure a long-distance operator “this phone call is on the house.” Fast-forward to 1975. There’s a difference in subject matter. Dylan is in the studio recording ”Catfish,” a song he and Jacques Levy wrote about a young man at the top of his game.... [Read the full story]

General

ML”what would”B: What if the Dodgers Never Moved?

June 14, 2013 · by · Leave a Comment 

Hey baseball fans! I just put up another ML”what would”B post on More Than a Fan. In every ML”what would”B alternative history post, I discuss what would have happened if a famous event in baseball history had gone differently than it did in reality. For my latest post, I wrote what would have happened if the Dodgers had never moved from Brooklyn to LA. If you want to know the answer, just click here. Hope you enjoy the post and thanks for reading it. Check back in a couple of days for more of “all the buzz on what wuzz.”  Read More →

Features

Will There Ever Be Another All-Star Game In Washington, DC?

June 12, 2013 · by · Leave a Comment 

The Washington Nationals did an about face in their 2013 Rule 4 draft last week. For several years GM Mike Rizzo has pursued an aggressive draft strategy in which the team spent well beyond MLB recommended signing bonuses. If you were looking for a continuation of the Nationals spendthrift ways, look again. Jake Johansen was the first selection by the Nationals last week, taken 68th overall. Johansen was not rated in the top 100 by MLB.com and Baseball America (BA) or anyone else.  His highest ranking was 182nd by Baseball America. Johansen signed within 24 hours of his selection  for... [Read the full story]

Hall of Fame

SABR, Bud Fowler and a Taste of Cooperstown

April 24, 2013 · by · Leave a Comment 

Last Thursday I made my way to Upstate New York for the fifth annual Frederick Ivor-Campbell 19th Century Base Ball Conference. I have gone each year so that means it has been five times that I have attended if my math is correct. Driving to Cooperstown can be challenging since I cannot wait to get there and my foot tends to push down on the gas pedal. Thankfully there wasn’t any cars trying to pull me over to delay my arrival to baseball’s land of nostalgia. When I arrived I headed straight to Doubleday Cafe, usually the first stop of all my arrivals in Cooperstown. I sat... [Read the full story]

Minors

Stash for a Smash

May 6, 2013 · by · Leave a Comment 

We are now into the Sweet Spot time period starting in May and going through June where impact rookies will get called up from the minor leagues. Guys that will make an impact both for their team and YOUR team. Here are four guys who haven’t seen the majors in 2013 that could be starters on your team by the end of the season. I recently wrote a lengthy article about Billy Hamilton so he will be left out but rest assured if I hadn’t, he’d be at the top of this list. Wil Myers – Tampa Bay Rays: I was completely shocked when the Royals traded Myers during the offseason. He’s... [Read the full story]

General

ML”what would”B: What if the Dodgers Never Moved?

June 14, 2013 by

Hey baseball fans! I just put up another ML”what would”B post on More Than a Fan. In every ML”what would”B alternative history post, I discuss what would have happened if a famous event in baseball history had gone differently than it did in reality. For my latest post, I wrote what would have happened if the Dodgers had... Read more of this article

After Years in Dodgers Farm System and Play for Six Independent Teams, Bridger Hunt Catches Fire

June 14, 2013 by

One cannot wonder if Bridger Hunt, who turns 28 next month, is a late bloomer. The shortstop was a sixth round draft choice of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006, had nearly four years in their farm system without climbing above Class A, and spent time with six Independent teams spread over three leagues the next three years without putting up blistering... Read more of this article

MLB’s Most Over and Underrated Players

June 13, 2013 by

Discussing the most over and underrated players in baseball is an annual exercise that creates a lot of spirited debate and reaction. There’s no scientific formula to determine or verify who falls where; just opinion, eye-tests and carefully manipulated stats to prove points. That being said, the best reason to do it is because it’s fun.  Here... Read more of this article

It All Started With Al Lopez

June 13, 2013 by

Recently the modest Ybor City ancestral home of Alfonso Ramon Lopez – Al Lopez as he was known as player and manager – was up-rooted and moved about a mile, where it will become the Tampa Baseball Hall of Fame. It is richly appropriate that the baseball history of Tampa be housed in the Lopez home. Al Lopez was the talent-rich area’s... Read more of this article

Southern Song of the Day: ‘Catfish’ by Bob Dylan

June 12, 2013 by

This is a revised and expanded version of the story first posted on Like the Dew on November 16, 2009. Catfish Hunter had his mind made up.  He wasn’t gonna work on Finley’s farm no more. The son of a Hertford, North Carolina sharecropper, James Augustus Hunter, knew all about farms. He also knew when he was getting a raw deal, whether... Read more of this article

Will There Ever Be Another All-Star Game In Washington, DC?

June 12, 2013 by

The Washington Nationals did an about face in their 2013 Rule 4 draft last week. For several years GM Mike Rizzo has pursued an aggressive draft strategy in which the team spent well beyond MLB recommended signing bonuses. If you were looking for a continuation of the Nationals spendthrift ways, look again. Jake Johansen was the first selection by the... Read more of this article

Anthony Rendon Arriving Gate 4

June 11, 2013 by

Anthony Rendon’s path into the station was blocked by Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Yet most of the time he has spent in the minors–until very recently–was at third base. Like all good ball players Rendon has made his own opportunity. He has found an open track to run on at 2nd base and he is arriving right on time. During... Read more of this article

Baseball Notes for June 10, 2013

June 10, 2013 by

The big news of the week in baseball was an ESPN Outside the Lines report that Major League Baseball is seeking to suspend 20 or more current players for their involvement with the now defunct Biogenesis of America clinic. Tony Bosch, the company’s founder, agreed to provide MLB with documents to help their cases. Players including Ryan Braun,... Read more of this article

My Favorite Hall of Fame Duos

June 10, 2013 by

Hey baseball fans! I’m sure you all know the dynamic duo of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. If you don’t, let me just tell you that they are a great Hall of Fame duo. Do you think they made my list of my top favorite Hall of Fame duos in baseball history? Read on and find out. Number Five: Paul Molitor and Robin Yount Why? Besides... Read more of this article

Touring The Bases With…Billy Sample

June 10, 2013 by

The first major leaguer to come from James Madison University in Virginia, Billy Sample was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 10th round of the 1976 amateur draft.  The second baseman started his professional career with the Rookie League Rangers of the Gulf Coast League and batted .382 with an outstanding .505 on-base percentage and a slugging... Read more of this article

More Posts From General

Features

Will There Ever Be Another All-Star Game In Washington, DC?

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The Washington Nationals did an about face in their 2013 Rule 4 draft last week.... 

Touring The Bases With…Billy Sample

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The first major leaguer to come from James Madison University in Virginia, Billy... 

Kid Blogger’s Interview with Mets GM Sandy Alderson LIVE!!!!!

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Hey baseball fans!  I have another interview for you. It is with Mets General... 

Bill Deane’s Baseball Briefs

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Grover Cleveland Alexander began his career with 19 straight winning seasons. Inspired... 

Lee Elia’s Rant: 30 Bleepin’ Years Later

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WARNING: ADULT CONTENT BELOW (SERIOUSLY) For those who are not familiar with the... 

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Hall of Fame

SABR, Bud Fowler and a Taste of Cooperstown

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Last Thursday I made my way to Upstate New York for the fifth annual Frederick... 

My First Trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame

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Hey baseball fans! I am off this week because of spring break, so naturally I took... 

NJBM Kids’ Hot Korner: New Jersey Baseball Hall of Famers

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Hey baseball fans! I just wanted to inform you all that I have started guest-writing... 

What Kind of Word is “Poosh”?

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Hey baseball fans! Today is Babe Ruth‘s birthday! To be specific, he was... 

Paul Molitor – The Ignitor

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Hey baseball fans! I have no idea why I haven’t blogged about this guy in the... 

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Minors

Stash for a Smash

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We are now into the Sweet Spot time period starting in May and going through June... 

“Take Me Out to the Ballgame”

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There are three songs that put a smile on my face.  They are “Happy Birthday,”... 

Mike Augliera: Boston Red Sox Pitching Prospect Talks Baseball

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The Boston Red Sox have some of the better-known pitching prospects in baseball with... 

So Much Theft He Should Be Arrested

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This year Yahoo! leagues have added a new NA spot to their rosters. Much like adding... 

Through the Eyes of a Somerset Patriots Fan: From the Press Box, Part II

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It is a Thursday evening (4/25/2013) and once again, I am sitting up in the press... 

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