Posts Tagged ‘baseball’

A Look At The Most Talented Baseball Pitchers Entering 2010

Saturday, August 27th, 2011

We’re in the midst of a lull in the baseball world, as the World Series ended two months ago and it’s yet another few months before the new season begins.

As a result, I like to pass the time by taking a few moments to reflect on the current state of the game. I’ve written many articles of the sort, and today I’d like to pay homage to five of the best pitchers in professional baseball today.

My five picks are as follows. If you feel differently than I do about them, then go ahead and let me know by writing down your thoughts.

Zack Greinke had the best season in baseball for a pitcher last year, but he still needs another great season or two under his belt before he can move up on this list. Still, Greinke is one of the most dangerous pitchers in baseball and has a bright future ahead.

At #4 we have Roy Halladay, who is a consistently reliable baseball pitcher. It is obvious that Halladay will someday be in the Hall of Fame.

Chris Carpenter has the #3 spot. Somehow he finds a way to always be fantastic in this sport. You would have thought that not playing for almost two seasons would have made him rusty, but, in fact, Carpenter actually pitched better than he ever has before.

Naturally, Johan Santana makes this list too. Even though he hasn’t won a Cy Young award since joining the Mets, there’s one thing that you can count on in Santana, and that’s a great season year in and year out. For this reason, Santana makes number two on my list.

Finally, coming in at number one is Tim Lincecum. After two years of consistent dominance, I’m just about ready to say that Lincecum is no fluke. He’s the best strikeout pitcher in the game and his ERA in the twos is just amazing.

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The Controversy Surrounding Mark McGwire’s Admission

Saturday, August 13th, 2011

While most sports fans believed that Mark McGwire used steroids during his playing days, those suspicions were confirmed when the former Cardinals first baseman recently admitted to his illicit use of the performance enhancing drugs.

What may have been more interesting is the fact that McGwire claims to have used these drugs not simply as a means of getting ahead. McGwire says he took steroids because he believed that they would help him heal from injuries more quickly.

This seems very believable when you look at the career path that McGwire followed. Through 1989, his playing time had been seriously hampered due to injury, and many felt that he would otherwise be the best home run hitter in baseball if not for his injury issues.

What followed in the years to come was exactly what one would expect. He was healthier through the majority of the remainder of his career, and his offensive production was exceptional.

Everything came together in 1998, a year in which McGwire set baseball history. Having broken a seemingly unbreakable record held by Roger Maris, the St. Louis Cardinal hit an astounding 70 home runs during the course of the year.

It was a matter of a few seasons before people realized that there had to be some means of artificial help creating seasons once thought to be impossible for older players like McGwire, Barry Bonds, and many others. There had to be steroids involved.

In retrospect, it should have been obvious that McGwire and others were using illegal substances. There was no other way to explain the unprecedented jumps in production, and the baseball world should have been keen to this.

McGwire violated the trust of the baseball world and cheated his way to a record. Despite this all, he deserves a bit of respect for having the courage to come out with a secret that hundreds of players from that era still likely hold.

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A Classic Baseball Memory That Remains Timeless

Friday, July 29th, 2011

One of the most unforgettable, craziest nights in baseball history took place over 23 years ago and many fans still remember it. Red Sox fans probably to this day want to just forget about it while Mets fans keep the great memories alive I am sure.

The Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets went to the World Series in 1986. It was destined to be a remarkable game as they were both at the top of their leagues.

It really surprised a lot of people when the Red Sox came away with the win during games one and two that took place in New York. For the Mets, along with their fans, this was a real downer.

Fortunately, the team’s fortunes turned during the next few games and the Mets evened the series before falling behind by a 3 games to 2 count. Game 6 would give the Red Sox a chance to close out the series in Queens.

It seemed like that was destined to happen. It was the bottom of the 9th with the Red Sox in the lead by 2 runs and the Mets did not have any of their players on any of the bases. Everyone was ready to celebrate and thought this game was pretty much over and done with.

Then, the Mets managed to get some base hits a few times after they only had one strike left. It wasn’t too long before there was a wild pitch and one runner scored, which then brought this game to a tie. The crowd was going crazy because they knew that history was being made at that moment.

After this, the most unexpected of all events occurred. During that same inning while the game was tied, Mookie Wilson hit a dribbler down the first base line. What looked as if it would be an easy out went straight through the legs of Bill Buckner, sending Ray Knight home and giving the Mets the win.

The seventh game of that World Series was also won by the Mets, and it will always be among the most spectacular, memorable games that have occurred throughout the history of professional baseball.

There are so many fans of baseball that will always believe that this was indeed the greatest game of baseball that ever took place. And, judging from how it happened, maybe they are correct in that thinking.

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Baseball Analysis Is Still Alive And Well

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

Let’s face it; ever since the creation of the sport, baseball analysis has been an essential element of its existence. Every part of the game produces the possibility of another statistic, and provides raw fodder for the analysts to dissect. Far from being a relic of a bygone era, analysis remains full of life.

How it works

Analysts who produce these numbers simply translate various actions into statistics. Batters produce statistics with every at bat, while pitchers, fielders and runners generate their own numbers simply by doing what they do. Things like a player’s batting average or the number of runs he has batted in can tell analysts a lot about each player.

This type of statistical analysis is more than just an exercise in mathematical precision or something to keep enthusiasts occupied. It is a vital aspect of any club’s ability to manage its players and the team with an eye toward maximizing the potential for success.

The many uses

Most people who gamble on sporting events or who play fantasy games understand the importance of these statistics. Even among fans, these numbers are a shared language that few non-fans can appreciate. They also serve as an effective way for many fans to maximize their appreciation of this sport and its players.

Teams have long recognized the value of analyzing their players. In fact, most team efforts in this regard are far more detailed than most fans realize. Statistics are broken down in so many ways that they offer clubs insight into which mix of players to keep, which to trade to other teams, and how to order any roster on any given evening.

If it sounds as though these statistics are as important as they have ever been, it’s true. While many have mourned what they see as a decline in the game’s popularity over the years, there is absolutely nothing to mourn about in the area of baseball analysis.

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MlB Picks and College Basketball Picks

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

A growing hobby and form of entertainment is participating in fantasy leagues. These leagues, as well as other formats of team or sport wagers, have millions of fans and users. Many players have come to rely on expert football picks. These opinions and commentaries are based on a lot of research and pouring through statistical data on teams, players, coaches and locations in which they play. Also taken into consideration are field conditions and the weather.

Football has been known as the game of inches. Which means the outcome of a game can come down to the final play. Picks are based on an entire team defense, special teams and skill position players on offense. These skill positions include wide receivers, tight ends, quarterbacks and running backs. The special teams consist of extra point and field goals, the kicker and kick return specialists.

Finding the perfect place to help you do your homework can seem like a daunting task. The first thing you should always look for is to see if they advertise their success rate. If a site or a vendor is offering these choices but is not offering up how accurate they are, it is a safe bet they should not be leaned on.

Another factor that should always be weighed is how long the site has been around. Most sites that can actually be trusted have been around more than a year and they are comfortable telling their customers that. Sites who actually advertise those who do the picking are also ones that can be better trusted.

Many picks also are based on spreads, over under and straight up methods. Spreads are the total points that experts predict the favorite team will beat the underdog team by. Over under is the total points that the two teams will score combined and the straight up is simply picking who will win and who will lose. Regardless of which method you choose or if you participate in fantasy leagues, the competition of the games are exciting. It’s very intense watching and monitoring the action each and every weekend and on game days.

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