2010 MLB Preview: NL East Posted by Anthony Stalter (03/25/2010 @ 5:20 pm)  In order to help get you ready for the MLB season, we’re doing division-by-division rankings with quick overviews on how each club could fair in 2010. Next to each team, you’ll also find a corresponding number written in parenthesis, which indicates where we believe that club falls in a league-wide power ranking. Be sure to check back throughout the next two weeks leading up to the season, as we will be updating our content daily. Enjoy. All 2010 MLB Preview Content | AL East Preview | AL Central Preview | AL West Preview | NL East | NL Central | NL West Next up is the NL East. 1. Philadelphia Phillies (2) Much like the Yankees in the American League, it’s hard to find bad things to say about the Phillies. They’re the three-time defending NL East champions and considering they’re ready to bring back the same core of players that got them to the World Series the past two years, there’s no reason to doubt them. Oh, and they added Roy Halladay. Roy, I’m going to dominate your face for nine innings, Halladay. If Cole Hamels rebounds and J.A. Happ’s 2009 wasn’t a fluke, the Phillies won’t suffer a setback this season. In fact, the pitching doesn’t even have to be that great with the likes of Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez taking up the first six spots in the order. The problem, however, is that Hamels might not bounce back and Happ’s ’09 season may have been a fluke. There’s also that nagging Brad Lidge closer issue that could haunt this club as well. That said, odds are that the Fighting Phils will be right back at the top of the NL East again this season. They’re too good, too talented and too experienced to fold and they have a great chance to reclaim their title back from the Yankees. Read the rest of this entry » Posted in: MLB Tags: 2010 MLB Preview, Anthony Stalter, Atlanta Braves, Brad Lidge, Brian Bruney, Brian McCann, Cameron Maybin, Carlos Beltran, Chase Utley, Chipper Jones, Chris Coghlan, Cole Hamels, Dan Uggla, David Wright, Derek Lowe, Emilio Bonifacio, Florida Marlins, Francisco Rodriguez, Hanley Ramirez, Ivan Rodriguez, J.A. Happ, Jair Jurrjens, Jason Bay, Jason Marquis, Jayson Heyward, Jayson Werth, Jimmy Rollins, Johan Santana, Jorge Cantu, Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Kenshin Kawakami, Martin Prado, Matt Capps, Nate McLouth, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Placido Polanco, Raul Ibanez, Ricky Nolasco, Roy Halladay, Ryan Howard, Stephen Strasburg, Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Troy Glaus, Washington Nationals, Yunel Escobar
Dead body found on Chipper Jones’ ranch Posted by Anthony Stalter (08/21/2009 @ 2:23 pm) 
The body of a 22-year-old man was found Thursday morning on Braves’ third baseman Chipper Jones’ ranch in Texas. From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “He was in a part of the ranch we don’t go to on a daily basis,” Jones’ father, Larry Jones Sr. said Thursday evening from Double Dime Ranch in Carrizo Springs, Texas. Jones Sr. said the man, a Mexican national, had entered the country illegally. The extreme heat and the drought would have made it difficult for anyone to survive without food or water, he said. Thursday was the 83rd straight day of temperatures topping at least 100 degrees, Jones said. Recently, Jones’ truck thermometer read 124 degrees.
Well there’s a story you don’t hear everyday. Top 10 MLB active free passes Posted by Mike Farley (05/16/2009 @ 7:18 am) There are some batters that no pitcher wants to face, especially in a crucial situation with runners on base, or with first base open. But some guys are intentionally walked with regularity, and in some cases, even with the bases loaded to give up one run instead of four. Here is the current Top 10 among active players in intentional walks. Pitchers, proceed at your own risk….. 1. Ken Griffey, Seattle Mariners (244)—Of course this guy has always been a feared slugger, but he had a career high 25 intentionals in 1993, and the year he slugged 56 homers with 147 RBI on his way to winning the AL MVP (1997), Griffey was intentionally walked 23 times. Yikes. But before we get all excited about that, consider that Barry Bonds was given the free pass 120 times in 2004, a league record that surely will never be broken. 2. Vladimir Guerrero, Los Angeles Angels (240)—He’s topped 20 seven times and 30 once. Is he that feared or are pitchers tired of looking at that crap on Vlad’s helmet? 3. Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers (199)—‘Roids, no ‘roids, hormones, no hormones, whatever. This is the one guy in baseball I am never pitching to if I don’t have to. 4. Carlos Delgado, New York Mets (186)—As a Mets fan, I’m just glad my team doesn’t have to face this guy. There is always the potential to hit one 600 feet the opposite way. 5. Todd Helton, Colorado Rockies (172)—You don’t give a guy like Helton anything to hit, not with a .329 lifetime batting average, as well as an average of 30 homers and 109 RBI per season. 6. Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals (160)—Oh yeah, screw what I said about Manny. I forgot about Albert. He’s only 29 years old and should easily hit 700 homers or more. THIS is the guy I don’t ever pitch to if it’s not necessary. 7. Jim Thome, Chicago White Sox (159)—It’s interesting to note that in the ‘90’s Thome and Ramirez typically had single digits in free passes. That’s because if you put them on, you still had to face Albert Belle or Eddie Murray. 8. Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves (143)—It’s kind of funny that Chipper’s intentional walks are declining as he’s becoming a better and better hitter. 9. Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners (129)—This one baffles me. Why put a guy on who averages 40 steals per season? 10. Gary Sheffield, New York Mets (128)—A nice, long career, and sheer intimidation at the plate, even today at age 40. Source: Baseball Reference Posted in: Fantasy Baseball, MLB Tags: Albert Pujols, Atlanta Braves, Barry Bonds, Carlos Delgado, Chicago White Sox, Chipper Jones, Colorado Rockies, Gary Sheffield, Ichiro Suzuki, intentional base on balls, intentional walk leaders, Intentional walks, Jim Thome, Ken Griffey, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, Manny Ramirez, MLB, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Todd Helton, Vladimir Guerrero, walks
Top 10 active RBI leaders Posted by Mike Farley (04/25/2009 @ 7:36 am) You want a telling statistic in baseball? How about the good ol’ run batted in (RBI)? This is a stat usually dominated by home run hitters, but it’s also a good indicator of productivity at the plate. The guys on this list have been doing it over time, as well, whether they have been chemically enhanced or not, and to qualify, they must be currently on a major league roster: 1. Ken Griffey, Seattle Mariners (1774)—I can’t think of a classier player in the last 20 years. And how about these numbers….from 1996 to 1999, the last four years of Griffey’s first tenure with Seattle, he had 567 RBI. That’s an AVERAGE of 142 per season. Just sick. 2. Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers (1738)—For all the fun we poke at Man Ram for being a goofy, lazy, eccentric superstar, we always temper our joking with “but the guy sure can rake.” You want sick numbers? From 1995 when Manny began playing regularly (okay, it was technically 1994 but that season was cut way short) through 2008, he has averaged 111 RBI per season. Think about that. 3. Gary Sheffield, New York Mets (1634)—It’s hard to believe this guy has been in the big leagues longer than Griffey. And unlike some of the other guys on this list, Sheffield’s 1634 RBI is more about longevity, as his career high is only 132. 4. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (1606)—A-Rod is almost a lock to pass 2000 RBI, and when you hear the other three names that have done that, it will blow your mind….Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Cap Anson. 5. Carlos Delgado, New York Mets (1504)—Another guy with a nice, long career, and he’s topped 100 RBI nine times….so far. 6. Jim Thome, Chicago White Sox (1498)—38 years old and he’s still mashing. I know I’ve written this before, but it’s hard to believe the Indians had Thome and Man Ram in the lineup as well as Albert Belle and Eddie Murray, and didn’t win like five titles. 7. Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves (1378)—Come to think of it, it’s hard to believe the Braves didn’t win more than one World Series after winning fourteen straight division crowns. But don’t blame Chipper. 8. Garret Anderson, Atlanta Braves (1292)—He’s lost some pop the last few seasons, but still a solid, productive player. 9. Jason Giambi, Oakland Athletics (1285)—He juiced, he admitted it, and everyone still loves this guy. Maybe that’s because he didn’t lie about it. And Giambi’s 32 homers and 96 RBI last year at the age of 37 proves he didn’t need the juice to begin with. 10. Vladimir Guerrero, Los Angeles Angels (1271)—Another freak of nature type hitter who has averaged 117 RBI per season over the course of his career. And Vlad is still only 34. P.S. Did anyone else notice there are no Red Sox players on this list? Source: Baseball Reference Posted in: Fantasy Baseball, MLB Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Atlanta Braves, Babe Ruth, best hitters in baseball, Cap Anson, Carlos Delgado, Chicago White Sox, Chipper Jones, Garret Anderson, Gary Sheffield, Hank Aaron, Jason Giambi, Jim Thome, Ken Griffey, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, Manny Ramirez, MLB, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, RBI leaders, Runs batted in leaders, Seattle Mariners, Vladimir Guerrero
2009 MLB Preview: #11 Atlanta Braves Posted by Anthony Stalter (03/25/2009 @ 2:00 pm) 
Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams Offseason Movement: The Braves brought in former Dodgers’ starter Derek Lowe, as well as a quality (albeit aging) bat in Garret Anderson, formerly of the Angels. The club also traded for pitcher Boone Logan and signed Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami. Top Prospect: Tommy Hanson, RHP Some consider outfielder Jason Heyward the Braves’ top prospect – and for good reason. But he’s only 19 and has a couple years to go before reaching the big leagues and therefore Hanson gets the nod here. Hanson has the opportunity to crack the Opening Day roster this season, although Tom Glavine would probably have to start the year on the DL for that to happen. Hanson dominated Class-A, Double-A and Arizona Fall League hitters and so far has looked decent in spring training. He probably isn’t a future ace, but Hanson appears to be a solid No. 2 in the making. Read the rest of this entry » Posted in: MLB Tags: 2009 MLB Predictions, 2009 MLB Preview, 2009 MLB Projections, 2009 MLB Team Previews, Boone Logan, Brian McCann, Chipper Jones, Derek Lowe, Garret Anderson, Jair Jurrjens, Javier Vazquez, Kelly Johnson, Kenshin Kawakami, MLB Preview 2009, MLB Season Predictions, NL East Predictions, Tommy Hanson, Yunel Escobar
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