baseball
Sabermetric analysis of all things baseball - on-and-off the field. Barry Bonds fan club.
Going Through the Best Players' Weekend Nicknames!
Major League Baseball released the names that would be featured on the back on jerseys worn on Player’s Weekend from August 24-26. This is a chance for the league to show itself as “having fun” and also a chance to sell an extra and different jersey.
By Nick Rackley8 years ago in Unbalanced
My Other Job Was as an MLB Catcher: The Curious Case of World War II Spy Moe Berg. Top Story - August 2018.
With just 441 hits, a career batting average of .243, and only six career home runs, Moe Berg is hardly worthy of his own exhibit at the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. However, it is present nonetheless. In fact, it not only is there, but the curators of the exhibit are even proud to showcase it. Why is this? What could possibly merit this man having his own exhibit? The answer to that question is as convoluted and unique as Moe Berg's life itself. You see, even though as a baseball player he was at best average, he was an extraordinary man who encompassed so much more than the game he loved. He played a 15-year career during the Great Depression and World War II, and it was during this time that he demonstrated a great love for his country as well. The crux of the matter is this: Moe Berg also made his mark as a World War II spy. Moe Berg did intelligence work for the Office of Strategic Services, which was the forerunner of the CIA. Even though this man never played a full season in the MLB, his work in the war effort is what has earned him this unique exhibit at Cooperstown.
By Vaden Chandler8 years ago in Unbalanced
How Good Actually Is LeBron James Jr?
Being the son of arguably the best basketball player of all time can be hard enough without the media watching your every move. LeBron James Jr. is LeBron James's 13-year-old son who is already making headlines in major sports media outlets such as ESPN and The Undefeated. A lot of these media outlets overexaggerate how good he actually is, such as well know basketball YouTube channel Ball is Life. At the time this article is being written, Ball is Life has made 16 highlight videos featuring Lebron James Jr. and his AAU team North Coast Blue Chips, which is coached part-time by his father LeBron James. After personally evaluating these highlight videos, it is evident that LeBron James Jr. is good for his age, but he obviously isn't as good as the media claims he is.
By Chris Schmid8 years ago in Unbalanced
A Guide to Common Baseball Knowledge and Lingo
This article is for the benefit of any newcomers of the wonderful sport of baseball. The purpose of this article is to provide a helpful guide for any new fans that would like to learn more about formal and informal terminology, basic rules, and get a general sense of how things work in the sport. This will help the new fan understand the sport better when they're watching a game or listening to analysts on TV or radio. It will also help them have more intelligent conversations about the sport with other fans.
By J.S. Vargas8 years ago in Unbalanced
Yankees Trading for J.A. Happ Is a Solid Move
On July 27, the New York Yankees traded utility player Brandon Drury and minor league outfielder Billy McKinney to the Toronto Blue Jays for starting pitcher J.A. Happ. This trade made by Yankees GM Brian Cashman is a move that makes a lot of sense for the Yankees despite the apparent disagreement from the fans.
By J.S. Vargas8 years ago in Unbalanced
Amanda Gisonni Strikes Out but Will Always Be a Hit with Me
Me and my brother-in-law got into the car in Monmouth, New Jersey last week, and it took about an hour for either of us to utter a word. My niece had just made her first start for the University of Penn. Amanda Gisonni only lasted two innings and gave up four runs. Sigh.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Unbalanced
43 Years at the Center of Somers Slow Pitch Softball
Almost 40 years ago this summer, a Harlem Globetrotter-like six-man all-star team of windmill softball players arrived to entertain a packed park of Somers Residents. The idea was also to drub whoever the town could put up as players. Little did the California Cuties—in their comedic get up as girls—know they would run up against a 53-year-old founding member of the Somers Softball League. So while the Shenorock resident didn’t get the win, he did earn the last laugh and represents one of many moments as a player, administrator, and manager over 43 years.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Unbalanced
Ten Best Baseball Podcasts
Many of the of the country's most knowledgeable baseball experts have joined the trend of the past few years and created a podcast in hopes of a more personal touch than traditional articles or TV segments have granted them in the past. The hope for this freedom has created an abundance of high-quality podcasts coming in many different shapes and sizes. With all this great material being put out, it is hard as a listener to know where to begin. To point you in the right direction, below, in no particular order, are ten of the best baseball podcasts available today.
By Robby Bernstein8 years ago in Unbalanced
Somers Remembers Stephenie Crispinelli
On Sunday afternoon, Somers once again gathered for the Stephenie Crispinelli Softball Tournament and Fundraiser. Set in motion for the ninth year and remembering the passing of Stephenie in the Haiti Earthquake, the spirit was definitely in the air, according to close family friend Joe Mirabile.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Unbalanced
Byram Hills Baseball Takes Section One Title in 4-3 Thriller Versus Rye
After Byram Hills went 1, 2, 3 in the first inning of yesterday’s Section One, Class A Final at Provident Bank Park, Bobcat starter Frank Vesuvio came out blazing fastballs against first seeded Rye. But he found himself behind 3-1 in the count to leadoff hitter and starting pitcher Tim DeGraw. The advantage had DeGraw teeing off on Vesuvio’s heater, which found the gap in left-center for a double.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Unbalanced
The Stephanie Crispinelli Softball Tournament Continues With a Purpose
On Sunday afternoon, Reis Park in Somers again played host to the Stephanie Crispinelli Softball Tournament and Fundraiser. Initiated seven years ago, the tournament remembers the 19-year-old’s tragic death in the Haiti earthquake and celebrates her efforts to bring education to developing countries in the Caribbean. At the same time, the annual event defies the logic in which others move on and leave the family to carry the pain and the cause by themselves, according to Nicole Crispinelli.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Unbalanced
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
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Unbalanced
