2018 MLB All-Star Teams

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For the 88th year of the Midsummer Classic, baseball turns its sights to Nationals Park in Washington D.C. This will be the first MLB All-Star game played at Nationals Park and the first in the nation’s capital since 1969 at RFK Stadium, the home of the then Washington Senators. Now every year there is always a lot of discussion and some of it a little dated about how the teams are put together. No system will ever be perfect. Fans don’t always get it right and managers won’t either. The fact that the players are able to vote for participants was a great choice and they know who is deserving. Regardless of who should or shouldn’t be in the game lets just accept that the best players will always be involved one way or another. Here are my all-stars keeping with the rules that every team be represented and a total of 32 players for each league.

AVG – Batting Average

ERA – Earned Run Average

HR – Home Runs

RBI – Runs Batted In

SV – Saves

BAA – Batting Average Against

WHIP – Walks/Hits Per Innings Pitched

K – Strikeouts

Stats are accurate as of July 13

* – asterisk indicates starter Continue reading

American League West

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* – indicates new to team

+ – indicates injury

1. Houston Astros

A stacked lineup and an even better rotation than last year hast Houston looking to repeat.

2. Los Angeles Angels

Health is probably more important to the success of the Halos 2018 season than any other team.

3. Seattle Mariners

Not as many roster moves this time around, but the ones they did make should have them in the Wild Card hunt.

4. Texas Rangers

They remained inactive for most of the offseason which could signal a rebuild in the near future.

5. Oakland Athletics

Their young talent is starting to take shape and a few under the radar trades/signings could have them approach .500. Continue reading

2017 MLB All-Star Teams

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For the 87th year of the Midsummer Classic, baseball turns its sights to Marlins Park in Miami, Florida. This will be the first MLB All-Star game played at the Miami Marlins new ballpark. It was first opened back in 2012. Now every year there is always a lot of discussion and some of it a little dated about how the teams are put together. No system will ever be perfect. Fans don’t always get it right and managers won’t either. The fact that the players are able to vote for participants was a great choice and they know who is deserving. Regardless of who should or shouldn’t be in the game lets just accept that the best players will always be involved one way or another. Here are my all-stars keeping with the rules that every team be represented and a total of 34 players for each league. Continue reading

American League West

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* – indicates new to team

1. Houston Astros

They are in it to win right now with the acquisitions of Beltran and McCann.

2. Texas Rangers

Their bullpen and top of the rotation give them a distinct advantage for a Wild Card spot.

3. Seattle Mariners

With the massive turnover of the roster, things will need to click right away for their playoff drought to end.

4. Los Angeles Angels

Everything i.e, health and player performance, has to go right for them to contend for a Wild Card spot.

5. Oakland Athletics

This will be another rebuilding year, but there are some interesting pieces coming from the minors very soon. Continue reading

Spring Is In The Air

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spring_training_image_2017

Is it a coincidence that Spring Training starts around Valentine’s Day? While I like talking about football, basketball and hockey, I love when it’s time for baseball. The sound of the ball hitting the glove or being struck by a bat. This is my first love when it comes to sports.  Continue reading