Here's the deal: I only have 1 year, 1 month and 15 days of teenagehood left. And I have been decidedly more invested in baseball this season than I was in the past two. Also, it would be a crying shame for this blog to just die (although it kind of has). So I'm going to try to keep this up again (but I won't promise anything).
Anyway, let's get caught up with what's been happening since I blogged last. The Phillies were bad, and then surprisingly good to start the season and now pretty bad again. I'd like to chalk it up to the tough competition they been facing lately (9 of their last 12 games have been against the Cubs and the Nationals, arguably the best two teams in the league), but while I don't think that the Phillies are AS bad as they have been lately, they are a .500 team at best this season and I've come to accept that. I'll hopefully do a more detailed piece later on most of the parts of this team, but I've definitely been impressed by some young players lately (here's looking at you Aaron Nola) and I am hopeful that this team will contend in the not to distant future. My personal goal is a above .500 season and playoff contention before I graduate college (I'm in college now, did I mention that?).
Also, the Nationals are continuing to make me very very jealous. I know there's an alternate universe out there where I'm a Nationals fan, where I've just become the owner of a new Daniel Murphy jersey (because how unbelievable is he?) which joins my collection of t-shirts that includes Morse, Desmond and possibly Zimmermann (Jordan). In reality, I still really enjoy watching these Nationals play ball. So many of the key pieces that I listened to back in 2011-2012 are still with the club, and the new faces are either familiar (Revere) or good enough that they replaced my previous favorites (Murphy). This is such a fun ball club to watch and because I'm spending most of the summer with my grandparents, watch them I will. I'm totally rooting for this team to take down the Cubs and bring the trophy back to the DC area. WAH.
So, I'm back. We'll see how it goes. Cheers.
~TBC
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Jimmy Rollins and Rebuilding
Welp...week 1 of baseball season (plus a little bit) has concluded. Its been a struggle trying to get back into it. I don't recognize half of the players on the Phillies (or for that matter the Nationals) . I guess injuries and rebuilding and stuff do that to a team. I'm pretty much willing to put up with anything this season in order to start the rebuilding process for this team because they so desperately need it. Honestly though, with the GM that they I wouldn't be surprised if he totally messes up the entire process. I honestly think that RAJ is my least favorite person in baseball because of the things he has done to this team in the past couple of years. I still love the Phillies though, I just miss the glory days (but don't we all).
Speaking of the glory days, I'm not really sure what to think of the fact that Jimmy Rollins is playing on a team other than the Phillies. On one hand, I happy that he has the opportunity to play on a better team (although I have no idea how good or bad the Dodgers are, but pretty much any team would be better than the trainwreck that is the Phillies). At least he might have a shot at the playoffs this year. On the other hand, I do feel kind of betrayed. Rollins spent 13 years with the Phillies and was reaching the end of his time as a productive player. He could have vetoed any trade that Amaro tried to make and ended his career with this Phillies. It just feels like he gave up on the team, but then again, if he is going to only play a few more seasons I guess he kind of deserves to spend them on a team that has a chance of winning. I don't even know, I've always been more of an Utley girl anyway, so it doesn't bother me all that much.
I'll be back next week some time (hopefully with some useful analysis lol)
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
well, this is a thing...
why hello there...it's been a while (and by a while I mean entirely too long). so...um, this blog was a thing that I used to do and it's a thing I want to continue doing. However, with all of the stress and distractions of senior year I have been totally and completely out of the loop for the past several months, and by totally and completely I mean like no contact whatsoever with the baseball world. And so now my mission is to attempt the impossible and try to write an interesting, slightly intelligent blog post on something I am just now trying to wrap my head around (that being the current state of baseball). We will start with the Phillies and the Nationals and if I get around to anything great and if not there is always next time.
Welp...the Phillies lost on Opening Day again. It's honestly not that big of a deal because I don't expect much from them this year plus Cole Hamels usually has a rough start his first time out anyway. Also, the lack of offense is old news as is most of the roster (seriously, like it's been almost 10 years with most of these guys). Oh well it should be an interesting year, especially with Cliff Lee injured. Also, I'm not sure what happened to the farm system because the Phils haven't had an actually good prospect in I have no idea how long. As for a wild prediction, I'd say maybe 70 wins? Who the heck knows...
As for the Nationals, it looks like they have the rotation of any baseball fans dreams. I mean, flipping Gio Gonzalez is their FIFTH starter. Gio Gonzalez the one they traded top prospects for. I remember back in 2011 when the Phillies had this kind of rotation. What I can say to all National fans is to enjoy this while it lasts. Just look what has happened to the Phillies now. In four years, only one of the four stars they had in 2011 is still healthy and pitching. The rest have either retired or are on their way to retirement. Anyway back to the Nationals. What they need to dominate the division this year is a solid defense. Unearned runs cost them the win on Opening Day, and will prove to be extremely costly throughout the entire season unless the defense can get it together. Also, injuries are already becoming an issue. With three regulars out early, it is going to take key contributions from both those called to fill holes and the stars still remaining to be able to match the 2011 Phillies. If this happens, the Nationals have a great chance of going all the way this year. Also, it's weird having Dan Uggla on the team.
Well, that went better than expected. Hopefully that made sense/was interesting. I think that I'm going to try to stick to a weekly update schedule, but I'm not promising anything.
Peace out.
Welp...the Phillies lost on Opening Day again. It's honestly not that big of a deal because I don't expect much from them this year plus Cole Hamels usually has a rough start his first time out anyway. Also, the lack of offense is old news as is most of the roster (seriously, like it's been almost 10 years with most of these guys). Oh well it should be an interesting year, especially with Cliff Lee injured. Also, I'm not sure what happened to the farm system because the Phils haven't had an actually good prospect in I have no idea how long. As for a wild prediction, I'd say maybe 70 wins? Who the heck knows...
As for the Nationals, it looks like they have the rotation of any baseball fans dreams. I mean, flipping Gio Gonzalez is their FIFTH starter. Gio Gonzalez the one they traded top prospects for. I remember back in 2011 when the Phillies had this kind of rotation. What I can say to all National fans is to enjoy this while it lasts. Just look what has happened to the Phillies now. In four years, only one of the four stars they had in 2011 is still healthy and pitching. The rest have either retired or are on their way to retirement. Anyway back to the Nationals. What they need to dominate the division this year is a solid defense. Unearned runs cost them the win on Opening Day, and will prove to be extremely costly throughout the entire season unless the defense can get it together. Also, injuries are already becoming an issue. With three regulars out early, it is going to take key contributions from both those called to fill holes and the stars still remaining to be able to match the 2011 Phillies. If this happens, the Nationals have a great chance of going all the way this year. Also, it's weird having Dan Uggla on the team.
Well, that went better than expected. Hopefully that made sense/was interesting. I think that I'm going to try to stick to a weekly update schedule, but I'm not promising anything.
Peace out.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
World Series 2014 - The Story
When most TV shows and movies are in the editing room, producers have some idea of the story that they want to tell and are able to portray that story throughout the course of the show. With live sports, there is a story being told everyday, albeit one that is not controlled by editors or producers. Everyday of the baseball season is a part of a six month marathon show, and with every episode, twists that are unforeseen to the whole world are added to the story. Players emerge as superheroes. Triumph and tragedy blossom.
The epic of the regular season is often overshadowed by the epilogue that is provided by the playoffs, and ultimately the World Series. Each postseason takes on a distinctly different flavor from the one before it. Cinderella stories, curses, dominance and despair often compose this unique story. This year, the playoffs have given rise to two vaguely similar yet wildly different glory stories, those of the Giants and the Royals.
In San Francisco, fans are hardly new to the idea of postseason dominance. For 2 of the past 4 years, the Giants have emerged victorious at the end of October led by a cast of homegrown talent and timely imports. The Giants have fallen from their October glory in each of the following seasons but have emerged from the ashes twice, seemingly caught in a cycle of glory and disaster. Although the Giants are no strangers to the postseason, their is a different type of story surrounding the team this year. After barely making the playoffs, they have dominated the offences of the Pirates, Nationals and Cardinals, allowing only 24 earned runs in 98 innings (a 2.20 ERA). Their MVP has been Madison Bumgarner, a player who has matured over the Giants incredible five-year journey from a rookie fourth-starter who had yet to gain the trust of many to a playoff machine, an ace who has pitched almost a third of the Giants total innings. His supporting staff, three equally competent albeit less dominant starters, an electric bullpen and an offence that provided just enough support to win, have helped the Giants reach a third consecutive World Series in an even year.
Halfway across the country, a Cinderella of a very different kind has arisen from the city that nobody is sure exactly where it is (Kansas? Missouri?), one almost 30 years in the making. The Royals have become yet another poster child for the team that rises from obscurity just the year before to make the playoffs. However, unlike so many of these teams that have fizzled out once they faced the pressure of the playoffs, the Royals have excelled under the October competition, blazing through the competition and going undefeated on their way to the World Series. Although it's been close and they have pulled out many one-run games, it is the way in which the Royals wins that make their run so exciting. In the age of the long ball, the Royals have won by playing small ball, relying on bunting and speed to keep games close until they win them in the most dramatic fashion possible. Wonder Twins Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas have both brought their fare share of dramatics, finally showing the potential that the baseball community has seen in them for years.
The story is unfinished. The final chapter is yet to be told. Nobody knows how the tale will end, but we all hope that it is a fitting end to a crazy postseason.
~TBC
The epic of the regular season is often overshadowed by the epilogue that is provided by the playoffs, and ultimately the World Series. Each postseason takes on a distinctly different flavor from the one before it. Cinderella stories, curses, dominance and despair often compose this unique story. This year, the playoffs have given rise to two vaguely similar yet wildly different glory stories, those of the Giants and the Royals.
In San Francisco, fans are hardly new to the idea of postseason dominance. For 2 of the past 4 years, the Giants have emerged victorious at the end of October led by a cast of homegrown talent and timely imports. The Giants have fallen from their October glory in each of the following seasons but have emerged from the ashes twice, seemingly caught in a cycle of glory and disaster. Although the Giants are no strangers to the postseason, their is a different type of story surrounding the team this year. After barely making the playoffs, they have dominated the offences of the Pirates, Nationals and Cardinals, allowing only 24 earned runs in 98 innings (a 2.20 ERA). Their MVP has been Madison Bumgarner, a player who has matured over the Giants incredible five-year journey from a rookie fourth-starter who had yet to gain the trust of many to a playoff machine, an ace who has pitched almost a third of the Giants total innings. His supporting staff, three equally competent albeit less dominant starters, an electric bullpen and an offence that provided just enough support to win, have helped the Giants reach a third consecutive World Series in an even year.
Halfway across the country, a Cinderella of a very different kind has arisen from the city that nobody is sure exactly where it is (Kansas? Missouri?), one almost 30 years in the making. The Royals have become yet another poster child for the team that rises from obscurity just the year before to make the playoffs. However, unlike so many of these teams that have fizzled out once they faced the pressure of the playoffs, the Royals have excelled under the October competition, blazing through the competition and going undefeated on their way to the World Series. Although it's been close and they have pulled out many one-run games, it is the way in which the Royals wins that make their run so exciting. In the age of the long ball, the Royals have won by playing small ball, relying on bunting and speed to keep games close until they win them in the most dramatic fashion possible. Wonder Twins Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas have both brought their fare share of dramatics, finally showing the potential that the baseball community has seen in them for years.
The story is unfinished. The final chapter is yet to be told. Nobody knows how the tale will end, but we all hope that it is a fitting end to a crazy postseason.
~TBC
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Something...
Why hello there! I'm finally back after another multi-month break (blame senior year!), and today I will be writing...something...I guess it will be like a postseason preview but not really since the postseason already started lol. Bear with me...
Sooooooooo....anyway, postseason baseball is back and I am so excited! I have a good feeling about these playoff teams because there really isn't one team I have anything against personally, and I have rooted for a lot of the teams in playoffs past. I honestly have not tried making any predictions because I am actually rooting for a specific team and I think that clouds my judgment a bit...also, I was basically psychic last year and I don't feel like embarrassing myself. Let's take it series by series:
Nationals vs Giants: I guess that we should probably get this one out of the way right off the bat (no pun intended). Those who pay attention will know that although I am a Phillies fan first and foremost, when they're out of it I wholeheartedly root for the Nationals and that is not about to change! It is honestly so exciting watching a Nationals team that continues to become a force to be reckoned with and basically rolled to a division title unchallenged this year. I feel like I've been on a journey with these player since 2011 when the team almost finished .500 for the first time, and that I've watched so many of these player mature. It amazes me how much of the Nationals talent is home-grown and I am super happy that Desmond, Rendon, ZNN and others have been doing so well! So good for them, and although they are down 1-0 at the time of this post, I think that they will come back and makes this series exciting and hopefully pull out the win. Although if they don't, I won't be that mad because the Giants are actually a pretty cool team too, and while I don't have a long-term vested interest in the team, I did realize the other day that some of my all-time sentimental favorite players have found a spot on this team. Buster Posey has been one of my favorites since I started actually watching baseball and Pablo Sandoval is honestly so funny that you cant help rooting for him. It also helps that Hunter Pence, who I wanted on the Phillies as soon as he was a viable option, and Michael Morse, who might just be my personal favorite Nationals player (BEAST MODE!), play on the Giants too. So overall, I'm rooting for the Nationals, but won't be upset if the Giants win.
Dodgers vs Cardinals: And here we come to the series I care least about! I guess I'm rooting for the Cardinals here, but for no reason other than I feel like it, and they'll probably win even if I don't want them to...seriously they been in the NCLS for 3 years in a row so whatever honestly, I just don't want either of these teams in the World Series so there's that. And I hope that the series goes to game 5 so that Kershaw and Wainwright cant pitch 3 times in the NCLS . Although considering ow last night went maybe I want them to pitch as much as possible...it's funny how that played out...two aces outpitched by two rookies (in Anaheim).
Orioles vs Tigers: Here we have the team that are always contenders vs the upstart team who plays an hour away from me and had Delmon Young on their team...it's pretty obvious who I'm rooting for! I'm kidding about the Delmon Young part (you knew that right?) but it is pretty cool to see a local team doing so well! I'm picking this post up after a multiday break so the series is now over (I got to see the end live!), but I'm so glad that the Orioles let the Tigers know who's boss because I'm sick of the Tigers!
Royals vs Angels: Well, this series is over and went exactly like I wanted it to! I don't have much to say about it but I'm so excited about an Orioles vs Royals ALCS and one of those teams in the WS!
So that was just about the most random thing but its something! I'll try to post before the World Series (but I'm not promising anything...)
~TBC
Sooooooooo....anyway, postseason baseball is back and I am so excited! I have a good feeling about these playoff teams because there really isn't one team I have anything against personally, and I have rooted for a lot of the teams in playoffs past. I honestly have not tried making any predictions because I am actually rooting for a specific team and I think that clouds my judgment a bit...also, I was basically psychic last year and I don't feel like embarrassing myself. Let's take it series by series:
Nationals vs Giants: I guess that we should probably get this one out of the way right off the bat (no pun intended). Those who pay attention will know that although I am a Phillies fan first and foremost, when they're out of it I wholeheartedly root for the Nationals and that is not about to change! It is honestly so exciting watching a Nationals team that continues to become a force to be reckoned with and basically rolled to a division title unchallenged this year. I feel like I've been on a journey with these player since 2011 when the team almost finished .500 for the first time, and that I've watched so many of these player mature. It amazes me how much of the Nationals talent is home-grown and I am super happy that Desmond, Rendon, ZNN and others have been doing so well! So good for them, and although they are down 1-0 at the time of this post, I think that they will come back and makes this series exciting and hopefully pull out the win. Although if they don't, I won't be that mad because the Giants are actually a pretty cool team too, and while I don't have a long-term vested interest in the team, I did realize the other day that some of my all-time sentimental favorite players have found a spot on this team. Buster Posey has been one of my favorites since I started actually watching baseball and Pablo Sandoval is honestly so funny that you cant help rooting for him. It also helps that Hunter Pence, who I wanted on the Phillies as soon as he was a viable option, and Michael Morse, who might just be my personal favorite Nationals player (BEAST MODE!), play on the Giants too. So overall, I'm rooting for the Nationals, but won't be upset if the Giants win.
Dodgers vs Cardinals: And here we come to the series I care least about! I guess I'm rooting for the Cardinals here, but for no reason other than I feel like it, and they'll probably win even if I don't want them to...seriously they been in the NCLS for 3 years in a row so whatever honestly, I just don't want either of these teams in the World Series so there's that. And I hope that the series goes to game 5 so that Kershaw and Wainwright cant pitch 3 times in the NCLS . Although considering ow last night went maybe I want them to pitch as much as possible...it's funny how that played out...two aces outpitched by two rookies (in Anaheim).
Orioles vs Tigers: Here we have the team that are always contenders vs the upstart team who plays an hour away from me and had Delmon Young on their team...it's pretty obvious who I'm rooting for! I'm kidding about the Delmon Young part (you knew that right?) but it is pretty cool to see a local team doing so well! I'm picking this post up after a multiday break so the series is now over (I got to see the end live!), but I'm so glad that the Orioles let the Tigers know who's boss because I'm sick of the Tigers!
Royals vs Angels: Well, this series is over and went exactly like I wanted it to! I don't have much to say about it but I'm so excited about an Orioles vs Royals ALCS and one of those teams in the WS!
So that was just about the most random thing but its something! I'll try to post before the World Series (but I'm not promising anything...)
~TBC
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Trade Deadline Scorecard
So, I figured since I'm all always away right before the trade deadline (I am this year too, I'm writing this post before I leave), I never really give my opinions on anything that happens around that time. So...I thought that it would be fun to look back on the trades that the Phillies and the Nationals have made in the past three years and reminisce on the good old times...
2011: The Phillies trade for Hunter Pence from the Astros. Back story: Pence had just made a terrific throw from left field in the All-Star Game to help to NL to a win. His name had been linked to the Phillies in trade rumors before, and that moment made notice him. When the rumors intensified, I got really excited and I was so stoked when the trade finalized. It turned out to be a pretty good deal too...although Pence would be traded at the deadline the very next year. But it was a great year with Pence and I will always remember him as the most awkward player ever... :)
2012: This was the year the Phillies blew up their outfield by trading Pence and Victorino. At the time, I was annoyed, because I was attached to the team, and they had been so successful the year before, but in reality I know now that trading both of these guys was the best for the team and I am now prepared for any trades that may happen this year. I also am pretty sure that this year was the year the Nats traded for Kurt Suzuki...which was not a bad move, because none of their catcher can stay on the field.
2013: I cant really remember what happened last year (oops). Must not have been anything major.
2014: Who knows?
~TBC
2011: The Phillies trade for Hunter Pence from the Astros. Back story: Pence had just made a terrific throw from left field in the All-Star Game to help to NL to a win. His name had been linked to the Phillies in trade rumors before, and that moment made notice him. When the rumors intensified, I got really excited and I was so stoked when the trade finalized. It turned out to be a pretty good deal too...although Pence would be traded at the deadline the very next year. But it was a great year with Pence and I will always remember him as the most awkward player ever... :)
2012: This was the year the Phillies blew up their outfield by trading Pence and Victorino. At the time, I was annoyed, because I was attached to the team, and they had been so successful the year before, but in reality I know now that trading both of these guys was the best for the team and I am now prepared for any trades that may happen this year. I also am pretty sure that this year was the year the Nats traded for Kurt Suzuki...which was not a bad move, because none of their catcher can stay on the field.
2013: I cant really remember what happened last year (oops). Must not have been anything major.
2014: Who knows?
~TBC
Bring back the old Home Run Derby!
So, I was less than impressed by the Home Run Derby this year. I didn't watch the whole thing because it went really late (#eastcoastprobs) but I was the most bored watching it that I had been in years (well, since I started watching it...) I think that the problem was that the new bracket format put in place this year. Here's why...
First of all, 7 outs vs 10 outs. By lowering the number of outs that the hitters have in each round, MLB is essentially decreasing the chance that any particular player will be able to start a hot streak by 30%. This is clearly evident by the fact that the highest round score was 10 in the first round by Jose Bautista. The main draw of this event is every home run hit, and by implementing a change that lowered the number of home runs substantially, some of the excitement is drained out of the event.
Also, the bracket form itself severely inhibits the flow of the event. Because the league are now separated until the final round, there is a higher chance that the final two, or even the winner, will not be the best home run hitter in the event. When the leagues are pooled together, the two players with the highest numbers of home runs will always advance. Although this usually results in the American League killing the National League, it make for a more entertaining event and thus should be the format followed in future years.
Finally, adding an extra player to each leagues team did absolutely nothing but extend the already tedious first round. If MLB thought that having more players would cause more excitement, they were sorely mistaken, as I was done with the derby by the end of the first round, in part because so many of the hitters failed to hit even 5 home runs.
So those are my thoughts on the new home run derby format. Better luck next year, I guess?
~TBC
First of all, 7 outs vs 10 outs. By lowering the number of outs that the hitters have in each round, MLB is essentially decreasing the chance that any particular player will be able to start a hot streak by 30%. This is clearly evident by the fact that the highest round score was 10 in the first round by Jose Bautista. The main draw of this event is every home run hit, and by implementing a change that lowered the number of home runs substantially, some of the excitement is drained out of the event.
Also, the bracket form itself severely inhibits the flow of the event. Because the league are now separated until the final round, there is a higher chance that the final two, or even the winner, will not be the best home run hitter in the event. When the leagues are pooled together, the two players with the highest numbers of home runs will always advance. Although this usually results in the American League killing the National League, it make for a more entertaining event and thus should be the format followed in future years.
Finally, adding an extra player to each leagues team did absolutely nothing but extend the already tedious first round. If MLB thought that having more players would cause more excitement, they were sorely mistaken, as I was done with the derby by the end of the first round, in part because so many of the hitters failed to hit even 5 home runs.
So those are my thoughts on the new home run derby format. Better luck next year, I guess?
~TBC
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