Tag Archive for ‘nl west’ rss

Me, Elsewhere: Maybin, Tulo, Burroughs, and the Rest of the West

My latest at Baseball Prospectus ($) examines the Cameron Maybin/Mike Cameron comparison (their age 24 campaigns are looking pretty similar so far), Troy Tulowitzki’s extended slump, Jamie McCourt’s bout with sanity, the Giants’ recent surge and ridiculous record in one-run games, and Sean Burroughs’ return to baseball as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Me, Elsewhere: Nice Backstop

My latest at Baseball Prospectus ($) examines the National League West catchers. You know about Nick Hundley, but Arizona’s Miguel Montero is off to a ridiculous start as well. I love small samples… Also, there is a Dame Diana Rigg reference, for those of you with exquisite taste…

Me, Elsewhere: Contrasting Defensive Styles

My latest look at the NL West over at Baseball Prospectus (freebie) considers the respective defensive approaches (or lack thereof) of the Giants and Dodgers. And I offer a few thoughts on the Padres’ opening weekend series win in St. Louis: Most people don’t expect much from the Padres in 2011. Three games doesn’t change [...]

Me, Elsewhere: What Came Before the NL West?

My latest at Baseball Prospectus ($) focuses on the origins of professional baseball in each of the five current NL West cities. Did you know, for instance, that Hall of Fame right-hander Walter Johnson pitched for the San Diego Pickwicks in 1907? I had no idea. Anyway, the whole article is full of stuff like [...]

Me, Elsewhere: NL West Rotation Questions and Three More at the Sweet Spot

My latest at Baseball Prospectus ($) focuses on NL West rotation questions. You already know about the Padres’ situation, but it’s also good to be aware of what’s happening in enemy camps. Well, that’s what I keep telling myself anyway. Meanwhile, I’m also making another guest appearance at ESPN’s SweetSpot. I’ll have an article on [...]

Me, Elsewhere: Is It Lukewarm in Here, or Is That Just the Third Baseman?

I’m writing a new weekly column about the NL West at Baseball Prospectus this year. My first report examines the division’s third basemen. You know about Chase Headley, of course, but here are some of my thoughts on him: Headley has been better than many people realize, but with the departure of Adrian Gonzalez, the [...]

Is Life Ever Good Enough?

I use baseball to mark the passage of time. The memory of specific events helps keep me grounded in a world that often makes less sense than I’d like it to make (forgive the fact that I grew up rooting for the Dodgers): 1981 — Fernandomania; Rick Monday’s homer off Steve Rogers in Montreal 1988 [...]

Cheering for Nordberg

I watched a replay of the ’98 NL West clincher Tuesday night on Channel 4. Mel Proctor and Rick Sutcliffe called the game (with Mark Grant handling the John Weisbarth “roving reporter” role), which made me realize how very dearly I will miss Matt Vasgersian this year. The fun part of that game, of course, [...]

Reshaping the Padres: Let’s Make a Deal (or Three)

On Thursday, we examined what the Padres have and what they need. Now we turn to the question of which teams might make good trade partners and then consider some possible scenarios. As of this writing, about half the teams in baseball appear to be in contention. Some will fall of the pace, although it’s [...]

Series Preview: Jim McLennan Talks Diamondbacks

Yeah, it’s Friday, but we’ve got something way cooler than links. We’ve got Jim McLennan, of AZ Snakepit fame, with us, and he’s going to give us the dirt on this year’s Diamondbacks. Ducksnorts: I picked Arizona to win the NL West in 2007 on the strength of its good young position players. The team [...]