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Tag: State of Baseball

State of Baseball: The Opener

In the last two years, a few teams in Major League Baseball have been experimenting with what is now termed “the opener”. The opener is a high-leverage reliever that a team uses to start the game. He will usually throw one or two innings at the max. The goal of the opener is to get through the top half of the lineup so that the starter who takes over later on will not have to face the top of the opposing batting order more than twice in a game. The Tampa Bay Rays were the first team to experiment with the opener using relievers, Ryne Stanek and Sergio Romo (now of the Miami Marlins).

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State of MLB: Prospect Hoarding

It has become a recurrent theme in trade negotiations between contending and rebuilding teams: “Prospect X is untouchable.” Teams have become increasingly reluctant to trade their top prospects in an effort to inch closer to a championship. Front offices are trying to do the same thing: construct a roster that is filled with young and talented players at below-market value contracts. This philosophy of risk-aversion, prospect accumulation, and player development is having a negative impact on Major League Baseball.

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State of Baseball: 50 Shades of Bland

Major League Baseball has been under the microscope over the last decade for a multitude of factors. The pace of play (or lack thereof), lacking attendance numbers in certain markets, and the lack of marketability of its star players are just some of the issues that Rob Manfred has to contend with going forward. Realistically, there is one quick fix that can easily get new viewers watching America’s pastime.

Read More

State of Baseball: The Opener

In the last two years, a few teams in Major League Baseball have been experimenting with what is now termed “the opener”. The opener is a high-leverage reliever that a team uses to start the game. He will usually throw one or two innings at the max. The goal of the opener is to get through the top half of the lineup so that the starter who takes over later on will not have to face the top of the opposing batting order more than twice in a game. The Tampa Bay Rays were the first team to experiment with the opener using relievers, Ryne Stanek and Sergio Romo (now of the Miami Marlins).

Read More

State of MLB: Prospect Hoarding

It has become a recurrent theme in trade negotiations between contending and rebuilding teams: “Prospect X is untouchable.” Teams have become increasingly reluctant to trade their top prospects in an effort to inch closer to a championship. Front offices are trying to do the same thing: construct a roster that is filled with young and talented players at below-market value contracts. This philosophy of risk-aversion, prospect accumulation, and player development is having a negative impact on Major League Baseball.

Read More

State of Baseball: 50 Shades of Bland

Major League Baseball has been under the microscope over the last decade for a multitude of factors. The pace of play (or lack thereof), lacking attendance numbers in certain markets, and the lack of marketability of its star players are just some of the issues that Rob Manfred has to contend with going forward. Realistically, there is one quick fix that can easily get new viewers watching America’s pastime.

Read More