baseball
Sabermetric analysis of all things baseball - on-and-off the field. Barry Bonds fan club.
What Canadian Pride Looks Like for a Dodgers Fan After a Grueling World Series Win Against the Toronto Blue Jays
Canadians love their sports, and with only one MLB franchise, the Toronto Blue Jays have become Canada’s team. Baseball fanatics and casual patriots alike flooded the streets, the sports bars, and Rogers Centre this October to celebrate their team’s first advance to the World Series since their 1993 win against the Philadelphia Phillies. To viewers north of the border, the breakthrough in their 32-year string of losses was not just a success in baseball, but a statement of Canadian unity and perseverance against American teams in an ongoing cultural, national, and even political fight between the two countries. Despite the majority of us feeling this way, what does it mean for a proud Canadian cheering for the Dodgers this year?
By Sophia Conn2 months ago in Unbalanced
Thoughts About the Release of the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot
Last year, I shared my thoughts about the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. There was a plethora of players that I recognized, and Ichiro was one of them. He eventually got inducted into Cooperstown, making him the first Asian-born player to do so. Major League Baseball recently revealed the candidates for the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame. Shown above are eight players on the ballot, but two of those players aren't deserving of being on it: Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. It makes me give MLB and the Baseball Hall of Fame committee the huge side-eye. Why these two cheaters, because that's what they were, are on the ballot baffles me. I don't care how good they were as players. We shouldn't praise those who used performance enhancing drugs to gain an advantage and the "Everyone else was doing it, too" excuse doesn't hold up and it's a weak argument. Just because someone took PEDs, doesn't mean that it was right and it's acceptable now. That's why rules regarding the use of performance enhancing drugs exist today. I've said the same thing last year when Alex Rodríguez appeared on the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, but unfortunately, he wasn't selected to be inducted this past July. Baseball fans like me still care about the integrity of the game. There are plenty of players and even managers who were well-respected but still aren't in the Hall. One example being Atlanta Braves great Andruw Jones. I've seen his name pop up a lot in the comment sections of many baseball videos and videos about the Braves. I believe that he should've appeared on this ballot over Bonds and Clemens. Six months ago, Commissioner Rob Manfred lifted the lifetime bans of Pete Rose and 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson, among other players. Both men will be eligible for the Classic Baseball Era Committee as early as December 2027. However, it's not a guarantee that they'll be inducted into Cooperstown. The reaction to this news was mixed.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 2 months ago in Unbalanced
The Year the Toronto Blue Jays (Almost) Won the World Series
We are family!! A full 48 hours has passed since the third out in the bottom of the eleventh inning of game seven in the 2025 World Series of baseball between the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers and our favourite Toronto Blue Jays. The game spelled the end of the Blue Jays magical 2025 Major League Baseball season. As an aside, that third out also put an end to the Los Angeles Dodger’s season, and an end to the Major League baseball season in general. That "end" however, did mark the beginning of some bright things to come in future editions of the Toronto Blue Jays.
By John Oliver Smith2 months ago in Unbalanced
Oh What a Night! The First of November 2023
Baseball in November is a rare occurrence, especially a team taking a single game to win a World Series title. However, it adds more excitement to the game. Question: Where were you on the evening of November 1, 2023? If you were either a Texas Rangers or Arizona Diamondbacks fan, most likely, your attention was on Game 5 of the World Series. This past Saturday was the two-year anniversary of the Texas Rangers capturing their first World Series title in franchise history. To celebrate it, I watched the aforementioned game again. Two years ago, I didn't have access to any sports apps where I could watch the games on TV, resulting in me being unable to watch any Postseason games and the first three games of the World Series. Luckily, I was able to watch games four and five. When baseball fans think of the World Series, the teams that come in mind are the Red Sox, Yankees, and Dodgers. No one expected the Rangers and Diamondbacks, two small market teams, to reach the Fall Classic.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 2 months ago in Unbalanced
The Hatred Is Real, Y'all
The 2025 World Series has come to a close and now, it's the dreaded offseason. We're already missing baseball and are in a deep depression. At least we have Spring Training to look forward to in February. Recently, I've made my predictions on who will win their divisions and clinch Wild Card berths in 2026. I'll have links to those stories down below. I'll be comparing my pick to what FanGraphs has predicted sometime before the regular season begins, so be on the lookout for that whenever that story is published on here.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 2 months ago in Unbalanced
Oklahoma vs Tennessee: A Clash of Titans in College Football 2025
A Clash Worth Waiting For College football fans are buzzing as the Oklahoma Sooners face the Tennessee Volunteers in what promises to be one of the most thrilling matchups of the 2025 season. This meeting isn’t just another Saturday game—it’s a battle of pride, history, and playoff ambitions.
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Unbalanced
Dodgers Crowned 2025 World Series Champions After Epic Game 7 Win Over Blue Jays. AI-Generated.
The 2025 World Series ended in a way that felt both inevitable and electric: the Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays in a tense Game 7 at Dodger Stadium to claim the championship. It was a night of big pitching, timely hitting and one performance that rose above the rest — Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s masterful outing earned him World Series MVP honors and capped a season of remarkable adaptation.
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Unbalanced
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Crowned 2025 World Series MVP: Dodgers’ New Ace Makes History
The 2025 World Series will be remembered not only for the thrilling battle between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, but also for the rise of a new legend — Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Japanese pitching sensation who has taken Major League Baseball by storm. After leading the Dodgers to victory, Yamamoto was officially named the 2025 World Series MVP, marking a defining moment in his first year in the MLB.
By KAMRAN AHMAD2 months ago in Unbalanced
World Series Game Six: Yama-Ween
You know, it's always special when the World Series lands on Halloween. It was 24 years ago on Halloween that Derek Jeter hit his famous walk-off in Game Four of that year's World Series, earning him the "Mr. November" nickname due to the fact that it was past midnight on November 1 in New York when he homered. 2009's World Series saw Game 3 take place on Halloween, with A-Rod homering in that game. The current schedule in recent years pretty much guarantees that the Fall Classic will land on Halloween and even enter the month of November, and this year was no exception.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 months ago in Unbalanced
Their One Shining Baseball Moment Is Within Their Reach
Rookie pitcher Troy Yesavage (pictured above) had the most outstanding performance of his career Wednesday night, going against Blake Snell, who thought he was going to be untouchable during the duration of the Postseason. He made World Series history by recording an incredible 12 strikeouts, which is a new record for a rookie in a Fall Classic. Also, he made Postseason history for becoming the first rookie to strike out 10 batters or more in multiple games. The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 in Game 5. Now, they're just one win away from capturing their first World Series title since 1993. 22-year-old Yesavage made his MLB debut in mid-September after being drafted last season. He has a bright future with the Blue Jays moving forward. Game 6 will return to Toronto on Friday night, meaning that they have two more chances to clinch a World Series title. Kevin Gausman will take the mound, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers is expected to start.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 2 months ago in Unbalanced
Blue Jays Dominate Dodgers in Game 5, Move One Win Away from First World Series Title Since 1993. AI-Generated.
The Toronto Blue Jays are on the brink of baseball immortality. In a decisive Game 5 at Dodger Stadium, the Blue Jays delivered a commanding 6–1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, moving within one win of their first World Series title since 1993. Fueled by explosive early offense and a dazzling performance from rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage, Toronto now leads the series 3–2 heading into Game 6 on home turf.
By Maadi Roshan2 months ago in Unbalanced
