baseball
Sabermetric analysis of all things baseball - on-and-off the field. Barry Bonds fan club.
Top 10 Baseball Cleats You Can Buy Right Now
If you want to be the best you need to have the best gear. In baseball, if you aren't a pitcher, that means having a pair of the best selling batting gloves and baseball cleats of the highest quality. In order to become a five-tool player you need to be able to steal bases and field your position well, and that's where cleats come in.
By Jesse Kinney8 years ago in Unbalanced
Something Silly This Way Comes (And Probably Goes Very Quickly)
May 8, 2018 will most likely not be a date that lives on in the minds of Mets fans forever. Or Reds fans for that matter. It most certainly will not sting like the "Midnight Massacre" of June 15, 1977. The day the Mets shipped Seaver to the Reds for four players that no one in New York had ever heard of. Because, at 33, Seaver was called a "headache" by M. Donald Grant. Seaver thought he deserved more than his $225,000 salary (ya think?).
By Brian Hamm8 years ago in Unbalanced
Best BBCOR Baseball Bats in 2018
Everyone knows the sound of a bat. Whether it's wood or aluminum, its noise is distinct. Each player has a different sound when they make contact, depending on where they hit the ball. At one time, in the major leagues, the most common bat used was Louisville Slugger. But things have changed across all levels of the game. Aluminum bats are now equipped with modern technologies to improve a player's game. These bats now include vibration reduction technology, larger barrels, and unique grips. Some of the top switch-hitters of all time may have trained with these bats. While BBCOR bats are primarily used for high school and college level ball, they can also be used for lower levels with certification. Here are the best BBCOR baseball bats in 2018.
By Chris Gennone8 years ago in Unbalanced
10 Best-Selling Baseball Batting Gloves
I often marvel at the abilities of MLB hitters. They see triple-digit fastballs, 12-to-6 curveballs, nasty sliders, and various other pitches meant to make them look silly. They don't always come out ahead, but being able to even make contact with those pitches is almost a superhuman feat. The best hitters, the Mike Trout's, Bryce Harper's, and Jose Altuve's, all are able to take those pitches and spray them all over the ballpark.
By Jesse Kinney8 years ago in Unbalanced
John Jay’s Amanda Gisonni Let’s Others do the Talking - Especially Her Uncle
About seven years ago on Easter, I suddenly learned my niece Amanda was something of a natural as a pitcher. Dinner finished, we all went to a nearby park and got a look at the 10 year old prodigy. Not bad, but all I had to do was sit on her fastball to sure up my place as the best softball player in the family. As I made my way to Yorktown last week to see her on the hill for John Jay High School, I still wait for another chance to let her know where we stand in terms of our common lineage.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Unbalanced
Best MLB Lineup of the 2010s
Major League Baseball has had an influx of superstar-level talent in the past decade. Most teams have a superstar or two, with a lucky portion having an entire ensemble of game-changing talents. With so much skill in the league, debates about which players are best, and what the perfect lineup would be are frequent and intense.
By Jesse Kinney8 years ago in Unbalanced
Top 10 Baseball Gloves for Pitchers
There isn;t much fielding equipment you need when you are playing baseball. That's why having the right glove is crucial to your success. You can focus all your energy on searching for the perfect design for whatever position you play because gloves are created differently to benefit certain spots on the diamond. Baseball gloves for pitchers are not the same as fielders gloves, and for good reason.
By Connor Brighton8 years ago in Unbalanced
Top Switch-Hitters of All Time
Hitting a baseball from one side of the plate is hard enough, but batters who can mash from both sides of the plate belong in a special kind of group. To be able to switch-hit is so incredibly valuable that many players on this list are in the Hall of Fame.
By Rob Gordon8 years ago in Unbalanced
Worst MLB Free Agent Signings of All Time
Aside from winning the World Series or beating a sworn rival, I'm not sure anything in baseball is as exciting as free agency. This is especially true when there is a lot of talent on the market, and you're unsure if your team will make a big move or not. It keeps you alert and on the edge of your seat the entire offseason. As soon as you hear your team signed one of those stars, you're excited, for like a minute.
By Connor Brighton8 years ago in Unbalanced
Worst MLB Teams to Win the World Series
Winning the World Series is the epitome of every baseball team. Seasons are filled with teams that seem destined for greatness or disappointment, only to surprise everyone. Some of the best teams, like the 2001 Seattle Mariners, won a record 116 games but lost to the New York Yankees in the ALCS. Then there are teams like the 2015 Kansas City Royals, who mastered the small-ball game, counting on clutch singles and stolen bases to win the World Series. It shows that there are many different factors that win ball games. Some of the worst teams have been victorious because of this. Here are the worst MLB teams to win the World Series.
By Dave Schneider8 years ago in Unbalanced
Former Somers Pitcher Provides Bio-Mechanical Clinic to Keep Young Arms Healthy
Even though former Somers High School standout pitcher Dan Zlotnick believes the premium on velocity has undone many major league pitchers, he’s all for elevating the mercury at home plate. He just knows there’s a right way to do it and a wrong way. But the clinic he’s providing at the Somers Sports Arena doesn’t quite have an eye on getting ahead of lofty Major League downfalls and aspires to enable kids to keep bringing it home. “We want them to stay healthy because that’s the biggest thing that gets them out of the game,” says the 2009 Somers grad.
By Rich Monetti8 years ago in Unbalanced
