Category: Baseball
Davis Schneider Explains the Secret Behind His Success
Davis Schneider is a throwback. Not because he’s 5-foot-9, and fought his way through the minor leagues after signing for $50,000 as a 28th-round pick. Or because he has featured at three positions in his brief major league career, or because he hides half his face behind a bushy mustache twice the size of Tom…
Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Previous Form has Disappeared from View
As professional baseball journalist, it is quite surprising to see some of the recent MVPs struggling at the start of the 2024 season. This includes Ronald Acuña Jr., who had an incredible season last year but has not been able to replicate that success so far this year. Along with a few other key players…
Avoid Mookie Betts at All Costs!
In-zone rate is one of the most fascinating stats in baseball. It definitely means something, but you sometimes need to sort through a couple different factors in order to determine just what that something is. If pitchers think they can knock the bat out of your hands, they’ll come right after you inside, but if…
Assessing the Impact of Stadium Funding: Breaking Down Effectively Wild Episode 2161
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss Riley Greene’s recent pants-related wardrobe malfunction, the Padres-Marlins Luis Arraez trade, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s struggles, a C.B. Bucknor incident, and more. Then, they are joined by Neil deMause, author of Field of Schemes, and J.C. Bradbury, stadium-funding researcher and professor of economics, finance, and quantitative analysis at Kennesaw Sports…
Injury and Slow Start Hindering Wyatt Langford’s Breakout Potential
At 21-16, the Texas Rangers are first in the AL West standings, but it hasn’t been an easy stroll so far. They have an entire rotation of quality starting pitchers on the injured list, and while their offense has remained relatively intact, it has not yet been at full strength. Third baseman Josh Jung had…
San Francisco Giants: An Analysis of Their Unusual Scoring Distribution
Welcome back to Top of the Order! Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I’ll be starting your baseball day with news, notes, and thoughts about the game we love. Today, let’s talk about the struggling San Francisco Giants. Connor Grossman highlighted in his Substack newsletter that the Giants have a dismal record of 1-20 in games…
Shohei Ohtani is Setting the Bar High in Multiple Categories in a Must-See Performance
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) With Shohei Ohtani unable to pitch this year, he was going to have to have a massive year at the plate to justify the first year of his hefty 10-year, $700 million deal he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason. That’s exactly what he is doing, as…
Experienced Mets Pitcher Impresses in Rehab Outing
(Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images) The New York Mets have been more competitive than previously anticipated. They have been inconsistent, sure, but they have also showed they have the tools to succeed and make some noise this year, one that was supposed to be a transition period. Their 17-18 record is mediocre, but as the…
Analyzing the Toronto Blue Jays’ Potential Trade Deadline Strategy
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) The Toronto Blue Jays have been a contender for each of the last four seasons. From 2020 to 2023, they made the playoffs three times and finished with a 91-71 record the year in which they missed them (2021). They have put together an impressive collection of talent, led…
Pirates Insider Dishes on Unusual Paul Skenes Situation
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) The Pittsburgh Pirates are 17-19 as of Tuesday afternoon. One can’t help but think they could be so much better with Paul Skenes, their No. 1 draft pick last year, in the rotation. Pittsburgh is currently four games behind the top spot in the NL Central division, but once they…