Category: Baseball
Twins at the Top: A Surge in Performance
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports Welcome back to Top of the Order, where every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I’ll be starting your baseball day with some news, notes, and thoughts about the game we love. It would be an overreaction to declare a good-on-paper team dead in the water after 20 games, but the Twins certainly…
Analysis of how bees impact bird populations in modern ecosystems
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss Meg’s unexpected experience at the bee-delayed Diamondbacks game, Shota Imanaga’s impressive start, Reed Garrett and the trend of pop-up relievers, appreciation for Steven Kwan, reflections on how Mike Trout’s and Bryce Harper’s careers will be remembered, José Abreu’s demotion to the minors, and a declined penalty in baseball. They…
Mookie Betts continues to dominate MLB with strong performance
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) Power rankings, in MLB, allow us to evaluate talent and recent performance. Those who are at the top have been, historically, great performers; but are also doing it right now, as we speak. When it comes to MLB’s Hitter Power Rankings, two members of the Los Angeles Dodgers are on…
Dodgers’ Ace Appears to Have Found Their Groove After Shaky Beginning
(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) The Los Angeles Dodgers paid a lot of money to secure the services of Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They locked him down on a 12-year, $325 million pact to be their co-ace of the future alongside Shohei Ohtani. He didn’t get off to a great start, though, surrendering five runs…
Shota Imanaga Dominating on the Mound like Never Before
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) In the offseason, the Chicago Cubs signed Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga to a four-year, $53 million deal that could be a five-year, $80 million pact if a club option is picked up. Several weeks prior to that, the Los Angeles Dodgers inked Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million contract….
Fans Show MLB’s Popularity Remains Strong
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) MLB as a whole experienced a dip in fan attendance to the stadiums between 2020 and 2022. The 2020 campaign was in the middle of the pandemic, so no fans were in the stands. Then, in 2021, the aftereffects of COVID-19 were also noticeable in the stands. The 2021-22…
Baltimore Orioles Welcome Back Key Player Who Is Making Significant Contributions
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) The Baltimore Orioles won three out of four games against the New York Yankees this week and took sole possession of the top spot in the AL East. With a 20-11 record, the O’s are second in the American League behind the 20-10 Cleveland Guardians. They did most of that…
Yankees Star Reflects on Challenging Series Defeat to Orioles
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) The New York Yankees had a perfect opportunity to make a statement this week, playing on the road against the Baltimore Orioles. Instead, the O’s were the ones making the statement. The Yanks lost three out of four games and Baltimore is now the top squad in the AL East…
Mets to Promote Promising Pitching Prospect to Major League Roster
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) The New York Mets traded Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer last year. This year, they lost Kodai Senga, their de facto ace, for the first two months of the season with a shoulder issue. Their bullpen has also suffered the rigors of trades and injuries. Yet despite all that, they currently…
Home Run Drought: Assessing the Early Season Power Struggles in Major League Baseball
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports One of the numerous reasons why Mike Trout’s latest injury — a torn meniscus in his left knee, requiring surgery that will sideline him for at least four weeks and perhaps longer — is such a bummer is that the three-time MVP and future Hall of Famer was off to a…