<![CDATA[Baseball Forum - MLB Forum - Fantasy & College Baseball Forums]]>

<![CDATA[Baseball Forum - MLB Forum - Fantasy & College Baseball Forums]]> http://www.baseballforum.com en Fri, 24 May 2013 20:36:18 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.baseballforum.com/images/BaseBallForums/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[Baseball Forum - MLB Forum - Fantasy & College Baseball Forums]]> http://www.baseballforum.com Top 25 Ranked Teams in the Country from the 14u http://www.baseballforum.com/little-league-baseball/85122-top-25-ranked-teams-country-14u.html Fri, 24 May 2013 19:27:27 GMT Here is a new edition this month of the top 25 ball clubs in the 14u. They have been selected from all around the nation and some may be from your state. Check out their notable recent successes here - Baseball Rankings 14U: May 24th, 2013 - #25-21 - Youth 1...

Here is a new edition this month of the top 25 ball clubs in the 14u. They have been selected from all around the nation and some may be from your state. Check out their notable recent successes here - Baseball Rankings 14U: May 24th, 2013 - #25-21 - Youth 1

Click "NEXT" to toggle to the next page.

]]> Little League Baseball Brian345 http://www.baseballforum.com/little-league-baseball/85122-top-25-ranked-teams-country-14u.html <![CDATA[MLB's Top 5 Hitters of 2013]]> http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85114-mlbs-top-5-hitters-2013-a.html Fri, 24 May 2013 18:53:38 GMT

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Every week, players from all teams of the nation compete, hoping to raise their stats and help their team win ballgames. And with that, some players are just better than others, giving them and their team a head start to the post-season and glory. Take a look at 101 Baseball's official Best Hitters of this 2013 season.

5. Chris Davis - Baltimore Orioles
Davis currently holds the most home runs in the MLB, and seems to have had that position since the beginning of the season. With 15 home runs, Davis helped guide his Orioles past the red-hot New York Yankees, who, despite gave Davis' and the Orioles a run for their money, still couldn't pull off a series win.

Davis currently yields a .334 average, a .417 OBP, and a remarkable 44 RBI's. If his current pace continues, there's no dealing what him and the O's could pull off this 2013 season.

4. James Loney - Tampa Bay Rays
Before you ask; yes, Loney does belong...

]]> The Dugout Kelzzy http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85114-mlbs-top-5-hitters-2013-a.html Weekly All-Stars (New Feature) http://www.baseballforum.com/little-league-baseball/85106-weekly-all-stars-new-feature.html Thu, 23 May 2013 21:00:54 GMT Hello youth baseball fans. Every week we select a talented lineup with players from a handful of teams. Here is a new feature with a group of players with some notable stats. This is the first installment and there is much more and they will get better. Read the featured article here - Weekly...

Hello youth baseball fans. Every week we select a talented lineup with players from a handful of teams. Here is a new feature with a group of players with some notable stats. This is the first installment and there is much more and they will get better. Read the featured article here - Weekly All-Stars - Youth 1

]]> Little League Baseball Brian345 http://www.baseballforum.com/little-league-baseball/85106-weekly-all-stars-new-feature.html <![CDATA[Paul Goldschmidt, Patrick Corbin keep D-Backs rollin']]> http://www.baseballforum.com/arizona-diamondbacks/85098-paul-goldschmidt-patrick-corbin-keep-d.html Tue, 21 May 2013 16:32:19 GMT

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It hasn't been very often in the last 10 years a team has had both an MVP and a Cy Young winner in the same season, with the most recent being Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers taking home both the American League MVP and Cy Young in 2011. In 2006, the Minnesota Twins grabbed both honors with Justin Morneau being named MVP and Johan Santana taking his second Cy Young in the last three seasons. The last time this happened in the National League was the St. Louis Caridnals in 2005, in which Albert Pujols snatched his first of three MVP awards and Chris Carpenter claiming the Cy Young.

If the current pace keeps flowing, we may see a more updated honor in the NL this season in 2013. Feast your eyes on the Arizona Diamondbacks in which first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is having a tear of a year and, don't look now, Clayton Kershaw and Matt Harvey, but Patrick Corbin wants to join your party to fight for the NL Cy...

]]> Arizona Diamondbacks Kelzzy http://www.baseballforum.com/arizona-diamondbacks/85098-paul-goldschmidt-patrick-corbin-keep-d.html The Case against Jack Morris and the Hall of Fame http://www.baseballforum.com/hall-fame/85090-case-against-jack-morris-hall-fame.html Tue, 21 May 2013 16:28:33 GMT

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Former pitcher Jack Morris has one year left on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot and it is unknown if he will get in but one thing is for sure: he shouldn't.

His supporters will argue he had the most wins of the 1980s, he was an ace on three different teams that won the World Series and that he was a dominant pitcher.

Yes, Morris did indeed have the most wins of the 1980s, but does it not help with playing on good Detroit Tiger teams in 1984 and 1987? That 1984 team went all the way. They started off 35-5 and were 100-0 when leading after 8 innings. The Tigers did have a pitcher who won the AL MVP in 1984, but it wasn't Morris. It was Willie Hernandez.

Which pitcher had the most wins of the 2000s? Was it Randy Johnson? Roger Clemens? Roy Halladay? It was actually Andy Pettitte. Has Pettitte ever struck you as a Hall of Famer? He does have a case but whatever case he did have has been thrown out the window because of his connection to performance enhancing drugs.

Keep in mind wins are a team effort. Yes, he won a lot of games, 254, which isn't bad but why do people want to induct Morris yet criticized the 2011 election of former Minnesota Twin Bert Blyleven?

Blyleven was a pitcher who had 3,701 career strikeouts. He pitched 60 shutouts on really bad Twins teams. He was on a couple of winners. He was on the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates World Champion team and part of the Twins team that won it all in 1987, beating Morris' Tigers in the ALCS.

In fact, they squared off in game 2 of that series. Blyleven got the better of Morris, with the Twins winning 6-3 over the Tigers and Blyleven pitching a very impressive performance. Blyleven actually was a pretty good postseason pitcher. He had a 2.47 ERA in eight career postseason games...

This is an excellent blog by Rizzo44, I suggest reading the rest:The Case Against Jack Morris for the Hall of Fame ~ 101 Baseball

What do you think about Morris' and the HoF?

]]> Hall of Fame Kelzzy http://www.baseballforum.com/hall-fame/85090-case-against-jack-morris-hall-fame.html <![CDATA[MLB Power Rankings: Texas Rangers' magic]]> http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85082-mlb-power-rankings-texas-rangers-magic.html Tue, 21 May 2013 16:26:18 GMT

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In this second addition of 101 Baseball's Power Rankings, we take the same approach as last week. Judging teams on their playing ability, stats, ranks, and more.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates (Last week: Not on list)
After finishing with just a 79-83 record, the Pirates of the MLB have taken to, winning the last 8-10 games, and combining for a 26-18 overall record, putting them 2nd in their division.

As a team, the Pirates have put up a .264 batting average for the last seven days, where three of their hitters peak above .300. The Pirates have also driven in a remarkable five home runs the past week, two of which game from the slugging Andrew McCutchen, who currently sits at a .308 average and a remarkable .658 slugging percentage.

4. Boston Red Sox (Last week: Not on list)
After opening the season with an extraordinary 20-8 record, but fell to an ugly 2-9 losing streak later on. However, the Sox have taken back their step as they currently sit with a 27-17 record, marking them at 2nd in their division. The Sox have seemed to be lining up their schedule with...

Read More and find out the rest: MLB Power Rankings: Texas Rangers' magic ~ 101 Baseball

]]> The Dugout Kelzzy http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85082-mlb-power-rankings-texas-rangers-magic.html Seesaw Contest Ends with Rangers Taming Tigers http://www.baseballforum.com/texas-rangers/85074-seesaw-contest-ends-rangers-taming-tigers.html Tue, 21 May 2013 16:24:34 GMT

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Arlington Texas, The perfect location for some Sunday night fireworks.

And that was exactly what baseball fans were treated to May 19 when the Texas Rangers defeated the Detroit Tigers 11-8. So much could be said about this back and forth game and what's so great about baseball is every game tells its own story. In the case of this one, quite a few unfolded, and for the Tigers and Rangers, they experienced things that were so similar, yet so fundamentally different.

The most similar thing one has to think of is the way the pitching matchup turned out in the end. It was Doug Fister pitted against Derek Holland.

While neither one is considered their respected staff's ace, which fanbase of any one of the 30 major league teams wouldn't be elated to have either one on their staff? Sunday was not, however, the night meant to be for either one of them.

The thing is that both of them left in the 5th inning. Both of them were doing just fine up until that point. Then things started to unravel for both Holland and Fister. It appeared psychologically speaking, things just weren't there after a while for both pitchers, as..

]]> Texas Rangers Kelzzy http://www.baseballforum.com/texas-rangers/85074-seesaw-contest-ends-rangers-taming-tigers.html Arky Vaughan: Disrespected No MOre http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85066-arky-vaughan-disrespected-no-more.html Mon, 20 May 2013 04:28:33 GMT

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Throughout the course of Major League history, some players just don't get their due respect. There is one player who, in particular, doesn't seem to get the love he deserves. It's about time someone solved this problem and gave some recognition to Arky Vaughan, and that's what we plan on doing, right here, on 101 Baseball News.

Floyd Arky Vaughan was mostly a shortstop in his 14 year major league career for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Dodgers. Baseball historian Bill James has rated him the second greatest shortstop in major league history behind only fellow Pirates shortstop Honus Wagner.

There certainly is an argument for him claiming the No. 2 spot. Sabermetricians would love that he finished in the top two in WAR six times in his career, with a 9.2 rating in 1935 as the batting champion and had an OPS+ of 190. Think about that for anybody to have such a stat in today's game, and for a shortstop to do it is unbelievable.

However, Vaughan's life was cut short at just age 40, after a tragic boat accident occuring in England. Although he left the world of baseball early, his remarkable stats are not, despite seeming so, are not forgotten ... however, it seems as if his playing time here has left the minds of fans too soon, as well.

What exactly makes him so forgotten ? Could it be that he never won an MVP award? That's part of it. He never even finished higher than third in the balloting, which he did in 1935 and in 1938. One would most certainly think in today's game in his 1935 season, he would be a unanimous MVP pick in 2013. He would garner most first place votes if he had half as good a season.

Maybe it's because the Baseball Writers Association of America felt the same way. He passed away..

Ever heard of Arky Vaughan? Read more: Arky Vaughan: Disrespected No More ~ 101 Baseball :bananaamlla:

]]> The Dugout Kelzzy http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85066-arky-vaughan-disrespected-no-more.html Matt Garza to make season debut on Tuesday against Pirates http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85050-matt-garza-make-season-debut-tuesday.html Sat, 18 May 2013 21:19:09 GMT

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After being on the shelf since July, Chicago Cubs right hander Matt Garza will return to the mound Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Garza is yet to pitch an inning in the Majors this season, after straining his back muscle during spring training. After being sent to the team's Triple-A facility for rehab in Iowa, Garza struck out six in six shutout innings.

"I think when they told me to go get six," Garza said on Saturday." "it was enough lobbying than I could argue. I'm just excited and I'm just ready to do my part."

After straining his back muscle in spring training, his debut will push Carlos Villanueva, who is 1-3 with a 101 ERA+ and 1.139 WHIP, to the bullpen. Garza was 5-7 in 2012, his most recent win being against the Arizona Diamondbacks July 15, while his last start was July 21, in which he got a no-decision in a 12-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

His debut is going to be a challenge since the Pirates sit at...

]]> The Dugout Kelzzy http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85050-matt-garza-make-season-debut-tuesday.html <![CDATA[This Week's 13U Youth Baseball Rankings]]> http://www.baseballforum.com/little-league-baseball/85042-weeks-13u-youth-baseball-rankings.html Fri, 17 May 2013 20:54:44 GMT

Here is a new edition of baseball rankings featuring the top teams from around the nation in the 12U division. These notable and elite squads continue their impressive seasons as they make their way through this exclusive group. Read more about them here - click "NEXT" to toggle to the next pages - Baseball Rankings 13U: May 17th, 2013 - #25-21 - Youth 1

]]> Little League Baseball Brian345 http://www.baseballforum.com/little-league-baseball/85042-weeks-13u-youth-baseball-rankings.html <![CDATA[New York Mets' ace, Matt Harvey, set to make debut at Wrigley]]> http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85034-new-york-mets-ace-matt-harvey.html Fri, 17 May 2013 18:38:33 GMT ---Quote--- After throwing a near-perfect season, 23-year old Matt Harvey is set to take the mound for his New York Mets. However, despite his spectacular outings this season, combing for a 4-0 record with just a 1.44, Harvey will have his run for his money facing the hot slugging bats of players...

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After throwing a near-perfect season, 23-year old Matt Harvey is set to take the mound for his New York Mets. However, despite his spectacular outings this season, combing for a 4-0 record with just a 1.44, Harvey will have his run for his money facing the hot slugging bats of players like Anthony Rizzo and David Jesus.

On the Cubs' side of things, center-fielder Marlon Byrd will take his first game back at Wrigley field as well, after being traded to the Boston Red Sox, and then being suspended for 50-games after a positive drug test.

Until his ugly 2012 season, Bryd was part of the Cubs' centerpiece in 2011. With the fans cheering "Bryd is the word", Bryd combined for a .286 average, 21 home runs, and almost 300 hits in the 2-years played with them. In addition, Bryd was also awarded an All-Star spot after what was presumably thought as a break out season. However, it would not benefit his futurity with the team, and after batting a gruesome .070 with the Cubs for 13 games in 2012, he was sent away to Boston.

However now, with Bryd returning to his familiar position in front of the ivy, and the reaction of the so-called bleacher bums will be nothing less than ...

]]> The Dugout Kelzzy http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85034-new-york-mets-ace-matt-harvey.html MLB Power Rankings: Cleveland Indians and Cardinals take charge http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85026-mlb-power-rankings-cleveland-indians-cardinals.html Thu, 16 May 2013 17:17:02 GMT ---Quote--- In this new addition of weekly power rankings, we rank the best teams of the week from five-to-one. Rankings are based on team stats, wins, and the overall composure. 5. Washington Nationals Despite being in 2nd place in their division the Nationals have been on a hot pace since...

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In this new addition of weekly power rankings, we rank the best teams of the week from five-to-one. Rankings are based on team stats, wins, and the overall composure.

5. Washington Nationals
Despite being in 2nd place in their division the Nationals have been on a hot pace since the beginning of this week, winning the last 7 out of 12 games. The Nats currently hold a 21-19 record, with help from their red-hot pitching staff, who has combined for a low 3.17 team average, and a remarkable 7.19 K/9 ... courtesy from slingers like Jordan Zimmerman and Ross Detwiler, who together combine for just a 2.11 ERA. However, the young once-to-be phenom, Stephen Strasburg, continues to struggle this season with an ugly 1-5 record and 3.10 ERA.

4. San Francisco Giants
After being sweept by the 5th place Blue Jays, the orange and black Giants fall to number four ... however, they look forward to continue their pace before the discouraging encounter with Toronto. Second baseman, Marco Scutaro, extended his hit streak to 13 games after last nights game, despite the whopping defeat they faced. On the pitching side of things, the much needed Tim Lincecum has...

Read More and find out the rest: MLB Power Rankings: Cleveland Indians and Cardinals take charge ~ 101 Baseball

]]> The Dugout Kelzzy http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85026-mlb-power-rankings-cleveland-indians-cardinals.html Greinke Is Coming Back Early! http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85018-greinke-coming-back-early.html Wed, 15 May 2013 21:44:52 GMT

After breaking his collar bone in the "incident" with Carlos Quentin, Greinke is planning on taking the mound in the Dodgers' series finale against the Nationals tonight. This is about a month earlier than he was expected to return. Anyone else going to be watching it?

More information in the article here:

MLB.com Gameday | MLB.com: Gameday

]]> The Dugout BattingCagesInc http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85018-greinke-coming-back-early.html Phillies Sign Carlos Zambrano to Minor League Contract http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85010-phillies-sign-carlos-zambrano-minor-league.html Wed, 15 May 2013 21:36:31 GMT ---Quote--- The Philadelphia Phillies have come to terms on a minor league deal with right handed pitcher Carlos Zambrano. The 31-year-old, 3-time Venezuelan All-Star will report to Clearwater, Fla for an extended spring training session. His most recent campaign was in 2012 with a pedestrian 7-10...

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The Philadelphia Phillies have come to terms on a minor league deal with right handed pitcher Carlos Zambrano.

The 31-year-old, 3-time Venezuelan All-Star will report to Clearwater, Fla for an extended spring training session. His most recent campaign was in 2012 with a pedestrian 7-10 record and an 87 ERA+ with a WHIP of 1.496.

After being traded from the Chicago Cubs in 2011 for what was likely due to his continual outburst of anger towards fans, umpires, and even his own teammates, the Phillies are taking a major risk of signing the big right-hander. However, that's not the main goal of this contract, according to assistant GM Scott Proefock told reporters.

"We are just looking to add some depth, starting pitching depth," Proefrock said. "Right now he will go to extended spring training and throw bullpens and progress from there. No promises were made. It is just an opportunity to add to the starting pitching."

Zambrano threw an ill-favoured season in 2012, combining for a high 4.49 ERA and just a 7-10 record with the Miami Marlins.

He will try to do everything he can to help a very depleted Phillies rotation. Cliff Lee is bringing the goods this year with a 4-2 record, 138 ERA+ and 1.076 WHIP. That only helps ease the tension so much, as Roy Halladay is in need of surgery and John Lannan was injured in April and expected to be...

]]> The Dugout Rizzo44 http://www.baseballforum.com/dugout/85010-phillies-sign-carlos-zambrano-minor-league.html Indiana Bulls v. Motor City Baseball Club 12U http://www.baseballforum.com/little-league-baseball/85002-indiana-bulls-v-motor-city-baseball.html Wed, 15 May 2013 14:32:40 GMT It was an incredible weekend as two titans of the 12U matched up with one another. Both teams made the rankings for the top 25 in the nation. Here is some weekend action if interested - Why Can?t We Be Friends? - Youth 1 (http://youth1.com/index.php/baseball-headlines/11541-why-can-t-we-be-friends)

It was an incredible weekend as two titans of the 12U matched up with one another. Both teams made the rankings for the top 25 in the nation. Here is some weekend action if interested - Why Can?t We Be Friends? - Youth 1

]]> Little League Baseball Brian345 http://www.baseballforum.com/little-league-baseball/85002-indiana-bulls-v-motor-city-baseball.html