Archives

2016

12/31/16 – The End of Everything - Sometimes it’s the gut punch that knocks you out.

11/10/16 - Why I Picked These Guys, 8^th Edition - My annual rundown of the November XFL auction

10/21/16 - The Compleat Gallo - Joey Gallo has few comparables but this is my best effort to figure out his future in the majors.

10/20/16 – Bold Predictions for 2017 - It’s early so that makes them more “bold”, right?

08/01/16 – Assessing the Deadline Deals - Early calls on the winners and losers of the trade deadline

07/18/16 – The Strange Case of Joey Gallo -The Texas prospect has all-time power and a fixable flaw.

05/30/16 – the Upton Conundrum - both Upton brothers are experiencing unusual years: one bad, one good

05/04/16 - Hidden Greatness - this pitcher should be getting more Hall of Fame hype.

04/20/16 – More Notes - Observations on DFS, Velasquez, Wainwright, Brown and the Astros.

04/10/16 – Notes on the New Season - The first week has been eventful and comment-worthy

04/05/16 – Spring Christmas - The XFL has two big holidays every year and one of them was this past week.

03/01/16 – The 2016 Top 50 Fantasy Prospects - My list of the best prospects for your dynasty league

02/29/16 – Everyone Else’s Top Prospects - An aggregated list of the Top 100 prospects in baseball.

2015

121015 - Rizzo and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Year

111015 - The Annual “Why I Picked These Guys” Wrap-up

082415 - Why the Nationals Will NEVER Win

072915 - Steroids Before Testing

072115 - Trade Deadline Predictions

061015 - Top 10 Race Horses

060215 - Mechanics and the Brain

052015 - The Nats Will Never Win It All (Part 1)

042515 - The Non-Debate about Bonds

040715 - The Name of Rose

040415 - Thou Shalt be Saved

031415 - The 2015 Top Fantasy Prospects

020215 - Super No-Brainer

2014

111914 - There’s a Catch

110514 - Why I Picked These Guys, Jr.

103114 - 2014 Post Mortem

103014 - A Legend is Born

052714 - Mythical Pitching

052014 - Mr. Hustle Drops the Ball

033114 - Ten Bold Predictions for 2014

032614 - The 2014 Fantasy Prospect List

031414 - An Appreciation

011014 - The Quest

2013

120613 - Can Not

110613 - Why I Picked These Guys Again

101713 - An Alternative to Wins

082113 - Notes from the Dog Days

032813 - XFL 2013 Nativity

032713 - Top Prospects, Part 2

032013 - Top Prospects, Part 1

031413 - Baseball’s New Dirty Little Secret (or why the A’s have never played Moneyball)

012713 - Up, Up and a Hey

012013 - The Call of Squawkers
011913 - The Fail of Statistics

010813 - In Another League

2012

121212 – The Hall of Shame?

110612 – Why I Picked These Guys

101512 – The National Nightmare

100212 – Strasburg and the AL MVP

080112 – Analyzing the Trade Deadline Deals

022112 – It Could Happen

011812 – What’d Yu Brang?

011512 – The Talented Mr. Rizzo

010912 – Squandered Opportunity

2011

111511 – Once More into the Breach

100111 – Looking Ahead at the 2011 Achievers

082111 – Not My Year

071811 – Single-Year League Gambit

071311 – The Greatest Yank

061711 – Yay Team

061011 – This and That

060611 – Your 2014 Champion Is…

053011 – Is It Possible?

052711 – No Press Allowed

052311 – Wither Amazing

050911 – History in the Making?

050411 – One Sixth Notes

041511 – Notes From Around Baseball

040911 – I Don’t Know What I am Talking About… Yet

033111 – This is How It Begins

033011 – Spring Notes

012611 – Tout Wars Strategy

012111 – XFL Epic Fail

010611 – What Next for the Hall of Fame

2010

111010 – Anatomy of a Keeper Draft – part 2

110810 – Anatomy of a Keeper Draft

071410 – The Death of Napoleon

070910 – The All-Star Shame

062310 – The Year of the Rookie?

061410 – Merry Strasmas

060710 – What We Learned Today

060410 – What Happened to Grady?

052610 – Help is on the Way, 8^th Edition

052110 – Who is This Guy?

052010 – How I Got This Smile

041010 – This Year in the XFL

020710 – Why the Saints Will Win the Superbowl

2009

121109 – The Winter Meetings

112109 – The Cat in the Hat

111609 – 2010: An XFL Odyssey

111309 – This Kettle Is Black

110909 – Put That Man Down!

062209 – College World Series Follow-up

062009 – Youth Is Served

061109 – Not Even Babe Ruth Would Help

050109 – Why Manny Must Go

041809 – That Good?

041109 - What is wrong with the 2009 Nationals?

041009 – National Treasure (part 1)

030209 – Whatever Happened to Pitching

030109 – No More Kicking

020909 – Here We Go Again

010509 – Same Old (Sour) Notes

2008

123108 – Time To Turn The Page

122308 – I’m Not Dead Yet

081808 – The Greatest

081308 – Darvish

080108 – Are You Ready?

070808 – It Is What It Is

060308 – The Failure of Moneyball

010708 – Title Talk

2007

120407 – Tiger By The Tail

102007 – A Little Help Here

100507 - Random Thoughts on the NLDS

091807 – More of the Same

081507 – The Next King Felix?

062907 – Good Luck/Bad Luck: AL Version

062807 – Good Luck/Bad Luck: NL Version

050907 – Help Is On The Way, 6th Edition

042907 – Howard Beale’s Appeal

042007 – Managing Adversity

041307 – Friday the 13th

041207 – Some Game Notes

040907 – A New Hope

040707 – We’ve Had a Problem

040407 - Highlights

032707 – Crazy Predictions

031507 – This Year’s Arms Race

031307 – Tribute: The Greatest League in the World

030407 – Hey Big Spenders

022007 – Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler

011707 – The Fantastic Four

010907 – Good Morning, Prince Myshkins

010507 – What Does It Matter?

2006

122806 – Just Drop the “C”

111706 – I Might Be Wrong, But…

102006 – LaRussa’s Curse

092906 – Just the Begnning?

091906 – Argh Matey!

090706 – The Flaming Bush

083006 – Two Pitchers

082206 – Premature Proclamation

081906 – Youth Is Served

081406 - Prospecting

080906 – No Crying in Baseball

080406 – It Could Be Maybe

080306 – Dude, Where’s My Arm?

073106 – The Deed Is Done

073006 – It’s a Small World After All

072706 – This and That

072306 – Trade Dudline

071606 – The Trade

063006 – Midsummer Notes

062306 – Return of the King

062206 – Rookie Revolution

062106 – It’s Quasi-Greek to Me

061706 – The Blue Jay Way

061506 – Twice Bitten

061106 – I’d Like a “K” Please

060806 – Hair of the Dog

060706 – The Need for Speed

052906 – Scouting the Pitchers

052706 – Time To Go

052606 – The Horse and the Ass

041806 – Is It Me?

040406 – Barry’s World

031606 – Bracket-astrophe

013106 - Fantasyland

011006 – Baseball’s FEMA

010406 – Rumblin’, Bumblin’, Stumblin’

010106 - Mazzone Magic

2005

092605 – State of the Nationals

040405 – Spring Numbers

Columns on the Relocation of the Expos to Washington DC
12/15/04 - Are We There Yet? - DC's possibly fatal self-inflicted wound to bring baseball back
08/20/04 - Ce qui s'est produit à Montréal - Why didn't baseball work in Montreal?
06/19/04 - I Guess Not - Norfolk tries to drum up more support for relocating the Expos there.
06/10/06 - For The Last Time... Hopefully - Where to move the Expos... does it get more obvious?
09/12/03 - The DC Conundrum - why not let the Expos play some games in DC in 2004?
08/28/03 - Capitol Punishment - debunking the myths surrounding DC as a viable market
08/09/01 - Move it or Lose it - Relocation of several teams will help level the playing field

2004 Columns
12/02/04 - What a Surprise!! - reaction to the steroid usage confessions of Giambi and Bonds
11/19/04 - More Hot Stove - looking at the latest National trade and some of the recent signing rumors
11/18/04 - Ramblin' Men - more speculation on where the top free agents will wind up
11/17/04 - Where are they going? - comments on the first free agent signings and additional speculation on others
11/06/04 - How great was that?! -  some perspective on the World Series. 
10/09/04 - Twin Killing - apparently, the Twins have a similar "curse" to that of the Cubs and Red Sox.
10/07/04 - Please... not again!!! - do the Twins have a "Curse" as well?
10/05/04 - The Playoff Match-ups: NL - the keys to the NL first round series.
10/04/04 - The Playoff Match-ups: AL - what will be the keys to moving on to the ALCS
10/03/04 - AL Tout Wars Review - the season wrap-up in Tout.
09/20/04 - Pitching for Next Year - Nine starting pitching sleepers for next year
09/10/04 - Do Match-ups Work? - advice on maximizing productivity in a close fantasy race
09/05/04 - The Hit Machine - Ichiro's run at Sisler is more important than it's getting credit for.
08/29/04 - More September Pitching Notes (AL) - dead arms, call-ups and pennant races
08/26/04 - Entering the Stretch - Why the race in your fantasy league is far from over
08/23/04 - August Scouting Notes - notes on a few players who are being heralded as impact call-ups
08/17/04 - Pitching Down the Stretch (NL) - pitchers in the NL who are hot for September
08/09/04 - Pitching Down the Stretch (AL)  - which pitchers are heating up going into the final stretch
07/31/04 - Rating the Deadline Deals - the winners - both real and fantasy - of this weekend's trades
07/29/04 - Time for a Blockbuster - a far-fetched trade scenario for Randy Johnson might not be so far-fetched.
07/23/04 - Very Superstitious - how I saved the Red Sox' season; and what does a closer look like?
07/20/04 - Buy Low, Buy Now - here's quick list of hitters who should be much better from here on out.
07/19/04 - If I were a GM - who is going where before the July 31 deadline
07/11/04 - All-Star Break BLog - daily notes on the first half before taking a little break.
07/06/04 - The Importance of Being Gagne - the consecutive saves streak finally ends, but is it a great record?
07/02/04 - More AL Pitching Notes - a disastrous duo - Cleveland's pen and Matt Riley - still have some hope.
07/01/04 - Tout Mid-season Review - why some players are a Catch-22
06/30/04 - Second-Half Pitchers - Franklyn German, Nate Field and strikeout records
06/29/04 - Midsummer Mishmash - notes on Texas' pen, Orlando Cabrera and the Twins' rotation
06/26/04 - Big News in Baltimore - the O's turn to old friend Ray Miller to help their pitching corps.
06/23/04 - Press Box Notes - a few more notes on the O's and a tidbit about Billy Wagner's greatness
06/22/04 - Notes from the Couch - quasi-scouting notes on a couple of pitchers and odd facts about the Giants
06/18/04 - What is Beltran Worth? - a more in-depth look at the rumored Padres/Royals deal
06/13/04 - Weekly Notes - some scouting observations from this weekend's Giant/Oriole match-up
06/09/04 - Nice Game, Blue - a very short story from long-time reader Phil Barber.
06/08/04 - The Pen is Mightier - bullpen usage can sometimes give clues as to which teams will survive the summer.
06/02/04 - Another All-Star Flap - the latest development in what is becoming an annual embarrassment
05/30/04 - What Was That Noise? - Fantasy team off to a bad start?  Panic!!... not.
05/28/04 - Over My Head - a quick look at some of this season's over-achieving hitters
05/27/04 - Take Me to the River - Underachieving hitters: slow starts or reason for concern?
05/25/04 - One Man's Team - a possible career change in the offing for someone?
05/16/04 - This Week's Potpourri - AL pitchers who could be changing roles
05/14/04 - More Scouting Notes - more observations from this week's games
05/06/04 - Off the Cuff - just a few observations on some pitching surprises.
04/27/04 - Help is Here - AAA pitchers ready to help major league and fantasy teams right now
04/22/04 - Chasing Ben - Is Bonds really as amazing as the media is making him out to be?
04/24/04 - April Scouting Notes - talented newcomers with a chance to make an impact
04/18/04 - Ten Games in: NL - Similarly to the AL, some surprising contenders are emerging.
04/17/04 - Ten Games in: AL - 10 games is enough to provide clues as to how the season will unfold
04/15/04 - Pitching the Hall - pitching coaches in the Hall of Fame?   Sure, but who?
04/14/04 - Misfire and Reload - three surprising pitchers and one disappointing hitter
04/12/04 - Soft Lefty - is Brian Anderson the next Jamie Moyer?
04/10/04 - The First Week in Tout - strategy for replacing several injured AL players.
04/09/04 - TNSTAAPP - a different perspective on a controversial theory regarding prospects
04/08/04 - The Animal House - A few thoughts on the Padres' opener at their new ballpark
04/-6/04 - Timebombs and Flowerbeds - predicting several spring pitching busts and bloomers
04/05/04 - Help is on the Way - four young hitters who could make a surprising impact
04/01/04 - 2004 Quick NL Preview - who will win the NL races
03/30/04 - 2004 Quick AL Preview - who will win each division and why
03/29/04 - Tout Rides Again - a brief overview of AL draft strategy this year
03/16/04 - The Rite of Spring - the first fantasy draft signals that spring has arrived
02/17/04 - Is YRod Good for the Game? - does it matter if the Yankees are good?
02/16/04 - Full of Sound and Fury... - a look at the recent Yankees/Rangers trade
01/06/04 - Sensory Deprivation - baseball is in need of an infusion of common sense
11/05/03 - It's ARod's fault - does his contract really hinder the Rangers?

2003 Columns
10/16/03 - The Real Curse, part 2 - not to be outdone, Grady Little tries on horns
10/16/03 - The Real Curse - the real goat isn't the goat for the Cubs.
10/15/03 - Notes on the Second Round - Curses?  Try the managers.
10/08/03 - The First Round and Beyond - a final look at the first round and who will move on
10/04/03 - The First Round - a quick look at what went on Saturday
10/01/03 - The Best Team Wins - is regular season record a reasonable indicator of postseason success?
09/30/03 - Playoff Preview - quick analysis of the playoff participants and who is likely to move on
09/29/03 - The Season Ends - assessing my finish in Tout
09/27/03 - Tout Wars Finale - the final weekend will determine the champ
09/25/03 - Who is the MVP - assessing the current MVP candidates
09/21/03 - Passing Out the Awards - who I think should win the postseason awards
09/17/03 - Late Season Puzzlers - September is usually when non-contender managers look to next year.
09/12/03 - The DC Conundrum - why not let the Expos play some games in DC in 2004?
09/11/03 - Postseason Edge - which teams look poised to go deep into October
08/28/03 - Capitol Punishment - debunking the myths surrounding DC as a viable market
08/27/03 - A Mouth Full of Nan-sense - things that make you go "wha...?"
08/26/03 - The High Price of Going Home - how good of a deal did the Padres get?
08/16/03 - More Unbreakable Records - are they really unbreakable?
08/09/03 - Closing Out the Season - who are the best bets for second half saves
08/08/03 - The Untouchable Record - it's probably not the one you're thinking
08/01/03 - They Got What? - a look at who actually benefitted from deadline deals
07/27/03 - The Unwatched Pot - two of baseball's on-going sagas are getting particularly annoying
07/24/03 - Watch the Game - watching baseball games adds a new dimension to fantasy stat analysis.
07/14/03 - AL Tout - 2nd Half Preview - looking foward by looking back at the season so far
06/27/03 - Obtane and Inuse - two managers costing their teams a chance at the playoffs
06/26/03 - Pop Quiz - a quick quiz on some of the current stat leaders in the major leagues.
06/25/03 - This and That - observations on Hairston, Escobar and the younger Giambi
06/24/03 - Rating the Rumors - how likely are these trade rumors to come true?
06/20/03 - They Won't Go Away - two players still hoping for a return to glory
06/18/03 - The Unknown All-Star - this pitcher deserves a spot but likely won't get it.
06/09/03 - Fallen Padres - are the Padres really the worst team in in NL?
06/06/03 - Expert League Update - odds and ends from Mixed Nuts and Tout.
06/04/03 - Sammy and the Bat - the furor over Sosa's corked bat borders on the absurd
06/02/03 - The Amateur Draft - a few notes on this year's amateur draft.
06/02/03 - A Few Minutes with Showalter - I had a chance to ask the Ranger manager a few questions.
06/01/03 - Fish or Cut Bait - six players who's seasons are about to change... or not.
05/29/03 - The First Big Trade of 2003 - analyzing Boston's trade with Arizona
05/28/03 - Counting More Pitches - workload concerns for several young starters.
05/23/03 - May Flowers - some old and new names are blossoming as summer nears
05/22/03 - Pitchers on the Rise - a glimpse at pitchers in AAA who might contribute this year
05/17/03 - This Week in Roto - a few observations on sleepers waiting to be awakened
05/15/03 - Two Teams, Opposite Directions? - The futures of the A's and Expos.
05/04/03 - The Bad and The Ugly - the Tigers, Grady Little and a Tout Wars update
05/03/03 - Odds and Ends - Palmeiro, the Dodgers and the All-Star game    
04/27/03 - Enough is Enough - Montreal is proving indifferent to baseball  
04/24/03 - Doctor My Eyes - Perhaps the obvious is harder to see than it looks.
04/19/03 - Bottom of the East - a few notes from the recently concluded D-Rays/Orioles series      
04/18/03 - The Walking Men - there are some surprises among the early walk leaders.  
04/15/03 - More Fast Starts - more early season surprises analyzed
04/11/03 - Fast Starts and Other Oddities - sorting through some of the early season surprise stars.
04/09/03 - The First Ten Games - Impressions of the early surprises so far  
04/02/03 - Starting Pitcher Stats - I've compiled a stats database for 248 starting pitchers
03/17/03 - Down the Rabbit Hole -The Tout Wars draft review

NL East Preview - a changing of the guard atop the East
AL East Preview - the balance of power begins to shift
AL Central Preview - a budding rivalry and three teams rebuilding
NL Central Preview - it's a three-team cage match for the division crown
NL West Preview - will last year's second best division race have a sequel?
AL West Preview - a cursory look at the contenders in baseball's best division

2002 Columns
10/25/02 - Is He for Real? - Barry Bonds: Man, Myth or Medicine?
08/17/02 - Another Cold War? - my thoughts on the labor situation
07/12/02 - Fish Trading- the Marlins' most recent trades offer a valuable fantasy lesson.
The Perfect American - The passing of a legend.
THE Statman- Stats are great, but this guy tells you the story behind them
06/28/02 - Rating the Trade - the Expos finally get some major league talent in a trade
06/26/02 - Everyone's Loss - reflection on the untimely passing of Jack Buck and Darryl Kile
06/20/02 - LIMA-time in Limbo - a great fantasy strategy needs an update
06/19/02 - Absolutely FAAB - How free agent bidding can be more than just acquiring players.
06/12/02 - Pre-Summertime Blues - Two bad weeks aren't the end of the season.
05/30/02 - This Week in Tout - You can be assured I won't use the acronym
05/22/01 - Strange Days - Today's Giambi/Mabry deal is a puzzle
05/15/02 - The String's Already Broken - This week's Tout update has a Rocky Mountain feel.
05/11/02 - The Strife of Reilly - SI's Rick Reilly weighed in on fantasy sports; one fantasy owner weighs back
05/10/02 - The Problem with Pitching Prospects - are they as valuable as hitting prospects?
05/08/02 - We Seek the Grail - Peter Gammons and the Devil Rays top this week's Tout review.
05/01/02 - Modern Problems- The wisdom of Chevy Chase helps me deal with a slow start in Tout Wars.
04/28/02 - April Surprises - Some of the fast starts have a very good chance to continue
04/17/02 - Don't Panic - Early season results shouldn't cause any drastic changes in strategy
04/13/02 - Game Theory - 'A Beautiful Mind' comes to baseball
04/07/02 - No Respect - Ten pitchers who are on the verge of a breakout season
03/31/02 - The Importance of Spring Pitching Stats - are there hints of breakout seasons?
Spring Previews - AL East, AL Central, AL West, NL East, NL Central, NL West
03/20/02 - Projectable Dominance - a new fantasy stat for evaluating pitchers in 5x5 leagues
03/18/02 - My First Day as a Tout - my introduction to the Tout Wars and my draft results
03/08/02 - It Adds Up - A variation on the idea of line-up protection.
02/26/02 - Theories revisited - A stern look at some of the previous theories forwarded on this site
01/21/02 - Tenacious O: A New System for Evaluating Minor Leaguers - Jack Black's musical avatar provides the theme for a new way to look at hitting prospects

A Non-Baseball Editorial - Why Aliens Keep Their Distance
2001 Columns
12/07/01 - I See You Shiver, with Anticip... - Thoughts on some of the events of this very busy offseason
10/22/01 - Well, Not Quite - This year's World Series match-up might be better than expected.
10/15/01 - The Worst of All Possible Worlds - Why a Yankees/Braves World Series would be bad
10/05/01 - If You Say So - Some perspective on Barry Bonds' remarkable achievements
09/30/01 - OK, You Need to Do Something Else - Some people don't understand the most basic principles of baseball
09/18/01 - Words and Meaning - A few words about the tragic events of the past week.
08/16/01 - ...and DOWN the stretch they come - Sizing up the division and wildcard races for the final quarter of the season
08/09/01 - Move it or Lose it - Relocation of several teams will help level the playing field
08/07/01 - A Better Hall - Maz and the Vet's Committee change the face of the Hall of Fame
08/02/01 - Winners and Losers at the Deadline - rating the deals
07/31/01 - Just Play Ball! - baseball's unwritten rules are at the center of another recent flap.
07/26/01 - Fail to the Chief - Is Bud Selig the embodiment of evil or a bumbling goof?  Neither
07/07/01 - Age and Production - part one of a study on what a player's debut age may tell about his future.
07/05/01 - Small-Star Game - This year's All-Star Game holds less appeal than previous editions
06/27/01 - Assessing the Contenders - What the top teams need to make the playoffs
06/21/01 - That's Just Silly - Bonds and Gonzales are having unbelievable years
06/14/01 - Junkyard Wars - What GMs do and why the Pirates are doomed to the scrapheap.
06/10/01 - Contraction? - Can Major League Baseball successfully dissolve several teams?
06/06/01 - Scientific Baseball - Can a strategy from the 1890's still work today?
06/05/01 - The First 7 Rounds - a quick look at the first few rounds of the 2001 draft
06/04/01 - The June Amateur Draft - my preview of the first round of tomorrow's draft
05/25/01 - Into the First Turn - checking out the division races after the first quarter of the season.
05/22/01 - The Faces of Clutch - More theory and the first stats on clutch hitting.
05/19/01 - Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus - a re-examination of the clutch hitter phenomenon
05/16/01 - Time Out of Mind - part 2 on coaches... how much can a hitting coach influence?
05/14/01 - Madman Across the Water - part 1 of 2... can a coach bring about a breakout season?
05/09/01 - I'm alright. Don't nobody worry 'bout me. - Randy Johnson's gem and the near future of pitching.
05/08/01 - Popped Back to the Screen - What makes a great baseball movie?
05/05/01 - Heaven Can't Wait - Here're two more teams that could add to the list of early season surprises
05/01/01 - What is an All-Star? - The All-Star game is pretty good, but we can do much better.
04/27/01 - Double A, Ready to Go - Off to hot starts in AA, these players could be making their debuts soon.
04/26/01 - Not Far Away - Here are some players in AAA who could help their major league clubs right now.
04/25/01 - Who Are These Guys? - Are these players the real deal or just off to a hot start?
04/23/01 - The Physics of a Juiced Ball -  New information has come to light regarding the recent explosion in home runs
04/18/01 - The New Strikezone? - I thought they were going to use the rulebook to establish the strikezone.
04/12/01 - The Strikezone, the Schedule and Other Observations - What the surprising early season results may tell us.
04/01/01 - April Fools - They're good.  But are they THAT good?
03/31/01 - Brian Cole - More than baseball loses a promising young man
03/06/01 - The Veteran's Committee - Who I'd like to see get in the Hall via the VC vote.
03/05/01 - 2001 Top Hitting Prospects- A listing of the top hitting prospects and a new way to measure them
Team Previews - AL East AL Central AL West NL East  NL Central NL West
02/16/01 - Groundballs, Closers and the Periodic Table - Confirmation of a theory and speculation on the future of sabremetrics.
02/07/01 - Plugging in the Numbers -  A bit of chaos theory makes it's way into winter/spring hot stove talk.
01/31/01 - More on the "New" Strikezone - Changing the strikezone can herald dramatic changes in pitchers' performance
01/26/01 - The Strange Tale of Livan Hernandez - More on pitch counts and how Hernandez managed to have such a good year
01/25/01 - The New Strikezone -  Where did it come from?  who's gonna hate it?  who's gonna love it?
01/17/01 - Why the Yankees always win - A brief explanation why the Yankees will win the next 100 World Series.
01/13/01 - New Hope in Philly - The Phillies have overcome a huge obstacle this offseason and might compete for the NL East
01/02/01 - The State of the Game in 2001 - Answering a question from a reader about the state of the game
2000 Minor League Reviews - A quick post season look back at the stars of the future.

2001 Fantasy League Columns
In Janurary of 2001, I was asked to participate in a mock draft with a number of notable fantasy and rotisserie baseball experts for the benefit of Sandbox users.  It was standard draft and after each pick we would offer a brief summary of our reasons for choosing each player.  It is a mixed league using Sandbox's fantasy points scoring.  Our responsibility was solely for the draft, but I feel there is value in understanding the moves we make as the season goes along.  Rarely are leagues won at the draft.  Most leagues are won by the owners who understand 1) which players are increasing in value as the season progresses, 2) which ones are decreasing in value and 3) how best to take advantage of that knowledge.  Here is my commentary from that season:

10/08/01 - ...And I Need to Go On, On, on, on - the final commentary and standings of the 2001 Sandbox Mock Draft Experts League
09/28/01 - She Came in Through the Bathroom Window - some thoughts about this season and a couple thoughts about next year
09/21/01 - Are You Ready for Some Football? - The homestretch for my Sandbox team has been pot-holed with injuries.
09/07/01 - Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes - injuries and roster management down the stretch in a mixed league like Sandbox
08/31/01 - September - Understanding September's numbers can give an advantage for next year.
08/24/01 - Youth Movement - More young pitchers who can make an impact on both the major league and fantasy season races
08/17/01 - A Little Boost - two extraordinary seasons bear a closer look, and a trade in the Sandbox league
08/10/01 - Stretch Slumpers - This weeks' Sandbox update lists the most likely candidates for a late season slump.
08/03/01 - Ammo for the Stretch Run - some sleeper players for the final 2 months
07/27/01 - The Trade Deadline - a quick look at who has changed teams and who still might.
07/20/01 - Fantasy vs. Reality - Baseball's ugly stepchild is looking better and better
07/06/01 - A Man of Constant Sorrow - the tale of Ulysses and fantasy baseball?  yep.
06/29/01 - My Everyman - This week's Sandox update pays homage to the great Jack Lemmon
06/22/01 - What Hump? - Young Frankenstein provides the theme to this week's Sandbox update
06/15/01 - Four at the Crossroads - This weeks' Sandbox update looks at 4 players facing question marks.
06/08/01 - Glengarry Sandbox - a great movie inspires this week's Sandbox update
06/01/01 - Cool Hand Felipe? - how much can a manager affect his team's fortunes; this week's Sandbox update
05/25/01 - A Kind of Magic - news and notes from the Sandbox League and some pitching strategy
05/18/01 - Brain Damage -  Pink Floyd gave me the inspiration for this week's Sandbox update
05/10/01 - The Midnight Special  - news and notes from the Sandox League
05/04/01 - A New Hope - A closer look at pitching in the Sandox League
04/27/01 - Playing in the Sandbox - the first in a series of weekly updates on the Sandbox.com Mock Draft Experts League
02/02/01 - The First Draft of 2001, part 5 - the final picks of the draft and my take on the team I drafted
01/29/01 - The First Draft of 2001, part 4 - the starting roster is mostly assembled by rounds 16-20
01/24/01 - The First Draft of 2001, part 3 - The plot thickens in rounds 11-15.
01/23/01 - The First Draft of 2001, part 2 - I outline my basic strategy and offer analysis of my first 10 picks
01/22/01 - The First Draft of 2001 - Sandbox.com invited me to participate in an expert's league.  Part 1 of a season long series.

2000 Columns

11/02/00 - Ballpark, anyone? - With all the new ballparks that are being built, who really benefits?
10/24/00 - What's up with Roger? - Examining the circumstances and the fallout from Clemen's escapades
10/10/00 - How Offensive - guess what?  a LOT of runs are being scored.
2000 Minor League Reviews - A quick post season look back at the stars of the future.
09/15/00 - The Power of a Dream  - OK, it's not about baseball.  But there's more to life than just baseball, right?
09/14/00 - September Song  - September numbers offer valuable clues as to who might be closing games next year.
09/07/00 - A Giant Upset - The pennant races and the World Series will have a very surprising outcome.
09/06/00 - Fan Reform - There's a growing problem in baseball - too much offense.  And I'm not talking about home runs
08/29/00 - We Want a Pitcher... - Everyone is looking for pitching.  Here's a little primer on how to spot it.
08/24/00 - About the Numbers - Stats and projections are wonderful tools for discussions.  But they don't always tell the whole story.
08/22/00 - The AL Finish - Are there seeds of a collapse in the AL?  Who will surprise this season and next?
08/18/00 - ...and DOWN the Stretch They Come... - a look back at the first 3/4 of the season and a look ahead at the final quarter.
08/09/00 - Fantasy Stretch Run - How to improve your team over the last 8 weeks of the season.
08/01/00 - Rating the Trades  - A look at the winners and losers of July's frenzy.
07/29/00 - Catching Up - A little time off afforded me some time to look into the offensive explosion.
06/26/00 - Strength of Schedule - Is the schedule too much of a deciding factor?
06/15/00 - Age in the Metric System - Rafael Furcal and HBO shed new light on an age old issue.
06/14/00 - Sosa and Other Developments - where is Sammy Sosa likely headed and some possible turn around in the NL
06/08/00 - Blown Arms and Other Ghost Stories - Part 2 on pitch counts, reconstructed arms and sports medicine
06/02/00 - Changing of the Guard - There is a new face on the prototype closer
05/24/00 - Are You Kidding Me? - The Yanks have some problems.  The media has the solutions?
05/23/00 - Pitch Counts (part 1) - A little history and theory on sagacious use of a pitching arm.  Part 1 of  2
05/23/00 - Into the First Turn... - A look at the division races as we pass the first quarter mark of the season
05/17/00 - Help is on the Way - Some clubs might not have to go into the trade market to get what they need.
05/16/00 - The True Value of a Closer - Felipe Alou turned some heads when he converted his staff ace into a temporary closer.
05/08/00 - Is It Too Early? - Fusaichi Pegasus might be the first Triple Crown winner in 22 years.  Can someone do the same in baseball?
05/03/00 - Minor Distractions  - It's just early May, but here are 7 prospects making a whole lot of noise already.
05/02/00 - What's wrong with the Yankees? - They're winning, but can they keep it up?
05/01/00 - Hot Aprils and other Brushfires  - How important is a good April to a team's or a player's overall chances of success?
04/16/00 - Cal and the 3000 - Cal Ripken is the latest to reach one of baseball's most prestigious milestones
2000 Previews -  NL West NL Central NL East AL West AL Central AL East
03/01/00 - Top 50 Prospects - My list of the top 50 prospects in the majors plus some honorable mentions from the NL.
02/21/00 - Winter League Sleepers - the first in a series of updates looking at this year's potential surprise players
01/10/00 - the Greatest Athlete Debate - Who had the greatest impact on his/her sport and society.

Spring Training Diary for 2000

1999 columns

10/11/99 - Is Bobby Cox the Best Ever - Taking a closer look at the manager of the "Team of the Decade".
A 6-part look back at my 1999 preseason predictions: NL West NL Central NL East AL West AL Central AL East
09/15/99 - Greatest Athletes and Other Myths - What do Milla Jovavich, Eric Heiden and Erubial Durazo have in common?
09/06/99 - 5 Ways to Keep Interest Alive - When September comes and you've got no shot at the money, here's what to do.
09/02/99 - Prospects for 2000, Part Deux - The follow-up to last week's look at hot pitching prospects.  This week: hitters.
08/26/99 - Hot Prospects for 2000, Alex - Here're 4 pitchers who'll be on everyone's top 50 prospect list next year.
08/25/99 - Last Minute Adjustments - Can last minute trades make that big a difference?
08/16/99 - How Much Difference Do Managers Make? - Sometimes they really don't know what's best for the team.
08/05/99 - Which Way to Cooperstown? - My good friend Skunks Mergatroid and I discuss our nation's two pastimes.
08/04/99 - Fahrenheit 451 - There's a ton of great third baseman in the NL... it's gonna get more crowded very soon.
08/01/99 - Trade Deadline: the Reckoning - Analysis of the trades involving NL teams that beat the deadline.
07/28/99 - The Best Tools for 2001 - Which minor leaguers were voted as having the most potential by the managers.
07/26/99 - The Trade Deadline - Analysis of some of the early deadline deals and a few guesses at future ones.
07/23/99 - The Ryan Commuter - Was Nolan Ryan really one of the greatest pitchers ever?
07/21/99 - Prospect Watch - A second look at a couple of prospects, a couple of new ones, and some minor league trivia.
07/19/99 - Second Half Stars and Slumpers - Are these guys really this bad?
07/16/99 - All Stars: Today and Beyond - This year's All Star Festivities were some of the most memorable.
07/09/99 - My Impression of a USA Today Columnist/CNN Talk Show Host - Random thoughts on stuff
07/07/99 - Furcal - Perhaps the most exciting prospect since Andruw Jones and Vladimir Guerrero is a shortstop
07/05/99 - First Half Pitching Pretenders? - Are these guys really this good?
06/30/99 - Smokey and the 3 Bears - One studly pitcher and three monster hitters worth mythologizing
06/28/99 - Managers or Manglers? - One has to wonder how these guys became Major League managers.
06/18/99 - Rewind, please - Why is everyone against instant replay?
06/16/99 - Ben Davis - The Padres unheralded backstop is beginning to look worth heralding.
06/14/99 - The Secret to Good Pitching - Does your roto-pitching stink?  Here's a way to solve some problems without an ace.
Preseason analysis for 1999:  NL West NL Central NL East AL West    AL Central      AL East

10/01/98 - Remembering the Quiz - A few thoughts on the passing of one of my favorite players