2026 World Series: Tampa Bay Rays vs Milwaukee Brewers

 I'm excited for this World Series.  We get the best team from the American League and the National League.  Neither have won a World Series.  And they are both really good teams.  I'll root for Milwaukee.  Maybe for nostalgia more than anything else.  I'm a big Robin Yount fan.  Loved that team with him, Molitor, Cooper, Thomas, Vuckovich, etc.  I liked the unis and still do. I'm not discounting the Rays.  They are so good.  And I like those unis that harken back to their early days.  I hope for a good series no matter who wins.  Both franchises deserve that.  They have both been very good in recent history.  Watching either team get that first trophy will be fun.

 

2026 MLB Playoffs

 Playoffs start tomorrow!  San Diego is possibly the hottest team going into the playoffs while Houston barely made it in with a .500 record winning the AL West. Milwaukee had the best overall record with 103 wins with the Dodgers (100) and Tampa Bay (98) up next.  Playoff schedule is here. 

Atlanta gets Philadelphia in the first round.  Never want to see a division opponent in the playoffs but Philly won on the last day to get in.  I like the Braves here, but they've been streaky and the offense inconsistent.  That said, they are a good team.  Three game series are always tricky.  You want to win right off the start.  By getting in the playoffs so late, the Phillies starting pitching isn't lined up to start the series.  Hopefully that gives Atlanta an edge and they can get going quickly.  Wish Atlanta wasn't given early afternoon time slots.  Won't be able to watch the games.  Go Braves!

Boston has been locked into playing the 93-win Yankees in the first round for some time now.  Would have been nice not to play New York but it's not to be.  Boston can beat New York. It just won't be easy.  The pitching staffs are fairly even but New York's offense is a little better.   New York won the season series 7-6 but it felt like Boston was very streaky.  The end of the season has been meh for Boston but New York will be without Aaron Judge.  It is Red Sox - Yankees so anything can happen.  Go Red Sox!

Bob Horner passes away at age 68

Bob Horner passed away yesterday at age 68.   Horner is my favorite all-time baseball player.  He resonated with me when I started watching the Braves, and I watched a ton of games back in the day.  I did a look back at him on the blog in 2016 and you can see it here.  As players of our youth age, we expect these things but it's still not fun knowing they are gone.  It's a sad day for me.

I even had a customer Bob Horner figure made.

One of my favorite cards of his.

2026 Baseball Fandom

 This is my first baseball fandom post.  I did one for the start of the NBA season and next up is baseball.  I’ve been an Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox fan since the 70s.  I don’t remember the specifics of how that came about.  Boston was one of the best teams in the 70s and were on TV and in the news on a regular basis though they only made the playoffs once.   The Braves started being broadcast nationally in 1977.  Sometime soon after that I started seeing those telecasts.  It seemed like they were on every night, and my baseball fandom really took off.  Not a big surprise, but many of my favorite players of all-time come from those teams.  In 1995, I finally got to enjoy a championship when Atlanta won it all.  What a feeling it was to get one after watching them fall short in the seasons before that.  The 2004 Red Sox Championship my was first with Boston and it felt just as good.  The following championships for both teams (Atl 2021  Bos 2007, 2013, 2018) have a special place with me but those first hit a bit differently.  So many memories are specific to players and games.

The teams I don’t like are the Yankees, Mets and Cardinals.  I can live with most others but those three…  Yankees and Mets are fairly obvious as rivals to the Red Sox and Braves, but also beat my teams in the World Series.  I still remember the Cardinals beating the Braves in the playoffs in 1982, the first season I got to see them play in the postseason.  I haven’t forgiven St. Louis since. 

My dad took me to my first baseball game.  It was in the late 80s in St. Louis.  Braves-Cardinals.  Atlanta lost on a suicide squeeze.  When the reliever came into the game I knew we’d lose and sure enough.  Still it is a great memory for me.  I’ve been to games over the years, from more in St. Louis, one in Colorado for their initial season, minor league games and a game in Seoul, South Korea which was fun.  It’s been a few years since I’ve been to a baseball game.  I’m close to St. Louis but the hassle of going to the “big city”, cost and effort have taken away some of the luster as I’ve gotten older.  I do want to go back but I’ll do when it makes sense for me.  Maybe even this year. 

 

Bob Horner

My favorite player of all-time is Bob Horner.  A slugging corner infielder, he once hit 4 home runs in a game, but he struggled with injuries throughout his career.  Still, he was my guy.  He went straight from college to the majors (Braves) and won Rookie of the Year.  I saw the infamous game between San Diego and Atlanta where a huge brawl broke out.  Horner had a cast on his arm due to injury and was watching the game from a booth but ended up on the field to join in on the “fun”.  He had a career .277 batting average and belted 218 home runs across 10 seasons.  Unfortunately, he played one season with the Cardinals, but I don’t hold that against him.  He also played one season in Japan hitting .327 with 31 homers in 93 games.  I can’t say what specifically drew me to him, but I liked him from the start.  I even had a custom McFarlane action figure made of him.

Carl Yastrzemski is my second all-time favorite player.  A Hall of Famer with 3,419 hits, Yaz played 23 seasons (all in Boston) ending his career with a .285 average and 452 home runs after taking over for Ted Willaims in left field.  He also played first and DH as he aged out of the outfield.  He won an MVP, a Triple Crown, 3 batting titles, 7 Gold Gloves and was an All-Star 18 times.  By the time I first saw him in the 70s he was already in his mid-30s.  Baseball probably only had one nationally televised game back then so who knows when I first saw him play.  I do remember seeing him on This Week in Baseball.  I can’t lie, I think I was drawn to the last name at first, but the player and person drew me in over time.  He was such an amazing player.  I wish he could have won a championship.  He so deserved it.  He made it to two World Series (’67 and ’75) hitting .369 in 17 games with 3 home runs and 9 runs batted in.  I’ve always enjoyed knowing he starred on the big stage. 

My favorite current players are: Mike Trout, Jose Altuve, Craig Kimbrel, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogarts, Shohei Ohtani, Bobby Witt Jr., Bo Bichette, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuna Jr., Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Chris Sale, Andrew McCutchen.

I started collecting baseball cards in the ‘70s.  I really enjoyed making competing all-star teams with the cards I had and do my own game simulations.  I’d even do box scores for them sometimes.  Like most kids of the time, I didn’t care for my cards properly.  They were separated by teams with a rubber band around them and old cards would be discarded over time.  There have been multiple breaks in my card collecting over the years and I may be coming to another of those.  Too many things competing for space, money, and time.  I’m still working out details but hope to have that plan come to fruition soon.  I may still collect on a smaller scale, but I just don’t know yet.

Video games and fantasy baseball have always been part of my fandom.  On Nintendo I played Baseball Stars a lot.  I think I also played some RBI baseball.  On Sega I played the Hardball games with Hardball III being my favorite.  I played that a ton.  Over time though I got away from console games.  I’ve played the simulation game, Baseball Mogul, on the PC for some years now.  I still enjoy and play it.  It has all the players from the history of MLB, and you can start your franchise in any era.  Back in 1992 or 1993, me and my work buddies did a fantasy league where we’d use stats from USA today to determine our weekly winners.  It was fun.  Now Yahoo fantasy has been my go-to for decades. I did a subscription to Baseball Digest for a few years as well.

I did purchase the MLB TV package last season.  It was good but I didn’t find myself watching enough games to find it worth it.  I don’t think I’ll do it again this year unless a good deal comes along.  It is fun, but it just seemed there were too many competing interests to really sit down and watch as many Atlanta and Boston games that I thought I would.  Online my go to sites are Baseball Reference for stats and MLB Trade Rumors.

Wow that’s a lot of yapping.  I’ll try to do a fandom post every year.  Next year I’ll cut down on the words.  Happy Opening Day!

2025 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers at Toronto Blue Jays

 We get Los Angeles and Toronto in the 2025 World Series.  I think this could be a really good series.  I know LA is 9-1 in this post season and their starters are coming off a dominant sweep of the Brewers in the NLCS.  But the Blue Jays are a good team.  You don't win 94 games by accident.  The key for both teams is to get past the starters in my opinion.  The Dodgers have the advantage starting Yamamoto, Glasnow, Snell and Ohtani. But the Blue Jays' offense is really good, and it showed in beating the Yankees in the Division Series and beating the Mariners in the ALCS.  It's led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. who is having an outstanding playoffs.  Overall the Toronto offense has been solid.  I think this is the key.  Can that offense get to the LA starters?  I'm hoping for a Blue Jays win, continued good hitting from Vlad, and a good series.

2025 MLB Playoffs Championship Series

 We had some good baseball in the Division Series leaving us with Seattle - Toronto and Los Angeles - Milwaukee in the ALC and NLCS.  It was fun seeing Vlad Guerro Jr. have a great series against the Yankees.  He's so good and nice to see him shine on the big stage.  Seattle's Cal Raleigh got 8 hits in the Division Series overcoming a Detroit pitching staff that had a 2.98 ERA.  I'm looking forward to LA-Mil.  The Brewers just find ways to win with an offense who can seem to score against anyone.

I've said it before but Seattle - Milwaukee would be a great World Series as we'd get to crown a first-time champion.  The network would hate it but man it'd be fun.

2025 MLB Playoffs Divisional Round

 Man, the Red Sox battled but young phenom Schlittler was amazing in game three of their series.  He kept the defense off balance and he deserves all the props he gets for his performance.  The next round gives us some fun matchups.  Divisional rivals Yankees-Blue-Jays and Cubs-Milwaukee adds some spice to the matchups while Dodgers-Phillies should be great.  Detroit-Seattle also looks like a good series.  With my team out I'd like to see a Seattle-Milwaukee World Series.  Neither have won a title and seeing a franchise win their first one is always fun.  Toronto and Chicago would also be good in the World Series.  Who do I think moves on to the next round?  I'll take Seattle, New York, Milwaukee and Philly.  Hoping for good series all around.

2024 World Series: New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers

The World Series kicks off tonight and I'm sure the Fox network is thrilled.  I say that tongue in cheek.  The Dodgers and Yankees are the best teams in the league, and this is what we should all be wanting.  No way I can root for the Yanks though, so I'll be pulling for LA.  I get they are both evil empires spending money like they print it in a back room but I have to root for someone and Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Shohei Ohtani make the Dodgers much easier to root for.  Honestly, I don't see any huge advantage by either team.  Dodgers overall lineup and relivers versus the strengths of the Yanks with the top of their lineup and starters.  If I had to put money on this one, I'd be hurting.  Hopefully that means it's a good series.  We do get the two best power hitters facing off in Judge and Ohtani.  A rekindling of the fun these teams gave us in three World Series from 1977 to 1981.  The Yankees won two out of the three.  Rooting for some fun, some iconic moments and drama in whatever form that might take.

Friday, Oct. 25
Game 1: NYY @ LAD, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Saturday, Oct. 26
Game 2: NYY @ LAD, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Monday, Oct. 28
Game 3: LAD @ NYY, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Tuesday, Oct. 29
Game 4: LAD @ NYY, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Wednesday, Oct. 30
Game 5: LAD @ NYY, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Friday, Nov. 1
Game 6: NYY @ LAD, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Saturday, Nov. 2
Game 7: NYY @ LAD, 8:08 p.m. (FOX)

Rangers win their first World Series

The Texas Rangers won their first World Series championship defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks 4 -1.   I always enjoy seeing a franchise win their first Championship.  As big a win as it is for players, the fans have waited a long time for this and you know they are loving life this week.  The Rangers had an excellent season and were crazy good on the road during the playoffs.  No players on the team stand out as those I necessarily root for, but they have a decent mix of veterans and youngsters who are all worthy and can now say they are champions.

2023 Atlanta Braves Playoff Preview

The 2023 Atlanta Braves were historically good.  They tied the record for home runs in a season by a team which is crazy.  They also have maybe the greatest non-Ohtani player in the league in Ronald Acuna who really is a game changer.  That said their entire lineup can make you suffer.  It's fun to see the talent they can send against pitchers every game.  The issue going into the playoffs will be the starting pitching.  Bryce Elder has struggled of late, Max Fried is dealing with a blister, and Spencer Strider has had some mixed results lately.  Who knows what happens when the playoffs start but even with the pitching questions Atlanta is clearly the favorite.  As a fan that scares me but I'm hoping this team can follow through with the expectations. GO BRAVES!

 

Hank Aaron Passes Away

 Hank Aaron passed away yesterday.  While I never got to see him play he's always been that guy I've been amazed by.  He was so consistently good year in and year out.  His stats blow you away.  Someone mentioned he was baseball royalty and I think's that's exactly how to look at him.  You hear nothing but glowing things about him whether it was as a person, player or friend.  He'll truly be missed in baseball, sports and the world.  

Turner Field circa 2007.  

Atlanta Braves Season Ends in Game 7 Loss

 

Atlanta lost the National League Championship Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games.  This one really hurt.  They were up 2-0 and 3-1 in this series.  I know LA is the better team but the Braves were so close.  Even though they gave up an amazing 16 dingers to the Dodgers the Braves pitching still did really well.  Hit with injuries the starting staff was Max Fried and whoever else they could throw out there and the starters did really well.  That said they only pitched 29 innings leaving a lot to the bullpen.  And the Dodgers offense was just too much.  And the Braves' horrible base running made coaches across the sport curl up in a ball and cry.  Some excellent games though and it was fun to watch even with one eye open most of the time.

Los Angeles won this series and deserve their shot in the World Series against Tampa Bay.  They had better pitching, great defense and a crazy number of homeruns.  It'll be fun to see if this Dodgers group can get their first title in their third World Series appearance.  And who doesn't want to see more of Dustin May's hair?  I'll root for the Rays to get their first World Series title but won't feel too bad if Clayton Kershaw and this group take it all.  Well I might feel OK with it in about six months. 

2020 MLB Hall of Fame - Derek Jeter and Larry Walker

Derek Jeter and Larry Walker were voted in to the MLB Hall of Fame today.  Jeter, though a Yankee, was a great player and deserves all the accolades he receives.  He's a huge reason New York won five World Series during his career.  He had so many outstanding years and is definitely one of the all-time greats at the position.  He was crazy durable and consistent.  

  As David Schoenfield (ESPN) mentioned, Larry Walker probably benefited from voters who rely more on modern stats and are willing to overlook someone who doesn't necessarily have the longevity we are used to seeing in many hall of famers.  I wouldn't have voted for him but I've been swayed before and he might be one I could come around on.  Walker had some over the top dominant seasons and was great defensively.  To me he was a hustle guy that everyone would want as a teammate.  His bat, his glove and they way he played the game made him an outstanding player.    

I love Hall of Fames and the passion that goes behind the arguments for and against different players.  I will say one of the few things I really don't like is someone saying a player isn't a "first ballot hall of famer".  A player either is or he isn't qualified to join the hall of fame.  It's cut and dry.  If you would vote for a guy in year two, three or four then he deserved the vote in year one.  Rant over.

2019 Boston Red Sox Quick Look

World Series Champions!  Doesn't get better than that right?  No, no it doesn't.  The Boston Red Sox were the best team in the majors last year and the title was well deserved.  Even better the offseason saw almost no disruption to the roster so you have to think things can be just as good as last year.  It usually doesn't work that way but you have to think the BoSox will be battling the Yanks for the Division title come September and who would really be surprised if they made another trip to the World Series?  There are plenty of teams in their way but they can match up with any of them.  It is a long season ahead so anything can happen.  It is rare I go into a season this calm about my team but again there is much to like...no love...about this team and I'm hoping they do something they haven't since 1915 and 1916 - get to the World Series in back to back years.

2019 Atlanta Braves Quick Look

The Atlanta Braves were the surprise team in the National League if not all of the majors as they won 90 games and the N.L. East in 2018.  This offseason should have been one of excitement but outside of the signing of Josh Donaldson the team has made few changes.  Mike Foltynewicz, the #1 starter, is hurt and the team is opening the season with Julio Teheran and two rookies as the starters for the first three games.  This isn't a good sign.  It seemed like pitching was an obvious need and when Gio Gonzalez can go to the Yankees for only $3M I don't understand how the Braves didn't try to pick up an additional starter.  Defense and the superb offense led by Ronald Acuna Jr and Freddie Freeman will have to carry the team unless I'm missing something.  I'm a bit more comfortable with the bullpen but again it seems there were arms to be had on the free agent market.  I like Donaldson but it seems the money spent on adding him to an already excellent offense might have been better served helping the rotation and bullpen.  

This team is good but the division got much better when you look at what Philly and the Mets did.  I think Atlanta has the talent to win it all this year but I think the division schedule will be tougher.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm excited but like many true fans, until I see them doing well, it is easy to think the worst.  Great season in 2018 and I'm hoping to see even better things this year...no matter how much I fret.

Mike Trout Close to Signing 10-Year $360M Extension

2019 Topps Base Card, Variant, and Topps Now

Mike Trout is reportedly close to signing a 10 year $360M extension.  I for one think he deserves every penny.  For as good as Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are they don't hold a candle to Trout.  He has put up massive numbers over his career.  I'd even say he gave the Angels a hometown discount.  Some are saying he should leave the team - they're no good - but they now have 12 years together to figure it out.  Also Trout doesn't seem like one who seeks out the limelight or drama and I think he is comfortable with the Angels and not looking for change or chasing uncertainty.  I love the idea of Trout spending the entirety of his career with the Angels.  We don't see that enough.  This is great for both he and the Angels.  I think he is the best all-around player I've ever seen in my 40 something years of watching the sport.  And the man can mash the ball.  He's fun to watch and after seeing free agency play out like a Greek tragedy over the winter baseball really needed a good story like this.  

2019 MLB Hall of Fame Class

Mariano Rivera was elected to the MLB Hall of Fame receiving 100% of the vote.  I’m glad to see the “I won’t vote for first time ballot guys” holdouts are gone.  Rivera is truly deserving and as dominant a closer as we’ve ever seen.  His numbers are staggering – 13X all-star, first all-time with 652 saves, career 2.21 ERA and he was even better in 141 postseason innings with a .70 ERA and 42 saves.  Eleven seasons of a sub two ERA as well as nine seasons with 40 or more saves.  Nothing short of amazing and his final year at age 43 he saved 44 games and had a 2.11 ERA.  You can’t ask for more than that from the greatest closer ever.  

Roy Halladay made into the Hall on his first ballot.  He was a dominant starter who didn’t mind going the distance (led the league in complete games seven times) earning two Cy Young awards while finishing in the top five in voting for the award five more times.  He had six seasons with a sub 3 ERA and five more sub 4 ERA seasons.  He also finished with 203 wins and 2117 strikeouts.  He was a force in the league for ten seasons and somebody no team wanted to face.  I’m happy he was voted in though it is sad they he passed away in 2017.

Edgar Martinez was voted in in his 10th year on the ballot.  A career .312 hitter he won two batting titles and finished with 2247 hits.  He led the league in on base percentage three times finishing at .418.  The knock against him was that he was primarily a DH and possibly that he didn’t reach the 3,000 hits milestone which used to be the gold standard.  Bottom line is Martinez was a great hitter and one the greatest right handed hitters of our time.  He was close to age 27 before his first full big league season so he missed out on quite a few hits despite playing until age 41.  It is nice to see him recognized for his prowess at the plate.  When you look at his stats they really do pop.   

Mike Mussina played 18 years for the Orioles and the Yankees.  He finished with an outstanding 270 wins and 2813 wins.   I have to admit those numbers surprised me.  When he was playing I just never thought of him when hall of fame discussions were had.  That may be a mistake on my part.  He had many good years though you won’t see dominant years like when you look at Roy Halladay.  A very good pitcher this was his sixth year on the ballot and there had been an up swell of support in the last few years.  I think many who look past ERA and wins at the SaberMetric world had much to do with that.  

The 2019 Hall of Fame class is a fun one and I’m happy for all the new inductees.  Next year we’ll see Larry Walker (54%) in his tenth and final year on the ballot. And where will Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens, and Barry Bonds land – all of whom will be on their 8th ballot?  Derek Jeter will be on the ballot next year for the first time and will undoubtedly be voted in.  I don’t see any other first timer with a realistic chance of making it next year.  Until next year…    

The Curios Case of Harold Baines and his election to the MLB Hall of Fame

I'm a big Harold Baines guy with him being a top 10 all-time favorite for me.  That being said his election to the Hall of Fame has me conflicted.  Baines, who was dropped off the writer's ballot after only five years maxed out at 6.1% of the vote in 2010.  That tells you there never was much of an argument for him.  He was an excellent hitter but really didn't bring much else to the table.  He did lead the league in slugging one year but power really wasn't his deal (he did finish his career with 384 homers).  He played 22 years, much of it at DH which is an obvious knock on him in the eyes of most voters (though I think that view is changing).   

When I watched him play back in the day I just never thought "this guy is a Hall of Fame guy".  Again he was an excellent hitter.  You don't get 2,866 hits and a career .289/.356/.489 slash line over a career without being very good.  Unfortunately he is now the center of the argument about how these guys get in and the "good ole boy network".  And that bugs me that he'll always be thought of in that way - he's that guy.  You won't talk about how great a player he is but how he got in.  I'm still happy for him but I too will forever look at this and wince a little.

The story behind the Harold Baines autographed card above can be found here.

Lee Smith of course loses out in all this as well.  He at least received up to 50% of the vote in his days being voted on by the writers but the Baines narrative has overshadowed that some.  I think there is a strong argument for him and think he is deserving.  How the closer has been looked upon of course affected the voting for him.  I'm happy to see Lee Smith get in the Hall of Fame. 

Boston Red Sox Win the World Series!

The Boston Red Sox won the 2018 World Series 4 games to 1 culminating a historic season in which they set a team record with 108 wins.  No matter how good they were BoSox fans, including myself, knew anything could happen in the playoffs and going through two 100 win teams and an excellent Los Angeles Dodgers team gave us plenty to worry about.  Still they only lost three games en route to the championship.  That really spoke to the talent they put on the field and to first year manager Alex Cora.  Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Chris Sale, playoff heroes Jackie Bradley Jr., Stephen Pearce, Joe Kelly and David Price and the rest of the roster from top to bottom helped put up "W" after "W" .  This was a fun team to watch and deserves all the accolades coming their way.  I really enjoyed this season.  It was great to watch a team dominate like they did and be able to bring home the trophy.  

       I do want to give props to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Considering how tough some of those games were to include the historic game three it is hard to believe Boston won 4-1.  That is a testament to how good the Dodgers are.  They just ran into a better team but good on them for making their second straight World Series appearance and how hard they played.

I know I'm late on this but travel for work threw me off the last two weeks and I actually thought I'd already posted something.  My bad.  Most will look upon the Red Sox and us Boston fans as having more than enough championships.  I really don't take them for granted.  The 2004 Championship ended years of frustration.  Growing up watching Yaz, Rice, Tiant, Clemons, and others never get there was so hard as a fan.  2004 was more than a championship - it was how it all went down.  That was a fun team who overcame the unbelievable to beat the Yankees and breeze through the World Series.  While the last three championships will never be that team they are just as special and as a fan I was very excited for this team's championship.  GO BOSOX!

Red Sox to the World Series Against the Dodgers

 The Boston Red Sox are back to the World Series.  While a favorite to make it after a 108 win regular season the post season offers no promises.  It wasn't easy even if they did only lose two games in their series with New York and Houston.  Now the Red Sox will play a Los Angeles Dodgers team with plenty of firepower on offense and pitching I think can match Boston's.  I think the Chris Sale - Clayton Kershaw matchup could be epic - or at least i hope it will be.  After that I'm comfortable with Nathan Evaldi but you have to wonder what David Price will give the Sox.  His last outing was excellent but before that he was receiving an ovation for not losing a game over four innings.  The Red Sox bullpen is good but I'm not quite sure it is stacked enough to win a bunch of bullpen games.  Bottom line is I'm excited the Sox are in the World Series and I think they have a great chance to take it all.  Even better this is set up to be a very good series.  Go Sox!