Baseball Connection

The Phillies finished with a winning record for the first time since 2011. Phenomenal seasons from Bryce Harper (NL MVP) and Zach Wheeler paced them from start to finish, but there is still plenty of work to be done. The Phillies need a legitimate closer, leadoff hitter, and more lineup protection for Harper. All this on today's episode.

Cameron Maybin has hung up his spikes after a 15-year MLB career. Maybin played with 10 different teams over the years. Although he was a journeyman, it was for good reason. His speed and defense combination was of value to many teams. At his peak, Maybin could steal a base on command and provide some power as well. All this (and more) on today's episode.

The Indians finished below .500 for the first time since 2012. They were close, though, at 80-82. With such a young team, Cleveland is trying to establish their identity at this point. For 2022, expect Cleveland to show some growth, growing pains, and more flashes of star performance from Jose Ramirez.

Expectations were sky high in San Diego heading into last season. They were considered among the cream of the crop in terms of talent and looked like they could compete for an NL West title. Injuries mounted and things turned south in the second half of the year. The Padres finished with a disappointing record of 79-83? What else went wrong? How can they be better in 2022? All this on today's epis...

The Tigers were one of the most improved teams in MLB last season. After finishing with the worst record in 2019 and third-worst in 2020, they took a big leap in 2021 and finished near the middle of the pack. The rebuild is over and the Tigers should be a solid team in 2022 with plenty of momentum moving forward. The ingredients are in place for a return to winning baseball in Detroit. All this on...

Although the Los Angeles Angels finished fourth in their division, they hosted the best show in town on most nights in the summer of 2021. Shohei Ohtani took the baseball world by storm in his historic MVP season, producing as both a pitcher and a hitter. Don't forget about the best player in the world, Mike Trout. He needs to get healthy for this team to move forward. What will 2022 look like for...

Kyle Seager has announced his retirement. The news came as a surprise considering Seager just came off a season with career high marks of 35 HRs and 101 RBIs. Seager was a career-long Seattle Mariner and the franchise face over the past several years. How can a team plan for both now and the future? It turns out anything is possible when you have plenty of payroll flexibility. All this on today's...

The 2022 Hall of Fame ballot consists of many familiar names. These are some of the best players of a generation but not all were highly regarded at first. In fact, some were seen as extra fill-ins or fringe MLB players at first. Who are these players and what are their chances of Hall of Fame induction? All this on today's episode.

The Mets came into 2021 with high expectations but fell far short of them. Their offense struggled and the pitching staff was plagued with injuries. There won't be any excuse for continued mediocrity in 2022 because the Mets have made major moves to improve their squad this winter. All this on today's episode.

In the Christmas spirit, we notice that every team has received a gift at some point. Whether it's trading for an unknown player who would alter franchise history, selecting a future Hall of Famer late in the draft, or benefiting from an error which would help them win the World Series. What are the top gifts some teams have ever gotten?

A lot of winning at home but even more losing on the road. That was the theme for the Rockies in 2021. They're losing Trevor Story but have promising young infielders on the squad already. They have poor pitching but no real plan to fix it. Where should the Rockies go from here?

Cody Bellinger agreed to a new deal with the Dodgers before the lockout began on December 1. He will earn $17 million in 2022. Not bad for a player coming off a down year. Due to the lockout, teams have no idea how players are doing in their rehab process coming off major surgeries. Reports show that MLB total payroll has declined in recent years. How long will the lockout last? All this (and more...

The Royals' 2021 season surpassed expectations. As they near the end of their rebuild, Kansas City has developed a group of young starting pitchers to navigate these bridge seasons. Salvador Perez had a monster season with the bat and remains the heart and soul of the franchise. Looking ahead to next season, baseball's next young star (Bobby Witt Jr.) will likely make his MLB debut in Kansas City....

After becoming regulars in the postseason, the Twins took a huge step backwards in 2021. The Bomba Squad was still alive as they drilled the second-most HRs in the American League. However, poor pitching was the main problem all year long. What's next for Minnesota? All this (and more) on today's episode.

After seeing Bob Melvin leave for a better offer in early November, the A's were suddenly left without a manager. They've filled that gap by hiring Mark Kotsay, a former Oakland Athletic and longtime MLB outfielder. Kotsay has recent coaching experience but this will be his first time managing professionally. Josh Harrison is drawing plenty of interest around the league. What about Harrison's skil...

It seemed that the Cubs were destined for a rebuild one they traded away Yu Darvish prior to the 2021 season. The fact that they initially kept all other big pieces may have been a business tactic to keep fans interested for the early part of the season. The Cubs have hit the reset button and are squarely in rebuild mode now. All this (and more) on today's episode.

Buck Showalter has been hired to be the next manager of the New York Mets. Showalter brings along 20 years of MLB managerial experience and a track record of leadership. He's most recently known for leading the Orioles from rebuilding mode to the playoffs in just a few years. Details on the Tigers' offer to Carlos Correa (earlier this winter) have emerged. What will it take to sign him? All this o...

The Marlins came into 2021 with some exuberance after ending their playoff drought in 2020. That magic wore off as the reality of a full 162 game season reared its head. Pitching was great but hitting was poor in Miami this past season. Four trades at the deadline helped them cash in on some value. Signing some more outfield bats is Miami's top priority going into next season. All this (and more)...

The Giants knew they had to address their pitching staff this winter due to four members from 2021 becoming free agents. They brought back 2 arms and added another so the rotation should be settled. However, rumors are swirling that San Francisco won't be splurging on any big names. A former All-Star in his prime is in talks with a team in Japan because he's not drawing MLB interest. What caused h...

The Washington Nationals had an underwhelming season. Despite entering with somewhat high expectations to compete in their division, that goal evaporated by mid-summer and they (wisely) decided to have a fire sale. Trades flew and 8 players were shipped out in exchange for 12 new players/prospects. The Nats' post-deadline was tough to watch but Juan Soto turned in an excellent season anyway. The N...

Justin Verlander's deal with the Astros is official: 2 years, $50 million. Although the contract was signed and submitted to MLB for approval before the lockout began, it wasn't actually approved until now. The Astros are making a big bet on the future Hall of Famer rebounding from Tommy John Surgery at age 39. Seiya Suzuki is the next big name from Japan looking to make a move to MLB. What does t...

The Mets are closing in on a new managerial hire. Buck Showalter and Joe Espada are two of the final candidates but many think it's Showalter's job to lose. Is his no-nonsense attitude something the Mets need? The Nationals signed Maikel Franco and Dee Strange-Gordon to minor league deals. 2022 will be a rebuilding year in DC so both should get ample opportunity to make the team out of Spring Trai...

There is a market for fringe MLB players to continue or resurrect their careers while still making a strong salary. It means going overseas to Korea or Japan and some notable players are doing it this winter. What are the pros and cons of this strategy? All this (and more) on today's episode.

The Pirates endured another 100+ loss season in 2021. On the bright side, Bryan Reynolds blossomed into an All-Star center fielder and Jacob Stallings won a Gold Glove. Pittsburgh isn't quite ready to take the next step yet, which is probably why they traded Stallings already. How much longer will it be until they can contend? All this on today's episode.

The 2021 Texas Rangers were the first team to open their gates to fans at full capacity after a pandemic-long absence. With a shiny new ballpark, expectations began rising in the organization. The Rangers only won 60 games this year, but they're poised to make a big jump in 2022. Help is already on the way thanks to some big moves in free agency. All this (and more) on today's episode.