Welcome back, baseball fans!

Returning to my critique of Sports Illustrated top 100 baseball players, for No. 51 SI listed the Cardinals centerfielder Tommy Pham who is a rookie wonder. Also, think logically, a superstar like him only hits an XBH 34.6% of the time, which is awkward for a rising star so that sucks him down the garbage chute. He had a .411 OBP and he struck out 22% of the time which is really good for centerfielders and taking into account that Mike Trout is MLB’s best player and he only struck 17.7% (which is phenomenal because there is only SO 4.3% difference in between them) of the time. So Trout is just better. No doubt Pham is getting better and will get a better spot no doubt next year.

At 52^nd is Jake “Snake” Arrieta of the Philadelphia Phillies. Let’s just be honest. He’s hanging by a thread to be in this game. If his next few starts suck, then he’s going to be sent to the bullpen or out of baseball all together because no team will even think about signing him. Arrieta is nervous when he gets out on the hill and tosses a few innings. He had a 3.53 ERA (good for him), just under 170 innings pitched and the only thing he does half good is he keeps his hits down. Arrieta has come from a gum stain on the floor to winning the Cy Young Award and, coming in 6th in MVP voting only 2 years ago, he should go back and possibly switch with Dallas Keuchel.

Now comes the story of a guy who thought he would have a life in “The Banner State,” but at the end of the trade deadline of last year, he gets traded to sunny Los Angeles, where they really don’t appreciate his awesomeness and then gets traded to the north side of The Windy City to the playoff-going Cubs. Then he went downhill because of all of his crazy moving around. He went from a 2.83 ERA to a 3.44 ERA, a total of 10 wins and 12 losses and never had a lot of awards except All-Star selections. If he wouldn’t have gotten traded from Texas then he may have a chance of his spot, but not now with his just 186.2 innings, even though Joe Maddon at No. 53 knows that he just got a very good weapon and he trusts him, he gets by hitters by just junk, not his usual heat. If he could try a little harder (I’m not saying that he’s not trying.) he will almost be MVP, very close Cy Young, he may be worthy of all of it, but for now, at least 75th.

Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox is 54th on the list. When he was a rookie, don’t get me wrong, he was really good, he won Rookie of the Year and the Silver Slugger award for the 4th time in history to win both awards in the same year but then all of MLB forgot about him for about two years. And then he explodes in the 2017 season with 33 homers and a cycle, the most he ever had since his rookie year. He had 102 RBIs, also the most he had since his rookie year and 3 SBs, the same he had in his rookie season. He’s like a clone of his rookie year. He deserves a better spot in the Top 100 because of his stats, (check them!!!!) and speed and Rick Renteria can put him almost anywhere on the field including DH, he deserves 37th.

A.J Pollock of the Arizona Diamondbacks at 55^th is the guy who thought he is one of the best centerfielders in the NL (they don’t have much to choose from in the NL). Pollock should face reality, blink and rub his eyes a few times. He is not really good, he’s okay. 14 HRs, 40 RBIs and 20 SBs, he could carry the team, hmmm, half-way, hmmm, 18.289734520894% way, with Paul Goldschmidt doing the rest and that’s normal for any player especially (especially him) for a centerfielder. He is really fast too and could occasionally sneak into Sports Center Top 10 Plays, I think he deserves his spot.

As for my latest dugout thoughts:

Alright so, I think the news of the Mets is all over the world by now. The same record as the Yankees, loss to the Cardinals in extras by a walk-off single by Dexter Fowler, OK, enough of a very, very sad team that is going to lose until tomorrow when they win and going to go to the World Series. Wait, way too many fantasies, but, it’s possible. Ronald Acuna Jr. had his loooong awaited debut, one of the fastest already, second game, third on 4/27, already; launch angle too, first homer and the fans went nuts, he went crazy, he is officially craaazy. Speaking about Yu Darvish, he threw a sleepy 64 mph pitch to strike out Manny Pina. Albert Almora Jr.’s catch was off the charts, he was better than Kevin Pillar on that catch. It’s official, we have baseball’s first no-hitter in 2018, who threw it, wait, who is that S-s-s-Sean M-m-m-a-n-e-a-Manea, the A’s rookie sensation, threw not a perfect game, but just a no-hitter, still good.

So now that the games and the teams are settling in, the Wild Card still didn’t start. I won’t do a challenge now, oh, maybe I will, who are the top 5 fastest players in baseball, right now.

News flash: Page views of my blog have topped 559 in just one month. I’m glad you’re enjoying my stories. Thanks for your support. Have a couple of hot dogs on me!

Greetings baseball fans.

Next in the “SI” list is the veteran Nelson Cruz of the Seattle Mariners, who isn’t at all fit to play any kind of field position and he never was. When he was with the Brewers, Rangers, and Orioles he could hit balls that could have hit satellites if there were 3 more feet to them and all the pitchers would be scared out of their wits because of him. Occasionally he could make a highlight reel catch in right field and steal 20 bases in a year sometimes but I think the foursome who did this is really missing the point: HE’S GETTING OLD. He hit 40 dingers, leading baseball 4 years ago, that’s really good, yes, he hit 39 home runs and 119 RBIs last season but that’s not as many as he hit a few years ago. Even last year he hit more and 1 stolen base is a lot for him. I think the “Boomstick” should go to 53^rd and switch with Yu Darvish. But don’t get me wrong, he is really good, like hitting everything outta-here-good.

Justin Upton of the Los Angeles Angels is 47^th on this list and is one of those guys who gets traded around almost each year and has a great few years and then gets traded away again. That started in 2012 when he was in his last year as a Diamondback and then got traded away to the Braves and it goes down the slippery slope down the trading block. Sure he still has the speed of almost Trea Turner and some of the power that remains in him and is a Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, All-Star and 5-tool player all in the same year, but right now almost every good team has one, but still, he is one of the best in the Western division.

Next up is the last of the Bombers’ threats, Gary Sanchez, the very young catcher for the Yankees, who could block the passed balls that no one but him would block but went through a slump – blocking pitches wise and could hit for average with a .278 (more of a power hitter) and for power with 33 Ruthian blasts but doesn’t have the speed the Yanks are looking for. Oh, jeez, I forgot to talk about his arm. This guy’s arm is the best arm I’ve seen since Ivan Rodriguez which is great. There is actually nothing wrong with this guy, how could the writers of the “SI” article have put Sanchez at 48 – he had 33 HRs, 90 RBIs, .278 average and a .531 slugging percent which would put him near the top 25, which is where he should be put.

The Cardinals’ number 1 weapon for pitching Carlos Martinez is next. His curves break so fast and his sinkers break at the last moment which is kind of weird, his fastballs never had the life they had flying at an average speed of 96 mph, a changeup of 87 mph, a sinker at 93 mph, a slider at 84 mph and a curve of 79 mph. His 3.64 ERA, 12 wins, 31 games started, winning records, and 205 innings posted in 2017 put him in the position of top 30.

Marking the half of “SI’s” genius list is Michael Fulmer of the Detroit Tigers who was the Mets’ top prospect until the Mets got Yoenis Cespedes for Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa and the Tigers sent him up to the majors a year later which was a good deal, also Jeff Jones in his last year with the Tigers worked with him so hard that in his debut against The Twins he went 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 SO, 1 BB, 2 ER, and got a win against the power+speed lineup. His 3.83 ERA and 10 wins and 12 losses and innings is really good for a second year player. Fulmer was first in homeruns per 9 IP, 5^th in complete games, 6^th in WHIP, BB per 9 IP and fielding independent pitching. He is great at everything he does and great at his pitches and variety, he should get his spot well next year in the same spot.

Now to this season’s diamond.

There is nothing more to say about the Mets, they lost again and this time by a walk-off bunt single by Ender Inciarte and they just eluded a loss to the Atlanta Braves by a, drum roll please, a rain delay. Yeah, a rain delay, so, okay, down to business. The Yankees are just plain cruising, calling up two minor leaguers in the same week, Miguel Andjuar and Gleyber Torres, Andjuar is on top of his game, a 4-hit game on 4/22 and helping the Yanks power through the Blue Jays. Johnny Cueto got his ERA down to 0.35 as the SF Giants beat the Angels and Brandon Belt had a 21-pitch at-bat versus Jamie Barria, he homered later in the game. Also in that game, Mike Trout finally beat Bryce Harper for the MLB-best leading 9 homers, which I really like, I don’t like his cockiness to the sport. The Red Sox are finally mortal; they lose two in a row against the A’s, the A’s, and wow. Sean Manea no-hit the Red Sox, ok, maybe they’re turning into the Met’s clone. Kris Bryant got hit in the helmet and when I saw that, I was like, “No, no, that’s not right.” So, he did it, but no sign of concussion around him. Carlos Gomez is still a true superstar. The 32-year-old actually walked-off the Twins, he never stopped being a great player, he’s still good, still has speed.

Now for my next challenge, name five 5-tool players in baseball. Please do it this time.

I’m closing in on 500 page views after less than a month. I’m glad that you like my blog. Thanks for your support.

Greetings baseball fans. It certainly seems like there’s no joy in Mudville nowadays. But I’ll get to that later. First, about the top players.

Brian Dozier of the Minnesota Twins who as B says is 41st and is one of the second basemen in the MLB and had 34 HRs and 94 RBIs and 16 SBs in his age 30 season. It’s not like anyone to make an age 30 season into a career year. He is one of the elite stars that doesn’t shine as much as the best of the best do, if you think about it. Dozier only averages about 32 dingers a year, but what makes him elite is that he is good in delivering a day-for-a-lifetime for The Twins and then go 2 for 4 with 2 RBI the next day. No matter how he does it, he always finds a way to polish up his beautiful golden statue by producing for The Twins.

Kyle Seager of the Seattle Mariners is the older brother of Corey Seager who should have some really good baseball genes from the family and I think even though Kyle Seager is aging and can get into slumps and can get into big streaks with his homers and moderate hits to all fields, dazzle the crowd with his occasional burst of speed and the occasional snags he puts up on the hot corner, he is an All Star caliber player. However, he is a big fix-it-up job especially when the Seattle Mariners are merely fighting for a play-off spot (They kind of really don’t have a chance, but who knows, it’s baseball). He was ranked perfectly in The Top 100 Players.

At 43^rd place is Tampa Bay Rays centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier, who is one of the more powerful centerfielders (all-round wise) in the game and is one of the more all-out kind of guys who jumps for balls that no one else would (except Kevin Pillar). Kiermaier could still steal a moderate amount of bases and was 15th among centerfielders in HRs and SBs, could get triples (he got 3 last year) and still hits to all fields and only is 27, which is MVP class but there are better players than him in the AL, he should definitely switch with Lorenzo Cain for 37th.

Next is Jacob DeGrom of The Mets, he could have a complete game, one-hitter or go 5 innings allowing 9 runs and 17 hits. This guy is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde when it comes to his pitching. His 3.53 ERA, which is right smack in the middle, 15 wins which is way above average and 31 games started which is also right smack in the middle. The stats that he posted in 2017 are one of the best among 4-year players like him. The mere thought of him winning the Rookie of the Year dazzles my mind when there was a half-decent class of first years in there with Billy Hamilton, Kolten Wong and Ken Giles, he is a MVP, Cy Young, All-Star caliber player, which only a few pitchers ever qualified for those three words in the same sentence about them. He might even start being in the same thought as Pedro Martinez and Nolan Ryan.

Marcell Ozuna of the St. Louis Cardinals is one of those players where you have a couple of decent years at your team, then have a huge break out season like he had in Miami last year with .312 average, 37 HRs and 124 RBIs, all three of them being career-highs and he got to be an All Star, Golden Glove and Silver Slugger all in the same year. Then he gets traded to the Cardinals with a 1-year $9 million contract, which doesn’t sound promising and even less promising looking at what the Cardinals outfield looks like this year. He deserves his spot well and let’s see what kind of a show he brings on this season when he’s already slugged two this year.

And now to Mudville. 

The Mets are in a slump – no doubt about it. Like all great streaks, this one had to end someday and all people knew that this one would end too. But hopefully they’ll bounce back against the Braves on 4/19 and Asdrubal Cabrera will continue to feast on pitchers. He’s fourth in the NL in batting average. Yoenis Cespedes is also in a slump, getting only whiffs as the pitchers start their grand festivity by feasting on him a lot. But, as always, the Mets will return to grandness because of their elite pitching (and some hitting in there too). I think it’s nice what the Indians and Twins are doing in Puerto Rico, playing a 3-game series and I think it’s fairytale-like that Frisco’s Lindor homered in his hometown. The A’s gave away free tickets on Wednesday, 4/17; so, the way to get the free tickets is that you have to sign up on a form online, you get free tickets including parking for that Wednesday, and they routed by the White Sox 10:2 which I think is good, I mean, you get free tickets and then you see your favorite team lose. That’s just sad. So the A’s tried extra hard to win and they did. Also, the Cardinals just called up what I think is the strongest guy in baseball, Tyler O’Neil, and, I mean, check this guy out, he’s ripped, I mean, his father was a bodybuilder too, so, that’s no surprise that he should be one too. Also, this just in earlier today, the Braves signed Jose Bautista to a minor-league contract to play the hot-corner (third base). Eric Thames, I thought he cooled down after his breakout season last year, but no, hit two 2-run homers two days straight to beat the struggling Reds, WOW, this guy keeps on amazing. The Blue Jays are also off to a hot start, sweeping the Royals in a three-game series that’s good. Clayton Kershaw is not being Clayton Kershaw, well, I mean, the Dodgers aren’t being the Dodgers either – they’re in a bigger slump than the Mets, sheesh, hopefully, their bats and cannons can pick it up a little. On 4/18, Dixon Machado and the Tigers walked-off the O’s at Comerica today. The two weird things about it is that Machado doesn’t have that much power, mostly speed and fielding, but hey, everyone has a breakout season. The second weird thing is that Jose Iglesias was kicking off the celebration with his feet, if you watch the video you’ll see. Also, today I heard talks that maybe Aaron Boone will drop Giancarlo Stanton down in the order because of his Big-Apple slump (Copyright, Trademark Yulian Avhustyn).

Well, baseball fans, I will have to say one more thing to you before I leave – Watch your shirt, the mustard might drip, so where was I, oh right, your challenge for today, if you want to do it, there weren’t any of you who did the challenge last time, so, Take 2, what is the fastest player in all the divisions. Also, do you like Big-Apple Bad Time or The City That Never Sleeps Slump for Giancarlo Stanton and Yoenis Cespedes’ down-hill slides? 

Greetings baseball fans across the land!

Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giants is 36^th!!!! He could thrash the best sluggers of which he is one. He could make his pitches have given up only 148 home runs in his 9-year career. He has so much stamina that in 2016 he went the distance of 9 innings 4 times. The bad spot is that the Giants will be worse this year because they don’t have him regularly due to a hand injury. He averages 184 Ks in his qualified seasons. He also doesn’t allow that many hits and he could smell the no-hitter’s aftershave almost every time he goes to the hill. He should be 25^th pushing everyone back a spot.

At 37, Lorenzo Cain of the Milwaukee Brewers, the veteran center fielder, has gone north to the Brewers from the KC Royals that are in a rebuilding stage. Cain used to be in the same sentence with Jarrod Dyson and Billy Hamilton. Well, not anymore. He still has a heck of a lot of speed which means that he stole 28 bases last year – when he was 31. No one has ever done that except Tim Raines and Rickey Henderson (No surprise there). He can still hit liners and bombs over the fence in Miller Park. In my book (Which is definitely not SI’s book) Cain just made the 5-tool player list. He is really good, but judging by what players that are in front of him, he is good where he is.

Next is another speedy phenomenon, Trea Turner of the Washington Nationals, is by far the fastest player in the National League (maybe Billy Hamilton is also), and is one of the best shortstops in the MLB. As a rookie, he’s not sarcastic that he got the SS position which is good, but he also has depth in the outfield at center to be precise. I think he has accumulated as much power as he could because he’s focusing on fielding and speed and he could hit them out of the park with 11 in ‘17, but the Nats are not lacking long balls. He hasn’t learned the way of the best swing either. But, I think he is quite worthy of his position or even a better one and in the coming years, he should be put closer to number 1.

Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers has never appeared in an All-Star game and never in the postseason which I think is astonishing but he’s only 26. Yelich and the Brewers have a serious chance of making the postseason. He is an incredible center fielder and he steals bases. He walks well, hits to all fields moderately and is still a slugger with 18 dingers last year, when he was with the Miami Marlins but the Brewers also had Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton. He had 56 extra base hits (XBH) last year and has 118 XBHs over the last two years which is the third-most XBHs by a Marlin in the past two years.  I think Cristian Yelich will be one of the top Brewers’ sluggers and they have many this year. He should get a position closer to one even this year.

At 40^th SI has Cody Bellinger, the rookie first baseman for the Dodgers who hit 39 HRs last year, won Rookie of the Year and was an All-Star – all in the first year of his life in the Show. He shows has some sort of speed in those legs of his and is a rare quality in first basemen these days. He has really good fielding for his age. He can vary by taking grounders himself and flipping it to the pitcher. Like every single player, he makes errors. What I don’t like about him is that I don’t think he tries as hard in the field as he does at the dish, thinking that the hitting will cover up for my decent-to-good fielding, which right now is the case, Dave Roberts sees that and puts him at DH almost every game for Bellinger’s own sake.

With the MLB season coming into about the 15^th game, the Mets are a sizzling hot, record breaking 11:1 and tonight they’ll play the Brewers, a pretty good team. Steven Matz is starting for the Amazins. I think the Mets best hitter is Asdrubal Cabrera who just beat Yoenis Cespedes for the No.1 spot. The best pitcher is Jacob DeGrom – he has the ERA and strikeouts and keeps his hits low over an average of about 6 IP per start. Todd Frazier hit his first two homers in the same game as the Mets get their 11:1 record in a 9-game winning streak. Tim Anderson is still leading MLB in stolen bases, which now is not that big of a surprise for me. Gerrit Cole just keeps on stunning the opponents with a 14 SO game and another win for the slow start for the Astros. Going back to the Mets, they might have just hit a roadblock – Travis D’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki are both out with injuries, so they’ll call up Jose Lobaton and Thomas Nido from the Las Vegas 51’s. I always knew that Aaron Hicks was really fast, but he also has some big pops, an inside-the-park-homerun, and another homer later with the Yanks cruising into another win. Shohei Ohtani is taking the baseball world by storm which as the Non-American Babe Ruth he is really good, I think he’s better at the plate than on the hill. He’s going to win Rookie of the Year in the AL, he is a 4-tool player – without the speed even though he has some. Yoenis Cespedes had a marvelous night in left, he first made a leaping catch to rob Jesus Aguilar of a double and then gun down Lorenzo Cain at third. Mookie Betts is a complete 5-tool player, he threw to second last night to get Adam Jones going for a double and he’s leading the majors in runs. He’s going to be elite this year and is supposed to lead the Sox in greatness and karma.

I don’t mean to brag but page views of my blog have topped 345 in just three weeks. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Thanks for your support.

Have a hot dog on me!

Greetings Baseball Fans!

The weather outside is still cold but the games are hot.

Carlos Carrasco of the Cleveland Indians earns his spot to a point, he still has the wins and the innings but the ERA and most of all – the stuff, but in the AL he faces far better hitters than he ever would and he also faces the DHs that he would never face in the NL. That puts a coffee stain on his white tuxedo. He is a really good hurler to be in the top 15 pitchers, but not yet, not unless he shows that he’s maybe even close to Kershaw.

Andrelton Simmons of the Los Angeles Angels is a really good player and an even more amazing fielder but he never had the talent of hitting well. Simmons has the usual power of a player with great fielding and a lot of speed, you know what I’m talking about, triples, stand-up doubles, the occasional stand-up triple and an inside the park homer. I think I could compare him with Orlando Arcia of the Milwaukee Brewers.  Simmons’ average is good, actually really good, now that I think about it. He and Arcia have a lot in common – but Simmons’ power is not up to snuff but his speed tells the press “Don’t say anything about my power because I got speed and a lot of it and I’m good at fielding.” That’s a white lie. Simmons is good going back to the average – he hits a good .280 every season and steals 19 bases and hits the triples, but he is really underrated in the hits column, he really has a lot of hits – 164 last season.

Anthony Rendon of the Washington Nationals definitely does not deserve 33rd but rather a worse spot like 43rd or so. Sure he whooped the Mets’ butt last year with 3 Hrs and 10 RBIs and had another really good game later in the year and finished the year with a .301 average, 25 Hrs and 100 RBIs, highest it’s ever been in his whole career. He is in a rebuilding mode and he’s doing the best job I’ve seen in MLB. He used to not smoke the balls over the fence and he’s rebuilding his legs, but even the fastest – always lose a step or two in their later years. But he can now hit for average, he has moderate to beefy power, has limited speed but his speed does not put a blotch on his team because of the speedsters Trea Turner and Adam Eaton, and he can field. I think the most under-rated aspect of him is his hair…

Robinson Cano of the Seattle Mariners is an All-Star caliber performer with 30+ homers and 110+ when he was with the Yankees, then the first two years on the Mariners and he still has 20+ HRs and 85+ RBIs and he could steal bases – something  like two a day. The average is still there because, I mean, he’s Robinson Cano, one of the players that age doesn’t deteriorate. He deserves a better spot in the 25 range because, I mean, he’s Robinson Cano, he’s good, the best, well not now.

Noah Syndergaard of The Mets is next. Let’s be honest, his fastballs are absolute fire and heat and his breaking balls have so much whip (because of his heat) and he could fool even the best and most experienced players – his hair helps too. I’d feel so scared if I’m facing him because this is no fast pitcher, this is fire and it’s Syndergaard. He has the strikeouts, but he really doesn’t need them. Most of his strikeouts are catching the batters looking because it’s like a deer in headlights.

Turning to this season … The Mets are playing right now and Todd Frazier is a joke, he’s like in his mind, “I’m just going tip up my cap and cost the Mets their 3-run lead on an error.” Frazier is good at hitting but his fielding is catastrophically horrible. Justin Bour just hit his first dinger of the year, I thought to myself, if he just hit his first homer, then – he’s not going to the Home Run Derby this year. I’m a Mets fan, I usually protect them, but this is not the case, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a no-doubt HR and then does a very flamboyant, annoying bat-flip that I think deserved some words from the Caleb Smith, but he didn’t say anything. So now that Xander Bogaerts is the head-honcho of the Red Sox, leading them in hitting, in karma and in confidence.

Leave a comment if you think this is wrong and we’ll discuss it next time: Bogaerts is the best Red Sox overall player. He is on the DL and they’re playing the Yankees, which is a huge boost, because this year, they are absolutely horrible. The Mets (8:1) and Red Sox are tied for the majors’ best, and, hopefully, the Mets will regain that title. At first, Tim Anderson didn’t seem too fast, I mean, he seemed like a power-hitting shortstop, with some speed but not a lot, but now he’s leading the majors in SBs with Trea Turner.

This week was interesting but not the games I was hoping for – I mean walk-off wins and huge wins and high-scoring wins. I repeat my first challenge, this will become a regular thing – Who do you think is the best player in all the divisions (NL East, NL Central, NL West, AL East, AL Central and AL West), leave the answers in the comments sections.

While you’re thinking, finish that hot dog and don’t forget to wipe the mustard of your lips.

Welcome back, America’s pastime fans!

Stephen Strasberg, pitcher with the Washington Nationals, should place beyond 25, perhaps even 30 or farther. Strasberg is the third best pitcher in the NL East and maybe the sixth best in the whole NL. He’s pretty good, I’ll say that, but his ERA was a 2.52, which is OK, but the Nats need Ks for the new power-hitting players of the NL East like Todd Frazier. He is a good and consistent pitcher but now hitters are starting to figure him out and he’s getting easier to hit off of.

Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Indians showed himself really well during the 2017 and 2018 postseasons. He slugs HRs and has depth at infield apart from first and he could play DH. Ramirez is the fastest third basemen/infielder/DH that could do 17 stolen bases, 6 triples and wait for it – 56 doubles and was 1st in stolen bases among third basemen last season. He was a silver slugger, All-Star and 3rd in MVP voting in ’17 behind Jose Altuve, the winner, and Aaron Judge, who came in second. He is an MVP caliber player and this 25 year-old could win the title during his career.

The Houston Astros’ George Springer is better that 28^th. Everyone saw him during the World Series last year, making great catches to help the ‘Stros and hitting in the clutch with homers. Also, on the first pitch of the Astros’ season, he went yard. In my book, he is the fifth best outfielder in the MLB. He is one of the few centerfielders that are slow the base paths – but on the field, he’s super-fast. The hitting covers up for that pretty well and the catchers don’t have to worry about him stealing bases. He should be where he is in the rankings.

The Colorado Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon is one of the best centerfielders in the game and illuminates the National League with his home runs – four already, speed – 14 stolen bases and 14 triples and flowing hair. He is the reigning BA champ in the NL last year. He is a really good centerfielder and I’ll say that he is the second best centerfielder in the MLB right behind Mike Trout. He should get a better spot because he is a two-time All Star and a two-time Silver Slugger and came in 5^th in the MVP voting in 2017. No doubt about it, he will get an MVP award in his career and would’ve gotten a Gold Glove in center field if Juan Lagares hadn’t been in his way in 2014.

Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants is NOT the 29^th player. Yeah, everyone knows he is great at fielding but to win, in the catcher’s position, the catcher can’t pass the ball behind him but you also have to score runs and to score runs 97.3849034% of the time you must hit the ball preferably far. That’s his weak spot, but in 2015 and 2016 he was the best catcher and now he’s not (Check the stats!!). But he’s in the top 10 among catchers. He’s still got the power to drive it, but not out of the park – something like doubles, singles and 2 triples.

The Texas Rangers’ Adrian Beltre, YAY! He got 3,000 hits and people are going to start worshiping him, yes, you should, he’s really good – don’t check the stats. He got his hits and homers in, but fielding, he’s not someone like a Gold Glove though he used to. I think he should take it down a couple of notches trying to win World Series, and if he doesn’t the Rangers’ lineup will get a big smudge because they will lose him. I think he’s good and he has a good spot this time ‘round.

The Mets are officially the tied-for-second best team in baseball right after they whooped the Nationals today 3-2. Bryce Harper hit a dinger and Asdrubal Cabrera hit a double to drive in a run. Yoenis Cespedes isn't really being as good as he should be and the Mets little guys are stepping up and making a push to be higher in the lineup. but as history goes, no matter how horrible the “big power hitter” is in a span of a few games, he always hits 3rd or 4th.

So on that high and not-so-modest-on-the-little-guy's note I will talk about just MLB. Charlie Blackmon of the Rockies had a great span of about four games but now he went from “adored great hitting center fielder with speed” to just “starting center fielder.” I think he will come back to an elite player.

The Phillies scored 20 runs against the Marlins, OK, I'll tell you this, I am really not surprised, because the team from South Beach is supposed to be not so good. And by “not so good” I mean bad. Also, two grand slams by the Phils.

OK, so the Astros-Padres game just ended or whenever you're reading this and the game ended on April 7 and – I think this is a joke – by a pop-up single to first base and wait, who is this – D-d-d-d-derek F-f-f-fisher scored, wait, yeah, Derek Fisher scored. I'm not saying he’s bad, he's OK, he’s good, five dingers, in only 53 games last season. Orioles actually went into extras with the Yankees on Friday and Pedro Alvarez hit a go-ahead grand slam to help the O’s win which was exciting. Alvarez actually knows my fifth grade teacher and Albert Pujols and Mike Trout, which I think is really cool. On Saturday the Dodgers and Giants are in the 14th when I'm writing this which is surprising that the Giants are handling against the Dodgers this well – I'm really surprised. Buster Posey hit his first home run today, so that’s what helped the Padres hold up against the Dodgers. Today and yesterday were some good days for rounding the bases and some good games.

Also, I had my first Little League game and I went 1 for 2 with a double and a RBI and I played second base. The Millers are 1 and 0 with many more wins to come.

Grab another hot dog on the way out.

Hi, sports fans!

When Justin Turner was with the Mets, he could have been 21^st, but not when he is with the Dodgers. He is older, he somehow acquired power now that he is with Los Angeles. And his fielding is the worst it’s been in years, that’s why the Dodgers also feel so good when there is an interleague game at the AL team’s stadium. They also gave him 32 games off and that put a big strain on the 2^nd place team last year. The Dodgers kind of need him. To add to that, he is injured for this season. So I think he should be somewhere in the 40s to 50s.

Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves is definitely a top 20 player though “SI” put him at 22. His age didn’t slow him down. He still has power with 34 HRs in ’16 – a career high. He is still slugging them to. Freddie can also make a highlight reel play and flip it to the pitcher in time for the out and make ESPN Top 10 Plays.

I couldn’t have placed Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs any better. He is not a player that is top 15 because there are players with more power and there are better first basemen  and he’s not a player that is worse than 30^th because he is one of the best in the NL at first base. Kris Bryant and Rizzo made a thing called “Bryzzo” which I think was funny, but the “dynamic duo” doesn’t really produce as many extra base hits and homers as they should. They could hit but not as many as Manny Machado and Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles did last year at first and third. He was placed well.

I am shocked that Zach Greinke of the Arizona Diamondbacks was put at 24. He is at least top 60 player, not at all a top 25 player. His ERA is up high and Ks are down, his slider is losing control fast, but the only good side is that, in his whole career, he has never given up a lot of walks. He’s allowing a heck of a lot of homers and hits and that’s his downside. When he was with the Royals and Dodgers, he could have been and should have been in the top 20, compared to the other pitchers that are behind him, he should be backed down to the low 50s, not even close this time. 

For this talk, I will talk about baseball and the records this early in the season and the Mets. They got rained out yesterday and it will be a single-admission doubleheader on July 9. For the Mets, Todd Frazier hasn’t been as productive as I thought he would be but he has been – but not as much and the next guy I’m going to talk about. I’m not surprised about Adrian Gonzalez, he’s old, and he’s getting bored of the sport. He will hit maybe 10-15 homers this year, not as many as when he was with the Dodgers and Padres. Matt Harvey started for the Mets last night, he's starting 4/3. He’s been productive tonight or wait, 4/3. The Amazins’ shutout the Phillies 2 zip and have a 3:1 record. Today’s game hasn’t yet ended. Charlie Blackmon has hit 4 homers, and I'm writing this at the time before their game, that’s really good. The Rockies are going to be really good and all the NL races are going to be tough. The AL has sure winners – or do they?

Don’t drip the mustard. See you next time.

Greetings, sports fans!

I’ve already talked about the 11^th and 12^th. So let’s talk about the 13^th. I’m going to round it up at 20 this time so I’ll even it out.

Let’s say that “SI” absolutely missed the point. How in the world did its writers put Giancarlo Stanton with the New York Yankees at 13 and Aaron Judge also with the Bronx Bombers at 14? Giancarlo Stanton is strictly no doubt about it a top-five player and Aaron Judge should be at least 10 or 11. Giancarlo Stanton is a big guy who even scares Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers. He is everything the Yankees asked for. He finishes off the best homerun hitting lineup in the major leagues. He can hit for power, hit for average, field, which I think Aaron Boone looks away when a big guy like that jumps for a highlight real catch. He also has a lot of speed for a guy like him. He has crushed the most home runs since 2006. Aaron Judge, also a big guy, is about the same story, hitting for average – more than Stanton, hitting for power – less than Stanton but has more speed than Stanton. Also, he hit the most homers by a rookie since Mark McGwire. I don’t know all of those stupid stats like wRC which is Weighted Runs Created and it took me twice to read it. So I think “SI” made a huge mistake in putting Stanton and Judge 13^th and 14^th – they are really better.

For 15^th, I think they put Francisco Lindor of the Cleveland Indians in the right spot because he is absolutely fantastic fielder who is the best fielding shortstop in the league. He also has some pop in his bat for the Puerto Rican skinny guy hit 33 homers last year. They made a risky but correct decision when they put Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays at 16^th because he is not the best arm at the hot corner, but definitely the best fielder. They put him there because if he didn’t have one of the best bats, it would put him even further down the line with his very modern swing with 33 dingers last year.

But I have some objections for 17, 18, 19 and 20, so, Corey Seager of Los Angeles Dodgers is not the best shortstop overall and is not the best fielder (but is the best fielder) and not the best hitter (even closer than the fielding thing) but still does NOT deserve 17^th place. I think he deserves somewhere in the top 15 and top 5 with shortstops maybe even closer to first in the top 100 because he won Rookie of the Year in 2016 and is the best shortstop in the National League.

I think it’s very weird that all the good shortstops are in the A.L. Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles and his bat are worthy of the top 10. Even if he went from 3B to SS over the offseason, a very hard change but easy for some, like him, but from what I’m hearing - he’s going to be really good with his towering homers and quantity of dingers and launch angles, he is the best hitting SS in the MLB.

No one thought that Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros would get traded from Detroit. He would sing his swan song in the Motor City, but, no, wait a minute, Justin Verlander just got traded, I had to read it thrice to make sure – “Verlander traded to Astros” so he came to rebuild himself in the Space City, just in time to get into perfect shape for the postseason. He won his first World Series ring there, which he will never do in Detroit (no offense to the Tigers). His velocity is rising through the innings and only a few pitchers in history have ever done that. His ERA is going to sink fast, but, hey, it’s just the beginning of the season. The Detroit Tigers paved a shabby road, with a few potholes, to Cooperstown, but the ‘Stros paved a beautiful path to The Hall of Fame with daisies, daffodils and roses along the sides, now all he has to do is be an elite pitcher, he’s getting old but he’s the first on this list that age does not deteriorate. In my book, he should get a spot two better.

And for 20^th, Chris Sale of the Boston Red Sox is an elite pitcher and this year he will prove that he is worthy of the top 15, you want me to prove it? Ok, I will, In the past 6 years, he has 15 complete games, last season, he killed everyone by far with 308 strikeouts, strikeouts per 9 IP, and fielding independent pitching, second for ERA, WAR, WHIP, Hits Per 9 IP, BB Per 9 IP and Strikeouts/BBs. His stats are nowhere in sight for the HRs, Hits, BBs, and losses as a pitcher. He is 3^rd and beyond in wins and homeruns per 9 IP. He is pitching in a league with only the Yankees and the 2018 murders row in New York. He is a top 3 pitcher in baseball and should get a spot closer to the best.

The 2nd and third games of the 2018 MLB Season were fun and boring. To start off with, the Mets, I like what Mickey Callaway is doing, putting the pitcher eighth and a batter ninth. Sadly, the Mets lost game No. 3 – their first of this season, and the Yankees are .500 faster than anyone thought that they would. Most people thought they would never do it. With the Cubs-Marlins game going into 17 innings and everyone already wishing they were in a warm bed, they had to play sweat-filled baseball instead. The big headline is that Miguel Andjuar of the New York Yankees made his major league debut today as a DH and Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves is still not making his debut. Kevin Pillar of the Toronto Blue Jays stole 2nd, 3rd and home, I knew he had speed, but not that much guts.

Have another hotdog on your way out.