1. Putting MLB Experts' Annual Predictions to the Test

    If you want to know how a given Major League Baseball season is going to pan out, your only practical option at this point of the year is to listen to the experts. But be warned: When you listen to the experts, you do so at your own peril...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 1 month ago 1,021 reads 4 comments

  2. Bryce Harper's 2-Home Run Opening Day Just the Beginning of His 2013 MVP Season

    OK, I'm sold. Bryce Harper is winning the National League Most Valuable Player award this season. It's the only logical conclusion to draw after what Harper did in the Washington Nationals ' season-opening 2-0 win over the Miami Marlins ...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 1 month ago 25,662 reads 97 comments

  3. Blueprint for Building a World Series Winner

    If winning the World Series was a simple matter of adding Y to X to get Z and then breaking out the champagne, more teams would do it. The formula isn't that simple. This isn't to say that there's not a formula...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 1 month ago 10,021 reads 21 comments

  4. Why MLB Opening Day Is the Best Kickoff Event in Sports

    Ah, Opening Day. They're not much on their own, but put those two words together, and you get my favorite phrase the English language has to offer. It has a rather beautiful ring to it...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 1 month ago 8,201 reads 65 comments

  5. Retelling Johan Santana's MLB Journey from Untouchable to Unfixable

    Have we seen the last of Johan Santana ? It looks that way. The New York Mets revealed on Thursday that their star lefty has suffered a major shoulder injury for the second time in three years...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 1 month ago 3,986 reads 12 comments

  6. Assessing the Riskiness of Justin Verlander's Mega-Extension with Detroit Tigers

    The Detroit Tigers have done it: They've made sure that righty ace Justin Verlander won't go anywhere any time soon. Now, they just have to hope that he won't fall apart any time soon...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 1 month ago 15,183 reads 76 comments

  7. Keys to Avoiding a World Series Hangover the Year After Losing

    Ah, the "World Series hangover" effect. It's the boogeyman of baseball. You had best believe in this particular boogeyman ...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 1 month ago 3,863 reads 0 comments

  8. MLB Owners' Greed Exposed Amidst Latest Forbes Team Valuations

    It’s hard not to picture Major League Baseball owners and Commissioner Bud Selig as mob bosses right now...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 1 month ago 2,140 reads 4 comments

  9. Does a Hot April Start in MLB Directly Lead to Capturing a Postseason Berth?

    They, in all their wisdomy wisdom, say that it's not how you start that counts, but how you finish. Teams around Major League Baseball will want to hear nothing of it when the 2013 season officially kicks off this Sunday night...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 1 month ago 1,114 reads 3 comments

  10. Which Star Outfielder Should LA Dodgers Trade When Yasiel Puig Is Ready?

    When Yasiel Puig is ready for the majors, somebody's going to have to go. There won't be enough room on the corners of the Los Angeles Dodgers ' outfield for him, Carl Crawford and Andre Ethier ...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 1 month ago 12,016 reads 69 comments

  11. Warning Signs for a Former World Series Contender to Know It's Time to Rebuild

    In Major League Baseball, there comes a time when teams must detonate their foundations and start rebuilding from scratch. Even World Series contenders have to flip the switch eventually...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 1 month ago 6,070 reads 6 comments

  12. Revisiting Odds of Derek Jeter Retiring After 2013

    What are the odds of longtime New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter retiring after 2013? Right now, I'd have to say about equivalent to those of an asteroid made of cotton candy colliding with the earth, which I presume are pretty close to zero...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 6,556 reads 19 comments

  13. Tips for Identifying a Shocking MLB Success Story Before It Unfolds

    Thanks to all the advancements that have been made in statistical analysis over the years, baseball is more of an exact science now than it's ever been...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 3,612 reads 18 comments

  14. Post-Spring Training 2013 MLB Rookie of the Year Predictions

    The 2013 Rookie of the Year races in Major League Baseball couldn’t have a harder act to follow. Last year saw Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout put together one of ...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 27,846 reads 46 comments

  15. Full 2013 NL East Piece-by-Piece Preview, Predictions

    The NL East was the best division in the National League last year. This is actually not a matter of opinion, but of record. NL East teams combined to post an average record of 83-78 in 2012, best of any of the Senior Circuit's three divisions...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 24,163 reads 58 comments

  16. Why Not Even George Steinbrenner Could Rescue This New York Yankees Team

    This is a preemptive article. I don't know when the next "What would George Steinbrenner do?" lamentation is going to come. Or why, for that matter. What I do know is that we certainly haven't heard the end of these lamentations...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 10,395 reads 106 comments

  17. How High Can the Budding Dodgers-Angels Rivalry Explode in 2013?

    It's on in Southern California. The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels have built themselves up into two of the biggest landmarks on the MLB landscape, and this looks like the year their rivalry could take the next step...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 1,481 reads 4 comments

  18. Will Keeping Aroldis Chapman at Closer Strengthen or Damage Reds' Title Hopes?

    After winning 97 games and the NL Central in 2012, the Cincinnati Reds have their eyes on winning the World Series in 2013...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 2,420 reads 27 comments

  19. Checklist for Aging MLB Superstar Hitters to Know It's Time to Retire

    One of the best things about baseball is that ballplayers can stick around for a long time if they're good enough. It's not like football, where even the best players will be lucky if they're still worth a darn at the age of 30...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 4,175 reads 13 comments

  20. Reliving Barry Bonds' Tainted 73-Homer Season in the Polo Grounds

    It's time for a what-if scenario involving Barry Bonds and his infamous 2001 season. This scenario shall be particularly fun, for it involves time travel. Bonds, as you'll well remember, hit an MLB -record 73 home runs in 2001...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 8,754 reads 37 comments

  21. Does Albert Pujols Need to Face DH Reality to Avoid an A-Rod Contract Repeat?

    The Los Angeles Angels signed up for a 10-year commitment worth $240 million to bring Albert Pujols aboard in December 2011. Based on how the first year went, there's a pretty big question mark looming over the next nine years of the agreement...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 6,825 reads 37 comments

  22. Surprise MLB Teams That Will Battle for Playoff Spots in 2013

    Anyone who says there’s no parity in Major League Baseball clearly wasn’t paying attention last year...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 27,236 reads 44 comments

  23. MLB Owes the NFL Nothing in Ravens-Orioles Scheduling Conflict

    The National Football League is scrambling to figure out scheduling for its 2013 season opener, which will hopefully feature the Baltimore Ravens hosting a grand FOOTBALL! celebration at M&T Bank Stadium...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 3,981 reads 17 comments

  24. Differentiating Between an MLB Ace and a True No. 1 Starter

    There are ace pitchers, and then there are ace pitchers. You know what I mean. There's an abundance of starting pitchers around Major League Baseball who are very good, but only a couple who are better than very good...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 6,554 reads 28 comments

  25. Whose Health Is More Crucial to Red Sox Success: David Ortiz or Jacoby Ellsbury?

    After losing 93 games and making a mockery of themselves in the process last season, the Boston Red Sox have their eyes on smooth sailing and a return to form in 2013. They're banking on much going right...

    Zachary D. Rymer Written by Zachary D. Rymer about 2 months ago 2,292 reads 12 comments