1. Washington Nationals and Mike Rizzo in the Final Analysis

    Mike Rizzo is a contradiction in terms, and as such, one of the hardest GMs to grade in the game. His work with the draft has been brilliant, and the Nationals are one of the up-and-coming teams in the game...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 1,026 reads 6 comments

  2. Toronto Blue Jays and Alex Anthopolous in the Final Analysis

    "It's that Hansel, he is so hot right now." — Mugato from Zoolander Zoolander is a guilty pleasures for me...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 809 reads 4 comments

  3. Texas Rangers and Jon Daniels in the Final Analysis

    Jon Daniels wasn't highly thought of when the Texas Rangers first hired him. He seemed like a young kid that just played around with numbers. Of course, that is how most of the new breed of general managers have been viewed until recently...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 415 reads 10 comments

  4. Tampa Bay Rays and Andrew Friedman in the Final Analysis

    The Tampa Bay Rays are a contradiction. They have one of the lowest payrolls in baseball and they have an absolutely horrible stadium situation...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 343 reads 7 comments

  5. St. Louis Cardinals and John Mozeliak in the Final Analysis

    The Cardinals are in a bit of a pickle when it comes to their future. Obviously, they aren’t thinking about that right now. They trail the Braves by 2.5 games in the wild card, so they are trying to make a mad dash for the playoffs...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 219 reads 0 comments

  6. Seattle Mariners and Jack Zduriencik in the Final Analysis

    Jack Zduriencik had high hopes for the season at the beginning of the year, but those dreams were dashed when the club had a huge losing streak in the middle of the season. Yet, that losing streak may have been a blessing in disguise...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 1,021 reads 13 comments

  7. San Francisco Giants and Brian Sabean in the Final Analysis

    Brian Sabean is the luckiest man in sports. Colin Powell once said of George H.W. Bush that "he was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple." The same could be said of Sabean...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 516 reads 2 comments

  8. San Diego Padres and Jed Hoyer in the Final Analysis

    The 2010 Padres were the talk of the league. No, they didn't win the NL West as it turned out, but they surprised everyone by being the best team in that division for most of the season...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 2,421 reads 5 comments

  9. Prime 9: The Top 9 AL Catchers for 2012 Fantasy Baseball

    If you are anything like me, you are watching someone else win your fantasy league this season. It hasn't been a bad year for my teams, but as they say, there can only be one champion...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 869 reads 10 comments

  10. Pittsburgh Pirates and Neal Huntington in the Final Analysis

    Neal Huntington recently got an extension and there may not be a more deserved extension in baseball. The Pirates have finally turned the corner and appear to be the up and coming team in the NL Central...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 883 reads 2 comments

  11. Philadelphia Phillies and Ruben Amaro Jr. in the Final Analysis

    When rating a team's analysis score, we need to keep two key things in mind. First, the object of baseball is to win games. As "Peter Brand" said in Moneyball , "Instead of buying players, you should be looking to buy wins...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 574 reads 4 comments

  12. Oakland Athletics and Billy Beane in the Final Analysis

    Moneyball opens in theatres on Friday and everyone in baseball is anticipating the picture. Rumor has it Brad Pitt could get nominated for Golden Globe or an Oscar...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 362 reads 0 comments

  13. New York Yankees and Brian Cashman in the Final Analysis

    Brian Cashman has both the easiest and most difficult position in MLB . Yes, he can spend upwards of 250 million on a big league payroll. A drunken monkey could do that and win more games than they lose...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 204 reads 10 comments

  14. MLB: New York Mets and Sandy Alderson in the Final Analysis

    Sometimes it is difficult these days to determine who was more responsible for the Mets downfall: Omar Minaya or Bernie Madoff. Well, Minaya was fired and Madoff is in the slammer, so the Mets are moving on...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 581 reads 17 comments

  15. Houston Astros: The Top 15 Hitting and Pitching Prospects

    When Ed Wade took over for Tim Purpura late in the 2007 season, he found an old roster that was falling apart and a minor league system that was beyond terrible. In a scant four seasons, the roster has turned over and is still terrible...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 1,103 reads 4 comments

  16. Minnesota Twins and Bill Smith in the Final Analysis

    This year has been a horrible one for the Twins . Just the trials and tribulations of Joe Mauer are enough to fill this column space. Most of the Twins money is sunk into the hands of a few veteran players...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 768 reads 4 comments

  17. 5 Reasons to Be Bullish on the 2012 Houston Astros

    The 2011 campaign has been tough for the Houston Astros and their fans. However, most dispassionate observers agreed that this kind of year had to happen. It probably happened a few years to late, but it finally happened...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 577 reads 2 comments

  18. Milwaukee Brewers and Doug Melvin in the Final Analysis

    It feels like we've been here before. Back in 2008, the Brewers were going for the whole thing. They acquired C.C. Sabathia midway through the season even though they knew there was very little chance he would come back...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 166 reads 0 comments

  19. L.A. Dodgers and Ned Colletti in the Final Analysis

    One has to feel sorry for every Los Angeles Dodgers employee right now. Working for the Dodgers used to be the same source of pride that being a New York Yankee, Los Angeles Laker or Dallas Cowboys employee was...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 318 reads 0 comments

  20. Los Angeles Angels and Tony Reagins in the Final Analysis

    In Greek mythology, Hercules had to undertake numerous task to prove himself worthy. Greek literature portrays him as very strong and resourceful, but he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 272 reads 0 comments

  21. The Case for Numbers: A Case for the Use of Sabermetrics in Baseball Analysis

    Numbers and baseball go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly. Think about the history of the game and there is usually a number attached. You have numbers like 56, 714, 755, 511, and 59...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 101 reads 0 comments

  22. Kansas City Royals and Dayton Moore in the Final Analysis

    Dayton Moore has joined Ed Wade on the Internet snark train. Like with Wade, Moore doesn’t deserve the treatment...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 390 reads 1 comments

  23. Bud Selig and Jim Crane Taking Astros Ownership to the Wire

    A lot has been written about the Houston Astros ' ownership situation. Some have suggested that Bud Selig is extorting Jim Crane. Others suggest he is doing his due diligence...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 400 reads 0 comments

  24. Houston Astros: Ed Wade's Final Analysis

    Adam Ant was one of the many artist in the 1980's to produce a one-hit wonder. He has spent the past two decades coasting on that one hit and getting in trouble with the law...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 602 reads 2 comments

  25. Florida Marlins and Michael Hill in the Final Analysis

    The Florida Marlins are opening a new stadium and will change their name to the Miami Marlins. A team name change would be a fresh start for a team that has a disastrous season off the field this year...

    Scott Barzilla Written by Scott Barzilla about over 1 year ago 358 reads 7 comments