Michael W Article Archive

B/R Articles

History Unblurred: The 10 Best Starting Pitchers from the 2000s

Now that the decade of the 2000s has just ended, I thought it would be a good time to make a list of the best starting pitchers from this era. Now keep in mind, this list is a list of the best careers, so far...

Written by Michael W about 1 day ago 86 reads 2 comments
History Unblurred: Quotes About Smoky Joe Wood (Best Not In The HOF)

I have spent the past two or three weeks in stat land, researching Starting Pitcher's. I have collected dozens of quotes on different players and I wanted to share the quotes about Smoky Joe Wood...

Written by Michael W about 2 months ago 100 reads 39 comments
History Unblurred: Bill James, What Are You Thinking?

Bill James has Joe McGinnity rated as the 38th best starting pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball. He has Addie Joss rated 75th...

Written by Michael W about 4 months ago 79 reads 20 comments
History Unblurred: The 10 Best Defensive Second Basemen in MLB History

The econd base position is one of the most important defensive positions on the field. In fact, other than the pitcher, catcher and shortstop positions, it is probably the most important defensive position on the field...

Written by Michael W about 5 months ago 817 reads 19 comments
History Unblurred: The Tip O'Neill HOF Argument and the Triple Crown

During the last couple of months, I have read some articles on the Bleacher Report regarding the Triple Crown. Most of the articles were very good and well-researched. It got me thinking about Tip O'Neill...

Written by Michael W about 5 months ago 73 reads 12 comments
Unblurring History: Ten Best Overall Shortstops In MLB History

Each and every player in the top 10 is an A + offensively and overall. But, I will also list a defensive letter grade with each player so you know where they stand in that category, the way I see it...

Written by Michael W about 6 months ago 369 reads 11 comments
Unblurring History: 10 Best Defensive Shortstops in MLB History

The Shortstop position is the important defensive position on the field, other than the Pitcher's and Catcher. That makes this an important defensive list. It amazes me how much "respected" historians differ on defensive ratings...

Written by Michael W about 6 months ago 863 reads 5 comments
Bill Lange: Best Player in History Not in the HOF?

A Quick history I realize that Bill Lange will likely never get into the HOF because he had a fairly short career. He only played in @ 800 games...

Written by Michael W about 6 months ago 143 reads 6 comments
Alex Rodriguez: Wiping His Butt With the Fabric of America

It has often times been said that baseball is part of the fabric of America. I'm not trying to pass quick judgement on Alex. But I will say this, if he DID tip Pitches off to opponents, then he has wiped his a*s with the fabric of America...

Written by Michael W about 7 months ago 352 reads 3 comments
Unblurring History: Ten Best Defensive Catchers In the History of MLB

Other than the Pitchers, the Catcher position is the most important defensive position on the field. I will include a letter grade next to each Catchers name to show their offensive grade (the way I see it)...

Written by Michael W about 7 months ago 377 reads 1 comments
Unblurring History: Bill James Puts Too Much Weight on Length of Career

First of all, I want to let it be known that the respect that I have for Bill James is great. He's arguably the most respected baseball historian alive and is the "godfather" of the modern rating system, saber metrics...

Written by Michael W about 7 months ago 303 reads 12 comments
Unblurring History: 10 Best Defensive Third Basemen in History

I will make a list of the 10 best defensive Third Basemen in the history of MLB. Unlike offense, many historians are all over the map defensively. It's time to set it straight. All 10 Third Basemen are obviously an A + defensively...

Written by Michael W about 7 months ago 474 reads 8 comments
Unblurring History: MLB's All-Time Top 10 Third Basemen

We will list the 10 best third basemen in the history of the major leagues. All 10 third basemen are an A+ overall and an A+ offensively, so I won't need to include a letter grade for either area...

Written by Michael W about 8 months ago 594 reads 0 comments
Best Ever Defensive Center Fielders: Unblurring History

Two or three weeks ago, I wrote an article that ranked every Center Fielder in the history of MLB, offensively. A letter grade was given to each player, and they were also put in order from 1-236...

Written by Michael W about 8 months ago 310 reads 5 comments
Best Ever Offensive Center Fielders: Unblurring History

There have been 236 center fielders in the history of MLB that have played in at least 800 games, and we will letter grade each and every one of them offensively. At a later date, we will rate them defensively...

Written by Michael W about 9 months ago 340 reads 4 comments
Best Ever Offensive Catchers: Unblurring History

The catcher position is the most important defensive spot on the field, other than the pitcher. But let us focus on that position offensively...

Written by Michael W about 9 months ago 400 reads 3 comments
The Best Players in MLB History with Short Careers (Position By Position)

It seems that most of the great players in the history of MLB that had fairly short careers have been just about forgotten. They are usually highly underrated by most historians because it brings their career value down...

Written by Michael W about 11 months ago 667 reads 7 comments
New Rule Introduced For Major League Baseball

I would like to introduce a new rule for Major League Baseball to consider. It's a rule that I'm fairly sure they will implement...

Written by Michael W about about 1 year ago 139 reads 18 comments
Lajoie/Hornsby: The Best Single Season in MLB History for a Second Baseman?

The season that Dustin Pedroia just had got me thinking, who has the best single season in the history of MLB for a Second Baseman? He had a great one this year, .326 BA, 20 SB, 118 R, 54 2B and ...

Written by Michael W about about 1 year ago 209 reads 0 comments
Tip O'Neill Hit for the Triple Crown; Still Not in the Hall of Fame

Tip O'Neill is one of only 12 different players in the history of MLB to hit for the triple crown. He was the first to do it, and he remains as the ONLY player in the history of MLB to do it and NOT be inducted into the Hall of Fame...

Written by Michael W about about 1 year ago 102 reads 0 comments
Hughie Jennings: Best Single Season In The History Of MLB For a Shortstop?

Hughie Jennings had two great seasons in 1895 and 1896 that I don't know have ever been topped by another Shortstop in the history of MLB. He scored 159 R during the 1895 season and that mark still ranks 17th on the all-time single season R list...

Written by Michael W about about 1 year ago 76 reads 0 comments
Why Is Smokey Joe Wood Not in the Hall of Fame?

This isn't an article as much as it is a question in need of comments. Many historians believe that Walter Johnson is a top tier Hall of Fame starting pitcher and he might make it in many historians ...

Written by Michael W about about 1 year ago 365 reads 6 comments
MLB's 10 Best First Basemen of All Time

10. Johnny Mize (1940s) One of those seemingly forgotten Hall of Famers. Historians haven't forgotten him, but many of the casual fans have. His .562 SLG percentage still ranks in the top 20 all time...

Written by Michael W about about 1 year ago 2,384 reads 0 comments

<form action="/accounts/create_from_facebook" class="new_facebook_user" id="new_facebook_user" method="post">	<input id="facebook_user_proxied_email" name="facebook_user[proxied_email]" type="hidden" />
	<input id="facebook_user_profile_pic" name="facebook_user[profile_pic]" type="hidden" />
	<input id="facebook_user_facebook_id" name="facebook_user[facebook_id]" type="hidden" />
	<input id="facebook_user_profile_url" name="facebook_user[profile_url]" type="hidden" />
	<ul>
					<li class="fb-question">
				<div class="input">
											<div id="facebook_placebo_submit">
							<img src="/images/shared/submit.png" />
						</div>
										<div class="fb-first-name" id="fb-email">
						<p><strong>Email Address</strong></p>
						<input class="signup_text_input" id="facebook_user_email" name="facebook_user[email]" size="30" type="text" />
						<img alt="Small" id="facebook_email_indicator" src="http://assets3.bleacherreport.com/images/shared/spinners/small.gif?1259188455" style="display:none" />
						
					</div>
				</div>
				<div class="input" id="facebook_password_container" style="display:none">
					<div class="fb-first-name notice">
						<p>This email address matches an existing user profile. Please enter your password to connect your accounts.</p>
						<p><strong>Password</strong></p>
						<input class="signup_text_input" id="facebook_user_password" name="facebook_user[password]" size="30" type="password" />
						
					</div>
				</div>
			</li>
				<div id="facebook_questions" style="display:none">
			<li class="fb-question" id="facebook_full_name_container">
				<p class="question">
					<label for="facebook_user_use_full_name">Use your full name <strong class="full_name"></strong> on Bleacher Report?</label>
					<br />
				</p>
				<p class="options">
					<input name="facebook_user[use_full_name]" type="hidden" value="0" /><input checked="checked" id="facebook_user_use_full_name" name="facebook_user[use_full_name]" type="checkbox" value="1" />
					<label for="facebook_user_use_full_name">Yes</label>
				</p>
				<div class="input full-name-edit" style="display:none">
					<p>Edit your name for Bleacher Report:</p>
					<div class="fb-first-name">
						<label for="facebook_user_first_name">First Name <em>(required)</em></label>
						<input class="signup_text_input" id="facebook_user_first_name" name="facebook_user[first_name]" size="30" type="text" />
						
					</div>
	
					<div class="fb-last-name">
						<label for="facebook_user_last_name">Last Name <em>(required)</em></label>
						<input class="signup_text_input" id="facebook_user_last_name" name="facebook_user[last_name]" size="30" type="text" />
						
					</div>
				</div>
			</li>
			<li class="fb-question">
				<p class="question">
					<img src="/images/default-user-icon-medium.png" class="profile_pic" />
					<label for="facebook_user_use_profile_pic">Do you want to use your Facebook profile picture on Bleacher Report?</label>
				</p>
				<p class="options">
					<input name="facebook_user[use_profile_pic]" type="hidden" value="0" /><input checked="checked" id="facebook_user_use_profile_pic" name="facebook_user[use_profile_pic]" type="checkbox" value="1" />
					<label for="facebook_user_use_profile_pic">Yes</label>
					
				</p>
			</li>
			<li class="fb-question" id="facebook_interested_in_writing_container">
				<p class="question"><label for="facebook_user_interested_in_writing">Are you interested in covering your favorite teams and sports?</label></p>
				<p class="options">
					<input name="facebook_user[interested_in_writing]" type="hidden" value="0" /><input id="facebook_user_interested_in_writing" name="facebook_user[interested_in_writing]" type="checkbox" value="1" />
					<label for="facebook_user_interested_in_writing">Yes</label>
					
				</p>
			</li>
			<li class="fb-question">
				<p class="question"><label for="facebook_user_share_activity">Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity in your Facebook activity feed?</label></p>
				<p class="options">
					<input name="facebook_user[share_activity]" type="hidden" value="0" /><input checked="checked" id="facebook_user_share_activity" name="facebook_user[share_activity]" type="checkbox" value="1" />
					<label for="facebook_user_share_activity">Yes</label>
					
					<br />
					<a href="#" id="share_facebook_activity_advanced_link">Advanced Sharing Options</a>
				</p>
				<p id="share_facebook_activity_advanced" style="display:none">
					<input name="facebook_user[share_activity_article_writing]" type="hidden" value="0" /><input checked="checked" id="facebook_user_share_activity_article_writing" name="facebook_user[share_activity_article_writing]" type="checkbox" value="1" />
					<label for="facebook_user_share_activity_article_writing">When I write a new article</label>
					<br /><input name="facebook_user[share_activity_comment]" type="hidden" value="0" /><input checked="checked" id="facebook_user_share_activity_comment" name="facebook_user[share_activity_comment]" type="checkbox" value="1" />
					<label for="facebook_user_share_activity_comment">When I post a comment</label>
					<br /><input name="facebook_user[share_activity_like]" type="hidden" value="0" /><input checked="checked" id="facebook_user_share_activity_like" name="facebook_user[share_activity_like]" type="checkbox" value="1" />
					<label for="facebook_user_share_activity_like">When I like an article</label>
					<br /><input name="facebook_user[share_activity_poll_vote]" type="hidden" value="0" /><input checked="checked" id="facebook_user_share_activity_poll_vote" name="facebook_user[share_activity_poll_vote]" type="checkbox" value="1" />
					<label for="facebook_user_share_activity_poll_vote">When I vote on a poll</label>
					<br /><input name="facebook_user[share_activity_fan]" type="hidden" value="0" /><input checked="checked" id="facebook_user_share_activity_fan" name="facebook_user[share_activity_fan]" type="checkbox" value="1" />
					<label for="facebook_user_share_activity_fan">When I become a fan of another member</label>
				</p>
			</li>
			<li class="fb-question">
				<p class="question"><label for="facebook_user_fan_friends">Become fans of your Facebook friends connected to Bleacher Report?</label></p>
				<p class="options">			
					<input name="facebook_user[fan_friends]" type="hidden" value="0" /><input checked="checked" id="facebook_user_fan_friends" name="facebook_user[fan_friends]" type="checkbox" value="1" />
					<label for="facebook_user_fan_friends">Yes</label>
					
				</p>
			</li>
			<li>
				<a id="facebook_connect_submit"><img src="/images/shared/submit.png" /></a>
			</li>
		</div>
	</ul>
</form>

Sign up for Bleacher Report

Already have an account? Log in now » As a member you can get the latest on your favorite teams, post comments, write your own articles, and much more.

Join Bleacher Report

You must register in order for that functionality to work!

Sign up through Facebook

Follow your Facebook friends on Bleacher Report
Share your articles, comments, and more with friends

Great, , you're signed up!

i.e. San Francisco Giants, SEC Football, NFL, Golf

Selected Tags:

Yes, I'd like to receive an email newsletter for the topics I selected.

Michael W Article Archive

History Unblurred: The 10 Best Starting Pitchers from the 2000s

History Unblurred: Quotes About Smoky Joe Wood (Best Not In The HOF)

History Unblurred: Bill James, What Are You Thinking?

History Unblurred: The 10 Best Defensive Second Basemen in MLB History

History Unblurred: The Tip O'Neill HOF Argument and the Triple Crown

Unblurring History: Ten Best Overall Shortstops In MLB History

Unblurring History: 10 Best Defensive Shortstops in MLB History

Bill Lange: Best Player in History Not in the HOF?

Alex Rodriguez: Wiping His Butt With the Fabric of America

Unblurring History: Ten Best Defensive Catchers In the History of MLB

Unblurring History: Bill James Puts Too Much Weight on Length of Career

Unblurring History: 10 Best Defensive Third Basemen in History

Unblurring History: MLB's All-Time Top 10 Third Basemen

Best Ever Defensive Center Fielders: Unblurring History

Best Ever Offensive Center Fielders: Unblurring History

Best Ever Offensive Catchers: Unblurring History

The Best Players in MLB History with Short Careers (Position By Position)

New Rule Introduced For Major League Baseball

Lajoie/Hornsby: The Best Single Season in MLB History for a Second Baseman?

Tip O'Neill Hit for the Triple Crown; Still Not in the Hall of Fame

Hughie Jennings: Best Single Season In The History Of MLB For a Shortstop?

Why Is Smokey Joe Wood Not in the Hall of Fame?

MLB's 10 Best First Basemen of All Time

About B/R

Writing for B/R

Explore B/R

Popular Topics