Blevins’ curve is good

Jerry Blevins made his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics on September 16, 2007. He has pitched 609 games, only 1 start that he was the opener for the Mets on June 24, 2018. He’s exclusively used as a relief pitcher, in particular, as a LOOGY (Left-handed One Out Guy). I saw him on the mound in the 2007 IBAF Baseball World Cup when he pitched for the team USA.

Mookie Betts’ first series as a Dodger

Mookie Betts was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Red Sox in a blockbuster trade in February 2020. The Dodgers sent outfielder Alex Verdugo and top prospects Jeter Downs and Connor Wong to the Red Sox and acquired Betts and pitcher David Price. Before the start of the 2020 season, Mookie Betts and the Dodgers have agreed on a 12-year, $365 million extension, which is the second-biggest deal by total value in MLB history. As the season started on July 23, his journey with the Dodgers began.

Darvish’s first starts

Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish started the Cubs’ second game of the 2020 season and allowed 3 runs (all earned) in 4 innings. He took the first loss of this season and it’s Davis Ross’ first loss as a Cubs manager. Darvish inked the deal with the Chicago Cubs in February 2018. From 2018 to 2020, he failed to pitch at least 5 innings in his first start of the season every year.

Dodgers Opening Day

It’s opening night. Baseball is finally back. The long wait is over. Clayton Kershaw made his 9th start on the opening day for the Los Angeles Dodgers. No, Kershaw was placed on the IL again. Dustin May made the first opening day start in his career and he did a great job against the Giants.

Some ideas: Bases Created Average (BCA) by team

Oakland Athletics hit 227 HRs in 2018, 3rd in MLB

A few weeks ago, I briefly explained Total Bases Created (TBC) and Bases Created Average (BCA) and listed players that ranked top 50 in the 2019 season. This time, I would like to see if this idea could apply to the team performance.

July 23

The 2020 MLB season will open on July 23 and there will be 2 games. The reigning champion Washington Nationals will host the New York Yankees. 3-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer will be the Nationals’ opening day starter and Gerrit Cole, who inked a historic deal in the off-season, will start his first game for the Yankees. Going to the west, one of the great rivalries in sports, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants will start the season in the Dodger stadium. Former MVP Clayton Kershaw will make his 9th start on the opening day, against Giants’ Johnny Cueto. Other teams will play their first games on July 24.

Seager’s Bowman card

It’s really weird for me to see Corey Seager wearing No.12. He has been wearing No. 5 since he made his MLB debut in 2015. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 2016 and, from 2015 to 2019, he has been a 2-time all-star and 2-time silver slugger. Meanwhile, he finished 3rd in the NL MVP voting in 2016.

Nimmo’s Bowman card

Bowman is indeed one of the most popular brands. There are several top prospects with great potential. Getting an autographed card from a top prospect is one of the most wonderful things for baseball fans. In the meantime, there are several 1st bowman cards from future superstars. It might take some time for those players to become all-stars, but would be worth waiting. Being patient is a lesson in baseball.

Who’s on second?

The 2020 season will begin next week. There are several rules changed in this season. One is that extra-inning games will feature innings starting with a runner on second base. The runner-on-second rule has been in place in the minor leagues for the past two seasons. Since the season is short and tight, the new rule is to hasten games, and to avoid marathon contests such as 18-inning games.

Had a good spring

Get well soon, Ryan O'Hearn

2020 Spring Training games were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is midsummer and it’s weird that we still don’t have baseball games to watch at this moment. However, baseball will be back later this month. Spring training 2.0 (summer camp) just began last week.

Benefit from the universal DH??

Justin Turner hit .387 as DH

In the previous article, I checked out the baseball reference website and tried to understand which National League teams led in DHs by different stats. National League teams use a DH when they play interleague games at American League ballparks. Thus, we saw interesting numbers and performances truly varied in the last 3 seasons. This time, I would like to use a different perspective.

Benefit from the universal DH?

Schwarber hit .299 as DH

The universal designated hitter rule will be implemented in the National League in the 2020 regular season. It will give some good hitters more plate appearances in this shortened season. The DH rule is not totally new for National League teams since they play interleague games every year and they do use a DH when they play at an American League ballpark.

1-2 pitching combos in the National League

Players are back and report to the summer camp. Baseball season will begin in a few weeks. After reviewing the 1-2 pitching combo in the American League. We are going to see pitchers in the National League. How did 1-2 pitching combos in the National League do in the first 10 games last season?

1-2 pitching combos in the American League

The 2020 MLB season is a shortened season with only 60 games. In this short season, it truly tests the front office, coaching staff and players since it’s so different from the traditional 162-game season. Because the season is so short and the situation after the COVID-19 pandemic is so different and unpredictable, it certainly requires different ways or creative ideas to compete in this season.