In early August, I listened to a podcast show. A pitcher was interviewed by a long-time reporter. The pitcher was quite honest. He indicated that he threw a lot of sinkers while he was playing for the Pirates. After being traded, his sinker usage dropped significantly.
It was a couple of weeks ago, I was in Japan and passed by a sports card shop. I found some 2025 Topps Heritage hobby packs available. Well, I only bought a blaster box of the 2025 Topps Heritage previously. When I saw some hobby packs of the 2025 Topps Heritage, I was just thinking it would be fun to buy some.
The 2025 Topps Chrome was released in late July. This set is always a popular one that attracts many collectors. Each year, I bought some hobby packs or jumbo packs of this product. A few weeks ago, I was in Japan and I found that there was a sports card shop near the hotel where I stayed.
The 2025 deadline was just a couple of weeks ago. Before the trade deadline, several teams decided to acquire relievers to enhance their bullpens. Moreover, I listened to a podcast show a few days ago. In the podcast, an analyst indicated the importance of the bullpen in the postseason.
Before the 2025 trade deadline, the Cleveland Guardians decided to trade former Cy Young award winner Shane Bieber to the Blue Jays and acquired Khal Stephen from the Blue Jays. Sending an ace to another team isn’t easy. When I look at this trade, I’m just thinking about a question.
It was a few weeks ago, I was watching a baseball game. In the late innings, a reliever gave up a home run and the game was tied. Suddenly, in a chat group, a friend indicated that the team shouldn’t sign him for a long-term deal.
In late July, the Dodgers visited Fenway Park. This time, it’s a special moment for Walker Buehler because he got the ring of the 2024 World Series Champion. He recorded the final out of the 2024 World Series.
On July 2, 2025, in the top of the 6th inning, Clayton Kershaw threw a slider, which was his 100th pitch in the game. The batter didn’t swing, but Kershaw located it well. It was a strike. Kershaw struck out the batter to end the inning and it’s the 3000th strikeout in his great career.
All right, we have seen strikeout leaders via different pitches from 2008 to 2024. However, I’m just thinking about another thing. How about something different?
July just came to an end. Last month, several teams played very well. With great performance in July, some teams now have become postseason contenders.
So, we have reviewed pitchers who threw a lot of strikeouts via four-seamers, curveballs and sliders from 2008 to 2024. Now, our focus will move on to another pitch.
We just reviewed several pitchers who threw 1000+ strikeouts with their sliders. Now, let’s shift our focus on another pitch.
Just a couple of days ago, we reviewed some pitchers who used their four-seamers to generate a lot of strikeouts. Certainly, their four-seamers are nightmares of many MLB hitters. This time, let’s take a look at another pitch type.
In early July, I listened to a podcast show. In the show, an analyst indicated a pitcher’s pitch and he has used it to strike out many batters. And the analyst emphasized that pitcher’s great pitch.
Around 2 weeks ago, we took a look at some rookie hitters’ performances. Some rookie hitters certainly have drawn a lot of attention. Now, let’s shift our focus on the mound.
A few weeks ago, I was watching a baseball game. The starting pitcher did a good job on the mound. However, his fastball isn’t really fast. Most of the time, his four-seamers didn’t touch 90 mph in a game.
Shohei Ohtani, without a doubt, is a superstar in baseball. Fans around the world all watch his performance. After undergoing his second major elbow surgery in 2023 and going through the rehab process, Ohtani returned to the mound in mid-June.
Last month, I watched a game on TV. A starting pitcher threw a pitch that was just 40+ mph. That pitch looked so weird and surprised many people. What is that?
Well, pitcher usage has been quite different in today’s baseball games. However, no one can ignore the importance of the rotation.
The first half of the 2025 season is almost over. Several rookie players have been off to a good start this season. And it’s certainly worthwhile to see how good they have done.
It's the 4th of July. Happy Independence Day! I believe that lots of people are going to watch fireworks today. In baseball, many teams set fireworks after a player from the home team crushes a home run.
I watched a game on TV. A pitcher was ready to throw the first pitch of the game. The play-by-play guy mentioned a thing which is quite interesting.
In the first week of May, the 2025 Bowman was released. It’s always an interesting set that focuses on prospects. You can find some future stars or super stars in this set. But you know, sometimes things don’t go as expected.
Is that Chris Taylor? A friend sent me a message during the 2017 World Series. My friend is a big fan of the Seattle Mariners and he heard of him when Taylor was playing for the Mariners. However, while playing for the Mariners, Taylor’s performance wasn’t so impressive. Nonetheless, things have become different since he was traded to the Dodgers in 2016.
An all-star hitter was at the batter’s box. And a pitcher threw the first pitch. That hitter didn’t move. It was a strike. Well, that hitter didn’t intend to hit.
I opened a lucky bag a few weeks ago. In the lucky bag, I found an interesting card. It’s a Paul Blair autograph card and it’s from the 2001 Fleer.
It was a few weeks ago, I watched a game on TV. In the game, a pitcher gave up a home run in the first inning. It seemed that he didn’t pitch well in the first inning.
On June 7, Evan Longoria officially retired as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. Longoria was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the first round of the 2006 draft. He made his MLB debut in 2008 and spent 16 seasons in the majors. In his career, Longoria played 1986 games, slashing .264/.333/.471 with 342 home runs and 1159 RBI.
I watched an interview on X. A batter just had done a great job at Chase Field with 4 hits in a game. In the interview, he was asked if he knew that his career stats are pretty good when he visits Chase Field.
A few days ago, I watched a clip on Netflix. A pitching coach indicated about fastball usage to his pitchers. He talked about using fewer fastballs.
I listened to a podcast show a couple days ago. In the show, an analyst mentioned a player’s performance in the 2025 season, emphasizing that the player has drawn more walks than strikeouts.
The 2025 Topps Heritage was released in late April. This year, it takes us back to 1976. For me, this series is an interesting brand to collect. However, it’s not so easy to get a hit. There’s only a hit in a hobby box.
One month ago, Jose Ramirez reached a key career milestone. He became the first player in Cleveland Guardians history with at least 250 stolen bases and 250 home runs. Since making it into the big leagues in 2013, Jose Ramirez has become an essential player for the team.
May just came to an end. In the second month of the 2025 season, several pitchers had done a fantastic job on the mound. And let’s see how good they were last month.
Last year, I opened a mega box of the 2024 Topps Holiday. It was fun and I like what I got because I got some rookie cards that I was looking for. A few days ago, I went to a sports card shop after a meeting. I said hello to the owner and took a look at the shelves to see if there was something new.
A few days ago, I watched a baseball game on TV. When a batter was at bat, it clearly showed that his performance was great with runners in scoring position. And the next batter was hitting, it also showed that he has done a great job with runners in scoring position.
Several weeks ago, I listened to a podcast show. In the show, a host asked several questions to Jed Hoyer, who’s the president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs.
A few weeks ago, I watched a game on TV. It was a game with 2 Cy Young favorites on the mound. Paul Skenes started the game for the Pirates. He threw 6.1 innings and struck out 9 batters. Skenes didn’t allow any walks or runs in the game. At the same time, Yoshinobu Yamamoto took the mound for the Dodgers. Yamamoto tossed 5 innings, giving 3 runs (1 earned) with 5 strikeouts and 4 walks.
A few weeks ago, I listened to a podcast show. In the show, a host indicated that a player was off to a great start in 2025 and the host asked an analyst whether that player’s great start would be consistent.
A couple of days ago, I went to a sports card shop. The shop owner is a great guy and I always enjoy chatting with him. In the meantime, there were several people in the store. Well, I never saw them before.
It was a few weeks ago, I listened to a podcast show. In the show, an analyst indicated a player’s good performance against the Dodgers. That player collected several extra-base hits against the Dodgers in a series.
A couple of days ago, I watched a baseball game on TV. Well, the Dodgers were playing. Without doubt, they are postseason contenders. While watching the game, a play-by-play guy indicated a player’s performance in the postseason.
A few weeks ago, I watched a video on X. It was about the comparison between the 1998 Yankees and the 2025 Dodgers. It was quite interesting to see the comparison of each position.
Just a couple of days before opening day, the Braves and the Angels agreed to a deal. In the trade, the Braves sent Ian Anderson to the Angels and acquired Jose Suarez. Anderson tossed 9.1 innings for the Angels and owned an ERA over 11. The Angels designated him for assignment in April. And the Braves claimed him off waivers. However, he was DFAed by the Braves and is now in the minors. Meanwhile, Jose Suarez tossed 7.1 innings for the Braves. He was DFAed by the Braves in April and is now in the minors.
A couple of days ago, I watched a baseball game on TV. Freddie Freeman was hitting. Freeman has been one of the most consistent hitters in the majors. Back in 2022, he and the Dodgers agreed to a 6-year deal.
Bullpen usage has been quite important in today’s baseball games. At the beginning of the 2025 season, several relief pitchers have played an important role to help their teams secure a win many times.
The first month of the 2025 season just came to an end. In April, several hitters were off to a great start and had played very well. And now, let’s see if there are some names that actually surprised many baseball fans.
Back in mid-March, a key thing for me was to watch the Tokyo Series between the Cubs and the Dodgers. The Dodgers swept the Cubs to have a good start in the 2025 season. The Dodgers decided to let 2 Japanese pitchers start each game. The starter of the first game was Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Roki Sasaki took the mound in the second game and it was his MLB debut.
