Getting better?

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.

2019 Topps Update Series

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.

Good against the Dodgers?

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.

They are good in the playoffs?

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.

Will Smith vs. Jorge Posada

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.

Great trade partners?

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.

Love No.5?

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.

The best reliever is?

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.

Good April?

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.

Good debuts?

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.

3 years and more to go

It’s been a month since the Opening Day. So far this season, Bobby Witt Jr. has played 28 games, hitting .318/.385/.477 with 2 home runs and 10 RBI. He has a good start in 2025. Well, it’s just the beginning of the 2025 season. However, looking at Bobby Witt Jr.’s numbers, I was just thinking about his career with the Royals.

Hard, not far

In mid-March, the Cubs played exhibition games at Tokyo Dome to prepare for the Opening Series. In an exhibition game, Seiya Suzuki hit a ball hard with an exit velocity over 110 mph. And the launch angle wasn’t bad. However, that ball didn’t travel far with a distance below 350 feet.

The future is on Jackson?

In the 2024 NL Rookie of the year voting, Paul Skenes received 136 voting points and won the award. Meanwhile, Jackson Merrill got 104 voting points and Jackson Chourio received 26 voting points. At the same time, Shota Imanaga had 4 points.

5th rounders?

Just a few weeks ago, I watched a video on YouTube. A pitcher was actually interviewed by a former pitcher in the majors. Their conversation was quite interesting.

Double leaders?

A few weeks ago, I saw a post on Facebook. It was a photo with several players who used to collect 50+ doubles in a single season. There are several great hitters who had 50+ doubles in a single season over the last several seasons. After reading the post, I was just thinking about some questions.

Low spin rate, really?

Around 4 or 5 weeks ago, I watched a baseball game on TV. It was a game of an international tournament. In a game, a relief pitcher went on the mound and his four-seam fastballs looked pretty good. In that game, that pitcher’s four-seamers normally touched 95 mph or 96 mph.

Seager at Globe Life Field

I watched a baseball game on TV. I saw a well-known commentator, who’s been on this job for 30+ years. It was a while ago, I remember that a pitcher used to sign a long-term deal and the commentator mentioned a problem with his performance.

Hard hit on the ground

A few weeks ago, I read an article about a player’s batted ball profile. He’s one of the most dangerous hitters in the majors. However, he actually hit several balls on the ground. Nonetheless, those balls were hit hard.

Super utility men

Just a couple of weeks ago, I watched a video on YouTube. In the video, a host and an analyst indicated a player’s performance in the postseason. Meanwhile, they mentioned another player who had a similar performance a few years ago.

Don’t like to hit at home?

A few days ago, I read an article about the park factor. An interesting thing in the article is that T-Mobile Park is a hard place for MLB hitters. Well, we all know that Coors Field is a hitter-friendly ballpark. So, after reading the article, I just thought about one thing.

Darin Erstad

A few weeks ago, I browsed an online sports card shop. I found a lucky bag product. In a lucky bag, you can find an autograph card and a jersey card. For me, that product looked quite interesting and I decided to order some.

Did he pitch a lot?

It was April Fool’s Day. Well, nothing crazy really happened, but some friends were sharing some jokes. Of course, there were some jokes about baseball. Suddenly, a friend indicated that a player seemed to take the mound several times in a regular season.

Don’t like the big apple?

The 2025 season has already begun and all 30 MLB teams have played. For me as a Dodgers fan, a great moment is that the players and coaches received their rings at Dodger stadium. Jack Flaherty, who played a key role in the rotation for the Dodgers last postseason, got his ring when the Tigers visited the Dodgers.

2025 Topps Series 1, jumbos

The 2025 Topps Series one was released in mid-February. A few days after this product was available, I was thinking about buying some packs. I thought about it for a while and decided to get some jumbo packs.

Pirates opening day starters

The Dodgers and the Cubs started the 2025 season in Tokyo. However, for 26 other teams, they will take action on March 27. Very soon, Paul Skenes will make his first opening day start.

Everything will be alright?

A few weeks ago, I watched a video on YouTube. It’s about Jackson Holliday’s journey to the big leagues. He made his MLB debut on April 10, 2024. On that day, he was only 20 years old. However, he didn’t collect a hit in the first 3 games. In the first season of his career, he slashed .189/.255/.311 with 5 home runs and 23 RBI in 60 games.

Kershaw is back again

In mid-February, Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers agreed to a one-year deal. Without doubt, lots of fans expected to see Kershaw back to the Dodgers. And he did agree to a contract with the Dodgers.

Mookie Betts in the playoffs

A few days ago, I watched some interview clips on X (Twitter). Mookie Betts answered several questions and of course, when it comes to the Dodgers, there’s always something about postseason.

Bat speed in 2024

A few weeks ago, I listened to a podcast show. In the show, a hitter indicated his bat speed in the 2024 season. That player is known as a good contact hitter and he’s not a power hitter. Hence, it’s quite interesting to hear him talking about bat speed.

Best shortstops of the Dodgers?

It’s been 3 weeks since spring training games began. For the Dodgers, they decided to let Mookie Betts play shortstop. Mookie Betts began the 2024 season as a shortstop. However, after being activated from the IL, he moved to right field. Mookie Betts, without doubt, is a great player and an MVP award winner. While seeing him play shortstop, I began to think about a question.

Cashman era

A few weeks ago, I listened to a podcast show. In the show, the hosts were talking about each team’s general manager and indicated that Brian Cashman is the MLB’s longest-tenured GM.

MVPs in spring training

The 2025 spring training games have already begun. We’ve seen several players have done a great job in spring training games. Some players are working hard to “get a job” in the big leagues. Some players just have shown that they are ready for the new season.

Hall of very good?

Last month, I ordered some lucky bags from an online sports card shop. When those lucky bags arrived, I couldn’t wait to open them. When I opened the second lucky bag, I found an interesting card.

First of so many?

In 2 weeks, the first game of the 2025 season will start in Tokyo. The Chicago Cubs will face the Dodgers, which won the 2024 World Series title. Very soon, we will watch the first game of the regular season and the first series of 2025 will start.

Cubs and Astros, again?

In the end of January, the Cubs acquired Ryan Pressly from the Astros. In the meantime, the Astros got Juan Bello from the Cubs. In December 2024, the Astros decided to trade Kyle Tucker to the Cubs. And the Astros got 3 players from the Cubs.

Swing and miss 4-seamer

A few weeks ago, I listened to a podcast show. It was an interview of a former pitcher in the majors. That pitcher indicated that he sees more swings and misses in the majors. And some pitchers’ four-seamers actually generate a lot of swings and misses.

Getting close to?

Many people are talking about Sasaki. Roki Sasaki decided to join the Dodgers and lots of fans are waiting to see his performance in the majors. However, before Roki Sasaki arrived in America, there was another Sasaki that played a key role in the majors.

Yasmani Grandal

It was in 2015. I watched a baseball game at Dodger stadium. As a Dodgers fan, it was such a dream come true moment. In the game, I saw a player crush a home run to help the Dodgers win the game.

2001 AL ERA CHAMP

A few weeks ago, I ordered some lucky bags from an online sports card shop. In a lucky bag, there’s a hit and a numbered card. After opening the first lucky bag, I saw an interesting card.

A lineup with Hall of Famers?

Unanimously, well, just one vote shy, Ichiro Suzuki was elected to the Hall of Fame. Without any doubts, he had a fantastic career. His professional baseball journey began in Japan and in 2001, he moved to the United States. In his great career in the majors, Ichiro spent 19 seasons in the majors, hitting .311/.355/.402 with 117 home runs, 780 RBI and 509 stolen bases.

Throw harder? III

So, we have taken a look at data about 4-seam fastballs and 2-seam fastballs (sinkers) over the last 17 seasons.

Throw harder? II

A couple of days ago, we just took a look at data about four-seam fastballs over the last 17 seasons and tried to understand the trends in the majors.

Throw harder?

In early January, I listened to a podcast show. In the show, the hosts and a guest, who worked in a baseball club in the majors, were talking about possible reasons that lead to pitcher injuries.

2024 Topps Archives arrived in 2025

Last November, a question just popped into my head. When will the 2024 Topps Archives release?

The Dodgers and the Reds reached a deal again

Last month, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to 2 trades. Firstly, the Dodgers sent Gavin Lux to the Reds and acquired Mike Sirota and a draft pick. Moreover, the Dodgers sent Arnaldo Lantigua to the Reds for future considerations.

Best hitters in the Fall Classic?

Several weeks ago, we reviewed some pitchers’ great performance in the World Series. It’s certain that some players were just dominating on the mound in the Fall Classic. After reviewing pitchers’ performance, let’s take a look at which batters did a great job in the World Series over the last 15 seasons.

Differences?

A few days ago, I watched some highlights on YouTube. Mostly, the highlights were about the Dodgers performance last season. Indeed, they won the World Series title and they did have a great season.

Gleyber Day in Detroit?

The 2024 season wasn’t a bad one for the Detroit Tigers. They finished 2nd in the AL Central and clinched a spot in the postseason. They defeated the Astros in the AL Wild Card series. However, they lost to the Guardians in the ALDS. The Tigers fell short in the postseason last year. Nonetheless, they certainly want to make it better in the coming seasons.

Has to improve?

I don’t know if there are many people who use Threads. For me, I use it a bit, checking if there’s something interesting. A few weeks ago, I saw a video on Threads and it showed a player had a lot of swings and misses last season.

Make it happen in 2025?

Just a couple of days ago, we reviewed some pitchers’ career stats and in the 2025 season, they might reach some key milestones in their careers. Now, let’s take a look at some hitters’ stats and see what could happen in 2025.