There always seemed to be something just a little bit off center with Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd, who pitched for the Boston Red Sox from 1982 to 1989 (before ending his career with the Expos and Rangers). As a fan growing up in the 1980s, the right hander’s nickname was especially appealing, particularly when the […]
Archive for the ‘Red Sox’ Category
Kicking the Can: What Boyd’s Revelations Says About the Era (Rare Video Included)
Posted in Baseball, Crime, Culture, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, tagged Boston Globe, Oil Can Boyd on February 9, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Breaking Down Keith Law’s Top-100 Prospect List
Posted in Baseball, Draft, Mets, Minors, MLB, Prospects, Red Sox, Yankees, tagged ESPN, Keith Law on February 9, 2012 | 6 Comments »
Note: This post has been revised to correct an error. In the original version, Red Sox prospect Xander Bogaerts was assigned to the Reds. All other assignments have been verified, and the chart and relevant text have been updated. Prospecting has become a big part of being a baseball fan, and at no point is […]
Two Strikes and You’re Out?
Posted in Alex Rodriguez, Arod, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, sabermetrics, Statistical Analysis, Yankees on February 7, 2012 | 1 Comment »
Patience at the plate is about more than just drawing walks. It also incorporates a hitter’s ability to work himself into a favorable count. When ahead, major league hitters batted .299 with a .494 slugging percentage in 2011, but when they fell into a hole, those rates plummeted to .206 and .304, respectively. That’s why […]
If Price Is Right, Could Auction of Dodgers Induce Other Teams to Sell?
Posted in Baseball, Business and Finance, Mets, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, tagged Frank McCourt, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mark Cuban on January 31, 2012 | 2 Comments »
After Mark Cuban was eliminated from the bidding process for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the billionaire offered an interesting explanation for coming up short. “I wanted to buy a baseball team,” Cuban stated, “they were selling a media rights deal”. Cuban’s comment was a reference to the Dodgers’ expiring TV contract with FOX, which currently […]
Show Me the Money: A Chronological History of Baseball’s Best Paid Players
Posted in Alex Rodriguez, Arod, Baseball, George M. Steinbrenner, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, tagged Albert Pujols, Babe Ruth, Prince Fielder, Ted Williams on January 27, 2012 | 4 Comments »
(The following was originally published at Bronx Banter) Alex Rodriguez stood alone as baseball’s only $200 million man for a decade, but now he has company. In the last six weeks, the fraternity has tripled with the addition of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. However, Arod still remains firmly planted atop baseball’s all-time salary totem […]
Settling Down: Madson Joins List of Those Misreading the Market
Posted in Baseball, Hot Stove, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, tagged Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, ryan madson, Scott Boras on January 11, 2012 | 1 Comment »
It seems like every winter, there’s at least one free agent who enters the offseason with an inflated sense of his self worth, only to exit with a deflated contract. This year, that dubious distinction belongs to Ryan Madson. In early November, there were several reports suggesting that the Phillies and Madson were close to […]
Is Yanks’, Red Sox’ Offseason Thaw a Prelude to Renewed Hostilities Next Winter?
Posted in Baseball, Hot Stove, MLB, Red Sox, Roster Analysis, Yankees, tagged cole hamels, Matt Cain on January 10, 2012 | 1 Comment »
Over a month ago, I wondered if the Yankees’ patient approach this offseason was part of a larger strategy to load up for next year’s free agent class. More recently, the mainstream media has also advanced the same theory, and now, some in Red Sox Nation are wondering if Boston might be taking the same […]