In today’s Prospectus Hit and Run, I examine the fates of Orlando Hudson and Randy Wolf after the Dodgers failed to offer them arbitration, thus surrendering the right to first round draft picks and supplemental first round compensation picks in each case, hardly chump change. The decision wasn’t out of step with the industry trend; …
So I’m finally finished with what I refer to as my winter workload, my contributions to the Baseball Prospectus and Fantasy Baseball Index annuals as well as Maple Street Press’ Dodgers Annual, edited by Dodger Thoughts‘ Jon Weisman. All of that stuff is about a month away from hitting the shelves, but I’m back in …
Wow, now that was an unintended hiatus — thirty days since my last blog post here at Futility Infielder. Needless to say, I’ve been plenty busy over the past month, even cobbling away at my winter work during a 10-day trip to Mexico in honor of my 40th birthday. After completing my work for the Baseball …
One of my favorite musicians is the late, great pop genius Lee Hazlewood. As a singer he brought a wry sense of humor, world-weary view and distinctive baritone to both originals and covers. As a writer, he wrote “These Boots Are Made For Walking” and other hits which turned Nancy Sinatra into a superstar. As …
Since we last spoke… • Tuesday’s Todd Helton piece generated enough discussion and had enough leftovers that I took a second look at Helton’s Hall case, this time in the context of his contemporaries at first base — much as I did here. • Along with colleagues Kevin Goldstein, Marc Normandin and John Perrotto, and ESPN Insider’s …
Today’s Baseball Prospectus/ESPN Insider double dip concerns the Rockies’ Todd Helton, and in particular his Hall of Fame chances. If you were quietly minding your business by not thinking about Helton’s Cooperstown case, you weren’t alone; I was somewhat surprised when I was offered the assignment: Is Todd Helton bound for the Hall of Fame? …
With about 17 things on my plate this week, I didn’t get a chance to weigh in on the latest round of debates regarding Jorge Posada’s building candidacy for the Hall of Fame. Rob Neyer fired the opening salvo suggesting that while he’s probably the top catcher of the current decade, Posada isn’t worthy. Jonah …
Continue reading ‘You Discussed Posada’s Hall of Fame Candidacy and Didn’t Invite Me?’ »
In today’s Hit and Run column at Baseball Prospectus, I take up “The Curious Case of Jeff Kent”, who retired last week: There’s no crying in baseball, which may or may not explain why Jeff Kent’s stoic facade crumbled during the press conference in which he announced his retirement last week. A notoriously gruff and …
After a week and a half of laying low following the delivery of my final Baseball Prospectus annual essays and JAWS pieces, I’ve re-emerged with both an article and a chat. Today’s piece at BP focuses on last week’s Hall of Fame voting results and their underlying patterns. After noting that Jim Rice made history …
Happy New Year, dear readers! It’s been about three weeks since I checked in here, a time during which I’ve been plowing through my winter workload, with a weeklong trip to England over Xmas and New Years thrown in as well. In the meantime, I’ve completed the entire JAWS series on the BBWAA Hall of …