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*In the next couple weeks, our website will be continuing to add new writers and material*

   
Road Map to The Baseball Nation
3.1.2009

On behalf of the founding fathers of The Baseball Nation, I would like to welcome you to baseball country.  We are excited to have a second chance to share our knowledge, passion, opinions, and insight into the game we all love with fans just like us.

Analyzing everything from fantasy baseball, player development, media coverage, public perception, history, and trends within the game, The Baseball Nation will deal with all of the things that make baseball the best game in the world.

In addition to kicking off our regular coverage, the coming days will see the writers on this site share a more personal look into their baseball consciousness with essays and specific stories explaining how we got to The Baseball Nation.

For my part, I sat down several days ago to begin writing about the route I took to get here.  I quickly realized that, due to the depth of my love for this game (and some might say my verbose nature), a short essay would not be an option.  Instead, this is merely a preface, not only for The Baseball Nation as a whole, but also for my look at how I arrived here.

It is my sincere hope that we can play some part in serving the baseball community by virtue of our love for, and experiences with, this wonderful game of baseball.

-- Bobby Glover - (email)

Articles
AL CY Young and MVP - Ryan Lazenby
04.06.09

Let's finish this up with the AL MVP and Cy Young.

First up we'll examine the Cy Young.  It has to be Roy Halladay.  He's been in the top three for as far back as I can remember; the definition of a perennial contender for the title.  He's efficient, only breaking 120 pitches twice all year while leading the league with 9 complete games.  While he did benefit from a good defense, there's almost a full point between his ERA and DERA, and he was still better than Cliff Lee.  He'll sit around 165 SO again this year and he'll have a GB% above 50% again.  The defense shouldn't be that much worse, but he still isn't in line for a whole lot of offensive support.  But without a viable front-runner for the Cy in the AL, there is room for him to take his second Cy Young award.  CONTINUE>>>
Prospect Spotlight I - Jim Hafer
4.01.09

Brett Cecil-LHP-Toronto-22-AAA-6'3"-220

2008 - High A: 10.1IP, 6H, 2BB, 11K, ERA - 1.74, WHIP - 0.77, FIP - 2.91
AA: 77.2, 66, 23, 87, 2.55, 1.15, 2.76
AAA: 30.2, 28, 16, 31, 4.11, 1.43, 3.31

Brett Cecil was the 38th overall pick in 2007, signing for $810,000 out of the University of Maryland, where he was the team's closer.  Cecil's repertoire features a low 90s sinking fastball and a plus slider, while his changeup and curve are still works in progress.  His arsenal has generated plenty of groundballs (59% in AA, 69% in AAA) and strikeouts so far in his career.  In his 2007 professional debut in Low A, Cecil posted a 2.33 FIP in 49.2 IP with 56 Ks, allowing only 36 hits and 11 walks.  CONTINUE>>>

NL MVP and Cy Young - Ryan Lazenby
3.30.09

Well, this week I'm going to shake it up a little bit.  Instead of giving you guys an issue piece I'm going to give you some hard analysis.  And make some projections, MVP and Cy Young for each league.  I'll even throw in a sleeper for each award.

Let's start with the NL MVP.  I absolutely hate to pick a back to back winner, so I won't. Just know that Albert Pujols is going to be dangerous again this year, probably worthy of a sleeper pick for MVP if I wasn't worried that the whole world would laugh at me for calling Albert Pujols a sleeper.  Without further fanfare my pick for NL MVP 2009 is:  CONTINUE>>>


Prospect Spotlight I - Jim Hafer
3.27.09

Daryl Jones-OF-STL-21-AA-5'11"-180-L/L

2008: A+: 307 AB-43 R-7 HR-35 RBI-33 BB-67 K-.326/.403/.476/.879
AA: 151-19-6-14-22-30-.290/.404/.500/.904

Daryl Jones wasn't  even included on BA's 2008 Top 30 Cardinals Prospect list, so one could argue that he has already made quite a move (he's #4 on BP's 2009 Top 11).  Jones, a 3rd Rd HS pick by the Cards in 2005 (who was also a highly recruited as a football WR), has always been a speedy, athletic prospect.  In 2007, some scouts likened him to a young Kenny Lofton, citing great speed and range, with a slightly below average arm in the OF.  In his 2007 full season debut, Daryl struggled to a .217/.303/.296/.599 line, well deserving of the precipitous drop in his prospect status.  However, given his scouting report, perhaps it was a bit premature to forget about him.  CONTINUE>>>
(Prospect Spotlight II will be coming in the next week)

WBC - Take II - Ryan Lazenby
3.24.09


Well the Classic is over and I have to say that I'm a little disappointed.  Not so much that the USA team didn't go to the finals, but in the way that they didn't go to the finals.  I have now come to the conclusion that we're still about two WBCs away from actually caring as a nation.  CONTINUE>>>

Age of Confusion - Shane Setnor
3.13.09

Okay.  Okay.  I will admit it.  I am TERRIBLE at judging how old people of different races are.  I mean God-awful.  Asians, African-Americans, Hispanics, etc...  If you're not white, I just can't tell how old you are (Forgive me, please, as most parts of Indiana are sorely lacking in diversity).  And mostly, I probably can't tell how old most White folk are despite my stunning accuracy on guessing while watching 10 Years Younger (don't judge).  So I guess I could understand how occasionally a GM could mistake the age of a player.  CONTINUE>>>

WBC - Take I - Ryan Lazenby
3.9.09

For the last couple of days I have been taking in the spectacle that is the World Baseball Classic.  It has been a lot of fun.  The Dominican Republic was upset by the Netherlands, the U.S. has something to prove, and Japan is dismantling teams.  It's almost like real baseball.  Bud Selig likes it and the players seem to enjoy it.  The fans are even getting into it.  The managers and owners may have a problem with it, but as the nuts and bolts hammer out over the years I think we'll see their problems evaporate.  CONTINUE>>>

Top 100 Prospects - Part II - Jim Hafer
3.6.09

Everybody loves top prospect lists, and I'm no exception.  While I've constructed loose lists of names in the past, this is my first endeavor of this depth and quality.  My Top 100 list includes reasoning for the rankings along with player capsules.  The rankings do have a slight 5x5 fantasy tilt, and do not incorporate defensive value quite as much as other places.  While defense is not ignored, guys like Jesus Montero will get a bit of a boost, while guys like Alcides Escobar and Buster Posey will be a bit lower.  CONTINUE>>>

Top 100 Prospects - Part I - Jim Hafer
3.4.09

Everybody loves top prospect lists, and I'm no exception.  While I've constructed loose lists of names in the past, this is my first endeavor of this depth and quality.  My Top 100 list includes reasoning for the rankings along with player capsules.  The rankings do have a slight 5x5 fantasy tilt, and do not incorporate defensive value quite as much as other places.  While defense is not ignored, guys like Jesus Montero will get a bit of a boost, while guys like Alcides Escobar and Buster Posey will be a bit lower.    CONTINUE>>>

Manny Being Manny, Boras Being Boras, The System Being Broken - Ryan Lazenby
3.4.09

Hello there folks.  We here at The Baseball Nation pride ourselves on objectively reviewing the facts.  If you've heard that before from other outlets (you know who you are), then you know it's almost never true.  So let me say this:  I am always going to be on the fans' side.  I'm going to consistently make the argument that benefits the people that watch baseball.  So anyway, I'm here, and you're here, and together we're going to take a look into the dark, foreboding expanse that is the Manny Ramirez contract negotiations (if you're a mild to very attractive female, feel free to hold onto me if you get scared).    CONTINUE>>>

        Why We Love      
             Baseball           

 
             Fantasy           
- Matt Lams

Part VI - Bobby Glover
3.19.09  CONTINUE>>>
Part V - Shane Setnor
3.18.09  CONTINUE>>>
Part IV - Bobby Schmidt
3.14.09  CONTINUE>>> 
Part III - Bobby Glover
3.11.09
  CONTINUE>>>
Part II - Jim Hafer
3.03.09
  CONTINUE>>>
Part I - Ryan Lazenby
3.01.09 CONTINUE>>>

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SP Class
4.09.09  CONTINUE>>>
Outfield Class
3.26.09 CONTINUE>>>
Hanley Ramirez, 1st Selection in any 09 Draft
3.20.09  CONTINUE>>>
Wright Tops A-Rod Even Before Injury

3.16.09  CONTINUE>>>
Mc"Cann," In Fact, Do It All
3.12.09  CONTINUE>>>
Utley "Chase-ing" Newcomer
3.05.09  CONTINUE>>>
Pujols Heads Talented 1B Class
3.02.09  CONTINUE>>>
 Breakout Breakdown 

   
Breakout Breakdown: NL Central - Bobby Glover
3.31.09  CONTINUE>>>

Breakout Breakdown: NL East - Bobby Glover
3.25.09  CONTINUE>>>

Breakout Breakdown: AL West - Bobby Glover
3.17.09
  CONTINUE>>>

Breakout Breakdown: AL Central - Bobby Glover

3.10.09
  CONTINUE>>>

Breakout Breakdown: AL East
- Bobby Glover
3.03.09  CONTINUE>>>

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