December 19, 2015
B.A.B.E.S Goes “Young” Just like MLB
Congratulations to Caleb Young, the B.A.B.E.S. champion for 2015 and winner of the coveted James L. Walker Award, a/k/a “The Rocky.” Just 14 and in the 8th grade, Caleb becomes the youngest winner (and most appropriately named) in B.A.B.E.S. history, and only the second expert to prevail in his first season. His correct selection of KCR (his Dad’s favorite team) as AL Central, ALCS and World Series champion carried him to the title with a total of 28 points (.246). His winning average was among the lowest in B.A.B.E.S. history, evidencing the upheaval in the MLB standings in 2015. (Who could have guessed that DET would finish last in the AL Central?) But Caleb deserves enormous credit for not only picking KCR to get finish the job it started last year, but also predicting that the Cubs and Astros would return to the post-season. That is an impressive display of expert analysis. So, following on last’s years triumph by an octogenarian, Pat Stone, this year we hail the youth movement with our first teen-aged winner. 2015’s rookie stand-outs Bryant, Correa, Lindor, Syndergaard, Schwarber, Pederson, Duffy and Piscotty, and Caleb proved that the future of MLB and B.A.B.E.S. belongs to the Young.
November 1, 2015
Too Much of a Good Thing Is a Bad Thing
The heart of a competitor and the faith of a manager worked against NYM last night and resulted in a lost opportunity to extend the Series. Could Matt Harvey’s desire to pitch in the 9th inning and Terry Collins’ compassionate decision to permit him to actually been caused by an overzealous agent? The fans’ reaction to Scott Boras’ demand that Harvey’s innings be limited must have been on the mind of both the player and his manager. Is this the first time an agent lost a World Series?
October 15, 2015
And then there were four – in MLB and B.A.B.E.S
So the final four in MLB this year is somewhat of a surprise, at least to our members. Of the 37 of us participating this year, only four have either of their World Series teams still alive and no one has more than one. Robert Carington and Jack Rose (CHI), respectively, get credit for a life-time of Cub support (Robert) and great timing in jumping on the band-wagon (Jack). If the Cubs actually win this year (which I discussed in the very first week of the season, see the bottom of this string), my son Jack will win the Rocky based on better overall picks than Robert. I’m not sure which event would be more surprising.- the Cubs winning for the first time in 108 years or my son winning the Rocky in his first try. Perhaps I’m just jealous? (Once again, I am trailing everyone in my family.)
In a youth movement similar to that in MLB this year, another B.A.B.E.S. semifinalist is Caleb Young who went with KCR, his Dad’s childhood team. Jack and Caleb are both 14, which rivals Correa, Bryant, and others for impressive rookie performances.
In the opposite of a youth movement, however, our other semi-finalist is Pat Stone, the defending B.A.B.E.S. champion and my 85 year-old mother-in-law. She picked TOR to win the Series and if that occurs she will be the first ever repeat winner, and will have won back-to-back Rocky’s. I can’t even conceive of how to explain that, if it happens.
October 9, 2015
Cinderella was no fluke, and CHI is no Cinderella
And, actually, neither are the Astros. Is there any doubt which was the better team in New York in the AL Wild Card game? And is there any question that Jake Arrieta owns PIT? I feel sorry for the Pirates, with three straight losses in the NL Wild Card game. It is not exactly the same triple play of despair they experienced in three consecutive losses in the NLCS, but it has to be depressing to see three exciting seasons each end in three bad hours. Remedy? Win the NL Central. The Cubs didn’t do that, either, but you have to like their chances against a STL team that does not seem like a 100 game winner. The Cubs ought to be the ultimate Cinderella, but somehow I don’t see that them that way. Perhaps it is the entire city’s treatment of Steve Bartman that makes me think of them seem more like a reformed felon than a mistreated young woman.
October 4, 2015
Getting to the ball at midnight
So, I have been meaning to write something about the stretch run but frankly I have been paralyzed by the almost fractured fairy tale of the Houston Astros. Although they lead the division for 139 days, could they really be called Cinderella if they never make it to the ball? Fortunately, they had just enough magic left to win 4 of 6 on the season-ending road trip and edge out LAA for the second wild card slot. With a win on Sunday they could even have earned home field advantage against NYY, but I can’t argue with the poetry of this unexpected attendee at the post-season party actually getting to play in the grandest of all locales (can’t really call newest Yankee stadium a hallowed hall). Are they ready for New York? I think Cinderella was ready for anything and so should be the Astros. Dallas Keuchel definitely has some magic dust to throw, even on the road.
September 11, 2015
Baseball and American History
I have posted this link before, but I never get tired of watching it, especially on this day each year. It reminds me that baseball is an integral part of not just our nation’s leisure time (past time), but of our collective soul.
August 31, 2015
Some fame, so much blame
Most MLB teams have about 30 games to play, and we all know that standings can change dramatically in that span of contests. Therefore I will delay a while longer before commenting on likely post-season match-ups. However, it is not too early to recognize teams that and players who deserve kudos for surprisingly successful seasons (with or without post-season appearances). It is also past time to recognize (criticize!) the surprising number of teams that are huge disappointments this season and that are definitely not going to be in the post-season even though many of us picked them to win the World Series (I am talking about you, WAS! And you, SEA!).
But first the good news – that some rookies can actually survive the pressure and essentially fulfill impossibly high expectations. As I have written previously, this appears to be a watershed year in player development. So many rookies from 2015 will likely become established stars within the next 3-5 years. I will limit the discussion here to just two -those who I would name as ROY’s if the season ended today.
Chris Bryant – Sunday night’s news out of Chavez Ravine was all about Jake Arrieta’s no-hitter, but don’t forget that the game might still be going if Chris Bryant had not homered in the first inning for the only runs CHI would need (and the only ones they would get). Bryant has more than lived up to his enormous hype, with 21 home runs, 79 RBI’s, and a .842 OPS. He is on pace to strike out over 200 times, but that is not so unusual as it once was. He has played adequate defense, including a some games in the outfield, generally has looked like a veteran on a very good club. Of course, as young as the Cubs team is, he practically is a veteran. I am looking forward to a Cubs/Astros World Series – if not this year, then very soon. And speaking of HOU….
Carlos Correa – although not hyped quite like Bryant, seemingly everyone agreed that Carlos Correa was going to be a very good MLB player very soon and for a long time. Well, “very soon” started June 4, when he debuted as perhaps the best shortstop in the AL. Three months later, there is no question about it. In 69 games, he has 16 home runs, 45 RBI’s and a .870 OPS. There is only one shortstop in MLB history who has achieved this level of production in his rookie season (Alex Rodriguez). Correa has also played excellent defense at one of the most demanding positions. A “plus” defensive shortstop who can hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 over the course of 162 games? Is it too soon to talk about another Astros plaque in Cooperstown?
And now from the Hall of Fame to the halls of blame (and perhaps even shame) –
DET – a consensus pick as the AL Central Division winner, the Tigers currently reside in LAST place, 20 games behind KCR! They also proved to be sellers at the July 30 non-waiver trade deadline, dealing David Price to TOR and Yoenis Cespedes to NYM. Did anyone see these events coming? I don’t think Dave Dombrowski did, but he got a nice reprieve from the fall-out by landing as the new president of the Red Sox. I’m not sure Brad Ausmus will fare so well.
SEA – many of us (including me) thought that the Mariners would be this year’s Royals – breaking a a long post-season drought and perhaps winning their first World Championship (or at least getting to their first World Series). Uh, not even close. The Mariners are 10 games under .500, 12 games behind the division-leading Astros and eight games out of the second wildcard slot. A shocking result for a team that has much potential, and it was not surprising when the GM was fired last week.
MIA – there is so much to say about the Marlins – and long-time readers know that I like to discuss and defend Jeff Loria, but there is just not much to say in defense of this season. Injuries hurt them, certainly, but the team was underachieving well before Giancarlo Stanton went out, and that was a month after Loria fired Mike Redmond and hired as manager his existing GM – Dan Jennings. What is it with GM’s this year?
There are at least three other candidates for this dubious honor, but with 30 games to go they still have a chance to redeem themselves. (PLEASE, Nationals, wake up!) I will revisit this topic in October.
July 29, 2015
The Bronx is Burning (and this time it is a good thing)
I can’t believe it is after the All-Star Break and I have yet to write a post criticizing NYY this season. In fact I don’t think I have even made a derogatory comment about the Yankees, and unfortunately I can’t start now. Joe Girardi’s club is on fire, and not in the way that Billy Martin’s team was in 1977, as seen through the eyes of Jonathan Mahler and ESPN, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0790477/, and particularly not as the actual borough did during the post-season that year. http://nypost.com/2010/05/16/why-the-bronx-burned/.
This year’s Bronx Bombers have exploded into first place in the AL East with a 16-5 record since July 1, including a 21-5 crushing of TEX in Arlington last night. They have built a 6.5 game lead over BAL and have the second best record in the AL. Most of the buzz so far this year has been about the Astros (and the fact that they are playing Yankee-like ball by leading the MLB in HR’s), but is it really a bigger surprise that HOU is tied for the AL West lead with LAA than it is that NYY leads the East by 6.5 games? Maybe, but not by much.
And even if you thought the Yankees would contend in a weak AL East, did you really think they would do it on the strength of Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira both having 24 HR’s and over 60 RBI’s after only 100 games? Now if CC Sabathia could just get his E.R.A. under 5.38…. I have always thought Girardi was under-appreciated as a manager, but perhaps that has changed now that A-Rod has given Joe credit for his renaissance. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/138824336/a-rod-credits-girardi-as-integral-to-resurgence.
The Yankees have 62 games to go, and TOR just acquired Troy Tulowitski, but for now we should all enjoy the Summer heat in the Bronx. If they make it to the post-season, that will be the appropriate time for me to return to my long-standing dislike of the men in dark navy (although I still say they wear black).
July 4, 2015
Rehabilitating Mario Mendoza
Most experienced baseball fans know the meaning of the Mendoza Line. For decades it has been the benchmark for hitting competence (or the definition of incompetence) in MLB. The point of demarcation is considered to be .200, but in reality Mendoza had a lifetime batting average of .215 over nine seasons (1974-1982). Of course, in the established mindset of baseball observers, either percentage is totally unacceptable for any player expecting to be a regular at the major league level. Well, in case you haven’t noticed, the times they are a’changing.
Most teams have reached the half-way point in their 162-game season and most players have established a pattern to their season. For an amazing number of regular players this year, that pattern of a batting average is at or below the Mendoza Line. Nevertheless, these players continue to find their names on the line-up card nearly everyday. It is no longer a badge of shame or a ticket back to AAA.
I am listening right now to the Astros/Red Sox game and each of the teams’ starting line-ups has two players hitting below the Mendoza Line. The Astros often have FOUR starters with that distinction – Valbuena, Carter, Castro and Singleton – yet they have the most wins in the AL! The Cardinals have the most wins in all of baseball and yet they have two starters today hitting .172 and .230, respectively, as well as a rookie with a .000 average (0-3).
Glancing through the box scores of the games in progress today, only two teams began play without a starter hitting at or below the Mendoza Line (BAL and TOR). Clearly the tolerance for weak hitting has increased, and perhaps that is due to the renewed dominance of pitching league-wide. But it perhaps has more to do with the new statistical analysis that puts much less emphasis on batting average and much more emphasis on average with runners in scoring position or just batting average on balls in play. Of course, for guys like the Astros’ Luis Valbuena, who is hitting just .197, it certainly helps that he has hit 19 home runs. (Guys like Dave Kingman, Rob Deer and Pete Incaviglia would be proud).
I don’t know whether Mr. Mendoza has worn the badge proudly or if he truthfully would prefer not to be associated with a definition of futility. But regardless of how he feels about the past 30 years, he should be pleased that his career performance would no doubt continue to earn him playing time if he were in the big leagues today.
May 25, 2015
Who Are Those Guys?
In one of my favorite movies, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the famous outlaws (and anti-heroes) are shown being pursued by a relentless posse of faceless men. Butch and Sundance at first feel that they will surely be able to elude them but gradually come to the realization that this group is not to be denied. Repeatedly, and ultimately with some sense of admiration, Butch and the Kid ask “who are those guys?” as the men refuse to turn back from their goal of capturing the prize bounty.
Somehow I feel that the 14 other AL clubs are asking that question today about the Houston Astros, and perhaps several of the NL clubs as well (at least SDO and SFO are). The team’s surprising hot start, that everyone thought was a fluke based mostly on an early 10-game win streak, has now lasted through Memorial Day. HOU leads the AL West by 6.5 games, has the second best record in baseball and is on pace to win 104 games. They just won two games on the road from the powerhouse Tigers even though they trailed in each game after 5 innings.
Surely DET is wondering who that guy is who hit two pinch-hit home runs? (Rookie Preston Tucker, only the 15th highest rated Astro prospect, became the first player in franchise history to hit two pinch-hit HR’s in one series). Surely DET is wondering who that rookie pitcher is who gave up two runs on six hits with six strike outs in six innings on the way to his very first MLB victory in Saturday’s game? (He is Lance McCullers, son of former big league pitcher of the same name, but who shows promise of reversing the introductions if he continues to strike out guys like Miguel Cabrera with beautiful breaking balls). Surely DET is wondering who Evan Gattis is (former ATL strike-out artist and occasional HR hitter who had two triples in this series after having only 1 in the other 255 games in his career). Surely DET is wondering who that slick-fielding third baseman is who calmly started a 5-4-3 triple play in Saturday’s game that crushed the Tiger’s bases-loaded rally and set-up HOU’s win? (Jonathan Villar is an unheralded franchise product who seems to have found his niche in this posse of complementary ball players).
I could identify several other little-known HOU heros-to-date, but I will wait for a little more seasoning. Just note that the “mostly-serious answer #2” listed below is now 100% serious. These guys have their collective eyes on the prize bounty of an AL West Division crown, and it won’t take long for them to begin believing that they are this year’s Kansas City Royals, who came from out of no where to get within one swing of a World Championship last season and are the owner’s of MLB’s best record so far this year. Come to think of it, even the Royals must be looking at the Astros and wondering “who are those guys?” Stay tuned.
May 1, 2015
Mostly serious Answers to the Semi-Serious Questions after One Month of the Season
1. In Wrigley, the discussion is legitimately about “this year,” not next. The Cubs finished April playing .600 baseball! More importantly, this is the third B.A.B.E.S. commentary that has started with news from the corner of Clark and Addison Streets (Wrigleyville). What more evidence do you need that the baseball world is changing? And speaking of Addison – the real-life version, not the street – Cubs’ prospect Addison Russell did not have to wait until the All-Star Break to appear. He was called up 24 hours after my post on April 19. Does Theo Epstein read the Homeplate?
2. If play continues as it did in April, and May 1’s game suggested it will, the Astros will overtake the Cubs as the lead story on Homeplate and perhaps on Baseball Tonight and MLB Tonight and every other media outlet covering baseball. The Astros won 14 games in April and won back my allegiance with an exciting brand of baseball. The 2015 team is vastly improved from the past 5 versions and could rank much higher than that on the franchise’s 55 editions by the end of the season. It is still early, but this team’s pitching, defense, speed and power shows every sign of being able to overcome its principal weakness – batting average. The team average ranks 10th at .241, but that is skewed by the phenomenal Jose Altuve (.355) and the phenomenon – Jake Marisnick (.389!). Four regulars have Mendoza Line averages (Springer, Gattis, Carter, Castro). If you don’t know the HOU lineup, they are the 3rd-6th hitters! Yet the team still has power and speed, leading the AL in home runs and stolen bases. Although batting average is overrated, it is certainly true that the “aggression to mean” by these key players can only make the club better.
3. NYM has regressed to the mean a bit, but they still lead the NL East and have the second best record. Personally, I am still skeptical about their long-term prospects, but until WAS straightens up and plays like the club they ought to be, the Mets will be in contention for the post-season.
4. And speaking of regression, DET cooled off from its blazing start but still finished the month leading the AL Central. The team may still be an improvement over the excellent squads from the past 3 years, but it appears that KCR is intent on challenging them all season, and not just to a bean-ball brawl. This race will be one to watch every day and my guess is that Brad Ausmus will take some heat during the year and perhaps be the cause for people to give Ned Yost a break.
5. SFO is emphatically not the worst club in MLB. That dishonor belongs to MIL at the moment and is very likely to remain with the Brewers all year. The Giants have returned to at least a semblance of their championship form, which of course was less than excellent in the regular season (88 wins). A repeat performance as a Wild Card and then post-season juggernaut is back within contemplation.
April 19, 2015
Five Semi-Serious Questions from the First Two Weeks
1. Is it finally “next year” for CHI?
Kris Bryant is the everyday third baseman for the Cubs. He bats clean-up behind Fowler, Soler and Rizzo. Addison Russell will likely be in Wrigley before the All-Star break. The Cubs are going to be really good, and may even make the post-season this year although only 8 of us predicted that. I still believe it won’t be “next year” until at least next year, but I confess to watching the Cubs’ games all weekend, so something has changed in the Friendly Confines other than just the new video board and the outfield bleachers.
2. Will HOU’s rebuilding project succeed before CHI’s?
The Astros are in first place in the AL West. They just took 2 out of 3 games from the Angels, a team that won 98 games last year. They have gotten excellent pitching and enough hitting to win half their games (although they have 3 regulars hitting below the Mendoza line). They still have MLB’s top-3 prospect Carlos Correa preparing to be the next Alex Rodriguez. If the Cubs aren’t likely to win this year, the Astros are not likely either. However, I believe Sports Illustrated’s prediction of an Astros’ World Series win in 2017 is not a pipe dream.
3. Are the Mets the best team in the NL?
For the first time since 2007 the Mets have won 8 games in a row and are the first NL team to 10 wins. They have Matt Harvey back; they have a future star in Jacob deGrom and Bartolo Colon is the new ageless wonder. However, they have lost their closer to a PED suspension and a starting pitcher to injury and Tommy John surgery. Now a top reliever and catcher may be out for the season and David Wright is likely headed to the DL. Therefore, the early-season success is likely to be short-lived, but the Mets are clearly an improved club.
4. Can DET be better without Scherzer, Fister and Verlander?
We know that Dave Dombrowski is a great GM and that he made a conscious decision to trade Doug Fister and let Max Scherzer leave via free agency. He could not have planned for Verlander’s injury but he certainly understood from last season’s performance that Justin may no longer be a top-of-the-rotation pitcher. Although we all know that pitching wins championships, who says you have to have 5 great starters? Three, or even two, can be sufficient if you have enough offense. The addition of Yoenis Cespedes to Cabrera, Martinez and Martinez has been more than enough so far. This team is not likely to match the 1984 team’s 35-5 start, but this is a very good team even without Scherzer, Fister or Verlander.
5. Are the World Champions the worst team in baseball?
MIL has a worse record but SFO has lost 9 out of 10 games and is already 6 games behind LAD. Nothing seems to be working for them. Of course, it is an odd-numbered year, so what did we expect?
April 5, 2015
Opening Nightmare for CHI
After weeks of exciting build-up, it took the Cubs only 3 batters to bring their fans back down to Earth. That’s how many hitters it took to put the Cubs behind STL and underscore that even a $155 million pitcher can’t field every position (nor can he throw to any base). Setting aside how a pitcher can be considered an ace when he simply can’t hold runners on base, the main problem for the Cubs’ drive to become relevant again appears to be team defense and situational hitting. Those are two areas that have already made Joe Maddon critical of his club and are likely to wipe the smile off his face on numerous occasions this season.
In the crowd shots before the game I saw a Cubs fan carrying a goat down Waveland Avenue. The goat was dressed in a Cubs jersey. No word whether it was allowed to enter the park or whether it too was sacrificed. Let’s hope not because, for the one night at least, the curse continues.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Curse_of_the_Billy_Goat.
Pat Andriola (8)- NL East/WAS; Central/STL (3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/SDO; NYM(1); NL LCS/LAD; AL East/BOS; Central/DET; West/SEA; Wildcards/CLE; TOR(1); AL LCS BOS; WS/LAD; NL MVP/J. Upton; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/TULOWITSKI; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/Altuve
Edmund Attanasio – (5) NL East/WAS; Central/PIT;(1); West/SFO; Wildcards/CHI (3); WAS; NL LCS/WAS; AL East/BOS; Central/DET; West/LAA; Wildcards/KCR(1); SEA; AL LCS BOS; WS/BOS; NL MVP/HARPER; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/HARPER; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/TROUT
Matt Bardwell; (8)- NL East/WAS; Central/STL (3); West/SFO; Wildcards/ATL; LAD(1); NL LCS/ATL; AL East/TOR(3); Central/DET; West/SEA; Wildcards/BAL; KCR(1); AL LCS BAL. WS/BAL; NL MVP/HARPER; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW (10); NL Batting/Harrison; AL MVP/Cano; AL Cy Young/Hernandez; AL Batting/Trout
Lindsey Bradford (8) – NL East/PHI; Central/STL(3); West/SFO; Wildcards/COL; WAS; NL LCS/STL; AL East/NYY (1); Central/KCR (3); West/TEX (1); Wildcards/BOS; MIN; AL LCS NYY. WS/STL; NL MVP/BRYANT; NL Cy Young/Kershaw; NL Batting/GONZALEZ; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/MARTINEZ; AL Batting/FIELDER
Rob Carington (6) – NL East/WAS; Central/PIT (1); West/SDO; Wildcards/CHI (3); LAD(1); NL LCS/CHC; AL East/BOS; Central/CWS; West/SEA; Wildcards/TOR (1); DET; AL LCS CWS. WS/CHI; NL MVP/STANTON; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/MCCUTCHEN; AL MVP/ABREU; AL Cy Young/SALE; AL Batting/CANO
William Cupelo – (7) NL East/ATL; Central/PIT (1); West/LAD)(3); Wildcards/WAS; SFO; NL LCS/LAD; AL East/TBR; Central/DET; West/OAK(; Wildcards/NYY (3); BOS; AL LCS DET; WS/LAD; NL MVP/VOTTO; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/MCCUTCHEN; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/DARVISH; AL Batting/TROUT
Patrick Despain (22) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL (3); West/LAD (3); Wildcards/ATL; SDO; NL LCS/LAD; AL East/TBR; Central/DET; West/TEX (3); Wildcard/OAK; BOS; AL LCS TEX; WS/TEX; NL MVP/A. GONZALEZ; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/MCCUTCHEON; AL MVP/FIELDER; AL Cy Young/DARVISH; AL Batting/CABRERA (10)
JW Galloway (3) – NL East/WAS; Central/CHI (1); West/SFO; Wildcards/STL (1); LAD (1); NL LCS/WAS; AL East/BOS; Central/DET; West/SEA; Wildcards/BAL; LAA; AL LCS DET; WS/DET; NL MVP/STANTON; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/RIZZO; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/CANO
Eric Gouldsbury (20) – NL East/WAS; Central/CIN; West/LAD (3); Wildcards/STL (1); SFO; NL LCS/LAD; AL East/TBR; Central/KCR (3); West/OAK; Wildcards/DET; NYY (3); AL LCS TBR; WS/LAD; NL MVP/FREEMAN; NL Cy Young/BUMGARNER; NL Batting/BRUCE; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/PRICE; AL Batting/CABRERA (10)
Jeff Hamilton (20) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL (3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/PIT (3); MIA; NL LCS/WAS; AL East/BOS; Central/CWS; West/SEA; Wildcards/DET; KCR (1); AL LCS SEA; WS/WAS; NL MVP/STANTON; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/McCUTCHEN; AL MVP/CANO; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/CABRERA(10)
Eric Hoffman (9) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL (3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/PIT (3); SFO; NL LCS/WAS; AL East/BOS; Central/CLE; West/SEA; Wildcards/DET; LAA; AL LCS CLE; WS/CLE; NL MVP/MCCUTCHEN; NL Cy Young/SCHERZER; NL Batting/MCCUTCHEN; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/CANO
Pete Hosey (9) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL (3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/PIT (3); SDO; NL LCS/WAS; AL East/BOS; Central/DET; West/SEA; Wildcards/BOS; CLE; AL LCS BOS; WS/WAS; NL MVP/McCUTCHEN; NL Cy Young/SCHERZER; NL Batting/STANTON; AL MVP/TROUT; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/CANO
Steve Jacobs – (6)- NL East/WAS; Central/PIT (1); West/SDO; Wildcards/LAD (1); STL (1) ; NL LCS/STL</strong; AL East/TOR (3); Central/CLE; West/SEA; Wildcards/BOS; LAA; AL LCS SEA; WS/WAS; NL MVP/STANTON; NL Cy Young/STRASBURG; NL Batting/PUIG; AL MVP/CANO; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/CANO
Tony Liccione (12) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL; (3) West/LAD(3); Wildcards/CHI(3); PIT (3); NL LCS/WAS; AL East/BOS; Central/DET; West/SEA; Wildcards/LAA; CWS; AL LCS SEA; WS/SEA; NL MVP/STANTON; NL Cy Young/SCHERZER; NL Batting/McCUTCHEN; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/PRICE; AL Batting/CANO
Rip Lowe -(9) NL East/WAS; Central/STL (3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/PIT(3); SDO; NL LCS/WAS; AL East/BOS; Central/DET; West/LAA; Wildcards/SEA; CLE; AL LCS DET; WS/DET; NL MVP/PUIG; NL Cy Young/WAINWRIGHT; NL Batting/PUIG; AL MVP/V. MARTINEZ; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/MARTINEZ
Tom Marchiando (12)- NL East/WAS; Central/STL (3); West/LAD (3); Wildcards/PIT (3); SFO NL LCS/STL; AL East/TBR; Central/DET; West/OAK; Wildcards/NYY (12); CLE; AL LCS TBR. WS/STL; NL MVP/MOLINA; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/CUDDYER; AL MVP/TROUT; AL Cy Young/PRICE; AL Batting/TROUT
Ray Mileur -(22) NL East/WAS; Central/STL (3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/PIT (3); SFO; NL LCS/STL; AL East/BOS; Central/DET; West/TEX(3); Wildcards/OAK; TBR; AL LCS TEX; WS/STL; NL MVP/CRAIG; NL Cy Young/WAINWRIGHT; NL Batting/CARPENTER; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/DARVISH; AL Batting/CABRERA(10)
Jonathan Mitchell (10) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL (3); West/LAD (3); Wildcards/ATL; PIT(3); NL LCS/WAS; AL East/TBR; Central/DET; West/OAK; Wildcards/BOS; KCR(1); AL LCS TBR. WS/TBR; NL MVP/TULOWITSKI; NL Cy Young/STRASBURG; NL Batting/TULOWITSKI; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/COBB; AL Batting/HOSMER
Eric Monacelli (6) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL; (3) West/LAD(3); Wildcards/AATL; SDO; NL LCS/STL; AL East/BOS; Central/DET; West/OAK; Wildcards/LAA; TBR; AL LCS/DET; WS/DET; NL MVP/HARPER; NL Cy Young/STRASBURG; NL Batting/RAMIREZ; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/VERLANDER; AL Batting/TROUT
Jed Morrison – (8) NL East/WAS; Central/PIT (1); West/SFO; Wildcards/CHI (3); LAD(1); NL LCS/WAS; AL East/BAL; Central/KCR; (3) West/OAK; Wildcards/BOS; SEA; AL LCS BAL; WS/BAL; NL MVP/POSEY; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/MCCUTCHEN; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/SCHERZER; AL Batting/BELTRE
Dan Nerdahl (5) – NL East/WAS; Central/PIT(1); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/STL(1); SFO; NL LCS/LAD; AL East/BOS; Central/DET; West/OAK; Wildcards/BAL; LAA; AL LCS BAL; WS/LAD; NL MVP/PUIB; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/McCUTCHEN; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/ALTUVE
Gus Pompa (12) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL(3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/PIT(3); SDO; NL LCS/WAS; AL East/TOR(3); Central/CLE; West/SEA; Wildcards/LAA; OAK; AL LCS CLE; WS/WAS; NL MVP/STANTON; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/McCUTCHEN; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/CANO
Alex Remington (13)- NL East/WAS; Central/STL(3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/PIT(3); ATL; NL LCS/LAD; AL East/TBR; Central/DET; West/TEX (3); Wildcards/BOS; TOR(1); AL LCS DET. WS/LAD; NL MVP/GONZALEZ; NL Cy Young/WAINWRIGHT; NL Batting/HARPER; AL MVP/TROUT (10); AL Cy Young/DARVISH; AL Batting/TROUT
Alix Rose -(15) NL East/ATL; Central/STL(3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/SFO; CHI(3); NL LCS/STL; AL East/BOS; Central/CWS; West/TEX (12); Wildcards/OAK; NYY(12); AL LCS OAK. WS/STL; NL MVP/CARPENTER; NL Cy Young/GOLDSCHMIDT; NL Batting/Posey; AL MVP/AROD; AL Cy Young/SALE; AL Batting/JONES
Carl Rose (9) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL(3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/PIT(3); SDO; NL LCS/WAS; AL East/BOS; Central/CWS; West/LAA; Wildcards/SEA; CLE; AL LCS LAA. WS/WAS; NL MVP/STANTON; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/GOLDSCHMIT; AL MVP/ABREU; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/V. MARTINEZ
Jack Rose (13) – NL East/PHI; Central/CHI(1); West/SFO; Wildcards/ARI; STL(1); NL LCS/CHI; AL East/TBR; Central/CLE; West/LAA; Wildcards/TEX(1); DET AL LCS LAA. WS/CHI NL MVP/McCutchen; NL Cy Young/GREINKE; NL Batting/Posey; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/Verlander; AL Batting/Cabrera(10)
Jennifer Rose (19)- NL East/MIA; Central/PIT(1); West/COL; Wildcards/WAS; STL(1); NL LCS/STL; AL East/BAL; Central/KCR(3); West/SEA; Wildcards/NYY(3); TOR(1); AL LCS NYY WS/WAS; NL MVP/McCutchen; NL Cy Young/Kershaw; NL Batting/Posey; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/Verlander; AL Batting/Cabrera(10)
Kara Rose (16) – NL East/NYM(3); Central/STL(3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/PIT(3); MIA; NL LCS/LAD; AL East/NYY(1); Central/KCR(3); West/LAA; Wildcards/BOS; SEA; AL LCS LAA. WS/LAD; NL MVP/PUIG; NL Cy Young/Kershaw; NL Batting/PUIG; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/SALE; AL Batting/ALTUVE
Scott Rose (12)- NL East/WAS; Central/STL(3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/PIT(3); MIA; NL LCS/WAS; AL East/TOR(12); Central/DET; West/LAA; Wildcards/SEA; CLE; AL LCS SEA. WS/WAS; NL MVP/STANTON; NL Cy Young/STRASBURG; NL Batting/McCutchen; AL MVP/CANO; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/ALTUVE
Bruce Ruzinsky (9) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL (3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/PIT(3); SDO; NL LCS/LAD; AL East/BOS; Central/CWS; West/SEA; Wildcards/LAA; OAK; AL LCS LAA; WS/LAD; NL MVP/RIZZO; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/MCCUTCHEN; AL MVP/TROUT; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/ALTUVE
David Sanders (12) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL(3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/PIT(3); SDO; NL LCS/LAD; AL East/TOR(3); Central/DET; West/SEA; Wildcards/OAK; CLE; AL LCS SEA; WS/STL; NL MVP/PUIG; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/VOTTO; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/BRANTLEY
Hudson Stone (8) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL (3); West/SFO; Wildcards/PIT (3); LAD(1); NL LCS/WAS; AL East/BAL; Central/DET; West/LAA; Wildcards/SEA; TOR(1); AL LCS LAA; WS/LAA; NL MVP/HARPER; NL Cy Young/KERSHAW; NL Batting/BRAUN; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/ALTUVE
Madison Stone (15) – NL East/ATL; Central/PIT (1); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/WAS; SFO; NL LCS/ATL; AL East/BOS; Central/DET; West/LAA; Wildcards/CLE; TEX(1); AL LCS BOS; WS/STL; NL MVP/Freeman; NL Cy Young/Kershaw; NL Batting/Votto; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/Hernandez; AL Batting/Cabrera(10)
Pat Stone (13)- NL East/ATL; Central/STL(3); West/ARI; Wildcards/COL; MIA; NL LCS/ATL; AL East/TOR(3); Central/MIN; West/TEX(3); Wildcards/HOU(3); KCR(1); AL LCS/TOR. WS/TOR; NL MVP/TULO; NL Cy Young/Kershaw; NL Batting/MOLINA; AL MVP/BAUTISTA; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/ALTUVE
Walter Stone (17) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL(3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/CIN; SFO; NL LCS/WAS; AL East/TBR; Central/DET; West/LAA; Wildcards/OAK; TEX(1); AL LCS DET WS/DET; NL MVP/GOLDSCHMIDT NL Cy Young/WAINWRIGHT; NL Batting/GOLDSCHMIDT; AL MVP/CABRERA; AL Cy Young/SCHERZER; AL Batting/CABRERA(10)
Marc Whyte (9)- NL East/WAS; Central/STL(3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/FLA; PIT(3); NL LCS/WAS; AL East/BOS; Central/DET; West/LAA; Wildcards/SEA; CLE; AL LCS SEA. WS/WAS; NL MVP/STANTON; NL Cy Young/SCHERZER; NL Batting/MCCUTCHEN; AL MVP/CANO; AL Cy Young/HERNANDEZ; AL Batting/TROUT
Kazuto Yamazaki (7) – NL East/WAS; Central/STL(3); West/LAD(3); Wildcards/SDO; SFO; NL LCS/WAS; AL East/TBR; Central/DET; West/OAK; Wildcards/BOS; KCR(1); AL LCS TBR; WS/TBR; NL MVP/HARPER; NL Cy Young/FERANDEZ; NL Batting/CRAIG; AL MVP/CABRERA; AL Cy Young/DARVISH; AL Batting/MAURER
Caleb Young (28) – NL East/ATL; Central/CHI(1); West/SFO; Wildcards/PIT(3); PHI; NL LCS/CHI; AL East/BOS; Central/KCR(3); West/SEA; Wildcards/CHI; HOU(3); AL LCS KCR (6). WS/KCR (12); NL MVP/GONZALEZ; NL Cy Young/LESTER; NL Batting/GONZALEZ; AL MVP/Trout; AL Cy Young/KLUBER; AL Batting/ALTUVE
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BEST AMERICAN BASEBALL EXPERTS SOCIETY 