As corny and predictable as that headline is, considering this is the opening week of the 2016 Major League Baseball season, enough emphasis cannot be placed on the fact that BASEBALL IS BACK!
Baseball is back from the abyss it was put in during the post steroid ERROR and most lackluster ERA in baseball history. The abyss was a quicksand of boredom due to a lack of superstars and a black eye of broken cherished records by participants loaded with performance enhancing drugs. Due to league-wide ineptitude to control the PED problem, baseball was not only a joke nationally, but with the superstars who were the faces of baseball for so many years gone, there was nowhere for baseball to go but down.
Say what you want, but there is no debate that
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the mid ’90s to early 2000s was an unbelievable time to be a baseball fan. However, between steroid scandals, strikes and a commissioner who was clueless, MLB just couldn’t get out of its own way. The dysfunction led to a total overhaul of the game. Unfortunately, that overhaul for the casual fan was a 10-year snooze fest. In life, things come in waves, and fortunately for baseball, the talent wave is here and it’s more like a tsunami. What do we love in this country? Superstars! There’s no doubt about it. We love to be entertained by greatness. Baseball is loaded with superstars. Personal excitement for this era of baseball cannot be put into words. Baseball’s current talent influx has the potential to captivate a whole new audience to where on any given night, even the casual fan may want to check in and see who did what. Let’s face it, the MLB regular season is long. It’s impossible to watch every game every night, and I’m not advocating that. Baseball mostly takes place in the summer — people are busy — I get it. The good news is, when you do watch a game on television nowadays, or spend your hard-earned money on a trip to the ballpark, you won’t be disappointed and you’ll be left wanting more. Talent captivates an audience and people gravitate toward greatness. Baseball’s time is NOW. The last time this much talent entered a league at the same time was probably the 2003 NBA Draft (the LeBron draft). That class changed the NBA forever, and while baseball’s stockpile of young talent isn’t from one MLB draft, it is a talent influx that baseball badly needed and could change the sport forever. Definition of a superstar: A high-profile and extremely successful performer or athlete. So who are these young players that I am advocating are ready to lead baseball into another stratosphere? Here is a group of players that stand out and possess the “it” factor. Some you will know, some you will get to know, but all are on the path to superstardom. Mike Trout - 24 years old - CF Los Angeles Angels If you don’t know him already, get to know him. Trout, still only 24 years old, is the best player in the game. The 2012 AL Rookie of the Year and 2014 AL MVP does it all: Power, speed, defense. Unless an unforeseen circumstance happens, Trout will be a Hall of Famer and he’s just getting started. Bryce Harper - 23 years old - RF Washington Nationals Harper is more like 1A, not number 2. The reigning National League MVP is a machine and could end up surpassing Trout as a player. Harper, 23 years old, can do it all, displaying power (42 home runs last season) speed and defense. The Las Vegas native has been destined for greatness since an early age and is must-see every time he strolls to the plate. Carols Correa - 21 years old - SS Houston Astros Think A-Rod, minus the juice, with more skill. The 2012 No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft burst onto the scene last season to the tune of 22 home runs and 14 stolen bases in just 387 plate appearances. The sky isn’t a high enough limit for this kid. Look out and enjoy his greatness. Kris Bryant - 24 years old - 3B Chicago Cubs Bryant is a superstar in every sense of the word. Like Correa, Bryant was another high profile prospect who burst onto the scene last season. Upon his arrival to Wrigley, Bryant helped captivate and reenergize the Chicago Cubs faithful. Bryant’s big bat and overall presence is a sight to see. Giancarlo Stanton - 26 years old - RF Miami Marlins Chicks dig the long ball, and Stanton has the potential to be the king of the long ball. If Stanton can stay healthy, he can be one of the all-time great home run hitters. His power is a sight to behold as Stanton clubbed 27 homers in 74 games last season. Stanton has the look of a superstar, he just needs to stay healthy. This editorial was intended for the 25-and-under club, but Stanton cannot be ignored. The Mets pitching staff - Matt Harvey (27 years old), Jacob deGrom (27 years old), Noah Syndergaard (23 years old), Steven Matz (24 years old). They all have serious swagger and can be extremely effective.
If you missed the World Series last season, you missed the dominant young studs. Syndergaard and Matz have the most upside and may prove to be the best of the bunch at 23 and 24 years old respectively.
Manny Machado - 23 years old - 3B Baltimore Orioles
Machado can flat out play the game of baseball. He can hit bombs, he plays amazing defense and is another kid with serious swagger. Baltimore’s lineup can put up some runs and Machado is going to be a fixture at Camden Yards for years to come.
Mookie Betts - 23 years old - CF Boston Red Sox
To be a star, sometimes you need to be in the right place to succeed, and Betts is in that place. Betts leads Boston’s lineup and brings that superstar feel to the game. For a leadoff hitter, he can hit for power — Plus, his name is Mookie.
Anthony Rizzo - 26 years old - 1B Chicago Cubs
Rizzo is at the forefront of the team that is leading the young superstar revolution. Paired with Bryant in Chicago, Rizzo is just as big of a star and should lead the Cubs to a World Series at some point in his career.
Kyle Schwarber - 23 years old - LF/C Chicago
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Cubs Schwarber has a way about him that relates with people. He’s not the biggest or fastest player, but he can smash a baseball and has a knack for the dramatic. Schwarber should be an All-Star and fan favorite for years to come. Jose Fernandez - 23 years old - P Miami Marlins Fernandez has that Pedro Martinez it factor. If he can stay healthy, Fernandez has all the tools to be one of the great ones. That is just a taste of MLB’s young talent.
Not previously mentioned are three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw (28 years old), 2014 World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner (26 years old) and potential MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt (28 years old). One could go on an on breaking down the young talent in the league. Even franchises like the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves, while they likely won’t have great seasons record wise, have fans excited with stockpiled young talent.
While the new talent should take baseball to the next level, there is even more to enjoy about baseball this season. Thanks to this influx of talent and stars hitting their primes all at once, there could be more contenders this season than in recent memory.
The loaded Kansas City Royals, which won the 2015 World Series, have begun their title defense in 2016. From top to bottom, the team is extremely fun to watch. The question is, can they repeat? If not, who will step up to the plate to take their spot at the top?
Look no further than the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto’s lineup is as scary as ever and the Blue Jays should be a lock to make the playoffs. The Jays are as entertaining as any team in
baseball. Other potential contenders from the American League include the Red Sox and their revamped roster, the Yankees, who are never out of the conversation and the Royals’ company in the AL Central. Cleveland has a solid rotation and a great manager, Minnesota has top prospects Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton in their starting lineup and Detroit’s lineup can never be overlooked. The American League West race is another chase to keep a close eye on with four contenders. The Astros, Rangers, Angels and Mariners could all win the division and potentially go on to win the World Series. Simply put, the National League is LOADED. Five playoff spots await a cluster of contenders as NL baseball will be must see TV this season. At least three teams in each NL division can compete this season, and the talented league has a multitude of teams that are poised to make a deep October run. This season could be one be for the ages. With franchises on the verge of greatness, young captivating talent on the rise and THE CUBS AS THE FAVORITE TO WIN IT ALL, baseball’s time is now. Baseball is back in 2016, but it’s more importantly back to reclaim its glory as the nation’s national pastime. The 2016 MLB season should not disappoint! 2016 Bold Predictions Awards AL MVP: Carolos Correa - SS - Houston Astros NL MVP: Bryce Harper - OF - Washington Nationals AL Cy Young: Cole Hamels - P - Texas Rangers NL Cy Young: Matt Harvey - P - New York Mets Division Winners AL East - Toronto Blue Jays AL Central - Kansas City Royals AL West - Houston Astros NL East - New York Mets NL Central - Chicago Cubs NL West - San Francisco Giants Playoffs AL Wild Card Game - Texas Rangers over Boston Red Sox NL Wild Card Game - Pittsburgh Pirates over Washington Nationals AL Champion - Houston Astros NL Champion - Chicago Cubs World Series Champion - Houston Astros
Do you like Craig Kimbrel and the Atlanta Braves as much as I do? At the age of 4 Craig Kimbrel started off his baseball career. He didn’t play tee ball like most kids, he went straight to coach pitch. Between the ages of 4-12 Craig played with the Civic league team in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama. He played in the Babe Ruth league from the age of 12-16. Growing up through baseball Craig’s positions were 3rd base and outfield, not pitcher. Kimbrel played high school ball for Lee High in Huntsville, Alabama.
batters away with his powerful pitch. He had a good couple of years but then got into a big slump – he
As the decade opened up with the year 1950, the Yankees were celebrating an American League Pennant and a World Series victory from the previous year. It was apparent in 1950 that the team had not taken too much time off as the team posted a 98-56 regular season record, winning their second straight Pennant and a trip to the World Series where they would match up against the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1950, the Phillies were known as the Whiz kids because of their youth and amazing talent, but in the series against the Yankees they were swept in 4 games thanks to Joe DiMaggio- a legend in Major League baseball- and Phil Rizzuto- a shortstop who would enjoy one of his most productive seasons as well as the honor of earning American League MVP. Whitey Ford, a rookie pitcher for the Yanks, also enjoyed a stand out career, winning all 9 of his starts and losing only one game in relief. (Baseball History)
He is noticed much less than most major league superstars. He only gets noticed for his good plays. He is the only shortstop to have a record of start in eight straight All Star games.
The game of baseball has changed ever since Babe Ruth has joined the league. He has changed the game with the amount of power he brings to the plate. Right now with the Yankees, he has showed how amazing he is and has helped make the Yankees popular by winning a few World Series and breaking many homerun records. For Babe to come into the league, it took a little help to get noticed.
Baseball has been of the longest living sports in our world today. The game started with the idea of a stick and ball and now has become one of the most complex sports known in our society. Several rules and regulations have been added to help enhance the game for everyone. Although baseball has endured several issues during its history and development of the game the game has still been a success throughout the world.
Who would have thought a little boy from the Dominican Republic would have so much effect on people. David Ortiz is a well known player around the Major League Baseball Association, many people know him by Big Papi. He has created foundations and many other things for all types of people. From children to adults and in between, Ortiz has been an influential individual.
Since then he has led his team to five world series titles and become the team captain. He is known for his good looks and quiet confidence. He is still playing shortstop for the Yankee’s today and never stops improving. More world series titles are seen in his future.
of skills and talent to make it. If players are just slacking off and taking baseball easy
Albert Pujols said, “Baseball was an outlet for him to be able to do that, and he had some special talent to go through what he did and still set an example for others. You cannot replace it.”
Derek Jeter, one of the greatest shortstops of all time, once said, “There may be people who have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do- and I believe that” (“Jeter”). Sometime later the same man also said, “Your image isn’t your character. Character is what you are as a person” (“Jeter”). Jeter was obviously a guy that believed in hard work all the time, but also realized that he had to be great off the field as well. There have been some spectacular shortstops in the history of baseball, but none greater than the likes of Barry Larkin, Derek Jeter, and Cal Ripken, Jr. They all changed the game in one way or another, but every single one of them had great leadership abilities, a knack for coming
forging Hall of Fame careers. The Cincinnati Reds, on the other hand, had its share of stars,
When people think of baseball, pitchers normally come to mind: starters, relief pitchers and then there are the closers. The closer is a crucial asset for a baseball team, without an outstanding closer a team could fold in the last inning of the game. To be a great closer, one must have excellent control, the ability to outwit a batter, and movement on their pitches. In order to be remembered as one of the all-time greatest closers, they must have the statistics as well as effective pitches. Mariano Rivera, the most well-known closer for the New York Yankees, was able to use his background to further his love for baseball by accomplishing many goals set during his career while also setting the highest rankings in baseball closers’ history.
For most sports fans there is nothing like opening day and a baseball field. In recent years I have over heard several people say Baseball is not the National Pastime or National Game any longer. When I query these people the typical response is Football is our new National pastime/game. Frank Deford (Nov 7, 2012) a writer for Sports Illustrated said, "Baseball is what we used to be. Football is what we have become." I refuse to believe this based on my knowledge of both games. In this paper we will exam the facts and I would submit to you that Baseball is still the National Pastime/Game and it cannot be disputed.