Mel Antonen

Scanning the key major leaguers seeking a fully healthy 2015

Scanning the key major leaguers seeking a fully healthy 2015
As Grapefruit and Cactus league games get started, the Nationals hope that Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth can stay healthy. Also, the area's other local nine, the Orioles, needs health in Manny Machado's knees and Matt Wieters' elbow. Here's a look at other teams with similar concerns: * Wil Myers, San Diego: The all-pitch, no-hit Padres from a year ago have revamped their outfield with Justin Upton, Matt Kemp and the 24-year-old Myers, who was named American League Rookie of...
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Mel Antonen

Breaking down how former O's, Nats fit in with their new teams

Breaking down how former O's, Nats fit in with their new teams
The Nationals and Orioles are basically the same teams as last season, minus a few key players. Here's a look at players that helped the two local nines win division championships last season and how they fit into the plans of their new teams: * Nick Markakis - Signing Markakis to a $44 million contract is a good deal for a contending team that wants to add an experienced left-handed bat. But the Braves aren't that anymore. They were a weak offensive team last season and they traded their...
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Mel Antonen

A look at the new MLB rules to speed up the game

A look at the new MLB rules to speed up the game
Last spring training, baseball was dealing with the new instant replay rules and the catcher/runner collisions at home plate. This spring training, baseball is emphasizing speed-up rules. The average time of game was 3 hours, 4 minutes last year. Major League Baseball would like to see that fall to 2:45. In the 1980s, the average time of game was 2:33. A 20-second pitch clock that was set up in the Arizona Fall League, and will be used in Double-A and Triple-A leagues this season, is not part...
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Mel Antonen

Stacked Nationals are atop pitching-rich National League East

Stacked Nationals are atop pitching-rich National League East
The Nationals have the best rotation in baseball, but considering the way pitching is stacked in the National League East, they might need it to win a second consecutive division title. The Braves usually challenge the Nationals. But this year, the Mets and the Marlins are likely to be the Nationals' biggest headaches. The Braves rotation is strong, but not as deep as last season. The Phillies are trying to start over, and lefty Cole Hamels will be front and center in trade discussions as...
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Mel Antonen

A pre-spring training look at pitching in the AL East

A pre-spring training look at pitching in the AL East
Spring training camps open this week in Florida and Arizona. In the American League East, where all the teams train on the east coast of Florida and see each other regularly during the Grapefruit League season, the Orioles have the most stable rotation with the fewest questions. The last-place Red Sox have revamped their rotation. The Yankees are hoping for health with their big-money starters. The Rays, even without David Price and Jeremy Hellickson, have a deep and talented rotation with...
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Mel Antonen

A look at U.S. presidents' history with the national pastime

A look at U.S. presidents' history with the national pastime
With new commissioner Rob Manfred taking over, the case of suspended all-time hits leader Pete Rose being reinstated and elected into the Hall of Fame has been in the news. Rose thinks Manfred should allow the Baseball Writers' Association of America to debate his case for the 10 years and decide whether he belongs in Cooperstown. Manfred is mum on the subject. Not so with former President Jimmy Carter. In an Oct. 30, 1995 opinion piece for USA Today, Carter wrote that baseball should...
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Mel Antonen

Breaking down which clubs could be in the market for free agent James Shields

Breaking down which clubs could be in the market for free agent James Shields
New England has won another Super Bowl. The calendar says February and pitchers and catchers report to spring training camps mid-February. So where does pitcher James Shields, 33, the ace of the American League champion Kansas City Royals, wind up? It's a head-scratcher. No one knows. Did he turn down a $100 million contract? Now, can he be had for $70 million? Or will Shields sign a one-year deal, a la Ervin Santana a year ago, and try the free agent market next time? Who wouldn't want a...
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Mel Antonen

Remembering Ernie Banks

Remembering Ernie Banks
Ernie Banks, the Hall of Fame shortstop who played his entire 19-year career with the Chicago Cubs, was known for his 512 home runs, two National League MVPs and a never-ending sunny disposition on life, even though he never came close to playing in a World Series. Banks, 83, who died Friday night, also had a curiosity that was as legendary as Wrigley Field. He loved asking people questions because he said he enjoyed learning. And he understood that the magic of baseball was in the thrill of...
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Mel Antonen

With a star-studded rotation, who makes opening day start for the Nationals?

With a star-studded rotation, who makes opening day start for the Nationals?
There are 162 games in a baseball season, so determining a team's opening day starter seems to be a low-level story. But it is never that way. Opening day starters are a topic of conversation the minute teams arrive in spring training. Given so much is set with the Nationals going into the spring, the opening day starter is virtually the only question to be answered. Some managers announce their opening day starter at the beginning of spring training. Others hold back, even though reporters...
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Mel Antonen

Will Zimmermann stay after Scherzer signing and will Nats rotation be among best ever?

Will Zimmermann stay after Scherzer signing and will Nats rotation be among best ever?
Now that the Nationals have constructed the best rotation in baseball by adding Max Scherzer, the next set of questions surround Jordan Zimmermann. Zimmermann, 28, is eligible for free agency after the season. He and the Nationals have been negotiating, but there's no deal. Zimmermann is willing to stay in D.C., but wants fair market value. So, what is fair? Jon Lester signed for six years and $155 million with the Chicago Cubs. Zimmermann, who has won 57 games with a 3.24 ERA and a...
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Mel Antonen

Nationals make their pitch, reportedly land prized four-pitch pitcher Scherzer

Nationals make their pitch, reportedly land prized four-pitch pitcher Scherzer
Five years ago, pitcher Max Scherzer was a blue-chip prospect with an unpredictable delivery and even more unpredictable results. He's on his way to Washington after agreeing to a seven-year contract reportedly worth in excess of $180 million, giving the Nationals an unbelievable rotation that includes Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Doug Fister, Tanner Roark and Jordan Zimmermann. Media reports speculate that Zimmermann or Fister could be traded for prospects as general manager Mike Rizzo...
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Mel Antonen

Tommy John comebacks could be deciding factor in NL East

Tommy John comebacks could be deciding factor in NL East
Last year, the baseball season was defined by a record number of pitchers sidelined with Tommy John surgery, a procedure that requires ligament replacement in the elbow. This season, star pitchers who missed 2014 will be returning, and the National League East could be in for a big change as far as the teams that will challenge the Nationals. The Nationals won the division by 17 games last season, but the Atlanta Braves - usually their biggest challenger - are short on pitching thanks in part...
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Mel Antonen

Hearing from the newest members of baseball's Hall of Fame

Hearing from the newest members of baseball's Hall of Fame
For the first time since 1955, the Baseball Writers' Association of America has elected four players to the Hall of Fame. Pitchers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz, as well as Craig Biggio, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 26 in Cooperstown, N.Y. The BBWAA has not voted in four players in one vote since electing Joe DiMaggio, Gabby Hartnett, Ted Lyons and Dazzy Vance six decades ago. The three pitchers were elected on their first try, Biggio on his third. The...
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Mel Antonen

Examining who should and who will make the 2015 Hall of Fame class

Examining who should and who will make the 2015 Hall of Fame class
The new class of Hall of Famers will be announced Tuesday, and this time, the 500-plus voters from the Baseball Writers' Association of America had a new wrinkle to debate. There are three dozen names or so on the ballot, but the voting rules from the Hall of Fame say that a voter can select no more than 10. The problem is that many voters think there are more than 10 qualified players. So, that means voters will come up with a unique strategy. Mike Berardino, who covers the Minnesota Twins...
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Mel Antonen

One-word descriptions of every NL team at holiday time

One-word descriptions of every NL team at holiday time
As the holiday season arrives, baseball transactions usually slow down. We know you are busy with preparations, so here's the one word that comes to mind when talking about National League teams: * Arizona: Revival. There's an Oakland connection that brings back memories of the A's World Series teams from 1988-90. The team president is former A's manager Tony La Russa. The general manager is former A's pitcher Dave Stewart and pitching consultant Dave Duncan was La Russa's pitching coach...
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Mel Antonen

Finding the one word to define each AL team

Finding the one word to define each AL team
As the holidays approach, here's the one word that defines each American League team: * Baltimore: Favorite. If the season started today, the Orioles would be the pick to win the AL East, even without lefty Andrew Miller, designated hitter Nelson Cruz and outfielder Nick Markakis. At this point, Steve Pearce would play right field and Alejandro De Aza would be in left. How are the Orioles going to find anything better? Chances are they won't, but they will look, just in case. If Chris Davis,...
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Mel Antonen

Closing the book on an eventful Winter Meetings in San Diego

Closing the book on an eventful Winter Meetings in San Diego
SAN DIEGO - As the Winter Meetings end, here's what we've learned about the baseball landscape after spending four days in San Diego's unbelievable weather: * The 94-win Dodgers have money to spend, but this week, they showed they could combine an aggressive imagination with their huge wallet. The Dodgers traded second baseman Dee Gordon and pitcher Dan Haren to Miami in a deal that brought lefty prospect Andrew Heaney, who was then flipped to the Angels for second baseman Howie Kendrick....
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Mel Antonen

Could Lester's big deal, presumed price tags for Shields and Scherzer stoke trade market for starting pitchers?

Could Lester's big deal, presumed price tags for Shields and Scherzer stoke trade market for starting pitchers?
SAN DIEGO - Jon Lester is getting ready to earn $155 million for the Chicago Cubs. So that means teams that were trying to sign Lester are looking for other ways to fix their rotation. The Giants were in Lester and so were the Red Sox, Lester's former team. Lester could have gone to either of those teams that have a combined five World Series victories since 2004. Instead, he accepted the challenge of becoming the first player in history to win World Series with the Red Sox and Cubs, who...
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Mel Antonen

Reactions to Windy City moves made at the Winter Meetings (updated with Lester signing)

Reactions to Windy City moves made at the Winter Meetings (updated with Lester signing)
SAN DIEGO - The headlines after the second day of baseball's Winter Meetings have been going through the Windy City. The Chicago White Sox and Cubs are making all the news. The fans in Chicago need some relief. Each team won 73 games last season and finished 17 games out. The White Sox were fourth in the American League Central, the Cubs last in the National League Central. The White Sox acquired Jeff Samardzija in a trade from Oakland and signed closer David Robertson to a four-year, $40...
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Mel Antonen

Recapping the first day of baseball's Winter Meetings

Recapping the first day of baseball's Winter Meetings
SAN DIEGO - The Orioles are looking for outfielders via trade and the free agent market. The Nationals are mum about their plans for finding a second baseman. And, generally across both leagues, the action is slow. Big-name players going in the trade could define these Winter Meetings, and the dealings will start after lefty Jon Lester decides where he's going to play. He could return to Boston or sign with the Cubs and renew his relationship with former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein,...
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