baseball
Sabermetric analysis of all things baseball - on-and-off the field. Barry Bonds fan club.
History of the MLB Postseason (Part II: Divisional Play & League Championship Series Era - 1969-1993)
The World Series was instilled in 1903 as the championship contest, as well as the lone postseason round in Major League Baseball. The Series has been contested between the champions of the American and National Leagues, with each league's standings determining the pennant winners, which went to the first place teams. For five decades, MLB had 16 teams, eight in each league, though the 1950s and 1960s would see a wave of relocation and expansion, with more teams being place in western cities. By 1968, MLB had 20 teams, 10 in each league, though league standings still determine pennants.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
MLB Pennant Race 2021: Three Teams Clinch Spots, While One Continues to Sink
We are just two weeks away from the end of the 2021 MLB season. Two short weeks! It seems like yesterday that the full 162-game season began, but what is usually a marathon has went by like a sprint, and we are in the depths of the home stretch. Time is running out for a lot of teams looking to get into the postseason, and speaking of time, let's not waste any more of it and get to the main storylines.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
MLB Pennant Race 2021: Brewers Close in on NL Central
Three weeks remain in the 2021 MLB season, and the postseason races continue to heat up. Some teams rise, others continue to fall, as is the case every September. Here are the main stories that are taking center stage during this home stretch of the season.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
MLB Pennant Race 2021: Yankees Slide, Giants Take Over NL West
The month of September is the most important month in baseball, as it is the last one before the postseason begins. Any and all races are settled in the month of September, which definitely separates the contenders from the pretenders. With four weeks left in the regular season, huge developments are taking place, so here are the main shifts that took place as of this point.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Presenting the Cleveland Guardians
On July 23, 2021, it was announced that Cleveland's MLB franchise will now be known as the Guardians, with the news being broken on Twitter. The franchise debuted in 1894 as the Grand Rapids Rustlers for their first six seasons, until undergoing three different name changes between 1900 and 1902. In 1903, they became the Cleveland Napoleons (shortened to "Naps"), named after their star player, Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie, but after Lajoie's departure following the 1914 season, the team adopted their long time familiar name: the Cleveland Indians.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Are the Seattle Mariners Cursed?
As an avid sports fan, there are a select number of teams who I can't help but be fascinated by, for different reasons. Regarding the Seattle Mariners, it amazes me how unlucky that team is, as well as what little success they've had. The Mariners were actually Seattle's second attempt at a Major League Baseball franchise, following the Seattle Pilots, who debuted in 1969 and ended up moving to Milwaukee and becoming the Brewers in 1970. It was seven years later that MLB returned to the Pacific Northwest in the form of the Seattle Mariners, who were one of two teams added to the American League in 1977--joining the American League West while the Toronto Blue Jays joined the American League East.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
25 Years of Interleague Play
When I was a kid watching baseball, I once asked my dad, "Why is it that the Dodgers and Angels don't face each other?," and I was told that it was because they're in different leagues. That was the norm back then. American League teams faced American League teams. National League teams faced National League teams. The only AL vs NL action was preseason, the All-Star Game, and the World Series.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
A Look at the Atlanta Braves' Division Title Streak
One of the most memorable streaks in sports history (especially in my lifetime) was the Atlanta Braves' 14 straight division championships, finishing first from 1991 until 2005. Since then, the Braves' postseasons have been scarce, but once upon a time, they were one of the constants throughout the 1990s. Here's an at-a-glance look at the Braves' streak.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Ichiro Suzuki: From Skepticism to Baseball Immortality
On a cold April day in 2001, Bret Boone jogged to second base for Opening Day at Safeco Field in Seattle. The roof was open, and the Oakland Athletics were in town for what promised to be a thrilling game. ESPN2 was broadcasting the event live, but the buzz wasn’t just about the game—it was about the Mariners' newest addition, Ichiro Suzuki.
By Jayuabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Story #250: My Experience at The Ballpark in Arlington
250 stories on Vocal! I've come a long since I first started writing stories on this platform back in 2018. For my 250th story, I'll be sharing of how I became a fan of a Major League Baseball team. But first, a bit of history.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard about a year ago in Unbalanced
This Is the Moment You've Been Waiting For...
Greetings, baseball nerds! The most exciting moment has finally arrived: the announcement of the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame Class. After much anticipation, the players who will be inducted this summer are the following players:
By Mark Wesley Pritchard about a year ago in Unbalanced
