The allures of Major League Baseball are unlike those of other North American sports. Quite typically, the pace and tradition of the game work to its benefit, establishing within the sport a sense of timelessness thoroughly appreciated by anyone receptive to its subtleties and summer afternoon tranquility. On the other hand, its relative lack of […]

Every day, sports writers, bloggers, sports information/media relations assistants and broadcasters shove on their thinking caps and bend over their keyboards to pound out a post-game title to their game story, recap, or press release. In the spirit of 100 ways to die, here are 200 ways to defeat the opposition. Headline writers, this one’s […]

After missing the entire 2009 season due to injury, Shaun Marcum led a young Blue Jays pitching staff in 2010  to successfully rebound from Tommy John surgery, tossing a career-high 195 innings in 31 starts. The then-Jays ace not only ate innings, but cut down his walks and increased the frequency with which he threw […]

In addition to his contributions to The Good Point, Jesse Goldberg-Strassler is the full-time broadcaster of the Toronto Blue Jay-affiliate Lansing Lugnuts, of the Class A Midwest League. What follows is a personal account of what has become a yearly tradition in his broadcasting booth; a tribute to the radio giants of baseball’s past. In August […]

Over the course of the past half decade, San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mat Latos has quietly become one of the most polarizing figures in baseball. Since and even prior to his selection in the 2006 MLB Draft, the hulking right-hander has drawn the ire of coaches, teammates and media alike with a personality generously described as brash. On the mound, […]

Splitting time with Gerald Laird last season, Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila struggled offensively. So when Laird departed via free agency – after managing an atrocious .567 OPS in 2010 – the Tigers addressed their lack of production behind the plate by acquiring the best offensive catcher available, Victor Martinez, in free agency. Martinez has […]

Calling Alex Gordon a bust is tempting, but ultimately false. The second-overall pick by the Royals in the 2005 MLB Draft, Gordon’s professional career has been littered with lofty expectations and unfortunate injuries. The third baseman was compared to George Brett upon his arrival in Kansas City, which probably wasn’t the best way to introduce a prospect to a […]

On the night of August 15, 2011, Jim Thome strolled into the batter’s box. His Twins narrowly led the Tigers in a back-and-forth night game under the Comerica Park lights. The count was 2-1 as Thome brought his bat to meet Detroit’s Daniel Schlereth’s eyes, then set back and waited. A few moments later, Thome launched his 600th […]

Jered Weaver has the look of somebody that should be a star in Southern California. His 6’7″ frame and flowing blonde hair look perfectly in place on the cover of Surfer Magazine, a common publication that litters the sandy shores of the California coastline. But luckily for Angels fans, Weaver decided that he’d enjoy hanging curveballs […]

If you believe that the direction your life takes is not really of your own choosing, and that somewhere there is a puppet-master pulling the strings and determining your fortunes, you may be delusional and paranoid. Or you may simply be connected with the minor leagues. The South Bend Silver Hawks’ Zach Walters went into a July 30th […]