Before Ubaldo Jimenez arrived in Cleveland, the Indians already had a pitcher who was performing like an ace. It’s no secret that Justin Masterson has had a spectacular year, anchoring an Indians starting rotation that has been the main reason why the team sits within striking distance of first place in the AL Central. Just how Masterson has been so dominant […]

To say that Eric Hinske has had a unique career is definitely an understatement. After winning his first World Series ring with the Red Sox in 2007 while hitting just .204 on the season, Hinske was forced to settle for a minor league contract the following year with the Tampa Bay Rays. He regained his form at […]

Less than two weeks ago, as trade rumors swirled leading up to the trade deadline, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell was going to be finishing the season in a different uniform. The deadline came and went but Bell remained a Padre, contrary to all of the reports that an impending move […]

Few baseball fans know a lot about Koji Uehara, but the Texas Rangers knew exactly what they were getting when they acquired the Japanese right-hander at the trade deadline at the end of July: one of the best relief pitchers in baseball. People are only starting to realize just how effective Uehara has been this season, and that effectiveness certainly […]

With an improved ability to induce ground balls and cut down line drives, newly-acquired Tiger Doug Fister has evolved into one of Major League Baseball’s top pitchers in 2011 – despite the fact that until last week, his win-loss record sat at 3-12. The third-year pitcher’s success on the mound can be attributed to an […]

Toronto Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero played a key role in Toronto’s 5-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on June 26. Most of Romero’s contribution came from the mound – a complete game, four-hitter – but a portion of it came from home plate. In the sixth inning, Romero hit a key two-run single, […]

If the movie Major League taught us anything, it’s that hair is vitally important to the success of a closer in baseball. Charlie Sheen’s Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn rode a wild fastball and equally wild hair to the pennant. If a fictional character played by America’s biggest train wreck doesn’t convince you of the importance of closer […]

A writer for Baseball America is on the phone. She asks for Jake Marisnick and Marcus Knecht. The two Blue Jays prospects are found next to one another in the Lansing Lugnuts’ home clubhouse. Earlier today, they were practicing a new handshake routine on the field. Now they sit and count the minutes before they need to shower and dress for […]

Both the life and baseball career of Chicago White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy have been all about finding and claiming new, rare territory. He is one of just 10 pitchers in National League history to win the Cy Young Award with a unanimous vote, one of two players to ever win a Cy Young Award without pitching […]

The MLB closer is one of the most volatile positions in all of sports. Although occasionally ninth inning responsibilities change hands as the result of injury, more often than not, poor performance is the main cause for any turnover, the rate of which, between closers on Opening Day and at the end of the season […]