The Good Point

Baseball Archives

Baseball

The Blue Jay Effect on Grass Roots Baseball

As the Toronto Blue Jays have come and gone over the course of the past decades, so too has youth and grass roots baseball. Will this current World Series push do for the kids of today what Joe Carter’s club did for Generation Y? Ryan Wight takes a look at the ebb and flow of baseball participation among Canadian youth, all while showing that you’re never too old to get excited about your Big League club gearing up for a title.

Baseball

Weighing in on the World Baseball Classic

The World Baseball Classic is a terrific idea, a competitive tournament, and a fine showcase of baseball’s global reach. Sadly, there are three key factors holding it back which Jesse Goldberg-Strassler explains. Does the good outweigh the bad on the international level? The answer might surprise you.

Baseball

MLB reality show proposals revealed

We’ve seen a wave of reality programs take over television sets around the world, yet only a few that have touched on America’s game. Jesse Goldberg-Strassler contemplates all of the possibilities that stem from MLB-inspired television, pitching a handful of shows that just might have what it takes to become the next summer sensation.

Baseball

Spring Training: The Escape from Winter

It’s that time of year again, when watching players in the Florida (or Arizona) sun stretch, sprint and work on their skills creates a sense of optimism for anybody regardless of wherever they might call home. Everyone’s team, everyone’s pride and joy, looks good and no one is worried about where they will ultimately finish in the standings. It’s the perfect escape from winter.

Baseball

Spring Training Reality Check

It’s easy to get lost in the hype of MLB spring training this time of year, but far too many times we’ve seen February and March’s studs turn into regular season duds. Why exactly, should baseball fans tread cautiously and temper their enthusiasm when it comes to basing future success off of the small sample size that is spring training?

Baseball

Alex Rodriguez in Perspective

Quick, name the player: He’s won two Gold Gloves, three Most Valuable Player Awards, 10 Silver Sluggers and has been named to 14 All-Star Games. He led the league in batting average, runs scored, and total bases when he was just 21 years old, and has topped the circuit in home runs five times since then. He scored at least 100 runs in 13 straight seasons and collected at least 100 RBIs in a span of 14 out of 15 seasons. Are we taking media punching bag Alex Rodriguez for granted?

Baseball

The Spring Training Euphoria

The mantra pops up on Twitter, retweeted with exuberance; it surfaces in a Facebook post drawing dozens of likes; it dominates the thoughts of diehard fans akin to children counting down the days toward Christmas. Suddenly, well, this cold, harsh winter isn’t so bad after all. Ladies and gentlemen, “Pitchers and catchers are reporting”. Soon.

Baseball

Mystery Beef: Why Justin Upton doesn’t want to play in Seattle

In killing the trade that would have sent four prospects to the Diamondbacks in his stead, Justin Upton has sent a simple message to an entire city: I’m just not that into you. It was a team already on his no-trade list, so you can’t really blame him, but why? What could one possibly have against Seattle? Harlan Ambrose speculates.

Baseball

The Hall that Belonged to Them

For the eighth time in history, the Baseball Hall of Fame will not welcome any new members. As we begin the precarious time where those suspected of cheating during MLB’s “Steroid Era” are becoming eligible for induction, the Baseball Writers of America have spoken and decided that nobody is worthy this year. And there’s nothing you can do about it.

Baseball

The YouTube Cure for Your MLB Offseason Woes

Major League Baseball is doing everything it can to integrate into the 21st century. As other major professional sports have, MLB is taking advantage of new and emerging technologies to connect with fans and provide unique experiences. YouTube alone lets you re-live all of the greatest – and not so great – moments in recent memory. Have a half hour to kill? Take a look for yourself.