The Blue Workhorse

The Cincinnati Reds have finally decided to do what many have been anxiously waiting for.

With a rotating outfield of Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn, Corey Patterson, and Ryan Freel that has combined to hit only .254, the Reds called up super-prospect (the current #1 overall prospect) Jay Bruce from Triple-A Louisville.

This is the move many fantasy owners have been waiting for. Much like Ryan Braun of a year-ago, Bruce is a prospect that can truly impact a fantasy baseball race.

One of the three SEC teams that did not make the national tournament is a Tennessee baseball team that finished 27-29 overall (the first losing season since 2002) and failed to even make the SEC tournament after having previously making the national tournament in three of five seasons from 2001-2005, including twice making the College World Series during that span. As far as this season, many point to this being the first year of a rebuilding project under Coach Todd Raleigh, and it may very well be a couple of seasons before the program can be restored to national prominence.

The question I ask myself, however, is ‘What was wrong with the University of Tennessee baseball program before Raleigh got here? ‘

As we gather with family and friends on Memorial Day weekend, we must remember that nearly a third of the Major League Baseball season has passed us, and for those of you whose fantasy teams are faltering, there is still hope, but it is likely time to make some changes.

One successful method that could get you back in the running for your league title is the “buy low” strategy, in which you nab up or trade for underperforming players. Using split-statistics, in which the players statistics are divided up into each individual month or Pre/Post All-Star Break, here are a few players who might not appear to be overly appealing now, but as the weather heats up, these players seem to follow:

In the Sunday Sports Selection series, we showcase a sports-related product (gadget, book, film, equipment, etc.) that we have enjoyed and think you may find of interest as well.

Ever had one of those weekends where it’s just absolutely gloomy outside? It’s dark and rainy, and it just doesn’t seem to let up effectively ruining all your outdoor plans? It happens to everyone because the weather is one of those things we are unable to control.

But instead of letting it ruin your weekend, you can take advantage of a glum weekend. If you pick up Ken Burns’s masterful DVD collection Baseball - A Film By Ken Burns, you will have an insightful, entertaining, and masterful set of 10 DVDs divided into 9 “innings” and an “extra inning” that will occupy and keep any baseball fan entertained for 23 hours of the weekend.

The Atlanta Braves may answer to multiple names, which makes sense, after all, since they seem to have a split personality.

Meet Personality #1 - The Hotlanta Braves: Just as the name implies, when they play in Atlanta at Turner Field, the Braves are HOT!

Did you know when the Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first professional baseball team in 1869 the batters got to call whether they wanted the ball high or low? Did you know the first pitchers didn’t throw overhand? Did you know there wasn’t any bunting in the beginning of professional baseball?

In Darryl Brock’s If I Never Get Back, the reader and the main character, Samuel Clemens Fowler, are thrown back to the 19th century world of railroad travel and the first professional baseball players. Sam Fowler, a divorced newspaper reporter whose life is in ruins when the book begins, is somehow transferred back to 1869 and ends up traveling with Harry Wright and his Red Stockings, the first professional baseball team.

I know there are some followers of the WNBA in places like Knoxville, Storrs, CT and other cities that have successful college teams, but does that really justify the prolonged existence of this bore?

0.15 - In the past seven games, the Cleveland Indians’ starting pitchers have amassed a near unimaginable 0.15 ERA. That’s one single lone earned run in 58 1/3 innings. The earned run came way back on May 9 when staff ace C.C. Sabathia allowed a single earned run in the 5th inning against Toronto.
After Blue [...]