Ben Berkon

For those who didn't know, it's the 22 year anniversary of the film Bull Durham. The movie is a fan favorite for a variety of reasons: Kevin Costner kicks ass in it, baseball is an awesome sport and there are a plethora of memorable quotes. Everyone has a go-to of...

I just want to put this out there before I get started. Jennifer, I am in no way a stalker or pervert. While I enjoy the occasional Friends re-run and think you're a relatively pleasant screen actress, I do not possess a single Jennifer Aniston poster, cardboard standout, or shrine/sniffing...

After soaring through their first four games, the New York Mets hit a wall. It wasn't because their luck ran out, but rather, David Wright fractured his pinkie -- preventing him from playing another game. More importantly than subtracting Wright and his .583/.647/.833 line so far, it left the Mets...

Dear Fred,

I'm writing to you, not as a traffic-hungry blogger, but as a fan-a long-time, die-hard fan. You see, my father, who, like you, was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, raised me in orange and blue. There wasn't a choice in the matter, and I never looked back-until last night.

One of pitching coach's least favorite things in the world are walks. Walks lead to base runners, and base runners often lead to runs. While being a "control artist" isn't as sexy as being a "strikeout artist," sometimes the former is more important. Below are the top five "control artists"...

Teams generally expect massive offensive production out of their corner infielders, including third base. While that's usually the case, aside from Adrian Beltre (.561), Pablo Sandoval (.552 SLG), and Aramis Ramirez (.510 SLG), no other third basemen in baseball had a slugging percentage over .500 during 2011. In addition, only...

Not too long ago, the name "Cameron Maybin" meant big things. Picked tenth overall by the Detroit Tigers in the 2005 draft, the eighteen year-old from Asheville, North Carolina was surely going to be the next great five-tool centerfielder.

In his first season in the Minor Leagues for the Tigers,...

After posting a 0.44 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 2.50 K/BB in 20.6 innings last season, most people correctly assumed Craig Kimbrel would grab hold of the Atlanta Braves closer gig, and never let go. That has been more than the case in 2011. In just his second Major League season,...

When the Toronto Blue Jays acquired Brett Lawrie from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Shaun Marcum, most people were aware of how special of a player Lawrie would be. The only question was when he'd be able to illustrate his special talents at the Major League level. On August...

Jhonny Peralta is arguably enjoying the finest season of his entire career. In his first full-season with the Detroit Tigers, the shortstop has posted a .306/.355/.487 line with 19 homeruns, 80 RBI, 62 runs, and a 9.4 UZR/150. Offensively, Peralta ranks third among shortstops, and defensively, he's fourth.

But considering...

For the third season in-a-row, Leo Nunez has successfully saved games for the Florida Marlins. Even though being a relatively consistent closer isn't exactly the easiest asset to come by, Nunez, who could make as much as $6.5 million through arbitration in the off-season, will still most likely get cut...

The Toronto Blue Jays bullpen has been a mess lately. Part-time closer Jon Rauch is on the disabled list, and current closer Frank Francisco might join him too. Regardless of whether or when they return, both pitchers will be free-agents after the season. Unless the Blue Jays sign a closer...

In 2010, the Cleveland Indians were in a hurry to get rid of veteran closer Kerry Wood to pave way for youngster Chris Perez. Their urgency was justified, as Perez posted a sensational 1.71 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 2.18 K/BB. However, Perez's success was based on an incredibly unsustainable .222...

In international news, rebels revealed today that the tyrannical Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, has been located on the corner of 170th and St. Nicholas Avenue in New York City. Gaddafi, who disappeared weeks ago, apparently found shelter in a quaint one-bedroom walk-up in the friendly, predominantly Dominican neighborhood.

"Muammar Gaddafi...

If someone were to ask, "Who's better, Joe Mauer or Matt Treanor?," you'd either hear disgusted cackles or maybe even get smacked in the face. And both of those responses would be justified. However, to Treanor's credit, both he and Mauer are having very similar seasons.

After two consecutive years of double-digit homeruns, Michael Morse of the Washington Nationals became a household name--at least in houses that participate in fantasy baseball. In just 266 plate appearances last season, Morse owned a .289/.352/.519 line with 15 homeruns, 41 RBI, and 36 runs. When the Nationals...

It seems like ages ago when the catcher with that exhausting last name was a "can't miss" prospect. The moment Jarrod Saltalamacchia was drafted in the first round of the 2003 draft, he instantly became the pride and joy of the Atlanta Braves organization. After "Salty" posted 529...

Most baseball players who are seven-year veterans aren't 26 years old. Yet B.J. Upton is. Upton has been in the show since he was 19 years old. He's also played five different positions during that span -- including shortstop, second base, third base, left-field (just one game) and now center-field....

I remember the Mets acquiring Mike Hampton just like it was yesterday. I was 12-years-old and on vacation in Cancun, Mexico with my family for Christmas break. Before we hit the beach, my brother and I decided to watch a little ESPN, dubbed in Spanish of course, to see what...

In baseball news, the pitching-starved New York Yankees plan to use a sack filled with $24 million as their fourth starter for the upcoming 2011 season. Ever since the 2010 season ended, the Yankees and their fans have been anxiously looking to...