The Nationals don't have a lefty reliever in their bullpen, and the division-rival Braves are running out of bullpen lefties as well. The Braves will be without lefties Jonny Venters and Eric O'Flaherty, their main setup guys for All-Star Craig Kimbrel. In addition, the Braves are without Jordan Walden, the right-handed reliever they acquired in a trade with the Angels, and ex-Oriole Luis Ayala, who ... read more
By Mel Antonen, May 20, 2013 10:17 PM
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As the umpiring issues involving Fielden Culbreth and Angel Hernandez continue to rage, and as Major League Baseball continues to look into expanded replay, it would be nice if the umpires would stand up and admit mistakes after controversial calls. That would go a long way in restoring their credibility with the players and fans. Instead, after missing a home-run call in Cleveland, and then ... read more
By Mel Antonen, May 13, 2013 11:17 AM
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The most anonymous and yet most important people in baseball have made the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. The hall is recognizing the work of scouts in a two-year display that opened last week. In an age when advanced statistics such as BABIP and WAR take center stage in player evaluation, the old-time scout, the guy that puts 50,000 miles a year on a ... read more
By Mel Antonen, May 7, 2013 4:05 PM
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The first month of the season is coming to a close, and here are things we can take away from April: * There's no need to panic when a team goes bad for a week. Last week, the Nats were struggling and on the verge of falling into a big hole in the NL East. But they won three weekend games against the Reds, and ... read more
By Mel Antonen, April 29, 2013 10:26 AM
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Pete Kozma, the Cardinals' shortstop who delivered a knockout blow to the Nationals in Game 5 of their Division Series in October, returned to a chorus of booing Monday night at Nationals Park. Afterward, he said getting booed was a first. Given what he did against the Nationals last season, including a key two-run single in the Cardinals' 9-7 comeback win in Game 5 of ... read more
By Mel Antonen, April 23, 2013 9:08 AM
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Teams are scrambling as a slew of big-name players wind up on the disabled list. The Blue Jays lost shortstop Jose Reyes with an injury to his left ankle, and the Dodgers will be without pitcher Zack Greinke because of a broken collarbone suffered in a fight with the Padres' Carlos Quentin. The Angels are without pitcher Jered Weaver because of a broken left elbow. ... read more
By Mel Antonen, April 16, 2013 8:51 AM
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Lessons learned from the season's first week: * The Red Sox are going to be better than most thought. Lefty Jon Lester is back on track. The always-shifting defense, which some times has third baseman Will Middlebrooks playing in short right field, has been an improvement. Shortstop Juan Iglesias, outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and catcher David Ross are important ingredients in the Red Sox's run ... read more
By Mel Antonen, April 8, 2013 11:44 AM
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The first two days of the season are complete. Here are some first impressions: * Yu Darvish's perfect game was broken up with two outs in the ninth in the Rangers' 7-0 win in Houston on Tuesday night. It brought back memories of April 4, 2001, when the Red Sox's Hideo Nomo, who, like Darvish is from Japan, threw a no-hitter versus the Orioles at ... read more
By Mel Antonen, April 3, 2013 8:15 AM
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