The Strangest Batting Stance You’ll Ever See

As degenerate, peanut-and-crackerjack baseball fans, we thought we'd seen every stance in the book since Mel Ott and Mickey Tettleton graced the diamond...

Former Red Sock-current Yankee Kevin Youkilis and his finger-tip grip...

(Image via online.wsj.com)

Longtime Brewer Craig Counsell and his unnecessary stretch...

(brewers.mlblogs.com)

Heck, even ageless phenom Julio Franco and his violent patience...

(Image via www.policymic.com)

But not one batting-stance pioneer came close to Coastal Carolina designated hitter Alex Buccilli, who completely tarnished all expectations for what a "strange" batting stance really could be. Let's marinate in the awkward, yet revolutionary praying-mantis stance...

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Watch the Worst Third-Strike Call in MLB History

Umping has hit rock bottom.

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Bryce Harper Hits 2 Homers in MLB Opener, Obviously

20-year-old bro-turned-phenom Bryce Harper clown-questioned the entire Major Leagues today, with one of the studliest swings we've seen since the Griffey days of 864 BC. Here is the future of baseball...



And a second shot...


(Image via washingtonpost.com)

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The Hard Knock Life of a Mets Fan

With news of former ace Johan Santana re-tearing the anterior capsule in his left shoulder flooding paper stands around the salty Metropolitan streets, Mets fans/brass/teammates are once again crying for answers. WHY US!?

Amazin' captain David Wright called it "shocking and disheartening;" The cashier at the corner deli called "Ay, Jesus Christos!" Even the sweatered pitbull that sits outside of Citi Field with a lit cigar called it "ruff."

The Mets may have an influx of promising youngsters climbing the ranks, yet there is a melancholy feel about the recent past that has left a bad taste in fans' mouths. We still owe Bobby Bonilla about 25 annual payments of $1.9 million (through 2035), and he's been retired for 12 years. We just paid Jason Bay $21 million NOT to play for us this season. We essentially paid $137 million for a no-hitter and nothing else. Oh, and how could we forget...our mascot looks like a testicle!!

Bet most of you wish you took the red pill, huh?

(Image via nationalpostsports.tumblr.com)

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5 MLB Prospects Ready to Blossom in 2013

This is a guest post submitted by Ally Silva. Ally played all kinds of sports growing up and adamantly follows everything sports now, particularly Chicago sports. She works with Phoenix Bats, a company that creates world-class wooden bats for amateur and professional ball players around the world. Ally loves writing on different sports topics and is very grateful to be able to contribute here.

Major League Baseball saw a new crop of rookies make a sparkling debut during the 2012 season. Led by former MLB prospects Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, these promising youngsters showed that baseball still shines as a sport that gives fans ongoing thrills with new faces replacing older veterans whose time has passed.  There are quite a few young prospects that promise to deliver in the 2013 season as well. Here are five MLB prospects to watch this spring and summer.

1. Travis d’Arnaud: New York Mets

The New York Mets took a big chance this offseason, trading reigning Cy Young Award-winner R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays for catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud. The risk could pay off in a big way for the Mets.  D’Arnaud hit .333 with 16 HR and 52 RBI before a knee injury cut short his season in Triple-A last year. D’Arnaud has also been praised for his abilities behind the plate and a strong throwing arm as well. The Mets may well have landed a player who could be a leader for years to come.

2. Jarred Cosart: Houston Astros  

At just 22 years of age, Houston Astros pitching prospect Jarred Cosart had a breakthrough season in 2012, posting a 3.30 ERA in 20 starts at the Double-A and Triple-A level. Cosart features a solid four- pitch repertoire with developing plate command. Cosart is in a battle for the final spot in the Astros’ starting rotation this spring. He got off to a solid start, delivering two scoreless innings in his spring debut against the Philadelphia Phillies. A few more efforts like that could have Cosart heading north with the Astros in April.

3. Zack Wheeler: New York Mets  

The New York Mets have a great stable of young pitchers in their organization. Zack Wheeler heads that list. Wheeler posted a 3.26 ERA in 25 starts at the Double-A and Triple-A level last year. Much like Jarred Cosart, Wheeler also impressed in his first spring outing, pitching two scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals in Grapefruit League play.  Wheeler could join fellow prospect Matt Harvey in the Mets’ rotation if he continues to impress this spring.

4. Mike Zunino: Seattle Mariners  

The Seattle Mariners selected University of Florida catcher Mike Zunino with the fourth overall pick in the 2012 MLB draft. Zunino hit the ground running in his professional debut, hitting .360 with 13 HR and 43 RBI in just 44 games last season. The Mariners traded away catcher John Jaso and failed to bring back Miguel Olivo, giving Zunino a unique opportunity to vie for a roster spot during spring training. If Zunino continues to shine offensively, he’ll do more than just take up a roster spot.

5. Jedd Gyorko: San Diego Padres  

When Jedd Gyorko was drafted by the San Diego Padres, they envisioned a player who could be their third baseman of the future. However, with incumbent Chase Headley having a breakout year in 2012, Gyorko is trying to find his way as their future second baseman.  Gyorko hit .324 with 24 HR and 83 RBI in 92 games at the Triple-A level last season, so the Padres would love to add his bat into a lineup in need of power. An impressive spring training could see Gyorko make a successful transition at the major league level. 

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MLB's Surprise Players of 2012

This is a guest post submitted by Ally Silva. Ally played all kinds of sports growing up and adamantly follows everything sports now, particularly Chicago sports. She works with Phoenix Bats, a company that creates world-class wood bats for amateur and professional ball players around the world. Ally loves writing on different sports topics and is very grateful to be able to contribute here.

MLB's 5 Surprise Impact Players in 2012

Each year in Major League Baseball, there always seems to be several players that provide their teams with surprise performances that were completely unexpected. Whether they were veterans who
stepped up their game or young prospects whom not much was expected, they served to become huge
impacts along the way.

Here are five such players who have pulled off amazing performances thus far in the 2012 season.

5. Chris Capuano: Los Angeles Dodgers

When the Los Angeles Dodgers signed starting pitcher Chris Capuano to a two-year $10 million contract over the offseason, they were likely expecting a pitcher who could provide some help at the back end of the rotation. Thus far, Capuano has provided much more.

Through his first 19 starts, Capuano is 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA, arguably the second best pitcher on the
Dodgers’ staff behind Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw. Capuano’s efforts helped lift the
Dodgers to the top of the NL West standings for much of the first half of the season.

4. Austin Jackson: Detroit Tigers

For the first two years of his career, Detroit Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson was finding his way in the majors. Thus far in 2012, he clearly seems to have arrived.

Through the first 90 games of the season, Jackson became a force at the top of the Tigers’ lineup,
hitting .322 with 10 HR and 39 RBI, leading the American League with five triples and supplying a .405 on-base percentage. Jackson’s table-setting performance from the leadoff position has given the middle of the Tigers’ lineup ample opportunities to drive in runs as well.

3. Carlos Ruiz: Philadelphia Phillies

Everyone in Philadelphia knew that Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, but thus far in 2012, Ruiz has taken his offense to another level.

Ruiz earned an All-Star selection with his outstanding performance, hitting .353 with 14 HR and 50 RBI through the first 90 games of the season. In the absence of sluggers Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, Ruiz certainly helped in picking up the offensive slack.

2. R.A. Dickey: New York Mets

When the New York Mets acquired knuckle-baller R.A. Dickey in 2010, they converted him to a full-time starter. That decision has paid off big-time in 2012.

Dickey exploded in the first half of the season, posting a 12-1 record and 2.63 ERA through his first 18 starts of the season. Dickey’s incredible first-half earned him an All-Star selection and helped keep his Mets in contention in the competitive National League East Division.

1. Mike Trout: Los Angeles Angels

When the 2012 season started, young 20-year-old Los Angeles Angels prospect Mike Trout was starting out in Triple-A. By the end of the first month, with the Angels floundering, Trout was called up to help give them a boost.

Trout has done much more than just give his Angels a boost—he has been the catalyst that turned their season around.

Since his call-up on April 28, Trout has hit .355, tops in the American League, with 13 HR, 44 RBI and a major league-leading 30 stolen bases. In addition, the Angels are 44-27 since Trout’s season debut and are just five games in back of the Texas Rangers in the AL West. Trout is not only leading the race for the AL Rookie of the Year Award, he is in the conversation in terms of the AL MVP Award as well.

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Vin Scully Translates Jim Tracy's Meltdown in Broadcasting's Greatest Moment

When umpires first declared a linedrive off Shane Victorino's bat a catch by Rockies center fielder Dexter Fowler and then switched it to a trap, Rockies manager Jim Tracy went into a frenzy. Tracy's provocative use of the English language was eloquently translated into a suitable, safe-for-work tantrum for viewers by longtime commentator Vin Scully. Yet again proving he's the best of all time at detailing baseball.

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Job Security: 5 MLB Managers in Danger of Unemployment

Job Security: 5 MLB Managers in Danger of Unemployment

This is a guest post submitted by Chris Ludwig. Chris played a wide variety of sports growing up and now passionately follows everything sports, especially Detroit sports. He works with Phoenix Bats, a company that creates world-class wood bats for amateur and professional ball players around the world. Chris enjoys writing on different sports topics and is very grateful to be able to contribute here.

The average life span of an MLB player’s career is somewhere between five and six years. For an MLB manager, it’s not quite as robust.

Managers are generally the one left holding the bag and the first ones out the door when a team fails to achieve its goals. Since 25 players can’t be fired, it’s the manager who feels the pain.

As the 2012 MLB season rolls along, who are the managers most likely to find pine on a park bench?
Let’s take a look.

1. Ned Yost: Kansas City Royals

Ned Yost is in his third season as skipper of the Kansas City Royals, having taken over from the fired Trey Hillman just 25 games into the 2010 season.

Yost has been charged with developing a bevy of youngsters on the Royals’ roster. However, with a
record of 39-53 and fighting for last place in the AL Central with the Minnesota Twins as of July 20, Yost may end up with a similar fate as his predecessor.

2. Eric Wedge: Seattle Mariners

Eric Wedge is in his second season with the Seattle Mariners, and has been saddled with a team that
continues to struggle scoring runs.

The Mariners were dead last in the American League in plating runs in 2011 and find themselves in
second-to-last in that department this year as well.

Has it been Wedge’s fault? Absolutely not, but he’ll end up taking the fall anyway.

3. Ozzie Guillen: Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins went to great lengths to get the man they wanted to skipper their team last season,
hiring away manager Ozzie Guillen from the Chicago White Sox and giving up players in return.

Guillen didn’t start out in very smooth fashion, getting in trouble with the Cuban-American community in South Florida with comments that praised Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

In addition, Guillen has largely failed to motivate his charges, with the Marlins five games under .500 as of July 20.

It could be a short stay in South Florida for Guillen.

4. Brad Mills: Houston Astros

When the Houston Astros changed ownership early in the 2012, new owner Jim Crane and general
manager Jeff Luhnow stuck by current manager Brad Mills, giving him an opportunity to show them
what he could do with a young core group of players in Houston.

Has Mills done enough to keep his job? The Astros sit in last place in the NL Central Division with a 34-59 record as of July 20. With a pending move to the AL West Division next season, Astros’ management may decide to go in a new direction.

5. Jim Tracy: Colorado Rockies

Colorado Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd gave manager Jim Tracy an “indefinite” contract
extension prior to the 2012 season. Considering how the season has gone thus far, O’Dowd may put a
definite end to that deal.

The Rockies are 35-56 as of July 20, the second-worst record in all of baseball. Much more was expected of this team after a disappointing 73-89 finish last year.

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5 Best Current MLB Hitters Who Could Capture Elusive Triple Crown

This is a guest post submitted by Mike Wright. Mike played all kinds of sports growing up and adamantly follows everything sports. He works with Phoenix Bats, a company that creates world-class wood bats for amateur and professional ball players around the world. Mike loves writing on different sports topics and is honored to contribute here.

Major League Baseball certainly features an array of great accomplishments in its over 130-year history.

Some of the achievements are indeed rare, including the Triple Crown.

The Triple Crown is achieved when one batter leads his respective league in batting average, home runs and runs batted in. Since modern record-keeping began at the start of the 20th century, the Triple Crown has only been achieved 13 times, the last in 1967 by Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox.

There are those who believe that the Triple Crown may never be achieved, and given the fact that it’s
been 45 years since Yaz last captured the elusive Triple Crown, they may in fact be correct. However,
here is a list of five current MLB stars who are certainly more than capable of ending the Triple Crown
drought.

5. Carlos Gonzalez: Colorado Rockies

In 2010, Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez had a breakout season, leading the National
League with a .336 average and narrowly missing out on the Triple Crown, with 34 HR and 117 RBI.

At just 26 years of age, Gonzalez is just entering the prime of his career and has plenty of time to not
only expand on his 2010 numbers, but to possibly end the Triple Crown drought as well.

4. Ryan Braun: Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun, the 2011 National League MVP, narrowly missed out on the
batting title, finishing just five points behind eventual winner Jose Reyes. Braun also finished sixth in
home runs (33) and fourth in RBI (111).

Braun could very well be aided by the defection to the American League by former NL stars Albert
Pujols and Prince Fielder, and the current Achilles heel injury to Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan
Howard. With just a bit more pop in the bat, Braun could be an excellent candidate.

3. Jose Bautista: Toronto Blue Jays

Over the past two seasons, Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista has clearly shown that he is
capable of big-time production, with 97 home runs and 227 RBI during that span. In addition, Bautista
raised his batting average over 40 points last season, ending with a .302 mark.

If Bautista continues to hone his eye and develop even better plate discipline, the Triple Crown may not
be out of his reach.

2. Adrian Gonzalez: Boston Red Sox

Last year, Adrian Gonzalez’s first season with the Boston Red Sox, he finished second in the American

League batting race to Miguel Cabrera, hitting .338 with 27 HR and 117 RBI. While Gonzalez’s home run
numbers dipped slightly, he is capable of much more, hitting 40 long balls while playing half his games at
pitcher-friendly Petco Park in 2009.

In hitter-friendly Fenway Park, Gonzalez could absolutely be in contention for the Triple Crown,
especially with his power to the opposite field.

1. Miguel Cabrera: Detroit Tigers

Ever since breaking into the majors with the Florida Marlins in 2003, Miguel Cabrera has been a hitting
machine. In 2011, Cabrera captured the American League batting title with a .344 average while belting
30 HR with 105 RBI.

With Prince Fielder now in the Detroit Tigers’ lineup, Cabrera won’t be pitched around nearly as often,
and could very well be a viable candidate for the elusive Triple Crown.

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Soccer's Slim Salaries

While the World Cup continues to improve fan appreciation and bring a new throng of loyal followers, the sport of soccer still trails far behind the other major sports in player salaries. Perhaps they set a morale example, or maybe they just don't believe their players deserve to have a plethora of lavish houses and a superfluous number of vehicles in the garage, but either way they have some money to raise. Soccer has a long way to go. Check out this infographic.

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Ryan Braun Takes a Tumble, Fails Mightily

In front of an exuberant crowd at Miller Park, the stealthy Ryan Braun took a tumble for the ages. After a powerful rake to left centerfield, the All-Star third baseman was thinking inside-the-park homerun. It would not be so, as Braun tripped two times on his way to getting caught in a rundown. In the stands was Reggie Miller, who couldn't help but shake his head and clap. We still love you Ryan Braun.

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