This week’s Player of the Week honors went to two players on very different paths to greatness—Texas third baseman Chipper Jones continued to build his breakout season in the Federal League, while Montreal’s Jon Lieber put together a pair of masterful starts on the mound in the United League. Both players showed poise, power, and command, giving their teams a major boost heading into the heart of the summer schedule. Federal League: Jones...
June 16: Stairs Keeps Mashing, Pulsipher Surprises, Harnisch Heartbreaker Matt Stairs stayed white-hot for the Reds, crushing two homers and driving in three in a 6–4 win over the White Sox. Since stepping into the everyday lineup, Stairs has been a force—and a much-needed one in a division full of bats. Bill Pulsipher stole the show in L.A., going the distance in a 3–2 win over Toronto. The rookie allowed just three hits and struck out...
June 13: Rogers, McDowell, and Castillo Throw Zeroes, Burks and Hatteberg Walk It Off Kenny Rogers continued to anchor a surging Rangers rotation, spinning 8.1 shutout innings with 11 strikeouts in a 3–0 win over the White Sox. The loss was Chicago’s 8th in 9 games, as their season continues to spiral. Jack McDowell matched Rogers pitch for pitch in Colorado’s 2–0 win over the Giants, tossing 8 innings of 3-hit ball. The Rockies are...
For the first time this season, the Kansas City Royals sit alone atop the power rankings, capping off a month-long surge that has seen them climb from the upper-middle tier into the DBL’s elite. San Francisco continues to hold steady as one of the league’s most complete clubs, while Montreal slips as their pitching begins to show cracks. Meanwhile, the Washington Senators and Texas Rangers are on the move, and the Toronto Blue Jays and Los...
In a week defined by explosive power, two corner infielders delivered jaw-dropping performances to earn Player of the Week honors. Oakland’s Andres Galarraga mashed his way to the United League award, while St. Louis slugger Matt Williams left no doubt in the Federal League with a dominant showing. United League: Galarraga Shows Veteran Pop Andres Galarraga turned back the clock with a thunderous week at the plate, launching six home runs in...
June 10: Lankford Drives In 6, Bell Goes Deep Twice, and Valdez Locks Down Colorado Ray Lankford set the tone in Kansas City’s 18–5 rout of the White Sox, going 3-for-4 with 6 RBIs, including a home run. Add a grand slam from Rick Wilkins, and it was a full-blown demolition. The Royals are rolling, and Chicago’s now lost four straight and 47 games overall—tied for the worst record in the DBL. Derek Bell was the difference in Chicago’s...
After publishing “Orlando’s Identity Crisis: Five Trades, Endless Questions”, I’ve heard the feedback—from readers, industry sources, and yes, a few people within the Orlando Sun Rays organization. Some have suggested I have a personal bias against the team. Others have gone further, speculating that I “don’t like the GM” or that my critiques were aimed at undermining the club’s direction. Let me be clear: that’s simply not...
Let’s get something straight right out of the gate: Masaki Saito’s season hasn’t exactly been a masterpiece. Through 14 starts, his ERA sits at a bloated 4.31, and he’s served up more long balls (21) than you’d like to see from your supposed ace. There’ve been clunkers—just ask anyone who watched him get tagged for seven runs in five innings against the Twins on May 24. That wasn’t pitching. That was surviving. But in baseball,...
June 7: Maddux Mastery and Orioles’ Shutdown Staff Steve Avery delivered a vintage outing for Baltimore, spinning a two-hit shutout against the Athletics in a 6–0 win. It was a day of aces, and none shined brighter than Greg Maddux. The Dodgers' ace dominated the Senators, tossing 8 innings of 2-hit, 1-run ball with 9 strikeouts. The 2–1 win marked the eighth straight game that LA has won when Maddux takes the mound. Here's that stretch:...
Between May 29 and June 7, 1995, the Orlando Sun Rays executed five trades that touched every corner of their roster—from frontline starters to fringe bench bats. The front office has clearly committed to movement. But is there a strategy? Or are they chasing relevance in circles? Let’s dig into the details, trade by trade, using scouting reports and performance data to assess Orlando’s true return. Trade 1: A Rotation Upgrade That Might...