I pride myself on being a reasonably grounded analyst. I do the homework. I run the numbers. I check the matchups twice, sometimes three times if there’s coffee involved. And still — still — none of that prepared me for what the Arizona Diamondbacks just did to the Washington Senators. A sweep was not outside the realm of possibility.But this sweep?This was something else entirely. Let’s break down what happened and why my prediction...
Well, folks… I’ve said a lot of things over the years — some bold, some questionable, and at least one that got me banned from a barbecue joint in Tulsa — but rarely has a team made me eat my own words this fast. I predicted a war between Cincinnati and St. Louis.What I got was Cincinnati rolling up in a tank and flattening everything in red and white. Let’s break down the carnage. Game 1: Mussina Declares the Stadium Closed Reds 8,...
One season ago, Mike Stanley was carving out his legacy as the cagey, postseason-tested heartbeat of the Washington Senators. He looked every bit the franchise legend in the making. And yet—plot twist we all absolutely saw coming—he’d already been quietly shipped off in a budget-dump to the Boston Red Sox. Washington happily rode his heroics to a World Series, then tossed him aside the moment trading opened, like he was yesterday’s...
Washington Senators vs. Arizona Diamondbacks October is a truth-teller. It strips away reputation, payroll, preseason predictions — all of it — until only the strongest teams remain. And this year, the United League offers the most compelling contrast imaginable:the unstoppable Washington Senators, and the resilient, sharp-edged Arizona Diamondbacks, fresh off a grueling seven-game escape. Where Jack Fairchild revels in the chaos of the...
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds By Jack Fairchild October baseball doesn’t always give us the matchup we want — but this year, it might’ve given us the one we deserve. The St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds arrive in the Federal League Championship Series battered, tested, and emboldened by seven-game wars that revealed as much about their flaws as their strengths. And now?Two clubs separated by just four regular-season wins...
The opening round of the 1996 DBL postseason delivered everything fans could hope for — heartbreak, heroics, blowouts, shutouts, and three unforgettable winner-take-all Game 7’s. When the dust finally settled, four clubs stood tall: St. Louis, Cincinnati, Washington, and Arizona. Together, they move on to the League Championship Series with their World Series dreams still burning. FEDERAL LEAGUE — Chaos in the Heartland Cardinals Survive...
Since I'm batting 1000% on my preseason predictions, time to try my hand at playoff predicitions. FEDERAL LEAGUE Kansas City Royals versus Cincinnati Reds Season Series: 6-6 Hard to believe calling a 99 win team "human looking," but given the last several years, this is the most "normal" Kansas City team we've seen. Cincinnati is a tough matchup for them in the first round - although a wild card team, hard to imagine if the Reds didn't play...
Your favorite DBL writer is not infallable when it comes to his work, although my ego suggests otherwise. Before the season, I put together nine thoughts looking ahead to the season that was. Here's my unbiased view on how I did:1. One of the Big Boys Goes Bust Correct. The Chicago Cubs are this year's team under the microscope - while they were perhaps the hottest team in the second half of the season, they dug themselves a hole early and...
As the trade deadline comes closer in just a few short days, the murky and cloudy trade market starts to come into focus. Trading has picked up of late, with smaller deals (the swapping of minor league pitchers between New York and Florida) and larger deals (Tim Salmon for a kings ransom). As we near the end, here are a few tiers of teams: Most Active Chicago White Sox - feels like all trading goes through them. Active early in the season...