Tag: Baseball
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Is Bryce Harper Elite?
Last night was a travesty for Team U.S.A. They allowed Venezuela to win cleanly, absolutely fair. There was nothing U.S.A. could do except for Bryce Harper.
Harper tied a must-critical game for USA when it mattered most. Even though Venezuela got away with a win, Harper flipped his bat like nothing came back to haunt him.
Harper has played like this on a lesser stage, just not enough. The Philadelphia Phillies have been asking a whole lot of Harper since entering town.
When ranking the Phillies top five players entering 2026, it is Harper, Scwharber, Duran, Turner, Sanchez that must start with a big impact. If Harper is ever convincing himself, he is prowess to the baseball gods.
Harper will have to play with the same chip on his shoulder until time finally expires. Time expires to the point of exhaustion for Harper to do his job and that is at least win a World Series and prove he is better than all the rest that include Shohei Ohtani, Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge.
Harper is capable. He just needs to walk out to Phillies regular season baseball with an elite smile. 🙂
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Bene!
Grazie! Team Italy and evoking Vinnie Pasquatino to slot in a VCR tape of the Sopranos! Dive through hola hoops as you will.
This has been the mantra of Team Italy from the get-go as they, now, face Venezuela for another shot at Team U.S.A.
Spectators were too uncertain, if they come past the semifinals.
But, so far in Jac Caglianone’s handbook, they have. Be mistaken by Aaron Nola’s leathering mysteries of a curveball. It is hard not to get behind Italy.
Team USA will have to hope they do not face Italy. The bottom of the order appears to be rocking with Brice Turang and Pete Crow Armstrong.
Although, with the recent resurgence of Wilyer Abreu’s fantastic walk-off home run and veterans Salvador Perez, Ronald Acuna Jr, and Jackson Chourio helping in the clubhouse. Do not say we have awaken the Tokyo’s self for the 2026 MLB season, Shohei Ohtani and the World to retaliate.
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Baseball is Thriving Without Bryce Harper
It is a Thursday. It is March 12 and Bryce Harper repeatedly fails to disappoint.
He is the former 1st overall pick that got fans invested and currently, now. Harper is having the worst time of his career.
He has batted 3-for-14 and hit .214 in the World Baseball Classic through 3 games. Phillies teammates Christopher Sanchez and Aaron Nola are thriving and Harper is not. This is the narrative that has stuck with Harper since the news leaked about the linked connection between Dave Dombrowski and Harper.
Dombrowski claimed early into the ‘run it back’ process that Harper was not a proven leader or elite player. It goes on.
Harper recently stated in an interview that the World Baseball Classic was not like the grand Olympics. So much for the parading of Central America and Team Italy defeating USA.
Harper risks the odds, his weak performance comes back to haunt him or, not. (We remember Mike Trout).
FOX ratings are thriving and Harper is making a complete mockery of himself. It is not too late to return to prominence, but Harper has not proven to be ‘elite’ anywhere close in the WBC.
The WBC is about defeating Team Italy’s wine glasses, Central America going haywire, and the Tokyo Dome dropping crazy. The essence of this tournament is to not appear in back-to-back interviews with Bussin’ With The Boys and say baseball is the hardest sport to play.
It is to play a simple game of baseball and have fun. It is so telling Harper is not having fun and who can blame him.
The Phillies general manager speaks out early into the process of the season, media has gone ablaze. What is interesting enough is the smirk on Harper’s face.
He needs to take a step back and now might not be the time, but very soon something has to give and humble the former 1st overall pick.
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Justin Crawford Making an Immediate Impact
Justin Crawford is making an immediate impact in his ticking days as a Philadelphia Phillie. He has so far doubled and made spectacular plays out in center field. He is screaming aloud potential.
And the Philadelphia fans are going to love it. Son of former MLB player Carl Crawford, Justin is performing in the manner fans had hoped.
Last season in AAA, he batted .334 with 7 HR and 47 RBI. Not to say, he is a fast, quick twitched runner. Crawford is the player the Phils need.
However, the Phils are sometimes hesitant to promote any prospect. They value the prospect as much as hesitating.
It is not too long to decide whether Crawford will play in the big leagues. My prediction is he will start in May and climb his way up the ladder. Crawford is too good to resist and it begins very soon.
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Nick Castellanos Released by Phillies
Nick Castellanos was released by the Philadelphia Phillies. Some rumors leaked that Castellanos carried an alcoholic beverage throughout the dugout and argued with Phillies manager, Rob Thomson.
All of it is believable after the Phillies tried trading Castellanos for three straight seasons. This could however backfire as the Phillies do not have too many great right handed bats.
Just like Rhys Hoskins and Jean Segura, Castellanos was instrumental in leading the Phils to the 2022 MLB World Series. The trio combined for .540 OPS compared in the career postseason to Castellanos .660 OPS.
The Phil’s are unsure what they will get back in return for Aidan Miller, Alec Bohm, or Adolis Garcia but declining defense can be a great reason for the departure of Castellanos, and now Liam.
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A’s on Track for a Smooth Sailing Transition
Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, and now Jacob Wilson have all signed extensions as the A’s near a smooth sailing transition to Las Vegas. The A’s currently play in West Sacramento but it does not excuse their future elsewhere.
The cards are stacked for a team that has not been willing to spend before. Nick Kurtz came off a AL Rookie of the Year campaign while Wilson finished second in that respective race.
Wilson is owed $70 million through 7 years and a club option. His numbers were showy as he slashed .311/.355/.444. He reached the MLB All-Star game and deservedly so.
The future is heavily bright for the A’s. They, at least, made a slight improvement by finishing better in the AL standings (76-86).
2026 should be a better year as all the stars start to align in Sacramento and make its 2028 debut in Las Vegas.
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Projecting 2026 Philadelphia Phillies Lineup
DH Kyle Schwarber
SS Trea Turner
2B Bryson Stott
1B Bryce Harper
C JT Realmuto
3B Aidan Miller
CF Otto Kemp
LF Brandon Marsh
RF Justin Crawford
Starting Rotation
SP Christopher Sanchez
SP Zack Wheeler
SP Aaron Nola
SP Andrew Painter
SP Taijuan Walker
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