The complicated life of Pete Rose is presented in great detail by author Keith O’Brien in his recently-released book, Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball. O’Brien crafts a compelling narrative through extensive research, using decades of newspaper articles, federal court documents, FBI files, MLB’s 1989 investigation into Pete Rose’s gambling, along with hours of interviews with people around Pete, both in the past and the present. He even spoke to Pete on the record for more than two dozen hours.  Early in the book, we learn about Rose’s ch ..read more

As we’ve just embarked on another 162-game season, let’s look back to the final game of 2023:  Game 5 of the 2023 World Series, Texas leads Arizona three games to one. Arizona is batting in the first inning with a runner on second base, no outs and Ketel Marte at the plate. Marte swings at a Nathan Eovaldi breaking ball just off the low and outside corner and pulls a soft grounder to the second baseman with a .110 expected batting average for an out, advancing the runner to third base. In the broadcast booth, John Smoltz, showing more emotion than he typically does for walk off home runs ..read more

When I visited Winter Weekend at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass. back in January, several fans I talked to said different versions of the same thing: the Boston Red Sox need to stop acting like a small market team. Since that weekend, the walls have been closing in on management. It’s not just the fans complaining anymore. Red Sox royalty from past and present have made it clear that what’s going on (or, perhaps, not going on) is wholly unacceptable in a ballpark where everything in its confines, from the players, franks and architecture, is as immortalized as baseball itself. The ..read more

Max  6:33 PM – Sean, it’s that time of year again- the time I dig up my Slack password and log in to this website/app/whatever for the first time since the last time we did our annual Off The Bench Hall of Fame Chat! Sean  6:39 PM – It’s a great time of year! There’s 8 inches of snow on the ground in Tennessee and the fireplace is roaring, but we get to think about baseball. Soon, we’ll be basking in the glory of Arizona sunshine. Max  6:39 PM – Can’t. Wait. 6:40 Until then, though. We owe the baseball world our infallible, never wrong, oft-followed determination of who should ..read more

It is hard to beat baseball as a live spectator sport. Not only is it an exciting game to watch in the stands, but it is also a key part of the cultural identity in the US! Therefore, if you are traveling from overseas, catching a game is one of the best activities to immerse yourself in US culture and meet locals. If you are planning a baseball holiday here, there are a few tips to keep in mind that will help you get the most out of your experience. Interested? Read on to learn about what you need to know about planning a baseball holiday. Pick Your Team(s) First, you need to choose who you w ..read more

Numerous prop bets often accompany MLB games, each offering a different angle on the game. These bets range from player performances to specific events within a game. Prop bets introduce new elements for audience participation, expanding the ways fans can connect with the sport aside from just viewing the matches. Understanding Prop Bets in MLB Proposition bets, commonly known as prop bets, in Major League Baseball offer a unique way for fans to engage with the sport. These bets focus on specific events within a game rather than the game’s outcome. This type of betting adds an extra layer of i ..read more

There are 26 players on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot. All of them played at least ten years in MLB and have been retired for at least five. These baseball dignitaries include a dozen first-timers, 14 holdovers, and one player on his tenth and final ballot (Gary Sheffield). Some baseball fans prefer to keep the Hall of Fame exclusive, while others are more sympathetic to borderline candidates. Rather than Big-Hall or Small-Hall, here’s an All-Hall approach—one reason why every player on the ballot should be inducted. Bobby Abreu– He is one of only three players in MLB history with 50 doubles ..read more

Los Angeles Angels GM Perry Minasian said recently that Mike Trout will not be traded this offseason. Specifically, he said, “Right now, he’s our center fielder. He’s had injuries, but I don’t necessarily believe it’s because of playing center field. His hamate injury was not because he was tracking balls in center field. But if we asked Mike to play left, right or even third, he’d do it. It’s about the team and making it as good as it gets. But we haven’t had any discussions.” It’s funny that Minasian casually, and surely facetiously, tossed third base into the mix considering that’s the spot ..read more

While Ronald Acuña Jr. made headlines with an incredible 73 steals in 2023, becoming the first player since Jose Reyes in 2007 to reach that mark, there was another player who achieved a much less celebrated act on the field more times than anyone since 1997. His name is Ty France and he plays first base for the Seattle Mariners. His forte is getting hit by pitches. Ty France is a modern-day Coach Ernie Pantuso of Cheers fame, whose specialty was getting beaned. In the fictional TV world of Cheers, Coach led the league in hit by pitches two times. For a younger crowd, Ty France is a modern-day ..read more

With World Series MVP Corey Seager hitting bombs for Texas and Corbin Carroll or Ketel Marte using their power and speed to spark the Diamondbacks, this year’s World Series was a showcase for the number two spot in the batting order. The number two spot is where it’s at these days. All the cool teams have their best players hitting second. Well, maybe not all; the Atlanta Braves hit Ronald Acuña Jr. leadoff and he is incredible, but many good teams bat players second who in previous eras would have batted third or fourth. In addition to Corey Seager, who batted second every time he came to the ..read more