Off The Bench’s 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot Chat
Off The Bench
by Sean Morash
2M ago
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
Visit website
What To Know For A Baseball Holiday
Off The Bench
by Off The Bench
2M ago
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
Visit website
What Are the Most Common Prop Bets Made During MLB Games
Off The Bench
by Off The Bench
2M ago
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
Visit website
One Semiserious Rationale for Every Player on the Hall of Fame Ballot
Off The Bench
by Daniel R. Epstein
3M ago
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
Visit website
The Legacy of Mike Trout 
Off The Bench
by Bobby Mueller
3M ago
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
Visit website
Seattle Mariners Ty France, the Baron of Beanings
Off The Bench
by Bobby Mueller
4M ago
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
Visit website
World Series Teams Showcased the Number Two Spot in the Lineup
Off The Bench
by Bobby Mueller
5M ago
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
Visit website
Jose Altuve, Dustin Pedroia, and Divergent Roads
Off The Bench
by Bobby Mueller
5M ago
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve just had a very impressive ALCS, during which he hit .313/.353/.688, with three homers and nine runs scored in seven games. His team lost, but his performances added another item to his accomplished postseason resume. He’s now played in 103 post-season games, ranking seventh all-time, and his name is all-over the career postseason leaderboard (courtesy FanGraphs): Games—103 (7th) Plate Appearances—476 (5th) Hits—117 (4th) Doubles—21 (5th) Home Runs—27 (2nd) Runs—89 (2nd) RBI—55 (7th) During the series, there was talk about Altuve’s future Hall of Fam ..read more
Visit website
Looking for the WAR in SchWARber
Off The Bench
by Bobby Mueller
5M ago
With Kyle Schwarber and his fellow Phillies hitting bombs right and left in October, it’s a good time to take a closer look at Schwarber’s 2023 regular season. By some traditional statistics, he had a terrific season. He hit 47 homers, second-most in baseball, scored 108 runs, which was tied for eighth, and had 104 RBI, eleventh-most in the game. He was one of just eight players to both score and drive in 100 or more runs.  He also had a .197 batting average, which was the lowest in baseball among qualifying hitters, and struck out 215 times, the most in baseball in 2023 and fifth-most in ..read more
Visit website
Carlos Rodón did NOT Have the Worst Start in MLB History
Off The Bench
by Daniel R. Epstein
6M ago
Just about every player has a down year, but the first season for Carlos Rodón in Yankee pinstripes has been a catastrophe. After signing a six-year, $162 million deal as a free agent, he missed the first half of the season with a forearm strain and back soreness. Fine. Injuries happen, but when he returned, he was nothing like the All-Star he had been the previous two seasons. In 14 starts, he posted a 6.85 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and allowed more hits (65) than strikeouts (64). He began his final outing of the season on September 29 with 64 1/3 innings pitched. When manager Aaron Boone took the ball ..read more
Visit website

Follow Off The Bench on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR