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The Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays qualified for postseason play at least in part because of efficiency. Their front offices spent money far more wisely than their MLB rivals. The proof of that assertion can be easily seen in the payrolls and win totals of the 30 MLB teams. In 2023, the most important […] MLB’s efficiency experts for 2023: The teams that spent their money most wisely - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

The obsequies are still being pronounced over the lifeless body of the 2023 Chicago Cubs, but there is little practical reason to mourn that corpse. The more useful exercise lies in assessing what needs to be done to prepare for 2024. And the answer is pretty obvious. It’s time for the Chicago Cubs’ vaunted farm […] The 2024 Chicago Cubs: What needs to be done to reach the postseason - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

You can sum up how preseason expectations for the 2023 MLB season played out in one word: wrong. The New York Yankees were a popular pick to return to prominence in the AL East. The Chicago White Sox were consensus favorites in the AL Central and the defending champion Houston Astros were seen as unbeatable […] Why the prognosticators got so wrong about the 2023 MLB season - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

It’s time to grade the MLB big-money deals made this past offseason. The 2022-23 winter signing season was a glorious and enriching one if you were a big league talent in search of new digs. But if you were a general manager assessing that same preseason in terms of performance for the dollars meted out, […] Grading 15 of the biggest MLB contracts from the offseason’s spending spree - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

Red October is right around the bend and the Philadelphia Phillies along with their fans. As most already know, the Phillies will not be dancing on their own as Citizens Bank is going to be rocking. Here are some things you need to know ahead of time for the Philadelphia Phillies Wild Card series. The […] All you need to know about the upcoming Wild Card Series for the Philadelphia Phillies - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

The 2023 regular season is over and the best month of baseball is upon us with the playoffs beginning Tuesday with the four wild-card round series. Getting a bye into the Divisional Round are the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, and Houston Astros. Atlanta is the favorite to win the World Series, but […] MLB Power Rankings: Braves, Dodgers, Orioles set pace into playoffs - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

If franchise history is any guide, sleeping on the surprising Miami Marlins would be a big mistake this postseason. What a wild ride it has been for the 2023 Miami Marlins. September was supposed to break them, with over half their games against teams that had all but clinched playoff spots already. What’s more, that […] MLB playoffs: History says sleep on Miami Marlins, sleep with the fishes - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

With the New York Mets announcing that Buck Showalter will not return as manager in 2024, it makes sense that the MLB rumors mill has started churning about current Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell making his way to Queens to take over in the dugout. MLB rumors: Craig Counsell destined to take over in the […] MLB rumors: Did the Buck Showalter move open the door for Craig Counsell with the New York Mets? - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

DENVER — There hasn’t been much that has gone right this season for the Colorado Rockies, but the decision by the franchise to bring back Charlie Blackmon for a 13th campaign in 2024 is certainly among the moments that brought joy to 20th and Blake. On Friday night, in the first inning of their interleague […] Colorado Rockies make right call with Charlie Blackmon extension - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

DENVER — If you’re looking for Rocco Baldelli to rally his 2023 Minnesota Twins around the franchise’s stunning postseason losing streak, you may be waiting as long as Twins fans have to record a win in a meaningful October baseball game. Minnesota will enter Tuesday’s Wild Card round as the American League Central champions and […] Rocco Baldelli says he isn’t thinking about Minnesota Twins horrid postseason losing streak - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

It is no longer breaking news that the New York Yankees struggled mightily this season, with a lack of production from significant players at the heart of the matter. Chief among these underperformers has been Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton has run a nearly 30 percent strikeout rate, while hitting just .191 entering Thursday’s game. In the […] New York Yankees: How to move forward with Giancarlo Stanton - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

Brooks Robinson, who died this week at age 86, was known as perhaps the premier defensive player of his position during his Hall of Fame career with the Baltimore Orioles. As a third baseman across 23 seasons for the Baltimore Orioles, Robinson won 16 consecutive Gold Gloves between 1960 and 1975. He was the 1964 […] Baltimore Orioles history: Counting down Brooks Robinson’s 10 greatest games - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

The final weekend of the 2023 MLB regular season is upon us. For the first time in nearly three decades, neither the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, or St. Louis Cardinals are going to be part of the playoffs. Think about that, those three storied franchises are going to miss the postseason in the […] MLB Stock Up, Stock Down: Rays, Orioles, Mets, Padres - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

DENVER — As the Los Angeles Dodgers wrapped up their series with the Colorado Rockies, it’s clear that manager Dave Roberts is already formulating his postseason pitching plan. How the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation may stack up in the postseason The Los Angeles Dodgers will open the MLB playoffs at home as the second seed […] How the Los Angeles Dodgers may build their rotation for the 2023 postseason - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more

On Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was ejected after a missed swing call by Angel Hernandez. Harper blew up on Hernandez and was immediately ejected by the long-time umpire. Bryce Harper, Angel Hernandez and pandemonium at the Philadelphia Phillies game A lot of media and fans around the MLB […] Bryce Harper ejected after missed call by Angel Hernandez but one fan can leave happy - Call to the Pen - Call to the Pen - MLB News, Rumors, Prospects, and more