The path of a relief pitcher is one of the most volatile in all of professional sports.
Todd Williams’ career perfectly illustrates the tumultuous nature of that bullpen life. If his name rings a bell, it’s probably because he was on the unfortunate side of a moment that s become part of baseball lore. While pitching for the Orioles against the Marlins on June 22, 2006, Williams tried to issue an intentional walk to Miguel Cabrera but tossed a pitch too close to the plate. The budding superstar ripped an RBI single into the outfield.
But that’s not the start or the end of Williams’ story in baseball. The right-hander enjoyed an 18-year career with 16 Minor League seasons and retired with 223 saves, a modern Minor League record. A four-time Rolaids Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year recipient, he accomplished much more in his career than he s typically recognized for.
Copy Link Do you collect anything? As someone who has visited 177 Minor League Baseball ballparks, many more than once, I get that question a lot. The individuals who pose this query, usually collectors themselves, are curious as to whether I have made it a point to procure the same sort of Do you collect anything?
As someone who has visited 177 Minor League Baseball ballparks, many more than once, I get that question a lot. The individuals who pose this query, usually collectors themselves, are curious as to whether I have made it a point to procure the same sort of item from each ballpark I visit. A hat? Maybe a pennant or a mini-bat? Perhaps a ticket stub?
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This is the second in a six-part Toolshed series that uses FanGraphs Steamer600 projections to look at how prospects would fare over a full Major League season in 2021. The system bases its forecast on 600 plate appearances for position players, 450 plate appearances for catchers, 200 innings for starting
This is the second in a six-part Toolshed series that uses FanGraphs Steamer600 projections to look at how prospects would fare over a full Major League season in 2021. The system bases its forecast on 600 plate appearances for position players, 450 plate appearances for catchers, 200 innings for starting pitchers and 65 innings for relievers taking into account age, past performance and previous Minor League levels, among other factors. Because of the canceled Minor League season in 2020, all players included in the team tables below are ranked prospects who either played at Class A Advanced or above in 2019, sit on their organization s 40-man roster or are placed a
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At some point between Spring Training and Summer Camp in 2020, the baseball field at Dominion Christian northwest of Atlanta transformed from a high school diamond into a professional sandlot. Some of the area’s best talent gathered to stay sharp while the sport charted a course for playing through a
At some point between Spring Training and Summer Camp in 2020, the baseball field at Dominion Christian northwest of Atlanta transformed from a high school diamond into a professional sandlot. Some of the area’s best talent gathered to stay sharp while the sport charted a course for playing through a pandemic. Former top Nationals prospect
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Phil Niekro, 300-game winner and Hall of Famer, passed away on Dec. 26 at the age of 81. He was the best knuckleball pitcher in baseball history. Niekro, often referred to by his knuckleball-referencing nickname of Knucksie, spent 24 seasons (1964 through 1987) in the Major Leagues and pitched until
Phil Niekro, 300-game winner and Hall of Famer, passed away on Dec. 26 at the age of 81. He was the best knuckleball pitcher in baseball history.
Niekro, often referred to by his knuckleball-referencing nickname of Knucksie, spent 24 seasons (1964 through 1987) in the Major Leagues and pitched until he was 48. He was the last active player born in the 1930s, and by the time he retired seemed like he had been around forever (his white hair and wizened countenance helped solidify this impression). Niekro s big league longevity makes it easy to forget that it took until 1967 when he was 28 to solidify himself in the Atlanta Braves rotation. He spent