Defense highlights offseason moves
Buster OlneyCoco Crisp is nearing a deal with the Oakland Athletics, according to late word from MLB Trade Rumors' Tim Dierkes. Presumably Crisp will slot into Oa...
Blog Entry | Conversation | December 20, 2009
Searching for Bobby Abreu
Buster OlneyIt wasn't until Feb. 12 that Bobby Abreu signed last winter, after waiting and waiting and waiting. The music had stopped, the big dollars were gone a...
Blog Entry | Conversation | December 18, 2009
A new Chuck takes on Texas
Buster OlneyAt the conclusion of the winter meetings last week, a fellow traveler introduced himself, and as we went through the security line, we started talking...
Blog Entry | Conversation | December 16, 2009
A chip-cashing trade
Buster OlneyThe trade will include big names and first-round picks when it is finally completed. Curtis Granderson is an All-Star with some major numbers and a su...
Blog Entry | Conversation | December 09, 2009
The significance of the Mauer market
Buster OlneyThe agent for Joe Mauer wouldn't characterize the state of the catcher's negotiations with the Twins on Thursday, or discuss them in any way, which is...
Blog Entry | Conversation | November 13, 2009
Type A positive (and negative)
Buster Olney...he could move around regularly to different spots, giving a day off to Ryan Howard or Chase Utley or Raul Ibanez. Or he could be a candidate to be the everyday third baseman, as...
Blog Entry | Conversation | November 10, 2009
Obstacles to a World Series rematch
Buster OlneyCharlie Manuel quoted a general after Game 6, in pronouncing that the baseball world has not seen the last of the Phillies. "I'll tell you something -...
Blog Entry | Conversation | November 05, 2009
Six key matchups for Game 6
Buster OlneySix key matchups to watch in Game 6: Chase Utley versus the Yankees' adjustments: The Phillies' second baseman is not missing any fastballs; he is hammering...
Blog Entry | Conversation | November 04, 2009
Howard's slide-step hurting the Phillies
Buster Olney...107 pitches (26.2 percent), and the Phillies were 1-for-9 against the pitch, with Chase Utley's homer the notable exception. In fact, Utley is the only player to succeed versus CC...
Blog Entry | Conversation | November 02, 2009
Baseball's next great economic disparity
Buster OlneyBaseball's financial structure appears to have reached a tipping point that can be defined simply. "The arbitration process is now outdated," said a h...
Blog Entry | Conversation | November 01, 2009
The leftovers tell us a lot from Game 2
Buster Olney...around a left-handed hitter in a big spot, doing everything except throw his cutter inside. Chase Utley had homered twice in Game 1 with his frighteningly quick swing, driving fastballs into the right...
Blog Entry | Conversation | October 30, 2009
Lee's calm is the Yankees' storm
Buster OlneyWe are accustomed to seeing October tension reflected in the eyes of the pitchers. Orel Hershiser's eyes in 1988 were intense -- the Bulldog locked in...
Blog Entry | Conversation | October 29, 2009
The top matchups of the World Series
Buster OlneyThese are my top matchups of the World Series, beyond the battle of old friends CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee: The Yankees' hitters against Cliff Lee's f...
Blog Entry | Conversation | October 28, 2009
McGwire has a road map, but also a guide
Buster OlneyWe saw again Sunday night an example of how others have talked about their past use of performance-enhancing drugs and moved on. Yankees pitcher Andy ...
Blog Entry | Conversation | October 26, 2009
Replay for the World Series could work
Buster Olney...challenges, writes Hal McCoy. Phillies-Dodgers The backbone of the Phillies is stars like Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Cliff Lee, but what separates Philadelphia this time of year is the incredible...
Blog Entry | Conversation | October 22, 2009
EXPLORE RELATED TOPICS
TOP SEARCHES IN NOVEMBER
Bowl Projections tops ESPN.com searches in November. Did "chase utley" make the list?