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GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- This is Part II of our rankings of the early-season schedules, from toughest to easiest. On Saturday, the focus was on the American League. Sunday, we turn our attention to the National League: 1. Pittsburgh Pirates Games again...

Blog | February 24, 2013

Buster Olney ranks the early-season schedules of NL teams. The Pittsburgh Pirates have the toughest path.

Blog | Conversation | February 24, 2013

GOODYEAR, Ariz. - When the late, great Mike Flanagan served in the Baltimore Orioles' leadership in 2005, the team got off to a strong start, winning 30 of their first 46 games. I called "Flanny" in late May and asked him whether he thought they...

Blog | February 23, 2013

Buster Olney says the Kansas City Royals have the toughest schedule in the American League.

Blog | Conversation | February 23, 2013

Today, we rank the 10 best lineups in history -- and this has nothing to do with defense or pitching or nicknames. It's all about pure offensive dominance. 1. 1931 New York Yankees The 1927 Yankees have the best nickname in history,...

Blog | January 24, 2013

Buster Olney ranks the top 10 lineups in history, starting with a Yankees lineup from more than 80 years ago. (Though it's not the one that you think.)

Blog | Conversation | January 24, 2013

As part of the ongoing theme of the week, we rank the top 10 lineups today: 1. Los Angeles Angels As the 2013 season opens, there may be more pressure on Angels Manager Mike Scioscia than any other person in the majors. But there will be a day in ...

Blog | January 03, 2013

Buster Olney ranks the top 10 lineups in the majors.

Blog | Conversation | January 03, 2013

Sometime on Thursday, baseball owners are expected to formally ratify the new playoff format, locking in the system of six division winners and four wild-card teams for this season and beyond. A general manager noted on Tuesday that nobody really kn...

Blog | May 16, 2012

It's unclear how the new playoff format will affect teams' decision-making, but Buster Olney writes that there will be teams looking to buy in pursuit of the additional playoff spots. Here are three teams executives expect to be aggressive this summer.

Blog | Conversation | May 16, 2012

Jake Peavy won a Cy Young Award years ago and pitched in memorable playoff games, and when he tells stories, he speaks with the perspective of someone about to take the field in an old-timers game. It's easy to forget that Peavy is only 30 years...

Blog | May 15, 2012

Jake Peavy is healthy again, and he's proving just how good a pitcher he can be. He's also proving he has trade value. As Buster Olney writes, Peavy is among a handful of starting pitchers who could be marketable at the deadline this summer.

Blog | Conversation | May 15, 2012

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Josh Hamilton has 18 homers in the Rangers' first 34 games, something nobody has ever done in the history of baseball. But here's another number that is a little stunning: Hamilton has just 13 walks, with five of those b...

Blog | May 13, 2012

Josh Hamilton is doing things we've never seen before, and yet opposing pitchers continue to feed him pitches to drive. As Buster Olney writes, it's time to try one last option before walking him: expand the strike zone.

Blog | Conversation | May 13, 2012

What Red Sox fans wanted to see after the last day of last season, after the September collapse, were broken-hearted Red Sox players. They wanted to see Josh Beckett laid out in despair, like Ralph Branca was after allowing Bobby Thomson's legen...

Blog | May 11, 2012

Josh Beckett hasn't just driven a wedge between himself and Red Sox Nation; he's driven a wedge between himself and any sense of a trade market. Boston is in a tough position -- the city and the team management.

Blog | Conversation | May 11, 2012