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Most first-time closers seek advice from those who have stood at the edge of the plank day after day, to learn about the most effective routines, warm-up regimens, and coping with the adrenaline that is unique to that job. But Jason Grilli didn'...

Blog | April 24, 2013

Jason Grilli has been through a lot in his MLB career, so becoming a closer at the age of 36 doesn't faze him, writes Buster Olney.

Blog | Conversation | April 24, 2013

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

BRADENTON, Fla. -- After Russell Martin finished his work in the batting cage, taking swings against Wandy Rodriguez and Jonathan Sanchez in live batting practice, he did what he's always liked to do as part of his regimen and jogged out to fiel...

Blog | February 21, 2013

The Pirates think they can win this year, and they have to figure out if top pitching prospects Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon can be a part of that.

Blog | Conversation | February 21, 2013

The 12-year-old had hit home runs before, with his first having been so memorable, in the way it smashed the back windshield of a truck parked beyond the left-field fence. But the home run that he hit in San Juan, well, this one would really stick wi...

Blog | February 03, 2013

Buster Olney writes about a tale involving Roberto Clemente and a young player who is now a star in baseball. Plus, news and analysis from around the league.

Blog | Conversation | February 03, 2013

It's possible that by the end of the summer, the Angels' outfield of Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton and Peter Bourjos will be viewed as the best in baseball. Could it rank among the best ever? The standard is pretty high. On Sunday I ranked the...

Blog | January 22, 2013

Buster Olney ranks the top 10 outfields in baseball history, along with the latest news and notes from around baseball.

Blog | Conversation | January 22, 2013

Ozzie Guillen was supposed to be a draw, but there's a possibility that he's had the opposite effect in Miami, and that's aside from the losing. Buster assesses with the Marlins are committed to their bombastic manager.

Blog | Conversation | September 14, 2012

The Pittsburgh Pirates understand that if any member of their organization uses a racial slur, or a word rooted in racial hate, then it's a serious issue that needs to be addressed. "If that ever happened," said one official, "then we'd hav...

Blog | September 13, 2012

As the Pirates lose, manager Clint Hurdle must deal with the wrong kind of distraction, Buster Olney writes.

Blog | Conversation | September 13, 2012

Of all the decisions that will be made by baseball executives over the next three days, none will be as excruciating as the Tampa Bay Rays' decision to trade or not trade James Shields. After the Rays' 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels...

Blog | July 28, 2012