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Buster Olney writes about Mike Trout -- who has a shot at a 30-50 season -- and others who are chasing statistical benchmarks as the 2012 regular season winds down.

Blog | Conversation | September 30, 2012

Buster Olney writes that the Orioles badly needed a jump-start, and it was Jim Thome that gave it to them Wednesday night.

Blog | Conversation | September 27, 2012

Buster Olney writes that with managers allowed to set 25-man rosters specifically for the winner-take-all wild-card games -- and then change them if their teams advance -- we could see some strange things as managers look for matchups.

Blog | Conversation | September 18, 2012

As the Atlanta Braves find themselves in another September race, Buster Olney writes that they aren't hiding from their 2011 collapse. The Braves owned it, learned from it and are now using the experience to be better prepared this time around.

Blog | Conversation | September 16, 2012

Buster Olney writes that, as we saw last year with the Red Sox and others, anything can happen at the end of the season. This year, the Phillies and Brewers are trying to do some "crazy stuff" of their own.

Blog | Conversation | September 12, 2012

The Dodgers and Giants have a long and rich history, and as Buster Olney writes, it means a lot this weekend, as the Dodgers are barely hanging around in the NL West race.

Blog | Conversation | September 09, 2012

Buster Olney runs through all of the current American League playoff contenders and says what must go right in the final month of the season for each team to have a shot at the postseason.

Blog | Conversation | August 28, 2012

Since the beginning of July, the Oakland A's have been on fire and are now in wild-card contention. Buster Olney writes that Yoenis Cespedes has led the charge and changed Oakland's plan at the trade deadline.

Blog | Conversation | July 22, 2012

As the second half of the season began, there were eight teams within 2.5 games of the lead in the AL wild-card race, an early sign that the expanded playoff field will do exactly what The Powers That Be want it to do. More opportunity for the posts...

Blog | July 17, 2012

When baseball adopted the second wild card, it was meant to give more teams hope of making the postseason, and it has. But as Buster Olney writes, it could also be depressing the trade market as teams decide whether a wild card berth is worth it.

Blog | Conversation | July 17, 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

Players and coaches constantly reference the comforts of home, and the edge built in when the locals are pushing them on. But a look at the numbers says that, be it the divisional or wild-card era, the home-field advantage is more myth than reality.

Blog | Conversation | September 30, 2010

Clint Barmes had the catch of the year for the Colorado Rockies, saving both a game and their precious, small lead in the wild card in one leap, writes Buster. Plus plenty of other news from around the races.

Blog | Conversation | September 28, 2009

Lyle Overbay leads the list of players who have the right to be annoyed over being left off All-Star Game rosters.