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Anthony Castrovince has been a reporter for MLB.com since 2004.
 | Justin Verlander has struggled in recent starts, but he will end up where he should -- maybe not in line for another American League Cy Young Award, but probably not far off.
More» Verlander strikes out nine over five frames |
 | In today's game, be it because of deep bullpens or more sophisticated advance scouting or any of the oft-cited elements that have created a culture of run-suppression, it's in your best interest to score early. Or else.
More» Baker discusses Leake's start and offense |
 | You'd have to assume there isn't a discerning fan alive who would, at this moment, not vote Cabrera to be the starting third baseman on the AL All-Star team. It's a no-doubt-about-it no-brainer. I mean, it's not like there's some kid in his age-20 season who is deemed by the advance metrics to actually be having a season comparable to that of Cabrera, right?
More» Miggy belts three homers vs. Rangers |
By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.comOn Twitter: @Castrovince All right, fine, I?ll bite: I believe in the Indians. I believe that what?s happening these last few weeks — the wins in 18 of their last 22, the plus-54 run differential in that span, the relentless pursuit of runs even against Cy-caliber arms and the opportunistic approach to the […]
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 | While the Mariners have struggled, their crop of young players give them reason to be optimistic. If hitters like Jesus Montero and Dustin Ackley get on track, they can help support a young group of pitchers waiting to come up from the Minors.
More» Montero launches go-ahead homer in seventh |
 | Winners of 18 of their last 22 games, the Cleveland Indians are starting to look like real contenders in a tough AL Central. Their current run may be enough to make anyone a believer.
More» Indians walk off three times vs. Mariners |
 | D-backs outfielder Gerardo Parra went deep off Marlins pitcher Tom Koehler on the first pitch of Arizona's 1-0 victory on Saturday. The last time a game was essentially decided by a first-pitch home run? You have to go all the way back to Sept. 2, 1963.
More» Parra's solo jack puts D-backs on the board |
 | If you're filling out your American League All-Star ballot, you should take a good, long look at Jed Lowrie for starting shortstop.
More» Lowrie belts run-scoring double in fifth |
 | The Tampa Bay Rays Way has gone slightly astray here in 2013. The club's time-tested formula of cycling through one quality homegrown pitcher after another has hit a bit of a snag thus far this year, and now an injury to David Price has the potential to throw it completely out of whack.
More» Price talks about his left triceps strain |
By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince The Indians have been a contending team at this late (and by late, I of course mean ? not at all late) juncture of the season schedule for three consecutive years. They have established a tradition of early season excellence. Or at least competence, which, even when followed by […]
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 | Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is a hustler, and that's one of the many things to love about him. He doesn't hesitate or meditate or otherwise complicate a sport that often rewards instinct, and Harper's instincts are wildly and often wondrously aggressive.
More» Harper collides with wall, exits the game |
 | As the number of strikeouts reaches all-time highs, it's time to re-think the impact of not making contact. What once was a source of guilt and shame and sleepless nights is now, well, whatever.
More» Tigers 10-K game streak reaches seven |
 | Felix Hernandez had a start last week that perfectly encapsulates the essence of what makes him one of the best pitchers in baseball.
More» Felix dominates over eight to earn fifth win |
 | Until Wednesday night's A's-Indians game, the methods used to review boundary home run calls had been reliable in terms of their efficacy and efficiency. Despite this access and availability Wednesday night, Angel Hernandez blew it. In a big way.
More» Rosales' double, Melvin's ejection |
 | It's a topic that, remarkable as it might seem to outsiders, ignites plenty of passion in the industry of baseball: To bunt or not to bunt?
More» Ichiro bunts, error scores two runs |
 | Though the Pirates have started strong and faded late each of the past two seasons, it bodes well for this year's campaign that they did well during a stretch of 28 consecutive games against 2012 contenders.
More» Marte leads off the first with a long ball |
By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince Naturally, nothing I write in this space can compare to the captivating nature of the Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight story. Or frankly, to the entertaining nature of the now-viral interview with Charles Ramsey. But if you?re up for a distraction from the biggest story in Cleveland […]
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 | The Indians' offseason acquisitions brought them two things that were obvious in their absence last season -- power and speed -- but thus far only one of those elements has made many headlines.
More» Indians combine to hit seven home runs |
 | Baseball's strikeout epidemic is not limited to the free-swingers hell bent on homers. The eight highest monthly strikeout rates in Major League history have occurred in the past eight months of play, and this doesn't happen unless even the most studious and selective of hitters are striking out at rates at which they are unaccustomed.
More» Darvish strikes out 14 over seven |
 | The Phillies' roster is loaded with former All-Stars, but many veterans are likely past their prime, and the team needs to turn it on soon or risk having the core broken up.
More» Hamels goes six strong against the Mets |
 | April numbers are either instructive or destructive -- the harbinger of bigger things to come or the creator of false hope and unnecessary stress.
More» Segura's wacky baserunning does not end well |
 | Though it's only the first month of the baseball season, the Blue Jays really need to start getting it going, beginning with their series against the Red Sox.
More» Dickey gives the Blue Jays seven good frames |
 | Jason Collins' coming out was a big deal. Because as was the case when Jackie Robinson broke into the big leagues, professional sports offered a sign of societal progress. And this particular sign was long, long overdue.
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince Spinning, I?ve come to learn in recent months, is a great way to expend a tremendous amount of energy while going absolutely nowhere. It is both exhilarating and defeating, offering all the physical benefits of performance cycling without any of the beautiful vistas or genuine sense of accomplishment in […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince We?ve spent the last few months talking about how interesting these 2013 Indians would be. Well, they?re interesting, all right. In what was supposed to be the ninth game of the season, the Indians were set to use their seventh starting pitcher (Corey Kluber: No. 7 in your depth […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince You can?t tell the players without a scorecard. Or so the old saying goes. But you really don?t know the players? hopes, dreams, fears and quirks without a media guide. Or so the public relations departments would lead you to believe. Media guides, both figuratively and quite literally, don?t […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince We watched Steve Olin on that old television set in my mother?s living room. It was 1989, and my brother and I were tuned into the Triple-A All-Star Game. Olin represented Colorado Springs and, therefore, represented the Indians. They were our team, so he was our guy. And when […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince I?ve spent the better part of the last month or so traveling around the various camps in Arizona and Florida, and it dawned on me while sitting at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale the other day that I have now been to every Spring Training stadium in Major League […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince There is shock in the numbers, sure. A $48 million guarantee to a 30-year-old speedster named Michael Bourn? A $56 million guarantee to a 32-year-old run-producer named Nick Swisher? These numbers don?t mesh with our mindset about the Cleveland Indians. Numbers like these are the reasons the Indians trade […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince Terry Francona held a town hall session at Playhouse Square this afternoon for a special that will air on SportsTime Ohio on Thursday, Jan. 24. A number of topics were addressed with regard to the future of the Indians. Nothing particularly newsworthy, but certainly an entertaining discussion that involved […]
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