AGRI Biz

On Monday May 31 the Chicago Cubs called up their 2008 first-round draft pick, Andrew Cashner, and designated him to the bullpen. Cashner was a closer at Texas Christian University, but the Cubs immedaitely moved him into the rotation. In this new roll, Cashner realized a great deal of success and improved at each level. This season in a starting roll at Triple-A Iowa he was 3-0, with a 0.95 ERA, and 0.83 WHIP ...

It's June 1st and I have an alarming stat for Braves fans—this year's primary starting pitchers (Hanson, Hudson, Kawakami, Lowe and Medlen) are having a more successful year at the plate than the starting centerfielder, Nate McLouth. Through 51 games (nearly a third of the year!) the pitchers are hitting .184 and McClouth is hitting .179 with no signs of coming out of his slump. In fact, it's hard for me ...

We are now two months into the season. While we are still a long way from the end of the season, those players who are in the MVP and Cy Young races are beginning to fall into place. In the case of the AL MVP award race, the top ten to choose was actually quite easy. These ten are in a class above the others, and although there are several ...

He reminds us of an endless movie, the grandest baseball script of the season. It’s stunning to see a pitcher in the age when baseball is contaminated with performance-enhancers and bring much enthralling scenes to a fragile game, horrid of all the steroid scandals and dirty crimes. Such is difficult to grasp America’s Pastime in an era we live in the Steroid Era, disgusted and burnt out of all the ...

While Roy Halladay's perfect game may remind Blue Jays' fans just exactly how great the pitcher who just left was, I wouldn't mourn Doc for too long. The Blue Jays' win over the Rays on May 31st just proves that this team may be just fine without their ace.  Adam Lind capped off a phenomenal power month for the Jays with their 54th long ball of May. This was not only ...

The Giants have recalled Buster Posey and signed Pat Burrell to a minor league deal, leaving some to question where all the pieces will fit if things go as the club would like. Posey started with a bang on Saturday night, playing first base. Let's imagine that he is in the big leagues to stay. And, let's pretend that the veteran outfielder Burrell uses his time in the minor leagues to ...

NEW YORK— For the second consecutive game, the Mets shutout the two-time defending National League champion Phillies. For the second consecutive start, Hisanori Takahashi shined for the Mets. Looking for another home series win, the Mets went about trying to beat the Phillies again and behind Hisanori Takahashi, scored enough runs to win the game. In the second inning, Takahashi was helped out by the 16-foot high fence in left field, ...

Zach Miner.....does that name even ring a bell to anyone? Certainly not in 2010. Ok, you might remember him from such exciting shows as Imploding 'Pen 2009 and Fail 'Pen 2008.  Miner is an everyman reliever and sometime starter most notable for not being notable. The story is always the same—average stuff, below average strikeout rate, above average walk rate, never an exceptional outing, and usually pitches as if he belongs ...

Just because you’ve slipped behind in the Stolen Base category doesn’t mean you can’t catch up.  Here are some reasonably available SB threats.   Corey Patterson, OF, Baltimore Orioles (pictured) Patterson should be on your shortlist of players to add if you need speed. He’s hitting .288 with four SBs, 10 runs, two HRs, and five RBI since May 12. Corey is owned in 1.7 percent of ESPN and 9 percent ...

NEW YORK-- After two thrilling wins against the defending AL champion Yankees, the Mets opened up their series with the defending NL champion Phillies, looking to gain ground in the NL East. They sent knuckleballer R.A. Dickey to the mound, trying to throw the Phillies off balance for a second straight game as they faced Tim Wakefield on Sunday. Dickey, coming off of a solid outing against the Nationals in his first ...