BLOG

Position players all report next week. However, these are mandatory reporting dates and many players are in camp early to hit the ground running when things start up. There are fewer days to get ready for Spring Training games this year than ever before so players need to be ready to avoid injuries, win a job, keep a job, work on a new position, etc. It's a time of great excitement to the young players and a chore for many of the veterans. We've heard more than one veteran say they wouldn't mind playing longer if the just didn't have to go to Spring Training every year. 

X Bats uses Spring Training to see players, old and new, when they are in camp trying to win a job, keep a job, get acclimated to a new team, etc. before the Spring Training games commence. It is one of the few times each year when bat companies, shoe companies, glove companies, etc. can spend some time with players helping them find the best tools to maximize their performance. 

Spring Training is right around the corner. Everyone is over the Super Bowl and football season, basketball & hockey are in mid-season, people are looking forward to the end of winter, cold and snow and baseball is the harbinger of Spring. Our National Pastime is all about new beginnings. Baseball fans have followed the Hot Stove League all winter and are anxious about how their team improved in the off season and if they'll be contenders this year.

1.Ty Cobb, .36636
2. Rogers Hornsby, .35850
3. Joe Jackson, .35575
4. Lefty O'Doul, .3493
5. Ed Delahanty, .34590
6. Tris Speaker, .34468
7.Ted Williams, .34441
8. Billy Hamilton, .34429
9. Dan Brouthers, .34213
10. Babe Ruth, .34207
11. Dave Orr, .3420
12. Harry Heilmann, .34159
13. Pete Browning, .3415
14. Willie Keeler, .34129
15. Bill Terry, .34116
16. George Sisler, .34015
17. Lou Gehrig, .34008
19. Jesse Burkett, .33844
20. Tony Gwynn, .33818
21. Nap Lajoie, .33810
18.Jake Stenzel, .3378
22. Riggs Stephenson, .33607
23. Al Simmons, .33417
24-Cap Anson .3341
25. John McGraw, .33359

Active Players Closing In 
x-Joe Mauer, .3230
x-Ichiro Suzuki, .3187

1. Pete Rose Sr., 4256
2. Ty Cobb, 4191
3. Hank Aaron, 3771
4. Stan Musial, 3630
5. Tris Speaker, 3515
6. Carl Yastrzemski, 3419
7. Cap Anson, 3418
8. Honus Wagner, 3430
9. Paul Molitor, 3319
10. x-Derek Jeter, 3316
11. Eddie Collins Sr., 3313
12. Willie Mays, 3283
13. Eddie Murray, 3255
14. Nap Lajoie, 3252
15. Cal Ripken, 3184
16. George Brett, 3154
17. Paul Waner, 3152
18. Robin Yount, 3142
19. Tony Gwynn, 3141
20. Dave Winfield, 3110
21. Craig Biggio, 3060
22. Rickey Henderson, 3055
23. Rod Carew, 3053
24. Lou Brock, 3023
25. Rafael Palmeiro, 3020

Active Players Closing In x-Alex Rodriquez, 2939

1. Barry Bonds, 762
2. Hank Aaron, 755
3. Babe Ruth, 714
4. Willie Mays, 660
5. x-Alex Rodriquez, 654
6. Ken Griffey, Jr., 630
7. Jim Thome, 612
8. Sammy Sosa, 609
9. Frank Robinson, 586
10. Mark McGuire, 583
11. Harmon Killebrew, 573
12. Rafael Palmiero, 569
13. Reggie Jackson, 563
14. Manny Ramirez, 555
15. Mike Schmidt, 548
16. Mickey Mantle, 536
17. Jimmie Foxx, 534
18. Ted Williams, 521
19. Willie McCovey, 521
20. Frank Thomas, 521
21. Ernie Banks, 512
22. Eddie Mathews, 512
23. Mel Ott, 511
24. Gary Sheffield, 509
25. Eddie Murray, 504

The World Series is played between the champion clubs of the American and the National Leagues, which collectively includes 29 clubs based in the United States and one club from Canada. The "modern" World Series has been and annual event since 1903. Baseball has employed various championship formulas since the 1860's. When the term "World Series" is used by itself, it is usually understood to refer to the "modern" World Series exclusively.

The World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff. Best-of-seven has been the format of all the modern World Series except in 1903, 1919, 1920 and 1921 when the winner was determined through a best-of-nine playoff. The Series winner is awarded the World Series Trophy, as well as individual World Series rings. The Series winner also receives a larger proportion of the gate receipts than does the Series loser.

There have been three different "most valuable player" awards in baseball since 1911. The Chalmers Award was the first of those three and it was presented by between 1911 and 1914 by Chalmers Automotive a Detroit based automobile company. By 1915 the Chalmers Award was no longer considered popular. Rumors about possible cheating and the inability for any player to win more than once were factors which led to its demise.

1956-2014

The Cy Young Award was then Commissioner Ford Frick's idea to honor the best pitcher in Major League Baseball. Hard lessons were learned by the Chalmers Award (1911-1914) earlier in history so the recipients of the Cy Young Award were selected by the Baseball Writers Association of America from the inception of the award. During the first eleven years (1956 - 1966), only one winner from Major League Baseball was selected. Immediately after Commissioner Frick retired, the rules were changed to honor the best pitcher from each league.

1931-2014

The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual Major League Baseball award given to one outstanding player in both the American and National Leagues. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America. The winners receive the Kenesaw Mountain Landis Memorial Baseball Award, which is named in honor of the first MLB commissioner, who served from 1920 to 1944. MVP voting takes place before the postseason but the results are not announced until after the World Series. The BBWAA began polling three writers in each league city in 1938, reducing that number to two per league city in 1961. The BBWAA does not offer a clear-cut definition of what "most valuable" means, instead leaving the judgment to the individual voters.

In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is given annually to one player from each league as voted upon by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA who alone selected a rookie of the year. Starting in 1947, all members of the national BBWAA organization voted. Jackie Robinson was awarded the first official Rookie of the Year award. When casting their ballots each BBWAA voter used their own discretion as to who qualified as a rookie until 1957 when they defined the term as someone with less than 75 at-bats or 45 innings pitched in any previous season. This guideline was later amended to 90 at-bats, 45 innings pitched or 45 days on a major league roster before September 1 of the previous year. It was amended to the current standards in 1971 to 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on the active roster of a major league club (excluding time on the disabled list) before September 1. Beginning in 1980 each voter names three rookies: a first place choice is given five points, a second place choice three points, and a third place one point. The award goes to the player with the most overall points. Prior to 1980 each voter cast one ballot for each league.

The 2014 salaries for the top 25 Major League Baseball players on active rosters and disabled lists. Figures were obtained by the Associated Press from management and player sources and include salaries and pro-rated shares of signing bonuses and other guaranteed income. For some players, parts of salaries deferred without interest are discounted to reflect present-day values

Payrolls and average salaries for the opening day rosters of the 30 major league teams. Figures are based on documents obtained from the MLB Players Association, club officials and filed with Major League Baseball's central office. Deferred payments and incentive clauses are not included. Team payrolls do not include money paid or received in trades or for players who have been released. In some cases, parts of salaries deferred without interest are discounted to reflect present-day values.

1. Jesse Orosco, 1252
2. Mike Stanton, 1178
3. John Franco, 1119
4. Mariano Rivera, 1115
5. Dennis Eckersley , 1071
6. Hoyt Wilhelm, 1070
7. Dan Plesac, 1064
8. Mike Timlin, 1058
9. Kent Tekulve, 1050
10.Trevor Hoffman, 1035
11. Jose Mesa, 1022
12. Lee Smith, 1022
13. Roberto Hernandez, 1010
14. Mike Jackson, 1005
15. Rich "Goose" Gossage, 1002
16. Lindy McDaniel ,987
17. Todd Jones, 982
18. David Weathers, 964
19. Rollie Fingers, 944
20. LaTroy Hawkins, 943
21. Gene Garber, 931
22. Eddie Guardado, 908
23. Cy Young, 906
24. Arthur Rhodes, 900
25. Sparky Lyle, 899

Active Players Closing In 
x-Kyle Farnsworth, 858

CAREER WIN LEADERS

1. Cy Young, 511
2. Walter Johnson, 417
3. Grover Alexander, 373
4. Christy Mathewson, 373
5. Pud Galvin, 364
6. Warren Spahn, 363
7. Kid Nichols, 361
8. Greg Maddux, 355
9. Roger Clemens, 354
10. Tim Keefe, 344
11. Steve Carlton, 329
12. John Clarkson, 328
13. Eddie S. Plank, 326
14. Don Sutton, 324
15. Nolan Ryan, 324
16. Phil Niekro, 318
17. Gaylord Perry, 314
18. Tom Seaver, 311
19. Charlie Old Hoss Radbourn, 308
20. Mickey Welch, 307
21. Tom Glavine, 305
    
22. Randy Johnson, 303
23. Early Wynn, 300
24. Lefty Grove, 300
25. Bobby Mathews, 297