Almost Cooperstown

Here we are,  the 1st episode in season 5 where we offer our predictions in order of finish of all the MLB teams. Who will be be the 2024 MVP in each league? Who will win the Cy Young in each league? Who will be Rookie-of-the-Year in 2024?  Are the Dodgers really the class of the National League? How about the Texas Rangers? Can they repeat?

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7JEjE1cVsIQ

Thanks for the intro and outro music this season which is. courtesy of Mercury Maid!  Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music. 

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on Twitter/X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  If you can please give the podcast 4 or 5 star rating!

When it comes to Pat Ahearne, it's a really interesting story. He was the NCAA CWS MVP in 1992 when his Pepperdine Waves went all the way. That effort surely helped Pat get his 1st MLB contract with the Detroit Tigers. He pitched 4 games for them in 1995 starting three of them, over a two week period in June. But he was not able to make it back to the big leagues.  Yet he kept on persevering playing another 15+ years in various locations professionally all over the globe.   

These days Pat does some remote analytics and coaching at www.thewayofbaseball.com and has launched a retail tea business called www.insidecornertea.com based on his experiences traveling and tasting tea in many different countries.

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TQd5YKxNiXg

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on Twitter/X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  If you can please give the podcast 4 or 5 star rating!

The last of our 6 division previews.  It might be saving the best for last although the AL East might tip the scales.  Dylan Cease to the Padres will make a difference and the Padre lineup is formidable, but who can top Betts, Ohtani, and Freeman as a top three in the lineup.  The D'Backs will not catch anyone by surprise this year and their additions of Eugenio Suarez and Eduardo Rodriguez are important. The Giants think they can compete and the Rockies know they can't. 

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gOE0TWWhRWU

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on Twitter/X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  If you can please give the podcast 4 or 5 star rating!

The NL Central is better than the AL Central. But that's about it. The Cubs with new manager Craig Counsell will be a top division contender with the Reds being heard from as well. The Brewers, Cardinals, and Pirates have some issues.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RBe0xEchXxs

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on Twitter/X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  If you can please give the podcast 4 or 5 star rating!

Our 4th division primer on the NL East. The Braves and Phillies are the class of the division with the Mets, Marlins and Nationals all hoping that they are the team that will surprise. We talk about all 5 teams 40-man rosters, and who the best players are in the division.

Watch on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/WcpmH0kB3jc

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on Twitter/X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  If you can please give the podcast 4 or 5 star rating!

We noted that Rangers are under-appreciated.  The Astros are still formidable and the Mariners not to be ignored.  The AL West will be fun to watch this season unless you're a fan of the Angels or A's. The 3rd of our 6 division breakdowns.

Watch on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/gkUf2J4Wjco

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on Twitter/X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  If you can please give the podcast 4 or 5 star rating!

 

Jose Ramirez is one of the best players fans under-appreciate.  The Guardians are not at the top of the list of AL Central favorites but should not be ignored either. We talk about the rosters of all 5 teams in what will be a dogfight of teams all lacking a key ingredient.

This is the second of what will be 6 consecutive podcasts doing division primers.

Watch on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/XxmiwUBJe84

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on Twitter/X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  If you can please give the podcast 4 or 5 star rating!

While we didn't pick the teams which we will do in our season preview episode, we did dig deep into each team's 40 man roster. The AL East is the best division in baseball and yet we had trouble picking more than 3 top starting pitchers! 

This is the first of what will be 6 consecutive podcasts doing division primers.

Watch on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/mlgaQiltFAY

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on Twitter/X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  If you can please give the podcast 4 or 5 star rating!

 

2024 MLB Spring Training has begun and would-be rookies impact teams ultimate performance (think Corbin Carroll and Evan Carter last year) more and more frequently .  But some Rookie's of the Year never reach the heights they touched in their first campaign.  That doesn't mean they don't have a career and flame out after a couple of years, although that can happen too.

We also cover this year's crop of rookies that might be in the running for 2024 Rookie of the Year.  Mark mentioned Royce Lewis as a ROY and it was not Royce buy Kyle Lewis in 2020 who won the AL award. He's done little since.

And since we recorded this episode on the weekend the Cubs did finally sign Cody Bellinger! 

Watch on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/UmntDoHqUos

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on Twitter/X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  If you can please give the podcast 4 or 5 star rating!

We hear about the unwritten rules of baseball all the time. Don't walk the leadoff hitter. Don't bunt in a no-hitter. Some of the unwritten rules are more strategic preferences than unwritten rules. We discuss that as well as how stealing signs has evolved over the years and if it can still be done today.

Watch on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/oI4MlUFDj2M

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on Twitter/X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  If you can please give the podcast 4 or 5 star rating!