baseball
Sabermetric analysis of all things baseball - on-and-off the field. Barry Bonds fan club.
Somers Boys Lacrosse and Softball Previews
Scroll down for spring photos and all winter sports photos Defending Champs will Stick to the Process With the new season ahead, the defending New York State Champs are certainly aware. “It’s motivating in the sense of we were able to accomplish something great and knowing that it’s possible,” said Coach Jordan Hirsch. But for the most part the hardware does not take precedence.
By Rich Monetti15 minutes ago in Unbalanced
Tale as Old as Time: The Silver Boot Series 25th Anniversary
Us baseball fans love it when two rival teams go head-to-head with each other. When you think of a rivalry in Major League Baseball, the two teams that automatically come to mind is the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, which dates back to 1919. However, one rivalry in baseball that tends to get heated every year is between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros. The Rangers joined the American League West in 1972, the same year they were renamed the Rangers after their move to Arlington from Washington, while the Astros joined in 2013 from the National League West. Fans of their respective teams engage in trash talking, both online and at games. Yours truly has engaged in a few of these exchanges, so I'm not going to pretend that I don't. Both fanbases tend to get heated because of the love and passion for their teams.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard about 6 hours ago in Unbalanced
Best Texas Rangers Uniforms
The 2026 Major League Baseball season has finally begun. 2026 will mark the Rangers 66th year as a franchise and the 55th season in Arlington. The history of the Rangers dates back to 1961 when they were known as the Washington Senators for a decade before moving to Arlington in the Spring of 1972. For nearly 60 years, the Rangers have played at Arlington Stadium and The Ballpark in Arlington before moving into their current home, Globe Life Field in 2020. In this story, I'll be going over some of my favorite Rangers uniforms that captured my attention. I wrote a story last year about my favorite Rangers jerseys that I highlighted. You can read the full story in the link down below. The following entries are not in any particular order.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 3 days ago in Unbalanced
Under the Baseball Microscope: The New York Yankees and Their Postseason Woes
There's no denying that the New York Yankees are one of the most iconic teams in Major League Baseball. They had a plethora of iconic moments and players in their century-plus long history. I've been writing baseball-related topics on Vocal since 2023, and I've shared my mostly brutally honest opinions about anything that had to do with the league. From players to managers, no one was off limits. Whether people agreed with my takes or not, I refused to sugarcoat anything or apologize for telling the truth. Uncomfortable and unpopular truths are a way for people and baseball fans to face reality. In this story, I'll be going over the New York Yankees postseason failures, why they're no longer relevant in the American League East in my opinion, thoughts about Aaron Boone, and ripping a new one on another man named Aaron. If you're easily offended by my harsh takes and being brutally honest, this is your opportunity to exit stage left.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 6 days ago in Unbalanced
Wesley's Favorite Forgotten Texas Rangers Players: Part 3
Greetings, Rangers fans and baseball fans everywhere! This will be the third and final part of this series where I highlight past Rangers players that you might have remembered but haven't heard of or hardly mentioned in online baseball spaces. In case you missed the second part from last year, be sure to go the link down below to check out my personal favorites. If you have a forgotten Texas Rangers player that you admired, please comment down below. Now, on to the list.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 8 days ago in Unbalanced
MLB Opening Day Needs to Become a National Holiday
Opening Day: it's more than just a day off for many of us baseball fans from either school or work. It's a long-standing tradition that means so much to us. If you've been playing hooky from school or work for years in order to watch your favorite team play in person or on TV, good for you. Everyone has done it, so no judgement here. The first Opening Day dates back to 1876 between the Boston Red Caps and Philadelphia Athletics, where 3,000 people were in attendance. The Red Caps won that game with a final score of 6-5. 150 years later, the yearly debate of whether the unofficial holiday of baseball should be official continues.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 15 days ago in Unbalanced
Team USA on the brink of historic embarrassment after shocking World Baseball Classic loss
The United States entered the 2026 World Baseball Classic as the tournament favorite — a roster many analysts compared to a baseball “Dream Team.” Instead, Team USA now finds itself facing the possibility of one of the most embarrassing moments in its international baseball history.
By Navigating the World20 days ago in Unbalanced
My Brutally Honest Thoughts About Bryce Harper
The 2026 Major League Baseball regular season is fast approaching and we're here for it. The offseason has been filled with blockbuster trades and attention-grabbing headlines. Will a new World Series champion be crowned? Only time will tell. In this story, I'll be discussing a player who has been on the minds of baseball fans lately. I'm talking about Bryce Harper and why has he been in the news, you ask? In case you didn't know, Phillies General Manager Dave Dombrowski stated that the All-Star needed to do his best to reach the organization's standards. Dombrowski didn't say that Harper was a terrible player, but Harper took Dombrowski's remarks as a personal attack towards him. Bryce Harper will be entering his 15th season in MLB and turns 35 in October. What Dombrowski said was facts, because Harper is being paid all of this money and has been struggling at the plate. My theory is that Bryce Harper doesn't like constructive criticism and throws a huge fit about them. He has a reputation of being a hot head. Examples include arguing with umpires about bad calls (yes, most of them had justifiable reasons for him to be upset about them), cursing out Commissioner Rob Manfred last season over a proposed issue while he visited the Phillies clubhouse, and being sometimes rude to reporters. If you've watched any compilation videos of players being ejected or angriest players in MLB, most likely you'll see Bryce Harper in those. Regarding the incident involving the Commissioner, Bryce was in the wrong for cursing out the person in charge of the league. I understood how he felt at the time, but he could've taken the Commissioner to the side and calmly discussed his concerns in private. Also, Bryce should've been the bigger adult and kept his demeanor towards Manfred professional. No matter what your feelings are about Rob Manfred, I believe that all players should have a level of professionalism, whether in the clubhouse or at events. Whether Bryce likes it or not, just like a regular job, he's under evaluation just like every player and everyone else in their respective ball clubs.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 22 days ago in Unbalanced
The Life and Career of Former Arlington Mayor, Tom Vandergriff
When you think of the State of Texas, what the first thing comes into mind? The Texas Longhorns? Dallas Cowboys? However, there was one man who was determined to bring a baseball team to Arlington. His name was Tom Vandergriff, and everyone should thank him for being persistent and making his dream a reality for the city. Let's learn more about Mr. Vandergriff's life and career.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 29 days ago in Unbalanced
Chloe Kim Eyes Historic Three-Peat at 2026 Winter Olympics Women’s Snowboarding Halfpipe
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina have delivered unforgettable moments across all disciplines, but few events have captured global attention like the Women’s Snowboarding Halfpipe. With the likes of Chloe Kim defending her Olympic titles, the competition has become a thrilling spectacle of athleticism, creativity, and nerve. As the Games reached February 12, 2026, the Halfpipe finals emerged as a centerpiece, blending high-stakes competition with the artistry and daring that define snowboarding at its highest level.
By Story Prism2 months ago in Unbalanced
When Baseball Was Actually Enjoyable
Many of us baseball fans, including me, remember a time when baseball was fun to watch. If you search any game from the 80s or 90s on YouTube, many of the comments would say that they were watchable and also capture their attention. Also, the essence of the game made it ten times more fascinating. I'll share three reasons why the game of baseball today seems lackluster and mundane. I love watching my team play, but the game itself is not up to my standards.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 2 months ago in Unbalanced
