Stick the Milwaukee Brewers organization next to your garden variety mom-and-pop business, and it’d be hard to tell the difference. Such has been the story of the Brew Crew ever since Mark Attanasio bought the team 20 years ago. Milwaukee puts most if not all of its money into player development and does almost nothing in free agency. Once in a while, they’ll trade for a star … [Read more...] about ESNY’s MLB Preview 2024: The Milwaukee Brewers’ failure to launch
ESNY’s MLB Preview 2024: Minnesota Twins are AL Central catbird
The AL Central is easily the weakest division in baseball, and the Minnesota Twins can look forward to ruling it for the foreseeable future. Not only did they clinch the division last year with, brace yourselves, 87 wins, but the Twins also won their first playoff series in over a decade! And better yet for the Twins, they’re in the catbird seat. They’re in a position to not … [Read more...] about ESNY’s MLB Preview 2024: Minnesota Twins are AL Central catbird
ESNY’s 2024 MLB Preview: Oakland A’s can only roll Snake Eyes
With a whopping 112 losses in 2023 and a similar number a near certainty in ’24, it’s a bad time to be associated with the Oakland A’s. It’s been the same song and dance for over 20 years. Moneyball the roster to death, maybe enjoy a few trips to the playoffs, reset when everyone gets too expensive. The only difference is that this time, the A’s are packing up and moving to Las … [Read more...] about ESNY’s 2024 MLB Preview: Oakland A’s can only roll Snake Eyes
ESNY’s MLB Preview 2024: Colorado Rockies don’t get that they don’t get it
Three years ago, Ken Rosenthal and Nick Groke wrote in The Athletic how multiple issues had the Colorado Rockies racing towards the bottom. Three years later, nothing has changed. The Rockies’ defining factor is letting its player development cycles fail or succeed while enjoying shockingly strong attendance. For some reason or another, the fans keep flocking back to Coors … [Read more...] about ESNY’s MLB Preview 2024: Colorado Rockies don’t get that they don’t get it
ESNY’s MLB Preview 2024: The Los Angeles’ Angels eternal purgatory
We’ve known for years that at some point, the wheels would finally fall off the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. And on Dec. 11, months after a 73 win season, it finally happened. Two-time MVP and two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani drove 30 minutes up US-101 to Dodger Stadium and signed a record-setting contract. A once-in-a-generation talent did his rookie bid in Anaheim, then … [Read more...] about ESNY’s MLB Preview 2024: The Los Angeles’ Angels eternal purgatory