BY J.A. SCHWARTZ After topping the National League West for eight straight seasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally won the World Series in 2020, their first championship since 1988. They chased the demons associated with thirteen straight playoff appearances without a title, firmly establishing the franchise as the best in …

BY J.A.SCHWARTZ The NL Central doesn’t feature a team projected to win more than 82 games, and that mediocrity may create a thrilling four-team division race that could end up being decided by which front office is able to make the most significant in-season trade acquisitions. The Chicago Cubs were …

BY J.A. SCHWARTZ The New York Mets and their fans have labored under the ignominious reign of the Wilpon family for the past 19 years, but they were finally liberated this winter when Steve Cohen purchased the franchise, and immediately set about trying to position the club to steal the …

BY J.A.SCHWARTZ The Oakland A’s are the defending AL West champions, and are coming off their third consecutive postseason berth. Despite an offseason of player movement that saw Marcus Semien decamp to Toronto and Khris Davis move to Texas in a salary relief trade, Oakland should be in contention to …

BY J.A. SCHWARTZ The Minnesota Twins won the AL Central last year on the strength of a lineup heavy with HR hitters and a deep bullpen. Those same attributes should return for the Twins in 2021. They retained the ageless Nelson Cruz on a one-year deal to anchor the middle …

BY J.A.SCHWARTZ The Tampa Bay Rays are the defending American League champions, and they pushed the Dodgers to six games in the World Series before being defeated. Despite their achievements in 2020, the Rays enter the 2021 season no better than the fourth choice to represent the AL in this …

BY J.A.SCHWARTZ Only in the feverish cogitations of San Diego Padres General Manager AJ Preller could a plan to transform his nondescript baseball team into a legitimate threat to win a championship in 2021 be imagined. To contemplate the plan is but the first step in the process. Preller has …

BY J.A. SCHWARTZ By any measure, James Harden has had a Hall of Fame career. He’s easily the best player the Rockets have employed this century, and the second best player in franchise history, behind only the iconic Hakeem Olajuwon. In the context of his place in NBA history, Harden …

BY J.A. SCHWARTZ The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) is responsible for the election process that admits or denies retired players access to the Hall of Fame. The process is very straightforward. Once a player elects to retire, a period of five years must pass before that player can …

BY J.A. SCHWARTZ From the moment a young man makes it his aspiration to become a professional baseball player, he dreams of two things: 1) Win the World Series, and 2) Earn enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. The vast majority of kids who are fortunate enough to make it …