The Big Ten is Expanding

 

The average person would think that since there is the number ten in the Big Ten, there are ten teams in the conference. However, that person would be wrong because coming in 2024, the Big Ten will expand to 18 different schools in its conference. 

Up until 2014, the Big Ten, still not living up to its name, had 12 schools in the conference until Maryland and Rutgers joined the Big Ten expanding the conference to 14 schools. Before the expansion, the conference was dominantly filled with teams from the midwest with the exception of Penn State. 

Fast forward almost a decade and the Big Ten is on the verge of another major expansion, this time adding four schools from the Pac-12 conference. These four schools are as follows: Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC. Now a conference which was a decade ago purely made up of schools from the midwest has expanded to schools from both the east and west coast of the United States. 

Conferences and divisions in all college and professional sports have historically followed the tradition of putting teams together that are from a certain region of the country. For example, the Southeastern Conference, also known as the SEC, only contains teams from the southeast part of the United States. 

The Big Ten is setting a new precedent that this tradition does not apply anymore. They are primarily doing it for more lucrative and new TV contracts and other forms of revenue that will benefit the conference as a whole. The new schools being added the conference were arguably the faces of the Pac-12 and will bring that all over to the Big Ten. 

I dislike the expansion as a whole for the Big Ten. Sure, it will bring in more money to the conference and benefit them in other ways, but having schools in the same conference from different sides of the country, and others that are not across the country but still far away from one another ruins the whole dynamic of a conference. 

There's going to be a time where one of the new west coast teams has to take over a five hour flight across the country, or one of the east coast teams has to do the opposite, stay there for a night or two, play the game, and then make the journey back across the country. The definition of a true conference really just will not apply anymore come in 2024 for the Big Ten. 

Biggest Winner of the Deadline

The trade deadline is past us and it is officially time to crown my biggest winner, the Miami Marlins. The Marlins who are characteristically sellers at the deadline, took a different approach this year and bought pieces that they believe will give them the best chance to compete and play games in October. 

In the Marlins brief history, since they became a team in the early 1990s, they have only made the playoffs three times and most of their other seasons have been viewed as the laughing stock of the league. Well this season is much different than that, and although the Marlins are currently not sitting in a playoff spot, this team is special. 

The Marlins needed a change after yet another down year last season, so they went out and hired Skip Schumaker to run the ball club and made arguably one of the biggest trades in franchise history when they acquired Luis Arraez from the Twins. Arraez has been the heart and soul of this team ever since Opening Day and the fish have never looked back since. 

The Marlins made 4 big moves at this year's deadline that are going to help this team a ton down the stretch. Their first 2 moves were acquiring major bullpen help when they went out and acquired David Robertson and Jorge Lopez. Robertson has been in the league for a long time and has a ton of playoff experience and is still thriving at an older age. 

Lopez has struggled a bit this season, but is only one year removed from being an all-star last season and now has one of the best pitching coaches in the league in his hip pocket. The bullpen has been a weak spot for the fish this season, so Kim Ng went out and addressed the issue and may have fixed the problem with these acquisitions.

Another weak spot that the Marlins addressed was the lack of power on offense. So they went out and got a guy whose hit 25 homers this season in Jake Burger, and veteran Josh Bell who is known to be a power hitter as well. They needed more bats that can easily drive in Luis Arraez when he leads off an inning with a single. Arraez has been their MVP, but he can't do it all. Burger and Bell are going to help him out a lot.

No one had any high expectations or any good expectations at all for this Marlins team, but they are putting it together well this season. Although it is a congested competition for the NL wild card, I expect and would like to see this young Marlins team back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020. 

Yanks Stand Pat At The Deadline

 

As the trade deadline officially passes, the New York Yankees were the biggest losers at this year's deadline mark. After 106 games into the season with a lackluster offense, New York makes zero trades for any offensive help while only making two minor reliever additions to the bullpen. 

The Yankees were certainly very confused coming into this trade deadline. They've played some really bad baseball as of late and could've easily been sellers at the deadline but they did not sell. Although they sit last in a very tough AL East and are now only 3 games above .500, the Yanks are only 3.5 games out of the last wild card spot and are still very much in the race with 55 games left to play. 

No matter how bad the bats have been as of late, this team is still very well in it and it is just baffling to me that they didn't go out and acquire some new offensive talent to help this team out. Instead they go and add to what has been their one strong suit, the bullpen. 

Even if the Yankees did sell at the deadline, they still could've easily stayed in the race for that last wild card spot and embrace the let the kids play mentality. Obviously the players that are contributing to this team right now aren't getting the job done, so go out there and call up some of the kids and let them show you what they can do to help this team win some ball games.

This mentality is being embraced all over the league with teams like the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, and Arizona Diamondbacks just to name a few. In addition, the one thing that these teams all have in common is that they all currently occupy a playoff spot and are doing it with a subpar payroll. Nowadays it's been proven that bigger payrolls don't always mean more success, in fact its the complete opposite. 

The race for the last AL wild card spot is currently very congested between I believe 4-5 legitimate teams. 3 of those teams were buyers at the deadline and very much improved their teams unlike the Yankees and the Mariners. There's only one spot really up for grabs as of now and the Yanks don't seem very motivated or good enough to contend for that spot currently. 

One thing is true, the offense has been in a major slump almost this entire season and it doesn't seem like they are going to break out of it anytime soon. A fresh couple of bats to the lineup might've really helped this team out, but obviously Brian Cashman and company had other ideas. 

The Rise of the O's

The Baltimore Orioles have surprised many faces around the league with how well they have played this year and look to keep it up as we get closer and closer to October. Although their ETA wasn't for another year or two, the Orioles are here and they aren't going anywhere anytime soon. 

After six straight years of finishing either last or 4th in the division, the Orioles currently lead the AL East and have the second-best record in all of baseball. The main contributors to the success of this team were top prospects in the Orioles farm system not too long ago. 

Those contributors being Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman. Both Rutschman and Henderson spent time as the #1 prospects in all of baseball and have made an immediate impact on the ball club ever since getting called up not too long ago. The Orioles maintain one of the best farm systems in the league and they continue to call up their top prospects, embracing the let the kids play mentality and it has sure paid off for them recently. 

Not only has the offense been good, but the real highlight of the Orioles this year has been their bullpen,  their setup to closer duo in particular. That duo consists of Yennier Cano and Felix Bautista. The two have been so reliable and unbelievable for the O's this year. Some regard Bautista as the best closer in the game today and is 0.87 ERA would definitely support him. 

That is why the Orioles are so good in close and meaningful games because they have these two guys to rely on and whenever their number is called, they do not disappoint. This will pay off heavily in the postseason as well in late game situations. Not many teams have the reliability in the back of the bullpen like the Orioles do this season. 

The one thing that the Orioles need to improve on is starting pitching. Today is deadline day and if you want to have success in the postseason, you need good starting pitching. There are plenty of big names on the market that the Orioles have shown interest in and would be vital additions to their staff. The O's are going to need a more reliable ace than their current one in Kyle Gibson. Even if it doesn't mean acquiring an ace, they still need to consider all of their options to bulk their rotation. 

The Orioles haven't made the playoffs since 2016 and haven't made it out of the AL Wild Card since 2014 when they last won the AL East. It has been a long and cruel time for Orioles fans since their beloved Orioles last played October baseball, but this year they are defying all the odds and are one of the most fun teams to watch in the sport. 

The Angels Are Officially Buyers

 

            The big question that had been swirling around the league the past couple of weeks was if the Angels were going to choose to be buyers or sellers during this year's trade deadline. After their monumental move acquiring Lucas Giolito from the Chicago White Sox, it is clear that the Angels have determined that they will be buyers and remain highly competitive until October. 

            Late last night, the Angels finalized a deal to acquire starting pitcher Lucas Giolito and relief pitcher Reynaldo Lopez from the White Sox for two prospects. Giolito adds to a young Angels pitching rotation that is lead by Shohei Ohtani but has not received as much production from the others. 

            Giolito was one of the top arms on the market this deadline, being arguably the ace of the White Sox pitching staff, has some postseason experience, and is a former all-star. Adding that type of experience to this Angels ball club is exactly what they need if they are serious about playing baseball in October. 

            The Angels have been hot in their last 8 games, winning 7 of them, but they still stand multiple games out of the last AL wild card spot and in 3rd place in the AL West. A lot is going to need to change and go in their direction if they want any shot at their first postseason licks since 2014. 

            I spoke about it in my last blog and was highly confident on the fact that the Angels should have approached this deadline as sellers. From where they currently stand it is going to be an uphill climb to get to where they want to be in a very tough American League. Obviously, the Angels front office does not want to give up on their team midway through the season and that is why they made this deal. 

            They are basically saying to the rest of the league that the Angels are here and not going anywhere. But one move isn't going to change the trajectory of an entire team so I expect more moves to be made from the Angels by next Tuesday. 

            This move does pose as a major risk for the Halos as well. It could very well mean that instead of receiving a major package in return for Shohei Ohtani this season, that they lose the Japanese superstar in the offseason and get nothing in return. There's no appropriate price to put on one of the best players, if not the best, this sport has ever seen, but something is much better than nothing. 

            It's no secret that the Angels pitching has been their soft spot this season as they sit in the bottom half of the league in a number of different pitching stats. Adding Giolito and Lopez is certainly going to help both the bullpen and starting rotation, but their main focus for the rest of the deadline should be to acquire more quality arms to pair with them. Their offense has not been the problem so it shouldn't really be touched, but adding a bat or two wouldn't hurt them. 

            One thing that the Angels have struggled with mightily in recent history has been their injury problems. Currently their top two highest paid players have been on the IL for some time along with other quality bats and arms as well. The front office certainly is looking at the perspective that these guys will come back at some point and positively contribute to the team along with the acquisitions being made now before the deadline. 

            On paper, the Angels look good and just got even better, but recent history tells us that the Angels could look great on paper, but they haven't played October baseball in 9 years. The foot should remain heavily on the pedal and the Angels should keep buying and once everyone else gets healthy, the Angels believe they have a real shot at getting somewhere in 2023. 

            

Previewing the MLB Trade Deadline

 

            The MLB trade deadline is just under a week away and there are a lot of big names coming up in potential trade conversations this deadline. We haven't seen a monumental trade yet, but in the upcoming days we should see a plethora of them. 

            This season has been a very unique one in the fact that many teams are winning before they were expected to, and that leaves the teams who were projected to succeed in a dark hole. Young teams that had ETA's in the upcoming years such as the Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Baltimore Orioles, just to name a few, are currently taking the MLB by storm en route to a potential postseason birth.

            These teams will be definite buyers at the upcoming deadline, but where does this leave other teams. In all three of the team's divisions I just mentioned, there is a team who has highly exceeded expectations, and others that have went well below those expectations. 

            Currently, the top three payrolls in all of baseball are not occupying a wild card spot and many assume they will become sellers at this deadline. I think this is very unique because until this season, teams that pay the big bucks win the big games. These three teams are the Mets, Yankees, and Padres. All three of these teams have big time stars that want to compete for championships and this season cannot do that with these teams. 

            Historically, I don't think there has really ever been a season where the top three payrolls in the entire sport have struggled this bad and have contended with possibly selling at the trade deadline. There hasn't been a big move made yet while the league is waiting to see what will ensue with these top teams that have paid their way into a miserable season. 

            Moving onto the actual targets at the deadline, this year's deadline includes many more promising pitching targets than bats. Pitchers such as Dylan Cease, Marcus Stroman, and even maybe Justin Verlander are headlining the field for buyers looking for pitching at this year's deadline. My prediction is that the Reds and the Orioles go out and acquire a notable pitcher by August 1st to pad their rotation which isn't the sharpest and will help them in the long run. 

            Both teams on the offensive side have little to no holes, but the pitching staff could certainly use some help. We all know that in October, you can have as much offense as you want but if the pitching is not there, then you can kiss your chances goodbye. In the next 6 days there are going to be a lot of new pitchers suiting up for different clubs. 

            Now for the biggest headline throughout the league, Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is a free agent this upcoming offseason and is free to sign with whatever team he chooses and many believe that won't be the Angels. He's by far the best player in our game today and with that comes extreme value added to his name. If the Angels were to trade him then they would be receiving an absolute haul in return from whatever team he is dealt to. 

            Currently, the Angels sit a couple games out of the last wild card spot in a very tough American League. It is not going to get any easier for the Halos and they could be in a spot this offseason where they lose Ohtani and get nothing back in return. If I was the general manager of the Angels, I would be fielding calls and taking offers left and right for Ohtani. 

            Sure he's the best player in baseball, but he hasn't taken your team to a postseason once and it's time for something new in Anaheim. Trading Ohtani would absolutely set the Angels up for the future and eliminate the risk at losing him in the offseason for nothing. If the right deal is there for the Angels, I would take it. If a team does land Ohtani, then they might as well give him a blank check because he is going to get paid. 

            In any sport, the trade deadline is always a fascinating time of year and this season the headlines could not be greater in the MLB. The surprises of what happens on deadline day is the best part and I can't wait to see what new changes take place in the baseball world come next Tuesday. 

The Downfall of the Tampa Bay Rays

 

            While the rest of the MLB community is focused on Shohei Ohtani, Elly De La Cruz, and other major headlines currently ongoing throughout the league, no one is talking about the downfall that the Tampa Bay Rays have been going through. 

            39 games into the regular season, the Rays were dominating anyone who would try and step in their way, cruising to a 30-9 record. But, since their historically hot start, they have gone 31-33 ever since, fallen out of first place in the AL East, and do not hold the best record in baseball anymore. 

            Don't get me wrong, the Rays don't need a massive change and are not stuck in a big hole, they are still 19 games above .500 and own the top wild card spot in the AL. It's just surprising to see a team that many thought would break all kinds of records this season to fall off this bad and no one seems to be acknowledging it. 

            Statistically speaking, the Rays have been one of the best teams on paper all season no matter their recent struggles. They lead baseball in combined ERA, they are in the top 10 in combined batting average, and have committed not many errors defensively. Those three stats will tell you that the Rays are an all around sharp team. 

            To put it in simple terms, the pace that the Rays were on earlier in the season was going to be difficult to keep up and they have shown that through the past couple months. Teams around the Rays are also not waiting for them to pick it up again and they are capitalizing off of the Rays' woes. 

            The main team that has capitalized from the Rays' troubles has been the Baltimore Orioles. Just a little while ago, the Orioles seemed to be cemented into second place in the AL East until they started to really come around as a team and just recently took three out of four games from the Rays in Tampa. As a result of this series, the Rays are now 2.5 games out of first in the division. 

            Sometimes in baseball it can take one major slump to take your team out of contention, but luckily for the Rays, they started so hot that they can afford to have a slump like this and still be well in it. The talent that the Rays have built up to this point throughout the years with the money constraints that they have has been very impressive. They have the bats, the arms, and the defense that is more than capable of making a run in October, but they have to get back to playing better baseball. 

            They don't have to revert back to the form they were in through the first 40 games of the season, it just needs to be back playing around .500 baseball. The Rays play like a team that is matured and experienced although they are one of the youngest teams in baseball. Sometimes this can happens to these types of teams, so it isn't a surprise with the Rays this time around.