Daily Pitch: 2016 archives

2016 games Games played October 20-22, 2016 (playoffs) Games played October 19, 2016 (playoffs) Games played October 17-18, 2016 (playoffs) Games played October 16, 2016 (playoffs) Games played October 14-15, 2016 (playoffs) Games played October 13, 2016 (playoffs) Games played October 10-11, 2016 (playoffs) Games played October 9, 2016 (playoffs) Games played October 7, 2016…

Minor-League highlights: Week 1

By Scott Barancik, Editor Minor-league baseball is in business again, and here are some highlights from the first week. Bregman’s double-dinger heroics Alex Bregman, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, is off to a fast start playing for the Astros’ Double-A club, the Corpus Christi Hooks. On Monday (4/11/2016), the 22-year-old…

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How’d they do? Final 2016 MLB spring training stats

By Scott Barancik, Editor With the first official pitch of Opening Day just hours away, we’re taking a look back at Spring Training to see which Jewish athletes played at the MLB level, and how they performed. Below is an abbreviated table showing the 13 Jews who took MLB swings this Spring. Click here for more complete…

Will Cody Decker make Royals’ opening-day roster?

By Scott Barancik, Editor When the Kansas City Royals invited newcomer Cody Decker to attend Spring Training, there was little doubt the 29-year-old prankster, social-media wiz, amateur film critic, and self-styled”Antihero” would make friends easily. But make the opening-day roster? Unlikely. The competition remains fierce, and the odds steep. Despite emerging from the San Diego Padres’ farm system…

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Rhett Wiseman: Top prospect is a team player

By Zev Ben Avigdor, Correspondent The son of a choreographer and a crime-scene cleanup specialist, 21-year-old centerfielder Rhett Wiseman grew up in Mansfield, Mass. Drafted out of high school by the Chicago Cubs, he postponed pro ball for the chance to attend Vanderbilt University, where he helped deliver a College World Series championship. Wiseman may be best known…

The 2016 Spring Training list

[Updated 3/9/2016] By Scott Barancik, Editor At least 20 Jewish players are participating in Spring Training for a Major League team in 2016. The list includes eight active Major Leaguers and 11 minor leaguers, a majority of whom have MLB experience. One non-roster invitee, Houston Astros prospect Alex Bregman, was drafted in 2015 and is ranked…

Casey Haerther: “Baseball’s a marathon”

By Zev Ben Avigdor, Correspondent January 18, 2016 Like many men playing in baseball’s independent leagues, 28-year-old Casey Logan Haerther began his professional career with a Major League franchise. Casey was drafted out of Chaminade College Preparatory School in West Hills, California, by the San Diego Padres, in the 35th round of the 2006 draft. Electing instead…

Ryan Lashley: The Interview

By Zev Ben Avigdor, Correspondent Ryan Lashley has seen his share of independent minor leagues, where the teams are unaffiliated with MLB franchises. Three years into his pro career, the 25-year-old infielder already has traveled through four separate leagues: Frontier, United, Can-Am, and American Association. 2015 did not begin well. Injuries plagued Ryan’s debut with the…

Zach Penprase: independent league, independent mind

By Zev Ben Avigdor, correspondent Many Jewish baseball fans follow Jewish players’ journeys from college, through the affiliated minor leagues, up to a Major League Baseball team. Not as many fans keep track of players in independent baseball, such as the Can-Am League, the Atlantic League, or the Frontier League. One of the top independent leagues…

On this date: Oct. 12-18, 2015 (archive)

On this date: Oct. 12-18, 2015 Powered by Masa Israel Journey Oct. 18, 1983: Pro bowler Mark Roth wins his 28th title, 2nd-most in PBA history Oct. 17, 1968: Two Jews medal in Olympic 4×100 freestyle relay: Mark Spitz (U.S., gold), Semyon Belits-Geiman (USSR, silver) Oct. 16, 1974: A’s pitcher Ken Holtzman homered and earned his 2nd win in Game 4 of the World Series Oct. 15,…

Stat of the day: Oct. 6-11, 2015 (archive)

Stat of the day: Oct. 6-11, 2015 (archive) Powered by Masa Israel Journey Oct. 11, 2015: Sandy Koufax struck out in 49.7% of his at-bats, worst in MLB history Oct. 10, 2015: Reds prospect Zack Weiss had 30 saves this season, #2 among all 4,794 minor-league pitchers Oct. 9, 2015: Kevin Pillar‘s RBI double Thursday was the…

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Jewish Baseball News, Israel Baseball Experience debut 2 daily features

By Scott Barancik, editor Starting today, Jewish Baseball News is introducing two daily features during the October MLB Playoffs: a numbers-driven item called “Stat of the Day,” and “On This Date,” which will recall special moments in Jewish sports history. Both retweetable features are powered by Masa Israel, a joint project of the Jewish Agency…

Danny’s bat, Sam’s glove key A’s win

By Scott Barancik, editor A Jewish duo keyed Oakland’s 4-3 win yesterday over the Astros (9/18/2015). Danny Valencia supplied the power. Batting cleanup, the mid-season acquisition hit a solo HR in the 4th inning and a two-run shot in the 8th that proved to be the game-winner. Sam Fuld furnished the glove. Houston was up 2-0…

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Cody Decker makes MLB debut…on Rosh Hashanah!

By Scott Barancik, editor Cody Decker returned to L.A. on Sunday, a day after his El Paso Chihuahuas were knocked out of the Pacific Coast League (AAA) playoffs. His future was uncertain: after seven seasons as a San Diego Padres farmhand, the franchise’s all-time minor-league home run leader (154 HRs) was due to become a…