The reality is that the NBA All-Star Game has an unfair advantage over other professional leagues when it comes to staying authentic. In hockey, the NHL does a nice job breaking plates with the Skills Competition, but a red robin of games played without hip checks is just not hockey. Major league baseball puts on […]

If you struggle with the pronunciation of Rockies relief pitcher Adam Ottavino (/ah-tah-VEEN-oh/) it’s understandable. And my guess is that if you’re not a diehard Rockies fan you would struggle recognizing the man at all. In pitching for the Rockies, Ottavino’s job is to not be noticed.  As a middle-to-late-inning set-up man, Ottavino’s job is […]

Charlie Blackmon is heading to All-Star weekend on a tear. Representing the Colorado Rockies, his 20 homers earned him a spot in the home run derby, while his .319 batting average and lead-leading 117 hits, a place in right field. Blackmon does everything. He leads off, drives in runs, the crowd adores him, and of […]

The story is familiar. The powerful, young, first baseman reaches the major leagues by swinging for the fences on every pitch. The big league team sacrifices a high strikeout rate and low batting average for long term potential, and tape measure home runs. But Father Time catches up to the powerful first baseman as the […]