http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com en-us http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com N/A john.mccabe@atomicsportsmedia.com Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:55:44 -0600 20 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/853/1/A-Dying-Breed/A-Dying-Breed.html Tom Glavine may be the last of his kind. Pitchers that came up young and stuck around old; pitchers that took the ball every fifth day and won far more often than they lost. Tom Glavine is going to become a 300-game winner. The question is, will he be the last? Steve Schaefer explores the possibility. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/794/1/Happy-Holidays/Happy-Holidays.html Confused? You shoudn't be. For a baseball fan, Opening Day is like Christmas, St. Patrick's Day, and the Fourth of July rolled into one. Steve Schaefer celebrates this most joyous of occasions by offering up a few predictions for 2007. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Sun, 01 Apr 2007 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/789/1/Its-All-Right/Its-All-Right.html Two Reds outfielders, one an all-time great on the downside and the other an all-time great that never was, are making major adjustments in Cincinnati this season. For Ken Griffey Jr., sliding over to right field means the end of an era; for Josh Hamilton just making a big league club is a significant victory. Unfortunately for the two, the team they play for might be the NL's worst in 2007. Steve Schaefer takes a look at the Reds for ASM's 30 in 30. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Wed, 28 Mar 2007 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/775/1/All-Wet/All-Wet.html Dontrelle Willis had a tough time keeping things dry this offseason, but the Marlins return a talented young team that stayed in contention until late last season. With Willis and Miguel Cabrera leading the team, do the Fish have enough to get back to the postseason? Steve Schaefer breaks down Florida for ASM\'s 30 in 30. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Fri, 16 Mar 2007 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/772/1/Whos-On-Third/Whos-On-Third.html That one's easy, it's Rookie of the Year runner-up Ryan Zimmerman. The problem for the Nationals is that they don't have anyone else in the lineup or the rotation to give him any protection. In the latest ASM 30 in 30 preview, Steve Schaefer forecasts another last-place finish for the team from Washington D.C.  steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Thu, 15 Mar 2007 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/771/1/Waiting-For-The-Rocket/Waiting-For-The-Rocket.html Roger Clemens may very well determine this year's AL East race when he finally decides who to pitch for this season. Still, the Yankees are excited about another right-hander--Phil Hughes--they think will be their ace of the future. Steve Schaefer previews the Bronx Bombers for ASM's 30 in 30. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Wed, 14 Mar 2007 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/769/1/The-Other-Guy/The-Other-Guy.html Daisuke Matsuzaka and super-closer turned starter Jonathan Papelbon are getting most of the press, but it's Josh Beckett who will be the pitcher most crucial to Boston's success this season. ASM's 30 in 30 rolls on with Steve Schaefer's look at the 2007 Red Sox. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Mon, 12 Mar 2007 01:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/764/1/Holy-Schmidt/Holy-Schmidt.html The Dodgers were active in the free agent market. The club is trying to get Schmidtty with it, and if Jason and the rest of the starters come through this team could make the World Series. Steve Schaefer breaks down the boys in blue for ASM\'s 30 in 30. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/757/1/Just-Say-Halo/Just-Say-Halo.html Giving Gary Matthews a $50 million was a mistake. A big one. And that was before his name got caught up in the latest steroid ring. Even so, the Angels are still among the favorites to win it all in 2007. Steve Schaefer has ASM's 30 in 30 preview of the Halos. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Sat, 03 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/702/1/Of-Generals-And-Managers/Of-Generals-And-Managers.html They get little credit for championships and far too much blame for flameouts, but general managers are often the difference in a team that wins the World Series and a team that misses the playoffs by a half game. Steve Schaefer has a look at what the GMs were up to this offseason. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Sat, 03 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/688/1/Swap-Meet/Swap-Meet.html 2007 will see Sheff and Leyland reunited in DetroitThe Marlins have been able to win two World Series titles in the past decade with payrolls that pale in comparison to teams that have had far less success. Why is that? It’s because after each title the Fish dismantled their team, trading quality for quantity and unearthing future stars on the trade market. It's a strategy often duplicated but rarely matched. Steve Schaefer has an early look at the deals we've seen this offseason. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/671/1/Who-Wants-To-Be-A-Multimillionaire/Who-Wants-To-Be-A-Multimillionaire.html Flush with cash thanks to the best fiscal landscape in the history of baseball, owners and general managers have taken pleasure in throwing enormous multi-year contracts at the kind of talent that would have ended up on the scrap heap in years past. Unproven pitcher with great ‘stuff’? Your penthouse awaits. Slugging speedster that strikes out more than a hick trying to hit on Paris Hilton? We’ve got the keys to your yacht right here. Steve Schaefer goes through the offseason thus far and cuts through the rhetoric of preening GM’s to sift through the glut of signings this winter. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/656/1/It-Happens-Every-November-Part-II/It-Happens-Every-November-Part-II.html In step 2 of his offseason report, Steve Schaefer takes a look at the National League where multi-million, multi-year deals are being handed out like free samples at the grocery store. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Sun, 26 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/655/1/It-Happens-Every-November/It-Happens-Every-November.html Just in case you plan on crawling under a rock or heading to a foreign country until spring training, Steve Schaefer takes a gander into the ol’ crystal ball to discover what what the rest of the offseason has in store for the American League. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Fri, 24 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/645/1/The-Great-Debate/The-Great-Debate.html With another World Series in the books, it’s time to look at an oft-discussed but never resolved argument that is forever being played out among players, fans, and sportswriters. How do you define the word valuable? steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Mon, 13 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/625/1/Massacre-In-The-Midwest/Massacre-In-The-Midwest.html Nobody is giving the Cardinals a snowball’s chance in hell in the World Series. More accurately, that’s exactly what people are giving them, which is to say no chance at all. Having trouble following? Read the rest of Steve Schaefer’s World Series preview and you’ll understand just fine. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Sat, 21 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/620/1/Endyless-Love/Endyless-Love.html DATE: October 19, 2006TIME: Approximately 10:10 PMLOCATION: Shea Stadium, Flushing, New YorkIt’s night in Queens. Warm for October. Mets manager Willie Randolph trots out to the mound in the top of the 6th, ostensibly to take his 25-year-old pitcher out of the game. The young lefty from Culiacan, Mexico has pitched well to this point, giving up just one run through 5 1/3. Randolph decides to leave Oliver Perez in to face Scott Rolen with a runner on. Then, the plot thickens… steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Sun, 15 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/600/1/The-Second-Season/The-Second-Season.html A-Rod trying to exorcise his demons; Grady Little doing the same; Reyes, Wright and the happy-go-lucky Mets; Johan Santana; The Tigers young pitching. There's no shortage of reasons to be excited about the 2006 postseason. Steve Schaefer breaks down the Division Series. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/576/1/Twin-Killing/Twin-Killing.html When Francisco Liriano left the mound after re-injuring his elbow on Wednesday, he may have taken the Twins title hopes with him. Steve Schaefer breaks down baseball's contenders with just over two weeks left in the season. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/509/1/The-Baseball-Blog-July-13-Part-II.html Awards, Contender Reports, Predictions...what doesn't Part II of Steve Schaefer's midseason blog have? steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/508/1/The-Baseball-Blog-July-13-Part-I.html He may have lost to Ryan Howard in the finals of the Home Run Derby, and the AL may have won home-field advantage in the Series, but the 2006 All-Star Game was David Wright's party and Steve Schaefer recaps it all in this edition of the blog. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/488/1/The-Baseball-Blog-June-30.html The AL All-Star team always has plenty of Red Sox and Yankees flavor, but who's Steve Schaefer going to pick to be Kansas City's rep in Pittsburgh? Read on to find out. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/487/1/The-Baseball-Blog-June-27.html In this edition of the blog, Steve Schaefer tackles his most difficult challenge: picking the NL All-Star Team. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Tue, 27 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/476/1/A-Star-Is-Born.html Roger Clemens made his long-awaited return to the Astros on Thursday night, but he got upstaged by his counterpart. Francisco Liriano might just be the Next Big Thing, but Steve Schaefer cautions against handing him a ticket to the Hall of Fame just yet. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Fri, 23 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/463/1/The-Baseball-Blog-June-17.html In this edition of the blog ASM baseball guru Steve Schaefer takes on the phenomenon of one-hit wonders and explains the Brady Anderson Corollary. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Sat, 17 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/459/1/Mr-756.html Barry Bonds...the career home run record. The pursuit that once seemed a mere formality has slowed to a crawl, eerily reminiscent of another's march to a milestone. ASM featured columnist Steve Schaefer goes into the archives. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/371/1/The-Baseball-Blog-May-4.html The Mets are good, the Padres stink, and Delmon Young is off the reservation. It's been a wild first month of baseball. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Thu, 04 May 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/281/1/Los-Angeles-Dodgers.html Last year's World Series champs came out of nowhere to be the class of baseball. Could the Dodgers be the 2005 edition of the White Sox? Steve Schaefer investigates. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Tue, 28 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/267/1/Seattle-Mariners.html How could the Mariners have been so bad last season? It’s a question that fans in Seattle must be asking themselves as they look at a relatively unchanged roster heading into 2006. Steve Schaefer explains. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Fri, 24 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/255/1/St-Louis-Cardinals.html The Cardinals aren't head and shoulders above the rest of the NL anymore, but their offense and pitching staff are still among the league's best. If the middle relief can hold up, the Redbirds have an excellent chance of repeating as NL Central champs. Steve Schaefer explains. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Tue, 21 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/170/1/Houston-Astros.html The Astros are an enigma this season; where they'll finish nobody knows. Steve Schaefer breaks it down and tries to get to the root of things. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Sat, 18 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/173/1/Chicago-Cubs.html If they stay injury-free, the Cubs are World Series candidates. If they don't, they might finish last in their division. Steve Schaefer explains the slippery slope in Chicago. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/178/1/Chicago-White-Sox.html The Blue Jays made some major moves, the Yankees got Johnny Damon, the Mets got a closer and pillaged the Marlins, but the White Sox had the best offseason of any team in baseball. Steve Schaefer explains why he likes their chances to win back-to-back titles. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Sat, 11 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/181/1/New-York-Mets.html The Mets are a trendy pick to take home the National League pennant this season. As much as it pains him, Steve Schaefer has to agree with most of the hype. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Wed, 08 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/182/1/Florida-Marlins.html Is it 1997? The Marlins traded off most of their team again this offseason, and new manager Joe Girardi is going to be more of a babysitter than a coach in 2006. According to Steve Schaefer he should get comfortable changing diapers because it's going to be a long season. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Tue, 07 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/184/1/Toronto-Blue-Jays.html The Blue Jays made a lot of moves this offseason in an effort to narrow the gap between them and the playoffs. They've done an admirable job, but Steve Schaefer explains why they're at least a year away from contention. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Sun, 05 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/135/1/Offseason-Winners-and-Losers.html Grown men are stretching like ballerinas, pitchers are fielding 300 bunts a day, and stars are playing almost as much golf as Tiger Woods. It must be spring training, and it must be time to hand out Steve Schaefer’s Offseason Report Cards. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Thu, 23 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/91/1/Monday-Night-Madness.html A major blow was struck for the folically challenged everywhere when Tony Kornheiser was named to the new ESPN Monday Night Football broadcast team along with Mike Tirico and Joe Theismann. While this new team should create an interesting and entertaining dynamic in the booth, it got me thinking about what other broadcasting teams ESPN considered. In that light, I’ve got an idea for a team that can’t miss, you know, just in case MNF changes networks again. Who would be on this team you might be wondering? Well, read on pilgrim and you’ll find out. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Wed, 08 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/78/1/The-Boy-Is-Back-In-Town.html Maybe Theo Epstein needs to change things up now that he's back with the Red Sox. Maybe he owes something to the Boston faithful for leaving them in the lurch for much of the offseason. In our point-counterpoint segment, Atomic Sports Columnist Steve Schaefer says maybe Red Sox Nation should appreciate just how lucky they are Theo came back at all. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Thu, 02 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/64/1/We-Interrupt-Your-Regularly-Scheduled-Programming.html After the Super Bowl, there's a long dry spell before minicamp and the NFL Draft. The NFL Network needs new shows to fill the void during those months. That's where Atomic Sports Media's Steve Schaefer comes in. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Thu, 26 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/50/1/The-Wheels-On-The-Bus-Go-Round-and-Round.html Jerome Bettis does it all, and to celebrate his career at its twilight, Steve Schaefer presents an original composition inspired by a beloved children's song to honor the Bus. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Thu, 19 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/35/1/Why-Dont-The-Red-Sox-Have-A-Centerfielder-And-Other-Burning-Hot-Stove-Questions.html Middle relief and bench players are at a premium and most of the Scott Boras clients have signed. You know what that means…the baseball offseason is winding down. Pitchers and catchers report in just over a month, but there are still some burning questions that are going to have a major impact on the 2006 season; some that need answers in the next few weeks. Here's ten of those key questions, in no particular order. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/22/1/Why-You-Should-Be-Watching-the-New-NHL.html Before I even start this column, let me say this. I know how you feel. Believe me, I know. I know that all of you NHL diehards feel betrayed by your sport after they cancelled all of last season. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Wed, 07 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.atomicsportsmedia.com/articles/286/1/Beantown-Brawlers.html The Boston Red Sox are engaged in one of the most hard-fought, bitter, caustic rivalries in major league baseball. This rivalry features beanballs, bench-clearing brawls, players calling out the other team in the press, managers resorting to underhanded tactics, and general ill will on both sides. steve.schaefer@atomicsportsmedia.com (Steve Schaefer) Wed, 29 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0500