Michael Baumann

1 week ago | blogs.fangraphs.com | Michael Baumann

Kyle Stowers used to be part of that Baltimore Orioles position player prospect fire hose, but it’s OK if you forgot about him. Said fire hose has turned to a dribble as the Orioles’ fortunes have reversed. You also might have gotten him confused with Colton Cowser, which might be why the Orioles felt like they could trade him to Miami last summer for Trevor Rogers. (The other prospect in that trade, Connor Norby, has the same similar-name-mixup thing going with Coby Mayo.

1 week ago | blogs.fangraphs.com | Michael Baumann

Count me among the multitudes who have been borderline obsessed with the emergence of Pete Crow-Armstrong as a superstar this season. I’m sure he’ll reach a saturation point eventually where hardcore fans get tired of him — it happened to superhero movies, and bacon, and Patrick Mahomes — but we’re not there yet. Every time I write about PCA, I revisit the central thesis: This is a player who’s good enough to get by on his glove even if he doesn’t hit a lick.

1 week ago | blogs.fangraphs.com | Michael Baumann

Way, way, way back in December 2023, the Rangers signed Tyler Mahle to a two-year contract. Absolutely nobody cared at the time, mostly because the news dropped the same day as Shohei Ohtani’s first press conference with the Dodgers. But also because Mahle, then recovering from Tommy John surgery, was expected to play a trivial part, at best, in the 2024 season.

1 week ago | appledaily.com | Michael Baumann

Let’s face it: traditional marketing is expensive. Television slots, full-page spreads, massive influencer budgets—they’re usually off the table. But creativity doesn’t need cash. It needs clarity, cleverness, and an honest connection with your audience. As the AMA (American Marketing Association) puts it, “Your customers are bombarded with marketing daily, so how do you make them stop and pay attention? The answer: creativity.” And they’re right.

2 weeks ago | blogs.fangraphs.com | Michael Baumann

When the Diamondbacks signed Geraldo Perdomo to a four-year contract extension this past offseason, I understood why they wanted to keep him around. In a sport with plenty of jerks and grouches and tough hangs, Perdomo’s teammates say he’s a delight to be around. He’s Mr. “Say Hi to the Wife and Kids,” even if he’s not very good at finding your wife and kids in the stands. But in terms of on-field production, I had my doubts.