After a bad spring training

The 2023 spring training games began in late February. During the spring training games, some players didn’t perform well or even worse, they were actually struggling in the spring training. However, after the 2023 season started in late March, are these players gradually on the right track?

2022 Topps Archives Blaster round 2

Last year, I bought a 2022 Topps Archives blaster box. I didn’t get any hits or any top rookie cards that I was looking for in that blaster box. This year, I passed by a card shop and found that there were some blaster boxes of the 2022 Topps Archives available.

Hit four-seamers hard

A few days ago, we saw some teams’ relievers have thrown really hard this season. After checking pitching stats on the statcast website, I’m also thinking about another question.

4-seamer, faster and better?

In April, I was reading an article on a website. In the article, the reporter indicated that a team’s relievers are throwing hard this season and the fastball velocity of those relievers significantly increases this year. After reading the article, I was wondering which team’s bullpen throws really hard in the 2023 season.

2021 Topps Update blaster

In mid-April, I went to a card show which was organized by a card shop owner that I’ve met for around 5 years. He had been thinking about organizing an event for a while. Eventually, he made it and the event was successful. In the show, I passed by a stand and saw a blaster box of the 2021 Topps Update series.

Chase too much?

A few days ago, I was watching a baseball game on TV. During the game, I saw a batter swing at pitches out of the strike zone several times. He is a well-known hitter and I don’t remember whether his chase rate was high in 2022. After watching the game, I was just wondering which batter’s chase rate significantly increases this season.

2023 Topps Big League

Last year, I bought some packs of the 2021 Topps Big League. The Topps Big League is an entry-level product and the price is relatively friendly. This year, the 2023 Topps Big League arrived in early April. At the beginning, I thought that it was the 2022 Topps Big League. But, no, there isn’t the 2022 Topps Big League. Well, Topps certainly has different ideas on its products and has changed some plans.

Should be more aggressive?

A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to a podcast show. In the show, the host demonstrated that a manager told a former MVP to be more aggressive. In particular, that player should be more aggressive on swinging at the first pitch. After listening to the show, I’m thinking about some players who frequently swing at the first pitch.

2022 Topps Stadium Club Chrome

The 2022 Topps stadium club chrome was released in early April 2023. Just a few days after this product was released, I passed by a sports card shop and found there were some hobby packs available. I got some packs, trying to see whether I could find something interesting.

No.2 spot

A few weeks ago, I was listening to a podcast show. In the show, the host indicated that a player doesn’t like to hit at the No.2 spot. Well, I don’t know why that player doesn’t like to bat second. However, I was just thinking which teams did correctly put the right players to be the second batter in the lineup.

Love the Universal DH rule?

A few days ago, I watched a baseball game on TV and a batter went deep in that game. That batter spends most of his career in the American League because he is a designated hitter during most of the time in his career. But now, with the universal DH rule, we can see several full-time DHs in the National League. While watching this player’s great performance on TV, I was just wondering which teams truly like the universal DH rule.

Giant killer

In April, when I was watching a baseball game on TV, a friend sent a message in a group. She asked why a player was benched in a game against the Giants. The main reason that she asked the question was because that player did hit well the day before. After reading the message, I was thinking which players did actually hit very well against the Giants.

Adding top batters, adding lineup depth?

It’s been more than 1 month since the 2023 regular season started. Each team has already played around 30 games. After playing for more than 1 month, I’m wondering whether some batters’ performances fit the teams’ expectations. In particular, those batters who signed a big contract with a new team during the offseason, do they hit well so far?

Heat up early?

The 2023 season began on March 30. In the first month of the regular season, there are several players who hit very well and contributed a lot to their teams. So, let’s take a quick look at those batters who had a great April.