Red Sox fan till I die | Partnerships @JustBB_Media | Syracuse alum 🍊@CuseAnalytics
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Colby Olson
MLB Weekend in a Nutshell: The Best MLB Debut of All Time, Plus Three Pitching Gems
From the best MLB debut of all time to some of the most impressive pitching performances of the season, let’s take a look at the weekend in a nutshell. Joshua Baez Rewrites the Debut Record Book Nobody has ever had a better first MLB game than Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez, who launched home runs in each of his first three at-bats, the first time that’s ever been done in league history. The first one was launched 450 feet dead center. The second was a line drive to the pull side.
MLB Weekend in a Nutshell: The Best MLB Debut of All Time, Plus Three Pitching Gems
From the best MLB debut of all time to some of the most impressive pitching performances of the season, let’s take a look at the weekend in a nutshell, brought to you by Hampton Farms Peanuts. Use code JUSTBASEBALL for 25% off when ordering the best peanuts in the game at Hampton Farms Peanuts. Nobody has ever had a better first MLB game than Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez, who launched home runs in each of his first three at-bats, the first time that’s ever been done in league history.
MLB Weekend in a Nutshell: August 11th Edition
From Payton Tolle‘s eye-popping performance to Will Venable‘s shocking mistake and plenty in between, let’s take a look at the weekend in a nutshell... Payton Tolle on a Roll Red Sox lefty Payton Tolle decimated the Athletics on Friday, racking up 14 strikeouts over six innings of one-run ball. He racked up 24 total whiffs, bullying hitters with his fastball and cutter.
MLB Weekend in a Nutshell: August 11th Edition
From Payton Tolle‘s eye-popping performance to Will Venable‘s shocking mistake and plenty in between, let’s take a look at the weekend in a nutshell, brought to you by Hampton Farms Peanuts. Use code JUSTBASEBALL for 25% off when ordering the best peanuts in the game at Hampton Farms Peanuts. Red Sox lefty Payton Tolle decimated the Athletics on Friday, racking up 14 strikeouts over six innings of one-run ball. He racked up 24 total whiffs, bullying hitters with his fastball and cutter.
Just Baseball's MLB All-Star Game Watch Party
Just Baseball is throwing a watch party to celebrate the MLB All-Star Game at Other Half Brewing in Philadelphia. Come watch the Midsummer Classic with a room full of baseball fans, hangout with the hosts of the Just Baseball Show, and test your knowledge with live MLB trivia.
Everything you need to know about 2025 Topps Chrome baseball
Generally, the most anticipated baseball release of the year, this season’s iteration of Topps Chrome is marred by price increases and a new insert that you may have to wait years to acquire. As with every Topps Chrome release, it’s a chromium version of Topps Series 1 and Series 2 combined for one giant checklist. That means rookies. A lot of them. Autos too.
Who Will Win The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby?
The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby will be held on Monday, July 14th at 8 PM EST. 2024 Home Run Derby champ Teoscar Hernandez will not be defending his title, but the 2025 Home Run Derby field is as stacked as ever. The derby will feature MLB’s home run leader, Cal Raleigh, who is the favorite to win the event along with Oneil Cruz. The field has combined for 174 home runs this season, which is well above the 2024 group’s total of 147 home runs going into the event.
Join Us on Just Baseball's NL Central Stadium Tour! July 29-August 2
Just Baseball is embarking on a frenzy stadium tour through the National League Central from July 29th through August 2nd. The hosts of the Just Baseball Show are teaming up with Snapback Sports to take over a section at five games in five days in Milwaukee, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Chicago and Pittsburgh. We’d love for you to join us! PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE! *Use code: JustBaseball for $5 off of your order.
Who Will Win the 2024 MLB Home Run Derby?
The 2024 MLB Home Run Derby is tonight at 8 PM EST, and I can’t wait. 2023 Home Run Derby champ Vlad Guerrero Jr. will not be defending his title, but Pete Alonso is the favorite to win the event and is chasing his third Home Run Derby crown. The field has combined for 147 home runs this season, and Gunnar Henderson leads it with 27. For the last three years, we’ve written an article predicting the winner of the Home Run Derby based on max exit velocity and stamina.
Paul Skenes and Charlie Condon Autos in Just Baseball’s First Charity Auction
Just Baseball Media, the leading digital media destination for baseball fans, announced its inaugural live charity auction to be held during MLB All-Star Weekend. The two-day event takes place on July 13 and July 14 at 4 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. ET from Playball Sports Cards and Memorabilia in Arlington, Texas, just minutes away from Globe Life Field and the 2024 MLB All Star FanFest.
Blake Snell's Wild Ride to the NL Cy Young Award
Baseball is a beautifully weird sport. It’s a game that’s become so advanced that we can judge what actually happens on the field as well as what should have happened. No other sport plays close to the amount of games baseball does and yet, it’s filled with randomness, even over a 162-game sample. Blake Snell’s 2023 campaign has been anything but ordinary. He’s walking batters at the highest rate the league has seen since 2000.
Baseball's Richest Owner Steve Cohen Acquires New York TGL Team
According to Statista, Steve Cohen is the richest owner in baseball with an estimated net worth of $16 billion and is one of two owners with a net worth north of $10 billion. Edward S. Rogers III, the owner of the Blue Jays, is the second such owner with an estimated net worth of $11.5 billion. Steve Cohen is a man who invests when he sees value and he’s just made another big investment in sports by acquiring the New York TGL team.
Mookie Betts is in the Midst of a Historic Second Half
This weekend, Mookie Betts capped off the last game of a three-game series against his former team, the Boston Red Sox, with three hits, a home run and three runs batted in. It was another impressive showing from Betts, who is closing in on Ronald Acuña Jr. for National League MVP. Betts came into the day with the major league lead in fWAR and a 171 wRC+, which is only trumped by Shohei Ohtani, who owns a 183 wRC+ on the season.
Four Fantasy Hitters To Target This Week
Triston Casas – Boston Red Sox – 1B Yahoo ownership: 25% If you’re a listener of Just Fantasy Baseball, you know I’ve been pushing people to buy into Casas all season, and now he’s starting to explode. He hit two home runs against the Mets on Saturday, and since June 1, he ranks ninth in baseball in wRC+. His profile is very similar to that of another highly-ranked first baseman, Matt Olson.
Who Will Win The 2023 Home Run Derby?
The 2023 MLB Home Run Derby will be held Monday night, July 10th, at T-Mobile Park in Seattle starting at 8 PM EST. Juan Soto will not be defending his 2022 Home Run Derby win, but Pete Alonso will be going for his third Home Run Derby victory in four years against one of the most stacked fields in home run derby history. The field has combined for 153 home runs this season, and Luis Robert Jr. and Pete Alonso are tied for the lead amongst the field with 26 home runs.
Five Waiver Wire Adds to Make Before the MLB All-Star Break
Home » Five Waiver Wire Adds to Make Before the MLB All-Star Break | July 5, 2023 | | Comments count:0 Jordan Westburg – Baltimore Orioles 2B/SS/3B Yahoo ownership: 39% Jordan Westburg is an Orioles top prospect who made his debut on June 26th. In Triple-A this year, Westburg hit .295 with 18 home runs in 67 games with a strikeout rate near 20%. In seven games since being called up, Westburg has shown the ability to make contact and has struck out just twice in 26 plate appearances.
Anthony Volpe: A Deep Dive on a Struggling Rookie
Now here we are, two months into Volpe’s career, and for the most part he’s struggling. His average is below .200, he’s striking out too much and his defensive miscues are becoming a norm. For the most part, Yankees fans are not pleased with their rookie, so I wanted to dive into what’s going wrong and see where Volpe can go from here to right the ship.
Three Hitters To Pick Up in Fantasy This Week
The deeper we get into the fantasy baseball season, the tougher it is to find impact players available to add on the waiver wire. Many of the best players have already established themselves on fantasy rosters and what is left over are players who are far from sure things to have a long-term impact. Still, there are three players this week that have not been rostered in most leagues that you should hop on and pick up immediately if available.
Five Players to Pick Up in Fantasy Before It's Too Late
The Cubs have placed him seventh in the order in his first three games and if he performs, he should climb up in no time. Mervis is a prototypical four hitter in today’s game with the ability to hit for average and power and should be rostered in 10-man leagues and above. If you love Vinnie Pasquantino, you will also love Matt Mervis.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 4
Brent Rooker – OF – Oakland Athletics Yahoo ownership – 14% What’s this? Another guy who hits the ball hard in the air? Say it ain’t so! Brent Rooker is as post-hype as they come, and get this: he hit 28 home runs in just 81 Triple-A games last year. That’s stupid crazy power that only a few other bats in baseball possess, and now we’re seeing his approach develop at the big league level through a small sample this year.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups and Streaming Options for Week 2
Home » Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups and Streaming Options for Week 2 | April 2, 2023 | | Comments count:0 The first four days of the MLB season are quickly coming to a close and that brings us to our first waiver wire article of the year. Below I’ll breakdown a few names I’m targeting on the waiver wire this week as well as a few starting pitching streaming options.
The Best Fantasy Baseball Team Name Guide for 2023
WanderVision Inspiration: Wander Franco I’ll always have a special affinity for WandaVision. Not because it’s a masterpiece or anything (but it was certainly quite good!), but because it was one of the first pieces of entertainment that felt like a big deal back during the beginning of the pandemic. The water cooler talk was much-needed during those times. Oh, and Wander is cool too I suppose. Benny The Jet Rodriguez Inspiration: Julio Rodriguez + Andrew Benintendi You simply can’t beat this.
The Top 30 MLB Starting Pitchers for 2023
Home » The Top 30 MLB Starting Pitchers for 2023 We have spent the last few weeks ranking all of the top players at the top positions in the game, but it all culminates with this, which is by far the deepest position in baseball. There are so many great starting pitchers in the game today, that we could make a whole separate list of 10 to 15 honorable mentions and that still might not be enough to get everyone.
Top 10 Fantasy Shortstops for 2023
3. Bo Bichette – Toronto Blue Jays – ADP 15 Bichette came into 2022 as a consensus top-10 fantasy player and for the first half of the season was wildly disappointing. He hit just .257 as his strikeout rate ballooned to 24% and was only successful stealing on 7 of his 13 attempts. Bichette made an adjustment at the break and had one of the best second halves in all of baseball. His strikeout dipped to 19% as he hit .337 with 10 HR and 6 stolen bases (only caught twice).
The Best Bargain Contracts in Major League Baseball
It quickly became clear this season that Castillo is a budding star. Shortly before the deadline the Reds traded him to the Mariners to assist in their long-term rebuild. Meanwhile he posted fantastic second half numbers to help the Mariners make their first playoff appearance in 21 years. Castillo signed a five-year $108 million deal that will make him a Mariner through the 2028 season when he will turn 35.
What If the Red Sox Kept Their 2018 Team Together?
The reason for a poor return is as much a fault on scouting and player development as it is a fault on negotiating properly with Betts. When it became clearer and clearer that the Red Sox weren’t going to pay what Betts wanted, The Red Sox lost all leverage in trade negotiations. Mookie ended up receiving a 12-year, $365 million contract from the Dodgers, which at $29 million per year, looks like a bargain compared to the contracts given out this offseason.
2023 Free Agent Profile: Xander Bogaerts
Home » 2023 Free Agent Profile: Xander Bogaerts | November 7, 2022 | | Comments count:0 Position: SS Bats/Throws: R/R Age: 30 years old (October 1, 1992) Traditional Stats: 150 G, .307/.377/.456, 15 HR, 53 XBH, 73 RBI, 84 R, 118 SO Advanced Stats: 134 wRC+, 19% K%, 9% BB%, .149 ISO, .363 wOBA, .323 xWOBA Path to Free Agency Xander Bogaerts was born in Oranjestad, Aruba and was signed for $410,000 by the Red Sox in 2009 as a 16-year-old.
Which Current MLB Player is the Batman?
By Javier Reyes | March 20, 2022 | | Comments count:0 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 19: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels wears a mask in the dugout before their game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on August 19, 2020 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) The MLB lockout was tough. It was tougher to deal with than being rejected from the Salty Spitoon. It was tougher than, plainly, anyone that was allowed into the Salty Spitoon.
MLB's Best Sliders | Just Baseball
Home » MLB’s Best Sliders By Colby Olson | January 27, 2022 | | Comments count:0 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 12: Blake Treinen #49 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning in game 4 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) We continue MLB’s best pitches series with some of the most aesthetically pleasing pitches in the game.
2021 Team Celebration Power Rankings
By Javier Reyes | September 29, 2021 | | Comments count:0 In the midst of the NFL’s new legislation against taunting — something that certainly, positively, absolutely, and definitely doesn’t have any insidious undertones to it — baseball somehow seems like the sport that, for once, ISN’T at the center of a “no fun” controversy (for now).
Nestor Cortes: The Best Four-Seamer In Baseball
By Colby Olson | August 7, 2021 | | Comments count:0 NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 24: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Nestor Cortes #65 of the New York Yankees in action against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on June 24, 2021 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Royals 8-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) 90.5 MPH – .184 wOBA – .163 xWOBA – 27.1% whiff rate Yeah, we just started an article with stats.
MLB Futures Game Recap
By Colby Olson | July 12, 2021 | | Comments count:0 MLB’s brightest young stars showcased their talents in the Futures Game at Coors Field yesterday, and it didn’t disappoint. It was the first time that public exit velocity and pitch movement data were available on many of these players, which gives us a better picture of their potential. It is worth noting that the Coors Field environment does have an effect on not only batted balls, but pitch movement as well.
MLB 2021: Records are Meant to be Broken
By Colby Olson | June 23, 2021 | | Comments count:0 NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 21: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets walks to the dugout after the third out of the top of the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on June 21, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) Best Pitching Season Ever? Jacob deGrom has made it his personal mission to put himself in the conversation for the best pitching season ever.
Marlins players unlocking full potential with new baseball training tech
The Miami Marlins enter the 2019 season with a potentially electrifying starting rotation, including several strong candidates who will bide their time in Triple-A until reinforcements are needed. The staff thrived in the Grapefruit League with increased fastball velocity and nasty secondary pitches that have been modified from the previous year. A franchise that was struggling to produce top-of-the-rotation arms in recent years has seemingly raised the ceilings of their middling prospects.
What makes Sixto Sánchez most exciting Marlins arm since José Fernández
The time has finally come for Marlins fans to get excited about their franchise and the potential this team has to compete in the near future. Earlier this month, the Marlins traded J.T. Realmuto for a package of Sixto Sánchez, Jorge Alfaro, Will Stewart and international bonus slot money. Fans can breath a sigh of relief after months of speculation and concerns that they wouldn’t get enough in return for the All-Star catcher—they did.
A Life To Be Celebrated: The Two-Year Anniversary of José’s Death
Two years ago, a young man by the name of José Fernández, who you all know, died off the coast of Miami in what remains the most tragic event in Marlins history. Although the anniversary is a very somber day for all, I feel it is important that we focus on the life that José lived and all of the lives that he impacted around him. I am one of so many fans who were drawn to José by his infectious personality and genuine love for the game. When José died, I was shocked.
Marlins acquire RHP Tommy Eveld: scouting report, highlights, ETA
To the surprise of many, the Marlins still hadn’t made a move with just hours remaining prior to the non-waiver trade deadline at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. But they finally broke the ice by flipping veteran reliever Brad Ziegler to the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league RHP Tommy Eveld. The former college quarterback and wide receiver at USF stands at 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds.
Can the Marlins rebuild without an ace in sight?
Now that the All Star Break has come and gone, I thought it would be a good time to sit down and look at the Marlins starting pitching options. Believe me, there are a ton of them. The one problem that the Marlins are going to face down the road is no one has emerged as an ace-caliber pitcher. At the moment, they don’t have any ace-like prospects on the farm, either.
Former Marlins prospect Chris Paddack turning into a future ace for Padres
This Saturday marks the two-year anniversary of a trade the Marlins already regret. I have a feeling this deal will cost the team and its fans a lot of emotional suffering in the future. So let’s review what went wrong, update the status of the players involved and take solace in the fact that the ownership and front office responsible for this no longer make the decisions in Miami.
Improved approach, quality of contact fuel Brian Anderson’s breakout
Brian Anderson has been everything the Marlins dreamed of and more this season. Through the first 69 games of the season (nice), he has compiled 2.4 bWAR to go along with a triple slash line of .304/.379/.435. Looking at those numbers, you might think to yourself, “This must be a fluke.” But you would be wrong—Anderson deserves to be in Washington D.C. playing for the National League All-Stars next month alongside the other studs in baseball. This isn’t a Bryan LaHair situation.
How and why to vote Marlins rookie Brian Anderson to 2018 All-Star Game
#BA2DC 2018 All-Star campaign Brian Anderson is the most impactful Marlins rookie since José Fernández. Let’s get him the recognition he deserves. The Marlins are leaning more heavily on rookies than any other National League team, but one has shined above the rest: right fielder Brian Anderson. The 25-year-old sprays line drives to all fields... And demonstrates a terrific arm at his new position (originally a third baseman).
What should Marlins do with Lewis Brinson?
Coming into this season, many Marlins fans—myself included—were very excited to see what Lewis Brinson was capable of on the field and in the batter’s box. Even after an initial slump, I assumed he would excel at the plate when given enough at-bats to get a feel for Major League pitching. The “Lewis Brinson is finally turning it around” article has been on hold for over a month.
Marlins are bound to be bad, and that’s OK
With Memorial Day approaching, it seems like the appropriate time to look at what the Marlins have done so far this season and set expectations going forward. Entering 2018, the Marlins were considered by many to be the worst team in baseball. Some even made them out to be a Triple-A-caliber team, and taking a quick glance at the standings, it is easy to come away with the impression that everything is going according to plan.
The Marlins have found their new relief ace
In recent years, and especially last year’s playoffs, there has been an emphasis put on bullpen depth and abandoning the starting pitcher earlier and earlier in the game. Andrew Miller, Kenley Jansen, Craig Kimbrel, and Aroldis Chapman have become stars due to the growing importance of relievers in today’s game. Relievers have the ability to throw max effort for an inning or two, which can be devastating for the opposing hitters.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Colby
Contact Colby, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack