#AskTheHosts Inbox + Trivia

Though this isn't a "Baseball Post" this clears up some information.

1) The #AskTheHosts Pepper Show airs this Saturday! Don't forget to ask your questions! 

2) This weeks Trivia question is --- How many Stadiums in Canada have at one time regularly hosted a MLB Team? ---

3) Our coverage of Spring Training starts Friday; our blog overhaul also takes place this Friday!

Atlanta signs young stars to extensions

The Atlanta Braves locked up two of their best hitters to extensions Tuesday, signing outfielder Jason Heyward to a 2-year deal worth 13 million, and first baseman Freddie Freeman to an 8-year deal worth 135 million. After these extensions, both players have avoided arbitration, making lights-out closer Craig Kimbrel Atlanta's only arbitration-eligible player. Heyward and Freeman are still very young at 24 years of age, and have huge potentials. Heyward was Atlanta's 1st round pick in 2007, and there was a lot of hype surrounding him in his rookie season of 2010, when he finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting to Buster Posey. But after that fantastic rookie year, Heyward had a huge sophomore slump in 2011, hitting only .227 in an injury-shortended season. He bounced back in 2012 with a solid season of 27 homers and a gold glove award, and then struggled again in 2013, where he played only 104 games and hit .254. Freddie Freeman took a similar route to the majors as Heyward, being Atlanta's second round pick in 2007, and making his debut in 2010. He didn't attract all the attention Heyward got, but he quietly has been putting up solid numbers his entire career. In his first full season of 2011, he finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting.  He really broke out in 2013, hitting .319 with 23 homers and 109 runs batted in, becoming one of the best first basemen in baseball.

Cruz to Seattle?

According to mlb.com, the Seattle Mariners are in discussions with free agent outfielder Nelson Cruz. They are reportedly discussing a 2-year deal, which Cruz has been looking for but hasn't received from any team. Cruz was a solid hitter last season for Texas, having a decent average of .266 but hitting 27 homers and driving in 76 in only 109 games. His season was cut short due to his 50-game suspension for his role in the Biogenesis scandal, which is the main reason why not many teams have shown interest in the slugging outfielder. Seattle has already addressed their weak offense this offseason by acquiring Robinson Cano, Corey Hart, and Logan Morrison. If they can sign Cruz, that would make their offense one of the best in their division, and would give them a chance to compete with Texas, Oakland, and Los Angeles in the AL West.

As Baseball goes down under.....

..... We take a look at Baseball games played in unique venues! Inside the USA, there have been few games played in unusual locations, however last year The Alamo Dome played host to an exhibition game. Games in minor Leauge parks have become very frequent during the last week of Spring Training. MLB Teams played in cities like San Jose, Salt Lake and Altoona last year. In Canada, games not being played in the Rodgers Centre are rare, however in March, the Mets and Jays play to games in Montreals Oylmpic Stadium, formerly the home of the Expos. Games in Japan were played every 4 years until 2012, no announcment has been made for 2026. And of course lots of games have been played south of the border!

Hellickson out until late May

Jeremy Hellickson, one of the Ray's many young arms, has underwent elbow surgery and will be out for the first 6-8 weeks of the 2014 season. Hellickson was one of the Rays best pitchers in his rookie season of 2011, and was solid again in 2012. But 2013 was a different story, as Hellickson had an awful 5.17 ERA and pitched only 174 innings. Despite the awful ERA, Hellickson still set a career low for walks with 50, and a career high for strikeouts with 135. If Hellickson can avoid the longball more and pitch more innings once he returns, he will have a bounceback season in 2014.

Baseball Bloggers Alliance Joe Posnanski Award

Every year, the Baseball Bloggers Alliance awards a great Baseball writer with a strong internet presence. The award is called the Joe Posnanski Award. "Voting" ends on Febuary 17th. As a member of the BBA, we will vote on 5 candidates for the Award. Who do you think should win the award? Comment Now!

Pepper News&Notes

After a quiet weekend in Baseball. (Mainly because of the Super Bowl) Players are heading down to spring training. Though there isn't much Free Agent Buzz, there is always news to talk about in the Baseball World, isn't there? For those football fans, Russel Wilson got selected by the Rangers in a Rule 5 Pick. I think, this is pointless, as he will not report to Spring Training. Stephen Drew is expected to sign soon, as he wants to report to a Spring Training team ASAP. We will also be making some changes to the blog on Febuary 7th. We will be ditching our "Hot Stove" look that we've had since November and replacing it with a Sunny Spring look. We will also have our first Pepper Preseason Podcast (PPP) next Monday!Don't forget to Ask a question to one of our Hosts in this Saturdays "Pepper Show #AskTheHosts " Special!

Offseason Tracker 2/2/14

-The Arbitration discussions are ending up this weekend. Alex Avila, Homer Bailey, Darwin Barney and Brandon Belt are the big stars left that have not agreed with there clubs on a number. 

- A lot of players are heading down to their Spring Training Complexes.

- The D- Backs and Dodgers both start the Spring Training workouts this week.

Japan vs USA

Well as you know, we didn't get a Japan- Usa match in last years World Baseball Classic. However when we did get one in 2009 and 2006, Japan won. This brought up the question, if the Japanesse Leauges are bettter why are Japannese studs coming over to the states. Well, here is the awnser. The WBC, dosent tell all. As we know, the USA players really only played at 50% during the WBC because the MLB season started two weeks after. Because of this, I had to go back in time. The MLB Japan All Star series lasted from 1986 to 2006 and was played every two years. Every series, MLB won. Japan didn't win ONCE. Another big reason is, of course, the Money and Financial situation. The market is better in the US.
2 side notes for you:
A) Dont forget to #AskTheHosts on this weeks Pepper Show. Direct your question to one of our hosts #AskBen #AskBorja or #AskNiko
B) As you also might know, Pepper is a member of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance , explore the many blogs of the Alliance! 

Baseball Prime!

Who are the best players in the American Leauge?
Who are the best players in the National Leauge?

Who are the best players All Time?