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Matthew Leach has worked for MLB.com since 2001 and was the site's Cardinals beat reporter from 2002-11.
 | Tyler Smith seems like a coach's dream, the kind of player every team wants to have.
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I saw it noted on Twitter this afternoon that today is the 10th anniversary of one of the more memorable games I covered during my years on the beat. On June 13, 2003, Roger Clemens joined two very elite clubs by recording his 300th win and 4000th strikeout in the big leagues. It was […]
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 | Shelby Miller has been able to blow his fastball past hitters for pretty much his entire life. Whether he is ahead or behind in the count, facing lefty or righty, his entire history tells him that the one thing he should never do is walk a hitter. This is entirely, eminently, reasonable. Up until the point at which it ceases to be.
More» Miller fans 10 over six frames against Mets |
 | The Cardinals' pitching has gotten the lion's share of the attention this season, and rightly so. But the bread-and-butter for this team is that fearsome, relentless, deep lineup.
More» Holliday singles home Molina in the seventh |
 | The top three picks in this year's Draft all were players with big-time tools, and that's the way it should be. Smart teams can find role players and solid regulars after the first few picks.
More» Astros draft RHP Mark Appel No. 1 |
 | The Yankees, searching for some offensive traction since a hot start to the season, could really use a few more homers. Or even a lot more homers. Conveniently, Mark Teixeira can provide just that.
More» Teixeira crushes a three-run homer to left |
 | Many is the team that has a strong top of the roster, but insufficient depth to withstand the injuries that inevitably arise over the course of a six-month season. The 2013 Indians don't have to be sunk by dealing without Asdrubal Cabrera, even if it's for more than a few days.
More» Cabrera leaves game with an injury in fifth |
 | It finally feels like summer in most of the country, and we've passed Memorial Day, historically the first major milepost in the six-month baseball season. With about one-third of the season in the books, we're starting to get a real feel for what the 2013 season is going to look like.
More» Miggy collects 400th career double |
 | Though the Yankees stand in second place in the American League East entering a weekend showdown with the first-place Red Sox, their offense has been exposed in recent days and weeks. A unit that earned plaudits for keeping the reigning division champions in the hunt is now showing cracks.
More» Girardi discusses Subway Series sweep |
 | In one at-bat, you saw what the Mets are waiting for. You could see why they're so hesitant to cut the cord with Ike Davis, why they remain patient as Davis endures a brutal slump.
More» Ike pads the lead with a two-run single |
 | The Mets honored Mariano Rivera. They gave the ball to Matt Harvey. But there's a basic truth that's never far away at Citi Field: it's always David Wright's house. The Mets captain delivered the game-tying hit off Rivera, then scored the winning run.
More» Wright brings in the game-tying run in ninth |
 | We should relish the chance to watch Miguel Cabrera play. But we should also take a moment to allow his greatness to illuminate that of Albert Pujols.
More»A look back at Cabrera's amazing feat in 2012 |
 | If this was the bad Matt Harvey, the Mets' seemingly fully formed young ace is going to have an awfully good career.
More» Collins on Davis' miscues, Harvey's start |
 | The team with the second-best record and second-best run differential in the NL added an elite starting pitcher to its rotation on Monday. And though Johnny Cueto didn't look much like the man who was a Cy Young candidate a year ago, on this night it didn't matter. He did enough, and got enough help, for Cincinnati to rack up win No. 27 in 45 tries.
More» Cueto strikes out eight en route to the win |
 | Forty games do not provide a very big sample. All kinds of weird things can happen in six or seven weeks of baseball, so here is a look at a few eye-popping, early-season performances, good and bad, and their likelihood of continuing.
More»MLB.com crew breaks down first quarter of 2013 season |
 | The reigning American League East champions have been absolutely assaulted by injuries this year, starting over the winter and continuing into the regular season, and while much credit should go to the gentlemen who have filled in, much anticipation should surround the returns of the guys who are still on the way.
More»Teixeira hopes to be back with Yankees by end of May |
 | The closer you look, the more the 2013 Yankees look like a mirage. Until you look at their bullpen. The Yanks have MLB's second-best record despite the seventh-best run differential thanks to the fact they just don't lose leads.
More» Mo secures his 16th save by retiring Morse |
 | More often than not, it seems that All-Star voting decisions are a matter of priorities, as much as performance. When fans click that button or punch that hole, they're making a statement as to what they value and what they want to see in the Midsummer Classic.
The decision at designated hitter on the American League ballot this year exemplifies this balance perfectly.
More»Take a look back at Big Papi's 27-game hit streak |
 | Clint Hurdle, not known as an analytically oriented manager, split from traditional, save-based bullpen management in his team's 3-2 loss to the Mets on Thursday. He brought in setup man Mark Melancon to face the heart of the Mets' order in a tied game in the eighth inning. Then he went to closer Jason Grilli for the ninth with the score still tied.
More» Pirates fall on Baxter's walk-off single |
 | Mets right-hander Matt Harvey continues to baffle hitters and amaze teammates and fans with his ability to dominate at such a young age.
More» Harvey discusses outing vs. White Sox |
 | Derek Jeter is a 13-time All-Star who probably has one or two more trips to the Midsummer Classic left before he's done. But the Yankees captain is not an All-Star this year. There are presently better candidates.
More» Joe Girardi on Derek Jeter's injury |
I already laid out my division/wild card/pennant winner picks for MLB.com, as did several of my colleagues. You can check those out here. But I try to go into a little more depth here at the blog, so once again I’m giving more extensive picks in this space. Here are last year’s preseason predictions, […]
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Today was the last full day of my Spring Training 2013 odyssey, with a Braves-Cardinals game at Roger Dean Stadium. Tomorrow morning I fly back to NYC, where I’m told it’s still chilly. It’s been a tremendously entertaining, if draining, three weeks, and it’s been great to be back at the ballpark. Whatever my job […]
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So, somewhat appropriately I think, I’m back in Jupiter for the final stop of my 2013 Spring Training odyssey. This place really feels like home, which I guess makes sense given that I’ve lived more than a year of my life around here. I hit the Crazy Cuban for lunch and headed over to the […]
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Exhibit 14,729 as to how Spring Training is different: After five innings today, I took a look at my scorecard and said, “Oh, hey, the Cardinals don’t have a hit yet.” And then they got one, and that was that. Seeing them next to each other, thinking about them on the same day, I was […]
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Sometimes, I’m a 10 year old. I could come to Space Coast Stadium five times a year for the next 10 years, and I will never, ever, ever not chuckle and think of Space Ghost when I see the name. Then again, if you ever watched the old Space Ghost Coast to Coast show, you […]
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It wasn’t quite full daylight yet when I hopped in the trusty rental car for the trip from Greater Disneyburg to Lakeland, thanks to the time change. Not that I’m complaining, as I’m one who greatly appreciates extra daylight in the evening, but it was a bit odd. Everybody around the ballpark seemed to be […]
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Today brought me to Port St. Lucie, home of the Mets and of the best concession item in the Grapefruit League: Taco in a Helmet. If you get to Port St. Lucie, just go get one. Thank me later. Crushed chips, cheese, spicy ground beef, lettuce, salsa, jalapenos and sour cream in a nice-sized helmet […]
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I was on Yankees duty today, but it was a very quiet day for the bunch of Bombers who took the field in Jupiter. Pretty much all of the big news was in Tampa, where Andy Pettitte threw and Derek Jeter took at-bats in a simulated game. Somewhat similarly, the biggest news for the Cardinals […]
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I knew that taking the Yankees beat for a couple of days would mean I was busy. I didn’t quite realize how busy. So, yeah. Mark Teixeira spoke to reporters today for the first time since his injury. The Yankees announced that Derek Jeter has been cleared for full baseball activities, meaning he could be […]
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