Rubbing Mud

Rubbing Mud: The Triumphant Past, Stormy Present, and Radical Future of the Sinker$

by Matthew Trueblood 5/16

Image credit: USA Today Sports

We're seeing the rapid evolution of a pitch, on a global scale.

Rubbing Mud: Jordan Hicks, Strikeout Scourge Fix$

by Matthew Trueblood 5/11

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Pitching to contact, at 100 miles per hour.

Rubbing Mud: A Giant Missed Moment$

by Matthew Trueblood 5/07

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Did the Giants make a mistake by not handing Steven Duggar an Opening Day gig?

Rubbing Mud: Jason Heyward Rises$

by Matthew Trueblood 5/01

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Written off as a free agent bust by many, Jason Heyward is showing signs of turning things around in a big way.

Rubbing Mud: Splitting Up$

by Matthew Trueblood 4/26

Image credit: USA Today Sports

The time is right for the splitter to make a comeback, led by Shohei Ohtani.

Rubbing Mud: Aging an Angel

by Matthew Trueblood 4/24

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Albert Pujols' recent quotes suggest that he's older than his listed age, but does it really matter?

Rubbing Mud: One Very Attractive Buffalo$

by Matthew Trueblood 4/19

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Some contending team figures to come calling for Rays catcher Wilson Ramos.

Rubbing Mud: Ryan Zimmerman and the Danger Zone$

by Matthew Trueblood 4/17

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Nationals manager Davey Martinez will eventually need to adjust Ryan Zimmerman's role to reflect his new reality.

Rubbing Mud: Matt Carpenter Refuses to Swing$

by Matthew Trueblood 4/12

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Is the Cardinals star leading a counter-revolution?

Rubbing Mud: The Astroification of Gerrit Cole

by Matthew Trueblood 4/10

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Have the Astros already unlocked more upside in Gerrit Cole?

Rubbing Mud: The Tunnelmen$

by Matthew Trueblood 4/06

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Highlighting the 10 pitchers who were average or better in three major tunneling metrics.

Rubbing Mud: Can the Cardinals’ New-Look Defense Hold Up?$

by Matthew Trueblood 4/03

Image credit: USA Today Sports

St. Louis is taking some chances defensively to add thump offensively, and the early results are worrisome.

Rubbing Mud: Fear Finds Schwarber and Kapler on Opening Day$

by Matthew Trueblood 3/30

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Most baseball men refuse to call fear by its name. They’re happy to talk about respect for the other team, about humility, and about facing adversity, but so much of life (and at least as much of baseball as of life, in general) is about grappling with and overcoming fear, and a great many of...