Download: 
Neyer: Winter meeting observations ... from afar 
The winter meetings are under way, and here are a few semi-random thoughts about what's cooking on the hot stove.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | 23 hours ago
Neyer: Huge, long-term deals can be a recipe for disaster
The problem with monster contracts is that the big years and big dollars leave teams with little flexibility in the future.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | Thursday, November 30
Neyer: Both sides of debate favor Jeter
Whether you're an empiricist or an intuitionist, your best choice for AL MVP is Derek Jeter.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | November 21, 2006
Neyer: Pujols was empirically more valuable than Howard
Anyone can intuitively support Ryan Howard for NL MVP, but the empirical evidence favors Albert Pujols.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | November 20, 2006
Neyer: This new math doesn't add up
The amount of money the Red Sox are spending on Daisuke Matsuzaka doesn't make much sense.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | November 16, 2006
Neyer: Never been a better time to be a 40-year-old pitcher
There's never been a better time to be a 40-year-old pitcher. These guys are still around because they can still pitch.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | November 10, 2006
Neyer: Gold Glove awards aren't what they used to be
The 2006 Gold Gloves have been awarded, but did the best players win? Rob Neyer and his experts don't think so.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | November 8, 2006
Neyer: To improve, Detroit may need to trade a young arm
The Tigers won 95 games in 2006. They won't win 85 in '07 if they don't make some real changes, writes Rob Neyer.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | November 2, 2006
Neyer: Cardinals have some work to do this offseason
If the Cardinals hope to repeat their success in 2007, they must address their shortcomings -- namely, starting pitching.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 31, 2006
Neyer: Cards, not Tigers, sitting pretty
If you're surprised by what's happened this October, you haven't paid attention to past Octobers.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 27, 2006
Neyer: Meet the little shortstop who could
Just a few years ago, a lot of important people thought David Eckstein wouldn't ever do anything at all.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 27, 2006
Neyer: Users fire back on top-50 list
Users react to Rob Neyer's list of the top 50 playoff performances ever and point out some omissions, like Aaron Boone.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 26, 2006
Neyer: A lot has changed since 1968
Things were a lot different in 1968 -- the last time the Tigers and Cardinals met in the World Series.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 24, 2006
Neyer: Interview with "The Echoing Green" author, Joshua Prager
Joshua Prager, the author of "The Echoing Green," answers questions about his recently released book.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 20, 2006
Neyer: Oliver Perez is the worst Game 7 starter ever
After reviewing the data, Rob Neyer came to this inescapable conclusion: Oliver Perez is almost certainly the worst pitcher who's ever started a Game 7.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 19, 2006
Neyer: '06 Tigers compare favorably to '05 White Sox
Are the '06 Tigers a "Team of Destiny" much like the '05 White Sox?
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 18, 2006
Neyer: MLB's riches are good news for fans
Although TV ratings are down for the playoffs, MLB is still awash in money, and that's good news for fans, writes Rob Neyer.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 16, 2006
Neyer: When in doubt, root for the longest-suffering team
Help end a World Series drought. If your team isn't playing postseason ball, just root for the longest-suffering squad still alive, writes Rob Neyer.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 13, 2006
Neyer: Are we looking at a Tigers-Mets World Series?
After ALCS Game 1, you have to like the Tigers in six games, or five. As for the NLCS, the Mets, at least on paper, are the obvious choice.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 11, 2006
Neyer: Totally believing O'Neil's sincerity
With the passing of Buck O'Neil, Rob Neyer believes everything about O'Neil pointed to him being a truly genuine person.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 7, 2006
Neyer: Tigers have formula to beat Yankees
No one should be shocked that the Tigers are tied with the Yankees. After all, the Tigers are pretty good, too.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 6, 2006
Neyer: Are Game 1s all that vital?
Winning the opener of a playoff series would seem to be important. But does history back up that theory? Rob Neyer examines.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 4, 2006
Neyer: Wrapping up the regular season's final weekend
From the Royals sweeping the Tigers to Joe Mauer and Freddy Sanchez winning the batting races, it was an exciting final weekend.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | October 2, 2006
Neyer: Dodgers-Giants brings back memories of 1982
The Giants have a long history of breaking the Dodgers' hearts. Maybe we'll see a Joe Morgan-like, Dodger-killing moment this weekend, writes Rob Neyer.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 29, 2006
Neyer: Reviewing our predicted standings
Predicted wins: Where did we go wrong, what did we get right? We were close on many, but missed wildly on a half-dozen teams, writes Rob Neyer.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 28, 2006
Neyer: Septembers not to remember
The Cardinals are in danger of being remembered for one of the greatest September fades ever, writes Rob Neyer.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 27, 2006
Neyer: Picking Jeter for American League MVP
While he's not a slam-dunk choice, Derek Jeter still stands out as the best candidate in the race for the AL MVP.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 26, 2006
Neyer: Supposedly dead Phils knocking on wild-card door
Since Seemingly Dead Day, the Phillies have pulled themselves within striking distance entering the season's penultimate weekend, writes Rob Neyer.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 22, 2006
Neyer: NL Rookie award comes down to Uggla or Ramirez
The NL Rookie of the Year is a toss-up between a pair of Marlins, shortstop Hanley Ramirez and second baseman Dan Uggla, writes Rob Neyer.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 22, 2006
Neyer: Which league has the better rookie starters?
The American League has some outstanding rookie starters, but the National League has a deeper roster of talented rookie arms, writes Rob Neyer.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 18, 2006
Neyer: Royals' surging offense is a sign of things to come
The Royals are churning out runs, and there's a real chance the lineup will get even better in the next year or two, writes Rob Neyer.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 15, 2006
Neyer: Webb, Carpenter battling it out for NL Cy Young
Who will win the NL Cy Young Award? It'll be a race to the finish between Brandon Webb and Chris Carpenter.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 13, 2006
Neyer: Using 'third-order wins' to predict wild-card winners
When it comes to predicting which teams will make the playoffs, the first order of business is evaluating "third-order wins," writes Rob Neyer.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 11, 2006
Neyer: Using 'third-order wins' to predict wild-card winners
To predict which teams will make the playoffs, the first order of business is evaluating "third-order wins."
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 11, 2006
Neyer: Yankees' pitching is good enough
Do the Yankees have the pitching to win in October? Compared to the rest of the league, yes.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 8, 2006
Neyer: Readers share their thoughts on Hunter, Rios and more
What's on readers' minds? Torii Hunter playing for "minimum wage," Alex Rios' misplay and much more.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 6, 2006
Neyer: Why has it been so long since the last no-hitter?
Did Anibal Sanchez fit the profile of the likely no-hit pitcher? Yes. Sort of.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 6, 2006
Neyer: Red Sox paying a steep price for trading kids for vets
After winning the World Series, the Red Sox were becoming like the Yankees. Well, they tried, writes Rob Neyer.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | September 1, 2006
Neyer: Yanks' Wang thriving despite anemic strikeout rate
What's amazing about Chien-Ming Wang is that he's been able to strike out so few batters and still post an attractive ERA, writes Rob Neyer.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | August 30, 2006
Neyer: Some of you are really, really paying attention
Reprimanded by his readers, Rob Neyer amends his columns on the best 3-4 combos and candidates for the Hall of Fame.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | August 28, 2006
Neyer: August is Oakland's month
The Oakland Athletics are doing it again. Are they the best August team of all time? Rob Neyer thinks so.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | August 25, 2006
Neyer: A history of the longest-running 3-4 hitter combos
Maris-Mantle, Ruth-Gehrig, Bonds-Kent. Rob Neyer examines some of the best-known and longest-running 3-4 combos in major-league history.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | August 23, 2006
Neyer: 'Overall contribution' clause could open HOF doors
If the Hall of Fame takes the "overall contribution" clause seriously, there might be room for Billy Martin, Billy Southworth and many others.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | August 22, 2006
Neyer: Best closers, D-Rays' Delmon dilemma and more
Rob Neyer answers e-mail, discusses Delmon Young and examines some of Dayton Moore's moves in Kansas City.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | August 18, 2006
Travel Ten: Rob Neyer's Favorite Ballpark Quirks
Rob Neyer, ESPN.com | August 16, 2006
Neyer: Cubs walking on the wild side
Wonder why the Cubs have struggled so much? They're issuing a ton of walks and drawing far too few.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | August 16, 2006
Neyer: Best closers over the last two seasons
There are a number of outstanding closers in the majors, but only two should be considered elite: Mariano Rivera and Joe Nathan.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | August 14, 2006
Neyer: Split decision key to Rocket's success
Rob Neyer isn't sure if Roger Clemens is throwing his splitter more often, but this is certain: It's the key to his middle-aged success.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | August 11, 2006
Neyer: A silly exercise in National League what-ifs
What if Mark Mulder were putting up numbers like he had in the past? Rob Neyer looks at what could have been in '06.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | August 10, 2006
Neyer: A silly exercise in American League what-ifs
What if Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui hadn't gone down with injuries? Rob Neyer turns to his crystal ball for some answers.
Rob Neyer, ESPN Insider | August 7, 2006
Highly Questionable
GameNight: Justin Morneau is the third best player on his team, so Rob... Listen »
November 22, 2006
Submit Feedback
What do you think of ESPN's new search? Did you find what you were searching for? Let us know.
