Mike's Hardball Blueprint | Michael McDermott | Substack

Spencer Jones: The Polarizing Hulk in the Yankees Farm System

Jones offers elite power numbers, but faces an approach issue that threatens to undermine his career before it can truly start.

READ THE LATEST

Recent posts

Crafting an Extension for Athletics Star Slugger Nick Kurtz

The Athletics will have to back up the Brinks truck to lock up their star first baseman to an extension.

Feb 20 • Michael McDermott

Tony Clark's Departure Underscores Upcoming CBA Negotiations

Labor negotiations, and the possibility of another lockout, casts a shadow on the entire 2026 season.

Feb 19 • Michael McDermott

Paul Skenes and the Art of Pitch Tunneling

A breakdown of how pitch tunneling works and why it's so important for pitchers in today's era.

Feb 18 • Michael McDermott

The Phillies Are Betting Their Future on Andrew Painter’s Development

The Phillies have created an opportunity for Andrew Painter, their top pitching prospect, to reshape their rotation outlook in 2026.

Feb 17 • Michael McDermott

Spencer Strider’s 2025 Velocity Drop Exposes Atlanta’s Thin Rotation

Spencer Strider experienced a 1.5 MPH velocity drop in his first year back from elbow surgery. With the Braves' rotation battling injuries, they need…

Feb 16 • Michael McDermott

From Castoff to Cornerstone: Max Muncy's Lasting Legacy with the Dodgers

The Dodgers took a flyer on Max Muncy, who ended up becoming one of the underrated stars of their 2020s dynasty despite sharing a lineup with many Hall…

Feb 15 • Michael McDermott

Mike's Hardball Blueprint

Mike's Hardball Blueprint

Michael McDermott brings the latest analysis on Major League Baseball, providing the "why" behind the action.

Recommendations

Lance's Pitcher Notes

Lance Brozdowski

Sport Stackers: A Community for Substack Sports Creators

Robbin Marx

The Data Dugout

The Data Dugout

Painting’s Substack

Painting Corners Baseball

Lindsay Crosby

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts