Tommy Stokke
Sporting News
Phoenix, AZ, United States
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Past articles by Tommy:
MLB playoffs: Dodgers power into NLCS after Bellinger shakes rookie blues
Cody Bellinger was scuffling at a bad time, right in the middle of the Dodgers' NLDS vs. the Diamondbacks. After reassuring words from his manager, Bellinger turned back into a Rookie of the Year slugger. → Read More
The Fernando Rodney Experience is working for the Diamondbacks
The ninth inning at Chase Field, home of the Diamondbacks, has become known as the Fernando Rodney Experience, beginning with Lil Jon’s “Live the Night” blasting from the speakers and ending, more times than not, with an invisible arrow shot into the Phoenix night sky celebrating a save and a D-backs win. → Read More
How Dave Roberts Transformed The Dodgers While Learning On The Job
Outside the walls of the clubhouse, the most thankless job in baseball in 2017 belongs to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. He’ll either leave Clayton Kershaw in too long or take him out too soon. If a reliever gives up a hit, it will be because Roberts picked the wrong one to use. If […] → Read More
Stokke On Podcast | Astros Deadline And Thoughts On All 30 Teams
The Stokke On podcast is back to close out the week with its Friday edition, recorded on August 10. Tommy Stokke is joined by co-host Chris Schubert. This edition opens with a discussion of Jon Heyman’s latest edition of Inside Baseball, which has an increased focus on the Houston Astros and their activity (or inactivity) at the […] → Read More
Stokke | No Question Diamondbacks Can Play With Dodgers
PHOENIX — It wasn’t exactly a playoff feel, but the three-game series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers served as a playoff primer in August, an example of what could be to come for both teams and possibly against each other. The result meant more to the D-backs than the Dodgers in this […] → Read More
What 2017 Means For Anthony Banda's Development With D-backs
PHOENIX — Relaxing in a chair at his locker hours before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks rookie pitcher Anthony Banda looked at his surroundings in appreciation of his situation. He said if the team told him to distribute water during games to help the D-Backs win, he’d be more than happy to […] → Read More
Can the Mariners survive long enough to make the playoffs?
The unofficial trade deadline was July 31. Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto made two trades on Aug. 6 and one more on Aug. 8. → Read More
Stokke On Podcast | Trade Deadline Fallout With Jon Heyman
On the latest episode of the Stokke On Podcast, FanRag Sports MLB insider Jon Heyman joins to discuss his latest Inside Baseball column. → Read More
Stokke | Brewers Need To Acquire Justin Verlander
They shouldn't make the same mistake in August should the opportunity present itself. That opportunity should be adding Justin Verlander. → Read More
Why the rest of the Atlanta Braves season matters
The plan for the Atlanta Braves pre-trade deadline was pretty clear, even if not everyone agreed with it. The Braves wanted to compete. → Read More
Struggling Young Braves Can Learn From Tyler Flowers Own Experience
PHOENIX — Tyler Flowers has a pretty good seat to the Atlanta Braves rebuild. The catcher has watched the last two seasons as young players have made their way to the majors, struggled, hit rock bottom, and then found a career-reviving epiphany. At least it often feels that way. Flowers has seen players come back up […] → Read More
Tony Kemp's Adjustments Paying Off As He Awaits His Chance
All Tony Kemp has wanted in baseball is a chance. Standing 5-foot-6, he was never the projectable prospect that had scouts dreaming of endless potential. He only had two scholarship offers in high school to play college baseball. He was a fifth-round pick in the MLB Draft, and can’t seem to shake a profile that […] → Read More
How Torey Lovullo Got The Diamondbacks To Buy In To His Philosophy
PHOENIX — After Torey Lovullo was hired as the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, he immediately began calling players, setting up meetings, and getting to know the players he would go to figurative battle with on the field every day. He didn’t know for sure that his philosophy would work. He didn’t ask his players, either. […] → Read More
Stokke | Braves should give Matt Wisler a change of scenery
It wasn’t long ago Matt Wisler was considered the top pitching prospect, or at least the safest pitching prospect, in the Atlanta Braves farm system. He was a headliner in the return for closer Craig Kimbrel from the San Diego Padres, and even if he didn’t have the ceiling of a No. 1, he figured […] → Read More
Dansby Swanson's Makeup Is Passing The Ultimate Test
ATLANTA — Vanderbilt baseball coach Tim Corbin told a young Dansby Swanson, then a senior in high school, that there was something different about him. Corbin couldn’t put his finger on it, but the way Swanson interacted with his teammates, the way he provided energy, the way he won was just different. It was then that […] → Read More
Braves Starting Pitching Coming Together Under Chuck Hernandez
ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves pitching coach Chuck Hernandez says it’s just luck that he’s built a reputation for his work with young pitchers, thanks to the likes of Justin Verlander, Jose Fernandez and Troy Percival coming his way throughout their careers. The Braves think it’s more than that. With the rotation more stable and faces emerging […] → Read More
Aaron Blair Ready In Los Angeles If Braves Trade Garcia
While the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins work to finalize a trade involving left-handed starter Jaime Garcia, Braves right-hander Aaron Blair, who was scratched from his start in Triple-A on Friday, is in Los Angeles in the event a trade happens. The trade appeared to be agreed to on Thursday night, but it’s still possible […] → Read More
Stokke | The Braves can wait on trading Matt Adams
The early success of Matt Adams with the Atlanta Braves made it seem he was almost surely trade bait once Freddie Freeman returned to his spot at first base. But it appears unlikely that will happen now. Although trading Adams would relieve some of the logjam the Braves infield has at the moment, they’re better […] → Read More
Stokke | Is law of averages tipping toward Cubs?
ATLANTA — For a team looking to get on some sort of roll, things aligned just how Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon wanted on Monday. The Cubs were on a three-game winning streak with Jon Lester on the mound going for four in a row. It worked, as the Cubs held on against the Atlanta Braves […] → Read More
Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz shows progress in a different way
ATLANTA — If Atlanta Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz is to continue his ascension to the front-line starter he’s capable of being, he’ll need outings like the one he had on Saturday night along the way. It wasn’t pretty, and he didn’t dazzle the scoreboard with big strikeout numbers, but he gave his team a chance to […] → Read More