Happy New Year From The ATNB Staff

Wow, can you believe that 2020 is over after only 856 days? This year has been terrible, nay, hot-dumpster-fire bad. Yes, my Dodgers won the World Series, and for them to do it amidst the hell that was this pandemic-riddled, racially-stratified, death-filled year in a way made their championship all the sweeter. But I think I speak for all of us when I say that I’m hoping for a better 2021. With that said, all of us at All Talk, No Balk! want to give you our New Year’s resolutions, whether they’re for ourselves, our favorite teams or the world at large.

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Editor-in-Chief Sebastian Moore

“Let’s be real, my New Year’s resolution for the New York Yankees is plain and simple: stay healthy. The Yankees set an MLB record when 3B Gio Urshela became the 29th different player to land on the IL during the 2019 season. While team health improved in 2020, it was still far from perfect as OF Aaron Judge and OF Giancarlo Stanton missed 32 and 37 games, respectively, due to injury. Not to mention SP Luis Severino underwent Tommy John surgery in February, SP Masahiro Tanaka suffered a concussion in early July, SS Gleyber Torres and LHP Zack Britton sustained left hamstring strains in August, and Urshela found himself on the IL again in early September for a right elbow bone spur. “There were several other injuries that plagued the Yankees throughout the shortened 2020 season. Even though a majority of players came back healthy and in time for October, it was incredibly frustrating to have to ask myself on a daily basis, who will be the next Yankee to fall? It is dreadful that Stanton, a multi-million dollar slugger, only played 41 of 222 regular season games over the past two seasons. So, my resolution for the Yankees is to stay healthy. General Manager Brian Cashman has pieced together an excellent roster, but the puzzle keeps falling apart. Until the pieces all stick together, we will never see the full potential of the modern-day Murderers’ Row.”

Head of Marketing Charles Dunkin

“My resolution for 2021 is to put more time into working on myself. I want to learn one new baseball fact each day and become a history book of knowledge. I hope to work out at least five times a week, while watching recent transactions around MLB. Each day will be consistent. No days off. By the end of the year, I would like to be healthy and full of baseball wisdom.”

Social Media Coordinator Andrew Luna

“My baseball resolution for 2021 would ideally be to attend more games. Seeing as how that’s not looking feasible, I’ll have to adjust. I think it would be nice to get back into the cage and start swinging the bat more regularly. Taking batting practice has always been a great way to clear my mind and de-stress, and after a year like 2020, it’s very much needed. Who knows if any batting cages are even going to be open for business consistently. If that’s the case, I might have to invest in a tee and net and make do in my backyard. As is the case with everyone, I’m sure, I’m glad to see this year come to an end. We might not be fully out of the woods when the ball drops, but here’s to things looking up in 2021.”

Social Media Coordinator Reese Savoie

“My resolutions for All Talk, No Balk! are as follows:

1. To watch the company continue to grow. We have such a talented staff, and I can’t wait to see how our organization continues to flourish as a result of everyone’s collaboration.

2. To conduct more interviews with players and industry professionals. I’d love to be able to interview MLB players, coaches and managers throughout 2021. I think it would add something really special to ATNB.

3. To continue to get to know my co-workers! Everyone has such a unique background, and I know every single person involved with All Talk, No Balk! is going to make it so far in their careers. I can’t wait to watch the company expand and to get closer with everyone.”

Contributor Tori Apodaca

“This year, I really want to see All Talk, No Balk! continue to thrive and grow. I am so proud of this team that came together during what was one of the wildest years baseball has ever seen. It has been so fun creating content and connecting with other baseball fanatics! I want to see our audience continue to grow, whether with the baseball super fans or the ones that only like to watch a ball game from time to time. I look forward to getting more exciting guests on our podcasts in the new year, and collaborating with other people to talk about the wonderful game of baseball!”

Contributor Max Perez

“With another year that’s come and gone, it’s time for the ever-popular New Year’s resolutions to flood the world of mass media for a few weeks. I don’t usually partake because I think they are generally pointless, but this year I think I’ll give it a shot — after all, I graduated college, and I know the job market I am heading into is ruthless and unforgiving. Of course, I could never be scared of an intangible object, but my goal is nonetheless based on it. This year I would like to overcome my opposition to networking and connecting with people, and to become a better communicator and professional. This sounds fancy, but what I’m really saying is I want to get over my general dislike of people and society as it has undoubtedly held me back in my professional and personal life. If I can improve in this area, I feel that it will help me become a better writer, communicator and employee.”

Contributor Josh Lederman

“My New Year’s resolution for 2021 is to focus on sharing my passion for the game of baseball. Whether it’s on social media, with the team at All Talk, No Balk! or with other like-minded fans, I want others to know how much baseball has impacted my life and connect with those that share the same love of the game as I have. It was an extremely tough year and many times it was difficult to display optimism on a daily basis. Life has certainly been difficult during the coronavirus pandemic and I’m still adjusting to the new norms that have come with it. However, with the offseason hot stove beginning to heat up and spring training not too far away, baseball season will be in full swing sooner rather than later, providing an escape from the stressful nature of this pandemic. In 2021, I am looking forward to continuing to follow baseball on a regular basis and finding new ways to promote the beauty of the sport through my own eyes to the masses.”

Senior Manager Heather Barette

“As for me, I hope that we here at All Talk, No Balk! continue to build on the progress we made in 2020. As some of my co-workers mentioned, I hope that we can continue to expand our fan base, churn out innovative and exciting content, and really establish ourselves as one of the biggest baseball media companies out there. I hope to continue to make new friends, both through ATNB and elsewhere, and I hope that we continue to meet amazing people through the work we create. As for the Dodgers, well, I hope they win another World Series. What the hell, right? Maybe they pick up an exciting free agent (or two), maybe they hit the seemingly robust trade market or maybe they bring me in as hype woman/coach extraordinaire! One can dream, anyway. Most importantly, I hope that in 2021 I can celebrate the Dodgers and Lakers championships in a way that is healthy, safe and super memorable. And even more importantly than that, I hope that my family, friends and loved ones stay healthy during these tough times, and rebuild the parts of their lives that they have lost in 2020. I’m also finally going to figure out how to deal with my hair. It’s very frizzy.”

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Happy New Year, ATNB fans! May 2021 bring relief for those suffering and be a light in what has been a sea of darkness. Stay safe, and have some socially-distanced fun during your New Year’s festivities!

Photo courtesy of Tom Hagerty/MiLB.com