Around Baseball 2015

[Laika]

D’Backs Rule 5 Pick Oscar Hernandez Has Broken Hamate Bone

 

Diamondbacks Rule 5 pick Oscar Hernandez has suffered a broken hamate bone in his left hand, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic tweets. Hernandez had seemed on track to open the year as the club’s backup catcher behind presumptive starter Tuffy Gosewisch.

 

As a Rule 5 pick, Hernandez can still be kept under team control if he is added to the DL and kept on the 40-man roster. In some ways, this could actually make it easier for the team to hold on to him, as it reduces the amount of time that Arizona will be required to carry him on the big league roster. The club will also get a chance to see Hernandez in a rehab assignment, and have a chance to evaluate its big league club, before deciding whether to return him to the Rays.

 

The injury certainly opens a big league roster spot to start the season, though the D’Backs could simply elect to give the reserve job to one of the veterans it has in camp. Gerald Laird, Matt Pagnozzi, and Blake Lalli each have spent time in the big leagues, with Laird in particular having an extensive track record at the game’s highest level.

 

Maybe sparks Navarro trade. Probably not though.

 

Before this, if Navarro bumped Gosewich to backup and Hernandez off the roster, it would have meant returning Hernandez to Tampa. Now they can DL Hernandez for some time and have a couple of months to evaluate both Navarro as the starter and Gosewich as the backup.

[Sammy225]

Maybe sparks Navarro trade. Probably not though.

 

Before this, if Navarro bumped Gosewich to backup and Hernandez off the roster, it would have meant returning Hernandez to Tampa. Now they can DL Hernandez for some time and have a couple of months to evaluate both Navarro as the starter and Gosewich as the backup.

 

I just can't see better trade partners now even before this.... I honestly can't see how something does not get done. I think Jimenez would be an excellent backup option with is great Defense and whatever he can bring to the plate will be a bonus.

[Angrioter]

Soler, Baez, and Bryant

[KingKat]

I just can't see better trade partners now even before this.... I honestly can't see how something does not get done. I think Jimenez would be an excellent backup option with is great Defense and whatever he can bring to the plate will be a bonus.

 

There's no doubt the needs align but whether the front offices agree on valuations is the sticking point. The Diamondback may underestimate their need and the Jays may overestimate Navarro's value. The current impasse certainly suggests that one or both of those things is going on.

[Laika]

I just can't see better trade partners now even before this.... I honestly can't see how something does not get done. I think Jimenez would be an excellent backup option with is great Defense and whatever he can bring to the plate will be a bonus.

 

Well if the D-Bags don't really have any designs in competing this year, then what's the point of plugging a hole with some fat Mexican on a 1 year contract?

[Sammy225]

Well if the D-Bags don't really have any designs in competing this year, then what's the point of plugging a hole with some fat Mexican on a 1 year contract?

 

Because i want them too.... Is that not reason enough?

[SaskJaysFan_2]

I just can't see better trade partners now even before this.... I honestly can't see how something does not get done. I think Jimenez would be an excellent backup option with is great Defense and whatever he can bring to the plate will be a bonus.

 

Yes! I'd love have Jimanez as the backup. Decent defense and arm, young guy who may mature into a decent bat. That would be perfect.

[Angrioter]

Well if the D-Bags don't really have any designs in competing this year, then what's the point of plugging a hole with some fat Mexican on a 1 year contract?

 

Smart dude, we're talking about Dave Stewart; the black man is as dumb as Boxy in fantasy baseball!!

[burlingtonbandit]

This could be thread worthy but this was a really good article about a new pitching metric that tries to account for everything. You may ask who was the Jays best Starting pitcher by this metric? The answer, Drew Hutchison. Cecil was also 35th best in all of baseball last year.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/fip-in-context/

[Muck Bartinez]

This could be thread worthy but this was a really good article about a new pitching metric that tries to account for everything. You may ask who was the Jays best Starting pitcher by this metric? The answer, Drew Hutchison. Cecil was also 35th best in all of baseball last year.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/fip-in-context/

 

That's a really interesting article, particularly with how well it predicts future performance even over a short period of time.

[jays4life19]

This could be thread worthy but this was a really good article about a new pitching metric that tries to account for everything. You may ask who was the Jays best Starting pitcher by this metric? The answer, Drew Hutchison. Cecil was also 35th best in all of baseball last year.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/fip-in-context/

 

I would say thread worthy.

 

Also it looks like our very own robots TIPS gets mentioned but not xxFIP.

[Brownie19]

This could be thread worthy but this was a really good article about a new pitching metric that tries to account for everything. You may ask who was the Jays best Starting pitcher by this metric? The answer, Drew Hutchison. Cecil was also 35th best in all of baseball last year.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/fip-in-context/

 

My boy Josh Fields at 21st overall in baseball last year....go get him AA

[TwistedLogic]

For anyone that missed the back-to-back-to-back bombs by Soler, Baez and Bryant (click image for link to video):

 

http://i.gyazo.com/5712441c852982c53de5a8d1ac5c6f0c.png

http://i.gyazo.com/c9614a3ef84a09c87babdf71796abe49.png

[Stangstag]

Sick

[Spanky__99]

For anyone that missed the back-to-back-to-back bombs by Soler, Baez and Bryant (click image for link to video):

 

http://i.gyazo.com/5712441c852982c53de5a8d1ac5c6f0c.png

http://i.gyazo.com/c9614a3ef84a09c87babdf71796abe49.png

 

I watched that game, was fun.

[shortstop]

Well if the D-Bags don't really have any designs in competing this year, then what's the point of plugging a hole with some fat Mexican on a 1 year contract?

 

 

 

even if Arizona sucks this year, they still gotta sell some tickets & play decent enough baseball, product wise. Not saying Gosewich is Thole but imagine playing an entire season with Thole at the backstop?

 

My guess is the Tigers would want Navarro vs. plugging in their current backup when Avila is out...but likely reality is they have no arm to offer the jays.

 

Maybe the jays want Ziegler (free agent 2016, $5M salary this season, team option $5.5M next year with $1M buyout) & D-Backs want to send Reed and his remaining couple of arb years ($4.875M this year)...D-Backs also want to keep Ziegler & his low ERA history

 

looking at the rest of the D-backs bullpen depth & only one that stands out is Perez & he's a LHP & unlikely to be mutual interest there.

 

What's worse? The Jays Bullpen or Arizona's catching situation? The latter imo & AA may be holding out for Ziegler & standing firm despite the fanbase wanting to win/make a move & notwithstanding Stroshow going down...we'll see how this plays out surely the D-Backs are under pressure to get much needed stability at the catching position.

[KingKat]

even if Arizona sucks this year, they still gotta sell some tickets & play decent enough baseball, product wise. Not saying Gosewich is Thole but imagine playing an entire season with Thole at the backstop?

 

 

Thole is a much better catcher than Gosewich.

[shortstop]

Thole is a much better catcher than Gosewich.

 

 

KingKat, definitely an assumption on my part since a) don't know much about Gosewich nor do I recall watching him play and cannot fathom a team relying on Thole let alone a player inferior to Thole as the starting backstop.

[KingKat]

KingKat, definitely an assumption on my part since a) don't know much about Gosewich nor do I recall watching him play and cannot fathom a team relying on Thole let alone a player inferior to Thole as the starting backstop.

 

Well Thole might not have much pop in his bat but he can play the position. Gosewitch has some pop but by all scouting reports is a disaster defensively so based on that assumption and based on the fact that he will probably strike out a ton and neutralize a lot of that pop, I think we're looking at something like Jesus Montero's early years or Arrencibia with worse defense. That being said the Diamondbacks seem like they might be too old school to look beyond the natural power. I'm not convinced they make a move unless they want to cut cost a bit in which case Cahill for Navarro would make sense.

[shortstop]

don't see Cahill as an option for AA since his salary is $12M this year though there are team options for next 2 seasons with minimal $$ buyout. Too rich for AA's blood imo.

 

very interested to see how this plays out.

 

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2015/02/19/arizona-diamondbacks-chip-hale-mlb/23710657/

 

Though from a month ago, looks like D-Backs top brass are aiming for +.500...not sure why when they sucked so bad last year

 

Can Gosewich carry the load required to help this team achieve their goal?

[Boxcar]

General Manager Dave Stewart has sounded overly optimistic when talking about his roster, while Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa said during the offseason he'd be disappointed if his team didn't finish with a winning record.

 

Lol, wow. Let's be real here.

[TheHurl]

Showing that anyone who gets a second masters degree is a horrible decision maker, Kelly Nash leaves the Rays for the MLB Network.

 

http://www.tampabay.com/resources/images/blogs-photo/rendered/2013/03/newkelly_8col.jpg

 

Biggest loss to the Rays this off-season.

[King]

paul hoynes ‏@hoynsie 28s28 seconds ago Los Angeles, CA

GM Chris Antonetti, on STO, said Gavin Floyd refractured olecranon bone in right elbow. Same injury that required surgery last yr. w/Atl.

 

rip

[BTS]

paul hoynes ‏@hoynsie 28s28 seconds ago Los Angeles, CA

GM Chris Antonetti, on STO, said Gavin Floyd refractured olecranon bone in right elbow. Same injury that required surgery last yr. w/Atl.

 

rip

 

Floyd is finished.

[G-Snarls]

Nationals starter Max Scherzer says that there really was a mystery team (other than his former club, the Tigers) that pursued him over the winter, as James Schmehl of MLive.com reports (Twitter links). Scherzer added that he was surprised that Detroit went public regarding the significant extension offer he signed last spring.

[BlueBirdBro]

Is anyone else a little intrigued by this Will Farrel charity thing? It reminds me of that game a few ST's ago when the Yankees gave Billy Crystal an at bat. Ended up taking a couple good hacks. I really hope something gets hit his way.

[G-Snarls]

Is anyone else a little intrigued by this Will Farrel charity thing? It reminds me of that game a few ST's ago when the Yankees gave Billy Crystal an at bat. Ended up taking a couple good hacks. I really hope something gets hit his way.

 

Yeah I think it's awesome

[G-Snarls]

[G-Snarls]

^

 

For those who didn't know about it

[43211234]

Here's a more technical interview with Eric Lyons, the Guelph professor heading the grass for Rogers Centre initiative: https://www.realagriculture.com/2015/03/will-take-grow-grass-blue-jays-rogers-centre/

 

From the comment section of the Stoeten article about that interview, I read that Lyons was on Wipeout Canada and I was able to find... whatever this is: