Around Baseball 2015

[G-Snarls]

Red Sox Claim Erik Kratz Off Waivers

 

By Zach Links [June 21, 2015 at 12:56pm CDT]

 

12:56pm: The Red Sox announced that they have claimed Kratz off waivers. Kratz will provide the team with depth now that Blake Swihart is listed as day-to-day with a sprained left foot.

 

12:28pm: Erik Kratz has been claimed off waivers by an unknown team, MLBTR has learned. The catcher was designated for assignment by the Royals on June 11th.

 

Most of Kratz’s career has been spent with the Phillies, but he’s also had brief stints in Toronto and Kansas City. All told, Kratz has shown nice power but low batting average and on-base capabilities, as evidenced by a .217/.270/.400 batting line. He’s also a skilled pitch-framer, however, and he’s thrown out 32 percent of attempted base-stealers in his big league career.

 

Kratz was scheduled to return from the 15-day disabled list earlier this month but was designated for assignment before he could be called back into action for KC. Kratz would have served as Salvador Perez‘s backup in Kansas City had he stayed on board, but that job has gone to Drew Butera instead.

[HERPDERP]

They need to back off on Swihart. He's been overmatched and never should have been called up to begin with.

[Deadpool]

Red Sox Claim Erik Kratz Off Waivers

 

By Zach Links [June 21, 2015 at 12:56pm CDT]

 

12:56pm: The Red Sox announced that they have claimed Kratz off waivers. Kratz will provide the team with depth now that Blake Swihart is listed as day-to-day with a sprained left foot.

 

12:28pm: Erik Kratz has been claimed off waivers by an unknown team, MLBTR has learned. The catcher was designated for assignment by the Royals on June 11th.

 

Most of Kratz’s career has been spent with the Phillies, but he’s also had brief stints in Toronto and Kansas City. All told, Kratz has shown nice power but low batting average and on-base capabilities, as evidenced by a .217/.270/.400 batting line. He’s also a skilled pitch-framer, however, and he’s thrown out 32 percent of attempted base-stealers in his big league career.

 

Kratz was scheduled to return from the 15-day disabled list earlier this month but was designated for assignment before he could be called back into action for KC. Kratz would have served as Salvador Perez‘s backup in Kansas City had he stayed on board, but that job has gone to Drew Butera instead.

 

That's a pretty good pickup for the Sox, but it's going to take a lot more than a good framer to right that ship.

[KingKat]

[h=1]Report: Former MLB player Darryl Hamilton dead in apparent murder-suicide[/h]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/report--former-mlb-player-darryl-hamilton-dead-in-apparent-murder-suicide-165035530.html

 

Yikes!

[LTR]

[h=1]Report: Former MLB player Darryl Hamilton dead in apparent murder-suicide[/h]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/report--former-mlb-player-darryl-hamilton-dead-in-apparent-murder-suicide-165035530.html

 

Yikes!

 

Tragic. Looks like his wife did it. Wonder what he did to her?

[KingKat]

Tragic. Looks like his wife did it. Wonder what he did to her?

 

We don't necessarily know that he did anything. Could be a Phil Hartman situation.

[LTR]

We don't necessarily know that he did anything. Could be a Phil Hartman situation.

 

Yeah, I shouldn't ASSume...

[LTR]

Here's something even more f***ed: The actor who played Mr. Kruger on Seinfeld shot himself in the head but he didn't die and had to call 911... there's a copy of the 911 around the web (I suggest never listen to it, too disturbing).

[jays4life19]

Here's something even more f***ed: The actor who played Mr. Kruger on Seinfeld shot himself in the head but he didn't die and had to call 911... there's a copy of the 911 around the web (I suggest never listen to it, too disturbing).

 

Sent you a link via PM if you want to play on FD tonight.

[Brownie19]

Grandel: 1.8 WAR

Kemp: -0.5 WAR

 

Awesome.

[Brownie19]

Wow, comparing Gosselin to Justin Turner? Holy f***.

 

"He's just like Justin Turner except not the same at all and a lot worse"

 

I get the point - Dave Stewart is a moron, but seriously, what did LA inject Turner with? This guy was a complete nobody in the minors & majors before landing in LA, now he's a beast.

[Boxcar]

I get the point - Dave Stewart is a moron, but seriously, what did LA inject Turner with? This guy was a complete nobody in the minors & majors before landing in LA, now he's a beast.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/justin-turner-marlon-byrd-and-an-education-in-hitting/

[jays4life19]

This just in: Pete Rose bet on baseball.

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/report-pete-rose-bet-on-baseball-as-a-player/

[TilsonBritoFan]

Grandel: 1.8 WAR

Kemp: -0.5 WAR

 

Awesome.

 

When SD was making their moves I couldn't understand the media, including pretty much every reputable baseball insider fawning over them. From the moment they made those moves, I thought the Padres were going to be f***ing terrible. Some horrible, horrible moves they made this offseason. Preller is so overrated.

[Boxcar]

When SD was making their moves I couldn't understand the media, including pretty much every reputable baseball insider fawning over them. From the moment they made those moves, I thought the Padres were going to be f***ing terrible. Some horrible, horrible moves they made this offseason. Preller is so overrated.

 

I think most people here probably expected them to be around .500, maybe a tad below.

[KingKat]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/justin-turner-marlon-byrd-and-an-education-in-hitting/

 

Interesting. We have a lot of two dimensional data on point of contact that basically treats the strike zone a flat area but nothing (that I am aware of) that tracks about the point of contact along the third axis. It wouldn't surprise if a lot of seemingly out of nowhere breakouts happen when the hitter starts making more contact at the front of the strike zone. Isn't that esssentially what Bautista did?

[Laika]

When SD was making their moves I couldn't understand the media, including pretty much every reputable baseball insider fawning over them. From the moment they made those moves, I thought the Padres were going to be f***ing terrible. Some horrible, horrible moves they made this offseason. Preller is so overrated.

 

The Padres' offseason constructed a nearly perfect schism between the statistically literate and the unwashed others.

[BlueBirdBro]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/justin-turner-marlon-byrd-and-an-education-in-hitting/

 

Best comment:

 

Here’s your 2014 Top Ten in terms of WAR/100Lbs:

 

1. Andrew McCutchen – 3.57

2. Mike Trout – 3.47

3. Anthony Rendon – 3.25

4. Jonathan Lucroy – 3.17

5. Michael Brantley – 3.15

6. Jose Bautista – 3.02

7. Alex Gordon – 3.00

8. Josh Donaldson – 2.95

9. Jose Altuve – 2.80

10. Ben Zobrist – 2.66

[HERPDERP]

http://i.imgur.com/pUBL2PX.gifv

 

almost

[Boxcar]

Interesting. We have a lot of two dimensional data on point of contact that basically treats the strike zone a flat area but nothing (that I am aware of) that tracks about the point of contact along the third axis. It wouldn't surprise if a lot of seemingly out of nowhere breakouts happen when the hitter starts making more contact at the front of the strike zone. Isn't that esssentially what Bautista did?

 

That was went through my mind. Seemed like Bautista had that same "go the other way" approach. I don't know if JT always had a leg kick but he does now, another similarity.

 

His homer last night was a no doubter to straight away CF. This guy doesn't have fringy power. He doesn't have the PAs to qualify (around 50 short) but if he did, he'd be leading all 3Bs in wOBA this year. People are going crazy with Frazier and Donaldson...but Turner has hit better than both.

[jaysfan2014]

Odd lineup for the Jays tonight:

 

[Laika]

Interesting. We have a lot of two dimensional data on point of contact that basically treats the strike zone a flat area but nothing (that I am aware of) that tracks about the point of contact along the third axis. It wouldn't surprise if a lot of seemingly out of nowhere breakouts happen when the hitter starts making more contact at the front of the strike zone. Isn't that esssentially what Bautista did?

 

Congratulations - this is the type of thought that can lead to a brief window if statistical advantage for a major league front office. Too bad you don't belong to one... hopefully somebody who does is reading (wink wink).

 

Should be easy info to get with Statcast.

[King]

Odd lineup for the Jays tonight:

 

 

Hey JF2014! Did you have a good time at the Jays game yesterday?

[jaysfan2014]

Hey JF2014! Did you have a good time at the Jays game yesterday?

 

Yeah.. until Cecil blew up in the 9th. Get Papelbon or K-Rod or someone dammit, AA!

[Governator]

Odd lineup for the Jays tonight:

 

 

 

 

Looks like a Spring Training line up.

 

Donaldson & Martin resting in the same game is enough to cry about and the outfield consists of barf.

[baubau]

Why are two of the best hitters sitting? God I wish Navarro was injured again..

[Daniel Labude]

Looks like a Spring Training line up.

 

Donaldson & Martin resting in the same game is enough to cry about and the outfield consists of barf.

 

Wtf...Donaldson and Martin just had a half day off and Martin a full day...with the day off coming Thursday Gibby is a dumb pos

[Governator]

Wtf...Donaldson and Martin just had a half day off and Martin a full day...with the day off on Thursday Gibby is a dumb pos

 

 

Pretty sure he was sippin' his coffee and said to himself "Hutchison will probably throw a complete game shut-out against the Rays tonight, so since we only need 1 run here, my gut tells me Navarro will straighten out that swing and deliver a bomb tonight. We got this."

[KingKat]

Congratulations - this is the type of thought that can lead to a brief window if statistical advantage for a major league front office. Too bad you don't belong to one... hopefully somebody who does is reading (wink wink).

 

Should be easy info to get with Statcast.

 

Everything you write comes off sarcastic but I think that was a compliment so thanks for that.

 

So assuming you're serious here, what's the idea? Plot BABIP along the z axis?

[GD]

Congratulations - this is the type of thought that can lead to a brief window if statistical advantage for a major league front office. Too bad you don't belong to one... hopefully somebody who does is reading (wink wink).

 

Should be easy info to get with Statcast.

 

If it's Statcast-able, it isn't publicly. Nothing on Baseballsavant.