Around Baseball 2017

[Abomination]

Jered Weaver has retired.

 

Himself was the only one left he could retire.

[BTS]

Himself was the only one left he could retire.

 

5/10

 

There might have been something there, but the execution was terrible.

[jaysblue]

Tim Beckham Jr. has put up 1.6 WAR in 15 games for Baltimore. Now up to 2.8 WAR on the season. Wow.

 

Would have been a great fit with the Jays as a MI who could rotate between Travis & Tulo next season and in case one gets injured, Beckham starts at either 2B or SS. Far better than running out guys like Ryan Goins or Barney on a regular basis.

 

Glad I never dropped him or traded him for peanuts in the LOD.

[Brownie19]

I feel like the decline in defensive value hits outfielders a lot harder than it does SSs. An above average defensive shortstop (like Tulo for instance) is capable of maintaining defensive value late in his career. Centerfielders seem to fall off a cliff. Is probably has a lot (everything?) to do with the distribution of chances. Merely above average play at shorstop holds more value than merely above average outfield play. To be a valuable outfielder, you have to make your mark on less plays. In other words, you have to be exceptional. That's harder to do consistently from year to year and it's harder to maintain long term.

 

I generally would agree, although I could cite Jose Reyes as a SS who's defense fell off a cliff as he aged. Similarly, I could cite Jim Edmonds, who's defense in CF was consistent throughout his career - almost improving to a peak at age 35. There are always exceptions to the rule (like Tulo).

[MunenoriKawasakiMVP]

Because the arm ages much better than athleticism. Reyes never had that great of an arm and made tons of fielding errors even in his Mets days and his shortstop skills relied solely on his speed and athleticism, things that regressed massively by the time he went to Florida.

[Brownie19]

Reyes always had a rocket of an arm sir.

[Maahfaace]

Reyes always had a rocket of an arm sir.

 

naw, just an above average arm with below average accuracy

[Boxcar]

To be fair - he was Kevin Pillar with the bat until this year. I'd have to assume the Braves expected his REMARKABLE defense would start to decline as he aged and they had no faith in his bat.

 

Would you trade Kevin Pillar right now for say - Tyler Glasnow?

 

Simmons has always been a lot better than Pillar, though, at a more important defensive position. Not entirely comparable.

[Boxcar]

5/10

 

There might have been something there, but the execution was terrible.

 

Agreed. I'm going to drop it to 3/10 because now now one else can try to make that joke.

[Boxcar]

At least he finally retired somebody

[John_Havok]

At least he finally retired somebody

 

Had that been the first comment/joke, it would have played better. Now it's just... meh

[Abomination]

Critics everywhere...

[admin]

Probably the best baseball video I've ever seen:

 

https://streamable.com/y14u1

[jays_fever]

Ian Kinsler unloaded on Angel Hernandez a day after the umpire ejected him for arguing balls and strikes.

 

Kinsler said Hernandez "needs to re-evaluate his career choice" because he's "messing with baseball games."

 

Hernandez has been a Major League umpire since 1993.

 

"I'm surprised at how bad an umpire he is," Kinsler said. "I don't know how, for as many years he's been in the league, that he can be that bad. He needs to re-evaluate his career choice, he really does. Bottom line.

 

"If I get fined for saying the truth, then so be it. He's messing with baseball games, blatantly."

[Candy Maldonado]

Probably the best baseball video I've ever seen:

 

https://streamable.com/y14u1

 

amazing

[John_Havok]

Probably the best baseball video I've ever seen:

 

https://streamable.com/y14u1

 

So would that be ball 1 or ball 2?

[Abomination]

LMAO!

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96908/navigating-nyc-in-pinstripes-yankees-rookies-ride-the-subway-and-get-completely-lost

[Krylian]

LMAO!

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/96908/navigating-nyc-in-pinstripes-yankees-rookies-ride-the-subway-and-get-completely-lost

 

They should send him back to the minors.

[Abomination]

Gallo now has 10 home runs in his last 14 games. The Ks are real, but man can he hit them out.

[Boxcar]

Had that been the first comment/joke, it would have played better. Now it's just... meh

 

Yes, I was just offering a glimpse into what could have been

[jaysfan2014]

I still don't get how the Angels are a serious contender--while the pitching's been strong this month, their offense outside of Trout and Simmons still looks like a AAA team... plus having a weak schedule and having the Mariners bullpen mail away all 4 wins in that series vs. the Angels helps... they stll can't hit for average, walk or for power..

 

Of course, most of the other teams in the 2nd wild card are equally uninspiring.. it'll come down to who's the least mediocre. And it's important the Jays take advantage...

[Terminator]

Jays schedule is kind of tough ROS. This 3 game series at CHC is going to be tough then we go off day with 3 more games at Tampa Bay. That could be the end of this pseudo-contention. Getting Montero back is helpful as the back half of our lineup is a joke and he's at least not a complete zero at the plate.

 

If we can weather the storm on this road trip I'll feel slightly better about our chances. Entering September we could have some reinforcements. Biagini can take Tepesch's spot and Travis could be back at 2B. Brett Anderson could replace Rowley if he's not up for the task and Sanchez might be able to provide some late inning relief. If we are in contention with a month to go I wouldn't mind seeing the Jays acquiring a cheap SS. We only need someone replacement level to offer up a big improvement over Ryan Goins and I don't think it'd take that much to acquire a guy like that.

[Abomination]

Jays schedule is kind of tough ROS. This 3 game series at CHC is going to be tough then we go off day with 3 more games at Tampa Bay. That could be the end of this pseudo-contention. Getting Montero back is helpful as the back half of our lineup is a joke and he's at least not a complete zero at the plate.

 

If we can weather the storm on this road trip I'll feel slightly better about our chances. Entering September we could have some reinforcements. Biagini can take Tepesch's spot and Travis could be back at 2B. Brett Anderson could replace Rowley if he's not up for the task and Sanchez might be able to provide some late inning relief. If we are in contention with a month to go I wouldn't mind seeing the Jays acquiring a cheap SS. We only need someone replacement level to offer up a big improvement over Ryan Goins and I don't think it'd take that much to acquire a guy like that.

 

He wouldn't help much at SS, but Jed Lowrie would be a nice fit. Dee Gordon is another possibility, although who knows what the new ownership group is gonna do.

[thatoneguy]

Cubs now tied with the Reds in the 5th after being down 9-0 in the 2nd.

[Spanky__99]

Lester likely to miss most of the rest of the regular season

 

Ouch

 

I just read this a little while ago...

 

Jon Lester to miss one or two starts

 

By Craig CalcaterraAug 18, 2017, 9:55 AM EDT NBC Sports

 

Jon Lester had a terrible outing yesterday, allowing nine runs — seven earned — and leaving the game before he could complete two innings.Lester entered the afternoon with a 3.99 ERA. He exited with a 4.37 ERA. Later the Cubs said that Lester was suffering from left lat tightness.

 

The Cubs are now saying that Lester will miss 1-2 starts. They are sending him to see Dr. Stephen Gryzlo for a more in-depth exam, and it’s possible Gryzlo will determine the injury is more serious, but at the moment the assessment seems cautiously optimistic.

 

Mike Montgomery will fill in for Lester for the time being.

[Spanky__99]

Yes, and yet they're running out Luis Cessa tonight instead of calling up Chance Adams... are they trying to let other teams back in the playoff race? Because it sure feels like it.. and Tanaka/Sabathia aren't expected back until late August at a minimum..

 

When/where'd you hear/read that?

 

Sabbathia's pitching tomorrow, and...

 

Wed, Aug 16

Masahiro Tanaka (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session on Thursday.

Advice: It will be the right-hander's first mound session since landing on the DL with right shoulder inflammation last week. The Yankees are hoping to have Tanaka back next week against Detroit. He's looked much better since the All-Star break, contributing a 3.13 ERA over five second-half starts.

More: Sweeny Murti on Twitter

(Rotoworld.com)

 

Fake News, dink!

[BTS]

Wow, the BJMB is absolutely riddled with fake news. SAD!

[Pendleton]

MLBTR's top 10 rookies of the year...

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/08/the-top-10-rookies-of-2017.html?fv-home=true&post-id=100552

1) Aaron Judge

2) Cody Bellinger

3) Paul DeJong

4) Austin Barnes

5) German Marquez

6) Jordan Montgomery

7) Trey Mancini

8) Andrew Benintendi

9) Matt Chapman

10) Chad Green

 

Thoughts? I knew Chapman was a great defender but already top 3 at his position?

[Brownie19]

Sabbathia's pitching tomorrow, and...

 

Wed, Aug 16

Masahiro Tanaka (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session on Thursday.

Advice: It will be the right-hander's first mound session since landing on the DL with right shoulder inflammation last week. The Yankees are hoping to have Tanaka back next week against Detroit. He's looked much better since the All-Star break, contributing a 3.13 ERA over five second-half starts.

More: Sweeny Murti on Twitter

(Rotoworld.com)

 

Fake News, dink!

 

um. Late August is a little subjective. It's not the most outrageous fake news I've read.

[P2F]

MLBTR's top 10 rookies of the year...

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/08/the-top-10-rookies-of-2017.html?fv-home=true&post-id=100552

1) Aaron Judge

2) Cody Bellinger

3) Paul DeJong

4) Austin Barnes

5) German Marquez

6) Jordan Montgomery

7) Trey Mancini

8) Andrew Benintendi

9) Matt Chapman

10) Chad Green

 

Thoughts? I knew Chapman was a great defender but already top 3 at his position?

 

It's possible he's the best 3B defender the league has seen since Beltre's prime.