Around Baseball 2017

Spanky__99 · August 26, 2017

Holy crap Rhys Hoskins... c'mon Cubbies win this damn game!!

wamco · August 27, 2017

He had a pretty solid year last season hitting 36 bombs. Still looks like a consistent 3-4 WAR player moving forward with the potential to maybe squeeze in another 5-6 WAR season perhaps if he has a season where all things click.

Ya that season last year had me draft him this year. Very boring offensive output. Without looking at his numbers, I think he would to get either 400 hr or 2500 hits to get consideration

. Sidenote: went to Cooperstown today

wamco · August 27, 2017

Holy crap Rhys Hoskins... c'mon Cubbies win this damn game!!

1st ballot hof pace

Captain Adama · August 27, 2017

God damn Stanton, 50th hr was a shot.

I really, really, really wanna see him get to 60.

Ray · August 27, 2017

Hoskins 11th HR in 18 games. Kids insane.

Also, Votto walked 5 times today. Saw 43 pitches. We're watching an all-time great hitter right now.

Horses Fart · August 27, 2017

God damn Stanton, 50th hr was a shot.

I really, really, really wanna see him get to 60.

Guys a hardcore f***ing stud! He makes it look so easy.

Brownie19 · August 28, 2017

God damn Stanton, 50th hr was a shot.

I really, really, really wanna see him get to 60.

How about 62? sans PED (assumed).

mphenhef · August 28, 2017

How about 62? sans PED (assumed).

Greenies were pretty common back in '61 were they not? Amphetamines are the real performance enhancer in hitting. Who knows? Maybe Stanton is one of the many players with an exemption.

Spanky__99 · August 28, 2017

KC were swept this weekend without scoring a run against Cleveland, out scored 20-0. The Indians are in the driver's seat in that division.

Brownie19 · August 28, 2017

Greenies were pretty common back in '61 were they not? Amphetamines are the real performance enhancer in hitting. Who knows? Maybe Stanton is one of the many players with an exemption.

I have no idea what this post is supposed to mean.

Curious if the fans/MLB will start treating a chase to 62 hrs as a real thing...I hope it happens.

baseballsss · August 28, 2017

I have no idea what this post is supposed to mean.

Curious if the fans/MLB will start treating a chase to 62 hrs as a real thing...I hope it happens.

Basically Maris and probably 3/4 of the league was on something back then that would have been banned today. Stantons chasing his own record essentially.

I think that's what they mean and it's probably true that everyone was doped up back then.

mphenhef · August 28, 2017

I have no idea what this post is supposed to mean.

Curious if the fans/MLB will start treating a chase to 62 hrs as a real thing...I hope it happens.

There have been some studies done that show that amphetamines (AKA greenies) are far more performance enhancing than steroids. The downturn in offense in the testing era corresponded with amphetamines being outlawed not with steroids being tested for.

Hank Aaron has admitted to using Greenies as well as many other players from that era. Who knows if Maris was using them or not in '61?

As for today...in 2014 112 players were diagnosed with ADHD and given an exemption for adderall(amphetamine). That works out to about ten percent of players. The adult rate for ADHD is 4 to 6 percent so it is possible that exemptions are given out to those who shouldn't have them. Who knows if Stanton is one of them?

I guess this is my long way of saying we have no idea what records are PED free and which are not. I would prefer just to enjoy baseball without thinking about it. Bonds was fun to watch. Stanton is fun to watch now.

Brownie19 · August 28, 2017

There have been some studies done that show that amphetamines (AKA greenies) are far more performance enhancing than steroids. The downturn in offense in the testing era corresponded with amphetamines being outlawed not with steroids being tested for.

Hank Aaron has admitted to using Greenies as well as many other players from that era. Who knows if Maris was using them or not in '61?

As for today...in 2014 112 players were diagnosed with ADHD and given an exemption for adderall(amphetamine). That works out to about ten percent of players. The adult rate for ADHD is 4 to 6 percent so it is possible that exemptions are given out to those who shouldn't have them. Who knows if Stanton is one of them?

I guess this is my long way of saying we have no idea what records are PED free and which are not. I would prefer just to enjoy baseball without thinking about it. Bonds was fun to watch. Stanton is fun to watch now.

source on these studies?

I find it hard to believe that with today's knowledge and technology, companies would go to all this trouble to find a way to inject players with steroids and mask them to avoid detection when all along it wasn't the best way to enhance performance.

Olerud363 · August 28, 2017

I have no idea what this post is supposed to mean.

Curious if the fans/MLB will start treating a chase to 62 hrs as a real thing...I hope it happens.

It's well known that amphetamine use was common in baseball in the 1960s. Jim Bouton talked about it a lot in his book "ball 4".

It's also well known that some modern players can get an exception, and are allowed to use ADHD medicine legally. He is wondering if Stanton has an exception.

Brownie19 · August 28, 2017

It's well known that amphetamine use was common in baseball in the 1960s. Jim Bouton talked about it a lot in his book "ball 4".

It's also well known that some modern players can get an exception, and are allowed to use ADHD medicine legally. He is wondering if Stanton has an exception.

Yeah I get all of that. I'm caught up on his statement that greenies are more effective performance enhancers than steroids. I've heard people say greenies are no more effective than caffeine pills, while others say they are essentially speed (I'm not well read on that matter, hence my request for a source).

Perhaps this is just common sense, but if greenies are a massive performance enchancer - better than steroids or HGH, then there would be a lot more discussion as to whether those diagnosed with ADHD should be allowed to take them or not.

burlingtonbandit · August 28, 2017

Funny thing is the ball is juiced which is producing as many if not more Homers than the steroid era. The playing conditions aren't the same regardless even if Stanton isn't taking anything.

Spanky__99 · August 28, 2017

Who f***ing cares, enjoy the game.

TheHurl · August 28, 2017

I have no idea what this post is supposed to mean.

Curious if the fans/MLB will start treating a chase to 62 hrs as a real thing...I hope it happens.

I hate that anyone thinks this way. Maris was on so much s*** (and a heavy smoker which he should get bonus points for hitting 61 while not being able to breathe). The record is 73 by the greatest hitter ever

Brownie19 · August 28, 2017

I hate that anyone thinks this way. Maris was on so much s*** (and a heavy smoker which he should get bonus points for hitting 61 while not being able to breathe). The record is 73 by the greatest hitter ever

Just to clarify - I don't necessarily fall into someone "who thinks this way". I'm just curious if fans/MLB will make this a thing.

Brownie19 · August 28, 2017

Funny thing is the ball is juiced which is producing as many if not more Homers than the steroid era. The playing conditions aren't the same regardless even if Stanton isn't taking anything.

Is there any evidence on this (besides the actual HR numbers)? I'm curious if the new approach of so many hitters (high more FB's) is the primary reason.

G-Snarls · August 28, 2017

Also, Votto walked 5 times today. Saw 43 pitches. We're watching an all-time great hitter right now.

I wonder how much hall of fame consideration will he get?

He's done it all so quietly somehow

Spanky__99 · August 28, 2017

I wonder how much hall of fame consideration will he get?

He's done it all so quietly somehow

If he stays healthy(and keeps this up), first ballot.

Brownie19 · August 28, 2017

If he stays healthy(and keeps this up), first ballot.

I was just pondering this today. He's turning 34 in 2 weeks and his career WAR is at about 52. He'd seemingly need to post another four 5 WAR seasons to get up to 72 WAR. Those would be his 35-38 seasons, so that's a lot to ask.

His career wRC+ is 158. If we assume some decline, he'll probably end up around the high 140's - right where Bagwell ended up.

It's going to be tight I'm afraid. Pulling for him though obviously.

Brownie19 · August 28, 2017

I hate that anyone thinks this way. Maris was on so much s*** (and a heavy smoker which he should get bonus points for hitting 61 while not being able to breathe). The record is 73 by the greatest hitter ever

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/giancarlo-stantons-shot-at-74/

Apparently Stanton "thinks that way".

G-Snarls · August 28, 2017

Been thinking about this lately, trying to categorize guys into HOF credentials. Thoughts?

Current players who have already done enough to make the HOF even if they retired today:

Miguel Cabrera

Adrian Beltre

Albert Pujols

Current players who have done enough to MAYBE make the HOF if they retired today. (Will get consideration but not shoo-ins)

Ichiro

Yadier Molina

Justin Verlander

Current mid-career players who will likely make the HOF with a few more good years:

Joey Votto

Clayton Kershaw

Paul Goldshmidt

Chris Sale (???)

Current younger players who clearly have the talent for a HOF career but are too early in their careers to know if they'll keep it up long enough

Mike Trout

Bryce Harper

Giancarlo Stanton

Orgfiller · August 28, 2017

Been thinking about this lately, trying to categorize guys into HOF credentials. Thoughts?

Current players who have already done enough to make the HOF even if they retired today:

Miguel Cabrera
Adrian Beltre
Albert Pujols

Current players who have done enough to MAYBE make the HOF if they retired today. (Will get consideration but not shoo-ins)

Ichiro
Yadier Molina
Justin Verlander

Current mid-career players who will likely make the HOF with a few more good years:

Joey Votto
Clayton Kershaw
Paul Goldshmidt
Chris Sale (???)

Current younger players who clearly have the talent for a HOF career but are too early in their careers to know if they'll keep it up long enough

Mike Trout
Bryce Harper
Giancarlo Stanton

Buster Posey >>>> Yadier Molina, and the former is 5 years younger, has an MVP, multiple Silver Sluggers (could end up with more), a GG and is probably a better defender than Molina tbh. FWIW those 3 World Series won't hurt.

G-Snarls · August 28, 2017

Buster Posey >>>> Yadier Molina, and the former is 5 years younger, has an MVP, multiple Silver Sluggers (could end up with more), a GG and is probably a better defender than Molina tbh. FWIW those 3 World Series won't hurt.

Oh s*** yeah

Terrible omission on my part. Posey should be on list 2 or 3.

TY

G-Snarls · August 28, 2017

Next year isn't that interesting for new HOF candidates

Year after (2019 class) is a pitching FEST - Rivera, Halladay, Pettite, Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt

John_Havok · August 28, 2017

Been thinking about this lately, trying to categorize guys into HOF credentials. Thoughts?

Current players who have already done enough to make the HOF even if they retired today:

Miguel Cabrera
Adrian Beltre
Albert Pujols

Current players who have done enough to MAYBE make the HOF if they retired today. (Will get consideration but not shoo-ins)

Ichiro
Yadier Molina
Justin Verlander

Current mid-career players who will likely make the HOF with a few more good years:

Joey Votto
Clayton Kershaw
Paul Goldshmidt
Chris Sale (???)

Current younger players who clearly have the talent for a HOF career but are too early in their careers to know if they'll keep it up long enough

Mike Trout
Bryce Harper
Giancarlo Stanton

CC sabathia might have case in your Ichiro, molina, Verlander category.

Though I highly doubt Molina gets real consideration. Russell martin, Brian McCann, Posey, Mauer....all gave superior numbers already, not to mentuo Posada who put up 45 WAR and was a 1 and done on the HOF ballot already.

Great defensive catcher but not sure he falls into all time great status.

Terminator · August 28, 2017

Oh s*** yeah

Terrible omission on my part

TY

It's all good. Tough to make a list like that without forgetting someone.

I think Ichiro is a shoo-in. Cano, Pedroia and Beltran probably get hard looks. Utley should get a hard look too but not sure if he will. His 5 year stretch was pretty remarkable.

As for pitchers- CC, Felix and Greinke could get in. Sale has some work to do but he could get in too. A lot of the top CL could have a shot too, Kimbrel among them.