Around Baseball 2017

[Krylian]

Danny Duffy sounds like the name of a guy that would do that.

[Ray]

What an idiot. His teammate just died driving drunk in the offseason. He should know better. $65 million contract, yet can't get cab or Uber.

[BTS]

Juan Nicasio placed on irrevocable waivers. Weird. Someone is getting a good reliever for free.

[Spanky99]

Juan Nicasio placed on irrevocable waivers. Weird. Someone is getting a good reliever for free.

 

Head scratcher... likely a clubhouse incident/issue.

[Dr. Dinger]

Looks like Pujols may have some competition for worst contract in baseball:

 

Ausmus: Miggy's back problem likely chronic

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said late Tuesday that Miguel Cabrera will probably have to battle back problems for the remainder of his career.

Cabrera was held out of the Tigers' lineup Tuesday at Coors Field after leaving Monday's series opener against the Rockies with lingering lower back tightness. It's something that has bothered him since the World Baseball Classic in March and he figures to need regular days off down the stretch this season. "Quite frankly, I think he’s going to have to deal with it the rest of his career," Ausmus said after Tuesday night's 7-3 loss in Colorado. "Probably, it’ll come and go. What you don’t want to do is make yourself worse, or create a bad habit that impacts performance or creates another problem." Cabrera, 34, is owed more than $185 million from the Tigers on a contract that runs through 2023 and he has produced a career-low .745 OPS here in 2017.

[BTS]

Looks like Pujols may have some competition for worst contract in baseball:

 

Ausmus: Miggy's back problem likely chronic

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said late Tuesday that Miguel Cabrera will probably have to battle back problems for the remainder of his career.

Cabrera was held out of the Tigers' lineup Tuesday at Coors Field after leaving Monday's series opener against the Rockies with lingering lower back tightness. It's something that has bothered him since the World Baseball Classic in March and he figures to need regular days off down the stretch this season. "Quite frankly, I think he’s going to have to deal with it the rest of his career," Ausmus said after Tuesday night's 7-3 loss in Colorado. "Probably, it’ll come and go. What you don’t want to do is make yourself worse, or create a bad habit that impacts performance or creates another problem." Cabrera, 34, is owed more than $185 million from the Tigers on a contract that runs through 2023 and he has produced a career-low .745 OPS here in 2017.

 

Getting fat always catches up to you. Always. Don't get fat, kids.

[Dr. Dinger]

Getting fat always catches up to you. Always. Don't get fat, kids.

 

He started fat.

[HERPDERP]

A+ play

http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/08/30/1789223183/1504120414080/asset_2500K.mp4

[vdubmvp]

A+ play

http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2017/08/30/1789223183/1504120414080/asset_2500K.mp4

 

Damn that was a tense few seconds.

[Boxcar]

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

 

Stanton seems like a bit of a dummy. Sure, McGwire, Sosa and Bonds were on PEDs, but Stanton is playing with juiced up balls. If their records don't count, Stanton's shouldn't either.

[glory]

The Orioles are going to win the 2nd Wild Card, aren't they? For as much s*** as their front office gets, if they make it again this year, that's four playoff appearances in six years despite having no farm system and a middling roster on paper practically every year. Either Showalter is that good or they sold their soul to the baseball god's. They are 9-3 against the Jays this year and have four coming up. We'll probably help them win the WC which is even worse.

[Boxcar]

Damn, there is a lot of crap in the AL. The Orioles might make the playoffs while being barely over .500.

 

Meanwhile, the Dodgers are conservatively projected to win 110 games. Holy f***.

[ChrisS]

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

 

Stanton seems like a bit of a dummy. Sure, McGwire, Sosa and Bonds were on PEDs, but Stanton is playing with juiced up balls. If their records don't count, Stanton's shouldn't either.

 

Stanton has already had more ABs (482) than Bonds (476) did during the 73 HR season. As much as Bonds is dis-likeable, its quite remarkable that he managed a homerun every 6.52 ABs, playing half his games at AT&T.

[Abomination]

Stanton has already had more ABs (482) than Bonds (476) did during the 73 HR season. As much as Bonds is dis-likeable, its quite remarkable that he managed a homerun every 6.52 ABs.

 

In a lot of ways, his next season was even more impressive. 32.4% walk rate, 7.7% k rate (giving him an absurd .582 obp).

[ChrisS]

In a lot of ways, his next season was even more impressive. 32.4% walk rate, 7.7% k rate (giving him an absurd .582 obp).

 

Yeah, over a 4:1 BB:K ratio and a 244 WRC+ lol. Greatest power hitter ever.

[TheHurl]

If my memory serves me correctly this very topic (how well could any of us hit against major league pitching) caused a great argument on the old board (leading to bannings I'm sure)

 

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/would-chris-hayes-get-a-hit-in-a-full-season-of-play/

 

I think back then I said give me 6 months of training and I'd hit .100+. I'm now older, not even playing slo pitch and have right shoulder, elbow and wrist issue. I'm going guess my answer now is .050 or worse.

[Bobthe4th]

If my memory serves me correctly this very topic (how well could any of us hit against major league pitching) caused a great argument on the old board (leading to bannings I'm sure)

 

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/would-chris-hayes-get-a-hit-in-a-full-season-of-play/

 

I think back then I said give me 6 months of training and I'd hit .100+. I'm now older, not even playing slo pitch and have right shoulder, elbow and wrist issue. I'm going guess my answer now is .050 or worse.

 

How fit are you? Could you run to 1st base without having a heart attack?

 

Realistically unless someone has played to a fairly decent standard, and has kept themselves physically fit, any amateur would struggle to get a hit more than a handful of times.

[King]

[Spanky99]

 

lulz

[Spanky99]

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

 

Stanton seems like a bit of a dummy. Sure, McGwire, Sosa and Bonds were on PEDs, but Stanton is playing with juiced up balls. If their records don't count, Stanton's shouldn't either.

 

Funny thing Bonds' was his mentor, why say anything, big dummy?!

[Spanky99]

Damn, there is a lot of crap in the AL. The Orioles might make the playoffs while being barely over .500.

 

Meanwhile, the Dodgers are conservatively projected to win 110 games. Holy f***.

 

The Orioles are connorp!

[TheHurl]

Fresh off the greatest season in the IBL history, The Barrie Baycats have started a petition to get Paul Spoljaric into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. After his pretty short MLB career Paul has continued to give back to Canadian baseball, playing in the 2004 Olympics, and continuing with the National team program post career. Paul also played 7 years in the IBL and continues to support the games going with his wife Lisa to Baycats games. He's helped develop baseball in Northern Ontario as well. Pretty much has done it all in Ontario...for a BC kid.

 

https://www.change.org/p/lisa-spoljaric-signature-of-support-for-paul-spoljaric-s-canadian-hof-induction-nomination?recruiter=29815784&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=share_email_responsive

[TheHurl]

How fit are you? Could you run to 1st base without having a heart attack?

 

Realistically unless someone has played to a fairly decent standard, and has kept themselves physically fit, any amateur would struggle to get a hit more than a handful of times.

 

The 90 feet aren't a problem. I am getting fat (40 lbs gained in 4 years) but I still have my legs and play ultimate regularly. When I was in Florida in 2015 I faced the 90 to 100 mph pitching machine and it took a bit but was making regular contact (not a lot of solid contact). But you also know those pitches are coming. I'm going to guess I'd be around a 70% strikeout victim and hope that I pull off a .150 BABIP to get my 25 or so hits in 600 PAs

[BTS]

If my memory serves me correctly this very topic (how well could any of us hit against major league pitching) caused a great argument on the old board (leading to bannings I'm sure)

 

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/would-chris-hayes-get-a-hit-in-a-full-season-of-play/

 

I think back then I said give me 6 months of training and I'd hit .100+. I'm now older, not even playing slo pitch and have right shoulder, elbow and wrist issue. I'm going guess my answer now is .050 or worse.

 

A couple commenters on that article said that the average fit adult male would often get thrown out at 1B on a single into the OF. I think they're giving MLB players a bit too much credit. As a fit 30-year old, I don't think an MLB OF would have a chance to throw me out if I miraculously managed to get the ball past the infield. I'd put money on me being faster down the line than the Billy Butlers of the world.

[jays_fever]

Funny thing Bonds' was his mentor, why say anything, big dummy?!

 

Pretty sure they didn't mesh at all. Bonds was always on him because Stanton didnt have the same plate discipline/pitch recognition.

[Muck Bartinez]

A couple commenters on that article said that the average fit adult male would often get thrown out at 1B on a single into the OF. I think they're giving MLB players a bit too much credit. As a fit 30-year old, I don't think an MLB OF would have a chance to throw me out if I miraculously managed to get the ball past the infield. I'd put money on me being faster down the line than the Billy Butlers of the world.

 

Agreed. If Morales, Smoak, and Bautista aren't getting thrown out at 1st on singles, then no one is. Especially when you consider how much faster the ball is reaching of their bats compared to what it would be off of ours.

 

That being said, there could be some pretty creative shifts that might drop the BABIP's to .100 or less when teams know there's no chance of the ball being squared up for power.

[Brownie19]

Fresh off the greatest season in the IBL history, The Barrie Baycats have started a petition to get Paul Spoljaric into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. After his pretty short MLB career Paul has continued to give back to Canadian baseball, playing in the 2004 Olympics, and continuing with the National team program post career. Paul also played 7 years in the IBL and continues to support the games going with his wife Lisa to Baycats games. He's helped develop baseball in Northern Ontario as well. Pretty much has done it all in Ontario...for a BC kid.

 

https://www.change.org/p/lisa-spoljaric-signature-of-support-for-paul-spoljaric-s-canadian-hof-induction-nomination?recruiter=29815784&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=share_email_responsive

 

Paul lives in Lisle, which is a very small hamlet next to Base Borden (and home to the Lisle Astros, who play in the league I'm in). Our team played against Paul's kids on the August long weekend and I assume he was there (I was on the boys trip down in Pitts/Clev/Cinn).

[King]

A couple commenters on that article said that the average fit adult male would often get thrown out at 1B on a single into the OF. I think they're giving MLB players a bit too much credit. As a fit 30-year old, I don't think an MLB OF would have a chance to throw me out if I miraculously managed to get the ball past the infield. I'd put money on me being faster down the line than the Billy Butlers of the world.

I think you can test this yourself.

 

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/165096680/billy-burns-leads-statcast-speed-rankings/

 

The slowest competitive home to 1st times in 2015 were:

 

394. Wilson Ramos, RH, 4.89 seconds

395. Albert Pujols, RH, 4.92 seconds

396. Michael Morse, RH, 4.94 seconds

397 (tie). Billy Butler, RH, 4.95 seconds

397 (tie). Curt Casali, RH, 4.95 seconds

 

Fastest

1. Burns, LH, 3.85 seconds

2. Gordon, LH, 3.91 seconds

3. Hamilton, LH, 3.95 seconds

4. Delino DeShields, RH, 3.96 seconds

5 (tie). Jose Altuve, RH, 3.98 seconds

5 (tie). Ichiro Suzuki, LH, 3.98 seconds (at 41 years old!)

 

So just head to a nearby park, map out 90 feet distance and get someone to time you. Also record it and post the video on here so we can be sure that your distance and stopwatch person were both accurate.

[Boxcar]

I think you can test this yourself.

 

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/165096680/billy-burns-leads-statcast-speed-rankings/

 

The slowest competitive home to 1st times in 2015 were:

 

394. Wilson Ramos, RH, 4.89 seconds

395. Albert Pujols, RH, 4.92 seconds

396. Michael Morse, RH, 4.94 seconds

397 (tie). Billy Butler, RH, 4.95 seconds

397 (tie). Curt Casali, RH, 4.95 seconds

 

Fastest

1. Burns, LH, 3.85 seconds

2. Gordon, LH, 3.91 seconds

3. Hamilton, LH, 3.95 seconds

4. Delino DeShields, RH, 3.96 seconds

5 (tie). Jose Altuve, RH, 3.98 seconds

5 (tie). Ichiro Suzuki, LH, 3.98 seconds (at 41 years old!)

 

So just head to a nearby park, map out 90 feet distance and get someone to time you. Also record it and post the video on here so we can be sure that your distance and stopwatch person were both accurate.

 

How is Morales not in the bottom 5?

[Spanky99]

Pretty sure they didn't mesh at all. Bonds was always on him because Stanton didnt have the same plate discipline/pitch recognition.

 

I just read an article on it the other day? Can't remember from where, think it was MLB.com.

 

Edit: Can't find the one I read...http://www.knbr.com/2017/08/30/stanton-on-bonds-guidance-we-talk-all-the-time/

Edited August 31, 2017 by Spanky99