Around Baseball 2018

z3r0s · May 14, 2018

basically. If I had to choose between Trout and Mookie, yeah, I choose Trout. Guy is a machine. Best of our generation, maybe best ever when its all said and done.

But you can't argue that Mookie isn't having an MVP type year as well so far. Will come down to who keeps it up through the year (or if another guy steps up)
As for Shohei, he's just fun god dammit!

god damnit I never remember just how f***ing awesome Barry Bonds was. Its really crazy.

Bobthe4th · May 14, 2018

god damnit I never remember just how f***ing awesome Barry Bonds was. Its really crazy.

When I was in San Francisco last month it was noticeable that at least half of the plaques on the floor surrounding AT&T Park were for various Bonds records

http://i.imgur.com/glIjXbI.jpg

Brownie19 · May 14, 2018

When I was in San Francisco last month it was noticeable that at least half of the plaques on the floor surrounding AT&T Park were for various Bonds records

http://i.imgur.com/glIjXbI.jpg

The head proportion is all wrong on that plaque...

P2F · May 14, 2018

Bah gawd.

L54 · May 14, 2018

I wonder if Stroman has sent Freddy Peralta a HDMH swag bag yet?

BTS · May 14, 2018

Bah gawd.

For some reason I don't know much at all abut Peralta. Is he even a big velo guy?

King · May 14, 2018

For some reason I don't know much at all abut Peralta. Is he even a big velo guy?

He doesn't throw hard and he's short which is why he never made any prospect lists.

Lookings at brooksbaseball, he threw 89 fourseam fastballs in his first start (sat at 92 MPH), 8 curveballs and 1 changeup.

BTS · May 14, 2018

He doesn't throw hard and he's short which is why he never made any prospect lists.

He must have crazy deception to generate 18 whiffs on a 4-seam fastball as a short guy with poor velo.

Angrioter · May 14, 2018

For some reason I don't know much at all abut Peralta. Is he even a big velo guy?

nah

94 mph heat

P2F · May 14, 2018

For some reason I don't know much at all abut Peralta. Is he even a big velo guy?

Highlights for your viewing pleasure.

https://youtu.be/qM8a_YexrVs

He was a pop-up guy last season; basically came out of nowhere. Scouts mostly didn't seem to know what to do with him.

vdubmvp · May 14, 2018

that time before you got chopped up though. worth it.

LOL oh my god

Brownie19 · May 14, 2018

He doesn't throw hard and he's short which is why he never made any prospect lists.

Lookings at brooksbaseball, he threw 89 fourseam fastballs in his first start (sat at 92 MPH), 8 curveballs and 1 changeup.

Oh - that explains why he didn't get any swinging strikes on his secondaries...

Brownie19 · May 14, 2018

Highlights for your viewing pleasure.

https://youtu.be/qM8a_YexrVs

He was a pop-up guy last season; basically came out of nowhere. Scouts mostly didn't seem to know what to do with him.

I was expecting this 2 seamer with a pile of movement on it. I don't get it. 4 seamer with deception I guess. He's walked a ton in the minors, so it's not like he has great control either.

I do like his delivery though.

P2F · May 14, 2018

I was expecting this 2 seamer with a pile of movement on it. I don't get it. 4 seamer with deception I guess. He's walked a ton in the minors, so it's not like he has great control either.

I do like his delivery though.

If he keeps commanding that pitch the way he did yesterday, there's a lot to like despite the lack of velocity. But like you said, he's never exhibited exactly a ton of control in the minors.

So yeah, I do question the amount of upside he actually has going forward. I'm happy to own a share of him in a dynasty league, though.

King · May 14, 2018

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/meet-the-extraordinary-freddy-peralta/

Ray · May 14, 2018

Ian Desmond is still terrible. 43 OPS+ and worth -1.2 WAR already. On top of that, they're paying him $22M this season. Him and Chris Davis make me feel a little better about Kendrys Morales.

John_Havok · May 14, 2018

Ian Desmond is still terrible. 43 OPS+ and worth -1.2 WAR already. On top of that, they're paying him $22M this season. Him and Chris Davis make me feel a little better about Kendrys Morales.

I understand your point, but just because I can see 2 jet crashes, it doesn't make me feel better about watching a train wreck.

John_Havok · May 14, 2018

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/meet-the-extraordinary-freddy-peralta/

Looks like quite the pushoff.... 7 feet of extension from a sub 6 footer is pretty unusual.

King · May 14, 2018

Has Rian Watt wrote any informative pieces at Fangraphs? Here is his latest gem: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jose-ramirez-is-a-star/

Jose Ramirez is in fact, pretty good. It's not even analysis. Just telling everyone who reads fangraphs what they already know.

This is the same guy who left Luis Castillo out of his article on the Reds future this past offseason.

This guy in the comment section got downvoted to hell even though he is spot on:

"Who doesn’t know that Jose Ramirez is a top star?

Low quality article IMO, seemingly written for a low information audience. No serious data analysis other than a WAR leaderboard. The Trout-v-Ramirez map is tongue-in-cheek hopefully.

There are plenty of high performers who have not received much notice as yet, but Jose Ramirez isn’t one of them."

Fangraphs is cooked if they ever lose Jeff Sullivan IMO

BTS · May 14, 2018

Has Rian Watt wrote any informative pieces at Fangraphs? Here is his latest gem: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jose-ramirez-is-a-star/

Jose Ramirez is in fact, pretty good. It's not even analysis. Just telling everyone who reads fangraphs what they already know.

This is the same guy who left Luis Castillo out of his article on the Reds future this past offseason.

This guy in the comment section got downvoted to hell even though he is spot on:
"Who doesn’t know that Jose Ramirez is a top star?

Low quality article IMO, seemingly written for a low information audience. No serious data analysis other than a WAR leaderboard. The Trout-v-Ramirez map is tongue-in-cheek hopefully.

There are plenty of high performers who have not received much notice as yet, but Jose Ramirez isn’t one of them."

I also liked this comment:

“since the beginning of 2017, [Jose Ramirez] has produced the most WAR of any player in the game age 25 or under — yes, including Mike Trout”
I think this comparison is pretty misleading considering Trout is 26 years old now. you’re comparing 1 (injury shortened) season from Trout to about 1.25 seasons from Ramirez. Obviously Ramirez is very good and young but I think this detracts from the point.

Also, the f***ing map lol.

Rian Watt has, to my knowledge, not written a single interesting thing since being hired.

King · May 14, 2018

I also liked this comment:

Also, the f***ing map lol.

Rian Watt has, to my knowledge, not written a single interesting thing since being hired.

I guess it depends on what you mean by ‘up there,’ but I certainly agree that Ramírez and Trout are not the same caliber of baseball player.

My point in writing this article was to suggest that Ramírez is, however, one of a relatively small number (perhaps 15-20?) of elite players, and does not appear to receive national coverage or interest commensurate with that status.

That final point (relative coverage) is difficult to prove with any certainty because it’s difficult to pin down the terms, and so I can see a fair case that the article does not prove it with a particularly high level of certainty.

Given that, I’d be perfectly happy if the article was only read as “Ramírez is very good.”

lol

jaysfan2014 · May 14, 2018

UCL damage for Keynan Middleton. Season's likely over for him.

Fire Sciosia now! He's going to kill the bullpen by the All-Star break and send the Angels out of contention.

G-Snarls · May 15, 2018

Bautista with his first HR at Wrigley, and it's a sky high game winner:

https://www.mlb.com/news/jose-bautista-hits-go-ahead-homer-vs-cubs/c-276709664

Mohammed · May 15, 2018

Bautista with his first HR at Wrigley, and it's a sky high game winner:

https://www.mlb.com/news/jose-bautista-hits-go-ahead-homer-vs-cubs/c-276709664

I think he bought himself another week of playing time

P2F · May 15, 2018

Albies homered again.

Spanky__99 · May 15, 2018

Heaney spun a gem with a 10/1 K/BB in the Angels win, Mariners also won getting more separation on the Jays PS hopes.

Also, Votto and Pollock left their games due to injury.

Edited May 15, 2018 by Spanky99

Spanky__99 · May 15, 2018

The Rockies have the best pitching they've had in 100 years and are absolutely hell bent on making Cargo, Parra and Desmond work in their lineup.

Who do you want playing, I'm guessing McMahon/Tapia and Dahl?

King · May 15, 2018

Is anyone watching this Giants/Reds game? About a million seagulls have taken residency in the outfield.

Spanky__99 · May 15, 2018

Is anyone watching this Giants/Reds game? About a million seagulls have taken residency in the outfield.

Every single game, lol. Exhibition stadium was like that.

Boxcar · May 15, 2018

I guess it depends on what you mean by ‘up there,’ but I certainly agree that Ramírez and Trout are not the same caliber of baseball player.

My point in writing this article was to suggest that Ramírez is, however, one of a relatively small number (perhaps 15-20?) of elite players, and does not appear to receive national coverage or interest commensurate with that status.

That final point (relative coverage) is difficult to prove with any certainty because it’s difficult to pin down the terms, and so I can see a fair case that the article does not prove it with a particularly high level of certainty.

Given that, I’d be perfectly happy if the article was only read as “Ramírez is very good.”

lol

He appears to be much more invested as a social activist. His passion seems more centered on dealing with homelessness, which is fine, but why is he writing about baseball when he doesn't really seem to have a great grasp on...anything. Anyone can find a player who maybe doesn't get his due on a WAR leaderboard and then make a post stating that the player in question is good.