Around Baseball 2018

[Abomination]

Yelich just hit for the cycle.

[Orgfiller]

Yelich just hit for the cycle.

 

The Brewers came away like bandits in that deal. Every offseason acquisition of theirs has worked out as well as it could, plus the addition of Hader to the bullpen.

[Orgfiller]

It's incredible to think that the Nats could have an elite outfield even if Bryce Harper leaves.

 

[glory]

I'm probably late to the party here, but had no idea Miles Mikolas was having the type of year he's had. After tonight: 185.2 ip, 3.01 ERA, 3.36 FIP, and a WAR around ~4.0. One hell of a signing by the Cards.

[John_Havok]

I'm probably late to the party here, but had no idea Miles Mikolas was having the type of year he's had. After tonight: 185.2 ip, 3.01 ERA, 3.36 FIP, and a WAR around ~4.0. One hell of a signing by the Cards.

 

And a bettr waiver pickup in fantasy before the season started!

[Orgfiller]

The Dodgers are teeing off of Colorado pitchers. Obviously this is a huge series for the NL West post-season race.

[Abomination]

And a bettr waiver pickup in fantasy before the season started!

 

I really, really didn't like Mikolas coming into the season. I sure got that one wrong.

[Orgfiller]

I will live-stream my own death if the Rockies win the NL West.

 

I'm with you bro. They're a team with some good talent but I hate to see incompetence rewarded and their front office just continues to make dumbfounding decisions, refusing to upgrade their team both with internal options which they have or cheap external options which were available, and continuing to play the wrong guys.

[P2F]

Ji-Man Choi looks pretty damn good.

[Abomination]

Ji-Man Choi looks pretty damn good.

 

Choi, Voit, O'Hearn. It'll be interesting to see if any of the three surprises are true breakout players.

[Orgfiller]

The Colorado Rockies ladies and gentlemen:

 

- Ian Desmond, 79 wRC+ as a full-time first baseman, -0.6 WAR, $22M

- Wade Davis, 3.88 FIP, 0.7 WAR, $16M

- Bryan Shaw, 4.95 FIP, -0.3 WAR, $7.5M

- Jake McGee, 4.97 FIP, -0.2 WAR, $7M

- Gerardo Parra, 77 wRC+, -0.4 WAR, 414 PA, $8.7M

- Noel Cuevas + Pat Valaika, -2.0 WAR, 130 combined games

[bzapple]

The Colorado Rockies ladies and gentlemen:

 

- Ian Desmond, 79 wRC+ as a full-time first baseman, -0.6 WAR, $22M

- Wade Davis, 3.88 FIP, 0.7 WAR, $16M

- Bryan Shaw, 4.95 FIP, -0.3 WAR, $7.5M

- Jake McGee, 4.97 FIP, -0.2 WAR, $7M

- Gerardo Parra, 77 wRC+, -0.4 WAR, 414 PA, $8.7M

- Noel Cuevas + Pat Valaika, -2.0 WAR, 130 combined games

 

That Desmond signing remains one of the strangest and dumbest transactions I've ever seen.

[P2F]

I think Josh James might be really good.

[Orgfiller]

I think Josh James might be really good.

 

Looks like another guy that the scouts were completely wrong about. And I don't even know how, he throws GAS and strikes everybody out.

[P2F]

Looks like another guy that the scouts were completely wrong about. And I don't even know how, he throws GAS and strikes everybody out.

 

Well, everything happened for him this season. He was nothing exciting until he got diagnosed with sleep apnea in the offseason and went from throwing 92 to throwing 99 once he got the condition under control.

[Orgfiller]

Well, everything happened for him this season. He was nothing exciting until he got diagnosed with sleep apnea in the offseason and went from throwing 92 to throwing 99 once he got the condition under control.

 

That's pretty crazy, I had no idea.

[P2F]

Here's the story:

 

Edited September 19, 2018 by P2F

[Abomination]

We should have gotten more for Happ. I said it at the deadline too, so it's not hindsight. That man is carrying the Yankees right now. Should have gotten one of their low-A arms or told Cashman to GTFO.

 

It's easy to say that, but returns at the deadline were terrible for pretty much everyone. Who knows what Drury will become (he's been highly prized for a while by multiple organizations, in spite of the on-field results). McKinney looks at least a little intriguing. Better than getting nothing, and we can still resign Happ in the offseason if he wants to come back (and he seems to like it here).

[glory]

It's easy to say that, but returns at the deadline were terrible for pretty much everyone. Who knows what Drury will become (he's been highly prized for a while by multiple organizations, in spite of the on-field results). McKinney looks at least a little intriguing. Better than getting nothing, and we can still resign Happ in the offseason if he wants to come back (and he seems to like it here).

 

True, teams were not giving up top prospects at all, so can't entirely fault the FO for taking what they perceived to be the best offer they got.

 

Still, out of all the deadline deals, the Happ trade was the one I had to convince myself to be ok with. I liked or really liked all the other moves (even the JD trade considering the circumstances), but the Happ deal was the one where I read it and was highly disappointed.

 

Oh well. Drury is resting up so he can become the next Jays late bloomer next season, and McKinney has Justin Upton upside. Just have to hope one of them works out.

[Abomination]

Lol, Acuna just pulled a Teoscar in the outfield.

[Orgfiller]

Lol, Acuna just pulled a Teoscar in the outfield.

 

He's having a really tough time out there.

[Brownie19]

Nick Markakis is 769 hits away from 3,000. If he averages 154 hits over the next 5 years (and plays until he's 40), he'll officially be the worst hitter ever to collect 3,000 hits (although Ichiro's career wRC+ is below Nick's).

[Boxcar]

Nick Markakis is 769 hits away from 3,000. If he averages 154 hits over the next 5 years (and plays until he's 40), he'll officially be the worst hitter ever to collect 3,000 hits (although Ichiro's career wRC+ is below Nick's).

 

Sooooo...making your point useless...

[P2F]

I think Josh James might be really good.

 

16 whiffs on 87 pitches tonight. No big deal, just an 18.4 SwStr%.

[Bobthe4th]

That Desmond signing remains one of the strangest and dumbest transactions I've ever seen.

 

I defended the move at the time - it seemed obvious that although Desmond was initially going to play 1B that they’d make space for him elsewhere (e.g. trading an OF).

 

Nope - turns out they really are sticking with him at 1B when he has put up wRC+ of 70 & 78 so far!

[glory]

I’m holding out hope that Shatkins can steal Gray from the Rockies. I don’t know how, but dammit, we never fleeced Dave Stewart while he was active, take advantage of the Rox.

[5ToolPhenom]

Old lady totally just Bartman'd the A's. There was bases loaded with 1 out and an old lady reached over the fence and caught a foul-ball that Piscotty would've caught. They reviewed and called no fan interference. The Angels went on to score 6 after Simmons ripped a single and Cowhart hit a Slam.

 

Brutal, especially considering that I have money riding on the A's! The ump was totally squeezing Trivino too. I'm down for robo-umps.

[Captain Adama]

Mike Trout new MLB leader in WAR.

 

All is right with the world again.

[5ToolPhenom]

It's crazy how good Trout is. Looking at his fangraphs page is like looking at fine art. Can you imagine if he played in the A.L East bandboxes?

 

Shame on Manfred and the league for not marketing him better... I know a lot of people make the excuse that he plays out West, but it sure didn't hurt Griffey Jr any.

[Bobthe4th]

It's crazy how good Trout is. Looking at his fangraphs page is like looking at fine art. Can you imagine if he played in the A.L East bandboxes?

 

Shame on Manfred and the league for not marketing him better... I know a lot of people make the excuse that he plays out West, but it sure didn't hurt Griffey Jr any.

 

It’s difficult to build up any marketing when Trout doesn’t stand out personality wise, and you only really appreciate how much better he is than everyone else when looking at a spreadsheet. Having the highest WAR every year just isn’t sexy.

 

TBF if the Angels start winning, together with the Ohtani effect of increased media attention, Trout should become more celebrated outside of baseball circles.