Around Baseball 2018

[Boxcar]

Boxy, do not read this article. You WILL be triggered.

 

https://nypost.com/2018/10/11/ron-darlings-needless-apology-embarrassing-for-all-involved/

 

Why did you tell me not to read it.

 

How are the people who are obsessed with racializing literally everything not the ones being called racist. That's what I want to know.

[Dr. Dinger]

I just love how Ron Darling - OF CHINESE DESCENT - had to apologize to a JAPANESE man for saying the word "chink" in a sentence about him. Granted, sports announcers really should avoid saying "chink in the armor," "cotton-pickin'," "niggardly," and other easily substitutable words that could be misconstrued as racially insensitive. Darling should just do what Pat Tabler does and refer to Tanaka's "Akeelees heel."

[intrigid]

Would love to see an announcer comment on C.B. Bucknor's niggardly strike zone.

[Brownie19]

Freese put up a 140 wRC+ over more PAs and is a career 134 wRC+ hitter against lefties. This isn't that shocking of a move.

 

Muncy was the Dodgers best player this year. His wRC+ vs. LHP was 141. I mean sure you can sub him in once Gio is out of the game, but wouldn't you rather keep Freese on the bench to use in a pinch hitting role vs. a LHP late in the game? This is an insane move.

[Grant77]

Freese and Muncy hit LHP the same this year. And Freese has a better glove, so you're most likely coming out ahead. But then you have 3 years of data on Freese killing LHP so you know for sure that his data is reliable.

 

Then you have the fact that Freese is on a monster heater since joining LAD and Muncy had like a .500 OPS vs. LHP in the 2nd half, perhaps pointing to the unreliability of his season long output vs. LHP.

 

It's not really insane.

 

Freese has also been a playoff beast in his career, with a pretty long track record.

[Grant77]

The Orioles made an eyebrow-raising move in August when they traded $750K in international money to the Phillies for minor league first baseman Jack Zoellner. It turns out the Phillies may have released Zoellner had they not found a taker for him, according to Kubatko. Per Kubatko, Philly was “far less enthusiastic about Zoellner” than Baltimore’s front office, which was then led by since-fired GM Dan Duquette. Zoellner doesn’t rank among Baltimore’s top 30 prospects at MLB.com, and, as Kubatko notes, didn’t stand out in Rookie ball from 2017-18 despite being old for the level.

[Boxcar]

Well, Orioles aren't going to use that money anyway

May as well trade it for literally anything.

[P2F]

Random thought: I wonder if/when we'll see Paul Goldschmidt get dealt. Is it realistic that he signs an extension with Arizona? I really don't believe it is.

[Laika]

Random thought: I wonder if/when we'll see Paul Goldschmidt get dealt. Is it realistic that he signs an extension with Arizona? I really don't believe it is.

 

Kind of strikes me as the type of guy who would just extend with the org he is currently with, forever

[43211234]

The Orioles made an eyebrow-raising move in August when they traded $750K in international money to the Phillies for minor league first baseman Jack Zoellner. It turns out the Phillies may have released Zoellner had they not found a taker for him, according to Kubatko. Per Kubatko, Philly was “far less enthusiastic about Zoellner” than Baltimore’s front office, which was then led by since-fired GM Dan Duquette. Zoellner doesn’t rank among Baltimore’s top 30 prospects at MLB.com, and, as Kubatko notes, didn’t stand out in Rookie ball from 2017-18 despite being old for the level.

 

While the Orioles have been refusing to spend international money they've been paying Buck Showalter $4M per year.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2018/08/27/baseball-managers-salaries-joe-maddon-dave-roberts-aj-hinch/1102815002/

[John_Havok]

While the Orioles have been refusing to spend international money they've been paying Buck Showalter $4M per year.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2018/08/27/baseball-managers-salaries-joe-maddon-dave-roberts-aj-hinch/1102815002/

 

Some of those salaries are a joke. These guys should be in the multiple 7 figures minimum (like 2 million) with all the s*** they have to deal with, be aware of and handle on a daily basis. While they are not as key to actual wins as having great players, it's still an important role in the rg that deserves better pay than slightly above a player's league minimum.

 

though you'll never see me clamoring for a 10 million dollar baseball manager unless revenues keep going way up.

[DigitalRock]

Why did you tell me not to read it.

 

How are the people who are obsessed with racializing literally everything not the ones being called racist. That's what I want to know.

 

Humans and society are f***ing crazy.....

[TheHurl]

Rage inducing article warning.

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2791455?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&fbclid=IwAR2LDqlnFOjPU-deIR_y2Ad9JbcBX5EyB-5IsiTjdKH1LvTvKsXM3hSS7hA

 

so many trigger points for me. Wish I saw this in August when Scott wrote it.

[Boxcar]

Rage inducing article warning.

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2791455?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&fbclid=IwAR2LDqlnFOjPU-deIR_y2Ad9JbcBX5EyB-5IsiTjdKH1LvTvKsXM3hSS7hA

 

so many trigger points for me. Wish I saw this in August when Scott wrote it.

 

Has zero to do with the fact that pitchers are throwing the ball harder than ever. Zero.

[John_Havok]

Rage inducing article warning.

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2791455?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&fbclid=IwAR2LDqlnFOjPU-deIR_y2Ad9JbcBX5EyB-5IsiTjdKH1LvTvKsXM3hSS7hA

 

so many trigger points for me. Wish I saw this in August when Scott wrote it.

 

I wish i'd never read it. It's just a massive pile of "old guys complain about why stuff isn't like it was 40 years ago" crap. Any article that uses Goose Gossage for quotes, unless it's purely for LOLs deserves to be ripped up.

 

And then this gem....

 

"When you don't put the ball in play, you have no chance to get on base. Absolutely none, unless the catcher can't catch," Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire says. "The point of baseball is to get on base. I don't think that will ever change. But it's taking some knocks now."

 

Guess he never heard of a walk. That's a major league manager folks. The only way to get on base is by getting a hit.

[P2F]

i wish i'd never read it. It's just a massive pile of "old guys complain about why stuff isn't like it was 40 years ago" crap. Any article that uses goose gossage for quotes, unless it's purely for lols deserves to be ripped up.

 

And then this gem....

 

"when you don't put the ball in play, you have no chance to get on base. Absolutely none, unless the catcher can't catch," detroit manager ron gardenhire says. "the point of baseball is to get on base. I don't think that will ever change. But it's taking some knocks now."

 

guess he never heard of a walk. That's a major league manager folks. The only way to get on base is by getting a hit.

 

jfc

[Bobthe4th]

I wish i'd never read it. It's just a massive pile of "old guys complain about why stuff isn't like it was 40 years ago" crap. Any article that uses Goose Gossage for quotes, unless it's purely for LOLs deserves to be ripped up.

 

And then this gem....

 

"When you don't put the ball in play, you have no chance to get on base. Absolutely none, unless the catcher can't catch," Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire says. "The point of baseball is to get on base. I don't think that will ever change. But it's taking some knocks now."

 

Guess he never heard of a walk. That's a major league manager folks. The only way to get on base is by getting a hit.

 

Yeah, how they can complain that "emotion and energy" is being taken out of the game by banning take out slides and deliberately taking out the catcher, but then the same people moan about bat flips or celebrating? That's just "it wasn't like this in my day".

 

OK there's a grain of truth in too many relievers slowing the game down, but it's not like baseball has ever been a fast paced non stop game even when starters would regularly go 7 to 9 innings.

 

One point I could understand if they did make changes - limiting shifts. In the short form of cricket (i.e. the 20 or 50 overs a side formats) there are fielding position restrictions to encourage attacking, exciting play. Sport is first and foremost an entertainment, so some sort of restriction on shifts wouldn't be unprecedented to allow players more chance to get the ball in play. The counterpoint is players should be able to react to shifts, and young kids learning the game now might be able to adjust better so long term the shift could create more dynamic hitters and be good for the game.

 

Also the complaining about modern baseball just being too repetitive (a moot point, baseball by its very nature is repetitive) doesn't mesh very well with then moaning about the shift because players are not standing where they are supposed to!

[Captain Adama]

Rage inducing article warning.

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2791455?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&fbclid=IwAR2LDqlnFOjPU-deIR_y2Ad9JbcBX5EyB-5IsiTjdKH1LvTvKsXM3hSS7hA

 

so many trigger points for me. Wish I saw this in August when Scott wrote it.

 

I feel like this is a great topic to bring up for the next podcast.

[BTS]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jose-reyes-has-been-honored-for-his-off-field-behavior/

 

The fangraphs community is PISSED that Jose Reyes was voted by the players as the Mets nominee for the Marv Miller Man of the Year Award. Players voted for the player they “most respect based on his leadership on the field and in the community.”

 

Apparently people are defined by one incident, and the players are wrong to hold high respect for Reyes.

[Bobthe4th]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jose-reyes-has-been-honored-for-his-off-field-behavior/

 

The fangraphs community is PISSED that Jose Reyes was voted by the players as the Mets nominee for the Marv Miller Man of the Year Award. Players voted for the player they “most respect based on his leadership on the field and in the community.”

 

Apparently people are defined by one incident, and the players are wrong to hold high respect for Reyes.

 

Well if you read the article the other 29 teams voted for a player heavily involved in charities, the Mets appear to have voted for Reyes due to him being old! That alone is a bit odd - when you add in that he beat up his wife just 2 years ago which resulted in a MLB ban and him being released from the Rockies, it seems inappropriate.

 

Maybe he has made a big effort to be a good example with the Mets, but are you really surprised that him being nominated for an off the field role model award is controversial?

[BTS]

Well if you read the article the other 29 teams voted for a player heavily involved in charities, the Mets appear to have voted for Reyes due to him being old! That alone is a bit odd - when you add in that he beat up his wife just 2 years ago which resulted in a MLB ban and him being released from the Rockies, it seems inappropriate.

Maybe he has made a big effort to be a good example with the Mets, but are you really surprised that him being nominated for an off the field role model award is controversial?

 

I actually kind of am TBH. Given that players are nominated for being respected by their teammates as a person, rather than as a player, I don't see how anyone can really question whether he's deserving of the nomination. I see it as a nice reminder that people are a lot more than their worst moments, and that none of us actually know these guys as people.

[Bobthe4th]

I actually kind of am TBH. Given that players are nominated for being respected by their teammates as a person, rather than as a player, I don't see how anyone can really question whether he's deserving of the nomination. I see it as a nice reminder that people are a lot more than their worst moments, and that none of us actually know these guys as people.

 

The Mets are putting forward a guy as the best example of an off the field role model out of all the Mets players, who 2 years ago hospitalised his wife by throwing her through a glass door. And you’re saying you can’t see why that might be considered controversial? Really?

 

Again, he may well have been an amazing role model since then and if evidence of that comes out great. On the face of it, when you first heard the news I find it unlikely you didn’t think it was at least notable and worth a discussion.

[BTS]

The Mets are putting forward a guy as the best example of an off the field role model out of all the Mets players, who 2 years ago hospitalised his wife by throwing her through a glass door. And you’re saying you can’t see why that might be considered controversial? Really?

 

Again, he may well have been an amazing role model since then and if evidence of that comes out great. On the face of it, when you first heard the news I find it unlikely you didn’t think it was at least notable and worth a discussion.

 

It's interesting, yes. But I don't see how it's controversial. The players respect who they respect.

[Spanky__99]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jose-reyes-has-been-honored-for-his-off-field-behavior/

 

The fangraphs community is PISSED that Jose Reyes was voted by the players as the Mets nominee for the Marv Miller Man of the Year Award. Players voted for the player they “most respect based on his leadership on the field and in the community.”

 

Apparently people are defined by one incident, and the players are wrong to hold high respect for Reyes.

 

As soon as I read this, I knew it was a Sheryl Ring article, no thanks.

[Boxcar]

To find out what Reyes had done to merit the honor, I reached out to the MLBPA, which declined comment through a spokesperson. I also reached out to several Mets players, none of whom responded. In addition, I contacted KPMG, the accounting firm which tabulated the votes; they also provided no comment.

 

Lmao, Sheryl has absolutely zero traction or credibility in baseball.

[Spanky__99]

Sounds like Oh is returning to the KBO... that would've sucked balls had he still been a Jay.

 

Oh wants to return to KBO

 

Oct. 17: Seung-hwan Oh wants to return to the Korea Baseball Organization after three seasons in MLB, the Rockies reliever told Korean news outlets Wednesday.

 

Oh has a guaranteed $2.5 million salary with the Rockies for next season, as the vesting option in his contract kicked in after he made 70 appearances this year. But the 36-year-old's preference appears to be to go back to the league where he pitched his first nine professional seasons. Oh first left the KBO for Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball in 2014, then jumped to the Major Leagues in 2016.

 

"I am a bit exhausted after spending five seasons in Japan and the United States," Oh said. "I feel like I want to return to the KBO while I still have the energy to help the team and pitch in front of home fans. I can't make this decision alone. I'll have to speak with my agency about the next season."

 

Oh also said, "It's not easy living in a foreign country. You have to face the opposing hitters on the mound, and there are a lot of other things you have to battle off the field. Everything away from the stadium is an extension of competition."

 

If Oh does, in fact, leave the Majors, the Rockies would have to replace a key bullpen spot for 2019. After the Rockies acquired him in July, Oh became an important member of what was at times a shaky relief corps in Colorado, posting a 2.53 ERA in 25 appearances down the stretch with 24 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings. Oh pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in the Rockies' NL Wild Card Game win over the Cubs, keeping the game tied in the 10th and 11th innings. He allowed two runs in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Brewers, but pitched a scoreless inning in Game 3.

 

Adam Ottavino, probably the team's best reliever this season, is also set to become a free agent. Without Oh, addressing the bullpen this winter, which would already have been a priority for the Rockies, would become even more critical.

[KevinGregg]

Sounds like Oh is returning to the KBO... that would've sucked balls had he still been a Jay.

 

Would that count as him essentially retiring from the mlb? i.e. he gives up his entire salary and if he wants to come back to mlb the Rockies would still have him for the last year

[Spanky__99]

Would that count as him essentially retiring from the mlb? i.e. he gives up his entire salary and if he wants to come back to mlb the Rockies would still have him for the last year

 

I believe so.

[glory]

 

Jeter making moves.

[bzapple]

Sounds like Oh is returning to the KBO... that would've sucked balls had he still been a Jay.

 

I guess it's time for the Rockies to overpay some more free agent relievers.