Around Baseball 2023

[Olerud363]

Feels like bad teams can't even stumble into good players anymore. It's all about being programmed properly by your organization. The sport has become so technical and information based.

 

I could be wrong but the bad teams just seem to be at such a disadvantage. Of course that's why the league is trying to cap front office spending now.

 

When organizations can use tracking software to find tells on pitchers and give it to their 40 FV hitter, he's going to outperform the Royals or Rockies 60 FV.

 

Just feels like a different game right now.

 

It's going to be fascinating when somebody explains what the f*** has happened during the last 10 years. The only saving grace is that any teams secrets can't remain secrets forever, or for very long, as players change organizations.

 

Look at the Yankees, in 2019 they had multiple unexplained weird performances and hit 300 homers, with Judge and Stanton injured and only hitting 30 together... Mike Ford, Mike Tauchman, Gio Urshelo Torres, Gary Sanchez all came crashing down, some dramatically. A small part of it is the ball was unjuiced, but that doesn't explain why now, all kinds of Yankees are underperforming.

 

Maybe only Judge is allowed to know 'the system' as he doesn't want the other guys revealing it.

 

Or maybe all this s*** is just random...

[Laika]

Feels like bad teams can't even stumble into good players anymore. It's all about being programmed properly by your organization. The sport has become so technical and information based.

 

I could be wrong but the bad teams just seem to be at such a disadvantage. Of course that's why the league is trying to cap front office spending now.

 

When organizations can use tracking software to find tells on pitchers and give it to their 40 FV hitter, he's going to outperform the Royals or Rockies 60 FV.

 

Just feels like a different game right now.

 

it's like drone warfare

[Jonn]

Mike Zunnio DFA’d by Cleveland.

 

Hit 33 Homeruns in 21.

 

I’m sure he will end back with the Rays and they will salvage something from him.

[keggy]

Is Bobby Witt Jr. becoming the next Alex Gordon for the Royals? His statcast page is RED, but the production is similar to last year. He's now 900+ PA's into his career with a 96 wRC+ Thoughts?

 

Witt is a year or two from becoming an MVP candidate.

[Pendleton]

 

Sheff is spot on, I can't believe dummies were actually giving Robert s*** for this.

[max silver]

 

Sheff is spot on, I can't believe dummies were actually giving Robert s*** for this.

 

Maybe some of the consternation is due to perceived lack of effort on behalf of Robert at times in the past, but there's literally nothing he could have done on this play to prevent the winning run from scoring. If he makes what appears to be one of the hardest catches in major league history the runner tags and scores easily anyway.

[Jonn]

 

Sheff is spot on, I can't believe dummies were actually giving Robert s*** for this.

 

I guess White Sox fans expected him to cover 100 feet and make a miraculous catch only to lose to a sac fly anyway. There's literally nothing he could have done there unless the base runner at third passed out on his trip home.

[Grant77]

Maybe some of the consternation is due to perceived lack of effort on behalf of Robert at times in the past, but there's literally nothing he could have done on this play to prevent the winning run from scoring. If he makes what appears to be one of the hardest catches in major league history the runner tags and scores easily anyway.

 

I actually think he could have caught that ball but it wouldn't have made any difference.

[max silver]

I actually think he could have caught that ball but it wouldn't have made any difference.

 

Yeah I looked it up in the Statcast box score and it was only a .350 xBA for that particular play, so it would likely have been catchable for Robert given his speed.

[Jonn]

Yeah I looked it up in the Statcast box score and it was only a .350 xBA for that particular play, so it would likely have been catchable for Robert given his speed.

 

Does that factor his positioning because he already playing well in. He wasn’t really at Outfield depth. Considering where it landed where he started from I think it would have been a tough catch.

[jaysblue]

 

Sheff is spot on, I can't believe dummies were actually giving Robert s*** for this.

 

If you bet Freeman to get one hit in the game, you gotta thank Roberts for that haha.

[jaysblue]

I actually think he could have caught that ball but it wouldn't have made any difference.

 

The pitcher would have been granted an out correct? So 0.1 innings of work don't count haha.

[max silver]

Does that factor his positioning because he already playing well in. He wasn’t really at Outfield depth. Considering where it landed where he started from I think it would have been a tough catch.

 

That's a good question. The provided definition from MLB about xBA does little to clear that up.

 

Expected Batting Average (xBA)

Definition

Expected Batting Average (xBA) is a Statcast metric that measures the likelihood that a batted ball will become a hit.

 

Each batted ball is assigned an xBA based on how often comparable balls -- in terms of exit velocity, launch angle and, on certain types of batted balls, Sprint Speed -- have become hits since Statcast was implemented Major League wide in 2015. (As of January 2019, xBA now factors in a batter's seasonal Sprint Speed on "topped" or weakly hit" balls).

 

For example, a line drive to the outfield with an xBA of .700 is given that figure because balls with a similar exit velocity and launch angle have become hits seven out of 10 times.

 

Knowing the expected outcomes of each individual batted ball from a particular player over the course of a season allows for the formation of said player's Expected Batting Average on balls in play. Real-world strikeout totals are then added in, resulting in a player's seasonal Expected Batting Average based on the quality of contact, instead of the actual outcomes. Likewise, this exercise can be done for pitchers to get their Expected Batting Average against.

[Spanky__99]

He was playing in and never could've made the out at home, it's a non issue. Whomever is crying over effort is clueless, period. GSJ nailed it.

[jaysblue]

He was playing in and never could've made the out at home, it's a non issue. Whomever is crying over effort is clueless, period. GSJ nailed it.

 

Garrett Crochet is crying over it. Counts as a hit against him and cost him an inning and a third on his pitching line/season stats.

[Spanky__99]

Garrett Crochet is crying over it. Counts as a hit against him and cost him an inning and a third on his pitching line/season stats.

 

No he isn't, that'd be absurd?

[jaysblue]

No he isn't, that'd be absurd?

 

Haha I don't know have to ask him.

 

Would suck if it was the LOD finals and a team rostering Crochet lost the IP category by 0.1 haha.

[John_Havok]

That's a good question. The provided definition from MLB about xBA does little to clear that up.

 

No xBA doesn’t take defensive position into account directly on a play by play basis, but differing outfield alignments would factor in the amount of times certain types of balls fall for hits, but it’s impact in cases like this would be extremely weak. Like, how many times in baseball history have that exact defensive alignment played with that EV and LA vs the amount of times a normal alignment…would be like 1000 times to 1 or 2 (or worse) weighing in the favour of the normal alignment making the out vs falling for a hit. Like…maybe that ball goes off the monster in Boston for a hit sometimes, maybe a time or 2 per season a ball like that would get lost in the sun or shadow somewhere also.

 

That’s why so many lefties underperformed their xBAs against the shift.

[connorp]

David Freese rejects the offer to go into the Cards HOF.

Clearly salty about something

[Pendleton]

[Orgfiller]

Jason Heyward is really giving credence to the “it’s incredibly hard” quote from Ron Washington about playing first base. My god he looks like a little leaguer over there.

[Brownie19]

David Freese rejects the offer to go into the Cards HOF.

Clearly salty about something

 

I read that David Freese struggled with a lot of mental health issues after that 2011 World Series run. He never felt he was able to play up to the same level he did during those playoffs and that haunted him for the rest of his career. He was essentially only being inducted into the Cards HOF because of his role in the 2011 title and thus accepting a spot in their HOF would be a constant reminder of his inability to replicate that success. No idea of that's true or not though.

[Laika]

I read that David Freese struggled with a lot of mental health issues after that 2011 World Series run. He never felt he was able to play up to the same level he did during those playoffs and that haunted him for the rest of his career. He was essentially only being inducted into the Cards HOF because of his role in the 2011 title and thus accepting a spot in their HOF would be a constant reminder of his inability to replicate that success. No idea of that's true or not though.

 

that's sad if true

 

because he was a solid player AND very consistent

 

just look at his wRC+ or WAR year to year. Never a below average hitter and never a replacement level player, even at his worst

[BTS]

AA has done it again:

 

Orlando Arcia signed a 3-year 7.3M contract in spring training, that also includes a 2M team option for 2026. They'll get 4 years for 8.3M. He's been worth 2.3 fWAR so far this season, and missed a month with an injury. Would have hit FA this coming offseason, and would probably be looking at a 50M deal.

 

I wonder if any part of him feels bad for what he does.

[BigCecil]

I read that David Freese struggled with a lot of mental health issues after that 2011 World Series run. He never felt he was able to play up to the same level he did during those playoffs and that haunted him for the rest of his career. He was essentially only being inducted into the Cards HOF because of his role in the 2011 title and thus accepting a spot in their HOF would be a constant reminder of his inability to replicate that success. No idea of that's true or not though.

 

Very sad. One would think he could just be grateful in the knowledge you were one of the most clutch all time bats in history when it mattered most.

 

I was out for dinner with friends on a trip in Scottsdale and had to leave table to watch one of those games on a TV in the restaurant. I'll never forget Nelson Cruz just missing that catch for TEX. Weren't the Cards down to their last strike in the WS like 6 times?

 

Mental health challenges and depression are brutal, and affect people you might never expect.

[Jonn]

 

Getting Sproated.

 

Sproat Goat

 

Sproat f***

 

So much potential.

[Brownie19]

Everyone seems to be throating the Reds right now like they are this new young, great team and the team to beat in the NL Central.

 

While they certainly are hot and everyone loves Elly - I just don't see this ending well for them. They don't have the depth or the pitching to keep this up.

[Laika]

Everyone seems to be throating the Reds right now like they are this new young, great team and the team to beat in the NL Central.

 

While they certainly are hot and everyone loves Elly - I just don't see this ending well for them. They don't have the depth or the pitching to keep this up.

 

ehhhhhh maybe not this year but they look really f***ing good

they were able to very quickly plug holes with guys who now look like league average position players. Friedl, Fraley, and Steer now cover LF/CF and 1B or 3B and they control them for a few years at least.

India is a quality incumbent controllable for a few more years. There is 2B.

Stephenson is playing poorly but has been good in the past. I think they can consider C covered.

McLain looks real. SS covered.

Elly looks like a freak. That's the remaining infield position covered.

Senzel is a wild card. Maybe a decent bench player for a couple of years.

So they need to find probably ONE full time position player for next year and they have a lot of hot prospects to choose from. CES, Neolvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Cam Collier...

 

Greene + Ashcraft + Lodolo + Abbott + Williamson + Lyon Richardson + Connor Phillips + Chase Petty is also some pretty nice young SP depth.

[Brownie19]

ehhhhhh maybe not this year but they look really f***ing good

they were able to very quickly plug holes with guys who now look like league average position players. Friedl, Fraley, and Steer now cover LF/CF and 1B or 3B and they control them for a few years at least.

India is a quality incumbent controllable for a few more years. There is 2B.

Stephenson is playing poorly but has been good in the past. I think they can consider C covered.

McLain looks real. SS covered.

Elly looks like a freak. That's the remaining infield position covered.

Senzel is a wild card. Maybe a decent bench player for a couple of years.

So they need to find probably ONE full time position player for next year and they have a lot of hot prospects to choose from. CES, Neolvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Cam Collier...

 

Greene + Ashcraft + Lodolo + Abbott + Williamson + Lyon Richardson + Connor Phillips + Chase Petty is also some pretty nice young SP depth.

 

I don't see what's interesting abou Ashcraft (I guess velo) or Williamson. I also expect McLain to drop off a cliff. That .441 BABIP won't last and he hit .232 with a 116 wRC+ in AA last year. I do see a lot of solid players - I just don't see them keeping it up this year and may need to spend to round out the team.

[Laika]

I don't see what's interesting abou Ashcraft (I guess velo) or Williamson. I also expect McLain to drop off a cliff. That .441 BABIP won't last and he hit .232 with a 116 wRC+ in AA last year. I do see a lot of solid players - I just don't see them keeping it up this year and may need to spend to round out the team.

 

Ashcraft has a 124 stuff+ this year.

 

He's a sleeping giant, if he can put it all together.

 

Yeah they probably should spend money on the team this offseason. Add a big bat and SP. They won't though, haha.