Brownie19

Has there ever been a lefty knuckleballer in the majors?

Rocco talking about Montoyo. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/rocco-baldelli-extols-charlie-montoyos-leadership-skills-and-nelson-cruzs-too/

Odd - he doesn't strike me as the type.

nice looking swing. Sign him up.

Angel f***ing Hernandez. The herpes of MLB.

I don't disagree - the issue is simply that he's uncomfortable with change to the point that he'll tell the FO that he'll walk out on the team if they employ a particular strategy. I don't like his sense of entitlement.

Holy s*** - I made the mistake of looking at the Yahoo comments on this story.... Bob Gibson pitched for 17 seasons. From 1963 through 1974 he averaged 18.5 complete games, 263 innings and 19.45 wins per season. Now he was a pitcher. So basically this practice is just converting starting pitchers to glorified long relievers. I remember more than two to three decades ago when we actually had single game pitcher complete games! What a novelty. In those days the third even fourth rated pitcher on a team could literally have more individual complete games in a season than an entire team does today!!! Greg Maddux once threw a complete game with 76 pitches. Just sayin' I'd be extremely disappointed if Bum said he was ok with an "opener". I want the starting pitchers to have the attitude that they will start and finish a game not just "let me get through 5 innings". I love baseball but some of these methods they're trying to use these days is lessening the durability of some of these players. You look at the early 90s and before and pitchers were throwing many more innings and pitches and not suffering the same injuries as today. I don't have the stats in front of me, it I would venture to guess most of those pitchers (the good ones obviously) pitched even longer in the majors then most of the pitchers of today last too. Analytics can be a useful tool, but it also can be detrimental . Back in the day, MLB didn't even have closers, much less middle-relievers...but now openers? Good grief. Using openers will eventually ruin baseball if the trend grows. Instead, why don't coaches quit babying their starters as they are coming up through the system and let them develop some stamina and strength to be able to pitch six or seven or eight innings each start? Is Yahoo the unofficial home of senior citizens? I hope to god I never become this close minded. How difficult is it to understand that hitters are significantly better now then they were 30 years ago? They understand mechanics better, they train better, they eat better, etc. Pitching has likewise transformed to counter these changes. You can't be a great pitcher with a K/9 of 5.2 and a BB/9 of 3.2 anymore (like Dave Stieb). The vast majority (95%?) of pitchers can't succeed by pacing themselves and trying to throw a CG anymore. I assume we're past the days when teams want the starting pitchers to have the attitude that they will start and finish a game right? I have to assume they are more educated now - explaining that their job is to go flat out as long as they can and "get through 5 or 6 innings" because that's how they'll be most successful. This isn't that difficult of concept to understand. I know people hate change, but c'mon people.

Precisely what makes him a little bitch. "Hey guy who pays me millions of dollars and you other guy who is paid to help this team win - don't change how you're doing things because I personally want the outside chance at some arbitrary personal achievement that only means something due to traditions created by sub-optimal managing from a time when we didn't have the information we do today."

Those sure are some wicked highlights. I can see why you stick around hoping for more gems like that.

There's also a strong possibility that Seattle wants something in return for him....they may not want to give up a prospect just to shed some $$$.

maybe their message boards are nicer too...

Go research the velocity that RA was adding to his knuckle ball and what effects it had to his SwStr%. I believe that's where the "scouts believe he can be even better" quote originated from. Now someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe he had knee or groin injuries in TO, which prevented him from maintaining the velocity gains - and thus he regressed and the rest is history.

Right - because personal goals and dreams mean more than team success. The opener hasn't 'yet' been used with 'ace' level pitchers either.....and Bochy put it best. If Madbum doesn't want to be used with an opener - pitch better. Madbum's been hurt the past 2 years and hasn't pitched nearly as good as he did in his prime.

FIFY. He's arguably better than Mo was at this point in his career.

https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/1714188/madbum-if-you-use-an-opener-in-my-game-im-walking-out-of-the-ballpark Madbum's trending down in my books. He sounds like the modern day Goose Gossage. I guess he's just positioning himself as best he can for a big payday? meh - he sounds like a little bitch.

This may reduce the # of tercet scouting reports we receive. I support this move.

meh - you guys ruined prospect lists for me. There's no point in reading others now.

We have a new leader for the 2019 BJMB Troll of the Year folks. DP is going to be tough to beat again!

Lawrie went on to promote ketchup chips throughout Canada. I'm not sure how THAT can't be considered the high point of his career.

Any audio link?

It seems about right after you saw what they accepted for 2 years of M.Ozuna...

well - which one is it?

you know Joel Sherman? Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that a J.T. Realmuto trade to the Phillies is "down to physical reviews" and the agreement on a third piece. The two big pieces in the return package for Miami would be top pitching prospect Sixto Sanchez and catcher Jorge Alfaro. Mickey Moniak, Alec Bohm, Adonis Medina, and Adam Haseley are among the other Phillies prospects being discussed. Sherman notes that nothing is finalized yet, but it does sound like there is a strong framework in place for this swap to get done -- possibly by the end of the day Thursday. Realmuto, 27, has also been connected recently to the Braves, Reds, Padres, and Dodgers.

It can't be. You can't watch teams sign LOOGY's and then give them the FU by changing the rules.

New Spring Training hats are in.... https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/1711084 Jays rank 22nd. Same s***** concept with a maple leaf on a hat. So stupid. Tigers + Marlins make some pretty awesome hats. Ones I would consider wearing even though each team is s***.