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2016 MLB thread. THE CUBS HAVE BROKEN THE CURSE! Chicago Cubs are your 2016 World Series champions
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by proshares,
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jpzx
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Originally Posted by 651akathePaul
Weird. Twins fan. I'm more Mariners these days though.
jpzx
Supporter
- 55,676
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- Joined
- Feb 7, 2008
Originally Posted by 651akathePaul
Weird. Twins fan. I'm more Mariners these days though.
Originally Posted by briannnnn
Originally Posted by Stringer Bell 32
Whats up with Pineda's shoulder injury?
Yankee fans seem to have their ideas:
- Verducci effect
- Pineda didn't work out in the offseason (came into camp 15 lbs overweight)
- He may have had a problem starting from the end of the season with Seattle
- Too much tweaks in his mechanics that either affected the shoulder or aggravated something that was already affecting his shoulder.
And someone thinks Cashman knew this was a potential problem, hence the Andy Pettitte signing.
This makes the Pineda trade hurt even more for some fans as Jesus Montero is healthy with the M's...
But hey! At least the battle for the rotation is over and decided!
You'd rather have it start this way than have it start the way it did last season with Hughes. They have the depth, no need to rush the kid. Hell, even have him throw a couple games in SWB when he's healthy.
Cleveland's plea to Ubaldo Jimenez.
Spoiler [+]
Ubaldo Jimenez is known for being an intelligent guy, for being well-spoken. In the aftermath of Sunday's incident -- in which he hit former teammate Troy Tulowitzki in the elbow with a fastball before rushing off the mound and seemingly inviting the opportunity for more than just angry words -- Jimenez gave a perfectly worded answer in addressing the question of whether he had aimed his fastball at Tulowitzki.
Defense lawyers all over America would be proud of what he said in explaining his actions, as described in Paul Hoynes' story this morning:
The Colorado Rockies aren't buying it, of course; Jim Tracy was furious. The Rockies are expected to request a suspension, writes Troy Renck. It figures that Jimenez will face a suspension of at least five games, which is the minimum required to impact a starting pitcher who participates only once every five days. Commissioner Bud Selig was reportedly at Sunday's game.
The Cleveland Indians did extensive work in checking on Jimenez before they traded top pitching prospects Alex White and Drew Pomeranz for him last summer, and undoubtedly, part of what made Jimenez attractive to them -- beyond his ability to throw a great fastball -- was his smarts.
It would not be surprising if, at some point, they appeal to that smarts in the hours and days ahead and ask him to move on. As in: Forget about the Rockies. Please. Move on, please. We need you, Ubaldo. We need you completely focused on how you can help us, this season.
Josh Johnson could be a pivotal performer for the Miami Marlins. It's hard to imagine the Atlanta Braves winning unless Jason Heyward produces. Ryan Braun has got to have a big year to anchor the Milwaukee lineup.
But it stands to reason that the Indians have more riding on Jimenez than other teams have on other players. No team came within 15 games of the Detroit Tigers, who added Prince Fielder in the offseason, and Cleveland must have a good, and maybe even a great, year out of Jimenez if the Indians are going to threaten Detroit for the AL Central title. They traded for Jimenez based on his seeming ability to be as dominant as he was in the first half of 2010 when he went 15-1.
So this peripheral stuff can be only a distraction. It can't help. It can only hurt Jimenez, who has not looked good this spring, allowing 30 hits and 15 walks in 23 innings while posting a 7.43 ERA.
If there's a suspension -- and presumably there will be -- he just needs to get past it, for the sake of his teammates.
The Indians set their final roster.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• The Braves traded for a third baseman. From David O'Brien's story:
• Stephen Drew has turned a corner in his rehab.
• Ned Yost sees no reason to anoint a particular closer. To be honest, I'm not sure if there's really any upside for any team to specify a closer, in the same way it doesn't really help to name a captain. There are many roles on a baseball team, from that of leadoff hitter to No. 3 hitter to the No. 2 starter -- but besides picking a starter for Opening Day, managers almost never anoint someone for a particular role as they do with a closer. Managers move hitters up and down the lineups and back and forth in the rotation according to performance.
The reason why closers have been specifically chosen is because some players say they like to know their role. But I think the Tampa Bay Rays have always handled this in the right way, giving their relievers a heads-up about possible matchups that Joe Maddon might look to put them into, and telling them to be ready in case the phone rings.
• The New York Yankees and Miami Marlins played in Miami's new ballpark. It was a cool day, writes Dave Hyde.
• David Ortiz has advice for Justin Morneau as he shifts into a DH role, writes David Dorsey.
• Bruce Bochy got to manage his son Brett for an inning. Pretty cool.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Rick Ankiel took batting practice.
2. There's no need to rush a decision on Brandon Inge, writes Drew Sharp. It's possible he could open the year on the disabled list.
3. The San Francisco Giants are relatively healthy as the season opens.
4. The Padres' Tim Stauffer is dealing with a triceps issue.
5. Matt Lindstrom's minor-league outing went well.
6. Tim Hudson is going to start today.
[h3]The fight for jobs[/h3]
1. Jeff Francis was sent to the minors by the Cincinnati Reds.
2. Drew Smyly's cool demeanor may have helped him win the No. 5 spot in the Tigers' rotation.
3. First base is still being sorted out by the Oakland Athletics, writes Joe Stiglich.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Asdrubal Cabrera reached an agreement through the 2014 season, writes Paul Hoynes.
2. The Cubs' Triple-A team will be loaded.
3. A young catcher is being given a chance to prove himself.
4. Brian Dozier was among the players sent to Triple-A by the Minnesota Twins.
5. John Farrell structures his lineup to provide protection for Jose Bautista -- Edwin Encarnacion may hit behind Bautista.
6. Felix Hernandez will start on Saturday. Some scouts who watched replays of his Opening Day start noted that his velocity was down.
7. The Boston Red Sox set their rotation.
8. Brett Wallace was sent to the minors.
[h3]Sunday's games[/h3]
1. Gio Gonzalez looked good.
2. Desmond Jennings clubbed three homers.
3. Carl Pavano struggled at the back end of his last spring outing.
4. Daniel Hudson had a nice final outing.
5. Buster Posey had another milestone, as John Shea writes.
6. Chad Billingsley struggled against Arizona.
7. Mike Matheny argued a call.
Defense lawyers all over America would be proud of what he said in explaining his actions, as described in Paul Hoynes' story this morning:
- "It was the first inning and I didn't have good control of my fastball. You guys can see that. I walked the first guy. Tulo is one of the best hitters in the game and you have to try to go inside on him and that's what I tried to do."
- "I was surprised," said Jimenez, when asked about Tulowitzki moving toward him. "I've never had any problem with him. He was calling me things.
- "I'm a man. I try to relax all the time, but if someone calls me out, I've got to go. He was calling me names. He was calling me a chicken. Well, not chicken, but another really aggressive word that I can't say right now.
- "I don't look for trouble, but if you call me out, I'll be there."
The Colorado Rockies aren't buying it, of course; Jim Tracy was furious. The Rockies are expected to request a suspension, writes Troy Renck. It figures that Jimenez will face a suspension of at least five games, which is the minimum required to impact a starting pitcher who participates only once every five days. Commissioner Bud Selig was reportedly at Sunday's game.
The Cleveland Indians did extensive work in checking on Jimenez before they traded top pitching prospects Alex White and Drew Pomeranz for him last summer, and undoubtedly, part of what made Jimenez attractive to them -- beyond his ability to throw a great fastball -- was his smarts.
It would not be surprising if, at some point, they appeal to that smarts in the hours and days ahead and ask him to move on. As in: Forget about the Rockies. Please. Move on, please. We need you, Ubaldo. We need you completely focused on how you can help us, this season.
Josh Johnson could be a pivotal performer for the Miami Marlins. It's hard to imagine the Atlanta Braves winning unless Jason Heyward produces. Ryan Braun has got to have a big year to anchor the Milwaukee lineup.
But it stands to reason that the Indians have more riding on Jimenez than other teams have on other players. No team came within 15 games of the Detroit Tigers, who added Prince Fielder in the offseason, and Cleveland must have a good, and maybe even a great, year out of Jimenez if the Indians are going to threaten Detroit for the AL Central title. They traded for Jimenez based on his seeming ability to be as dominant as he was in the first half of 2010 when he went 15-1.
So this peripheral stuff can be only a distraction. It can't help. It can only hurt Jimenez, who has not looked good this spring, allowing 30 hits and 15 walks in 23 innings while posting a 7.43 ERA.
If there's a suspension -- and presumably there will be -- he just needs to get past it, for the sake of his teammates.
The Indians set their final roster.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• The Braves traded for a third baseman. From David O'Brien's story:
- Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Martin Prado would move back to left field and Francisco would fill in for Jones most of the time, although the Braves will still use Prado at third base and Matt Diaz in left field against some left-handers.
- Francisco, 24, was rated the best power-hitting prospect in the Reds organization a year ago. He had at least 23 homers and 90 RBIs in three consecutive minor league seasons thru 2009 and has a .284 average and five homers in 181 plate appearances in parts of three major league seasons with the Reds.
- "We're going to give him every opportunity," Gonzalez said of the left-handed hitter. "I don't think he's ever had an opportunity to play every day at the major league level. I know in the minor leagues he's always been a guy who's hit for average also. So we'll give him an opportunity whenever Chipper's out."
• Stephen Drew has turned a corner in his rehab.
• Ned Yost sees no reason to anoint a particular closer. To be honest, I'm not sure if there's really any upside for any team to specify a closer, in the same way it doesn't really help to name a captain. There are many roles on a baseball team, from that of leadoff hitter to No. 3 hitter to the No. 2 starter -- but besides picking a starter for Opening Day, managers almost never anoint someone for a particular role as they do with a closer. Managers move hitters up and down the lineups and back and forth in the rotation according to performance.
The reason why closers have been specifically chosen is because some players say they like to know their role. But I think the Tampa Bay Rays have always handled this in the right way, giving their relievers a heads-up about possible matchups that Joe Maddon might look to put them into, and telling them to be ready in case the phone rings.
• The New York Yankees and Miami Marlins played in Miami's new ballpark. It was a cool day, writes Dave Hyde.
• David Ortiz has advice for Justin Morneau as he shifts into a DH role, writes David Dorsey.
• Bruce Bochy got to manage his son Brett for an inning. Pretty cool.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Rick Ankiel took batting practice.
2. There's no need to rush a decision on Brandon Inge, writes Drew Sharp. It's possible he could open the year on the disabled list.
3. The San Francisco Giants are relatively healthy as the season opens.
4. The Padres' Tim Stauffer is dealing with a triceps issue.
5. Matt Lindstrom's minor-league outing went well.
6. Tim Hudson is going to start today.
[h3]The fight for jobs[/h3]
1. Jeff Francis was sent to the minors by the Cincinnati Reds.
2. Drew Smyly's cool demeanor may have helped him win the No. 5 spot in the Tigers' rotation.
3. First base is still being sorted out by the Oakland Athletics, writes Joe Stiglich.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Asdrubal Cabrera reached an agreement through the 2014 season, writes Paul Hoynes.
2. The Cubs' Triple-A team will be loaded.
3. A young catcher is being given a chance to prove himself.
4. Brian Dozier was among the players sent to Triple-A by the Minnesota Twins.
5. John Farrell structures his lineup to provide protection for Jose Bautista -- Edwin Encarnacion may hit behind Bautista.
6. Felix Hernandez will start on Saturday. Some scouts who watched replays of his Opening Day start noted that his velocity was down.
7. The Boston Red Sox set their rotation.
8. Brett Wallace was sent to the minors.
[h3]Sunday's games[/h3]
1. Gio Gonzalez looked good.
2. Desmond Jennings clubbed three homers.
3. Carl Pavano struggled at the back end of his last spring outing.
4. Daniel Hudson had a nice final outing.
5. Buster Posey had another milestone, as John Shea writes.
6. Chad Billingsley struggled against Arizona.
7. Mike Matheny argued a call.
Yoenis Cespedes' tremendous potential.
Spoiler [+]
Billy Beane is still dealing with the changes in time zones, working in a nap when he can. But any sleepiness he has felt hasn't dulled the first impression from Yoenis Cespedes' debut in the big leagues this week.
"He's got no fear whatsoever," Beane said Saturday.
The scouting report on Cespedes was established weeks before he signed with the Oakland Athletics.
When Cespedes played in a handful of winter ball games in the Dominican Republic, he struggled against breaking pitches -- sliders, in particular -- in the eyes of scouts. So it wasn't any surprise that the Mariners hammered Cespedes with breaking balls in the first two games, like lions going after a limping gazelle.
But Cespedes gave no ground, Beane noticed. If Cespedes swung and missed at a breaking ball in one at-bat, there was no carryover to the next at-bat. "He's got an incredible amount of focus," Beane said. "He wants to be a great player. … He doesn't take [a bad at-bat] with him."
And he made adjustments during his at-bats, reaching down and away to drive a slider from Felix Hernandez for a double in the opener. In Game 2, Seattle reliever Shawn Kelley hung a slider -- and Cespedes crushed it for a home run. "I don't know if television could've done it justice," said Beane. "It was an absolute rocket."
Some scouts who have seen Cespedes this spring believe that he is so strong, he will hit some home runs almost by accident: If he gets fooled on a pitch and doesn't make perfect contact, he'll still have enough power to lift the ball out of the park.
"Every time he comes to the plate," Beane said, "he's got a chance to hit one out. … He's a very serious kid, and he's not afraid."
Based on recent history, the Mariners and Athletics might have a tough time early in the year, as they adjust back to U.S. time.
• Concerns abound for the Phillies, writes Bob Brookover. Within the piece, Bob writes about the Ryan Howard and Chase Utley injuries, and their impacts on the team:
"I am saying the Marlins and the Nationals are now the favorites," a baseball scout said after hearing about Utley. "Father Time is passing the Phillies by."
Roy Halladay closed out his rough spring.
• The Marlins have reacted to concerns about inadequate parking at their new ballpark.
• The Pirates' expectations are at a different level, writes Bob Cohn and Rob Biertempfel.
• Jamie Moyer must remain competitive until Jorge De La Rosa returns, writes Troy Renck.
Having written off Moyer in 1995 -- when I covered him as a struggling starter for the Baltimore Orioles -- I've long since stopped assuming that he can't be successful. But of all the ballparks in the majors, Coors Field would seem to be the toughest for him, because of the enormous spaces in the outfield and because hitters will generally put the ball in play against him.
He's had only two starts in that park in his career, a really small sample size, and in those games he allowed 17 hits and 11 earned runs in 11 innings. So it makes sense for the Rockies to start him as often as they can in ballparks on the road -- as they are doing in the first week of the season, when Moyer starts in Colorado's second game, in Houston.
• A humble Mat Gamel is quieting critics, writes Tom Haudricourt.
• Richard Griffin did a Q&A with Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos.
• The Rays' radical defensive shifts translate into wins, writes Marc Topkin.
• Barry Zito continues to search for the right delivery.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Michael Pineda will open the year on the disabled list.
2. Two-thirds of Washington's starting outfield could start the year on the disabled list.
3. Shaun Marcum is on track to start April 9.
4. One of the last candidates trying to win a job in the Rangers' bullpen got hurt, Evan Grant writes.
5. Brandon Lyon is nearing the end of his long road back.
6. The Astros are concerned about Jed Lowrie.
7. Dallas Braden had a setback.
[h3]The fight for jobs[/h3]
1. The Tigers will likely decide on Brandon Inge by Monday, writes John Lowe. Jim Leyland is noncommittal about the Tigers' roster.
2. A guy going for a utility job with the Red Sox hasn't been told to stop showing up, writes Dan Duggan.
3. The Phillies face some difficult roster decisions.
4. A reliever was ecstatic to get word he's made the White Sox roster, writes Mark Gonzales.
5. Jeff Salazar appears to have made the Rays' roster.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. The Red Sox will announce their rotation today. It's expected to include Daniel Bard and Felix Doubront, with Alfredo Aceves moving to the bullpen.
2. Jake Arrieta may or may not get the ball on Opening Day for the Orioles. I've talked with scouts who believe Arrieta is the Orioles' best pitcher this spring.
3. The Indians will need to win early in order to merit a bump in payroll, writes Sheldon Ocker.
4. Starlin Castro was in the 3-hole in the Cubs' lineup.
5. Josh Hamilton says he's open to contract talks during the season, writes Jeff Wilson.
6. The Padres like to define their bullpen jobs.
[h3]Saturday's games[/h3]
1. Andy Pettitte threw a simulated game and knows he has work to do, writes George King.
2. Stephen Strasburg closed out his spring training.
3. Justin Masterson got hit hard in the 10th straight spring loss for the Indians.
4. The Braves played a rain-shortened game.
5. Neftali Feliz made his final Cactus League start.
6. Clayton Kershaw has a harsh opinion of how he pitched.
"He's got no fear whatsoever," Beane said Saturday.
The scouting report on Cespedes was established weeks before he signed with the Oakland Athletics.
When Cespedes played in a handful of winter ball games in the Dominican Republic, he struggled against breaking pitches -- sliders, in particular -- in the eyes of scouts. So it wasn't any surprise that the Mariners hammered Cespedes with breaking balls in the first two games, like lions going after a limping gazelle.
But Cespedes gave no ground, Beane noticed. If Cespedes swung and missed at a breaking ball in one at-bat, there was no carryover to the next at-bat. "He's got an incredible amount of focus," Beane said. "He wants to be a great player. … He doesn't take [a bad at-bat] with him."
And he made adjustments during his at-bats, reaching down and away to drive a slider from Felix Hernandez for a double in the opener. In Game 2, Seattle reliever Shawn Kelley hung a slider -- and Cespedes crushed it for a home run. "I don't know if television could've done it justice," said Beane. "It was an absolute rocket."
Some scouts who have seen Cespedes this spring believe that he is so strong, he will hit some home runs almost by accident: If he gets fooled on a pitch and doesn't make perfect contact, he'll still have enough power to lift the ball out of the park.
"Every time he comes to the plate," Beane said, "he's got a chance to hit one out. … He's a very serious kid, and he's not afraid."
Based on recent history, the Mariners and Athletics might have a tough time early in the year, as they adjust back to U.S. time.
• Concerns abound for the Phillies, writes Bob Brookover. Within the piece, Bob writes about the Ryan Howard and Chase Utley injuries, and their impacts on the team:
- "It's tough," said Cole Hamels, one of the three remaining pitching aces who will be leaned upon heavily to produce in the absence of Howard and Utley. "They are the guys who have been here since I've been here. These were the go-to guys. They are the guys you always count on, and they definitely put fear in an opposing pitcher."
"I am saying the Marlins and the Nationals are now the favorites," a baseball scout said after hearing about Utley. "Father Time is passing the Phillies by."
Roy Halladay closed out his rough spring.
• The Marlins have reacted to concerns about inadequate parking at their new ballpark.
• The Pirates' expectations are at a different level, writes Bob Cohn and Rob Biertempfel.
• Jamie Moyer must remain competitive until Jorge De La Rosa returns, writes Troy Renck.
Having written off Moyer in 1995 -- when I covered him as a struggling starter for the Baltimore Orioles -- I've long since stopped assuming that he can't be successful. But of all the ballparks in the majors, Coors Field would seem to be the toughest for him, because of the enormous spaces in the outfield and because hitters will generally put the ball in play against him.
He's had only two starts in that park in his career, a really small sample size, and in those games he allowed 17 hits and 11 earned runs in 11 innings. So it makes sense for the Rockies to start him as often as they can in ballparks on the road -- as they are doing in the first week of the season, when Moyer starts in Colorado's second game, in Houston.
• A humble Mat Gamel is quieting critics, writes Tom Haudricourt.
• Richard Griffin did a Q&A with Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos.
• The Rays' radical defensive shifts translate into wins, writes Marc Topkin.
• Barry Zito continues to search for the right delivery.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Michael Pineda will open the year on the disabled list.
2. Two-thirds of Washington's starting outfield could start the year on the disabled list.
3. Shaun Marcum is on track to start April 9.
4. One of the last candidates trying to win a job in the Rangers' bullpen got hurt, Evan Grant writes.
5. Brandon Lyon is nearing the end of his long road back.
6. The Astros are concerned about Jed Lowrie.
7. Dallas Braden had a setback.
[h3]The fight for jobs[/h3]
1. The Tigers will likely decide on Brandon Inge by Monday, writes John Lowe. Jim Leyland is noncommittal about the Tigers' roster.
2. A guy going for a utility job with the Red Sox hasn't been told to stop showing up, writes Dan Duggan.
3. The Phillies face some difficult roster decisions.
4. A reliever was ecstatic to get word he's made the White Sox roster, writes Mark Gonzales.
5. Jeff Salazar appears to have made the Rays' roster.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. The Red Sox will announce their rotation today. It's expected to include Daniel Bard and Felix Doubront, with Alfredo Aceves moving to the bullpen.
2. Jake Arrieta may or may not get the ball on Opening Day for the Orioles. I've talked with scouts who believe Arrieta is the Orioles' best pitcher this spring.
3. The Indians will need to win early in order to merit a bump in payroll, writes Sheldon Ocker.
4. Starlin Castro was in the 3-hole in the Cubs' lineup.
5. Josh Hamilton says he's open to contract talks during the season, writes Jeff Wilson.
6. The Padres like to define their bullpen jobs.
[h3]Saturday's games[/h3]
1. Andy Pettitte threw a simulated game and knows he has work to do, writes George King.
2. Stephen Strasburg closed out his spring training.
3. Justin Masterson got hit hard in the 10th straight spring loss for the Indians.
4. The Braves played a rain-shortened game.
5. Neftali Feliz made his final Cactus League start.
6. Clayton Kershaw has a harsh opinion of how he pitched.
Yankees await answers on Pineda.
Spoiler [+]
It's impossible to separate Michael Pineda from the headlines and hype. He was the rookie who threw lightning bolts, and it was easy power -- 96-98 mph, and it was like he was playing catch. He dominated hitters for most of last season, and when Yankees veterans heard that Jesus Montero had been traded for him, they were thrilled and shocked, texting each other rapidly and excitedly. Pineda's talent is that inspiring.
What is forgotten is that Pineda is about the same age as collegians, and he may have made the same kind of mistakes that have happened since baseball began, and will continue to happen -- something as predictable as a freshman being homesick.
Only Pineda knows exactly what has happened since the week of Jan. 1, when most pitchers begin their throwing regimen. But the fact that Pineda showed up at the Yankees' camp with a gut was a sign that he was out of shape, and hadn't done a lot of work in the days after he was traded. It was evidence that Pineda hadn't thrown much.
If so, he's not the first player to fall out of top condition, and he won't be the last. CC Sabathia, as accountable a player as there is in the majors, has battled his weight throughout his career, and in the last weeks of last season, he lost. Phil Hughes came into camp too heavy last spring.
So as spring training began, Pineda had a lot of catching up to do. Like Joba Chamberlain in the spring of 2011, he was given extra work -- "fat camp," to use the words of one baseball official -- and by all accounts, the Yankees have been pleased with Pineda's effort.
His fastball velocity was down in his first appearances, at around 90-91 mph, but the Yankees assumed that this was a case of a young pitcher building arm strength, as he worked himself back into shape.
But now, they're asking whether it was something else, in the aftermath of Friday's news that Pineda would have an MRI on his right shoulder. On Saturday, sources said that the MRI showed mild inflammation, no structural damage or tears. He'll be shut down for the next 10-15 days, and will open the season on the disabled list.
It's reasonable to wonder whether Pineda's shoulder has been hurting for a while, and if he fell into the same trap that has caught other pitchers in the past.
It's reasonable to wonder if Pineda -- working to catch up and meet the high expectations of the Yankees -- might've developed some soreness early in camp. It's reasonable to wonder if he remained silent, not wanting to let anyone down, and instead just kept pitching and working and trying to make it all work.
This is a common mistake made by young pitchers: Rather than listening to their body and communicating with team trainers and making an effort to understand the difference between pain and stiffness, they say nothing and hope it all goes away. This is a common occurrence among players in spring training, as they are trying to win jobs.
If this is what happened with Pineda, then the Yankees' next concern is this: Has he been set back? Will they have to shut him down completely to rest his arm while working to get the rest of his body back in shape? Can he help them in 2012, or is this going be something that might basically cost him as a season -- as it did with Hughes last year?
Freddy Garcia appears to have earned a spot in the rotation, writes George King.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• The Royals mapped out a plan for their negotiations last fall, in a specific pecking order. First, they approached their longest-tenured unsigned position player, Alex Gordon, and while they didn't get a deal done, they made inroads.
Then they signed catcher Salvador Perez to a five-year deal, and shortly thereafter they agreed to terms with shortstop Alcides Escobar. On Friday they announced a new four-year deal with Gordon, for $37.5 million.
They've paid Billy Butler. They've paid Gordon. They've invested in a couple of core young guys, demonstrating that they're in this for the long haul.
And now they'll turn to Eric Hosmer, and will try to convince him to be their Troy Tulowitzki. Maybe it'll work out, maybe it won't; no matter what happens, the Royals know they'll have Hosmer anchoring their lineup for the next six seasons.
But they have handled these contract talks exceptionally, with respect to the clubhouse hierarchy.
• The Padres invested in Cory Luebke.
• Yu Darvish was dominant in his last spring start. Darvish has fit on and off the field.
• The Braves opened camp flush with pitching, but in the aftermath of a series of injuries, they have signed 37-year-old Livan Hernandez, as David O'Brien writes.
• With Jeff Samardzija locked into the rotation, the Cubs are looking for bullpen help.
• With the Phillies' lineup hammered by injuries, Juan Pierre might get a bigger role. From Matt Gelb's story:
LF Juan Pierre
CF Shane Victorino
RF Hunter Pence
SS Jimmy Rollins
1B Ty Wigginton
3B Placido Polanco
C Carlos Ruiz
2B Freddy Galvis
Look, no matter how the Phillies' lineup looks, they'll have a popgun attack and will need to win in the manner described by GM Ruben Amaro: They've got to catch it, and pitch it.
• And the hits just keep on coming for the Indians: Now Jeanmar Gomez is hurt.
Left field continues to be a problem for the Indians, writes Terry Pluto. You wonder if, in the end, this is the best place for Johnny Damon. If the Indians are willing to consider the 38-year-old Bobby Abreu -- who hit .215 in the second half of last year, was 4-for-46 in spring before Friday and is regarded as one of the majors' worst outfielders -- in a platoon, why not Damon, if he's willing to play for $1 million-$1.5 million?
The Abreu trade talks fell apart over salary concerns.
• A rival evaluator on the Twins' Chris Parmelee, who figures to get a lot of the at-bats at first base given that Justin Morneau is being used as a designated hitter: "He reminds me of Paul Sorrento." In other words: a big left-handed slugger who capable of contributing some home runs, amid some ugly at-bats.
[h3]The fight for jobs[/h3]
1. Some young pitchers are trying to pry their way into the Houston rotation, writes Zachary Levine, in the aftermath of Livan Hernandez's release.
2. The Tigers keep waiting for someone to seize the No. 5 spot in their rotation, and candidates continue to struggle -- this time, Duane Below. This means that Drew Smyly probably has pitched the best among the possible No. 5 guys.
3. The Pirates have some bullpen depth.
4. Liam Hendriks is likely to start the season in the Twins' rotation, writes John Shipley.
5. The Marlins shipped a starter to the minors.
6. Mike Fontenot was cut.
7. Jamie Moyer is lined up in the No. 2 spot in the Rockies' rotation, as Troy Renck writes.
8. Mike Trout was sent to the minors.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. The Red Sox will probably have as much success asking for more compensation in the Babe Ruth deal as they will in the Theo Epstein compensation issue, in the aftermath of the news that a prospect they got will have surgery. Here's the thing: The Red Sox reviewed the medical records for Chris Carpenter, the prospect they received, and Boston also administered its own physical -- before the deal was completed.
At this point, it'd be better to just move on. But as Michael Silverman writes here, the conversation continues:
2. Matt Bush was placed on the restricted list, a way for Tampa Bay to take him off its 40-man roster.
3. Joe Maddon is tinkering with his outfield options.
4. The Orioles have placed Alfredo Simon on waivers.
5. Dale Sveum is feeling pretty good about his rotation.
6. The White Sox will look to finalize their roster Sunday.
7. The Jays traded for a pitcher.
8. Andre Ethier is open to contract talks during the season.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Sounds like Chien-Ming Wang won't be in the Washington rotation until sometime around the end of April.
2. Gerald Laird hurt his knee, but says he'll be OK.
3. Nick Swisher could play this weekend.
4. Ted Lilly is going to start the year on the disabled list.
[h3]Friday's games[/h3]
1. Daniel Bard made a strong case on Friday to remain in the Boston rotation. Michael Silverman thinks it's time the Red Sox end the drama and just announce that Bard is in the rotation.
2. Jose Molina earned his money, in his handling of Matt Moore.
3. Miguel Cabrera is the best American League hitter.
4. Ryan Braun had a really good day.
5. Josh Johnson had a lot of strikeouts in his last spring start, as Joe Capozzi writes.
What is forgotten is that Pineda is about the same age as collegians, and he may have made the same kind of mistakes that have happened since baseball began, and will continue to happen -- something as predictable as a freshman being homesick.
Only Pineda knows exactly what has happened since the week of Jan. 1, when most pitchers begin their throwing regimen. But the fact that Pineda showed up at the Yankees' camp with a gut was a sign that he was out of shape, and hadn't done a lot of work in the days after he was traded. It was evidence that Pineda hadn't thrown much.
If so, he's not the first player to fall out of top condition, and he won't be the last. CC Sabathia, as accountable a player as there is in the majors, has battled his weight throughout his career, and in the last weeks of last season, he lost. Phil Hughes came into camp too heavy last spring.
So as spring training began, Pineda had a lot of catching up to do. Like Joba Chamberlain in the spring of 2011, he was given extra work -- "fat camp," to use the words of one baseball official -- and by all accounts, the Yankees have been pleased with Pineda's effort.
His fastball velocity was down in his first appearances, at around 90-91 mph, but the Yankees assumed that this was a case of a young pitcher building arm strength, as he worked himself back into shape.
But now, they're asking whether it was something else, in the aftermath of Friday's news that Pineda would have an MRI on his right shoulder. On Saturday, sources said that the MRI showed mild inflammation, no structural damage or tears. He'll be shut down for the next 10-15 days, and will open the season on the disabled list.
It's reasonable to wonder whether Pineda's shoulder has been hurting for a while, and if he fell into the same trap that has caught other pitchers in the past.
It's reasonable to wonder if Pineda -- working to catch up and meet the high expectations of the Yankees -- might've developed some soreness early in camp. It's reasonable to wonder if he remained silent, not wanting to let anyone down, and instead just kept pitching and working and trying to make it all work.
This is a common mistake made by young pitchers: Rather than listening to their body and communicating with team trainers and making an effort to understand the difference between pain and stiffness, they say nothing and hope it all goes away. This is a common occurrence among players in spring training, as they are trying to win jobs.
If this is what happened with Pineda, then the Yankees' next concern is this: Has he been set back? Will they have to shut him down completely to rest his arm while working to get the rest of his body back in shape? Can he help them in 2012, or is this going be something that might basically cost him as a season -- as it did with Hughes last year?
Freddy Garcia appears to have earned a spot in the rotation, writes George King.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• The Royals mapped out a plan for their negotiations last fall, in a specific pecking order. First, they approached their longest-tenured unsigned position player, Alex Gordon, and while they didn't get a deal done, they made inroads.
Then they signed catcher Salvador Perez to a five-year deal, and shortly thereafter they agreed to terms with shortstop Alcides Escobar. On Friday they announced a new four-year deal with Gordon, for $37.5 million.
They've paid Billy Butler. They've paid Gordon. They've invested in a couple of core young guys, demonstrating that they're in this for the long haul.
And now they'll turn to Eric Hosmer, and will try to convince him to be their Troy Tulowitzki. Maybe it'll work out, maybe it won't; no matter what happens, the Royals know they'll have Hosmer anchoring their lineup for the next six seasons.
But they have handled these contract talks exceptionally, with respect to the clubhouse hierarchy.
• The Padres invested in Cory Luebke.
• Yu Darvish was dominant in his last spring start. Darvish has fit on and off the field.
• The Braves opened camp flush with pitching, but in the aftermath of a series of injuries, they have signed 37-year-old Livan Hernandez, as David O'Brien writes.
• With Jeff Samardzija locked into the rotation, the Cubs are looking for bullpen help.
• With the Phillies' lineup hammered by injuries, Juan Pierre might get a bigger role. From Matt Gelb's story:
"I like to look at some lineups and figure out the ones I like," [Charlie] Manuel said. "See how we play. See how we go together. I'm looking for some balance."
That could start with Pierre, who was officially told he made the team Thursday and started at the top of Manuel's lineup Friday. The 34-year-old outfielder was fighting for a spot on the bench, but he could very well play a larger role than that.
"I want to try Pierre at the top," Manuel said. "Pierre, to me, has always been a top-of-the-order hitter."
LF Juan Pierre
CF Shane Victorino
RF Hunter Pence
SS Jimmy Rollins
1B Ty Wigginton
3B Placido Polanco
C Carlos Ruiz
2B Freddy Galvis
Look, no matter how the Phillies' lineup looks, they'll have a popgun attack and will need to win in the manner described by GM Ruben Amaro: They've got to catch it, and pitch it.
• And the hits just keep on coming for the Indians: Now Jeanmar Gomez is hurt.
Left field continues to be a problem for the Indians, writes Terry Pluto. You wonder if, in the end, this is the best place for Johnny Damon. If the Indians are willing to consider the 38-year-old Bobby Abreu -- who hit .215 in the second half of last year, was 4-for-46 in spring before Friday and is regarded as one of the majors' worst outfielders -- in a platoon, why not Damon, if he's willing to play for $1 million-$1.5 million?
The Abreu trade talks fell apart over salary concerns.
• A rival evaluator on the Twins' Chris Parmelee, who figures to get a lot of the at-bats at first base given that Justin Morneau is being used as a designated hitter: "He reminds me of Paul Sorrento." In other words: a big left-handed slugger who capable of contributing some home runs, amid some ugly at-bats.
[h3]The fight for jobs[/h3]
1. Some young pitchers are trying to pry their way into the Houston rotation, writes Zachary Levine, in the aftermath of Livan Hernandez's release.
2. The Tigers keep waiting for someone to seize the No. 5 spot in their rotation, and candidates continue to struggle -- this time, Duane Below. This means that Drew Smyly probably has pitched the best among the possible No. 5 guys.
3. The Pirates have some bullpen depth.
4. Liam Hendriks is likely to start the season in the Twins' rotation, writes John Shipley.
5. The Marlins shipped a starter to the minors.
6. Mike Fontenot was cut.
7. Jamie Moyer is lined up in the No. 2 spot in the Rockies' rotation, as Troy Renck writes.
8. Mike Trout was sent to the minors.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. The Red Sox will probably have as much success asking for more compensation in the Babe Ruth deal as they will in the Theo Epstein compensation issue, in the aftermath of the news that a prospect they got will have surgery. Here's the thing: The Red Sox reviewed the medical records for Chris Carpenter, the prospect they received, and Boston also administered its own physical -- before the deal was completed.
At this point, it'd be better to just move on. But as Michael Silverman writes here, the conversation continues:
Epstein was unavailable for comment, but a Cubs source said the team feels bad for both Carpenter and the Red Sox, whom Chicago believes purely are victims of bad timing.
Thus, the Cubs likely will resist sending any additional players to the Sox for their former GM.
However, one thing working in the Red Sox' favor is the positive relationship between both teams' baseball operations staffs. Although still a longshot, a minor restructuring of the deal could be made due to that relationship.
An additional fallout from this story: If the Red Sox believe Carpenter was hurt when he arrived, then the question of how the club's restructured medical team missed the injury must be raised.
2. Matt Bush was placed on the restricted list, a way for Tampa Bay to take him off its 40-man roster.
3. Joe Maddon is tinkering with his outfield options.
4. The Orioles have placed Alfredo Simon on waivers.
5. Dale Sveum is feeling pretty good about his rotation.
6. The White Sox will look to finalize their roster Sunday.
7. The Jays traded for a pitcher.
8. Andre Ethier is open to contract talks during the season.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Sounds like Chien-Ming Wang won't be in the Washington rotation until sometime around the end of April.
2. Gerald Laird hurt his knee, but says he'll be OK.
3. Nick Swisher could play this weekend.
4. Ted Lilly is going to start the year on the disabled list.
[h3]Friday's games[/h3]
1. Daniel Bard made a strong case on Friday to remain in the Boston rotation. Michael Silverman thinks it's time the Red Sox end the drama and just announce that Bard is in the rotation.
2. Jose Molina earned his money, in his handling of Matt Moore.
3. Miguel Cabrera is the best American League hitter.
4. Ryan Braun had a really good day.
5. Josh Johnson had a lot of strikeouts in his last spring start, as Joe Capozzi writes.
Originally Posted by briannnnn
Originally Posted by Stringer Bell 32
Whats up with Pineda's shoulder injury?
Yankee fans seem to have their ideas:
- Verducci effect
- Pineda didn't work out in the offseason (came into camp 15 lbs overweight)
- He may have had a problem starting from the end of the season with Seattle
- Too much tweaks in his mechanics that either affected the shoulder or aggravated something that was already affecting his shoulder.
And someone thinks Cashman knew this was a potential problem, hence the Andy Pettitte signing.
This makes the Pineda trade hurt even more for some fans as Jesus Montero is healthy with the M's...
But hey! At least the battle for the rotation is over and decided!
You'd rather have it start this way than have it start the way it did last season with Hughes. They have the depth, no need to rush the kid. Hell, even have him throw a couple games in SWB when he's healthy.
Cleveland's plea to Ubaldo Jimenez.
Spoiler [+]
Ubaldo Jimenez is known for being an intelligent guy, for being well-spoken. In the aftermath of Sunday's incident -- in which he hit former teammate Troy Tulowitzki in the elbow with a fastball before rushing off the mound and seemingly inviting the opportunity for more than just angry words -- Jimenez gave a perfectly worded answer in addressing the question of whether he had aimed his fastball at Tulowitzki.
Defense lawyers all over America would be proud of what he said in explaining his actions, as described in Paul Hoynes' story this morning:
The Colorado Rockies aren't buying it, of course; Jim Tracy was furious. The Rockies are expected to request a suspension, writes Troy Renck. It figures that Jimenez will face a suspension of at least five games, which is the minimum required to impact a starting pitcher who participates only once every five days. Commissioner Bud Selig was reportedly at Sunday's game.
The Cleveland Indians did extensive work in checking on Jimenez before they traded top pitching prospects Alex White and Drew Pomeranz for him last summer, and undoubtedly, part of what made Jimenez attractive to them -- beyond his ability to throw a great fastball -- was his smarts.
It would not be surprising if, at some point, they appeal to that smarts in the hours and days ahead and ask him to move on. As in: Forget about the Rockies. Please. Move on, please. We need you, Ubaldo. We need you completely focused on how you can help us, this season.
Josh Johnson could be a pivotal performer for the Miami Marlins. It's hard to imagine the Atlanta Braves winning unless Jason Heyward produces. Ryan Braun has got to have a big year to anchor the Milwaukee lineup.
But it stands to reason that the Indians have more riding on Jimenez than other teams have on other players. No team came within 15 games of the Detroit Tigers, who added Prince Fielder in the offseason, and Cleveland must have a good, and maybe even a great, year out of Jimenez if the Indians are going to threaten Detroit for the AL Central title. They traded for Jimenez based on his seeming ability to be as dominant as he was in the first half of 2010 when he went 15-1.
So this peripheral stuff can be only a distraction. It can't help. It can only hurt Jimenez, who has not looked good this spring, allowing 30 hits and 15 walks in 23 innings while posting a 7.43 ERA.
If there's a suspension -- and presumably there will be -- he just needs to get past it, for the sake of his teammates.
The Indians set their final roster.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• The Braves traded for a third baseman. From David O'Brien's story:
• Stephen Drew has turned a corner in his rehab.
• Ned Yost sees no reason to anoint a particular closer. To be honest, I'm not sure if there's really any upside for any team to specify a closer, in the same way it doesn't really help to name a captain. There are many roles on a baseball team, from that of leadoff hitter to No. 3 hitter to the No. 2 starter -- but besides picking a starter for Opening Day, managers almost never anoint someone for a particular role as they do with a closer. Managers move hitters up and down the lineups and back and forth in the rotation according to performance.
The reason why closers have been specifically chosen is because some players say they like to know their role. But I think the Tampa Bay Rays have always handled this in the right way, giving their relievers a heads-up about possible matchups that Joe Maddon might look to put them into, and telling them to be ready in case the phone rings.
• The New York Yankees and Miami Marlins played in Miami's new ballpark. It was a cool day, writes Dave Hyde.
• David Ortiz has advice for Justin Morneau as he shifts into a DH role, writes David Dorsey.
• Bruce Bochy got to manage his son Brett for an inning. Pretty cool.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Rick Ankiel took batting practice.
2. There's no need to rush a decision on Brandon Inge, writes Drew Sharp. It's possible he could open the year on the disabled list.
3. The San Francisco Giants are relatively healthy as the season opens.
4. The Padres' Tim Stauffer is dealing with a triceps issue.
5. Matt Lindstrom's minor-league outing went well.
6. Tim Hudson is going to start today.
[h3]The fight for jobs[/h3]
1. Jeff Francis was sent to the minors by the Cincinnati Reds.
2. Drew Smyly's cool demeanor may have helped him win the No. 5 spot in the Tigers' rotation.
3. First base is still being sorted out by the Oakland Athletics, writes Joe Stiglich.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Asdrubal Cabrera reached an agreement through the 2014 season, writes Paul Hoynes.
2. The Cubs' Triple-A team will be loaded.
3. A young catcher is being given a chance to prove himself.
4. Brian Dozier was among the players sent to Triple-A by the Minnesota Twins.
5. John Farrell structures his lineup to provide protection for Jose Bautista -- Edwin Encarnacion may hit behind Bautista.
6. Felix Hernandez will start on Saturday. Some scouts who watched replays of his Opening Day start noted that his velocity was down.
7. The Boston Red Sox set their rotation.
8. Brett Wallace was sent to the minors.
[h3]Sunday's games[/h3]
1. Gio Gonzalez looked good.
2. Desmond Jennings clubbed three homers.
3. Carl Pavano struggled at the back end of his last spring outing.
4. Daniel Hudson had a nice final outing.
5. Buster Posey had another milestone, as John Shea writes.
6. Chad Billingsley struggled against Arizona.
7. Mike Matheny argued a call.
Defense lawyers all over America would be proud of what he said in explaining his actions, as described in Paul Hoynes' story this morning:
- "It was the first inning and I didn't have good control of my fastball. You guys can see that. I walked the first guy. Tulo is one of the best hitters in the game and you have to try to go inside on him and that's what I tried to do."
- "I was surprised," said Jimenez, when asked about Tulowitzki moving toward him. "I've never had any problem with him. He was calling me things.
- "I'm a man. I try to relax all the time, but if someone calls me out, I've got to go. He was calling me names. He was calling me a chicken. Well, not chicken, but another really aggressive word that I can't say right now.
- "I don't look for trouble, but if you call me out, I'll be there."
The Colorado Rockies aren't buying it, of course; Jim Tracy was furious. The Rockies are expected to request a suspension, writes Troy Renck. It figures that Jimenez will face a suspension of at least five games, which is the minimum required to impact a starting pitcher who participates only once every five days. Commissioner Bud Selig was reportedly at Sunday's game.
The Cleveland Indians did extensive work in checking on Jimenez before they traded top pitching prospects Alex White and Drew Pomeranz for him last summer, and undoubtedly, part of what made Jimenez attractive to them -- beyond his ability to throw a great fastball -- was his smarts.
It would not be surprising if, at some point, they appeal to that smarts in the hours and days ahead and ask him to move on. As in: Forget about the Rockies. Please. Move on, please. We need you, Ubaldo. We need you completely focused on how you can help us, this season.
Josh Johnson could be a pivotal performer for the Miami Marlins. It's hard to imagine the Atlanta Braves winning unless Jason Heyward produces. Ryan Braun has got to have a big year to anchor the Milwaukee lineup.
But it stands to reason that the Indians have more riding on Jimenez than other teams have on other players. No team came within 15 games of the Detroit Tigers, who added Prince Fielder in the offseason, and Cleveland must have a good, and maybe even a great, year out of Jimenez if the Indians are going to threaten Detroit for the AL Central title. They traded for Jimenez based on his seeming ability to be as dominant as he was in the first half of 2010 when he went 15-1.
So this peripheral stuff can be only a distraction. It can't help. It can only hurt Jimenez, who has not looked good this spring, allowing 30 hits and 15 walks in 23 innings while posting a 7.43 ERA.
If there's a suspension -- and presumably there will be -- he just needs to get past it, for the sake of his teammates.
The Indians set their final roster.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• The Braves traded for a third baseman. From David O'Brien's story:
- Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Martin Prado would move back to left field and Francisco would fill in for Jones most of the time, although the Braves will still use Prado at third base and Matt Diaz in left field against some left-handers.
- Francisco, 24, was rated the best power-hitting prospect in the Reds organization a year ago. He had at least 23 homers and 90 RBIs in three consecutive minor league seasons thru 2009 and has a .284 average and five homers in 181 plate appearances in parts of three major league seasons with the Reds.
- "We're going to give him every opportunity," Gonzalez said of the left-handed hitter. "I don't think he's ever had an opportunity to play every day at the major league level. I know in the minor leagues he's always been a guy who's hit for average also. So we'll give him an opportunity whenever Chipper's out."
• Stephen Drew has turned a corner in his rehab.
• Ned Yost sees no reason to anoint a particular closer. To be honest, I'm not sure if there's really any upside for any team to specify a closer, in the same way it doesn't really help to name a captain. There are many roles on a baseball team, from that of leadoff hitter to No. 3 hitter to the No. 2 starter -- but besides picking a starter for Opening Day, managers almost never anoint someone for a particular role as they do with a closer. Managers move hitters up and down the lineups and back and forth in the rotation according to performance.
The reason why closers have been specifically chosen is because some players say they like to know their role. But I think the Tampa Bay Rays have always handled this in the right way, giving their relievers a heads-up about possible matchups that Joe Maddon might look to put them into, and telling them to be ready in case the phone rings.
• The New York Yankees and Miami Marlins played in Miami's new ballpark. It was a cool day, writes Dave Hyde.
• David Ortiz has advice for Justin Morneau as he shifts into a DH role, writes David Dorsey.
• Bruce Bochy got to manage his son Brett for an inning. Pretty cool.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Rick Ankiel took batting practice.
2. There's no need to rush a decision on Brandon Inge, writes Drew Sharp. It's possible he could open the year on the disabled list.
3. The San Francisco Giants are relatively healthy as the season opens.
4. The Padres' Tim Stauffer is dealing with a triceps issue.
5. Matt Lindstrom's minor-league outing went well.
6. Tim Hudson is going to start today.
[h3]The fight for jobs[/h3]
1. Jeff Francis was sent to the minors by the Cincinnati Reds.
2. Drew Smyly's cool demeanor may have helped him win the No. 5 spot in the Tigers' rotation.
3. First base is still being sorted out by the Oakland Athletics, writes Joe Stiglich.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Asdrubal Cabrera reached an agreement through the 2014 season, writes Paul Hoynes.
2. The Cubs' Triple-A team will be loaded.
3. A young catcher is being given a chance to prove himself.
4. Brian Dozier was among the players sent to Triple-A by the Minnesota Twins.
5. John Farrell structures his lineup to provide protection for Jose Bautista -- Edwin Encarnacion may hit behind Bautista.
6. Felix Hernandez will start on Saturday. Some scouts who watched replays of his Opening Day start noted that his velocity was down.
7. The Boston Red Sox set their rotation.
8. Brett Wallace was sent to the minors.
[h3]Sunday's games[/h3]
1. Gio Gonzalez looked good.
2. Desmond Jennings clubbed three homers.
3. Carl Pavano struggled at the back end of his last spring outing.
4. Daniel Hudson had a nice final outing.
5. Buster Posey had another milestone, as John Shea writes.
6. Chad Billingsley struggled against Arizona.
7. Mike Matheny argued a call.
Yoenis Cespedes' tremendous potential.
Spoiler [+]
Billy Beane is still dealing with the changes in time zones, working in a nap when he can. But any sleepiness he has felt hasn't dulled the first impression from Yoenis Cespedes' debut in the big leagues this week.
"He's got no fear whatsoever," Beane said Saturday.
The scouting report on Cespedes was established weeks before he signed with the Oakland Athletics.
When Cespedes played in a handful of winter ball games in the Dominican Republic, he struggled against breaking pitches -- sliders, in particular -- in the eyes of scouts. So it wasn't any surprise that the Mariners hammered Cespedes with breaking balls in the first two games, like lions going after a limping gazelle.
But Cespedes gave no ground, Beane noticed. If Cespedes swung and missed at a breaking ball in one at-bat, there was no carryover to the next at-bat. "He's got an incredible amount of focus," Beane said. "He wants to be a great player. … He doesn't take [a bad at-bat] with him."
And he made adjustments during his at-bats, reaching down and away to drive a slider from Felix Hernandez for a double in the opener. In Game 2, Seattle reliever Shawn Kelley hung a slider -- and Cespedes crushed it for a home run. "I don't know if television could've done it justice," said Beane. "It was an absolute rocket."
Some scouts who have seen Cespedes this spring believe that he is so strong, he will hit some home runs almost by accident: If he gets fooled on a pitch and doesn't make perfect contact, he'll still have enough power to lift the ball out of the park.
"Every time he comes to the plate," Beane said, "he's got a chance to hit one out. … He's a very serious kid, and he's not afraid."
Based on recent history, the Mariners and Athletics might have a tough time early in the year, as they adjust back to U.S. time.
• Concerns abound for the Phillies, writes Bob Brookover. Within the piece, Bob writes about the Ryan Howard and Chase Utley injuries, and their impacts on the team:
"I am saying the Marlins and the Nationals are now the favorites," a baseball scout said after hearing about Utley. "Father Time is passing the Phillies by."
Roy Halladay closed out his rough spring.
• The Marlins have reacted to concerns about inadequate parking at their new ballpark.
• The Pirates' expectations are at a different level, writes Bob Cohn and Rob Biertempfel.
• Jamie Moyer must remain competitive until Jorge De La Rosa returns, writes Troy Renck.
Having written off Moyer in 1995 -- when I covered him as a struggling starter for the Baltimore Orioles -- I've long since stopped assuming that he can't be successful. But of all the ballparks in the majors, Coors Field would seem to be the toughest for him, because of the enormous spaces in the outfield and because hitters will generally put the ball in play against him.
He's had only two starts in that park in his career, a really small sample size, and in those games he allowed 17 hits and 11 earned runs in 11 innings. So it makes sense for the Rockies to start him as often as they can in ballparks on the road -- as they are doing in the first week of the season, when Moyer starts in Colorado's second game, in Houston.
• A humble Mat Gamel is quieting critics, writes Tom Haudricourt.
• Richard Griffin did a Q&A with Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos.
• The Rays' radical defensive shifts translate into wins, writes Marc Topkin.
• Barry Zito continues to search for the right delivery.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Michael Pineda will open the year on the disabled list.
2. Two-thirds of Washington's starting outfield could start the year on the disabled list.
3. Shaun Marcum is on track to start April 9.
4. One of the last candidates trying to win a job in the Rangers' bullpen got hurt, Evan Grant writes.
5. Brandon Lyon is nearing the end of his long road back.
6. The Astros are concerned about Jed Lowrie.
7. Dallas Braden had a setback.
[h3]The fight for jobs[/h3]
1. The Tigers will likely decide on Brandon Inge by Monday, writes John Lowe. Jim Leyland is noncommittal about the Tigers' roster.
2. A guy going for a utility job with the Red Sox hasn't been told to stop showing up, writes Dan Duggan.
3. The Phillies face some difficult roster decisions.
4. A reliever was ecstatic to get word he's made the White Sox roster, writes Mark Gonzales.
5. Jeff Salazar appears to have made the Rays' roster.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. The Red Sox will announce their rotation today. It's expected to include Daniel Bard and Felix Doubront, with Alfredo Aceves moving to the bullpen.
2. Jake Arrieta may or may not get the ball on Opening Day for the Orioles. I've talked with scouts who believe Arrieta is the Orioles' best pitcher this spring.
3. The Indians will need to win early in order to merit a bump in payroll, writes Sheldon Ocker.
4. Starlin Castro was in the 3-hole in the Cubs' lineup.
5. Josh Hamilton says he's open to contract talks during the season, writes Jeff Wilson.
6. The Padres like to define their bullpen jobs.
[h3]Saturday's games[/h3]
1. Andy Pettitte threw a simulated game and knows he has work to do, writes George King.
2. Stephen Strasburg closed out his spring training.
3. Justin Masterson got hit hard in the 10th straight spring loss for the Indians.
4. The Braves played a rain-shortened game.
5. Neftali Feliz made his final Cactus League start.
6. Clayton Kershaw has a harsh opinion of how he pitched.
"He's got no fear whatsoever," Beane said Saturday.
The scouting report on Cespedes was established weeks before he signed with the Oakland Athletics.
When Cespedes played in a handful of winter ball games in the Dominican Republic, he struggled against breaking pitches -- sliders, in particular -- in the eyes of scouts. So it wasn't any surprise that the Mariners hammered Cespedes with breaking balls in the first two games, like lions going after a limping gazelle.
But Cespedes gave no ground, Beane noticed. If Cespedes swung and missed at a breaking ball in one at-bat, there was no carryover to the next at-bat. "He's got an incredible amount of focus," Beane said. "He wants to be a great player. … He doesn't take [a bad at-bat] with him."
And he made adjustments during his at-bats, reaching down and away to drive a slider from Felix Hernandez for a double in the opener. In Game 2, Seattle reliever Shawn Kelley hung a slider -- and Cespedes crushed it for a home run. "I don't know if television could've done it justice," said Beane. "It was an absolute rocket."
Some scouts who have seen Cespedes this spring believe that he is so strong, he will hit some home runs almost by accident: If he gets fooled on a pitch and doesn't make perfect contact, he'll still have enough power to lift the ball out of the park.
"Every time he comes to the plate," Beane said, "he's got a chance to hit one out. … He's a very serious kid, and he's not afraid."
Based on recent history, the Mariners and Athletics might have a tough time early in the year, as they adjust back to U.S. time.
• Concerns abound for the Phillies, writes Bob Brookover. Within the piece, Bob writes about the Ryan Howard and Chase Utley injuries, and their impacts on the team:
- "It's tough," said Cole Hamels, one of the three remaining pitching aces who will be leaned upon heavily to produce in the absence of Howard and Utley. "They are the guys who have been here since I've been here. These were the go-to guys. They are the guys you always count on, and they definitely put fear in an opposing pitcher."
"I am saying the Marlins and the Nationals are now the favorites," a baseball scout said after hearing about Utley. "Father Time is passing the Phillies by."
Roy Halladay closed out his rough spring.
• The Marlins have reacted to concerns about inadequate parking at their new ballpark.
• The Pirates' expectations are at a different level, writes Bob Cohn and Rob Biertempfel.
• Jamie Moyer must remain competitive until Jorge De La Rosa returns, writes Troy Renck.
Having written off Moyer in 1995 -- when I covered him as a struggling starter for the Baltimore Orioles -- I've long since stopped assuming that he can't be successful. But of all the ballparks in the majors, Coors Field would seem to be the toughest for him, because of the enormous spaces in the outfield and because hitters will generally put the ball in play against him.
He's had only two starts in that park in his career, a really small sample size, and in those games he allowed 17 hits and 11 earned runs in 11 innings. So it makes sense for the Rockies to start him as often as they can in ballparks on the road -- as they are doing in the first week of the season, when Moyer starts in Colorado's second game, in Houston.
• A humble Mat Gamel is quieting critics, writes Tom Haudricourt.
• Richard Griffin did a Q&A with Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos.
• The Rays' radical defensive shifts translate into wins, writes Marc Topkin.
• Barry Zito continues to search for the right delivery.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Michael Pineda will open the year on the disabled list.
2. Two-thirds of Washington's starting outfield could start the year on the disabled list.
3. Shaun Marcum is on track to start April 9.
4. One of the last candidates trying to win a job in the Rangers' bullpen got hurt, Evan Grant writes.
5. Brandon Lyon is nearing the end of his long road back.
6. The Astros are concerned about Jed Lowrie.
7. Dallas Braden had a setback.
[h3]The fight for jobs[/h3]
1. The Tigers will likely decide on Brandon Inge by Monday, writes John Lowe. Jim Leyland is noncommittal about the Tigers' roster.
2. A guy going for a utility job with the Red Sox hasn't been told to stop showing up, writes Dan Duggan.
3. The Phillies face some difficult roster decisions.
4. A reliever was ecstatic to get word he's made the White Sox roster, writes Mark Gonzales.
5. Jeff Salazar appears to have made the Rays' roster.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. The Red Sox will announce their rotation today. It's expected to include Daniel Bard and Felix Doubront, with Alfredo Aceves moving to the bullpen.
2. Jake Arrieta may or may not get the ball on Opening Day for the Orioles. I've talked with scouts who believe Arrieta is the Orioles' best pitcher this spring.
3. The Indians will need to win early in order to merit a bump in payroll, writes Sheldon Ocker.
4. Starlin Castro was in the 3-hole in the Cubs' lineup.
5. Josh Hamilton says he's open to contract talks during the season, writes Jeff Wilson.
6. The Padres like to define their bullpen jobs.
[h3]Saturday's games[/h3]
1. Andy Pettitte threw a simulated game and knows he has work to do, writes George King.
2. Stephen Strasburg closed out his spring training.
3. Justin Masterson got hit hard in the 10th straight spring loss for the Indians.
4. The Braves played a rain-shortened game.
5. Neftali Feliz made his final Cactus League start.
6. Clayton Kershaw has a harsh opinion of how he pitched.
Yankees await answers on Pineda.
Spoiler [+]
It's impossible to separate Michael Pineda from the headlines and hype. He was the rookie who threw lightning bolts, and it was easy power -- 96-98 mph, and it was like he was playing catch. He dominated hitters for most of last season, and when Yankees veterans heard that Jesus Montero had been traded for him, they were thrilled and shocked, texting each other rapidly and excitedly. Pineda's talent is that inspiring.
What is forgotten is that Pineda is about the same age as collegians, and he may have made the same kind of mistakes that have happened since baseball began, and will continue to happen -- something as predictable as a freshman being homesick.
Only Pineda knows exactly what has happened since the week of Jan. 1, when most pitchers begin their throwing regimen. But the fact that Pineda showed up at the Yankees' camp with a gut was a sign that he was out of shape, and hadn't done a lot of work in the days after he was traded. It was evidence that Pineda hadn't thrown much.
If so, he's not the first player to fall out of top condition, and he won't be the last. CC Sabathia, as accountable a player as there is in the majors, has battled his weight throughout his career, and in the last weeks of last season, he lost. Phil Hughes came into camp too heavy last spring.
So as spring training began, Pineda had a lot of catching up to do. Like Joba Chamberlain in the spring of 2011, he was given extra work -- "fat camp," to use the words of one baseball official -- and by all accounts, the Yankees have been pleased with Pineda's effort.
His fastball velocity was down in his first appearances, at around 90-91 mph, but the Yankees assumed that this was a case of a young pitcher building arm strength, as he worked himself back into shape.
But now, they're asking whether it was something else, in the aftermath of Friday's news that Pineda would have an MRI on his right shoulder. On Saturday, sources said that the MRI showed mild inflammation, no structural damage or tears. He'll be shut down for the next 10-15 days, and will open the season on the disabled list.
It's reasonable to wonder whether Pineda's shoulder has been hurting for a while, and if he fell into the same trap that has caught other pitchers in the past.
It's reasonable to wonder if Pineda -- working to catch up and meet the high expectations of the Yankees -- might've developed some soreness early in camp. It's reasonable to wonder if he remained silent, not wanting to let anyone down, and instead just kept pitching and working and trying to make it all work.
This is a common mistake made by young pitchers: Rather than listening to their body and communicating with team trainers and making an effort to understand the difference between pain and stiffness, they say nothing and hope it all goes away. This is a common occurrence among players in spring training, as they are trying to win jobs.
If this is what happened with Pineda, then the Yankees' next concern is this: Has he been set back? Will they have to shut him down completely to rest his arm while working to get the rest of his body back in shape? Can he help them in 2012, or is this going be something that might basically cost him as a season -- as it did with Hughes last year?
Freddy Garcia appears to have earned a spot in the rotation, writes George King.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• The Royals mapped out a plan for their negotiations last fall, in a specific pecking order. First, they approached their longest-tenured unsigned position player, Alex Gordon, and while they didn't get a deal done, they made inroads.
Then they signed catcher Salvador Perez to a five-year deal, and shortly thereafter they agreed to terms with shortstop Alcides Escobar. On Friday they announced a new four-year deal with Gordon, for $37.5 million.
They've paid Billy Butler. They've paid Gordon. They've invested in a couple of core young guys, demonstrating that they're in this for the long haul.
And now they'll turn to Eric Hosmer, and will try to convince him to be their Troy Tulowitzki. Maybe it'll work out, maybe it won't; no matter what happens, the Royals know they'll have Hosmer anchoring their lineup for the next six seasons.
But they have handled these contract talks exceptionally, with respect to the clubhouse hierarchy.
• The Padres invested in Cory Luebke.
• Yu Darvish was dominant in his last spring start. Darvish has fit on and off the field.
• The Braves opened camp flush with pitching, but in the aftermath of a series of injuries, they have signed 37-year-old Livan Hernandez, as David O'Brien writes.
• With Jeff Samardzija locked into the rotation, the Cubs are looking for bullpen help.
• With the Phillies' lineup hammered by injuries, Juan Pierre might get a bigger role. From Matt Gelb's story:
LF Juan Pierre
CF Shane Victorino
RF Hunter Pence
SS Jimmy Rollins
1B Ty Wigginton
3B Placido Polanco
C Carlos Ruiz
2B Freddy Galvis
Look, no matter how the Phillies' lineup looks, they'll have a popgun attack and will need to win in the manner described by GM Ruben Amaro: They've got to catch it, and pitch it.
• And the hits just keep on coming for the Indians: Now Jeanmar Gomez is hurt.
Left field continues to be a problem for the Indians, writes Terry Pluto. You wonder if, in the end, this is the best place for Johnny Damon. If the Indians are willing to consider the 38-year-old Bobby Abreu -- who hit .215 in the second half of last year, was 4-for-46 in spring before Friday and is regarded as one of the majors' worst outfielders -- in a platoon, why not Damon, if he's willing to play for $1 million-$1.5 million?
The Abreu trade talks fell apart over salary concerns.
• A rival evaluator on the Twins' Chris Parmelee, who figures to get a lot of the at-bats at first base given that Justin Morneau is being used as a designated hitter: "He reminds me of Paul Sorrento." In other words: a big left-handed slugger who capable of contributing some home runs, amid some ugly at-bats.
[h3]The fight for jobs[/h3]
1. Some young pitchers are trying to pry their way into the Houston rotation, writes Zachary Levine, in the aftermath of Livan Hernandez's release.
2. The Tigers keep waiting for someone to seize the No. 5 spot in their rotation, and candidates continue to struggle -- this time, Duane Below. This means that Drew Smyly probably has pitched the best among the possible No. 5 guys.
3. The Pirates have some bullpen depth.
4. Liam Hendriks is likely to start the season in the Twins' rotation, writes John Shipley.
5. The Marlins shipped a starter to the minors.
6. Mike Fontenot was cut.
7. Jamie Moyer is lined up in the No. 2 spot in the Rockies' rotation, as Troy Renck writes.
8. Mike Trout was sent to the minors.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. The Red Sox will probably have as much success asking for more compensation in the Babe Ruth deal as they will in the Theo Epstein compensation issue, in the aftermath of the news that a prospect they got will have surgery. Here's the thing: The Red Sox reviewed the medical records for Chris Carpenter, the prospect they received, and Boston also administered its own physical -- before the deal was completed.
At this point, it'd be better to just move on. But as Michael Silverman writes here, the conversation continues:
2. Matt Bush was placed on the restricted list, a way for Tampa Bay to take him off its 40-man roster.
3. Joe Maddon is tinkering with his outfield options.
4. The Orioles have placed Alfredo Simon on waivers.
5. Dale Sveum is feeling pretty good about his rotation.
6. The White Sox will look to finalize their roster Sunday.
7. The Jays traded for a pitcher.
8. Andre Ethier is open to contract talks during the season.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Sounds like Chien-Ming Wang won't be in the Washington rotation until sometime around the end of April.
2. Gerald Laird hurt his knee, but says he'll be OK.
3. Nick Swisher could play this weekend.
4. Ted Lilly is going to start the year on the disabled list.
[h3]Friday's games[/h3]
1. Daniel Bard made a strong case on Friday to remain in the Boston rotation. Michael Silverman thinks it's time the Red Sox end the drama and just announce that Bard is in the rotation.
2. Jose Molina earned his money, in his handling of Matt Moore.
3. Miguel Cabrera is the best American League hitter.
4. Ryan Braun had a really good day.
5. Josh Johnson had a lot of strikeouts in his last spring start, as Joe Capozzi writes.
What is forgotten is that Pineda is about the same age as collegians, and he may have made the same kind of mistakes that have happened since baseball began, and will continue to happen -- something as predictable as a freshman being homesick.
Only Pineda knows exactly what has happened since the week of Jan. 1, when most pitchers begin their throwing regimen. But the fact that Pineda showed up at the Yankees' camp with a gut was a sign that he was out of shape, and hadn't done a lot of work in the days after he was traded. It was evidence that Pineda hadn't thrown much.
If so, he's not the first player to fall out of top condition, and he won't be the last. CC Sabathia, as accountable a player as there is in the majors, has battled his weight throughout his career, and in the last weeks of last season, he lost. Phil Hughes came into camp too heavy last spring.
So as spring training began, Pineda had a lot of catching up to do. Like Joba Chamberlain in the spring of 2011, he was given extra work -- "fat camp," to use the words of one baseball official -- and by all accounts, the Yankees have been pleased with Pineda's effort.
His fastball velocity was down in his first appearances, at around 90-91 mph, but the Yankees assumed that this was a case of a young pitcher building arm strength, as he worked himself back into shape.
But now, they're asking whether it was something else, in the aftermath of Friday's news that Pineda would have an MRI on his right shoulder. On Saturday, sources said that the MRI showed mild inflammation, no structural damage or tears. He'll be shut down for the next 10-15 days, and will open the season on the disabled list.
It's reasonable to wonder whether Pineda's shoulder has been hurting for a while, and if he fell into the same trap that has caught other pitchers in the past.
It's reasonable to wonder if Pineda -- working to catch up and meet the high expectations of the Yankees -- might've developed some soreness early in camp. It's reasonable to wonder if he remained silent, not wanting to let anyone down, and instead just kept pitching and working and trying to make it all work.
This is a common mistake made by young pitchers: Rather than listening to their body and communicating with team trainers and making an effort to understand the difference between pain and stiffness, they say nothing and hope it all goes away. This is a common occurrence among players in spring training, as they are trying to win jobs.
If this is what happened with Pineda, then the Yankees' next concern is this: Has he been set back? Will they have to shut him down completely to rest his arm while working to get the rest of his body back in shape? Can he help them in 2012, or is this going be something that might basically cost him as a season -- as it did with Hughes last year?
Freddy Garcia appears to have earned a spot in the rotation, writes George King.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• The Royals mapped out a plan for their negotiations last fall, in a specific pecking order. First, they approached their longest-tenured unsigned position player, Alex Gordon, and while they didn't get a deal done, they made inroads.
Then they signed catcher Salvador Perez to a five-year deal, and shortly thereafter they agreed to terms with shortstop Alcides Escobar. On Friday they announced a new four-year deal with Gordon, for $37.5 million.
They've paid Billy Butler. They've paid Gordon. They've invested in a couple of core young guys, demonstrating that they're in this for the long haul.
And now they'll turn to Eric Hosmer, and will try to convince him to be their Troy Tulowitzki. Maybe it'll work out, maybe it won't; no matter what happens, the Royals know they'll have Hosmer anchoring their lineup for the next six seasons.
But they have handled these contract talks exceptionally, with respect to the clubhouse hierarchy.
• The Padres invested in Cory Luebke.
• Yu Darvish was dominant in his last spring start. Darvish has fit on and off the field.
• The Braves opened camp flush with pitching, but in the aftermath of a series of injuries, they have signed 37-year-old Livan Hernandez, as David O'Brien writes.
• With Jeff Samardzija locked into the rotation, the Cubs are looking for bullpen help.
• With the Phillies' lineup hammered by injuries, Juan Pierre might get a bigger role. From Matt Gelb's story:
"I like to look at some lineups and figure out the ones I like," [Charlie] Manuel said. "See how we play. See how we go together. I'm looking for some balance."
That could start with Pierre, who was officially told he made the team Thursday and started at the top of Manuel's lineup Friday. The 34-year-old outfielder was fighting for a spot on the bench, but he could very well play a larger role than that.
"I want to try Pierre at the top," Manuel said. "Pierre, to me, has always been a top-of-the-order hitter."
LF Juan Pierre
CF Shane Victorino
RF Hunter Pence
SS Jimmy Rollins
1B Ty Wigginton
3B Placido Polanco
C Carlos Ruiz
2B Freddy Galvis
Look, no matter how the Phillies' lineup looks, they'll have a popgun attack and will need to win in the manner described by GM Ruben Amaro: They've got to catch it, and pitch it.
• And the hits just keep on coming for the Indians: Now Jeanmar Gomez is hurt.
Left field continues to be a problem for the Indians, writes Terry Pluto. You wonder if, in the end, this is the best place for Johnny Damon. If the Indians are willing to consider the 38-year-old Bobby Abreu -- who hit .215 in the second half of last year, was 4-for-46 in spring before Friday and is regarded as one of the majors' worst outfielders -- in a platoon, why not Damon, if he's willing to play for $1 million-$1.5 million?
The Abreu trade talks fell apart over salary concerns.
• A rival evaluator on the Twins' Chris Parmelee, who figures to get a lot of the at-bats at first base given that Justin Morneau is being used as a designated hitter: "He reminds me of Paul Sorrento." In other words: a big left-handed slugger who capable of contributing some home runs, amid some ugly at-bats.
[h3]The fight for jobs[/h3]
1. Some young pitchers are trying to pry their way into the Houston rotation, writes Zachary Levine, in the aftermath of Livan Hernandez's release.
2. The Tigers keep waiting for someone to seize the No. 5 spot in their rotation, and candidates continue to struggle -- this time, Duane Below. This means that Drew Smyly probably has pitched the best among the possible No. 5 guys.
3. The Pirates have some bullpen depth.
4. Liam Hendriks is likely to start the season in the Twins' rotation, writes John Shipley.
5. The Marlins shipped a starter to the minors.
6. Mike Fontenot was cut.
7. Jamie Moyer is lined up in the No. 2 spot in the Rockies' rotation, as Troy Renck writes.
8. Mike Trout was sent to the minors.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. The Red Sox will probably have as much success asking for more compensation in the Babe Ruth deal as they will in the Theo Epstein compensation issue, in the aftermath of the news that a prospect they got will have surgery. Here's the thing: The Red Sox reviewed the medical records for Chris Carpenter, the prospect they received, and Boston also administered its own physical -- before the deal was completed.
At this point, it'd be better to just move on. But as Michael Silverman writes here, the conversation continues:
Epstein was unavailable for comment, but a Cubs source said the team feels bad for both Carpenter and the Red Sox, whom Chicago believes purely are victims of bad timing.
Thus, the Cubs likely will resist sending any additional players to the Sox for their former GM.
However, one thing working in the Red Sox' favor is the positive relationship between both teams' baseball operations staffs. Although still a longshot, a minor restructuring of the deal could be made due to that relationship.
An additional fallout from this story: If the Red Sox believe Carpenter was hurt when he arrived, then the question of how the club's restructured medical team missed the injury must be raised.
2. Matt Bush was placed on the restricted list, a way for Tampa Bay to take him off its 40-man roster.
3. Joe Maddon is tinkering with his outfield options.
4. The Orioles have placed Alfredo Simon on waivers.
5. Dale Sveum is feeling pretty good about his rotation.
6. The White Sox will look to finalize their roster Sunday.
7. The Jays traded for a pitcher.
8. Andre Ethier is open to contract talks during the season.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Sounds like Chien-Ming Wang won't be in the Washington rotation until sometime around the end of April.
2. Gerald Laird hurt his knee, but says he'll be OK.
3. Nick Swisher could play this weekend.
4. Ted Lilly is going to start the year on the disabled list.
[h3]Friday's games[/h3]
1. Daniel Bard made a strong case on Friday to remain in the Boston rotation. Michael Silverman thinks it's time the Red Sox end the drama and just announce that Bard is in the rotation.
2. Jose Molina earned his money, in his handling of Matt Moore.
3. Miguel Cabrera is the best American League hitter.
4. Ryan Braun had a really good day.
5. Josh Johnson had a lot of strikeouts in his last spring start, as Joe Capozzi writes.
Organizational Rankings: #15 – Cincinnati Reds.
The Chicago Green Sox.
Spoiler [+]
Cincinnati’s 2011 Ranking: #9
2012 Outlook: 57 (t-9th)
Coming off a disappointing 79-83 finish, Walt Jocketty decided to bring in some reinforcements in order to make sure his team could regain their status as legitimate contenders in the National League. It cost him a good chunk of his farm system, but he was able to bring in two dynamic arms in Mat Latos and Sean Marshall, both of whom will be critical to the Reds success this year. The team ended up skimping on upgrades for position players, though, and settled on an unorthodox right-right platoon of Ryan Ludwick and Chris Heisey in left field, and are vulnerable to injuries – they don’t have any real in-house alternatives if a guy like Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, or Jay Bruce get hurt. They exchanged depth for pitching improvements, which was a wise choice, but has also left them thin behind their core starters.
However, these are somewhat nitpicky flaws. The Reds are a good team, maybe the best team in the NL Central, and are poised to make a strong run at a division title. The exodus of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder from their division didn’t cripple their two main opponents, but it did open the door for the Reds to reclaim the title that they won just two years ago. The division is good enough that the team can’t just start printing playoff tickets now, but the Reds are a quality second-tier team that should won 85-90 games and could top out at 95 if they get a lot of unexpected quality performances. Given the moves they made this winter, anything less than contention would be considered a disappointment, but this isn’t a team I expect to disappoint. Look for the Reds to be in the race all year.
2013+ Outlook: 49 (17th)
This basically reflects the fact that Brandon Phillips (FA after 2012) and Joey Votto (FA after 2013) are only under team control for a short period of time, and having either walk away would be a significant loss for the franchise. The Reds have stated that they believe they’re making progress on extensions for both, and if they’re able to get either one signed long term, this rating would go up quite a bit. Votto especially. He’s the key to this franchise’s success, and they’re clearly attempting to maximize their chances of winning during his prime. They have enough young talent to contend going forward if he’s in the mix, but he makes everything else on the roster work.
The rest of the young core all come with some legitimate question marks. Jay Bruce looks like he could become a star, but he hasn’t really gotten any better since he got to the big leagues, and he needs to start making strides in the right direction. The team still doesn’t really know what they have in Drew Stubbs. Devin Mesoraco looks like he could become a top-tier catcher, but he’ll need to show more plate discipline than he did in his debut last year. And the rotation behind Latos is a full of question marks, even though each question mark comes with some upside – how far will Johnny Cueto regress? How good can Mike Leake be? Is Aroldis Chapman a starter or a reliever long term? Will Homer Bailey ever figure it out?
The farm system took a real hit with the off-season trades -and Marc Hulet rated them just 18th in the game this winter – and they’re graduating their top prospect to the big leagues, so there’s not a lot of obvious near-term help coming behind Mesoraco. There’s talent here, but it’s high-risk talent, and the pieces in place need to continue developing to supplement the productive guys already on hand.
Financial Resources: 44 (21st)
The Reds are a classic middle-market franchise, drawing enough fans and generating enough revenues from their new ballpark to sustain just high enough payrolls, but they’ll never be a financial juggernaut in the sport. The market just isn’t large enough for the Reds to explore having their own network, and they are reportedly only receiving $10 million per year in revenues from their current television contract. However, that deal is set to expire in 2016, and the current rate adjustments in that business look like they should trickle down across the board, so the Reds should see a nice bump in money from their TV deal in four or five years.
In the near term, however, this is a team that’s going to have to get by with $80-$90 million payrolls. Winning a World Series might excite the fan base enough to push that over $100 million, but Cincinnati is just not a large metropolitan area, and the rust belt has been hit harder by the economic slowdown of the past few years than many coastal cities. The Reds aren’t in bad financial shape, but their revenue potential is limited, and this will always be a franchise that needs to be efficient with their spending in order to compete.
Baseball Operations: 47 (t-19th)
Walt Jocketty has a strong record of acquiring undervalued big leaguers and building a winning team through shrewd veteran pickups, but his reliance on older players also comes with a downside – trusting guys like Bronson Arroyo with shiny new contracts, for instance. That said, he has more hits than misses in his ledger, and for a guy who has been doing this for so long, that’s a pretty rare occurrence.
Somewhat like the Braves, the Reds are more old-school than most front offices, and haven’t brought in a legion of Harvard kids, but they’re not ignorant of how to build a winning baseball team. There are some chinks in the analytical armor, but they generally value players properly, and understand which guys to target for upgrades. They make mistakes too, but Reds fans should feel comfortable with Walt Jocketty and his staff at the helm. They’re not going to lead you into a ditch, and they might just make enough savvy moves to get the team to a World Series.
Overall: 50 (15th)
The Reds are legitimate contenders in 2012 that have some long term question marks, especially surrounding whether or not they’ll be able to keep their franchise first baseman in the fold. If they re-sign Votto, you’d probably move them up a couple of notches, but their limited financial upside and mediocre farm system probably still make them more of a good franchise than a great one. Their window is win is now, though, and a deep playoff run could unlock future revenues that could be reinvested into the franchise, so it’s not entirely a what-you-see-is-what-you-get situation.
Overall, there are definitely worse spots to be than Cincinnati right now. They’re going to put a good team on the field this year, and if they can figure out how to keep Votto in town, they could be perennial contenders for the remainder of his prime. With Theo Epstein and the Cubs looming as formidable contender down the road, the Reds need to take advantage of this opportunity, and they certainly seem to be intent on trying to do just that.
2012 Outlook: 57 (t-9th)
Coming off a disappointing 79-83 finish, Walt Jocketty decided to bring in some reinforcements in order to make sure his team could regain their status as legitimate contenders in the National League. It cost him a good chunk of his farm system, but he was able to bring in two dynamic arms in Mat Latos and Sean Marshall, both of whom will be critical to the Reds success this year. The team ended up skimping on upgrades for position players, though, and settled on an unorthodox right-right platoon of Ryan Ludwick and Chris Heisey in left field, and are vulnerable to injuries – they don’t have any real in-house alternatives if a guy like Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, or Jay Bruce get hurt. They exchanged depth for pitching improvements, which was a wise choice, but has also left them thin behind their core starters.
However, these are somewhat nitpicky flaws. The Reds are a good team, maybe the best team in the NL Central, and are poised to make a strong run at a division title. The exodus of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder from their division didn’t cripple their two main opponents, but it did open the door for the Reds to reclaim the title that they won just two years ago. The division is good enough that the team can’t just start printing playoff tickets now, but the Reds are a quality second-tier team that should won 85-90 games and could top out at 95 if they get a lot of unexpected quality performances. Given the moves they made this winter, anything less than contention would be considered a disappointment, but this isn’t a team I expect to disappoint. Look for the Reds to be in the race all year.
2013+ Outlook: 49 (17th)
This basically reflects the fact that Brandon Phillips (FA after 2012) and Joey Votto (FA after 2013) are only under team control for a short period of time, and having either walk away would be a significant loss for the franchise. The Reds have stated that they believe they’re making progress on extensions for both, and if they’re able to get either one signed long term, this rating would go up quite a bit. Votto especially. He’s the key to this franchise’s success, and they’re clearly attempting to maximize their chances of winning during his prime. They have enough young talent to contend going forward if he’s in the mix, but he makes everything else on the roster work.
The rest of the young core all come with some legitimate question marks. Jay Bruce looks like he could become a star, but he hasn’t really gotten any better since he got to the big leagues, and he needs to start making strides in the right direction. The team still doesn’t really know what they have in Drew Stubbs. Devin Mesoraco looks like he could become a top-tier catcher, but he’ll need to show more plate discipline than he did in his debut last year. And the rotation behind Latos is a full of question marks, even though each question mark comes with some upside – how far will Johnny Cueto regress? How good can Mike Leake be? Is Aroldis Chapman a starter or a reliever long term? Will Homer Bailey ever figure it out?
The farm system took a real hit with the off-season trades -and Marc Hulet rated them just 18th in the game this winter – and they’re graduating their top prospect to the big leagues, so there’s not a lot of obvious near-term help coming behind Mesoraco. There’s talent here, but it’s high-risk talent, and the pieces in place need to continue developing to supplement the productive guys already on hand.
Financial Resources: 44 (21st)
The Reds are a classic middle-market franchise, drawing enough fans and generating enough revenues from their new ballpark to sustain just high enough payrolls, but they’ll never be a financial juggernaut in the sport. The market just isn’t large enough for the Reds to explore having their own network, and they are reportedly only receiving $10 million per year in revenues from their current television contract. However, that deal is set to expire in 2016, and the current rate adjustments in that business look like they should trickle down across the board, so the Reds should see a nice bump in money from their TV deal in four or five years.
In the near term, however, this is a team that’s going to have to get by with $80-$90 million payrolls. Winning a World Series might excite the fan base enough to push that over $100 million, but Cincinnati is just not a large metropolitan area, and the rust belt has been hit harder by the economic slowdown of the past few years than many coastal cities. The Reds aren’t in bad financial shape, but their revenue potential is limited, and this will always be a franchise that needs to be efficient with their spending in order to compete.
Baseball Operations: 47 (t-19th)
Walt Jocketty has a strong record of acquiring undervalued big leaguers and building a winning team through shrewd veteran pickups, but his reliance on older players also comes with a downside – trusting guys like Bronson Arroyo with shiny new contracts, for instance. That said, he has more hits than misses in his ledger, and for a guy who has been doing this for so long, that’s a pretty rare occurrence.
Somewhat like the Braves, the Reds are more old-school than most front offices, and haven’t brought in a legion of Harvard kids, but they’re not ignorant of how to build a winning baseball team. There are some chinks in the analytical armor, but they generally value players properly, and understand which guys to target for upgrades. They make mistakes too, but Reds fans should feel comfortable with Walt Jocketty and his staff at the helm. They’re not going to lead you into a ditch, and they might just make enough savvy moves to get the team to a World Series.
Overall: 50 (15th)
The Reds are legitimate contenders in 2012 that have some long term question marks, especially surrounding whether or not they’ll be able to keep their franchise first baseman in the fold. If they re-sign Votto, you’d probably move them up a couple of notches, but their limited financial upside and mediocre farm system probably still make them more of a good franchise than a great one. Their window is win is now, though, and a deep playoff run could unlock future revenues that could be reinvested into the franchise, so it’s not entirely a what-you-see-is-what-you-get situation.
Overall, there are definitely worse spots to be than Cincinnati right now. They’re going to put a good team on the field this year, and if they can figure out how to keep Votto in town, they could be perennial contenders for the remainder of his prime. With Theo Epstein and the Cubs looming as formidable contender down the road, the Reds need to take advantage of this opportunity, and they certainly seem to be intent on trying to do just that.
The Chicago Green Sox.
Spoiler [+]
There really is no point in sugarcoating things. The 2012 season will probably not be a pretty one on the south side of Chicago. The Detroit Tigers have put together a rather impressive, playoff-worthy team while the White Sox… have not.
Despite the dark clouds hanging over U.S. Cellular, there is a ray of sunshine for White Sox fans. The club appears set to open the season with four rookies on the 25-man roster; clearly fans would prefer to watch their team steamroll its way into the playoffs but watching young players develop should be a small consolation.
At present time the rookies projected to make the opening day roster include: relievers Addison Reed, Hector Santiago and Nathan Jones, as well as shortstop Eduardo Escobar.
For the most part the wave of rookies in 2012 does not match up to the class of 2011, which included pitchers Chris Sale, Zach Stewart, catcher Tyler Flowers, infielder Brent Morel, and outfielder Dayan Viciedo. With that said three of the rookies made my pre-season Top 15 prospects list: Reed (1st overall), Escobar (8th) and Santiago (10th).
Both Reed and Santiago have the opportunity to see significant save opportunities in 2012 with the former the current favorite. Reed was a teammate of Stephen Strasburg’s in college and could quickly shake the title of “That other guy from San Diego State
Despite the dark clouds hanging over U.S. Cellular, there is a ray of sunshine for White Sox fans. The club appears set to open the season with four rookies on the 25-man roster; clearly fans would prefer to watch their team steamroll its way into the playoffs but watching young players develop should be a small consolation.
At present time the rookies projected to make the opening day roster include: relievers Addison Reed, Hector Santiago and Nathan Jones, as well as shortstop Eduardo Escobar.
For the most part the wave of rookies in 2012 does not match up to the class of 2011, which included pitchers Chris Sale, Zach Stewart, catcher Tyler Flowers, infielder Brent Morel, and outfielder Dayan Viciedo. With that said three of the rookies made my pre-season Top 15 prospects list: Reed (1st overall), Escobar (8th) and Santiago (10th).
Both Reed and Santiago have the opportunity to see significant save opportunities in 2012 with the former the current favorite. Reed was a teammate of Stephen Strasburg’s in college and could quickly shake the title of “That other guy from San Diego State
Organizational Rankings: #15 – Cincinnati Reds.
The Chicago Green Sox.
Spoiler [+]
Cincinnati’s 2011 Ranking: #9
2012 Outlook: 57 (t-9th)
Coming off a disappointing 79-83 finish, Walt Jocketty decided to bring in some reinforcements in order to make sure his team could regain their status as legitimate contenders in the National League. It cost him a good chunk of his farm system, but he was able to bring in two dynamic arms in Mat Latos and Sean Marshall, both of whom will be critical to the Reds success this year. The team ended up skimping on upgrades for position players, though, and settled on an unorthodox right-right platoon of Ryan Ludwick and Chris Heisey in left field, and are vulnerable to injuries – they don’t have any real in-house alternatives if a guy like Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, or Jay Bruce get hurt. They exchanged depth for pitching improvements, which was a wise choice, but has also left them thin behind their core starters.
However, these are somewhat nitpicky flaws. The Reds are a good team, maybe the best team in the NL Central, and are poised to make a strong run at a division title. The exodus of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder from their division didn’t cripple their two main opponents, but it did open the door for the Reds to reclaim the title that they won just two years ago. The division is good enough that the team can’t just start printing playoff tickets now, but the Reds are a quality second-tier team that should won 85-90 games and could top out at 95 if they get a lot of unexpected quality performances. Given the moves they made this winter, anything less than contention would be considered a disappointment, but this isn’t a team I expect to disappoint. Look for the Reds to be in the race all year.
2013+ Outlook: 49 (17th)
This basically reflects the fact that Brandon Phillips (FA after 2012) and Joey Votto (FA after 2013) are only under team control for a short period of time, and having either walk away would be a significant loss for the franchise. The Reds have stated that they believe they’re making progress on extensions for both, and if they’re able to get either one signed long term, this rating would go up quite a bit. Votto especially. He’s the key to this franchise’s success, and they’re clearly attempting to maximize their chances of winning during his prime. They have enough young talent to contend going forward if he’s in the mix, but he makes everything else on the roster work.
The rest of the young core all come with some legitimate question marks. Jay Bruce looks like he could become a star, but he hasn’t really gotten any better since he got to the big leagues, and he needs to start making strides in the right direction. The team still doesn’t really know what they have in Drew Stubbs. Devin Mesoraco looks like he could become a top-tier catcher, but he’ll need to show more plate discipline than he did in his debut last year. And the rotation behind Latos is a full of question marks, even though each question mark comes with some upside – how far will Johnny Cueto regress? How good can Mike Leake be? Is Aroldis Chapman a starter or a reliever long term? Will Homer Bailey ever figure it out?
The farm system took a real hit with the off-season trades -and Marc Hulet rated them just 18th in the game this winter – and they’re graduating their top prospect to the big leagues, so there’s not a lot of obvious near-term help coming behind Mesoraco. There’s talent here, but it’s high-risk talent, and the pieces in place need to continue developing to supplement the productive guys already on hand.
Financial Resources: 44 (21st)
The Reds are a classic middle-market franchise, drawing enough fans and generating enough revenues from their new ballpark to sustain just high enough payrolls, but they’ll never be a financial juggernaut in the sport. The market just isn’t large enough for the Reds to explore having their own network, and they are reportedly only receiving $10 million per year in revenues from their current television contract. However, that deal is set to expire in 2016, and the current rate adjustments in that business look like they should trickle down across the board, so the Reds should see a nice bump in money from their TV deal in four or five years.
In the near term, however, this is a team that’s going to have to get by with $80-$90 million payrolls. Winning a World Series might excite the fan base enough to push that over $100 million, but Cincinnati is just not a large metropolitan area, and the rust belt has been hit harder by the economic slowdown of the past few years than many coastal cities. The Reds aren’t in bad financial shape, but their revenue potential is limited, and this will always be a franchise that needs to be efficient with their spending in order to compete.
Baseball Operations: 47 (t-19th)
Walt Jocketty has a strong record of acquiring undervalued big leaguers and building a winning team through shrewd veteran pickups, but his reliance on older players also comes with a downside – trusting guys like Bronson Arroyo with shiny new contracts, for instance. That said, he has more hits than misses in his ledger, and for a guy who has been doing this for so long, that’s a pretty rare occurrence.
Somewhat like the Braves, the Reds are more old-school than most front offices, and haven’t brought in a legion of Harvard kids, but they’re not ignorant of how to build a winning baseball team. There are some chinks in the analytical armor, but they generally value players properly, and understand which guys to target for upgrades. They make mistakes too, but Reds fans should feel comfortable with Walt Jocketty and his staff at the helm. They’re not going to lead you into a ditch, and they might just make enough savvy moves to get the team to a World Series.
Overall: 50 (15th)
The Reds are legitimate contenders in 2012 that have some long term question marks, especially surrounding whether or not they’ll be able to keep their franchise first baseman in the fold. If they re-sign Votto, you’d probably move them up a couple of notches, but their limited financial upside and mediocre farm system probably still make them more of a good franchise than a great one. Their window is win is now, though, and a deep playoff run could unlock future revenues that could be reinvested into the franchise, so it’s not entirely a what-you-see-is-what-you-get situation.
Overall, there are definitely worse spots to be than Cincinnati right now. They’re going to put a good team on the field this year, and if they can figure out how to keep Votto in town, they could be perennial contenders for the remainder of his prime. With Theo Epstein and the Cubs looming as formidable contender down the road, the Reds need to take advantage of this opportunity, and they certainly seem to be intent on trying to do just that.
2012 Outlook: 57 (t-9th)
Coming off a disappointing 79-83 finish, Walt Jocketty decided to bring in some reinforcements in order to make sure his team could regain their status as legitimate contenders in the National League. It cost him a good chunk of his farm system, but he was able to bring in two dynamic arms in Mat Latos and Sean Marshall, both of whom will be critical to the Reds success this year. The team ended up skimping on upgrades for position players, though, and settled on an unorthodox right-right platoon of Ryan Ludwick and Chris Heisey in left field, and are vulnerable to injuries – they don’t have any real in-house alternatives if a guy like Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, or Jay Bruce get hurt. They exchanged depth for pitching improvements, which was a wise choice, but has also left them thin behind their core starters.
However, these are somewhat nitpicky flaws. The Reds are a good team, maybe the best team in the NL Central, and are poised to make a strong run at a division title. The exodus of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder from their division didn’t cripple their two main opponents, but it did open the door for the Reds to reclaim the title that they won just two years ago. The division is good enough that the team can’t just start printing playoff tickets now, but the Reds are a quality second-tier team that should won 85-90 games and could top out at 95 if they get a lot of unexpected quality performances. Given the moves they made this winter, anything less than contention would be considered a disappointment, but this isn’t a team I expect to disappoint. Look for the Reds to be in the race all year.
2013+ Outlook: 49 (17th)
This basically reflects the fact that Brandon Phillips (FA after 2012) and Joey Votto (FA after 2013) are only under team control for a short period of time, and having either walk away would be a significant loss for the franchise. The Reds have stated that they believe they’re making progress on extensions for both, and if they’re able to get either one signed long term, this rating would go up quite a bit. Votto especially. He’s the key to this franchise’s success, and they’re clearly attempting to maximize their chances of winning during his prime. They have enough young talent to contend going forward if he’s in the mix, but he makes everything else on the roster work.
The rest of the young core all come with some legitimate question marks. Jay Bruce looks like he could become a star, but he hasn’t really gotten any better since he got to the big leagues, and he needs to start making strides in the right direction. The team still doesn’t really know what they have in Drew Stubbs. Devin Mesoraco looks like he could become a top-tier catcher, but he’ll need to show more plate discipline than he did in his debut last year. And the rotation behind Latos is a full of question marks, even though each question mark comes with some upside – how far will Johnny Cueto regress? How good can Mike Leake be? Is Aroldis Chapman a starter or a reliever long term? Will Homer Bailey ever figure it out?
The farm system took a real hit with the off-season trades -and Marc Hulet rated them just 18th in the game this winter – and they’re graduating their top prospect to the big leagues, so there’s not a lot of obvious near-term help coming behind Mesoraco. There’s talent here, but it’s high-risk talent, and the pieces in place need to continue developing to supplement the productive guys already on hand.
Financial Resources: 44 (21st)
The Reds are a classic middle-market franchise, drawing enough fans and generating enough revenues from their new ballpark to sustain just high enough payrolls, but they’ll never be a financial juggernaut in the sport. The market just isn’t large enough for the Reds to explore having their own network, and they are reportedly only receiving $10 million per year in revenues from their current television contract. However, that deal is set to expire in 2016, and the current rate adjustments in that business look like they should trickle down across the board, so the Reds should see a nice bump in money from their TV deal in four or five years.
In the near term, however, this is a team that’s going to have to get by with $80-$90 million payrolls. Winning a World Series might excite the fan base enough to push that over $100 million, but Cincinnati is just not a large metropolitan area, and the rust belt has been hit harder by the economic slowdown of the past few years than many coastal cities. The Reds aren’t in bad financial shape, but their revenue potential is limited, and this will always be a franchise that needs to be efficient with their spending in order to compete.
Baseball Operations: 47 (t-19th)
Walt Jocketty has a strong record of acquiring undervalued big leaguers and building a winning team through shrewd veteran pickups, but his reliance on older players also comes with a downside – trusting guys like Bronson Arroyo with shiny new contracts, for instance. That said, he has more hits than misses in his ledger, and for a guy who has been doing this for so long, that’s a pretty rare occurrence.
Somewhat like the Braves, the Reds are more old-school than most front offices, and haven’t brought in a legion of Harvard kids, but they’re not ignorant of how to build a winning baseball team. There are some chinks in the analytical armor, but they generally value players properly, and understand which guys to target for upgrades. They make mistakes too, but Reds fans should feel comfortable with Walt Jocketty and his staff at the helm. They’re not going to lead you into a ditch, and they might just make enough savvy moves to get the team to a World Series.
Overall: 50 (15th)
The Reds are legitimate contenders in 2012 that have some long term question marks, especially surrounding whether or not they’ll be able to keep their franchise first baseman in the fold. If they re-sign Votto, you’d probably move them up a couple of notches, but their limited financial upside and mediocre farm system probably still make them more of a good franchise than a great one. Their window is win is now, though, and a deep playoff run could unlock future revenues that could be reinvested into the franchise, so it’s not entirely a what-you-see-is-what-you-get situation.
Overall, there are definitely worse spots to be than Cincinnati right now. They’re going to put a good team on the field this year, and if they can figure out how to keep Votto in town, they could be perennial contenders for the remainder of his prime. With Theo Epstein and the Cubs looming as formidable contender down the road, the Reds need to take advantage of this opportunity, and they certainly seem to be intent on trying to do just that.
The Chicago Green Sox.
Spoiler [+]
There really is no point in sugarcoating things. The 2012 season will probably not be a pretty one on the south side of Chicago. The Detroit Tigers have put together a rather impressive, playoff-worthy team while the White Sox… have not.
Despite the dark clouds hanging over U.S. Cellular, there is a ray of sunshine for White Sox fans. The club appears set to open the season with four rookies on the 25-man roster; clearly fans would prefer to watch their team steamroll its way into the playoffs but watching young players develop should be a small consolation.
At present time the rookies projected to make the opening day roster include: relievers Addison Reed, Hector Santiago and Nathan Jones, as well as shortstop Eduardo Escobar.
For the most part the wave of rookies in 2012 does not match up to the class of 2011, which included pitchers Chris Sale, Zach Stewart, catcher Tyler Flowers, infielder Brent Morel, and outfielder Dayan Viciedo. With that said three of the rookies made my pre-season Top 15 prospects list: Reed (1st overall), Escobar (8th) and Santiago (10th).
Both Reed and Santiago have the opportunity to see significant save opportunities in 2012 with the former the current favorite. Reed was a teammate of Stephen Strasburg’s in college and could quickly shake the title of “That other guy from San Diego State
Despite the dark clouds hanging over U.S. Cellular, there is a ray of sunshine for White Sox fans. The club appears set to open the season with four rookies on the 25-man roster; clearly fans would prefer to watch their team steamroll its way into the playoffs but watching young players develop should be a small consolation.
At present time the rookies projected to make the opening day roster include: relievers Addison Reed, Hector Santiago and Nathan Jones, as well as shortstop Eduardo Escobar.
For the most part the wave of rookies in 2012 does not match up to the class of 2011, which included pitchers Chris Sale, Zach Stewart, catcher Tyler Flowers, infielder Brent Morel, and outfielder Dayan Viciedo. With that said three of the rookies made my pre-season Top 15 prospects list: Reed (1st overall), Escobar (8th) and Santiago (10th).
Both Reed and Santiago have the opportunity to see significant save opportunities in 2012 with the former the current favorite. Reed was a teammate of Stephen Strasburg’s in college and could quickly shake the title of “That other guy from San Diego State
2012 Organizational Rankings: #16 – Arizona.
Miguel Montero and the Victor Martinez Contract.
Spoiler [+]
Arizona’s 2011 Ranking: #29
2012 Outlook: – 55 (12th)
Combine an offense that is well above average with a pitching staff that is a touch above average, and you have a playoff team. It wasn’t enough to get the D-backs into baseball’s final four, but they came about as you could come, taking the Brewers into extras in the deciding Game 5 of their National League Division Series. Most of the principals from that team are intact this year. They are once again faced with mediocre competition in the NL West, and are in a position to win the division in consecutive years since the Randy Johnson-Curt Schilling-Luis Gonzalez-mountains of debt years. And while Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson may be in for a bit of regression, the team may be better this year than last.
The team received almost no production out of first base last season — Arizona’s .318 wOBA from first base was 24th in the game, a particularly egregious mark considering the team’s environment. Paul Goldschmidt doesn’t need to be that great to improve upon that, and if he lives up to his projections (his projected wOBA ranges from .344 to .382), he will be much better than that. Justin Upton may get better as well, as he will only be 24 this season, and while already spectacular, he may not be done improving.
The rotation could either be a weak spot or a huge plus. Trevor Cahill should be a solid addition to the team, especially if he can keep his ground-ball rate at the level it was last year. And while Mssrs. Hudson and Kennedy may come back to earth if their obscenely low walk rates tick back up this year (and if Kennedy doesn’t have the same good fortune his LOB% afforded him last year), the real trouble spots may be Josh Collmenter and Joe Saunders. Much of the season could come down to how the D-backs react if the duo struggles. If they provide one or both with a long leash and they continually get battered, it could be an opportunity missed, as the D-backs have talent ready to replace them on the farm. Collmenter may not get much rope with which to hang his unorthodox delivery, but Saunders is the highest-paid pitcher on the team, and may not be pushed aside so easily.
The other big question mark is shortstop. With Stephen Drew unlikely to take the field before May, the team is once again casting their lot with Willie Bloomquist. This is a confusing decision, especially with the glovelier John McDonald now in the fold. Following Drew’s July 20th injury last season, Bloomquist hit .261/.315/.337. If Drew doesn’t come back quickly, sticking with Bloomquist could come back to haunt Arizona.
2013+ Outlook: 56 (8th)
By most accounts, the D-backs have a top 10 farm system. Our own Marc Hulet has them eighth, Keith Law at ESPN has them sixth, and Baseball America placed them fourth. Having a deep stable of pitchers will do that. Even after trading Jarrod Parker, in Trevor Bauer, Tyler Skaggs, Archie Bradley and Patrick Corbin, the D-backs have more pitching depth than just about every team in the game.
The positional player crop on the farm isn’t as strong, but part of that is because much of it has graduated — Goldschmidt, Parra and Upton are all homegrown (and another homegrown player, Collin Cowgill, was shipped off to Oakland as part of the Cahill package). Combine them with young veterans like Drew, Miguel Montero and Chris Young, and Arizona had one of the youngest teams in the game last year. That won’t change this year — of the key components of the 2012 team, only J.J. Putz, Ryan Roberts and Saunders are north of 30. And with the exception of Montero, all of the team’s young players are locked up through at least the end of next season. Talent-wise, the D-backs are in an excellent position moving forward.
Financial Resources: 42 (23rd)
The Diamondbacks have a relatively new ballpark, and are improving the quality of the product on the field, but are unfortunately stuck in a market that is going to keep them behind their NL West rivals financially. Of the five members of the division, the D-backs came in last in Forbes’ 2012 MLB team values. While Arizona is in a closely clustered group — eight teams were valued from $447-480 — they were on the low end of that spectrum, and the club’s upside is financial mediocrity. The team is still highly leveraged, and while they wisely reinvested in payroll this offseason, with the Opening Day payroll up by almost $15 million over last year, there probably will not be much wiggle room to take on salary during the season.
The other question that will continually crop up is do they have the money to keep their own players. The team was unable to come to terms with Montero on a contract extension, and as Matt Klaassen discussed earlier today, the team might not have the wherewithal for such a deal. With Saunders coming off the books, there may technically be room in the budget for Montero, but then that could hamstring the team when it comes to other players. Kennedy and Hudson (and to a lesser extent, Parra) will be due large raises in the near future, and if Goldschmidt takes off, they may want to lock him up as well. It’s a good problem to have, but Arizona is going to have to work hard to keep all of their talented players in the fold.
Baseball Operations: 48 (17th)
Kevin Towers came on board following the franchise’s faceplant in 2009 and 2010, but instead of a total teardown he made changes on the periphery, making low-risk, high-upside plays. He claimed Joe Paterson on waivers from the San Francisco Giants, where he was blocked by the immortal Jeremy Affeldt. He also took gambled on guys like Russell Branyan, Sean Burroughs, Wily Mo Pena, and J.J. Putz. Not all of those moves worked out, but you could see the logic in each one, and when one paid off, it paid off big — Putz was one of the most valuable relievers in the game last season. Throw in the in-season acquisition of Brad Ziegler, and three of the four most valuable relievers on last year’s D-backs squad were Towers’ imports. He and his staff drastically improved the bullpen, and did so on the cheap.
The gambles were not isolated to the bullpen either. Towers had the gumption to let former face of the franchise Brandon Webb walk, and that paid off in spades when his comeback lasted all of 12 innings…in Double-A. The Aaron Hill acquisition worked out as well as it possibly could have, and as the price of pitching steadily increased as the offseason progressed, the Trevor Cahill deal began to look like highway robbery. Of course, the biggest gamble was retaining Kirk Gibson — he of the 34-49 record — as the team’s manager. Gibson showed a firm hand with his players (at least publicly), eschewed traditional managerial tactics and took home Manager of the Year honors in his first full season. If he keeps it up, he will be on the short list for best manager in the game.
That isn’t to say that Towers and Co. have been bulletproof. Many questioned the Jason Kubel acquisition, and the team’s affinity for Bloomquist and Saunders is strange. It also would have been nice to see them give Goldschmidt 600 plate appearances, but Lyle Overbay — despite not being good with the bat or glove in 2011 — and his veteranness are likely to steal some playing time. But overall, things have been positive. While their ranking is 17th, one more point would have pushed their ranking to 13th.
Overall: 50 (16th)
It’s amazing how much difference one season can make. We buried Arizona in these org rankings a year ago, placing them higher than only Houston. The club’s 13-spot climb this season is tied for the largest jump, along with the Nationals. A lot went Arizona’s way in 2011, and more should go their way in the future. Their baseball operations base is solid both on the field and in the front office, they have a young team with a superstar who is locked up for four more seasons, and a groundswell of pitching on the farm that could transform their rotation from middling to monstrosity. If they make the right moves and catch some breaks, we may look back on 2011 as the beginning of a great run for the franchise.
The one thing they don’t have, however, is extra money. Their payroll may be maxed out for the season before it starts, and that gives the season a make-or-break feel. If Drew can suit up for 130 games, if Kennedy, Hudson and Roberts turn in consecutive good-to-great seasons, if Goldschmidt is the real deal, if they call up the kids at the first sign of trouble from Collmenter and/or Saunders, they could run away with the division. But if not, they will have a fight on their hands. Still, the opportunity is there. With the Phillies, Cardinals and Braves all already dealing with significant injuries, the NL lacks a clear favorite, and the D-backs are as poised as anyone to step into the breach.
2012 Outlook: – 55 (12th)
Combine an offense that is well above average with a pitching staff that is a touch above average, and you have a playoff team. It wasn’t enough to get the D-backs into baseball’s final four, but they came about as you could come, taking the Brewers into extras in the deciding Game 5 of their National League Division Series. Most of the principals from that team are intact this year. They are once again faced with mediocre competition in the NL West, and are in a position to win the division in consecutive years since the Randy Johnson-Curt Schilling-Luis Gonzalez-mountains of debt years. And while Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson may be in for a bit of regression, the team may be better this year than last.
The team received almost no production out of first base last season — Arizona’s .318 wOBA from first base was 24th in the game, a particularly egregious mark considering the team’s environment. Paul Goldschmidt doesn’t need to be that great to improve upon that, and if he lives up to his projections (his projected wOBA ranges from .344 to .382), he will be much better than that. Justin Upton may get better as well, as he will only be 24 this season, and while already spectacular, he may not be done improving.
The rotation could either be a weak spot or a huge plus. Trevor Cahill should be a solid addition to the team, especially if he can keep his ground-ball rate at the level it was last year. And while Mssrs. Hudson and Kennedy may come back to earth if their obscenely low walk rates tick back up this year (and if Kennedy doesn’t have the same good fortune his LOB% afforded him last year), the real trouble spots may be Josh Collmenter and Joe Saunders. Much of the season could come down to how the D-backs react if the duo struggles. If they provide one or both with a long leash and they continually get battered, it could be an opportunity missed, as the D-backs have talent ready to replace them on the farm. Collmenter may not get much rope with which to hang his unorthodox delivery, but Saunders is the highest-paid pitcher on the team, and may not be pushed aside so easily.
The other big question mark is shortstop. With Stephen Drew unlikely to take the field before May, the team is once again casting their lot with Willie Bloomquist. This is a confusing decision, especially with the glovelier John McDonald now in the fold. Following Drew’s July 20th injury last season, Bloomquist hit .261/.315/.337. If Drew doesn’t come back quickly, sticking with Bloomquist could come back to haunt Arizona.
2013+ Outlook: 56 (8th)
By most accounts, the D-backs have a top 10 farm system. Our own Marc Hulet has them eighth, Keith Law at ESPN has them sixth, and Baseball America placed them fourth. Having a deep stable of pitchers will do that. Even after trading Jarrod Parker, in Trevor Bauer, Tyler Skaggs, Archie Bradley and Patrick Corbin, the D-backs have more pitching depth than just about every team in the game.
The positional player crop on the farm isn’t as strong, but part of that is because much of it has graduated — Goldschmidt, Parra and Upton are all homegrown (and another homegrown player, Collin Cowgill, was shipped off to Oakland as part of the Cahill package). Combine them with young veterans like Drew, Miguel Montero and Chris Young, and Arizona had one of the youngest teams in the game last year. That won’t change this year — of the key components of the 2012 team, only J.J. Putz, Ryan Roberts and Saunders are north of 30. And with the exception of Montero, all of the team’s young players are locked up through at least the end of next season. Talent-wise, the D-backs are in an excellent position moving forward.
Financial Resources: 42 (23rd)
The Diamondbacks have a relatively new ballpark, and are improving the quality of the product on the field, but are unfortunately stuck in a market that is going to keep them behind their NL West rivals financially. Of the five members of the division, the D-backs came in last in Forbes’ 2012 MLB team values. While Arizona is in a closely clustered group — eight teams were valued from $447-480 — they were on the low end of that spectrum, and the club’s upside is financial mediocrity. The team is still highly leveraged, and while they wisely reinvested in payroll this offseason, with the Opening Day payroll up by almost $15 million over last year, there probably will not be much wiggle room to take on salary during the season.
The other question that will continually crop up is do they have the money to keep their own players. The team was unable to come to terms with Montero on a contract extension, and as Matt Klaassen discussed earlier today, the team might not have the wherewithal for such a deal. With Saunders coming off the books, there may technically be room in the budget for Montero, but then that could hamstring the team when it comes to other players. Kennedy and Hudson (and to a lesser extent, Parra) will be due large raises in the near future, and if Goldschmidt takes off, they may want to lock him up as well. It’s a good problem to have, but Arizona is going to have to work hard to keep all of their talented players in the fold.
Baseball Operations: 48 (17th)
Kevin Towers came on board following the franchise’s faceplant in 2009 and 2010, but instead of a total teardown he made changes on the periphery, making low-risk, high-upside plays. He claimed Joe Paterson on waivers from the San Francisco Giants, where he was blocked by the immortal Jeremy Affeldt. He also took gambled on guys like Russell Branyan, Sean Burroughs, Wily Mo Pena, and J.J. Putz. Not all of those moves worked out, but you could see the logic in each one, and when one paid off, it paid off big — Putz was one of the most valuable relievers in the game last season. Throw in the in-season acquisition of Brad Ziegler, and three of the four most valuable relievers on last year’s D-backs squad were Towers’ imports. He and his staff drastically improved the bullpen, and did so on the cheap.
The gambles were not isolated to the bullpen either. Towers had the gumption to let former face of the franchise Brandon Webb walk, and that paid off in spades when his comeback lasted all of 12 innings…in Double-A. The Aaron Hill acquisition worked out as well as it possibly could have, and as the price of pitching steadily increased as the offseason progressed, the Trevor Cahill deal began to look like highway robbery. Of course, the biggest gamble was retaining Kirk Gibson — he of the 34-49 record — as the team’s manager. Gibson showed a firm hand with his players (at least publicly), eschewed traditional managerial tactics and took home Manager of the Year honors in his first full season. If he keeps it up, he will be on the short list for best manager in the game.
That isn’t to say that Towers and Co. have been bulletproof. Many questioned the Jason Kubel acquisition, and the team’s affinity for Bloomquist and Saunders is strange. It also would have been nice to see them give Goldschmidt 600 plate appearances, but Lyle Overbay — despite not being good with the bat or glove in 2011 — and his veteranness are likely to steal some playing time. But overall, things have been positive. While their ranking is 17th, one more point would have pushed their ranking to 13th.
Overall: 50 (16th)
It’s amazing how much difference one season can make. We buried Arizona in these org rankings a year ago, placing them higher than only Houston. The club’s 13-spot climb this season is tied for the largest jump, along with the Nationals. A lot went Arizona’s way in 2011, and more should go their way in the future. Their baseball operations base is solid both on the field and in the front office, they have a young team with a superstar who is locked up for four more seasons, and a groundswell of pitching on the farm that could transform their rotation from middling to monstrosity. If they make the right moves and catch some breaks, we may look back on 2011 as the beginning of a great run for the franchise.
The one thing they don’t have, however, is extra money. Their payroll may be maxed out for the season before it starts, and that gives the season a make-or-break feel. If Drew can suit up for 130 games, if Kennedy, Hudson and Roberts turn in consecutive good-to-great seasons, if Goldschmidt is the real deal, if they call up the kids at the first sign of trouble from Collmenter and/or Saunders, they could run away with the division. But if not, they will have a fight on their hands. Still, the opportunity is there. With the Phillies, Cardinals and Braves all already dealing with significant injuries, the NL lacks a clear favorite, and the D-backs are as poised as anyone to step into the breach.
Miguel Montero and the Victor Martinez Contract.
Spoiler [+]
Contract extension talks between catcher Miguel Montero and the Arizona Diamondbacks reportedly ended without a resolution this spring. Montero is said to be looking for something like the four-year, $50 million contract Victor Martinez received from the Tigers in free agency prior to the 2010 season. The Diamondbacks do have Montero under contract for 2012 (the last of his team-controlled arbitration seasons), but at the moment it looks like he will become a free agent after the World Series. Is Montero’s desire for such a contract reasonable?
Martinez’ own deal obviously looks bad now given that he is out with the injury, but even at the time it was questionable. It would have been decent if he was a starting catcher, but the Tigers did not even wait to see if he could start for a couple of seasons, making him a primary DH right away. Alex Avila‘s emergence aside, in itself Martinez’ contract looked problematic even before the injury. Martinez’ bat was excellent for a catcher, but is much less impressive for a designated hitter or first baseman. Did the Tigers think that Martinez’ past positional value would remain even as he DHed?
What would four years and $50 million dollars be buying? Assuming that the extension would begin after 2012, and taking into account a small annual increase in the price of a marginal win on the free agent market in addition to a half-win a year decline, four years and $50 million would be buying a player who would project as a three-win player. Montero has averaged almost three wins per year over the last three seasons, but we also know that we need to account for regression, aging, and other factors when projecting a player`s true talent in the future.
[Today I want to try something a bit different. I want to give "ranges" of expected performance for each general component discussed in order to get some crude "best" and "worst" case scenarios. Now, when I use straight-up numbers from projections, they are usually assumed to be in the "middle" of such a range, so this is not really a difference in the method used, simply the mode presentation. The idea is to be more explicit in acknowledging the uncertainty always implicit in such discussions, but perhaps it will add too much confusion. We'll see how it works for now.]
Montero bears a superficial similarity to Martinez in that he has an above-average bat compared to league average, which is very good for a catcher. But the resemblance between the two players does not go far beyond that.
Martinez is sometimes overrated as a hitter, but he is good. Montero has been a good hitter for the past four seasons, but even without taking his more hitter-friendly park and league, he is not quite on Martinez’ level. ZiPS, Steamer, Marcel and the Fans all have him hitting for a wOBA somewhere between .333 and .341 in 2012. After adjusting for the park, that is worth about six to 10 runs above average over 700 plate appearances.
The discussion of Martinez can probably end there, since Montero can probably catch a longer. For one, while Martinez was 32 going into the 2011 season, Montero will only be 29 at the end of this season. For another, Montero seems to be a better catcher in the field. Of course, the “defensive
Martinez’ own deal obviously looks bad now given that he is out with the injury, but even at the time it was questionable. It would have been decent if he was a starting catcher, but the Tigers did not even wait to see if he could start for a couple of seasons, making him a primary DH right away. Alex Avila‘s emergence aside, in itself Martinez’ contract looked problematic even before the injury. Martinez’ bat was excellent for a catcher, but is much less impressive for a designated hitter or first baseman. Did the Tigers think that Martinez’ past positional value would remain even as he DHed?
What would four years and $50 million dollars be buying? Assuming that the extension would begin after 2012, and taking into account a small annual increase in the price of a marginal win on the free agent market in addition to a half-win a year decline, four years and $50 million would be buying a player who would project as a three-win player. Montero has averaged almost three wins per year over the last three seasons, but we also know that we need to account for regression, aging, and other factors when projecting a player`s true talent in the future.
[Today I want to try something a bit different. I want to give "ranges" of expected performance for each general component discussed in order to get some crude "best" and "worst" case scenarios. Now, when I use straight-up numbers from projections, they are usually assumed to be in the "middle" of such a range, so this is not really a difference in the method used, simply the mode presentation. The idea is to be more explicit in acknowledging the uncertainty always implicit in such discussions, but perhaps it will add too much confusion. We'll see how it works for now.]
Montero bears a superficial similarity to Martinez in that he has an above-average bat compared to league average, which is very good for a catcher. But the resemblance between the two players does not go far beyond that.
Martinez is sometimes overrated as a hitter, but he is good. Montero has been a good hitter for the past four seasons, but even without taking his more hitter-friendly park and league, he is not quite on Martinez’ level. ZiPS, Steamer, Marcel and the Fans all have him hitting for a wOBA somewhere between .333 and .341 in 2012. After adjusting for the park, that is worth about six to 10 runs above average over 700 plate appearances.
The discussion of Martinez can probably end there, since Montero can probably catch a longer. For one, while Martinez was 32 going into the 2011 season, Montero will only be 29 at the end of this season. For another, Montero seems to be a better catcher in the field. Of course, the “defensive
2012 Organizational Rankings: #16 – Arizona.
Miguel Montero and the Victor Martinez Contract.
Spoiler [+]
Arizona’s 2011 Ranking: #29
2012 Outlook: – 55 (12th)
Combine an offense that is well above average with a pitching staff that is a touch above average, and you have a playoff team. It wasn’t enough to get the D-backs into baseball’s final four, but they came about as you could come, taking the Brewers into extras in the deciding Game 5 of their National League Division Series. Most of the principals from that team are intact this year. They are once again faced with mediocre competition in the NL West, and are in a position to win the division in consecutive years since the Randy Johnson-Curt Schilling-Luis Gonzalez-mountains of debt years. And while Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson may be in for a bit of regression, the team may be better this year than last.
The team received almost no production out of first base last season — Arizona’s .318 wOBA from first base was 24th in the game, a particularly egregious mark considering the team’s environment. Paul Goldschmidt doesn’t need to be that great to improve upon that, and if he lives up to his projections (his projected wOBA ranges from .344 to .382), he will be much better than that. Justin Upton may get better as well, as he will only be 24 this season, and while already spectacular, he may not be done improving.
The rotation could either be a weak spot or a huge plus. Trevor Cahill should be a solid addition to the team, especially if he can keep his ground-ball rate at the level it was last year. And while Mssrs. Hudson and Kennedy may come back to earth if their obscenely low walk rates tick back up this year (and if Kennedy doesn’t have the same good fortune his LOB% afforded him last year), the real trouble spots may be Josh Collmenter and Joe Saunders. Much of the season could come down to how the D-backs react if the duo struggles. If they provide one or both with a long leash and they continually get battered, it could be an opportunity missed, as the D-backs have talent ready to replace them on the farm. Collmenter may not get much rope with which to hang his unorthodox delivery, but Saunders is the highest-paid pitcher on the team, and may not be pushed aside so easily.
The other big question mark is shortstop. With Stephen Drew unlikely to take the field before May, the team is once again casting their lot with Willie Bloomquist. This is a confusing decision, especially with the glovelier John McDonald now in the fold. Following Drew’s July 20th injury last season, Bloomquist hit .261/.315/.337. If Drew doesn’t come back quickly, sticking with Bloomquist could come back to haunt Arizona.
2013+ Outlook: 56 (8th)
By most accounts, the D-backs have a top 10 farm system. Our own Marc Hulet has them eighth, Keith Law at ESPN has them sixth, and Baseball America placed them fourth. Having a deep stable of pitchers will do that. Even after trading Jarrod Parker, in Trevor Bauer, Tyler Skaggs, Archie Bradley and Patrick Corbin, the D-backs have more pitching depth than just about every team in the game.
The positional player crop on the farm isn’t as strong, but part of that is because much of it has graduated — Goldschmidt, Parra and Upton are all homegrown (and another homegrown player, Collin Cowgill, was shipped off to Oakland as part of the Cahill package). Combine them with young veterans like Drew, Miguel Montero and Chris Young, and Arizona had one of the youngest teams in the game last year. That won’t change this year — of the key components of the 2012 team, only J.J. Putz, Ryan Roberts and Saunders are north of 30. And with the exception of Montero, all of the team’s young players are locked up through at least the end of next season. Talent-wise, the D-backs are in an excellent position moving forward.
Financial Resources: 42 (23rd)
The Diamondbacks have a relatively new ballpark, and are improving the quality of the product on the field, but are unfortunately stuck in a market that is going to keep them behind their NL West rivals financially. Of the five members of the division, the D-backs came in last in Forbes’ 2012 MLB team values. While Arizona is in a closely clustered group — eight teams were valued from $447-480 — they were on the low end of that spectrum, and the club’s upside is financial mediocrity. The team is still highly leveraged, and while they wisely reinvested in payroll this offseason, with the Opening Day payroll up by almost $15 million over last year, there probably will not be much wiggle room to take on salary during the season.
The other question that will continually crop up is do they have the money to keep their own players. The team was unable to come to terms with Montero on a contract extension, and as Matt Klaassen discussed earlier today, the team might not have the wherewithal for such a deal. With Saunders coming off the books, there may technically be room in the budget for Montero, but then that could hamstring the team when it comes to other players. Kennedy and Hudson (and to a lesser extent, Parra) will be due large raises in the near future, and if Goldschmidt takes off, they may want to lock him up as well. It’s a good problem to have, but Arizona is going to have to work hard to keep all of their talented players in the fold.
Baseball Operations: 48 (17th)
Kevin Towers came on board following the franchise’s faceplant in 2009 and 2010, but instead of a total teardown he made changes on the periphery, making low-risk, high-upside plays. He claimed Joe Paterson on waivers from the San Francisco Giants, where he was blocked by the immortal Jeremy Affeldt. He also took gambled on guys like Russell Branyan, Sean Burroughs, Wily Mo Pena, and J.J. Putz. Not all of those moves worked out, but you could see the logic in each one, and when one paid off, it paid off big — Putz was one of the most valuable relievers in the game last season. Throw in the in-season acquisition of Brad Ziegler, and three of the four most valuable relievers on last year’s D-backs squad were Towers’ imports. He and his staff drastically improved the bullpen, and did so on the cheap.
The gambles were not isolated to the bullpen either. Towers had the gumption to let former face of the franchise Brandon Webb walk, and that paid off in spades when his comeback lasted all of 12 innings…in Double-A. The Aaron Hill acquisition worked out as well as it possibly could have, and as the price of pitching steadily increased as the offseason progressed, the Trevor Cahill deal began to look like highway robbery. Of course, the biggest gamble was retaining Kirk Gibson — he of the 34-49 record — as the team’s manager. Gibson showed a firm hand with his players (at least publicly), eschewed traditional managerial tactics and took home Manager of the Year honors in his first full season. If he keeps it up, he will be on the short list for best manager in the game.
That isn’t to say that Towers and Co. have been bulletproof. Many questioned the Jason Kubel acquisition, and the team’s affinity for Bloomquist and Saunders is strange. It also would have been nice to see them give Goldschmidt 600 plate appearances, but Lyle Overbay — despite not being good with the bat or glove in 2011 — and his veteranness are likely to steal some playing time. But overall, things have been positive. While their ranking is 17th, one more point would have pushed their ranking to 13th.
Overall: 50 (16th)
It’s amazing how much difference one season can make. We buried Arizona in these org rankings a year ago, placing them higher than only Houston. The club’s 13-spot climb this season is tied for the largest jump, along with the Nationals. A lot went Arizona’s way in 2011, and more should go their way in the future. Their baseball operations base is solid both on the field and in the front office, they have a young team with a superstar who is locked up for four more seasons, and a groundswell of pitching on the farm that could transform their rotation from middling to monstrosity. If they make the right moves and catch some breaks, we may look back on 2011 as the beginning of a great run for the franchise.
The one thing they don’t have, however, is extra money. Their payroll may be maxed out for the season before it starts, and that gives the season a make-or-break feel. If Drew can suit up for 130 games, if Kennedy, Hudson and Roberts turn in consecutive good-to-great seasons, if Goldschmidt is the real deal, if they call up the kids at the first sign of trouble from Collmenter and/or Saunders, they could run away with the division. But if not, they will have a fight on their hands. Still, the opportunity is there. With the Phillies, Cardinals and Braves all already dealing with significant injuries, the NL lacks a clear favorite, and the D-backs are as poised as anyone to step into the breach.
2012 Outlook: – 55 (12th)
Combine an offense that is well above average with a pitching staff that is a touch above average, and you have a playoff team. It wasn’t enough to get the D-backs into baseball’s final four, but they came about as you could come, taking the Brewers into extras in the deciding Game 5 of their National League Division Series. Most of the principals from that team are intact this year. They are once again faced with mediocre competition in the NL West, and are in a position to win the division in consecutive years since the Randy Johnson-Curt Schilling-Luis Gonzalez-mountains of debt years. And while Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson may be in for a bit of regression, the team may be better this year than last.
The team received almost no production out of first base last season — Arizona’s .318 wOBA from first base was 24th in the game, a particularly egregious mark considering the team’s environment. Paul Goldschmidt doesn’t need to be that great to improve upon that, and if he lives up to his projections (his projected wOBA ranges from .344 to .382), he will be much better than that. Justin Upton may get better as well, as he will only be 24 this season, and while already spectacular, he may not be done improving.
The rotation could either be a weak spot or a huge plus. Trevor Cahill should be a solid addition to the team, especially if he can keep his ground-ball rate at the level it was last year. And while Mssrs. Hudson and Kennedy may come back to earth if their obscenely low walk rates tick back up this year (and if Kennedy doesn’t have the same good fortune his LOB% afforded him last year), the real trouble spots may be Josh Collmenter and Joe Saunders. Much of the season could come down to how the D-backs react if the duo struggles. If they provide one or both with a long leash and they continually get battered, it could be an opportunity missed, as the D-backs have talent ready to replace them on the farm. Collmenter may not get much rope with which to hang his unorthodox delivery, but Saunders is the highest-paid pitcher on the team, and may not be pushed aside so easily.
The other big question mark is shortstop. With Stephen Drew unlikely to take the field before May, the team is once again casting their lot with Willie Bloomquist. This is a confusing decision, especially with the glovelier John McDonald now in the fold. Following Drew’s July 20th injury last season, Bloomquist hit .261/.315/.337. If Drew doesn’t come back quickly, sticking with Bloomquist could come back to haunt Arizona.
2013+ Outlook: 56 (8th)
By most accounts, the D-backs have a top 10 farm system. Our own Marc Hulet has them eighth, Keith Law at ESPN has them sixth, and Baseball America placed them fourth. Having a deep stable of pitchers will do that. Even after trading Jarrod Parker, in Trevor Bauer, Tyler Skaggs, Archie Bradley and Patrick Corbin, the D-backs have more pitching depth than just about every team in the game.
The positional player crop on the farm isn’t as strong, but part of that is because much of it has graduated — Goldschmidt, Parra and Upton are all homegrown (and another homegrown player, Collin Cowgill, was shipped off to Oakland as part of the Cahill package). Combine them with young veterans like Drew, Miguel Montero and Chris Young, and Arizona had one of the youngest teams in the game last year. That won’t change this year — of the key components of the 2012 team, only J.J. Putz, Ryan Roberts and Saunders are north of 30. And with the exception of Montero, all of the team’s young players are locked up through at least the end of next season. Talent-wise, the D-backs are in an excellent position moving forward.
Financial Resources: 42 (23rd)
The Diamondbacks have a relatively new ballpark, and are improving the quality of the product on the field, but are unfortunately stuck in a market that is going to keep them behind their NL West rivals financially. Of the five members of the division, the D-backs came in last in Forbes’ 2012 MLB team values. While Arizona is in a closely clustered group — eight teams were valued from $447-480 — they were on the low end of that spectrum, and the club’s upside is financial mediocrity. The team is still highly leveraged, and while they wisely reinvested in payroll this offseason, with the Opening Day payroll up by almost $15 million over last year, there probably will not be much wiggle room to take on salary during the season.
The other question that will continually crop up is do they have the money to keep their own players. The team was unable to come to terms with Montero on a contract extension, and as Matt Klaassen discussed earlier today, the team might not have the wherewithal for such a deal. With Saunders coming off the books, there may technically be room in the budget for Montero, but then that could hamstring the team when it comes to other players. Kennedy and Hudson (and to a lesser extent, Parra) will be due large raises in the near future, and if Goldschmidt takes off, they may want to lock him up as well. It’s a good problem to have, but Arizona is going to have to work hard to keep all of their talented players in the fold.
Baseball Operations: 48 (17th)
Kevin Towers came on board following the franchise’s faceplant in 2009 and 2010, but instead of a total teardown he made changes on the periphery, making low-risk, high-upside plays. He claimed Joe Paterson on waivers from the San Francisco Giants, where he was blocked by the immortal Jeremy Affeldt. He also took gambled on guys like Russell Branyan, Sean Burroughs, Wily Mo Pena, and J.J. Putz. Not all of those moves worked out, but you could see the logic in each one, and when one paid off, it paid off big — Putz was one of the most valuable relievers in the game last season. Throw in the in-season acquisition of Brad Ziegler, and three of the four most valuable relievers on last year’s D-backs squad were Towers’ imports. He and his staff drastically improved the bullpen, and did so on the cheap.
The gambles were not isolated to the bullpen either. Towers had the gumption to let former face of the franchise Brandon Webb walk, and that paid off in spades when his comeback lasted all of 12 innings…in Double-A. The Aaron Hill acquisition worked out as well as it possibly could have, and as the price of pitching steadily increased as the offseason progressed, the Trevor Cahill deal began to look like highway robbery. Of course, the biggest gamble was retaining Kirk Gibson — he of the 34-49 record — as the team’s manager. Gibson showed a firm hand with his players (at least publicly), eschewed traditional managerial tactics and took home Manager of the Year honors in his first full season. If he keeps it up, he will be on the short list for best manager in the game.
That isn’t to say that Towers and Co. have been bulletproof. Many questioned the Jason Kubel acquisition, and the team’s affinity for Bloomquist and Saunders is strange. It also would have been nice to see them give Goldschmidt 600 plate appearances, but Lyle Overbay — despite not being good with the bat or glove in 2011 — and his veteranness are likely to steal some playing time. But overall, things have been positive. While their ranking is 17th, one more point would have pushed their ranking to 13th.
Overall: 50 (16th)
It’s amazing how much difference one season can make. We buried Arizona in these org rankings a year ago, placing them higher than only Houston. The club’s 13-spot climb this season is tied for the largest jump, along with the Nationals. A lot went Arizona’s way in 2011, and more should go their way in the future. Their baseball operations base is solid both on the field and in the front office, they have a young team with a superstar who is locked up for four more seasons, and a groundswell of pitching on the farm that could transform their rotation from middling to monstrosity. If they make the right moves and catch some breaks, we may look back on 2011 as the beginning of a great run for the franchise.
The one thing they don’t have, however, is extra money. Their payroll may be maxed out for the season before it starts, and that gives the season a make-or-break feel. If Drew can suit up for 130 games, if Kennedy, Hudson and Roberts turn in consecutive good-to-great seasons, if Goldschmidt is the real deal, if they call up the kids at the first sign of trouble from Collmenter and/or Saunders, they could run away with the division. But if not, they will have a fight on their hands. Still, the opportunity is there. With the Phillies, Cardinals and Braves all already dealing with significant injuries, the NL lacks a clear favorite, and the D-backs are as poised as anyone to step into the breach.
Miguel Montero and the Victor Martinez Contract.
Spoiler [+]
Contract extension talks between catcher Miguel Montero and the Arizona Diamondbacks reportedly ended without a resolution this spring. Montero is said to be looking for something like the four-year, $50 million contract Victor Martinez received from the Tigers in free agency prior to the 2010 season. The Diamondbacks do have Montero under contract for 2012 (the last of his team-controlled arbitration seasons), but at the moment it looks like he will become a free agent after the World Series. Is Montero’s desire for such a contract reasonable?
Martinez’ own deal obviously looks bad now given that he is out with the injury, but even at the time it was questionable. It would have been decent if he was a starting catcher, but the Tigers did not even wait to see if he could start for a couple of seasons, making him a primary DH right away. Alex Avila‘s emergence aside, in itself Martinez’ contract looked problematic even before the injury. Martinez’ bat was excellent for a catcher, but is much less impressive for a designated hitter or first baseman. Did the Tigers think that Martinez’ past positional value would remain even as he DHed?
What would four years and $50 million dollars be buying? Assuming that the extension would begin after 2012, and taking into account a small annual increase in the price of a marginal win on the free agent market in addition to a half-win a year decline, four years and $50 million would be buying a player who would project as a three-win player. Montero has averaged almost three wins per year over the last three seasons, but we also know that we need to account for regression, aging, and other factors when projecting a player`s true talent in the future.
[Today I want to try something a bit different. I want to give "ranges" of expected performance for each general component discussed in order to get some crude "best" and "worst" case scenarios. Now, when I use straight-up numbers from projections, they are usually assumed to be in the "middle" of such a range, so this is not really a difference in the method used, simply the mode presentation. The idea is to be more explicit in acknowledging the uncertainty always implicit in such discussions, but perhaps it will add too much confusion. We'll see how it works for now.]
Montero bears a superficial similarity to Martinez in that he has an above-average bat compared to league average, which is very good for a catcher. But the resemblance between the two players does not go far beyond that.
Martinez is sometimes overrated as a hitter, but he is good. Montero has been a good hitter for the past four seasons, but even without taking his more hitter-friendly park and league, he is not quite on Martinez’ level. ZiPS, Steamer, Marcel and the Fans all have him hitting for a wOBA somewhere between .333 and .341 in 2012. After adjusting for the park, that is worth about six to 10 runs above average over 700 plate appearances.
The discussion of Martinez can probably end there, since Montero can probably catch a longer. For one, while Martinez was 32 going into the 2011 season, Montero will only be 29 at the end of this season. For another, Montero seems to be a better catcher in the field. Of course, the “defensive
Martinez’ own deal obviously looks bad now given that he is out with the injury, but even at the time it was questionable. It would have been decent if he was a starting catcher, but the Tigers did not even wait to see if he could start for a couple of seasons, making him a primary DH right away. Alex Avila‘s emergence aside, in itself Martinez’ contract looked problematic even before the injury. Martinez’ bat was excellent for a catcher, but is much less impressive for a designated hitter or first baseman. Did the Tigers think that Martinez’ past positional value would remain even as he DHed?
What would four years and $50 million dollars be buying? Assuming that the extension would begin after 2012, and taking into account a small annual increase in the price of a marginal win on the free agent market in addition to a half-win a year decline, four years and $50 million would be buying a player who would project as a three-win player. Montero has averaged almost three wins per year over the last three seasons, but we also know that we need to account for regression, aging, and other factors when projecting a player`s true talent in the future.
[Today I want to try something a bit different. I want to give "ranges" of expected performance for each general component discussed in order to get some crude "best" and "worst" case scenarios. Now, when I use straight-up numbers from projections, they are usually assumed to be in the "middle" of such a range, so this is not really a difference in the method used, simply the mode presentation. The idea is to be more explicit in acknowledging the uncertainty always implicit in such discussions, but perhaps it will add too much confusion. We'll see how it works for now.]
Montero bears a superficial similarity to Martinez in that he has an above-average bat compared to league average, which is very good for a catcher. But the resemblance between the two players does not go far beyond that.
Martinez is sometimes overrated as a hitter, but he is good. Montero has been a good hitter for the past four seasons, but even without taking his more hitter-friendly park and league, he is not quite on Martinez’ level. ZiPS, Steamer, Marcel and the Fans all have him hitting for a wOBA somewhere between .333 and .341 in 2012. After adjusting for the park, that is worth about six to 10 runs above average over 700 plate appearances.
The discussion of Martinez can probably end there, since Montero can probably catch a longer. For one, while Martinez was 32 going into the 2011 season, Montero will only be 29 at the end of this season. For another, Montero seems to be a better catcher in the field. Of course, the “defensive
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This likely means BP is a goner, though.
- 9,908
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This likely means BP is a goner, though.
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Was hoping to see Votto as a Blue Jay honestly
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Was hoping to see Votto as a Blue Jay honestly
dacomeup
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Votto close to an extension!!! Best **+##%! news I've heard all day. I agree that BP is probably gone, though.
dacomeup
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Votto close to an extension!!! Best **+##%! news I've heard all day. I agree that BP is probably gone, though.
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Having a hard time associating Joey Votto with a contract woth $225 million
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- May 14, 2009
Having a hard time associating Joey Votto with a contract woth $225 million
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- Jan 8, 2005
Originally Posted by jdcurt2
The Votto extension came out of nowhere. Votto wouldn't comment on it and said to ask Walt.
YES! YES! YES!
Now we need to see how to fit BP into things.
- 17,144
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- Jan 8, 2005
Originally Posted by jdcurt2
The Votto extension came out of nowhere. Votto wouldn't comment on it and said to ask Walt.
YES! YES! YES!
Now we need to see how to fit BP into things.
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- Aug 2, 2006
While negotiating against nobody they managed to give this insane extension, the price of premium bats is spiraling out of control.
- 31,947
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- Aug 2, 2006
While negotiating against nobody they managed to give this insane extension, the price of premium bats is spiraling out of control.
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- Jun 23, 2008
RT, I'm disappointed that Cain got resigned, I was hoping we can make a run at him in FA.
Oh well, it's officially King Felix watch for 2015, blee dat pleighboi
Oh well, it's officially King Felix watch for 2015, blee dat pleighboi
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- Jun 23, 2008
RT, I'm disappointed that Cain got resigned, I was hoping we can make a run at him in FA.
Oh well, it's officially King Felix watch for 2015, blee dat pleighboi
Oh well, it's officially King Felix watch for 2015, blee dat pleighboi
- Status