2016 MLB thread. THE CUBS HAVE BROKEN THE CURSE! Chicago Cubs are your 2016 World Series champions

Status
Not open for further replies.
^ Wright 
nerd.gif

jk but Bourn has played good leads NL in hits so far. He just gets caught stealing to much for my liking.
 
Originally Posted by wildKYcat

Originally Posted by Kevin Cleveland

In another direction, Joey Votto is on pace for 71 doubles, 31 home runs, 107 runs batted in, 131 walks and 10 steals, to boot. On-base at .486 right now. That's like Barry Bonds Lite territory.
Click to expand...
and 200 hits.  only one player in the history of baseball has walked that many times with 200 hits...some guy named Babe Ruth.
and the doubles record is 67.  

I think Votto is hitting .490 for June.
laugh.gif
Click to expand...

sick.gif
 
Don't run away. You're not alone in that opinion in this thread...

Oswald looked really strong last night. Threw strikes by the boatload and only got hit hard once or twice. Really encouraging,
 
I just voted for my all star ballot honestly just based on stats, standings, bias (Miami) and other knowledge. I haven't watched that many games. Would love to hear any opinions on who really deserves to go. Honorable mentions are players I truly had to think about.

AL
C Pierzynski
1B Konerko HN Fielder
2B Cano
SS Jeter HN A. Cabrera
3B Trumbo HN Beltre & M. Cabrera
OF Hamilton, Bautista, Adam Jones
DH Encarnacion HN Ortiz

NL
C Molina HN Ruiz
1B Votto
2B Infante HN B. Phillips
SS Ian Desmond HN S. Castro
3B D. Wright
OF Beltran, Braun, McCutchen HN C. Gonzalez
 
that looks pretty good to me............no issues with anybody besides starlin castro.

id pick Rafeal Furcal ahead of him at least on defense alone, and his offense has been pretty consistent in the leadoff spot.

and no mike trout??? THATS a mistake..........
 
Originally Posted by pacmagic2002

that looks pretty good to me............no issues with anybody besides starlin castro.

id pick Rafeal Furcal ahead of him at least on defense alone, and his offense has been pretty consistent in the leadoff spot.

and no mike trout??? THATS a mistake..........
Click to expand...
That all sounds fair.
 
CC Sabathia is slowingdown.

Spoiler [+]
On Monday, New York Yankees ace CC Sabathia shut down the Atlanta Braves, allowing just two runs while striking out 10 and walking one batter. It was Sabathia's first complete game of the season and his second straight in which he performed like the dominant hurler that Yankees fans are accustomed to seeing. Over his previous six starts, Sabathia posted a 3.95 ERA, allowing 21 runs and a .823 OPS against. Those six starts prompted quite a bit of worry and discussion in Yankee land about the ace. Was there something wrong with Sabathia?

It's hard to blame people for wondering. Sabathia was fantastic in 2011 in what was his best season since 2008. Accounting for the hitter-friendly park he pitched in half of the time, Sabathia's 3.00 ERA was 29 percent better than league average. More impressive was Sabathia's 2.88 FIP, which led the American League.

Considering Sabathia's seemingly slow start to the season and his age (he turns 32 later this month), it makes one wonder if we are seeing the beginning of his decline. And a look at the pitch data suggests he's starting to slip in one key category.

It is often said that pitchers have only so many pitches in their arm before they begin to break down. Over time, the unnatural motion of throwing a baseball -- particularly at high speeds -- begins to take its toll. On average, pitchers lose velocity as they age. As a pitcher's velocity declines, so too does his overall effectiveness. Strikeout rates decline and walk and home run rates increase.

Sabathia has been the very definition of a workhorse throughout his stellar career. Looking at pitchers through their age-30 season, Sabathia ranks 34th with 2,364 1/3 innings pitched. If we look just at pitchers who pitched from 1970 to the present, Sabathia jumps to third. Since 2000, Sabathia has thrown the most pitches of any pitcher through his age-30 season (more than 37,000, which is 5,000 more than the next closest pitcher).

It appears all of those innings are beginning to affect Sabathia's velocity. Up until this year, Sabathia had been one of the few pitchers who had been able to maintain his velocity year after year. Research shows that when pitchers do that, they don't really "age" -- their performance is very consistent. This year, however, Sabathia has lost roughly 1.5 mph in velocity. Now it's only June, and some pitchers gain velocity as the season wears on. However, Sabathia is still down relative to this time last year.

Through June 2011, Sabathia's fastball averaged 93.4 mph, eventually topping out at 94.4 mph in September. This year, Sabathia's average fastball has been 92.3 mph, more than 1 mph lower than last June. Pitchers who lose at least 1 mph of velocity tend to perform worse in that season, but they also fail to regain velocity the following year. Since 2002 (when data became available), there have been 18 pitchers at least 31 years old who have lost 1 mph or more. Not a single one regained any velocity the following year. Compared with other pitchers age 31 or older who did not lose 1 mph of velocity, those who lost at least 1 mph of velocity were 10 times less likely to regain any velocity the following year. Bottom line, once a pitcher begins to lose velocity, the less likely it is he will regain it as he ages.

Whichever way you slice it, the big lefty has logged a significant amount of work and it appears that workload has finally started to impact his velocity. But is it starting to affect his performance? That's a trickier question to answer.

Through 14 starts, Sabathia has a 3.55 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.8. Last year through 14 starts, Sabathia posted a lower ERA (3.15), but a far less impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.7). In fact, if you look at his adjusted ERA and FIP, he's pitching worse relative to last year, but his ERA is still 14 percent better than the league average (FIP is 24 percent better). His strikeout rate is actually a tick higher than it was in 2011 (23.9 percent versus 23.4 percent) and his walk rate is essentially the same (6.3 percent versus 6.2 percent).

Is Sabathia starting to decline? Given his age and the apparent real drop in velocity, the answer is yes. However, the relationship between declining velocity and performance for starters is not as closely correlated as it is for relief pitchers -- starters tend to age more gracefully. So that's good news for the Yankees, as there is no reason to believe his decline will be drastic or that his performance will significantly decline in the short term. But the fact of the matter is that Sabathia is, quite literally, starting to slow down.

Bill Petti is a staff writer at FanGraphs.com.

The most dominant pitches of all time.

Spoiler [+]
CC Sabathia loves to hit and gets only a couple of chances to do so every season, and the baseball gods have been unfair to him today. Sabathia will be on "Sunday Night Baseball" (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), but does the left-hander get to swing against some mediocre right-hander with a meaty fastball?

No.

He gets to hit against R.A. Dickey, who has been throwing one of the most dominant pitches in baseball history during the past couple of months: a knuckleball that is unlike any knuckler thrown in the past. And Sabathia has a clear strategy for his at-bats. "If it's a knuckleball, I'm not swinging," he said, smiling. "Because I don't want to get hurt, and I don't want to look bad."

If Sabathia does eventually take a hack and looks a little awkward, well, he can take solace in the fact that the best and most experienced hitters have looked that bad against Dickey this year.

The Mets' right-hander explained on Saturday that he has focused on maintaining the elevation of his knuckler this year, which he has a better chance to do than knuckleballers who have preceded him, from Tim Wakefield to Phil Niekro to Charlie Hough to Steve Sparks, because he throws it harder -- about 80 mph or a little faster. The ball stays higher and gives Dickey a better chance at throwing strikes -- and with the dramatic late movement that comes with knuckleballs.

Catcher Josh Thole is convinced that Dickey's unusual knuckleball velocity comes from his legs in the way he drives off the mound. Knuckleballers such as Wakefield have tended to just step toward home plate, but tonight the New York Yankees will see Dickey push off the pitching rubber at them, and when he maintains the proper release point, the ball darts through the strike zone unpredictably.

Dickey's command has gotten so good, Thole said, that he and Dickey have actually focused on location. Typically, catchers working with a knuckleballer set up over the middle of the plate, ready to react like hockey goalies. But Thole and Dickey will talk before the game about whether they want to work inside or outside to a particular hitter, and Thole will slide toward a corner of the plate to set his target. "And I won't change [during the at-bat]," Thole said.

Eric Chavez has had some success against Dickey in the past, but he says that the numbers he generated were against Dickey's old knuckler, not the dominant pitch he's throwing this year. "There really is no approach," Chavez said. "You just swing and you hope you hit it."

The most interesting approach against Dickey this season, Thole believes, was described by Adam LaRoche, who told the catcher he treats his at-bats against Dickey like he's playing slow-pitch softball -- stepping into the swing, Happy Gilmore style.

If he hits it, well, it's probably going to be a home run. But he probably won't hit it. The late movement is so extraordinary that hitters don't usually make contact against Dickey these days.

Earlier this week, I sent an email to some evaluators asking them to note the most dominant pitches of all time -- like Mariano Rivera's cut fastball or Bruce Sutter's splitter, for example. Because right now, Dickey's pitch is a lot like those in their time: almost unhittable. In posing the question, I asked the evaluators to stretch their memories, and some had fun with this purely subjective (but interesting) question. The results:
[h3]Multiple votes division[/h3]
• Rivera's cutter (seven votes)

From one evaluator: "Mariano's cutter is the single most devastating pitch in MLB history. Probably the only pitch that was equally predictable and devastating."

• Randy Johnson's slider (four votes)
• Sandy Koufax's curveball (three votes)
• Nolan Ryan's fastball (three votes)
• Nolan Ryan's curveball (three votes)
• Trevor Hoffman's changeup (three votes)
• Pedro Martinez's changeup (three votes)
• Johan Santana's changeup (three votes)

• Fernando Valenzuela's screwball (two votes)
• Dwight Gooden's curveball (two votes)
• Sutter's splitter (two votes)
• Gaylord Perry's petroleum product ball (two votes)
• Dave Giusti's palm ball (two votes)
• Mike Scott's cut fastball/splitter (two votes.) "Literally cut," wrote one evaluator.
[h3]Other nominations[/h3]
• Steve Carlton's slider
• J.R. Richard's fastball
• J.R. Richard's slider
• Eric Gagne's disappearing ball
• John Smoltz's slider
• Cole Hamels' changeup
• Orel Hershiser's sinker
• Brandon Webb's sinker
• Bert Blyleven's curveball
• Pedro Martinez's whole repertoire -- changeup, fastball, curve
• Tom Seaver's slider

• Greg Maddux's front-door two-seam fastball
• Greg Maddux's changeup
• Felix Hernandez's curveball
• Rob Dibble's fastball
• Jim Palmer's riding fastball
• Phil Niekro's knuckler
• Tug McGraw's forkball
• Burleigh Grimes' spitball
• Elroy Face's forkball
• %!$%!+ Ford's mud ball
• Gregg Olson's curveball

For the readers: Do you have more nominations?

From ESPN Stats and Information, more on Dickey:

Dickey's current streak of innings without an earned run at 42 2/3 is the second longest in Mets history. The franchise record for consecutive innings without allowing an earned run is 49 by Dwight Gooden in 1985 (Aug. 31 to Oct. 2).

Since Orel Hershiser had his record scoreless innings streak, Dickey is close to having the longest streak of innings without an earned run. (Note: Hershiser's streak didn't have any runs, while the below list includes unearned runs.)

Most consecutive innings without an earned run (since 1988)
Zack Greinke: 43 innings, 2008 to 2009
Cory Lidle: 43 innings, 2002
R.A. Dickey: 42 2/3 innings, 2012
Brandon Webb: 42 innings, 2007
Roy Halladay: 41 innings, 2003
Gregg Olson: 41 innings, 1989 to '90

Dickey is the first pitcher in modern baseball history (since 1900) with back-to-back one-hitters of 10-plus strikeouts and the first NL pitcher with consecutive one-hitters since Jim Tobin in 1944.

Dickey has now won his past six starts, with 63 strikeouts and only two runs allowed during that span. No other major league pitcher since 1900 has gone 6-0 with at least 60 strikeouts and two or fewer runs allowed during a span of six consecutive starts.

The knuckleball can be tough on umpires, writes Benjamin Hoffman.

The Yankees and Mets have split the first two games of this series, with Chavez mashing a tiebreaking homer on Saturday.

Frank Francisco has soreness in his side.
[h3]Elsewhere[/h3]
• Anthony Rizzo could be summoned to the big leagues for Tuesday's game.

Rizzo made a substantive change in his setup at the plate since last season by lowering his hands, Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum explained last week. "There isn't a great hitter in the history of baseball who keeps his hands high," said Sveum.

• Chase Utley could be back on Wednesday, reports Jim Salisbury.

• The Arizona Diamondbacks are the hottest team in the majors, with 14 victories in their past 21 games, and they are talking about the possibility of calling up top prospect Trevor Bauer.

• The Philadelphia Phillies got contributions from two guys at both ends of the home run spectrum on Saturday. First, Juan Pierre hit his 17th career homer -- and the first three-run homer in his career.

Then Jim Thome hit his 609th career home run to beat the Tampa Bay Rays.

From ESPN Stats and Info: Thome's 13th career walk-off bomb broke a tie with a few Hall of Famers for most all time.

Most career walk-off homers:
Thome: 13
Mickey Mantle: 12
Jimmie Foxx: 12
Babe Ruth: 12
Stan Musial: 12
Frank Robinson:12

• Max Scherzer pitched days after a terrible tragedy.

• Kevin Youkilis is unhappy with how his situation has been handled, Brian MacPherson writes.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. The Chicago White Sox are among the teams interested in Youkilis, writes Dave van Dyck. James Loney is dealing with trade rumors again.

2. The Rays are going to use a series of relievers today.

3. A decision on Brad Penny's future will come in the next few days.

4. The O'Malley group hopes to have a deal in place by the All-Star break, which may or may not leave enough time for the San Diego Padres to make some kind of offer to Carlos Quentin for him to consider.

5. The Baltimore Orioles are ready to add pieces for a run at the playoffs.
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Drew Stubbs is making progress.

2. Franklin Gutierrez is feeling better about his health.

3. Brandon McCarthy was scratched from his Sunday start and is headed to the DL again.

4. The Detroit Tigers are hoping that Jose Valverde will feel better by Monday.

5. The Royals' pitchers have become part of an epidemic, writes Sam Mellinger.

6. Jason Bay is feeling better, writes Mike Puma.

7. Ryan Zimmerman may go back on the disabled list.
[h3]NL East notes[/h3]
[h4]Different schools of fish[/h4]
The Marlins had the best MLB record in May, but June has been a disaster.
[table][tr][th=""]
Stat
[/th][th=""]
May
[/th][th=""]
June
[/th][/tr][tr][td]
W-L
[/td][td]
21-8*
[/td][td]
4-16
[/td][/tr][tr][td]
ERA
[/td][td]
3.57
[/td][td]
6.30
[/td][/tr][tr][td]
Opp BA
[/td][td]
.251
[/td][td]
.283
[/td][/tr][tr][td]
Opp HR
[/td][td]
13*
[/td][td]
28
[/td][/tr][tr][td]* Best in MLB[/td][/tr][/table]

• The Miami Marlins are in a complete nosedive: For the 15th time in the past 17 games, they lost.

From ESPN Stats and Info: The Marlins are reeling in June, with the league's worst record at 4-16. This follows up a May in which they led the majors with a 21-8 record (see chart). This follows a pattern from 2011, when the Marlins went 5-23 in June. They followed that up with a 17-10 record in July.

The Marlins haven't scored more than five runs since May 25, a stretch of 25 games. That's the fourth most since 1973 (the '79 Mets went 40 games).

• Randall Delgado was blasted.

• Edwin Jackson was The Man for the Washington Nationals.
[h3]AL West notes[/h3]
• Colby Lewis had a really tough day.

• Felix Hernandez was on a roll on Saturday, punching out 10, Larry Stone writes.

• The Angels' defense made mistakes behind Ervin Santana, writes Bill Plunkett.
[h3]NL Central notes[/h3]
• You can't stop the Pittsburgh Pirates, you can only hope to contain them. Brad Lincoln kicked in some more great pitching for a team that's been getting lot of great pitching.

• Johnny Cueto is quietly building a Cy Young candidacy for 2012, and he shut down the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.

• Paul Maholm described his feelings after getting lit up.

Adam Wainwright is back to being an ace.

From ESPN Stats and Info: How Wainwright shut down the Royals:

A. Wainwright pitched backwards, throwing 48 percent first-pitch fastballs, tied for his lowest percentage this season. He threw 26 percent first-pitch curveballs, his highest percentage this season.
B. Wainwright threw just 52 percent first-pitch strikes, but he battled back. He retired all five hitters he took to a 2-0 count, including two via strikeout. He had just six strikeouts after going 2-0 in his first 14 starts this season.
C. He went to a season-high seven three-ball counts, but just one ended with a walk.

• The Brewers' pitching squandered a lead.
[h3]AL Central notes[/h3]
• Jeanmar Gomez started well but faltered.

• Dayan Viciedo spurred a White Sox rally.
[h3]AL East notes[/h3]
• Colby Rasmus has been killing the ball since being moved to the No. 2 spot in Toronto, and on Saturday, he mashed a ninth-inning grand slam, Ken Fidlin writes.

• Franklin Morales had another strong outing, Peter Abraham writes.

From the Elias Sports Bureau: Before Morales, the last pitcher to strike out eight-plus in his first two starts for the Red Sox was Pedro Martinez, who did it in four straight starts from April 1-17, 1998.
[h3]NL West[/h3]
• Dee Gordon pushed the envelope, and it paid off.

• The San Francisco Giants held off an Oakland Athletics rally and won again.

Oswalt, Lincecum show mound mojo.

Spoiler [+]
There is something in the way that Roy Oswalt launches himself off the mound that hitters have always found to be a little unnerving. Like a terrier, teeth bared, going for your shins.

Oswalt isn't very big, about 6 feet tall. But he taught himself these mechanics when he was in grade school, imagining himself as a sprinter coming out of the blocks. Right after Oswalt was drafted, some instructors tried talking him out of this delivery; they wanted to turn him into something more conventional. But after he got a sore arm, Oswalt decided to ignore what experts were telling him. This is his personality.

Oswalt is 34 years old and a little heavier than he used to be, with a rickety back. But his self-assuredness -- his mound presence -- was intact as he pitched against the Rockies Friday. Working quickly through his mechanics, Oswalt drove toward the Colorado hitters time and again, his fastball touching 93 mph repeatedly, his slider breaking downward sharply. Just when the Rockies' hitters started taking better swings, seemingly timing Oswalt better, he spun a curveball of 67 mph to Dexter Fowler, a pitch 26 mph slower than his fastball. It was a pitch he used to keep the Rockies' hitters off-balance.

Executives who passed on his asking price during the winter might have watched wistfully in other parts of the country, as he limited Colorado to just one run in 6 2/3 innings.

At about the time that Oswalt was finishing his work Friday evening, Tim Lincecum started for San Francisco -- badly. Oakland opened the game with an infield hit and then a clean single and another single, loading the bases -- with each hit coming after Lincecum reached two strikes. He hadn't generated a single missed swing. He and catcher Hector Sanchez were at odds, with Lincecum repeatedly throwing pitches that Sanchez didn't expect.

And then it got worse.

[+] Enlarge
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesTim Lincecum rebounded after a rough start Friday.

Lincecum walked Yoenis Cespedes to force in a run, and then, after a misplay by Brandon Belt -- scored as a fielder's choice -- a reliever began throwing in the San Francisco bullpen. Lincecum walked Brandon Inge to force in Oakland's third run of the inning, and after 28 pitches, the two-time Cy Young Award winner hadn't gotten anybody out and was trailing 3-0.

Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti went to the mound, and Lincecum was furious. Righetti said to him, "Well, take it out on the other team!"

Lincecum fell behind in the count to Brandon Moss, two balls and one strike, and it appeared that he might be throwing his last pitches of the night. Giants manager Bruce Bochy and Righetti stood side by side, watching carefully, Bochy chewing rapidly.

Then, in an instant, everything changed. Lincecum threw a changeup to Moss, at 84 mph, and Moss swung weakly, like he was trying to hit a mosquito with a pencil. Lincecum threw another, Moss struck out, and Lincecum's mound demeanor suddenly evolved. He went from looking uncertain and confused to -- well, like a terrier with his teeth bared.

Lincecum worked quickly, like Oswalt, firing shin-high changeups and chest-high fastballs, varying velocity and location. He looked like he had in the past, like he was making this statement: I'm bleepin' Tim Lincecum and you're not.

He looked mad. He felt mad, apparently. This is what he told Henry Schulman and other reporters after the game:

"I just got mad in the right way. When things are going rough, your first emotion is obviously being upset with yourself, then ashamed and then [ticked]. I tried to channel that madness out on the field and stop worrying about the stuff that happened behind me that I can't control."

It worked for him. Lincecum retired 18 of the last 20 hitters he faced and kept the Giants close before they pulled out a victory. It's too soon to know whether this is a foundation he will build upon -- there is more hope for him and Bochy and Righetti than there was six batters into the first inning. For at least one night, Lincecum appeared to find his mound mojo.

Lincecum was awful for five hitters and brilliant afterward, writes Schulman. He had a long talk with his dad recently, writes Daniel Brown.

Oswalt had a solid debut, writes Jeff Wilson. He pitched like Roy Oswalt, said Ron Washington.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• The O'Malley family appears to be on the verge of getting back into baseball as the owners of the Padres.

The sale price is expected to be about $800 million, because John Moores informed some bidders that this is what is required to get the deal done.

• Officials involved in the Kevin Youkilis trade talks expect a deal could come as soon as Saturday, and the feeling of some execs is that the White Sox might be the most aggressive club in play -- maybe more than the Dodgers.

An attempted third-base upgrade makes sense for the White Sox, because Brent Morel has been hurt and Orlando Hudson hasn't hit. The collective OPS of those who have played third for the White Sox this season is .460 -- the worst in the majors, and 111 points lower than any other team.

Will Middlebrooks played for the Red Sox on Friday, and Youkilis sat.

Youkilis spoke about his situation in a radio interview.

• Meanwhile, Daniel Bard is moving back to the bullpen, as Kevin McNamara writes. The Red Sox have had tremendous work from their relievers the past two months, and after Bard joins that group, Andrew Bailey may, as well.

• Mike Trout is getting on base a little more than 40 percent of the time from the leadoff spot, and Albert Pujols is doing well in the No. 3 spot. So it's little wonder that the guy recently placed in the No. 2 spot, Torii Hunter, is hitting well: Hunter is 19-for-51 while batting in that slot, with a .998 OPS.

Trout and the Angels dug themselves out of a 5-0 hole Friday to beat the Dodgers.

From Landon Hall's story:
  • "He's the total package," teammate Mark Trumbo said [of Trout]. "I've never seen anything like it, never played with anybody anywhere near as advanced as he is at this age, and he's a big part of the reason we've been playing a lot better."
• Brett Lawrie has scored 17 runs in his 16 games in the leadoff spot, with some help from Jose Bautista, who has been on a roll of late.

Most home runs on pitches out of the strike zone, since 2010:
Miguel Cabrera -- 24
Jose Bautista -- 22 (HR on pitch out of zone Friday)
Albert Pujols -- 17
Pablo Sandoval -- 15
[h3]Dings and dents[/h3]
1. Chris Carpenter threw to hitters and could be close to a rehab assignment.

2. Nolan Reimold is having neck surgery and could miss the rest of the season, writes Dan Connolly.

3. As mentioned within this Scott Bordow notebook, Stephen Drew will rejoin the D-backs next Wednesday.

4. Felipe Paulino is having Tommy John surgery.

5. Phil Humber landed on the DL.

6. Mitch Moreland's going to be out at least a month.

7. Bud Norris is making progress, as mentioned within this notebook.

8. Emilio Bonifacio hopes to return next month.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Davey Johnson is thinking about dropping Ryan Zimmerman in his lineup.

2. A struggling Shane Victorino was benched.

3. Todd Helton was dropped in the Colorado lineup.

4. The Tigers have two pressing needs, writes Lynn Henning.

5. Salvy Perez is back, and he homered on Friday.

6. Livan Hernandez was signed by the Brewers.

7. For now, Fredi Gonzalez intends to leave Jason Heyward in the No. 7 spot.

8. Joel Peralta dropped his appeal.
[h3]By the numbers[/h3]From ESPN Stats & Info
5: Runs allowed by Andy Pettitte in the first inning Friday -- just the third time Pettitte has allowed that many runs in the first inning in his career.

7: Consecutive starts won by A.J. Burnett, becoming the first Pirates pitcher to win seven straight starts since Dock Ellis in 1974.

26: Consecutive games with a hit for Ryan Braun in interleague play -- the third-longest streak all time.

427: Career home runs for Andruw Jones -- tying Mike Piazza for 43rd all time.
[h3]Friday's games[/h3]
1. Jason Hammel dominated, this time against the Nationals.

2. Frank Francisco got the save against the Yankees, and was probably greatly relieved. Francisco was surprised his remark became a big deal, but he stood by his words.

The Yankees weren't laughing at the chicken thing, writes Pete Caldera.

3. Boston's winning streak ended.

4. Ricky Romero provided some relief for an overworked bullpen.

5. Clayton Richard got a big hit and helped himself.

6. The D-backs continue to gather momentum: They opened up a series against the Cubs with a win.

7. The Mariners were taken down by an unlikely hitter.

8. A throwing error helped to take down the Tigers, writes Shawn Windsor.

9. The Cardinals held a parade on the base paths.

10. The Twins' bullpen had another strong day.

11. Ubaldo Jimenez was good, again. He's pitched well in three of his last four outings and lowered his ERA from 5.79 to 4.59.

12. Jair Jurrjens returned from the minors and was excellent. From ESPN Stats & Info, how Jurrjens shut down the Red Sox:

A) He threw 37 changeups out of 103 pitches (35.9 percent), his highest percentage in a start in the past four seasons. Red Sox hitters were 1-for-11 with three strikeouts in at-bats ending with a changeup.

B) Eighteen of Jurrjens' 34 pitches with two strikes were changeups (52.9 percent). Red Sox hitters were 1-for-12 in two-strike at-bats, including 0-for-7 against the changeup.

C) Red Sox hitters were 0-for-13 with three strikeouts in at-bats ending with a pitch down in the zone or below, including 0-for-7 against the changeup.

D) Threw first-pitch strikes to 17 of 28 hitters, went to 2-0 counts on just two hitters, and did not go to a 3-0 or 3-1 count all game.

13. Chris Sale was excellent, again, as Toni Ginnetti writes, but he didn't get run support.

14. The Reds' losing streak reached four.

15. The great Zack Greinke was in the house.

16. Anibal Sanchez and the Marlins were lit up.

Contenders' defensiveconcerns.

Spoiler [+]
Heading into July last year, the St. Louis Cardinals had a problem. During the previous offseason, the Cardinals' front office had grown tired with no-hit shortstop Brendan Ryan and sent him packing for Seattle. In his place, they signed free agent Ryan Theriot with the hopes that the former Cubs infielder would become a top-of-the-order table-setter for sluggers Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, and Lance Berkman.

Unfortunately, by June it became apparent that Theriot did not provide the offensive upgrade they were seeking and represented a significant defensive downgrade behind baseball's heaviest ground-ball pitching staff.

General manager John Mozeliak had a solution, however -- trading for veteran shortstop Rafael Furcal. The former Braves and Dodgers shortstop wasn't the same defender he used to be, but he was still capable of anchoring a good defensive infield. Combined with Jon Jay's increased playing time in the outfield, Furcal upgraded the Cardinals' defense just enough to help them sneak into the playoffs on the final day of the season. Just three short months after Furcal's addition, the Cardinals were crowned World Series champions.

Like last year's Cardinals, several of 2012's contenders have glaring defensive weaknesses. And as with the Cardinals and Furcal, the best moves aren't always the ones involving big names. A subtle defensive upgrade might be enough to push each of the following teams over the top:

det.gif

[h3]Detroit Tigers (Corner outfield)[/h3]
Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder aren't moving anywhere, especially when Victor Martinez returns, so the Tigers would be wise to look at upgrades elsewhere if they want to boost their playoff chances in a winnable division. Fortunately, there is plenty of room for improvement. Delmon Young has never been an adequate defensive left fielder, and he hasn't hit well enough to justify his spot in the outfield. The Tigers still haven't given up on him, however. Now that Austin Jackson is back from an injury, manager Jim Leyland is trying Quintin Berry in left field, though his offensive upside is limited.

Over in right, Brennan Boesch has struggled with the transition from a platoon role to playing full-time this season. Facing righties almost exclusively the previous two seasons, Boesch hit well enough to tolerate his below-average defense in right field (-6 in our defensive runs saved statistic). Historically, Boesch has handled left field much better (+12 runs saved in his three-year career, compared to -16 in right).

If the Tigers aren't ready to give up on Young and Boesch entirely, perhaps they would be best suited with a left-field platoon of the two. That would represent an upgrade by itself, and it also opens up right field for a better bat or glove. If an internal option such as Berry or Andy Dirks isn't sufficient, they might pursue Carlos Quentin, who has taken great strides to improve his outfield positioning, or one of several defensive-minded outfielders available.


nym.gif

[h3]New York Mets (Right field and second base)[/h3]
The Mets have two fielders playing out of position, and it shows. Between Daniel Murphy at second and Lucas Duda in right, the Mets have two of the league's weakest defenders at both positions. Oddly enough, both have experience at first base, and in Murphy's case he played it very well (19 defensive runs saved in 1,200 innings). Ike Davis has been a black hole in the lineup, but he's a big part of the Mets' future and will hold the position for the foreseeable future. As a result, the Mets will have to look for creative solutions to their defensive woes.

Like Davis, Murphy is having a disappointing season at the plate in addition to his struggles at second base (-10 runs saved). If he doesn't show signs of turning it around, the Mets might be tempted to improve the defense by giving Jordany Valdespin more time at the position. The Mets also could look for help externally, perhaps from Rockies infielder Marco Scutaro.

In right field, Duda's glove (-11 runs saved this year, after -12 runs saved in 2011) essentially negates all of the positive contributions the team gets from his bat. With Jason Bay back on the disabled list, the team already needs some help in the outfield, and there are plenty of defensive-minded options available. Peter Bourjos, Gerardo Parra and Carlos Gomez are all Gold Glove-caliber defensive outfielders relegated to fourth-outfielder roles in their current situations and might be available. Denard Span might also be dealt from a Twins team that appears to be going nowhere fast.


bal.gif

[h3]Baltimore Orioles (Third base)[/h3]
The Orioles somehow are still in contention this far into the season with Wilson Betemit (-4 runs saved this year, -32 runs saved career) and Mark Reynolds (-8 runs saved, -55 career) at third base. Both hit well enough to keep their head above replacement level, but that might not be enough if the Orioles want to stay in contention into September.

The Chase Headley rumors actually make some sense, as Headley has proven himself an above-average defender and has a respectable career batting line, with a .300 average away from Petco Park. Just on defense alone, Headley is possibly a dozen runs better than Betemit or Reynolds for the rest of the season.


mia.gif

[h3]Miami Marlins (Left field)[/h3]
Logan Morrison rated as the worst left fielder in baseball last year at -26 runs saved, and his smaller sample 2010 and 2012 seasons support the same conclusion. Coming in or going back, Morrison just doesn't make the plays that other outfielders do. You can't really blame him; he played first base almost exclusively throughout the minors and the Marlins had him penciled in as their first baseman of the future. Placeholder Gaby Sanchez had a surprisingly good rookie season in 2010, so Morrison was shuffled to left field, where he's been ever since.

If the Marlins cut bait on Sanchez and move Morrison to first permanently, the organization would be wise to consider external outfield options. Secondary options such as Austin Kearns and Greg Dobbs have combined for -10 runs saved in left field on top of Morrison's -8 runs saved. Bourjos, Parra, Gomez and Span would be significant defensive upgrades that could improve the outfield defense by as many as 20 runs the rest of the season.


stl.gif

[h3]St. Louis Cardinals (Second base)[/h3]
With Furcal solidifying the left side of the infield, the Cardinals hoped that Tyler Greene could step in as his double-play partner. Unfortunately, Greene has failed to meet expectations at the plate and in the field (-6 runs saved). Already 28 years old, Greene has little upside left and represents a weakness on an otherwise strong Cardinals roster.

Veteran infielders Jason Bartlett, Jack Wilson and Scutaro all might be available. Although none of those options would boost the offense substantially, the Cardinals don't need them to be more than defensive upgrades.


pit.gif

[h3]Pittsburgh Pirates (Catcher)[/h3]
The Pirates brought in veteran Rod Barajas last offseason to shore up a weak position. They again find themselves in the thick of the playoff race around midseason, but Barajas hasn't been much help on either side of the ball. Once a catcher with good control over the running game, the 36-year-old has thrown out just two of 41 base-stealers this year. According to defensive runs saved, he's cost the Pirates five runs solely due to stolen bases this year.

The Pirates likely are hoping prospect Tony Sanchez can take over in the not-too-distant future, so a one-year defensive upgrade might come in handy. With Salvador Perez returning from the disabled list, the Royals might make defensive whiz Humberto Quintero available. Quintero has never played full-time, but he shuts down the opposing running game everywhere he goes. Additionally, Quintero excels at blocking pitches in the dirt, which always comes in handy for any pitching staff that includes A.J. Burnett.

Ben Jedlovec is a research analyst with Baseball Info Solutions and co-author of The Fielding Bible -- Volume III. You can follow him on Twitter (@BenJedlovec).

Rumors.

Spoiler [+]
http://[h3]Plenty of interest in Garza[/h3]
10:27AM ET

[h5]Matt Garza | Cubs [/h5]


The market appears to be heating up for Cubs righthander Matt Garza.

In Sunday's Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo says at least six teams -- Braves, Tigers, Cardinals, Red Sox, Jays, and Royals -- have expressed their interest in Garza to Cubs president Theo Epstein.

Garza, eligible for arbitration for the final time in 2013, could end up as Epstein's most valuable bargaining chip. The interest from the Braves may have escalated in the past week over the season-ending injury to Brandon Beachy.

We asked Buster Olney about a possible price, and Eric Karabell whether a trade will give Garza a fantasy bump.

- Doug Mittler

olney_buster_30.jpg
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
He won't be cheap
"It would take one Bü prospect, plus a couple of other above-average guys to get him. The Cubs will wait closer to the deadline to deal Garza, unless they're overwhelmed now, because they longer the wait, the more likely it is that teams will be aggressive to plug a hole in the rotation. A bidding process will begin. Garza's price is higher than Dempster's because Garza is under control next year, so you have more moving parts involved. "
Click to expand...
karabell_eric_30.jpg
[h5]Eric Karabell[/h5]
Not a big bounce
"Garza's fantasy owners should be careful to avoid overrating him. He's good, but not great. A trade to a contender won't make him great. There's no evidence a trade will add so many more wins that his value explodes. If anything that perception makes him a sell high in real life and fantasy. Garza's K rate is down some from 2011 and his BABIP way down. He's won more than 11 games one year. Don't be shocked when his ERA in Atlanta or Boston stays near 4. "
Click to expand...

Tags:
Matt Garza, Chicago Cubs

http://[h3]3B trade market after Youkilis[/h3]
9:53AM ET

[h5]Kevin Youkilis | Red Sox [/h5]


Trade deadline season unofficially opened for business with Sunday's deal that sent Kevin Youkilis from Boston to the Chicago White Sox.

Youkilis was at the top of the market of available third basemen, but he was not alone. Nick Cafardo says Baltimore's Mark Reynolds is more than available to the many teams looking for a righthanded-hitting corner infielder.

We at Rumor Central see the Athletics peddling Brandon Inge, a free agent after the season who has restored some of his value in Oakland. If the Phillies continue to stumble and end up as sellers, Placido Polanco would be shopped.

Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com says the Angels could use a power upgrade at third base, but says the Halos are more interested in adding pitching depth.

- Doug Mittler

Tags:
Brandon Inge, Mark Reynolds, Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox

http://[h3]Bauer to debut Thursday?[/h3]
9:30AM ET

[h5]Arizona Diamondbacks [/h5]


All signs are pointing to Trevor Bauer making his major league debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday against the Atlanta Braves.

Bauer, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2011 draft, was pulled from his start Sunday at Triple-A Reno after 50 pitches and 22/3 innings, leading to speculation he'll get the start Thursday in Atlanta place of the injured Joe Saunders. While the D-backs have made no formal announcement, Scott Bordow of the Arizona Republic said it would "a shocker" if Bauer does not start Thursday.

Bauer is 11-1 with a 2.23 ERA in 16 starts this season and leads all minor-league pitchers with 116 strikeouts.

- Doug Mittler

Tags:
Joe Saunders, Arizona Diamondbacks

http://[h3]The Marlins at the deadline[/h3]
9:14AM ET

[h5]Miami Marlins [/h5]


[h5]Potential Targets in Miami[/h5]
The Miami Marlins made the biggest offseason splash this side of Anaheim, adding Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell. Despite the roster boost and the fancy new digs at Marlins Park, the Fish (34-38) are not even treading water almost three months into the season.

Deadline Strategy
Owner Jeffrey Loria is publicly unfazed by the June swoon, calling his Marlins "an excellent team," but admitted that they need a couple of extra parts. Expect the Fish to be active buyers the closer we move to the July 31 deadline.

Money
The payroll is already at $118 million (seventh in MLB) and there are plenty of long-term commitments. If the club was willing spend well north of $200 million on Albert Pujols, there should be enough in the bank to spend on an expensive short-term rental.

Bait
The ability to add salary is a huge advantage, especially since the farm system is thin (29th in Keith Law's farm rankings). Outfielder Christian Yelich, a 2010 first-round pick at High-Class-A Jupiter, would bring back value.

Targets
The Fish could use some speed in the outfield while Emilio Bonifacio recovers from thumb surgery that could keep him out until the All-Star break. Even when Bonaficio returns, it will help to have another fleet-footed outfielder at cavernous Marlins Park.
The Twins' Denard Span and the Angels' Peter Bourjos, the subject of numerous rumors in recent months. could be high on their list. The Fish also could be among the teams taking a look at Houston first baseman Carlos Lee.
Bell is pitching better than he was in April, but the bullpen ERA still ranked 29th in the majors as of last weekend. Another arm such as Grant Balfour or James Russell wouldn't hurt. As for the other side of the battery, Oakland's Kurt Suzuki could be made available by Oakland, but he is hitting .216 may not be an upgrade behind the plate over John Buck (.167 BA).

- Doug Mittler

Tags:
Miami Marlins, Peter Bourjos, Denard Span, Derrek Lee, James Russell, Emilio Bonifacio, Kurt Suzuki

http://[h3]Lowrie a fit in Detroit?[/h3]
8:53AM ET

[h5]Jed Lowrie | Astros [/h5]


Jed Lowrie's trade prospects have been discussed -- I began a conversation right in this space earlier this month -- and while he's cooled off a bit at the plate, he did hit his 13th homer of the season last Saturday.

The switch-hitter could serve as quite the upgrade for a contender in need of help at shortstop, third base or second base -- all three positions at which Lowrie has experience. One scout told Nick Cafardo, however, that Lowrie's injury history clouds his value.

The Phillies could be in such a market should Placido Polanco continue to miss time. The veteran will be out for five more days, tweeted Matt Gelb Friday.

In Sunday?s Boston Globe, Cafardo says the Tigers could pursue Lowrie with the intention of moving him to second base.

Lowrie, as previously mentioned, could also be a player the Astros look to hang onto for the next few years as they continue their rebuild, and the Phillies certainly wouldn't be the only club interested. Lowrie will not eligible for free agency until after the 2014 season.

ESPN Insider's Chris Sprow joined David Schoenfield on SweetSpot TV to discuss Lowrie's trade prospects:

- Jason A. Churchill

schoenfield_david_30.jpg
[h5]SweetSpotTV[/h5]
Lowrie's perceived value is key

Tags:
Jed Lowrie, Placido Polanco, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers

http://[h3]Capps to the DL?[/h3]
8:28AM ET

[h5]Matt Capps | Twins [/h5]


The list of available relievers this month should include the Twins? Matt Capps, given that he will be a free agent after the season and he pitches for a last-place team.

A red flag regarding Capps, however, went up over the weekend with word that the righthander appears headed for the disabled list for the first time since 2008 due to right shoulder pain, reports Joe Christensen of the Star-Tribune. Capps' value could take a serious hit if he is not healthy by late July.

The Twins promoted lefthanded reliever Tyler Robertson from Triple-A Rochester, knowing they will likely have to fill Capps' roster spot. Manager Ron Gardenhire hasn't named an interim closer, although he used lefthander Glen Perkins for two saves last week. Jared Burton got as chance Sunday and earned his first career save.

- Doug Mittler

Tags:
Matt Capps, Minnesota Twins

http://[h3]Quiet July in Seattle?[/h3]
8:12AM ET

[h5]Seattle Mariners [/h5]


Last week, Rumor Central's Jason A. Churchill wrote that the Seattle Mariners are well on their way to another summer of selling at the trade deadline, but their crop of available veterans may not draw much interest.

Larry Stone of the Seattle Times also doesn't expect the Mariners to be making blockbuster moves, or at least nothing close to last July, when they dealt Doug Fister and David Pauley to the Tigers on July 30, and Erik Bedard to the Red Sox on July 31. The year before, they sent Cliff Lee to the Rangers on July 9.

Stone says Kevin Millwood has demonstrated enough flashes of effectiveness to entice a contender, but the Mariners will not get a top prospect in return for the 37-year-old righthander. The Mariners' most valuable commodity, of course, is Felix Hernandez, but GM Jack Zduriencik has expressed no desire to deal the franchise cornerstone.

- Doug Mittler

Tags:
Kevin Millwood, Seattle Mariners

http://[h3]Fill-in for Francisco[/h3]
7:24AM ET

[h5]Frank Francisco | Mets [/h5]


All chicken jokes aside, Mets closer Frank Francisco won't be making it to the mound any time in the immediate future.

The Mets placed Francisco on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a left oblique strain he may have suffered earning the save in Friday's 6-4 win over the Yankees.

With Francisco out, manager Terry Collins says he will turn to Bobby Parnell as his closer. Parnell (3.30 ERA), who failed in an audition as closer late last season, has earned another chance by pitching better in a set-up role. Losing Francisco is a tough blow for a Mets bullpen that entered Sunday with a collective ERA of 5.30, worst in the major leagues.

While the Mets need bullpen help now, they will probably have to wait until the All-Star break before they dig into the market because there are few sellers, tweets Buster Olney. Oakland's Grant Balfour. Houston's Brett Myers and Minnesota's Matt Capps are relievers who could become available as the deadline gets closer.

- Doug Mittler

Tags:
Grant Balfour, Matt Capps, Bobby Parnell, Frank Francisco, New York Mets

http://[h3]Rizzo promoted by Monday?[/h3]
6:55AM ET

[h5]Anthony Rizzo | Cubs [/h5]


The Chicago Cubs have cleared the way for the arrival of prospect Anthony Rizzo by moving Bryan LaHair off first base to the outfield. Rizzo's arrival now appears to be hours away.

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun-Times says Rizzo will be called up Monday or Tuesday to face the New York Mets. The only reason the Cubs may put off the move until Tuesday is to avoid having Rizzo making his Cubs debut Monday against southpaw Johan Santana.

The 22-year-old lefty hitter has been tearing up Triple-A pitching all season. He's currently hitting .349 with 23 homers, so there's not really much more he can do or learn on the farm.

The Cubs had good reason to hold off on promoting Rizzo so far. According to Bruce Levine and Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com, if he had been called up to the major leagues before Saturday, Rizzo would have qualified for free agency in 2017 instead of 2018 because of his service time accumulated. Remember, he played in 49 games in 2011 (128 ABs).

- Doug Mittler

Tags:
Chicago Cubs, Bryan LaHair, Anthony Rizzo

http://[h3]O's to make moves?[/h3]
6:39AM ET

[h5]Baltimore Orioles [/h5]


The Baltimore Orioles have not been buyers at the deadline since July of 2005, writes Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, but GM Dan Duquette hinted Saturday that such a streak could end this summer.

The O's are indeed in contention and Duquette says he has the backing of the ownership and that the team will add to its roster "if it makes sense."

Right fielder Nick Markakis could return relatively soon, though the club learned recently that left fielder Nolan Reimold will miss the rest of the season. Still, outfield isn't the most likely position Duquette will look to fill, as the Orioles' pitching staff has struggled since early May and could use a boost.

It's extremely unlikely that Duquette will part with top prospects such as right-hander Dylan Bundy or shortstop Manny Machado in any deal this summer -- technically Bundy cannot be dealt until mid-August, but could be included as a player to be named later -- as both are considered elite talents and a huge part of the organization's future. Others, however, such as Jonathan Schoop, Xavier Avery and L.J. $!@%, among others, may be available for the right proven veteran.

Among the starting pitchers expected to be available include Ryan Dempster, Wandy Rodriguez, Matt Garza, and perhaps Zack Greinke.

- Jason A. Churchill
 
[h1]Marlon Byrd, Victor Conte’s Most Famous Client, Suspended For PEDs[/h1]Deadspin.com

Marlon Byrd was supposed to be Victor Conte's character witness. For the past three-plus seasons, the journeyman outfield has been the only high-profile client of Conte's supplement business, a product line that's a tough sell since the whole BALCO mess. The BALCO name's gone (it's SNAC now), but Conte could always point to the fact that Byrd never once tested positive for PEDs.
Until today, when Byrd was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for tamoxifen, and estrogen-blocker often used to treat breast cancer. Tamoxifen's also good for counteracting certain unwanted effects of steroid use, i.e. @!!#* %@*%.

Here are some "stand by your man" quotes from Byrd in recent years that Conte probably wishes didn't exist:

June 24, 2009:
"I don't know if people are blackballing him. I don't know how they will look at me. I'm not worried about it. I don't care. Everybody who ever tested positive can get a second chance but he can't? That doesn't make sense to me."


July 20, 2010:
"Victor's supplements have become so much a part of my routine, I can't imagine not using them. I think other guys are missing out."


Feb. 15, 2011:
"[They said] 'Why in the world are you working with Victor Conte? It was a choice I made, to work with him. It's me believing in him which a lot of people do not."


Feb. 20, 2011:
"The first thing everyone thinks is PR nightmare, steroid king, BALCO. There's nothing positive that comes with Victor's name. But now he's associated himself with positive people and we're going to get his name back out there as being a great guy."


March 13, 2011:
I'm not going to say I have a bull's-eye on my back, but I think a lot of people are waiting for me to get my first positive test and miss 50 games. They'd like that just so they can say, 'We told you so.' I know that won't happen. I know I'm clean.


Byrd is a free agent after being released by the Red Sox earlier this month, but the turnaround on MLB testing and appeals makes it unlikely that this is something Byrd turned to in desperation in just the past couple of weeks. Add this to boxer Andre Berto, another Conte/SNAC client, failing a steroid test last month, and maybe it's time for a new company acronym.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Mat Latos was dominant tonight. Hopefully the extra day's rest he was given gets him going. 
 
Originally Posted by 651akathePaul

Originally Posted by Scott Frost

 Youklis told Bobby V "F you" when he walked by him in the dugout on his way to the clubhouse Sunday
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Sounds classless, but I need to know more of the story to go that far. What's the deal with these two?




Valentine wanted him gone from Day 1, called him out early.  Youkilis has been reported to be the "snitch" related to the Beer & Chicken fiasco from last year. 
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

The ultimate sneaker enthusiast community.

NikeTalk was created as a way of giving back to both the sneaker enthusiast community and to the greater global community of which we are all a part.

NikeTalk is NOT affiliated with Nike Inc. in any way, shape, or form. All opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Nike, Inc.

© 1999-2024 NikeTalk.com

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom