Willihammer

"Sir would you turn off your radio please"

No, I'm offended Plouffe wasn't included. Plouffe is a handsome fellow too. Source: his wife http://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Trevor-Plouffe-wife-Olivia-5.jpg http://gamedayr.com/wp-content/mash/olivia-plouffe-4.jpg Truly he is the best looking of the bunch

I doubt they will. That splitter will be an equalizer against lefties, just like Kuroda's.

I really thought he'd get more. In any case, good for Brewers fans. That club always seems trapped under a glass ceiling, maybe Garza can punch them through.

Santana and Garza are still FAs. I don't know what they will wind up signing for but I suspect this board will be in sticker shock over that too, as it is whenever anyone signs anywhere. Second, the Yankees are saving a spot for Pineda so they have only 1 open for a major FA - Sabathia, Nova, Kuroda, Pineda. So the question you should ask is, would you rather have Tanaka, Garza, or Santana. Bear in mind the Yankees were an 87 win team last year.

The consensus seems to be that the NPB is roughly AAAA competition. If that's true, then the numbers Tanaka has put up would make him one of, if not the no. 1, top prospect in baseball. Worth tens of millions to any team and more yet to a team like the Yankees that needs to make especially sure they're selling ALDS tickets in September and not $5 tickets to the Vodka Dave's of the world. And, Tanaka started as many games between Apr 2 and Nov 2 as Trevor May did between Apr 5 and Aug 31 (27). He racked up some big pitch counts but certainly all the rest (and the ~6 fewer starts compared to MLB) is a mitigating factor in whatever wear and tear pitching's done to his arm.

I'm as impressed as anyone by Buxton. But I read something like this and think, maybe our expectations are spiraling out of control a little.

The cherry on an outstanding offseason by Cashman. Lots of smart signings IMO

He cut his walk rate to 10.4% which is something I guess. But his K-rate against RHBs actually went down a tick. Is this supposed to be indicative of an improved breaking pitch? I mean this honestly, I didn't see him throw a single pitch so am reading only stats. Most of the cut to his FIP is due to allowing fewer homers. But he did switch to a more pitcher friendly park. Reading's is ~115, New Britain's is ~87.

What step was that?

I think some people (including, I suspect, Gardy) are overly fearful of the bunt. When is the last time you even saw someone attempt it? I remember Doumit slapping a bunt foul last year in Cleveland - once. But he was shifted on everyday as was Morneau and to a lesser extent, Mauer. I for one can't remember any of them bunting against a shift. There's not a lot of success/attempt bunt data out there that I'm aware of. But here are the Flat Bat awards on Bill James site. Most all of these guys are 1. fast, and 2. not shifted on. Truth seems to be that the slow lumbering hitters who see most shifts either aren't bunting at all, or aren't bunting successfully. IN other words, getting beat via the bunt shouldn't be a concern against those guys. http://www.billjamesonline.com/_the_flat_bat_award_2013_/ [TABLE=width: 500] [TABLE=align: center] [TD=colspan: 3, align: center]2013 Bunt Hit Leaders [TD=align: left] Name[/TD] [TD=width: 120, align: left] Bunt Hit Results[/TD] [TD=width: 130, align: right] Batting Average[/TD] [TD=width: 160, align: left] Jose Iglesias, Bos-Det[/TD] [TD=width: 120, align: left] 10 out of 12[/TD] [TD=width: 130, align: right] .833[/TD] [TD=width: 160, align: left] Jordan Schafer, Atl[/TD] [TD=width: 120, align: left] 8 out of 12[/TD] [TD=width: 130, align: right] .667[/TD] [TD=width: 160, align: left] Leonys Martin, Tex[/TD] [TD=width: 120, align: left] 11 out of 17[/TD] [TD=width: 130, align: right] .647[/TD] [TD=width: 160, align: left] Everth Cabrera, SD[/TD] [TD=width: 120, align: left] 7 out of 11[/TD] [TD=width: 130, align: right] .636[/TD] [TD=width: 160, align: left] Juan Lagares, NYM[/TD] [TD=width: 120, align: left] 7 out of 11[/TD] [TD=width: 130, align: right] .636[/TD] [TD=width: 160, align: left] Brett Gardner, NYY[/TD] [TD=width: 120, align: left] 9 out of 15[/TD] [TD=width: 130, align: right] .600[/TD] [TD=width: 160, align: left] Starling Marte, Pit[/TD] [TD=width: 120, align: left] 10 out of 17[/TD] [TD=width: 130, align: right] .588[/TD] [TD=width: 160, align: left] Alejandro De Aza, CWS[/TD] [TD=width: 120, align: left] 7 out of 12[/TD] [TD=width: 130, align: right] .583[/TD] [TD=width: 160, align: left] Jarrod Dyson, KC[/TD] [TD=width: 120, align: left] 10 out of 18[/TD] [TD=width: 130, align: right] .556[/TD] [TD=width: 160, align: left] Will Venable, SD[/TD] [TD=width: 120, align: left] 6 out of 11[/TD] [TD=width: 130, align: right] .545[/TD] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TABLE]

The Braves, Nats, and Giants had all picked up CFers before that trade. Bourn was still on the market too. So the only buyer left at that point, besides Cleveland, was the Phils. Probably wasn't the ideal time to sell, in hindsight.

BABIP wouldn't affect FIP one way or the other since its only measuring Ks BBs and HRs. But true his K, BB, and HR rates all ticked positively in 2013. But May has always had reverse platoon splits (either because fo the strength of his changeup or weakness of his breaking pitches - probably both). And in 2013 he faced a higher proportion of LHBs. Might not explain all of the improvement but probably some.

OK but changeup guys can relieve too, they don't have to start. Obviously May should continue working to improve all his pitches. If he is going to figure out an effective breaking pitch it had better happen yesterday because as you say his velo is only going to drop which will start to impact the effectiveness of his best pitch (the changeup). Personally I think when a 23 year old posts the same season in AA as he did at 22, there is a high probability he has reached his ceiling, that being relief. Hope I'm proved wrong though.

At 24 I wouldn't hold my breath. Also Tyler Clippard says hello. edit: To clarify I wouldn't hold my breath on May developing a good breaking pitch and then holding down a rotation job. I agree with Nick that relief is more likely his future.

Left-right pitch location isn't a huge a factor. The physics involved are a little counterintuitive, but in general balls on the ground will go to the middle-pull direction, and balls in the air will go middle-away, regardless of the left-right location of the pitch. Every shift I've seen an exaggeration of this tendency, and not the reverse. The positioning penalty might come when a fielder has to turn a double play or field a c utoff throw (the things James brought up). I have no idea how often that is a factor but I suspect they are overwhelmed by the added putouts and plays made.

Aaron Hicks, Luke Hughes, Brian Buscher, Randy Ruiz, Brian Bass, Willie Eyre... The Twins have a history of bringing scrubs north based on strong ST performances. Players who, sometimes, faceplant when the regular season starts. Who will it be this year?

The most disappointing thing from my point of view is that the Commissioner's office seems to have lost sight of the end game - to eliminate PED use in baseball. They never even got a positive test from Rodriguez - the drugs are too sophisticated. Trying to clean up baseball player by player through testing seems pretty foolish at this point. But they did have a supplier in their grasp (Bosch). They should have brought down the hammer and made an example of him, to others in the sports medicine field. All this with Rodriguez is just a sideshow and won't solve anything in the long-term.

IMO getting out in front of the offseason instead of waiting will prove to be the wiser choice, even if they had to settle for 2nd tier talents. Still would love to see them make a run at Ubaldo or Santana after the market gets going again though (if not Tanaka).

There were 124 pitchers who threw min. 1000 IP and whose careers partially or totally are captured in the years 1977-1994. They are [TABLE=width: 500] [TABLE=width: 224] Row Labels Sum of WAR Roger Clemens[TD=align: right]139.2 Tom Seaver[TD=align: right]106.1[/TD] Greg Maddux[TD=align: right]104.8[/TD] Randy Johnson[TD=align: right]104.1[/TD] Phil Niekro[TD=align: right]97.3[/TD] Bert Blyleven[TD=align: right]96.4[/TD] Gaylord Perry[TD=align: right]93.6[/TD] Pedro Martinez[TD=align: right]85.9[/TD] Steve Carlton[TD=align: right]84[/TD] Nolan Ryan[TD=align: right]83.7[/TD] Fergie Jenkins[TD=align: right]82.7[/TD] Mike Mussina[TD=align: right]82.7[/TD] Curt Schilling[TD=align: right]80.7[/TD] Tom Glavine[TD=align: right]74[/TD] Don Sutton[TD=align: right]68.8[/TD] Kevin Brown[TD=align: right]68.7[/TD] Rick Reuschel[TD=align: right]68.2[/TD] Jim Palmer[TD=align: right]67.9[/TD] John Smoltz[TD=align: right]66.6[/TD] Luis Tiant[TD=align: right]65.9[/TD] Tommy John[TD=align: right]62.2[/TD] David Cone[TD=align: right]61.8[/TD] Bret Saberhagen[TD=align: right]59.2[/TD] Chuck Finley[TD=align: right]58.4[/TD] Frank Tanana[TD=align: right]57.6[/TD] Jerry Koosman[TD=align: right]57.2[/TD] Dave Stieb[TD=align: right]56.8[/TD] Kevin Appier[TD=align: right]55[/TD] David Wells[TD=align: right]53.5[/TD] Wilbur Wood[TD=align: right]52.3[/TD] Orel Hershiser[TD=align: right]51.7[/TD] Kenny Rogers[TD=align: right]51.1[/TD] Jamie Moyer[TD=align: right]50.3[/TD] Mark Langston[TD=align: right]50.2[/TD] Jimmy Key[TD=align: right]49.4[/TD] Mickey Lolich[TD=align: right]48.9[/TD] Dwight Gooden[TD=align: right]48[/TD] Ron Guidry[TD=align: right]47.9[/TD] Frank Viola[TD=align: right]47.3[/TD] Steve Rogers[TD=align: right]45.4[/TD] Jim Kaat[TD=align: right]45.4[/TD] Vida Blue[TD=align: right]45.1[/TD] Jack Morris[TD=align: right]43.9[/TD] Bob Welch[TD=align: right]43.6[/TD] Al Leiter[TD=align: right]42.7[/TD] Tom Candiotti[TD=align: right]42.6[/TD] Rich Gossage[TD=align: right]41.9[/TD] Danny Darwin[TD=align: right]40.6[/TD] John Candelaria[TD=align: right]40.1[/TD] Charlie Hough[TD=align: right]39.3[/TD] Jon Matlack[TD=align: right]39[/TD] Mark Gubicza[TD=align: right]37.6[/TD] Andy Messersmith[TD=align: right]37.4[/TD] Fernando Valenzuela[TD=align: right]37.3[/TD] Burt Hooton[TD=align: right]36.5[/TD] Catfish Hunter[TD=align: right]36.5[/TD] Jose Rijo[TD=align: right]35[/TD] Tom Gordon[TD=align: right]35[/TD] Bruce Hurst[TD=align: right]35[/TD] Doyle Alexander[TD=align: right]34.8[/TD] Larry Dierker[TD=align: right]34.4[/TD] John Tudor[TD=align: right]34.3[/TD] Tim Wakefield[TD=align: right]34.3[/TD] Charlie Leibrandt[TD=align: right]34.3[/TD] Pat Hentgen[TD=align: right]33[/TD] Jerry Reuss[TD=align: right]32.8[/TD] Rick Wise[TD=align: right]32[/TD] Mike Boddicker[TD=align: right]31.7[/TD] Andy Benes[TD=align: right]31.4[/TD] John Hiller[TD=align: right]31.4[/TD] Sid Fernandez[TD=align: right]31.3[/TD] Rick Sutcliffe[TD=align: right]31.2[/TD] John Denny[TD=align: right]31.1[/TD] Teddy Higuera[TD=align: right]30.7[/TD] Jim Barr[TD=align: right]30.6[/TD] Greg Swindell[TD=align: right]30.3[/TD] Rick Rhoden[TD=align: right]30.1[/TD] Scott Sanderson[TD=align: right]29.7[/TD] Lee Smith[TD=align: right]29.5[/TD] Mike Cuellar[TD=align: right]29.5[/TD] Kevin Tapani[TD=align: right]29.2[/TD] Mike Morgan[TD=align: right]29[/TD] Joe Niekro[TD=align: right]28.6[/TD] Pedro Astacio[TD=align: right]28.5[/TD] Mike Moore[TD=align: right]28.2[/TD] Trevor Hoffman[TD=align: right]28.2[/TD] Jack McDowell[TD=align: right]27.9[/TD] Alex Fernandez[TD=align: right]27.8[/TD] Doug Drabek[TD=align: right]27.7[/TD] Woody Williams[TD=align: right]27.7[/TD] Ken Forsch[TD=align: right]27.1[/TD] Ken Holtzman[TD=align: right]27.1[/TD] Mario Soto[TD=align: right]26.8[/TD] Tim Belcher[TD=align: right]26.8[/TD] Floyd Bannister[TD=align: right]26.4[/TD] Dennis Leonard[TD=align: right]26.3[/TD] Dave Stewart[TD=align: right]26.2[/TD] Kevin Gross[TD=align: right]26.2[/TD] Ramon Martinez[TD=align: right]26.1[/TD] Kent Tekulve[TD=align: right]26.1[/TD] Mike Flanagan[TD=align: right]26[/TD] Gary Nolan[TD=align: right]25.8[/TD] Jon Lieber[TD=align: right]25.5[/TD] Jeff Fassero[TD=align: right]25.2[/TD] Joe Coleman[TD=align: right]25.1[/TD] Charles Nagy[TD=align: right]25.1[/TD] Rollie Fingers[TD=align: right]25.1[/TD] Ron Reed[TD=align: right]25.1[/TD] Wilson Alvarez[TD=align: right]25[/TD] Dan Quisenberry[TD=align: right]24.8[/TD] Scott Erickson[TD=align: right]24.8[/TD] Steve Trachsel[TD=align: right]24.8[/TD] Juan Guzman[TD=align: right]24.7[/TD] Chris Bosio[TD=align: right]24.6[/TD] Bob Ojeda[TD=align: right]24.6[/TD] Ismael Valdez[TD=align: right]24.5[/TD] Bruce Sutter[TD=align: right]24.5[/TD] Mike Torrez[TD=align: right]24.1[/TD] Stan Bahnsen[TD=align: right]24[/TD] Mike Scott[TD=align: right]23.9[/TD] Bill Gullickson[TD=align: right]23.9[/TD] Bob Stanley[TD=align: right]23.9[/TD] John Franco[TD=align: right]23.5[/TD] Dave Goltz[TD=align: right]23.4[/TD] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TABLE] There's Morris at 43.

Really, if you want to use WAR as your guiedeline (or any other metric), any question of "does a guy belong in the Hall" can be reduced to a simple baseball-reference lookup. Someone with a B-R subscription, do a pitching season finder (combined seasons or careeers) for the following: Years 1957-2013 Min. 1000 IP. Jack pitched (1977-1994). Any 17 year period, on average, will capture all or part of 22 HoF pitchers. Does WAR say Jack one of the 22 best to have pitched at some point in this timeframe? (I am too lazy/cheap to look for myself).

You threw me with that final paragraph. Do you think Rose should be in the Hall?

Nice writeup. I think anytime a hitter establishes a wheelhouse it is a positive; it should lead to more balls as pitchers avoid it. If Dozier's minor league stats are any indication, he has the eye to lay off the junk and take his walks.

Am I the only one that picked Rob Ford? Every time he talks all I hear is "activate: self-destruction." [TABLE=class: cms_table, width: 192] Rob Ford [/TD] Doug Stanhope Sid Hartman James Earl Jones George Lucas Elliott Gould Clint[TD=colspan: 2]Eastwood Ray[TD=colspan: 2]Winstone[/TD] Carl Reiner [/TD] Willie Nelson Dick Cheney Keith Richards Isaac Brock Don Rickles Jack[TD=colspan: 2]Nicholson Jose Canseco [/TD] Louie[TD=colspan: 2]Anderson John Madden [/TD] Tony Sirico Joseph R. Gannascoli Jenny Craig Barbara Bush Vince[TD=colspan: 2]McMahon Danny[TD=colspan: 2]Bonaduce[/TD] Portia de Rossi [/TABLE]

Kubel's injury history is not encouraging. Kubel was OPSing .928 through July 2012. On July 13, he pulled his (left) hamstring on against the Cubs, left the game. He OPSed .624 in August, Sept and October. In spring 2013 his left knee - the one he tore up in 2004, was bothering him again. He had it drained twice. And in compensating for the knee, he strained his left quad. http://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-diamondbacks/2012/7/13/3158283/jason-kubel-injury-diamondbacks-fantasy-baseball I still like Kubel's ability to produce when healthy, he's only 31. But realistically, any production out of him next year should be considered a bonus. He had all winter 2012-2013 to heal and still came into ST and his knee was bothering him. Its been and will continue to be a chronic problem. Jason Kubel is "injury prone."