Around the MLB

Black Watch · Post #261 » by **Black Watch** » Thu Sep 5, 2019 7:26 pm

Mike Trout just passed Derek Jeter in career WAR.

(Mike Trout is 28.)

So far this season, Trout has passed 38 Hall of Famers in career WAR—guys like Tony Gwynn, Ernie Banks, Roy Halladay, Willie McCovey, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray, John Smoltz, Barry Larkin, and Edgar Martinez. He's also passed multiple future HOF-ers like Jeter, Miguel Cabrera and (probably) Carlos Beltran and Chase Utley.

(Again, Mike Trout is 28)

Trout (72.6 WAR) will likely pass 3 more Hall of Famers as early as next week: Paul Waner (72.8), Arky Vaughan (72.9) and Jim Thome (72.9). Also in his sights: Frank Thomas (73.9) and Reggie Jackson (74.0).

The_Hater · Post #262 » by **The_Hater** » Thu Sep 5, 2019 7:30 pm

For people who missed this, Astro’s single A prospect breaks up a no hitter with a HR in a playoff game but is subsequently called out.... for missing home plate.

[url]

BigLeagueChew · Post #263 » by **BigLeagueChew** » Sun Sep 8, 2019 7:09 pm

MLB and players’ union expected to discuss testing for opioids following Tyler Skaggs’ death

“For several reasons, including the tragic loss of a member of our fraternity and other developments happening in the country as a whole, it is appropriate and important to reexamine all of our drug protocols relating to education, treatment and prevention,” Tony Clark, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Assn., said in a statement Friday.

In the minor leagues, where players are not represented by the union, the commissioner’s office mandates testing for opioids. Of the 75,000 tests administered over the last five years, only 10 were positive for opioids, according to the league.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/story/2019-09-06/opioids-testing-mlb-players-union-discuss-tyler-skaggs-death

https://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-mexico-drugs-20190706-story.html

phillipmike · Post #264 » by **phillipmike** » Mon Sep 9, 2019 4:37 am

https://www.mlb.com/news/dave-dombrowski-leaving-red-sox

Wow, gone a year after a World Series.

The_Hater · Post #265 » by **The_Hater** » Mon Sep 9, 2019 4:43 pm

phillipmike wrote:https://www.mlb.com/news/dave-dombrowski-leaving-red-sox

Wow, gone a year after a World Series.

I’m not a huge Dombrowski fan but I have to wonder what more he needed to do there?

Post #266 » by **Schad** » Mon Sep 9, 2019 10:46 pm

It's definitely harsh on Dombrowski, enough so that I wonder if there was a serious difference of opinion in terms of their future direction. Because while the Red Sox haven't been as good as a team with their payroll ought to be, neither have they been awful; they're on pace to win 86 games, which would in most years have them within the Wild Card conversation, but the AL is a different beast at the moment.

Still, I'm not sure it's a bad move for them. They need, if not a full rebuild, a transitional era, as they've had after previous drop-offs. Their farm system is wrecked, and while they still have a lot of young/in-prime talent, some of that is fast approaching free agency, and their payroll is bloated with enough older players that they're going to struggle to keep the band together even if they spend $250m/year. They're probably stuck with Sale (who, if healthy, could still be good value for his contract, but no one's trading for a guy with $120m on his contract and mounting injury problems), so it's going to take a bit of finesse to get them back to competitiveness, and Dombrowski's more of a battering ram.

The_Hater · Post #267 » by **The_Hater** » Tue Sep 10, 2019 2:54 am

Schad wrote:It's definitely harsh on Dombrowski, enough so that I wonder if there was a serious difference of opinion in terms of their future direction. Because while the Red Sox haven't been as good as a team with their payroll ought to be, neither have they been awful; they're on pace to win 86 games, which would in most years have them within the Wild Card conversation, but the AL is a different beast at the moment.

Still, I'm not sure it's a bad move for them. They need, if not a full rebuild, a transitional era, as they've had after previous drop-offs. Their farm system is wrecked, and while they still have a lot of young/in-prime talent, some of that is fast approaching free agency, and their payroll is bloated with enough older players that they're going to struggle to keep the band together even if they spend $250m/year. They're probably stuck with Sale (who, if healthy, could still be good value for his contract, but no one's trading for a guy with $120m on his contract and mounting injury problems), so it's going to take a bit of finesse to get them back to competitiveness, and Dombrowski's more of a battering ram.

Boston had to know what they were getting into with Dombrowski though. They get rid of Cherington because he was being to patient waiting for their great farm system to produce a MLB winner and then Dombrowski comes in, empties the farm for more MLB ready talent, does nothing but win and now that’s a problem? I guess there’s a happy medium here but why hire Dombrowski at all if that’s what you want?

Post #268 » by **Schad** » Tue Sep 10, 2019 3:56 am

The_Hater wrote:
Boston had to know what they were getting into with Dombrowski though. They get rid of Cherington because he was being to patient waiting for their great farm system to produce a MLB winner and then Dombrowski comes in, empties the farm for more MLB ready talent, does nothing but win and now that’s a problem? I guess there’s a happy medium here but why hire Dombrowski at all if that’s what you want?

I honestly don't know. Reading Sons of Sam Horn (as one does, when there's big Red Sox news) this seems to be a source of consternation that didn't appear overnight: their powers-that-be change direction with troubling frequency. They sanction rebuilds and then can the architect (who did great work bringing talent into/through the system and won a title) a couple years later. They bring in a win-at-all-costs guy and give him a massive budget, and then fret that he spent too much and their future is iffy. They've also had a staggering amount of infighting over the years, usually leading to the ouster/departure of half the damned executive team, which seems to have played a large part here as well.

Which leads to the biggest question of them all: are the Boston Red Sox a well-run franchise? On the face of it, you'd have to think the answer is yes: they have two titles in the decade, and that's not nothing. But there's a (large) element of luck in winning in postseason, and stripping that out, you have a team that usually features a top three payroll, which has 4 postseason appearances and a .540 regular season winning percentage. Which is absolutely not bad, but compare that with the Yankees, who will make the playoffs for the 7th time in that span, and .569 win%. Or the Dodgers, who will also make their 7th playoff berth and have a .565 win%. You wouldn't have to alter much in the timeline to turn the 2010s into a lost decade for Boston.

The_Hater · Post #269 » by **The_Hater** » Tue Sep 10, 2019 4:00 am

Schad wrote:
The_Hater wrote:
Boston had to know what they were getting into with Dombrowski though. They get rid of Cherington because he was being to patient waiting for their great farm system to produce a MLB winner and then Dombrowski comes in, empties the farm for more MLB ready talent, does nothing but win and now that’s a problem? I guess there’s a happy medium here but why hire Dombrowski at all if that’s what you want?

I honestly don't know. Reading Sons of Sam Horn (as one does, when there's big Red Sox news) this seems to be a source of consternation that didn't appear overnight: their powers-that-be change direction with troubling frequency. They sanction rebuilds and then can the architect (who did great work bringing talent into/through the system) a couple years later. They bring in a win-at-all-costs guy and give him a massive budget, and then fret that he spent too much and their future is iffy. They've also had a staggering amount of infighting over the years, usually leading to the ouster/departure of half the damned executive team.

Which leads to the biggest question of them all: are the Boston Red Sox a well-run franchise? On the face of it, you'd have to think the answer is yes: they have two titles in the decade, and that's not nothing. But there's a (large) element of luck in winning in postseason, and stripping that out, you have a team that usually features a top three payroll, which has 4 postseason appearances and a .540 regular season winning percentage. Which is absolutely not bad, but compare that with the Yankees, who will make the playoffs for the 7th time in that span, and .569 win%. Or the Dodgers, who will also make their 7th playoff berth and have a .565 win%. You wouldn't have to alter much in the timeline to turn the 2010s into a lost decade for Boston.

They were definitely well run under Epstein, and Charington obviously understood the importance of having a top farm system regardless of the team payroll. But like you said, John Henry probably can’t get out of his own way. You can always find something to dislike without looking to far.

Post #270 » by **Schad** » Tue Sep 10, 2019 4:15 am

Yeah, I meant well-run from the ownership level; I think quite highly of Cherington and (for the most part) Epstein, but they can't seem to leave well enough alone, and the number of palace intrigues they produce rivals the Mets.

On the other hand, Liverpool under the same owner had a bit of a reputation for drama, until landing Jurgen Klopp, after which they've been unquestionably one of the best teams in the world.

BigLeagueChew · Post #271 » by **BigLeagueChew** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 9:20 pm

Read on Twitter

?

The_Hater · Post #272 » by **The_Hater** » Sat Sep 14, 2019 9:02 pm

So Tim Tebow’s season is over.

Age 32 - AAA

264 plate appearances

.163/.240/.255

98K’s / 26 wRC+

6-7 more years of minor league reps and he’ll be ready for the show.

Post #273 » by **Schad** » Sat Sep 14, 2019 9:28 pm

If you think that's bad, have a gander at his ZiPS projections as a major leaguer...

https://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa323152&position=OF

BigLeagueChew · Post #274 » by **BigLeagueChew** » Sun Sep 15, 2019 6:55 pm

Read on Twitter

?s=20

I_Like_Dirt · Post #275 » by **I_Like_Dirt** » Mon Sep 16, 2019 3:18 pm

Schad wrote:If you think that's bad, have a gander at his ZiPS projections as a major leaguer...

https://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa323152&position=OF

He's projected to get better every single year even though he's already in his 30s. That's pretty remarkable!

Black Watch · Post #276 » by **Black Watch** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 4:34 am

AL Wild Card: Athletics (+1.5), Rays, Indians (1.5 GB).

Still pretty much as it was last weekend.

NL Wild Card: Nationals (+0.5), Cubs, Brewers (1 GB), Mets (5 GB), Phillies (5 GB), Diamondbacks (6 GB).

Mets and Phillies each lost 3 games over the weekend, plus the D-Backs didn't do themselves any favours by dropping back another two and a half games.

Let's hope it goes down to the wire like it did last season.

vaff87 · Post #277 » by **vaff87** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 5:16 pm

Pirates' Vazquez jailed on child solicitation charge

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez was arrested in Pittsburgh for computer pornography -- solicitation of a child, and providing obscene material to minors, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Tuesday.

The FDLE issued a statement saying it began its investigation into Vazquez in August after obtaining information that the pitcher reportedly had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl in Lee County, Florida. The victim, now 15, allegedly was continuing to have a relationship with Vazquez via text message and received a video from him in July in which he is shown performing a sex act, according to the police statement.

WTF?

Post #278 » by **Schad** » Tue Sep 17, 2019 11:17 pm

What the ****, indeed.

Not only is that likely the end of his baseball career in North America, it's probably the end of his time in North America, period. He's very likely to get deported back to Venezuela after whatever sentence he receives. And, I mean, good.

I_Like_Dirt · Post #279 » by **I_Like_Dirt** » Wed Sep 18, 2019 2:43 pm

Schad wrote:What the ****, indeed.

Not only is that likely the end of his baseball career in North America, it's probably the end of his time in North America, period. He's very likely to get deported back to Venezuela after whatever sentence he receives. And, I mean, good.

Sending a millionaire with those kinds of ideas to Venezuela where he'll be in an even better position to exploit his power might not actually be the best possible outcome here.

Schad wrote:Yeah, I meant well-run from the ownership level; I think quite highly of Cherington and (for the most part) Epstein, but they can't seem to leave well enough alone, and the number of palace intrigues they produce rivals the Mets.

On the other hand, Liverpool under the same owner had a bit of a reputation for drama, until landing Jurgen Klopp, after which they've been unquestionably one of the best teams in the world.

It an interesting example because ownership clearly hires quality management. Klopp only reinforces that, for example. With Boston, even Dombrowski is good at what he does; what he doesn't isn't particularly good for the team long term but he's good at it. If there's one thing ownership needs to be able to do it's hire quality management.

BigLeagueChew · Post #280 » by **BigLeagueChew** » Wed Sep 18, 2019 7:37 pm

Workers removed a banner depicting Vázquez from outside PNC Park before the Pirates lost to the Mariners on Tuesday night. Team president Frank Coonelly, general manager Neal Huntington and manager Clint Hurdle addressed the players in a pregame meeting and there was a sombre mood in the clubhouse afterward. By the time the game ended, Vázquez's locker had been cleaned out and given to another player.

https://apnews.com/44afd93bc0d94c2388ad090b0e88cccd