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Post by James Dunne on Jun 9, 2021 22:01:12 GMT -5
Portland is 11-3 against New Hampshire and 9-9 against the rest of the league.
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 7, 2021 13:52:12 GMT -5
That's crazy. He hasn't started since 2017 when he was at High-A Winston-Salem. So basically they're running a bullpen game.
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 7, 2021 10:26:53 GMT -5
It is wild that Kopech has not graduated yet and is still in the Top 15. I feel like there aren't a lot of situations where a guy is ranked that highly seven years after being drafted. There are already three players in that draft with 20+ career bWAR.
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 7, 2021 8:34:58 GMT -5
Tier 1: Josh Taylor
Tier 2: 1990 Dennis Eckersley 2003 Mariano Rivera Chris Sale against Manny Machado with two outs in the bottom of the 9th in the deciding game of the World Series
Tier 3: Matt Barnes
Etc
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 7, 2021 8:17:47 GMT -5
There are several players I'd move on from before Arauz. He's already an MLB-quality backup infielder, he's 22, and he's on his first option year.
Chavis still may have some trade value (I think?) but he's starting to strike me as a change-of-scene possibility. As a flawed right-handed hitting first baseman who has pop but swings and misses too much, he's kind of redundant with Dalbec. Like, even if Dalbec settles in as a platoon/defensive replacement type, where does that leave Chavis? I just don't see how he complements the current roster. and I don't see how he's improving. I still think his best path is to get passable playing second base, but you're not going to play him ahead of Downs at Worcester.
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 6, 2021 14:57:34 GMT -5
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 5, 2021 20:47:10 GMT -5
Agreed, Leiter giving up a solo homer to one of the best Freshmen in the country on a night where he went 6 3 1 1 2 11, the takeaway is not that he's having an issue with the longball. Pitch was 95 and while Leiter got too much of the plate that's more good hitting than bad pitching.
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 4, 2021 21:37:20 GMT -5
While it's true that not all of Yorke's hits have been scorchers, it's part of an encouraging trend:
First 11 games: .156/.208/.178, 48 PA, 17 K, 3 BB Last 14 games (through tonight): .327/.419/.423, 62 PA, 5 K, 9 BB
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 3, 2021 22:28:30 GMT -5
Very scary situation tonight as Durham pitcher Tyler Zombro took a line drive off the head. The game was suspended and he was taken to Duke hospital, where he is apparently in stable condition per the team's release:
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 3, 2021 17:42:11 GMT -5
Harrisburg starter is Ryan Tapani, son of longtime Twins/Cubs pitcher Kevin Tapani. It's his first start of the year, so not sure whether it's a bullpen game or if he's sliding into a starting role.
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 2, 2021 20:56:20 GMT -5
Glad to know they seem to be Leiter > Rocker. Interesting to hear that Rocker's signability might be a concern. I think what he's saying is that signability might become a concern if he falls past #8. The bonus slots fall pretty rapidly in the top 10.
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 2, 2021 20:54:07 GMT -5
Salem Red Sox have taken the lead in the 10th inning on a ground out, ground out, wild pitch.
Have I mentioned that the extra inning rule is dumb? How is deciding a winner without ever getting a man on base better than a tie? I hate it so much.
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 2, 2021 12:42:32 GMT -5
I think the proper analogy here is one pretty okay car was traded for one car that looks like it might be pretty good in the future, one currently bad car that might someday not be bad but probably will continue to be bad, and three other cars who we don't know what cars they are yet.
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 2, 2021 11:50:15 GMT -5
Boston dealt Almonte to the Diamondbacks for Brad Ziegler back in 2016. He raised his prospect status some with Arizona and then I believe had a shoulder injury.
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Post by James Dunne on Jun 2, 2021 6:36:13 GMT -5
Passing on a pitcher might be the right choice. Using the Trey Ball pick eight years ago or the Bryan Price pick 14 years ago to justify passing on a pitcher is really foolish.
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Post by James Dunne on May 31, 2021 18:44:41 GMT -5
Two questions..why did Raffaela take such a nosedive when he is performing quite well and do you think that Brannen is finally starting to figure things out or is it just a fluke he is starting to hit a little bit. That's actually a typo. Rafaela rose from 43 to 39. Thanks for the catch! Brannen is 8 for 51 with 26 strikeouts. This was the first week that he had more than one hit. I will have to see a lot more from him.
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Post by James Dunne on May 29, 2021 22:33:31 GMT -5
It's not clear if this is fluky or if the Royals have fixed something or if Benintendi is just healthy again, but he's been basically himself again now for a month.
First 16 games: 67 PA, .180/.254/.230 25.4% K rate Last 31 games (through 5/29): 121 PA, .339/.397/.468 15.7% K rate
It's the strikeout rate that I feel is the most important development, that's right back in line with his 2017-18 self. Obviously the Iso is still down from that peak, but anyone with those kinds of contact rates at a time when strikeouts are so prevalent is obviously extremely valuable.
It doesn't make sense to analyze the trade because we still don't know who Boston is getting back, but I think we're getting further away from "it was smart to trade Benintendi because he's just not that good anymore."
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Post by James Dunne on May 29, 2021 19:41:11 GMT -5
Tristan Casas page appears not to be loading. I think I've fixed this. Do you mind reloading and just making sure it's working on your end?
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Post by James Dunne on May 29, 2021 19:30:16 GMT -5
A couple catchers on the move: Jhon Nunez has signed a minor league deal with the Marlins, and Austin Rei was released by Arizona.
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Post by James Dunne on May 29, 2021 13:37:29 GMT -5
His motion is odd... he does this little off-balance jig after he lands. But he is massive.... I am still really hopeful he works out. That combination of his weird landing and his size is very, very concerning to me. Hopefully he can get it sorted because the drive and arm action are so effortless.
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Post by James Dunne on May 28, 2021 20:56:04 GMT -5
Groome off to another good start: Three shutout innings, one hit, three Ks, no walks. He's lost it in the fourth his last two times out, so this will be a good test. Maybe just fatigue. He really hasn't pitched much and might need to build up arm strength. That's the hope! There have always been very legitimate reasons for his struggles but there also comes a point where he needs to have some successes. Tonight was a good step. Looked like his control was getting wobbly in the fifth with the HBP and wild pitch, but he kept his poise well and allowed just the one run. The efficiency is what I'm happiest about tonight, needed only the 63 pitches to get through five, 41 strikes. Good start by any measure.
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Post by James Dunne on May 28, 2021 20:45:41 GMT -5
Throwing it out as a question to the masses, but is there typically this much uncertainty at the top of the draft? Certainly in years with a Harper or Strasburg I'd imagine no, but for other years, is there this much fluidity leading up to the draft? What is the typical net movement in player ranking from earlier mocks to later mocks? Someone like Mayer definitely seemed like a possibility a month ago, but that no longer seems like the case (though it may swing back in the next few weeks!). I'd be curious also in terms of MLB outcome, if there's any correlation to who 'made it' with helium for that player for their respective draft. While most drafts don't have a clear #1 like a Strasburg, Harper, Rutschman, I do agree that it's rare to have as many as like five guys who reasonable people think is the best player. That's why I think this idea that the draft isn't strong at the top and therefore the Red Sox should maybe go the signability route is off the mark--the guy they get at #4 may very well be the one who they think is the best player available in the whole draft. Like, Leiter isn't the prospect that goes at #1 most years but I think he's awfully good in comparison to #4 picks historically. I also think the uncertainty is in large part because there wasn't a season last year. Henry Davis was off to a good start and probably establishes himself a year earlier, but the 2020 season ended before conference play even started. Guys like Fabian and Del Castillo seemed like they'd be in the mix at #4 back in March. I really like the question about helium guys, it probably deserves a bit more research than I can give it right now. But Benintendi was definitely a guy whose stock rose dramatically in the month before the draft and he turned out to be a good pick.
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Post by James Dunne on May 28, 2021 19:53:32 GMT -5
Just getting the chance to check in now. Sandy Leon is the designated hitter?!?!
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Post by James Dunne on May 28, 2021 19:51:46 GMT -5
Groome off to another good start: Three shutout innings, one hit, three Ks, no walks. He's lost it in the fourth his last two times out, so this will be a good test.
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Post by James Dunne on May 28, 2021 19:32:13 GMT -5
I've seen similar a few times... just not above the Little League level.
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