Category Archives: Friday Faceoff
2 players go head-to-head in a weekly match-up to determine the winner
Mike Trout vs. Bryce Harper: Who is the Biggest Prospect in Baseball?
Thursday May 3rd, 2012
Bernie Olshansky: For prospect watchers, last Saturday was one of the most exciting baseball days in a long time. Not only was Angels prospect Mike Trout (20) making his season debut against Cleveland, but Bryce Harper, the Nationals prospect and teen-wonder at only nineteen also made his highly anticipated major league debut against the Dodgers. Amazingly, two of Baseball America’s top three prospects debuted on the same day. Harper’s first and second at-bats were a couple to forget, but his third was one to remember. He roped a hard line drive over Matt Kemp’s head in center for a stand-up double. Trout’s debut was nothing special, but after hitting .408 in the minors this year he’s bound to get it going. Read the rest of this entry
Joe Mauer vs. Alex Avila: Who is the Top Catcher in Baseball?
Saturday February 11th, 2012
Sam Evans: Joe Mauer and Alex Avila have become two of the best catchers in the American League. Both players are at a crossroads in their respective careers heading into 2012. For Avila, can he build on his breakout season last year and lead the Tigers to the playoffs again? Mauer needs to find out whether he can stay at catcher without injury, and if he can return to the level of his previous offensive years. Read the rest of this entry
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The 2012 Tampa Bay Rays Starting Rotation
Friday January 13th, 2012
Rob Bland: Starting pitching surplus. This is a phrase that every Major League Baseball franchise wishes they could say they possess. However, one team that is quickly becoming a power in the AL East, has just that. The Tampa Bay Rays’ rise to success began in 2008 where they were crowned the American League champions. Since then, they have won due mostly to their strong pitching. A while back, I heard someone say that the Rays franchise is like an onion: peel one layer off, and there is another layer there waiting to blossom. When they lost Carl Crawford, probably the best player in franchise history, to free agency, ultra prospect Desmond Jennings came to Tropicana Field. When Matt Garza was traded to the Chicago Cubs, hyped pitching prospect Jeremy Hellickson took over the 5th spot of the rotation and finished the season with a 13-10 record and 2.95 ERA. Oh, and he won the American League Rookie of the Year Award just to top it off. The fact of the matter is the Rays have a scary rotation already in place, with David Price, James Shields, Wade Davis, Jeff Niemann, and Hellickson.
Before the 2011 season, Baseball America ranked Hellickson the #6 prospect in baseball, with Matt Moore coming in at #15. Moore is a flame-throwing lefty who was called up to the Rays on September 12, 2011 in the middle of a pennant race. Moore threw 9.1 innings, with 15 strikeouts to 3 walks, and a 2.89 ERA. He then went on to pitch Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers, and threw 7 scoreless innings on 2 hits. GM Andrew Friedman believed in his talent so much that he inked Moore to a 5-year, $14M contract that includes club options that would push the total value to $37.5M over 8 years. Moore will only be 22 years old at the beginning of the season.
Alex Cobb is another intriguing arm that is waiting in the minor leagues for his time to shine. While he wasn’t included in the Rays’ Top 10 Prospects list before the 2011 season, he turned heads while pitching most of 2011 in AAA. Cobb went 5-1 with a 1.87 ERA over 12 starts. Cobb struck out 70 with 16 walks in 67.1 innings, showing plus command of an 89-93mph fastball. Cobb projects to be an inning-eating work horse in the middle of a rotation. While he ended up with 9 starts for the Rays with success, there doesn’t seem to be a spot open for him just yet.
So it appears as though the Rays have 7 viable starting options at the moment. SEVEN. Most teams can’t even say they have four that they are actually happy with. A true embarrassment of riches!
Talent is not the only thing to consider when putting a team together, and the strapped-for-cash Rays are no exception. Even with a team salary of just over $42M, the Rays still clinched the AL Wild Card and reached the postseason for the third time in four years in the loaded AL East. James Shields has club options for 2012-2014, with a value of $7.5M, $9M and $12M, respectively. For a team with such a low payroll, a pitcher like James Shields does not quite seem to fit the team’s plans. It might be in the best interest of the club to be looking for suitable trade partners to potentially shore up the team’s needs at 1B and/or SS.
The reality is that the Rays believe that Moore is Major League-ready now, hence the multi-year contract. So therefore, one of the five starters from 2011 is either on his way out, or on his way to the bullpen. Price, Hellickson and Moore are locks for the rotation it would seem. Even though he missed all of May and half of June with back tightness after a rough start to the season in which he gave up 23 runs in 31.1 innings over 6 starts, Niemann had a very strong July and August. Niemann finished 2011 with an 11-7 record and 4.06 ERA. Davis signed a contract prior to the 2011 season that would pay him $10.1M through 2014, with options from 2015-2017 for $7M, $8M, and $10M, respectively. Davis was 11-10 in 2011 with a 4.45 ERA. The fact that his career ground ball rate is 37.8% and he has struck out under 6 batters per 9 innings doesn’t bode well for him. Davis’s stats have regressed in the last two years, and with his contract doesn’t seem likely to net a large return if traded. He could, however, find himself in a swingman type role to start the season.
In James Shields, the Rays have a HUGE trade chip. Since 2007, he has averaged over 220 innings per season. His career marks of 7.5 K/9 and 2.07 BB/9 to go along with a 44% ground ball rate make him a very good pitcher. With 3-years of control remaining, at an average of under $10M per season, Shields could net the Rays a king’s ransom type return. When Friedman traded Garza to the Cubs, he received outfielder Sam Fuld, SS Hak-Ju Lee (#6 prospect by Baseball America), RHP Chris Archer (#38 by BA), OF Brandon Guyer (#6 Rays prospect), and C Robinson Chirinos. Comparing Garza’s 2010 season and Shields’ 2011 season shows that while Garza pitched well going 15-10 and 3.91 ERA, his peripheral stats don’t quite stack up. Not only is Shields’ platform season greater, but his career statistics prove he has been the better pitcher. With the exorbitant prices some teams are paying for frontline starting pitching (see Gio Gonzalez and Matt Latos), the Rays should certainly be looking into moving Shields.
In all probability, the Rays rotation will start out as Price, Shields, Moore, Hellickson and Niemann, with Davis going to the bullpen, and Alex Cobb biding his time in AAA. The Rays could play out the first few months of the season, and look to deal one of Shields, Niemann or Davis based on where they sit in the standings, and their personal performances. Starting pitching surplus sure is a great problem to have.
***Today’s feature was prepared by our Baseball Writer, Rob Bland. We highly encourage you to leave your comments and feedback at the bottom of the page and share in the discussion with our readers. You can also follow Blandy on Twitter***
Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan onFacebook . To subscribe to our website and have the daily Reports sent directly to your inbox , click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.
Matt Garza vs. Doug Fister: Who is the More Valuable MLB Pitcher?
Thursday January 5th, 2012
Rob Bland: One of the perks of what I do is that I get to talk baseball with a lot of great people. The other day I got into a debate over a couple of right-handed pitchers that are extremely different. Some people were saying one was better than the other, while others disagreed with that notion. It got fairly heated… but it usually remained respectful.
The two players in question are Matt Garza of the Chicago Cubs and Doug Fister of the Detroit Tigers. Before the 2011 season, it would have been unanimous that Garza was the better pitcher. However, with a strong performance and a playoff push, Fister turned a lot of heads. Fister spent the first part of 2011 pitching for the lowly Seattle Mariners. While their pitching staff led by Felix Hernandez, Michael Pineda, Erik Bedard and Fister was solid, they anemic offense couldn’t muster any runs. When Fister was traded, his record sat at 3-12. His ERA was a solid 3.33 and while he only struck out 5.5 batters per 9 innings, he only walked 2 per 9.
Upon his arrival in Detroit, Fister was a new man. In 70 innings, he gave up 54 hits and walked only 5. His K/BB ratio was 11.4 and WHIP sat at 0.84. Fister also had an 8-1 record and 1.79 ERA. To say he solidified the rotation behind Justin Verlander is an understatement. Although the Tigers ran away with the AL Central Division, it would have been much closer if not for Fister.
Matt Garza spent his first season in the National League improving upon his career numbers. Sure, the NL Central isn’t a very good division, but then neither is the AL Central for that matter. Garza had spent the majority of his Major League career pitching in the daunting AL East, to varying degrees of success. With an average fastball velocity of 93.4 mph over his career, and solid secondary pitches, he is known as a pitcher with good stuff, and a bulldog mentality on the mound. Garza averaged almost 9 K/9 innings last year, to go with a 46.3% ground ball rate, a 3.32 ERA and only 2.86 BB/9. His record was 10-10 with a Cubs team that struggled mightily all season.
Now how do you compare these two players who have always played in completely different divisions and have entirely different pitching styles? Well, it is difficult to do so without looking at each of their past performances and future potential. Fister averages 89 mph on his fastball, and Garza 93, so arm strength is one advantage that Garza has. However, in 2011, according to Fangraphs, Garza’s wFB (Fastball Linear Weight) was worth 6.8 runs, in comparison to Fister’s 23.6 runs. So, despite Garza having a great advantage in velocity, Fister’s fastball was actually a much more effective pitch. Over his career, Fister has used 2 below average pitches- in his slider and curveball, while his changeup grades out at an average of just over 4 runs per season. Garza’s changeup is below average, his curveball is average, but his slider is an above average pitch that he threw almost a quarter of the time in 2011.
Fister is what he is. He doesn’t strike out a ton, but also doesn’t walk a ton. He induces ground balls at a high rate, and keeps the ball in the
park. He won’t “wow” you with his stuff… but he is consistent and a dependable starter to have in the rotation behind Verlander. I would think that in 2012 and beyond, his stats will look more similar to the ones he put up with Seattle than his numbers with Detroit during the past stretch run of 2011.
Garza is tougher to gauge in my estimation. He had a few very good years pitching in the AL East for some great Rays teams. His 2011 season with the Cubs was also solid. I would think that although he may not accrue a ton of wins, his peripheral stats will continue to shine playing in the paltry NL Central (unless he is traded).
One of the topics brought up in the debate was that of a hypothetical trade of Garza for Fister straight-up. There are a few things to consider in this scenario. First, Garza made $5.95M in 2011, and is likely due a raise to around $8-9M. Fister made just over the league minimum; $436,500. He will make a small raise to around $450K in 2012, and will be eligible for arbitration for the first time before the 2013 season. Second, Garza is under team control through 2013, where Fister is controllable through the 2015 season. These two facts make Fister a much more valuable asset. He is cheaper, and will be around for a longer time. So I would hope that the Tigers would say no to that trade if the offer came up.
However, given Garza’s proven track record in the AL East, and his pure stuff grading out higher, I would take Garza if both players were at an even playing field of the same salary and years of team control.
On the surface- to most people, this seems like an easy decision. But after much research and thought, I decided I would still rather have Garza. I am going with upside and “stuff” over consistency.
***Today’s feature was prepared by our Baseball Writer, Rob Bland. We highly encourage you to leave your comments and feedback at the bottom of the page and share in the discussion with our readers. You can also follow Blandy on Twitter***
Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan onFacebook . To subscribe to our website and have the daily Reports sent directly to your inbox , click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.
Athletics Fire Geren and Hire Melvin- The Beane Friday Faceoff
Friday, June 10, 2011
MLB reports: The Oakland Athletics record sits today at 27-37, fourth place in the AL West. So it should come as no surprise that after weeks of speculation, General Manager Billy Beane on Thursday came down with the verdict. Bob Geren is out. Bob Melvin is in. Two former catchers. Two guys named Bob, as part of the changing of the guard in Oakland.
I could be humorous and refer to the whispers that a manager in Oakland is essentially a puppet/pawn for Billy Beane. For anyone that read Moneyball, the idea is clear that Beane calls the shots and the manager complies with his moves. As long as Beane is talking to “Bob” on the telephone, it is irrelevant whether it is Geren or Melvin on the other line. But we will touch upon that shortly.
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It felt like at this point a change was necessary,” was Beane’s immediate comments following the announcement. “It got to the point where the emphasis was on the status of the manager on a daily basis and no longer on the field. When that starts to happen, you need to shift the focus to what’s really important, which is performance. Bob Melvin will inherit some of the challenges that Bob had. Bob lost four starting pitchers in the space of three weeks. That was a tough body blow for the team. That was very difficult from Bob’s standpoint.” So begins the Oakland managerial career of Bob version 2.0.
The 49-year old Bob Geren completed his five seasons in Oakland with a 334-376 record, good for a .470 winning percentage. Despite his deep friendship with GM Billy Beane, the time was right to cut the cord as the highest the A’s finished under Geren was 2nd place in 2010, with a meager .500 record. Five years playing and five years managing in the majors represents the MLB career of Geren. The A’s tried taking a fresh approach by hiring him as their manager, but clearly he was not right fit for the role. Given his track record as manager, Geren may not find another managerial role very easily. But with his knowledge of the game, he will likely find a scouting or coaching role in the future. With Geren gone, Bob Melvin became the interim ”man” in Oakland.
The 49-year old Bob Melvin (see a trend?) coached for seven years in the majors prior to joining Oakland. Two years in Seattle, five years in Arizona. In Seattle Melvin had a lifetime managerial record of 156-168 and in Arizona 337-340. The Diamondbacks originally had hired Wally Backman to manage the team before Melvin, but after legal issues came to light, Melvin got the job. Melvin enjoyed success in Arizona, including a 90-72 record in 2007 and 1st place in the division, together with being named NL Manager of the Year. Coupled with his 93-69 record in 2003 for the Mariners, Melvin apparently gets his teams firing on all cylinders when he first joins a squad. Nicknamed the “Mad Scientist”, Melvin is known to be a very-hands on manager who is not afraid to try anything and everything to pull out wins. After ten seasons of catching in the majors and seven managing, the A’s have themselves experience and a proven track record by hiring Bob Melvin.
By making this move, Billy Beane moved from inexperience to veteran leadership
behind the bench. The million dollar question being asked by industry people today is whether Beane will finally let go of the reigns and give full autonomy to his “chef in the kitchen.” After years of watching Bob Melvin play and manage, it is hard to believe that he will agree to be Beane’s puppet. My gut feel is that this marriage will not last long, as Beane may let ease up for some time when the ball club starts winning, but he will take control again before long. Leopards do not change their spots and Beane is unlikely to change his approach in running the Athletics. Melvin surely went into this role with eyes wide open and realized the dangers of taking this job.
As the “interim” manager, Melvin will likely light the fire that is needed to get the A’s going in 2011. The A’s will almost definitely finish with a better record this season under Melvin as compared to Geren staying in the same role. With the “Moneyball” movie due out this fall, Beane had to save face and put a winning product on the field. Despite his assertions that the upcoming movie did not play a role in his decision to change managers, a genius GM played on the big screen by Brad Pitt would look much better to an audience if his team was successful at the same time. Beane did what he had to do to win today and gave his team to a proven winner in Bob Melvin. The danger will be retaining beyond this season. A good short-term move but one that will not work in the long run for the team. The Mad Scientist meets Mr. Moneyball. Let the show begin.
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Pujols vs. Bautista: Battle of the Sluggers- Friday Faceoff
Friday, May 27, 2011
MLB reports: On the surface we appear to have a changing of the guard in baseball. Albert Pujols had been anointed the next Babe Ruth many years ago and his numbers to-date have been simply outstanding. 416 home runs over 11 seasons with a lifetime .329 AVG, .423 OBP and .617 SLG are clear hall of fame numbers. But then something seems to have happened this year. As Pujols entered his free agency year, his numbers began to drop. As Albert Pujols has fallen back down to earth, home run king Jose Bautista continues his career rise. After 54 home runs in 2010, Bautista has hit the ground running in 2011 and has the MLB world talking. After so many requests for this faceoff, let’s take a look at Albert Pujols and Jose Bautista in 2011 and determine which is the better player.
Age
Pujols is 31 years-of-age while Bautista is 30. Rumors have constantly circled Pujols that his actual age may be closer to 33-34, based on Dominican age scandals in the past. But without substantiation, we will take Pujols at his word and conclude that both players are very close in age and in the same stage of their careers. Verdict: Draw.
Power
Bautista leads the majors in home runs with 19 while Pujols has been slow out of the gate at 8. Pujols has a .407 SLG while Bautista sits at .785. There is no question that Bautista has far exceeded Pujols in the power department this year. Considering that Bautista has only had Adam Lind for part of time for protection in the lineup with few other sluggers makes the numbers even more astounding. Pujols has both Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday in the mix and should be able to see far better pitches than Bautista. This part is a no doubter. Verdict: Bautista, by a country mile.
Patience and Batting Eye
This should have been Pujols category for the taking. With a career 934/666
BB/K, Pujols has a batting eye that few can match. This year however, Pujols sits at 20/20 BB/K. Good numbers, but not superstar Pujols type numbers. Bautista on the other hand leads the way with 42 walks on the season and is on pace to break 150. With only 24 strike outs in 2011, Bautista has an almost 2/1 BB/K ratio. It looks like we have a new sherif in town. In 2010, Pujols was great with 103/76 BB/K while Bautista produced 100/116 BB/K. While the walks were evenly matched, Pujols was able to strike out fewer times. But that was then and this season reads a different story. Pujols has a .330 OBP and Bautista leads with a .492 OBP. Not even close. Verdict: round 3 goes to Bautista.
Batting Average
Pujols has a lifetime .329 AVG while Bautista sits at .250. In 2010, Pujols had a .312 AVG while Bautista sat at .260. In 2011 though we have a seen a role reversal. Pujols has a .261 AVG while Bautista has a .342 AVG. Case closed again. Verdict: Bautista.
Stolen Bases
Neither player is a speed demon by any stretch. Bautista has 5 stolen bases on the year with 9 in 2010. Pujols had 14 last year but three this year. Neither gets on base with the thought of running and the stolen bases are negligible between the players. Pujols has stolen up to 16 bases in his career and stole 14 last year. But at the current pace, the numbers are fairly even. Pujols has stolen three bases without getting caught while Bautista has been 5 for 7 in his opportunities. Verdict: Draw.
Verdict
With 3 rounds going to Jose Bautista and 2 draws, this week’s competition was a no-brainer. Jose Bautista in 2011 has taken the crown of best hitter in baseball away from Albert Pujols. It almost seems like the players have somehow changed bodies. Jose Bautista has literally become the Albert Pujols of 2011, while Pujols himself has morphed into a lesser slugger in the mold of Bautista before 2010. Bautista is doing all the right things, by hitting for average, taking a lot of walks and hitting home runs with no end in sight. Pujols in contrast, has been a shell of himself this year. He is not able to do any of the things that Bautista has and will need to get himself moving if he hopes to catch up. As mentioned before, Pujols has great lineup protection and should be seeing many more fastballs and quality pitches to hit than Bautista. While Adam Lind was hot for a stretch, he is by no means Berkman or Holliday. Jose Bautista has had to produce with sub par players surrounding him in the batting order for most of the season. Pujols has also played 9 more games than Bautista, who missed games due to personal reasons and a neck strain. We shall see where these players are at come season’s end. Only time will tell. But until then, we are ready to crown Jose Bautista as the best hitter in baseball. Check the numbers, they don’t lie.
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Heyward vs. Hosmer: Battle of the Prospects- Friday Faceoff
MLB reports: Another week, another rescheduled Friday Faceoff. Originally scheduled to go head-to-head were Jason Heyward of the Atlanta Braves and Mike Stanton of the Florida Marlins in the battle of young and up-and-coming National League outfielders. But with the burst of MLB reports favorite Eric Hosmer of the Kansas City Royals on the MLB scene a week ago, we couldn’t resist switching up the story. With the e-mailbag being flooded for Hosmer requests and the promise I made last week for a Heyward feature, MLB reports is proud to present in the Friday Faceoff: Heyward vs. Hosmer.
Age
Both Hosmer and Heyward are still pups at the tender age of 21-years-old. It’s hard to believe that Heyward was an all-star and finished second in the NL ROY balloting last year at 20. Incredible. Born only 2 months apart, Heyward was the 14th overall selection in the 2007 draft and Hosmer- the 3rd overall pick in the 2008 draft tie in this category. In terms of experience, Heyward has a year’s worth of experience in the majors over Hosmer, but then he was drafted a year earlier. A draw in round 1.
Power
Looking at Jason Heyward’s numbers from a year ago, I am completely blown away. By hitting 18 home runs last year with a .456 SLG, Heyward was one of the most consistent Braves hitters last year. This year, Heyward already has 7 home runs, although his SLG is down to .433. The trouble with measuring Heyward so far this year is that he has been bothered by a sore shoulder early on, missed some games, taken his cortisone shots and may only fully return by early next week. While he is ready to pinch run and may pinch hit soon, Heyward’s health is a question mark at this point. Comparatively, Hosmer had 3 home runs in his first 26 games at AAA this year and 2 home runs in his first 6 games since being called up. While Hosmer has flashed power in the minors, including 20 last year between A+ and AA last year, Heyward has shown the steady power in the majors already. Heyward for me is already at the 30+ home run capabilities while Hosmer is more of a 15+ home run hitter for me at this stage of his career. Based on raw power, Heyward wins this round.
Patience and Batting Eye
Good luck in finding two better hitters with strong eyes at the plate compared to Heyward and Hosmer. Heyward finished with 91 walks last year, unheard
of for a 20-year-old hitter in the majors. The strikeouts though did pile, up as Heyward whiffed 128 times in 2010. This year Heyward has a 18/32 BB/K ratio, good for a young player but not quite the level we expect from our budding superstars. Part to blame is his shoulder woes and the rest is the developing patience at the plate. Hosmer on the other hand, is slowly becoming the new MLB king of patience. In 2010 in the minors, Hosmer had a 59/66 BB/K ratio, almost 1-1. In his call-up this year, Hosmer sits at 5/5 BB/K ratio. With high walks and low strikeouts, round 3 goes to Eric Hosmer. Heyward ranks high in this category, just not Hosmer good.
Batting Average
This category, as with the others, is based on a small sample size and considers results to-date and expected performance. Some categories are easier to predict than others. This one appears very apparent to me. While I see Heyward having more future long balls, I can see Hosmer finishing with a higher batting average. Heyward had close to a .400 OBP last year and his .270-.280 average potential with 100 walks per year are fantastic numbers. But Hosmer has the .300+ average potential and will likely exceed a .400 OBP year-in and year-out. Last year in the minors, Hosmer had .338 AVG and .408 OBP. In AAA this year, Hosmer was hitting .439 with a .525 OBP and is already hitting .333 in the majors with a .444 OBP. The result is another victory for Hosmer.
Stolen Bases
A tricky category to utilize in comparing the two sluggers, who are known more for their bats than their speed. Heyward had 11 stolen bases last year, although he was caught 6 times. So far this year Heyward has only stolen 2 bases. Hosmer himself is not much a burner, although he did steal 11 bases last year while only being caught once in high A ball. On the season, Hosmer has stolen 3 bases in AAA and 1 steal in the majors, while not getting caught at either level. My impression overall is that Heyward will steal more bases as he will take more opportunities, while Hosmer will take fewer chances but have a higher success ratio. Pick your poison, I am calling this one a draw.
Verdict
A great matchup this week of two future MVPs and part of baseball’s changing of the guard as the kids begin to take over. I am very excited about the prospects for both Heyward and Hosmer, as both are complete packages and truly the real deal in my estimation. It is always my goal not to go too far in projecting prospects as too many factors can take over, including : injuries, faded confidence, legal troubles, bad teams, bad lineups…you name it, one factor can arise and sideline a bright star in a hurry. Watching both Heyward and Hosmer, I have the impression that both are intelligent young men with good heads on their shoulders. Both play with enthusiasm and heart, two strong qualities I look for future in players. Going head-to-head, both are very young, with Heyward having a year experience on Hosmer. Both are showing good power, although Heyward has greater power. Hosmer though won out on batting average and batting-eye, displaying in his career patience personified, exceeding even the talented Heyward. After both players tied in the stolen base category, this week’s winner is Eric Hosmer. The future of the Kansas City Royals along with Moustakas and Myers, the George Brett comparisons are already ringing in for Hosmer. My hope is that he will handle them better than once golden boy Alex Gordon, who has finally got his career back on track this season after enduring many hardships and failed expectations along the way. Heyward, on the other hand, is becoming the new face of the Braves as Chipper Jones slowly begins to play out his last string. Both are excellent players with each team very high on its respective budding superstar. But the winner tonight is new MLB sensation, Eric Hosmer.
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Jeter vs. Swisher: Love and Baseball – Friday Faceoff
MLB reports: This week’s edition of the Friday Faceoff was originally scheduled to be a battle between the Cincinnati Reds top catching prospects or two of the Oakland A’s mega hitting prospects. We get many requests for stories and updates on prospects on MLB reports and try to accommodate whenever we can. We love the MLB stories but stories of up and coming players always carries a soft spot for us. But then an e-mail came through this morning from Jenny in Texas as follows:
” Derek Jeter should have never gotten engaged.. Since his engagement he has been in a slump…. Ha .. Happy Friday.”
Swisher has been linked in the past to dating a model, but otherwise his love life has been kept fairly private compared to Jeter. From his Oakland and Chicago days, Swisher was known as the long-haired party guy who liked to have fun and bring excitement to the clubhouse. Following Swisher on twitter and facebook, he kept very active in the social media corresponding with fans and was not afraid to hold back. 2009 and 2010 were solid campaigns for Swisher, as he immediately adjusted to the Bronx and brought his “A” game to New York. At the tender of age of 30, nothing appeared to hold him back. Then Swisher met actress Joanna Garcia, got engaged during the 2010 season and got married during the past offseason. From there, I started to see a new Nick Swisher emerge.
AVG and .614 OPS. Brutal numbers for a man who averaged 29 home runs over the last two seasons and .869 OPS. At 30 years of age, Swisher has not lost his skills…but rather his mojo. There was talk that Swisher is continuing to look for acting opportunities and may get a part in a movie in the future. Great for his acting resume, bad for his baseball career. In my estimation, fair or unfair, he has to get his priorities in order and focus on what pays the bills: baseball. Acting may be fun and works well with his wife’s career, but Swisher needs to get back down to basics to what brought him MLB success. I do not profess to know Swisher personally and do not spend time with him in the batting cages, weight room or at home. But something is going on with Swisher that has caused a dive in his numbers and it appears that his personal life may be playing a part.
When researching and writing this piece, I had an instant issue with categorizing Jeter as suffering on the field by scoring off the field, so to speak. A long-time playboy, Jeter has been linked with many famous females including Mariah Carey and Jessica Biel. The golden boy of endorsements as well, George Steinbrenner criticized Jeter at one point for worrying too much about his life off the field and should focus more on his baseball play. While some critics blasted Steinbrenner, I agreed with the statement. Although Jeter has had solid numbers in his career, I believe he could have done more if he had partied less and worked harder at baseball. My opinion, right or wrong, is how I have always felt. Now watching the Derek Jeter of 2011, I believe lifestyle has finally caught up to him.marketing firm as the most marketable baseball player. He has endorsements with Gillette, Nike and Gatorade, just to name a few. While Swisher learns to become an actor, Jeter is going strong as a pitchman. I don’t think Yankee fans appreciate the extra-curricular activities if it takes away from their playing performances. Based on the start of 2011 and judging by the numbers, I am convinced that both players are guilty of a lack of focus and drive. The fact that Jeter has gotten engaged and planning to get married to Kelly says that there is something different about her for him compared to other relationships. Whatever that it is, I do not see it helping his performance on the field. As soon as things got serious for Jeter off the field, his play on the field declined.The Verdict:
My message to Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher is quite simple. Go rent the movie “Major League 2″ and recall what happened when Ricky Vaughn cut his hair, wore suits, dated an executive and was featured in his own television commercials. Willy Mays Hayes starred in his own action movie in the offseason and came to camp with a new attitude and approach. Both players failed miserably and had to go back to basics and lose “the attitude” so to speak to get back to playing at a high level. Still not convinced? Take the case of real life baseball players Kris Benson and Cole Hamels. Each married a celebrity, a model/playmate and reality star respectively and each began to change. Both became focused on marketing themselves and building their image than playing the game of baseball. Look a the stats, the numbers do not lie. I see the same slippery slope for both Jeter and Swisher. My verdict is that both players are guilty of letting their love lives and off-field careers interfere with their baseball play. My hope is that both will shape up before it is too late. At Jeter’s advanced age and rise in the marketing game, he is likely not going to rebound much. I do not see much hope in his case. Maybe Swisher stands a chance, but if his acting career does take off, prepare for the new and declining Swisher to hang around. It goes to show you: love and baseball do not always mix.
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Bryce Harper vs. Manny Machado: Friday Faceoff
MLB reports: For even the most casual baseball fan, the name Bryce Harper should sound alarm bells. Considered by many experts to be the equivalent of the next Sidney Crosby in hockey, LeBron James in basketball and Peyton Manning in football, Harper is the next “big thing” in baseball.
A five-tool player in baseball is one that is able to hit for a high average, power, strong base running and speed, throwing well and fielding his position. From all accounts, Harper is all of the above…and more. If reports are accurate, Harper has Josh Hamilton type tools, which rarely comes around more than once in a lifetime.
Haper is all of 18 years of age, stands 6’3″ and weighs 225 lbs. A catcher in his days at the College of Southern Nevada JC, Harper has started in pro career as an outfielder. Drafted first overall in the 2010 draft by the Washington Nationals, Harper currently plays in the Class A South Atlantic league for the Hagerstown Suns. Harper was the 2010 Golden Spikes Award winner as the top amateur player in the nation.
Going into today’s action, here are Bryce Harper’s 2011 statistics:
BRYCE HARPER:
| 2011 Season | ||||||||||||||||||
| Team | League | AVG | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | TB | BB | SO | SB | CS | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| HAG | SAL | .323 | 19 | 62 | 14 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 40 | 11 | 17 | 4 | 2 | .425 | .645 | 1.070 |
In all the talk of Bryce Harper, a very talented shortstop by the name of Manuel (“Manny”) Machado seems to get lost in the shuffle. Machado was drafted 3rd overall in 2010 by the Orioles. At 18 years of age, Machado also stands 6’3″ but weighs 185 lbs. Machado signed early with the Orioles and made his professional debut with short season Aberdeen in 2010. Born in Florida, the Alex Rodriguez comparison whispers have already started with Machado.
19 games into the season, here are Machado’s 2011 statistics with the Delmarva Shorebirds of the Class A South Atlantic League:
MANNY MACHADO:
| 2011 Season | ||||||||||||||||||
| Team | League | AVG | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | TB | BB | SO | SB | CS | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| DEL | SAL | .315 | 19 | 73 | 16 | 23 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 42 | 13 | 11 | 1 | 1 | .420 | .575 | .996 |
With such close proximity between Washington and Baltimore, it is likely that Machado and Harper will be facing comparisons in the minds of fans of the Nationals and Orioles for years to come. While both are off to strong seasons in Class A, it appears that Harper has displayed the slightly stronger bat to-date. Harper has hit more home runs, although Machado has hit more triples and struck out less. Harper also stolen more bases and has the higher overall OPS.
One interesting difference I did find between the players are their home/road splits. Although from a small sample size, a little more difference begins to emerge between the players when viewed:
HARPER:
| Entire Season | AVG | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| vs Left | .318 | 22 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | .400 | .409 | .809 | |
| vs Right | .325 | 40 | 13 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | .438 | .775 | 1.213 | |
| Home Games | .381 | 7 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | .500 | .762 | 1.262 |
| Away Games | .293 | 12 | 41 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 2 | .383 | .585 | .968 |
MACHADO:
| Entire Season | AVG | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| vs Left | .333 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .538 | .444 | .983 | |
| vs Right | .313 | 64 | 13 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | .400 | .594 | .994 | |
| Home Games | .385 | 11 | 39 | 9 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1 | .510 | .769 | 1.279 |
| Away Games | .235 | 8 | 34 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .308 | .353 | .661 |
While both players exhibit stronger bats at home, Machado’s numbers are drastically lower on the road. As a younger player, this is not abnormal and a sign that he is still developing as a hitter. On the other hand, Harper’s strong numbers on the road shows maturity beyond his years. With such dominance at home and on the road, it does not appear that Harper can be stopped anywhere. While AA is on the horizon for both players, I would suspect that Harper will reach the next level a little sooner.
The Verdict:
Playing the same number of games in the same league, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado have showcased that both are superstars in the making. Machado plays a more gruelling position (shortstop) and while both are known for their great gloves, Harper’s cannon in the outfield is the talk of the scouting world. As each continues to advance up the ranks to reach the major leagues, we will learn one day if each has what it takes to be a bona fide superstar. We have two very good ones in the making, but the reviews and reports on Harper are too hard to ignore. The baseball world loves this kid and for great reason: he really appears to be the real deal. While much attention will unfortunately be deflected from Manny Machado as he continues to build his resume, it may serve to help him in the long run. Playing in the shadow of a prospect like Harper, Machado can develop his skills without as much pressure and expectations from both the media and fans. While I fully expect to see each both succeed, Harper has the added requirement to develop while being thrust fully in the limelight. The smart money still lies on Harper and I fully expect that he will one of the next biggest superstars in baseball. But don’t count out Manny Machado, who together with Adam Jones, Matt Wieters and Nick Markakis should bring the Baltimore Orioles back to greatness.
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Friday Face-off: Haren vs. Weaver, Battle of the Angels
MLBreports: The Angels are off to a fairly hot start in 2011, with a current record through Friday of 12-7. A big reason for the Angels winning record has been the play of its pitchers. Particularly, Danny Haren and Jered Weaver have been off-the-charts this season as they have steamrolled hitters out of the gate. I have received many e-mails asking which pitcher has been the best in baseball this season. That pitcher resides in Anaheim and the million dollar question is: Haren or Weaver?
Wins: Weaver is 5-0 in 5 starts, with Haren 4-0 in the same number of games. Wins is an arbitrary number, but both Haren and Weaver have won all of their starts. For whatever its worth, Weaver has the extra win. With both pitchers being perfect, advantage: tie.
ERA: Haren has a 1.16 ERA on the season, while Weaver sits at 1.23. Too close to differentiate. Advantage: tie.
Innings: Weaver has pitched 36 2/3 innings in 2011 while Haren has tossed 31 innings. Over the course of a season, this would translate into approximately 35 more innings pitched by Weaver. Points for durability. Advantage: Weaver.
Strikeouts: We all know that baseball fans love their flamethrowers and the Angels have some strong ones in this pair. Weaver currently leads the AL with 39 strikeouts while Haren has 27. Balls put into play create more opportunities for miscues while strikeouts are seen as the most solid outs. Advantage: Weaver.
Walks: One of my most watched pitching categories, I look for pitchers that limit their walk counts. Walks to me represents a pitcher
beating themselves, rather than the batter having to get a base hit. A pitcher who throws fewer walks creates a strong opportunity for success in my opinion. Danny Haren has walked 2 batters all season while Weaver has walked 9. Both pitchers are impressive in this category, but Haren has been just that much more dominant. Advantage: Haren.
Conclusion: The Angels hurlers are matched up fairly closely. Weaver is 28 while Haren is 30. Haren is 6’5″ and Weaver is 6’7″. They have very similar career ERAs and WHIPs. Any major league team would love to have either pitcher on their roster. But the younger and taller Weaver, with added innings and strikeouts in 2011 wins out over the master of control Haren. In his last 2 seasons, Haren walked under 30 batters per season. Weaver though led the AL in strikeouts in 2010 with 233. With 3 All-Star game appearances under his belt, Haren beats out Weaver’s sole appearance last year. Looking at career numbers, my pick would be to select Haren over Weaver. I prefer control pitchers and Haren still displays the strikeouts and innings pitched to be a solid ace. While Haren may in fact beat out Weaver by season’s end, at this point in the season Weaver is the best pitcher….by a hair. With one solid or blowout start over the next few weeks, the tides can easily change on this one. Enjoy your dual-aces Angels fans, they will be a pleasure to watch all season long.
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