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Monday April.23, 2012

Lori Martini at Citizens Bank Park at the April.9th game on Opening Day 2012. The Phillies are at a 102% sellout rate capacity and don't need dynamic pricing like some of the other clubs that are featured in this article.

Lori Martini (Baseball Writer and @lorimartini on twitter)- Kenneth J. Silver (Special Guest Contributor):

Imagine you’re standing on line to purchase film tickets on its premiere day.The film has just received very good reviews. When you initially passed by the box office you saw that each ticket was the standard local price of $12. After your long wait, when finally came your time to purchase admission, the ticket seller said that your $12 was no longer a valid admission price, that due to the laws of “supply and demand,” the theater was now at 70% capacity, which was a signal that the owner of the theater that s/he could raise his price up to $15. Too shocked to argue, you pay for your ticket and take your seat. You strike a conversation with the patron next to you, who tells you that s/he blindly paid for an advance ticket for the film months ago at $10 per ticket. Same film, same time, same place—but three different price tiers, manipulated by the owner’s need to raise quick cash for investment before the product is rolled out, a “bargain” that is only a bargain if one has absolute blind faith in the proposed product and/or unlimited funds to invest in an iffy proposition. Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in The Rest: Everything Baseball

2 Comments

Tags: angels, bud selig, cubs, dynamic pricing, justin turner, kenneth j silver, Lori Martini, marlins, mets, mlb, padres, phillies, StubHub, Vh1 house of consignment, white sox

The 2012 Padres Rotation Will Be Just Fine

Apr 8

Posted by samevans87

Sunday April 8th, 2012

Sam Evans: From what I’ve heard around baseball about the Padres rotation, the Padres have no chance of contending in 2012. This was surprising to me, when actually the Padres slim chance of contending this year is due to their abysmal offense. The Padres rotation is fairly average compared to the rest of baseball. Obviously, losing your ace would hurt any MLB pitching staff. But I believe that the 2012 Padres rotation is almost criminally underrated.

At the forefront of the Padres rotation is newly acquired right-handed pitcher from the Reds, Edinson Volquez. Volquez was one of the players included in the Mat Latos trade in December. He was always a highly esteemed pitching prospect coming up in the Rangers minor league system, the problem always being his command. After being traded to the Reds following two average seasons with the Rangers, Volquez had a breakout year with the 2008 Reds. He threw 196 innings with 206 strikeouts, a 3.21 ERA, and a 4.3 BB/9. Due to his ridiculous first half of the season, Volquez made the 2008 National League All-Star team. The next year, Volquez got off to a decent start, but then was forced to miss the rest of the year with Tommy John surgery. Coming back from Tommy John surgery is not an easy thing, but multiple MLB pitchers have come back from the surgery, pitching just as good (if not better) than they did when they were healthy before. Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in MLB Teams: Articles and Analysis

Tags: anthony bass, baseball, cory luebke, dustin moseley, edinson volquez, mat latos, mlb, nl west, padres, San Diego, yonder aloso

Is Yu Darvish the Next Young International Baseball Superstar?

Monday, February 13th, 2012

Douglas ‘Chuck’ Booth (Baseball Writer)- One of the first names I forgot in my blog about ‘young phenom pitchers’ taking the league, plus a city by storm was Fernando Valenzuela. I immediately thought of another blog right after. That is young International Phenom pitchers. I picked 4 pitchers that hail from other places other than the USA to concentrate the story on. I came up with Valenzuela from Mexico, Hideki Nomo from Japan, Eric Gagne from Canada and Juan Marichal from the Dominican Republic. The 4 baseball players all flashed onto the scene as young pitchers, 3 of them dominating their peers from the get go. Eric Gagne, the 4^th member of this study, only started to dominate when the Los Angeles Dodgers sent him to the bullpen. Speaking of the Los Angeles Dodgers, three of these four pitchers were both with the club when they started out. It is a credit to their scouting staff. There is a reason why no other team has turned out more ‘Rookie of the Year’ players in the last 30 years than the Dodgers. (more…)

Casey Lawrence Interview: Blue Jays Pitching Prospect (Casey’s Got Game!)

Jan 16

Posted by MLB reports

Monday January 16, 2012

MLB reports – Jonathan Hacohen: I love talking baseball prospects. I can discuss them and debate them all day long. I get asked all the time: how do you know which prospects will make it? The truth is…picking prospects is not an exact science. Some highly touted ones end up falling off the map, while relative unknowns can shoot up and shine. But if you ask me my measuring stick, it always begins with one statistic. Walks. I look for hitting prospects that take walks and pitching prospects that give up very little walks. It is that simple. The process if far more complicated and this is an oversimplification. But if a walk total stands out, you definitely have my attention.

On the hitting side, take Jaff Decker in the Padres system. The outfield prospect took 103 walks last year in AA. Ranks him very high in my books. But as rare as it is to find a hitting prospect who can take a walk with pop in his bat, it is even more rare to find a good control pitcher in the minors that gives up few walks and punches hitters out. Let’s say I was to find you a pitcher. In his first two professional seasons combined, here are his numbers: 21-11 record, 2.80 ERA, 1.082 WHIP, 228 1/3 IP, 211 hits allowed, 172 strikeouts and…only 36 walks allowed. Interested? That is a 4.78 SO/BB ratio. Only 1.4 BB per 9 IP. At 24-years of age, welcome to the world of Casey Lawrence.

At 6’2″, Casey has good size for a pitcher. He stepped into professional baseball in 2010 and has dominated from day one. As starting pitchers goes, I really like his potential. There is a common obsession in baseball circles to favor pitchers who throw 99 mph gas but are generally wild. In my book, an out is an out. Casey Lawrence still has a good share of strikeouts, but it is his control and stinginess on walks that separates him from the pack. 2012 will be a big year for the kid who’s got game. I would like to see what he can do in AA. He has shown that he can pitch. The Jays now need to take that potential and put it up against the next level. If he continues on his current path, Toronto will not be too far behind.

For all his success to-date, Casey has not let the numbers get to his head. With his down to earth nature, Casey is not getting too far ahead of himself. He does not consider himself above the game, but rather a student of the game. This is what we call the total package- and Casey Lawrence will continue to turn heads in the coming years. Featured today on MLB reports, we are proud to present our interview with Blue Jays Pitching Prospect, Casey Lawrence:

MLB reports: Welcome to the Reports Casey! First question we like to start off with: Who was your favorite baseball player growing up, that you most idolized and patterned your game after?

Casey Lawrence: The player that I most idolized growing up was Cal Ripken Jr. of the Orioles. I admired Cal for his ability to show up to the field day in and day out, without ever taking a day off and playing through injuries. I admired the way he accepted a position change from SS to 3B for the betterment of his team. I admired the way he played the game and had fun doing it.

MLB reports: Which current MLB star do you most admire and why?

Casey Lawrence: Today, I admire Derek Jeter for the way he handles himself on and off the field. He is the type of player that has become a household role model. He plays the game the way it is supposed to be played and has that “it” factor; the ability to make the big play, clutch hit, and find a way to win.

MLB reports: Reflecting on your career to-date, what are your proudest accomplishments on the baseball field?

Casey Lawrence: My most proudest accomplishment of my career-to-date would have to be a combination of two: the day I signed my contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and being given the honor of starting the 2010 New York-Penn All-Star Game. I consider both to be honors and rewards for the hard work I’ve put in each and every day.

MLB reports: You started your baseball career with the Jays organization in 2010. Did you expect to be signed by Toronto? What was that process like?

Casey Lawrence: I had been shown some interest from a few teams after my junior year at Albright College heading into the draft. While no teams took a chance then, I still had faith that my time would come after graduating my senior year. My senior year was greeted with several more teams showing interest, but yet again the draft came and went without a single phone call from any of the 30 MLB teams. That means I had been passed over in the draft 3,000 times in two years. But wasn’t the first time I had been looked over, so I had accepted the fact that I had to continue to prove people wrong each and every day. I had actually been in Florida for vacation during the 2010 draft. I returned home that Sunday and pitched in a local men’s league game for the Brushtown Bulldogs. Monday morning I received a phone call from Blue Jays scout Bobby Gandolfo saying that they would like to offer me a contract. I flew back to Florida Tuesday morning and my journey started.

MLB reports: What do you consider your greatest baseball skill(s)?

Casey Lawrence: I consider my knowledge of the game as one of my greatest baseball skills. I grew up learning and playing the game I love from my Grandfather, who was offered a professional contract from the St. Louis Browns. But he turned it down because my Grandmother insisted he stay home and take care of the family, my Father and my Uncle. I really enjoy talking the game and strategy of baseball every day and don’t know what I’d do without it.

MLB reports: What facets of your game do you most wish to improve upon?

Casey Lawrence: I am continually working to better myself within this game whether it be mentally or physically. I always keep “The Mental ABC’s of Pitching” close by me and consider it a pitcher’s Bible. I also have been striving to continue to get stronger and increasing my arm strength in order to stay healthy and consistent.

MLB reports: I am very impressed with your numbers. Good win totals, low ERA and WHIP. I am particularly blown away by your low walks rates. What’s the secret of your success?

Casey Lawrence: The secret to my success is no secret at all but rather hard work. I have always worked hard at throwing strikes, locating all my pitches, getting ground balls, and allowing the defense to make plays. My Uncle Dave (also my pitching coach at Delone Catholic High School) and Gary Yeager Jr. (my pitching coach at Albright College) always preached about pounding down in the strike zone and that hasn’t changed since signing with Toronto.

MLB reports: Long-term do you see yourself as a starter or a reliever?

Casey Lawrence: Long-term I see myself doing whatever the team asks me to do. Obviously, I’d love to continue to start; but if they feel I’d help the team more by relieving ,then that’s what I’ll do.

MLB reports: What pitches do you throw? Best pitch? Anything you are currently working on?

Casey Lawrence: My repertoire consists of a 2-seam sinking fastball, 4-seam fastball, change-up, slider and curveball. I’m continuing to develop my breaking pitches into being more consistent and sharper.

MLB reports: If you had to look into a crystal ball, when do you see your expected time of arrival in the big leagues and what do you think you need to do most to get there?

Casey Lawrence: That’s a tough one, really putting me on the spot with this one! I’ll say this. I see my arrival in the big leagues whenever the team feels I’m ready. Obviously, everyone wants to get there sooner rather than later, but it takes a lot of hard work to get there. They are the greatest players in the world. The truth is “if you think you’re ready, you’re probably not”. Every day is another opportunity to get better and learn something new. No one is guaranteed the opportunity to play at that level and if I’m fortunate enough to one day have that opportunity, that would be a blessing.

MLB reports: What do you do for fun when you are not playing baseball?

Casey Lawrence: When I’m not playing baseball, I enjoy going to the movies, watching television, playing some video games and golfing.

MLB reports: Have you visited Toronto yet?

Casey Lawrence: I honestly have never been outside the United States. My passport is ready if the time calls for it, but I’d rather not just visit.

MLB reports: You just completed your second professional season, finishing in High-A ball. Do you know where the Jays likely plan to start you this season?

Casey Lawrence: I have no idea where the Blue Jays plan on starting me this season. I’m anxious for Spring Training to start and earn a spot on the team they feel I fit best.

MLB reports: If you could send out a message to the Jays fans, what would it be?

Casey Lawrence: My message to the fans of the Blue Jays would be to continue with their unbelievable support and that the whole entire organization is working very hard day in and day out to bring them a World Series. Hopefully in the near future!

MLB reports: Final thoughts?

Casey Lawrence: Finally I’d like to thank my family, friends, and fans for their continued support. I don’t think they get enough credit for what they have meant to me in my life. It’s truly a blessing and I thank God each and every day for the opportunity I have to play the game I love for a living.

***Thank you to Casey Lawrence for taking the time today to speak with us on MLB reports (and the pictures used in todays’ feature)! You can follow Casey on Twitter (@CaseyLawrence). Casey is very social media savy, so please feel free to send him any questions/comments you have. Good luck in 2012 Casey, the crystal ball sees big things for you this season!***

Jonathan Hacohen is the Lead Baseball Columnist & Editor for MLB reports: You can follow Jonathan on Twitter (@JHacohen)

Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook . 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.

Posted in Interviews with MLB Stars

Tags: auburn doubledays, baseball, cal ripken jr, casey lawrence, derek jeter, dunedin blue jays, jaff decker, jays, lansing lugnuts, mlb, new york penn league, padres, toronto blue jays

My Top Six Worst MLB Teams in 2012

Jan 8

Posted by samevans87

Sunday January 8th, 2012

Sam Evans: It’s no fun to be a fan of a losing team. Every game seems longer and it hurts to look around and see fans of the other teams loving every moment. There’s always supposed to be next year, but that kind of talk just hurts the players and coaches as much as it does the fans. Let’s look at my bottom five teams in 2012: based on the major league roster and talent in the system that could make an impact in the upcoming season.

25. Seattle Mariners: As a Mariners fan, this one hurts. It’s been eleven years since the Mariners made the playoffs. A city blessed with a beautiful new ballpark, Seattle hasn’t had much of chance to cheer on many winners in recent times.

Since he was hired in 2008, Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik has transformed the Mariners farm system into one of the best in the game. The problem is that the major league club is still struggling, and fans are losing interest. The Mariners are like New Year’s resolutions. They’re so promising at first, but after two weeks, most people just give up.

So far this offseason, the Mariners have been rumored to be actively pursuing Prince Fielder. The argument for Prince Fielder is that his contract would be worth the risk for the team given all of the fans he would draw… not to mention, the M’s need for a middle of the order slugger. However, other fans feel that Fielder is overpriced and point to the fact that if the Mariners signed Prince, they would be only the fourth team with two players making over $20M in 2012.

The Mariners do have some young promising players. Justin Smoak, a former top 10 BA prospect, will finally be healthy heading into the new year. Also, the M’s have a trio of young pitchers in the minors that are all top 100 prospects. James Paxton and Danny Hultzen could possibly see time in the rotation this year. Furthermore, last time I checked Felix Hernandez was still a Mariner, and he’s signed through 2014.

26. New York Mets: The Mets have always been second to the Yankees in New York in terms of popularity, but there’s never been this much of a difference. The Mets have been silent this offseason, except for a swap of outfielders with the Giants, and bringing in some bullpen help. The Mets do have Zack Wheeler (acquired in the Carlos Beltran trade) and Matt Harvey (2010 1st rounder) on the way, but neither will make a huge impact in ’12.

Jason Bay has struggled ever since receiving his enormous contract two years ago. In 2009, Bay hit 36 homers for the Red Sox. In 2010 and 2011, Bay had only eighteen homers. Part of the decline in numbers is the park factor that Citi Field has on hitters (which is due to change with the new park dimensions in 2012). It should be noted though that Bay hasn’t hit a home run to right field since June 28, 2010.

This year, the Mets should get Johan Santana back. I wrote about Johan in November here. If he is healthy this year, hopefully the Mets can get something out of Santana, who is due $24M in 2012.

The Mets future will be based on how they spend their money and how they control their prospects. If the Mets hadn’t pushed Jenrry Mejia, chances are he wouldn’t have gotten injured. If the Mets hadn’t signed the Jason Bay and Johan Santana contracts, then they would have had the money to go after Prince Fielder this offseason (in theory). New York has a long ways to go to compete with the other N.L. East teams, and they’re going to need to make smart long-term decisions to get there.

27. San Diego Padres: The Padres acquired Carlos Quentin and Yonder Alonso this offseason in an attempt to boost their offense. They ended up trading away Mat Latos and Anthony Rizzo, and losing Heath Bell and Aaron Harang to free agency.

Carlos Quentin is really going to struggle in Petco Park, and Alonso is going to have his share of issues developing into a power hitter with his new team. The fact is that the Padres will never have a terrible pitching staff due to the spacious Petco Park effect. But their rotation is actually as bad as it has been in some years. I also am a supporter of Will Venable, and I think the Padres would be making a mistake if they traded him.

San Diego plays in a division where it’s not impossible that they could make a nice run and make the playoffs. But I would be surprised.

28. Oakland Athletics: Led by GM Billy Beane, the Athletics have been extremely active this offseason. They’ve shipped away their best pitchers and let their best hitter leave in free agency. The A’s have had a good offseason, thanks to all the new talent that they’ve imported into their farm system.

2012 is not going to be the year of resurgence for the A’s. 2013, maybe, but right now the Angels and Rangers are just too good. The A’s strength is probably their middle infield which will feature Jemile Weeks and Cliff Pennington. If Chris Carter can show some power in the majors, then he will do just fine at DH.

With acquisitions such as Derek Norris, Jarrod Parker, and A.J. Cole, Billy Beane has shown he’s not afraid to trade his best major league players in order to obtain talent that won’t be ready for a year or two.

29. Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles were a promising team heading into 2011. The “Fighting Showalter’s” had a late run in 2010, and Buck Showalter seemed to be really getting through to the players. Unfortunately, 2011 didn’t go as expected for the Orioles. They finished 69-93 and solidified their reputation as the worst baseball team in the A.L East, if not the whole American League.

The 2011 Orioles will forever go down in baseball history not for their season, but for their last game against the Red Sox on September 28, 2011. The Orioles were down 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth on the last day of the season. Going into the game, the Red Sox were 77-0 on the season when leading after the eighth inning. The Orioles came back to win, and they will forever be remembered for their contributions to one of the best days in baseball history.

2012 can be a successful year for the Orioles if they discover an ace… and if Adam Jones improves his game to the next level. It’s not going to be easy, but if everything falls into place, Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette could lead the Orioles out of the A.L. East basement in the next coming years.

30. Houston Astros: Moving into the 2011 season, the Astros were projected by pretty much everyone in baseball to be the worst team in baseball. Well, at least they didn’t let anyone down. The Astros finished 56-106, which was the worst record in all of baseball.

I traveled to Houston this summer and I expected to find an uninterested Astros fanbase. I was surprised to see countless devoted fans who truly cared about their team. Astros fans are out there and they will start coming back to Minute Maid Park when the team starts winning.

Sorry Houston fans, but 2012 isn’t going to be much fun for you. Chances are that you will return to the basement of the N.L. Central and lose over one hundred games. Nevertheless, there is hope. Jose Altuve is turning into a nice young second basemen who can hit for average . Jordan Lyles can be a #3 starter, and Jarred Cosart could finally reach the bigs in 2012.

Another piece of the silver lining is Houston’s new General Manager Jeff Luhnow, who is involved in sabermetrics and helped build the Cardinals who won the 2011 World Series. Luhnow was in the Cardinals scouting department since 2003 and helped produce major league talent from the draft. He also has been a General Manager for Petstore.com, and has an M.B.A from Northwestern. His first move was trading for Jed Lowrie. On the surface this seems like a solid deal, whereby he attained a young talented infielder for his new organization. In my opinion, this is going to look like an amazing hire in four years time.

So even if 2012 is rough, Astros fans can start looking towards the future. It might take a couple of seasons, but it won’t be long before the Astros are packing Minute Maid Park everyday. Ironically, the road to the respectability for the worst team in the majors won’t happen until they move to the A.L. West. With the Rangers and Angels waiting in their new division, the journey towards success for the Astros will get that much tougher in 2013.

**Today’s feature was prepared by our Baseball Writer, Sam Evans. 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 Sam on Twitter***

Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us onTwitter and become a fan on Facebook . 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.

Posted in MLB Teams: Articles and Analysis

3 Comments

Tags: astros, athletics, baseball, billy beane, carlos beltran, danny hultzen, felix hernandez, Jack Zduriencik, james paxton, jason bay, jeff luhnow, jemile weeks, justin smoak, mariners, matt harvey, mets, mlb, orioles, padres, prince fielder, zack wheeler

Who is the Padres First Baseman of the Future?

Dec 21

Posted by samevans87

Wednesday December 21st, 2011

Sam Evans:On Saturday, the Padres pulled off a blockbuster deal with the Cincinnati Reds for Padres pitcher Mat Latos. One of the players the Padres received was first baseman Yonder Alonso. Prior to the trade, the Padres were heading into the season with Anthony Rizzo as their projected first baseman. Now, the Padres have some big decisions to make that will affect the outcome of their franchise for years to come.

San Diego acquired Anthony Rizzo in the Adrian Gonzalez trade a couple of years ago. In 2011, I watched Rizzo play once in Triple-A, and again in the majors. Rizzo came into the season as a top-fifty prospect, and solidified his stature with a strong start to the season. With the Tucson Padres in 2011, Rizzo batted .331 with a 149 wRC+. Rizzo made his debut on June 9 against the Nationals, and hit his first Major League homer two days later.

Unfortunately, that would be Rizzo’s only homer in the big leagues all year. Despite his dominance of the lower levels, Rizzo batted .141 for the big league team over forty-nine games. Rizzo plays with extreme intensity, and I would not be surprised (given that he is a young player), if he was down on himself after his poor performance in San Diego.

Rizzo struggled in the majors with making solid contact and squaring up the ball. He has a very long swing, which he might consider changing this offseason. If everything works out perfectly for Rizzo, he would project to be a .280/.350/.500 hitter.

Yonder Alonso is a very intriguing prospect. First of all, he is 240 pounds and two years older than Rizzo. He is not as athletic as Rizzo, and not a strong defender. In 2011, Alonso played shaky outfield defense because he was blocked by Votto at first base. From what I have heard, the majority of people think that Alonso can’t stick in the outfield. He lacks speed, and experience at the corner outfield positions.

Offensively, Alonso is an outstanding hitter. A great comparison for Alonso is a right-handed Carlos Lee. In his 69 games with the Reds over the last two years, Alonso has hit .299 with a .354 OBP and .479 SLG. If you add a couple more homers to those numbers, that would give you a good idea of what Alonso is capable of doing.

The San Diego Padres have a problem on their hands. However, some people are forgetting that this is a great issue to have. San Diego has the choice to either trade one of the above named players, or try to find a new position for one of them. If San Diego keeps both players, Rizzo will probably end up moving to the outfield. With his athleticism, he would probably do just fine. The Padres could also trade Rizzo, and they would probably get some decent to excellent players in return.

It will be interesting to see what the Padres do with this situation. They have several different options available to them. Personally, I would move Rizzo to the outfield and keep Alonso at first base. Nevertheless, I am still worried about Rizzo’s ability to hit Major League pitchers given his current swing. There is no doubt that this decision has a strong potential to change the course of the Padres franchise for years to come.

***Today’s feature was prepared by our Baseball Writer, Sam Evans. 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 Sam on Twitter***

Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter (@MLBreports) and become a fan on Facebook . 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.

Posted in MLB Player Profiles

Tags: anthony rizzo, cubs, first basemen, mat latos, mlb, nl west, padres, reds, yonder alonso

Interview with Jaff Decker: Padres Prospect and Future MLB Superstar

Dec 14

Posted by Jonathan Hacohen

Wednesday December 14, 2011

Jonathan Hacohen: Get ready folks, as you are in for a big treat today. Exclusively on MLB reports, we have one of the top prospects in the game, outfielder Jaff Decker of the San Diego Padres. Jaff was recently featured by us prior to this interview. As a former 1st round pick of the Padres (2008 draft, 42nd overall), Jaff came to professional baseball as a very highly touted talent. After working hard and improving every year in the minors, Jaff is on the verge of cracking the Padres lineup in the near future. I had a chance to take some time to speak with Jaff recently. We discussed his childhood, learning the game of baseball, getting drafted in the 1st round, his career to-date and future plans in baseball. Despite being featured in many baseball publications and rated as a top prospect in the game, it was refreshing to find that Jaff has not allowed his notoriety to get to his head. He is a down-to-earth person, who genuinely works hard and takes nothing for granted. He believes in himself and his abilities, but with a strong sense of humor and humility. I project that Jaff will have a long and productive career in the big leagues. He has the talent, work ethic and focus to succeed in baseball. Attention Padres fans: Jaff Decker is knocking on the doorstep and will be a big part of your Padres team very soon.

Featured on MLB reports, I am absolutely thrilled to present my interview with Jaff Decker. Former 1st Round Pick. San Diego Padres Outfield Prospect and Future MLB Superstar:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MLB reports: Welcome to MLB reports Jaff. It is a pleasure to be speaking with you. As you are a highly rated prospect in the game, do you receive many requests for interviews at this stage of your career?

Jaff Decker: It has definitely started to pick up more and more as I have moved up each year in levels, especially with the teams I have played on the last couple of years. Winning 2 championships out of 3 years has really helped the interviews out.

MLB reports: It is impossible to have a conversation about Jaff Decker without first discussing the walks. You had 85 walks in 2009 and 103 this past season. How did you become a walk/obp machine? At what age did you develop your strong batting eye?

Jaff Decker: I would have to say it is pretty hard to go without talking about the walks I have had the past couple of years. Good and bad. My dad has taught me everything I know about the game of baseball and the hitting aspect of it. He has always taught me great fundamentals and has preached to me that “a pitcher has 3 pitches to get you out. As the pitchers pitch you, work the count. A walk is just as good as a hit.” But I am also learning to be a little more aggressive in the count as well, which I have worked real hard on by watching film and working on pitches.

MLB reports: I often use Nick Swisher and Adam Dunn as comparisons to you. What current and former players did you grow up idolizing and/or patterning your game after? Have the names that I mentioned come up before?

Jaff Decker: Yes, actually Nick Swisher has come up a lot. I really enjoy watching how hard he plays the game and how much he enjoys playing this great game. Growing up though the years, it was always Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and Tony Gwynn. I had so many opportunities to watch them play being from Arizona, so I always watching them during the spring. Funny story: when I was about 5-years-old, I caught a home run ball over Tony and actually got the ball signed by him after that inning. That will always be a great moment in my mind.

MLB reports: You were a 1st round pick in 2008. One of the highest honors a young player can experience in the game. Did you know that you would be drafted that high going into the draft and were the Padres the team that you expected to take you?

Jaff Decker: Being drafted where I was a great accomplishment. We had a huge party at my house during the draft and all my family and friends were there to experience it with me. When my name finally got called, it felt like the house was shaking (laugh). To answer your question, I actually had no idea that the Padres were going to pick me there. There were many teams that had talked to me before. But they (the Padres) kind of flew under the radar and I couldn’t be happier with this organization.

MLB reports: What was the first “big” purchase you made after signing with the Padres?

Jaff Decker: My first and only purchase was a car. Everything else has been put away. But I did have to promise my mom who is a teacher that I would go back to school after I was done playing (grin).

MLB reports: You started off the first two seasons of your career with a bang. How did you find your 2010 season? What was that season like and tell us about your strong finish that year.

Jaff Decker: I had battled an injury during the first half of 2010 and I struggled a little bit. It (the injury) did get to me a little bit, as I was not helping the team like I knew I was capable of doing. So I had a few days off at the all-star break that year and went home. Just like when I was younger, my dad spent those 3 or 4 days putting in many hours in the cage with me working on the fundamentals and just the mental side of hitting. When I came back, everything fell back on track. The big thing was not trying to do too much at the plate and just trusting myself and to start using the whole field again.

MLB reports: Your 2011 season was magical in my eyes. You crossed the magical 100 walks plateau, while flashing strong power, driving in and scoring runs at a healthy clip. Looking back on this past year, what are your feelings? Satisfied? Areas of improvement?

Jaff Decker: I don’t think I’ll ever be 100% satisfied. I felt that I had ups and downs all year and my struggles related to being too patient at times at the plate. There were points that I would know when I was getting pitched around. No excuses at all, but I became a little complacent with what I call “maybe pitches”, that were called strikes by the umpires, but in my eyes were balls. We also didn’t play in the most hitter-friendly ballpark. I did feel though that I came up with some big hits at times during the season. But I still need to work on different parts of my game to get to where I want to be and stay there.

MLB reports: In my estimation, you clearly put yourself in the driver’s seat going into 2012. You are turning 22 in February. What are your goals for the upcoming year?

Jaff Decker: I would have to say my goals would include coming to spring training in better shape again. I love proving people wrong and to show them that I can be a five-tool player, even without being 6 feet and built like a specimen. But I want to work hard to prove them (the critics) wrong and I just try to soak everything I can in. I work out at a place with many proven big leaguers. I just can sit and listen to what they say for hours because I know they have been there and who better to learn from than them.

MLB reports: Have you watched and/or read Moneyball? You have been labelled a Moneyball-player throughout your career. Thoughts?

Jaff Decker: Yes I have seen the movie (big laugh) and I loved it. I love seeing that a ballclub can be put together that is not based on how you look, but how you control the game of baseball. Because by no means when you look at me, am I built like a brick house. But I’ve been taught how to play the game the right way and I think it’s helped me get to where I am today.

MLB reports: Is conditioning a strong concern for you, either as your own goal or anything communicated by the team?

Jaff Decker: Conditioning is huge for me. Like I said earlier, I am no way a guy you look at and say he could be a model (chuckle). I do have to work harder than some other guys and be smarter how I treat my body. I am learning how to do that and love seeing everyone’s faces when I show up after a long hard offseason of workouts and preparation.

MLB reports: You hit .236 this past season, but have a career .273 AVG. You also have a .411 lifetime OBP. How do you view OBP, strikeouts, batting average and home runs as part of your game? If the walks and home runs remain consistent, is there any concern that your average needs to be raised?

Jaff Decker: I believe that I had a slight down year in the average department, but I know I can hit a whole lot better than I did. I felt like I came through with runners in scoring position and by walking, I got on base for the middle of the lineup behind me. Getting on base equals scoring runs (laugh). But my power was there throughout this year. It was just about taking what the pitcher gives me, even if it’s a single the other way instead of a double in the gap.

MLB reports: Long-term, do you project that you will remain in the outfield? How important is defense to your overall game?

Jaff Decker: I believe I can handle my own in the outfield. I have worked very hard every year and tried to learn a lot from other guys. A big part of my game on defense is getting good jumps and routes on balls, because I can run well- but not blazing. I need that to become a great outfielder and that is what I have worked very hard on every year to become better at. I love being able to take hits away from opposing batters, especially if they (the other team) are taking them away from me (big laugh).

MLB reports: The MLB reports crystal ball sees you arriving in San Diego as early as this upcoming year and latest 2013. When do you see yourself arriving in The Show? What do you need to do to get there?

Jaff Decker: That is great to hear (big grin). I know I can play this game with the best of them. I always have and when the chance comes, I don’t plan on missing it. I have some things to iron out and I am working day and night to become that complete player that I know I can be.

MLB reports: Did you always know that you would be a professional baseball player? What would you be doing right now if you weren’t playing ball?

Jaff Decker: Honestly I get that question a lot. I have asked my mom and dad the same thing. They said they knew the time I first stepped on the field and was diving for balls, throwing guys out and just had a natural feel for the game. Even when I was 4 or 5, I was playing with older boys and having to lie about my age so I could play with them. I have always loved this game since I can remember. I was constantly standing in front of the television and mimicking all the big leaguers stances. I was even sleeping with my new bats or gloves. There is honestly nothing else I could be doing right now… or ever.

MLB reports: Last question Jaff: What legacy do you want to leave in baseball? What do you need to do to have a successful baseball career?

Jaff Decker: I want to be remembered as the guy that played this game to the fullest, had fun doing it and played the best I could every time I stepped in-between the lines. Even if I didn’t have my best stuff every game, you can always say that I went out there with everything I had to be great.

Jaff Decker: Thanks again Jonathan and I look forward to being back on MLB reports soon. Thanks for everything. I have really enjoyed speaking with you!

Thank you to Jaff Decker for taking the time to join us today on MLB reports. We highly encourage our readers to post at the bottom of the article any questions and/or comments that you may have for Jaff. You can also find Jaff Decker on Twitter (@JaffDecker22). He may be a top MLB prospect, but yes- he does answer back!

Jonathan Hacohen is the Lead Baseball Columnist & Editor for MLB reports: You can follow Jonathan on Twitter (@JHacohen)

Posted in Interviews with MLB Stars

2 Comments

Tags: adam dunn, barry bonds, baseball, first ound pick, jaff decker, mlb, nick swisher, outfield, padres, prospect, tony gwynn

Interview with Robbie Erlin: San Diego Padres Prospect

Oct 31

Posted by MLB reports

Monday October 31, 2011

Jeff P (Guest Writer – MLB reports): I had the pleasure to recently interview one of the top prospects in the game, Robert Erlin of the San Diego Padres. The 21-year-old Erlin was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 3rd round of the 2009 draft. After posting incredible numbers in his brief time in the Rangers organization, Erlin was traded in July 2011, with Joe Wieland for reliever Mike Adams. While Adams was a solid addition to the Rangers bullpen on the road to the World Series, Erlin exploded after the trade. In 6 starts with San Antonio in AA, Erlin had a 1.38 ERA, 1.154 WHIP and 31/4 SO/BB. On the fast track with the Padres, Erlin has a good chance of making his major league debut as early as 2012. Featured on MLB reports, I proudly present my interview with Padres Prospect, Robbie Erlin:

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MLB reports: Hey, Robbie. First of all, I want to thank you for being with us today, it really is an honor to have you with us. I’m sure you have a busy schedule so, let’s get this started. First off:

MLB reports: You have been outstanding to late, and even became a nominee of MLB.com‘s top 50 prospects, who can you thank for your success?

Robbie Erlin: I would thank my dad who taught me how to pitch at a young age, Dave Salter, my pitching coach since I was 13 years old, all the coaches in the Texas Rangers organization who I have worked with during my first couple years of pro ball, and the coaches on the San Antonio Missions who I got to work with for a couple of months this season.

MLB reports: Was it hard to adjust from the Rangers to the Padres?

Robbie Erlin: It wasn’t too hard to make the adjustment. The Padres and Missions staff let me stick with my routines and throwing program and the players were very helpful with any questions that I had.

MLB reports: What do you think is unique about the San Diego Padres organization?

Robbie Erlin: The amount of young talent that they have in both the minor leagues and at the major league level.

MLB reports: What are your daily rituals, and hobbies off the field?

Robbie Erlin: I watch the TV show “Las Vegas” everyday before I go to the field. In the offseason I enjoy spending time with my family and visiting my friends who are in college.

MLB reports: You have been dominating lately. What changes have you made in order to succeed?

Robbie Erlin: I have really tried to concentrate on hitters’ tendencies and gaining information about offenses so I can apply it in my outings. Also, I have made small adjustments in my delivery so it looks the same on every pitch.

MLB reports: What were the reactions on you getting drafted, and the after party?

Robbie Erlin: My family, friends, and I were very excited about getting drafted. I wanted to play baseball after high school and the Rangers provided me with the opportunity.

MLB reports: Out of your fastball, curveball, and change-up, what would you say is your strongest pitch?

Robbie Erlin: Fastball.

MLB reports: Is it safe to say we can see you in MLB in late 2012, or 2013?

Robbie Erlin: That is a decision for the Padres to make. I am going to focus on pitching and improving as much as I can.

MLB reports: Who do you look up to in the MLB?

Robbie Erlin: There is not one specific player. I watch all of them and try to learn from how they play the game.

MLB reports: What kind of music can one find on your iPod?

Robbie Erlin: Country, Classic Rock, Pop, and Rap.

MLB reports: What’s your favorite sport besides baseball?

Robbie Erlin: Football.

MLB reports: Who was the hardest batter you’ve faced in your professional career?

Robbie Erlin: Cody Hinze from Houston has always been a tough out for me.

MLB reports: Let’s end it off here: If you weren’t a baseball player, where would you see yourself today?

Robbie Erlin: I would be in college working towards a degree.

MLB reports: Thank you very much for taking your time out of your busy schedule so we can have you with us. Much appreciated!

Robbie Erlin: No problem. Thank you very much for the interview!

Thank you again to Robbie Erlin for taking the time to join us today on MLB reports. We highly encourage our readers to post at the bottom of the article any questions and/or comments that you may have for Robbie. As well, please follow Robbie on Twitter (@RobbieErlin11)

***Today’s feature was prepared by Jeff P, Guest Writer to MLB reports. 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 Jeff on Twitter.***

Posted in Interviews with MLB Stars

Tags: adams, baseball, draft, erlin, mlb, mlbdraft, padres, prospect, rangers, wieland

John Lackey to Undergo Tommy John Surgery: The Aftermath in Boston

Oct 26

Posted by MLB reports

Wednesday October 26, 2011

MLB reports – Jonathan Hacohen: The Boston Red Sox announced this week that starting pitching John Lackey would be undergoing Tommy John surgery, ending his 2012 season before it began. In a twist of irony, this move actually comes as relief to Red Sox nation as Lackey has been anything but stellar since coming to Boston.

In 8 seasons with the Angels, Lackey had a 102-71 record, good for a 3.81 ERA and 1.306 WHIP. In his past 2 seasons with the Red Sox, Lackey’s numbers ballooned to a 26-23 record, with an unsightly 5.26 ERA and 1.504 WHIP. Lackey’s winning record in Boston is attributable more to the Red Sox strong offense, rather than Lackey’s own production. 2011 was a miserable season statistically for Lackey with 2012 not looking much promising either.

In hindsight, John Lackey’s contract is one of the worst in baseball. Lackey is signed to a 5-year, $82.5 million deal running through 2014. For the final 3 years (2012-14), Lackey will get paid $15,250,000 per season. The one bit of relief to the Red Sox is that the injury kicks in a 2015 vesting option, whereby Lackey will only be paid $500K for that season. A small consolation given the magnitude of the money and disappointing numbers from Lackey to-date.

For whatever reason(s), the relationship between John Lackey and the Boston Red Sox is not working out. Lackey has battled personal issues while in Boston, including his wife’s health and battle with Cancer. While clearly we can all sympathize with Lackey’s difficulties in playing while dealing with personal issues, the reports from the end of the season of his involvement with drinking in the clubhouse and eating fried chicken during games brings into question Lackey’s commitment and focus to the team and game. Before news of his surgery, many outlets were reported that the Red Sox were actively shopping Lackey in the hopes of removing him from the team. A strong rumor was a swap with the Padres and reuniting Lackey with his old pitching coach from his Angels’ days, Bud Black. The Padres and Petco would have been an ideal environment for Lackey, provided that the Red Sox would have picked up the majority of his contract in the deal.

But the reconstructive elbow surgery has brough the Lackey rumors to a halt. He will be staying in Boston for the foreseeable future. The Red Sox have faced bad luck this year with Tommy John, as pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Rich Hill both underwent the same procedure in 2011. Theo Epstein was wise to include the injury provision in the Lackey contract; but then again, he may have been better off avoiding the pitcher all-together. News of the Lackey injury was the first announcement by Ben Cherington as the new Red Sox GM. From all the offseason transactions and news that will follow in Boston, this one will be taken as one of the more positive moves.

The Red Sox have many decisions facing them this offseason. The re-signing of David Ortiz and Jonathan Papelbon. The integration and structure of the organization with a new GM. The hiring of a new manager. The departure of J.D. Drew and possibly Marco Scutaro. The comeback of Carl Crawford. These are surely hectic times in Boston. The team will need to make many roster changes for 2012, including the signing of 1-2 new starting pitchers. The injury to Lackey could prove to be a blessing in disguise. The surgery may pinpoint that his terrible numbers in Boston were based more on declining health than eroding skills. With a year-off to rehabilitate and re-energize, the Red Sox may see a new and focused John Lackey. The team would have had to eat most of his contract to trade him; perhaps they are better off paying and playing him.

In the worst case scenario, the Red Sox will need to either trade or release John Lackey between now and 2014, if they do not believe that he can rebound and be a useful asset for the team. There is always the chance that Lackey is not able to recapture the form he displayed back in his Angels days. Also, there may be enough bad feelings between the player and organization that a fresh start will be in order. At this point, the Red Sox are best off to take a “break” so to speak for a year from John Lackey. Come to 2013, the team may find that they have a new valuable asset that they never counted on. John Lackey at the end of the day is a classic example of the risk involved handing a 30 something year-old pitcher a 4+ years contract for big dollars. The Red Sox in this case gambled and lost. But at least the decision can be put off for a year whether to write John Lackey off completely or try to recover pennies on the dollar. I wish John Lackey a successful surgery and healthy recovery. While I don’t expect to see him emerge as a MLB ace upon his return, my sense is that we will see an older and wiser John Lackey on the mound. The talent has always been there. Now he just needs to find the health and heart to fulfill the remainder of his potential.

Jonathan Hacohen is the Lead Baseball Columnist & Editor for MLB reports

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Posted in MLB Player Profiles

2 Comments

Tags: angels, baseball, black, cherington, drew, epstein, hill, lackey, matsuzaka, mlb, ortiz, padres, papelbon, redsox, tommyjohn

Jobless in 2012 – MLB Managers on the Hot Seat from 2011

Sep 10

Posted by blandy12

Saturday September 10, 2011

Rob Bland (Baseball Writer – MLB reports): When a team has a disappointing season, the most likely candidate to lose his job is the manager. So far in the 2011 season, there has already been three managers who have either resigned or been fired. The Oakland Athletics fired Bob Geren on June 9^th and replaced him with Bob Melvin. A week and a half later, Edwin Rodriguez resigned from his post as manager of the Florida Marlins. Jack McKeon became the oldest manager since Connie Mack at 80 years old. Yet another week later on June 26^th, Jim Riggleman of the Washington Nationals resigned and was replaced by Davey Johnson two days later. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, who are the frontrunners to be replaced after the World Series?

With eight managers being new to their respective teams to start the 2011 season, one would think there can’t be too many jobs to lose. The first criteria I look at in order to predict who will not be returning his club is if the team was expected to contend for the playoffs, and fell short. Another thing I look at is the perception of the clubhouse, ie. if players get along, or if the manager is able to manage egos. Of course, the manager’s ability to create a lineup and manage a bullpen is taken into consideration. Other factors such as injuries and expectations of players are measured as well. The list that follows are my top 3 managers who could be canned after this season.

Mike Quade, Chicago Cubs

It is not often that I would think a first year manager would be fired like this, but there are so many circumstances that make me believe he will be gone. First, there has been grumbling since day one in Chicago that Quade was hired over franchise icon Ryne Sandberg. The Cubs have been packed with talented players such as Carlos Zambrano, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto, Ryan Dempster and Carlos Marmol. Add in Matt Garza and Starlin Castro, and you would think they could at least come close in the terrible NL Central. They are 22 games behind the streaking Milwaukee Brewers, and 21.5 behind Atlanta for the Wild Card. Their record is 62-81 with a 35-40 record at Wrigley Field.

Bud Black, San Diego Padres

With 2011 being Black’s 5^th season with the Padres, a 62-82 record and already 21 games behind Arizona for the NL West title, he could be on the way out. The Padres have yet to reach the postseason under Black, however they were involved in a 1-game playoff with Colorado for the Wild Card title in 2007 that many of us will never forget as one of the most exciting games we have ever witnessed. In 2010, the Padres held a 6.5 game lead over eventual World Series Champs San Francisco Giants on August 25^th. After a 10 game losing streak, the Padres were still in contention, and were not officially eliminated from the playoffs until the final day of the regular season with a 90-72 record. Those were the only winnings seasons in Black’s tenure and his time in San Diego may be up.

Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota Twins

Is it really fair to say Gardenhire’s job is in jeopardy? Probably not, but it definitely is possible. Over his 10 year career with the Twins, he has amassed an 861-740 record and they have been in the playoffs 6 times. However, they have only won 6 games, 4 of which were in one series, in Gardenhire’s first season; 2002. The Twins have not won a playoff game since 2004, being swept in 2006, 2009 and 2010 in the American League Division Series. This year, Gardenhire has had to deal with crippling injuries of former AL MVP’s Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer. Statistically, the best hitter has been Michael Cuddyer, hitting .282 with 18 home runs and 64 RBI. The best pitcher has been Scott Baker who is 8-6 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 131 2/3 innings. Francisco Liriano has not been the same as he was before undergoing Tommy John surgery after the 2006 season, and aside from his no-hitter against the White Sox on May 3, he has been downright awful and is now on the 15-day disabled list. When the best players don’t perform, or are hurt, the manager is forced to do the best he can with what he is given. However a 59-84 record may just be the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back for Gardenhire.

This year, with 3 mid-season changes already, and eight new managers at the beginning of the season, shouldn’t see too much activity. I do believe that with the Cubs’ search for a new general manager under way, Quade’s days are numbered in Chicago. I also believe that Black’s inability to get the always promising Padres to the next level will leave him without a job by November. Gardenhire has not proven to me that he can bring the Twins to the World Series, and that is what the job description entails. Has it ever happened where both Managers of the Year from their respective leagues gets fired the following year? It could happen if Black and Gardenhire are let go.

***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 Rob on Twitter.***

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Posted in The Rest: Everything Baseball