Monthly Archives: November 2015
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 30, 2015
Photo – Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press
It is November. Thanksgiving is over. Can you believe baseball was played this month?
Plus the signing of Jordan Zimmermann by the Tigers will be felt by other teams throughout the winter.
Tis the season for more episodes of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 29, 2015
It is Sunday and time for the SUNDAY REQUEST.
@sullybaseball If you were a player with a no-trade clause to 6 teams, which teams would you choose to nix and why? #SundayRequest
— cubsfan (@cu8sfan) November 24, 2015
I had to break down the likely and unlikely teams a hypothetical Major League Sully would play for.
Some I would play for and NOT play for surprised me.
It is a call your own shots episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 28, 2015
AP Photo – Orlin Wagner
Perceptions are sometimes hard to break, even if all the facts in the world can be presented against them.
Many people are still making the argument that the same big budgeted teams win every year, even though the parity in baseball has never been better.
This leads me to talking about my high school reunion.
Trust me, it makes sense.
Shatter your preconceived notions in this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 27, 2015
Photo Credit – Brian Wilmer
We came so very close to having a major league team whose stadium was in South Carolina.
Their ballpark was built in 1990. By 1992, it was totally obsolete.
It is a parallel universe episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Canadian MLB Expansion Or: Should The Jays Play At Least 1 Series In Vancouver + Montreal Per Year?
Olympic Stadium was a building catastrophe from the get go. It was a contributing factor of the Expos leaving Montreal. Having said that, it would have been really cool if the MLB were to at least designate the Canadian stadium to host some regular season games in the next few years.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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I must be out of my mind right?
Having the Toronto Blue Jays play in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver allduring a regular season – and re-brand the club to a national team in the MLB? But stop and think about this for a minute.
The club as drawn almost 100K total fans for the 2 exhibition games in Quebec during the last 2 years in exhibition series right before the season started.
Why not play some games in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver – and rename the club the Canada Blue Jays? Okay.. that is a little drastic here. Keep them the Toronto Blue Jays, but what would be wrong with selling 40K+ fans a game for 12 total games? Maybe 6 games in each city.
Since the MLB insists on having 19 Divisional games a year – with 3 series in each city, would it be that bad if the Tampa Bay Rays or Baltimore Orioles were to visit Montreal to play the Blue Jays a series?
Or how about and grow the brand on the West Coast by playing a 3 game set at BC Place Stadium followed up with Toronto heading down to Seattle right afterwards for another series? Read the rest of this entry
Toronto Blue Jays Payroll In 2016 + Contracts Going Forward
The Blue Jays are at the unique crossroads where they have grown massively in attendance – but are exponentially growing in cost of payroll each year. Based on some great front office decisions on Bautista, Encarnacion and Donaldson – the club has their best chance to in a championship is right now. Push all of your chips in, sign some more players – and take on salary. You may just lead the American League in attendance if you do (just like in the early 90’s). The Jays have talked about cutting payroll in 2016. That would be a grave mistake. Right now they are at about $140 MIL in total team salary for next season.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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The Blue Jays have $94 MIL in guaranteed contracts already in commitments for Troy Tulowitzki, Russell Martin, Jose Bautista, Marco Estrada, R.A. Dickey J.A. Happ and Edwin Encarnacion.
The club also will have about another $35 – $38 MIL in Arbitration dealing with another 10 players.
This would mean the team is hovering around the $130 MIL already before they pull the trigger on any moves this offseason.
We made it abundantly clear in our Toronto Blue Jays State Of The Union that this is no time to slow down in going for a championship.
One of the biggest things we mentioned there was the lack of an ace in the AL East. For Toronto to win the Division they may not need a #1 guy again. They will only need another #1 guy in the postseason. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 26, 2015
Baseball Hall of Fame
Today I give thanks to the Pilgrims… specifically the Boston Pilgrims, whose victory in the 1903 World Series paved the way to baseball in its current state.
It is the Thanksgiving episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
San Francisco Giants Payroll In 2016 + Contracts Going Forward
The Giants have won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014 recently. A lot of the core is still intact for 2016 – and they could add in Free Agency over the winter, while the Dodgers may not be as formidable in 2016 either. With some flexibility coming in the forms of finances, the San Fran club should spend what they can in 2016 – go for another few premiere players, before trying any form of rebuilding afterwards. The Giants finished the 2015 season a disappointing 84 – 78 – which continued their odd year curse.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Yep. The Giants are heading into an even year this decade – and will try for a fourth time in a row to become World Champions.
The 1st thing we look at when it comes to payroll is how much a team has in guaranteed contracts. So far for next year, this sum is $128.1 MIL for 11 players.
Jake Peavy, Angel Pagan, Santiago Casilla and Javier Lopez are on the last year of their individual pacts and are not on the payroll beyond this year. Read the rest of this entry
Tommy John Surgery Thursdays: David “Boomer” Wells
David Wells was the 1st Yankee to throw a perfect game since Don Larsen had thrown one in the 1956 World Series. It was the 15th perfect game in World Series history. This underrated Lefty was a 3 time ALL – Star and is 2 time World Series winner – and he also was the last player to have been carried off the field at Yankee Stadium. Wells led the American League in 1999 with 20 wins, had the best win percentage with the Yankees in 1998 (.818) – and had several years in which he led for Walks/Strikeouts Ratio, Complete Games and even had a year of each leading the league in Innings Pitched and Shutours wih the Yankee.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
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David Wells is one of the most criminally underrated Left Handed Pitchers of ALL – Time. I put him right up there with Jamie Moyer for never being recognized for just how good they were. But it was almost not to be.
David Wells was about the 10th Pitcher to undergo the Tommy John Surgery ever. This was back in 1985 – before he even made it to the big leagues.
At just age 22, he was also one of the youngest ever to have the procedure done. Only Dwayne Henry of the Mariners was younger at age 20 at the time. Read the rest of this entry
Cleveland Indians State Of The Union For 2016
The Indians had a disappointing 2015 with an 81 – 80 record, however some trades midway through the year have cleared the deck to acquire some upgrades at the OF and 1B positions. They should take advantage of this, and a lot of depth at the Starting Pitching to address their needs. If they play their cards right, they could some top players near the Trade Deadline next year and contend for a playoff spot in the American League.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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The Indians have had three straight losing seasons. The problem is that they have gone from 92, to 85 to 81 wins over the last 3 years. That is not the kind of trajectory you want to be on.
With the strong onus on the clubs drafting and decent trades over the last few years, it has been the Free Agency signings they haven’t fared so well on.
Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn killed their budget over the last few years, but at least they got from under those two players by dealing them both with some cash to Atlanta for 3B Chris Johnson. The result is some better flexibility with cash going forward.
It is funny though, as they could use a CF and a 1B/DH type as their top two needs on the acquisitions market this winter. They could use a guy with some pop from the right side as a Center Fielder. The Tribe should definitely target Austin Jackson as a priority. Read the rest of this entry
Minnesota Twins State Of The Union: Looking For The Playoffs In 2016
The Twins finished 2nd in the AL Central and could be the Houston Astros type of 2015 club in 2016. If you think they can finish 2nd in the AL Central one more time, it may be enough to secure a Wild Card Spot. I think the AL East will beat each other up – and will only produce one playoff team in 2016. The management needs to realize that the next 2 or 3 years represents the best time for the organization to take back the helm of the AL Central like they did from 2001 – 2010.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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The Minnesota Twins know how to build a winner. From 1992 – 1999 the team was not the greatest team around and they gradually built a ton of players through the draft like Torii Hunter, Justin Morneau and later Johan Santana, Francisco Liriano and Joe Mauer.
Being a good franchise means a smart game plan, and especially when you are a smaller market.
From 2001 – 2010 the club won 6 AL Central Titles and were always on the verge of sneaking through. They never seemed to have great depth Starting Pitching to move past clubs in the postseason (despite having Santana).
After the club moved into Target Field, it should have alleviated some of the financial concerns the organization had. They were in the top 10 for total team salary. Except for the core was getting older. Veterans were traded and the management focused on replenishing the Minor League System.
Lean years followed from 2011 – 2014, and it cost Ron Gardenhire his job after the 2014 campaign. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 25, 2015
Robert Gauthier – Los Angeles Times
Mark McGwire is joining the Padres coaching staff, which is good for helping us get past the steroid era. But I have a radical suggestion for a new coach in California.
It is not a day to talk about the past episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Odds To Win The 2016 MLB World Series
The Twins finished 2nd in the AL Central and could be the Houston Astros type of 2015 club in 2016. If you think they can finish 2nd in the AL Central one more time, it may be enough to secure a Wild Card Spot. I think the AL East will beat each other up – and will only produce one playoff team in 2016. At +3500, there is enough off an odd to work with.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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So the offseason has started in the MLB – and the oddsmakers are doing their odds before any sweeping changes have occurred for clubs.
Some of the best bets you can do are based on your own speculation on how you think teams are going to do.
I don’t like many of the teams odds once you past the 25/1 barrier to win the World Series. The only club I would even stab at – to hedge later – is the Minnesota Twins.
Once again the 2015 Standings don’t seem to mean much for the AL Central. The Twinkies managed to finish second in the Division with 83 win – despite playing the 1st half without Ervin Santana and power slugging rookie Miguel Sano.
I am not suggesting the Indians don’t deserve to be the 2nd favorite in the AL Central either. It is just the discrepancy between the Tribe and the Twins is too far. Even the Tigers are at +2500 (which is about right). Read the rest of this entry
Cincinnati Reds Payroll In 2016 + Contracts Going Forward
Joey Votto had his best year since 2010 at the plate in 2015. It couldn’t have come at a better time. The Canadian Slugger will make $199 MIL min over the next 8 years and will be counted on to help with a rebuild. Either that, or maybe he could create enough value to be traded and the club could gain some financial flexibility going forward. The Reds finished 64 – 98 in 2015 – and are in the same Division as the top three teams in the MLB. They should continue to trade veterans for as many young players as they can – and rebuild for 2 – 3 years down the road.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Homer Bailey was the 1st Pitcher to have a $100 Million Dollar Contract in place and undergo Tommy John Surgery. Carl Crawford holding onto a 7 YRs/$142 MIL deal originally signed with the Red Sox was the 1st guy to go down with the TJ Surgery as a position player.
Yes insurance will pay some of the money, but it is not a given that he will comeback and be as effective as he was before he went down with the UCL surgery.
The club is on the hook for Joey Votto to the tune of $199 MIL from 2016 – 2023 – and will jump another $13 MIL if the team picks up a $20 MIL Club Option for 2024.
The Reds are thanking their lucky stars that Votto posted his best baseball season since 2010 in 2015 with a 1.000 OPS and 143 Walks. Read the rest of this entry
Figuring Out Miguel Cabrera’s Place ALL – Time When He is Done Playing: Can He Reach 4K Hits?
Whatever Cabrera ends up doing in the course of his next 8 – 10 years he is under contract with Detroit- he is already a Hall of Fame Player right now. He is a 2 time MVP, with 4 other top 5 finishes, and has won 6 Silver Slugger Awards. He has 11 100 RBI seasons, has won 2 Homerun Titles, and has won 4 Batting Titles in the last 5 years with the Tigers.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Miguel Cabrera just won his 4th Batting Title in 5 years in 2015. It was a year thaw saw him rack up his 400th HR and saw him reach 900 Extra Base Hits for his career.
Heading into 2016, Cabrera starts his 8 YR/$240 MIL contract with the Tigers, (with a few Vesting Options in 2024 and 2025). He will turn 33 about a week into the season.
Just how far will he go into the historical record books will be determined by the duration of this contract. Does he have a chance at 4000 Hits and 700 HRs?
The ALL-Time list he is capable of reaching (I feel) are the ALL – Time Extra Bases mark of 1477 set by Hank Aaron, ALL – Time RBI list (also held by Aaron) at 2297 and the ALL-Time Doubles mark of 792 held by Tris Speaker. Read the rest of this entry
Top Ten Active List: Wins Leaders For Pitchers: Will Anyone Have A Chance To Win 300 Games?
For a guy who only started 47 games from the 2006 – 2009 years, has defied all odds to be one of the most durable pitchers in the last 5 years, posting a record of 65 – 51, while lugging 147 Game Starts. His career renaissance has enabled him to become the Active Leader in Pitcher Wins (218) and Shutouts (13). He will turn 43 in late May next season. Some team will probably have him in their rotation.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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While surfing through some stats the other day I came to the realization of a few things. Tim Hudson or CC Sabathia were no longer the active Wins Leader for Pitchers, and Bartolo Colon was.
Furthermore, Colon also holds the active record for Shutouts for throwers at just (13) – which is the same total Bob Gibson put up in one season for the Cards in 1968. A year that concluded with the MLB deciding to lower the mound.
At 218 wins, there is no way Colon will ever achieve 300 wins. It is ultimately too bad he lost the greater part of every year from 2006 – 2009 – only making 47 injury riddled starts. He only managed 14 victories in those said starts. Read the rest of this entry
MLB 162 Game Format Should Be Changed To 154 Games: More Interleague + Less Division Games
For 80 years of their existence, the MLB played a 154 Game Schedule. By going back to this number of games it would ensure that no World Series may be played in November, and would give the league an alternative or two in changing the playoff format if need be. You could also revert the record book back to a 154 Games – and have Babe Ruth being the single season leader all time for HRs at 60. You can effectively rub out the steroid era.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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TV Contracts aside, this will never happen. But baseball should really grandfather in the schedule to be peeled back to 154 Games from the end of the contract of the last year on a deal with a network right now.
So why go to 154 Games?
Gone are the days when clubs sell out every single game. Fenway Park and Citizens Bank Park both went through huge consecutive sellout steaks in recent vintage. But recently there are not any clubs that sellout every game for a given year.
Each MLB club could easily withdraw 4 home dates on the calendar each. I am of the opinion that most teams would not suffer many losses at the gate either. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 24, 2015
Harry How – Getty Images
Robinson Cano will eventually return to the Yankees. Write it in ink. The Yankees always bring their stars back.
It is what they do. The Yankees are sentimental and bringing former stars back to the Bronx is par for the course.
It is a pending reunion episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 23, 2015
Fox Sports/MLB
The Red Sox fan in me is thrilled to see Dave Roberts take over the role as Dodger manager.
It means they are going to play his stolen base in the 2004 ALCS on a loop.ring to his collection.
He has his work cut out for him in LA, but if he does his job, he could add another
It is a turn around to a title episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 22, 2015
Marc Serota/Getty Images
It is time for the SUNDAY REQUEST.
@sullybaseball Whenever I think of why I disliked Bud Selig’s reign as Commish, Jeffrey Loria’s “ownership” of the Expos & Marlins is it.
— Tony (@tony_f70) November 20, 2015
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The chain reaction of Bud Selig playing favorites with the fraternity of owners can still be felt. The new commissioner needs to step in and save the Miami Market.
You can’t collude on THIS episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 21, 2015
15 of the 30 major league franchises are going to stream games to their local fans.
WELCOME TO THE 21ST CENTURY!
Basically do what Fox wants to do.
You can STREAM this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
On The Trading Block In The NL East
The Phillies have not had a winning season since 2011 after putting forth a decade straight of them. A promising second half to the season – couple with full seasons by Aaron Nola and Maikel Franco could have them inch closer back to achieving that mark in the next few years.
Jordan Gluck (Part Owner/Featured Writer): Follow @jgluck777
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On the Trading Block NL East
Atlanta Braves: The Braves have quite a few players that they can trade and under John Hart you don’t know what direction they will go in this offseason.
Can they be in a position to compete moving into the new Sun Trust Stadium next year or is it a longer term rebuild
I think this team really isn’t 2 bad and could compete for a wild card this season with the addition of a 3B (Rio Ruiz?) and consistent starting pitching.
However it is clear their sights are not set on this season but on the future as indicated by their trade of Andrelton Simmons. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 20, 2015
H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY Sports/US PRESSWIRE
Josh Donaldson was a deserving MVP, but could the A’s wind up looking good in the long run? They had better hope so.
Plus the combination of Bryce Harper and Mike Trout is unique… maybe even historic.
It is a very valuable episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 19, 2015
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The Braves have gone from one of the teams of the decade to full rebuilding in a year and a half.
If they are going to rebuild, then they should blow the whole thing up.
Burn it all to the ground on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
3 Games On Opening MLB Sunday in 2016: This Was Long Overdue
The Pirates finished in the top half of the league for attendance in the past year almost drawing 2.6 Million. They are the first game of the Season slated to be played. ESPN and MLB have announced at least 3 games for the opening Sunday date of Apr.2, 2015. and 4 more games will be televised on the Monday..
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Baseball is really starting to get the picture in some regards. Today it was announced that the league will open with three games on the first Sunday of the season.
The Pirates will host the Cardinals at 1:05 PM EST
The Rays will host the Jays at 4:05 PM EST
Finally, there will be a World Series rematch for the ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME at Kauffman Stadium between the World Champion Royals and the Mets. Read the rest of this entry
2016 MLB Odds To Win The League Pennants
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Onwer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
It is a little early in the winter to predict who will win each League right now, but what we are looking for is value.
In the ‘Junior Circuit’, I hate every odd on the board except for the Minnesota Twins at +1500 and the Rays at +2000.
If you like a team and just have to bet some cabbage down – simply pick any team in the AL to win the World Series, and then if they win the American League Pennant, use the National League team as a hedge bet.
The same theory can be applied to the National League flock of teams. All of them are better to bet to just win the Fall Classic. Read the rest of this entry
The Middle Infield Positions Have Regressed To What They Used To Be In The MLB Power Wise
Carlos Correa led all Shortstops with 22 HRs in 2015 – despite not being called up until early June. With how rare his power is at the position currently, this will be an automatic advantage for the Houston Astros for the next half – dozen years. Brandon Crawford was the only other Shortstop to hit the 20 HR plateau in 2015. The position has receded to what it used to be over 20 – 25 years ago when Cal Ripken was a rare player to hit for power at Short.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Onwer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Part of going over the winter transactions wire for all players available in the league has taught me even more of what I had thought about the state of the MLB currently.
Since steroids have been removed practically from the game, Third Base, Short Stop and Second Baseman have seen their numbers plummet offensively.
You could also lump the First Baseman, Outfielders and Catchers to this list as well, however they still own the predominant amount of power hitters in the game.
So you have a need a Third Base this offseason…That is bad news for you because David Freese is the best available Free Agent on the market. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 18, 2015
Boston Herald Staff Photo by Matt Stone
Big Papi is probably going to hang them up after the 2016 seasons. Savor this rare event Red Sox fans: A beloved player may retire WITH the Red Sox! Imagine that! It doesn’t happen often.
Plus the Brandon Crawford signing shows the Giants are creating a core for the ages.
It is a multiple title episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Establishing The Freddie Freeman Trade Market
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Onwer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
First of all, I think the Braves would be out of their minds to Freddie Freeman this winter – or even for a few years. This club will need some some semblance of a team heading into their new stadium in Cobb County, GA next year.
I mean what is the problem, having a First Baseman in his prime with a Career Slash of .285/.366/.466 – with 22 HRs and 91 RBI per 162 Game Average? Nothing.
Then again, maybe the team just wants to go clean slate with a full rebuild. I get that. Kind of like the Houston Astros did recently.
Truth of the matter is, Freeman could command more on the open market than a 6 YR deal worth $118.5 MIL. But at $20 MIL per year still looming, it may be a tall order for some clubs to come up with that 9 figure sum. Read the rest of this entry
David Oritz Is Retiring After 2016: It Is A Perfect Time To Eliminate The DH!
David Ortiz has been the quintessential DH in the AL over the last 15 years. Boston is in contention perennially because he put up great #s compared to his competition. Realistically, only he and a few other players are even at the All-Star level, and if given the choice if there were no DH slot in the game, I guarantee you their teams would brave their physical deficiencies – in order to keep their bat in the lineup. The AL has had the Designated Hitter Position since the start of the 1973 season. But that was before Free Agency where the American League has an advantage for signing top guys because of the DH slot, and then there were no Interleague Games, where the AL has a 12 year winning streak, and is routinely posting over a .540 Win Percentage against.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Onwer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
David Ortiz has announced he is retiring after the next season. Thus ends the greatest Left Handed DH of ALL-Time, (sorry Harold Baines).
The Designated Hitter Position has been taking a hit for effectiveness more and more over the last several years, and more teams than not use it as a rest for veterans.
Listed on MLB.com, only 5 DH’s qualified for the Batting Title race in 2015.
Billy Butler had a crappy year.
David Ortiz started slowly being hampered by the new foot in the box rule, before settling in to a 37 HRs and 108 RBI campaign – with a .913 OPS. Read the rest of this entry
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