Monthly Archives: November 2016
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 15, 2016
Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America
Ryan Howard’s time in Philadelphia is done and maybe his career is as well. Why he became a cautionary tale of signing sluggers to long term deals, he also did enough to be given a salute for his accomplishments.
It is a brotherly love episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
If We Had a 2017 HOF Vote (Pt. 1)
He’s one of the 25 greatest hitters to ever step in the batter’s box. But when playing the outfield, Manny Ramirez looked like a man trying to remember where he left his keys. (READ MORE AT PLATE COVERAGE)
Neil Walker Accepting Qualifying Offer Should Have Matt Wieters-Like Impact on Mets’ Offseason
It’s only the middle of November, but the New York Mets just gained a whole lot of clarity to their offseason plan. And while the fan base is still upset about Bartolo Colon heading to the Atlanta Braves, they have reason to be excited about what’s to come.
Second baseman Neil Walker was one of just two players out of a possible 10 to accept a qualifying offer on Monday, meaning he’ll be returning to the Mets on a one-year deal for $17.2 million. That’s a lot of money for a middle infielder, but Sandy Alderson is clearly confident in Walker making a full recovery for Opening Day.
Some may feel this could hamper New York’s ability to re-sign outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, but it should actually have the opposite kind of impact. Call me overly optimistic here, but watching Walker accept the qualifying offer was exactly what the front office needed in order to operate under a “win now” mentality…even more than before.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 14, 2016
As the Cubs get all the attention this off season in Chicago, the White Sox need to examine what they are going to do at this cross road in the franchise’s history.
I look at the South Side for this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 13, 2016
It is the Sunday Request… and evidently the tweet I was going to respond to has been erased. Go figure.
Well, friend of the Podcast @IlliniDodgers had issues with something I said in a previous podcast. I think he was right.
Along the way I tried to talk about a 60 second wait time to respond on Twitter and minority manager hirings.
It is a podcast of tough questions. Maybe I don’t have the answers, but I know we need to ask them.
Look at yourself and others on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Checking in With Minnesota Twins Prospect Trey Cabbage
The Minnesota Twins last made the playoffs in 2010. They have lost at least 92 games every season except once since and are still rebuilding in an effort to reclaim their former success. One of the young players they are hoping will contribute to that overhaul is third base prospect Trey Cabbage.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 12, 2016
Daniel Shirey/Getty Images North America
The Tigers need to make some tough decisions, and one that could mean the end of Justin Verlander’s career in Detroit.
I discuss that and discover that Baseball Reference.com (the single greatest website in the history of the planet Earth) showed I am not as clever as I think I am on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Veterans Day
By Josh:
Veterans Day is a day that deserves more recognition then it really gets. The men and women of this country who have been a part of our nations military and have defended our freedoms deserve far more honoring then they get, but the amazing thing about them is that they don’t seek to be honored. They serve because they see a need and desire to protect our freedoms and rights for generations to come.
Continue reading Josh’s thoughts on Veterans Day via 9 Inning Know It All
Hot Stove Free Agent Predictions Part 1
By: Kelly
The Hot Stove season is upon us once again. This year’s free agent class is very weak compared to the last couple years, especially starting pitchers. Lots of offense is available and some top notch closers will make some record money but if your team is looking for starting pitchers they will have to look to the trade market, which I believe will be very active this offseason.
Read Kelly’s Hot Stove Free Agent Predictions Part 1 via 9 Inning Know It All
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 11, 2016
Jeff Gross/Getty Images North America
3,000 hits is still a cool milestone. But joining the 5,000 club might be even a bigger honor.
It is a by the numbers episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 10, 2016
Justin Merriman/Getty Images North America
Isn’t it strange how quickly the election arrives so quickly after the end of the World Series.
Now as there are intense feelings after the Trump victory, I see baseball as a way to bring us together AND be an outlet for bad feelings and anger.
Building bridges on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Diamondbacks Gaining New Vision for 2017, But With The Old Regime’s Players
Dave Stewart, Tony La Russa and the Arizona Diamondbacks stunned baseball last winter with a handful of bold moves in order to win in 2016. Unfortunately for them, instead of improving from a 79-83 showing in ’15, the club regressed to 69-93 this past season.
The organization will now take a more conservative approach this offseason. Not necessarily because new Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Hazen believes that’s the proper course of action to begin turning the Dbacks around, but he doesn’t have much of a choice.
Hazen made the most impactful move of his first offseason in Arizona by recently hiring Torey Lovullo as manager. It was an important hire because the organization’s 2017 results will already hinge significantly on the success or failure of players the previous regime brought in.
The Dbacks’ new executive is familiar with this kind of situation, though.
With the Boston Red Sox, he watched Dave Dombrowski inherit a roster that was also basically set. But he at least still had the flexibility to make impactful acquisitions, like signing David Price and trading for Craig Kimbrel.
The situation out in the desert is different, and for three major reasons.
MILB SCOUTING REPORT: YADIER ALVAREZ, RHP, LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Yadier Alvarez is a 6’3″, 175 lb, 20-year-old out of Matanzas, Cuba. He was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent on July 2, 2015. His fastball sits around 93-98 and tops out at 99-100. His slider is plus, but his curveball and changeup are well below average. Alvarez’s mechanics need to be cleaned up and he has some red flags regarding injury potential. When fully matured he could be a number 2 starter, with a fall back option of a high leverage bullpen arm.
Yadier Alvarez Scouting Report
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 9, 2016
Holy City Sinner
On Election Night, I avoided politics and talked about the award ballot for MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year.
No recount for this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Jose Abreu is a Perfect Example Why Traditional Stats Don’t Tell The Whole Story
To evaluate the effectiveness of a baseball player, statistics have evolved into much more than wins and losses or home runs and RBI. Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu is the perfect example as to why perception isn’t necessarily reality with regard to offensive production.
On Monday, FanGraphs published a piece detailing how the White Sox could run this offseason depending on which direction the front office wanted to take the organization. In that article, Dave Cameron said this about Abreu:
“Abreu has lost some value by going the wrong way offensively the last few years, but he finished the second half on a big upswing, and remains vastly underpriced relative to what it will cost to sign an inferior player like Mark Trumbo.”
As important as traditional stats are, we all know they’re not the be-all, end-all in today’s game. Actually, they probably don’t mean a whole lot to quite a few executives and talent evaluators.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 8, 2016
While driving late at night in the East Bay, I wondered if maybe the answer to the stadium issue for the A’s would be a ballpark that didn’t have to stand all season long. It made sense late at night.
It is a fold the tent episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast
Question tradition on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Hot Stove Week in Review Nov 2-6
Every week throughout the off season 9 Inning Know It All will give you a quick week in review of what all went down in the Major League Baseball Hot Stove. Whether it is staff hiring/firings, trades, signings and everything else.
Check out Hot Stove Week in Review Nov 2-6 via 9 Inning Know It All.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 7, 2016
The tradition of the Indians name is not as ironclad as you would think. They were almost the Cleveland Raiders, which would have been amazing. Plus I bring up Chief Wahoo again and showed how easy the solution would be for it.
Question tradition on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
MLB Awards, Pt. 2: The Logic Escapes Me
“…The argument, made by several chroniclers of the game, is that there was no standout performance by a starting pitcher in the AL this year, opening the door for a standout reliever to claim the prize. The voters are literally saying “since we can’t pick between the two best pitchers in the league, we’ll give it to a third pitcher who wasn’t as good.”
It’s an absurd argument. Detroit’s Justin Verlander and Cleveland’s Corey Kluber were both excellent. Both have a claim as the best pitcher in the American League. Were they historically good? No. But they were the two best the league had to offer in 2016 (lest we forget, the Cy Young is a single-season honor, and players can only judged by their performance relative to the league that year). In other words, in what universe does it make sense to penalize a pitcher for being the best, but only the best by a little bit? Michael Phelps gets the gold whether he wins by .10 seconds or .01 seconds…”
Was the HOF Sending a Message with Babe Ruth’s Plaque?
“Holder of many home run and other batting records.”
Sure, you could say that. But why would you say it like that? This is saying Bill Gates “was successful in the computer business,” that Shakespeare “wrote a number of well-received plays.”
“Greatest drawing card in the history of baseball. Holder of many home run and other batting records. Gathered 714 home runs in addition to fifteen in World Series.”
In retrospect, it seems impossible that the Hall of Fame thought these 28 words did justice to the Babe’s career. Did the writer decide that Ruth’s accomplishments were just too numerous to list? Was the terse inscription a sly wink – or rebuke – to Ruth’s out-sized personality and Rabelaisian appetites? (Read More at Plate Coverage)
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 6, 2016
(Jamie Squire/Getty Images North America)
It is the first Sunday Request for the off season.
@sullybaseball We feel the same way about Chapman, but if the Cubs don’t trade for Chapman I don’t think they win the World Series.
— Jim Furlong (@EWOKinLA) November 5, 2016
Beyond my thoughts about Chapman as a human being, his performance as a closer was not exactly awe inspiring. It is tough to call him a difference maker in the World Series.
Closing out a Sunday on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Predicting the 2016 MLB Awards
The World Series just concluded in historic fashion, meaning another baseball season is in the books. With many exciting moments and performances, there was plenty to keep fans busy in 2016. Soon, the sport will announce the winners of its awards, and there is plenty of competition for the top honors. Without further ado, here is my (unofficial) ballot.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 5, 2016
Marcel Bieler – aka Cubs Fan With An 8
The Cubs won the World Series and die hard fans had the greatest week of their lives. So who better to talk about the final moments of the World Series than the biggest Cub fan in all of Switzerland, Marcel Bieler, aka @Cu8sfan or Cubs Fan With an 8!
It was a moment by moment piece of nostalgia for something that happened last week.
Celebrate with your friends on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Follow Cubs Fan With an 8 on Twitter to click HERE.
For the up to date standings of Who Owns October and Who Owns the World Series, go to MLB Reports
What is “Who Owns October”? Click HERE for an explanation.
It Took a Lifetime
By: Daniel Foote
On October 14, 1908, the Chicago Cubs clinched their second consecutive World Series title. A mere 229 days later, George William Penley was born and so was a love affair with the Chicago Cubs. You see, Mr. Penley was my grandfather (we called him “Poppa”, so you’ll forgive me for referring to him as such), and he loved the Cubs. In Poppa’s lifetime, the Cubs went to the World Series seven times (1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938 and 1945). All of them by the time he was 36 ½ years old. From 1945 to 1984, when he passed away, Poppa continued to love his Cubs. He loved them so much, that he passed that love affair to me.
Read the rest of “It Took a Lifetime’ via 9 Inning Know It All.
5 MLB Starting Pitchers With a lot to Prove in 2017
With the 2016 MLB season officially in the rearview mirror, the entire baseball world now shifts its focus to the offseason and preparing for 2017.
Some players and teams hope to build upon the progress they’ve made over the last six months, but others are out to re-establish themselves and prove that recent subpar performances were a blip in the radar. That’s easier said than done, of course.
Plenty of players have an eye toward rebounding in 2017, but the following starting pitchers find themselves in an unfamiliar situation. They’ve each experienced a period of dominance on the mound – some longer than others – but had to deal with tough times in 2016.
To regain their status of being one of baseball’s top starters, these five hurlers have plenty to prove once April rolls around.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 4, 2016
(Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
Mike Montgomery’s save in Game 7 of the World Series was as unlikely as any in baseball history. Plus some surprising names led who owned October and the World Series.
The off season begins with this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Ben Zobrist, Jon Lester, Rajai Davis and Cody Allen all added to their Who Owns October and Who Owns the World Series totals.
For the up to date standings of Who Owns October and Who Owns the World Series, go to MLB Reports
What is “Who Owns October”? Click HERE for an explanation.
3 Cubs and an Indian owned the 2016 World Series
David Richard, USA TODAY Sports, Jason Miller – Getty Images
Wows indeed.
My tally for Who owns the World Series had one hitter and 3 pitchers with the lead. And how strange is it that the ACTUAL World Series MVP, Ben Zobrist, was not one of them?
Ah the strangeness of a daily tally!
Kris Bryant’s late surge put him past Jason Kipnis, MVP Zobrist and Rajai Davis. Arrieta’s two starts were not dominant but took the evening. Kluber shut down the Cubs for a pair of games while Lester redeemed his bad Game 1 start with a win as a starter and a solid relief appearance.
Let’s look at the final totals.
Hitters ‘WOWS’ MLB 2016,
Kris Bryant – Cubs 2, Jason Kipnis – Indians 1 1/2, Ben Zobrist – Cubs 1 1/2, Rajai Davis – Indians 1 1/2, Coco Crisp – Indians 1, Roberto Perez – Indians 1, Kyle Schwarber – Cubs 1, Dexter Fowler – Cubs 1/2, Mike Napoli – Indians 1/2, Jorge Soler – Cubs 1/2,
Pitchers ‘WOWS’ MLB 2016,
Jake Arrieta – Cubs 2, Corey Kluber – Indians 2, Jon Lester – Cubs 2, Andrew Miller – Indians 1, Cody Allen – Indians 1/2, Kyle Hendricks – Cubs 1/2, Bryan Shaw – Indians 1/2,
Josh Donaldson and Jon Lester owned October in 2016
Getty Images
How about THIS for a strange development?
The final tally for “Who Owns October” had the leader for offensive players being Josh Donaldson, a man who not only did not play in the World Series but his team nearly got swept out of the ALCS!
And yet his great showing in the Postseason, including a .571 average, 1.418 OPS in the Division Series and .956 OPS in the ALCS gave him a WOO score of 3 1/2. Kris Bryant, whose bat heated up in the second half of the World Series, and Francisco Lindor, who was dynamic throughout the World Series, fell 1/2 WOO shy of Donaldson’s showing.
That’s a first.
This also looked like a lock for Corey Kluber and his domination of the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Cubs through Game 4 of the World Series. But alas he did not pitch well in Game 7 and Lester’s strong showing out of the bullpen locked it up.
So I guess the glory was spread out well throughout October, but two teammates from the 2014 Oakland Athletics clinched it.
Final WOO Totals MLB 2016
Hitters ‘WOO’ MLB 2016,
Josh Donaldson – Blue Jays 3 1/2, Kris Bryant – Cubs 3, Francisco Lindor – Indians 3, Adrian Gonzalez – Dodgers 2 1/2, Jason Kipnis – Indians 2 1/2, Ben Zobrist – Cubs 2 1/2, Coco Crisp – Indians 2, Daniel Murphy – Nationals 2, Addison Russell – Cubs 2, Justin Turner – Dodgers 2, Javier Baez – Cubs 1 1/2, Rajai Davis – Indians 1 1/2, Edwin Encarnacion – Blue Jays 1 1/2, Dexter Fowler – Cubs 1 1/2, Conor Gillaspie – Giants 1 1/2, Mike Napoli – Indians 1 1/2, Roberto Perez – Indians 1 1/2, Mookie Betts – Red Sox 1, Brandon Guyer – Indians 1, Yasmani Grandal – Dodgers 1, Shawn Kelley – Nationals 1, Miguel Montero – Cubs 1, Joe Panik – Giants 1, Joc Pederson – Dodgers 1, Anthony Rizzo – Cubs 1, Kyle Schwarber – Cubs 1, Troy Tulowitzki – Blue Jays 1, Jayson Werth – Nationals 1, Elvis Andrus – Rangers 1/2, Jose Bautista – Blue Jays 1/2, Andrew Benintendi – Red Sox 1/2, Gregor Blanco – Giants 1/2, Ian Desmond – Rangers 1/2, Curtis Granderson – Mets 1/2, Rougned Odor – Rangers 1/2, Buster Posey – Giants 1/2, Carlos Ruiz – Dodgers 1/2, Michael Saunders – Blue Jays 1/2, Corey Seager – Dodgers 1/2, Jorge Soler – Cubs 1/2, Mark Trumbo – Orioles 1/2,
Pitchers ‘WOO’ MLB 2016,
Jon Lester – Cubs 5, Corey Kluber – Indians 4, Andrew Miller – Indians 3, Jake Arrieta – Cubs 2 1/2, Kenley Jansen – Dodgers 2 1/2, Kyle Hendricks – Cubs 2, Clayton Kershaw – Dodgers 2, Roberto Osuna – Blue Jays 2, Josh Tomlin – Indians 2, Marco Estrada – Blue Jays 1 1/2, Madison Bumgarner – Giants 1, Aroldis Chapman – Cubs 1, Rich Hill – Dodgers 1, Derek Law – Giants 1, Mark Melancon– Nationals 1, Ryan Merritt – Indians 1, Mike Montgomery – Cubs 1, Aaron Sanchez – Blue Jays 1, Marcus Stroman – Blue Jays 1, Travis Wood – Cubs 1, Cody Allen – Indians 1/2, Johnny Cueto – Giants 1/2, Matt Moore – Giants 1/2, Darren O’Day – Orioles 1/2, Max Scherzer – Nationals 1/2, Bryan Shaw – Indians 1/2, Noah Syndergaard – Mets 1/2,
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 3, 2016
Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune
Even nature had to stop and catch its breath as the Indians and Cubs fought through a game I rank as one of the 3 greatest I have ever seen.
Somehow I tie it into the Bernardo Bertolucci film The Sheltering Sky.
It is an all time episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Ben Zobrist, Jon Lester, Rajai Davis and Cody Allen all added to their Who Owns October and Who Owns the World Series totals.
For the up to date standings of Who Owns October and Who Owns the World Series, go to MLB Reports
What is “Who Owns October”? Click HERE for an explanation.
Who Owns October and Who Owns the 2016 World Series (#WOO and #WOWS) Tallies Updated For November 2, 2016
ALEX TRAUTWIG/MLB PHOTOS
An Epic that Homer would have been proud of. (The author, not the hit.) I am still shaking. But still time to tallk!
So who owned October (and NOVEMBER!) and the World Series?
Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOO (Who Owns October.)
And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOO’S to a worthy player on the losing team.
But the World Series deserves its own stats. WOWS (Who Owns the World Series.)
At the end of the post season, we will see who had the highest WOO total as a pitcher and a hitter. The WOWS total will be kept separately. Each game now counts towards both tallies.
A complete description of the rules can be found HERE.
From November 2nd
2016 World Series Game 7:
Receiving 1 WOO’s and WOWS
Jon Lester pitched well out of the bullpen, striking out 4 Indians in 3 innings. The bullpen blew his lead but he helped set up the Cubs startling 8-7, 10 inning World Series clincher.
Ben Zobrist clinched the World Series MVP trophy by smacking the go ahead single in the 10th inning and led the Cubs past Cleveland 8-7.
Receiving 1/2 WOO’s and WOWS
Cody Allen kept the Cubs at bay with 2 shutout innings, striking out 2. The Indians lost game 7, 8-7 in 10.
Rajai Davis hit a dramatic 2 run homer to tie the game in the 8th and then kept the World Series alive with an RBI single with 2 outs in the 10th. He could not score the game tying run as the Indians fell short to the Cubs 8-7.
Current ‘WOWS’ Totals MLB 2016:
Hitters ‘WOWS’ MLB 2016,
Kris Bryant – Cubs 2, Jason Kipnis – Indians 1 1/2, Ben Zobrist – Cubs 1 1/2, Rajai Davis – Indians 1 1/2, Coco Crisp – Indians 1, Roberto Perez – Indians 1, Kyle Schwarber – Cubs 1, Dexter Fowler – Cubs 1/2, Mike Napoli – Indians 1/2, Jorge Soler – Cubs 1/2,
Pitchers ‘WOWS’ MLB 2016,
Jake Arrieta – Cubs 2, Corey Kluber – Indians 2, Jon Lester – Cubs 2, Andrew Miller – Indians 1, Cody Allen – Indians 1/2, Kyle Hendricks – Cubs 1/2, Bryan Shaw – Indians 1/2,
Current WOO Totals MLB 2016
Hitters ‘WOO’ MLB 2016,
Josh Donaldson – Blue Jays 3 1/2, Kris Bryant – Cubs 3, Francisco Lindor – Indians 3, Adrian Gonzalez – Dodgers 2 1/2, Jason Kipnis – Indians 2 1/2, Ben Zobrist – Cubs 2 1/2, Coco Crisp – Indians 2, Daniel Murphy – Nationals 2, Addison Russell – Cubs 2, Justin Turner – Dodgers 2, Javier Baez – Cubs 1 1/2, Rajai Davis – Indians 1 1/2, Edwin Encarnacion – Blue Jays 1 1/2, Dexter Fowler – Cubs 1 1/2, Conor Gillaspie – Giants 1 1/2, Mike Napoli – Indians 1 1/2, Roberto Perez – Indians 1 1/2, Mookie Betts – Red Sox 1, Brandon Guyer – Indians 1, Yasmani Grandal – Dodgers 1, Shawn Kelley – Nationals 1, Miguel Montero – Cubs 1, Joe Panik – Giants 1, Joc Pederson – Dodgers 1, Anthony Rizzo – Cubs 1, Kyle Schwarber – Cubs 1, Troy Tulowitzki – Blue Jays 1, Jayson Werth – Nationals 1, Elvis Andrus – Rangers 1/2, Jose Bautista – Blue Jays 1/2, Andrew Benintendi – Red Sox 1/2, Gregor Blanco – Giants 1/2, Ian Desmond – Rangers 1/2, Curtis Granderson – Mets 1/2, Rougned Odor – Rangers 1/2, Buster Posey – Giants 1/2, Carlos Ruiz – Dodgers 1/2, Michael Saunders – Blue Jays 1/2, Corey Seager – Dodgers 1/2, Jorge Soler – Cubs 1/2, Mark Trumbo – Orioles 1/2,
Pitchers ‘WOO’ MLB 2016,
Jon Lester – Cubs 5, Corey Kluber – Indians 4, Andrew Miller – Indians 3, Jake Arrieta – Cubs 2 1/2, Kenley Jansen – Dodgers 2 1/2, Kyle Hendricks – Cubs 2, Clayton Kershaw – Dodgers 2, Roberto Osuna – Blue Jays 2, Josh Tomlin – Indians 2, Marco Estrada – Blue Jays 1 1/2, Madison Bumgarner – Giants 1, Aroldis Chapman – Cubs 1, Rich Hill – Dodgers 1, Derek Law – Giants 1, Mark Melancon– Nationals 1, Ryan Merritt – Indians 1, Mike Montgomery – Cubs 1, Aaron Sanchez – Blue Jays 1, Marcus Stroman – Blue Jays 1, Travis Wood – Cubs 1, Cody Allen – Indians 1/2, Johnny Cueto – Giants 1/2, Matt Moore – Giants 1/2, Darren O’Day – Orioles 1/2, Max Scherzer – Nationals 1/2, Bryan Shaw – Indians 1/2, Noah Syndergaard – Mets 1/2,
MLB Reports 
You must be logged in to post a comment.