Yearly Archives: 2017
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 24, 2017
Universal Pictures
A lot of people don’t like Field of Dreams. I get it.
I still love it and the reasons why I do reflect that what we love and what we consume, including baseball, do not exist in a vacuum.
No guilty pleasues in this episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Jean Segura Isn’t the Only Hitter Fighting Regression Following a Unique Performance
After being a pleasant surprise at the plate for the Milwaukee Brewers during the 2013 season, Jean Segura‘s production completely went down the drain — until he got a fresh start in 2016 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
He didn’t earn an All-Star selection for his efforts, but it was such a unique performance that the Seattle Mariners acquired him in one of the 1,000 trades they made this winter.
How unique was it, exactly? Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto accurately put the middle infielder’s accomplishments into perspective to Bob Dutton of The News Tribune:
“The year that he had is one of just five seasons in this century where a hitter was able to throw out 200 hits, a .300 batting average, 20 home runs, 40 doubles, 30 stolen bases and 100 runs scored.”
Since he literally doubled his wRC+ (63 in ’15 to 126 in ’16), there’s a lot of attention on Segura with his new team. Is this the type of hitter they can expect to see moving forward? Dipoto said himself that given the rarity of this particular performance, it wouldn’t be realistic to expect it to be sustainable.
While Seattle’s new shortstop is one of just five players this century to produce like he did in the above six categories, he wasn’t the only hitter to do it in 2016 — Jose Altuve also accomplished the same feat.
5 Must Watch Players in Spring Training
Spring Training is finally here! Thank god; I don’t think I, as an individual, nor we, as a nation and a planet, have ever needed baseball more.
But we are not the only ones! Every year, players use Grapefruit and Cactus league games to cement their status as starters, finally earn a trip to the majors, or, in some cases, disrupt the status quo and commute chaos upon fans and front offices.
Of course, Spring Training games are far from predictive of future performance, just look at Jackie Bradley Jr. a few years ago. He tore it up in March and then struggled to hit well enough in his first season in the MLB to justify keeping his stellar glove in the lineup at all. He was eventually sent to the minors and only last year recaptured his starting spot. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t learn an awful lot from some of these early showcases. The pre-season can help us get an early feel for players poised to bounce back from a tough season, or not, and those who need to justify their team’s (semi-inexplicable) faith in them.
Let’s take a look at 5 of the guys whose spring performance can be particularly instructive about what their 2017 seasons might hold.
Shelby Miller, starting pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks
Talk about a bounce-back candidate.
After an All Star season in Atlanta in 2015 (despite leading the league in losses), Miller was shipped to Arizona in exchange for Dansby Swanson, Ender Inciarte, and others. Then things took a turn.
To continue reading about the must watch players this spring training, please click on oveer to Offthebenchbaseball.com
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 23, 2017
Building up to Oscar season, I watched the only film connected to baseball: Fences.
Besides being a great showcase for two wonderful stars, Denzel Washington and Viola Davis, it also allows a supporting cast (especially Stephen Henderson) to shine.
As a baseball fan, it also shows how we use our own experiences to paint how we appreciate the greatness of players in the past and the present.
Yeah it is worth seeing.
Also listen to the great podcast Denzel Washington is the Greatest Actor of All Time Period.
It is an honor to be nominated in this episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
The Bizarre Ending to Pitching’s Longest Winning Streak
In addition to winning twenty-six games in 1912, Marquard was unbeatable throughout the campaign’s first three months. He won an astounding nineteen consecutive games for the Giants from the time he defeated Brooklyn in the opener on April 11 until he beat the Superbas in the first game of a doubleheader on July 3. Rube was finally vanquished on July 8, during a game at West Side Grounds, which was won by the Chicago Cubs, 7-2.
While the main story line from the afternoon should have revolved around the Cubs ending Marquard’s winning streak, a perceived jinx perpetrated by a demented woman seemed to grab the headlines. While a large crowd was in attendance watching New York and Chicago battle, much of the attention was directed at a woman perched in a tree outside the ballpark, overlooking the playing field. READ MORE
MLB’s 10 Best MVP Seasons Since 2000
What makes a player so valuable?
The answer to this question varies depending on the person asked. However, it always becomes a hot-button topic of debate in baseball throughout the latter part of every season when discussing potential National League and American League MVP candidates.
We’re not here to discuss the definition of Most Valuable Player, though. We want to know which players have put together the best overall seasons while earning the award since 2000.
The best way to figure this out is by using Wins Above Replacement (WAR). While the statistics shown below focus on offense, WAR takes a player’s offensive and defensive contributions into consideration before providing an overall value for their performance.
FanGraphs’ version of WAR (referred to here as fWAR) will be the metric used to create our rankings. The definition of “Most Valuable Player” may forever be up for debate, but there’s no debate in figuring out which MVP winners have enjoyed the most success since the turn of the century.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 22, 2017
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images North America
I listed my thoughts on the greatest players in each franchise’s history. I realized that Francisco Lindor has the outside chance to become the greatest player in Cleveland Indians history.
It is there for the taking.
It is a legacy episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
CHICAGO CUBS TOP 25 PROSPECTS
This farm system has been built on the backs of Elite position players and the ability of the minor league staff to help them reach their potential. The Major League lineup is one of the most potent in baseball, and there are still prospects who could add more firepower to the order. The up and coming prospects cover a wide range of ages so that the team can be primed to defend their championship this season while also having insurance policies as arbitration years approach shortly.
The top of the list is again loaded with positional talent as Chicago looks to have options in the infield (Happ, Jeimer Candelario) and the outfield (Jimenez, Mark Zagunis, Eddy Martinez). Though there is limited star power, the Cubs starting lineup has enough to hold over the city. More important for the short-term, players such as Victor Caratini and Wladimir Galindo should see extended time on the 25-man roster.
Chicago Cubs Top Prospects
Detroit Tigers Centerfield Options Heading In To Spring Training
With all other positions pretty stable, there really are only a handful of battles for the Detroit Tigers heading in to spring training. The 5th rotation spot will be interesting, there will be bullpen spots up for grabs, but I believe the main focus will be Centerfield after the trade of Cameron Maybin to clear some salary from the books.
The centerfield job is pretty much up for grabs as spring games commence later in the week with JaCoby Jones, Tyler Collins, Mikie Mahtook, Anthony Gose, David Lough, and Alex Presely all via for the position to name a few. Mahtook in my opinion has a slight edge; however a lot can change over the next month. Let’s take a look at some of the options…
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 21, 2017
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images North America
The Cubs won it all last year. Perhaps you heard. But let’s savor how infrequently a team wins in the year they are SUPPOSED to win!
Perfectly timing titles on this episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Is Matt Kemp’s Late-Season Revival With the Braves Sustainable?
Matt Kemp isn’t the MVP-caliber ballplayer he used to be with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier in his career. Despite that, the Atlanta Braves have high expectations for the right-handed hitting outfielder in 2017.
Those expectations aren’t coming without them getting a glimpse of what he could do for the offense, though.
After the San Diego Padres shipped him to Atlanta at last summer’s non-waiver trade deadline, Kemp was one of the reasons behind the Braves offense going from being historically awful to finishing as a top-performing unit.
His arrival also spurred a personal boost in production — he hit 23 homers in 431 plate appearances with San Diego, but produced just a 102 wRC+. Once the trade took place, that number jumped to 120 in 241 plate appearances (while hitting 12 more homers).
Yes, the Braves are technically still rebuilding, but with a new ballpark opening and their flurry offseason moves, they’re aiming to at least be competitive this year, and Kemp’s performance will play a significant role.
The big question with Spring Training now underway is whether or not his two-month stretch of above-average offensive production is sustainable for an entire season. If it’s going to be, he may need to make a few changes.
Chris Sáenz – A History-making Cup of Coffee
Only four pitchers in baseball history have started only one major league game, thrown six scoreless innings or more, and recorded a win in the process. Chris Sáenz (pronounced SYNS) of the Milwaukee Brewers is the most recent, and actually the first hurler since 1899 to accomplish the feat.
As with most cup of coffee players, a perfect chain of events had to play out for Sáenz to make just one appearance and disappear, never to be heard from again. The early 2004 season for the Brewers was ripe with issues – enough in fact, for a Double A pitcher to be called up to face the Central Division rival St. Louis Cardinals in late April.
A Vindictive President Destroys a National Institution
A story of a bombastic, vindictive man who brooked no challenge to his authority, had no tolerance for weakness, and hated whom he saw as “losers.” We’re speaking, of course, of Ban Johnson, founder and president of the American League. READ MORE AT PLATE COVERAGE
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 20, 2017
It is Presidents Day. Will we ever have a baseball player President?
Why not?
Hail to the Chief on this episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 19, 2017
On Twitter, I posted YouTube clips of the person I declared the best of each franchises. People today call that a GOAT, Greatest of All Time. I am not ready to use that term.
Goat still means something bad to me!
But the reaction I got to the clips inspired The Sunday Request
@sullybaseball @70sBaseball @Reds @YouTube Wrong again try Johnny Bench.
— Alan Davis (@bfb242) February 18, 2017
@sullybaseball @70sBaseball @Pirates @YouTube Wrong. Try Honus Wagner.
— Alan Davis (@bfb242) February 18, 2017
Try Johnny Bench? Honus Wagner? Wrong? Um, I have given this some thought. I am just trying to get some healthy debate about something that ISN’T politics on line!
Feeling like a goat on this episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Here are the Tweets with the video clips.
Greatest player in @yankees history: Babe Ruth https://t.co/wJZ7J0B0SV via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @redsox history: Ted Williams https://t.co/ZoeoxINp2t via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @orioles history: Cal Ripken Jr. https://t.co/ArIV7LJdyB via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @bluejays history: Dave Steib https://t.co/QO4tDgr9iu via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in Rays history: Evan Longoria ( @RaysBaseball ) https://t.co/065gyIee4Q via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in Washington DC history: Walter Johnson https://t.co/LL257WZDD1 via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @Montreal_Expos history: Tim Raines https://t.co/h5g9UdfdjN via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @mets history: Tom Seaver https://t.co/LZUchrOZEf via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @marlins history: Giancarlo Stanton https://t.co/h1g8Lmk9TW via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest Player in @phillies history: Mike Schmidt https://t.co/ZB9J6ruhrv via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @braves history: Hank Aaron https://t.co/rWCC4NnAer via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @indians history: Napoleon Lajoie https://t.co/lX6raCUMYj via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @tigers history: Ty Cobb https://t.co/Sq1s24lTLr via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @royals history: George Brett https://t.co/xR9p18b26H via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @royals history: George Brett https://t.co/xR9p18b26H via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @whitesox history: Frank Thomas https://t.co/JONYhAFVNB via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @twins history: Rod Carew https://t.co/j52HiwbPKy via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @reds history: Pete Rose https://t.co/dCSgA3h0SW via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @brewers history: Robin Yount https://t.co/mw0Fra7eOA via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @pirates history: Roberto Clemente https://t.co/zZM42tRgHb via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @cardinals history: Stan Musial https://t.co/e9rL4wooYr via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @cubs history: Ernie Banks https://t.co/kEbVsyZz5z via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @rangers history: Ivan Rodriguez https://t.co/knAuRwDJTA via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @mariners history: Ken Griffey Jr. https://t.co/jYYJFiesZx via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @astros history: Jeff Bagwell https://t.co/3Oky2uDZjf via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @angels history: Mike Trout https://t.co/SQiAr9Tsat via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @athletics history: Rickey Henderson https://t.co/gTTKJvXgMi via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @dodgers history: Jackie Robinson https://t.co/E21Srtu17o via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @sfgiants history: Willie Mays https://t.co/hTtUIyqbtG via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @Rockies history: Todd Helton https://t.co/BgDANh5XWu via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @Dbacks history: Randy Johnson https://t.co/hNHvX7iB3k via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Greatest player in @padres history : Tony Gwynn https://t.co/5bJn7L6oe6 via @YouTube
— Sully Baseball (@sullybaseball) February 18, 2017
Atlantis Casino Wagers For 2017 MLB Win Totals
The old adage here is ‘you want to know the truth, follow the money.
We have been talking projections for win totals in the upcoming MLB Year on a all offseason basis here at the MLB Reports. While we agreed a lot with the fangraphs.com prognostications, we had a problem with Baseball Prospectis’s PECOTA System yet again.
In the 1st total listed below are the official Win/Loss Over/Unders For All 30 MLB Clubs posted by Atlantis Casino.
We have to say that they pretty much mirrored what we have on the board for our projections.
Casino’s have a vested interest since it will cost them serious money if there are poor predictions.
In the last week, we have seen the Royals ink Travis Wood, but more importantly Alex Reyes was lost for the season by the Cardinals due to his upcoming Tommy John Surgery. Read the rest of this entry
Why Pablo Sandoval is in a Position to Succeed With the Boston Red Sox
Once a ballyhooed free agent signing, Pablo Sandoval’s 2016 season with the Boston Red Sox ended after a total of three games and an unacceptable number of trips to the dinner plate. Plagued with shoulder issues and an alarming weight gain, the third baseman barely made it on the field to try and follow up on a miserable 2015 campaign that was his first with the team. Now noticeably slimmer and reportedly healthy, his bid for a comeback is being aided by his team, which has put him in the best possible position to succeed.
Randy Levine proves to be classless
Randy Levine Makes All The Wrong Movements Post Betances Arbitration Hearing
Who’s in Command Here?!?
So if pitchers who strike out a lot of batters while walking few tend to be very good, is the converse always true? Are pitchers with lousy K/BB ratios… lousy?
Well, yes.
And no.
It depends.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 18, 2017
The card of the day for Sully Baseball was a Mark Davis Topps Card. I bet you do not know this, but he is a Cy Young winner once traded for a Hall of Famer and another time dealt for an MVP.
I am POSITIVE you didn’t know that.
Pad your resume on this episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast -February 17, 2017
Former Cleveland Indians All Star reliever Sid Monge joins the podcast today.
We talked about his days with the Tribe and the Tigers, his 30 years of coaching and what other sports he could have mastered.
Passing on knowledge with the AL Pitcher of the Month for July, 1979 on this episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sons of ’84 Top 100 MLB Prospects for 2017
Welcome once again to my favorite blog entry of the year, my Top 100 Major League Baseball Prospect list for 2017. My list consists of the top prospects in baseball right now and doesn’t necessarily focus on player’s impact this season as these players are in various stages of their Minor League and and possibly Major League career.
Team breakouts for players on the list include: 8 – ATL 7 – NYY, 6 – MIL 5 – CWS, LAD, Pit, TB 4 – CHC, Col, Hou, NYM, Oak, Phi, SD 3 – Bos, Cin, Cle, Min, Tor, Was 2 – Sea, Tex 1 – Bal, Det, LAA, MIA, SF
Position breakouts for players on the list look like: C – 5, 1B – 4, 2B – 5, 3B – 4, SS – 12, OF – 25, LHP – 13, RHP – 32
For the list, you’ll find the player’s name, their position/team/and last year’s ranking for this list…
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 16, 2017
Marc Serota/Getty Images North America
A few days ago, I thought the Marlins were about to get a normal owner.
Now the Marlins management is somehow mixed up with the Trump Presidency and the French Embassy.
This is bananas.
Florida is nuts again on this episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Todd Frazier’s Goal for This Season Should Be Pretty Simple
When the Chicago White Sox acquired third baseman Todd Frazier from the Cincinnati Reds last winter, the organization’s goal was to find some lineup protection for first baseman Jose Abreu. Frazier responded with a power surge he hadn’t yet experienced during his young MLB career, but didn’t do much else outside of that, leading to a rather mediocre overall performance at the plate.
Given the lackluster free agent market this winter — especially at third base — one would assume that a player fresh off a 40-homer, 98-RBI season like Frazier would’ve been a hot commodity on the trade market.
That wasn’t the case, though, and the rebuilding White Sox still have him on their roster with the hopes he can improve from the 102 wRC+ and 2.4 fWAR he produced in 2016.
Where exactly can Frazier’s game improve? There’s not always a simple answer to a question like that, but he needs to stop hitting the ball in the air so freakin’ much.
Satchel’s Greatest Trick
To any qualified observer—players, coaches, even the owners who refused to grant him an opportunity to pitch in the majors—Satchel Paige was among the greatest handful of pitchers to ever take a mound. In his youth, Paige dominated with an overpowering fastball and extraordinary control. As the years and miles accumulated, he became the game’s greatest magician, flummoxing hitters with an unending variety of pitches and deliveries. Paige’s wit was a sharp as his control, his personality as big as the break on his curve. He took great pleasure in keeping people guessing, and he took his greatest secret with him to the grave… READ MORE
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast -February 15, 2017
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images North America
Alex Reyes looks like he is going to have Tommy John surgery. These Tommy John surgeries are driving me crazy. Perhaps this is a case for good, clean PEDs.
Get a legal edge on this episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
2017 Top – 400 Dynasty League Fantasy Baseball Rankings
Below you will find my personal top-400 dynasty league baseball rankings. In order to be eligible for this list, a player must have over 200 career MLB at bats or 50 innings pitched.
1 = 100
| Rank | Player | Position | Team |
| 1 | Mike Trout | CF,UT | LAA |
| 2 | Mookie Betts | RF,UT | BOS |
| 3 | Kris Bryant | 3B,LF,RF,UT | CHC |
| 4 | Manny Machado | 3B,SS,UT | BAL |
| 5 | Bryce Harper | RF,UT | WAS |
| 6 | Nolan Arenado | 3B,UT | COL |
| 7 | Clayton Kershaw | SP | LAD |
| 8 | Jose Altuve | 2B,UT | HOU |
| 9 | Paul Goldschmidt | 1B,UT | ARI |
| 10 | Carlos Correa | SS,UT | HOU |
| 11 | Anthony Rizzo | 1B,UT | CHC |
| 12 | Corey Seager | SS,UT | LAD |
| 13 | Trea Turner | 2B,CF,UT | WAS |
| 14 | Francisco Lindor | SS,UT | CLE |
| 15 | Josh Donaldson | 3B,UT | TOR |
| 16 | Madison Bumgarner | SP | SF |
| 17 | Xander Bogaerts | SS,UT | BOS |
| 18 | Noah Syndergaard | SP,RP | NYM |
| 19 | George Springer | RF,UT | HOU |
| 20 | Chris Sale | SP | BOS |
| 21 | Starling Marte | LF,CF,UT | PIT |
| 22 | Max Scherzer | SP | WAS |
| 23 | Freddie Freeman | 1B,UT | ATL |
| 24 | Christian Yelich | LF,CF,UT | MIA |
| 25 | Giancarlo Stanton | RF,UT | MIA |
| 26 | Gregory Polanco | LF,RF,UT | PIT |
| 27 | Charlie Blackmon | CF,UT | COL |
| 28 | Miguel Cabrera | 1B,UT | DET |
| 29 | Corey Kluber | SP | CLE |
| 30 | Jake Arrieta | SP | CHC |
| 31 | Alex Bregman | 3B,UT | HOU |
| 32 | Rougned Odor | 2B,UT | TEX |
| 33 | J.D. Martinez | RF,UT | DET |
| 34 | A.J. Pollock | CF,UT | ARI |
| 35 | Brian Dozier | 2B,UT | MIN |
| 36 | Wil Myers | 1B,UT | SD |
| 37 | Miguel Sano | 3B,RF,UT | MIN |
| 38 | Joey Votto | 1B,UT | CIN |
| 39 | Daniel Murphy | 1B,2B,UT | WAS |
| 40 | Carlos Martinez | SP | STL |
| 41 | Ryan Braun | LF,UT | MIL |
| 42 | Jose Abreu | 1B,UT | CHW |
| 43 | Andrew McCutchen | CF,UT | PIT |
| 44 | Edwin Encarnacion | 1B,UT | CLE |
| 45 | Kyle Schwarber | LF,UT | CHC |
| 46 | Addison Russell | SS,UT | CHC |
| 47 | Jacob deGrom | SP | NYM |
| 48 | Yu Darvish | SP | TEX |
| 49 | Stephen Strasburg | SP | WAS |
| 50 | Robinson Cano | 2B,UT | SEA |
| 51 | Anthony Rendon | 3B,UT | WAS |
| 52 | Jonathan Villar | 2B,3B,SS,UT | MIL |
| 53 | Chris Archer | SP | TB |
| 54 | Yoenis Cespedes | LF,CF,UT | NYM |
| 55 | Buster Posey | C,1B,UT | SF |
| 56 | Carlos Gonzalez | RF,UT | COL |
| 57 | Eric Hosmer | 1B,UT | KC |
| 58 | David Price | SP | BOS |
| 59 | Carlos Carrasco | SP | CLE |
| 60 | Julio Urias | SP,RP | LAD |
| 61 | Jason Kipnis | 2B,UT | CLE |
| 62 | Johnny Cueto | SP | SF |
| 63 | David Dahl | LF,UT | COL |
| 64 | Jonathan Lucroy | C,UT | TEX |
| 65 | Trevor Story | SS,UT | COL |
| 66 | Stephen Piscotty | CF,RF,UT | STL |
| 67 | Kyle Seager | 3B,UT | SEA |
| 68 | Jon Lester | SP | CHC |
| 69 | Hanley Ramirez | 1B,UT | BOS |
| 70 | Justin Upton | LF,UT | DET |
| 71 | Matt Carpenter | 1B,2B,3B,UT | STL |
| 72 | Justin Verlander | SP | DET |
| 73 | Jose Quintana | SP | CHW |
| 74 | Chris Davis | 1B,UT | BAL |
| 75 | Danny Salazar | SP | CLE |
| 76 | Gerrit Cole | SP | PIT |
| 77 | Kyle Hendricks | SP,RP | CHC |
| 78 | Byron Buxton | CF,UT | MIN |
| 79 | Masahiro Tanaka | SP | NYY |
| 80 | Maikel Franco | 3B,UT | PHI |
| 81 | Julio Teheran | SP | ATL |
| 82 | Zach Britton | RP | BAL |
| 83 | Aaron Sanchez | SP | TOR |
| 84 | Gary Sanchez | C,UT | NYY |
| 85 | Michael Brantley | LF,UT | CLE |
| 86 | Jackie Bradley Jr. | CF | BOS |
| 87 | Jean Segura | 2B,SS,UT | SEA |
| 88 | Billy Hamilton | CF,UT | CIN |
| 89 | Kevin Gausman | SP | BAL |
| 90 | Rick Porcello | SP | BOS |
| 91 | Aaron Nola | SP | PHI |
| 92 | Aroldis Chapman | RP | NYY |
| 93 | Jameson Taillon | SP | PIT |
| 94 | Todd Frazier | 3B,UT | CHW |
| 95 | Ian Desmond | LF,CF,UT | COL |
| 96 | Kenley Jansen | RP | LAD |
| 97 | Matt Harvey | SP | NYM |
| 98 | Willson Contreras | C,LF,UT | CHC |
| 99 | J.T. Realmuto | C,UT | MIA |
| 100 | Dee Gordon | 2B,UT | MIA |
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – February 14, 2017
Elsa/Getty Images North America
On Valentine’s Day, I take a look at the Mets whose 2017 is totally uncertain and Terry Collins is about to have an unusual title in the team’s history.
Feeling the love on this episode of Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Chicago White Sox Top Prospects
The state of the Chicago White Sox minor league system has likely never been brighter. With a huge influx of talent like Michael Kopech, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, and Dane Dunning the White Sox have the top prospects to truly build one of the elite pitching staffs in baseball. They also brought in young raw bats such as Luis Alexander Basabe and Yoan Moncada to potentially create franchise caliber talent in the field.
The White Sox also have done a good job of cultivating and developing talent through the draft and foreign signing classes. Alec Hansen looks to offer more promise than people him credit for while the ceiling for Zack Collins has many looking at this organization in awe. There is also an increasing amount of talent in the back end of the farm that offers some of the better upside seen in the league outside of the team’s top ten prospects.
Chicago White Sox Top Prospects
Can These 11 MLB Hitters Continue Making the Most of Their Fly Balls in 2017?
You’d be hard-pressed to find a baseball fan who doesn’t dig watching home runs. If you indeed dig them, the 2016 season was one of the best years to track the long ball in recent memory.
There were 111 different players who reached the 20-homer plateau, which is a new record and a substantial increase to 2015, where only 64 players slugged that many baseballs over the fence. The most beautiful part of it all? Not all 20-plus homer hitters are created equally, which we’ve touched upon a couple of times this winter.
While they can also happen on line drives, the home runs usually result from fly balls. Obviously, for someone to accumulate a lot of round-trippers in any given season, a healthy fly-ball rate (FB%) is necessary.
So, it makes sense as to why 100 of the above players produced a fly-ball rate in 2016 north of 30% (including 53 with a fly-ball rate of at least 40%). That also leaves us with an interesting group who didn’t put the ball in the air as frequently, and they probably wouldn’t mind it happening again in 2017.
Here are the 11 hitters who managed to enter the 20-homer club last year without a fly-ball rate above 30%.
MLB Reports 
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