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Can Gerrit Cole Rely On His Slider Again In 2016?
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Jason Rollison (Featured Baseball Writer/piratesbreakdown.com) Follow @pbcbreakdown
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In what seems like another lifetime ago, I wrote that Gerrit Cole was now relying on his slider in 2015 as his go-to pitch.
At the time, Cole’s development of a killer secondary pitch to complement his fastball was something that was in its infancy.
After bursting onto the scene in 2013 with a fastball that could tap 100mph on radar, Cole showed a greater reliance on his fastball while still mixing in his sinker, slider, and curveball.
He even put an emphasis on his still-burgeoning changeup early in the season before that, too, which also took a backseat to the heat.
Despite that emphasis on secondary pitches, Cole was often forced to go back to the fastball in 2014.
The simple fact is that the changeup, curveball, and sinker were getting knocked around a bit, with line drive rates of 30.43 percent, 35 percent, and 28.07 percent respectively.
The sinking fastball and changeup both had batting averages against of .300 or more, with the changeup also displaying a crooked .643 SLG percentage.
It was clear that Cole was still figuring out which weapon in his arsenal would be that second “go-to” pitch.
Enter the slider.
Michael Conforto Talks 2016 NY Mets Expectations
Freddy Vasquez (Featured Baseball Writer/Owner – metshotcorner.com) Follow @metshotcorner
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Michael Conforto exceeded expectations last season for the Mets to say the least.
Shades of brilliance were shown throughout his time played during the regular season, but hitting two home runs in game 4 of the World Series was something to talk about.
I was there to witness the feat achieved by the rookie Conforto, and Citi Field was going insane!
Is Yoenis Cespedes The Answer For The Mets?
Saturday morning brought a nice surprise to all Orioles fans wondering if Yoenis Cespedes was going to play in their outfield come April.
Chris Davis and agent Scott Boras were able to come to terms with the Orioles and agree on a 7 year $161 million dollar deal, once again proving he is the best sports agent that ever existed and the whole Cespedes offer was just a ploy by the Orioles to get their all-star first baseman back home where he belongs.
So what happens with Cespedes and the Mets?
Assessing Adrian Beltre’s Place ALL – Time: Rangers Should Lock Him Up For A Few More Years
Adrian Beltre has earned every cent of his 6 years/$96 MIL deal signed before the 2011 season so far. He has 3 slashed .309/.358/.514 in his tenure and has finished in the top 15 for MVP voting in each of those campaigns. The Rangers should try to extend him for 2 or 3 more years past 2016 – and lock up the future Hall Of Famer so he can end his career in Arlington. Beltre will play next season at Age 37 – and will make $16 MIL in the final year of his pact.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
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When Adrian Beltre arrived in Texas for the 2011 season he had a fine career that was started at age 20 in Los Angeles. What he has achieved in Arlington was turn a decent lifetime of playing baseball into a Hall of Fame Career.
The 36 year old Third Baseman could hold records for the hot corner for XBH, 2B’s, R, GP, PA, AB, Hits and RBI just to start with – and cement his legacy in Cooperstown.
So how many years can he play beyond next year? I think it is realistic to say he could play until he is 40. That would mean playing in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. 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
ALL Time Tommy Surgeries List: Updated For 2015 Players
Holland took over Closer duties during the 2012 season – once Jonathan Broxton was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He was 7 – 4, with a 2.96 ERA – with 16 Saves. He was dominate until he went down with a UCL tear this season.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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The epic is going absolutely nowhere fast, and we have seen a dramatic spike in the last decade of surgeries. We have a dedicated page to the list here.
There have been several scares with some big name pitchers on 9 figure salaries, with Masahiro Tanaka and Clayton Kershaw in recent years, but there will come a day when a guy goes down making $25 MIL plus per year.
You could say that Yu Darvish was heading towards an astronomical payday before his setback this season.
2015 Surgeries (29)
Greg Holland, Royals, Oct.2
Aaron Barrett, Nationals, Sept.3
Nathan Adcock, Reds
Jason Vargas, Royals, Aug.1
Jack Leathersich, Mets, July.30
Don Kelly, Marlins, July.1: OF
Sergio Santos, Blue Jays, July.1
Brandon Workman, Red Sox, June.15
Jarrod Parker, A’s – Honorable mention (3rd TJ Surgery not to occur, but he is out indefinitely after was revealed he had a tear in his elbow – recovering from 2nd TJ Surgery from Mar, 2014 in Minor League rehabilitation earlier in the month.) Still having an elbow surgery, just not the Tommy John operation. Read the rest of this entry
Zack Greinke Should Re-Sign With The Dodgers If Deal Is In The Neighborhood
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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With the Dodgers losing yet another Series in the playoffs they have some big questions about their offseason forthcoming. Don Mattingly will likely be fired. Then there is the Zack Greinke situation.
The 31 Year old RHP has a legitimate shot to be the NL Cy Young Winner this year (if it is not Jake Arrieta) – and he couldn’t have picked a better campaign to do this with an opt out clause in his contract. He will command a hefty sum in the winter.
Here is the problem….The Dodgers new brass doesn’t like to spend the kind of money like the old Ned Colletti days, and this may pose a problem to sign one of the best four pitchers in the game the last few years. Read the rest of this entry
The Mets Should Do Whatever It Takes To Sign Yoenis Cespedes This Winter
Yoenis Cespedes is a superstar player that has shown he loves the New York spotlight. With some progressive thinking, and a great amount of their young pitching superstars under team control for several years, the Mets have the wherewithal to sign the big Cuban OF. It is my idea that they outbid everyone to sign him, and then trade Curtis Granderson to create enough room in the OF, so that he can move over to a permanent spot in RF at Flushing Meadows, NY.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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There are few players deserving of 100 Million Dollar Plus contracts in the game of baseball right now. Yoenis Cespedes has played himself into consideration for this honor with his second half of play.
Vastly underrated, and a main cog in the A’s renaissance from the time he was there, he has done the same thing in Flushing Meadows.
The Mets are a different kettle of fish with the Big Man in their lineup.
How do you like a .287/.337/.604 3 Slash line with 31 Extra Base Hits and 44 RBI in 57 Games Played with the Mets? Before you think this is just a blip on the radar, the man averages over 70 Extra Base Hits – with 30 HRs and 103 RBI over his 162 Game average for his career thus far. Read the rest of this entry
Kris Bryant Can Only Look To Himself Why He May Not Be On The Opening Day Roster
Kris Bryant is about as sure of a prospect there has been in the last 5 years. Will the Cubs let him start the year in 2015, or will they send him down until the middle of April to save service time?. The young slugger had 43 HRs in the Minor League’s last year – and has also smacked 6 big fly’s in Spring Training so far. But there are things to suggest that starting him off in the Minors is not such a bad idea. The 23 Year Old is not the slickest fielder, has already experienced shoulder fatigue, and the team will play its 1st 9 games in cold weather too. (Hosting 6 games at home, and playing the other 3 in Coors Field.) But really. he might have sealed his fate for the opener by having Scott Boras as his agent.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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So the talks continue to mount on the Kris Bryant Opening Day watch. With each passing day he hits a HR, or shows himself ready for the big leagues, the question will become even more serious. But if he is ultimately not pulled up to Wrigley Field on Sunday Apr.5th vs Division Rival Cards, he has no one to blame by himself.
By having Scott Boras as his Agent, it has pretty much implanted in the Cubs brass, that the prize prospect will never sign an extension, and when his service time has him approaching Free Agency, he will indeed hit the open market and look for the top bidder.
I don’t even blame Boras for this. He is a phenomenal representative of his players, and always seems to get the max dollar for the highest percentage of the time compared to other agents.
Perhaps it will serve as a deterrent to future awesome young studs, that Boras has been sticking it to team owners for years. Maybe they should opt for a different agent, as this man has shown his playing cards on too many occasions. The executives all know Boras will lead his client to the open market.
Even having said this, if the man was not under the direction of the Boras Corporation, the Cubs should not start the clock on him anyway. The talk of the Cubs contending in 2015 is much over-hyped in my view. Read the rest of this entry
The Struggles Of Josh Hamilton: Despite Massive Talent, He Has Underwhelmed in LA, But Layoff The Guy For His Addiction Battle!
Josh Hamilton from a much younger time in his life. He fought off his drug addiction in his early 20’s, to become one of the best players in the game from 2008 – 2012. Following a recent list of injuries and personal battles, he has suffered a relapse in his addiction. Hamilton met with the MLB yesterday in New York, and has reportedly admitted to at least using cocaine.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
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In the first two months of 2012 Josh Hamilton was putting up historic numbers and was on his way to a Cooperstown resume. I even wrote a column on how he was the best baseball player on the planet.
I had evidence to support my statement. In his 1st 47 Games, the man had 21 HRs and 57 RBI, while batting nearly .400, with an OPS that neared 1.200. Included in those impressive totals was a 4 HR game at Camden Yards.
During my 30 MLB Park streak the 1st 4 weeks of the season, I saw Hamilton play four games. He clubbed 3 HRs and added 3 doubles in his AB during the games I witnessed, and he hit one jack at Target Field that may have not landed yet. This man was pistol hot. I had no doubt he would continue to post Hall Of Fame credentials in that season, and for many years to come.
Right after that he quit chewing tobacco, and has been plagued with problems since. He has left the Texas Rangers, been hurt and underperformed since signing with the Angels. Read the rest of this entry
Ichiro Suzuki Maybe Older, But He Is a Perfect 4th OF/PH
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Okay so Ichiro Suzuki doesn’t possess as much speed as he once did, or even hit .320 like he routinely did for the Mariners. Plus yes, there is virtually no power…however he hit .284 last season, and for a 4th OF or Pinch Hitter in the Senior Circuit, that would be much likened.
I was sitting there last month debating on whether the Mariners should give him a call for a return to Seattle, considering they tried signing Franklin Gutierrez (hurt all of 2014, which was the biggest waste of a $MIL ever by M’s mgmt – considering the guy already burned the squad for 120 games missed in 2013) and employed friggin Endy Chavez for much of the 2014 year.
I am giving Jack Z. and the Mariners some chops for picking up Justin Ruggiano and Seth Smith instead in the last 30 days, but the point was, Ichiro may not have wanted to return to the PAC NW anyway even though he could have helped that club as they were constructed then.
Have you seen some of the 4th OF and PH that still have jobs in the Majors? Heck yeah… give me a guy who can put the bat on the ball still.
Suzuki is a great contact hitter even at his age, and he will likely see some AB roaming the outfield for the Marlins this year. I love Giancarlo Stanton, but it is not like he ever plays 162 games straight on the diamond. Read the rest of this entry
Why Boston Should Do What It Takes To Sign Pablo Sandoval: He Could Eventually Replace Ortiz!
Pablo Sandoval is a hitter out of his mind for his playoff career. How does a 3 Slash Line of .344/.389/.545 sound? His OPS of .935 is 124 PTS higher than his totals in the regular season. “Kung-Fu Panda” has added 6 HRs and 20 RBI in his 154 AB. Included in his numbers, were a historical Game #1 of the 2012 World Series, where he clubbed 3 HRs en route to sweeping the Tigers can roll out. This latest World Series triumph, the rotund 3B set a playoff record with 26 base knocks (hitting .366 – with a .423 OBP for the October season). There is no doubt that when the game is on the line he has been proven clutch. Boston should think of him as a possible long-term DH replacement for Ortiz, meanwhile he would be a big jolt out for the 3B position on Boston right now. Signing him would free the franchise up with several infielders if they were so inclined to pull off a trade with the likes of Mookie Betts, Will Middlebrooks and Brock Holt. Perhaps they could receive a Starting Pitcher for these guys.
Chuck Booth (Lead Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
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Picture the year 2017 when David Ortiz may finally retire,, Who will be the Designated Hitter for the Boston Red Sox? They will be huge shoes to fill, for what has been a great advantage over the rest of the American League for the last dozen years.
There is no coincidence that Boston finally kicked their 86 year drought, and have enjoyed 3 World Series Titles since “Big Papi” entered the scene.
If you think about it for a second, Kung-Fu Panda and Ortiz have a lot in common. Both have won 3 World Series, and have been integral parts of the offenses that brought home the titles.
Both don’t look like they are athletes considering their body frames, however these guys have provided the most clutch hits in the sport for the last 10 years.
The Boston Red Sox need to add hitters to their lineup for sure. Yes right now they have Yoenis Cespedes to hit behind Ortiz, however he will be taking his talents to Free Agency after this next campaign.
Can the Beantowners count on a comeback year for Allen Craig or Shane Victorino?
Inking the 3B would create even more tradeable pieces to add in a deal to acquire another Starting Pitcher ace. Read the rest of this entry
With V – Mart’s 4 YR Deal For $68 MIL, The Market Threshold Is Set For Nelson Cruz
Victor Martinez has thrived offensively in Detroit hitting behind Miguel Cabrera. Aside from the 2012 injury where he missed the whole season to a broken ankle. V-Mart’s 3 Slash Line for the Tigers is .321/.381/.487 – with 58 HR and 289 RBI in 1706 AB for the squad. 2014 was the last year of the 35 year old’s 4 YRs/$50 MIL deal. There was no guarantee the Tigers could afford to bring him back for 2015 or beyond because of the chance they would move Cabrera to DH in a few years. However, the “Motown Boys” will have the best Designated Hitter in the game right now, back in the fold for the next 4 campaigns. The one person who may not like the $ portion of the contract is Nelson Cruz, who is seeking a deal of 5 years at above the dollars per year V-Mart just reeled in.
Chuck Booth (Lead Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
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Yesterday Victor Martinez finalized re-signing with the Detroit Tigers for 4 YRs/$68 MIL. This both was a great deal for the “Motown Boys” and also set a likely threshold for Free Agent DH slugger Nelson Cruz.
The Orioles DH/OF must not be happy with the amount of cash that V-Mart signed with, because there is no way he should reach that stratosphere.
2014 Stats
Victor Martinez (35): .335/.409/.565, with 32 HRs 103 RBI and only 42 SO in 561 AB.
Nelson Cruz (34): .271/.333/.525, with 40 HRs 108 RBI and 140 SO in 613 AB.
Career
Martinez: .306/.373/.475
Cruz: .268/.328/.501 Read the rest of this entry
Brian Wilson Exercises His 2015 Player Option + Hopes To Rebound Like 2nd Half Of 2014 Indicated
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Brian Wilson has let the Dodgers know he is picking up his 2015 Player Option for $9.0 MIL.
The character Reliever, did not have a great season with Los Angeles, however he straightened it out in the 2nd half, and added a 1/3rd of an inning in the Postseason, to run his lifetime total to 18 scoreless innings to start his playoff career.
The man has a proven playoff pedigree and it baffled me on the reluctance to use the bearded fellow. Maybe we will find out his was really hurt, from what seemed to plague him from the 1st half.
Clayton Kershaw aside, no one had a worse trip to Australia and back then Wilson. as he came back with injuries to his back and neck, stemming from the quick turnaround flight after playing 2 games in Sydney.
The 32 Year Old Wilson posted a 5.66 ERA – and a 1.847 WHIP prior to the ALL – Star Break in 30.1 IP.
Post ALL – Star he was more familiar to what he has authored in career, having a 3.00 ERA and a 1.147 WHIP in his last 18.1 IP.
Wilson came to the Dodgers in August of 2013, after he recovered from a 2nd Tommy John Surgery that had sidelined him since April of 2012. Read the rest of this entry
Beane Acquires Lester + Gomes For Cespedes: Then Acquires Fuld For Millone
Jon Lester, 30, is in the last year of his contract, which will make him around $4 MIL for the last 2 months of the 2014 season. While there is no way he signs with Oakland past this campaign, this is a calculated move to land a playoff assassin that can front a franchise a #1 starter for a playoff series – or as the pitcher in a Play in Wild Card game should the Angels run the A’s down for the AL West. Much like Samardzija, the Athletics brass knows these guys could never be acquired via Free Agency, and have the wherewithal to know that inking longterm aces to deals past the age of 30 is just not in the cards for the franchise. The A’s were put in the position to rent them because of Beane’s nice deals to build the organization’s depth. Lester features a 2.11 ERA in 76.2 IP worth of work in the Post season lifetime. Lester is 10 – 7, with a 2.52 ERA in 143.2 IP this season in 21 Game Starts.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
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Billy Beane has been adamant about his team winning the World Series in 2014, and he fired yet another salvo on the July 31st deadline.
The A’s GM acquired Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes for the popular Cuban OF Yoenis Cespedes.
Lets have the finances out of the way 1st.
Jon Lester, 30, is in the last year of his contract, and will be a Free Agent after this year.
There is no shot at the man signing with the Athletics after this year. however the A’s will receive a compensatory pick for giving him a qualifying offer following 2014.
The LHP wll make approximately $4 MIL the rest of the season.
Yoenis Cespedes, 28, is signed through the 2015 at $10.5 MIL per year the next 2 seasons, and will become a Free Agent after next year.
As per the article 20B section of the CBA, he negotiated that he would be free and clear once his original 4 YRs/$36 MIL deal with the A’s was completed – prior to the 2012 campaign.
The 2013 and 2014 HR Derby winner will make just south of $3.3 MIL for the rest of this year.
Jonny Gomes 33, will make about $1.5 MIL for the duration of the 2014 year, and will become a Free Agent this winter. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – June 27, 2014
AP Photo/Danny Moloshok
An intense pennant race or NLCS between the Giants and Dodgers is just what baseball needs right now. And the recent San Francisco slump and Los Angeles surge could make that happen this year!
It is a West Coast Bias episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Chase Utley, Jose Reyes, Mike Leake, Rick Porcello, Ryan Wheeler, Joe Mauer and Adam Wainwright all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball.
Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – June 25, 2014
Should MLB ban chewing tobacco? Of course they should! How is this even an issue?
That question and more on today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Gerardo Parra, Kyle Seager, Clayton Kershaw, Jose Quintana, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Carlos Santana, Yovani Gallardo and Danny Duffy all added to their totals for Who Owns Baseball.
Read the rest of this entry
Tyler Clippard is Dead, Long Live Tyler Clippard
Great piece by James O’Hara
Last night the Nats entered the top of the eighth inning up 1-0 on the visiting Los Angeles Angels with bullpen ace Tyler Clippard on the mound. The Nats exited the top of the eighth inning down 4-1. Through his first 11 appearances Clippard has struggled to the tune of a 3.72 ERA, 4.49 FIP, 15 strikeouts and 6 walks. If that sounds familiar it should. After his first 11 appearances in 2013, Clippard had a 4.35 ERA, 4.89 FIP, nine strikeouts and eight walks. After his first 11 appearances in 2012, Clippard had a 4.91 ERA, 2.55 FIP, 12 strikeouts and six walks.
But this year seems to be a bit more insidious of a problem. Four times this year Clippard has entered a game with the Nats tied or ahead and left the game with the Nats behind. That only happened once in 2013 and just twice in…
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What Miguel Cabrera’s New Contract Means To The Tigers And Him
Miguel Cabrera‘s new 8 YR/$248 MIL contract extension comes days after the club couldn’t come to terms with reigning AL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer.
The numbers are mind boggling.
He breaks the ALL – Time record for Average Annual Contract per year is at $31 MIL AAV (from 2016 – 2023), and also he is owed the most dollars at any given time by a contract at $292 MIL for the years of 2014 – 2023.
This man is the best pure offensive player in the game, and has only become better with age, but a lot of people are worried about the back end of this deal.
I fully understand that. Read the rest of this entry
The Braves Continue To Step Up To The Plate In The Ervin Santana Signing
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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It was a move that had to be done in my view. Atlanta has 60% of its Starting Rotation currently in the sick bay, or has questionable thoughts to whether it could pitch near Opening Day.
In the end it is a Win/Win situation for all above.
The Braves acquire a top end of the rotation guy, and it serves as great insurance, and Santana is able to play for a full season trying to re-establish his worth on next winter’s open market.
Sure Atlanta sacrifices a 1st RD pick, but they are still receiving the compensation Pick from the Yankees for the Brian McCann signing.
Santana flies right out the American League, and will look to pad his stats versus the likes of the Mets and Marlins this year, and to avoid the AL Beast, the only teams that were coveting him that he mutually was talking with Read the rest of this entry
Is Rushing Marcus Stroman A Good Idea? Anybody Remember A Young Roy Halladay?
Video by E. Tyler Bullock
By ‘Baseball Writer’ Steve Cheeseman Follow @steveccheeseman
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Is Rushing Marcus Stroman a Good Idea?
Prime pitching prospect Marcus Stroman is the pride and joy prospect of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The 22 year old out of Medford, New York is front and centre with many media outlets heading into the spring training. Consider his age, and little professional experience under his hat. Why rush him?
Stroman was drafted 22nd overall in the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft, after finishing a college career at Duke where he set the school record for strikeouts with 290 (over 222.0 innings). Read the rest of this entry
Chris Duffy Contacts All MLB Teams: Will He Get A Second Chance?
Chris Duffy Looks for An MLB Opportunity
By Nicholas Delahanty (MLB Reports Writer) Follow @Nick_Delahanty
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An interesting story broke out last week, as Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle wrote an article on Chris Duffy, A current independent ballplayer who has been searching for a chance to sign with a Major League team this spring.
During his senior season at the University of Central Florida, Duffy was nominated for the Golden Spikes Award, which is annually given to the country’s best amateur baseball player.
He was nominated among the likes of Bryce Harper (who won the award), Chris Sale, Drew Pomeranz, and Yasmani Grandal.
Unlike the other four nominees, Duffy was not a first-round draft pick and was unable to make it to the major leagues just yet. He fell to the 26th round, where the Philadelphia Phillies finally swooped him up.
Read the rest of this entry
The Homer Bailey Extension Is Good For The Short Term In Cincy: Not Sure About The Long – Term Though
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Homer Bailey may be the 3rd Starting Pitcher on the depth chart, but he happened to be the 1st guy up on Free Agency out of Mat Latos (2016 FA) and Johnny Cueto (2016 FA).
For this reason alone, I like the team extending the 27 Year Old to a 6 YR deal worth a minimum of $105 MIL, and with a Mutual Option for $25 MIL for the 2020 campaign – that could make it a 7 YRs/$125 MIL pact.
The deal starts off pretty good for dollar sense in the first two years, with Bailey making $8 MIL in 2014, and $9 MIL in 2015.
From there if I can borrow a line from Anchorman “That escalated quickly”, the next few years go like this, $18 MIL, $19 MIL, $21 MIL and $23 MIL for the years starting in 2016 – and finishing in 2019. Read the rest of this entry
Derek Jeter Is Retiring In 2014: He Is Hoping It Will Be A Season To Remember
Derek Jeter has announced today – that 2014 will be his last year in the MLB. After he led the MLB in hits in 2012 with 216, he finished with just 11 knocks in 2013 – due to 4 DL stints and just 53 AB. The worst the team has ever done in his 19 year career, is finish 87 -74 in 2000 (still won the WS). The only time the club missed the playoffs – was in 2008, when they were 89 – 73. We will follow his last season much like we did Mariano Rivera. Endless amounts of respect should be poured out on the road and at home for this man. In 2014, he will enter his 20th and final campaign in the Bronx. The team has never had a losing season under his time there heading into 2014.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst and Website Owner) Follow @mlbreports
2014 will mark the second straight year that an ALL – Time Yankee Legend will have a year long retirement party.
The emergence of Derek Jeter in the Bronx culminated with a new dynasty of Bronx Bombers’ baseball – and resulted in 6 World Series visits in his first 7 years as the club’s Shortstop.
Derek Jeter personified everything that was great in the sport of baseball – and New York City, in a time where there were seedy underlings doing damage to the game.
The man is a consummate professional, and carried himself in a dignified manner, despite playing in a city where you can hardly breathe when it comes to media attention.
Derek Jeter’s only HR in the 2014 year
The Giancarlo Stanton Extension Debate
The Marlins have one of the most prolific young power hitters in the game of baseball in Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton has 3 years left of Arbitration before he will be eligible for Free Agency heading into the 2017 season. Still, his price tag is only going to keep increasing so the franchise will have to act fast to keep their beloved outfielder in Miami for the long-term.
Sam Evans ( Baseball Writer and Marlins, Mariners Correspondent): Follow @RJA206
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Giancarlo Stanton is one of the most talented young hitters in baseball. He is a tremendous athlete with ridiculous power that already has 117 Major League home runs in less than 500 games.
Luckily enough for the city of Miami, they will likely get to enjoy watching Stanton for a couple more years, as he won’t hit free agency until 2017.
However, the club won’t have a competitive team during that time frame and it would make a lot of sense for their front office to do everything in their power to sign Stanton to an extension.
It still remains unlikely that Stanton will want to stay in Miami and the Marlins will be willing to shell out the money to keep him, but if an extension is going to happen, it will happen sooner rather than later.
Is Masahiro Tanaka The Next Young International Superstar Pitcher?
Mashahiro Tanaka was 24 – 0, with a 1.27 ERA in with his team in the NPBL last year. He has followed countrymen Yu Darvish, Hiroki Kuroda and of course the 1st man from Japan, Hideo Nomo as superstars to take their talents to North America. Tanaka has pitched with the whole world watching him, as part of the 2013 WBC team for Japan. He will be counted on at the top of the New York Yankees rotation for years to come. Fans in New York can only pray this guy is much more like the guys aforementioned in this caption – rather than former Yankees Starting Pitcher Kei Igawa, who never panned out in his time with New York.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
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Today we are talking about young International Phenom pitchers. I picked 5 former and current pitchers that hailed from other places other than the USA to concentrate the story on.
I came up with Fernando Valenzuela from Mexico, Hideo Nomo and Yu Darvish from Japan, Eric Gagne from Canada and Juan Marichal from the Dominican Republic.
The 5 baseball players all flashed onto the scene as young pitchers, 3 of them dominating their peers from the get go.
Eric Gagne, the 5th 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 five 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.
Hideo Nomo’s No – Hitter Game
The Nationals Case Against Extending Jordan Zimmermann
The problem with any of the Nationals players not named Harper or Strasburg, is that any time the club is talking about extending one of their players before them, those guys have to be kept in mind for when they hit Free Agency.. The Nationals are creeping up the payroll scale each year that their core is together. Whether it is Arbitration, or players like Jayson Werth and Gio Gonzalez being paid more as their own contracts mature. 2014 will see the club set another record for player salaries, adding to the fuel that it will be tough to extend Zimmermann.
By David Huzzard (Nationals Correspondent via Citizens of Natstown.com – view website here): Follow @davidhuzzard
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With how much love role players like Michael Morse and Steve Lombardozzi have garnered from Nats fans as they’ve left town it will be amazing to see what happens when the Washington Nationals lose a legitimate star player.
With Ian Desmond and Jordan Zimmermann both two years away from free agency there is a high likelihood that that day is soon approaching.
The Nationals have made several overtures to Jordan Zimmermann but no deal has been reached or even come close. Zimmermann wants fair market value which is understandable but what is fair market value for a pitcher like him?
Zack Greinke with a career 3.65 ERA and one Cy Young under his belt set the record for free agent pitchers with the $147 million contract he signed last off-season heading into his age 29 season.
Jordan Zimmermann April 2013 Shutout – Mature Lyrics so Parental Guidance is Advised
Brian Wilson Re-signs For 2014 With The Dodgers – And Potentially In 2015 Too
Brian Wilson was given a 1 YR/$10 MIL deal with the Dodgers, that also has him having a Player Option for the 2015 year at $9 MIL. If Wilson has a great year in 2014, it will still benefit the Dodgers, but at the same time it may have been the deciding factor in retaining ‘The Beard’s’ services. Wilson has a 3.11 ERA in 333.2 IP worth of work in career, with 171 Saves in 196 Chances for an 87.2 % conversion Rate, Wilson is a 3 Time ALL – Star and 2 time World Series Winner. His winning pedigree will continue to be cherished in the Dodgers Pitching Relief Core.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Brian Wilson is a California guy now through and through and I couldn’t be happier that my favorite player of ALL – Time is still playing his home games as the closest park to my residence in Bakersfield, CA.
The Dodgers and Wilson both agreed on a 1 YR/$10 MIL in 2014 – with a $9 MIL Player Option in 2015 for the man originally from Londonderry, NH.
Wilson will turn 32 before next season, and has successfully returned from 2 Tommy John Surgeries to resume his career.
2013 saw him only give up 1 ER in his 24 Appearances – combining both the regular and post season in 19.2 IP – good for an ERA of 0.47 in that time frame.
Brian Wilson Contract Explained
MLB Player Profile: How Valuable Has Ben Zobrist Been To The Rays?
Ben Zobrist has quietly tuned into one of the best all around players in the game of baseball. He has finished in the top for WAR in 3 of the last 5years – including 1st in 2011 and 2nd in 2009. Zobrist, 32, who continued this season with his musical chairs defensive role on the team this year, has two years left on his current contract, and will be a Free Agent at the end of the 2015 season. It was the summer of 2006, that the brass traded Aubrey Huff for the young player. Zobrist has played 1500+ Innings in 4 different defensive positions for the franchise (SS/2B/RF/LF – and it helps Joe Maddon bring in favorable platoon matchups for several other lineup spots). He has a career 3 Slash of .263/.354/.789 in 8 seasons for Tampa.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Picture how bad the Tampa Bay Devil Rays were when the Houston Astros traded Ben Zobrist with Mitch Talbot to the Tampa Bay Rays for Aubrey Huff and cash on July.12/2006.
The team was in the 8th season out of 9 years of under .500 ball. The guy he was traded for had great offensive acumen, and was the franchise leader in several career categories as he departed the door.
Zobrist had an auspicious beginning with the Rays, struggling during the 2006 – 2007 years. His OPS numbers for those years were .572 and .391 respectively.
Joe Maddon was not as worried as others were about the 6th Round Drat Pick of the Houston Astros back in 2004,because the guy would be a Maddon type of player.
Ben Zobrist 2 Part Interview
Stoking The Fire – Week 6: The ‘Royals’ MUST Sign James Shields To An Extension Right Away!
Shields was brought into do a job (via trade) in the 2013 year, and he did just that, leading the American League In Innings Pitched, Game Starts – and Batters Faced – en route to a 13 – 9 year, with a 3.15 ERA. The Royals have him for an exercised $12.5 MIL Team Option in 2014, but the ALL – Star Pitcher has expressed interest in signing an extension long – term. My question is – why are they not backing up the Brinks truck right now?
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twiter Follow @mlbreports
I have been writing for this fine website for a few weeks now. I must say that I have been bored with my bleeping mind since the World Series – from lack of excitement.
One of my 1st articles a few weeks back, also addressed the Kansas City Royals need to go for it in 2014. It is not time to sit back any longer. At the end of this post, I will provide a link to read that post too.
I was commuting to my business last week, and I heard that James Shields likes it in KC – and would be willing to stay long-term if possible.
Okay, so why aren’t David Glass and Dayton Moore at Shields house right now, hammering away on an extension deal?
James Shields 2013 HIghlights
MLB Reports 
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