Blog Archives
Interview with Baseball Artist Kyle Morrissey: Baseball is Addictive Art Work
Saturday March 31st, 2012
MLB reports – Jonathan Hacohen: For another first on MLB reports, we charter into new waters. The Art World. While I would rather sit at Yankee Stadium for three hours than a museum, I have to admit that art has always fascinated me. A great painting can move people in many ways. It can tell a story and make different people draw many conclusions about the piece. They create conversations and discussions, while getting put up on our walls to be admired. So combining art with baseball is a logical step in my estimation. Today we feature on of the hottest young artists on the scene. While he does draw more than baseball, I found Kyle Morrissey through his love of the Angels. Kyle has prepared countless works of art for Angels’ players, as you will see featured throughout this interview. We learn about Kyle and his venture known as “Addictive Art Work”. I found it extremely fascinating to get to know a baseball artist for this features. For all lovers of baseball, you will enjoy Kyle Morrissey and his art. Here is a little bio about Kyle and my feature interview with the artist himself: Read the rest of this entry
Alex Rodriguez vs. Albert Pujols: Which Slugger is Tops?
Thursday March 29th, 2012
Bryan Sheehan (MLB Reports Intern): There is no doubt that Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez are the most prolific sluggers in the MLB right now. Pitchers fear them, teammates love them and opposing fans hate them. Both have tremendous power, huge career numbers and legions of fans that argue who is more dominant. Pujols supporters argue that his career .328 batting average, 445 home runs and two gold gloves make him the most elite in the game, while fans of A-Rod counter with 629 home runs (the most of any active player), 104.6 WAR (the third best of all time) and 1,893 RBIs; beat that Albert. Read the rest of this entry
How does Albert Pujols Compare to Babe Ruth?
Thursday March 8th, 2012
*In this article, I refer to Hank Aaron as the Home Run King, as I believe that Barry Bonds does not deserve any recognition for his steroid use, and should therefore be excluded from the record books.*
Bryan Sheehan: When it comes to baseball royalty, there aren’t many that can come close to the Sultan of Swat and Prince Albert. Babe Ruth and Albert Pujols, respectively, are two players that have each had an enormous impact within their era of play. For Ruth, it was defining the “power-hitter”, as he crushed 714 home runs (second only to Hank Aaron) and 2213 RBIs in his 22 years of MLB ball. As for Pujols, his power numbers (445 home runs and 1329 RBIs in 11 seasons) are made even greater by the fact that he remained untangled in the web that was the steroid scandal of the early millennium. But how do the Machine and the Bambino compare to each other? Read the rest of this entry
The Angels Got C.J. Wilson For a Bargain
Sunday February 26th, 2012
Sam Evans: The Angels 2011 offseason was the most surprising and significant winter in team history. They signed the best player of the last ten years, and brought in the best available free-agent starter. After a seemingly dormant start to the 2011 offseason, the Angels and new General Manager Jerry DiPoto made a phenomenal splash heading into the new season. This offseason will affect the Angels (and their payroll) for years to come. The rest of the AL West better watch out! Read the rest of this entry
2012 MLB Home Run Leaders
Friday February 24th, 2012
Rob Bland: The last two seasons have seen Jose Bautista lead the MLB in home runs. His seemingly out of nowhere run to being one of the top 3 hitters in baseball looks to continue in 2012. Can he continue to hit home runs at a ridiculous pace, or will he fall off? Will someone such as Curtis Granderson or Matt Kemp become MLB’s newest home run champ? I will take a look at some of the top choices to take over this title, as well as a few dark horses. Read the rest of this entry
NL Central: Value Picks, Up-and-Coming Players and Red Flags in Fantasy Baseball
Tuesday February 21st, 2012
Peter Stein (Fantasy Baseball Analyst – MLB reports): The NL Central loses a lot of its offensive firepower in 2012 with the departure of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. Not to mention Ryan Braun’s suspension, which makes him a tough player to value come draft day. I still struggle to put a price on Braun in my league, because if his value falls too low than he can be had at a price that will be very keeper friendly in 2013. However, despite the loss of some top dollar talent, the six-team NL Central division is loaded with prospects and potential sleeper picks. At the same time there are a number of newcomers and other players who I have identified having inflated values. Read the rest of this entry
A Great DH Can Mean Winning the AL Pennant
Wednesday December 28, 2011
Doug Booth- Guest Baseball Writer:
Watching the 2011 season, something really resonated with me while watching the American League: ‘Where have all the great designated hitters in MLB gone?’ It seemed only a few years ago that every team had a bopper capable of hitting .300 with 30 HR’S and 100 RBI’s. Upon further investigation, I found out some interesting facts. First, let us look at the top-3 DH’s this past 2011 season. Michael Young of the Rangers hit .338, 11 HR’S and 106 RBI, which was the best performance by any DH, in helping to win the Rangers a 2nd straight ALCS Pennant. A close second would go to Victor Martinez, who spent 112 games at DH and hit .330 with 12 HR’S and 103 RBI. The 3rd best DH was David Ortiz, who hit .309 with 29 HR’s and 96 RBI. The rest of the DH’s were average to below average.
The Yankees struggled with Posada and a rotation of Andruw Jones/Jesus Montero, although they hit about 30 HR’s combined. The Blue Jays never had a set DH, but received decent production from Encarnacion and Lind. The Baltimore Orioles had Vlad Guerrero, who had his worst year ever, as did the Angels’ Bobby Abreu and the Rays’ Johnny Damon. The Seattle Mariners had washed up Jack Cust and the likes of Willy Mo Pena by the end of the year. Oakland has steady Hideki Matsui, but not even a decent second half had him anywhere near his career average totals. Kansas City has been placing Billy Butler back onto the field, so his DH role was limited this season. Adam Dunn soon became a four letter word in Chicago’s South side. Aging and injury prone players Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner saw the most amount of work for the Cleveland Indians at DH, so yet again these players were far from being in their most productive years.
So what is the underlying theme here? If you have a great DH, you may just make the playoffs and win it all. Young, Martinez, Ortiz had their teams in contention all year for the playoffs. The Tampa Bay Rays were the 4th team in the playoff chase and managed to overcome the position thanks to superior pitching. One could definitely say that Michael Young vs. Bobby Abreu is worth a definite amount of wins at that position, considering what they each produced in the AL West.
I am going to go through the last 20 years of ALCS Pennant Winners as part of my study. 80% of the time (the team with a great DH) was in the World Series:
1992 TORONTO-Dave Winfield .290 26 HR’S 108 RBI
1993 TORONTO-Paul Molitor .332 22 HR’S 111 RBI
1994 WORLD SERIES CANCELLED
1995 CLEVELAND-Eddie Murray .323 21 HR’S 82 RBI
1996 NEW YORK-Cecil Fielder 39 HR’S 117 RBI (Acquired at deadline by NYY)
1997 CLEVELAND-David Justice .329 33 HR’S 101 RBI
1998 NEW YORK-Darryl Strawberry 24 HR’S 57 RBI (295 AB IN 101 GAMES)
1999 NEW YORK-Chili Davis/Darryl Strawberry (not the greatest year-but in middle of NYY dynasty of 6 ALCS IN 7 YRS)
2000 NEW YORK-David Justice .286 41 HR’S 118 RBI
2001 NEW YORK-David Justice (not the greatest year but it was a solid NYY team. Edgar Martinez led SEA to a 116-46 record and were prohibitive favorites but lost to the Yankees-Martinez year was .306 23 HR’s AND 106 RBI
2002 ANAHEIM-Brad Fullmer (hit .289 with 60 XBH in 130 games and a slugging % of .531)
2003 NEW YORK-Jason Giambi 41 HR’S 107 RBI
2004 BOSTON-David Ortiz .301 41 HR’S 139 RBI
2005 CHICAGO-Carl Everett 23 HR’S 87 RBI in 135 games
2006 Detroit Tigers-Dmitri Young (They did not have a definite DH after Young’s injury so this year so was the worst out of the 20 years.)
2007 BOSTON-David Ortiz-.305 35 HR’S 117 RBI
2008 TAMPA BAY-Cliff Floyd/Wille Aybar 22 HR’S 72 RBI combined (Again great pitching carried TB.)
2009 NEW YORK-Hideki Matsui .274 28 HR 90 RBI IN 456 AB
2010 TEXAS-Vlad Guerrero .300 29 HR’S 115 RBI
2011 TEXAS-Michael Young .338 11 HR’S 106 RBI
In 2006, half of the league possessed great DH’s: Ortiz .287 54 HR 137 RBI, Hafner .308 42 HR’S 117 RBI, Giambi 37 HR’S 113 RBI, Thome .288 42 HR’S 109 RBI, and Thomas hit 39 HR’S 114 RBI. This group is far more productive than the 2011 bunch. Given this Information, why wouldn’t more teams elect for permanent DH slots just to gain an edge over their competition? The Seattle Mariners had an incredible run from 1994-2004 with Edgar Martinez as a permanent DH. The Boston Red Sox have won 2 World Series titles and are perennial playoff contenders with David Ortiz as their DH. The Yankees have not been the same since Hideki Matsui has left the club as their DH. This leads me to the Toronto Blue Jays pitching an offer to Prince Fielder and making Adam Lind a permanent DH.
With a signing of Fielder, the Jays could move Adam Lind to just a DH. Could you dare envision a lineup of: Escobar SS, Rasmus CF, Bautista RF, Fielder 1B, Lawrie 3B, Lind DH, Arencibia C, Johnson 2B, and your pick of Thames or Snyder? This would free up your club to make a trade as well. If you are the Jays, and offered Yu Darvish the posting bid of over $50 million and another $60-75 million in salary, why wouldn’t you offer Fielder a 7 year deal in the $140-150 Million range? With Fielder signed, I think his presence would potentially alter the attendance by 8,000-10,000 fans per game to justify his salary (not to mention merchandise and television ratings). With a 3-4-5 lineup of Bautista, Fielder and Lawrie, I could see 120 HR’S and 350 RBI combined each year. The best aspect of these guys is that they are patient. If you add Adam Lind as the #6 hitter with 30 HR 100 RBI capability, then it will become lookout time for the rest of the league.
The Angels signing of Albert Pujols should not cause concern about his production. Even into his early 40’s, Pujols should be able to hit well given his dedication to personal fitness. The question is: why wait to move him to DH right now with the amount of 1st baseman they already possess with Trumbo and maybe a return from Morales? It is my belief that aging players should be shipped off to the National League when they can’t post impressive offensive numbers. A good example of this are recent NL pinch hitters Jason Giambi and Matt Stairs making a living off pinch such roles after failing as DH’s late into their careers. If the AL teams persist in signing aging players past their prime for the DH role, then I believe they will struggle. Vlad Guerrero and Johnny Damon would be perfect for an NL team at this stage of their respective careers considering this rationale.
So whatever players are ultimately signed by each team from this point forward or already have signed, whichever AL teams have the best Designated Hitters in the league for the 2012 season will likely have the best shot at winning the AL Pennant.
*** Thank you to our Guest Baseball Writer- Doug Booth for joining us today on MLB reports. To learn more about “The Fastest 30 Ballgames” and Doug Booth, you can follow Doug on Twitter (@ChuckBooth3024) and click here for Doug’s website, fastestthirtyballgames.com***
Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook . To subscribe to our website and have the daily Reports sent directly to your inbox , click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.
Ask the Reports: Sunday December 25th
Sunday December 25, 2011
Jonathan Hacohen: Posted every Weekend: Your top baseball questions from the past week are answered. E-mail all questions to mlbreports@gmail.com, message us on Twitter and post on our Facebook Wall!
Let’s get to your top questions of the week:
Q: As things stand right now, who wins the divisions and Wild Cards from AL/NL in 2012? Steve
MLB reports: It’s not even 2012 and you want me to give you a sneak on predictions? Sure. I’m game! Which MLB teams will make the playoffs in 2012. I am looking at the crystal ball. We are going to assume there is still only one Wild Card team per league. I am finding it a little hazy at this point, but here is what I am seeing:
American League:
East: Tampa Bay Rays: Still the cream of the east. Nobody is touching that pitching staff, led by David Price, James Shields and company. The Rays could still add a bat or two before the season starts. If pitching is king, the Rays are royalty.
Central: Detroit Tigers. The class of the division and this one isn’t even close. Justin Verlander. Miguel Cabrera. Victor Martinez. Alex Avila. Full seasons of Doug Fister and Delmon Young. MLB should just hand them the division title right now and save everyone else the trouble. It is a great time to be a Tigers fan.
West: Houston Astros (just kidding…they don’t get their chance until 2013). Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Surprised? Me too. Most would expect me to say the Rangers. But with the Angels pitching and offense bulked up by Albert Pujols, the Angels get my vote. Jeff Weaver. C.J. Wilson. Dan Haren. Peter Bourjos. I see where the Angels are headed and they have the horses now to take the West. Their pitching is still stellar and with all that offense that is coming….a miracle will happen in Anaheim in 2012.
Wild Card: Texas Rangers. The AL West will go down to the last day of the season likely. With that offense led by Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz, Mike Napoli…Texas will be tough to beat. The difference will be pitching. Sure they have Yu Darvish. But I don’t think he will be enough to get the AL West title. But it will still get Texas into the playoffs again.
National League:
East: Philadelphia Phillies. Yes Ryan Howard is out for some time. Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins are getting older. But Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels equates to an automatic division title. Book it.
Central: Cincinnati Reds: My pick for the second straight year. With the Brewers and Cardinals both losing key parts, it is time for the Reds to shine. A pitching staff led by Mat Latos and Johnny Cueto. The dangerous offensive weapons of Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce. Devin Mesoraco becoming the full-time catcher. 2012 will be a bright year for the Reds.
West: Arizona Diamondbacks. No longer a surprise, the Dbacks are loaded to make another strong run in 2012. On top of the returning team, Trevor Cahill will be a strong addition. Kirk Gibson has a nice mix of offense, defense, starting pitchers and a deep pen. The Dbacks are the team to beat in 2012.
Wild Card: St. Louis Cardinals. The 2011 World Series champions are back for more. While the loss of Albert Pujols and Tony La Russa will be devastating, Dave Duncan returns as the pitching coach. Carlos Beltran should pick some of the offensive slack, plus Adam Wainwright will be back from injury. With Wainwright, Carpenter and Garcia leading the rotation, the Cards should make the postseason.
Q: (a) Exactly how does the “bidding”, say for Yu Darvish work? Where’s that $54 million go towards?
(b) How will Fielder (likely) and Pujols leaving the NL Central affect the division? Lee
MLB reports: A two-part question for you today Lee, nicely done! (a) The Darvish posting fee ($51.7 million) goes to his former Japanese team, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters as a transfer fee. All MLB teams had a window in which to submit a bid for the rights to negotiate with Darvish. In that time, the Rangers submitted the highest bid. The Ham Fighters did not know the team, only the winning bid. Now the Rangers have 30 days to sign Darvish to a contract. If Darvish signs, the Ham Fighters keep the $51.7 million. If no contract, Darvish goes back to Japan for next year and can be re-posted in 2013. Expect Darvish though to sign with Texas and the Ham Fighters to keep the posting fee.
Now on to part 2 of your question. You are correct in your estimation, as Prince Fielder is likely to join Albert Pujols and leave the NL Central. The departures of the two stars means that the NL Central crown is up for grabs. As per my earlier answer, the Reds are now the heavy favorites to win the Central. The Cards will still be in it, as the return of Wainwright will drastically help the team. But nobody can know how the team will play without Pujols and its former manager, Tony La Russa. The Brewers could be in big trouble, especially if Ryan Braun is lost for any lengthy period of time. Prince Fielder did not get enough credit for the success of the Milwaukee Brewers. Now the team will have a reality check when he is gone in 2012.
Q: As of today, what are the top-5 rotations in MLB? Fredy
MLB reports: A great…great…great question. What a fantastic discussion point and source of debate. With all the cries about the lack of pitching in baseball, there are some fantastic rotations out there. Now, with trades and free agent signings, this list could change. But as of today, here are my top rotations in baseball (in order):
1) Tampa Bay Rays: Some teams may have a better 1-2-3 punch. But for overall depth and quality, the Rays are the class of baseball. David Price, James Shields and Jeremy Hellickson can run with the best of them. Then add Matt Moore, Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann into the equation and you have baseball’s best rotation. With even more good young pitchers coming through the minors, the Rays have an embarrassment of riches. A trade could still come through the pipe, but even still, the Rays are my selection.
2) Philadelphia Phillies: Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee are the most devastating top-2 starters I have ever watched in my life. They have the chance of being one of the best duos of all time, and that is saying a lot. Cole Hamels could be an ace for many other teams and is playing for his next big pay-day. Vance Worley had a solid 2011 campaign and should do much of the same this year for the Phillies. The 5th job will likely be between Kyle Kendrick and Joe Blanton, unless another move is made. The Phillies may not be the most complete team in baseball, but they certainly have one of the top rotations in the game.
3) San Francisco Giants: This team does not require much explanation. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner. Ryan Vogelsong and Barry Zito to round out the squad. You would have a very difficult time finding a better top-3 when they are on. Cain is one of my personal favorites and one of the most underrated players in the game in my estimation.
4) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: My pick to win the AL West and a big reason is this staff. Jeff Weaver and Dan Haren are the foundation of the team. C.J. Wilson should be a great #3 on a team where he will not be expected to be the ace. Between Ervin Santana, Jerome Williams and Garrett Richards, Mike Scoscia should be able to fill in the rest of his rotation.
5) Atlanta Braves: I struggled with this one. I was thinking Cards, Reds and even the Nationals. While each of those teams had some top guns, it was their lack of depth that made them fall of the list. The Braves are my pick for having strong pitchers, but just the best depth in the rotations that were left. Tim Hudson. Jair Jurrjens (if not traded). Tommy Hanson (if healthy). Brandon Beachy. Mike Minor. Randall Delgaldo. Julio Teheran. Just having Teheran alone shoots this rotation up the list. They may not be the flashiest, but the Braves have a choice of starting pitchers that other teams just drool over.
Q: Will Ubaldo Jimenez regain his 2010 first half form? David
MLB reports: Is there a bigger source of frustration in baseball? The Ubaldo from 2011 looked nothing like the recent Ubaldo we have come to know. He will be turning 28 in January (in Dominican years) and should just be entering the prime of his career. I will tell you my gut feeling…and Cleveland fans, you will not like it. I have seen this pattern too many times over the years. Occasionally a pitcher goes through a dead-arm period, where their numbers and performance all of a sudden drops drastically. Through rest and a change in mechanics, the form can return. But that is the exception to the rule. Usually when a decline like Ubaldo’s appears, it means that there is an injury in hiding. I will be very surprised if Ubaldo regains his form overnight. I am looking at a crystal ball and my sense is a visit to Dr. Andrews in his future. This is a gut feeling, but a very strong one. It could be heartburn, but I doubt it.
Q: Tim Wheeler and Seth Smith for Prado or Jurrjens? Joe
MLB reports: Its a possibility, but I don’t see it happening. Wheeler is the real deal and I can’t see the Rockies moving him at this point. Smith is a useful role player and could blossom into a steady every day player, but I have my doubts. Between Jurrjens and Prado, I take Jurrjens if I’m the Rockies. A great pitcher, but has issues staying healthy. The key component in this trade is Wheeler. The former 1st round pick is highly rated and was terrific last season with 33 home runs in AA. Rockies say no, Braves say yes. But if it happens, it would be for Jurrjens also. Martin Prado is another useful player, but not a star and worth the cost of a top prospect.
Q: Which team makes the biggest jump in the ‘Power Rankings’ if they sign Fielder? Bleacher GM
MLB reports: Another great question! Prince Fielder will instantly help any team that signs him. But who will make the biggest jump…now that is a different story. I could see the Jays being stronger playoff contenders with him. The Rangers would be even that much more dangerous. But the biggest jumps would be based on a team with potential that needs to go the next level. My picks in order would be the Nationals, Mariners and Orioles. With Prince on board, I could see the Nats finally climbing from potential to contenders. The Mariners and Orioles would go from the basement to respectability overnight. Yes, Prince has that kind of power and abilities to make everyone else around him better. But the Nationals get my vote, given their emerging pitching staff and great young hitters. If the Nats sign Prince, we could be looking at the Nats in the playoffs by 2013. The Mariners are still far too behind on offense to become contenders and the Orioles are still emerging and integrating as a young team. The Mariners get the edge based on their pitching staff. But imagine Prince hitting between Harper and Zimmerman. Just the thought gets me very excited!
Final Question of the day: Here’s a good question, what was the one moment that made you realize baseball was your niche? Eric
MLB reports: I needed a week to ponder this one Eric. One of the most insightful and deep questions ever presented to me. I always knew that I had a deep love for baseball. I have read about the game and its players and studied the sport for most of life. I have always enjoyed writing about baseball, but never knew where it would be headed. In conducting interviews, I felt a good connection to the game and the people associated with it. But the true point when I knew it was my calling- now that is a different story. I would have to say when a leading baseball writer for a well-known baseball publication told me that he reads the site regularly and enjoys my work, that was the instance I felt that I had something special. When a writer of his caliber and experience was quoting my work and praising it, I literally had goosebumps. That was the defining moment in my career. From there, when I get emails and messages from baseball fans all over the world- it makes all the hard work very gratifying. I enjoy touching people’s lives and being able to deliver to them positive information and analysis on the game of baseball. Finding the right writers who had the same principles, work ethic and ideas was the key to the growth of the site. I definitely love what I do. I believe that people lead busy lives and time is precious. By people taking the time out of their lives to read my work, I have an obligation to provide them with the best baseball writing that I can deliver. It is an honor that I get to interact with as many baseball fans that I do as part of my role as a Baseball Writer. It is the greatest game on the planet and I am proud to be able to make contributions to baseball through my writing. Thank you for the question!
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Jonathan Hacohen is the Lead Baseball Columnist & Editor for MLB reports: You can follow Jonathan on Twitter (@JHacohen)
Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson: 2012 Projections
Tuesday December 13, 2011
Peter Stein (Fantasy Baseball Analyst – MLB reports): Unless you have been living under a rock for the past two weeks, you are probably well aware of the splash that the Angels made in the free agent market with the signings of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson. Certainly, the balance of power in the American League West has shifted to the Angels, who have set themselves up for a championship run. While Pujols and Wilson have a good chance to bring home a championship in Los Angeles, they will likely be on many winning fantasy rosters as well.
As I discussed a few weeks back, Pujols has been the best fantasy player in baseball after 10 Ruth-like seasons after he busted onto the scene in 2001. However, 2011 was an interesting year for Pujols, the first in which he did not produce a .300 average, hit 30 HR and drive in 100 runs. He missed this feat by just one RBI and one average point. Through the Cardinal’s first 54 games, Pujols batted .257 with 8 home runs and 28 RBI. However, in the final 108 games, which included the time missed with the wrist injury, he batted .322 with 29 home runs and 71 RBI’s. That is the Pujols that we have all been accustomed to over the last decade. Therefore, I do not think you need to be overly concerned about a significant A-Rod-esque drop off just yet. The back-end of Pujols’ contract will certainly get ugly for the Angels, but expect the usual slugger for the first few years. Now, the other factor on Pujols’ performance is the shift to a new team and new league. In terms of ballparks, Busch Stadium and Angels Stadium are very similar in degree of hitter friendliness. For the switch to the AL. below are his career interleague numbers, which add up to almost one full major league season:
143 GP 39 HR 121 RBI .348 AVG 1.071 OPS (1.037 career)
The stats show the Albert dominates against the American League, with numbers that even exceed his career averages. With a hitter as good as Pujols, it’s the American League pitchers who will be tasked with making adjustments and not Pujols. The Angels lineup is actually pretty similar to the Cardinals, and if people step up (Kendrys Morales), it has potential to be a lot better. Therefore, I expect the usual greatness from Pujols.
Projections: .312 39 HR 120 RBI 117 R 12 SB
C.J. Wilson enjoyed his finest season as a pro in 2011 with a 16-7 record and a 2.94 ERA. At age 31 and not as young as many expect, there is not too much room for actual skill development with Wilson. However, the major factors that impact pitchers results after a team change are in favor for Wilson. Let’s start with park factors and opposition. Wilson no longer has to pitch as many games in Texas, where he sported a career 3.89 ERA, compared to 3.26 on the road. The contrast was even starker in 2011, when he posted a 3.69 ERA at home and a 2.31 ERA on the road. Much of the reason for his success on the road were his regular matchups against the lowly Mariners and Athletics offenses, which he will continue have. Fortunate to have Pujols on his team now, he will still have to face his former talented Rangers teammates. Looking at the defense behind Wilson, it is pretty much a wash. The Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler double play combination was one of the best in baseball, but the Angels outfield is significantly better than the Rangers. Lastly, although the Angels made significant offensive upgrades, it is still safe to think the Rangers would provide more run support, potentially cutting into his win total.
The move to the Angels appears to make Wilson potentially more valuable in 2012. His FIP and XFIP indicate that his ERA range should have been closer to 3.20-3.30, so it might be tough to expect a sub-3 ERA in 2012. However, his recent success, coupled with his change of scenery (most importantly out of Texas), indicate that he should be one the game’s most valuable pitchers in 2012.
Projections: 208 IP, 16-9 WL, 3.28 ERA, and 180 K’s
***Today’s feature was prepared by our Fantasy Baseball Analyst, Peter Stein. We highly encourage you to leave your comments and feedback at the bottom of the page and share in the discussion with our readers. You can also follow Peter on Twitter (@peterWstein).***
Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter (@MLBreports) and become a fan on Facebook . To subscribe to our website and have the daily Reports sent directly to your inbox , click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.
Interview with Slugger Xavier Scruggs: St. Louis Cardinals Prospect
Sunday December 11, 2011
Jonathan Hacohen: In our latest interview feature, we are proud to welcome to MLB reports: Xavier Scruggs, the slugging first base prospect of the St. Louis Cardinals. Xavier was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2005 and then by his current club, the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008. Xavier completed his fourth season in the Cardinals organization and is coming off his second straight 21 home run season. With a lifetime .340 OBP and .465 SLG, Xavier has swung a strong bat to-date. Now with Albert Pujols a member of the Angels, there is an opening at first base in St. Louis. In another year or two, Xavier could indeed be the man to fill it. I caught up with Xavier Scruggs this month to discuss his past season, future goals going into 2012 and everything in-between. Xavier spoke from the heart and shared a great deal of insight on the game and his own career. A pleasure to speak with, I definitely look forward to tracking Xavier’s progress in professional baseball and interviewing him again in the future.
Featured on MLB reports, I proudly present my interview with Xavier Scruggs – First Base Prospect with the St. Louis Cardinals:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MLB reports: Welcome to the Reports Xavier. To start off, tell us who was your favorite baseball player growing up, that you most idolized and patterned your game after?
Xavier Scruggs: Growing up my favorite player by far was Gary Sheffield. I loved watching him play because he put fear in the pitchers he was facing. No one could deny his bat speed and the ball came off his bat. The ball shot off like a rocket and sounded like a gun shot when he hit it. I told myself at a very young age that he was the player whom I most wanted to hit like. So when I was young I would try to emulate him every chance I got. From his stance, to the way he cocked his hands to hit. I don’t hit like him much now, but it’s a goal to hit the ball as hard as him and to be feared as much as him. Also being younger and not very strong growing up, I noticed he was in very good shape and was very muscular. So naturally I wanted my body to look like his. I don’t idolize anyone, but he is one player who’s game I truly admired!
MLB reports: Which current MLB star do you most admire and why?
Xavier Scruggs: It’s not an easy choice, but I love watching Matt Kemp play the game. He has every tool and uses them to the best of his ability. You can tell he is humbled by the game and plays the game hard. He plays it the right way too and was able to play phenomenal even when his team was truly struggling. You can tell he’s having fun playing the game as well, because he’s always smiling and laughing with his teammates and other players.
MLB reports: Reflecting on your career to-date, what are your proudest accomplishments on the baseball field?
Xavier Scruggs: Some of my proudest achievements includes throwing a perfect game when I was in little league. It was special to me because it was a championship game. Having my younger brother on the team and my father being the coach made it mean a lot more. A proud moment was winning the player of the year for my conference (MWC). Another proud achievement was making the Florida state league all-star team in 2010. My last proud achievement was tying the record for home runs at Palm Beach this past year. I shared that moment with my teammates embracing me and there is no better feeling.
MLB reports: Did you fully expect from the start of the draft back in 2008 to sign with the Cards? When was the final decision made in the process to sign with Cards? Any disappointment with being drafted in the 19th round? What factors led you not to sign with the Mariners back in 2005 when you were originally drafted?
Xavier Scruggs: Being drafted out of high school in 2005 by the Mariners was a blessing because it made me open my eyes to realize how much I really wanted to be a big leaguer one day. My parents and I really thought about it and felt it would be best for me to give myself three quality years in college to better myself and be best prepared to be drafted in 2008. I was fortunate enough to get drafted in the 19th round, which was a little disappointing, but I already knew going into the draft that nothing was promised. I use it as motivation and to remind myself that I have serious odds to beat, and the only way to beat them is through serious hard work. The Cardinals never seemed to be a team with a lot of interest but they were the last team I spoke to right before the draft, so I knew there was interest. The final decision was made a week or two after the draft.
MLB reports: What do you consider your greatest baseball skill(s)?
Xavier Scruggs: I believe my greatest baseball skills include being able to drive the ball to all fields and with power. I feel like I have great knowledge of the strike zone and recognize pitches well. I feel like a have a strong-arm defensively and have a good feel for positioning myself. I also have leadership and love to motivate my teammates.
MLB reports: What facets of your game do you most wish to improve upon?
Xavier Scruggs: I wish to improve in all areas of my game and just have the strongest focus on doing all the little things and being consistent in everything I do, whether it be defensively or offensively. I have to improve in every aspect of my game in order for me to be the best because that’s what I want to be.
MLB reports: How do strikeouts and walks figure into your game? Do you see any of these items changing over time and to what degree?
Xavier Scruggs: I feel that with me continuing to learn more about myself as a hitter, gaining better plate discipline will help me to better myself in both of those categories. Everyone wants to have a great strikeout to walk ratio and to better that aspect of their game, so definitely I can see that changing for the better in my own game. I’m doing a lot each day to work on that aspect of my game as well.
MLB reports: Long term what position do you see yourself playing- do you see yourself staying at first? How do you see defense as part of your overall game?
Xavier Scruggs: Defense has always been a huge part of my game and I take a lot of pride in taking away hits and saving runs. Any way that I can help my team with my glove is important to me. I have played 1b, 3rd, and outfield so I can be a replacement for anybody. Not just necessarily a first baseman. I am comfortable in a lot of positions and am athletic enough to play a number of them.
MLB reports: If you had to look into a crystal ball, when do you see your expected time of arrival in the big leagues and what do you think you need to do most to get there?
Xavier Scruggs: I can’t estimate any sort of time when I will reach the big leagues. But I do know when the time comes for them to call my name, I will be prepared and ready. I definitely hope for it to be soon though. It’s in God’s hands and I’m working hard to be prepared for that moment.
MLB reports: What has the experience been like to play winter ball this year? What have you learned this offseason?
Xavier Scruggs: The experience playing winter ball has been something special. It’s exciting to wake up each day and know that I’m in a different country. My Spanish is ok because I took four years of it in high school, so I can communicate fairly well. Baseball is different here in certain aspects, but there is nothing like having teammates there with you grinding it out each day. There aren’t many teams in the league so you start to learn the tendencies of players and visa-versa, which forces you to learn to make adjustments quicker. I’m learning more and more about myself as a ball player and I’m already improving on some of the key aspects of my game I set out to work on this offseason. I’ve learned that it is as important for me to be just as mentally prepared as I am physically, and to not miss a chance to gain a mental edge. Whether that be learning pitchers tendencies or being able to mentally think about making small adjustments in my own swing and game.
MLB reports: What do you do for fun when you are not playing baseball?
Xavier Scruggs: When I’m not playing baseball I love playing video games, listening to music, working out, reading, chillin at the beach, and watching tv.
MLB reports: Have you visited St. Louis the city yet?
Xavier Scruggs: I have never been to St. Louis but I hear it’s beautiful and would love to go.
MLB reports: If you could send out a message to the Cards fans, what would it be?
Xavier Scruggs: If I could say anything to Cardinals fans out there, it would just be to join me on my journey to being the person and baseball player I can be. I know how blessed I am to play this game, so I not only play it for myself but for the people who wish they could play it and don’t have the same opportunity that I do.
Thank you for your support and God bless.
Xavier Scruggs
Thank you again to Xavier Scruggs for taking the time to join us today on MLB reports. We highly encourage our readers to post at the bottom of the article any questions and/or comments that you may have for Xavier. As well, please follow Xavier Scruggs on Twitter (@Xavier_Scruggs)
Jonathan Hacohen is the Lead Baseball Columnist & Editor for MLB reports: You can follow Jonathan on Twitter (@JHacohen)
Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook . To subscribe to our website and have the daily Reports sent directly to your inbox , click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.
Ask the Reports: Saturday December 3rd
Saturday December 3, 2011
Jonathan Hacohen: Posted every Weekend: Your top baseball questions from the past week are answered. E-mail all questions to mlbreports@gmail.com, message us on Twitter and post on our Facebook Wall!
Let’s get to your top questions of the week:
Q: I just read your article about expansion. This is my most favorite topic in baseball. I have an idea. Tell me what you think of it.
American League
East
New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays
Baltimore Orioles
North
Minnesota Twins
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Detroit Tigers
South
Kansas City Royals
Houston Astros
Texas Rangers
Tampa Bay Rays
West
Los Angeles Angels
San Diego Padres
Portland Athletics
Seattle Mariners
National League
East
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates
Washington Nationals
North
Milwaukee Brewers
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
St. Louis Cardinals
South
Charlotte Knights (Expansion Team)
Atlanta Braves
San Antonio Colts (Expansion Team)
Miami Marlins
West
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks
Colorado Rockies
-Joe (via e-mail)
MLB reports: Radical realignment and expansion Joe. Love it! I am a BIG fan of adding 2 new expansion teams to Major League Baseball. 32 teams, 16 teams per league, 4 divisions per league and 4 teams per division makes perfect sense to me. I am sold. Now the magical question is which cities would be included and how to realign the divisions. Under your proposal, San Antonio and Charlotte would get expansion teams, while the A’s would be relocated to Portland. All three cities are top contenders for MLB teams, so I have no issue with having Major League Baseball in those cities. For this scenario to work, the A’s would need to exhaust the option of moving to San Jose or any other city in California before being fully relocated. I don’t see the A’s in Portland personally. I see them staying in California. But stranger things have happened. Interesting that you did not relocate the Rays in your proposal. I see them having an equally high chance of being relocated as the A’s. So assuming that we accept your relocation and expansion plans, the last issue will be the alignment of the divisions. The AL South and NL South need work. If we are putting a team in San Antonio, let’s put them in the same division as the Rangers and Astros and make a nearly all-Texas division. The Rays and Marlins should also be in the same division. I agree with Charlotte and Atlanta together. Consider as well putting the Dodgers, Giants, Angels and Padres together in an-all California division. You have a great basis for changes though…well done! Thank you for the comment and giving us some food for thought. Please click here to read our previous report on MLB Expansion.
Q: Just want to say that I’m glad other “unknown talented” Countries are going to have an opportunity to participate. My mother is from Nicaragua so it’s awesome to know Nicaragua AT LEAST has an opportunity. Maybe in the near future, the WBC should consist of more than 16 teams….maybe a total of 24? Joshua (via e-mail)
MLB reports: Thank you for the question Joshua. You know we love talking about the World Baseball Classic! Please click here to see our previous report on the upcoming 2013 WBC. The initial 2006 and 2009 WBC editions consisted of 16 total countries. In 2013, there are changes to the tournament. 12 holdover countries are guaranteed to play in the tournament itself. Prior to the WBC, there will be a qualifying tournament between the remaining 4 holdover countries and 12 new countries introduced to the WBC. Thus the total amount of countries that have a chance to play in the WBC is 28. I think that the 16 country format works very well. What MLB officials will look to do is to continue to expand the amount of countries worldwide that will compete in the qualifying tournament. We could easily see in the next decade 24 new countries competing for WBC supremacy. I don’t see the tournament itself changing from the 16 team format, but definitely expect the field of 28 eligible countries to expand further. Another great question, thank you for sharing!
Q: A few months ago I called Pujols in Chicago! They have the $ and could use the leadership. Aaron (via Twitter)
MLB reports: I seem to recall you saying that. There were many pushes to start the offseason for Albert Pujols to join the Cubs. At the time I wrote them off as impossible. But with the Cubs new management team on board led by Theo Epstein, I am not quite as sure. I still see Pujols back with the Cardinals. He has spent his whole career in St. Louis and has roots now in Missouri. At similar or equal money, I see him staying. The more likely move for the Cubs is to pick up Prince Fielder. I think the fit is better overall from an age perspective for Chicago. But if there is any team that will be able to “woo” Pujols, it could very well be the Cubs. The Cardinals faithful would be devastated if Pujols was to leave. We shall see how this all plays out- but I give a 99.9% chance of Pujols staying put.
Q: I’ve run out of patience with (Phil) Hughes. David (via Twitter)
MLB reports: I won’t dispute you David…and many Yankees fans would agree. But not all has been bad about Phil Hughes. He had a strong 2009 season pitching almost exclusively out of the pen, followed by an 18 win season in 2010. Last year was an injury filled season for Hughes that never got on track. Hughes has battled injuries and inconsistencies throughout his career. The million dollar is whether Phil Hughes will ever be able to complete a full season healthy. The Yankees have to decide ultimately if he is best suited to the rotation or bullpen. While he has enjoyed success in both roles, his arm may not be ultimately be able to hold up the grind in the rotation. He is still young (25) and will not be a free agent until 2014. The former 1st round pick from 2004 presents a huge dilemma for the Yankees. Can he be counted to on to be a future ace? That is unclear at best. I am prepared to give Hughes until 2014 before passing final judgement. If it were up to me, the Yankees should carry 6 starters with the hope that Hughes could become a strong #2 and at worst, a viable reliever in the pen. Phil Hughes definitely deserves the opportunity to show his worth…just don’t count on him yet at this point.
Q: Hope the Halos did not give away a young arm w/big upside (Chatwood) for a backup catcher (Iannetta) John (via Twitter)
MLB reports: We get to end today’s Ask the Reports with my favorite topics: Angels’ catchers. The Angels made an interesting move this week, trading former 1st round pick hurler Tyler Chatwood to the Rockies for catcher Chris Iannetta. Looking at the numbers for Iannetta and Chatwood…it makes me wonder what the Angels were thinking in moving Mike Napoli before the 2011 season. Let’s compare Napoli and Iannetta. Napoli is a year and a half older…but about 100x the player. I will point to a very important piece of evidence: the home/road splits. Both played in great hitter’s parks (Texas and Colorado respectively). But on the road, we really get a true sense of each player. Napoli hit more home runs on the road (17 to 13), had a higher batting average (.332 to .307) and maintained a .414 OBP and .663 SLG. The point? Mike Napoli is an effective hitter, no matter where he plays. Had he received the same opportunity in Anaheim, the Angels would have ensured a top catcher for themselves and been able to keep Chatwood. Iannetta, while younger, pales at the plate compared to Napoli. In 2011, Iannetta hit a solid .301 at home, while only batting .172 on the road. Iannetta also hit 10 home runs at home, while only 4 on the road. On the road Iannetta drove in 16 RBIs (39 at home) and scored 15 runs (36 at home). OBP was .419 at home (.321 on road) and SLG was .557 at home (.266 on road). This is a small sample of one year, but Iannetta at home is another Mike Napoli…while on the road he becomes another Jeff Mathis. I am a support of Iannetta, but in Colorado. I am seeing another Vernon Wells blunder, of a hitter taken out of a hitters’ ballpark that cannot adjust to more difficult hitting conditions. Iannetta’s bat does not appear to be a good mix with Angel Stadium. In return for Iannetta, the Angels had to give up Chatwood, their 2nd round pick from 2008. With pitching being a premium in today’s game, it is sad that the Angels had to give up a strong viable arm that I projected as a likely #3 starter for a catcher that will likely not fill in well in their system. The team already tried that least year, when it chose Mathis over Napoli. What happened? Both catchers were not far off defensively, but Napoli became one of the best hitting catchers in baseball. The Angels hope they are getting the next Mike Napoli. In truth they should have kept the original. Now they will have Iannetta (Mathis clone) and Wells clogging up their batting order. While I am left to continue scratching my head in disbelief.
(Editor’s Note: Ironically just as this article was just published, the Angels just traded Jeff Mathis…to the Toronto Blue Jays for Brad Mills. The same Jays that the Angels traded Mike Napoli to almost a year earlier for Vernon Wells. The Jays would have been smart to hold onto Napoli and kept a prize hitting catcher for themselves who could also DH and play 1B. Now the Angels take the other half of the Angels catching tandem as their new backup catcher. Funny how everything comes full circle).
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Jonathan Hacohen is the Lead Baseball Columnist & Editor for MLB reports: You can follow Jonathan on Twitter (@JHacohen)
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