Blog Archives
Ricky Romero Is Almost Half-Way to Anthony Young’s MLB Record of 27 Straight Losses
Friday, September.14/2012
Ricky Romero started the year out 8-1 and was poised to have his best win season of his career. He has lost 13 straight decisions since.
Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Ricky Romero has had a brutal season. Lets not lose the sight that he has lost 13 games in row here. He also was 8-1 to start the year. You must look at the numbers though. He was sporting an ERA of nearly 5 when that took place, so he was simply being bailed out by the first half offense. The Jays were killing the ball before the ALL-Star Break. It only has been since the offense dried up with injuries that Romero started tail spinning. Seeing a great young pitcher struggle with confidence is not foreign to the Jays. Roy Halladay nearly through a no-hitter in his first start during his rookie year. The phenom battled serious control issues and was sent back down all the way to A ball in order to fix his mechanics. This ultimately saved Halladay’s career. I am not saying that will have to happen with Romero. He needs to grind through his last few starts. Hopefully he can end the year off on a good note by erasing this losing streak.
‘On the Black.’ talks about the streak with They own this video and not the MLB Reports.
The Aftermath Of The Stephen Strasburg(less) Nationals sweep in the NLDS Oct 2012
Thursday, September.06/2012
Stephen Strasburg is eligible for Arbitration after the 2013 season. He originally signed a 4 Year/14 Million Dollar Entry Level Deal after he was drafted in 2009. The salary hit for the Nats in 2013 places him tied for 3rd on the team with Mike Morse. He will be Unrestricted Free Agent in 2017, will he remain a National?
Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer): Follow @chuckbooth3024
The Nationals are my favorite National League team. It is my firm belief that you are allowed 1 team in each League to cheer for. The Yankees are my team in the American League. The love for the Nationals goes back to when they were the Montreal Expos. It was a lean time for a lot of us fans until the last few years have given us hope. So before I go on about the contracts and payroll for 2013 tomorrow, I officially am going on record in saying that shutting Strasburg down is completely wrong. I don’t care about ramifications of the pitcher throwing his arm out. You never know when injuries are going to occur. The Babying method never worked for Strasburg the first time, or for Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes for that matter. This all stems back to the over using of Kerry Wood and Mark Prior by Dusty Baker in the 2003 year. Innings limits were soon introduced in every franchise to protect the players and managers from going after a championship and maybe shortening their career. It also has a lot to do with teams not being able to insure players any more.
Insurance companies (like Lloyd’s of London) realize that they will pay out teams at a less than profitable rate for Major League Baseball players based on how much these guys make now, so they will not cover any baseball player anymore. So Washington is freely shutting him down because they think it is the best thing to do for the player and the club. They think by preserving him from any injury at all, that this will prolong his shelf life and thus make the baseball team more profitable in the long run. This is a major role of the dice and could end up setting the fan base back with a sour taste in their mouth for generations. If Washington wins the World Series, this would be the only scenario where the question would not be brought up again. Anything short of this and it is going to start an epic debate. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Reports Monthly Power Rankings: September 2012
Monday, September.3/2012
Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer): Follow @chuckbooth3024 To say that this year has been a good year for baseball is an humongous understatement. I thought after last years finish, that nothing was going to duplicate the experience. Everyone forgets (or maybe not) that there should not even have been many races last year with Atlanta and Boston having such substantial leads on playoff spots. The Red Sox and Braves collapsed like a couple of bowling pins with King Kong Bundy splashing down on them!
This year, there are 15 teams still vying for 10 playoff spots. So far the only probable locks are Washington for a playoff spot-and Cincinnati to probably win their division The player races for all of the categories is almost as fascinating. Will Andrew McCutcheon catch Melky Cabrera for the Batting title? Or will 2012 be forever cemented in baseball folklore by a stained player like Cabrera? He could still end up determining who wins the World Series in the Fall Classic by his Testosterone filled antics in his MVP ALL-Star Game. The big question is, will the San Francisco Giants fans cheer for him if he comes back in the playoffs? They cheered for another league leader before when it was obvious he was guilty. Right now if you are the Giants, you will take an opportunity to boo or cheer for Cabrera because that means you would be in the playoffs.
Will the spending happy Dodgers have to wait another year to capitalize on their new plan to make the playoffs? If they ultimately miss the playoffs outright, are they going to buy every player they can in the off-season? I sure hope Magic knows that there are Luxury Tax penalties for spending over 178 Million Next Year. 1st year fine is 22.5%, 2nd year is 30%, 3rd year and beyond is 40%. So if they plan on having a 250 Million Dollar Payroll in 2013 (by adding 2 or 3 more top Free Agents) will the Dodgers just forego the worry of any financial penalties on a yearly basis– just to dominate the whole National League (plus baseball for that matter.) Every other team has to consider the urgency in cashing out a World Series right now while the Dodgers have not had a full off season with the new management yet. Can Oakland and their ‘New Money Ball philosophy’ make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2006?
The Best Players over the last month were: Buster Posey, Prince Fielder, Giancarlo Stanton, Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton, Yovani Gallardo, Kris Medlen, Adam Wainwright, Aroldis Chapman and Felix Hernandez. The best teams have been Oakland, Washington, San Francisco, San Diego, Baltimore and Texas. The worst teams have been Houston (at least its better to go down hard and stockpile #1 Draft Picks guys.) I have a feeling you will be there for a while with the division you are heading into and may even challenge the 120 Loss Single Season Record. At least you are not going into the NL West to compete with the LA Dodgers! The Cleveland Indians have fallen to an epic drop-off as well. Toronto misses their top sluggers. What has happened to the Minnesota Twins? The Mets have ownership and payroll problems, so at least they have an excuse. Plus they lead the world in guys being hurt. When David Wright has been your healthiest player, you know the season has been backwards! So sit back, get your notebook and popcorn ready for this Month’s Rankings! Read the rest of this entry
The Philadelphia Phillies Franchise Part 3 of 4: The Pitchers
Saturday September.01/2012
Note from Chuck Booth: I am attempting to bring the history for each of the 30 MLB Franchises into a 5 part series that will focus on 1. The teams history. 2. The hitters 3. The pitchers. 4. The Teams Payroll going into 2013 and 5.The Ball Park that they play in. (The stadium articles will all be done next summer when I go to all of the parks in under a month again.) Be sure to check my author page with a list of all of my archived articles here.
Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer): Follow @chuckbooth3024 This team has played for almost 130 years. As such, they have a great deal of history, so there are going to be several more hitters than pitchers as is the case with most Franchises. For the first seasons as the Quakers, they had some decent pitchers. It wasn’t until Pete Grover Alexander joined the club, that Philadelphia Phillies fams got to see a Hall of Fame pitcher before their very eyes. From Alexander, to Robin Roberts and Curt Simmons, to Jim Bunning, Rick Wise and Chris Short, to Steve Carlton, Tug McGraw and Jim Lonborg, to Curt Schilling and Mitch Williams, to Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, the Phillies Pitchers have been improving in each generation.
Last year when the club won a record 102 games for the Franchise, they had the best 4 starters they had ever assembled in Halladay, Lee, Hamels and Roy Oswalt to take the mound. Having Kyle Kendrick and Joe Blanton as your 5th starter is an option most teams would love to have. The Phillies have been one of the best teams in the National League since 1975. They have appeared in 9 NLCS’s and 5 World Series while winning 2 of them. That is an impressive 36 year run. Going forward, the clubs pitchers still look solid. Cole Hamels just signed a 6 year extension, Cliff Lee is around for 3 more years and Roy Halladay still has 2 more years left after this. The club also signed Jonathan Papelbon up until the end of the 2015 season before 2012 began. Papelbon may have a chance to make this list when someone else chronicles the best pitchers in Phillies history one day 25 years from now.
If you ask me to have a Mount Rushmore of Pitchers it would be: Steve Carlton, Robin Roberts, Grover Alexander and probably Cole Hamels because of his instrumental pitching since the 2007 season.
For Part 1 of the Phillies Article Series: The Franchise click here:
For Part 2 of the Phillies Article Series: The Hitters click here:
For Part 4 of the Phillies Article Series: Team Payroll and Contractual Statuses click here
For the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals Franchise 5 Part Series click here
Steve Carlton Highlight Reel:
Phildelphia Phillies: Have They Reached the End of an Era?
Monday August 20th, 2012
Jake Dal Porto: The Philadelphia Phillies are entering a rebuild mode. Or so it would appear. General manager Ruben Amaro dangled Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino away at the trade deadline, and now he’s left with nothing but little cash and prospects. The Phillies, though, were supposedly over the luxury tax until they traded away their two outfielders, so a move to free up a portion of their payroll seemed inevitable, just not in the fashion of trading away a cornerstone type piece in Pence. Since the departure of those two outfielders, the team is hitting a soft 221/.295/.363.
So which path does Amaro take during this crucial upcoming offseason? Does he rebuild for the future or does he attempt to craft a team that’s essentially a one and done gig? Given the amount of holes the Phillies’ current roster possess, the idea of going all in seems silly. It’s not like they have a ton of flexibility either. As I already mentioned, they are just a tick below the luxury tax. And with nearly $80 million invested in Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Jonathan Papelbon for next season alone, a big splash in free agency doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Read the rest of this entry
Top 5 Catching Prospects in Baseball
Friday August 17th, 2012
Codey Harrison (Lead MiLB Prospect Analyst) – The second installment of a 3-part series featuring the top 5 prospects from middle of the field positions. This week we are focusing on one of the hardest positions in all of baseball to find superstars at. One of the biggest reasons is that catchers take a lot longer to progress defensively than any other position in baseball. Bryce Harper who was known for being a catcher in high school was drafted as an outfielder by the Nationals so he could make it to the Major Leagues much faster. Being able to call a game behind the plate, and knowing the angles that are needed to block pitches in the dirt can take several years to master. The wear and tear on a catcher can be a vigorous one, as most catchers only catch 140 games an entire season even if they are healthy the entire season. With current catchers in MLB who are stars like Joe Mauer, Matt Wieters, Buster Posey, Brian McCann, Yadier Molina, and Miguel Montero, it’s time to take a look at the potential future catching stars who replace the current MLB All-Star catchers. Plus teams look to move star catchers from their primary position to save their bats and extend their careers in the process.
Travis d’Arnaud (Toronto Blue Jays AAA) – Travis d’Arnaud was the prize prospect along with RHP Kyle Drabek the Blue Jays acquired in the Roy Halladay trade. d’Arnaud was named the 2011 Eastern League best catcher by the leagues managers. For the position, d’Arnaud has plenty of future plus tools (Hit, Power, Arm, and Fielding), and is on pace to supplant current Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia by the start of the 2013 season. d’Arnaud is currently on the disabled list, but for the season with AAA Las Vegas he’s batting .333, .380 OBP, .595 SLG, with 16 home runs, and 52 RBIs. One of the very few things scouts are drawn away from d’Arnaud is his approach at the plate, as he is very aggressive having walked on 19 times, while striking out 59 times on the season. Read the rest of this entry
Domonic Brown Needs to Shine in These Next Couple of Months
Saturday August 11th, 2012
Sam Evans: Only a couple of years ago, Domonic Brown was one of the top five prospects in all of baseball. His combination of tools and outstanding production made him appear to be primed to become a superstar. However, things haven’t gone as planned. Brown never got a full-season in the majors, and his numbers in the minors started to drop. Now in 2012, with Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino no longer in Philadelphia, Brown needs to prove he can produce at the major league level.
Before the 2009 season, Domonic Brown was viewed as the #48 prospect in all of baseball according to Baseball America. Before the 2010 season, Brown had jumped to 15 in BA’s rankings. In 2010, after hitting .318/.391/.602 in sixty-five games at Double-A, Philadelphia promoted him to Triple-A, where he .346/.390/.562 in just twenty-eight games before getting called up to the majors. In the majors, Brown only got seventy plate appearances, thanks to the talented trio of Raul Ibanez, Jayson Werth, and Victorino starting almost every day. Read the rest of this entry
Top Ten Stat of The Week: Odds To Win The AL/NL/WS
Monday July.9, 2012
The Yankees pay at the rate of +190 to win the American League and +375 to win the World Series. They are actually the 2nd favorite in the MLB for both to Texas. These odds are not flattering to throw any money down on either team.
Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer and @chuckbooth3024)- I thought we would try a different top ten today with the ALL-Star Break here today. This morning I did some research on the odds of what http://www.bet365.com thinks will happen for the rest of the MLB Year based on their gambling futures. Gambling is an increasing industry like no other entity in the world. The NFL is better suited for ‘punters’ to throw down some bucks at Vegas. They have only one game a week and the gambling experts think that baseball is easier for the bad teams to beat the good teams. I will tell you as one of these ‘so called experts’, they are completely right. The worst teams in baseball usually can still beat the best teams 1 out of 3 games in a series. This makes normal gambling for a regular season game really hard to make any money, or minimize losses. I do think that betting who makes the playoffs and who wins it all has some good value picks.
Y0u have to search for the value in anything. I never like to play the #1 favorites of each league because they simply don’t pay enough of an odd. Right now, Bet365.com has the Texas Rangers at +175 to win the AL, or The Yankees at +190. I love these two teams to probably represent the AL in the World Series, however these odds are not good at all. As I list all of the odds for each league first, then the World Series, I will make some notes up. I have two teams in the NL that I have already wagered with and I am coming up roses on them so far. It is time for Gambling 101. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Reports Monthly Power Rankings: July 2012
Wednesday July.4, 2012
Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer and @chuckbooth3024 on twitter)-We are going to bring you monthly power rankings every month of the season. There will be a few notes written for each team. Please feel free to let us know your thoughts. The Texas Rangers are the top ranked team yet once again, although teams are certainly gaining on the them in the last month. If this report was being done last week I might have put the New York Yankees in 1st and Texas in 2nd. A 7 game winning streak help preserve another month for Texas on the leader-board. There were superior months by Aaron Hill, Jose Bautista, Joey Votto , Jason Heyward and a new phenomenon was born with Jose Altuve. It was a great month for the MLB. With 20 teams within 5.5 games or less for the playoff races, we are sure to see some serious movements in the Power Rankings in the 2nd half of the season.
Standings taken before play Tuesday July.03/2012
July Power Rankings-Last Month Rank in Parenthesis
1. Texas-50-30 (1) The Rangers rode a 7 game winning streak to end up 18-8 for the last month. David Murphy, Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus all hit over .300 in the last 30 days. The Rangers were able to weather a slow spurt from Josh Hamilton, in which he hit .222 with only 4 HRs for the month. Matt Harrison has asserted himself as an ace on the staff with a 5-0 month with a 1.29 ERA, while leading the American League with 11 wins on the year. The Rangers have 6 players going to the ALL-Star Game including 3 starters. Yu Darvish can make a 7th if he is voted into the final roster spot with his rookie campaign of 10-5 so far.
2. NY Yankees 48-31(5) The Yankees have ridden good pitching and a hot bat from Robinson Cano to a 19-7 record over the last month, with a 5 games lead over their competition in the AL East. Cano hit .370 with 12 HRs and 24 RBI in the last month. Derek Jeter is hitting .298 overall but saw his average go from .389 in April, to .283 in May to .232 in June. He still tops a list of 4 Yankees heading to the ALL-Star Game including 23 HR homer man Curtis Granderson. Phil Hughes went 5-1 in the month with a 2.59 ERA and Ivan Nova won his 3 decisions with a miniscule 1.32 ERA. Rafael Soriano has converted 18 out of 19 save opportunities since taking over as team closer.
3. San Francisco 45-30 (9) The Giants went 16-11 in the month and saw a perfect game from Matt Cain, with a few other 1 hitters. The team shutout the Dodgers 3 games in a row in a series last week. The Giants have Pablo Sandoval, Buster Posey and Melky Cabrera starting in KC next week. The Melkman continues to show that last year was no fluke with his .352 Average and he is leading the Major Leagues with 111 base hits. The Giants pitching staff has coped with the loss of Brian Wilson and the ineffectiveness of starter Tim Lincecum, by the rest of the staff having career years.
4. LA Angels 45-35 (12) The Angels have been really steady since the end of May. They just finished going 17-8 in the last 25 days on the backs of ALL-Stars Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo and resurgent Albert Pujols. Trout might be the most exciting player on the planet these days and is a lock for AL Rookie of the Year if he keeps this up. Trout hit .367 over the last month and has taken over the AL batting lead with a .342 AVG. Trumbo hit 10 HRs and drove in 28 RBI for the month and Pujols hit .337. to raise his average 40 points. C.J Wilson was good enough in June to be named as CC Sabathia‘s replacement at the ALL-Star game.
5. Washington 45-32(9) Mike Morse has returned to the lineup with a vengeance during the last week with a .484 average. Super Sub Tyler Moore has also hit .415 in the last 14 games with 4 HRs and 12 RBI. Ian Desmond had 16 Extra base hits for the month to go along with 20 RBI, while he made the ALL-Star game as a reserve. Ryan Zimmerman awoke from a season long slump to plate 17 RBI. Adam LaRoche still contributed 7 HRs and 15 RBI despite a paltry .191 average in June. Stephen Strasburg is 9-3 on the year with a 2.81 ERA and a league leading 122 SO. Gio Gonzalez is 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA. Both Gonzalez and Strasburg made the ALL-Star squad. Read the rest of this entry
Cole Hamels: Will the Phillies Third Ace Stay in the City of Brotherly Love?
Wednesday May 16, 2012
Bryan Sheehan (Baseball Writer): Cole Hamels has been with the Phillies Organization since he was drafted by them in the first round of the 2002 draft, when he was just 18 years old. He made his debut with the club at the age of 22, and won the World Series in 2008, taking home the Series MVP award after two solid performances (his second start was cut short by the infamous rain delay that cut Game Five into two parts). Now 28, Hamels is facing the biggest decision of his life, as his contract expires at the end of this season. While he is technically the third starter for the Phillies, behind Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, there is no doubt that Cole is one of the best aces in the league. He finished fifth in Cy Young voting for 2011 after going 14-9 with a 2.79 ERA. And yet, the Phillies don’t seem to worried about resigning or extending their longest tenured pitcher. After all, they do have both Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, and considering his prowess, Hamels will likely fetch a gargantuan contract. On the other hand, the Phillies pitching is the only thing keeping them above water right now. So, should the club make a bigger push to resign the ace, or should they look to trade him during the season? Read the rest of this entry
Can the 2012 Phillies Be Saved?
Monday May 14th, 2012
Brendan Henderson: The Phillies are currently in last place in the NL East division with a 17-19 record, YES the Phillies, the team that won the 2008 World Series and the team that has won the NL East division in 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.
Why are the Phillies doing so badly? The hitting has been okay for the Phillies this year despite the absence of stars, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley; the Phillies are 10th in the MLB in batting average with a team batting average of .257. The Phillies aren’t doing the best as in scoring runs and hitting for power though, they have scored 122 runs as a team this year which is the 19th best in the Big Leagues. As for home runs, they are 23rd in the MLB with 22 team homers this year. Their offense has picked up as of recently though. The Phillies pitching on the other hand, hasn’t been up to par so far this season; they are 15th in the league with a team 3.70 ERA. They Phillies’ opponents have a .255 batting average against Phillies pitchers, which is 20th best in the MLB. Read the rest of this entry
Who is the Best Starter in Baseball?
Thursday May 10, 2012
Bryan Sheehan (MLB Writer): It could be said that the starting pitcher is the most important player in the game. A great starter, like Justin Verlander, puts his team in a position to win every time he hits the mound, while a poor starter, like A.J. Burnett, puts pressure on the bullpen when he gets run after just a couple of innings of work. A great starter, or even a mediocre one, can stay in the game for years with consistency (see: Jamie Moyer), but the drop off is steep and a pitcher underperforming is usually the first to be sent down. The best hurlers in the game combine dominance with consistency, rarely ever having a bad appearance. After the jump, we’ll be taking a look at who the best starters are in the game right now, and what makes them so great.
The 2012 Toronto Blue Jays: Need a Big Bat to Contend in the A.L. East
Tuesday May 2nd, 2012
Rob Bland: Much has been said about the quiet offseason that Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos underwent. After the uproar that was caused by the media in the Yu Darvis bidding process, and the Prince Fielder free agency, fans became upset that Anthopoulos was just sitting on his hands. The fact that Anthopoulos stated numerous times that they would not be major players in free agency seemed to fall on deaf ears. Anthopoulos has been adamant about building this team with young and athleticism, the latter of which is something that Prince Fielder doesn’t necessarily embody. That’s no knock against Prince, because he is paid to mash, not steal bases.
The question is asked, do the Jays need a big bat or another arm to take that final leap into contention in the American League East? Now, I could answer this a few different ways. Read the rest of this entry
Jack Morris: It Is Time To Elect This Winner Into The Baseball Hall Of Fame!
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Follow @mlbreportsTuesday, January.08/2013
Jack Morris led the Major Leagues for Wins in the 80’s by posting a 162-119 Record (.577). He was a 5 Time ALL-Star and had 6 Top 10 Finishes for AL Cy Young. He also hurled 175 Complete Games. He won 20 Games 3 separate years, 16+ Wins in 10 Years and 15+ Wins in 12 of his 16 full years – and 18 seasons overall.
Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
The debate for whether or not Jack Morris belongs in the Baseball Hall Of Fame has heated up to an ALL-Time high with the big vote going down tomorrow. 575 members of BBWAA fraternity will decide whether or not the big man from Minnesota will enter one of the hardest Hall Of Fame’s to enter in pro sports (if not the hardest). Morris will need a 75% (432 Minimum Votes) of them to write down his name on their ballot for enshrinement into Cooperstown. Last year, Morris received 66.7 % of the writers votes in his 13th year of eligibility. He will have his name on a 14th ballot this year. He has been trending up in recent years, so if he can improve with the same amount of 2011-2012 jump of (+13.2%), then he will make it in. If he fails to reach the Hall this year, 2014 would be his last year of eligibility for the BBWAA Vote. He could still make it via the Veterans Committee after that.
Jack Morris was a winner, a true throwback pitcher who came after hitters with reckless abandon. He pitched based on what the score was – and had no personal regard for his own personal statistics. It is this very reason why the debate has hit epic proportions on social media hubs, amongst bloggers, former players, analysts, broadcaster and statisticians. I intend to prove the case for the guy in a manner that will have some similarities to other pieces you may have read, yet promote a big look into the numbers that I have been bouncing around in my head for months. I even have had a #JackMorrisAwarenessWeek on Twitter and have been having feuds with people on the other side who don’t think he belongs in Cooperstown- while I have been Retweeted by his biggest supporters. Let the battle lines be drawn!
An Interview with ‘Rogers Center Expert’ and “MLB reports Founder” Jonathan Hacohen
Monday April 16th, 2012
Follow Chuck Booth’s streak all the through to the bitter end. Schedule is this link:
https://mlbreports.com/gwr-tracker/ or at his official website for all updates!
Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer and- @chuckbooth3024 on twitter)– For once the shoe is on the other foot. I asked the MLB Reports Founder and ‘Lead Columnist’ Jonathan Hacohen if I could interview him 5 months after he interviewed me. Jonathan and I came into talking by both talking to the MLB FanCave guys at the same time on twitter last June. Jonathan was really interested in My baseball book “The Fastest Thirty Ballgames” and I sent him a copy of it if he agreed to do a review. Jonathan finished the book and gave one of the most incredible reviews for my book that I have ever seen for any baseball book anywhere. Somewhere I had given up all of my creative writing energy in the process while writing this said book. Jonathan followed up with an interview later. During the World Series, he offered up a chance to do a guest article since I knew a lot about the ballparks in Texas and St. Louis. Now I am sure it was all part of his master plan: the one guest article turned into a once a week article, before I even realized it myself, I was writing 2 articles a week and craving more! I messaged Jonathan about a potential run at the record to see all 30 MLB Parks before anyone on this planet. The reason is the man loves baseball. He was just as fired up as I was! From there we have worked together as a team to provide a different kind of article series that has ever been seen by a baseball writer and website. I am happy to finally meet Jonathan today live in person for the Jays game during this record chase. Before we write about that, I had a chance to talk the man about baseball life, the MLB Reports and the Rogers Center. Here is what we discussed… Read the rest of this entry
No Need to Panic: The Phillies Do Not Need Offensive Help!
Sunday April 15, 2012
Bryan Sheehan: It may only be the middle of April, but already there are masses of Phillies fans ready to jump off a bridge because of the team’s 4-5 record. This is also spurred by the fact that the team has not hit at all on a regular basis, and the lineup seems devoid of any power. The club only has 16 extra base hits, with three of their 11 doubles coming today against the Mets, and a .345 slugging percentage pushes them towards the basement of the MLB. So, with a lineup that features the lanky Hunter Pence as a cleanup hitter and a catcher hitting sixth, is it time to worry about the Phillies 2012 season? Read the rest of this entry
My Tommy John Surgery Experiences: The Johnny Anderson Guest MLB Blog
Saturday April 14, 2012
MLB reports – Johnny Anderson (Guest MLB Blogger): “Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capacity to build the world’s first bionic man.”
The doctors call it “UCLR” – ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. The Baseball community call it Tommy John Surgery. I call it the resurrection of my career. Dr. Frank Jobe introduced the world to his experimental procedure in 1974 on the one and only Tommy John. The UCL is the ligament that creates the stability which allows the high-stress action of throwing a baseball. Through repetitive use and a heavy workload, the UCL will indefinitely succumb to failure. The ligament will begin to fray and eventually tear, leaving pitchers in agony on the mound (see Joel Zumaya, Chris Carpenter, etc.) During the surgery, a new tendon, coming either from the wrist or hamstring is implanted and woven in a figure-eight pattern through holes drilled in the humerus and ulna bones. Sounds gnarly, I know first hand. After surgery, the player will be in a brace with limited mobility. Over time, the brace can be adjusted to certain degrees to promote extension with the elbow until the player has full flexion. Through rigorous rehabilitation and a 6-month throwing program, it’s not uncommon for pitchers to throw harder than they did before the injury. The chances of a complete recovery after the surgery are estimated at 85 to 90 percent. Rehabilitation takes around 12 to 15 months for pitchers and about 6 months for position players.
The experience I’ve had with my pal TJ has been quite the travel. I suffered a blow-out of my UCL in the first game of Spring Training in 2010 with the Blue Jays. Two pitches into the first inning I felt and heard a loud pop. I felt a burning sensation throughout my forearm and tricep. I saw my career flash before my eyes. I trotted over to the dugout and held my head in my hands. A week later I awoke to being drugged up on painkillers and a brace on my arm. Months had passed and I was advancing into my throwing program and eventually started to throw to hitters. I went from a soft-tossing lefty, to a power pitcher. My velocity had peaked at 96 mph, and I was overpowering hitters with ease.
Fifteen months after the first surgery, I felt that same pop. No rhyme or reason. Heeeere we go again. I saw renowned Tommy John specialist Dr. James Andrews the next day. In his own words, Dr. Andrews said, “I haven’t seen anything like this in 20 years.” Well that was refreshing. July 12th 2011. I found myself sitting in a hospital bed next to Terrell Owens, Matt Stafford and Joba Chamberlain. Nine months later, and here I am. Feeling as strong as ever, and close to facing hitters for the first time since July.
While the Tommy John procedure hasn’t created teams of Frankenstein-like monster men, it’s the saving grace of many pitchers across the game. Close to 100 of the 800 or so pitchers in the league have undergone the procedure and have seen miraculous comebacks. But to all the pitchers out there, note that there are always ways to help prevent the UCL from “blowing up.” Through strengthening the Rotator Cuff and shoulder, pressure will be relieved from the elbow. Consistent long toss and post-throw therapy seem to do the trick.
I would like to thank mlbreports.com giving me the opportunity to share my story and the Blue Jays for sticking with me, even after everything I’ve gone through. I love all of my fans (the few I have) and interacting with them. I’ve become quite the Twitteraholic as of late and I can be followed at @j0hnny_A. I enjoy interacting with everyone, so give me a follow! Until next time…. Johnny
***Thank you to Johnny Anderson for preparing this great feature on Tommy John Surgery for MLB reports (and the pictures/video used in todays’ feature)! Johnny LOVES Twitter– so follow him ASAP!!! 2012 is a big year for Johnny as he continues on his road to recovery. Best of luck Johnny: we’re proud of ya!***
Please e-mail us at: mlbeports@me.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: ATR Answers Your Baseball Questions – April 9th, 2012
Monday April 9th, 2012
Let’s get to your top questions of the week:
Q: My question this week is about young pitchers. Do you see any of today’s young pitchers winning 300 games in their lifetime? Thanks in advance. Larry
MLB reports: Hello Larry! Great opening question by our #1 fan. To win 300 games in the big leagues, a pitcher needs to pitch for approximately 20 seasons and win 15 games per year. A difficult, but not impossible task. Many factors come into play. Good health. Consistent performances. Run support. Backed by a strong bullpen. If a pitcher can achieve most of these factors, 300 wins is do-able. By my count, I can only see a handful of current pitchers having a shot at the big 3-0-0-. Jamie Moyer. 33 wins away. He could go 3-4 more years with his rubber arm. If he wins 8-10 games per year…could happen. Unlikely, but he has at least a 15% chance. Roy Halladay. 189 wins with at least 5 good years left in him. He will definitely do it. Justin Verlander has 107 wins and possibly 10 more years- he could do it. C.C. Sabathia is the only other fairly sure bet that I have. 176 wins at age 31. Pitching for the Yankees and going deep into games, C.C. will do it. So yes- we will still see 300 games winners in Major League Baseball. But they will be rare occurrences. Read the rest of this entry
Inside the Mind of a Devoted Phillies Phan: Thoughts Going into the 2012 Season
Sunday February 19th, 2012
Christina Angelos (Guest Writer – MLB reports):
FAVORITE MOMENT
One strike away; nothing-and-two, the count to Hinske. Fans on the their feet; rally towels are being waved. Brad Lidge stretches. The 0-2 pitch — swing and a miss, struck him out! The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 World Champions of baseball! Brad Lidge does it again, and stays perfect for the 2008 season! 48-for-48 in save opportunities, and let the city celebrate! Don’t let the 48-hour wait diminish the euphoria of this moment, and the celebration. And it has been 28 years since the Phillies have enjoyed a World Championship; 25 years in this city that a team that has enjoyed a World Championship, and the fans are ready to celebrate. What a night! ~ Harry Kalas, Phillies broadcaster
After nearly 50 hours had passed since the first pitch of Game 5 of the 2008 World Series, the Phillies finished off the Rays in an elimination game. Brad Lidge remained perfect all season and closed out the final game with a strikeout. The Phillies earned their second championship in their franchise history and the first championship since 1983.
I waited 19 years for this kind of happiness and joy. And when it happened, I had no words. I’ve seen the good and bad things in my life, but just once, I had absolutely no words. No words. Nothing could match the excitement I felt at that moment. Nothing. I am glad to know I have seen a championship once and hoping for more.
That’s why we follow baseball. That’s why we engage so much effort in such an endeavor. Sometimes it rewards us. And October 29, 2008, I was rewarded. We were all rewarded. We were champions. Champions of baseball.
Easily the greatest moment. Read the rest of this entry
Time is Ticking for the Toddfather: Todd Helton Approaching Retirement
Tuesday January 31st, 2012
Bryan Sheehan (MLB reports Intern Candidate): At age 38, it’s a wonder how Rockies’ first baseman Todd Helton is still going. His .302 batting average and 70 RBIs in 2011 are impressive considering his age, not to mention his .997 fielding percentage being second best in the league. On the other hand, his .466 slugging percentage and 14 home runs leave more to be desired from the once ferocious hitter. After the recent retirements of Pat Burrell and Jorge Posada, the question must be asked: How much does Helton have left in the tank? Helton, who was drafted number eight overall in the 1995 draft (which now boasts only three active players – Helton, Roy Halladay and Kerry Wood – from its first round), came into the league with a bang in 1998. In his first full MLB season, Helton hit .315 with 97 RBIs and a .530 slugging percentage. Since then he’s compiled a .323 lifetime batting average, 554 doubles (ties for 24th all time), 347 home runs and 2,363 hits.
But, like most older players, Helton has been having back troubles. To be fair, his back problems started as early as 2002, and his stats were never really affected until 2008, when he hit under .300 (.264) for the first time in his career. His stats may not tell the whole story, as he hit well in 2009 and 20011, but Helton is nearing the end. Last February Helton claimed that he wanted to play baseball through the 2013 season, when his contract with the Rockies is up.
With Michael Cuddyer waiting in the wings, it’s unlikely that Colorado will re-sign Helton after 2013. By that time Todd will, barring a miracle, be unable to play everyday, and he’s not the type of hitter than can perform off the bench: in 47 at bats as a pinch hitter, Helton has struck out 15 times and holds a batting average of .149. It should also be noted that other than his one hit in 2009, the Toddfather hasn’t hit safely as a pinch hitter since 1999.
As much as Helton and many longtime Rockies fans would love to see #17 play forever; it’s not going to happen. If he plays like he did in 2011, Todd will live to see another day and finish out his contract in the Mile High City. But, if he plays like he did in 2010 or his injuries get the best of him, 2012 will be the last year Helton will be wearing the purple pinstripes. From there, the Cooperstown debate will begin on Helton. Will he get in? If Larry Walker is any indication, Helton may have to wait some time until his name is called at the Hall of Fame inductions.
Today’s feature was prepared by our Intern Candidate, Bryan Sheehan. You can follow Bryan on Twitter (@Sheehan99), read his interviews with Phillies’ minor league prospects at PhightingOn.com, and catch him writing the occasional article for BleacherReport.com (search his name). Tweet him about this article and he will follow you back!
Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan onFacebook . 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.
Johnny Anderson Interview: The Baseball Comeback Kid… “Never Say Never”
Thursday January 26, 2012
MLB reports – Jonathan Hacohen: Get ready for the complete baseball ride tonight, as we jump into the world of Johnny Anderson. The Blue Jays pitching prospect was born in Pleasanton, California (ever see the movie Pleasantville? Same idea.) The left-handed starting pitcher was drafted by the Jays back in 2008. Only 23 years-of-age, the sky should be the limit for Anderson. He has big dreams. Owning a collection of fancy rides. Getting acquainted with the women of Toronto. The Blue Jays prospect wants it all! But as is the case with many young pitchers, a road bump presented itself. Here is the video (beware, it is not for the faint of heart):
I will give you a hint. The surgery that followed has the intials T.J. in it and involves a certain famous doctor in Alabama. If you follow baseball closely, you know what I am talking about. Dr. James Andrews and Tommy John surgery. The good news in the case of Johnny Anderson is that he is feeling great and well on the road to recovery. Facing adversity has not slowed down Johnny Anderson. It has only made him stronger. Today we learn about the Jays prospect, from the draft to his experiences in professional baseball. You can call him John Anderson. Or call him Johnny. Get ready to laugh. Get ready to cry. Get ready to sigh. Get ready to cheer. Today on MLB reports, we present our interview with Blue Jays prospect, Johnny Anderson:
MLB reports: Welcome to MLB reports! Our fave starting question: who was your favorite baseball player growing up, that you most idolized and patterned your game after?
Johnny Anderson: Being a kid growing up in the greater California Bay Area, I always was within a stones throw from Candlestick and the Oakland Coliseum. Seeing the A’s “Big 3” was quite the treat. I modeled my pitching after Zito, which might be why I got hammered around when I was younger. There was also another soft-tossing lefty that some may remember; Noah Lowry (Editor’s Note: BIG Lowry fan. Nice call Johnny!) We pitched almost identically to each other, so it was always a treat to see him throw.
MLB reports: Which current MLB star do you most admire and why?
Johnny Anderson: With the Blue Jays graduating so many pitchers over the last couple years, it’s pretty cool to see guys I’ve played with over the years in the Show. With me being in and out of action the past couple years, I’ve been in the training room with a lot of pitchers that have been well established at the major league level. I’ve spent time around guys like Brandon Morrow, Shaun Marcum, Doc Halladay and others. It’s always fun to pick their brain and hear what they have to say.
MLB reports: Reflecting on your career to-date, what are your proudest accomplishments on the baseball field?
Johnny Anderson: Over all the years I’ve played, I’ve never won many awards or accolades. I’ve been the guy that’s always flown under the radar… and I’m completely content with that. I played 2 years at the Junior College level and without a doubt, they were the most memorable. We were so close to winning a State Championship, but one strike away each year. I was Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2008 and I cherish that honor more than anything thus far.
MLB reports: When you first found out you were drafted, what were your reactions?
Johnny Anderson: I previously held a commitment with Oklahoma State University before the draft in 2008. I knew I had a shot at getting selected pretty high, but had no clue what was about to take place. I had an agent/advisor that helped me with the whole draft process so that I’d be prepared if the right deal was in place. The day before, I had close to 20 different teams call me asking me if I’d sign. I gave all of them my agent’s number and let him do the negotiations. If the price and opportunity was there, teams were supposed to know that I was more than willing to forego school and sign. Lo and behold, my agent asks for an outrageous number and I slide to the 28th round. The Jays called my name and I was ecstatic. I knew my life was about to change FOREVER!
MLB reports: You have gone through a very difficult and long baseball road. Tell us about your journeys through your various surgeries…and what is Dr. Andrews really like?
Johnny Anderson: When I was younger I wasn’t much of an athlete. I was the chubby kid that was just happy to be out there playing. I didn’t make any all-star teams or blow anyone away, I just had the love for the game. I’ve always had a pretty decent arm. I started pitching when I was 12. I played my first 3 years of high school ball and then didn’t even have the opportunity my Senior year. Yes, you read that right. I’m no MIchael Jordan. The next year I walked on to the local Junior College and I made the team. After two outstanding seasons, I signed with the Blue Jays in 2008. Two years later, I show up for Spring Training ready to compete for a job at the Hi-A level. First game of spring, the unthinkable happens. I feel a pop, and I hit the ground. I knew it as soon as it happened. I was going to need Tommy John surgery and be out for the season. I thought to myself “Ok, I’ll get a brand spanking new elbow and I’ll be ready to rock and roll next year.”
I rehabbed for a year and I felt stronger than ever. My velocity was off the charts, and I felt like a completely different pitcher. The Jays sent me to Lansing last year and after a couple of games, I began to have the symptoms that it was going to happen again. Tenderness, loss of range of motion and unusual soreness. I worked hard to get back to a healthy state and then…it happened again. I was in complete shock. I fly out to Pensacola to see the famed Dr. James Andrews. He’s your typical Southern gentleman. He has a thick cajun accent and is definitely the best in the business. He sees my MRI results and looks dumbfounded. He tells me he’s hasn’t seen a tear of this magnitude in years. To quote him, he said “it was a 1 in one million” type of injury. Not only was my UCL replacement completely disintegrated, but I had torn my Flexor-Pronator tendon as well. It was going to be a long road ahead. As of now, I’m 7 months out of surgery and feeling stronger than ever. I’m feeling extremely confident about the upcoming season and ready to compete for a job.
MLB reports: Tell us about your current offseason? How is the rehab going?
Johnny Anderson: To state it frankly, I’m in the best shape of my life! (editor’s note: music to my ears. Always a great sign!) I’ve been throwing for close to 3 months pain-free. If all goes well I should be ready to join a squad before the All-Star break.
MLB reports: Your 2011 season was very encouraging based on the numbers. It must give you great hope for the future.
Johnny Anderson: I was pretty satisfied with how my season went, even considering how short-lived it was. I took the mound with a bulldog mentality and knew that I could blow the hitters away with my stuff. If I can keep the same mindset- the sky is the limit.
MLB reports: What do you have in your bag of pitching tricks- what do you throw?
Johnny Anderson: I guess you can say I’m the prototypical lefty. I throw both a 2 and 4-seam fastball and complement it with a straight change-up and 12-6 curveball. The renowned Mel Queen (RIP) taught me how to throw a cutter. The same one he taught Halladay when he had his early career woes. It’s a tough pitch to master, but I’ve been working on it over the years.
MLB reports: Any plans on going the knuckleball route? A lefty knuckler would be sweet.
Johnny Anderson: As a matter of fact, I think I have a pretty decent knuckle. The rule of thumb is that you only use a knuckleball if you don’t have a fastball. So, as long as I can hit 90 I’ll stick with the fastball. We’ll see what happens down the road…
MLB reports: What facets of your game do you most wish to improve upon?
Johnny Anderson: I always like to be challenged. I’d love to play at a higher level, as I only have one game of experience at Hi-A. I want to show everyone that I can compete with the big boys. I may not be a high-acclaim prospect, but if given the opportunity I know I can perform at any level.
MLB reports: What do you do for fun when you are not playing baseball? Best friend(s) on the team that you most hang out with and what do you guys like to do to chill?
Johnny Anderson: During Spring Training me and Kevin Ahrens spend our off time confined in the team hotel playing Call of Duty. Yes, I’m quite the video game nerd. In the offseason, I enjoy working out and seeing concerts. There are tons of venues in the San Francisco area to see live shows. I love all sorts of music especially Electronic stuff. Not quite sure if this “dubstep” thing is a fad…for now I’ll listen.
MLB reports: Have your visited Toronto the city yet? Have you met Alex Anthopoulos? How have you found the city and their GM thus far?
Johnny Anderson: No! As a matter of fact I’ve never even left the States before. I’ve heard nothing but great things about Toronto and Canada. Especially the women (wink wink). I met AA in 2008 at our Instructional League. He knows more about the game than just about anyone I’ve ever met. Jays fans must be pretty excited about the future. This team is going up and up.
MLB reports: What do you think of Toronto Blue Jays fans?
Johnny Anderson: I’ve spoken to many through various social media outlets and I love them all. They are extremely passionate about their team and interact with all the players. What more could you ask for?
MLB reports: If you hadn’t picked baseball- what would you be doing today?
Johnny Anderson: Baseball will always be around me, I love this game more than anything. In the offseason, I teach pitching to younger kids with a couple of other minor league guys from the area. I could definitely see myself being a coach sometime in the future. Also, my father is a recently retired Police Officer. My Plan B is to finish my degree and follow in his footsteps.
MLB reports: Dream car?
Johnny Anderson: Anything fast and loud. I’ve driven a couple super cars in my time, and I can definitely say that I want one for myself. So if I ever make it to Toronto, you can count on me having a couple of Mercedes’ and American Muscle cars in my garage.
MLB reports: If you could look into a crystal ball- where do you see yourself in five years?
Johnny Anderson: Hopefully still lacing up the cleats! If my time has come, I can definitely see myself being a Police Officer and a High School pitching coach.
MLB reports: Final thoughts?
Johnny Anderson: I’d like to thank MLBreports.com giving me the opportunity to share my story and the Blue Jays for sticking with me, even after everything I’ve gone through. I love all of my fans (the few I have) and interacting with them. I’ve become quite the Twitteraholic as of late and I can be followed at @jma32. I enjoy interacting with everyone, so give me a follow!
***Thank you to Johnny Anderson for taking the time today to speak with us on MLB reports (and the pictures/video used in todays’ feature)! Johnny LOVES Twitter- so follow him ASAP!!! 2012 is a big year for Johnny as he continues on his road to recovery. Best of luck Johnny: we’re proud of ya!***
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.
Wins Above Replacement (WAR): Analyzing MLB Statistics using Sabermetrics
Wednesday January 11th, 2012
Peter Stein (Fantasy Baseball Analyst – MLB reports): Although WAR (Wins Above Replacement) is not the best of the sabermetric stats for fantasy baseball purposes, it has certainly transformed the way in which we can truly understand a given major league baseball player’s contribution (or lack there of) to his team. WAR attempts to epitomize a player’s total value in one sole statistic, taking into account both the offensive and defensive aspects of the game. FanGraphs (the sabermetrics bible) aptly describes the essence of WAR: “If this player got injured and their team had to replace them with a minor leaguer or someone from their bench, how much value would the team be losing.” A player is measured in “Wins” for a season (i.e. 3.4), while an average full-time player is worth 2 wins and a replacement player represents 0 wins. Furthermore an average staring pitcher is worth 2.0 WAR, while 1.0 WAR represents a strong season for a relief pitcher.
Here are the 2011 leaders in WAR:
Batting
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Jacoby Ellsbury – 9.4
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Matt Kemp – 8.7
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Jose Bautista – 8.3
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Dustin Pedroia – 8.0
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Ryan Braun – 7.8
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Ian Kinsler – 7.7
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Miguel Cabrera – 7.3
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Alex Gordon 6.9
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Joey Votto 6.9
Pitching
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Roy Halladay – 8.2
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C.C. Sabathia – 7.1
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Justin Verlander – 7.0
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Clayton Kershaw – 6.8
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Cliff Lee – 6.7
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C.J. Wilson – 6.4
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Jered Weaver – 5.9
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Doug Fister – 5.6
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Felix Hernandez – 5.6
The statistic actually defines a player’s value, something that MVP (Most Valuable Players) voters should perhaps consider come each October. For batters, the stat itself is calculated by taking into account two stats: wRAA (Weighted Runs Above Average) and UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating), which represent a batter’s offensive and defensive values, respectively. Pitching WAR replaces these two sabermetric stats with FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), a stat that normalizes ERA for the “uncontrollable,” in conjunction with numbers of innings pitched. The Uncontrollable refers to what happens after the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand, because obviously pitchers have almost no control over the balls that are in play. They are ultimately at the mercy of their defense.
Fangraphs site the formula for FIP as the following:
FIP: ((13*HR)+(3*(BB+HBP-IBB))-(2*K))/IP + constant
If you are unfamiliar with Sabermetrics and WAR, this should feel like a mix between learning a foreign language and a calculus problem. However, don’t let this intimidate you. Spend some time on FanGraphs (It’s okay take it slowly) and it will change the way in which you think about the game of baseball. Please note that Baseball Reference has a slightly different formula/method to calculate WAR.
The beauty of WAR, however, is that it not only takes in account a player’s defensive skills (using UZR), but also the difficulty of the position. Therefore, someone like Dustin Pedroia at second base is significantly more valuable than a slugging Prince Fielder, at the first base position where power and production is demanded. Perhaps that is why Fielder is still fielding offers and has not landed a contract within his desired range. Not too shabby of statistic for a General Manager, huh? My hope is that this analysis paints the complexity of WAR and the many factors used to determine the number of wins that a player is ultimately worth to his team.
Let it be clear that by no means is WAR perfect. From a rather cynical standpoint, the very philosophy of WAR, which is calculated with so many components, professes that you cannot use one sole determinant to measure a player’s value. Furthermore, the positional adjustment numbers are the most arbitrary difficult to calculate. Can we really determine that a Center Fielder, due to difficulty to play the position itself, is worth 1.5 more wins than a first baseman? It is also difficult to determine the UZR for a first baseman, a position in which success is defined less by range and more by the ability to field throws. Paul Konerko certainly does not have great range, but he is universally regarded as one of the league’s top defensive first baseman, most likely saving Alexei Ramirez a handful of errors each season. Likewise, you cannot measure range for catchers, which use the fielding component of Stolen Base Runs Saved (rSB). We also know that much of catcher’s true value is related to his ability to call a smart game (which cannot be measured by any given statistic).
However, from a fantasy perspective, we do not care about defense, and therefore wRAA is a more accurate indicator of offensive output. FIP can be used as well. For example, if a pitcher’s FIP indicates that his defense is frequently letting him down, and said pitcher joins a top rated defensive team; you have acquired knowledge about a player’s ability not represented by the generic stats out there. This is how you will earn surplus value and land the “surprises”, the “bounce-back” players, and avoid the “busts”.
I admit, when I first familiarized myself with FanGraphs, I felt like I was cheating in my fantasy baseball leagues. However, after joining more competitive leagues and with sabermetrics entering the mainstream, I have learned that this only provides a slight advantage. Just as it holds true for every other aspect of life, it is impossible to predict the future in the world of baseball. However, in a game of numbers- only the slightest advantage is needed to set your team apart from the competition.
WAR is a one of a kind stat. It helps us more thoroughly examine a player’s worth, especially when compared to their salary. Ultimately, the stat serves as a good building block to work back from to understand the intricacies and essence of sabermetrics.
***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 and become a fan onFacebook . 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 J.R. Bradley: Diamondbacks Pitching Prospect
Sunday December 18, 2011
Jonathan Hacohen: Today on MLB reports we are proud to feature James Ray (J.R.) Bradley: 2010 Arizona Diamondbacks draftee. J.R. was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2010 draft. He recently completed his 2nd season in the Dbacks organization, with his most recent season completed with the South Bend Silver Hawks (A-Ball). At 19-years of age, J.R. has a strong future ahead with the Dbacks. As a high draft selection, J.R. was clearly valued highly by the Dbacks. As he continues his progression through the organizational ladder, J.R. looks to continue to develop as he progresses to Arizona one day.
Featured on MLB reports, I proudly present my interview with Dbacks Pitching Prospect J.R. Bradley:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MLB reports: Welcome to the Reports J.R. Bradley. Starting off: Who was your favorite baseball player growing up, that you most idolized and patterned your game after?
J.R. Bradley: Growing up, I always liked Roger Clemens and Jon Garland. Liking Garland came from within the White Sox because Jon Adkins was playing for them. He’s from WV (West Virginia) and has helped me through baseball since I was younger.
MLB reports: Which current MLB star do you most admire and why?
J.R. Bradley: Roy Halladay. Just the way he competes and handles himself.
MLB reports: What are your proudest accomplishments in baseball?
J.R. Bradley: Being drafted for sure. But we went to the states all 4 years in high school and won it twice.
MLB reports: What are your goals going into the 2012 season?
J.R. Bradley: Just go out and get better, and make all my scheduled starts.
MLB reports: Were you surprised when you were drafted in the 2nd round- did you have any expectations on the draft and who would draft you?
J.R. Bradley: I wasn’t too surprised I went to the Dbacks. I was hearing rounds 2-4 from everyone and was on the phone with Oakland when I found out.
MLB reports: What do you consider your greatest baseball skill(s)?
J.R. Bradley: I’ve always been a guy who threw strikes. Now it’s a matter of throwing quality strikes, which is something I aim to improve this year. Knocking on wood, I’ve always been pretty durable. I think it’s important to throw innings and make all my starts.
MLB reports: What facets of your game do you most wish to improve upon?
J.R. Bradley: Fastball command and getting ahead of hitters early in the count. Also consistency with my slider
MLB reports: How do strikeouts and walks figure into your game?
J.R. Bradley: When I walk guys I get hurt, because I pitch to contact and try to get ground ball outs. Strikeouts I think will come when I tighten up my breaking balls. Once I do that, it will be easier to put guys away.
MLB reports: Long term do you see yourself as a starter or reliever?
J.R. Bradley: Starter for sure.
MLB reports: What do you need to do in order to be successful in this game?
J.R. Bradley: I think a positive mindset. Baseball is a game of failure already. No need to beat yourself up.
MLB reports: If you had to look into a crystal ball, when do you see your expected time of arrival in the big leagues?
J.R. Bradley: Man… I’m just focusing on next season!
MLB reports: Has pro ball been everything you expected it to be thus far?
J.R. Bradley: Yes, for the most part. I didn’t realize how important it was to have a routine.
MLB reports: What do you do for fun when you are not playing baseball?
J.R. Bradley: Just hang out. During the season we’re at the stadium so much. In the offseason, I’ve just been working out and playing some basketball.
MLB reports: Do you have a favorite pre-game meal?
J.R. Bradley: No, I don’t really have a favorite pregame meal.
MLB reports: Final Thoughts?
J.R. Bradley: Thanks for everything man, really enjoyed it. Now just looking forward to getting out there!
Thank you again to J.R. Bradley 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 J.R. You can also find J.R. Bradley on Twitter (@JR_Brad)
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.
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