2019-2020 MLB Non-Phillies News/Notes Discussion

[Jeff05]

Apologies for the delay, Lucky_Beagle. The twelve hour time difference can be an issue, occasionally. The criterion for a long serving member is that . . .

"Subject to Rule 8.4, a Club may include a person on its Primary List or Rookie List if
the person’s father played 100 or more Senior Matches (being either Home and Away
or Finals Series Matches) with the Club."

In most circumstances, this would entail 5-7 seasons.

Regarding a father ('stallion'?) who had played the required number of games for two teams, it is my understanding of the Rules that the team drafting first has first dibs over the son ('yearling'?).

I barely follow Australian football and the annual draft. However, if you are interested, details are available in the Australian Football League Rules.

[zambonir]

Andrew Cashner also would have fit right in.

In six outings since arriving via trade, Cashner carries a brutal 8.01 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9 over 30 1/3 innings.

Red Sox Move Andrew Cashner To Bullpen

[andyb]

Interesting analysis of the adjustments Yu Darvish has made this season. Note we face him on Thursday. Quick takeaway is that he could not command his slider and has largely replaced it with a cutter that he can throw for strikes. Walk rate went from one of the worst in the league to one of the best. Consequence was giving up more HRs but the additional HRs have not hurt him as much as the walks were.

Yu Darvish Makes a Trade-Off

[allentown]

We talk about ways to speed the game. One of the most infuriating ways games are delayed is pitchers making incessant pickoff throws to first base, especially when the runner is one step from the bag. Here is a Wall Street Journal article from today on how Jon Lester has improved his SB number and rate (only 6 of 10 so far this season), while NEVER making a pickoff throw to 1B. In fact, it is known that he is kind of scared to throw to 1B.

[DurhamBull]

We talk about ways to speed the game. One of the most infuriating ways games are delayed is pitchers making incessant pickoff throws to first base, especially when the runner is one step from the bag. Here is a Wall Street Journal article from today on how Jon Lester has improved his SB number and rate (only 6 of 10 so far this season), while NEVER making a pickoff throw to 1B. In fact, it is known that he is kind of scared to throw to 1B.

One of the Phils' broadcasters mentioned that Nola leads the league in pickoff throws to 1B.

[mdougherty12]

Fangraphs article on how Jose Ramirez tried and failed hitting to the opposite field to beat the shift:

The Old School Approach Failed José Ramírez

[DurhamBull]

Really interesting, thanks @mdougherty12!

[mdougherty12]

The Yankees win their 16th straight game against the Orioles to finish the season series 17-2. Gleyber Torres hit 13 HR against the O's in 2019, and Gary Sanchez added 10 HR:

Yankees make it 16 straight wins against O's

[philsphan67]

When Jim Jackson announces he is not afraid to mention which pitchers slow down a lot with runners on base (Nola is one). I would love to see them limit pick-off throws to 3 per each batter.
1. You would never get to 3
2. Pitchers will work on their moves and improve them when they throw over.
3. If there is more stealing, in a time period where teams play for the home run, great.

I am a big fan of the Atlantic League and some of the ideas they are trying. I am a big fan of a future robo ump and it is great to see the improvements already made in the independent league.

IMO-- the game needs to be sped up, really the time between pitches needs to be reduced.

[andyb]

Wins and payroll are more closely linked now:

In 2019, Team Payroll and Wins Are Closely Linked

My theory is that the various luxury tax moves to increase parity awhile ago made the link between payroll and performance looser. But in the last 5 years as all teams have started to use fairly similar analytics in all their player evaluations, it was natural for the richer teams to do just as well with lower paid players as the poorer teams. Then when you layer in the ability to spend more they do better. Some of this could be captured in trades where you assume dollars instead of sending prospects. The Yankees and Dodgers do this all the time as well as the Phillies in the last few years. The ability to do that means the richer teams can amass more low cost talent in addition to being able to afford the expensive talent.

[mdougherty12]

Free agent relievers have been a disaster in 2019, except for the Yankees:

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-relievers-free-agency-david-robertson-yankees-000217587.html

[zambonir]

I was just reading about Kimbrel coming off IL and can't believe he's signed to a three-year deal.

Yankees have been as lucky (or brilliantly scouted) as we've been not.

[zambonir]

Enjoyable read

Should We Always Deride the Donut?

Mostly about architecture but it also argues that while today's ballparks caters to our nostalgia for pre-war baseball, the game that many people are nostalgic for, with speed, defense and fewer home runs, thrived in the multi-purpose stadium.

[mdougherty12]

Future stars that got away from each team in MLB:

The Future Star Who Got Away From Each MLB Team

[andyb]

Carlos Carrasco would be a much better choice than Willians Astudillo.

[Philsmania]

Carlos Carrasco would be a much better choice than Willians Astudillo.

Yes, but Cliff Lee helped get us to a WS making that one a little more palatable.

[BostonRoss]

Carlos Carrasco would be a much better choice than Willians Astudillo.

Yes, but Cliff Lee helped get us to a WS making that one a little more palatable.

Yeah, they seemed to exclude players who brought back good returns in trades though they had to stretch in some cases. Domingo Santana would have been another choice except he brought back Pence.

[David_Criss]

I had forgotten about Inciarte being an almost Phillies.

[Philsmania]

Carlos Carrasco would be a much better choice than Willians Astudillo.

Yes, but Cliff Lee helped get us to a WS making that one a little more palatable.

Yeah, they seemed to exclude players who brought back good returns in trades though they had to stretch in some cases. Domingo Santana would have been another choice except he brought back Pence.

Since that trade was consummated, Pence has probably done more than the four guys traded for him have done combined. Unfortunately, the Phillies pretty much gave Pence away a year later while the four guys traded for him either got hurt (Zeid), became a bust (Singleton) or became assets (Santana and Cosart) for the Astros. Santana only led to Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers who were pretty much inconsequential in the end. But, assets acquired for Cosart became pieces of the trades that brought Verlander and Cole.

[zambonir]

I've never viewed Inciarte as one who got away because had he been subject to Rule V he might not have turned out any better than Tocci.