2022 MLB Non-Phillies News/Notes

[zambonir]

At this point, I'd say having a Wall of Fame on the Internet is as significant as where it is physically. The plaque/statue actually doesn't seem like a bad touch, and not giving it the same status as the Phillies also doesn't bother me. But it just shows how random these decisions are.

[bkox]

Alexis 'Scrappy' Hopkins makes history as Atlantic League draft pick

[bkox]

Breaking: Albert Pujols is signing a one-year, major league deal to return to the St. Louis Cardinals, sources confirmed to ESPN. The news was first reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and The Athletic.

Over 10 years later, The Machine is once again a Cardinal. pic.twitter.com/m5ZDKNXtL9

— ESPN ( @espn ) March 28, 2022

[bkox]

Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker arrested on DUI charge in Florida

[bkeich]

Sadly, I can't imagine STL holding on to Pujols all year. He can't really hit anymore and if he gets on base you can't let him run / walk.

Maybe good he will retire in a STL uniform, but they might not even get out of April with this plan.

Last year in 300 AB's he had 3 doubles. That is how bad he is on his feet (although he stole 2 bases, I can't imagine how that happened). He did put up a .717 OPS, but for a DH that isn't very good and then you add in his inability to move and it is a big negative unless he hits a ton of HR. His 6% HR rate last year will probably go down, but who knows.

[zambonir]

His OPS with the Dodgers was .759 and it was over .900 (with both teams) against LHPs. Just have to use him correctly. If they give him 100 starts because he's Cardinals legend Albert Pujols, then no, it probably won't go well.

[BostonRoss]

Ten years ago, the Phillies tried this with Thome. That failed, but of course there was no DH.

[bkox]

although he stole 2 bases, I can't imagine how that happened)

Pujols swipes bag in the 8th | 07/30/2021

[andyb]

He has always been a smart baserunner, though stats do show he was the slowest man in baseball (edging Yadier Molina and Pablo Sandoval by a nose).

Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard

[bkox]

(edging Yadier Molina

oooh.. put Pujols and Molina back to back in the lineup.. when they get on base, if someone hits one in the gap.. that would be fun to watch.

[zambonir]

So basically Cashman just did a bunch of press saying that the 2017 team would have been in the World Series has the Astros not cheated (something that also got Girardi fired) at the same time the team is trying to quash the details of their own 2017 cheating.

The 2017 Astros' title doesn’t have an asterisk. For Brian Cashman, the Yankees’...

Yankees to appeal public release of investigatory letter Rob Manfred sent them...

[andyb]

Dodgers continue the reload (and Adam Haseley's path to playing time got trickier):

The Dodgers have traded AJ Pollock to the White Sox for Craig Kimbrel, per source.

— Mark Feinsand ( @Feinsand ) April 1, 2022

[schillingfan]

I heard on ESPN radio some old guard guy saying the Yankees couldn’t talk about cheating because A-Rod was on steroids and batting .359 against the Phillies in 2009. Yay Phillies! Cheated out of the consecutive championship!

[bkox]

Mets RHP Jacob deGrom has suffered a stress reaction on his right scapula, which has caused inflammation.

He will stop throwing for up to 4 weeks and then be reevaluated. pic.twitter.com/ZvUWg96MZe

— MLB ( @MLB ) April 1, 2022

[bkox]

Sean Manaea has been traded from the Athletics to the Padres, per source.

— Mark Feinsand ( @Feinsand ) April 3, 2022

Full trade, per source: Oakland gets Euribiel Angeles and Adrian Martinez, San Diego gets Sean Manaea and Aaron Holiday.

— Mark Feinsand ( @Feinsand ) April 3, 2022

[fish]

Sean Manaea has been traded from the Athletics to the Padres, per source.— Mark Feinsand (

@Feinsand

) April 3, 2022

Full trade, per source: Oakland gets Euribiel Angeles and Adrian Martinez, San Diego gets Sean Manaea and Aaron Holiday.— Mark Feinsand (

@Feinsand

) April 3, 2022

That's confusing. How can that be all it took to get Sean Manaea? Surely there were a bunch of other interested teams.

[allentown]

Nationals get public outcry for charging minor league players $21/week as clubhouse dues after MLB stopped practice in 2020. They are refunding $ and call it a miscommunication, and that the dues were traditional. White Sox, Dodgers, and Twins also still charging dues.

Nationals return clubhouse dues to minor leaguers after public backlash

[zambonir]

It's his walk year but he's certainly not expensive $-wise (despite being a salary dump). Sure wish the Phillies would get in on this fire sale (i.e. Laureano). Padres also have pitching to spare.

[andyb]

Fangraphs are doing their positional rankings (links in the article for all positions). Phillies are shockingly 3rd in the starting rotation and even the bullpen ranks 15th.

2022 Positional Power Rankings: Starting Rotation (No. 1-15)

[andyb]

JT is wearing this electronic sign system today:

MLB looking at electronic system for calling pitches