Official 2017 MLB Season Thread

[MizzouRah]

As bad as our bullpen is, why would Matheny remove Lynn that early? His managerial decisions are really baffling to me of late.

[MizzouRah]

BLOW THIS FUCKING CARDINALS TEAM UP

[lungs]

You know something is wrong with the Cardinals when they drop three of four at home against the Brewers.

[stevew]

This Luke Heimlich thing is both gross and fascinating. Rated as one of the top 30-50 players in the draft, yet it was discovered he diddled a 6 year old when he was 15 and is a registered sex offender. Went completely undrafted. Will be interested to see if anyone picks him up. Someone surely will, right? Hard throwing lefties don't grow on trees.

[Logan]

Every time I saw the college baseball thread bumped over the past week or so, I thought it would be about that story. Sure didn't want to start it myself.

I would also expect someone to sign him eventually and just issue a short statement about it in response. Then hope by the time he progresses along (if he does) to come up with a better plan.

I imagine the near term concern would be how he's received in a brand new A locker room.

[PilotMan]

Cody Bellinger has more HR's than he does singles.

He has 22 HR's and 20 singles. Of course, he also has 10 doubles and a triple. He's fun for LA fans right now, no question.

[molson]

I didn't realize this, I still had in my head that offense was down from steroid-era peaks, but MLB is now on pace to shatter it's all-time single home run record (and that's with the warmest two months still to come). The HR pace increased dramatically immediately after the 2015 All-Star break

Most home runs in a season:

(2017) 6,161 HR (on pace)
(2000) 5,693 HR
(2016) 5,610 HR
(1999) 5,528 HR
(2001) 5,458 HR

Home runs per season, last 5 years:

(2017) 6,161 HR (on pace)
(2016) 5,610 HR
(2015) 4,909 HR
(2014) 4,186 HR
(2013) 4,661 HR

538 suspects a change in the balls

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features...s-power-surge/

[cartman]

The Astros have now already won more games this season than they did in all of 2013.

[MrBug708]

Dodgers, especially Bellinger, are crushing teams right now. It won't last but they are playing incredibly well

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by cartman

The Astros have now already won more games this season than they did in all of 2013.

To be fair, they were incredibly bad that year.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Dodgers, especially Bellinger, are crushing teams right now. It won't last but they are playing incredibly well

Don't worry. When we look back on the season after another October failure, we'll always have this moment to hold on to.

[Shkspr]

Dear Miguel Montero,

When criticizing your teammates for failures to which you contribute heavily, please check to see if the next man on the totem pole is hitting .343 in AAA first. If yes, then perhaps rethink the idea.

Sincerely,
A Neutral Yet Amused Observer

[BYU 14]

And if triple A catcher is not hitting .343, kindly refer to average time to get a throw to second base. If you are tied for dead last with catchers having at least 5 starts, see shkspr's post.

[Logan]

Saw he was also 0-for-31 throwing out runners.

[MizzouRah]

He moaned about playing time during the World Series rally! LOL!!!

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

He moaned about playing time during the World Series rally! LOL!!!

I think this played a bigger role than his outburst yesterday. He was already on thin ice and is just unplayable from a defensive perspective.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Logan

Saw he was also 0-for-31 throwing out runners.

To be fair he was only 0-24 when the day started.

[stevew]

Dustin Fowler of the Yankees has some serious Moonlight Graham potential. Knee injury looked pretty horrible

[lungs]

I know it's only three games that I've watched, but the Orioles look like a team that flat out doesn't give a shit.

[Jas_lov]

Wow, didn't think Judge would top 22 in the 1st round and both he and Stanton would be out. Hope it's Judge vs Sanchez in the finals.

[Ryche]

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

Wow, didn't think Judge would top 22 in the 1st round and both he and Stanton would be out. Hope it's Judge vs Sanchez in the finals.

Please no. There's enough Yankee drool already

[MizzouRah]

Well done Judge!!!

[stevew]

Has there ever been a guy like Chris Carter before? Last year leads the majors in homers. Next year out of baseball entirely?

Even post steroids the number of guys who ever hit 40 homers in a season is pretty tiny

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by stevew

Has there ever been a guy like Chris Carter before? Last year leads the majors in homers. Next year out of baseball entirely?

Even post steroids the number of guys who ever hit 40 homers in a season is pretty tiny

It's not terribly surprising. His contact rate has always been piss-poor - he's your classic all-or-nothing hitter. His HR/flyball rate is down this year, so the his upside has been limited.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

It's not terribly surprising. His contact rate has always been piss-poor - he's your classic all-or-nothing hitter. His HR/flyball rate is down this year, so the his upside has been limited.

His K/AB rate is also up (even from the horrible career rate). It seems like he's just "off" by enough -- whether he's lost a split second or it's something mechanical -- that his productivity has plummeted.

[larrymcg421]

Last season he had the 5th lowest OPS in history for someone who hit at least 40 home runs.

[BishopMVP]

Cubs going all-in again...I'm surprised White Sox still got that much for Quintana, even if he's been back to his usual self the last month+

Also, this Grant Brisbee on Twitter: "Source: Jose Quintana to Cubs for four players. KatyPerrysBootyHole had it first (via wetbutt23)

https://t.co/DIIsLfzeHk https://t.co/qbbP94VuRN"

[Atocep]

Quintana has a great contract and at worst should be a number 3 in the NL. Jimenez is a top 5-10 prospect but at least 2 years away and Cease probably ends up in the bullpen. I think it's a good trade for both teams.

[RainMaker]

I wouldn't classify the trade as going all-in. Quintana is under a nice contract for years to come. He's a solid #2 in the rotation and fills the hole Arrieta will leave next season. Plus it saves them some money that they can use to grab another starter.

I thought the White Sox would get more for Quintana considering his contract. I feel like a deal like this would be available in the offseason or next year. But I guess with a pitcher you play it safe and get the value early if you can. Think it's a good trade for both teams.

[molson]

Finally

Boston Red Sox designate Pablo Sandoval for assignment

They still owe him $49 million. In all, they got a -2.0 WAR for $95 million. Since 2005, the Red Sox are 70-82 in games Sandoval started, and 156-105 in games Sandoval did not start.

Probably the worst Red Sox free agent signing of all time. Crawford was at least mediocre, a positive WAR guy (barely). There were some bad signings in the 90s, but it's hard to compare the money spent across different eras.

[Abe Sargent]

Is this the appropriate thread where we talk about hot minor leaguers we've seen and been following and stuff? Or is that another place? I don;t want to bog down this thread with stuff no one cares about if it's MLB only.

[molson]

I'd say anything baseball-related is more than appropriate here. I guess there's a college baseball thread, but otherwise, this is it.

[Abe Sargent]

Awesome!

You folks been following Luis Escobar?

Signed at 17 by the Pirates as an undrafted player, was not a pitcher but an infielder, but they wanted him to move to it, this is his first year (at 21) he is starting at a full-year in the minors, rather than the aborted half seasons done lower. He was with the West Virginia Black Bears out in Morgantown. He is the Sally league with my hometeam, the West Virginia Power here in Charleston, WV, a single A Team. Through the first five weeks of the season he led all teams in strikeouts. All teams in the minors, and the majors. Rains Ks down. Pitched for the Colombian natural squad in the baseball world cup, and was the only Pirates player to be invited to this years's MLB Futures Game. He is rated by mlb.com as the Pirates 12th best prospect already, and pitched a zero in his inning there.

Now here are the bad things about Escobar. Can be a little wild sometimes, and starts slow. He starts really shutting things down in the late 1st or early 2nd, and early hits happen. Then the game shuts down and no one doing anything. I saw him live three times this summer, and again yesterday in a 4-0 victory over Greensboro, a team that scored 12 runs in the first two games of the 3-game series, and was just shut down in Escobar's game yesterday.

I think he gets upgraded to AA ball next, I don't see him remaining for us in WV Power, and we'll see what he can bring, but this guy is good. I did a silent auction for a baseball he signed for charity and won it. I'd be happy to see where he winds up. The best pitcher to come though our franchise is HOF Jim Bunning. So I doubt Escobar is a Jim Bunning, but he could be a real MLB pitcher with a long career in the league, so I am hoping to keep up with him.

Another guy I am excited about is hometown hero Corey Bird. Played for Marshall, drafted in 7th round last year by Marlins, and played for Greensboro. He was the MVP on the field in both games against us and had 5 RBIs, scored, twice, and just ate us alive. He has a .302 rating, 0.365 OBP, great stats, and a good glove, so he looks good.

But in the third game, in the battle of Bird vs Escobar, it wasn't close.


So anyone out there you are following?

[CrescentMoonie]

Nats bullpen solution, at least part 1, is Ryan Madsen and Sean Doolittle. Doolittle was a freshman at UVA when Ryan Zimmerman was a junior. Doolittle hit more HR that season than Zim.

Joe Ross had TJ surgery and Koda Glover has a shoulder problem and is now on the 60 day DL. Duhsty Baker's ability to ruin young pitcher's arms is still unparalleled.

[molson]

Pitchers to reach 200 Ks in their first 20 starts of a season:

Nolan Ryan ('77), Randy Johnson ('99, '00, '01), Pedro Martinez ('00), and Chris Sale ('17).

Sale has 11 wins but has 7 other starts where he allowed 2 runs or less but got a loss or a no-decision because the Red Sox have given him terrible run support.

[CrescentMoonie]

Originally Posted by molson

Pitchers to reach 200 Ks in their first 20 starts of a season:

Nolan Ryan ('77), Randy Johnson ('99, '00, '01), Pedro Martinez ('00), and Chris Sale ('17).

Sale has 11 wins but has 7 other stars where he allowed 2 runs or less but got a loss or a no-decision because the Red Sox have given him terrible run support.

12 wins. Still, really damn impressive, especially in the AL. He and Max Scherzer are basically having the same season.

[CrescentMoonie]

If Kershaw was pulled for anything serious it completely changes the NL race.

[CrescentMoonie]

If Strasburg was pulled for anything serious it completely changes the NL race.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by CrescentMoonie

If Kershaw was pulled for anything serious it completely changes the NL race.

Last year, Kershaw getting hurt changed the landscape of the NL West

[JPhillips]

If Kershaw and Strasburg were pulled for anything serious the price for Yu Darvish now includes first born children.

[CrescentMoonie]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

If Kershaw and Strasburg were pulled for anything serious the price for Yu Darvish now includes first born children.

Sonny Gray might get the 2nd born and a cousin or two.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Oh those wacky Braves.

Garcia, backup C Recker, AND cash considerations ... for a 19 y/o that's the Twins 24th best prospect.

That's right folks, the Braves managed to trade a starter with some value for the proverbial bag o' balls and threw in cash to get the Spaldings.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Oh those wacky Braves.

Garcia, backup C Recker, AND cash considerations ... for a 19 y/o that's the Twins 24th best prospect.

That's right folks, the Braves managed to trade a starter with some value for the proverbial bag o' balls and threw in cash to get the Spaldings.

Sounds like they just didn't want to pay him the millions left for the rest of the season. If they were willing to eat part of that contract, probably could have gotten a better prospect.

Maybe they really like that prospect but feel like they'd be better off waiting and trading him to the team that misses out on Sonny Gray or Yu Darvish.

[RainMaker]

I mean unless this was a precursor to a move to bring in someone like Gray, it's a giant fuck you to Atlanta where taxpayers just dropped $400 million for the stadium.

[CrescentMoonie]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Sounds like they just didn't want to pay him the millions left for the rest of the season. If they were willing to eat part of that contract, probably could have gotten a better prospect.

Maybe they really like that prospect but feel like they'd be better off waiting and trading him to the team that misses out on Sonny Gray or Yu Darvish.

I think Trevor Cahill is the next in line for SP trades. This really feels like the Braves are setting things up for Jeffrey Loria to take over the team.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by CrescentMoonie

I think Trevor Cahill is the next in line for SP trades. This really feels like the Braves are setting things up for Jeffrey Loria to take over the team.

At this point I might be willing to make that swap.

At least with Loria you kinda knew what you were getting (firesales).
With the current clowncar occupants you just get doubletalk.

[stevew]

Braves are actually paying all of Garcia's salary and almost all of Recker's as well.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by CrescentMoonie

I think Trevor Cahill is the next in line for SP trades. This really feels like the Braves are setting things up for Jeffrey Loria to take over the team.

Good guess...Royals get starter Trevor Cahill, relievers Brandon Maurer, Ryan Buchter from San Diego

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by stevew

Braves are actually paying all of Garcia's salary and almost all of Recker's as well.

Both the AJC and NBC are saying it's the reverse (to my surprise)

The Twins will pay all of the approximate $4.55 million remaining on Garcia’s $12 million salary this season. The Braves will cover $100,000 of the $300,000 remaining on Recker’s remaining salary.

[Young Drachma]

Shapiro and Rogers have partnered to destroy the Jays. The team is playing as poorly as i expected too.