2014-2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

how could you make that against the rules?

I'm not for it, but it would be easy to do. Just say there can only be four players, not including the pitcher or catcher, on one side of the imaginary line from second base to the center field fence.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I'm not for it, but it would be easy to do. Just say there can only be four players, not including the pitcher or catcher, on one side of the imaginary line from second base to the center field fence.

How many shifts are really that aggressive? Plus you could just have your SS just to the right of 2B and moving to his left at the pitch. Seems like any attempt to legislate it would just be open to loopholes anyway.

Now, I do hope they actually put in a pitching clock and try to enforce it. I know no ump is going to call a ball in the playoffs or in a late tight game, but that's not when I mind things taking a little longer. It's those random days in mid-June when you can save 10-15 minutes with certain starters (Clay Buchholz comes to mind.)

[molson]

Why can't professional hitters just go the other way against an aggressive shift? If they can manage a weak ground ball they're on base.

[claphamsa]

i always wondered that... adam laroche was an extreme pull hitter....just learn to do a mediocre bunt! keep people honest.

[bronconick]

I thought one did that this year to break up a no hitter.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

i always wondered that... adam laroche was an extreme pull hitter....just learn to do a mediocre bunt! keep people honest.

Yep, that or the equivalent of a swinging slap bunt to push it the other way past the pitcher. Moose did that a couple times last year later in the year for cheap hits.

[AENeuman]

We don't need the rule makers to create a level playing field. We should reward those individuals who see the shift as an opportunity, not as an inequality.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

i always wondered that... adam laroche was an extreme pull hitter....just learn to do a mediocre bunt! keep people honest.

Yep, so the Colby Lewis-types can throw at you the next time you're at the plate.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Wondering where James Shields is going to land at this point. Seems like a repeat of the Ervin Santana situation. Getting awfully late in the process.

[rowech]

The way I've always looked at the shift is that it is an intentional walk without the guarantee of the base. Based on run expectancies:

Runner on 1st with nobody out = .83 runs

With bases empty, nobody out = .47 runs

So you're looking at needing to bunt at 57% success to make it valuable to bunt. However, that generally removes your best power guy from the lineup automatically so I wonder how that would affect the expected runs.

My gut is you should always try to take the free base but I can see why players/teams don't.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by rowech

The way I've always looked at the shift is that it is an intentional walk without the guarantee of the base. Based on run expectancies:

Runner on 1st with nobody out = .83 runs

With bases empty, nobody out = .47 runs

So you're looking at needing to bunt at 57% success to make it valuable to bunt. However, that generally removes your best power guy from the lineup automatically so I wonder how that would affect the expected runs.

My gut is you should always try to take the free base but I can see why players/teams don't.

It's far more than just the one power guy. The Royals had three and sometimes four guys in the lineup get the shift on a regular basis last year. It's not just the cleanup hitter that's getting the shifts anymore.

With that said, I love the shift. It's somewhat shocking to be honest that professional players exist that aren't able to do something as simple as slapping the ball the other way or bunting it to get a hit. They SHOULD be challenged with a shift until they can prove that it won't work against them.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Excited for Royals FanFest this weekend! It's always been a great event, but it's going to be nuts this year.

[Atocep]

Dave Stewart hires Joe Carter as his special assistant to the GM. I don't believe he's ever held a front office position.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Looks like the wait has finally ended for Shields. Apparently headed to the Padres.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/108732...-james-shields

[Vince, Pt. II]

So the Padres are apparently a thing now. When did their front office figure things out? They still have to play the games, but this is one of the best offseasons I can remember seeing by any team in terms of improving the team on paper without mortgaging the future like crazy.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

So the Padres are apparently a thing now. When did their front office figure things out? They still have to play the games, but this is one of the best offseasons I can remember seeing by any team in terms of improving the team on paper without mortgaging the future like crazy.

I personally think their moves are a pretty big gamble, but we'll see.

[stevew]

19 year old Cuban Yoan Moncada may get up to a 30-50million bonus? Plus a 100% penalty. Geez.

[stevew]

As long as Julio Franco keeps playing somewhere, I will always feel like a young man.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

SI, you wouldn't believe the atmosphere around KC. People are nuts for the start of spring training. It's been a long time since I've seen this much interest in the team. It's a ton of fun.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by stevew

As long as Julio Franco keeps playing somewhere, I will always feel like a young man.

I saw him play last season for the Fort Worth Cats. He was only a DH in the game I went to. Got a walk, hit and run if I remember correctly.

[MikeVic]

Yesssss I love seeing Julio Franco mentioned.

[molson]

Franco's baseball reference page is a thing of beauty just with the MLB stats, but I'd love to see a consolidated one that included stat lines for his time with all minor league and Japan teams too.

[cartman]

I'm guessing this is what prompted stevew's post.

Julio Franco signs at age 56 with Japanese independent league team - ESPN

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by stevew

19 year old Cuban Yoan Moncada may get up to a 30-50million bonus? Plus a 100% penalty. Geez.

Kid's a stud. How much would Soler get on the market now? Or, more Pirates specific, Polanco? Another pitcher popped up out of nowhere too who should get $20m+(plus the matching penalty) Yadier Alvarez Emerges While Other Cubans Move Closer to Deals | FanGraphs Baseball

I really wanted the Sox to sign Moncada before, but as it becomes more likely he'll stick at 2B he isn't worth as much to us (because of Pedroia and Betts) as other teams. Alvarez would be a nice consolation prize.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

So the Padres are apparently a thing now. When did their front office figure things out? They still have to play the games, but this is one of the best offseasons I can remember seeing by any team in terms of improving the team on paper without mortgaging the future like crazy.

They have some sharp people running the show there.

[EagleFan]

The Yankees are retiring the number of Pettitte, Posada and Williams? Really? What are they smoking?

[stevew]

That's a clown question.

Edit-
Pettite was a key member of 5 championship teams, Posada and Williams were on 4

[PilotMan]

February 19th is almost here. Spring fever approacheth.

[Ramzavail]

Originally Posted by stevew

That's a clown question.

Edit-
Pettite was a key member of 5 championship teams, Posada and Williams were on 4

I'm more concerned with his nearly 4 ERA and his nearly 1.40 WHIP in a yankee uniform and the PED admittance. But I think it has more to do with his personality and his 219 wins not so much the rings (Cone has 4 with NYY).

I think its an added plus (for him) that he has a super high number. If he wore #11, I'm guessing it wouldn't be retired. So I think that helps his borderline case, IMO.

[Ramzavail]

That said, Bernie definitely deserves it. That guy could hit.

[EagleFan]

Williams - never a top 5 MVP candidate, a good player but not worthy of number being retired.

Posada - Not close to being worthy of having his number retired (a career .273 hitter with one season over .300, 1 season with over 100 RBI)

Pettitte - 219 wins with the Yankees over 15 seasons,, about 14 and a half wins per year, ERA of 3.95, 1.35 WHIP


Not one of them has any hardware (MVP, Cy Young). Give them a plaque and move on. Retiring the number waters down the other retired numbers. Unless you think they deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, etc...

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Williams - never a top 5 MVP candidate, a good player but not worthy of number being retired.

Posada - Not close to being worthy of having his number retired (a career .273 hitter with one season over .300, 1 season with over 100 RBI)

Pettitte - 219 wins with the Yankees over 15 seasons,, about 14 and a half wins per year, ERA of 3.95, 1.35 WHIP


Not one of them has any hardware (MVP, Cy Young). Give them a plaque and move on. Retiring the number waters down the other retired numbers. Unless you think they deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, etc...

Mattingly, Dickey, Maris, and Guidry have their numbers retired. I don't think Williams, Posada, and Pettitte are going to be out of place.

[EagleFan]

Mattingly was a career .300 hitters and one of the best players in the game during his time with the team. He has an MVP award to go along with that. Led the league in various stats multiple times.

Bill Dickey was in the MVP running multiple times and was considered the best catcher of his era.

Roger Maris had 2 MVP awards and held the single season HR record.

Ron Guidry has a Cy Young, nearly had a couple others and almost had an MVP. Led the league in wins and ERA multiple times.


The only thing Pettitte ever led the league in (or was tied for) was games started, twice.

The only thing Posada ever led the league in was grounding into double plays.

Bernie Williams never led the league in anything.

[Scoobz0202]

Alex Rodriguez's return to the New York Yankees

Long form article on Alex Rodriguez via ESPN. A really really good one.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

Alex Rodriguez's return to the New York Yankees

Long form article on Alex Rodriguez via ESPN. A really really good one.

Hope he enjoys his seat on the bench hitting .220. Should be fun to watch.

[BishopMVP]

Yankees have 25? numbers retired now. It's what they do. Just like the A-Rod bonuses for HR milstones, I guess you gotta put butts in the seats somehow when you're missing the playoffs multiple years in a row and only have 1 World Series this millennium.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Hope he enjoys his seat on the bench hitting .220. Should be fun to watch.

Yankee haters should hope for a lot of injuries and that ARod has to carry the cleanup spot while posting a .717 ops.

[JPhillips]

How bad does ARod have to be for the Yankees to cut him? Under .200 average? OPS under .600?

[Scoobz0202]

I hope he hits .280 and hits 30 home runs.

And the Yankees miss the wild card by one game

[stevew]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

How bad does ARod have to be for the Yankees to cut him? Under .200 average? OPS under .600?

I think he doesn't make it out of spring training. There's no at bats for him in the lineup and platoon DH(short side) have no value. I'm thinking he tweaks something, they give him a rehab assignment and if he can't hack it they work on a buyout.

[stevew]

Greater question..how long should retired numbers be retired for? In 100 years nobody can wear #3 on the Yankees? Williams/Posada/Pettite should be player's lifetime plus 10 years types.

Like, the Steelers only have 2 retired numbers for instance(and 7 or so out of circulation).

[cartman]

The Rangers have signed Rougned Odor, who is the younger brother of... Rougned Odor.

Texas Rangers sign Rougned Odor's brother, Rougned Odor - Lone Star Ball

[cartman]

oof. Jurickson Profar is going to miss another season. He's going in for shoulder surgery.

Texas Rangers’ Jurickson Profar to have shoulder surgery Monday | Dallas Morning News

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

Alex Rodriguez's return to the New York Yankees

Long form article on Alex Rodriguez via ESPN. A really really good one.

I still haven't made it through the whole article (about 60% through), but so far it's pretty great.

[stevew]

A Rod is only worth the letters F and U

[ISiddiqui]

That A-Rod article was quite good. Thanks for the link.

[EagleFan]

Kind of cool seeing the hometown hero showing up around town in the off season. A couple of my friends, one was him showing up at their office. The other was him showing up at the high school to present the captain's jersey to my friend's son.

[Ramzavail]

wow nice

[stevew]

I had no idea B.J. Upton stood for Bossman, Jr. Anyways, all hail Melvin Upton, Jr, the shittiest player on the Braves.

[MrBug708]

Yoan to Boston