Random MLB News And Discussion 2013

[Eye Black]

Interesting article from Fangraphs on The Strongest (and Weakest) Rookie Classes of 2013

 

They rank all 30 clubs, but here is some of the content relating to Milwaukee...

 

The Top Tier:

 

1. Milwaukee Brewers: When the dust settled I was shocked to the see the Brewers leading the pack. However, upon closer inspection it’s easy to see why they did. The club finished second in rookie WAR, second in innings, third in rookies used, and 10th in at-bats. Unexpected help came on offence from second baseman Scooter Gennett (1.9 WAR, 230 AB), and Khris Davis (1.2, 153). Even limp-bat, defensive whiz Jeff Bianchi chipped in from the bench (0.8 WAR, 252). The club received help on the mound from both the bullpen and the starting rotation in the form of reliever Brandon Kintzler (1.3 WAR, 77.0 IP) as well as starters Tyler Thornburg (1.1, 66.2) and Wily Peralta (1.0, 183.1).

 

2. St. Louis Cardinals: The Red Birds employed 20 rookies, one more than the Brewers and three fewer than the MLB leading Marlins — and yet they reached the 2013 World Series. The club provided regular at-bats and innings to seven players. First baseman Matt Adams (1.7, 319) was far and away the most product hitter while defensive whiz and shortstop Pete Kozma (0.0, 448) was much less so. On the mound, starter Shelby Miller (2.1, 173.1) and reliever Trevor Rosenthal (2.2, 75.1) provided much-needed innings. Playoff stud Michael Wacha (1.1, 64.2) and Seth Maness (0.1, 62.0) also chipped in.

 

3. Miami Marlins: The Marlins didn’t lead the way in rookie WAR but they did employ the most rookies, while also doling out the most at-bats and third most innings to first-year players. Everyone knows what young hurler Jose Fernandez (4.7, 172.2) did in 2013, but the organization also received some additional starting help from Tom Koehler (0.6, 143), as well as relief aid from A.J. Ramos (0.6, 80.0) and Dan Jennings (0.6, 40.2). At the plate, six players earned more than 230 at-bats. The highest WAR came from outfielders Marcell Ozuna (1.6) and Christian Yelich (1.4), while minor-league veteran Ed Lucas (0.7) was also effective. A few freshmen hitters were replacement level or worse: Derek Dietrich (0.0), Rob Brantly (-0.8), and Adeiny Hechavarria (-1.9), whose slick defense couldn’t mask his offensive inadequacies.

 

The Top 5 in Rookie WAR

1. Dodgers: 7.1

2. Cardinals: 7.0

3. Brewers: 5.8

4. Braves: 5.4

5. Mets/Rays: 5.3

 

The Top 5 in Rookies Used

1. Marlins: 23

2. Astros: 22

3. Cardinals: 20

4. Brewers/White Sox/Phillies: 19

7. Angels/Mets: 18

 

The Top 5 in Rookie Innings Pitched

1. Brewers: 634.0

2. Cardinals: 553.2

3. Marlins: 497.2

4. Rangers: 488.0

5. Astros: 465.0

[sveumrules]

Was looking up some three year totals (2011-13) on the fangraphs leaderboards today and noticed that despite 134 fewer games & 547 fewer plate appearances Mike Trout has the exact same WAR (21.1) as Miguel Cabrera.

[fondybrewfan]

Jamey Wright is still in the league at 39 and just signed a one year contract with LAD. The guy continues to amaze; I always thought he was a bum but he certianly put together a nice long career and has made plenty of money.

[owbc]

Fun fact: Jamey Wright is the last active member of the infamous 2002 Brewers. Considering I referred to him as "Jamey Wrong" at the time, it's quite an accomplishment. He was 5-13 for the Brewers that year before being sent to the Cardinals for a bag of balls.

[TURBO]

If the Cardinals fixed him, he is now going to be Cy Young material...

 

*sigh*

 

 

 

Cardinals coaches corrected a flaw in John Axford's delivery at the end of the 2013 season.

 

The coaches filled Axford in on the secret that he had been tipping his pitches for years. Once the issue was brought to his attention and he tweaked his delivery, he posted a 1.74 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 11/3 K/BB ratio over 10 1/3 innings at the end of the season, and followed that up with a strong performance in the playoffs. If the issue has indeed been corrected, look for the 30-year-old to have a strong run as the Indians' closer.

 

Source: National Post

[jerichoholicninja]

If the Cardinals fixed him, he is now going to be Cy Young material...

 

*sigh*

 

 

 

Cardinals coaches corrected a flaw in John Axford's delivery at the end of the 2013 season.

 

The coaches filled Axford in on the secret that he had been tipping his pitches for years. Once the issue was brought to his attention and he tweaked his delivery, he posted a 1.74 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 11/3 K/BB ratio over 10 1/3 innings at the end of the season, and followed that up with a strong performance in the playoffs. If the issue has indeed been corrected, look for the 30-year-old to have a strong run as the Indians' closer.

 

Source: National Post

 

Well the good news is he doesn't pitch for the Cardinals anymore. Even before he supposedly starting tipping his pitches his control was very erratic and that's what would do him in more often than not.

[pitchleague]

kind of depressing that our own coaches didn't realize that he was tipping his pitches.

[AdvantageSchneider]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/axfords-generous-tipping/

 

Fangraphs did a very nice write up on this. It makes me extremely depressed that the Brewers organization could not spot this and fix it. It doesn't seem like it's that hard to spot or fix. "Hey Ax, when you are in the set position, just hold the ball a little but behind your back." That's about all they had to say and we still would have had a productive relief pitcher in our pen.

 

It really makes me wonder if this is just part of a larger trend with the Brewers unable to develop pitching.

[jerichoholicninja]

Finding out that he was tipping pitches might have helped a little bit but it wouldn't have helped him to find the strikezone.

[logan82]

Helps a lot with other players swinging and missing. He was never really in the zone much.