Random news and notes for MLB 2018

[zurch1818]

As someone that has deGrom on my fantasy team, I am not happy he hurt himself. However, I am still a firm believer in pitchers hitting. I don't think you can solely blame hitting for why he got hurt. It could have been something he did while pitching, then batting pushed it over the top...more like a fatigue type injury. Now it would be another story if it was his glove arm.

[TURBO]

deGrom is not expected to miss a start according to this. Find it hard to believe though. I hope it's true, as I have him on 3 of my 4 fantasy teams.

 

Mets manager Mickey Callaway said Thursday that he expects Jacob deGrom (elbow) to make his next start Monday against the Reds.

 

Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reported Thursday morning that deGrom would miss at least four starts with a hyperextended right elbow, but it sounds like that was inaccurate. The 29-year-old right-hander is planning to throw Friday and there should be something more official after that workout. He injured the elbow on a swing Wednesday night against the Braves. An MRI showed no structural damage.

Source: Lindsey Adler on TwitterMay 3 - 10:58 AM

[reillymcshane]

Former Brewer Blaine Boyer has given up 17 hits, 8 walks and 15 earned runs in 10 innings of work this year with KC. His ERA is 13.50.

[reillymcshane]

Miguel Cabrera is hitting .235 with a .675 OPS so far. Last year he had an OPS of .728. He's owed $30M this year, plus $154M over the next five years.

 

That's just brutal.

 

Amazing how fast he's gone downhill. He turns 35 on April 18, but just two years ago he had a .956 OPS.

 

I guess it's not killing Detroit as there is no way they are contending for a few years and their payroll won't be really high (especially when Zimmerman and VMart's contracts are finished) - so they just can let Miggy play and eventually get 3,000 hits.

 

It's just sad to see a guy who was so good at hitting just go downhill so quickly.

Miggy saw my original post and scoffed at me.

 

He is now hitting .326 with a .942 OPS.

 

The baseball universe is now back in balance.

[stoutdude04]

Trevor Bauer had a sudden uptick in spin rate in the first inning of his latest start. When asked about it he replied, 'no comment'.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/trevor-bauer-addresses-astros-spin-rate-cheating-controversy-offers-no-comment-after-his-own-spin-rate-improves/

 

This comes just a few days after he mentioned that some pitchers/organizations may be using pine tar to increase the effectiveness of their pitches where he cited his own research that pine tar could increase the spin rate on his fastball by 200-300 rpm. His season average is around 2300...the first inning was around 2600.

[dlk9s]

Ichiro is done playing for the year and is moving to the front office. He's not officially retiring, though.

[JosephC]

Brewer fans love the idea of a DH now, but I'd guess they won't be so happy a couple years after it happens. There is a reason why the Brewers wanted to get to the NL in the first place. When the Cubs and Cardinals are paying some guy 20 million to DH for them and he beats the crap out of the Brewer pitching staff, and the Brewers have some old broken down pea-shooter as their usual DH...then Brewer fans will probably be none too happy.

 

DISCLAIMER : This does not apply if (A) MLB has a hard salary cap when the NL goes to a DH or (B) Attanasio decides he will spend just as much money as the Cubs on payroll (which would be double what it is now as Cots has the Brewer opening day payroll at 90 million and the Cubs opening day payroll at 182 million).

[JosephC]

Trevor Bauer had a sudden uptick in spin rate in the first inning of his latest start. When asked about it he replied, 'no comment'.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/trevor-bauer-addresses-astros-spin-rate-cheating-controversy-offers-no-comment-after-his-own-spin-rate-improves/

 

This comes just a few days after he mentioned that some pitchers/organizations may be using pine tar to increase the effectiveness of their pitches where he cited his own research that pine tar could increase the spin rate on his fastball by 200-300 rpm. His season average is around 2300...the first inning was around 2600.

 

MLB needs to get ahead of this right now. This could easily explode like the steroids scandal. Astros already won one World Series. If it drags on for three years and the stats guys put three years of data together and conclude that nearly every pitcher the Astros acquired during this timeframe had an immediate and significant increase in spin rate, then it's obvious that they are doctoring the baseball and then all the writers are completely justified in saying that MLB should have been on this early in 2018. First ex-Astro that would come out and say "yeah we were cheating, everyone knew and nobody cared" would completely blow the lid off.

 

If I was the commissioner the order would have already gone out. When a pitcher gets on the mound an umpire checks his hat, glove, belt, forearms and face/neck for any foreign substance. Rosin on bill of cap OK. Anything else comes with automatic ejection and fine.

 

This is not an opinion on if pitchers should be allowed to use pine tar or not. I have no problem if they change the rule this coming off season and make it legal for 2019. But right now it's not legal and if MLB decides to just look the other way, then they should take the same beating from sportswriters as they took after all the steroids stuff went down.

[jerichoholicninja]

Trevor Bauer had a sudden uptick in spin rate in the first inning of his latest start. When asked about it he replied, 'no comment'.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/trevor-bauer-addresses-astros-spin-rate-cheating-controversy-offers-no-comment-after-his-own-spin-rate-improves/

 

This comes just a few days after he mentioned that some pitchers/organizations may be using pine tar to increase the effectiveness of their pitches where he cited his own research that pine tar could increase the spin rate on his fastball by 200-300 rpm. His season average is around 2300...the first inning was around 2600.

 

MLB needs to get ahead of this right now. This could easily explode like the steroids scandal. Astros already won one World Series. If it drags on for three years and the stats guys put three years of data together and conclude that nearly every pitcher the Astros acquired during this timeframe had an immediate and significant increase in spin rate, then it's obvious that they are doctoring the baseball and then all the writers are completely justified in saying that MLB should have been on this early in 2018. First ex-Astro that would come out and say "yeah we were cheating, everyone knew and nobody cared" would completely blow the lid off.

 

If I was the commissioner the order would have already gone out. When a pitcher gets on the mound an umpire checks his hat, glove, belt, forearms and face/neck for any foreign substance. Rosin on bill of cap OK. Anything else comes with automatic ejection and fine.

 

This is not an opinion on if pitchers should be allowed to use pine tar or not. I have no problem if they change the rule this coming off season and make it legal for 2019. But right now it's not legal and if MLB decides to just look the other way, then they should take the same beating from sportswriters as they took after all the steroids stuff went down.

 

It's also kind of an unwritten rule that no team does anything about another team doing it because their pitchers are doing it too. You can't just single out the Astros for the umps to check. You would need to check every pitcher and every catcher too because they could just as easily put something on the ball.

[stoutdude04]

Trevor Bauer had a sudden uptick in spin rate in the first inning of his latest start. When asked about it he replied, 'no comment'.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/trevor-bauer-addresses-astros-spin-rate-cheating-controversy-offers-no-comment-after-his-own-spin-rate-improves/

 

This comes just a few days after he mentioned that some pitchers/organizations may be using pine tar to increase the effectiveness of their pitches where he cited his own research that pine tar could increase the spin rate on his fastball by 200-300 rpm. His season average is around 2300...the first inning was around 2600.

 

MLB needs to get ahead of this right now. This could easily explode like the steroids scandal. Astros already won one World Series. If it drags on for three years and the stats guys put three years of data together and conclude that nearly every pitcher the Astros acquired during this timeframe had an immediate and significant increase in spin rate, then it's obvious that they are doctoring the baseball and then all the writers are completely justified in saying that MLB should have been on this early in 2018. First ex-Astro that would come out and say "yeah we were cheating, everyone knew and nobody cared" would completely blow the lid off.

 

If I was the commissioner the order would have already gone out. When a pitcher gets on the mound an umpire checks his hat, glove, belt, forearms and face/neck for any foreign substance. Rosin on bill of cap OK. Anything else comes with automatic ejection and fine.

 

This is not an opinion on if pitchers should be allowed to use pine tar or not. I have no problem if they change the rule this coming off season and make it legal for 2019. But right now it's not legal and if MLB decides to just look the other way, then they should take the same beating from sportswriters as they took after all the steroids stuff went down.

 

It's also kind of an unwritten rule that no team does anything about another team doing it because their pitchers are doing it too. You can't just single out the Astros for the umps to check. You would need to check every pitcher and every catcher too because they could just as easily put something on the ball.

 

I think that's what he was implying.

[BrewCrew02]

In one of Bauer's responses he mentioned putting something sticky out on the mound similar to a rosin bag. That way those pitchers that want to use it can and those that don't want to use don't have to. I agree with him in this regard. It is widely reported that a significant number of pitchers are using something so get it out in the open. Many hitters have said they are ok with pitchers using sticky stuff to get a better grip on the ball. Technically hitters are using pine tar to get a better grip on the bat so why not let pitchers legally use it.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I think that's why Bauer's suggested solution of putting a tar rag or other additional MLB-approved substance on the mound next to the rosin bag is acceptable - if the reason teams keep their mouths shut is because they know more than half their pitchers do the same thing, then it's an accepted practice leaguewide and MLB should do something to try and standardize the option. I get why there'd be a need to ensure a good grip on a baseball when it's 35 and sleeting or for that matter when it's 100 with 95% humidity - if rosin doesn't do the job in those conditions, then find something else that does. I think there should also be a league-accepted spot on a pitcher's uni and/or equipment for a substance to be on too. Part of the glove or cleat for example - that way you avoid things like Will Smith's shiny forearm or Pineda's muddy neck incidents that just look bad from a perception standpoint and seemingly force opposing managers to get the umps involved.

 

HOWEVER, if pine tar or other substances essentially provide pitchers the ability to gain an unnatural grip on the baseball and artificially enhance their ability to spin it, then I'm not sure I'm good with just allowing it leaguewide for 162 games - perhaps MLB provides another acceptable substance on the mound at their discretion based on weather/game conditions? If the reasoning of players for using it is to ensure good grip for safety reasons for guys throwing 95mph+ when the weather's bad, base it on gametime temp and precip conditions (similarly to when umps allow pitchers to go to their mouth while on the rubber when it's cold to warm their fingers up).

[chuckiehacks]

Wow, Matt Harvey DFA. That was a quick fall.

[burnzy24]

Wow, Matt Harvey DFA. That was a quick fall.

 

I'm sure someone will pick him up but his attitude hasn't been the best lately. Not sure if it is worth it for the Brewers because it seems he isn't willing to spend anytime in the minors.

[TURBO]

I'd take a flyer on him in a heartbeat! He won't last long, someone is going to grab him up.

[bill hAll Star]

It would be one thing if it was just his attitude. I'm not sure if anyone is going to be able to add 3-4 MPH back on his fastball and 2-3 MPH on his slider that he had in 2015, the last time he was very successful.

[TigerUppercut]

It would be one thing if it was just his attitude. I'm not sure if anyone is going to be able to add 3-4 MPH back on his fastball and 2-3 MPH on his slider that he had in 2015, the last time he was very successful.

 

He's had the single biggest drop in spin rate the past 5 years in all of baseball. His stuff isn't coming back.

[MillerParkSouth]

There is absolutely no point to even consider it. Bullpen or starter, we have numerous options that are bette. I think he's done.

[adambr2]

He would have been a great flyer for the 2016 Brewers, but has no place on the 2018 Brewers. We'd have to jettison a productive pitcher just to take a shot. Not happening.

[young guns]

I posted these in yesterdays game thread as it was getting unpinned, so I'm gonna post them here just so they don't get lost to history.

 

[DuWayne Steurer]

Yadier Molina took a foul ball to the twig and berries and will be out a month or so after having to have surgery (?!?). I know I'm not supposed to cheer injury to another human being, but seriously, I can't stand Neck Tat, he's a punk, and as long as he's not fighting for his life, I don't feel bad for taking a bit of joyful glee out of this.

 

Of course I'm sure his replacement is going to put up a .900 OPS and throw out 50% of attempted base stealers.

[stalton]

Yadier Molina took a foul ball to the twig and berries and will be out a month or so after having to have surgery (?!?). I know I'm not supposed to cheer injury to another human being, but seriously, I can't stand Neck Tat, he's a punk, and as long as he's not fighting for his life, I don't feel bad for taking a bit of joyful glee out of this.

 

Of course I'm sure his replacement is going to put up a .900 OPS and throw out 50% of attempted base stealers.

 

I just have to say that as someone who took a foul line drive off of his bat once, it should give me karmic satisfaction, but after watching the replay, I can't wish anything like that one anyone.

[JosephC]

In one of Bauer's responses he mentioned putting something sticky out on the mound similar to a rosin bag. That way those pitchers that want to use it can and those that don't want to use don't have to. I agree with him in this regard. It is widely reported that a significant number of pitchers are using something so get it out in the open. Many hitters have said they are ok with pitchers using sticky stuff to get a better grip on the ball. Technically hitters are using pine tar to get a better grip on the bat so why not let pitchers legally use it.

 

Were hitters under the impression that it would only help the grip when those comments were made? Were they aware that it also can lead to a dramatic improvement in spin rate as well? Would hitters have the same opinion today with the information that's out there? Not saying they wouldn't, but it's an issue that MLB/MLBPA needs to look at and it needs to be addressed.

 

And to address an earlier reply, yes, I think umpires should be checking all pitchers for anything other than rosin, not just Indian's pitchers.

[LouisEly]

Yadier Molina took a foul ball to the twig and berries and will be out a month or so after having to have surgery (?!?). I know I'm not supposed to cheer injury to another human being, but seriously, I can't stand Neck Tat, he's a punk, and as long as he's not fighting for his life, I don't feel bad for taking a bit of joyful glee out of this.

 

Of course I'm sure his replacement is going to put up a .900 OPS and throw out 50% of attempted base stealers.

 

I just have to say that as someone who took a foul line drive off of his bat once, it should give me karmic satisfaction, but after watching the replay, I can't wish anything like that one anyone.

I can think of a few people.

 

https://youtu.be/dJEjlfBU7v0

[burnzy24]

Dylan Bundy gave up four home runs in the 1st against the Royals and was pulled without recording an out.