2021 Misc. MLB News

[owbc]

The 'no shifting' rule is so simple...infielders must have feet on the dirt when the ball is thrown. That's why I like it. I don't know how else to solve the shifting problem in such a simple way. But I know it can not be solved by bunting...you can't successfully bunt enough 90+ mph breaking pitches with movement to make the math work out vs. trying to hit doubles/HRs. However, incentivizing hitting singles goes a long way toward helping--and increasing stolen bases will make hitting singles (including bunt singles) more attractive if you can turn more of them into doubles with a SB.

I am on board with banning the shift and requiring all IF to remain on the dirt. Unfortunately, the launch angle revolution and birth of 3TO baseball is a result of the shift and ballplayers' inability/laziness/unsexiness (call it what you want) of not wanting to learn to hit the other way or punch the ball through holes. By requiring all IF must remain on the IF or the IF grass prior to a pitch AND there must be two players on both sides of second base, I believe it accomplishes what MLB wants and that is the elimination of 3TO baseball.

 

Do I love this solution? No. It upsets me that people in the game can't go the other way or have learned to accept a K rather than hit it where the opposing fielders are not. I truly believe this is laziness on the players' part and not wanting to look like a punch and Judy hitter.

 

As a first-step solution to 3TO baseball though, I will accept it.

 

I agree that it's a less-than-ideal solution, but if you listen to any player/coach/manager/GM interview in the last several years about the shift, they all repeat the same talking points about how analytically it makes more sense to go for doubles/HR even with the shift on. Every MLB team has run the numbers and reached the same conclusion. If power hitters tried to hit against the shift, they could do it with a modest success rate, but the math says that hitting a single isn't worth the trouble. If stolen bases were easier, maybe that equation would change for some hitters.

 

Analytics is the real scapegoat here, not laziness. The rule changes are to combat what analytics has done to the game.

[jerichoholicninja]

I will never get behind banning the shift. It's one of the few things in baseball I actually find interesting. There's nothing like hearing announcers talk about how stupid it is and how it's going to fail and then watching the hitter hit a ground ball right to a fielder in a completely weird spot who doesn't even have to move.

[djoctagone]

I love Tim but listening to him for 3 hours every game would get old pretty fast. He'd be best replacing Augie for the pre and post game shows and doing some bit pieces with players here and there.

it's my understanding that another former brewer will be replacing jerry augustine for that regional sports network. he was a nashville sounds teammate of dillard's, and likely were on the same brewers roster from time to time.

My guesses for the riddle are Ax, Lo, or Narvdogg.

the secret's out. he's been volunteering at a meal program with my mom in racine and he told her about his new gig.

[jerichoholicninja]

Does that mean he's moved to Wisconsin? The reason he signed with Texas two years ago was because he would play in Nashville where he lives and could be with his wife and kids. So I was surprised that he resigned with Texas earlier this offseason since Nashville isn't a Rangers affiliate anymore.

[AKCheesehead]

Does that mean he's moved to Wisconsin? The reason he signed with Texas two years ago was because he would play in Nashville where he lives and could be with his wife and kids. So I was surprised that he resigned with Texas earlier this offseason since Nashville isn't a Rangers affiliate anymore.

 

I believe he is referring to Rottino.

[jerichoholicninja]

Does that mean he's moved to Wisconsin? The reason he signed with Texas two years ago was because he would play in Nashville where he lives and could be with his wife and kids. So I was surprised that he resigned with Texas earlier this offseason since Nashville isn't a Rangers affiliate anymore.

 

I believe he is referring to Rottino.

 

That would make more sense.

[DuWayne Steurer]

The Royals signed Salvador Perez to a 4 year, 82 million dollar extension, that starts in 2022. He's a catcher, and he's going to be 32 when the extension kicks in.

 

He's a GG caliber catcher, but again, he's gonna be 32 when that extension kicks in, and he's a pretty bad OBP bat with decent power. Last year was the first time since his rookie season he had an OPS over .800. I just can't imagine throwing that many years at a 30+ catcher when you're rebuilding.

[adambr2]

The Royals signed Salvador Perez to a 4 year, 82 million dollar extension, that starts in 2022. He's a catcher, and he's going to be 32 when the extension kicks in.

 

He's a GG caliber catcher, but again, he's gonna be 32 when that extension kicks in, and he's a pretty bad OBP bat with decent power. Last year was the first time since his rookie season he had an OPS over .800. I just can't imagine throwing that many years at a 30+ catcher when you're rebuilding.

 

That seemed like a crazy overpay to me too. Fortunately for him he had a great year at the right time.

 

How much of a player's lifetime earnings just come down to really good or really bad timing?

 

Imagine how much Carlos Gomez and Johnathan Lucroy lost just because of bad timing.

 

Comparatively, how much did Prince Fielder gain on good timing that he would have lost if he had had two or three years of his free agency bought out on a deal.

[wntrtxn21]

The Royals signed Salvador Perez to a 4 year, 82 million dollar extension, that starts in 2022. He's a catcher, and he's going to be 32 when the extension kicks in.

 

He's a GG caliber catcher, but again, he's gonna be 32 when that extension kicks in, and he's a pretty bad OBP bat with decent power. Last year was the first time since his rookie season he had an OPS over .800. I just can't imagine throwing that many years at a 30+ catcher when you're rebuilding.

 

I saw the same thing and I had to re-read it to make sure the numbers were actually what I read. Paying a 32 year old catcher over $20M per seems like an extreme overpay, especially for a team not expected to compete for a while.

[Lathund]

That's a lot of money indeed. I can only imagine they have reason to believe his offensive breakout (Even if not to the tune of 160 wRC+ going forward) is real, or else it makes little sense. The likely introduction of the electronic strike zone probably plays into it too, as he's a poor defensive catcher overall thanks to awful framing, but good in the other aspects.

[jerichoholicninja]

Basically this will be praised because a small market team spent money and locked up their homegrown star. Of course, it will be panned in a few years because he can't hit, can't stay healthy, and is making too much money for the team to move him except to just eat the cost and flat out release him.

[Outlander]

I can understand why they extended Alex Gordon a few years ago when they still had a window but that is a bad contract for the Royals now. Would have let it play out the year as would find it hard to believe another team would pay Perez that much after the season.

[umphrey]

Seems like a smaller team had to take a risky gamble that the breakout was real to avoid negotiating in FA

[umphrey]

Perez also has taken some crazy team friendly contracts up til now and while I usually will assume the worst of owners during negotiations, they might have let him cash in a little bit due to previous deals

[jerichoholicninja]

Perez also has taken some crazy team friendly contracts up til now and while I usually will assume the worst of owners during negotiations, they might have let him cash in a little bit due to previous deals

 

If true, that was nice of them but really stupid.

[markedman5]

Looks like Jimmy has made the Dodgers team. Iirc he is out of options.

 

[JosephC]

Chris Davis to the 60 day DL with a lower back strain. Orioles fans celebrate.

[adambr2]

Chris Davis to the 60 day DL with a lower back strain. Orioles fans celebrate.

 

Wait, he still has an MLB job?

[wildcat83]

Perez made the Nationals roster while Kieboom was sent down.

[wildcat83]

Chris Davis to the 60 day DL with a lower back strain. Orioles fans celebrate.

 

Wait, he still has an MLB job?

 

Sadly for Baltimore he will next year too. He’s 21 million of their 49 million dollar payroll and they still owe him 21 million next year.

 

That’s a crazy payroll to look at, they will have 4 players making over $1 million on their opening day roster. That’s insane, you can’t sign crappy veterans for less than a million, as we’ve found out.

[Roderick]

Surprised at how fast Jonathan Lucroy is out of baseball. That sure seemed like a swift decline. I suppose he could maybe catch on with someone for this season, just doesn't seem likely.

[nate82]

Odor won't be on the Rangers opening day roster. The Rangers have until Thursday to either trade, release or designate him for assignment.

 

It looks like he will be released as I am not sure a team will trade for him and the Rangers haven't asked him to go down to the minors.

 

https://theathletic.com/news/rangers-to-leave-rougned-odor-off-opening-day-roster/tfc2YigzGCnW

[DuWayne Steurer]

Odor is not a good ballplayer. He's had an OBP above .300 twice, he has one bat skill (power) and he plays average defense. In 6 full years, he's amassed 7.2 total WAR. He's Hernan Perez with a little bit more power without the positional flexibility. I can't see a team giving up anything of value for him.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Surprised at how fast Jonathan Lucroy is out of baseball. That sure seemed like a swift decline. I suppose he could maybe catch on with someone for this season, just doesn't seem likely.

 

 

He's a catcher and he's (almost) 35. Not really that surprising. Just not a lot of guys can catch into their mid to late 30's and stay effective. Really takes a toll on the body.

[Jopal78]

Surprised at how fast Jonathan Lucroy is out of baseball. That sure seemed like a swift decline. I suppose he could maybe catch on with someone for this season, just doesn't seem likely.

 

 

He's a catcher and he's (almost) 35. Not really that surprising. Just not a lot of guys can catch into their mid to late 30's and stay effective. Really takes a toll on the body.

 

Is there anything more satisfying than Lucroy’s post-Brewers career? Here’s a guy when the Brewers turned down his overture for an extension well into his 30’s, he demanded a trade because the team “wasn’t winning”, then he vetoed a trade because of the projected time behind the plate wasnt to his liking.

 

When he finally was traded, the Brewers starting to play competitive baseball, he never got the long term contract he wanted. His skills then disappeared over night, proving the Brewers wisdom in rejecting his desire for a long term contract in the first place.