Welcome to another edition of Things Read in Other Moms' Basements, a look around the things and happenings of the rest of the National League East, since the Atlanta Braves aren't the only team around. As we approach the coming of the 2010 season, the news tends to slow to where it's mostly fluff pieces, mailbags, and players in the best shapes of their lives, and a lot of minor league deals.
That in mind, it was a fairly tame week with no big transactions, in our division. One notable move in the week overall though, was the San Francisco Giants signing two-time Cy Young winning ace pitcher, Tim Lincecum to a two-year deal. So, to commemorate the occasion, here's a picture of Tim Lincecum's last outing against the Braves, where he got tagged pretty quick and early, culminating with a homer surrendered to our Yunel Escobar.
I'll start this week's links with the Marlins, since they've yet to get a shake yet. I know there's about fifty feet of snow coating the Eastern seaboard, and amazingly some of it has fallen onto Atlanta, where it almost never snows. That being said, if you're covered in snow, have a safe and warm weekend, and if not, feel fortunate. It's a pain in the rear sometimes.
Uh, you might want to mind your company, ROY - ROY's ugh, Twitter
(hat tip: Mets Blog)
It seems like a week can't go by without there being at least one easy fodder to make a Jeff Francoeur joke. The reigning NL rookie of the year and our former maligned right fielder are headed to the Louisville Slugger factory, apparently to do some shopping. When described like that, I imagine two dudes wearing Prada sunglasses, and one of them carrying one of those flamboyant pink striped Victoria's Secret bags. My advice for Coughlin on this trip - keep your headphones on loud, and try to not hear anything in relation to the strike zone. What you did in 2009 worked great for you already.
The rest, after the jump.
Minor leaguers vying for open 1B spot - MLB.com
This is why it's not so bad to play for the Marlins - your chance to the show comes sooner rather than later. If Freddie Freeman were in the Marlins organization, he'd no doubt be in this boat. It'll likely go to Gaby Sanchez, the 26-year old who has probably played his last game in AAA, or who knows - maybe the Marlins will find someone to stick at 3B, and maintain Jorge Cantu at first after all?
Marlins Mailbag: Dan Uggla to move to 3B? - MLB.com
Proof that other teams' fans are apt to make wild hypothesis as some are here at Talking Chop. Uggla is a butcher at second base, why put a butcher at the hot corner? Also I love how so many people try to insinuate a change in defensive position has a very adept impact on a player's offensive capabilities. Emilio Bonifacio "struggling" at 3B has nothing to do with the fact that the "stress" of changing positions was impacting his performance, but rather him showing his major league inexperience, with a convenient excuse. And in more traditional argument sense, Uggla is currently a well above-average 2B in terms of offensive contribution, but a move to 3B would suddenly make him a slightly above-average offensive 3B instead.
Marlins brass piggybacks on Super Bowl to network for them - MLB.com
Funny story about how Marlins officials take advantage of all the visitors and hysteria surrounding the site of the 2010 Super Bowl being Dolphin LandShark SunLife Stadium, and how they capitalize mingling with all the corporate entities that are walking around on their home field.
Somehow, I doubt this - Field of Schemes
(hat tip: Marlins Maniac)
Allegedly, seats for the 2012 opening of the Miami Marlins Park sponsored by Landshark Sun Life Dolphin are selling quickly. Hard to swallow when the current fanbase of the Marlins is like, three guys, now that Alfredo Amezaga is gone.
Elijah Dukes agrees to terms - MLB.com
I know I've been saying it a lot in the few weeks, but this is one of my more serious predictions - Elijah Dukes is going to have a monster year, or burn out trying. There will be no middle ground. He lost his father over the off-season, and he wants to perform well, in order to make money to help his mother out. He's either going to finally mature and put up an all-star caliber season, or burn out. Federal Baseball goes further in-depth on expectations; Bill James projects relative mediocrity, but I expect good things out of Dukes. Also some clips of him more or less getting a head start by destroying some Dominican Winter League pitchers.
Nationals 'aggressively pursuing' Wang - MLB.com
You know how football commentators get their kicks by blatantly drawing genatalia with their telestrators when trying to describe how a play transpired? I think MLB.com guys poorly try to write headlines for Chien-Ming Wang, as such. Anyway, you heard it here first - if Wang signs with the Nationals, then Wang is your NL Comeback Player for 2010. Former Yankee teammate, Brian Bruney, would welcome him to the Nationals. We saw how that worked out for OPS guy and O-Dawg.
Ian Kennedy, officially a National - MLB.com
Terms of the deal are $1.25M for the year with a club option for 2011. Somehow, I think this will be a great deal for the Nationals.
Study on first-pitch strikes and the new Nationals compared to old - Federal Baseball
An interesting study and chart showing the relation between first-pitch strikes and a pitcher's success, compared to all of the Nationals pitchers for 2010 and previous years.
Why John Smoltz could go to the Nationals - Federal Baseball
"...on the idea of serving as a mentor to their young pitching staff. Smoltz might be intrigued by the notion, particularly if his other options are limited."
Gee, the Braves could've used a mentor when they had some young pitching stalwarts, but he apparently chose to go mentor all 50,000 prospects out in Boston named Benjamin Franklin. If the Nationals want John Smoltz, there's only one thing that will bring him there.
OPS guy, the pickin' machine - Big League Stew
(hat tip: Doghnut)
For anyone who's read Moneyball, there's a story about how Ron Washington basically told Scott Hatteberg to get cocky to help ease his confidence from being a catcher into a league average first baseman. This is basically the same thing, as Dunn is preparing is repetoire of barbs and jabs to throw out at certain individuals who dare hit singles and get stuck next to him for the new few minutes, including calling Baby Jesus "fat." Donkey, meet pig. You're both farm animals.
Angel Pagan avoids arb, signs 1-yr deal, Mike Jacobs close - MLB.com
Pagan avoids arb, and will sign for another year to be a Beltran stand-in. Mike Jacobs is close to signing a minor league deal and receiving a spring-training invite to get a chance to return to the NL East, and compete with Daniel Murphy for the vacant 1B spot. And if the outfield wasn't crowded enough in Beltran's abscence, the Mets picked up borderline 4A player Jason Pridie from the Twins off the waiver wire.
Carlos Beltran "furious" with the Mets - NYPost
(hat tip: Mets Blog)
The best player on the Mets isn't happy with the way that the Mets publicly handled his surgery. I like the New York style of writing that basically plants some seeds of villany, insinuating that Beltran will take his dear sweet time in recovering from surgery to prepare for his walk year, 2011, so he can play out of his mind again and hope to get one more big contract in free agency.
Francisco Rodriguez outdueled in slow-pitch softball game in Venezuela by Hugo Chavez - NY Daily News
11 runs surrendered in three innings, K-Rod was outdueled by his pitching counterpart, Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez (7ER, 2.0IP). Sure it was slow-pitch softball, but come on now. Also, a brief mention of one of the destined five involved in the worst trade in the history of mankind, Elvis Andrus.
Felipe Lopez, anybody? - Amazin Avenue
You know, as much flack as Luis Castillo endures in New York, I think Felipe Lopez would actually be a downgrade. At least as a Braves fan, I wouldn't fear this move, as he boasts a sub-.700 OPS and a penchant for striking out or Vidroing against us, and is rocking a 30-40 career record when facing the Braves.
Citi Field to lower outfield walls in CF; David Wright sighs with relief - MLB.com
The wall out in center is going to be dropped from 16 ft down to eight in an attempt to alleviate David Wright's complete inability to hit homers anymore. Hard to say if this will make that much of a difference, as Wright is typically a left-center home run hitter mostly.
Mike Pelfrey is in, you guessed it, the best shape of his life - New York Post
(hat tip: Amazin Avenue)
We always knew he was a big fellow, but 257 lbs. worth? Good Pujols, talk about a hoss. He aims to be right around 230 when camp breaks. A loss of 27 lbs, sure that qualifies for TBSOHL.
So is this aged, unemployed slugger, who's looking for work but not considering the Mets - New York Post
I love how the only thing being used to justify TBSOHL is weight; I mean, I've weighed less in my life but been less healthy, and often times I get paranoid that recent weight loss could be in relation to not going to the gym, and I'm losing muscle mass. But 41-year old Gary Sheffield has lost a good bit of weight, and is looking for someone else to pick him up for a little bit, so he can continue to hit pinch-hit homers and play the race card in the locker room, but he isn't considering the Mets as possible suitors.
Japanese pitcher turns down Mets, looks towards Pirates - NPB Tracker
(hat tip: Mets Blog)
A Japanese guy turns down New York in favor of Pittsburgh. Only the Mets could make something like this possible. Nevermind, he was probably using the Pirates for leverage. Hisanori Takahashi signed with the Mets afterall. (MLB.com)
Hisanori Takahashi or Ken Takahashi, what's the difference? - Metstradamus
I lol'd at this. Hard. Especially the ending.
Mets are #9 most powerful sports brand in the world, #2 in baseball - Forbes
(hat tip: Mets Blog)
The most interesting thing is that the Mets rank above the Boston Red Sox.
Jamie Moyer is our 5th starter unless proven otherwise - Phillies Nation
The 47-year old "crafty" veteran who just won't throw it in aspires to feather and pepper the plate with his 75mph fastball and 56mph change for another year. The job is his to lose, but considering how often Moyer finds success and is backed by such a high-powered offense, I think he'll succeed. Hm, maybe John Smoltz should consider the Phillies, they're 40+ friendly, likely to find success, and if he can't beat Jamie Moyer for the 5th spot, then it's a sure sign that it's time to call it quits.
Fact or Fiction - Citizens Bank Park, the bandbox? - MLB.com
I tend to keep my mouth shut when Braves fans, and even the Braves themselves complain about the way Citizens Bank Park feels, because it always just seems like an excuse when it's brought up, and sounds kind of silly. Facts are facts, and CBP has sure, been leaned towards being a hitters park, but it's certainly nowhere near the slow-pitch paraplegic little league softball that everyone makes it out to be. I think too often players and fans expect more out of games played at CBP, and that's what gets them beat in the end.
Jamie Moyer approaching 4,000 IP, among other possible milestones - Phillies Nation
I always like seeing possible milestones, and out of all these possible milestones, Moyer's 4,000th inning stands out to me the most. That's 1,334 games' worth of innings. Good lord. Also, interestingly is the race to 1,000 strikeouts between Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez - Ibanez debuted eight years before Howard did.
UZR digs Raul Ibanez, but Raul Ibanez does not dig UZR - Beerleaguer
Once a victim of UZR, it rated him surprisingly well in his first year as a Phillie. But he's not one to forget the past, and Raul Ibanez sounds off on his indifference towards the fielding metric.
Saber nerds - Introducing SIERA - Baseball Prospectus
(hat tip: The Good Phight)
In a nutshell, it's more efficient at discerning such variables such as groundball-to-flyball rates. But what I'm curious about is when people are going to start calling it "Sierra" or if they're going to call it "SEE-R-A"
0 recs | 20 comments
I know Ibanez isnt exactly a fan favorite around here, but it’s kinda refreshing to see a major leaguer talking about stats like UZR instead of talking about how such things aren’t on the scoreboard (cough OBP cough), even if he is talking about why he doesn’t like it.
Doghnut - February 13, 2010
Do you know about Brian Bannister? Dude’s been into the advanced stats since he was in college. He helped Greinke’s outlook on things by explaining stuff like FIP to him. Actully, the first time I ever heard about FIP and OPS was from Brian. He’s crazy smart.
cbwilk - February 13, 2010
Do you think Bannister would be in the major leagues without his understanding and application of these advanced stats?
bwellnjonesco - February 13, 2010
Well
His approach doesn’t necessarily help him. Know that you can’t consistently control the location/attitude of batted balls doesn’t mean you should be trying to do something different than what works.
It probably does help a pitcher to get a feel for what’s really having the most effects on his status, and if he’s a streak of bad luck, he doesn’t get too down on himself.
Bronn - February 13, 2010
I was thinking I read somewhere that he used advanced stats to research each hitter he may be facing in his next start to identify the best way to handle the hitter (certain spots to hit, etc.).
bwellnjonesco - February 13, 2010
I think you’re right that this is definitely one of the major ways that Brian utilizes the stuff. As far as if he’d be in the majors or not without it, I think a guy with his work ethic, natural talent (which actually is a good tick below most Major Leaguers), and the mental outlook on the game he gained from being the son of a Major Leaguer would probably have a good chance to make it to the show.
cbwilk - February 13, 2010
Because third base is a less important defensive position that isn’t as physically demanding and requires less range?
Lennox - February 13, 2010
I agree… Looking at it from the other direction, do you think Chipper could handle 2B right now? I don’t. But he’s passable at 3rd.
I’d have to do some research, but my gut tells me that moving from 2B to 3B isn’t a bad idea for certain players.
Jacob Peterson - February 13, 2010
3B is a very reactionary position. You either react instinctively to the ball off the bat, or it gets by you. Remember Uggla in the All Star Game a few years ago? If you can’t react to balls hit at you at 2B, you will not just fail, but epicfail at 3B.
2B requires a player to be a little more athletic, with all the moving around covering the bag and making throws and such.
Uggla is just a butcher on defense and is going to be a liability anywhere you stick him. Hell, his defense is so bad his UZR numbers would be negative if he was an AL DH.
Rhyno18 - February 13, 2010
Depends on how you look at it
From the “power on the corners, defense up the middle defense” standpoint, moving Uggla to third makes a whole lot of sense. But personally, I always feel that 3B is a more important defensive position than 2B, and the bottom line is that Uggla is less than capable at either position; I don’t think he has the reaction speed to pass at 3B, nor the arm to make cross diamond throws, and he’s not exactly spectacular at 2B. He’s a defensive butcher no matter where he is, but that bat is just too potent to keep out of a lineup.
royhobbs - February 13, 2010
Why? I mean, the defense up the middle, power in the corners adage is there for a reason. A 2B will handle the ball much more often than a 3B, is responsible for covering more ground, and has a key role on most double plays.
Not to say that 3B is an easy position, but I’d rather have a “butcher” there than at 2B where he’d be involved in hundreds more plays over the course of a season.
Lennox - February 14, 2010
esp when you have groundball pitchers like us
double plays become important.
Doghnut - February 14, 2010
It's a simple thinking dating real far back
To basic observations when I was 12 – balls that get past the 3B have a greater chance at being doubles than balls that get past the 2B. Yeah, it’s a very uneducated way of thinking about it, but from one of those “eyes only” standpoints, it’s one of those old adages that stuck.
Relative to the topic in which it was brought up, if the Marlins had a left-side tandem of Hanley and Uggla, I’d be optimistic about the opposition’s chances. Hanley’s a phenomenal athlete yes, but all the talks of his relative size and the possibility of moving him to 3B or even 1B in the distant future came about for a reason. He’s not exactly in the class of Rollins or Escobar defensively, and combine him with Uggla at 3B, and I’d forsee a whole lot more balls punching their way through the left side.
royhobbs - February 14, 2010
Well, yes, but you could say the same thing about SS as well, right? A ball that gets by the 1B or 3B is more likely to be a double than a ball that gets by SS or 2B because the 3B and 1B are positioned near the foul lines.
If you do hit a screamer a few steps to the right of the 3B, and it stays in fair territory, then, yeah it’s going to be a double or triple down the line.
Of course if you hit a screamer a few steps off where the SS or 2B is positioned, and it gets by them, then it’s going to be a double or triple to the gap.
Well, no one they had at 3B last year was a particularly good fielder either, so, I don’t know that Uggla would be all that much worse than what they had, and it would allow them to move Coghlan to his natural position of 2B. So you’d improve at 2B (and LF, most likely, having moved Coghlan off of that position) and get Uggla’s bat at what is (at least generally considered) a less important defensive position.
Also, the 2B ends up being the turn guy on a lot of double plays, and unlike the SS they have to basically spin their body around to make the throw after the catch, so they take the brunt of a lot of those breakup slides.
The physical grind of the position, especially as a player gets older, and the effect it could have on the bat, could be another good reason for moving Uggla.
Lennox - February 14, 2010
Wright’s HR problems weren’t caused by Citi anyway, at least not directly. He hit 5 there, 5 away. He actually had a slightly higher HR/FB rate at Citi. The problem is either his swing or his mental state. Citi may have psyched him out some, but if so, he let it carry over to road games, which wouldn’t reflect well on him.
Jacob Peterson - February 13, 2010
Quite possibly
There are a lot of debate going on from what I can see about the power outage in Wright, and it sounds almost verbatim to what you’re saying – mostly mental. Personally, I think it’s partially that, but in the end, I don’t think he’s really a genuine home run guy. Kind of how Chipper often says that he’s not a home run slugger, but he’s fully capable of capitalizing on a pitcher’s mistake. Wright has a lot of finesse about his game, and could contribute in many other ways than just hitting homers, with good defense, speed on the bases, and ability to hit for good average to various parts of the field.
royhobbs - February 13, 2010
say what you will about Lincecum...
dude’s the best pitcher I’ve seen since Pedro.
nathan rothschild - February 13, 2010
This man speaks the truth.
TheLetter2 - February 14, 2010
ian kennedy
the nats deff did not sign ian kennedy…. he’s a pitcher for the dbacks
atlstrike - February 15, 2010
adam kennedy
yeah, i was confused first, i thought i missed a trade or something.
the natspos signed adam kennedy the second baseman
baseballbrett13 - February 15, 2010
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