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ChickenStu
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Joined: 25 Apr 2015
Posts: 35412
Location: Anaheim, CA
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LongBeachPoly
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Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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 Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2025 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Paul Skenes is entering 2025 more at ease with his role as ace of the Pittsburgh Pirates' staff. He also might be entering the year with a couple of new pitches.
Coming off an electrifying 2024, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year is tinkering with adding a cutter and a running two-seam fastball to an arsenal that already includes a four-seamer that tops out north of 100 mph and a "splinker" that was one of the best put-away pitches in the majors last season.
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ribeye
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Joined: 10 Nov 2001
Posts: 13966
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 11:03 am Post subject: |
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| LongBeachPoly wrote: | | Quote: | Paul Skenes is entering 2025 more at ease with his role as ace of the Pittsburgh Pirates' staff. He also might be entering the year with a couple of new pitches.
Coming off an electrifying 2024, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year is tinkering with adding a cutter and a running two-seam fastball to an arsenal that already includes a four-seamer that tops out north of 100 mph and a "splinker" that was one of the best put-away pitches in the majors last season.
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The problem continues to be throwing 100 mph and using a splitter-like pitch, like Roger Craig promoted for his team, until allegedly and figuratively, all their arms fell off.
I wonder what the over/under is for his first TJ surgery.
_________________
Hey Doge, ever hear of “measure twice, cut once?” It is not cut first and measure later. |
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LongBeachPoly
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Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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Found this on Dodgers reddit:
| Quote: | After Criticism, Roberts Remained Calm – The Story Behind Ohtani’s Baserunning Decision and His Conversation with the Dodgers’ Third Base Coach
(Number Web:「苦言翌日、ロバーツ監督は淡々と」大谷翔平“あの走塁ミス”後日談…「オオタニの判断が正しかった」「OK！」ドジャース三塁コーチとの会話)
Text by Naoyuki Yanagisawa. Photograph by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
If you want to read the original Number Web article, click the link! Very fun!
………………………
For busy people:
(I analyzed Ohtani’s baserunning in NLCS Game 5, adding my own take to a Number Web article. It covers Roberts’ comments, his talk with Dino Ebel, and MLB context. )
After a Manager’s Criticism, Ohtani and Dodgers Coaches Had a Conversation on That Baserunning Decision
Ohtani’s Baserunning Evolution and the Decision in Question
Shohei Ohtani has long been known for his elite speed and baserunning instincts, a skillset he honed during his high school days at Hanamaki Higashi in Japan. His ability to make aggressive yet calculated baserunning decisions became a key factor in his historic 50-50 season (home runs and stolen bases) in 2024.
However, one particular baserunning decision during the NLCS Game 5 against the Mets on October 18, 2024, sparked controversy. Leading off the game, Ohtani singled and later found himself at third base with no outs.
When Teoscar Hernández hit a ground ball to shortstop Francisco Lindor, Ohtani decided to hold at third instead of attempting to score. The inning ended without a run, and the Dodgers soon found themselves trailing as the Mets capitalized on their momentum.
Roberts’ Postgame Criticism and Media Reaction
During a mid-game interview, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts openly criticized Ohtani’s decision, suggesting that he hesitated and let the moment get the best of him. His words quickly circulated on social media, triggering a debate over whether Ohtani had made the right call.
From a tactical standpoint, the situation was not entirely clear-cut. The Mets’ defense was positioned with the first and third basemen playing in, but the middle infielders were at regular depth. Given the 104.2 mph exit velocity (168 km/h) of the ground ball, Ohtani may have feared an easy out at home if Lindor fielded it cleanly. On the other hand, taking the risk might have forced a defensive miscue, potentially leading to a crucial early run.
The Following Day: Internal Conversations and a New Perspective
The day after the game, reporters asked Roberts whether he had spoken to Ohtani about the play. Surprisingly, he stated that third base coach Dino Ebel was handling the discussion.
Ebel later explained that he had instructed Ohtani to hold his position on grounders to first or third base but had not explicitly covered shortstop grounders. After reviewing the play and speaking with Ohtani, Ebel noted that Ohtani’s reasoning was sound—he believed it was wiser to keep runners on second and third with Freddie Freeman coming up, rather than risk an out at home.
| Quote: | Ebel ultimately acknowledged Ohtani’s logic, but also told him:
“If this same situation happens again tomorrow and you go for home but get thrown out, it’s on the Dodgers. We take responsibility.”
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| Quote: | | To this, Ohtani simply replied: “Understood. OK, let’s go with that.” |
Analyzing the Decision: Risk vs. Reward in Playoff Baserunning
This case highlights the fine balance between aggressiveness and caution in postseason baseball. Historically, taking the extra base in playoff games often pays off, but it comes with increased scrutiny when it fails.
Ohtani’s decision was a calculated one, rooted in his understanding of the game situation, Freeman’s condition (dealing with a right ankle issue), and trust in the lineup.
MLB teams increasingly use analytics to guide baserunning decisions, and this scenario might serve as a valuable case study. Given that run expectancy models generally favor aggressive baserunning in early innings, Ohtani’s choice could be debated from a statistical perspective.
However, his ability to process the situation in real time and communicate effectively with his coaching staff demonstrates a high level of baseball intelligence.
Final Thoughts: Lessons for Ohtani and the Dodgers
In the end, the Dodgers fell short in Game 5 but went on to win the World Series. The incident, though minor, provided insight into how Ohtani and the Dodgers’ coaching staff communicate and adjust in high-pressure situations.
It also underscores the cultural and philosophical differences in baserunning between Japan and MLB, where aggressive baserunning is often encouraged despite the risk of outs.
For Ohtani, this experience is likely another step in his evolution as a complete player in Major League Baseball.
| Quote: | | As Ebel said, “He’s fine. Communication is good, and everything is in order.” |
…………………………………………………
Notes on Safe Attribution & Copyright Considerations:
• This article was inspired by reporting from Number Web but contains original analysis, additional perspectives, and a distinct writing style.
• MLB data, game details, and strategic discussions have been incorporated to enhance originality.
• No direct translations or extensive quotes from the original article were used to avoid copyright concerns.
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LongBeachPoly
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Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 7:24 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Change of plan: Why Dodgers will open season with 5-man rotation
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Dodgers reversed course on how they'll configure their rotation to open the season, as president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Friday that the team will use five starting pitchers until Shohei Ohtani returns to the big league mound.
Throughout the offseason, the Dodgers maintained that they would likely use a six-man rotation to help manage the health of their starters and the schedules of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, who are accustomed to pitching on an extra day of rest.
Now, the Dodgers think that they'll be able to manage a five-man staff until Ohtani is back as a pitcher sometime in May by using their six off-days in March/April and calling upon depth as needed.
| Quote: | "I think we'll be able to fit whatever schedule makes sense for [Yamamoto and Sasaki]," Friedman said.
"With the off-days and just the depth that we have, we'll be able to get creative." |
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| Quote: | Here are some of the other factors that led to the decision, as well as how it affects the pitching staff:
Ohtani's two-way status
Heading into Spring Training, there was some confusion over whether the Dodgers would be forced to designate Ohtani as a pitcher before he could re-qualify for two-way status. In that case, the team would've been down a pitcher until Ohtani's return to the mound.
When the two-way player designation was created, the rule stated that eligible players must start at least 20 games as a position player or DH -- with a minimum of three plate appearances in each -- and pitch at least 20 innings. They had to meet both criteria in either the current or previous Major League season.
The rule first took effect in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, but it was revised so that players could qualify for two-way status if they met both criteria at some point in the current or previous two seasons.
Starting in 2024, that same change was made to the two-way player rule going forward.
When Ohtani returns to the big league mound, the Dodgers will be able to staff a six-man rotation and an eight-man bullpen because Ohtani will not count toward their 13 pitcher roster spots. |
| Quote: | Competition in the rotation
The news that Los Angeles will begin the year with five starters changes the projected makeup of the rotation. Blake Snell, Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Sasaki have always been the locks. But now there's only one spot for Tony Gonsolin or Dustin May.
| Quote: | "At this point, they're both building up, they're both viewing themselves [and] we're viewing them as starters," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
"We'll see how the rest of the spring plays out, which obviously is a long ways away. That's really not impacted until Opening Day here, in the States, so we've got a lot of time." |
Other candidates who could be fighting for that fifth spot include Bobby Miller, Landon Knack, Ben Casparius and Justin Wrobleski. Notably, Snell has taken it upon himself to be a mentor to Miller, who was expected to be a big part of the Dodgers' rotation last season but battled both injury and inconsistency.
Of course, the depth pieces that L.A. can turn to have another possible avenue to the Opening Day roster. |
| Quote: | Fully staffed 'pen
Just one day earlier, Roberts had anticipated the challenge of managing a short bullpen for the first month-plus of the season. Now, it seems that's one thing he won't have to worry about.
The Dodgers figure to begin the season with:
| Quote: | - Anthony Banda,
- Tanner Scott,
- Blake Treinen,
- Alex Vesia and
- Kirby Yates in the bullpen. |
Evan Phillips and Michael Kopech are dealing with lingering injuries and could open the season on the IL, but if healthy, they would also be on the roster.
There are between one and three open spots, and whoever does not get the fifth-starter job could potentially make the Opening Day roster as a long reliever.
It would serve the Dodgers well to have a contingency plan when Ohtani returns, too, as his buildup as a pitcher is not expected to include Cactus League games or a Minor League rehab assignment. |
https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-to-open-2025-season-with-five-man-rotation |
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LongBeachPoly
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Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 7:47 am Post subject: |
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Found this on r/baseball:
Here's the article/story, translated into English (via Chrome):
| Quote: | "Oh, Roki drank!" Sasaki Roki showed his "determination" before joining the Dodgers. Lotte's Takabe Eito talks about the "secret story of the farewell party" and the meaning behind the gift...
On January 28th, just before the start of spring training, a group of young people gathered at a sushi restaurant in Tokyo.
The members are seven players selected in the Marines' 2019 draft. First up is pitcher Roki Sasaki, who joined the team after competing with four other teams. Second is catcher Toshiya Sato, third is outfielder Eito Takabe, fourth is pitcher Rikuto Yokoyama, and fifth is infielder Mitsuteru Fukuda, all five of whom are under contract. Then there's pitcher Ikuya Motomae and catcher Shota Ueda, who joined the team as development players. Five of the players are university graduates, and two, Roki Sasaki and Yokoyama, are high school graduates.
| Quote: | | "It was special for me that we were all able to gather together. I was happy. It was the first time we were all together." |
Takabe, who was in charge of the event as one of the organizers, looked back on the event with deep emotion.
Originally, the members who joined the team at the same time got along well.
In January of their first year as professionals, after moving into the dormitory, they all enjoyed playing video games together. When Sato Toshiya celebrated his birthday (January 27th), they even prepared a surprise cake to celebrate. Since their first year in the team, the members have gathered together to eat together.
| Quote: | | "We're heading in different directions, but we're both setting off on a journey. It was a meeting to encourage everyone to do their best on their own stages." |
Roki Sasaki has joined the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball and is set to move to the United States soon.
Mitsuteru Fukuda was traded to the Fighters in 2011 and left the team at the end of last season. This year he will embark on a new path. The two of them gathered together for the first time in a long time before their new start.
Takabe had prepared champagne in advance for a celebratory toast.
| Quote: | | "(Sasaki) Roki doesn't drink alcohol, so the idea was for everyone to just share one drink together." |
Everyone cheered and toasted. Right after that, the members couldn't believe their eyes. Sasaki Roki, who they thought would never touch the champagne, gulped down the whole glass.
| Quote: | | "I was surprised. I thought, 'Oh, Rouki drank it.' I thought he really had the resolve to go. At that moment, I felt that way for some reason and was moved." |
Normally, he barely drinks anything but water. That's Sasaki Roki's way of managing his health, and once he sets a rule, he doesn't change it easily.
This man who pursues perfection in his daily life, even at a party where his classmates had gathered for the first time in a long time, had a glass of alcohol. Even his close classmates had never seen such a sight before. It was a shocking moment, almost like a moving moment, and it was burned into the depths of Takabe's heart as an unforgettable moment.
The real face of Roki that his classmates know
The first time they all met was at a press conference held in Tokyo in December 2019.
| Quote: | When asked about his first impression of Roki Sasaki, Takabe said, "I thought he was just an ordinary high school student."
"Because of the image he had in the media, I thought he had a special aura, or maybe a reclusive personality, but I never got that feeling from him when I actually saw him.
He had made such a fuss when he came into the team, but he was really just a normal high school student. I thought maybe he'd gotten all the attention and the public had created an image of him.
After that, we spent time together and he became closer to us. To us, Roki was Roki. A normal guy. He was a great baseball player but also a cute junior. He was a nice kid who was a little shy." |
"Takabe's batting is amazing."
He has faced him several times during practice batting practice. He was amazed at how:
| Quote: | | "his ball trajectory is different from that of an ordinary player." |
Even when playing in the outfield, he was proud of the time they spent together, saying,
| Quote: | | "There were times when I thought, 'Oh, I can't hit it.'" |
Roki Sasaki also seemed to admire Takabe, who was four years older than him. He always looked up to Takabe's sharp and genius hitting, which allowed him to hit the ball in a wide range, saying:
| Quote: | | "Takabe's hitting is amazing." "That made me happy," Takabe said, looking back with a smile. |
Takabe prepared champagne and another gift for the two who were leaving at this reunion. He went out to buy it on behalf of his friends. After much deliberation, he finally chose a bracelet. The reason he liked it was because of the design of the bracelet. The chains were layered on top of each other, and he learned that this represents bonds. It seemed like the perfect symbol of the friendship between the seven classmates. So he gave it to them with that message in mind.
Topics that I didn't mention
| Quote: | "At the party, we didn't really talk about (Sasaki Roki)'s major league career, probably out of consideration for everyone. We just told him to do his best. But at the end, we all jokingly talked about doing it in Los Angeles if we had another reunion next year," Takabe recalled.
"I realized once again that we were great classmates. We were all unique, but not too different, and just being together felt comfortable," he said, gazing into the distance. |
Now in February, the seven players have begun to walk their own paths. The remaining five players, including Takabe, are split into two teams, one in Ishigakijima and the other in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, and are working hard every day in preparation for the new season.
For the day when we can all get together again...
Takabe speaks confidently about his goals for this season.
| Quote: | | "I think I'll get results if I can do everything I can. My first goal is a batting average of 30%. I also want to focus on the number of hits. I think that would put me in top-class territory, but I want to aim for 200 hits. I'll also be asked to steal bases, so 30 to 40. Of course, to achieve all of that I'll have to play in every game. It's important not to waste a single at-bat." |
I look forward to the day when we can all gather together again someday, somewhere. I hope that when that time comes, I can proudly meet my comrades... The days of battle have begun.
https://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/864753?page=3
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Some of the comments are funny:
| Quote: | | Quote: | | I drink gallons of water a day but I'm not in shape. There must be something more to it than that |
Because you forget about the one glass of champagne in January, you dummy  |
| Quote: | | I drink so much. I can't relate to baseball players anymore. |
| Quote: | | someone give this brotha a Dr Pepper zero |
| Quote: | | My friends also have an emotional experience when i drink, but a different kind of emotional |
| Quote: | | I drink water or coffee exclusively. I look like I’m in amazing shape. But i probably couldn’t run 100 yards without feeling like I was about to die. |
| Quote: | | Blake will introduce him to the chronic. |
| Quote: | Well that explains why he was never coming to my team
- Milwaukee Brewers fan |
| Quote: | | This is the most February baseball story that has ever happened. |
| Quote: | | Ok I'm just gonna say it in the nicest way possible, this sounds really fruity. |
| Quote: | | Quote: |
You have subscribed to Roki Sasaki drink updates! |
Would you like to receive a Roki Sasaki Drinking Fact every hour? <reply ‘Tyxt333358dggyf’ to cancel> |
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LongBeachPoly
Franchise Player
Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 9:28 am Post subject: |
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Fangraphs put out their top 100 prospects list.
Looks like they are really high on our prospects:
| Quote: | Name ..................... Team
1) Roki Sasaki .......... LAD
2) Roman Anthony .... BOS
3) Dylan Crews ......... WSN
4) Sebastian Walcott . TEX
5) Samuel Basallo ..... BAL
6) Andrew Painter ..... PHI
7) Kristian Campbell .. BOS
8) Dalton Rushing ..... LAD
9) Jackson Jobe ........ DET
10) Carson Williams .. TBR
11) Drake Baldwin ..... ATL
12) Chase Dollander .. COL
13) Matt Shaw .......... CHC
14) Jordan Lawlar ...... ARI
15) Aidan Miller ......... PHI
16) Jason Domínguez . NYY
17) Walker Jenkins ..... MIN
18) Noah Schultz ....... CHW
19) Jarlin Susana ....... WSN
20) Emmanuel Rodrig . MIN
21) Ethan Salas .......... SDP
22) Hagen Smith ........ CHW
23) Bubba Chandler .... PIT
24) Brandon Sproat ..... NYM
25) Caden Dana .......... LAA
26) Bryce Eldridge ....... SFG
27) Jacob Misiorowski .. MIL
28) Chase Burns ......... CIN
29) Alfredo Duno ......... CIN
30) Adrian Del Castillo .. ARI
31) Nick Kurtz ............. ATH
32) Quinn Mathews ...... STL
33) Angel Genao .......... CLE
34) Max Clark .............. DET
35) Alex Freeland ......... LAD
36) Travis Bazzana ....... CLE
37) Leodalis De Vries .... SDP
38) Jesus Made ............ MIL
39) Alejandro Rosario ... TEX
40) AJ Smith-Shawver ... ATL
41) Colt Emerson .......... SEA
42) Chase Petty ............ CIN
43) Agustin Ramirez ...... MIA
44) Thayron Liranzo ... DET
45) Coby Mayo .............. BAL
46) Kevin Alcántara ....... CHC
47) Jac Caglianone ........ KCR
48) Josue De Paula ........ LAD
49) Kyle Teel ................. CHW
50) Josue Briceño .......... DET
51) Rhett Lowder ........... CIN
52) Jacob Wilson ............ ATH
53) Cooper Ingle ............ CLE
54) Kevin McGonigle ....... DET
55) Chase DeLauter ........ CLE
56) Luke Keaschall .......... MIN
57) Marcelo Mayer .......... BOS
58) Colson Montgomery ... CHW
59) Kumar Rocker ........... TEX
60) Braxton Ashcraft ........ PIT
61) Yoniel Curet ............... TBR
62) Jett Williams .............. NYM
63) JJ Wetherholt ............. STL
64) Tink Hence ................ STL
65) Will Warren ................ NYY
66) Jake Bloss .................. TOR
67) Parker Messick ............ CLE
68) Carter Jensen ............. KCR
69) Joe Mack .................... MIA
70) Cam Smith ................. HOU
71) Chayce McDermott ...... BAL
72) Chandler Simpson ....... TBR
73) Yilber Diaz .................. ARI
74) Moisés Chace .............. PHI
75) Brody Hopkins ............ TBR
76) Cole Young ................. SEA
77) Jimmy Crooks ............. STL
78) Juan Brito .................. CLE
79) Cade Horton ............... CHC
80) Troy Melton ................ DET
81) Jefferson Rojas ........... CHC
82) Arjun Nimmala ............ TOR
83) Thomas White ............. MIA
84) Travis Sykora .............. WSN
85) Felnin Celesten ............ SEA
86) Tre’ Morgan ................. TBR
87) Starlyn Caba ............... MIA
88) Welbyn Francisca ......... CLE
89) Jedixson Paez .............. BOS
90) Edgar Quero ................ CHW
91) Edgardo Henriquez ....... LAD
92) Tai Peete ..................... SEA
93) George Klassen ............ LAA
94) Grant Taylor ................ CHW
95) Carson Whisenhunt ...... SFG
96) Luis Morales ................ ATH
97) Noble Meyer ................ MIA
98) Xavier Isaac ................ TBR
99) Jeferson Quero ............. MIL
100) Jonny Farmelo ............ SEA
101) River Ryan ................. LAD
102) Ricky Tiedemann ........ TOR |
- Look at #44 Thayron Liranzo. He's really moved up the charts. That's who we gave up for Flaherty. Pretty big price to pay but it got us a ring, so it's worth it. Didn't know he'd shoot up this fast though. He's ranked higher than De Paula on this ranking.
- Daulton Rushing is ranked really high by Fangraphs. #8 overall.
- Edgardo Henriquez: I think he came up last year throwing 100+ mph? Good to see him cracking the top 100 now. It's been awhile since we've had a top 100 reliever prospect. Off the top of my head, the last ones we've had were Jansen and Graterol.
- Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope: looks like Fangraphs aren't high on either of these 2 prospects. |
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LongBeachPoly
Franchise Player
Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 9:42 am Post subject: |
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Here's a compilation of all the top 100 rankings:
| Quote: | MLB PIPELINE TOP 100:
1) Roki Sasaki
30) Dalton Rushing
40) Josue De Paula
71) Jackson Ferris
72) Alex Freeland
75) Zyhir Hope |
| Quote: | FANGRAPHS TOP 100:
1) Roki Sasaki
8) Dalton Rushing
35) Alex Freeland
48) Josue De Paula
91) Edgardo Henriquez
101) River Ryan |
| Quote: | BASEBALL AMERICA TOP 100:
1) Roki Sasaki
30) Dalton Rushing
46) Alex Freeland
47) Josue De Paula
51) Zyhir Hope
82) Jackson Ferris |
| Quote: | KILEY MCDANIEL ESPN TOP 100:
1) Roki Sasaki
16) Dalton Rushing
20) Josue De Paula
37) Alex Freeland
70) Zyhir Hope
80) Emil Morales
93) Jackson Ferris
94) River Ryan |
| Quote: | KEITH LAW THE ATHLETIC TOP 100:
16) Dalton Rushing
26) Josue De Paula
52) River Ryan
58) Zyhir Hope
68) Alex Freeland
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| Quote: | BASEBALL PROSPECTUS TOP 101:
8) Zyhir Hope
9) Josue De Paula
22) Dalton Rushing
52) Jackson Ferris
82) Alex Freeland
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Zyhir Hope seems to have the biggest range, anywhere from #8 to being unranked. |
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strong9
Star Player
Joined: 22 Mar 2003
Posts: 3937
Location: so many places
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 10:38 am Post subject: |
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| LongBeachPoly wrote: | Here's a compilation of all the top 100 rankings:
| Quote: | MLB PIPELINE TOP 100:
1) Roki Sasaki
30) Dalton Rushing
40) Josue De Paula
71) Jackson Ferris
72) Alex Freeland
75) Zyhir Hope |
| Quote: | FANGRAPHS TOP 100:
1) Roki Sasaki
8) Dalton Rushing
35) Alex Freeland
48) Josue De Paula
91) Edgardo Henriquez
101) River Ryan |
| Quote: | BASEBALL AMERICA TOP 100:
1) Roki Sasaki
30) Dalton Rushing
46) Alex Freeland
47) Josue De Paula
51) Zyhir Hope
82) Jackson Ferris |
| Quote: | KILEY MCDANIEL ESPN TOP 100:
1) Roki Sasaki
16) Dalton Rushing
20) Josue De Paula
37) Alex Freeland
70) Zyhir Hope
80) Emil Morales
93) Jackson Ferris
94) River Ryan |
| Quote: | KEITH LAW THE ATHLETIC TOP 100:
16) Dalton Rushing
26) Josue De Paula
52) River Ryan
58) Zyhir Hope
68) Alex Freeland
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| Quote: | BASEBALL PROSPECTUS TOP 101:
8) Zyhir Hope
9) Josue De Paula
22) Dalton Rushing
52) Jackson Ferris
82) Alex Freeland
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Zyhir Hope seems to have the biggest range, anywhere from #8 to being unranked. |
To be fair, fansgraph is an analytics heavy website. They don't rate Jackson Ferris either and rate Henriquez based on limited body of work. I don't put much stock in them at all. |
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LongBeachPoly
Franchise Player
Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 11:46 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Red Sox's Rafael Devers won't cede 3B after Alex Bregman signing
The Red Sox's ballyhooed signing of Alex Bregman was met with considerable resistance Monday when Rafael Devers said he wouldn't cede third base.
Devers, a three-time All-Star, has played the hot corner for Boston since 2017 and himself received a major deal just two years ago.
| Quote: | "No. Third base is my position. It's what I play. I don't know what their plans are. We had a conversation. I made it clear on what my desires were. Whatever happens from here, I don't know."
Rafael Devers, when asked if he would change positions after Boston's signing of Alex Bregman. |
| Quote: | When asked if he would be willing to become a designated hitter, without waiting for his interpreter to relay the question,
Devers said, "No." |
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LongBeachPoly
Franchise Player
Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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| strong9 wrote: | | To be fair, fansgraph is an analytics heavy website. They don't rate Jackson Ferris either and rate Henriquez based on limited body of work. I don't put much stock in them at all. |
Not following you. Are you saying the analytics for Ferris and Hope aren’t good?
Also, if Henriquez only has a limited body of work, isn’t that what everyone is judging him by?
I mean, other publications rate newly drafted players out of HS and their body of work is basically zero (unless you count HS). |
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LongBeachPoly
Franchise Player
Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Angels' Mike Trout moving from center to right field
ESPN
Mike Trout arrived at spring training on Sunday and took part in a meeting with the Los Angeles Angels' coaches, during which they determined the three-time MVP would move from center field to right field in an effort to preserve his body and keep him healthy.
Trout, 33, is seemingly on board.
………….
Trout said he is fully recovered from the left knee issues that robbed him of another season last year, reporting that his body feels "lighter" and "faster."
…………….
When MLB Network released its ranking of the sport's 100 best players, Trout ranked 39th.
| Quote: | | "Yeah, I saw that," Trout said with a grin. "They're going off the last couple years. I haven't been out there, so -- that's their ranking. I know where I stand." |
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strong9
Star Player
Joined: 22 Mar 2003
Posts: 3937
Location: so many places
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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| LongBeachPoly wrote: | | strong9 wrote: | | To be fair, fansgraph is an analytics heavy website. They don't rate Jackson Ferris either and rate Henriquez based on limited body of work. I don't put much stock in them at all. |
Not following you. Are you saying the analytics for Ferris and Hope aren’t good?
Also, if Henriquez only has a limited body of work, isn’t that what everyone is judging him by?
I mean, other publications rate newly drafted players out of HS and their body of work is basically zero (unless you count HS). |
It is a fair set of questions. I am not saying Ferris and Hope have bad analytics but based on FG stat bias, they may not have the best in our system? I read Hope's exit velo is very good but his launch angle is not the best it could be and his BABIP was high - both things FG considers highly especially given his SO rate. Maybe JDP's were better?
Henriquez has been in the org for 5 years, missed a season due to TJ and before last year never pitched too much across multiple levels. He had a really good year last year and his analytics looked really good with his two pitches in relief role, including a fastball that hit 100+ at times to boot But it was one season. That is where I think the analytics come in. BA has him at 12 and Keith Law at 15, but his analytics probably rate much higher. Even FG had him 20 before he lost the season to TJ and then a few years later he is top 10 with one year with strong analytics. Maybe BA and KL rate bullpen lower unless you are lights out as a RP even if analytics look good for what he can do on 2 pitches? And given lack of long term sustained results maybe they rate him lower than FG based on more than the stats? Again, not sure.
I can see apples to apples across all pubs with someone right out of high school but when you have been in a system for 5 years I can see why some pubs would take that into account more than others that are primarily analytics driven. |
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LongBeachPoly
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Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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^^^
Gotcha.
Yeah, it’s definitely an inexact science and highly subjective.
One thing that can’t be disputed is, no matter how great we are at producing top 100 prospects, our hit rate for turning them into productive mlb players is low.
I’d guess that over Friedman’s 10+ years here, he’s probably produced 25+ top 100 type prospects.
Our success rate is basically: Will Smith, Gavin Lux, and Michael Busch (off the top of my head).
It’s funny but we have way more success turning reclamation projects into productive mlb players than we do turning highly rated prospects (top 100) into mlb players. |
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strong9
Star Player
Joined: 22 Mar 2003
Posts: 3937
Location: so many places
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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| LongBeachPoly wrote: | ^^^
Gotcha.
Yeah, it’s definitely an inexact science and highly subjective.
One thing that can’t be disputed is, no matter how great we are at producing top 100 prospects, our hit rate for turning them into productive mlb players is low.
I’d guess that over Friedman’s 10+ years here, he’s probably produced 25+ top 100 type prospects.
Our success rate is basically: Will Smith, Gavin Lux, and Michael Busch (off the top of my head).
It’s funny but we have way more success turning reclamation projects into productive mlb players than we do turning highly rated prospects (top 100) into mlb players. |
I agree and I wish I knew why. My uninformed sense is that he had more success with this at TB. |
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LongBeachPoly
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Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 8:17 am Post subject: |
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Justin Turner still getting paid. Good for him:
| Quote: | | On Tuesday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reported that they were close to making one more. Former Dodger Justin Turner, going into his age-40 season, is close to finalizing a one-year, $6 million deal with the Cubs. |
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LongBeachPoly
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 8:18 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Fox to air MLB Tokyo Series between Dodgers and Cubs
Game 1 will air on Fox while Game 2 will air on FS1. |
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LongBeachPoly
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Joined: 14 Jul 2012
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 8:44 am Post subject: |
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This is how cursed Dustin May is. He almost died due to a piece of lettuce:
| Quote: | A salad cost Dodgers pitcher Dustin May his season — and almost his life
Dodgers pitcher Dustin May said he was “pretty close” to joining his team’s 2024 World Series run until a “complete freak accident” required emergency surgery for a serious tear in his esophagus last July.
May, who during the 2023 season had flexor tendon and Tommy John surgery, was rehabbing at the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch facility in Arizona when he went out to dinner on July 10 and got a piece of lettuce stuck in his throat, which caused a serious tear in his esophagus, he told the Los Angeles Times.
It required emergency surgery that night and derailed his hopes of returning to the Dodgers’ bullpen.
| Quote: | “It was definitely a life-altering event,” May said while recalling the incident for first time publicly.
“It was definitely very serious. It’s not a very common surgery. It was definitely an emergency.
“I probably wouldn’t have made it through the night if I didn’t have it.” |
May added that after taking one bite of his salad, he felt lettuce stuck in his throat and tried to wash it down with water.
The right-hander recounted feeling a “mega-painful” sensation in his throat and stomach for 15 minutes — and when it went away, he returned home thinking he would be OK.
| Quote: | “I’m not a big panicker,” he said.
“It kind of chilled out. So I was like, ‘I’m fine. I don’t need to do anything.’” |
May’s wife, Millie, encouraged him to go to the ER and to get checked out.
| Quote: | | May said he underwent “basically a full abdominal surgery” to repair the tear in his esophagus and explained that doctors said he had lettuce lodged in his throat that led to a highly uncommon food impaction, which perforated his esophagus tube. |
Now, he has a long vertical scar from his lower chest to his stomach from the emergency surgery.
The surgery required six months of recovery, during which May wasn’t allowed to lift weights heavier than 10 pounds.
| Quote: | “It was extremely frustrating,” May said.
“You can’t plan for it. You can’t try to prevent it. It just happened. It wasn’t on my bingo card for 2024.” |
May, who began minimal throwing activities in November, said he wasn’t back to his full strength until New Year’s.
| Quote: | “It just kind of gives me a different viewpoint on a lot of things in life,” he said.
“Just seeing how something so non-baseball-related can just be like — it can be gone in a second. And the stuff it put my wife through, it definitely gave me [a feeling] of, ‘Wow, stuff can change like that.’ It was definitely very scary.” |
The pitcher is now focused on preparing for the Dodgers’ opening series against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo on March 18 and 19.
May threw during a spring training workout at Camelback Ranch on Sunday.
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LongBeachPoly
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 9:37 am Post subject: |
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Kim is impressing in camp with his "low body fat" 
| Quote: | Kim already turning heads in camp: 'He has the ingredients to be great'
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- When it comes to first impressions of Hyeseong Kim, the Dodgers have been fairly consistent in their descriptions.
| Quote: | | "He's a lot stronger than I expected," manager Dave Roberts said. "I think he's one of the [lowest] body fat guys in our camp." |
| Quote: | | "He’s fast, he’s athletic," first baseman Freddie Freeman said a few days later. "I’ve heard he’s got the lowest body-fat percentage on our team." |
Kim is used to others bringing up his physical fitness; his former teammates in the KBO said the same. But don't let the reports of his skill with the glove be lost in all the chatter.
Early on in his first big league camp, Kim has particularly impressed with his defense. He's a four-time Golden Glove Award winner, which honors the best overall player at each position in the KBO, winning the award in each of the past three seasons at second base after claiming it at shortstop in 2021.
That said, there are some questions surrounding Kim, who joined the Dodgers in January on a three-year, $12.5 million contract after being posted by the KBO's Kiwoom Heroes: where he'll play, and how he'll handle big league pitching.
Naturally, the answers to those questions are somewhat tied together.
| Quote: | "I think that he can certainly win ballgames with his defense alone," Roberts said.
"Then the question is the development part. What's good for him? What's good for the Dodgers? And that, we don't have to answer right now." |
If he shows he can stick in the everyday lineup, Kim could potentially earn the job at second base, which may be the Dodgers' most unresolved position in the wake of the offseason deal that sent Gavin Lux to the Reds. But if Los Angeles is unsure about his bat, Kim could instead be used as a left-handed superutility option.
| Quote: | "I'm not tied down to a single position, so I'm practicing at every single position that I get a chance to," Kim said, with international scout Dean Kim interpreting.
"I'm going to prepare whenever I'm called on to play any position that Doc would want me to play." |
Per Roberts, Kim is expected to get reps at second base, third base and center field this spring.
Although Kim never logged any time in center in a KBO game, he made 44 appearances in left in 2020. He also grew up playing the outfield before he reached high school and feels more comfortable playing center field rather than a corner, as he prefers tracking down balls from that vantage point.
At the plate, Kim is known for his bat-to-ball skills. The Dodgers are high on his underlying skill set, which they believe will translate to the higher velocity in the Major Leagues in due time.
Kim is currently working on making adjustments to his bat path, and hitting coach Aaron Bates has been impressed by his progress.
| Quote: | "He has the ingredients to be great," Bates said.
"It's just kind of fine-tuning things. Obviously, he was a great player in Korea and has all the components, so it's just making some tweaks here and there. All the while, letting him play and play free, mentally." |
When Kim is in the field, he does just that. Toward the end of infield practice on Sunday, Kim was about to field the last grounder of the session before Mookie Betts got the attention of the fans watching off to the side and started up a "Let's go Dodgers" chant.
Kim just grinned, charged in to field the ball cleanly and hit his target at first base.
| Quote: | | "Mookie was having fun with him and trying to kind of create a little bit of environment or pressure for him," Roberts said. "Inclusion. And so that's telling, that people already gravitate toward him." |
For Kim, the biggest adjustment of all this season might not be anything he does on the field -- but rather that he's playing in a new league and living in a new country. So far, he's felt embraced by teammates and fans alike, something that has eased his transition.
| Quote: | "It's a whole new feeling I'm getting, just being welcomed by all these fans," Kim said.
"When they call my name out -- 'Kim! Kim!' -- I'm definitely thankful that fans know my name and they want to interact with me." |
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Lamar's Bud
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Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 2369
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 9:41 am Post subject: |
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| strong9 wrote: | | LongBeachPoly wrote: | ^^^
Gotcha.
Yeah, it’s definitely an inexact science and highly subjective.
One thing that can’t be disputed is, no matter how great we are at producing top 100 prospects, our hit rate for turning them into productive mlb players is low.
I’d guess that over Friedman’s 10+ years here, he’s probably produced 25+ top 100 type prospects.
Our success rate is basically: Will Smith, Gavin Lux, and Michael Busch (off the top of my head).
It’s funny but we have way more success turning reclamation projects into productive mlb players than we do turning highly rated prospects (top 100) into mlb players. |
I agree and I wish I knew why. My uninformed sense is that he had more success with this at TB. |
Just throwing ideas out there.
With the Dodgers, AF has rarely needed to tap deep into the farm system to field a 26 man roster. He's had a nice payroll/budget to work with to put proven players out there. As such, the prospects in the LAD system have to spend more time in the minors where they continue to be "prospects" for a longer time than most others. Some of these guys eventually get passed over in rankings by newer, younger players because the whole premise of prospects are having them be great for 10+ years, not 4 or 5. Naturally some guys just get "figured out" too and their production declines.
For the teams that end up relying on their farm system more, they will call these guys up sooner to see what they got. But since they're no longer in the minors, they lose the prospect tag. These guys may even play a few seasons in the MLB before they aren't retained and then go to play in another country or just retire from baseball altogether.
It does feel like AF "wastes" some top prospect talent in the farm system, but that's more from the standpoint that there just isn't much room for them on the MLB roster. So the only thing he can (should) do in that case is similar to the Scherzer/Trea trade where you cash in some of those prospects to fill some needs with proven MLB talent. |
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LongBeachPoly
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Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 9:50 am Post subject: |
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| Lamar's Bud wrote: | | strong9 wrote: | | LongBeachPoly wrote: | ^^^
Gotcha.
Yeah, it’s definitely an inexact science and highly subjective.
One thing that can’t be disputed is, no matter how great we are at producing top 100 prospects, our hit rate for turning them into productive mlb players is low.
I’d guess that over Friedman’s 10+ years here, he’s probably produced 25+ top 100 type prospects.
Our success rate is basically: Will Smith, Gavin Lux, and Michael Busch (off the top of my head).
It’s funny but we have way more success turning reclamation projects into productive mlb players than we do turning highly rated prospects (top 100) into mlb players. |
I agree and I wish I knew why. My uninformed sense is that he had more success with this at TB. |
Just throwing ideas out there.
With the Dodgers, AF has rarely needed to tap deep into the farm system to field a 26 man roster. He's had a nice payroll/budget to work with to put proven players out there. As such, the prospects in the LAD system have to spend more time in the minors where they continue to be "prospects" for a longer time than most others. Some of these guys eventually get passed over in rankings by newer, younger players because the whole premise of prospects are having them be great for 10+ years, not 4 or 5. Naturally some guys just get "figured out" too and their production declines.
For the teams that end up relying on their farm system more, they will call these guys up sooner to see what they got. But since they're no longer in the minors, they lose the prospect tag. These guys may even play a few seasons in the MLB before they aren't retained and then go to play in another country or just retire from baseball altogether.
It does feel like AF "wastes" some top prospect talent in the farm system, but that's more from the standpoint that there just isn't much room for them on the MLB roster. So the only thing he can (should) do in that case is similar to the Scherzer/Trea trade where you cash in some of those prospects to fill some needs with proven MLB talent. |
But it also counts if they succeed in other systems after being traded, like Busch.
Our prospects rarely succeed anywhere. Look at Miguel Vargas. He was a top 30 prospect at one time. Barely got the chance here. We shipped him off to the White Sox. He's still 25 now. I don't know if he'll ever be a useful mlb player.
In the Trea Turner trade, we shipped off Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz. Both top 30-40 type prospects. Ruiz doesn't look worth it. Gray got hurt.
In the Mookie Betts trade, we shipped off Jeter Downs. I think he was top 40 as well. He's played 20 games total in the big leagues. Still only 26.
In the Machado trade, we shipped off Yusniel Díaz, top 50 at the time. He was very young still. Never made the big leagues I think.
In the Yu Darvish trade, we shipped off top 60 prospect Willie Calhoun. He didn't do anything either.
This is why I'm in favor of trading our prospects. Yeah, it's easy to get attached to them but based on our history, most of them won't amount to much. Better off trading them and getting something useful. |
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Lamar's Bud
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Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 2369
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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| LongBeachPoly wrote: | | Lamar's Bud wrote: | | strong9 wrote: | | LongBeachPoly wrote: | ^^^
Gotcha.
Yeah, it’s definitely an inexact science and highly subjective.
One thing that can’t be disputed is, no matter how great we are at producing top 100 prospects, our hit rate for turning them into productive mlb players is low.
I’d guess that over Friedman’s 10+ years here, he’s probably produced 25+ top 100 type prospects.
Our success rate is basically: Will Smith, Gavin Lux, and Michael Busch (off the top of my head).
It’s funny but we have way more success turning reclamation projects into productive mlb players than we do turning highly rated prospects (top 100) into mlb players. |
I agree and I wish I knew why. My uninformed sense is that he had more success with this at TB. |
Just throwing ideas out there.
With the Dodgers, AF has rarely needed to tap deep into the farm system to field a 26 man roster. He's had a nice payroll/budget to work with to put proven players out there. As such, the prospects in the LAD system have to spend more time in the minors where they continue to be "prospects" for a longer time than most others. Some of these guys eventually get passed over in rankings by newer, younger players because the whole premise of prospects are having them be great for 10+ years, not 4 or 5. Naturally some guys just get "figured out" too and their production declines.
For the teams that end up relying on their farm system more, they will call these guys up sooner to see what they got. But since they're no longer in the minors, they lose the prospect tag. These guys may even play a few seasons in the MLB before they aren't retained and then go to play in another country or just retire from baseball altogether.
It does feel like AF "wastes" some top prospect talent in the farm system, but that's more from the standpoint that there just isn't much room for them on the MLB roster. So the only thing he can (should) do in that case is similar to the Scherzer/Trea trade where you cash in some of those prospects to fill some needs with proven MLB talent. |
But it also counts if they succeed in other systems after being traded, like Busch.
Our prospects rarely succeed anywhere. Look at Miguel Vargas. He was a top 30 prospect at one time. Barely got the chance here. We shipped him off to the White Sox. He's still 25 now. I don't know if he'll ever be a useful mlb player.
In the Trea Turner trade, we shipped off Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz. Both top 30-40 type prospects. Ruiz doesn't look worth it. Gray got hurt.
In the Mookie Betts trade, we shipped off Jeter Downs. I think he was top 40 as well. He's played 20 games total in the big leagues. Still only 26.
In the Machado trade, we shipped off Yusniel Díaz, top 50 at the time. He was very young still. Never made the big leagues I think.
In the Yu Darvish trade, we shipped off top 60 prospect Willie Calhoun. He didn't do anything either.
This is why I'm in favor of trading our prospects. Yeah, it's easy to get attached to them but based on our history, most of them won't amount to much. Better off trading them and getting something useful. |
For sure! I don't disagree that the hit rate on our prospects in the past decade hasn't been great, but let's also not pretend we're the only ones. It just seems more apparent to us because 1) it's the team we follow and root for, and 2) most of these guys are stuck in the minors until they fall off and/or lose a ton of their "value" due to age. This is probably AF's weakest area in managing the team. He's not maximizing these prospects into any kind of on-field value (either through their development or via trades).
The 29 other teams probably have a similar amount of hits vs misses for them also. The thing is, we've also had much weaker draft positions in the past decade due to the team's on-field success, so we should have more misses than say TB, PIT, Athletics and similar franchises do. Those teams go through a ton of prospects, yet how many of them actually stick around as perennial all-stars or even play for 10 years? There's just so much competition out there and not enough space for everyone.
We'll see how the season goes (performance/injuries) because right now we don't seem to have many "needs" where trading some prospects will actually improve the 26 man roster. The in-season trades for Machado and Darvish (and even Scherzer/Trea) are the kinds of trades this team should be making every year. Leverage your farm system into putting the MLB team in position to win the WS. There's always potential to give up a Yordan Álvarez, but so many others have been traded and not really done much in the MLB so AF & Co. just need to do better managing the farm system instead of letting it all go to waste. |
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ChickenStu
Retired Number
Joined: 25 Apr 2015
Posts: 35412
Location: Anaheim, CA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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| We only have 4 in the Yahoo baseball fantasy league at the moment. The draft is scheduled for Sunday. Come on folks, let's get it to at least 8 people! If we can't get more by then, I'd suggest moving the draft back at least a couple of weeks into March. |
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LongBeachPoly
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Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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^^^
Yeah, here’s what I compare it to:
1) When AF took over in 2014, Logan White left him a stacked farm. The hit rate for those prospects felt like 100%. I hardly remember any misses:
| Quote: | - Seager
- Bellinger
- Pederson
- Urias
- Verdugo
- Puig (he came up in 2013) |
2) The Atlanta Braves seem to have a high hit rate:
| Quote: | - Acuna
- Albies
- Fried
- Riley
- Strider
- Harris II |
3) I thought AF had a high hit rate when he was with TB but I really don’t know. |
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LongBeachPoly
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Joined: 14 Jul 2012
Posts: 18540
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| Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2025 6:35 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Paul Sewald glad to have some distance from the Dodger juggernaut
Paul Sewald, one of the new pitchers Cleveland signed this winter, has seen the Dodgers up close for the last 1 1/2 seasons as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. After signing with the Guardians, Sewald was asked about the Dodgers and their unrelenting offseason.
| Quote: | | “I’m glad that I’m as far from LA as I could possibly get,” said Sewald. “We had a great run against them in the 2023 playoffs, but they’re just a juggernaut.” |
The wild-card Diamondbacks swept the Dodgers in the 2023 National League Division Series on their way to the World Series against Texas.
Sewald thinks that loss triggered the Dodgers into trying to sign every talented ballplayer across the globe.
| Quote: | “I think our Arizona squad upset them to the point that they’re just going to create a super team and they’re not doing anything wrong,” said Sewald.
“They’re just the best at everything. They have all the money, so they can get the free agents. They’re great at player development. So everybody knows that if you go there, you’re going to get better. Now they have Shohei and are attracting the best Japanese players who are some of the best players in the world.
“So they just have an amazing thing going right now ... It’s going to be hard to stop them.”
“They won 100 games in 2023, and we swept them,” said Sewald.
“So the crazy thing about October is you just never know. They have a chance of breaking the win record this year, but in October you just never know. The Padres had ‘em on the ropes last year.
“That’s one of the best parts about this game is anything can happen in the month of October and it’ll be fun to see how good they are. I’m glad we only play them three times instead of 13 times.” |
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