caulfield12

http://www.npbtracker.com/2014/01/masahiro...3-pitch-counts/ We all know what happened with Dice-K. Those are some SCARY pitch totals for Tanaka last year. http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/arti...na&c_id=ana Pitching coach Mike Butcher has an interesting theory about those pitchers (majority) with TJ issues. And just as importantly, Butcher says too many professional pitchers are throwing from the opposite side of the rubber (meaning, a right-hander throwing from the first-base side and a left-hander throwing from the third-base side). Butcher has found that more than 30 of the pitchers who have undergone Tommy John surgery this year fit that description. "Some guys do it because they feel like they'll be in the strike zone more, they'll have better command that way -- there's all sorts of different philosophies about it," Butcher said. "But for me, if you're on the opposite side of your throwing arm on the rubber, you are constantly pronating your arm at a higher rate than if you are on the other side. There's no leverage behind the baseball. "There's guys who have been very successful doing it, who have maintained their health. But I think for the most part, the guys that are on their throwing-arm side of the rubber are less prone to injury because there's less stress on the arm." “With the physical strength players have today and the amount of torque they’re putting on their elbow the amount of strength required to maintain, to hold up under the day-to-day rigors of throwing 90-mph-plus fastballs is a lot,” Mozeliak said. “It may be too much. It’s a fragile ligament. I don’t think anybody knows how to strengthen the ligament before you begin the process. You strengthen muscles before you do anything, but not the ligament.” That hints at one approach the Cardinals have adopted in hopes its preventative. The reality of an injury to a pitcher is such that it’s virtually a given, and it is reflected in contracts. The Cardinals have drafted a player after he had the surgery (John Gast), traded for a pitcher coming back from Tommy John (Westbrook) and rewarded a pitcher (Wainwright) just back from Tommy John with the richest contract ever for a Cardinals pitcher. Mozeliak said signing long-term deals with pitchers “is a matter of probability. Few tend to go cradle to grave without something. You need to bake-in some DL time.” The club took great care last season to wrap Wacha and, to a lesser extent, Miller in virtual bubblewrap at times to protect them from overuse, strain. The Cardinals chart pressure-filled innings for their young pitchers, knowing that the wear from all pitches and all innings are not created equal. Miller and Kelly recall a policy that yanked them from low-level minor-league games if they had a single inning of 30 pitches. While former team physician Dr. George Paletta, an accomplished Tommy John surgeon, helped the Cards craft their rehab program, they also have looked into what protective steps can be taken. Mozeliak described how the Cardinals have “an internal belief and approach of having a balanced body.” The starters have between-appearance maintenance work that stresses total-body flexibility and strength, not just arm strength. The idea being that the more even the strength is the less strain it will put on the weakest link, be it ligament or something else. The trainer staff is constantly testing flexibility, range of motion and strength. “We’ve looked a lot at it,” Mozeliak said. “There’s no silver bullet.” Such measures started young for the youngest of the pitchers the Cardinals are counting on. Miller did not throw a curveball until high school, and his adviser once expressed displeasure when he had 160 pitches in a game. Wacha’s father didn’t allow him to throw a curve until he was an upperclassman in high school, even when the young righty pleaded that his peers were doing it. He was just fine and healthy working with a fastball changeup. Though they couldn’t argue against it, both flinched when Kelly spoke up (saying TJ was inevitable, like taxes and death). They’d rather not wait for the inevitable. “That’s just … scary,” Miller said. “I don’t even want to think about it.” That’s OK. Everybody else around him is. stltoday.com (D.Gold)

Now Viciedo is having his first prolonged slump of the season and we're going to dump him...? And replace him with? Sierra and DeAza? Should they also plan on replacing Eaton? And Garcia being a DH? They have to let this season play out. After being completely terrible the last 2-3 weeks, Viciedo's still in the vicinity of a 730 OPS LFer (which is above or right around MLB average for the position)...granted, that still makes him below average if you count his defense, but no team's going to overpay for him at the moment. By this line of argument, we should also try trading Davidson and Erik Johnson, too.

Two Montases. Rodon and Rondon. Oh, the humanity.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 08:55 PM) The one commonality that Avi has with others in his shoes are, the ability to be a ball player. Many times I see and hear how 1 prospects are moved around so they, the club could get the players talent in the game. maybe sacrificing some defense in returned. I remember a post just today of what to do with the glut of infielder prospects we have, again putting or shifting 1 to the outfield. has anyone thought this is how maybe Avi came about. Sure, the Tigers would have loved it if Garcia had the ability to play infield...especially 3B, but he just outgrew that possibility...he's been an outfielder for his entire professional career. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/pro...=avisail-garcia

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2088618...d-through-day-2 White Sox and Cubs both with B+ grades... With the Cubs, they really are going to have to sign 3 out of those 5 prep pitchers (Sands, Cease, Steele, Norwood, etc.) for their first two rounds to make any sense. Taking two catchers is just weird, especially since neither is slated to stay at that position, and both of those guys would be blocked by Rizzo at 1B. As noted, Sands is a strong FSU commit and Cease is going off a near-TJ surgery and seems committed to Vandy where he can re-establish his draft viability a few years down the road.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 01:24 PM) How about this. Move Micah to CF in Charlotte, when Avi comes back his new position will be LF with Eaton and his strong arm going to RF. See how Micah plays out the rest of the season, if it turns out Micah doesn't fit the mold then we trade for a CF this winter. Eaton needs to be much better than a 625-ish OPS player just to hold down CF, let alone a corner spot. He has a pretty strong arm for CF, but, at best, it's erratic and a slight improvement on Rowand...but not of the caliber to play RF.

Dunn got out-thought there by the pitcher. Weaver, as noted, pinpoint location with those first 3 pitches down and away. Perfect example of a pitcher who doesn't have to throw 95 to be effective.

Edge of Tomorrow really good. A lot like the movies Deja Vu, Groundhog Day, Source Code and Memento jumbled together. Emily Blunt is a revelation as an action star. Cruise puts in his standard, earnest/workmanlike performance. Good summer popcorn flick, drags a bit in the middle but then picks up steam the last 30 minutes again. Doug Liman's a high quality director, IMO.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 05:50 PM) Montas loads the bases with 1 out, strikeout for the second out, groundout for third out Carolina 1 for 9 with RISP already, 6 baserunners (5 hits/1 BB) but no runs through 3. Testing himself in adverse conditions. Seems he's limiting them to mostly singles/station-to-station baseball.

Every college pitcher of course is different. But don't discount the fact that players such as Rodon not only are familiar with the White Sox development process of pitchers, but also the way they quickly move certain prospects based on merit. See Daniel Hudson, Addison Reed and even Gordon Beckham as other examples. Rodon actually might not be quite caught up yet on that development process, especially when he asked what he knew about White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper. Rodon responded, "To be honest, nothing." (Cooper's ego won't like that quote, haha.) Rodon's interactions with the White Sox have included a personal meeting with Laumann and assistant scouting director Nick Hostetler at N.C. State before the 2014 calendar year began. His extended White Sox interactions up until Thursday were like many other people who didn't get drafted: via television broadcasts. www.mlb.com (Scott Merkin)

Davidson and Erik Johnson were both in the most recent BA top 100 prospects, right? CURSES!!! Good thing Hawkins and Anderson weren't. Speaking of curses, when did Walker get sent down to Winston-Salem? Do we really want him anywhere near Hawkins, Anderson, May and Barnum?

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 05:19 PM) Sweet Caroline led off with a single and went straight for the sac bunt. They fear the Montas. As well they should. He's even got them so scared they've changed to a female name from Carolina (well, technically also female...but at least not the 7th inning song in Boston, so there's that), and scared them from AA all the way down to High A. Otoh, it was/is the name of a huge, catastrophic hurricane. Three strikeouts, a walk and 2 hits surrendered in 2 IP. 1.5 WHIP, that sucks Montas!!! What's wrong with u? Hawkins, now 27 walks, 64 K's and an OPS finally below 800 on the season. Has been sinking and sinking, with Anderson ascending. That looks amazing compared to Anderson's 5/47 ratio. Almost identical OPS numbers now. 12 2B/7 triples/3 homers. Fathom was calling for 30-20-10. Doubt he gets there, but it would be a pretty amazing statline if he managed it. Let's throw in 30 SB's as well.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 01:09 PM) I don't man, Brian Anderson sucked. Especially if it was the one who played for us. I think it's valid. No, LHP mostly famous for pitching with DBacks and Indians..

QUOTE (flavum @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 12:52 PM) http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,6873059.story I'm tired of baseball players saying "it's a game of failure". Negative and cliche. Just play, and shut up. Maybe he watched the Bull Durham segment where Costner gives Tim Robbins baseball cliches to throw out there to reporters?

Go for Cedderoth, 3rd time's a charm. Reetz would be nice, but don't think we can afford his demands. As it is, the Brewers are really going to have a hard time signing Harrison at 50.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 5, 2014 -> 01:08 PM) How about Scherzer, Sanchez, Porcello, Smyly, Verlander? Probably Verlander 3rd. Smyly hasn't been a full-time starter since his rookie year and you just can't put Porcello ahead of Verlander in the post-season when you're paying him that kind of money...he's got to prove in the post-season that he's going to get bombed at least once and maybe twice before you pull him from the rotation. Look how long the Red Sox stuck with Peavy when he was giving them mediocre to terrible starts.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 03:36 AM) I want to see Montas throw strikes for more than 6 starts before I put him that high. If he does it the rest of the season (which at this rate would probably include a promotion to AA), then we can talk No. 4 or maybe even No. 3 ahead of Hawkins, who I have almost no hope for. Too late. He's already got the attention of Jeff Passan and other national baseball writers are soon to follow suit. Frank Montas, RHP, Chicago White Sox (High-A): Scouts are blowing Montas up. "Bad body, don't care," one said. "The stuff is that good." Said another: "I never thought he'd throw strikes. He's been incredible." Acquired from Boston in the Jake Peavy trade last July, Montas' fastball sits around 97 mph. And for now he has allayed fear about command and control with 40 strikeouts, five walks and zero home runs allowed in 37 innings.

1. Rodon 2. T.Anderson 3. Hawkins 4. Montas 5. Davidson 6. Micah Johnson 7. Danish 8. Beck 9. Adams 10. Michalczewski/Carlos Sanchez

http://espn.go.com/mlb/ Video of Law ripping the Cubs' selection of Schwarber (saying it's almost unheard of for a MLB LFer to be 6'0" and 240 pounds, guess he hasn't seen Viciedo and saying he'll likely end up at 1B/DH), praising Aiken as the most projectable talent with the most potential to add velocity and size, saying that Rodon could be in the SOx bullpen this year and in the Chicago rotation the same time next year and that Aaron Nola was a really sound pick for the Phillies, could be the first to the majors and slotted in their rotation before the end of the season (but concerns since he has never pitched through the whole summer, and smaller frame).

Thanks. full article on the charade of the "advisor" system and what's really happening between teams and agents/advisors http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mlb-draft-cha...-143611758.html from Jeff Passan... The overwhelming favorite to go No. 1 overall before the season began struggled at times. Though a number of people in Houston's front office adore Rodon, he wants every bit of the near-$8 million, and the Astros' strategy as seen in their previous two years picking 1-1 is not to pay slot. Frank Montas, RHP, Chicago White Sox (High-A): Scouts are blowing Montas up. "Bad body, don't care," one said. "The stuff is that good." Said another: "I never thought he'd throw strikes. He's been incredible." Acquired from Boston in the Jake Peavy trade last July, Montas' fastball sits around 97 mph. And for now he has allayed fear about command and control with 40 strikeouts, five walks and zero home runs allowed in 37 innings.

Wait a second. Perhaps Nebraska two-sport recruit Monte Harrison does have reason to consider postponing his professional baseball career for a while. Harrison went 50th overall to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Major League Baseball draft Thursday night, far later than analysts and experts predicted during the past weeks. The outfielder — who’s also a four-star receiver recruit — had been almost unanimously tabbed as a top 25 prospect and first-round draft pick. Harrison, from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, even made the trip to New Jersey on Thursday to join six other high school prospects in the MLB Network studio for the unveiling of draft’s first 74 picks. Harrison was the last of the seven in attendance to get selected. The immediate presumption for Harrison’s perceived slide: MLB teams were unable to match the signing bonus desired by Harrison and his family. Harrison’s mentor, former Kansas City Chief Danan Hughes, alluded to this on his Twitter account Thursday night, noting that money was the driving force in teams’ draft-day decisions. Hughes was unable to be reached for comment Thursday. Harrison did not participate in an on-camera interview on MLB Network on Thursday. Brewers scouting director Bruce Seid reportedly indicated to beat reporters that signing Harrison would not be easy. Each franchise is limited to a predetermined pool of money that it can use to sign players drafted in the first 10 rounds. The Brewers have $7.6 million to spend, ninth-most among MLB teams. And they’ll surely offer Harrison more than $1.1 million, the predetermined signing bonus value assigned to the No. 50 pick.

In an interesting twist, we might be competing with former White Sox CFer Darin Erstad for Reetz's services...only 20 players in the last 5 years drafted inside the top 100 haven't signed (out of 500 total players), fwiw. Now it’s Reetz who’s been climbing draft boards since playing for the USA baseball under-18 national team last fall. And it’s (Monte)Harrison, the sixth-best high school prospect according to Baseball Factory. Harrison signed a football letter of intent in February, and he plans to be in the network’s New Jersey studio for the live broadcast of the first two rounds Thursday (he was picked 50th and didn't even give an interview to MLB.com...Danan Hughes, his advisor and former Hawkeye/Chief, thought teams were scared off by their demands). Erstad said he hasn’t talked to either recruit much lately. All the necessary conversations have already taken place. “We’re not a staff that’s going to hound these kids,” Erstad said. “We want them to enjoy their final year of high school and not have to worry about us being all over them. It’s going to boil down to what the family thinks is the best situation for them.” And Erstad said he has a good idea of what both Harrison and Reetz are thinking — as in, the kind of signing bonus that might lure them away from NU. MLB teams are limited to a specific allotment of cash that they can offer players drafted in the first 10 rounds, based on predetermined bonus values assigned to each pick. Teams are penalized for exceeding that amount. July 18 is the deadline for amateur players to sign professional contracts. Erstad knows there are no guarantees until then. “It’s tough to not have that control,” Erstad said. “The recruits have advisers, and the scouts have more access to prospective student-athletes than coaches. A lot of information, right or wrong, is given.” Still, coaches at this level will keep trying to find and lure those top-tier ballplayers — specifically the ones who might also place value in the college experience. “We’re going to look for elite kids,” Erstad said. “We’re going for this thing.” www.omaha.com

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jun 6, 2014 -> 02:12 AM) Anyone know how long Day 2 will last? Trying to plan out my evening Just says the next two days are starting at 1:00 p.m., so all the higher picks (3rd-5th rounds) will already be over by then. Right-hander J.B. Bukauskas from Stone Bridge High School in Virginia is ranked No. 38 on MLB.com's Top 200 prospects list and is the highest-rated player still on the board entering the third round. He is one of 34 players in the top 100 who have yet to be selected. Bukauskas is committed to North Carolina and was a junior when school began in the fall. But at the request of the Tar Heels coaches, he moved his high school graduation up a year, becoming eligible for the 2014 Draft in the process. Though his dynamic arm excited scouts this spring, he remains committed to North Carolina and sent a letter to teams last month telling them he intended to attend college. Even after a pitcher-friendly Day 1 of the Draft, Bukauskas is one of 21 pitchers rated in the top 100 who were still on the board entering Day 2. Among the remaining highly ranked pitchers are a few who missed time this spring because of injury, including Rice right-hander Zech Lemond (No. 58); Milton (Ga.) High School right-hander Dylan Cease (No. 76); and University of Texas left-hander Dillon Peters (No. 83). Highlighting the available position players are two high school stars: Norris (Neb.) High School catcher Jakson Reetz (No. 40) and American Heritage High School (Fla.) shortstop Milton Ramos (No. 46). Norris (should be REETZ) is committed to Nebraska, and Ramos, considered by some scouts to be the best defender in the Draft class, is committed to Florida Atlantic. Of the remaining college players ranked in the top 100, most are pitchers. Arkansas right-hander Chris Oliver (No. 48) leads the group, while Oregon State right fielder Dylan Davis (No. 74) is the top position player. www.mlb.com

Looks like the Brewers (Medeiros/Gatewood/Monte Harrison--Nebraska football signee) and Indians (Zimmer/J.Sheffield/Papi) are getting the most acclaim for good drafts so far...Angels (Newcomb/Gatto) and Tigers (D.Hill/Turnbull) also are moving to improve bottom 5 farm systems. Blue Jays would have to be around 3rd. The Cubs were hanging out in no man's land with the No. 4 pick. They probably would have loved to take Jeff Hoffman, but they didn't want to risk a pick that high on an injured pitcher. Brady Aiken, Tyler Kolek and Carlos Rodon were the top three picks, so the team had to get creative. Kyle Schwarber, who has the best power among college hitters, became the fallback plan. He seemed like someone the Cubs could use to sign under slot, then allocate funds for a pitcher who falls into the second round. Instead, the Cubs drafted Maryland senior Jake Stinnett. He has a live arm and the arsenal to start, but he doesn't have an easy delivery and his command is fringe-average. Unless the team has big plans for Day 2, Stinnett is hardly the pitcher you want to get excited about. www.baseballprospectus.com

Should be around July 13th at 5:00 p.m. for the deadline if it's anything like two years ago...when Appel failed to sign with the Pirates.