Giancarlo Stanton’s Slugging Is Carrying the Miami Marlins

This Stanton guy seems pretty good. [Jim]

Why Are Some New Statistics Embraced and Not Others? - The New York Times

Tango and company get some kudos for the stuff they are doing at MLB.com.

‘‘Bill James had a great line,’’ Tom Tango, the senior database architect of stats for MLB Advanced Media, told me. (If James is largely considered the godfather of sabermetrics, Tango could be its Michael Corleone.) ‘‘If you have a metric that never matches up with the eye test, it’s probably wrong. And if it never surprises you, it’s probably useless. But if four out of five times it tells you what you ...

How The Dodgers Are Using Baseball’s New DL Rules To Get An Edge | FiveThirtyEight

Even knowing that rest prevents injuries, whether Los Angeles prevented more serious ailments by using the short-term DL so frequently is difficult to say. Friedman built the Dodgers’ rotation on a surprisingly thrifty budget, relying largely on injury-prone pitchers who could be bought on the cheap. And the Dodgers seem to have gotten their money’s worth: They racked up more disabled list trips than any other team in the league in 2016, even if you focus only on the 60-day list (for which ...

Nick Ahmed hit by a pitch on the same hand he fractured in June

Only days before he was expected back from the disabled list, Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed is hurt again.

Ahmed suffered a fractured right wrist when he was hit by a pitch during his rehab game on Sunday night and is expected to miss six to eight weeks, General Manager Mike Hazen said. That means the soonest he could come back is at some point during the postseason.

Hazen said the club will monitor the trade market for potential help but said he doesn’t expect to find much available. ...

Rays suspend top prospect Brent Honeywell 4 games for disciplinary reasons | Tampa Bay Times

Wonder what this is about?

Before Baseball-Reference, Statheads Relied On The ‘Big Mac’ | FiveThirtyEight

I begged my parents to buy me one of these in the middle 70’s. Although I no longer have it, it got a lot of use, at least until Total Baseball came out.

David Wright shuts down rehab; Yoenis Cespedes out for season | New York Post

Sometimes you see a rash of injuries and think, “Wow, that’s some bad luck.” I don’t get those thoughts with the Mets.

Amed Rosario comes up big as Mets split doubleheader | New York Post

Two weeks ago, Rosario hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth inning in Philadelphia that led the Mets to victory. The power display comes after a minor league career in which Rosario hit only 17 homers in 1,775 at-bats.

“I came from a league where I wasn’t seeing pitches come at me this fast,” Rosario said. “But as I have adjusted, I feel that I am doing better.”

And defensively, Rosario — as advertised — has shined.

“Our guys keep coming in with our defensive analysis, and he ...

Top 10 Prospects: August 28 - Prospect Roundup - Rotoworld.com

He’s hit much better in the 2nd half. The Phillies played him some at 3B. I still don’t see a 3B bat in him.

10. J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
2017 stats: 119 G, .239/.350/.393, 71 R, 17 2B, 6 3B, 13 HR, 56 RBI, 75 BB, 93 SO, 5 SB at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

The hits didn’t drop for Crawford, which was due to happen considering how hot he’s been since July. Even as his average dropped, however, he still showed the same quality approach at the plate that he has since for the past ...

A Visual Case for the DH – The Hardball Times

Just think of all the strategy there would be if we just randomly pulled a fan out of the stands to play first base.

Clayton Kershaw good after rehab start, set to rejoin Dodgers next weekend | ESPN

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said ace Clayton Kershaw came out of his Saturday rehab start at Triple-A well and will next start for Los Angeles either Friday or Saturday.

12up.com: Astros Pitcher Calls Out Rangers for ‘Greed’ in Hurricane Harvey Crisis

Quite a brushback pitch.

The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros were scheduled to play a series in Houston this week. Of course, that had to be moved due to the hurricane. The obvious location was Arlington, but the Rangers were unwilling to take on the burden of switching up the home series. Put simply, this upcoming series would be switched to a home series for Texas, while a later set of games would become a home series for Houston. Seems easy enough. ...

Because Texas was unwilling to ...

Hurricane Harvey forces Rangers and Astros to play at Tropicana Field

The Astros will play this week’s scheduled three-game series vs. the Texas Rangers at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida.

Additionally, the series vs. the Mets may also be moved to Tropicana Field. That decision will be made later this week.

If that’s the case, then that would mean 19 straight road or neutral site games for the Astros.

I think the last time a game was moved to a neutral site was when the Astros hosted the Cubs in Milwaukee. Carlos Zambrano threw a no-hitter.

Taking Back the Ballparks - Padres voting thread

Unlike our two previous installments, the Padres nominating thread didn’t seem to generate a consensus choice for a name for the lovely little ballpark near the Pacific Ocean. And opinion was equally spread with our nominating committee, which is why a hefty six choices will be put before the electorate. As was the case with the Rangers, if you choose one of the selections, you’ll be asked to follow up with a second question.

Voting will conclude one week from today, at which point we’ll ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 8-28-2017

Washington Times, August 28, 1917:

An air of mystery surrounds the reported franchise shift in the American League today. It is reported that “certain stockholders of the Washington club have been notified to attend a meeting at which the proposition will be discussed.” Some of those questioned today say they know nothing about such a meeting. And there the matter rests, while Baltimore seethes in anticipation of owning a major league baseball club in 1918.

Washington Herald, August 28, 1917:

...

OTP 28 August 2017: Minor league baseball team’s ‘Alternative Facts Night’ promises ‘bigly home runs’

For those who do show up on Friday, they’ll be in for an interesting experience. The first 1,000 attendees will get a 2016 Eastern League championship ring to celebrate what one can only assume was the alternative championship considering the SeaWolves won it with a purported 142-0 record. (In the actual Eastern League last season, the SeaWolves finished with a losing record of 69-72 and made it nowhere near the actual championship game.)

The team also plans to involve the other side of the ...

Brewers minor-leaguer goes into cardiac arrest after being struck by pitch - CBSSports.com

Well wishes to this young man! Hope he makes a quick and full recovery.

Matt Harvey is coming back and Mets see one good sign already | New York Post

Is anyone still optimistic Matt Harvey can still be an ace?

As the Red Sox have surged, ratings have bounced back

Just in time to listen to the horrible Jerry Remy fill-ins and the snooze inducing Dave O’Brien.

And more caterwauling about the Houston decision to not retain some scouts.

That may be the case, but the reality is scouting as a way of evaluating players is dying. So many great baseball people who have devoted their lives to discovering talent no longer work in the game. This is very disturbing to Dave Dombrowski, who says, “You’ve got to have both.”

The roll call in Houston includes ...

Olney: Marlins’ new owners face defining decision on Stanton - Buster Olney Blog- ESPN

If a team can trade Arod, Stanton can be traded.

Obituary: Joe Klein, 75, Was GM Of Three Teams | BaseballAmerica.com

Klein had that ability to keep things in perspective. He would occasionally relive the 1982 Winter Meetings in Honolulu. He had just become GM and had a trade in place to acquire a package of players from the Dodgers, including two young pitchers named Dave Stewart and Orel Hershiser. Ownership killed the deal.

“If that trade had gone through I might have still been the general manager in Texas,” he said decades later.

He shrugged his shoulders.

Disappointed? Sure.

Upset? Nah.

It wasn’t ...

Rockies’ Greg Holland pulled in save situation | MLB.com

Brutal.

Holland, who left an 0-2 slider over the plate to Ozzie Albies for a single just before Adams’ homer, has given up four homers and 14 runs in 6 1/3 innings over his last eight appearances.

The art of hitting by Daniel Murphy - Byron Kerr

“Every at-bat to him is extremely valuable,” says third base coach Bobby Henley of Murphy’s work. “He’s up there to try to do something to help the ballclub. He wants to drive runs in, that’s the big thing. He wants to do whatever he can to drive a run in, understanding what the pitcher is trying to do to him and staying with his plan. I think he has shown over last year and the course of this year that he’s pretty good when he stays with his plan. It’s been fun to watch, I know ...

Moneyball at 20: Inside Billy Beane’s legacy after 2 decades running the A’s - San Francisco Chronicle

Must read. Some really good insights into Billy Beane.

Top on the list: trading third baseman Josh Donaldson, who went on to be the MVP after going to Toronto, in exchange for four players who have not nearly approached that kind of star power.

“In hindsight, that was certainly questionable — and I’m being kind to myself,” Beane said recently in his first public comments reproaching himself for the deal. “There were a number of reasons why, and Josh was a good player who became a ...

Andrelton Simmons hit a game-winning home run while nearly falling over home plate | MLB.com

Well, that’s different.

Matt Harvey says he’s ready to return to Mets after latest rehab start | Newsday

Magical thinking.

Harvey has been on the Mets’ disabled list since June 16 with a stress injury to the scapula bone in his right shoulder that had sapped the 28-year-old’s velocity. Harvey’s fastball typically sat in the 90-to-92 miles-per-hour range throughout Saturday’s start and his velocity reached 93 on the stadium radar gun on a few occasions.

“It’s going to come and go,” Harvey said of the velocity. “Once you get the adrenaline going in a big-league game . . . then the ...

Joe Maddon unsure whether Cubs will employ six-man rotation down the stretch - Chicago Tribune

Six-man rotation with a big bullpen does not seem like a good combo.

As the Cubs were coasting to a National League Central title exactly one year ago, manager Joe Maddon predicted many teams would employ a six-man rotation in the second half to give their starting pitchers extra rest.

This year’s Cubs might not go with six starters due to injuries and the schedule.

Sunday Notes: Blue Jays Prospect Danny Jansen is Opening Eyes | FanGraphs Baseball

David Laurila’s latest.

“Being a nice guy doesn’t necessarily help you get that base hit,” responded Lovullo. “Being a nice guy doesn’t necessarily help you make that big pitch. What it helps do is develop trust. If you have a tough moment, your team is going to back you. They’ll make you understand that you didn’t fail alone — you failed together. And when you get that big hit, you’re not going to celebrate alone, you’re going to celebrate together. It makes you feel ...

Four players suspended in Yanks-Tigers fracas | MLB.com

Sometimes it seems like they spin a wheel.

Miguel Cabrera was suspended for seven games and fined an undisclosed amount for inciting a benches-clearing incident and fighting with Yankees catcher Austin Romine, who was suspended for two games for fighting and throwing punches. Gary Sanchez received a four-game suspension for fighting and throwing punches in the ensuing fracas.

“I’m not going to feel good about that,” Sanchez said before Friday’s Yankees game against the Mariners in New York. ...

Here I am, rock you like OMNICHATTER, for the weekend of August 25-26, 2017