MLB.com: Rangers Sign Rougned Odor’s Younger Brother, Also Named Rougned Odor

Hope it’s not too confusing when he goes for a visa:

You met up-and-coming Rougned Odor last season when the 20-year-old middle infielder notched 100 hits in his rookie campaign for the Rangers. Now, meet Rougned Odor’s younger brother ... Rougned Odor. The younger Rougned Odor followed in his brother’s footsteps (something we’re sure he’s accustomed to by now) and inked a deal with the Rangers on Thursday.
.  .  .
The older Odor spoke to MLB.com about his brother’s signing, and pointed out ...

Baseball America Top 100 Prospect List

Top 5;

Kris Bryant
Byron Buxton
Addison Russell
Carlos Correia
Corey Seager

Red Sox and Mets tied with seven players each

Posnanski: Things I learned from Strat-o-Matic

Non-Strat-O-Matic fans who are curious about the subject can try to follow Poz’s attempt to explain the game mechanics. I have no idea if that is actually possible to do in this format. He tried, anyway.

Strat fans can presumably nod along, and appreciate this:

Jurickson Profar to have surgery « Postcards From Elysian Fields

Former top prospect in baseball goes under the knife. This does not sound good.

The MRI taken on Tuesday in Arlington showed increased strain on the subscapularis muscle in his right shoulder from the previous MRI. As a result, he will undergo right shoulder surgery on Monday in Arlington with surgery to be performed by Dr. Keith Meister. The timetable for recovery and rehab won’t be determined until the extent of the surgery is known.

Update: Torn labrum

Gregg Zaun: “If I had a dollar for every time Cal worked me over, physically, I’d be a pretty wealthy guy.”

With Ornette, Charlie Haden, & Billy Higgins…

...all of a sudden I had what was called “the posse” all over me. Cal Ripken, Ben McDonald, Brady Anderson, Chris Hoiles, all of the above. They beat me on my ribcage, physically abused me on my way to the training table. They taped me spread-eagle to the training table, they wrote “rookie” on my forehead with pink methylate, and they shoved a bucket of ice down my shorts. I missed the entire batting practice, and you know what? Phil Regan, ...

A 1966 Astros Program vs. The Cubs Had ‘LSD’ On It. Why?

There’s an asterisk after “LSD.” The asterisk refers to some words just below the hand of the Astros player in the rocking chair. According to Hartig, those words read: “Leo S. Durocher,” apparently trying to call the Cubs manager a crybaby.

Now, Durocher’s middle initial wasn’t “S”—his middle name was “Ernest.” It does appear that it could have been a drug reference, which seems very odd in that buttoned-down era. Some have speculated it was for “Lake Shore Drive” in Chicago—but no one in ...

Wade Townsend had to flop at baseball to live a dream. | SportsonEarth.com

Wade Townsend’s life after baseball.

Seeking redemption, Tim Lincecum admits father knows best - San Francisco Chronicle

Whatever works.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 2-19-2015

From a mini-biography of Clark Griffith in the Tacoma Times, February 19, 1915:

The strain of managing appears to have rasped his nerves. His hair turned gray in one season at Cincinnati, and he holds the record of taking 28 drinks of water in four minutes in a crisis of a game.

Veterans can be just as risky as prospects | FOX Sports

And veterans cost a hell of a lot more than prospects.

As Luke Hochevar returns from Tommy John surgery, Royals could experiment with eight-man bullpen | The Kansas City Star The Kansas City Star

An eight-man bullpen is crazy.

To hear manager Ned Yost tell it, the Royals could open the season with an eight-man bullpen, one more than the usual number of relievers. The extra pitcher would provide insurance if Hochevar needs extra time to ready himself for extended duty.

“It depends on where Hoch is at,” Yost said. “If we need to protect Hoch, then, probably. If we don’t need to protect Hoch, then probably not.”

Lackey aiming for World Series trifecta : Sports

Remember when people said Lackey would never pitch for the minimum. Good times.

Lackey, working out at a Cardinals camp for the first time Wednesday, said he would be amenable to a contract extension although he quickly added that there was “nothing close.

“If it’s something that works for both sides. I would like it,” said the 36-year-old Lackey, who very much likes what he’s seen with the Cardinals in just the two-plus months he spent with them last August through October.

“This ...

Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees have a bigger problem than apologies and forgiveness - Business Insider

Ugly, just ugly.

The New York Base Ball Club (a.k.a. Washington BBC, Gotham BBC) « Our Game

I love this stuff.

Increase in arbitration hearings doesn’t equal labor problems | FOX Sports

Arbitration…where every player wins!

‘Better Call Saul’ starts turf war between Albuquerque Isotopes and Omaha Storm Chasers | MLB.com

The Omaha Storm Chasers and the Albuquerque Isotopes appreciate Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.

SABR co-founder Joe Simenic was “one of the true giants” of baseball research | cleveland.com

A nice story about one of the founders of SABR.

Colorado Rockies first-rounder Tyler Matzek had to mature to find himself | MiLB.com

The story of Matzek’s winding road to the big leagues.

Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks Ink Billion Dollar TV Deal

MLB is awash in dough:

The Diamondbacks became the latest team to cash in on baseball’s exploding local television market, agreeing to remain with Fox Sports Arizona under a contract that’s believed to be worth in excess of $1 billion. Sources would not provide details of the agreement, such as specific financial terms or even the length of the contract, but there are indications the deal is in line with expectations based on previous comments from club officials.

For months, team officials ...

Neuroscouting may give Red Sox a heads-up on prospects’ potential - Sports - The Boston Globe

Science or pseudoscience?

Alex Rodriguez’s return to the New York Yankees

Here’s a lot of words about A-Rod.

SBNation: Brisbee: 5 other letters of apology from around Major League Baseball

Think of something clever Repoz/Jim, I’m out!  But this is a terrific piece.

ESPN ranks Phillies dead last among professional sports teams for their use of analytics

...ESPN The Magazine took a look at analytics’ place in sports in its “Great Analytics Ranking” issue, which attempts to assess how every team in the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB utilizes advanced metrics.

Out of the 122 ranked teams, the Phillies finished dead last: 122nd…

The New York Knicks and Washington Redskins ranked just ahead of the Phillies in use of analytics, at 121st and 120th, respectively.

The Physics of Fielding – The Hardball Times

It’s science!

Braves have acquired best prospects this offseason | braves.com

Jim Callis really likes the prospects haul the Braves obtained this off-season.

Gammoms Notes: Cole Hamels to Boston?, Alex Rodriguez, Royals, Mariners and Game Changes - GammonsDaily.com

A Gammons baseball notes column.

Andy Pettitte: ‘I don’t really believe I tried to enhance my performance’

Moote point…Andy Pettitte, just another Unhung Hero.

Here’s what he told Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York recently:

  “People are going to say what they want to, believe what they want to. When you say PEDs to me, man, I just can’t even comprehend that with me just because I don’t really believe I tried to enhance my performance on the field,” Pettitte said. “If I would have, I would have told y’all that. Man, my story has been an open book. When it all came out [in the Mitchell report in ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 2-18-2015

Pittsburgh Press, February 18, 1915:

[League President] Ed Barrow says that while the International league will adhere to a roster limit of 17, it will not be compulsory for clubs to carry playing managers. Bench managers will be considered as players, however.

16-17 man rosters? How are they supposed to run a pitching staff with less than 12 pitchers?

PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT FOR 2015 SPRING TRAINING!

Wednesday: Giants, Indians, Phillies, Pirates and Reds.

Thursday: Angels, Athletics, Cardinals, Cubs, D-backs, Dodgers, Mets, Nationals, Orioles, Padres, Rockies, Royals and Tigers.

Friday: Astros, Braves, Brewers, Mariners, Marlins, Rangers, Red Sox, White Sox and Yankees

Saturday: Rays.

Sunday: Twins

Monday: Blue Jays.

GET HYPE!

Pitch-framing in olden times | FOX Sports

We have data for that now.