Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-4-2018

New York Tribune, May 4, 1918:

The boys in the upper tier were getting ready to pan the baseball pantaloons right off young Mister Huggins yesterday when suddenly, as they say, in the eleventh inning, curse them Bawstanese, the Yankees stepped out and got a run for themselves, “Bullet Joe” Bush did a cuckoo and everything was lovely. That made the final score 3 to 2.

Young Mister Huggins made a most goshawful blunder in the tenth inning when with three on and none out he let [pitcher] Elmer ...

Ichiro transitioning to role of ‘Special Assistant to the Chairman,’ effective immediately

The longtime icon and outfielder was removed from the Mariners 25-man roster on Thursday afternoon and assigned a new job in the organization — Special Assistant to Chairman John Stanton.

...

In his new role, Ichiro will continue to be an active presence with the Major League club, both at home in Seattle and on the road.

Ichiro’s Playing Days Over

Seattle Mariners icon Ichiro Suzuki’s playing days are over, and will be transitioning to a role in the front office, effective Thursday, the Mariners announced.

Thanks for the memories Ichiro.

Good friends help you move, best friends help you OMNICHATTER! for Thursday, May 3, 2018

D-backs reach deal with Maricopa County to drop Chase Field suit

According to the memorandum, the Diamondbacks must play at Chase Field through the 2022 season. Then they could move to another facility in the county without penalty.

There is still a vote that needs to take place, so not “done done”.  But this poster believes they end up with new stadium at Salt River/Pima Indian Land, probably south of current Talking Stick Spring Training facility, near 101/202 Freeway interchange.

This wasn’t a catcher’s balk in Royals’ game, but it was a rarity in baseball history

The play didn’t have an impact on the outcome of the Royals’ wild 7-6 win at Boston on Tuesday, but this was one of the rarest plays you’ll see in a game.

The Royals had runners on first and second with two outs and Lucas Duda at the plate. Boston catcher Christian Vazquez blocked a pitch from Carson Smith, and the ball was on the ground next to him. Vazquez used his catcher’s mask to secure the ball, and that’s not allowed.

Trevor Bauer Might Have Conducted an Experiment

  “There is a problem in baseball right now that has to do with sticky substances and spin rates,” Bauer told reporters….

  “...And it’s my opinion that it is the same argument that was used when steroids were going on in the game. If you just look the other way and you let some people do it, the people who chose not to do it are at a competitive disadvantage. And that’s what’s going on right now.”

If Bauer is right (Big “if,” I know), would an effective crackdown on the ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-3-2018

Grand Forks Herald, May 3, 2018:

Rumors that the St. Louis Nationals intended to move to the old Federal league park which is more commodious than Cardinal field, were dissipated by a statement from President Branch Rickey that the club would not desert its old home.

“I spend $4,800 for improvements there last season,” he explained, “and almost the same amount this season. I am willing to spend as much more as we need, but until after the war the Cardinals will be found at their old quarters. ...

The AZ Snake Pit Statcast Primer

If you don’t know how to use MLB’s Statcast tool, then start here!

Time some of you fossils learned something new   ;)  OK….I’m a fossil too.

NCAA: 7 college baseball father-son duos you might not know about

J.T. Snow made one of the more memorable plays of that World Series, playing the role of the superhero and saving young Darren Baker from a near-certain collision at the plate. Darren, of course, was the batboy for the San Francisco Giants, and son to skipper Dusty Baker.

Now, Darren is bringing his baseball skills to Cal.

Daniels bristles at notion of guile involving Calhoun

For those wanting to get under Jon Daniels’ skin, here’s a tip:

Accuse him of trying to manipulate a player’s service clock.

Thursday marks the day the Texas Rangers could recall outfielder Willie Calhoun without losing a year of contractual control on the centerpiece of the Yu Darvish trade. That, however, is not the reason the Rangers have kept Calhoun at Triple A Round Rock.

“He’s still working on his defense,” Daniels said.

Aha. Hahahahaha, and after we come up for breath, hahahahaha.  ...

Adam Ottavino Rebuilt Himself in a Vacant Manhattan Storefront (Sawchuck)

Ottavino’s great start may be overshadowed by Josh Hader’s, but 31 K’s, 4 BB’s and 1 one run allowed in 17 innings is good stuff.

Between West 124th and 125th Streets on St. Nicholas Ave. in Harlem rests a street-level commercial space situated between a Dollar Tree and a Chuck E. Cheese’s, and it is where Adam Ottavino might have saved his career last winter.

...He thought he had now had some solutions. He had bought tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment with which to try and ...

Behind-the-scenes role suiting Diamondbacks pitching strategist Dan Haren

IRVINE, Calif. – Dan Haren sits back in his office chair and opens a program on his computer. On the screen is an image of a hitter. Next to him are hot zones and cold zones accompanied by dropdown menus and situational stats. Haren toggles through them quickly. He is in his element.
He’s looking for an area of the strike zone where a Diamondbacks pitcher can throw a fastball to a particular hitter. He’s having no luck.
“This is ridiculous,” he said, asking that the names of the ...

The Best and Worst of April

If April showers bring Tyler Flowers maybe an April cold snap will bring back Ian Happ? (So sue me)

Twins ...

Good: The weather should start warming up soon.
Bad: Yuck.

Also Yoan Moncada currently leads the majors in average exit velocity. Not a lot of exiting ...

AA: Rob Neyer named commissioner of West Coast League

The primary uniform will not be a blue T-shirt.

Said Neyer: “I’m a passionate, longtime fan of baseball history generally, and Pacific Northwest baseball specifically. So it’s difficult for me to imagine a more exciting opportunity, and I’m honored to be associated with such a fine organization. This summer, as I connect with the owners and visit all the beautiful ballparks, I’ll do everything I can to help this great league become even greater.”

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-2-2018

Harrisburg Telegraph, May 2, 1918:

Both French and British soldiers are getting dippy over the wonderful pastime which was born and fostered under the Stars and Stripes. It is suggested by these fellows that Kaiser William [sic] when captured be made to work as umpire for his punishment.

Yeesh. That may have been more harsh than the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

Do you smell what OMNICHATTER’s cooking?! for May 2, 2018

Trevor Bauer insinuates there’s something fishy going on with Astros pitchers and MLB rules

Trevor Bauer hardly feels like the most trustworthy whistleblower, but…

As noted, though Bauer doesn’t straight up say, “the Astros are cheating,” the totality of the message is just that. He’s saying Astros pitchers are using sticky, foreign substances to increase their spin rate, which helps with breaking stuff and velocity, among other things. Let’s take a look.

With fastballs, Justin Verlander is first in spin rate among starting pitchers. On curveballs, Charlie Morton is second among ...

In the May Day, find a worker and shake his OMNICHATTER! for May 1st, 2018.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-1-2018

Toledo News-Bee, May 1, 1918:

President Charley Ebbets of the Brooklyn club has finally decided that he will have to pay regular salaries if he wants to strengthen his club sufficiently to get started in the National League race.

Ebbets started on Tuesday by paying Zack Wheat, holdout, what he demanded. Charley says matters have reached such a state in baseball that from now on it is going to be hard for the Brooklyn club to keep enough players to make a decided stand against the opposition. ...

Sano ‘not making a lot of progress’; Twins might consider DL

Miguel Sano tried to run in the outfield before batting practice on Monday, “and it didn’t go particularly well,’ Twins manager Paul Molitor said. So the Twins’ third baseman is not in the lineup for a third consecutive game tonight, and a stint on the disabled list is becoming more likely.

Sano felt tightness in his left hamstring on Friday night, and he hasn’t played since. “He’s not making a lot of progress,” Molitor said. “I was hoping by Day 3 we’d be seeing [him] a ...

Should Dodgers acquire Manny Machado in wake of Corey Seager injury?

Corey Seager is out for the season. Manny Machado could be available now.

On paper? It’s a match. In reality? Let’s just say that we wouldn’t suggest you plan on buying a Machado jersey in the Dodgers gift shop.

Questions and answers about the obvious free-agent-to-be and the Dodgers’ needs in the wake of the Seager injury.

Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager to undergo Tommy John surgery, will miss rest of season

Seager, a 24-year-old, two-time All Star, was placed on the disabled list with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament. Tommy John surgery involves replacing the injured ligament.

Seager suffered from elbow discomfort throughout the second half of 2017, however the team’s medical staff advised against Seager undergoing surgery this past winter.

This would qualify as a big, big, big, big deal.

Can’t sing. Can’t act. Balding. Can OMNICHATTER a little, for April 30, 2018

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 4-30-2018

New York Tribune, April 30, 1918:

Chicago opened its series in Cleveland [yesterday] by hitting three Cleveland pitchers hard and winning, 8 to 4.
...
A double play by Speaker was the feature of the contest. With Collins on second and Jackson on first Speaker trapped Felsch’s fly and tagged Collins, then touched second, forcing Jackson, thus repeating a play he worked on Detroit ten days ago.

Not only did an outfielder pull off an unassisted double play on a ball that hit the ground, he did it ...

MetsMerizedOnline.com:  White Hot [Peter] Alonso Named Eastern League Player of the Week

Overall, Alonso is hitting .403/.500/.778 with six doubles, seven homers, and 18 RBI.

Those stats make him the league leader in batting average, OBP, SLG, OPS, runs, hits, homers, extra base hits, and total bases. Simply put, Alonso has been dominating the Eastern League.  If he keeps this up, we may very well see him accumulate many more awards this season.

In case you didn’t know the Mets had a prospect.  Alonso is a former 2nd round pick and is a few months older than Dominic Smith.  He ...

How the Orioles lost 21 straight games to start the 1988 season

Last night, moments after the Orioles had lost their ninth straight game, 4-3, to the Royals, general manager Roland Hemond, farm director Doug Melvin, and seven others were trapped in an elevator at Memorial Stadium for 73 minutes.

The Orioles had planned to make a roster move after last night’s game, but it had to be delayed until today because Hemond was trapped.

— Baltimore Sun, 4/15/88

Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager to undergo Tommy John surgery, will miss rest of season

Nick Markakis, Durability & 3000 Hits

For now, Markakis’ durability remains his calling card — and his best chance at 3,000.

The Times on Base vs. Hits argument, which compared Tony Gwynn’s career offensive output against Tim Raines, carried the former Expos great into Cooperstown in his 10th year of eligibility. Perhaps more discussion needs to unfold surrounding the greatness of players who were not only able take the field 150 games a year for a decade and a half plus, but who remain wanted by front offices more and more ...

Panda Pitches Perfect Ninth

The curveball to Chris Taylor was a beauty.