Sunday Notes: Thorn on Game Changes, Salaries Redux, Moya on Mashing, more | FanGraphs Baseball

David Lauria’s latest includes an interview with John Thorn.

Is rust inevitable for Matt Harvey in 2015? - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

More Matt Harvey info.

Pablo Sandoval challenges Boston.com’s Steve Silva to workout contest - Over the Monster

Steve and I were middle and high school classmates. As I jokingly commented on his Facebook status, “I can verify that Steve was the fastest kid in 7th grade. Unfortunately, that was his athletic peak.” I’m sure the contest will be amazing.

Report: Dodgers sign Brandon Beachy

The contract is a one-year deal with a club option for 2016.

I’ll have to see how much money this is for before I can say whether or not I approve.

Q&A: Travis Sawchik on ‘Big Data Baseball’ and the rise of the Pirates through analytics

An interview with Travis Sawchik, author of the upcoming book “Big Data Baseball: Math, Miracles and the End of a 20-Year Losing Streak.”

How are fantasy baseball projections calculated and how best to use them - Fantasy Baseball - ESPN

I predict you’ll find all this predictable.

Top baseball scenes in non-baseball movies - SweetSpot Blog - ESPN

I’d put “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” at the top.

Matt Harvey to face batters in week - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

Harvey seems on schedule.

Shields rebuffed bigger Giants offer weeks before landing in San Diego - CBSSports.com

While there’s still no evidence James Shields received or rebuffed a rumored $110 million, five-year offer this winter, Shields did turn down an $80 million, four-year proposal from the Giants a few weeks before signing with the Padres for $75 million—$5 million less than the Giants’ bid—sources familiar with the negotiations said.

Blue Jays 1st rounder Pentecost undergoes surgery - Sportsnet.ca

That’s not good.

Max Pentecost recently underwent shoulder surgery in an operation that will delay the 2015 debut of the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2014 first rounder, sources told Sportsnet.

Dr. James Andrews performed the operation, a scope intended to clean out the shoulder joint of the top catching prospect’s throwing arm. Pentecost previously had a shoulder cleanup after the 2014 season, but the operation didn’t work as well as initially hoped.

Posnanski: The Pat Tabler Experience

Tabs was clutch man.

I think about Tabler now because of an email sent by Tom Tango referencing a contradiction in my Strat-O-Matic post. On the one hand, I say I don’t like the horseshoes on Strat-O cards that reference a players ability to hit in the clutch (I have been told by several people that these were actually added to regulate a player’s RBI totals so that they somewhat mirror what happened during the season but it’s the same general thing). On the other hand, I say that I did ...

Washington Post - Jayson Werth on jail time: ‘It’s not a destination you would choose’

“Where I was wasn’t the same kind of thing you may have seen on TV or the movies,” Werth said. “That goes for the guys that were in there. The inmates were very supportive. The guards were very supportive. Nats Nation holds no bounds. It’s grown a lot since I got here, I’ll say that. It wasn’t so bad I’m like a different person. It was just an experience you went through. You get over it. You get through it.”

Phillies’ Cliff Lee Answers Questions Using Magic 8 Ball During Press Conference

Baseball season is finally underway, and Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee has already run out of answers for the media.

Following the pitchers and catchers’ first workout of the season, Lee used a Magic 8 Ball to field questions from reporters.

And Phillies camp is bound to get weirder…

Top 100 Prospects: Start Of A Ranking Revolution - BaseballAmerica.com

And I’ve been following Baseball America the whole time.

It was 25 years ago that Baseball America unveiled its first Top 100 Prospects list.

MLB announces pace of game initiatives, replay modifications | MLB.com

To do my part I just did a quick read before posting.

Twinsights: Miguel Sano ‘able to do everything’ as spring camp nears - Twins Now

More than 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery that wiped out his 2014 season, Twins third-base prospect Miguel Sano remains on track to enjoy a normal big-league spring training.

“He’s doing pretty much everything,” said Brad Steil, Twins director of minor league operations. “I don’t know if (Twins trainers) are going to watch how much activity he has in the first few days. Sometimes guys get in there and air it out and overdo it.”

Raissman: A-Rod ‘impossible to dislike’ says Suzyn Waldman - NY Daily News

“Virtually nothing is impossible in this world if you just put your mind to it and maintain a positive attitude.” ~ Lou Holtz

White Sox’s Ken Williams want players to bring attitude to the field - Chicago Tribune

Ahh, the Diamondbacks approach.

“I prefer to talk more on the level of intensity on a day-to-day basis, that grind,” Williams said. “Whenever we’ve had teams that understand that (grind), we’ve been in the mix. … We purposely went out and got those types that really want it. If you don’t have (them), nothing else matters.

“I made a lot of mistakes early in my career by throwing a lot more talent against the wall and looking good on paper, but not having the guys who really wanted it and would ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 2-20-2015

Pittsburgh Press, February 20, 1915:

One writer suggests that the Cleveland Americans be called the Submarines, because they are always on the bottom. The only objection is that the Cincinnati Reds might dispute this title.

...and elsewhere on the same page:

After being with a second-division team for several years Lajoie has got renewed ambition. He has got something worth while to work for in 1915.
...
“I can hardly wait for the time to go south,” said Lajoie. “It has been several years since I ...

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.”