Gray Area: Inside the Mafia-Run World of Baseball Match-Fixing in Taiwan | VICE Sports

Is he worth signing?

Last week, reports surfaced that the Los Angeles Dodgers were close to signing Tsao, now 33, to a minor league contract—a transaction that would hardly be notable if not for the fact that Tsao hasn’t pitched professionally since that 2009 season in Taiwan, a result of having been named in a match-fixing scandal in his home country. Tsao was banned for life from the CPBL despite a Taiwanese court having acquitted him of any charges.

Sunday Notes: Players as Fans, High School or College, Andruw Jones, more | FanGraphs Baseball

David Lauria’s latest.

Jerry Green: Hall of Fame voting is serious business

So Jerry Green didn’t vote for John Smoltz because of (wait for it)...Jack Morris!

Green Ballot: Craig Biggio, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Pedro Martinez, Mark McGwire, Mike Piazza, Tim Raines, Gary Sheffield and Alan Trammell.

It must be noted that I did not vote for John Smoltz, who is likely to make it.

Again, these votes involve personal opinion. I do not consider any of my votes to be frivolous.

Smoltz won 213 games, mostly as a starting pitcher, and saved 154 as a ...

Schilling, Mussina better than Smoltz

The Schilling and Mussina vs. Smoltz debate has hit mainstream!

Tiger Tales: A Detroit Tigers Blog: Tigers Infield Worst in MLB in Preventing Hits On Ground Balls

Lee Panas looks at the Tigers infield defense.

Sabermetrics: Past, Present and Future « Talkin’ Softball

A somewhat recent and incomplete history of sabermetrics.

Evaluating the Prospects: San Diego Padres | FanGraphs Baseball

The first look I’ve seen about the impact of the Padres trades on their farm system.

What the Padres Have, and Might Have, in Brandon Maurer | FOX Sports

Given that Maurer was all but finished as a starter in Seattle, there’s no guarantee he can start with San Diego. He might simply not be up for it, or he might simply not be able to achieve a sufficient level of consistency. If Maurer can’t start, he can relieve, and he can relieve well, in a prominent role. But if Maurer can start? The A’s didn’t think Ross could start. Ross is, today, a big reason why the Padres think they could field a 2015 playoff team. The Padres no longer had much of a ...

A look at Zobrist and MLB’s best utility players. | SportsonEarth.com : Paul Casella Article

Hanley Ramirez isn’t a utility player. It’s silly to list him as one.

Hanley Ramirez, Red Sox

Ramirez is a newcomer to this category. He has spent nearly his entire career at shortstop, playing 1,077 games at the position, while making only 98 appearances elsewhere—all at third base. That, however, didn’t stop the Red Sox from listing him as a left fielder after signing him to a four-year, $88 million contract this offseason.

It remains to be seen how exactly Ramirez will fare in the outfield, ...

Here’s Why Gary Sheffield Will Never Be Elected to the Hall of Fame

He may have looked like “The Natural” when he debuted as a 19-year old with the Brewers, but in the end too much of what Sheffield accomplished came about in “unnatural” ways.

Two quibbles with Bill Deane’s HOF election predictions

Apparently, Neyer believes that one or more of Johnson, Martinez, or Biggio used.

10 problems with Jose Canseco’s predictions for 2015

4. @BarackObama wins lead role in new NBC sitcom Old Urkel

— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) January 2, 2015

Problem: The rights to Family Matters were originally owned by ABC, then CBS bought them. No way is that valuable series being sold to NBC. Sorry, not happening.

5. Peace in middle east. Israel accepts trade of 200 miles of Ocean for West Bank Palestine nation. Jerusalem new UN city state

— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) January 2, 2015

Problem: Peace in the Middle East would be amazing, ...

MLB’s most interesting people in ‘15

Which executives, managers and players will drive the MLB narrative in the coming season? Here’s a look at the 15 most interesting people in baseball heading into 2015:

1. Rob Manfred
After an extended run as Bud Selig’s most trusted aide, Manfred takes center stage in late January as baseball’s 10th commissioner. He’ll try to maintain the momentum that has made baseball a $9 billion industry while setting an agenda on pace of play, changes in the draft and free-agent compensation system, and ...

The crowded Hall of Fame ballot - Beyond the Box Score

By the numbers.

Melotticus Presents - The Atlanta Braves Top 20 Prospects - Minor League Ball

A look at the Braves top prospects. Rather than using stars for the ratings, it would be better is the writer used the standard 20-80 scouting scale.

Kearns’ full life defined by more than baseball | mariners.com

A nice look at the life of scout Bill Kearns.

Here’s 10 picks for Hall of Fame | Boston Herald

John Tomase Tweeted his article with this lead in.

In my final column for the Boston Herald, I reveal my Hall of Fame ballot, so the Internet can tell me I’m a moron.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 1-2-2015

Chicago Eagle, January 2, 1915:

Thirty-five deaths and 918 injuries were caused by baseball during 1914, according to figures made public by a sport writer who kept a tabulation of the season’s records.

Of the players who died from injuries 20 were hit by pitched balls, five were struck by bats, four were in collisions, four overexerted themselves, one was hurt sliding into a base, and one was killed in a fight.

Injuries to amateur players are classified as follows: Broken limbs, 314; ...

New Mariners’ outfielder Seth Smith knew a trade was likely | Mariners Insider - The News Tribune

Smith and Denorfia are good, serviceable players.

Here’s How the 2015 Hall of Fame Voting Will Turn Out

For about three years Pedro was as great as any pitcher ever has been. Just as great as Lefty Grove or Walter Johnson or Bob Feller or Sandy Koufax and maybe even better. He wasn’t as durable (how can you be when you’re that little?) but Pedro was an amazing pitcher who was fun to watch. It’s likely that Martinez’s appearance on the ballot will siphon votes from fellow starting pitchers Curt Schilling and Mike Mussina, contemporaries who suffer by comparison…

Draw your own conclusions on what’s keeping Orioles from hosting All-Star Game

It certainly would have been nice to host Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game at Camden Yards in July 2016, but Baltimore has reportedly fallen out of contention for the Midsummer Classic and all the economic benefits that make it a highly coveted civic event.

No one is saying exactly why the city has gone from being called a “very, very viable candidate” by baseball commissioner Bud Selig in May to being all-but-officially out of the picture, but you can draw your own conclusions…

This ...

MLBTR: Braves, Yankees Trade David Carpenter For Manny Banuelos

The Yankees have acquired right-hander David Carpenter and left-hander Chasen Shreve from the Braves in exchange for southpaw Manny Banuelos, Jack Curry of the YES Network reports (Twitter link).

OT - Politics January 2015 - Mario Cuomo, New York Governor and Minor League Ballplayer, Dies at 82

First Love Was Baseball

It was baseball, not politics, that first engaged him, and he proved as aggressive in one as in the other. After graduating from St. John’s Preparatory School in Queens in 1949, he played on the freshman baseball team at St. John’s University.

A strapping six feet tall, 190 pounds at age 19, he signed a contract to play center field for the Class D Brunswick Pirates in Georgia in 1952, reportedly receiving a $2,000 signing bonus, sizable for that time. Mr. Cuomo ...

Zobrist decision not an easy one for Rays | MLB.com

The Rays can afford to wait on dealing Zobrist.

Tigers look to keep window of contention open | tigers.com

A lot of good questions about the Tigers.

4. Is Scherzer going to return?
Tigers officials have said repeatedly that they haven’t spoken with Scherzer’s agent, Scott Boras, about a return, and that their best shot to re-sign him was last spring before he hit free agency. And yet, none of the parties involved have ruled out a reunion. They know better after all the deals Boras has done with owner Mike Ilitch and all the times Ilitch has rewarded players who win for him.

Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski ...

general - Closing Time: 5 things I learned while working for WEEI.com - WEEI | Alex Speier

I’ve enjoyed Alex Speier’s coverage of the Red Sox and look forward to what’s next for him. I find his view of the changing nature of baseball coverage interesting.

Asdrubal Cabrera to join Rays

Its a shame about the Rays.

The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a one-year deal with infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, a source told ESPN’s Buster Olney, confirming multiple reports….

The shortstop played second base for the Washington Nationals at the end of last season after he was acquired in a trade deadline deal from the Cleveland Indians.

A two-time All-Star, Cabrera batted .229 with five home runs and 21 RBIs for the Nationals in 49 games after the trade. In total, between both teams, he ...

Nick Hundley signs two-year deal with the Rockies

Must be the Denver schools.

Free agent catcher Nick Hundley and the Rockies have agreed to a two-year contract worth around $6 million, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.

Connolly reports that the Orioles made Hundley a two-year offer to remain in Baltimore after acquiring him from the Padres in May, but he opted for more money and the promise of more playing time in Colorado.

Hundley hit .243 with six homers and a .631 OPS in 83 games overall and has a .680 OPS for his career.

Reds have deal in place for Marlon Byrd

Looks like the Reds have their new left fielder. Marlon Byrd is going to be traded to the Reds from the Phillies, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. In return, the Phillies will get at least minor-league pitcher Ben Lively while also sending some cash to the Reds, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox.

Byrd, 37, will make $8 million this coming season and has a vesting option—that will trigger if he gets 550 plate appearances in 2015—for $8 million in 2016.

Grantland: Lindbergh: Why John Smoltz Is on the Verge of Cutting the Line to Cooperstown

With the Gizmo, there’s no need to wait around for the official announcement to start trying to figure out what the writers are thinking.

The simplest way to figure out which factor has helped Smoltz the most is to examine his backers’ stated reasons for supporting him. Of the 78 “yes” votes for Smoltz linked from Thibs’s tracker, only 18 include an explanation that goes beyond “he’s a no-brainer.” While some writers might be unaware of or unwilling to reveal the biases governing ...