Top 10 Prospects: June 5 - Prospect Roundup - Rotoworld.com

5. Gleyber Torres, SS, New York Yankees
2017 stats: 43 G,.255/.364/.433, 25 R, 11 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 25 BB, 34 K at Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Torres might be a little too patient right now. Yes, that’s a real thing. It’s great that he’s drawing walks, but he is putting himself in a lot of two-strike counts, as seen in his 13 strikeouts in 11 games with Scranton. This is definitely an adjustment period, and Torres is too smart and too good for it to last ...

Regression with Changing Talent Levels: The Effects of Variance – The Hardball Times

Estimating talent level is not for the squeamish. Interesting stuff.

Amed Rosario might get called up sooner rather than later | Newsday

Super 2 cutoff is on the horizon. Barring injury, he’ll be up this month.

Amed Rosario might be on the way. When Sandy Alderson was asked about the heralded shortstop during a forum for season ticket-holders before Sunday’s game, the general manager said, “Yes, it could be this year.”

Alderson said he will see Rosario play this week when Triple-A Las Vegas visits Salt Lake City. He told the group, gathered in the stands down the leftfield line, that Rosario indeed had compiled enough ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 6-5-2017

Pittsburgh Press, June 5, 1917:

Rumor says today that the address of the Washington ball club is to be changed. Ban Johnson says there is nothing to the rumor.

Poor patronage at Washington, it is said, makes the transfer of the Senators to some other city imperative, and Baltimore, Brooklyn and Toronto have been mentioned.

Ban Johnson says: “The sentiment of the American league is to stick by Washington. I can say that the league would rather operate in Washington at a loss than elsewhere at a ...

Hits on the Diamond | Tufts Now

Tufts’ impact on statistical analysts in MLB.

For the Cubs, the moment marked the end of a century of futility. For Tufts, the World Series represented another step forward in baseball’s statistical revolution. Gone are the days when teams acquired players based solely on the instincts of grizzled scouts. An influx of analysts, coders and game theorists, utilizing numbers you won’t find on the back of a baseball card, has changed the game. Everything these days is worth quantifying—from ...

As the single-year home run record stands to fall, who’s next to hit 600 after Albert Pujols?

Jeff Passan’s top nice candidates.

Mets’ Seth Lugo, Steven Matz near returns | MLB.com

On Saturday with Triple-A Las Vegas, Matz gave up five runs over 4 1/3 innings on eight hits and no walks with five strikeouts. He threw 90 pitches. Matz has been recovering from elbow soreness that he believes stemmed from a flexor strain in his left forearm—a diagnosis that the Mets dispute.

Top 200 Draft Prospects list unveiled | MLB.com

While there’s been a quite a bit of movement up and down the list, the very top of it remains relatively unchanged. Notre Dame High’s (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) Hunter Greene and his electric right arm remain in the top spot, where Greene has been since the initial Draft Top 50 was released in December. Louisville’s two-way star Brendan McKay, who could still be taken in the top five as either a first baseman or left-handed pitcher, is still at No. 2.

Still-too-early All-Star rosters: Which NL first baseman gets snubbed?

This is where it gets tougher. The AL is limited to just two free selections here because it also carries a backup DH. Teams also usually carry three catchers, so the two free picks were Xander Bogaerts and Gary Sanchez (in a very weak group of catchers). Alonso is the clear choice as the backup first baseman and the only A’s representative. Robinson Cano is having another strong season at a traditionally deep position that hasn’t been as deep this year because of slow starts by Brian Dozier, ...

Brad Ausmus fumed when Tigers got 30 seconds, but no more, to challenge play

The Detroit Tigers were given 30 seconds to decide whether to challenge a bang-bang play at first base in the first inning.

Manager Brad Ausmus wanted a few more.

That seems to be the root of the argument that led to Ausmus’ ejection on Saturday at Comerica Park: Is the 30-second clock a guideline or a timer?

“You have 30 seconds, as a rule,” said bench coach Gene Lamont, who took over the club after Ausmus was tossed by crew chief Fieldin Culbreth. “But usually they’ll give you more time ...

Jimmy Piersall, Whose Mental Illness Was Portrayed in ‘Fear Strikes Out,’ Dies at 87

Jimmy Piersall, the often outrageous outfielder and broadcaster whose emotional breakdown while a rookie with the Boston Red Sox was portrayed in the 1957 movie “Fear Strikes Out,” a rare glimpse, for its time, at an athlete’s mental illness, died on Saturday in Wheaton, Ill. He was 87.

His death was announced by the Red Sox.

Piersall was an outstanding center fielder, a solid hitter and a two-time All-Star, playing in the major leagues for 17 seasons. But his career nearly ended just ...

OTP 5 June 2017: Venezuelan big leaguers strike back

Back to baseball this week, as patriotic players highlight resistance to a disastrous President. 

Since March, massive anti-government rallies have erupted in Caracas and other big cities, with demonstrators protesting the country’s runaway inflation, deadly shortages of food and medicine, and the politician they blame for pushing Venezuela into crisis: current president Nicolas Maduro.

At least 60 protestors have died in clashes with government forces. As the conflict deepens, a series of ...

LoDo: A renaissance owed to Coors Field, urban pioneers and smart politics

The role played by Coors Field in the rebirth of Lower Downtown Denver.

If OMNICHATTER is guilty of anything, it’s of loving too much, for June 4, 2017

Wrigleyville - SCHWARBER AND THE SHIFT

Does anyone who has been watching him everyday think he’s been selling out too much to go yard? It seems like he’s not staying on the ball as long as he used to stay on the ball. Thoughts?

There are lots of things Schwarber still does well. The power is still present, as demonstrated by his grand slam yesterday, and he has the discipline to take walks even when he’s struggling this badly. His luck won’t stay as bad as it did in May either, even if we might expect shifts to take more hits ...

Rockies: Kid’s Stuff Paying Off – Inside the Seams

On rookie Rockies.

Reds’ Scott Schebler injures left shoulder | MLB.com

When will the Reds install softer grass?

Not only did the Reds have to absorb dropping a very winnable game in extra innings on Saturday, they had to play half of it minus two-thirds of their starting outfield. Both Billy Hamilton and Scott Schebler were forced out with left shoulder injuries in the sixth inning.

Diving plays were at the root of both players’ injuries during the 6-5 loss to the Braves in 12 innings. Hamilton was lifted before the top of the sixth in the wake of two unsuccessful ...

Angels’ Albert Pujols’ 600th HR is grand slam | MLB.com

Albert Pujols’ march to 600 is complete, and he got there in unprecedented, grand fashion.

The 37-year-old Angels slugger crushed the milestone home run—a two-out grand slam into left field—off Twins right-hander Ervin Santana in the bottom of the fourth inning on Saturday in the Angels’ 7-2 win over the Twins.

Sunday Notes: Acta’s Analytics, Banister’s Fire, Phillips’ Folly, Porcello Up Down, Rowdy, more | FanGraphs Baseball

Brandon Phillips told reporters this week that it was “a slap in the face” to see Scooter Gennett wearing No. 4 on his jersey. Apparently, the erstwhile Cincinnati second baseman feels the Reds should be well into the process of retiring his old number.

Phillips might want to use that slap in the face as a wakeup call. Yes, he had a good career in the Queen City before being exiled to Atlanta. ‘Dat Dude’ has every right to be proud of what he accomplished as a Red. But to suggest that ...

Yankees hit 4 homers in 8th inning vs. Jays | MLB.com

Four.

The friendly competition between the Yankees’ odd couple of Brett Gardner and Matt Holliday (“The Bald Brothers?”) introduced a couple of guest stars on Saturday, with Starlin Castro and Didi Gregorius joining the fun in an eighth inning that won’t be soon forgotten.

Marlins’ Edinson Volquez no-hits D-backs | MLB.com

hen Edinson Volquez tangled with Rey Fuentes on a play at first base to open the game on Saturday, it appeared the veteran right-hander was headed for a short outing. Instead, the 33-year-old was on a collision course with destiny.

Volquez collected himself and went on to make history by tossing a no-hitter in the Marlins’ 3-0 victory over the D-backs at Marlins Park. The 98-pitch, 10-strikeout gem was the first “Maddux” no-no since Henderson Alvarez needed 99 pitches to get through his on ...

Nick Cafardo: After two months of baseball, which teams are trending up and down?

Need or want? Jon Gray is coming back soon. Jeff Hoffman has looked good in fill-in time.

4. Colorado Rockies — Bud Black has done a terrific job pulling this team together. The Rockies’ offense is explosive and their starting pitching has been much better than anyone could have imagined. Whether that keeps up will be the story leading up to the All-Star Game. Greg Holland has been the signing of the year. Observers say they will need a pitcher, but will they pay the price for one?

Why Yankees believe Gleyber Torres can handle 3B in majors soon | NJ.com

The great hype machine is setting some big expectations for this kid.

Shortstop part of Luis Urias’ baseball education - The San Diego Union-Tribune

There, the 5-foot-9 Urias’ focus is on lateral footwork and getting in position to allow momentum to take him toward first base on throws. The hope, Hooper said, is the strides he takes on the left side of the diamond improves his defense at second.

“He’s improving,” Hooper said. “I do know that. Is he going to be an everyday shortstop in the big leagues? Probably not. It’s just the foot speed and the range to be a big league shortstop might be tough on an everyday basis, but the arm ...

Godzilla ain’t got nothin’ on OMNICHATTER! for June 3, 2017

Sorry for the slow post. Yesterday was a travel day for me.

Sandoval’s solo home run | MLB.com

OK, seeing Pablo get a hit is a pretty rare event, nevermind a homer. That’s not why I’m linking this though. Although the broadcast had extended replay you’ll have to pay attention around the ten second mark of the clip. A fan bought tickets in the first row in the outfield and then wore his glove during the game. If you are going to do that, you have to make the play when the ball gets hit right to you.

FAN FAIL!

Dodgers tie MLB record by striking out 26 Brewers

“The Milwaukee Brewers reached a special level of futility in Friday night’s 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, becoming only the third team in Major League Baseball history to strike out 26 times in a single game.”

Kershaw:  7 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 14k, no decision.  The Won/Loss Gods are furious ..

A METICULOUS METRIC OF BASEBALL TEAM NAMES VOL. 2

This isn’t news, but I thought this poster was cute.

Our baseball team taxonomy is back ... This crackerjack cataloguing covers more than 150 years of baseball history, sorting squads from the bigs, minors, independents, and more into semantic categories like “Derived from City Name” and “Big Cats.” Whether your team is the Mets, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, or, somehow, the Amsterdam-Gloversville-Johnstown Hyphens, this is the definitive guide to the nation’s pastime.

Forbes: Hundreds Of Unopened Sports Card Packs Found In Aunt’s Attic Likely To Top $1 Million

In mid-afternoon a few weeks ago, Brian Drent received a mind-blowing phone call: “Hello, I have some unopened full boxes and almost full boxes from the 1950s and 1960s that I am considering for your auction.”

Mets Fan Kicked Out Game For FIRE TERRY COLLINS Sign - May 30&31; 2017

This is atrocious.  Needs to go viral.