Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 2-18-2019

Pittsburgh Gazette Times, February 18, 1919:

Capt. Christy Mathewson, the former Giant pitcher and at one time the country’s greatest baseball idol, returned from France today on the troopship Rotterdam. Big Six looks bigger and stronger than ever, and says he feels so good that he could go in and pitch a winning game at a day’s notice.

I know that the commonly told story is that Mathewson was gassed in France and never really recovered, but it sure sounds like he was fine at this point. ...Read More...

J.D. Martinez: ‘For a DH to win MVP, they’re going to have to walk on water’

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Many were surprised last year when J.D. Martinez finished outside of the top three in MVP voting, but Martinez saw it coming.

Martinez’s numbers jumped off the page in 2018. In his first season with the Red Sox, the 31-year-old mashed his way to a .330 batting average, 43 home runs and 130 RBI. Still, he finished fourth behind teammate Mookie Betts, Angels superstar Mike Trout, and Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez.

While his teammates were stunned to see him fail to ...

Albert Pujols predicts he’ll be everyday player at age 39

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Albert Pujols has a bold if unrealistic prediction for his 2019 season.

“I’m expecting to play 162 games,” the Los Angeles Angels first baseman said Sunday. “One hundred ninety games I’m going to play this year, including spring training.”

A month past his 39th birthday, Pujols is an 18-year big league veteran, 10-time All-Star and three-time MVP.

I haven’t the heart to tell him- do you?

After Keller, Royals hope to hit again on Rule 5 picks

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — As a rule five draft selection, Brad Keller was a surprising success with Kansas City last season.

The rebuilding Royals are hoping to do it again with Chris Ellis and Sam McWilliams.

Kansas City plucked Keller from the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the right-hander rewarded them with a stellar rookie season, going 9-6 with a 3.08 ERA while making 20 starts. He was named the organization’s pitcher of the year, and he’s going into 2019 as the team’s No. 2 starter behind ...

MiLB mourns passing of Artiaga; Baseball ‘lifer’ served as Minor League president from 1988-91

Minor League Baseball President and CEO Pat O’Conner today released the following statement regarding the passing of former Minor League Baseball President Salvatore B. “Sal” Artiaga at the age of 72:

“It is with great sadness that the Minor League Baseball family mourns the passing of former President Salvatore B. “Sal” Artiaga, who passed away last night in Palm Harbor, Florida. Sal joined the Minor League Baseball office in 1983 and became President in 1988. His time as President was the ...

Stroman unhappy with Blue Jays’ lack of veteran leadership

Toronto Blue Jays star Marcus Stroman lamented the lack of veteran leadership at the MLB franchise ahead of the upcoming season.

It will be a new-look Blue Jays in 2019 after Charlie Montoya replaced John Gibbons as their manager in October.

The Blue Jays also released Troy Tulowitzki and traded Russell Martin to the Los Angeles Dodgers, having dealt Josh Donaldson in August and farewelled Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista previously.

Proof that it isn’t just managers who have an odd ...

Rob Manfred blames Bryce Harper for going unsigned

Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke with the media today. Naturally, he was asked various questions about the landscape of the sport, given that superstars Manny Machado and Bryce Harper remain unsigned as spring training begins. Per The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli, Manfred said that he thinks the free agent market will begin to move once spring training exhibition games begin. Manfred also said that Harper’s camp suggesting that he wants $400 million back in 2016 was “an impediment” to ...

Ian Happ trying to force his way into Cubs second base picture

MESA, Ariz. — Don’t write the obituary on Ian Happ’s career as a second baseman just yet.

The versatile young player started 28 games at second base during his rookie year in 2017, but did not see a start in 2018 and played just 3 innings at the position the entire season.

Thats not a trend that typically bodes well for Happ’s future at second base.

Rumors that he removed second base from Wrigley and is hiding it in a cold-water flat on the West Side are, as of yet, unproven.

  ...Read More...

Yelich, Brewers focus on clean slate after near-miss in 2018

PHOENIX (AP) — Christian Yelich has already had conversations with some of his Milwaukee Brewers teammates about their biggest message this spring after coming up one win short of the World Series.

“What you did last year means nothing basically. Whether it was good or bad for you as an individual or as a team, it means absolutely nothing. It doesn’t matter,” Yelich said. “We all start with a clean slate. It’s all what are you going to do in 2019 to help the Brewers win.”

Even for the young ...

Rob Manfred: MLB will use pitch clock during spring training

Like it or not, a pitch clock is coming to an MLB spring training game near you.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told reporters Sunday that the league would be making use of a pitch clock during spring training, though it will pretty much only be a cosmetic change as it won’t carry penalties.

This change comes as MLB officials reportedly push to use a pitch clock during the 2019 season in negotiations with the MLB Players Association, though it doesn’t mean an agreement has been reached ...

NY Post: Davidoff: The factors that conspired to create MLB’s free-agent freeze

4. A change in team strategies. Though a winter transactions deadline has seemingly never existed, teams used to eye the December holiday season as an ideal time to finalize the major touches on roster renovations. They had tickets to sell, obviously, and the more time to pound the drums on their new and improved products, the better.

Gradually, it occurred to many clubs: Whatever they lost in ticket sales from playing the calendar differently could be recouped and then some by waiting out ...

Jason Kipnis And The Dark Side Of An Increased Launch Angle

His average launch angle was in the 11.0 degree area from 2014-16. In 2017-18, it rose to 17.1 and 17.0 degrees, respectively. He raised that launch angle, all right - his liner rate percentile ranks dropped to 41 and 55 in 2017-18. Why is that a huge deal? Well, hitters batted .653 AVG-.861 SLG on liners last season. Oh, and his pop up percentile ranks have leapt to 83 and 63 in 2017-18. And as you might have guessed, hitters don’t fare so well on those, hitting .013 AVG-.018 SLG. Not a very ...

Four teams are in on Mike Moustakas

Free agent third baseman Mike Moustakas is drawing interest from at least four clubs, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported Friday. The Brewers are the presumed frontrunners to land the infielder, but Heyman adds that the Angels may take the inside edge as Moustakas hails from the San Fernando Valley and has invested in charity efforts in California over the last year. The Phillies and Padres, on the other hand, have been involved to a lesser degree as they’re both thought to be in hot pursuit ...

Cardinals taking it slowly with Ozuna’s repaired shoulder

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Marcel Ozuna will be on a limited throwing program to start the spring but is expected to be ready for opening day, manager Mike Shildt said Saturday.

Ozuna underwent offseason shoulder surgery and is still in the rehabilitation process.

“Just making sure that he’s being stretched out, healthy and moving forward,” Shildt said. “But his program has been nothing but positive feedback, has been great, and he’s feeling good.”

Opportunity convinces Davey Martinez to throw aside an old baseball trope

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.—Remember that time a manager had to use his “emergency” catcher? No? Well, that’s because it rarely happens.

Maybe once in a lifetime. Maybe never. It long operated as the unverifiable excuse for not putting the backup catcher into a game, always enabling that pervasive detriment to change, “What if?”

What if the replacement is hurt? Then the manager is stuck with the so-called emergency catcher. That could be hairy.

Mind you, this would be less of a problem ...

Giants switch-pitcher Pat Venditte draws early crowd at Spring Training

Jumping ahead to the relevant section:

Pat Venditte, the switch-pitcher, is as fascinating to many of the Giants as he is to fans. As he warmed up his right arm Saturday, a member of the staff walked up and asked him to explain how he became a switch-pitcher. He has drawn a crowd during bullpen sessions, and manager Bruce Bochy joked about how he may use Venditte.

“When I’m stuck and I don’t know which matchup I want, I’ll put him out there,” Bochy said smiling. “I can’t get ...

Former Nationals GM thinks the Bryce Harper sweepstakes are almost over

Another day, another favorite in the Bryce Harper sweepstakes.

It’s not a completely new team this time around, but former baseball executive and current analyst Jim Bowden feels pretty confident in the Philadelphia Phillies landing the services of the star outfielder.

“I keep hearing there’s a lot of momentum and traction here on him going and signing with the Philadelphia Phillies,” Bowden shared on CBS Sports HQ. “And he could be rounding third and heading home shortly.”

Ichiro back in M’s camp at 45 with chance to play at home

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki fluidly went through a variety of stretches on the floor in the Seattle Mariners clubhouse even before going onto the field. Once outside, he smoothly went through fielding, hitting and baserunning drills.

At 45 and in spring training again, Suzuki is working toward the chance to play for his original major league team in his home country.

“Being able to put on the Seattle Mariners uniform as a player, being here the first day, it is just amazing, it is ...

Indians catcher Perez set to make most of opportunity

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Roberto Perez waited for his turn and vows to make the most of his big chance.

Perez figures to get plenty of time behind the plate for the Cleveland Indians after the AL Central champions traded All-Star Yan Gomes to Washington.

The 30-year-old Perez is eager to get going.

“I’m very excited,” he said. “It was something I’ve always wanted. I knew Yan was the guy but now that I have the opportunity, I’m going to take advantage of it.”

Best wishes for ...

Peter O’Brien to play right field for Marlins

This is an odd shuffle.

Peter O’Brien impressed as a September callup in 2018, playing mostly first base while belting four home runs with 10 RBIs in 66 at-bats.

Speculation has been that O’Brien will compete for the starting first-base job. The plan is actually to give him a shot in right field.

Because of his power potential, the Marlins are trying to find the best fit for O’Brien. And with Brian Anderson moving to third base, that frees up right field.

The front-runners at first base are ...

Yoenis Cespedes says he’ll be back in the second half - New York Daily News

“At this moment, I do feel like I will return,” Cespedes said through a translator Friday. “It may be three months, it may be two months, it may be one month. But at this point, the way that I feel, I do think I can return.”

Luis Severino Agrees to 4-Year Deal as Yankees Try to Lock Up Young Core

Severino forfeited what would have been his first season of free agency, in 2023: The deal includes a team option for $15 million that year or a $2.75 million buyout.

The contract also holds hints of players’ fears amid tense labor relations in the majors. Severino’s deal is front-loaded: He will earn $6 million in 2019 and $10 million in 2020, and then is to receive only modest raises to $10.25 million in 2021 and $11 million in 2022. In other words, he will earn $26.25 million of the $40 ...

Give Chris Davis a break on his Sarasota arrival. What matters is what he does when things count – The Athletic

“The player that was productive and successful in the past has not gone. He didn’t disappear,” Davis said. “He’s still here, and I think as far as my swing is concerned, I feel that I’m that player right now.”

It’s OK to be skeptical. We’re all skeptical. Davis will be 33 in March. He has hit above .225 just once in the past five seasons and has struck out 190 or more times in each of his past four campaigns. And his seven-year, $161 million contract, awarded in January 2016, ...

Q&A with Alex Cobb: ‘I’m not going to be bitter. I’m not going to be upset I’m in the position I am.

Will Alex Cobb’s 2018 season impact this year’s free agent stragglers?

The Bryce, Manny stalemate and the latest on MLB free agency

Jeff Passan with a little insight.

2. Justin Verlander and a brigade of other players to end their public grousing on the health of the free-agent market? Probably not.

One part of their messaging is hitting home: More and more players, in speaking out on the matter, are saying there are more than 100 jobless free agents. This is not true. A liberal accounting of the so-called XX(B) free agents—ones who have six-plus years of service—counts about 50. Of those 50, about half are clearly ...

There’s no crying in free agency: What it’s really like to wait for a deal – The Athletic

A comprehensive look at free agency this year, by Britt Ghiroli.

Jason Kipnis needs good year for himself and the Cleveland Indians in 2019 | cleveland.com

Can he bounce back?

Twins’ future still depends on Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano | Star Tribune

I’m in the ever-shrinking group of people who are still buying on Buxton. Granted, I’ll buy in a little lower this year, but I’m still buying.

In 2017, when the Twins captured an AL wild-card spot, Buxton played 140 games, won a Gold Glove in center field and hit .253 with 16 home runs. Sano was named an All-Star that season, hit .264, played in 114 games and had his second consecutive season with at least 25 home runs.

But in 2018, both had lost, injury-plagued seasons. Sano played in 71 games ...

Walt Davis on Projections

Walt Davis is one of the most insightful posters on the site. Here’s a great post about projections.

Baseball Savant MLB Draft Application | baseballsavant.com

More good stuff at the Baseball Savant.