OMNICHATTER! is rubber and you are glue, for June 4, 2018

Orioles’ Duquette: ‘We’ve got to put a little bit sharper focus on the future’

Duke says:

“But the way I’ve always looked at it, there’s two ways to look at it. You’re trying to improve your team to be competitive and win now, or you’re trying to improve your team to be competitive for the long-term. And we’ve always tried to be very competitive here during my time here in the present. But it doesn’t look like this 2018 ballclub is going to have what it takes to be that type of contending club. So, we’re faced with the reality of seeing where we can improve it so that we ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 6-4-2018

Harrisburg Telegraph, June 4, 1918:

[The Dodgers-Cardinals game] was one stig-tossled, hornswoggled pasttime, winding up in a protest. In the sixth inning, with Baird on second, Cruise hit a liner to center, which Hickman stopped but could not hold. Baird reached third and, thinking the ball was caught, started back for second.

After going back twenty feet he cut across the diamond to the plate and scored. Umpire Rigler ruled that after a runner had once touched third base he was not compelled ...

OTP 2018 June 4: How Dr. Alan Nathan Became Baseball Fans’ Favorite Physicist

Nathan said he expected to simply read the book and share on what he learned, and that would be that. But thanks to a local reporter who heard his initial talk and interviewed him about it for the Sunday paper, Nathan is still sharing what he’s learning almost two decades later. Not long after that initial talk, Nathan had a sabbatical from the University of Illinois, so he decided to spend it studying the physics of baseball more closely. He almost immediately found a fascinating rabbit hole ...

Kenny: Davey Johnson on the “opener”

The @RaysBaseball used #TheOpener again today. 17-yr manager Davey Johnson is, it seems, Not a fan. @Joelsherman1 & Dan O’Dowd do the heavy lifting. #MLBNow

That’s putting it… mildly.

The Detroit News: Mickey Lolich: How Ilitch dashed his pizza career dream

A state trooper came up to the car to ask where we were going in such a hurry, and Mike replied with urgency in his voice: “I have to get this guy to Utica! He’s supposed to be signing autographs at Little Caesars! We’re way behind schedule!”

“Who is this guy?” The officer asked, not knowing who else was in the car.

“It’s [bleeping] Mickey Lolich sitting here!” Ilitch replied. “He’s fresh off winning three games against the St. Louis Cardinals.”

“Well, I’ll be ...

Is Brandon Nimmo an All-Star?

Through the first third of the season, the left-handed batter has earned himself a .294 batting average, and a more-than-respectable OPS of 1.033. These numbers are even more impressive when you consider that Nimmo did not have a ton of playing time throughout the first third of the season.

The Mariners Refuse to Turn Off Smashmouth Until 1,000 All-Star Ballots are Submitted

#Mariners making it tough for #Rays to get through BP with this one-song @smashmouth soundtrack

Best draft picks ever and one that got away for all 30 teams

Draft history is fascinating, and maybe the first thing you learn when looking through past drafts is not just how few players make the majors but also how few end up contributing much value beyond replacement level even if they do make it. Drafting a future star is rare—even in the first round. Drafting a solid contributor is rare—even in the first round. Drafting two solid contributors in one draft is rare. It’s a roll of the dice, yet the future success of your favorite team depends to a ...

The Hidden Queer History Behind “A League of Their Own”

Fascinating stuff.  I did edit the actual title not knowing how that aligns with site standards.  Not my title obviously.  Just sharing in case anyone notices and asks why.

(EDITed to include “queer” in the title, as it’s the title of TFA and does not appear to violate site standards. -vi)

Tempers flare as Rangers-Angels game ends

ANAHEIM—Andrelton Simmons took a spike to the shin on a slide from Rougned Odor, one that forced him to wrap his leg with bandages after the Angels’ 6-0 win over the Rangers, and one that left a “nasty gash,” according to Angels manager Mike Scioscia. The dugouts cleared. The bullpens cleared.

The fracas in question occurred immediately after Friday night’s game was over, the play itself a 4-6-3 double play that ended a threat in the ninth inning and secured the Angels’ win.

As Simmons turned ...

OMNICHATTER for the weekend of June 2-3, 2018

Dodgers place Clayton Kershaw on DL again with back injury

Kershaw’s back tightened up during the Phillies game—he gave up four hits and one earned run in five innings—and he stayed in Los Angeles for additional tests.

All 20 of his four-seam fastballs were 90.0 mph or slower on Thursday, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Last year, not a single one of his 1,142 four-seam fastballs was 90.0 mph or slower.

Welp, that was fast.

Mammas, don’t let your boys grow up to be OMNICHATTER! for June 1, 2018

Munoz home run caps five-run ninth as Cardinals pull out 10-8 win

Yairo Munoz hit a walk-off three-run homer as the Cardinals scored five runs in the ninth inning to pull out a 10-8 win over the Pirates on a bizarre Thursday night at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals went into the ninth down 8-5 and sent five hitters to the plate against Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez, and all of them scored.

Ouch.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 6-1-2018

Chicago Eagle, June 1, 1918:

Grover Alexander’s arm will not have much chance to get out of condition at Camp Funston [Kansas], as he will have as a battery mate Johnny Kling, the greatest backstop that ever put on a mitt. Kling did not enlist, nor has he been drafted, but he is coaching the army there in baseball.

Sometimes they play baseball when army has a half day.

Field of Dreams: Why MLB Holds the Key to Solving the Midlevel Gallery Crunch

Major League Baseball used collective bargaining to go from chaos and scandal to fortune and functionality. Why can’t galleries?

With Rhys Hoskins out, not too soon for Phillies to think about trading for a hitter

Trading for Machado now wouldn’t guarantee the Phillies could re-sign him in the offseason. It can’t hurt, though. If he feels comfortable here — and he’s already acquainted with several team officials, including general manager Matt Klentak and farm director Joe Jordan — he might be more inclined to stay. And there’s no doubt Machado would boost the Phillies’ chances of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

Other hitters will be available, too. Third basemen Josh ...

Clayton Kershaw allows one run in return from biceps injury, but now his back is acting up

Kershaw’s fastball averaged 91.9 mph in his seven starts prior to the biceps injury, so his velocity was down considerably in his return Thursday. The good news is, even with reduced velocity, Kershaw was rather effective, and his secondary pitches were still missing bats. He generated a whopping 15 swings and misses among his 62 pitches, which is ridiculous.

Perhaps in an effort to compensate for the lack of velocity, Kershaw relied on his slider heavily against the Phillies, throwing the ...

OMNICHATTER totally, totally made a baseball play, for May 31, 2018

For sabermetric crusader Brian Kenny, the argument over baseball stats will never be over

Brian must have been a member here at some point.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-31-2018

Celina [Ohio] Democrat, May 31, 1918:

Outfielders are in great demand along the battle front, and the garden keepers [of] the big leagues may find themselves specially sought after when the next call for troops is issued.

So says a letter from Tom O’Hara, the veteran center fielder who has for three years served gallantly in Canadian platoons…[The outfielder] is lighter on his feet and faster in motion than the men who play the other positions, therefore specially adapted for the work of “going ...

Rabbit Hole: Centering the Pill

In any case, I decided look a little bit at some of the lively ball discussions of the past. I thought it would take a few minutes. It took a little bit longer than that.

Down the rabbit hole we go to look at a brief history, real and imagined, of the rabbit ball.

Very lengthy but fascinating.  Bring on the scientists!

MLB trade targets: Top 20 players who could move by the deadline

13. Adam Jones, Orioles, center fielder: It was the trade that sent the Mariners spiraling, and in the 10 years since Jones and four others including pitcher Chris Tillman was traded to Baltimore, the Mariners still have not quite recovered. The Orioles love Jones, who has become the face of their franchise, but he’s a free agent in November.

Prediction: The Mariners, who lost All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano to a PED suspension and center fielder Dee Gordon to a broken toe, finally ...

How Mike Trout improved his defense

You don’t get to be the best player alive if you aren’t always trying to get better, and this year, his focus was defense. For all the highlight-reel catches, Trout hasn’t actually been rated all that highly by defensive metrics over the past few years. It’s been the only minor flaw on an otherwise spotless resume.

“There are a lot of defensive metrics out there you want to get better on,” said Trout to MLB.com in February.

So far, so good: One-third of the way through the season, Trout’s ...

I’ve got 99 problems, but OMNICHATTER ain’t one, for May 30, 2018

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-30-2018

Washington Herald, May 30, 1918:

Memorial Day!

Crowds hurrying into packed ball parks—to crowded open-air stadiums where automobile races are being held—to open-air boxing matches—to field meets, rowing regattas, what-not. What will the Memorial Day of the future mean to these frivolous pleasure-seekers, who now find Memorial Day nothing but a holiday in which to seek their favorite amusement?
...
Millions of men and boys are going to France. Scarcely a family as escaped sending its quota of ...

Samardzija exits after just one inning vs Rockies with right shoulder tightness | NBCS Bay Area

Jeff Samardzija was pulled after just one inning at Coors Field on Tuesday night due to right shoulder tightness. He gave up two runs in the first and his fastball averaged just 91 mph, a significant dip from recent starts. After the inning, Samardzija met with manager Bruce Bochy, pitching coach Curt Young and head trainer Dave Groeschner. When the call was made to the bullpen, Samardzija grabbed one of his bats and snapped it over his knee.

How Dwight Evans Overcame a Mid-Career Crisis to Evolve into a Hall of Fame-Caliber Player

In early July 1980, Dwight Evans’ career stood at a crossroads.  For the past seven and a half seasons, Evans had played right field for the Boston Red Sox.  Evans possessed one of the most feared throwing arms in the game and was recognized for his defensive skills which had won him three Gold Glove Awards.  Evans was a decent hitter but had yet to have a breakout campaign at the plate.  After struggling mightily in the batter’s box during the first few months of the 1980 season, Evans found ...

How The Yankees Landed Aaron Judge In The 2013 Draft

An oral history of a draft pick that has paid off big time:

Tim McIntosh, Yankees area scout (2001-03, ‘10-12): My ex-wife grew up in Linden. Everybody knows everybody. Somebody said, “There’s a big kid playing and you’ve got go look at him.” My cousin coached [Judge] in basketball and said, “He’s kind of passive; he’s soft. He’s the kind of guy that if he knocks you over, he’d let the play go down the court and help the guy up.”
.  .  .
Don Lyle, Indians: My mind was already set that this guy ...