A bigger ball for shorter games

I’ve not heard this suggestion before. Part of me thinks this is a good idea to combat the current issues but I worry that changing the size of the ball could have unintended consequences.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-6-2017

Philadelphia Evening Ledger, October 6, 1917:

Chicago is ready to entertain the world’s series audience and actors today. The stage, while a trifle moist and muddy, is all set, and the big act will go on as per schedule.

It was Ferdie Schupp (Giants) vs. Eddie Cicotte (White Sox) in Game One of the 1917 World Series.

Three homers by Jose Altuve highlight Astros’ Game 1 win - Houston Chronicle

Astros beating Red Sox hitter up in the zone. Altuve just beating baseballs.

Cleveland Indians have a night where everything goes right—Terry Pluto | cleveland.com

The Indians look awfully tough to beat.

For the Cleveland Indians, it was a night for fans screaming until their throats were raw.

And for standing and stomping and waving red towels.

And for Trevor Bauer to throw 6 2/3 scoreless innings ... and then leave the game to a standing ovation.

Tip your cap, Trevor!

And he did just that.

Nine Innings: The Red Sox looked bad, but that doesn’t mean it’s over - The Boston Globe

Sox down one. That Verlander guy is pretty, pretty good.

This wasn’t the Sonny Gray the Yankees expected | New York Post

Yankees down one.

Inside Baseball NL Notes | Giants GM Humbled By Last-Place Season

AL Notes.

The Atlanta Braves are looking for a new general manager after John Coppolella resigned Monday. | The Telegraph

McGuirk is a little more than Shanks suggests.

Instead, Liberty has allowed Terry McGuirk, a longtime Braves executive who is not considered a baseball man, to have the final say. He, in turn, gave John Hart and Coppolella keys to the car, which has now resulted in an embarrassing conflict.

Coppolella is gone, and Hart should be, too. Hart worked side-by-side with Coppolella throughout the past three years, so to think he had no knowledge of the alleged violations is unrealistic. Plus, Hart ...

LAT: Reconstructing the Dodgers’ 2016 Game 5 NLDS Win Over Washington

An essay by Andy McCullough that many say is very good.

As Kershaw loosened up in the bullpen, a phone rang inside Friedman’s suite. It was a member of the training staff. “Kersh is going to see if he can get loose,” the trainer said. “And there was nothing we could do to stop him.”

Heyman | Braves front office of Schuerholz and Hart at odds

People with ties to the team say they believe Schuerholz would love to bring in Dayton Moore, and have Moore, a longtime Braves executive before he went to Kansas City, groom Schuerholz’s son Jonathan, who runs the farm system for the Braves.

I am as certain of this happening - Dayton Moore replaces John Hart, John Schuerholz Jr is promoted up from farm director to be “groomed” for the GM position - as I was that Fredi Gonzalez would replace Bobby Cox.

ALDS OMNICHATTER for October 5, 2017

Boston (Sale) @ Houston (Verlander)
New York (Gray) @ Cleveland (Bauer)

MLB Playoffs: Key relievers to watch for each team - Beyond the Box Score

I still see Musgrove as a starter. The problem I saw was he was in the strike zone too much. The confidence gained in the bullpen might be the jump he needs to become an effective starter. Next year.

Joe Musgrove, RHP, Houston Astros

Musgrove underwhelmed as a starter early this season, posting a 6.12 ERA over 72 innings. But a move to the bullpen has invigorated Musgrove, as he’s posted a 1.44 ERA with a 21.7 percent strikeout-minus-walk rate in 31.1 relief innings.

Struggling starter ...

Girardi won’t rule out a Severino bullpen appearance | New York Post

One bad game shouldn’t wipe out a great season.

Cleveland Indians’ Trevor Bauer ready to dive into ALDS Thursday night in Game 1 against Yankees | cleveland.com

Huge game for Bauer.

Kevin Millar Recalls Confronting Dan Shaughnessy During 2004 ALCS « CBS Boston

“I remember sitting in the room with David Ortiz and we were watching ESPN, and John Kruk said something about our defense or something, I forget what it was,” Millar said. “And I’m like, ‘Who in the hell does he think he is talking about our defense?‘ So the thing about it is this: When you’re working with a team — and I know sometimes we gotta say what we gotta say — but at the end of the day, is it worth it to bash your own team or say something? I’m not saying ...

Lessons Learned From The Royals’ Run | BaseballAmerica.com

Sunday, the core of the Royals’ 2014 American League championships and 2015 World Series champs graduated to free agency.

One of the best farm systems of the Baseball America era grew up, went to two World Series, won one and then said goodbye Sunday with an emotional bon voyage that began with a standing ovation for Eric Hosmer, which he responded to by hitting one more home run. It ended with Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain being pulled from the game at the same time ...

KC studying $450m stadium for Royals, because old one was renovated eight whole years ago | Field of Schemes

I am so tired of these stories. When will taxpayers wake up?

The city of Kansas City is funding a study of at least four potential sites for a downtown baseball stadium for the Kansas City Royals, according to documents obtained by The Star…

[Kansas City Manager Troy] Schulte said the studies started after the Downtown Council approached City Hall about the feasibility of downtown baseball. Schulte added that he agreed to help fund a study to consider whether the four sites would work so that ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-5-2017

A World Series preview from the Pittsburgh Press, October 5, 1917:

The batting [of the first basemen] is about even. Gandil strikes out right-handed, while Holke misses ‘em from the left-hand side of the plate…Both [second basemen] are firmly opposed to the Hohenzollerns…McMullin is the best man on the bases, when he gets on, but he never gets on…[Buck Weaver] can throw that old pill farther than any strong arm in the establishment. Weaver often bounces a dollar-and-a-quarter baseball off a ...

Archie Bradley let loose after hitting the first postseason triple by a relief pitcher | MLB.com

Great game by the D’Backs.

Shohei Ohtani impresses in latest outing | MLB.com

Ohtani Fever is coming!

NLWC Playoff OMNICHATTER for October 4, 2017

Lilliquist out as Cards seek pitching coach with ‘modern’ focus | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com

The new coach “has to understand modern strategy, modern analytics, and how we can leverage that to optimize our staff,” Mozeliak said. “Clearly when you look back at the success of our pitching, it’s been good. But I felt like the process was not ideal for future growth. This is a unique spot. We have to get this right.”

Heyman | Real Wild-Card Loser Is Pace Of Play

When they were just finishing the third inning around 10 PM, I knew there was no way I would make it to the end. I don’t need the games done in two hours. Somewhere between 2 1/2 to 3 hours would be fine. 4+ hour games with 8 PM start times means I’m missing the end. That bites. Tonight I have an extra incentive to stay late. I’ve been rooting for the D’Backs all year since I put $100 down on them at 100-1 odds back before Spring Training started. Unfortunately, I might have to find out if they ...

Piecoro: Arizona Diamondbacks riding closer Fernando Rodney into postseason

If the Diamondbacks find themselves with a slim lead after eight innings on Wednesday night, they will put their season in the hands of a closer few in baseball trust. The bullpen door will swing open and Fernando Rodney will begin his slow trek to the mound. The image alone creates anxiety for Diamondbacks fans.

Good stuff on the ups and downs with Rodney this year.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-4-2017

Pittsburgh Press, October 4, 1917:

Rogers Hornsby has asked for a three-year contract without the release clause, calling for $22,500, to remain with the Cardinals. President Rickey has offered $5,000 for one year. Hornsby says: “It is my price or I will close my baseball career with this fall series.” President Rickey, according to Hornsby, said: “I will save money if you do not come back next season.”

Pay the man, Branch. Just trust me on this. He’s worth it. I promise. ...Read More...

WaPo: One of Mike Francesa’s callers predicted Luis Severino’s early exit … and he was mocked

Al Alburquerque was unavailable for comment. (Were he real.)

“Let’s just say, inning one, right away, you can tell Severino doesn’t have it,” the caller asks. “Do you go to [Yankees reliever] Sonny Gray first or would you go right to Chad Green?”

Francesa, who already had predicted that Severino “was gonna go deep, he could go as many as eight innings,” scoffed at the notion as only Francesa can.

“How many games this year did Severino come out in the second inning, out of his ...

A’s brass addresses offseason concerns, will continue to focus on youth - San Francisco Chronicle

The one regular in the A’s lineup, then, who might be dangled for bullpen help is corner infielder-designated hitter Ryon Healy, should the front office want to risk breaking up the tight-knit core of youngsters who have come up through the organization together.

Healy is 25 and he blasted 25 homers in his first full big-league season, but he isn’t an accomplished fielder and moving him would free up the DH spot for Davis and give Oakland more options in the outfield.

The Downside of Baseball’s Data Revolution—Long Games, Less Action - WSJ

Is it analytics or players taking too long between pitches? That’s what I see.

Marche: The Error in Baseball and the Moral Dimension to American Life

Why do we still score errors?

Baseball goes to the trouble to record a highly subjective decision that does not affect the outcome of the game and fails to communicate meaningfully a player’s ability. Why?

The short answer is “because it used to meaningfully communicate something about events that happened frequently,” but of course as with so many traditions, inertia supersedes usefulness.

Via Language Log, which notes that, wonderfully, the word “bobbles” was spelled erroneously in the ...

ALWC Playoff OMNICHATTER for October 3, 2017