Hisashi Iwakuma To Retire

The Yomiuri Giants announced yesterday that veteran right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma will retire at the conclusion of the current Nippon Professional Baseball season.  Shoulder problems have kept Iwakuma off the mound in 2020, but he will hang up his glove after a combined 17 seasons of action in NPB and Major League Baseball.

Iwakuma is best known to North American fans for his six-year run with the Mariners from 2012-17.  The righty posted a 3.42 ERA, 3.86 K/BB rate, 47.6% grounder rate, and 7.3 K/9 over 883 2/3 innings at the big league level, starting 136 of 150 games.  Highlights of Iwakuma’s Seattle tenure included an outstanding 2013 season that saw him finish third in AL Cy Young Award voting, and a no-hitter against the Orioles on ...

Dodgers-Braves Game 7 Hits Best LCS Overnight Rating Since 2017

It was a great Sunday night for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-3 to secure their ticket to their third World Series in four years. On top of that, the Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Fox delivered another milestone with the best LCS overnight rating since 2017.

Game 7 delivered a 6.9/14 rating across Fox and FS1, which marks the best rating for an LCS game on any network since Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS (7.1/13), when the Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees. Last nights Dodgers-Braves showdown also received a major 41% boost over Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS (4.9/9), which saw the Dodgers beat the Milwaukee.

The World Series has framed my life. After 44 straight, I’m sitting this one out.

Since 1975, I’ve covered every World Series game for The Washington Post. My streak will end Tuesday at 252 games. Including travel days, I’ve spent more than a year covering the World Series.

Last month, I decided not to go to this World Series, because I don’t think it’s smart for a 72-year-old man in a pandemic. But I still hated making that call.

Mikkeller NYC Closing Permanently

We have had to make the difficult decision to permanently close the Mikkeller Brewing NYC location at Citi Field. With no foreseeable customers at Citi Field, Mikkeller is consolidating its NYC brewery with its San Diego brewery and closing Mikkeller NYC.

Bill James Online: Strong and Weak MVP Classes

1.    2004 American League, Vladimir Guerrero. 

The memory of the American League in 2004 is very special to me, and it hurts me to put down the league in any way, but facts are facts.  Vladimir hit .337 with 39 homers, 126 RBI, a .989 OPS, and those are very good numbers and deserving of an MVP Award; he also had 206 hits, and led the league in Runs Scored.  But the steroid era abounds in big, BIG numbers, so it took a very large number of runs to win a game.  If you compare Vlad’s numbers in 2004 to the other MVPs of that era, you can see that those are actually not fantastic numbers for that era.  He had 27 Win Shares, 5.6 WAR, both pretty weak totals for an MVP; the other MVP candidates (Gary Sheffield, Miguel Tejada, A-Rod, ...

Red Sox owners partner with developer to revitalize Fenway Park area

You won’t get a Mookie Betts, but do you want a Dunkin Donuts?

The Fenway Sports Group Real Estate, a division of the Fenway Sports Group which owns the Sox, are joining with the D’Angelo Family to take land they own outside the stadium to give the neighborhood a freshened look featuring stores, offices, apartment buildings, public art and green space, the Boston Globe reported Monday.

The Fenway Sports Group, which also owns a NASCAR team, Liverpool FC soccer club and the New England Sports Network, the D’Angelo family which owns the sports apparel company ’47 Brand and WS Development which has had a hand in developing several projects in Boston, including the Boston Seaport and Downtown Crossing have been eyeing such a project ...

Cincinnati Reds GM Nick Krall to run team’s baseball operations

Cincinnati Reds vice president and general manager Nick Krall will run the franchise’s baseball operations department, assuming the role previously held by Dick Williams.

The Reds announced the decision Monday, 12 days after Williams’ abrupt resignation as the team’s president of baseball operations.

“We are excited for Nick to assume the lead over our baseball operations,” Reds CEO Bob Castellini said in a statement. “His hands-on approach as general manager gives us the opportunity to reinstate that role as the top position in our baseball department and keep the years of hard work that happened under his purview producing stronger, more competitive teams.”

Krall, 42, has worked in the Reds’ front office since 2003 and spent the past ...

WORLD SERIES 2020 OMNICHATTER!

Daryl Morey and Billy Beane’s Greatest Achievement Was Capturing Our Imaginations

Which I think also helps to explain another aspect of the analytics movement that has always confused me: the fact that it thinks of itself as a movement at all. Doesn’t “movement” seem a little lofty for something so granular, practical, and technical? So deeply skeptical of abstract conventions? But from the beginning, you could feel that paradox in the way people talked about Moneyball: It was on the one hand a commitment to unemotional, lowercase-e empiricism, but on the other hand it had this glow of higher truth. Like tech culture in its early days (like tech culture now, for that matter, but in its early days it seemed less delusional), it seemed to point to something larger, some more fundamental shift in outlook, than the ...

Q&A: Full, 37-minute interview with former Astros GM Jeff Luhnow

“Some people will say there is no way you couldn’t have known. Do you have any evidence of that?”

“So, I understand that if I were a fan and I heard about this scandal, I would assume that the GM might have known, so I get that. And let’s start by me saying I wish I knew. Because, if I knew, this never would have gotten to where it got to.

“I do have a lot of evidence. It’s hard to prove that you didn’t know something, it’s proving a negative. But the investigation interviewed dozens and dozens of people; players, video staff members, coaches, etc. None of them said that I knew. The investigation looked at emails, text messages, slack messages, tens of thousands of messages from different people. I handed over my phone to ...

The Rays and Dodgers Are No. 1 Seeds—but This World Series Matchup Is an Anomaly

Thus, the two top seeds will meet in the World Series for only the second time this century, joining the 2013 matchup between the Red Sox and Cardinals. I’ve criticized expanded playoffs for their potential for chaos and devaluing of great teams, arguing—among other reasons—that the best clubs would no longer be as likely to advance as far. This first dabble with a 16-team bracket would seem to dampen any such concerns.

But a sample size of one is not actually sufficient to disprove that possibility, and in fact, analyzing just how unlikely this Rays-Dodgers matchup is provides cause for even more appreciation of both teams’ feats in navigating the tricky playoff field.

According to FanGraphs’ odds before the playoffs began, ...

Marlins part ways with president of baseball operations Michael Hill. Here’s what’s next

Michael Hill, the Miami Marlins president of baseball operations for the last eight years, maneuvered through 174 roster roster moves and a COVID-19 outbreak to help the Marlins achieve one of their most successful season in franchise history. They had a winning record and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2003 one season after losing 105 games.

It turned out to be his final act in nearly two decades as part of the Marlins’ front office.

The Marlins are not retaining Hill, CEO Derek Jeter announced Sunday. Hill’s contract was set to expire, and Jeter’s plan was to wait until after the Marlins’ playoffs run ended to address his future. The two met over the past week to discuss Hill potentially returning but ultimately ...

Could the 2020 Astros join the 2004 Red Sox

Now the 2020 Houston Astros are trying to match one of Boston’s historic achievements: The Red Sox are the only team in major league postseason history to win a best-of-7 series after losing the first three games. The Astros forced Saturday’s Game 7 with a 7-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday at Petco Park in San Diego.

But like the game at Yankee Stadium in 2004, you wonder if it will come down to the first two innings and not the ninth. You could see the dichotomy in emotions on one play in the sixth inning of Game 6. It was 5-1 at the time, but the Rays put two on with one out against Valdez, who had just walked Yandy Diaz, with the two exchanging words after Diaz barked at Valdez after ball four. Valdez was now approaching 100 ...

Former LA Angels employee Eric Kay indicted in Tyler Skaggs’ overdose death

A federal grand jury indicted former Los Angeles Angels communications director Eric Kay on Thursday on charges related to the 2019 death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

According to the indictment, Kay, who told federal agents he provided drugs to Skaggs, is charged with distributing a controlled substance that resulted in Skaggs’ death and for possessing with the intent to distribute the opioid fentanyl.

Debate: Is Kershaw a playoff ‘choker’?

Meyers: The bullpen definitely did him no favors tonight (allowing the inherited runner to score), which has definitely hurt him in the past. So you think there is no chance he can ever redeem his reputation? Barry Bonds did it in 2002 after a career of playoff failures.

Castrovince: Nah, it’s too much of A Thing at this point. It’s not going away. And to be clear, he’s done his share to influence that. Twenty-seven home runs is, you know, a lot of home runs.

Petriello: I agree with Castrovince, much as I hate to admit it. His October story is going to be his story, no matter what, and much of that is on him.

Meyers: His overall line this October is actually pretty good! He has 23 K’s, two walks in 19 innings pitched (3.32 ERA).

...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-16-2020

Seattle Star, October 16, 1920:

Decision to force a change in the governing body of baseball has been made by the eight National league clubs, according to President John Heydler today. Heydler leaves for Chicago tonight, where the American league magnates have been invited to meet Monday with the National league owners and discuss the abolishment of the national commission.

“Despite the objection of President Ban Johnson, of the American league, we are going thru with the meeting,” Heydler said.

This was one of the early steps in eliminating the National Commission and replacing it with a Commissioner.

Elsewhere in the news, the Black Sox grand jury in Chicago wants to talk to Abe Attell, but Attell is in Montreal and gloating that ...

Padres will look into Fernando Tatis Jr. extension this offseason; what will it take to sign him long-term?

Not surprisingly, Padres GM A.J. Preller confirmed the team is interested in signing Tatis to a long-term contract on Wednesday. He added the interest appears to be mutual. Here’s what Preller told reporters, including MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell:

“It was just such a short season and such a sprint to the finish line that I don’t think there was a lot in the middle of all of that for trying to put a contract negotiation in there,” Preller said. “We’ll start to look more seriously at that here this offseason, and it sounds like there’s interest on both sides, so we’ll see where that goes.”

Refreshingly, the Padres did not manipulate Tatis’ service time last season. Tatis was on the Opening Day roster, so he is under team control another four ...

Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021

As a disclaimer, I should note that even in a normal year, our projections are not to be used as a scorecard for the agent and team on an individual player level.  A player doing better or worse than our projection isn’t indicative of anything.  Our arbitration projections are created as a tool for our readers to get a general idea of a team’s payroll situation.

This winter, those involved in the process do not know how arbitration will account for the 60-game season, nor is there an agreement in place between MLB and the MLBPA on how to address it.  Many cases may end up getting resolved in a hearing room.  To reflect that uncertainty, we’re providing three projections for each player:

Method 1: Applies model directly with actual ...

Future MLB general managers: Eight candidates who could eventually become your favorite team’s next GM

4. Billy Owens, director of player personnel and assistant general manager, Oakland Athletics

If you read “Moneyball” then you might remember how Michael Lewis introduced Owens by writing that he was “what you’d get if you hammered Shaquille O’Neal with a pile driver until he stood six foot two.” That’s not a particularly kind way of describing someone, which is too bad because Owens is regarded throughout the league as a quality human being. He’s a baseball lifer, too, having racked up the miles as a minor-league player, coach, scout and so on. Within the industry, he’s considered one of the favorites for the Mets job if and when it becomes available.

The Aesthetic of the Rays

Watching the Rays play I fail to see how the aesthetic they represent is one that is sustainable long term. Sure, it’s sustainable when it comes to them winning, but is it sustainable when it comes to keeping fans engaged, both at a local and global level? The numbers may say that your starter should be pulled after 4 innings, but that doesn’t mean that fans will see a game where 11 pitchers are used and think, “Man, this is the good stuff, this is why I watch baseball.” The way the Rays use their pitchers slows down the game, and it stops fans from forming any sort of attachment with the never-ending cavalcade of pitchers the Rays use on a daily basis. This isn’t a problem for hardcore fans, but it is a major issue for casual ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-15-2020

Pittsburgh Press, October 15, 1920:

It is still a matter of doubt whether the New York Yankees will have a new manager in 1921. Col. Til Huston, one of the owners of the club, wants a new leader, but Col. Jake Ruppert believes that Miller Huggins deserves another season.

The peculiar part of it is that Ruppert doesn’t claim Huggins is a world-beater as a team leader, but says that any manager whose team made as much money for its owners as the Yankees made this season is entitles to at least one more year.

Huggins is a likable fellow, but it is a question whether he will ever be ranked with the really great leaders of ball teams. He has had his chance, and failed. The Yankees looked good enough to win this year, and the manner in which ...

Inside the historic first inning that saved the Los Angeles Dodgers’ season

This outburst started at 5:07 p.m. local time with Mookie Betts chopping a ball down the third-base line and legging out a ball that a replay review turned into a single. Seager scored him with a double. Following groundouts by Justin Turner and Muncy, the Dodgers went double, walk, homer, homer, walk, pitching change, walk, single, hit by pitch, grand slam. In the inning, they hit five balls at 105-plus mph. They feasted on fastballs, with six of their seven hits coming off heaters. By the time 5:39 p.m. rolled around and Dayton struck out Will Smith, the Dodgers had turned those among the crowd of 10,664 at Globe Life Field wearing Braves jerseys into human mute buttons.

There was, as Atlanta learned last year, no answer for an inning ...

Brian Cashman says Yankees must reevaulate at catcher after Gary Sanchez’s struggles, Kyle Higashioka’s breakout 2020 season

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday via Zoom, GM Brian Cashman was very frank in his answer about his catchers and what to expect heading into next season.

“I think it’s certainly a fair question obviously the way Gary Sanchez’ season transpired, and then the way it ended with Higashioka actually starting in the postseason as many games as he did,” he said. “I think it’s one of the discussion points we’re going to have to focus on.”

Sanchez truly labored this season right from the start going 0-for-15 in the five July games the Yankees played. He, then, posted a .155 average in August and .171 in Sept. and Oct. to bring it to .147 on the season.

“It was a struggle for him the first month of the season, just timing was ...

Scouting that didn’t stop at the stats fuels Tampa Bay Rays’ success

“They believe in scouting more than people think,” a rival front-office executive said. “They have a tremendous pro, international and amateur scouting department. It’s the only way they can do what they do.”

It’s why the running joke in some baseball circles is that if the Rays are calling about a potential trade, don’t answer the phone. The Rays do serious due diligence, looking under the surface to find players who fit their profile.

“Our scouts, you look at our roster, there’s a lot of people that maybe didn’t come through the system,” Cash said. “That’s a credit to our [research and development] department and our scouts. It’s a collaboration. The amount of communication and discussion that we have from player development to ...

Hyeon-Jong Yang Expected To Pursue MLB Opportunities This Winter

Kia Tigers lefty Hyeon-jong Yang is expected to explore offers from MLB teams this winter, Jeeho Yoo of South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency tweets. The former KBO MVP is wrapping up a two-year deal with the same Tigers club with which he’s spent the past 14 seasons.

If Yang’s name sounds familiar to MLBTR readers, it’s likely due to the fact that the Tigers posted the southpaw for big league clubs back in the 2014-15 offseason. That was in the days of a since restructured posting system between MLB and the KBO, wherein all 30 big league clubs had the option of submitting a blind bid on what release fee they’d pay a player’s club. Yang’s Tigers did not feel that the winning bid — believed to be submitted by the Rangers — was ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-14-2020

Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 14, 1920:

Cleveland paid tribute to its world champion baseball team in a public demonstration in Wade Park, attended by approximately 50,000 persons. So great was the enthusiasm of the mob that it finally became uncontrollable and broke through ropes marking off the stage where city officials and the Cleveland players sat, smashed chairs, pushed several persons into a small lake and vocally and physically expressed its joy over the winners of the world’s series.

Special details of police were powerless aqnd not until long after the lights had been put out and ball players had left did the celebration end.

Heck, I’m overjoyed 100 years later.

Diving catches are amazing baseball highlights ... but don’t they hurt? We asked.

Or, that the most impressive part of a diving catch is not the catch but the dive and the fact that they do it at all because: Doesn’t that hurt?

“Yes,” said Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward.

“It’s not as bad as you think,” said Yankees center fielder Cameron Maybin. Except that’s not saying much because I think it seems really, really bad.

Think about it: Do you ever land face first on the ground as part of your job? And if you did, wouldn’t that be the end of strenuous physical activity for the day, if not the week? I don’t mean that facetiously or as part of a self-effacing punchline. I’m used to seeing all sorts of athletic feats beyond my personal capabilities on a professional stage. But it’s not that I can’t ...

Posey was peerless in Negro Leagues lore

The only person to be inducted in both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cumberland “Cum” Willis Posey, Jr. is regarded as one of the greatest athletes of his era and a legendary entrepreneur; he was voted into the baseball Hall as a pioneer/executive.

For thirty-five years, Posey was one of the most influential men in baseball. He knew the sport inside and out, having been at nearly every level at some point in his career. Posey was a player, manager, owner, executive and league officer.

Born June 20, 1890, to Cumberland Willis Posey Sr. and Angelina “Anna” Stevens Posey in Homestead, Pa., Cum was their youngest son. Homestead, an integrated suburb of Pittsburgh, was booming due to ...

What’s going on with the Astros’ Jose Altuve?

Assuming Altuve is healthy, it seems like the only explanation for his sudden throwing struggles is what athletes call the “yips.” It’s affected many baseball players from Steve Sax to Chuck Knoblauch and is a mental block that makes routine throws seem impossible. That’s the diagnosis former Phillies shortstop and current TBS analyst Jimmy Rollins gave Altuve.

“His confidence is shot, you can see that when he has to make a throw, he has the yips,” Rollins said on TBS’s postgame show. “It’s happened to the best of us. It’s happened to me. It’s happened to anyone who has ever played this game. You can get the yips and there’s no real solid way to get rid of it.”

Astros manager Dusty Baker wasn’t willing to put ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 10-13-2020

Columnist Ralph Davis in the Pittsburgh Press, October 13, 1920:

Rube Marquard, the Brooklyn pitcher, was convicted yesterday of having attempted to scalp world’s series tickets. In sentencing him, the judge said: “You are a rube, for sure,” and the judge was right.

Marquard has proved himself the biggest ass in baseball. The idea that a ball player, in the midst of a series for the championship of the world, in which his team was playing, should stoop to such cheap stuff is almost beyond belief.
...
[Charles] Ebbets should not only see to it that Marquard does not play with Brooklyn, but that he performs for no other club in organized baseball in 1920. Apparently, these highly cultured gentlemen who amuse the American public cannot ...