Frayed Knot

smg58 wrote: Nunez is average at best defensively. And that's a generous assessment. At SS he was a train wreck; at other positions he's simply less bad and you hope his offense makes up for it. Other than that he pretty much is Cabrera: similar offense [EN vs AC for yrs 2015-2017 = 296/332/443 in 1,300 ABs vs 275/334/447 over 1,500] in a more athletic but less reliable all-around IF package. He's also filled-in in the OF on occasion and is 1-1/2 years younger. Not sure you'd want both on the same roster.

smg58 wrote: Am I correct in thinking that there's a limit to how much can be spent on international signings, and that the posting fee would count towards this limit? An overall limit on international pre-FA signings, yes, and because of his age Ohtani is considered that rather than a full-fledged FA a la the Matsui boys or Cubans of a certain age, etc. But the posting fee is separate from that. As Ben says, that money goes from MLB club to NPL club and is for a fixed amount. How much say does Otani actually get? Whatever signing bonus he can wrangle out of the club he chooses plus minimum pay (550 K or whatever it is now). Think of him as if he's a just-drafted player. Teams in the draft (first 10 rounds anyway) have a set total amount to spend which they can divide up any which way and for int'l players they also have a wad of cash to spend how they choose. But because the int'l 'window' to sign started July 1st, many teams, the Mets included, have already spent much of it so have little left over. The Rangers have the most, some $3.5 million, others have less than 100K

This is a pretty explosive article. Though nothing's proven yet, this guy seems to be universally viewed as an asshole and a cheat, and seems that some high-profile signees could be set free from the org. https://sports.yahoo.com/john-coppolellas-resignation-just-start-atlanta-braves-problems-230643724.html Banned for Life!! Excerpts from Manfred's statement: "The investigation established that the Braves circumvented international signing rules from 2015 through 2017. ... As a result of the 2015-16 circumvention, the Braves were able to sign nine high-value players during the 2016-17 signing period who would have been unavailable to them had the Club accurately accounted for its signings during the 2015-16 signing period. "With respect to individual discipline, former Braves General Manager John Coppolella will be placed on the permanently ineligible list, effective immediately. Former Braves Special Assistant Gordon Blakeley will be suspended for a period of one year, effective immediately, and may not perform services for any MLB Club during his suspension. I intend to discipline other Braves' International Baseball Operations employees who participated in the misconduct after the completion of our internal procedures. My staff will speak to the Players Association and officials in the Dominican Republic regarding appropriate consequences for the representatives of the players who intentionally participated in schemes to circumvent our rules, none of whom are certified by the Players Association."

Ceetar wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: So just reading the comments here on the article and not the article itself, I gather it's this guy deciding to re-think Rosario entirely based on 170 PAs? Yeah, I'll pass. not at all. It digs into those 170 PAs to see what, if anything, we can learn. Mostly determined that the data is still incomplete but has some concerns, and any additional concerns means an expected tempered range of expectations. You say "not at all" and then go on to say that's exactly what's being done. If that's what he want to do then go for it, but ANYTHING based on the first 170 PAs of a guy's career is of limited value so I'm going to take a pass on caring about it and I'd say that if his projection went the other way.

So just reading the comments here on the article and not the article itself, I gather it's this guy deciding to re-think Rosario entirely based on 170 PAs? Yeah, I'll pass.

Well the Marlins did receive players for this money exchange -- Garrett Cooper and Caleb Smith (both of whom have played in the majors) go from NY to Miami while A-ball pitcher Mike King* plus the funds go the other way -- so it's tough to call it a scandal unless you have reason to believe that the swap was intentionally unequal which, among other things, implies that Jeter is out to ruin his own investment in favor of the team he no longer has a connection to. * 22 y/o former 12th round draft pick

Corey Oswalt, Luis Guillorme, Gerson Bautista and Tyler Bashlor were all added to the NYM 40-man roster today, thus protecting them from exposure to the upcoming Rule 5 draft. The 40-man roster number now stands at 39

Unable to reach an agreement prior to their self-imposed Monday deadline, the MLBPA granted themselves a 24 hour extension in order to try to come up with an acceptable posting arrangement for Ohtani. The new deadline is 8 PM Tuesday and that will remain permanent ... unless it's not. The Yanx, meanwhile, just traded with Jeter's Marlins for additional int'l bonus money.

Centerfield wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: It should be MLB only. Ichiro gets in via that, Matsui not. I tend to agree. I just wonder how writers will treat it. Him being an MFY and all, I can see some bending backwards to stretch it. He had the bare minimum 10 seasons* to qualify and if you're going to get in without longevity that shortened career needs to be better than just good, it needs to be Koufax / Kiner / Jackie / Hack Wilson good. Instead, in a hitter's era he amassed 175 HRs, .282 BA, two back of the ballot MVP notices, and led the league in nothing ever except games played his first three seasons (probably tied w/others) He had a nice run for a guy who didn't show up here until age 29, but I don't see how he gets remotely close to induction. * really only 8 full ones, with 1 season under 200 ABs and another < 100

It should be MLB only. Ichiro gets in via that, Matsui not.

Seems to me like a lot of dudes get drafted after their sophomore season. -- Not sure of the exact percentages, but sophs being eligible is the exception rather than the rule and you definitely can't re-apply after just your freshman year. Juco kids can leave after one or two years but at 4-year joints you're almost always out of the draft until year 3 But the requirement seems absurd. Whose rule is that? The NCAA's or MLB's? -- MLB's, although certainly in conjunction with the NCAA It's hardly a perfect set-up but it at least gives potential baseball players several options as to when they can make themselves available as compared to the NBA or especially the NFL

Edgy MD wrote: The Purker then had a dream of a freshman season with the Horned Frogs. ... Now, I would have tossed my hat right back into the draft that summer, but most guys, if they turn down a big 'ol bonus and head for college, they give it at least two years. Matt did this too, and his sophomore season was going even better, starting 5-1, with a 1.71 ERA, but arm trouble ended his season after 11 starts. Actually he couldn't have re-declared himself following his outstanding freshman season because once you commit to a four-year program you're generally required to stay for a full three years before re-entering the draft. There are however certain age conditions under which players from four-year institutions become sophomore eligible and Purke appears to have been one of those (he was just shy of 19 y/o when he graduated from HS).

The body of a teenage girl found in the snow on the 'Wind River' Arapaho Reservation in Wyoming sets off an investigation where several governmental departments -- BIA, FBI, local -- wrangle with each other and with a private security force connected to a nearby power plant over jurisdictional issues. And of course the White vs Red and on vs off the 'Rez' conflicts weave their way throughout. Both written and directed by Taylor Sheridan. He was the writer for 2016's Texas Rangers vs bank robbers flick 'Hell or High Water' and also 2015's DEA vs drug smugglers tale 'Sicario'. If I didn't know better I might think he has a renegade outlaw vs lawman (and sometimes renegade lawman) thing going on. Jeremy Renner plays the Fish and Wildlife Bureau hunter/tracker who finds the body and has personal reasons for finding the backstory to the crime; Elizabeth Olsen the fish out of water FBI agent who's flown in for the assignment; Gil Birmingham, who played Jeff Bridges's half-indian partner in HoHW, here portrays the victim's grieving father. "Luck don't live out here"

Simply the fact that they now own it means that the version of musical cities that's gone on with the AAA affiliate since the breakup with Norfolk has come to an end. That it's doing so in the right part of the country and in a city with a lengthy history of supporting that level of baseball makes it better still. The only way this moves again in the near future is if the 'pons get a better deal/stadium from some other city but, as we discussed before (probably earlier in this thread) there just aren't a lot of logical choices that are obviously superior. I think there may be some pressure put on the the city/county/state to upgrade or replace the facility once the honeymoon period is over, but hopefully that gets solved with proper negotiations rather than threats although as GHW Bush (aka: Gropin' George) once said, "watch your wallets".

All nine players* rejected their Qualifying Offers making them all Free Agents but with compensation attached, even if said compensation will wind up less onerous than in previous seasons. * Jake Arrieta - Cubs Lorenzo Cain - Royals Alex Cobb - Rays Wade Davis - Cubs Greg Holland - Rockies Eric Hosmer - Royals Lance Lynn - Cardinals Mike Moustakas - Royals Carlos Santana - Indians

Yeah, but it probably kills at least as much interest as the 'double announcement' creates by telling fans of those not in the top three not to even bother tuning in. And look here how close 3rd, 4th, & 5th place were in the NL - and if five guys were good enough to receive first place votes then at least that many could conceivably win. PLAYERTEAM1st2nd3rdTOTALGIANCARLO STANTONMarlins10105302JOEY VOTTOReds1094300PAUL GOLDSCHMIDTD'Backs454239NOLAN ARENADORockies238229CHARLIE BLACKMONRockies337205 So Jeter's seeing this and going; 'YES!, up goes his trade value' Others receiving votes: 6) Anthony Rendon - 141 points 7) Kris Bryant - 132 (including 1 first place vote!?!) 8) Justin Turner - 43 9) Cody Bellinger 38 10) Max Scherzer - 34 11) Tommy Pham - 24 12) Bryce Harper - 21 13) Anthony Rizzo - 17 14) JD Martinez - 11 T 15) Kenley Jansen - 8 T 15) Marcell Ozuna - 8 T 17) Clayton Kershaw - 6 T 17) Corey Seager - 6 19) Daniel Murphy - 3 T 20) Archie Bradley - 1 T 20) Zack Greinke - 1 T 20) Ryan Zimmerman - 1 The AL, meanwhile, not so close. PLAYERTEAM1st2nd3rdTOTALJOSE ALTUVEAstros273—405AARON JUDGEYanx2271279JOSE RAMIREZIndians1022237MIKE TROUTAngels—618197 First season of Trout's career where not only did he not finish 1st or 2nd but didn't finish grab a single first place vote - and all it took was for him to miss 1/4 of the season with a busted thumb. 2012 - 2nd place, 6 1st place votes, lost to Miguel Cabrera 2013 - 2nd / 5 / Cabrera 2014 - 1st / all 30 votes 2015 - 2nd / 7 / Josh Donaldson 2016 - 1st / 19

No, that's correct, the posting fee goes to the NPL team. And just to add to the whole bonus money thing, the Mariners just dealt away a 24 y/o pitching prospect to the ChiSox in exchange for an unspecified amount of Int'l Bonus cap money which, given Seattle's history with Japanese players, certainly implies that this deal was made with Otoni in mind.

41Forever wrote: I think the finalists are the top three in the voting, and there’s no second round of voting. Just something MLB came up with as a tease. Oh yeah, they haven't changed the voting a lick, only in the fact that they've decided to pre-announce who the top three are leaving no suspense except for the exact order of finish. Some years there might be four legit candidates for an award and, when that happens, one team's fans are going to get pissed off in advance because they'll be told that their guy has zero shot of winning a week prior to the announcement. It's not a major deal, I just don't see the point in it but I suspect it has to do with this announcements now being televised "events"

Not that I expected deGrom to win or even contend for one of the top spots, but I don't get this idea of pre-releasing the "finalists" as if those are the ones the voters are instructed to choose among. I suppose it's so they can arrange video hookups for the possible winners ahead of time since this is all just a TV show now. Would have thought it'd be a bit closer at the top but I guess the missed time for Kershaw was too much for most voters. PLAYERTEAM1st2nd3rdTOTALMAX SCHERZERNationals273—201CLAYTON KERSHAWDodgers3251126STEPEHN STRASBURGNationals—12381ZACK GREINKED'Backs—1352KENLEY JANSENDodgers—1352GIO GONZALEZNationals—--118 Also: Robbie Ray - 6 points deGrom - 2 Jimmy Nelson - 1 Alex Wood - 1 Not close here either as the (relatively) poor second half did in Sale PLAYERTEAM1st2nd3rdTOTALCOREY KLUBERIndians282—204CHRIS SALERed Sox228--126LUIS SEVERINOYanx—--2073CARLOS CARRASCOIndians—--143JUSTIN VERLANDERTigers/Astros—--332CRAIG KIMBRELRed Sox—--627 Also Ervin Santana - 3 points Marcus Stroman - 2

The final details on this whole Otoni signing business are still being debated by MLB, NPB, and the MLBPAA, so nothing is quite official yet. But basically the rules are being decided based on a mash-up of the new transfer rules between Japan & MLB, plus the Int'l signing limits within MLB, and then all that gets coupled with him being under the age of 25 when he jumps the Pacific making him subject to regular MLB rookie guidelines, ie. not even arbitration eligible for several more years. IOW, unlike the Matsui(^2) signings of years ago or Darvish/Tanaka more recently, Otoni won't qualify as a FA signing but rather, as Ceetar notes, like an incoming draft pick or amateur undrafted player.

Using him elsewhere, even if only occasionally, would help solve the short bench problem. He mostly DH'd in Japan, and even then only in games that were several days prior to his scheduled starts which typically are once per week over there. That's part of why the DH league would be a better showcase for his talents.

I see that we're pretty much ignoring this so far even though MLB is smack in the middle of it. Not so surprising though seeing as how there are no Mets even being contemplated for anything. Also the ROYs were both a foregone conclusion and nobody really cares about Manager of the Year anyway, especially seeing as how two of the guys who got votes have already been canned. But here's where they stand with CY awards on tap for tonight. PLAYERTEAM1st2nd3rdTOTALAARON JUDGEYanx30——150ANDREW BENINTENDIRed Sox—23675TREY MANCINIOrioles—51631MATT OLSONA’s—125YULI GURRIELAstros——55JORDAN MONTGOMERYYanx—111 PLAYERTEAM1st2nd3rdTOTALCODY BELLINGERDodgers30——150PAUL DeJONGCardinals—151156JOSH BELLPirates—10232RHYS HOPKINSPhillies—1912GERMAN MARQUEZRockies—2410MANUEL MARQUEZPadres—125KYLE FREELANDRockies—103LUIS CASTILLOReds—011IAN HAPPCubs—011 MANAGERTEAM1st2nd3rdTOTALTOREY LOVULLOD’Backs1856111DAVE ROBERTSDodgers58655BUD BLACKPadres361043CRAIG COUNSELLBrewers34633DUSTY BAKERNationals16225JOE MADDONCubs—103 MANAGERTEAM1st2nd3rdTOTALPAUL MOLITORTwins1864112TERRY FRANCONAIndians119890A. J. HINCHAstros1131256JOE GIRARDIYanx—2612

Cain has always struck me as the upside of Juan Lagares, or what Lagares could have been had his 2014 season been the start of something rather than seemingly the high water mark due either to him topping out or because he can't ever stay on the field for more than six consecutive weeks. Cain hits for a better BA; like Lagares he doesn't walk a lot but his walk rate isn't super low [.042 walk rate vs .065-.070 ML avg]; low/medium power [12 HRs per every 600 ABs]; really good athlete and defensive CF The backstory on Cain is that he didn't grow up with baseball (despite coming from Valdosta, GA, an area which produces its share ... also its share of onions) and so by the time his mother thought it would be a good distraction to keep him out of trouble in his mid/late teens he was a decade or so behind the kids his age just in simple stuff like learning the rules of the game much less the subtleties. As a result he wasn't in the majors until 24 and didn't get 500+ ABs in a season until the season he turned 29 - when he placed 3rd in the AL MVP and perhaps not coincidentally was the first of the two straight WS years for KC. Of course the downside to all this late bloomer stuff is that he's just now hitting his first FA year only a few months prior to turning 32 which in turn begs the question about how much you want to commit for a guy who relies on his athleticism starting from that age. On the plus side if he's going to start his decline he hasn't yet: OPS of 751 / 838 / 747 / 803 over the last four seasons, essentially his only four full seasons. If you do sign him then you have to deal off Lagares, probably for not very much considering the contract, the lack of ever being a full-time player, and that everyone will know you can't keep him.

Centerfield wrote: It would take ten minutes to write "Wilpon owes it to the fans to fund a big market payroll. Whether it's Madoff or something else, I don't really know and don't care to investigate, but I know he's not spending money!" But the problem is, writing a column to say that the NYM payroll needs to be higher but without any specific information to estimate a particular figure other than just ... 'more', isn't much of a story.

dgwphotography wrote: The Mets injury issues won't disappear until they are no longer owned by a Wilpon. That's absurd.