Under on the homeruns prop this season.
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Peavy, how bout lower team ERA or SP ERA between Padres and Cubs over 60 games.Comment -
Padres release Brian Dozier. I wonder why.Comment -
Athletics Manager Bob Melvin discussed his plans for the team’s second base position, as reported by Shayna Rubin of the Mercury News. The longtime Oakland skipper expects to deploy the tandem of Franklin Barreto and Tony Kemp in a platoon, with Barreto getting at-bats against lefties and Kemp playing versus right-handers. That’s promising news regarding the 24-year-old Barreto, who has long been regarded as a talented prospect but has gotten limited exposure since the A’s acquired him from the Blue Jays. But after a strong showing in summer camp, he may finally get consistent at-bats. Thus far, he’s appeared in parts of three seasons but has played just 80 games in total, making 209 plate appearances. As talented as Barreto may be, one has to think that it’d be hard to find a rhythm at the plate when opportunities against MLB pitching come so sparingly. We’ll keep our eyes on Barreto this season, hoping he can tap into the power that made him a key prospect in the Josh Donaldson trade.
- Music City Baseball, an organization working to bring a Major League Baseball team to Nashville, is expected to pitch a proposal to MLB at the 2021 Winter Meetings, writes the Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham as part of a piece that also details former Red Sox GM Dave Dombrowski’s involvement with the group. Dombrowski hopped on board as an advisor to the group, along with the likes of Tony La Russa, Dave Stewart, and Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin. Of course, if such a proposal is to come to fruition, they’ll need the approval of MLB, which is not actively planning for expansion in the near future. Certainly, there are plenty of obstacles to the venture, making a 2024 or 2025 arrival seem like the best-case scenario for the Nashville Stars.
- After a possible exposure to COVID-19 led the Astros to shut down workouts yesterday, pitching coach Brent Strom and the Major League pitching staff were all absent from camp today, as reported by Mark Berman of Fox Houston. Manager Dusty Baker said that Strom was “part of” the exposure that caused yesterday’s cancellation. That group is undergoing COVID-19 testing and is currently awaiting results. Of course, Baker said that the hope is that is Strom and the Astros’ pitchers will be able to rejoin the team in short order, though for the time being the team will wait with bated breath for the results of those tests.
- Red Sox prospect Bobby Dalbec has been cleared to play after a positive test for COVID-19 prevented him from participating until now, reports Christopher Smith of MassLive. He rejoined the Sox at Fenway Park today after spending Saturday working out at Boston College. The 25-year-old infielder is regarded as one of Boston’s best prospects, and could contribute to the big league team this year. Rising through the minors as a third baseman, Dalbec may be best suited for first base in the Majors, but there’s little doubt about his raw power and on-base skills. Dalbec is one of four Red Sox who tested positive for the virus, with pitchers Eduardo Rodriguez, Josh Taylor, and Darwinzon Hernandez still recovering.
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When is the first Televised game?Comment -
Yankees @ Nationals july 23rd 7pmComment -
Peavy, how are you trashing Cubs pitching and then asking for a handicap?Comment -
I always liked Brian Dozier, he's a middle infielder with the rare combination of power and speed, and while there are plenty of middle infielders that posses speed the ones that do don't hit for power too. Dozier has excellent range defensively too.
His flaws are he strikes out too much and has a low on base percentage (I personally place a premium on)
As to why the Padres cut Dozier, I think there's a few reasons.
a) when the Padres signed him originally it was a minor league deal with no commitments.
b) when the Padres signed Jorge Matos from Oakland (whom even though has COVID right now) SD seems to like something they see in Matos making Dozier expendable. The Pads are deep at 2B as well with Profar and others.
In addition SD needs that roster spot for a middle or late reliever.
Even though it appears Dozier is on the downside of his career he will defiantly wind up on his feet as he can help a few teems in many ways. (as a DH, as a utility guy, a pinch hitter, or even as a starter)Comment -
Well said, nasher. The Padres have a lot of options at 2nd. Profar will probably play most of the time. They actually traded for Mateo so it looks like Dozier was last on the depth chart in their eyes. I like Dozier as well. It is good to have some veterans like him to show all the young talent the way things are done. It looks as if they put a high value on Mateo?Comment -
The group headed up by Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez put in a reported $1.7 billion bid on the Mets last week, and while they’re already known to be backed by VitaminWater and BodyArmor co-founder Mike Repole as well as Florida Panthers owner Vinnie Viola, ESPN’s Vaughn McClure reports that a host of other highly recognizable names are a part of the group. Among them are Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, former Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal; Denver Nuggets center Mason Plumlee; and ex-Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray.
Urlacher, 42, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 after a brilliant 13-year career as a linebacker with the Chicago Bears. The 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year is an eight-time Pro-Bowler who earned more than $80MM in career salaries — to say nothing of countless endorsement deals during his time as one of the league’s most marketable players. He’s also dipped into NFL broadcasting and television analysis. Urlacher himself confirmed to McClure that he’s a part of the group, calling it a “pretty cool” opportunity and voicing particular excitement over working with Rodriguez and his other NFL brethren.
The 35-year-old Thomas figures to join Urlacher in the Hall of Fame when he gains eligibility for the honor in 2023. Thomas went to the Pro Bowl in 10 of his 11 seasons in the NFL from 2007-17, during which he earned $110MM, according to Over the Cap.
Like Urlacher, Kelce confirmed that he’s involved and expressed gratitude for being able to take part in such a “crazy opportunity.” He hasn’t had Urlacher’s 13-year career and decade-plus of endorsement deals, but Kelce is entering the final season of a five-year, $46.482MM contract extension. The five-time Pro Bowler ranks among the game’s elite at his position and should be in strong free-agent position upon the completion of his current deal.
Beal, the No. 3 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, signed a two-year extension worth nearly $72MM back in October — a contract that came partway through his preexisting five-year, $127MM contract. Beal only just turned 27, so he has plenty of time to sign another big deal in the future, assuming he holds up. Plumlee scored his own sizable payday in 2017, re-signing with the Nuggets for $41MM over three years.
Murray, 32, hasn’t played in an NFL game since spending the 2017 season with the Tennessee Titans. The former NFL Offensive Player of the Year and three-time Pro Bowler, who made just under $26MM in the league, entered the college coaching ranks in recent seasons and is currently an assistant at his alma mater of Oklahoma.
The extent to which each of these high-profile investors is involved isn’t clear. While they’re all unquestionably wealthy and likely able to commit millions of dollars to the bid, it’s also likely that there are quite a few other investors contributing to the mix.Comment -
I like that bet, Spooner. Pretty decent chance they make the playoffs and one of the best coached teams year in year out.Comment -
no hitting at all
it's like a minor league team the hittingComment -
I was just looking at the projections for the Rays.
Brutal.
Name Team G PA AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI BB SO SB AVG OBP SLG OPS wOBA Willy Adames Rays 56 226 204 51 9 1 7 26 22 19 59 3 0.25 0.316 0.407 0.722 0.307 Austin Meadows Rays 51 207 187 50 11 2 9 27 30 17 44 5 0.267 0.333 0.492 0.825 0.343 Yoshitomo Tsutsugo Rays 49 206 184 46 10 0 10 26 30 21 51 0 0.25 0.325 0.467 0.793 0.332 Xavier Edwards Rays 45 203 185 47 6 2 0 20 12 14 29 9 0.254 0.308 0.308 0.617 0.27 Manuel Margot Rays 53 190 174 43 8 2 4 22 19 13 39 7 0.247 0.302 0.385 0.687 0.293 Josh Lowe Rays 44 190 171 36 8 1 5 20 19 16 60 8 0.211 0.28 0.357 0.637 0.274 Hunter Renfroe Rays 50 187 172 40 9 0 11 23 29 13 57 1 0.233 0.289 0.477 0.766 0.315 Wander Franco Rays 42 183 166 43 7 2 3 20 17 14 19 4 0.259 0.311 0.38 0.691 0.293 Taylor Walls Rays 40 179 162 38 7 1 3 19 16 14 39 8 0.235 0.296 0.346 0.642 0.278 Cal Stevenson Rays 40 176 156 38 6 1 1 20 13 19 30 4 0.244 0.324 0.314 0.638 0.284 Brandon Lowe Rays 43 174 156 38 9 1 7 21 23 15 51 2 0.244 0.316 0.449 0.765 0.322 Yandy Diaz Rays 42 174 152 40 7 1 3 23 14 20 34 1 0.263 0.351 0.382 0.732 0.317 Joey Wendle Rays 43 169 156 40 9 1 3 19 17 9 32 4 0.256 0.308 0.385 0.692 0.294 Kevin Kiermaier Rays 43 167 153 37 7 2 5 21 18 11 37 6 0.242 0.301 0.412 0.713 0.301 Jose Martinez Rays 50 166 150 40 7 0 4 19 20 14 36 1 0.267 0.331 0.393 0.725 0.313 Ji-Man Choi Rays 44 165 141 35 7 0 6 18 21 21 39 1 0.248 0.345 0.426 0.771 0.328 Brett Sullivan Rays 40 164 155 38 8 1 3 17 17 8 26 5 0.245 0.28 0.368 0.648 0.276 Mike Zunino Rays 40 141 127 26 6 0 6 15 19 11 48 0 0.205 0.277 0.394 0.67 0.285 Daniel Robertson Rays 37 139 120 27 5 0 3 15 11 14 34 1 0.225 0.324 0.342 0.665 0.295 Michael Perez Rays 31 111 101 23 4 0 3 12 11 9 30 0 0.228 0.288 0.356 0.645 0.278 Comment -
Puig is now an Indian. Whoops, is that racially wrong?Comment -
The Red Sox are nearing a deal with free-agent right-hander Zack Godley, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports. It’s unclear whether it will be a major league contract for Godley, whom the Tigers released from a minors pact Monday.
Godley will get an opportunity to win a starting spot in Boston, whose rotation looks shaky after taking multiple hits in recent months. They’ll go the whole season without ace and recent Tommy John recipient Chris Sale. Meanwhile, Eduardo Rodriguez has been down since last week because of a positive COVID-19 test. It seems unlikely he’ll be good to go for Opening Day, while Collin McHugh definitely won’t be ready as he continues his recovery from elbow troubles.
As things stand, the Red Sox are down to Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez as their most experienced starters who are actually healthy. Matt Hall, Brian Johnson, Jeffrey Springs and Chris Mazza are among in-house options competing for roles after Eovaldi and Perez.
The 30-year-old Godley, like Eovaldi and Perez, brings a somewhat lengthy but inconsistent track record to the table. Godley seemed to break out in 2017 as a Diamondback with 155 innings of 3.37 ERA/3.41 FIP pitching. While he was less effective at preventing runs the next season (4.74 ERA/3.82 FIP), he still amassed 178 1/3 frames and struck out more than a better per inning for the second straight campaign.
Unfortunately, Godley continued to fall off last season. He performed so badly in Arizona that the team designated him for assignment in August, and while Toronto did end up adding him on waivers, he didn’t last long there. All told, Godley made 33 appearances (only nine starts) and registered a 5.97 ERA/5.20 FIP over 92 innings. His K/9 took a major turn for the worse along the way, plummeting to 6.85.
Despite his 2019 downturn, Godley would seem to represent a worthwhile buy-low arm who may have some multiyear upside. If he actually sticks with his next team, he won’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2022 season.Comment
