by: The Itch
We’re beyond the traditional super two date, which did not occur to me until I was pondering Oakland’s decision to call up RHP Mason Miller. I’m glad they did it, of course; it’s fun for everyone, and I could really use him in the two dynasty leagues where I’m lucky enough to employ him. Thing […]
Please, blog, may I have some more?The Los Angeles Angels are calling up 2022 first-round pick SS Zach Neto, and baseball feels new all over again. Not just because of Neto, of course, but the whole paradigm of our game is shifting so quickly it’s easy to get excited. We could make a case that the Angels NEED to contend this year more than any other team. If not, Ohtani is as good as gone. He’s probably gone anyway, but that’s no way to go about your life. He picked Los Angeles from the beginning, he’s been incredible there, they’ve gotta be in the running until the final decision is made. For his part, Neto was slashing .444/.559/.819 with three home runs and three stolen bases in seven games. He’s a pick-up in all but the shallowest formats.
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: The Itch
White Sox 2B Lenyn Sosa will try to keep swinging a hot sickle in Tim Anderson’s stead. Sosa was slashing .448/.556/.828 with seven walks, five strikeouts and two home runs in nine games at Triple-A, which got him featured over the weekend in Prospect News: Seeking Treats On Easter Sunday.
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: The Itch
Happy Easter! I’m currently watching a bunny and a hot dog run along the outfield warning track in the Guardians and Mariners game. Pretty typical afternoon, minus the bunny.
The eggs that interest me most at the moment are the zeros I’m watching Tanner Bibee post in his Triple-A debut. My favorite part was the fifth inning, when Bibee gave up two bloop hits to open the frame but closed it out without giving an inch or breaking a sweat. He cruised through five shutout innings on 78 pitches.
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: The Itch
Orioles RHP Grayson Rodriguez was the number one name on this list, but he’s in the majors today with Kyle Bradish on the injured list. Rodriguez didn’t have much success this spring but still feels like a solid bet to hit the ground running.
1. Mets 3B Brett Baty
With some other guys on this list, we can build a semi-reasonable case for keeping them in the minors. Until he left Monday’s game with a sore thumb, this was not the case for Baty, who played well in spring and already has a two-homer game in Triple-A this year. Eduardo Escobar is a veteran making a lot of money. That’s the entire case against Baty. It’s so odd that they’d spend so much on the team and then lose runs and development time because of a sunk-cost fallacy.
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: The Itch
In one of the Madden football games, the eponymous announcer would proclaim that “speed kills” several times per game. Growing up in the prime of the Nancy Reagan D.A.R.E. era, I couldn’t help but chuckle, particularly as my generation was being prescribed Adderall in bulk whenever they had a tough stretch in school. Major League […]
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: The Itch
‘‘Twas the night before baseball,
and all through the league,
the pitchers were feeling forearm fatigue.
Opening week really is the most wonderful time of the baseball year.
If you can find just the right angle, watching roster decisions trickle in feels like a magic eye picture slowly morphing into focus.
On the other hand, that leads to days of fuzzy weirdness, like the Rockies demoting Michael Toglia or the Orioles leaving Grayson Rodriguez in the minors. Christopher Morel is not in the major leagues anymore? Did I really see that?
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: The Itch
Giants C Blake Sabol hits 18 home runs with a .265 batting average, good for a top five finish at catcher when combined with his elite R-RBI (140+) in that position group.
Brewers OF Sal Frelick hits .300 with 10+ home runs and 80+ runs scored. As I’m typing this Saturday afternoon, Frelick is leading off and hasn’t been optioned. Non-zero chance he’s the opening day leadoff man.
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: The Itch
Houston Astros
Yainer Diaz is doing Yainer Diaz things. He’s hitting .300 and leads the team in RBI but has a higher batting average than on base percentage thanks to six strikeouts and zero walks. He’s also not catching all that much. Might be a frustrating piece for our game.
Korey Lee’s having a nice spring, slashing .269/.345/.538 with two steals. I’m skeptical that either guy could really push Martin Maldonado for his job given the club’s obvious preference for veteran defense behind the dish.
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: The Itch
Chicago White Sox In 37 at bats this spring, Oscar Colas has struck out once and walked once. He’s hitting .324 and slugging .514 with two home runs. Even making plays in centerfield. Feels like he’s already made the team. Bryan Ramos has looked just about ready (.368/.429/.526 in 19 at bats), but Yoan Moncada […]
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: The Itch
Baltimore Orioles
Kyle Stowers could open the season at DH after a 107 wRC+ in 34 major league games last season and a 130 wRC+ in 95 games at Triple-A. He might not be good enough to hold off the next wave of young Orioles, but there’s plenty of playing time on offer in 2023 if he performs. He’s hitting .269 with seven strikeouts, five walks, and zero home runs. That’s probably good enough for him to get the gig.
Now let’s talk about the next wave of young Orioles.
Please, blog, may I have some more? by: The Itch
Arizona Diamondbacks
Gabriel Moreno is staking his claim behind the plate with two home runs already this spring. I think he’s safe to take in the one-two catcher fringe. I’d prefer him to Keibert Ruiz, for example.
Scott McGough is the new crime dog as far I’m concerned, though I guess that reference is pretty old these days. “Scruff McGruff, Chicago Illinois, 60652!” Manager Torey Lovullo says they’re “gonna be fluid in that area,” which sounds like a trip to the doctor and means nothing, but I think McGough is gonna be the closer, if anyone’s gonna be the closer.
Please, blog, may I have some more?