An MLB recap that takes you to unknown places

Manny Parra wags a no-no finger after hosing another baserunner.

The starting line-up:

1. I’ll eat this one

Let me take a moment to admit how wrong I was about the Yankees. In my MLB season preview, I roasted the Yankees in every way possible. Turns out, the talent I claimed they hadn’t developed in the minors is performing just fine for the big squad, and although they are oft injured like I predicted, the ‘old’ guys are having career seasons so far. I like the story of this team, a synergistic mixture of youth and veterans put together by an analytical GM, Brian Cashman.

2. Price’s luck

David Price is getting very unlucky so far this season.

No, I am not talking about his recent trip to the DL with tricep tightness. Price is getting incredibly unlucky when he takes the hill. Only hitting the 95mph mark once in 8 starts can probably be explained by the fact he is throwing way more cutters (a topic for another time). Other than velocity, the rest of Price’s game looks good. Rocking a 21.3 K% with a BB/9% at 5.8, Price continues to improve in these areas each season. His .338 Batting Average on Balls in Play (BABIP) so far this season is well above Price’s career average (.280), which is a further indication of bad luck, especially with the Rays’ solid defense.

3. Fu*k your shift

Surprisingly, this is the first time this issue has come about (at least publically) between a pitcher and his computer errr I mean manager, regarding a shift. After a few unlucky balls fell in a recent start by RHP Lucas Harris, Harris took to the media to express how he was hoping a few balls would be caught, but the defense was in a shift. I’ve always thought this dynamic could get interesting (think if Verlander came at Jim Leyland in the media) but in the long term, the statistics will play out in the pitcher’s favor.

4. Defensive catcher

The defensive catcher is more alive now that it has ever been. With pitching taking over the game, catchers who have the skill of superior pitch framing take a team pitching staff to the next level. Many catchers are told to not even worry about their offense, to just focus on pitching. Stats such as UZR and WAR are now widely used, and can be combined with receiving numbers to find the most effective catchers.

5. Belt and Pill

Here on the east coast we aren’t always aware of the west coast stories happening in baseball. We do remember Brandon Belt from last year’s World Series. Belt plays decent defense and definitely has the bat to be an impactful big leaguer. Problem is, many Giants fans and some in management believe Brett Pill, an 8-year minor leaguer is the better ball player. As the drama unfolds, the most likely scenario is a trade of Belt to an AL team in need of a DH.

6. Instant replay

It makes me cringe to watch the players wait as the umpires leave the field.

I have had mixed feelings on this topic before. As a purist, any type of correction for human error in baseball kind of stings. But home runs are a big deal, especially in the playoffs, so I can accept replay on these. What really makes my blood boil is the possibility of replay expansion. It already feels so unnatural when the umpires stop the game to go take a look and the pitcher and fielders are just standing there. THAT’S NOT BASEBALL!! Baseball isn’t a game meant to be judged in slow motion, especially with a judgement call happening at least once everytime the ball is thrown.

7. Till the end of the month

Ike Davis must choose: busteds or pretties?

This type of threat usually isn’t thrown at a top prospect such as Ike Davis, but enough is enough. A .160 average doesn’t go well with 46 strikeouts and only 4 bombs. His GM told him he has until the end of the month to figure it out, otherwise it is back to the minors, where players get buses and busteds rather than planes and pretties.

8. Someone got fired

In this weeks ‘I wouldn’t have done that’ moment, San Francisco reliever Jeremey Affeldt returned an optional $500,000 to the team after an accounting error. Along with recent news the Giants also owe hundreds of thousands in back wages to many clubhouse staff, heads are probably rolling their finance department.

9. There’s always money in the banana stand

As a loyal double cut reader, you may be subjected to my personal opinions and likes (which you WILL enjoy). Anyways, this week, the Bluth banana stand from the TV show Arrested Development made an appearance at Yankee Stadium to celebrate the show’s return for another season after a long hiatus. If you haven’t caught up on the first couple seasons of this show, you should. You will laugh your ass off.

Numbers game

Possible replacements for Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. Since Bush did such a great job as President, let’s hand him over our national pastime O_0.

Some of the names from outside of baseball are both weird and scary.

~6

Most likely more, bats Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has broke this season in only 17 innings. No wonder he is tops amongst relievers in saves and ERA.

4-4

Joey Votto’s hitting line Sat against the Phillies. He was on base a total of six times with a double, a two-run homer, and two walks.

<100

Pitches King Felix Hernandez has thrown in his starts so far this sesaon. The Mariners locked their ace up long term this offsesaon, and now they are babying him. This is for no apparant reason, since Felix has already been a proven dominant force in the league for many years now, extending himself deep into games to record shut outs and even no-hitters.

66,726

Hotdogs consumed at Indians Progressive field during a promotion. Good for a new park record.

109

Game winning streak the Baltimore Orioles were holding while leading the game after 7 innings. Snapped last week by the Rays.

Player Watch

Carlos Zambrano

Signed a minor league deal with the Phillies this week. I hope this guy makes it back the league so we can see him crush a few more water coolers with a bat.

Lyle Overbay

Players like Overbay have made the Yankees into a team with identity. The single-minded approach of home runs from last year is gone in NY, especially thanks to Overbay who has shown commitment to striking out less and hitting to all fields. Now, the Yankees are getting Texeria and Youkolis back, this likely forces Overbay off the roster, through waivers,  and to another team. Yankees fans hope two from last year, Tex and the recently returned Curtis Granderson don’t negatively infect the offense.

Good eye, kid 

Cardinals pitchers know how to tell a teammate good job for his batter’s eye.

World Series 1960

Normally a trophy, this week a cool picture from Forbes Field.

The Pirates took on the Yankees in the 1960 World Series.

3-Hot

1. Rangers

2. Reds

3. Red Sox

3-Not

It is hard to pick on the weak, but this play lead to a walk off error.

1. Astros

2. Orioles

3. Twins

An MLB recap that isn’t scared to go there.

The Starting Line-Up:

1. Language, coming from the body

After the debacle involving David Price on Twitter lashing out against umpire Tod Hallion post-ejection, Hallion explained he ejected Price for “bad body language”. Say what you want about being a poor sport, Hallion needs to be a professional umpire, not a youth camp counselor.

2. Fo’ Free, Ninja

$5 is basically free in NYC

With attendance down %9 from last year, the folks in the Yankees sales department have gone rouge, selling $5 grandstand and bleacher tickets. If a fan wants to get huge discounts, they can look to sites where season ticket holders currently have over 2000 tickets listed for sale. These happenings are curious considering the Yanks are over .500 and have shown they will compete in the AL East this year.2

3. Cards’ arms

Unless you are a diehard Redbirds fan, you probably don’t realize exactly how stacked they are with young arms in their farm system. Southpaw John Gast has nearly gone 30 innings in the PCL without giving up an earned run, and they also have another MLB ready arm on that team. RHP Mike Wacha has K’d 40 in just 21 innings of work. Both of these guys can help the Cardinals in their only weak area, the bullpen.

4. Astros’ Plan

The Astros may be garbage, but so far their sabermetric numbers are in line with the plan they laid out when building this formidable team. Besides playing Carlos Pena everyday, their is a young player developing at each offensive position. They have huge gaping holes in their pitching staff, but if they can string this area together and wait on a few more prospects to join the youngest offense in the MLB, they could start winning some games.

5. You sound like idiots

An MLB player, especially a slumping one, should spend no time caring about Twitter haters.

In more Twitter news, Jay Bruce took to the social network to express his distaste towards fans who have been harsh on him for his slow start. After putting out only one HR in April he should eliminate any focus he currently wastes on Twitter.

6. Eliminate the postseason?

Soccer fan and baseball guru Billy Beane, twice a victim of the playoffs himself, proposes a crazy idea to eliminate the MLB postseason. In a recent column, he eventually backs off this notion that would crown a champion after the regular season, but also emphasizes there could be a structure where the best team after 162 games gets crowned somehow. The problem with making baseball like some European soccer leagues is, in those leagues there is a separate tournament each year that decides the best team in Europe. Baseball has no event comparable to this.

7. They are serious

Rays ace David Price got very familiar with Rockies 3B Nolan Arendo’s offensive skill set in their series this weekend. The Rockies didn’t think they had much of a chance to compete this year. This notion was wrong, especially with healthy Tulo and Carlos Gonzalez swinging in the Rocky Mountain air. Now, they are desperately trying to add the type of pitching that carries a playoff bound squad through the ups and downs of a 162 game season. In a financially bold move, they called up Nolan Arenado before the super-two deadline, costing them a season of arbitration on the organizations top prospect. This was a good move though. A fast start needs more fuel, and it shuts up the haters in Colorado who are critical of ownership for being stingy.

8. Anxiety

The NBA has already shown us a case of mental health becoming a serious issue between an athlete and his team. Royce White was suspended and fined by the Rockets for breach of contract, not showing up to work because of anxiety. Braves P Luis Ayala and their medical staff/management have handled his anxiety situation much better, placing him on the 15-day DL. Athletes appear as heroes and invincible, but their mind is just as fragile as others.

9. Tripped on a suitcase

The baseball Gods are serious about their sport, and their judgement is harsh and swift. What have the Dodgers done?

The Dodgers obviously did something to displease the baseball Gods. They looked pretty good on paper to start the season but the case can be made for some pretty unfortunate luck around there. Greinke broke his collarbone in a semi-brawl. Adrian Gonzalez injured himself running into an umpire. An to top it off, Jerry Hairston Jr. required stitches on a gash inflicted upon him by a desk after he tripped on a suitcase.

Numbers game

200

Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson recorded his 200th win this week, in a feat that may not be repeated again any time soon. As the 110th pitcher to achieve this mark, Hudson is in a far more elite club than those who have thrown a no-hitter (236). The short list of current pitchers who could join him stops after C.C. Sabathia, Justin Verlander, and Clayton Kershaw, assuming health.

4.62

The Rays pen is blowing leads left and right.

ERA of the Tampa Bay Rays bullpen this season (as of last Wed). The pen is last in the AL in this category after leading the AL last season with a 2.88 mark. Lacking a stellar offense, the Rays are in big trouble if they continue to blow middle and late game leads.

316,567

Total feet of HR hit in the MLB in April from ESPN.

Player watch

Pirates SNL spoof

Yasiel Puig

Recently caught going 97mph in a 50 zone by police in Tennessee, he may have had a rude welcome to America. His bat could cause its own rude welcome in the NL West when he finally arrives. Piug’s bat is more than ready for the Bigs, and he recently mashed his 4th HR after a stint on the DL. He could be up in the League around the same time as Wil Meyers, after the Super-2 date passes.

Brandon Crawford

We saw that his glove was legit and offense was there last year in the postseason for the World Champion Giants. This confidence may have propelled him to the next level of his career. His .271 avg and 5 bombs through 28 games are numbers I will take from any ++ defensive SS.

World Series trophy, 1988

Each week featuring a World Series trophy to make you want it more.

3-Hot

1. Cardinals

2. Tigers

3. Royals

3-Not

1. Brewers

2. Mets

3. Angels

MLB Double Cut: A weekly recap featuring unique stories and a look at the numbers.

Can Matt Harvey survive the combined pressure of New York City and the daunting line ups of the NL East?

The Starting Line-Up:

1. Reviews are getting weird

The home run ball in question landed on the top left corner of the building, over the foul pole.

The gentlemen game of both parties (manager and umpire) agreeing that a home run call should be reviewed has got to go. In Tuesday night’s Brewers v Padres game, the Blus decided a home run call was not worthy of review. This shouldn’t be the case, managers need a way they can challenge no matter what the umpire thinks. Shouldn’t this be obvious?

2. Olympics? Pshh

Either MLB commish Bud Selig has a huge ego, or the Olympics have lost its luster. In a recent interview the commissioner reiterated he could not potentially stop the season in August to let the best players in the world play in the Olympics. Something here is amiss. The Olympics, although incredibly impractical in terms of scheduling, seems like a huge chance for the MLB to continue to market world wide, and brings pride to an international baseball event (unlike the WBC).

3. Roster expansion

Last year, the MLB quietly implemented a rule where teams can bring up a 26th player for double headers. The MLB season is 162 games long, why not permanently implement this format?

4. In-Sanity

The marketing strategists for the major New York sports teams don’t mess around. The new golden boy, Mets Matt Harvey may be as legit as they come, but the human mind is ever-fragile. Let’s hope he is ready for the Big Apple pressure cooker, especially as the Mets run huge marketing campaigns around him.

5. Bad for morale

Josh Hamilton normally heats up, but he may not if his pride is battered.

In a very surprising move, the Halos moved slumping outfielder Josh Hamilton down from 4th to 5th in the line-up in what is on the surface an attempt to “fix him”. What is this? 14U AAU ball? The Angels are showing panic and a lack of respect for one of their best players. And this happened coming off of a three game sweep of the defending AL Champion Tigers.

6. Thanks for your injury

As weird as it may seem, some Nationals fans are happy 3B Ryan Zimmerman went down with an extended injury. This gives prospect Anthony Rendon a chance to show his skill set. At least defensively, many think Rendon is the future and Zimmerman should move to 1st base. Time to find out.

7. Yeah. That’s the rule.

Loyal Double Cut readers remember Brewer’s SS Jean Segura’s steal of first base from last week’s article. As it turns out, these antics aren’t allowed by the rules. For you junkies out there, rule 7:01  should have been applied. It states: once the pitcher assumes his throwing position after the runner has reached safely at a base, he can’t return to the previous base. The umps from that game stated rule 7:08 which roughly allows for runners to return to a base when they’ve been fooled by fielders.

8. Time for a coup

Jose Fernandez and his teammates down in Miami are only playing for personal pride and salary at this point.

Marlins owner Jeffery Loria has enraged his Triple-A team down in Miami by personally tinkering with the pitching rotation for a double header. Normally, the veteran player chooses, but Loria wanted his 20 year old Jose Fernandez to pitch in the warmer day game. This move pissed off the players, and put his manager of only 20 games in a horrible spot where he had to choose between his boss and his team. Jeffery Loria is a joke.

9. We didn’t really mean that…

Apparently the Yankee’s aren’t planning on staying below a $189 million payroll for next season as they have previously expressed as a goal (this would keep them from paying luxury tax). Besides a few misjudged factors in the new CBA where the Yankees were planning to save some major dollars, the risk of the long term financial impact on a losing Yankees Empire outweighs the short term outlook.

By the Numbers:

100,000

Aroldis Chapman and company are keeping Reds fans full of pizza.

Dollars and counting. The Reds have cost a local pizza chain running a promotion this season where if the Reds pitchers record 11 Ks, each ticket stub bearing fan receives a free pizza pie. At $6.75 a pop, these hurlers are really hurting this pizza joint’s pocket book. Monday marked the 5th home game in a row, and 6th time this season the Cincy staff achieved this 11K mark. Ouch.

2011

Last time Fausto Carmona, now known as Roberto Hernandez recorded an MLB win. Aging five years in one off season isn’t all that bad…

23 & 26

Degrees in temperature during a Colorado double dip where Justin Upton homered twice, once in each game. Cold weather can’t stop his hot streak.

12-0

Dustin Pedroia and the Sox have an early and often approach.

Boston Red Sox record when scoring first this season. Get a lead and make it stick.

440

Length in feet of a homerun ball crushed by Fins OF Giancarlo Stanton. His first blast of the year clears the scoreboard:

Player Watch

Fernando Rodney

Last season was a huge outlier in an otherwise mediocre career so far for Rodney. Don’t expect the statistical gurus down in Tampa to stick with Rodney much longer if he continues giving up the long ball.

Tony Wolters

At the end of Spring Training, Indians skipper Terry Francona approached Wolters with the idea of a position change to catcher. Besides dead legs, his transition to catching is going well, and his potential opportunities are much better off considering some young depth within the Indians middle infield.

3-Hot:

1. Red Sox

2. Brewers

3. Orioles

3-Not: 

1. Blue Jays

2. A’s

3. Mets

Unique stories from last week in baseball, and a look forward.

Check back each week for interesting and unique baseball stories.

The Starting Line Up

1. Harper v. Trout

Fans and bloggers love debates like this. Expect these two to continue to push each other. Harper’s teammates hint to the press he is out to prove he is better than ROY counterpart Mike Trout.

2. David Price

If the Rays aren’t looking too hot in the standings in the next couple months, look for Price to be gone.

Traded. This season. Even now. Yes, Rays fans, Price being traded as early as now or sometime this season is a strong possibility. The Cardinals made it pretty far in the playoffs last season without a true ace like Price. They have plenty of prospects to basically outbid any other team for Prices services in a trade. Other teams are also lining up for a shot at getting last years Cy Young winner. Optimists: GM Andrew Friedman has expressed a possibility of keeping Price, but he is already making over $10 million this year in a back loaded deal.

3. We speak American. This is ‘merica.

A highly debated topic lately is Spanish speaking in our schools here in America. One unprofessional umpire tried taking matters into his own hands. An Albuquerque high school baseball team was threatened with widescale ejections in the event they kept speaking Spanish on the field. Sports should speak a universal language, leave the bigotry at home, Blu.

4. A steal of first base

This one is pretty hard to explain. Brew-Crew SS Jean Segura steals second. Ryan Braun walks. A double steal attempt is botched. Braun gets called out. Segura thinks he is out. Segura begins running towards the dugout, but at some point scurries into 1st base because he realizes he is not out. And this is all legal within the rules.

5. Evolving skill set

Jason Giambi and Miguel Tejada both acknowledge they are shells of the players they used to be. In my opinion, not even deserving of roster spots purely based on current baseball skill and future potential. This doesn’t negate their value as veteran leaders. Any and all of a teams 25 roster spots are extremely valuable. Team leadership and chemistry are obviously something being emphasized by some general managers.

6. It’s always snowy in Colorado

A lonely fan made himself a snowman friend in Colorado during multiple snow delays. The Mets and Rockies did eventually play a double header, and the snowman was comfy in hat, glasses, and a shirt.

Stylish snowman this Rockies fan built.

7. Peanuts and Redbull

What do these two edible items have to do with each other? Nothing besides hilarity.

Braves RP Luis Avilan is expected to miss time with a strained hamstring. This injury happened while he was pitching on Red Bull and cramped. Energy drinks aren’t an uncommon practice among athletes, but moderation could do some good.

A fan took former Tigers utility man Brandon Inge to the verge of violence by heckling and throwing peanuts at him during a game in Triple-A Toledo. Teammates had to be restrained from jumping over the railing to go after the fan, who managed to also throw some beer while being escorted out of the stadium.

8. Jackie Robinson’s spirit still alive today

Diamondbacks hitting coach Don Baylor was one of the first three black students at his highschool in Austin, Texas. Baylor is thankful for the lessons he learned from Robinson. At Baylor’s school, both students and teachers were hard on both him and two other African-American students who made the leap with him, often calling him the N-word and seeing how far they could push to get him to break. Read the full story.

9. Watch out for April

Are the A’s really this good, or just playing a favorable early schedule?

Stat junkies can be driven insane in April when trying to use this month as a future predictor. There is little consistency and sample size is limited.  For players, the two sides of the spectrum here, either: he is having a breakout season…or he is going to regress back to normal. Point is, it is way too early to make any judgements on players or teams. Okay, maybe we know how bad the Marlins and Astros are, but for most teams it is still way too early to really know exactly what you’ve got. The Pirates and Giants are good examples of early season sample size last year, look where they ended up.

P: Cardinals starting rotation

Are pitching fired up so far this season. Besides a couple of outlier performances from Jamie Garcia, they have been lights out, carrying the Red Birds. Wainwright feels he needs to earn the almost $100 million dollars on his contract. Garcia wants respect and to show he’s healthy. Lynn wants to show he can be a pro. Westbrook wants to fit in with the good talent, and improve on an average career so far. And Miller, their 5, doesn’t want to go back to Triple-A.

Numbers game

9 minutes

Time it took for the Phillies and Reds to settle a rained postponed contest on Tuesday night. The Reds singled home the winning run with the bases loaded after only 4 batters and 9 minutes.

%44.4

Molina is a pitchers best friend, turning over %44.4 of competitive fastballs low in the zone into strikes.

Of competitive fastballs low in the zone that Jose Molina turns into called strikes. A huge reason he will remain in the Rays lineup with his offensive and running skills nearly non-existent.

8UA

That is, 8 unassisted. Otherwise known as an unassisted double play from the center fielder. Rays Desmond Jennings pulled this off in Saturday nights victory.

0-49 

Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn makes a pretty good case for the DH in the NL, as he chases teammate Chris Carpenter’s team record for hitless at bats in a row. Lynn actually only has three total hits in his whole career.  

Player Watch

Hiram Burgos

Hiram Burgos has pitched for the Puerto Rico national team and he is fun to watch.

Made his MLB debut starting his first game pitching for the Brewers. He tossed five innings, only allowing one run.  Afterwards, he was trolled by teammates with a bevy of ‘first’ items. First towel sat on, first change up bounced, second foul ball (first fan wouldn’t give it up), etc.

Alex Rodriguez

Isn’t it obvious by now? This dude is as weird as they come. Again, he is linked to a high stakes poker ring that the feds have warned him time and time again for being a part of. He reportedly has a centaur of himself in his home, he allows odd photographs to be taken, he allegedly had clubhouse attendant put toothpaste on his toothbrush for him, he allegedly brings his own cooler of food to restaurants, and anonymous Yankees teammates say he was weirdly obsessed with Derek Jeter, even asking females at nightclubs: ‘Who is hotter, me or Jeter?’

Ben Revere

Goes for an adventure in CF.

A.J. Griffin

The A’s starter stimeyed the Angels last week, holding them to one run. He is also projected to have an 2.25 ERA at the end of the season if he projects like he has thrown in his first 3 games.

3-Hot

The Red Sox aren’t going away this year in the AL East.

1. Rockies

2. Red Sox

3. Brewers

3-Not

1. Dodgers

2. Tigers

3. Blue Jays