Other Baseball

Here's how he did in his first professional appearance. Fan who signed with A's, Nathan Patterson, strikes out side in minor league debut https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/athletics/2019/08/18/mlb-nathan-patterson-fans-three-oakland-as-minor-league-debut/2047016001/

I almost put this in the milb section and then realized this is really the place to post. We all know there are changes to the manufacturing of the actual baseball used at the ML level this season. In fact, the MLB powers that be have stated veiled but semi-bluntly, that they recognize there is a change. And this has brought about a sort of X Files conspiracy as to a change. Except for 2 arguments against such a conspiracy. One is again, an almost open admission that something is different, including early opinions that technology has allowed the central "pill" of the baseball to be placed more perfect than before. Actually makes some sense to me. The second, and des…

Posted this on Twitter...while it concerns the Twins, it's not really about the Twins, and while it concerns non-sports, it is about baseball, so I figured this was the best spot: https://twitter.com/biggentleben/status/1159118241823899649 And a wrapup after the game: https://twitter.com/biggentleben/status/1159222451462713346

Reds nabbed him. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/08/reds-claim-kevin-gausman-waivers-braves.html I'm surprised but looks like the Reds are grabbing a lot of upside arms for next year as well. Gausman's season was brutal but he could be a reclamation project.

May have to embrace my new home state and be an Astros fan. Their rotation is unbeatable and they're not AFRAID to make impact trades every year.

He was 34 years old. Rest in peace tall guy.

Per Jeff Passan... I figured this one deserved its own thread.

Did someone leave the stove on?? Because it's HEATING UP!

They've had a couple of interesting pitching incidents of late... I think the rule breaking is a bit overblown, but it is interesting (and I'm surprised given our BP situation that we haven't tried it) First, they basically had a position player lobbing in 55 MPH pitches in a blow out, taking a loss. I don't mind personally there, it happens when you're out of guys. We've had players do it, but nothing quite as blatant as that. Second, yesterday they moved their RP to 1B after he got his out and brought in a second reliever. They forfeited their DH in the process. Used the second reliever to get an out and then swapped their pitchers again. Of course Angel Hernandez …

Yikes. https://beta.ctvnews.ca/local/montreal/2019/7/19/1_4515192.html

I'm not sure if this has been posted yet or not but the MLB is contemplating some changes to the game. http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26190498/robot-umps-shift-ban-coming-atlantic-league • Using a TrackMan radar system to help umpires call balls and strikes • Extending the distance between the pitching rubber from 60 feet, 6 inches to 62 feet, 6 inches in the second half of the season • Mandating that two infielders are on each side of the second-base bag when a pitch is released, with the penalty being a ball • A three-batter minimum for pitchers -- a rule MLB and the MLB Players Association are considering for the 2020 season as they near an agreement on a sma…

Not the guy most of us wanted, but the dominoes are beginning to fall... https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/07/red-sox-acquire-andrew-cashner.html

A few weeks ago as comment to a story here, I messaged and asked if anyone thought that all these home runs are having a negative impact on the integrity of the game. Why? Because with everybody and his brother hitting them out of the park at a record rate, how can you possibly justify players of today smashing records and setting them for baseball history when you're comparing their performance and stats to generation upon generation in MLB that didn't use a juiced ball? So let's say Yelich, Alonso, Encarcion or 10 or 12 other guys hit 50, maybe even 60 or more. So forget everyone who came before--Ruth, Greenberg, Aaron, even Maris with his asterisk, and how that might b…

[i started a tangent in a thread about Twins prospect Kai-Wei Teng, and decided to split off the discussion to a non-Twins thread instead. ] I saw an intriguing study this week that showed UCL injury correlates more to Body Mass Index than to pitch velocity or age or number of pitches thrown. The study did not suggest anything more than correlation, nor what to do about it. Worrisome, in any case. https://community.fangraphs.com/an-analysis-of-the-relationship-between-pitcher-size-and-ucl-tears/

Keuchel made his Atlanta debut last Friday 6/21. 5IP 8H 4R 3ER 1HR 3SO and 2 hit batters If you were expecting him to come in and be lights out immediately it didn't happen. Pretty sure he still needs to knock some rust off but after 1 start Twins fans can get that type of production out of Pineda.

I started a new site, with a heavy focus on scouting reports of minor leaguers, but the intent is to host all of my baseball writing currently. Feel free to check things out and feel free to let me know what you think! http://videobaseballscout.com

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/06/rays-to-promote-brendan-mckay.html I remember him being discussed as the possible #1 pick (possibly here?) when the Twins took Royce Lewis. McKay ended up going #4 to Tampa and, being a college kid, advanced through the ranks pretty quickly. Kyle Wright went to Atlanta at #5 and has also made his MLB debut this year on the mound. Hunter Greene, the #2 pick is unfortunately out for the year with TJ surgery. No regrets on taking Lewis, I just find it notable that a couple of guys from Royce's class (albeit college guys) are getting their feet wet already at the MLB level.

... for hitting the first European MLB home run. Man, he has that AL East "bulked up" look to him, doesn't he? https://thebiglead.com/2019/06/29/yankees-home-run-london-aaron-hicks/

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/angels-designate-alex-meyer-for-assignment.html That trade didn’t really work for anyone, Nats, Twins, or Angels did it?

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/07/building-the-next-babe-ruth/590641/ Great article. Here are some tasters: "In the mvp machine: How Baseball’s New Nonconformists Are Using Data to Build Better Players, Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik set out to introduce the world to what they herald as yet another revolution, which represents a synthesis of sorts. Writers at The Ringer and FiveThirtyEight, respectively, they are at once steeped in advanced analytics and fixated on player improvement. As their subtitle indicates, they explore a growing movement within baseball to use statistical metrics, biomechanical data, and cutting-edge forms of player …

I'm doing a series of tutorial videos on how to use Baseball Savant, and will update this thread each time I publish a new episode. This was a project I was originally going to only share with community of the Twins Daily writers, but I decided to share them on YouTube so anybody interested could check them out. The main goal is to walk though how the site works, but I will be taking a more Twins-focused approach through everything. The first episode is on what's available in the site's Gamefeed. I love having this up and seeing the data in real time as a game is unfolding.

at an amusement park in DR.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/06/angels-designate-cody-allen-for-assignment.html Hmmm. I though he should have been the Twins #1 target this past offseason. I’m glad nobody listens to me when it comes to baseball decisions.

He's having a great season for the D-backs. One of my favorite Twins. .294 17 HR .928 OPS.

The St. Paul Saints will look to win the three-game series against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks on Thursday night at CHS Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on what is shaping up to be a beautiful night in St. Paul. Read more at the Minnesota Sports Hub

The Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks took advantage of a four-run ninth inning to down the St. Paul Saints at CHS Field, evening the three-game series at one game apiece. Read more at the Minnesota Sports Hub.

While a lot of the angst over the bunt against the shift the other day focused on Berrios's none no hitter, the unwritten rules of the game, and Dozier's somewhat confusing statement (see attached) on the bunt in that situation, the actual question of bunting against the shift remains. I always wondered, why not? At the same time I heard pundits like Dan Gladden question it, because you give up the chance for an extra base hit. Supposedly. In theory Danno is correct, in practice it's not that clear. The shift's intent is to prelude not only the extra base hit, but any base hit. The shift is effective in keeping runners off base, and of course producing outs. But it…

No details yet, but Ken Rosenthal is saying that Craig Kimbrel has a deal with the Cubs: https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1136431087104798720 How are you doing? Will you be OK... Support Group needed?

Of the 3 listed which would you rather choose the Twins pick up soon to get someone to handle closing duties. Ken Giles can be controlled through 2021, Will Smith through 2020, and Kimbrel most likely will be trying to get at least 3 years.

I don't want to read through the MLB rules for this so here goes: What prevents a team from drafting a player, signing them to an ultra low bonus, and then paying them a higher wage in the minors? This subverts the bonus pool system but still compensates the player. Agents might be wary but teams have been pushing the slot bonus rules for their whole existence.