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The world just learned of the Astros’ cheating. Inside baseball, it was an open secret. This article from the Washington Post advances the discussion, I think. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/mlb/astros-cheating-open-secret/2020/02/11/1830154c-4c41-11ea-9b5c-eac5b16dafaa_story.html Before the World Series, several Dodgers reached out to Brian Dozier, for example. The fans can keep Astro players out of the All-Star game, as a start. As for Marwin, I think we may be demanding a level of heroics that few of us could achieve.

In 2017 Marwin Gonzalez had 20 walks and 69 SO at home, but 29 walks and 38 SO on the road. He was a better hitter on the road, for what it's worth.

Julien apparently had Tommy John surgery in September.

He failed during his show me contract, especially the last two months after he was traded to a contender. Oakland's biggest need next year is supposedly relief pitching and they didn't resign him (what was the mutual option?). I wouldn't pay him more than Romo, and he should be available for much less than $4 million. He will probably go to Driveline or somewhere this winter, and maybe there will be good reports. But I wouldn't conclude that the Twins should be locked in on him.

The title game is being streamed live now on mlb. Dakota Chalmers struck out the side in first inning. Lewis struck out in top of first. Raley was just hit by pitch.

Duran got an exciting review today by BPro's Prospect staff. The first sentence: "You won’t find many pitchers jump in prospect rankings as much as 6-foot-5 right hander Jhoan Duran will this offseason." The last sentence: The athletic body, the mound presence, how he attacks the zone, and the nasty repertoire all combined looks like a No. 2 starter, or better. – Keanan Lamb

Bauer is a friend of Berrios and has a good relationship with Falvey, apparently. I think he would be a good asset and fit in well. I doubt he will be traded to the Twins though.

I was one of several posters who believed Brian had the potential to contribute to the Twins as a third or fourth catcher who could be called up. His minor league hitting stats shouldn't be compared to those who come from college. Last year he was somewhat comparable to Drew Butera for his age. If only he could have drawn some walks. I think this move says more about Jeffries (I posted a scouting report from BPro a month ago that thought Jeffries was a top 10 minor league catcher) than Brian. I hope his first base-winning hit against the Twins is not in an important game.

Keanan Lamb's review of the Florida State All-Star game in BPro had this to say about Jeffers, in part: With a large frame that’s an excellent target for pitchers, apt receiving abilities and above-average arm, he is the rare catching prospect that blends both offensive and defensive upside. Positionally speaking, he should be considered as one of the top ten catching prospects in the minors with a continued strong 2019 campaign. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/article/50909/notes-from-the-field-the-florida-state-league-all-star-game/

I wonder if the Auburn players in the NCAA tournament have anything to do with the delay. There is Will Holland at 5, and Julien (who broke Frank Thomas' RBI record at Auburn last year, but regressed this year). The Auburn coach believes Julien "will have an interesting decision to make".

I think their secret plan is to convert most of the SS into SP.

BPro article today: Expanding the Zone: Examining 2019 College Pitcher Workloads. Of the 10 pitchers, only Matt Canterino and Nick Lodolo have been used as starters in nearly all of their three seasons. Portion of games where pitcher had over 110 pitches: Canterino 12% 2017, 12% 2018, 13% 2019. For 2019, Manoah was at 44%, Jameson 38%, Thompson and Kirby 29%. Games in which a pitcher was not provided enough rest for the length of his outing, Pitch Smart Violations per game: Manoah 25%,Jameson 25%, Canterino 0% (6 and 12% in 2017 and 2018).

Robert Arthur had two articles in BPro concluding that the baseball has become less air resistant, just as it did in 2017, and now hundreds of long fly balls that might have died in the outfield are crossing the fences instead. He measures the air resistance of the baseball using pitch-tracking data. Tiny differences in air resistance multiply into five- or ten-foot changes in fly-ball distance.

I suspect that it primarily because of the shifts against the left-handed hitters. Willians seems perfectly adequate as a traditional third baseman, but I think the Twins are more comfortable with Marwin covering the entire left side of the infield. It is interesting the Astudillo played mostly LF and no RF in winter league. I imagine the Twins have some influence over his defensive position in winter league.

Marwin is now something like 10 for 20 against Kluber. And I like him on the left side during the shifts. Allowing Rogers to pitch the 9th, instead of the automatic closer, was a nice move. Maybe we can avoid the bloated bullpen and still keep relievers fresh.

‘I can’t afford to play this game’: Minor-leaguers open up about the realities of their pay, and its impact on their lives. This is the title of the article by Emily Walden. I wouldn't be surprised if they opened the paywall on this article: https://theathletic.com/830452/2019/03/15/i-cant-afford-to-play-this-game-minor-leaguers-open-up-about-the-realities-of-their-pay-and-its-impact-on-their-lives/ Some more excerpts: Welcome to Spring Training Players are not paid during spring training. From February until late March, the only money reaching the players’ hands is for meals. While the process varies slightly from team to team, the amount of meal money you receive is dependent upon whether you’re starting spring training in big league camp, or if you fall under the early-March minor league report dates. The teams will generally provide breakfast and lunch at the complex, leaving you on your own for dinner, which, as a minor leaguer gives you around $20-30 a day for food. If you’re held over into extended spring training, this financial situation continues until you’re added to an active roster. If your next stop lands in short-season, you’re looking at June for your next paycheck. “If you stay in extended, you don’t get paid,” an AL West Low A player said. “So, I went all the way through March, April and May to mid-June with getting $20 a day.” For many minor leaguers, that long-term payout never arrives. “You know what sucks? If I don’t do well this year, I can’t afford to play anymore and I’m done,” an AL High-A player said. “I can’t stick it out an extra year. And it’s because of pay. “I can’t afford to play this game,” he continued. “I put my body on the line and I work really, really hard and I show up early and I stay up late and I might have to end my dream, because I financially can’t afford it. “To say that we’re not worth it until we’re putting on a major league uniform … why the **** are we here?”

An article in BPro on the effects of moving the pitcher's mound back two feet by Robert Arthur notes some pitchers might get better: "Consider someone like Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson, who doesn’t have premium velocity but boasts good movement on an array of five different pitches, leading to some of the best tunneling metrics in MLB. With each now darting just a little bit more, Gibson could potentially move from average to great."

Dan Hayes' article in The Athletic has a quote from Rocco: "“There’s something to just feeling good and going out on the field and having a good time,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “I don’t care if these are spring training games, what kind of games they are, he looks like he’s having fun from the time he comes in the dugout pregame until we slap him five and he goes back in. He’s obviously swung the bat really well and I think it’s a nice way to start the spring for him and he looks great.” It has a quote from a National League scout: “Impressive,” said one National League scout. “Stronger and quicker to the ball. Really looks good physically.” Jose Berrios says "I feel so happy and proud for him to watch so far what he’s doing this spring.” Hayes notes: "To make his swing less complicated, Buxton has ditched the leg kick. He said Tuesday that he decided to make the change when he wasn’t promoted to the majors last September." “Once I took the leg kick out, that put my thought process at ease,” Buxton said. “I wasn’t thinking about when I had to lower my leg, where I had to land, where my foot needed to be. All those things that goes into having that leg kick I eliminated to where it was very simple for me and all I do is step. Step and see the ball.” Buxton is confident in the work he put in over the winter. He also feels like the more reps he gets, the more he will learn about his altered, simple approach.

Dan Hayes has reported that the Twins graded Willians a tick above average in pitch framing last September, and are otherwise impressed with his agility and ability to block pitches.

For some reason the manager of Houston said in an interview prior to one of the playoff games last year that Gonzalez was their team's best defensive player at all four infield positions.

Career numbers at SS from Total Zone Fielding Runs Above Average per 1200 innings (Baseball Ref): Adrianza -9 Polanco -12 Gonzalez -1

He made John Sickels fantasy orientated prospect list today at #100: "could advance more rapidly than many players with more press".

According to Jayson Stark: The union is said to have offered two new ideas: 1) All 30 teams would be required to expand rosters to 28 in September. Roster expansion is now optional. 2) All teams also would be required to add four minor leaguers to the rosters after the conclusion of the minor-league playoffs — and since that would increase the total number to more than 28, each team would have to announce a 28-man “active” roster for every game from Sept. 1 on, similar to the way NFL teams must announce “actives” and “inactives” before games. Starting pitchers could not be part of those inactives, according to the latest proposal.

Some numbers from BPro's new offensive metric, Deserved Runs Created + (100 is average). fwiw AAA, 2018: Reed 139 Cave 108 Wade 102 Granite 79 (but 114 in 2017) Astudillo 126 Sano 128 For 2018 MLB: Astudillo 127 Escobar 114 Rosario 113 Kepler 111 Austin 100 Mauer 97 Polanco 97 Cave 90 Schoop 82 Sano 77 Buxton 57

It was reported that Houston was willing to sign Perez, though I don't think it was mentioned what sort of deal was considered. With Houston having MLB's best pitcher development program, it does suggest that Perez has something to work with. Good to see your Morton/Gibson comparison. Collin McHugh was picked up by Houston on waivers. Maybe there is reason to be hopeful about the Perez signing.