We're all happy baseball officially started yesterday, but unless you like to watch pitchers take fielding practice there isn't much happening these first few days. All 38 pitchers and catchers reported for workouts today, with 13 of the 21 position players also showing their faces according to Mark Topkin. He provides some pictures from the workouts which you can find here. You'll notice Jose Molina is featured a lot in the photos, once first bumping Matt Bush and another giving some tips to Jeff "The Big Nyquil" Niemann. He was brought in for what he can do behind the plate and if today is any indication he's already showing off those skills.
Now, if only there were actual games to report on, then it'd really be exciting.
- On MLB.com Bill Chastain gives a rundown of the Matt Moore story, recapping how the kid from nowhere New Mexico rises to the top of baseball's prospect leader boards. He buries the lede in not talking about Moore's place in the rotation until the 18th paragraph since the piece is titled "Moore in mix, but may not land spot in rotation." With the extension he signed I don't see any way the team can justify keeping him in the minors. There are no arbitration games to play and he's currently better than either Wade Davis or Jeff Niemann. Speaking of Moore and the rotation, Steve had a nice write up of the situation on FanGraphs.
- Joe Maddon always gives some sort of motivational speech on the first day of workouts. His message this year? Keep the momentum going from 2011. From mlb.com:
"We've created a lot of offseason momentum," Maddon said. "... With that, I really would like to see a high-energy Spring Training. I think if we just go through the motions, it's going to diminish our chances of getting off to a good start. I think if we get after it, we have a good chance for a good start, which I think is really important."
A better start than 0-6 would be nice.
- Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the classic Simpsons' episode "Homer At The Bat" and over at Erik Malinowski has a beautiful write up at Deadspin of what went in to making the episode. If, like me, you're a huge Simpsons nerd then you'll absolutely love it. Of course, that episode also spawned the greatest song ever created from a television show, the immortal "We're Talkin Softball." I dare you to not hum that the rest of the day. Go ahead, try.
- Boston finally received compensation from Chicago for in exchange for Theo Epstein in the form of reliever Chris Carpenter. The 26-year-old averages 95mph on his fastballs but comes with control issues. The deal also includes a player to be named later. All told, not a terrible haul for the Red Sox.
high energy = cleats-up slides against any and all ALE ST opponents
pudieron89 - February 22, 2012
approves
Jason Collette - February 22, 2012
Greatest GD ballplayer of all time
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
Something something underwear
firemangreg - February 22, 2012
Maddon on the battle at shortstop
Jason Collette - February 22, 2012
Process!
Ben Tumbling - February 22, 2012
WHY OUR THEIR KNOW GAMES???
nomoredevil - February 22, 2012
Here's hoping our season starts more like 2010 than 2011
Remember that 22-7 start guys? And then that went to 32-12? And then that went to 96-66?
benderbrodriguez - February 22, 2012
Yeah, but the Yankees gave us like 30 of those games
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
If we start 22-7 with the gauntlet we run in April ...
I’d start fitting guys for World Series rings.
Peter Piontek - February 22, 2012
Yeah that first stretch is just brutal
We don’t really face a stretch of teams expected to be under .500 until May.
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
wow that's unfortunate
benderbrodriguez - February 22, 2012
Well, I guess it evens out eventually
benderbrodriguez - February 22, 2012
It sucks that we don't get our easiest, prolonged stretch until after the ASB and close to the deadline
The team could be 7 games out at that time and still be in decent shape with that monthlong schedule of suck, but because of the deadline they may have an opportunity to flip pieces for good value. Going to be an interesting decision, but if we take care of business against the best then it won’t even matter
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
They wouldn't trade anyone anyway soooooo
SRQman - February 22, 2012
I could see Beej going if they're 10 out, another team doesn't get the pick, but they get a could player for the stretch run
I could also see Shields going if they can sell high and go into full on rape mode.
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
Already got enough of that with Lueke on the team.
SRQman - February 22, 2012
Saucy
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
13 of 21?
Wonder which position players haven’t sauntered into camp yet?!?!
Hatfield - February 22, 2012
Hak Ju Lee hasn't showed up yet.
He knows he has no chance competing versus the son of Joe Maddon.
mr. maniac - February 22, 2012
Best interview ever. (Still think it might be fake)
Hatfield - February 22, 2012
Pena, Zobrist, Lee, Coon, Feliciano, Miranda, and Salazar.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
I'd appreciate it if you would call Beej by his name.
Hatfield - February 22, 2012
hrm
internet commenter - February 22, 2012
Typical Hatefilled
DeadeyeRR - February 22, 2012
I was referring, of course, to BJ "Salazar" Upton.
Hatfield - February 22, 2012
Banned for heinous racism.
Hatfield - February 22, 2012
Very good Development
Business leaders get together to discuss the Rays
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
The business leaders have seemed like a good agent for change throughout, doesn't change the political responsibilities of Foster who's in a bind here.
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
Right
He still has a property right to protect, but if this gets a hundred more seats sold a night, I’m absolutely for it. Its also helpful that many of these characters businesses have interests that span across the bay, and can apply pressure for a regional approach.
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
+1
mr. maniac - February 22, 2012
This is actually a pretty great idea.
Hatfield - February 22, 2012
Promo schedule:
DATE OPPONENT ITEM PRESENTED BY RECEIVED BY
Fri, 4/6 Yankees Schedule Magnet RE/MAX All fans in attendance
Sun, 4/8 Yankees Raymond Cowbell Chick-fil-A First 10,000 kids 14 & under
Fri, 4/20 Twins Collectible T-Shirt #1 Tampa Bay Times First 10,000 fans
Sat, 4/21 Twins Evan Longoria Walk-off Figurine Sweetbay Supermarket First 10,000 fans
Sun, 4/22 Twins Rays Recycled Youth Hat Mosaic First 10,000 kids 14 & under
Fri, 5/4 A’s Collectible T-Shirt #2* Tampa Bay Times First 10,000 women
Sun, 5/6 A’s Joe Maddon Sunglasses Match-Up Promotions First 10,000 kids 14 & under
Fri, 5/18 Braves Collectible T-Shirt #3 Tampa Bay Times First 10,000 fans
Sun, 5/20 Braves Kyle Farnsworth Bobblehead ADVANTICA First 10,000 kids 14 & under
Fri, 6/1 Orioles Jeremy Hellickson R.O.Y. Figurine Tampa Bay Times First 10,000 fans
Sun, 6/3 Orioles Desmond Jennings Bobblehead Pepsi MAX First 10,000 kids 14 & under
Thur, 6/14 Mets Cheer Sticks First 10,000 kids 14 & under
Fri, 6/15 Marlins Joe Maddon Bobblehead Tampa Bay Times First 10,000 fans
Sat, 6/16 Marlins Drawstring Backpack MLB Network First 10,000 fans
Sun, 6/17 Marlins David Price Jersey Wallet Grow Financial First 10,000 kids 14 & under
Fri, 6/29 Tigers Zim Bear Tampa Bay Times First 10,000 fans
Sun, 7/1 Tigers James Shields Bobblehead Progress Energy & First 10,000 kids 14 & under
The Heart Gallery
Fri, 7/13 Red Sox Burst Koozie Tampa Bay Times First 10,000 fans
Sun, 7/15 Red Sox Rays Ice Cream Bowl & Spoon Set First 10,000 kids 14 & under
Thur, 7/19 Indians Cheer Sticks First 10,000 kids 14 & under
Fri, 7/20 Mariners Collectible T-Shirt #4 Tampa Bay Times First 10,000 fans
Sun, 7/22 Mariners Matt Moore Bobblehead First 10,000 kids 14 & under
Fri, 8/3 Orioles Collectible T-Shirt #5 Tampa Bay Times First 10,000 fans
Sun, 8/5 Orioles DJ Kitty Bobblehead Chevrolet First 10,000 kids 14 & under
Thur, 8/9 Blue Jays Cheer Sticks First 10,000 kids 14 & under
Fri, 8/24 A’s Collectible T-Shirt #6 Tampa Bay Times First 10,000 fans
Fri, 9/7 Rangers Collectible T-Shirt #7 Tampa Bay Times First 10,000 fans
Sun, 9/9 Rangers Evan Longoria Mini Drum Set First 10,000 kids 14 & under
Fri, 9/21 Blue Jays Collectible T-Shirt #8 Tampa Bay Times First 10,000 fans
Sun, 9/23 Blue Jays TBD Bobblehead First 10,000 kids 14 & under
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
Some awesome stuff
But are we actually giving away the other teams shirt?!?!
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
not sure if serious
Sveet - February 22, 2012
nevermind...totally misread that
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
Oh wow.
Hatfield - February 22, 2012
Still think it would help attendance more if they offered the bobbleheads to all fans
Sveet - February 22, 2012
Why
Giving it to kids requires you to buy two tickets
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
it also requires that you have kids
Sveet - February 22, 2012
Well they only give away 10k of them
And pretty much always run out. I think it would make more sense to mint 20k of them. I trust they’ve done the market research on this one.
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
Yeah, like 20K ever show up
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
For Kotch shirt night
they did!
SRQman - February 22, 2012
Complete with pit stains?
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
I have 2 Farnsworth ones
And I beat the crap out of everybody when I have them on.
DeadeyeRR - February 22, 2012
If I had a Kotch jersey I would wear a tam and just walk around doffing it at people
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
"doffing"
Hatfield - February 22, 2012
or tried giveaways on a non-weekend maybe?
Have they announced any deals?
SRQman - February 22, 2012
This makes a lot more sense
The promos are always on days people go to the park anyways
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
Or you optimize the weekends when people are more likely to be swayed by a freebie.
Sometimes no gift is enough to get you to the park during the week.
DeadeyeRR - February 22, 2012
Could try it.
I still think they should bring back stuff like dollar hot dog night for weekdays.
SRQman - February 22, 2012
They don't want fans, you don't get it
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
Preach the truth SK!
Transplanted - February 22, 2012
Well if it costs you $10,000 and it brings in another 500 fans at $15 a ticket then why would you lose money on a daily basis?
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
.
SRQman - February 22, 2012
I love how this is one they are giving to adults as well
Sveet - February 22, 2012
omg is this for real?
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
Yes. One of the featured giveaways in the press release.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
wow
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
The Longoria walkoff figurine being the other.
Has a nice bit of in-built Sweetbay advertising. Curious if they’re the sponsor.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
Well if you look at what you posted the sponsor is Sweetbay.
SRQman - February 22, 2012
Ha, I skipped over the Sweetbay part in the presser.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
Longo was obviously excited when he looked out to right field
And remembered the vast selection of produce and everyday bargains
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
Here's the pic:
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
That figurine looks terrible
Sveet - February 22, 2012
When don't they
Transplanted - February 22, 2012
I have a fairly big collection of bobbleheads from the Rays
I do my best to remove the corporate decals when it can be accomplished without ruining the figurine.
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
Gonna have to deal with Sweetbay on this one.
SRQman - February 22, 2012
This is what Zimmer has been reduced to
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
Beat me to it.
New avatar found
DeadeyeRR - February 22, 2012
because 5k is chump change
Sveet - February 22, 2012
Spoken like a true Christian
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
Actually I just did the math wrong
Sveet - February 22, 2012
No I do.
It’s fucking annoying.
SRQman - February 22, 2012
Why they got rid of the incredibly succesful college night is anyones guess
Sveet - February 22, 2012
Like Sandy said
and has been said before, they don’t want fans it’s obvious. It’s just really annoying cause the place is more fun when it is rocking.
SRQman - February 22, 2012
First playoff game against White Sox it was like a jet engine in there since everyone had cowbells and there wasn't a blue seat in the house
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
Likely because its a liability once it actually becomes successful
Get a bunch of college kids in your business…get them drunk…what could go wrong?
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
Do they even have deals for college kids?
I know the bolts have some nice ones.
SRQman - February 22, 2012
They used to have a reduced seat to the party deck and $1 beer on Fridays
The beers were really, really small so on nights they actually pulled a crowd you spend half the game in line getting refills
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
Thursdays
but it was packed and a lot of fun and this was for a team losing 90 games a year
Sveet - February 22, 2012
Actually no it was Fridays wasn't it?
Sveet - February 22, 2012
yeah
Ryan Gilliss - February 22, 2012
Yeah, I sat up in the beach one game for dollar beers, that was the game I got a Luke Scott sucks the Cock chant going when he was in LF
Got the whole section to do it, would be nice to have it happen again. Pretty awesome that he just turned around and smirked
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
Yeah
First time I went was for the 4th of July in 2003. CC hit a walkoff 3 run homer. It was only my second devil rays game.
GomesSweetGomes - February 22, 2012
They might have last year
I forget if it was in the paper
Transplanted - February 22, 2012
Not talked about as much as Lightning deal
and most likely not every game (though different scenario) like Lightning deal.
SRQman - February 22, 2012
I don't remember if it was a weekend deal or not
Transplanted - February 22, 2012
Can't wait to get my hands on a Yankees Schedule magnet on opening day, they really know how to cater to the locals
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
Friedman says what should've been obvious:
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
that is a very good sentence
basically go out and find the best searching for a skillset at a less desirable overall need. Once everyones gets into sexy sabermetrics and defense we can go after back of the baseball card guys and finally please our idiot fan base.
Dbullsfan - February 22, 2012
I think he's being a little conservative.
The last four big additions—Pena, Damon, Scott, and Manny—aren’t defensive guys. Seems like the shift is already happening.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
He's just throwing them off the scent
Sveet - February 22, 2012
To be fair, 2 of those were DHs
Transplanted - February 22, 2012
Manny, yeah.
I think Scott will get some field time.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
Even Burrell got some field time
Not sure if that really matters given sample size
Transplanted - February 22, 2012
It doesn't. You don't need nine great defenders all the time.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
It matters
Just not that much
benderbrodriguez - February 22, 2012
A negligible amount of field time
No more than 100 innings all season, I wouldn’t expect
benderbrodriguez - February 22, 2012
and Pena isn't a bad defender
Sveet - February 22, 2012
He is lately.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
At least by the metrics that people use to say the other players are good defenders.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
I've always thought he was overrated
but he seems to do a good job with the stuff that wouldn’t’ show up in metrics. Like picking balls, etc.
Sveet - February 22, 2012
I feel like I've read this exact sentence about my main man Casey K.
Hatfield - February 22, 2012
And Freddie Freeman. And almost every first baseman.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
Even Giambi. I'm not kidding
benderbrodriguez - February 22, 2012
Like picking UP balls maybe.
DeadeyeRR - February 22, 2012
The Pena numbers:
UZR/150
2009: -6.1
2010: -3.7
2011: 0.9
DRS
2009: -6
2010: 1
2011: 3
TZL
2009: -11
2010: -4
2011: -5
FRAA
2009: -8
2010: -6.8
2011: 0.2
No idea which of those is closest to being “correct”, but I feel like if you threw it on a guy not named Pena people would say he’s average at best.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
Slightly above average is probably fair
Transplanted - February 22, 2012
I say slightly below avg is fair
Sveet - February 22, 2012
How did he get the perception of being a great defensive first baseman again?
Sveet - February 22, 2012
Aging matters
Also anti-Kotch bias
FreeZorilla - February 22, 2012
This seems to predate Kotch
Sveet - February 22, 2012
Defensive reputations die slow.
Especially at first base. Adrian Gonzalez will be called a great defender until he retires because of how good he is now.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
Teixeira is a good example
Transplanted - February 22, 2012
Good point
It’s easy to see when a great hitter drops off. It’s not easy to see when a great defender starts declining
Sveet - February 22, 2012
Depends on the position, Bartlett didn't disguise it well
FreeZorilla - February 22, 2012
I'd say the fewer opportunities the better.
So first base is ideal. Corner outfield, too.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
Same reason people advocate stuff like signing Vlad
Name Brand sells over the actual product
Transplanted - February 22, 2012
Looks like the metrics were kinder a few years ago.
He also moves around to save throws, which gives him a boost from perception.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
It's possible the scouting reports and the in-house numbers say different
But frankly, I think Kotchman was the better defender, and I don’t even think he was as good as possible thought—top five or 10 or whatever.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
Put that in your 300 word Kotch comment and smoke it, Collette!
FreeZorilla - February 22, 2012
It got cut in half in the final product:
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
.
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
Unlike, say, Jose Bautista, this does not feel like a legitimate change in true talent level.
This sentence still bugs me. If you project him higher than you did heading into 2011, than his TTL has changed. If you don’t, I think its dishonest. Sure he is likely far closer to his 2011 projection than his 2011 performance, but the TTL bar is always moving.
FreeZorilla - February 22, 2012
Also can one of you writers or editors explain this to me:
I don’t doubt its correct given the editing process, but it sure seems to me like it should be couldn’t have hurt
FreeZorilla - February 22, 2012
I've found a couple editing mistakes in the sections before the Diamondbacks preview, just seems like something you have to accept
Sandy Kazmir - February 22, 2012
Unless he's going for a weird southern thing, it should be couldn't.
Each chapter is about 8,000 words, times that by 30, divide that by two and you have your editing allotments. Mistakes are going to slip through unfortunately.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
Wasn't trying to point out an error
My grammar is awful, figured maybe it was a learning opp.
FreeZorilla - February 22, 2012
Realistically, it's hard to expect any book that large to come together so quickly without a few mistakes.
You have to be pragmatic about it.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
Agreed...
I noticed a few errors in the Extra 2% and the ESPN book that obviously had more people poring over them.
Ryan Gilliss - February 22, 2012
disagree, just get some people extraneous to the project to read it.
a different set of eyes can be incredibly helpful.
pudieron89 - February 22, 2012
trending in the right direction!
pudieron89 - February 22, 2012
Should have brought back my main man Casey K
Sveet - February 22, 2012
He doesn't even rate as a top-10 defensive 1B by most metrics.
R.J. Anderson - February 22, 2012
Blasphemy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sveet - February 22, 2012
Defense is definitely getting valued more these days.
But I think the trick is that if you want to add a player that’s good at offense, it’s very difficult to find cheap ones that can also play above average defense. The cheap offense grabs tend to be cheap because they’re less multi-faceted.
Steve Slowinski - February 22, 2012
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