Baseball Chatter 02/07

 

Jim Bowden says Trea Turner is this years Mookie Betts..

 Listen in:

RHP Shawn Kelley and RHP Blake Treinen are currently the Nationals closer options. The bullpen also includes LHP Sammy Solis and LHP Oliver Perez, with the remaining three spots somewhat up for grabs, and the Nats are still discussing a  trade with the White Sox for David Robertson.

Jacoby Jones will focus on center field during spring training, but he remains versatile enough to play second, short and third

The Nationals’ payroll dropped from fifth highest in the majors in 2015, to 11th in ‘2016, Their Opening Day payroll for 2017 currently projects to $153 million, 13th highest in the majors and fifth in the NL

The Yankees explored trades for several high-priced veterans this winter, and “let some clubs know” Starlin Castro was available.

Justin Upton was the Tigers No. 2 hitter to start last season. He was moved down to seventh in the order as he struggled through the summer to get on base. Manager Brad Ausmus might have some reservations about plugging Upton back into the second spot,but he seems like the best option to hit between Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera. Jose Iglesias or Nick Castellanos are other options but both also struggle to get on base. Upton entered 2016 with a career .352 OBP over nine seasons.

Gary Sanchez hit 20 home runs in 53 games, including 13 flying further than 400 feet.

Phillies Pitchers:

  • Mark Appel – It’s a make-or-break season for the former No. 1-overall pick. He needs to show progress at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
  • Clay Buchholz  changed his arm slot last July and the results were favorable. The Phillies are paying him $13.5 million
  • Jerad Eickhoff  had a 3.44 ERA in his first 41 career Phillies starts, a mark bested only by Bruce Ruffin (3.19) in the last 30 years.
  • Jeremy Hellickson -Batters whiffed at a higher rate (48 percent) than any other changeup in baseball
  • Joe Ross, Aaron Sanchez, Luis Perdomo, and Zach Eflin all threw their fastball at the first primary pitch over 88 percent of the time, and Juan Nicasio 97 percent of the time.
  • Hector Neris threw his splitter 49 percent of the time in his breakout season, which was more than any other pitcher in baseball. It is a tremendous pitch. But can his elbow handle that strain?

Batting principles are basic: stay square, stay balanced, stay relaxed, and get the ball in the air,  and although it is often at odds with much of conventional wisdom, the optimum swing plane is an uppercut. Justin Turner and Marlon Byrd reach new levels of performance.changing their swing. Others, like J.D. Martinez and Josh Donaldson have found success through a similar philosophy based largely on getting balls in the air

Of the eight players with 40 home runs last year, only Nolan Arenado posted a lower strikeout rate (14.8 percent) than Edwin Encarnacion

The Rays still want to add a hitter before camp opens, and Matt Wieters is still among those they might be looking at. Come on already Tampa.

Do not confuse the Rays with the Reds, Brewers or any other rebuilding club with zero designs on contention. As I have said on many podcasts,

Tampa Bay is putting together a team that could emerge as a surprise contender.

FanGraphs currently projects the Rays to finish tied for third with the Yankees in the AL East at 82-80 — and another addition or two could push that projection higher.

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