DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum 2013 MLB season - less than a month until Pitchers/Catchers Report

the old thread was at 270 comments + it was still anchored on the 2012 postseason. we need a new thread for a new season.

anyways, I found this interesting on the White Sox. I knew they increased Sale's workload, but I didn't know it was as big as it was nor that it is nearly unprecedented in recent history:

Quote:

---

n more than a decade of tracking such innings jumps for young pitchers, I've never seen anything close to the increase the White Sox gave Sale, the reed-thin lefthander who converted from the bullpen to rotation and understandably faded down the stretch (3-5, 4.22 in his last nine starts). The biggest previous jumps belonged to Paul Maholm (+98 1/3 for the 2005 Pirates) and Runelvys Hernandez (+92 for the 2002 Royals).

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/new.../#ixzz2Ik20ntFh

---

Quintana also had the 3rd most IP increase from Verducci's list. A potential harbinger for their staff (I wish he used pitch count rather than IP, but oh well).

I'm actually not ready.

The NHL just started (a late start due to their own fault).
The NBA is almost unwatchable the first 41 games.....we are just passing that mark. I'm kinda getting back into it a bit (Lebron won his title, the sting of his departure is 100% gone, the Thunder are fun to watch and the Lakers suck).
The NFL is slowing down, but for us Browns fans, this is the time of year where we're most active (now until the draft).

So yes, I'm not ready to start baseball yet. I probably won't really think about it until opening day.

I took my sons out for our first weekend of playing baseball (umm, the fact that Baltimore was playing had nothing to do with me putting the football away for the weekend ). A few hours of playing catch and then a neighborhood pickup whiffle ball game.

I'm fully ready to start talking baseball

plus, KC is thinking that they are legit this year. are they? at least one place has them ranked 2nd in our division:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/no--17-roya...-222248342.html

Looking forward to it. With the Washington Nationals AAA team as the local one and catching a number of games last year, I'm looking forward to another season to watch. Almost always an enjoyable experience at the ballpark.

Looking forward to Soo Choo leading off, Chapman's 105 mph fastballs, a healthy Votto and adding to my bobblehead collection.

Also looking forward to reclaiming the championship of the Tools Of Ignorance.

the Braves will have the Upton Brothers and Heyward in the OF. that is crazy (all fast with good arms and potentail for +hitting w/ power while being young)

http://espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove12/story/_/id/8877481/braves-bring-justin-bj-upton-together

Braves: Justin Upton / Chris Johnson
D-Backs: Prado / Delgado(P) / Ahmed / Drury / Spruill (P)

I have no clue what the Diamondbacks are trying to do.

just for Big-D:
http://mlb.si.com/2013/01/24/winter-report-card-pittsburgh-pirates/?sct=hp_wr_a4&eref=sihp

Quote:

---

Preliminary grade: C. The Pirates’ winter hasn’t been a smashing success, though several of their acquisitions offer hopes of rebounding to previous form. They probably won’t contend for a playoff spot, but breaking the .500 barrier isn’t impossible given their roster, and the strength of their farm system suggests even brighter days ahead.

---

Quote:

---

though several of their acquisitions offer hopes of rebounding to previous form.

---

What previous form is that?

hey, i'm just the messenger here

Winter of wheeling and dealing adds intrigue to Cleveland Indians' spring: Paul Hoynes analysis

By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer

January 26, 2013

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- August was the cruelest month for the 2012 Indians. They went 5-24, the worst record in a calendar month in the history of a team that has been playing in the American League since 1901.

The lone bright spot was a quote by former manager Manny Acta. During a nine-game, 10-day West Coast trip, Acta, the clock running down on his managerial tenure, was asked about the team's needs for next season. Without hesitation, Acta said that solutions were needed in left field, first base and designated hitter. He added that it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a backup plan at third base as well.

The powers that be in the executive offices of Progressive Field were not thrilled with the public evaluation -- Acta refused to delve into the subject again before he was fired with six games left. But with Indians pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in two weeks, it's clear Acta wasn't too far off the mark.

Since the end of the regular season, GM Chris Antonetti has been a man in motion. A total of 19 players have been added to the 40-man roster. Twelve have come from outside the organization.

There have been changes away from the roster as well. Terry Francona was hired as manager on Oct. 8, replacing interim manager Sandy Alomar. Almost an entirely new coaching staff was hired as well, with Alomar and Mike Sarbaugh being the only holdovers.

It's been suggested that the hiring of Francona has been Antonetti's best move. It became clear last season, especially in the second half, that Acta's voice was no longer reaching the players he needed in the clubhouse. Francona has the reputation of being a players' manager. He is coming off a great run in Boston, where he led the Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007. Yet the same thing that happened to Acta last season happened to Francona in his final season in Boston when the Red Sox suffered through a historic September collapse.

So the dynamic between Francona and Indians players bears watching.

As for the problem areas that Acta identified in August, only the designated hitter has yet to be fully addressed. Here's a look at how Antonetti has re-created the Tribe roster.


• Nov. 2: Right-hander Esmil Rogers was traded to Toronto for infielder Mike Aviles and catcher/utility man Yan Gomes.

What Aviles brings: A right-handed hitter who should solve the Tribe's endless search for a capable backup to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. Aviles started 128 games at short for Boston last season. If Lonnie Chisenhall doesn't take hold of third base, Aviles can help there as well.

Francona has talked about Aviles playing a variety of positions while being in the lineup several days a week.

What Gomes brings: The Indians view him primarily as a catcher. He's a right-handed hitter who has shown power in the minors and played four positions last year for the Blue Jays.

He'll probably have trouble beating out Lou Marson for the backup catcher's job coming out of spring training, but he could be a factor later in the season.

• Nov. 30: Switch-hitter Mike McDade claimed off waivers from Toronto.

What McDade brings: The 6-1, 250-pound McDade gives the Tribe depth at DH and first base. He hit a combined 17 homers with 67 RBI at Class AAA Las Vegas and Class AA New Hampshire last year.

• Dec. 6: Selected left-handed hitting first baseman Chris McGuiness off the Texas roster in the Rule 5 draft.

What McGuiness brings: Like McDade, he provides depth at first base and DH but, if the Indians like him, they're going to have to be creative in keeping him. They can carry him on the 25-man roster all season (highly improbable) or work out a deal with Texas in which they could send him to the minors.

• Dec. 11: The Indians, in a three-team deal with Arizona and Cincinnati, acquired Drew Stubbs from the Reds for Shin-Soo Choo, Jason Donald and $3.5 million, while acquiring Trevor Bauer, Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw from Arizona for Tony Sipp and Lars Anderson.

What Stubbs brings: The addition of Stubbs, yet another right-handed hitter, filled the vacancy in left field. Just who fills that, Stubbs or Michael Brantley, hasn't been announced, but one of them will. Last season, the Indians used nine players in left: Russ Canzler, Ezequiel Carrera, Aaron Cunningham, Johnny Damon, Donald, Shelley Duncan, Brent Lillibridge, Thomas Neal and Vinny Rottino.

Stubbs brings strikeouts and power as well. He's hit 54 homers in the last three years. The Indians hit 136 homers last season, their second-fewest in the last 20 years.

What Bauer brings: Acta never said anything about starting pitching on that day in August because there was no need. It was awful and everyone from owner Paul Dolan to the night watchman in the players' parking lot at Progressive Field knew it.

Bauer might be a flake. He certainly didn't make a good impression with the Diamondbacks even though they took him with the third pick in the country in the 2011 draft, but he's young and has a strong right arm. As starters go, those are in short supply with the Indians.

If nothing else, it's going to be fun watching him throw long toss at 400 feet.

What Albers and Shaw bring: They're two right-handers who should make the bullpen, which has sprouted a few holes due to Antonetti's wheeling and dealing.

• Dec. 18: First baseman Mark Reynolds signs a one-year, $6 million deal.

What Reynolds brings: He's a pure dose of power and strikeouts from the right side. Francona will have a much more-balanced lineup to face left-handed starters than Acta did. Left-handed starters were 35-18 against the Tribe last year. Only the Mets lost more games (38) to lefties.

It's no accident that Reynolds, Aviles, Gomes and Stubbs hit from the right side. The Indians, with a lineup dominated by lefties, hit .234 against lefties last year.

• Jan. 3: Switch-hitting outfielder Nick Swisher signs a four-year, $56 million deal with a vesting option for 2017.

What Swisher brings: He replaces the talented Choo in right field. Swisher doesn't have Choo's throwing arm or speed on the bases, but he should give a bad offense the one thing it needs -- consistent run production. Francona will have the luxury, if he so chooses, of batting switch-hitters Cabrera, Carlos Santana and Swisher consecutively in the middle of the lineup.

Swisher, like Reynolds and Stubbs, strikes out a lot (141 punchouts in 537 at-bats last season). With the strikeouts come power, an average of 26 homers and 87 RBI over the last four years. The Indians haven't had a player drive in 100 runs since Victor Martinez in 2007. Swisher has never had a 100-RBI season and Francona isn't expecting that. If Swisher can do what he's done the last four years, that would be fine.

• Jan. 4: Right-hander Brett Myers signs a one-year, $7 million contract.

What Myers brings: The Indians immediately put Myers in the starting rotation behind Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez. Myers is an experienced starter, but he spent all of last year in the bullpen with Houston and Chicago.

Is he this year's version of Derek Lowe? If so, the Indians need him to have a little more staying power.

• Jan. 21: Infielder Ryan Raburn and outfielder Ben Francisco sign minor-league deals with an invitation to big league camp.

What Raburn and Francisco bring: They're two more right-handed hitters, who could help out at DH or in a utility role. Raburn hit 35 homers from 2009-11 for Detroit. Francisco is a corner outfielder who got his start with the Tribe.


http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2013/01/winter_of_wheeling_and_dealing.html

Terry Francona as the new Indians skipper... Pass me some chicken and beer!

Nah, but seriously with Francona running things I'll be surprised if the Tribe don't show any improvement a few years from now max.

I'd give the Buccos a C for the winter so far too.

Martin is the key - even if he just does what he did for NY last season, he'll be an immense upgrade from the bum that is Rod Barajas. My God what a horrendous ballplayer he!was.

I wish they'd have gotten more for Hanrahan but it is what it is. They'll have to hope Melancon returns to Houston form and Sands can find what he had in the PCL. I like Grilli, but I like him a lot more as an 8th inning guy.

Actually the bullpen is my biggest worry... they lost a lot of pretty reliable arms since the mid point of last year. Hopefully some young guys step up, some veterans find a groove again and Grilli holds it down - we'll see. A lot of "hope" involved in all of that.

The rotation has a lot of viable, legit options and the lineup should be pretty good - especially if McCutchen can figure out how to produce over a full season and Walker can stay healthy.

I think the Reds are the class of the division - but I don't see any reason why the Pirates can't compete with the Cards and Brewers for second... and I fully believe they'll get over the .500 hump this year... as long as they learned anything from the collapses of the last two years.

Good rule change - especially since I never saw the fake pickoff play work on anyone not named Manny Ramirez.


Rule Change! Third-to-first fake pickoff is now officially a balk

By Mark Townsend
Big League Stew
Sat, Jan 26, 2013

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-le...09715--mlb.html

(AP)Like a professional wrestler hitting his opponent with brass knuckles behind the referee‘s back, the surest way to draw an angry reaction from baseball fans is to break out the old fake-to-third, throw-to-first pickoff move.

Of course, the difference is the pitcher’s intent isn’t to draw a reaction from the crowd. Often times there is real sound strategy involved, whether it's attempting to dupe a base runner into making a mistake, a hitter into showing his hand too early, or even just buying some extra time to collect his thoughts or allow a reliever to warm up.

It really has served a purpose other than to annoy. But I guess that doesn’t change the fact the play rarely worked — you can count the successful attempts every season on one hand — and often killed the flow of a game. And that’s not to mention I've always felt the move fit the technical description of a balk since deception was involved.

It was with all of those factors in mind that Major League Baseball began a discussion to eliminate the "pickoff attempt" last spring. Now comes word from the New York Times' Tyler Kepner that the change is official, and beginning this season any such attempt to fake a move toward third base will result in a balk.
Under a rule change imposed by Major League Baseball for this season, pitchers can no longer fake a pickoff throw to third base. Pitchers who did this would almost always follow by wheeling and firing to first — or to second, if a duped runner had taken off in that direction. No more.

The play is now part of baseball’s graveyard, like the bullpen cart, the Montreal Expos, pullover jerseys and World Series games in the sunshine. It simply did not work often enough to be worth the wasted time.

It may not work enough to be worth the wasted time, but as former major leaguer Jeff Nelson alludes to in the same article, it definitely kept baserunners on their toes and will now work in their favor as they no longer have to worry about the embarrassment of being tricked by the move.

“The managers say it’s all about speeding up the game,” said Nelson, now a contributor to MLB.com. “I think now, the runner at first might get a little bit of an advantage. All it’s used for is to keep the runner at first close. I might have done it 100 times and gotten two guys on it.”

Ah, yes, he also mentions speeding up the game. That's another factor. But our own Kevin Kaduk made a pretty good point about that when this discussion first came up eight months ago.

Also, if it's something that's designed to speed up the game, it seems like a token move, at best. After all, if Bruce Chen can still throw 10 regular pickoff attempts in one at-bat, what good does getting rid of an occasional gimmick pickoff attempt do? (Outside of giving us the pleasure of yelling "BALK!" with the previously misinformed, of course?)

We'll probably never know what the true reason for the change is. I think a lot of people would actually accept it if they just said the play was maddening, but it's more than likely a combination of all the aforementioned factors. And perhaps it's even done to make it look like they're working on something while they allow issues such as instant replay to hang in the wind.

Only those who approved the change know for sure.

Good news.....but give me instant replay already!

The Third-to-First fake pickoff is annoying, but it doesn't really affect the game at all (maybe an additional 45 seconds per game).

I want MLB to actually IMPROVE the game. Get the calls right. They recently annouced they don't have enough time to add it for the 2013 season. That's horsebleep. The fans have been able to review a play for decades. We can get a call right in 30 seconds.....yet MLB thinks they need an additional calendar year to develop a plan to handle this new process.

Follow the NHL plan. Create a war room at baseball HQ, they handle all the challenges, the umps can call on a cell phone, done. OR, they can have a guy with the replays in the stadium...call the ump with the decision. OR, have the umps go watch the replay on a TV (though I think this way is stupid).

I've said it a hundred times...the managers run out on the field to discuss or debate 2-3 calls per game. The decision is NEVER reveresed. It's all just one big waste of time. Outlaw a manager from coming out of the dugout and give him a few challenges....the time lost on replays will wash out those useless manager/ump arguments. Done.

I suppose MLB won't want that because the manager/ump arguing is part of the thearter of baseball. But it's time. Get the calls right. Screw the "human element".

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8903384/cleveland-indians-sign-matt-capps-minor-league-deal

Matt Capps signs with Indians

January 31, 2013 Associated Press

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians have signed free-agent reliever Matt Capps to a minor league contract.

Capps' deal, announced Thursday, includes a non-roster invitation to spring training.

The 29-year-old right-hander has 138 career saves in 444 appearances for Pittsburgh, Washington and Minnesota. He opened last season closing for the Twins and had 14 saves in his first 15 chances, but was slowed by shoulder inflammation and pitched just four innings after June 15.

The Twins declined their $6 million option on Capps for 2013, instead paying him a $250,000 buyout.

Capps was the winning pitcher for the National League in the 2010 All-Star Game. That season, he had a career-high 42 saves and a 2.47 ERA in 74 games for the Nationals and Twins.

He has recorded at least 14 saves in each of the past six seasons.

Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press

********************************

Big "If", but if he's healthy, the bullpen is stacked. It might free up the Indians to trade Perez for SP or a big bat.

Good luck with that.

j/k


Nothing wrong with bringing in another arm to see if anything's left, might as well try...

Signing anyone to a minor league contract is a good deal. Signing a relief pitcher who used to be good is a good deal.

The success of relief pitchers is so variable that signing a bunch of them and then seeing what sticks is a good strategy. Fernando Rodney was a 4 win player for the Rays last year and he had never been good before that.

Nice story below on Scott Kazmir. If he has returned to what he was, that minor league signing could be huge.

NY Post

I know the NL fans on this site won't be too upset with the Cardinals being hurt by this news, but this really stinks for Carpenter

Quote:

---

ST. LOUIS -- Chris Carpenter is unlikely to pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals this season, and his career may be over because of a nerve injury that kept him out most of last year.

Carpenter has renewed numbness and some bruising in his right shoulder and hand after throwing off a mound before spring training, general manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday. Carpenter will get an additional medical evaluation and isn't officially retiring, but Mozeliak said the Cardinals are moving on without him.

"He's leaving the door slightly open, but it's unlikely," Mozeliak said of Carpenter's return. "After speaking with him on the phone, you certainly get a sense that he's more concerned about life after baseball."

---

Unfortunately Wainwright was rounding back into cy young form at the end of last season. Garcia, Loshe, and Lynn still give them a solid rotation.

Yeah definitely a huge blow, but they will survive as usual and I have no idea who the next great prospect they have waiting in the wings will be. But most likely they have one close to MLB ready.

PS: Carpenter is a Richard, but I still feel bad for him.

they are still pretending to not be interested in Lohse until his $$ demands come down.

that draft pick compensation added in the new CBA really put a damper on those guys (Bourn also still a FA)

Buster Olney saying the Indians, among others, are still interested in Bourn, but not at Boros' asking price. That would be 4 outfielders - Francona might be thinking of a DH platoon/rotation.

Stubbs easily becomes our pinch-runner and defensive substitution. He was a throw-in anyway and doesn't exactly hit great.

All that being said, I would be shocked if Bourn drops his pricetag to sign with the Indians.

It wouldn't be bad to have a DH/1B platoon with Swisher and Reynolds. Swisher could also play right and you could make any of the other outfielders a day at DH. Lineup flexibility is a huge bonus if you can have it. Also, an outfield of Bourn, Stubbs, and Brantley would be tremendous defensively.

Indians Sign Jason Giambi to help DH ......

Cleveland Indians sign veteran Jason Giambi to help fill DH role | cleveland.com
http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf...t_river_default

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians couldn't get a deal done with veterans Travis Hafner or Jim Thome to help fill the DH role, but they did sign Jason Giambi on Saturday night to a minor league deal with a spring training invitation.

Giambi, 42, will earn $750,000 if he makes the club.

In an 18-year career, Giambi is a .280 hitter with 395 doubles, nine triples, 429 homers and 1,405 RBI. He's spent the last three seasons playing for Colorado. Last year he played in just 60 games, while hitting .225 (20-for-89) with four doubles, one homer and eight RBI.

After last season, Giambi interviewed to be the Rockies manager. He didn't get the job and now he's trying to catch on with the Indians.

When the Indians were talking about signing Hafner or Thome, they felt either player could fill a need for 200 to 300 plate appearances. Manager Terry Francona would have to use the rest of his roster to take up the remaining playing time at DH. The plan, undoubtedly, is the same with Giambi.

Giambi's first year in the big leagues was 1995 with Oakland. He's played with the A's, Yankees and Colorado.

How in the heck is Jason Giambi 42 years old?

I feel old.

Indians sign pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to minor-league deal

By Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com
February 10, 2013 12:28 pm ET

The Indians have signed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to a minor-league deal, according to CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman. Matsuzaka can make up to $4 million. If he passes his physical and makes the team, he will earn a base salary of $1.5 million, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The-32-year-old righty spent most of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He tossed 45 2/3 innings with the Red Sox, with an 8.28 ERA and a 5.94 FIP. Matsuzaka still managed to strikeout hitters at an acceptable rate but gave up 11 home runs in 45 2/3 iinnings.

The Red Sox paid a $51.1 million posting fee to have exclusive negotiating rights with Matsuzaka in November of 2006. They eventually signed him to a six-year, $52 million deal. In those six seasons, Dice-K had a 4.52 ERA over 668 1/3 innings with the team.

There's a chance Matsuzaka plays a role with the Indians this season. The club's rotation is considered a weak spot. Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez have been useful pitchers, but they are coming off terrible seasons.

Brett Myers has been a decent starter over his career but will be converting back to the role after a season in the bullpen.

Trevor Bauer, acquired during the offseason, was considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball prior to last season and should get a shot in the rotation this year. The fifth spot will go to Zach McAllister, Carlos Carrasco or Corey Kluber.

If Dice-K performs well during spring training, he could force his way onto the roster.

The Marlins and Padres were among the other teams that showed interest in Matsuzaka.


http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/mlb-ru...inorleague-deal

Rumors swirling about a Tribe move.

If it's true, I'm ready to give the Indians ownership and management some credit.

This one?

Michael Bourn agrees to four-year, $48M deal with Indians - CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/eye-on...al-with-indians

Free agent center fielder Michael Bourn has agreed to a four-year, $48 million deal with the Cleveland Indians, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Heyman also reports there's a vesting option for a fifth year worth $12 million if Bourn reaches 550 plate appearances in 2016.

The Indians pick fifth in the 2013 MLB draft, so their first-rounder is protected and they'll only lose a second-round pick for signing Bourn. If a team outside the top 10 in the draft signed Bourn, it would have lost its first-round selection. So this is a relative coup for the Indians.

Bourn, 30, hit .274/.348/.391 with 26 doubles, 10 triples, nine homers, 57 RBI, 96 runs and 42 stolen bases last season for the Braves, making his second All-Star Gam . He's a two-time Gold Glover who displays excellent defensive range in center.

This signing is the second high-profile add the normally-frugal Indians have made this offseason. They also signed Nick Swisher to a four-year, $56 million deal. So it would appear the Tribe is already enjoying the fruits of a lucrative local TV deal.

So, with Bourn on the club, it would appear the Indians lineup is as follows:

1. Bourn, CF
2. Jason Kipnis, 2B
3. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
4. Nick Swisher, RF
5. Carlos Santana, C
6. Mark Reynolds, 1B
7. Michael Brantley, LF
8. Chris McGuiness, DH
9. Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B

Also note that the Indians could DH Reynolds, play Swisher at first base and use Drew Stubbs in the outfield alongside Bourn and Brantley, which would easily be the best outfield in baseball in terms of range.

Obviously there will be arguments with where I slotted certain hitters, but we're just jotting it down to get the basic idea of how they'll look. It may not be enough to seriously challenge the Tigers in the AL Central, but that's a marked improvement over last season -- especially if one figures improvement from youngsters like Kipnis and Chisenhall -- and there's reason for optimism from the good folks of Cleveland.

and don't forget the Braves. doesn't matter though, the Indians have one of the best defensive OF's in MLB and added another needed hitter and qualmed my worries about DH.

now, if we just could have gotten Shaun Marcum (signed 1yr/$4mil) instead of Brett Myers (1yr/$7mil - and isn't as good), then this would have been a great offseason. as it was, still a very good one.

i still worry about the rotation, but i am feeling much better about things now. Bourn is a difference maker.

Right. I don't think the Indians are a contender, but they are definitely above-average. The pitching is still very iffy. Very iffy.

so, we need

Masterson to prove 2011 wasn't a fluke (despite evidence to contrary)

Ubaldo to just get back to his career norms (despite the recent drop in velocity)

Brett Myers to not be terrible (and the Astros gave up on him as a starter)

Carrasco to give us 100 solid IP (coming off injury)

McCallister to continue to prove his doubters wrong (the surpise of the farm system lately)

and maybe Bauer to pickup when Carrasco closes out his season and finish where he leaves off.

That is alot to ask to all happen in the same season.

If just one of those things happens I would consider it a victory.