Roy Halladay is pitching differently this year, according to pitch f/x data and team officials who spoke to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Though Halladay remains effective, he’s relying on different weapons than the ones he used in the past. Here are Rosenthal’s latest rumors:
- The Royals have lost ten consecutive games, but GM Dayton Moore says it’s not always bad to scuffle. “I’m not shocked that we’re struggling out of the gate,” Moore told Rosenthal. “Although you expect good things to happen, we’re very young.” Rosenthal cites a scout who was “decidedly unimpressed” by the Royals’ play this weekend.
- Rosenthal suggests the Padres might be inclined to trade Carlos Quentin if he hits well once he returns from knee surgery in May. Rosenthal wonders if the Padres might look to sign Quentin to a two-year deal in the $18-20MM range if he has a decent season.
- Many teams are intimidated by Wandy Rodriguez’s contract, Rosenthal reports. The left-hander earns $10MM in 2012 and $13MM in 2013. The Astros hold a $13MM club option for 2014, but it becomes a player option if they trade him.
- Some executives were surprised the Reds committed $72.5MM to Brandon Phillips when some of their best prospects (Billy Hamilton and Didi Gregorius) are middle infielders.
- Adam Dunn looks more comfortable at the plate this year, one scout says.
Looks like Halladay is going to need to rely more on his bat than his arm to win games this season. He should request a trade back to the American League.
Both those reasons seem very superficial and misguided. More than likely, because he started the year strong, it was coming back to soon from his appendectomy. But if you want to try a find something to blame Ozzie for than go right ahead, just seems like an unintelligent excuse.
Did I miss something between those comments? I feel like we’re playing a game of telephone here.
I think with Adam Dunn it were 2 things. One, he had a huge contract he had to live up to and two, a manager that didn’t make things easier what so ever.
Going up to the plate knowing you are slugging above .300 might have something to do with it too.
I dont really like the huge contract argument because you could say the complete opposite about a player. You could say that they are getting complacent and not trying as much because they have already cashed in.
This is why Halladay is the master and has been for the past decade now.
I could see Wandy helping some NL team, especially one with a large home park, the problem is his large salary (mentioned) and teams with those situations (NL, large parks) already have decent rotations for the most part, or have no chance at the playoffs and would never take his salary. By those teams I mean LAD, Florida, SDP, Pittsburg with only the SDP as realistically no chance.
He really could be a decent mid-back end guy with some NL team and a large park, but him in a small NL park would probably be a disaster, even any AL one outside of say Seattle and Oakland.
I think he’d be great for LA
LAD, even Anahiem would be good fits.. But neither really has a need.
Both strong contenders, huge playing fields, but already have decent rotations (LAD) or outstanding in the case of Anaheim. That’s the problem (as I see it) places he could fit and the situation is just not there for Houston/Wandy.
True indeed. I think he icould be the 3rd best (maybe even 2nd) in LA. The Dodgers should make the move and the Astros pick up/pay for the option year
I find it hard to believe that Wandy’s contract is that prohibitive. The guy’s a #2 starter, $10M isn’t that much (relative to other pitchers that is.)
I bet if he was a bit younger and threw harder people would be more positive about him. But 3 years at 36 MM would be something to heavily weigh considering you have to give up prospects and pick up the majority of the salary.
Kind of like nobody biting on John Lannan before the season at 5m when there was a LOT of people here thinking he was some kind of mid rotation pitcher. True, on some teams (NL) with a huge stadium he could be, but not many and only under perfect circumstances, but not worth 5m. Same with Wandy is probably the feeling. If he was making half that much and only for 2012, Houston could probably move him fairly easy.
Hes probably a 4 or a 5. But at 5M for 1 year? Theres value in that. Im surprised nobody has picked him up yet
It’s obvious Dunn’s improvement is strictly because of Robin Ventura.
Hoping that was a sarcastic comment.
Ventura probably had Nolan Ryan come and visit him, then throw him into a headlock.. Deja-Vu…
It’s tough being a Royals fan these days, especially when our GM states he isn’t shocked we’re doing this bad and our owner has stated that payroll isn’t likely going to change in the foreseeable future.
I’m not shocked either. This is a very young team. However, I am highly disappointed.
Woe is me
Royals will be fine. They’ve lost all (6) of their 1 run and extra inning games so far. A little better production from Hosmer and Gordon and they will be at the .500 mark in no time
A little better from Gordon? He better step it up a lot, he’s on my fantasy team!
The (Dis)Astros have no one to blame but themselves for the lack of interest in Wandy. The Rockies put in a waiver wire claim on him at the deadline last year, and were willing to take the entire $36M+ remaining on the contract (at that time) off their hands. Think they’d like to have some of that payroll flexibility now? I don’t have any idea what the Houston front office thought they’d be able to get for him.
Wandy is not on a bad contract. It is a fair deal for the services of a no. 2-3 starter who has been extremely consistent the last four seasons. His ERA since the beginning of 2008 is under 3.50.
Ed Wade no longer runs the Astros front office, but he was right to hold out for a package including legit prospect(s).
Don’t you mean the AAAstros? In the Philly farm system.
Don’t worry, now that you have Ed Wade back in Philly, you’ll be back to the Phillies you were before we gave you Brad Lidge for that one lucky year.
The change started last year. He used his cutter more than his sinker last year. According to him, he doesn’t have the same command of his sinker as he does the cutter to both sides of the plate.
According to him, he’s been struggling with his mechanics, which would explain the change in arm angle and what not.
“Rosenthal suggests the Padres might be inclined to trade Carlos Quentin if he hits well once he returns from knee surgery in May. Rosenthal wonders if the Padres might look to sign Quentin to a two-year deal in the $18-20MM range if he has a decent season.”
Is this the definition of contradiction?
Reds can always trade prospects or move them to another position. Not that tough to do in the minors. The Reds will need a 3rd baseman and a good LF.
What they really need is better pitching, specifically in the Bullpen in wake of the Madson injury.
Wow are you even watching the season so far? The bullpen has been fine. With the exception of Masset being slightly injured, and that guy they picked up at the start of the season who stinks very badly. Oh and Bray just went on the DL. Everyone else has performed very well so far. That starting staff has been pretty blah if you ask me. Arroyo and Cueto have pitched very well so far. Bailey stinks they need to release or trade him and even Leake has not been very impressive thus far. I would say Latos has done a so so job though his last start moved his ratings up a little. Will feel decent about him too if he makes another good start next time out.
Yes losing madson stunk. It made a great bullpen into a pretty good bullpen. Masset is making progress and should be back fairly soon.
Look at what you said:
-Masset on DL
-Bray on DL
-Simon sucking it up
Bailey has actually been pretty good, so have you watched this year? Latos has looked a hell of a lot worse overall than Bailey. Their not going to get any hitters anytime soon, and Bullpen is the only realistic upgrade we could get anytime soon.
Eat my words. Masset won’t start throwing soon according to John Fay. Sighs…. Simon just stinks period. Have no clue why the Reds brought him up. That guy we got from Atlanta looked good in his first bullpen outing though.
Oh yeah and Marshal blew a save after the umpire called a ball when it was right down the middle of the plate.
Umps should be fined for bad calls. Just saying