Early September is always a good time to be a minor league player on the 40-man roster of an MLB team. So far today 21 players have been recalled to the MLB level, where they’ll earn a pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum salary and collect service time. Here are today’s links…
- Congratulations to Wil Myers, who was named Baseball America's 2012 Minor League Player Of The Year. He hit 37 home runs and posted a .313/.387/.600 batting line in the upper minors this year while playing third base, center field and right field. Before long he’ll be hitting in the middle of the Royals’ lineup, J.J. Cooper writes at Baseball America.
- In light of Boston’s disappointing year, Alex Speier of WEEI.com recalls some recent teams that reached the postseason following losing seasons. Rarely have big ticket free agents played a role in these bounce-back campaigns, so it probably makes sense for Red Sox GM Ben Cherington to maintain a disciplined approach to spending, Speier writes.
- Here are some more notes about the Red Sox from earlier today.
- Manager John Farrell said he's "unequivocally" focused on the Blue Jays and acknowledged he has one year remaining on his contract with the team, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports (on Twitter).
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo deserves credit for protecting Stephen Strasburg and taking responsibility for his decision, Tom Verducci writes at SI.com. The decision to limit Strasburg’s innings is a truly modern one, “made with the kind of awareness, statistical study and medical information" that wasn't out there a decade ago, Verducci adds.
That’s what they said about Hosmer and Moustakas. He’s smaller than both and 2yrs off from contributing at an above avg level. Mark it down…
Wonder if Cy Young is turning over in his grave. Bob Gibson is rolling his eyes. Warren Sphann, Bob Feller, Early Wynn etc. just to name a few…
Are you referring to Myers? He’s an outfielder and you’re comparing his size to two corner infielders? What does size have to do with it anyway? Moustakas outweighs him by about 30 lbs, but Myers is four inches taller. Hosmer is one inch taller than Myers and about 25 lbs heavier. Most guys who weigh in the Hosmer / Moustakas range don’t play outfield.
that’s a fair point, but eric hosmer is only 22. most prospects at age 22 have their struggles in AA, so the fact that he’s struggling in the bigs isn’t much of a knock. he could break out tomorrow and no one would be surprised
moustakas i was never as high on, but he too is only 23. these guys are hardly busts. they are way ahead of the development curve and have plenty of time and potential to break through. they’ve proven that the bigs is where that development has to happen. now myers has, too
i know it’s been said for years, but the royals really do have a great young core on the way
It’s also funny how TB treats their SP prospects the exact same as Strasburg, but in the minors which keeps the PR beating down.
Don’t forget that no one really cares about Tampa either, unfortunately…
Tom Verducci forgot to write that those “modern” decisions were not made without the thought of those millions of dollars they can potentially loose either! I don’t care how you spin it, I don’t like the choice to bench him. I guess it will take a few years to really know if it was the right one though!
I’m ultra split. On one hand, I fully understand why they don’t want to blow up Strasburg’s arm (after all, already has a TJ surgery to his name, etc). Lots of young aces who looked poised to be all time greats just got overworked in their 20’s. Appier comes to mind (definitely lost effectiveness), Prior and Wood as well. Even Lincecum has a troubling HR rate right now.
But then again, why should the Nationals care? In a division w/ Atlanta, NY, and Philly, how many cracks at the WS will they have? And will Strasburg be a Nat once he can hit the market? Doubt it, not with the Yankees, Dodgers, etc, ready and willing to syphon off big money to get guys like this.
if strasburg said he wasn’t comfortable, i could understand it. you can’t send a guy out there under those conditions. but if the kid really wants to pitch, let him pitch
it’s one thing to be risk-averse and another altogether to be presumptuous. you (not you) say there are too many things that can go wrong if he pitches past the limit in the playoffs? i say there are waaay more things that can go wrong next year and every other year that prevent you from getting this opportunity again
Baseball players are the world’s WORST people at telling you when they are hurting. Relying on Strasburg to self-report discomfort or pain is a losing bet.
And in the “Doctor’s say” versus “notsureifsrs says” comparison, one must at least bear in mind that the Doctors in question are Dr. James Andrews and Dr. Lewis Yocum, the two foremost Tommy John experts in the world. I mean no disrespect when I suggest that the two opinions are not truly equivalent.
you don’t need to just suggest it; go ahead and assert it. i don’t pretend to have any medical expertise whatsoever, but what do we know about the nature of their advice? have they said “it is a very bad idea to let him exceed x innings”? *and in that case, have they estimated the levels of risk?) or have they said “a safe limit is x innings”? (and in that case, what have they estimated to be the risk of exceeding it?)
these are very different claims and, depending on the basis for each, should be taken with different levels of confidence. this is a pure balance of risk v. reward. drs. andrews and yocum are medical experts, to be sure, but how well they can translate their expertise into such terms is not so clear
It’s shameful the way we treat pitchers these days. Modern medicine has nothing to do with it, multi-million dollar investments do.
Back in the day, before we convinced ourselves that it was over-working arms that ruined a pitcher, guys would throw on 3 days rest every time (building arm strength) and well over 100 pitches per game (again, building strength).
The only thing that limiting a pitcher’s workload does is fail to prepare him for the future in which he WILL be expected to throw 150 pitches in a game that really matters. Justin Verlander didn’t get where he was because someone threw him on a pitch count did he? He throws a lot of pitches consistently and therefore his body is ready to take that sort of workload. These guys who get on pitch counts when they’re young and don’t build up the strength? They’re going to get hurt when they’re asked to do more in the future and unless you’re on a losing team your entire career, you’re GOING to have those games or months where you’re expected to go deep into a game and that’s where injuries start.
But, investments dictate that you follow the “science” that everyone’s willing to accept as fact when it gets into the multi-millions because nobody wants another Kerry Wood.
You realize that Stras just came off TJ surgery, right?
Yeah, and I also realize that other pitchers have TJ surgery (which is about as routine as it gets these days) and come back to throw 180-200 innings in their first full season back with the same effectiveness if not better.
Muscles have to work to develop. You baby a guy, he’s not going to build that endurance. The surgery does not make you a fragile butterfly that has to be put into a velvet case after every game. It makes you a guy who has to rehab and part of that rehab involves doing what you’re going to be doing to build up that muscle memory. Shutting down for a month?
I guarantee that he’ll get hurt in the playoffs. Just watch.
He’s going to get hurt cheering for his team in the playoffs because he got shut down a couple weeks before the season ended? I must admit, that’s a pretty bold prediction.
I highly doubt he’ll be getting hurt in the playoffs, as you and I will be throwing as many innings as him in the playoffs. There’s no doubt that advancement in surgical technology is mind-blowingly different now, but with that being said, it’s still surgery…and a surgery with an intense rehab schedule at that. I know, having gone through the surgery myself. I completely agree with you that muscles have to work to develop. However, there’s a point of over-exertion. Especially on a franchise-changing arm such as his. He’s gotten his work in this season, and he’s helped place them in a very good position to make a run. He’s done more than expected of him this year, I just commend management for not taking it too far. Could the situation have been handled differently? Probably so. However, with the way the season unfolded, I think they’re making the right call.
Not knocking on the guy, as athletes are 100% different than they once were.. But he is correct.
look over people like ferguson jenkins as an example. For 9 straight seasons he pitched 270+ IP, started 38+ games, won 20 games 7 of 8 in that span, Had 25+ CG in 7 of the years.. 30 once.. he threw HARD also. That is one example..
Want more? Bob Gibson, 10+ years of 250+ IP and most everyone knows him..
Tom Seaver? 9 years over 250IP in a row and generally finished what he started.
here is the couple that will throw the wrench into how modern pitchers are:
Bob Veale. 7 seasons over 200IP, was said to have regularly hit 98-100.. yet was wild and he finished his games. Sure he blew his arm out after the wear and tear, but he also, in those days would throw 150+ pitches a game.
Wilbur Wood.. The knuckleballer.. In the 72-73 seasons? He **started** at LEAST 48 games! That is every 3 days. and over a 4 year span, no less than 42G. 376IP in ’72 and no less than 320 over a 4 year span.
Mike Marshall.. a closer/reliever..**208** IP in 1974.Bill Campbell.. **167** IP in 1976..
Arms are not any different, but attitude towards them certainly is.
Oh yeah? Well, “Old Hoss” Radbourne pitched 73 complete games and 678 2/3 innings in 1884! Those guys in the 60’s were WIMPS!
LOL. For sure! Ya know?? I read Leo Durocher’s book many times, but the 1st time read it.. He mentioned this guy he had on one of his old Brooklynn teams named “Fat Freddie” Fitzsimmons.
Now.. I ain’t trying to make new pitchers sound like wimps or anything, but by the time Durocher got him on his LAD teams as a pitcher, ‘Ole Fat Freddie couldn’t straighten his arm out it was in such wretched shape.. Now.. This Durocher’s words.. Not mine, I don’t (wasn’t around in the 30-3 and 40’s) recall Fat Freddie, but his normal “stance”.later on in his career, was a curled right arm after he hurt it so badly and with injury rehab so bad then.. he returned and still pitched.. Now here is the “kicker”
Fat Freddie’s arm would actually “straighten out” after he pitched a game for a short time.. Go Figure…He threw some pitches and the arm would begin to “uncurl” before your eyes.
Pitchers (I read somewhere) also didn’t throw that hard, they barnstormed, played at fields that were not even really playable.. Pitchers would go every other day.. No masks on catchers..
Safer to go to war than play a ‘simple game”
Cheers and thanks for bringing up “Old Hoss” tho and how many old timers really threw the load.
Sure there are going to be those freaks of nature that can handle that kind of workload, but for every case that you stated, how many other arms have been desecrated? I do agree with you that the attitudes towards arms (especially highly coveted ones) has completely changed, though. For better, or worse, that’s up for debate. Can’t really fault them for erring on the cautious side though. I know flags fly forever, but so does irreparable arm damage…I know from experience haha.
Sorry if this sounds like Biased Red Sox nonesense but if Boston wants Farrell THAT bad, offer a draft pick to get him and offer Farrell twice what he is making now. I had a pipe dream of a Bautista and Farrell for 2 prospects and eating all of Bautista’s salary.
That’s a huge pipe dream. Bautista is pretty much a bargain at the moment and I seriously doubt the Jays need salary relief.
You know Farrell would actually have to want to go to Boston too, right? Does going to a place where two managers have been completely destroyed by the media (and in Francona’s case thrown under the bus by owners) in less than a one season span sound like a desirable place for him? And yeah, I’m sure Toronto is just absolutely dying to get rid of one of the most team-friendly contracts in all of baseball for the face of the team in exchange for a prospect.
I think that applies to potential free agents, too. Is this a situation you really want to bring yourself into if the money is relatively comparable in another, less stressful workplace? I think Sox fans don’t realize that, for the foreseeable future, ALL big free agent signings are going to have to be Carl Crawford-level overpays….
I like his pipe dream though.
While it’s commendable that the Nats are acting in Strasburg’s best interests, I will venture a guess that the typical time frame for reinjury post TJ due to overuse falls outside the time the Nats have him under control. If I was Rizzo, I would try to use that leverage to sign Strasburg to an extension buying out at least one FA year. Respect is a two way street, Scotty.
Myers won’t be in the Royals outfield until Dayton Moore gets over his man-crush on Francoeur, which will probably be some time after he is fired.
Tom Verducci isn’t exactly an unbiased source of analysis on this issue since almost his entire reputation depends on people continuing to believe in the ‘effect’ named after him. And lately there’s been a lot of research which has come to discredit/debunk Verducci’s earlier claims.
As a Nats fan I almost look forward to Strasburg being shutdown just so I don’t have to hear about it anymore. The team consists of more than Stras and Harper…
Yes, Rizzo does deserve some credit for looking out for the long-term welfare of his pitcher, but at the same time has earned some criticizm for not going about it the right way. There has to be better way of accomplishing the objective than to knock him out of the pennant drive and possible WS.