The latest episode of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you subscribe as well! You can also use the player at this link to listen, if you don’t use Spotify or Apple for podcasts.
This week, host Darragh McDonald is joined by Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors to discuss…
- The Pirates promoting Paul Skenes and the pros and cons of the prospect hype machine (1:45)
- MLB’s new deal with Roku for Sunday games (12:55)
- The injury of Willson Contreras of the Cardinals and rising rates of catcher’s interference (17:50)
- The White Sox trade Robbie Grossman to the Rangers for Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa (25:40)
Plus, we answer your questions, including…
- If the Astros continue this horrible start through the summer months, who are some players that they might swap? (33:15)
- With the Phillies having one of the best rotations in baseball and six pitchers deep, it seems to make a guy like Mick Abel expendable. Do you think the Phillies possibly move him at the deadline? Say for a bat to possibly platoon with Nick Castellanos in right? (38:45)
- Is there any chance the Tigers may try and sell high on Tarik Skubal? He’s an ace and it would take a lot to pry him away but Detroit just doesn’t seem like a place that’ll pay him the big bucks under Chris Ilitch’s regime. Not sure his value will ever be higher especially if they continue to play how they have in recent weeks. (46:00)
Check out our past episodes!
- Luis Arráez To San Diego, Other Marlins Trade Candidates And Discussing A Potential Automated Strike Zone – listen here
- Mailbag: José Abreu Demoted, The Positional Surplus Myth, Erick Fedde’s Trade Value And More – listen here
- Mailbag: Cardinals’ Troubles, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Bad Umpiring And More – listen here
The podcast intro and outro song “So Long” is provided courtesy of the band Showoff. Check out their Facebook page here!
Skenes looked good for 1st start. Pirates young pitching looks impressive. They need a hitter ,Gonzales time I hope. Telez time about up. Need to take flyer on Belt. He’s got to be better. Cheap fix maybe.
He looked good and gives the franchise a great deal of hope. I don’t know who was calling pitches but they seemed to have a desire to use his off speed pitches quite a lot, at least a lot more than one would have expected. Against left handers the idea seemed to be to nibble on the outside corner and he missed often. I get that he was hyped and overthrew his fastball a number of times but I’d hope they’d let him be a bit more aggressive against the Cubs again this weekend. Seemed they were using the pattern they use with Jones
You could see the potential but for any other pitcher it would be a bad start. I saw a lot of headlines suggesting it was the second coming but when I saw the line it, it was like well that’s a lot of K’s but otherwise not very good.
Yeah, I remember Strasburg’s debut. Against the Pirates. This wasn’t similar and again, I place some blame of pitch calls. Strasburg was pure power. While Skenes is that type of pitcher too, they decided to be cute at times to show the public his spin pitches.
I’m betting he’ll have better showings and soon
Let’s not forget the hype and media attention given to Skenes even before he was scheduled to pitch. He was nervous as any intelligent person would be
Strasburg also pitched against a very bad Pirate lineup too. That’s why the Nationals chose to call him up for his major league debut
He also seemed to be dealing until he was pulled with two men on and the bullpen imploded. If the bullpen hadn’t added two runs to his ledger, or even just allowed 1/2 the final line wouldn’t look too bad. I think there can be plenty of optimism about the start with context of those runs.
The uptick in Catcher’s interference is being tied to them moving closer to the plate to better “frame” the pitch. I seem to be alone in this, but I’ve always considered framing a form of cheating. It’s done to try and fool the umpire into thinking a ball is a strike, and unfortunately most umps are hoodwinked by it. I can’t wait til we go to automated balls and strikes to take this supposed “talent” out of the game. And it will also stop this accepted “he’s a pitcher’s umpire”, “he’s a low-ball umpire”. A strike is a strike, a ball is a ball!
You’re not alone in your feeling about framing…from an umpire’s standpoint…..the most annoying thing is to have a catcher frame on each and every pitch…..not so long ago, framing was reserved for 50/50 pitches and was an accepted practice by catchers to get an umpires call….not anymore…saw an Astros game recently and the catcher framed each and every pitch….same with the Rays……
Yeah, it’s totally out of control. I don’t blame the catchers, they’re just doing what they’re taught. I find it hilarious when a catcher “frames” a pitch that’s already a strike just to make it even more strikey!
I like the human element. Sure it sucks when the call seems obvious and goes against your team, but that is the beauty of sport. Was watching a Texas-Cle game the other day and the ump was calling balls on the 1B side strikes all game. Some hitters adjusted, others did not.
I too prefer the human element, but it seems umpiring has gotten worse over the last few years. Or more likely, I’ve gotten grumpier.
You’re not grumpier, TellItGoodbye
Most umpires have widened the strike zone where pitches once were clearly out of the zone have become strikes
Gosh, you’re both wrong. Since MLB has been grading umpires they’ve gotten loads better. For example, Umps have an accuracy rate of 94% up from 90% in 2015.
You are getting grumpily.
In old days before this interleague sh…..it started ,American league had high strike zone. It was good for years especially during world series. Orioles lived by it. Earl Weaver, Ray Miller preached pitching up. 4 20 game winners in 71 series.
Ok, ok…I’ll get off your lawn.
The Pirates won the 1971 World Series against the Orioles
hahah at thinking SKubal is going anywhere.. Probably a Yankee fan. Skubal,Olson,Jobe.,Mize, Good luck MLB.
Agree. Fantasy , like don’t guys, who sit 98-99mph as a SP and get guys out consistently grow on trees?.
Skubal played in LA, NY, CHC, Bos? People would be already annointing him Cy winner for years to come he’s that good for those not watched a game of his.
Secondary.. Missing Gibby announcing Tiger games, ex on Saturdays this yr. Understand he’s seriously ill. He looks/sounds very bad. One of the best.
Another of the (then) young kids remember when he 1st signed and reported to Lakeland after being dual FB/BB star. Out of the gates it was evident he was gonna be a super player and enjoyed his career. Then tried to catch some of his broadcasts over the years. Been tough this year. he really is looking ill.
Gibson been in games this year. Seen him in a few with Dan Dickerson
They picked up Beneti from the Chisox, why have watched several more games this season. beneti is a good story (like Gibby) health wise for those who like guys who persevere, despite crippling health issues..
Beneti being a really good announcer doesn’t hurt either and his replacement in chi-town doesn’t hold a candle to him. detroit made a wise choice. not saying he’s another ernie harwell and yes.. i remember tiger games being broadcast locally by him.. But hope mr beneti can endure and become well known and capture the hearts of Tiger fandom.
Gibby did last Sunday’s game with Bennetti. Best duo since George and Al. Both of them have health issues, Jason has cerebral palsy and Gibson has Parkinson’s. Craig Monroe is the main analyst and Carlos Pena has done that job on a rare basis, just as Dan Petry. Peaches comes in and joins the broadcast crew mid-game when he’s in the studio during home games.
Just as an added note, Matt Shepard, who Benetti replaced, was plain unlistenable, not very smart regarding baseball. He still works for Bally but doing play by play for high school basketball and some college football. He was brought into the booth after being a sideline reporter when Mario Impenba and Rod Allen got fired for getting into a physical fight after a game in Chicago. Shepard was horrible but Tiger fans hoped he’d improve with experience. He actually got worse and was rated the worst play by play announcer in MLB his last couple of years in the booth. Benetti is a breath of fresh air and a 180 degree change from sad sack Shep.
Jason and Gibby doing the series in the desert this weekend!
7ks in 4 innings pretty great Looking good for the future but getting 5-7 innings does seem like a question.
I would’ve held Paul down longer not because of service time. I’d want him pitching 6+ innings 70+ pitches for a handful of games to see what happens. What he did pitch in the minors did look pretty darn good though.
But the comment that, He is not a bust as a 4th starter is the truth. Hopefully Paul doesn’t put to much pressure on him self.
Grandal did not look good catching Skenes. Skenes’ stuff is outstanding.
Once the robot umpires are in place there will be much less catchers interference. Robots are much harder to fool than umpires
Abel & Crawford plus another prospect for Kyle Tucker
Haven’t seen a Pirates pitching performance like what Skenes did today in many years and I go back decades. Incredible. Went right at the Cubs. Skenes, Jones, Keller and two more starters still coming through the system. Very formidable
Now if they can just find some guys who can hit