Friday, December 27, 2013
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Rangers, Choo agree on 7-year deal
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports is reporting that the Texas Rangers have agreed to terms on a 7-year deal with free agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo. Heyman also reports the deal is worth 130 million.
Choo, 31 hit .285/.423/.462 last season. His ability to get on base is what teams have loved about him as he walked 112 times and was hit by a pitch 26 times in 158 games. Choo could serve in the leadoff spot for the Rangers as he has good speed as well with 20 steals (but 11 caught stealing).
Choo, 31 hit .285/.423/.462 last season. His ability to get on base is what teams have loved about him as he walked 112 times and was hit by a pitch 26 times in 158 games. Choo could serve in the leadoff spot for the Rangers as he has good speed as well with 20 steals (but 11 caught stealing).
Friday, December 13, 2013
Royals, Infante agree to terms
The Kansas City Royals have signed 2B Omar Infante to a 4-year 30 million dollar deal according to ESPN's Buster Olney via twitter. Infante, soon-to-be 32 hit .318/.345/.450 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs for the Detroit Tigers in 2013. Infante was considered one of the top free agents in baseball. Infante had a below average range factor in 2013 and had a -0.1 Defensive WAR.
Going into the offseason the Kansas City Royals were coming off a 86-76 season that saw them finish 3rd in the AL Central behind the Detroit Tigers (Infantes former team) and the Cleveland Indians. The Royals were 18th in runs scored and 24th in slugging.
Infante is a nice boost to an already solid Royals offense. He may not provide much defensively but he is still a valuable weapon to an MLB team.
Going into the offseason the Kansas City Royals were coming off a 86-76 season that saw them finish 3rd in the AL Central behind the Detroit Tigers (Infantes former team) and the Cleveland Indians. The Royals were 18th in runs scored and 24th in slugging.
Infante is a nice boost to an already solid Royals offense. He may not provide much defensively but he is still a valuable weapon to an MLB team.
Monday, December 9, 2013
A tribute to Mark Prior
With the news that former Cubs right-hander Mark Prior has retired it is definitely sad to see both of the Cubs aces in 2003 retire in the past 2 season. Mark Prior was probably the best pitcher the Cubs had had in recent memory (beside Kid K and Big Z). At least he was until his shoulder got messed up.
Prior was drafted by the Cubs in 2001 and made his MLB debut for them the next season. His first shoulder problem was in 2003 when he collided with Braves 2B Marcus Giles and separated his shoulder in a scary incident. He still dominated and went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA while finishing third in Cy Young voting.
After that outstanding season Prior was never the same. After a injury shortened 2004 Prior made 27 solid starts in 2005 with a 3.67 ERA and 166.2 innings pitched. After really struggling in 2006 going 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA Prior never pitched in the MLB again and spent several years in the minor leagues.
Prior was drafted by the Cubs in 2001 and made his MLB debut for them the next season. His first shoulder problem was in 2003 when he collided with Braves 2B Marcus Giles and separated his shoulder in a scary incident. He still dominated and went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA while finishing third in Cy Young voting.
After that outstanding season Prior was never the same. After a injury shortened 2004 Prior made 27 solid starts in 2005 with a 3.67 ERA and 166.2 innings pitched. After really struggling in 2006 going 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA Prior never pitched in the MLB again and spent several years in the minor leagues.
Is Roy Halladay a hall of famer?
With the news that Roy Halladay is retiring there is a debate on whether he is Hall of Fame worthy. Halladay, 36, pitched in 16 MLB seasons compiling a 205-105 record with a 3.38 ERA and 390 starts. He pitched 2749.1 innings and struck out 2117 while walking 592.
At first glance those numbers don't seem like a lot but he has the accolades to add onto his reputation. He was a 2-time Cy Young award winner which he won in 2003 and 2010 while finishing second in 2008 and 2011. He was a 8-time All-Star and has lead the league in multiple stats including ERA, Strikeouts, K/BB, and Complete Games. Halladay had great numbers beyond the basic ones and deserves first ballot induction.
In his career hitters hit .252/.292/.373 against him which is very impressive compared to league average. He had an 18.1% strikeout rate and a 5.2 BB% both of which are above league average. All of his rate stats were very terrific and he definitely deserves the Hall of Fame.
At first glance those numbers don't seem like a lot but he has the accolades to add onto his reputation. He was a 2-time Cy Young award winner which he won in 2003 and 2010 while finishing second in 2008 and 2011. He was a 8-time All-Star and has lead the league in multiple stats including ERA, Strikeouts, K/BB, and Complete Games. Halladay had great numbers beyond the basic ones and deserves first ballot induction.
In his career hitters hit .252/.292/.373 against him which is very impressive compared to league average. He had an 18.1% strikeout rate and a 5.2 BB% both of which are above league average. All of his rate stats were very terrific and he definitely deserves the Hall of Fame.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Just how good was Ken Griffey Jr?
Ken Griffey Jr is a legend. We all know that but just how great was he? He was drafted 1st overall is the 1987 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners and made his MLB debut in 1989 for them. He is most well known for his breath-taking defensive abilities and his gigantic home runs.
In 1997 arguably his best MLB season he hit 56 homers and .304 in a pitchers park leading the Mariners to a divisional title. Junior was a lifetime .310 hitter at the Kingdome with 198 homers and a .268 hitter with 29 homers at Safeco.
He had a .287 BABIP for his career which means he was actually unlucky and should have had better stats than he had. He hit .283 with 155 homers with runners in scoring position. His BB% was 11.6 which is higher than the average of around 8.5. His strikeout rate of 15.7 was below the MLB average of 16.5. He hit .284/.370/.538 with 630 home runs and 1836 RBIs while compiling 184 steals.
I think this proves that Ken Griffey was an absolute legend and deserves to have both his number retired by the Reds and the Mariners and to be a first ballot Hall of Famer.
In 1997 arguably his best MLB season he hit 56 homers and .304 in a pitchers park leading the Mariners to a divisional title. Junior was a lifetime .310 hitter at the Kingdome with 198 homers and a .268 hitter with 29 homers at Safeco.
He had a .287 BABIP for his career which means he was actually unlucky and should have had better stats than he had. He hit .283 with 155 homers with runners in scoring position. His BB% was 11.6 which is higher than the average of around 8.5. His strikeout rate of 15.7 was below the MLB average of 16.5. He hit .284/.370/.538 with 630 home runs and 1836 RBIs while compiling 184 steals.
I think this proves that Ken Griffey was an absolute legend and deserves to have both his number retired by the Reds and the Mariners and to be a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Yankees sign Carlos Beltran
According to media reports the New York Yankees have made another outfield splash signing switch-hitting outfielder Carlos Beltran to a 3-year 45 million dollar deal. Beltran joins a crowded Yankees outfield with Vernon Wells, Alfonso Soriano, and Jacoby Ellsbury.
The Yankees are back to their old spending ways after 2 relatively silent offseasons. Beltran hit .296/.339/.491 in 600 plate appearances for the Cardinals last season. He has been very productive in his mid-thirties and the fact the Yankees are giving him 3-years 45 million shows that.
The Yankees are back to their old spending ways after 2 relatively silent offseasons. Beltran hit .296/.339/.491 in 600 plate appearances for the Cardinals last season. He has been very productive in his mid-thirties and the fact the Yankees are giving him 3-years 45 million shows that.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Media Report: Yankees close to 7-year deal with Ellsbury
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports is reporting the Yankees are "close" to a 7-year deal with free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. The deal is estimated to be worth 143 million. Ellsbury, 30, hit .298/.355/.426 in 134 games for the Red Sox last season.
Update: 7:34 PM: Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News says the deal is complete pending a physical.
Update: 7:34 PM: Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News says the deal is complete pending a physical.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Nationals acquire Doug Fister for prospects.
In a move made earlier tonight the Washington Nationals have acquired Doug Fister, the Tigers will acquire Steve Lombardozzi, Robbie Ray, and Ian Krol the team has announced via twitter.
The Washington Nationals were looking for rotation upgrades and they certainly got one in Fister even though it came at the expense of 3 young players. The Detroit Tigers traded Fister because they have an abundance of starting pitchers and could trade one.
Fister, the soon-to-be 30 year old had an impressive season with the Tigers going 14-9 with a 3.67 ERA in 33 games and 208.2 innings in the Tigers rotation. The righty had a .281 BAA and a BABIP of .332 with a 3.26 FIP.
The Washington Nationals were looking for rotation upgrades and they certainly got one in Fister even though it came at the expense of 3 young players. The Detroit Tigers traded Fister because they have an abundance of starting pitchers and could trade one.
Fister, the soon-to-be 30 year old had an impressive season with the Tigers going 14-9 with a 3.67 ERA in 33 games and 208.2 innings in the Tigers rotation. The righty had a .281 BAA and a BABIP of .332 with a 3.26 FIP.
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