SB Nation User Blog: RATW

Brewers call up Josh Butler (another trade that will set us back decades)

RATW — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:18:21 -0000

Brewers call up Josh Butler (another trade that will set us back decades)

As a refresher, Butler is the 24-yr-old 2006 2nd round draft choice who was traded to the Brewers for Gabe Gross.

In 23 starts this year including 11 in the upper minors, Butler has thrown 118.1 innings, striking out 96 batters to go along with 43 walks while maintaining a 50-55% GB rate across four minor league levels.

Butler missed most of July and spent part of August in rookie ball due to an oblique injury and was most recently pitching for Double-A Huntsville prior to his promotion.

The 6'5" righty could make his first major league start this weekend vs. Houston.

Passan: The Rays blame slow start on '08 hangover

RATW — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:23:50 -0000

Passan: The Rays blame slow start on '08 hangover

"We probably didn’t take April as seriously as we should’ve," Rays outfifelder Carl Crawford said. "Coming off a World Series, all the stuff going on, we weren’t focused. We were still celebrating the things that happened. It didn’t register that these games would be as important as all the other ones."

"And," reliever J.P. Howell said, "a lot of guys were dragging and tired. I was. It was the first time for most of us with that quick an offseason. We just weren’t ready. We were physically there, but mentally? Not close."

"I talked about it a lot in spring training, and I tried to avoid it," said Joe Maddon, the Rays’ 55-year-old shaman. "It’s very difficult to not have it happen. Young team. World Series run. Shorter offseason. Longer spring training. It’s a setup for difficulties.

OT: Question for Omaha folks (CWS tickets)

RATW — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:34:15 -0000

OT: Question for Omaha folks (CWS tickets)

Any advice on obtaining tickets to Game 1 of the College World Series?

OT: How is this for pitcher abuse (NCAA)

RATW — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:45:01 -0000

OT: How is this for pitcher abuse (NCAA)

NCAA Regionals - Texas vs. Boston College The game is currently in the 21st inning. Texas closer Austin Wood entered the game in the 7th inning of a tie game. He wouldn't leave until the 20th inning. He pitched 12.1 innings before finally giving up a hit. Final line: 169 pitches with 14 strikeouts, 4 walks, 2 hits over 13 innings. You see a lot of pitcher abuse around conference tournament and regional time (Rice!), but this takes it to a whole new level. Supposedly, this is now the longest game in NCAA D-1 baseball history. On to the 21st inning...

http://www.cstv.com/gametracker/launch/gt_mbasebl.html?event=787366&sport=mbasebl

What it would look like if The Heater merged with Fangraphs

RATW — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:36:10 -0000

What it would look like if The Heater merged with Fangraphs

Another inconsistent outing for Cortes

RATW — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:24:27 -0000

Another inconsistent outing for Cortes

Missed the first inning of the game, but innings two and three consisted of a lot of pitches, some sharply hit grounders/liners, a deep flyout and a Ryan Harvey HR. It looked like Cortes was throwing up in the zone.

The fourth inning was easily his best. Cortes threw a high percentage of off-speed pitches down or below the zone for swinging strikes and K'd the side 1-2-3.

The fifth inning consisted of a walk and very weak single to the right side when the second basemen went to cover the bag on a hit-and-run.

The sixth inning was a struggle as Cortes walked the bases loaded with two outs and was lifted for Chris Hayes. Cortes was visibly frustrated and when he got to the dugout, slammed his glove and hat into the bench.

When I was able to check, the stadium reading had his fastball anywhere from 89-92 mph and off-speed anywhere from 75-80.

The "Mr. Ray" mystery: Has CC learned to love the BB?

RATW — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:36:13 -0000

After a hacktastic start, Carl Crawford has gone on a refreshingly excellent walking spree, raising his BB% shockingly close to league average 26 games into the 2009 season:

via www.fangraphs.com

Has Mr. Crawford, career 5.1% BB rate and all, 951 games into his major league career figured out the walk, 26 games into the 2009 season?

We've never seen this before from Crawford, except we have seen it before, in the first 26 games of 2006 (9.6%) and 2007 (11.2%) to be exact:

via www.fangraphs.com

For his career, Crawford has generally started well enough with decent walk rates in April and May only to see those numbers decline and bottom out in July, a month in which his career BB rate is 3.4%.

March/April: 6.1%
May: 7.5%
June: 4.3%
July: 3.4%
August: 4.4%
September/October: 4.4%

When the temperature rises, will we see this pattern reemerge or has Crawford finally accepted the walk into his life (or is the pattern completely meaningless)? There is at least one example of a similar player who made mid-career strides in the patience department.

Baseball-reference.com lists Claudell Washington as the #3 most similar player by age to Crawford. Like Crawford, Washington was a speedy hacker who debuted at a very young age and played mostly corner outfield. His walk rates were pretty awful until about his age 27 season:

via www.fangraphs.com

This is my hope for Crawford, but given his now lengthy history of hackery, I'm not getting overly excited by his burst of patience. Make no mistake, I love Carl Crawford. To me, he is Mr. Ray for both his longevity and productivity with this team, but we've seen this false hope before.

What do you think: is the new, patient Crawford here for the long-term?

Dewon Brazelton sighting!

RATW — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:22:31 -0000

Dewon Brazelton sighting!

I know, I know. Everyone HATES Dewon Brazelton, but for some reason I'm fascinated by the guy, from the unique personal background, to the gimpy blown out knees which some at BA said should have immediately scared away the D'Rays and which subsequently led to his downfall, to the dominant 2001 college season with mid-90's fastball and plus change, to the minor league mechanical changes, major league near no-hitter, opening day start and complete downfall by 2005, AWOL and all. What a ride.

Apparently his arm is healthy [easy joke goes here] and he's back in baseball, sorta.

CAMDEN - The Camden Riversharks announced today that they have signed right handed pitcher Dewon Brazelton for the 2009 season. Brazelton currently projects as a starting pitcher for the Riversharks. He will join a roster that also includes former Major League pitcher Brian Lawrence, and right handed reliever Julio Guerrero.

Royals may get TV time in NWA and Oklahoma

RATW — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:47:31 -0000

Royals may get TV time in NWA and Oklahoma

Fox Sports Southwest has offered local cable provider Cox Communications a package that includes 50 Royals games for the 2009 Major League Baseball season. The games would air on Fox Sports Southwest Plus, which also would feature 130 St. Louis Cardinals games and 15 Houston Astros games.

Cox and Fox Sports Southwest recently reached an agreement to bring 50 Royals games to Oklahoma. Oklahoma, like Arkansas, has been blacked out for years by Major League Baseball from carrying Royals games but both states have been able to get Cardinals games through Fox Sports Southwest Plus.

[Both areas currently receive 132 Rangers games and 41 Astros games through Fox Sports Southwest]

The Royals' lack of TV exposure in Arkansas, particularly Northwest Arkansas, has long been a sore spot for the franchise. Kansas City is the closest major-league franchise to Northwest Arkansas, and Royals owner David Glass lives in Bella Vista.

Gem of the Day

RATW — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:38:42 -0000

Gem of the Day

Friedman... worst GM or worstest?