SB Nation User Blog: nms

Ok! Fess up! Which one of you guys did this...

nms — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:34:02 -0000

More funny videos like the "Jay Bruce Almighty" at Heavy.com

I don't know how this hasn't been kicked around baseball sites til now. How many rookies get random folks songs sung about em? I just stumbled on this as I was googling Jay Bruce to pull up his Baseball-Reference page. Figured I'd pass it along. a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a

16 Ks, 0 H in 6ip.. how has no one posted this yet?!

nms — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 03:29:13 -0000

This happened a couple days ago and I didn't see anyone post it so I thought I'd throw it out there. I'm kind of surprised no one posted anything about it yet (if someone did, my apologies).

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080722&content_id=436128&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

Braves prospect David Francis, 13th rounder out of JUCO power Walters (TN) State JC, struck out 16 batters in a 6 inning no-hitter.

Thats a pretty freakin' dominant outing.

The 'pen threw another hitless inning before rain ended the affair.

On the year Francis has throw 24 IP, giving up just 9 hits and 5 walks while striking out 35 and going 3-1 with a 1.52 ERA in 5 games/3 starts. In fact he gave up 3 of his 4 ERs in his 1st pro outing.. since then hes gone 22 IP with just 3 BBs, 32 Ks, 8 H and 1 ER.

Francis' college coach made his stuff sound good but not overpowering like he has shown this far, and keep in mind the coach is obviously biased in favor of his kid..

"College coach Ken Campbell described Francis to the Mississauga News as a "power pitcher" who can throw in the low-90s and also "has a good curveball and a pretty good change-up.""

Since he wasn't a highly drafted, his stuff sounds more "good" than "great" and short-season stats mean almost (but not quite) nothing I don't know if Francis is someone who is going to do big things pretty soon or what but 16k, 6ip, 0h is as dominant as anyone can pitch at any level.. so hes at least worth remembering.

Top 09 draft prospect sues NCAA

nms — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:17:03 -0000

Pretty significant story beyond the unfortunate events that happened to Mr. Oliver. It gives you a good look-in on agent vs. agent crap coming back to hit a kid.

The great coverage from the Lorain(OH) Morning-Journal: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19829705&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46370&rfi=6
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"Oklahoma State soon-to-be junior pitcher Andy Oliver, a former Vermilion standout, has filed a lawsuit in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas against the NCAA and his past adviser, Robert Baratta, it was learned yesterday.

The complaint, filed on June 9 and amended on June 25, names Baratta, his company, Baratta & Baratta, his partner, Tim Baratta, the Icon Law Group from Cincinnati and Icon representatives Robert G. Martin and Brian M. Goldberg, along with the NCAA. It alleges that Oliver was a victim of ''unethical and unscrupulous behavior'' caused by Baratta and his group after the pitcher notified them he was switching advisors.
...
Oliver was suspended indefinitely by the NCAA just prior to the Division I postseason and was not allowed to play for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The suspension came as a result of a chain of events, beginning with a letter filed on Oliver's behalf by sports agent Scott Boras on March 31, telling Baratta that Oliver was switching advisors to his firm."
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Lots more good stuff in the article, including a really weak move on the ex-agents' part. Baratta gave Oliver some trinkets (like every "advisor" does), knowing they were technically improper under NCAA rules, and then goes and rats of Oliver for taking the gifts.

Oliver, a power lefty, is a considered an mid-to-early first round prospect for the '09 draft and turned down almost 400k from the Twins out of Vermillion (OH) HS.

Fun with Statistics

nms — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:29:06 -0000

Just some fun oddities I've run across...

Tigers minor league OF Jeramy Laster might be on pace to set a professional record for strikeouts in a season. Through 288 at-bats over 76 games he has struck out 121 times putting him on a pace for almost 240 strikeouts. Yikes! On the brighter side, Laster (a 2003 12th rounder from a Nashville HS) has 17 homers, 31 extra-base hits, 26 walks and 10 steals in the home-run-killing high-A Florida State League. Pity he can't put that bat on the ball to save his life. His overall line is .219/.287/.451

Tigers minor league shortstop Shawn Roof was 0-2 in stolen bases over 70 games as a freshman and sophomore at the University of Illinois. Then, in 57 games as a junior he went 25-33 in steals and 40-48(!) in 58 senior year games. But as a professional he is just 7-14 in 92 games. He might want to find dig those cleats he was wearing senior year out of storage sometime soon. Another oddity about him.. he had more hit-by-pitches as a senior and junior than he did walks, total extra base hits or strikeouts.

Wake Forest outfielder Brett Linnenkohl managed to go from hitting 8 homers, 23 extra-base hits and a .486 SLG% in 53 junior year starts to NO homers, NO extra-base hits and a .298 slugging % as a senior.. but did manage to steal 15 bags without getting caught in 14 starts.

College World Series

nms — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:17:22 -0000

Anyone else watching?

Yesterday saw FSU get a clutch game-typing HR from Jason Stidham to tie the game at 5 only to give up a CWS single-inning record of ELEVEN in the top of the 9th to lose 16-5 to Stanford. Buster Posey was the first pitcher to fail FSU in that 9th

Tony Delmonico's defense was really a problem. Defense was FSU's huge weakness coming in and it played a huge role yesterday. BA made an apt Posey/Wieters comp as both were catcher/closer stars in the regular season but melted down in their first Omaha appearances after catching 8 innings. Neither got hit terribly hard but they couldn't get the ball by anyone and gave up a string of hits and runs.

Then game 2, Miami/Georgia, was another game that was tight the whole way. Freshman of the Year Chris Hernandez struck out 5 of the first 6 (only Beckham making contact) but lost effectiveness once the extreme shadows went away but still finished with a nice start. Alonso hit a late homerun off 2009 prospect Alex McRee to give Miami a 4-3 lead. Georgia won the game in a CRAZY ninth inning that I can't really do justice to if I try to describe it. It involved a passed ball strikeout to keep the ball rolling, a TERRIBLE throwing error by Miami's first rounder closer and some clutch contact hitting and basrunning by UGA.

UGA closer Josh Fields was lights out.

Weeks and Tekotte also homered for Miami.

Now FSU and Miami will be playing a rivalry game with the loser going home. Considering the brou ha ha the teams had earlier this year that game should be fought tooth and nails.

Today's game sees Fresno State, the lowest regionally seeded team to ever make Omaha, up 16-1 in a COMPLETE dismantling of Rice's vaunted pitching. And they are shutting down Rice's O.

All 3 lower ranked teams have one... we will have to see if #7 LSU can keep that up against #2 UNC tonight to send the ACC to 0-3.

Anyone else watching? Any thoughts/reactions?

Jason Heyward MRI

nms — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:04:45 -0000

Not trying to overblow anything but I am sure some would like to know that Rome Braves star OF Jason Heyward had an MRI done for his sore right shoulder and swollen right knee. The results were "unclear"

http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/680/public/news908118.html

Heyward is scheduled to have more tests on Monday. The recently-named SAL All-Star has been out of the lineup for the past two games, and won’t return until Monday night at the earliest, Ingle said.

Heyward said on Friday that he had never before had problems with his shoulder or knee, and said he isn’t sure what caused the injuries to flare up.

For now, the extent of his injuries is anyone’s guess.

“We’ll just have to wait and see what the tests say on Monday,” said Ingle."

Big SEC news could affect signability of Meyer and more

nms — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 06:30:26 -0000

Kentucky was bringing in a big-time recruiting class including top prospects like pick #53 Seth Lintz, star Indiana RHP Alex Meyer, Colorado SS Andy Burns (round 25), Paducah's power-armed RHP Daniel Webb (round 12), Yanks fourth round IF Corban Joseph, hometown kid LHP Robbie Ross (57 overall) and others like talented Chicago area SS-P Braden Kapteyn (39th round, Giants), pitcher Blake Brewer (11th round, Marlins) and Cory Farris (43rd round, White Sox).

Some had said that they had talked to each other and decided that, unless seven figure first-round money was offered, they were all going to turn down the pros and go to Lexington together to take the 'Cats to Omaha soon. Because of this some of these guys (Burns, Meyer and Webb in particular) went unpicked for longer than their talent would have indicated.

But now Coach John Cohen, in a huge move, has left Kentucky to take over Missippii State's retiring legend Ron Polk. Cohen had led Kentucky from the cellar into being a league power and this big class was set to turn Kentucky into a possible top 10 team.

But now Cohen is gone. The coaching change could lead these talented prospects who were going to be tough signs into possibly easier signs if they decide the loss of the coach dampens their interest in becoming Wildcats.

Meyer's situation is extremely interesting as no team even bothered to waste a 50th round flyer on him since they were so sure he was unsignable. Now if he decides he doesn't want to go to UK under a different coach he would be a free agent.

Polk by the way, showing that he is in peak form despite retirement, is hopping mad at the choice of hire and has threatened to take his name off the stadium and Miss St out of his will until they fire the AD. Polk had wanted a former assistant to get the job.

The AP article has all of the juicy quotes an incensed Polk... http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3430009&campaign=rss&source=NCAAHeadlines

My draft thoughts

nms — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:22:15 -0000

Since I was at a ballgame all day here are my draft thoughts for ya..
Note, I am not saying I know better. This stuff is all just my take on it. I could be wrong as hell about all of this...

-Who is the Mariner's third rounder, pick 98? It is missing from BA database.
-Take a chill pill guys. I think a couple hours after a draft is way to early to say that your teams SD is an idiot. It is one thing to critique a pick or picks, I think it is quite another to say that it is obvious a team is stupid because they picked (whoever) or say that the 08 draft is an example of how they suck at drafting. Especially when you think the pick is bad only because it is a relative unknown. I think it is one thing to pick a known mediocrity and be let down about it but just because you haven't heard the hype on some high pick does not make it bad. I remember BP blasting the Giants for taking Matt Cain for that reason. Plenty of unheralded HS that some teams do not think of drafting go on to great things

-I have to assume some of these guys that fell VERY far or went unpicked (Meyer, Gray, Hunt, Grossman, Putnam, Melville, Galloway, Maronde, Danks, Webb, others) did so for signability reasons even if a guy like Galloway was not buzzed as being a difficult sign. I guess a couple of those guys (Hunt, Putnam) could have fallen for talent-only reasons

-Lots of pint-size college IFs being picked. A few of these guys (Harrison, Miclat) I have liked but wondered if their small stature would discount their stock into being senior signs or something next year.

-I love Jacob Thompson when he is on.

-Azusa Pacific's CF over Miami's CF? Wow. I don't know anything about Azusa Pac (a d-II school) guy but I really like Tekotte at Miami.
Another D-II guy went in Round Three over big college stars like Jacob Thompson (UVA), Scott Green (Kentuck), Vance Worley (Long Beach), ect. NIce to see guys who were likely unrecruited by the big dogs get the last laugh.

-I don't get picking Alonso over Smoak. I also don't get Jason Castro in the top 10, Havens at 22 and Jeremy Bliech at 44. Some of these first basemen seem like reaches. I don't see Cooper as a top 20 guy, esp one pick in front of Ike Davis. I also don't think of Carlos Gutierrez of Miami as a Round One guy.

-USF's Evan Frederickson is still a big lefty who can K guys but he still can't throw a strike to save his life and he was mediocre in the WCC after sucking for 2 years in the ACC. As far as strong armed, K-getting college LHP go I'd have to go with Wade Miley

-I'm glad to see SIU RHP Cody Adam's still going in Round Two despite a rough start this year. I also like seeing Illinois CF/WR Kyle Hudson in round 4. Here to seeing IU CF/WR early tomorrow.

-Charlie Blackmon is athletic and interesting but Round Two seems high, especially since he went in front of Tekotte.

-Cole Figeroa was draft eligible?!

-Sounds like Jarret Parker could be a steal in round 6, havn't seen him though. I think Jordy Mercer in round 3 is a nice pickup too.

-Delaware's 2b went before Tony Delmonico? Hmm. I like Delmonico a little BTW.

-Clayton Shunick in round 5 is a steal. I like Coastal Carolina closer Pete Andrelcyzk but I can't see him as a better pitcher than Shunick

-GTs David Duncan has not improved his draft stock at all since HS despite 3 years as a Friday guy in the ACC and being draft-eligible in 05, 07 and 08.

Braves drafter needed

nms — Fri, 30 May 2008 22:05:57 -0000

So sorry guys to do this so late but I am going to need a replacement drafter for the Braves since real life has stolen my time away from this pursuit and my Deputy, Jfish, has a schedule conflict as well unfortunately.

I'm terribly sorry, since I was REALLY looking forward to doing this again this year and I had even (quite nerdily) assembled a pretty long list of candidates to pick but stuff came up, sad to say

MOD: Atlanta Braves

nms — Tue, 13 May 2008 23:59:18 -0000

Sadly we don't pick til #40 this year.

Our picks are: 40 - 64 - 70 - 96 - 130 - 160

Not a great selection of picks so it is important to find the right guys in the later rounds, which can be a fun effort.

Here is a ramshackle draft board of sorts. Don't worry I'm not trying to pimp a blog, there isn't a blog there. I just found blogspot the easiest way to put all this info out there for me and others to look at and debate.

College Bats

College Arms

HS Bats

HS Arms (put your comments on this Diary/Fanpost, not the Draft Board links)

I generally underrated guys on purpose so I can move them up as I become more sure.

I have brief comments on alot of guys. Guys with ? marks are the ones I am really interested to know more about. Just cause I didn't write a comment out doesn't mean I'm not aware of a player (I probably just didn't feel like typing) but I;d love to know anyones take on any player.

And just because I didn't list a player doesn't mean I don't think he is good (though it might). Theres probably players I ranked wrong or forgot about.. SO LET ME KNOW!

I;d love to know anyones take on guys we should target for these picks.

Sorry if it is hard to read or disorganized. I originally created that draft board to use as a basis for doing my own Shadow Draft.

I don't have any very specific draft philosophies. I'm ok with drafting pitcher or hitters, college or HS as long as it is generally the Best Player Available. I'm not unreasonably risk averse. I lean towards going for high upside guys.

One big question I have is whether we should consider Lonnie Chisenhall. Talent-wise he could be a steal at 40 or 64 but the Braves don't like guys with legal problems and stealing from a coach is an especially bad sin from a clubhouse perspective. On the other hand the Braves have given guys 2nd chances and kept them clean. Apparently Chisenhall has his act together now and the Braves were very fond of him out of HS

Poll

Should Lonnie Chisenhalls makeup/criminal problems eliminate him from consideration for the Braves at pick 40?

Yes

18 votes

No

24 votes

42 votes | Poll has closed