SB Nation User Blog: sdbaseballfan

Manny to the Dodgers, Bay to Boston?

sdbaseballfan — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:49:54 -0000

From MLB Trade Rumors:

3:39pm: Bob Nightengale has the Bucs getting Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss from the Red Sox and Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris from the Dodgers, correcting what looks like a typo in the Rosenthal report.

3:37pm: Rosenthal has details:

Pirates outfielder Jason Bay is headed to the Red Sox. The Pirates will receive Andy LaRoche and right-hander Bryan Morris from the Dodgers and outfielder Damien Moss and releiver Craig Hansen from the Red Sox.

He adds that the Red Sox will pay the $7MM remaining on Manny's contract.

Chris Perez called up

sdbaseballfan — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:40:59 -0000

Isringhausen on DL; Chris Perez recalled

ST. LOUIS --

http://www.bnd.com/sports/breaking_news/story/342423.html

The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have placed pitcher Jason Isringhausen on the 15-day disabled list with a right hand laceration and purchased the contract of Chris Perez from Class AAA Memphis.

The team also transferred pitcher Josh Kinney from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster for Perez.

Perez, 22, was 1-1 with a team-leading eight saves --fourth in the Pacific Coast League --and a 2.04 ERA in 18 games for the Redbirds.-The 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-hander had fanned 22 batters in 17 2/3 innings, walked just nine and allowed only 12 hits.

Perez, the Cardinals' second overall selection in the 2006 draft (42nd overall) was a Texas League All-Star last season at Class AA Springfield. He combined for 35 saves in 37 chances between Springfield and Memphis last season.

The University of Miami product is a resident of Tampa, Fla.-He was rated this past offseason as the Cardinals' second-best prospect by Baseball America.-Perez will be wearing uniform No. 63 when the Cardinals play host to Tampa Bay this weekend.

Henry Rodriguez promoted from Stockton to Midland

sdbaseballfan — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 07:14:14 -0000

www.texas-league.com/news/?id=9130

Rodriguez is scheduled to make his first Double-A start on Sunday versus San Antonio.

The best rotation in minor league baseball has finally been broken up. The way he's been pitching I don't see this as an alarming move. Texas League is a formidable challenge, but I don't think he's going to miss a beat.

With all the talk Stockton's rotation has received, Midland is one promotion away from having a strong distinction for that argument itself with Simmons, Bailey and now Rodriguez.

Brian Bannister uses sabermetrics

sdbaseballfan — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:16:27 -0000

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Alu7nB73f2XguyNy.NaSqzypu7YF?slug=jp-springbannister030808& ;prov=yhoo&type=lgns

This is a well written piece by Yahoo's Jeff Passan. The type of pitcher that stat geeks loathe uses metrics and sabermetric philosophies to gain an edge with his below-average pitch arsenal.

Bochy: Brian Bocock could be SF's Opening Day SS

sdbaseballfan — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:57:43 -0000

This congers up memories of the White Sox bringing shortstop Mike Caruso all the way from Single-A to "The Show" in 1998, except Bocock will be a temp for two weeks.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8477368?source=most_viewed

Bochy said there's a "legitimate" chance minor league shortstop Brian Bocock could start on opening day and man the position until Vizquel returns in mid-April.

Bocock, who turned two double plays Thursday, is a playmaker with a strong arm and has gotten plenty of time this spring; he also hasn't slouched at the plate, hitting .333 with one strikeout in 16 at-bats despite never playing above A-ball.

Bocock To Start In San Francisco?

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=780

Posted Mar. 8, 2008 1:41 pm by Ben Badler
Filed under: Daily Dish

Baseball America correspondent Andy Baggarly reports that Giants manager Bruce Bochy said there is a "legitimate" chance that he might use Brian Bocock as his starting shortstop on Opening Day.

"We're looking for a strong defensive team," Bochy said. "That's the direction we want to go - pitching and defense."

With Omar Vizquel out for the beginning of the season due to knee surgery, Bocock could end up as the surprise starter at shortstop. Bocock, the No. 11 prospect in the Giants system, hit just .220/.293/.328 with 105 strikeouts in 398 plate appearances last year in the hitter-friendly high Class A California League after going .292/.354/.379 in 178 plate appearance with low Class A Augusta. While Bocock's bat appears to be far from major league-ready, he should at least provide the fielding skill that Bochy said the team will emphasize this year. Bocock, who turns 23 on Sunday, is a 65 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, and managers voted him the best defensive shortstop in the California League last year.

Your Longshot to Win the Pennant?

sdbaseballfan — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:03:53 -0000

Here are the futures odds to win the World Series and AL/NL pennants:

http://www.vegasinsider.com/mlb/odds/futures/

Every year I like to put $20 on one or two long-shots to win both the World Series and the pennant. A low-risk wager on an undervalued, underappreciated team. Last time I did this I put it on the Milwaukee Brewers, but they didn't make the playoffs, but they were worth rolling the dice on.

There has been recent precedent set here in the past with the Angels winning it all in 2002, Marlins in 2003, White Sox in 2005, Tigers taking home the AL pennant in 2006 and the Rockies becoming NL champs last year.

Looking at the list, I don't like 95% of the bets available. In the National League, the only team I like for the odds are the Cincinnati Reds. I think they are a sleeping giant with their lineup of Dunn, Phillips, Griffey, Encarnacion, Bruce, Votto and have an interesting pitching staff with Harang, Arroyo, Bailey, Volquez, possibly Cueto down the road, and Cordero anchoring the bullpen.

Tampa Bay is the obvious favorite in the AL, but they are likely another year or two away. Who knows though, the Diamondbacks surprised me with their sudden ascent to the top last year, so anything can happen if the talent is there.

Who do you guys like with those odds?

Braun and Pedroia named ROYs

sdbaseballfan — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:47:34 -0000

Braun edges Tulowitzki by two points! One of the voters gave Kyle Kendrick a second place vote! Anybody a little surprised that Delmon Young received as much support as he did?

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071112&content_id=2298624&vkey=news_mlb&fext=. jsp&c_id=mlb

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071112&content_id=2298586&vkey=news_mlb&fext=. jsp&c_id=mlb

2007 World Series, who wins?

sdbaseballfan — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:52:27 -0000

The World Series is set. It pits large market Boston against predominantly homegrown Colorado.

I am so excited. Who will win?

Poll

Who will win the World Series?

Colorado

85 votes

Boston

103 votes

188 votes | Poll has closed

Padres Chris Young on Clayton Kershaw

sdbaseballfan — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:34:29 -0000

A valued opinion from one of baseball's brightest players.

Courtesy of Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20070912-9999-1s12padnotes.html

Young dazzled

Padres pitcher Chris Young has insights into highly touted pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw, a 19-year-old left-hander who reached Double-A with the Dodgers this summer. Young and Kershaw attended the same high school in Dallas, and this past offseason they played catch regularly with one another.
"You learn more from playing catch with somebody than you do from watching him pitch from the side," Young said. "His arm is literally electric."

Young has played catch regularly with major leaguer pitchers, but he said of Kershaw: "I have never played catch with anybody whose arm is as fast and flowing as his. That's amazing. I wish he was in our organization. I think we'll see him next year."

Young said Kershaw's drive to succeed also impressed him. "He is all questions with me," Young said. "It was fun. He just wants to learn and cares about getting better."

White Sox call Fields, Royals call up Gathright

sdbaseballfan — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 02:38:06 -0000

From the transaction wire:

Placed third baseman Joe Crede on the 15-day disabled list; recalled third baseman Josh Fields from Charlotte of the International League (AAA).

Designated shortstop Angel Berroa for assignment; recalled outfielder Joey Gathright from Omaha of the Pacific Coast League (AAA).