Around MLB 2017

[CrimsonCowboy]

The WGN announcers on MLB Network saying the Cardinals have called a press conference for 30 minutes from now

[thewupk]

Just saw this about Mallex... Whew.

Eno Sarris‏ @enosarris 3m3 minutes ago
More
Uh… lowest launch angle on pitches high in the zone, minimum 25 BIP:
1) Mallex Smith (-10.6!!!)
2) Cameron Maybin (0.1)
3) Dee Gordon (3.5)

Does this include last year?

[thethe]

Mallex is going to get his opportunity now.

Can't wait to see how many bags he can steal with regular playing time. After the trade went down I said that the return was good but I still would have rather had Mallex. I'll be rooting for him.

[thewupk]

Mallex is going to get his opportunity now.

Can't wait to see how many bags he can steal with regular playing time. After the trade went down I said that the return was good but I still would have rather had Mallex. I'll be rooting for him.

Had 3 in his first game back with a homer. He came back with a vengeance.

[thewupk]

After an insanely great start to the year Harper has hit like his normal self the last 6 weeks or so. So much for being the best player in the game.

[WaitingFor2017]

I have missed the memo on this....but why is there a doubleheader taking place in a domed stadium in Tampa today?

[thewupk]

No decision for Wood but he had 7'k in 5 2/3 innings with 0 walks and 0 homers. He's second in the majors in both FIP and ERA for pitchers with at least 50 innings. Beast.

[msstate7]

Mallex 3-3 today and 8-14 in series

[UNCBlue012]

Judge is legitimately incredible so far this year. Dude makes Stanton look weak(ish)

[depley]

Holland may be reliever of the month, but in May Craig Kimbrel was 7-for-7 in save opps with a 0.00 ERA and a 25/1 strikeout to walk ratio. Will always be one of my faves.

Kimbrel has faced 99 batters this season, struck out 55 and allowed 8 hits, that is more than beastly, that is godly

[thewupk]

Mallex 3-3 today and 8-14 in series

Has a higher bWAR than Kemp with 40 less games played.

[msstate7]

Has a higher bWAR than Kemp with 40 less games played.

So you think mallex in LF over KEMvP and we'd have a better record?

[thewupk]

So you think mallex in LF over KEMvP and we'd have a better record?

Yeah I do. He's not going to hit as good as he has thus far obviously but he's a plus runner and a plus fielder. I value him as a 2 war OF and that would put him above Nick and Kemp. I would have dumped Nick and started mallex and then trade him once he has a 2 war trade value.

[Enscheff]

Yeah I do. He's not going to hit as good as he has thus far obviously but he's a plus runner and a plus fielder. I value him as a 2 war OF and that would put him above Nick and Kemp. I would have dumped Nick and started mallex and then trade him once he has a 2 war trade value.

Trading Mallex was always fine with me. Trading him for another lottery ticket arm was also ok (though not ideal).

My issue with the trade was the timing. If Mallex was only valued as a 4th OFer, nothing he could have done in AAA could have lowered that value. More time in AAA could have increased his value as teams got to see more evidence that he could be a legit 2+ WAR guy in CF.

He then went on to post an .823 OPS in AAA this year and will allow TB to flip Keiermayer (sp?) for a nice package soon. Meanwhile, Gohara is coming off his 2nd DL stint at age 20.

Never understood the Braves hurry in trading Mallex.

[cajunrevenge]

I know its already been posted how great Kimbrel is this year but holy **** he has a 0.24 FIP. Now at 17.89 K/9 and 1.63 BB/9. Thats ridonkulous. Fangraphs has him at 1.9 WAR already in 27 innings pitched. Career best was only 3.3. He very well could get to 4 WAR this year. Only allowed 8 hits, 5 walks, and 1 HR in 27 innings. Only given up 2 runs and 1 was 3 outtings ago so his stats were probably better going into that game. Also had 5 k in 1.1 innings the other day.



And if you really want me to piss in your cheerios Kimbrel has pitched more than 1 innings 5 times this year so far. I might lose my **** when he pitches more than 1 inning in the playoffs this year. Is Fredi on twatter? I need to know whats going through his head when he sees Kimbrel pitching 2 innings in the playoffs.


If you want something really scary to think about consider this, Kimbrel's average fastball velocity has increased every year in the majors with the exception of 15/16 where it stayed the same. This is now his 8th year and his fastball has gone from 95.4 mph to 98.2. I dont know of many players who have steadily increased their velocity when they reach the majors. Usually its the other way around.

[Tapate50]

^ Awesome info... always loved CK

Also- has Jensen walked a batter this year? Seems like closers are killing it.

[thewupk]

Postseason heroics aside. Kimbrel has a chance to be the greatest closer of all time if he stays healthy.

[cajunrevenge]

^ Awesome info... always loved CK

Also- has Jensen walked a batter this year? Seems like closers are killing it.

Nope, didnt realize he was having such a great year too. 0.44 FIP. Still with 0 walks he has allowed more hits than Kimbrel has walks and his combined. Kimbrel 0.47 Whip vs Jansen 0.61. Both are insane. Some more info Kimbrel has struck out 55.6% of the batters he faced. By comparison in 2012, his best year as a Brave, where he had a 0.78 FIP and 1.01 ERA he struck out 50.2% of batters he faced. Opponets batting average against Kimbrel is .086. So every batter is about half as good as Melvin was for us. Its a wonder he has even given up a run.

[thethe]

Tron is having one hell of a season.

[UNCBlue012]

Tron is having one hell of a season.

I understood the trade, but I would have wanted more than Newcomb. An all-world defensive shortshop with a little pop and signs of being a decent hitter.