Around the League: 2017 offseason edition / 2018 Season

[Prikichi]

I had no idea we still had to play Boston, mlb scheduling is freaking unfair

[bravesfanMatt]

Bustista will continue to help the Braves. The gift that kept on giving.

[Southcack77]

I think we'll continue to bring in veteran mid-level catchers (like Flowers and Suzuki though not necessarily those two) on short-term deals until Contreras is ready. Of course, Contreras himself is not a sure thing. But the idea of giving a big contract to a veteran catcher doesn't make sense.

giving 5/100 million to any 30+ year old makes relatively little sense to me.

A catcher who is likely to play only 3 games in 5 seems like an especially big indulgence. Particularly given how past big deals have gone.

But Grandal is certainly the best free agent catcher available. The Braves have to spend money somewhere. I'm not sure what the realistic target to spend money on actually is.

But, I find it tough to believe the Braves are the high bid for Grandal.

If they can sign him for something reasonable, I don't think Contreras is any consideration at all. Even if Contreras makes it up two years from now as a phenom ahead of schedule, Grandal's presence doesn't block him. It just lets him come on at his own pace.

[Southcack77]

Given AA's interest in Realmuto and reported interest in Posey, seems like he's interested in some offense.

JT makes sense from salary standpoint and has been confirmed by Braves sources, I think.

Was Posey confirmed internally or was that national beat or Giant's beat? That one is a little head scratching as it suggests the Braves had a fair amount of cash flexibility. They hardly could have asked the Giants to kick in dollars. so taking on his money and then committing to 3/69 million going forward was a big step for a guy already getting games at 1B. I'm not sure I completely believe it monetarily.

....

I'd like to see some dollar valuation of the pitch framing component alone.

The way the stat is reported suggests value, but perhaps not a huge value. And some writing on the subject suggests that the margins between top and bottom have already shrunk considerably as teams started paying more attention and teaching framing skills.

It's hard to internalize just how valuable it is to get a net positive on say 5-6 pitches a game, which would be a very wide spread.

[Enscheff]

Elite pitch framers add up to 20 runs per season. Terrible pitch framers cost up to 20 runs per season. Then there is obviously a spectrum between those extremes where guys slot in.

That's 4 wins between the best and worst pitch framers. It is still a significant source of value.

[Carp]

How do McCann and Lucroy score on framing these days. I know they both used to get high marks in that department.

Edit: I see neither has done well in that department this year.

Mac has been battling injuries so that may be a cause. I like to think pitch framing doesn't really follow an aging curve, but I have no basis for that opinion.

Since Flowers is officially on board for 1 or 2 more seasons, I'd like to bring Mac back to be Flowers' LH platoon partner. We know he catches young pitchers well.

[nsacpi]

Mac has been battling injuries so that may be a cause. I like to think pitch framing doesn't really follow an aging curve, but I have no basis for that opinion.

Since Flowers is officially on board for 1 or 2 more seasons, I'd like to bring Mac back to be Flowers' LH platoon partner. We know he catches young pitchers well.

Agreed. McCann & Flowers has a nice ring to it.

[clvclv]

Agreed. McCann & Flowers has a nice ring to it.

Still have to wonder if Houston doesn't decide to exercise Mac's option. With Morton, Keuchel, and Joe Smith coming off their books it's not like they're going to be scrambling for dollars - having an important part of their clubhouse back on a one year deal might not be the worst idea as they start breaking some of their young arms in.

[Acuña’s Bat Flip]

Yes. Even look at the rangers of a few years ago.

I just think 131 games is a big enough of an indicator of who you are more than luck and at +2 the Phillies are closer to an average team than a great one.

[nsacpi]

I just think 131 games is a big enough of an indicator of who you are more than luck and at +2 the Phillies are closer to an average team than a great one.

One interesting implication of the run difference data is we are heading into the 2019 season with a better baseline than the Phillies. Of course all teams will add and subtract during the post-season. But on a preliminary basis, they are an approximately .500 team heading into 2019 and we are an 85-90 win team.

[thewupk]

I just think 131 games is a big enough of an indicator of who you are more than luck and at +2 the Phillies are closer to an average team than a great one.

Right. And the Phillies are 9 games over .500 instead of at .500. That indicates their record is based more on luck than skill.

[thewupk]

One interesting implication of the run difference data is we are heading into the 2019 season with a better baseline than the Phillies. Of course all teams will add and subtract during the post-season. But on a preliminary basis, they are an approximately .500 team heading into 2019 and we are an 85-90 win team.

Ozzie and Acuna will have our baseline make a big jump in the offseason.

[Acuña’s Bat Flip]

Right. And the Phillies are 9 games over .500 instead of at .500. That indicates their record is based more on luck than skill.

I copied the wrong post. I was agreeing with you and replying to Young's comment that luck happens occasionally. 131 games is dang near a whole season not occasionally.

[thewupk]

I copied the wrong post. I was agreeing with you and replying to Young's comment that luck happens occasionally. 131 games is dang near a whole season not occasionally.

Copyfail

[bravesfanMatt]

Copyfail

Yet his Hart remains innocent

[Acuña’s Bat Flip]

I follow the rules.

[Super]

loved being at the phils game last night to see them lose in that fashion.

[UNCBlue012]

loved being at the phils game last night to see them lose in that fashion.

Lucky bastard

[Orphan Black]

Interesting call I haven't seen before that lead to a "historic" homerun.

https://sports.yahoo.com/umpires-unu...133944488.html

[Super]

Interesting call I haven't seen before that lead to a "historic" homerun.

https://sports.yahoo.com/umpires-unu...133944488.html

hmm idk what to make of that. seems like it should've been a strike and an out.