Dave Dombrowski has had a extremely profitable profession as a top-level front-office govt. Now the President of Baseball Operations for the Philadelphia Phillies, the 67-year-old Western Michigan College graduate’s resume contains World Sequence titles with the Florida Marlins and the Boston Purple Sox, whereas 9 different groups he’s constructed have reached the postseason earlier than falling quick. His present membership has performed October baseball in every of the previous two seasons.
As Detroit sports activities followers know all too effectively, 5 of Dombrowski’s not-quite campaigns got here with the Tigers from 2006-2014. Furthermore, nearly all of these disappointments are notable for a specific purpose: an absence of dependable back-end bullpen arms torpedoed a number of alternatives to take residence a title.
(Tigers followers eager to keep away from angst would possibly wish to skip the following two paragraphs.)
In Recreation 4 of the 2006 World Sequence, Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya mixed to permit three late-inning runs in a 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2011 the Tigers twice misplaced ALCS video games during which the Texas Rangers scored 4 runs within the eleventh inning, Two years later, 5 Detroit relievers mixed to cough up a 5-1 eighth-inning lead in ALCS Recreation 2 towards the Boston Purple Sox, ruining a Max Scherzer begin and depriving the Tabbies of what would have been a 2-0 sequence lead. That 12 months’s Recreation 7 was much more painful. A 2-1 seventh-inning lead, this in one other well-pitched Scherzer begin, became a 5-2 loss when Jose Veras gave up a grand slam to Shane Victorino.
In 2014, Tigers relievers gave up 4 eighth-inning runs in a 7-6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in ALDS Recreation 2. That Joe Nathan didn’t take the mound that afternoon is price noting. A six-time All-Star who’d signed as a free agent previous to that season, Nathan had amassed 35 saves within the common season, however they got here with a 4.81 ERA and an equally-unseemly 1.534 WHIP. He then had Tommy John surgical procedure the next April.
Throughout Dombrowki’s nine-season stretch as Detroit’s prime canine — one during which his groups received 4 Central Division titles and completed second thrice — the Tigers bullpen had MLB’s Twenty fifth-best ERA and Twenty eighth-best FIP.
Dombrowski owned as much as the deficiency when he I broached the topic with him throughout this month’s GM conferences, and that his response got here with a caveat was comprehensible. Luck was certainly not on the Tigers’ facet when it got here to having their finest bullpen arms accessible when it counted most.
“Each membership has bought a weak spot,” Dombrowski advised me. “In Detroit, our golf equipment had been so good place player-wise, and our beginning pitching was completely excellent. One of many unlucky issues that occurred is that a few instances we had bullpen guys get damage on the most inopportune instances. Joel Zumaya went down proper earlier than the 2006 ALCS [with the infamous Guitar Hero injury]. Bruce Ronóon was our setup man in 2013 and went down the final week of the season. We had guys, however should you had been going to level to an space that was our weak spot, that might have been it.”
Regardless of back-to-back Craig Kimbrel debacles in final month’s NLCS that assuredly introduced again unhealthy recollections, Dombrowski has constructed a greater pen in Philadelphia. Above common in 2022, it was a energy in 2023. Excessive-octane was an enormous purpose why. Phillies relievers threw gasoline, averaging 95.0 MPH with their fastballs, the seventh-highest mark in MLB. Furthermore, they ranked even larger in cutter and slider velocity, ending fourth and fifth respectively.
5 members of Philadelphia’s pen — José Alvarado, Seranthony Domínguez, Jeff Hoffman, Yunior Marte, and Gregory Soto — made 40 or extra appearances and averaged 97 MPH or higher with their heaters. The ability helped produce outcomes. The membership’s bullpen arms mixed to log a 25,4 strikeout charge (sixth-highest in MLB) and a 3.88 FIP (fifth highest). 9 Philadelphia relievers recorded no less than one save, with Kimbrel (95.8 MPH) main the pack with 23, whereas Alvarado additionally reached double figures with 10.
And let’s not overlook Orion Kerkering. The 22-year-old right-hander, who debuted in late September and went on to pitch within the postseason, epitomizes energy. With a fastball that reaches triple digits and a spin-tastic slider, Kerkering has, as my colleague Michael Baumann wrote following the rookie’s first outing, “the potential to be one of the best of the bunch.”
The buildup of energy depth has been by design. Dombrowski’s evolving bullpen-building philosophy contains greater than a want to have pitchers who can overmatch hitters.Developments are additionally influencing his selections.
“We bought away from simply seeking to have a dominant nearer,” defined Dombrowski. “Not that we didn’t have any individual that was, per se, our nearer, however we had a number of individuals that might shut video games. I don’t assume that anyone would frown at having a dominant nearer.— most golf equipment would need that sort of man — it’s simply not fairly as obligatory because it was.
“One factor that I feel is completely different now could be that there was extra dependency on beginning pitching,” continued Dombrowski. “You didn’t essentially want all of the depth with relievers in comparison with once I was in Detroit. Starters don’t go as deep into video games, so I’m placing a little bit extra emphasis on discovering extra guys to cowl these innings.”
Which brings us to the about-to-heat-up hot-stove season. Would possibly Josh Hader be the following addition to Philadelphia’s pen? Kimbrel is not below contract, and never solely is Hader’s heater pretty much as good because it will get, he’s far and away the highest reliever on the free-agent market. Dombrowski likes dominant closers each bit as a lot as he likes depth. Don’t guess towards it.
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Ron Washington went 10 for 23 towards Scott McGregor.
UL Washington went 12 for 18 towards Gaylord Perry.
Claudell Washington went 10 for 16 towards Mike Smithson.
George Washington went 10 for 25 towards Schoolboy Rowe.
Greek George went 2 for 4 towards Elmer Riddle.
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Erik Sabrowski had one of many extra distinctive backstories amongst gamers who participated on this 12 months’s Arizona Fall League. A 6-foot-3, 240-pound southpaw who turned 26 on Halloween, he not solely hails from Edmonton, Alberta, he’d logged solely 50-and-two thirds skilled innings previous to suiting up for the Peoria Javelinas. Chosen within the 14th spherical of the 2018 draft by the San Diego Padres out of Concordia, Kansas’s Cloud County Group School, Sabrowski subsequently underwent two Tommy John surgical procedures earlier than being taken within the Minor League section of the 2021 Rule 5 draft by the Cleveland Guardians.
His efficiency this summer time was that of a predictably unpolished, but unquestionably promising, under-the-radar pitching prospect. In 20 reduction appearances for Double-A Akron, Sabrowski surrendered simply 13 hits whereas fanning 28 batters over 21-and-two-thirds innings — this with a 2.49 ERA and a 30.4% strikeout charge — however he additionally issued 18 free passes. His AFL numbers had been related in nature. Equal components overpowering and erratic, he had 16 strikeouts and 10 walks, and allowed simply 4 hits, in nine-and-two-thirds innings.
Sabrowski’s swing-and-miss stuff doesn’t come courtesy of elite velocity. As he defined within the closing days of his AFL marketing campaign, it comes primarily from motion.
“I don’t throw terribly laborious, however I throw a reasonably imply fastball,” mentioned Sabrowski, whose heater sits within the low 90s and will get round 20 inches of vertical trip. “It has plenty of carry they usually confirmed me that I can reside on the prime of the zone. It actually performs up there. The backspin and carry is what makes me good, which is one thing I didn’t know for a very long time. The Cleveland group has a good suggestion of the right way to maximize your potential. They take what you’re actually good at and attempt to make it even higher.”
Sanbrowski, who throws from a excessive three-quarters slot, considers his curveball his second-best pitch — “I attempt to make it go straight down” — and his slider “nonetheless sort of a piece in progress.” A scout I spoke to on my AFL go to is impressed with the general high quality of the southpaw’s choices.
“His stuff is spectacular,” the scout advised me. “I noticed him early on and it was like, ‘Oh boy.” That is what Cleveland does effectively — their pitching stands alone — and his story, being a northern arm who went to a junior school… I imply, I don’t maintain age towards these guys as a lot as some others would possibly. Particularly pitchers. There are such a lot of coaching strategies that a few of these guys take a very huge leap of their mid-20s.”
One space the place Sabrowski received’t want to wish to take an enormous leap is with the bat. Whereas he raked with the bat in 2017 as a two-way participant for the summer time collegiate Western Main Baseball League’s Edmonton Prospects, he has no aspirations to be the following Shohei Ohtani.
“I miss hitting, however then I take a look at a few of the stuff our guys right here throw,” mentioned Sabrowski, who likewise gave up any NHL aspirations he may need by age 16 (nonetheless an enormous hockey fan, he took the ice as a defenseman rising up). I feel I’d have zero probability of hitting any of them. I can hit 85 [MPH], however that’s about it.”
Sabrowski throws tougher than that, and whereas he’s certainly not a flamethrower, his capability to induce swings-and-misses from skilled hitters has been spectacular. Backstory apart, he’s an intriguing pitching prospect in a Cleveland Guardians group that has a approach of manufacturing productive big-league pitchers.
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A quiz:
Which participant holds the report for many pinch-hit residence runs? (A touch: he had no less than one pinch-hit residence run for eight completely different groups.)
The reply could be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
The St. Louis Cardinals have named Joe McEwing as a particular assistant to President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak. “Tremendous Joe” had been serving as St. Louis’s bench coach, a job that will likely be assumed by Daniel Descalso.
The Houston Astros have promoted Gavin Dickey to Assistant Normal Supervisor/Director of Efficiency Science. Initially employed by the group as an space scout, the 40-year-old former minor-league outfielder has been within the group since 2011.
The New York Mets are bringing Mike Sarbaugh on board as their third base coach. As famous on this column three Sundays in the past, the longtime Cleveland Guardians employees member received’t be a part of that group for the primary time since 1990.
Willie Hernandez, a left-handed reliever who performed for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and Detroit Tigers in a profession that spanned the 1977-1989 seasons, died this previous week at age 69. Hernandez received the American League MVP and Cy Younger awards in Detroit’s 1984 World Sequence-championship season, going 9-3 with 32 saves and a 1.92 whereas showing in a junior-circuit excessive 80 video games.
Preston Hanna, a right-handed pitcher who performed for the Atlanta Braves and the Oakland Athletics in a profession that spanned the 1975-1982 seasons, died this previous week at age 69 (per Baseball Participant Passings). Hanna appeared in 156 video games and was credited with 17 wins and one save.
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The reply to the quiz is Matt Stairs, with 23 regular-season pinch-hit residence runs. The New Brunswick, Canada native additionally had a pinch-hit homer within the postseason
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Misinterpreting a Mike Petriello joke-tweet just a few days in the past, I believed that the St. Louis Cardinals had acquired Jordan Lyles in a commerce. What intrigued me concerning the didn’t-actually-happen deal is that Lyles had a 6-17 won-loss report with the Kansas Metropolis Royals this previous season (his ERA and FIP had been likewise substandard) and I occurred to know that Don Larsen had a outstanding W-L turnaround early in his profession. Previous to his 1956 World Sequence perfecto, the right-hander went 9-2 with the Yankees in 1955 after being acquired from the Orioles as a part of a 17-player (sure, 17) commerce. In 1954, Larsen had gone 3-21 with a 100-loss Baltimore membership.
Goes from a 3-21 season to to 9-2 season following a commerce the largest won-loss-record turnaround for a pitcher in big-league historical past? If not, it have to be darn shut.
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I’m not an enormous fan of free-agent and commerce rumors, as they’re all too usually floated on the market for click-bait causes. That’s to not say some don’t have a certain quantity of validity, and that mentioned hypothesis received’t truly come to fruition. As a lot as in-the-know sources are typically stringently tight-lipped, official curiosity in sure gamers, usually pushed by crew want, is usually pretty apparent.
These issues mentioned, I’ll provide my very own take — this with the caveat that I’ve zero inside data — on the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes.
The Toronto Blue Jays could be an ideal match for the 29-year-old famous person. Whereas many are of the idea that he would far favor to play on the West Coast (and he very effectively might), Toronto is a big multi-cultural metropolis that simply so occurs to have a baseball crew that already possesses sufficient expertise to win the World Sequence in 2024 and in seasons to comply with. Furthermore, Blue Jays possession is deep-pocketed and reportedly keen to spend huge. (They received’t spend to ship their radio crew on the street, however that’s as a result of they don’t care concerning the high quality of their broadcasts, not as a result of they’ll’t afford to.)
Are the Blue Jays a possible vacation spot for baseball’s most enjoyable and proficient participant? I do not know, however Ohtani calling Ontario residence makes plenty of sense.
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Patrick Murphy has reportedly signed with NPB’s Nippon Ham Fighters. The 29-year-old right-hander — first interviewed by FanGraphs in 2017 when he was with the then-Low-A Lansing Lugnuts — spent final season with Minnesota’s Triple-A affiliate. Murphy’s MLB expertise includes 23 video games with the Toronto Blue Jays and 12 with the Washington Nationals.
Dan Altavilla is 4-0 with a 2.00 ERA in 10 appearances comprising 9 innings for the Dominican Winter League’s Tigres del Licey. The 31-year-old former Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres right-hander pitched within the Boston Purple Sox system this previous season earlier than being launched in August.
Michael Toglia is slashing .242/.348/.505 with 5 residence runs in 118 plate appearances for the Mexican Pacific Winter League’s Sultanes de Monterrey. The 25-year-old first baseman/outfielder has a .572 OPS over components of the final two seasons with the Colorado Rockies.
Kendall Simmons is 9-for-26 with 4 doubles and one residence run for the Australian Baseball League’s Adelaide Giants. The 23-year-old infielder within the Philadelphia Phillies system slashed .267/.362/.494 and went yard eight instances for Excessive-A Jersey Shore this season.
Lachlan Wells has allowed three hits and a pair of walks whereas placing out 19 batters in 11 scoreless innings for the Giants. The 26-year-old southpaw from Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia pitched within the Minnesota Twins system from 2015-2019.
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Torii Hunter performed in 2,372 video games and had 2,452 hits, together with 488 doubles and 353 residence runs. He had 4,087 whole bases, 195 stolen bases, and a 110 wRC+.
Andruw Jones performed in 2,196 video games and had 1,933 hits, together with 383 doubles and 434 residence runs. He had 3,690 whole bases, 152 stolen bases, and a 111 wRC+.
Jones has a transparent benefit in fWAR — the margin is markedly smaller by WAR — largely due to his glove. It’s no secret that the Willemstad, Curaçao native was an elite defender — arguably one of the best ever at his place — earlier than seeing his abilities quickly erode after age 30. That mentioned, Hunter received 9 Gold Gloves as a centerfielder, one fewer than Jones was awarded. Was the hole of their defensive prowess actually as huge because the metrics counsel? Coloration me skeptical. The extra I peruse their numbers, the much less I’m satisfied that Jones had the higher profession.
Each gamers are on the Corridor of Fame poll I’ll filling out within the coming weeks.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
The KBO introduced on Friday that it has requested MLB to put up 25-year-old outfielder Jung-hu Lee, who’s ranked No. 4 amongst worldwide gamers on The Board. Jee-ho Yoo has the story at Yonhap Information Company.
At Bless You Boys, Jacob Markle wrote about how the energy of this 12 months’s Rule 5 draft is beginning pitching, with the likes of Taylor Dollard, CJ Liu, and Cole Wilcox accessible to groups in quest of promising younger arms.
The Triple-A Salt Lake Bees are hiring Tony Parks to exchange longtime radio voice Steve Klauke, who has retired after practically three a long time within the crew’s broadcast sales space. Gordon Monson has the story at The Salt Lake Tribune.
Former Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees reliever Zack Britton, who I first interviewed for FanGraphs throughout his 2011 rookie season when he was nonetheless a starter — introduced his retirement early this week. Brittany Ghiroli wrote about the erstwhile nearer and two-time All-Star for The Athletic (subscription required).
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
The present ages of the final three World Sequence-winning managers are 68 (Bruce Bochy), 74 (Dusty Baker), and 68 (Brian Snitker). The World Sequence-winning managers within the previous three seasons — Dave Roberts, Alex Cora, and A.J. Hinch — had been all of their 40s when their groups took residence the title.
Juan Soto slashed .307/.422/.604 with 23 residence runs in street video games this 12 months. He slashed .240/.398/.429 with 12 residence runs in residence video games.
Cody Bellinger slashed .311/.358/.502 with 12 residence runs in away video games this 12 months. He slashed .302/.354/.548 with 14 residence runs in residence video games.
Chase Utley had 154 stolen bases and was caught stealing 22 instances.
Dave Parker had 154 stolen bases and was caught stealing 113 instances.
Nomar Garciaparra had 403 walks and 554 strikeouts.
Russell Branyan had 403 walks and 1,118 strikeouts.
Jimmy McMath slashed .388/.460/.597 in 224 plate appearances for the Midwest League’s Quincy Cubs in 1968. He went 2-for-14 with the Chicago Cubs that September whereas enjoying in the one six video games of his big-league profession.
The Detroit Tigers signed Victor Martinez as a free agent on immediately’s date in 2010. The switch-hitting catcher/first baseman/DH proceeded to slash .321/.381/.487 with a 137 wRC+ for the Motown membership from 2011-2014.
On immediately’s date in 1962, the Houston Colt .45s drafted 20-year-old outfielder Jimmy Wynn out of the Cincinnati Reds group (A rule at the moment allowed for “first-year” gamers to be drafted by different groups in the event that they weren’t on their group’s 40-man roster.) The Toy Cannon made his MLB debut the next summer time and went on to log a 130 wRC+ with 291 residence runs and 225 stolen bases over 15 seasons.
Gamers born on immediately’s date embrace Jorge Orta, a second baseman/outfielder who logged 1,619 hits, together with 130 residence runs, whereas enjoying for 5 groups from 1972-1987. An All-Star with the Chicago White Sox in 1975 and the Cleveland Indians in 1980, the Mazatlan, Mexico native received a controversial 1985 World Sequence with the Kansas Metropolis Royals. Within the backside of the ninth inning of Recreation 6, first base umpire Don Denkinger incorrectly referred to as Orta protected, and the Royals proceeded to plate a pair of runs to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1. They received the franchise’s first-ever title the next day.
Additionally born on immediately’s date was Hanson Horsey, whose big-league profession comprised one recreation for the Cincinnati Reds in 1912. Pitching in reduction, the right-hander allowed 12 runs over 4 innings in a 23-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. A 12 months earlier, Horsey went 22-10 with the Tri-State League’s Studying Pretzels.