This yr I had the respect of filling out a Corridor of Fame poll for the fourth time, and as was the case with the earlier three, I’m taking the time to elucidate my reasoning. That is one thing that I really feel each voter ought to do. Filling out a poll is a privilege that calls for not solely due diligence, but additionally transparency. That stated, let’s reduce to the chase.
My checkmarks went subsequent to the names of 10 gamers — the utmost quantity allowed — seven of whom are holdovers from final yr, and three of whom are new to the poll. In alphabetical order, my votes went to Bobby Abreu, Carlos Beltrán, Adrián Beltré, Todd Helton, Joe Mauer, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Chase Utley, and Billy Wagner.
Sure, Andruw Jones’s title is lacking from that listing. No, I’m not significantly happy by his non-inclusion. The erstwhile Atlanta Braves star had obtained my vote 3 times prior, and in an ideal world he would have once more this yr. However it’s not an ideal world. Once more, solely 10 checkmarks are allowed, and with three worthy newcomers becoming a member of eight holdovers from final yr’s poll, somebody had to attract the quick stick. Finally, I made a decision it might be Jones.
Who may I’ve dropped as an alternative? That’s a query that may require extra phrases to reply adequately than I’ve room for on this column, however I’ll say that a certain quantity of strategic considering went into the choice. As my esteemed colleague Jay Jaffe can attest, any ideas of my omitting Gary Sheffield (at present polling at 71.9%) have been dispelled with a reminder that that is his final yr on the poll. Whereas the chance of Sheffield’s reaching the required 75% threshold isn’t excessive, it’s additionally not inconceivable. Conversely, Jones (at present at 62.5%, just a few proportion factors higher than final yr), has three extra years of eligibility left past this cycle. I’m more likely to resume voting for him 12 months from now.
Two extra issues on Jones — each addressed by Jay in final month’s writeup of his candidacy — earlier than I contact on my different decisions. Whereas acknowledging his defensive brilliance, I’ve lengthy been skeptical of claims, metrics-based and in any other case, that he’s the all time at his place, above the likes of Willie Mays, and even (sure, he belongs within the higher echelon) Kevin Kiermaier. After which there may be the home violence situation. As Jay identified, Jones pled responsible to expenses. The primary of my 4 ballots included Omar Vizquel — a polarizing Corridor of Fame candidate for different causes as effectively — and I subsequently stopped voting for him because of his personal home violence allegations. Respective Cooperstown-worthy bona fides apart, does Jones deserves a go if Vizquel doesn’t?
Voting for the Corridor of Fame isn’t as straightforward as evaluating statistical accomplishments.
I’ll admittedly give quick shrift to my different voting decisions. The first motive is that not solely would I primarily be repeating my earlier ballot-explainer feedback — once more, seven of my 10 checkmarks went to holdovers — I might largely be echoing what Jay wrote. For probably the most half, our opinions are simpatico. As for the three newcomers, Beltré is a no brainer for apparent causes; his numbers communicate for themselves. Mauer — at present monitoring at 82.1% — isn’t on the identical degree, however with three batting titles on the catcher place and an general stellar resumé, he’s a straightforward alternative.
After which there may be Utley. When you’re small-Corridor, and/or a traditionalist by way of stats, he’s a marginal candidate at greatest. That stated, you’re studying this on FanGraphs, which considerably decreases the chance that you just don’t perceive simply how good Utley was. Does that imply he’s a rubber-stamp in your opinion? In all probability not. Corridor of Fame-worthiness is something however straightforward to find out, no matter the place you fall on the stat-geek spectrum. That features Andruw Jones, who on this scribe’s opinion is worthy — albeit with out this yr’s vote because of the circumstances that be.
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Dick Allen went 9 for 15 in opposition to Doug Rau.
Jack Clark went 7 for 11 in opposition to Pete Vuckovich.
Moose Grimshaw went 8 for 15 in opposition to Completely satisfied Townsend.
George Altman went 9 for 14 in opposition to Don Newcombe.
Zack Wheat went 6 for 7 in opposition to Al Yeargin.
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Spencer Jones got here in at No. 1 when our New York Yankees High Prospects listing was revealed on December nineteenth. And for good motive. As Eric Longenhagen opined in his writeup, the Twenty fifth-overall decide within the 2022 draft possesses “monumental potential, with eventual 40-homer energy within the tank.” Our lead prospect analyst added — this with a caveat of excessive danger — “so far as ceilings go… we’re speaking about St. Patrick’s Cathedral.”
Jones, who performed his school ball at Vanderbilt College, got here off as humble after I spoke to him following his promotion to Double-A Somerset within the later a part of the season. Considerably surprisingly, he downplayed his energy after I requested him what he considers to be his best power.
“I see myself as a pace man greater than something,” the younger outfielder replied “I really feel like that’s my most beneficial instrument. Hitting and energy… I really feel like I’ve at all times been capable of hit, however I haven’t at all times been an influence hitter. For me, it’s about making contact, and good issues occur after I put it in play.”
His numbers mirror his skill to run. Jones swiped 43 luggage this yr, augmenting a stat line that included 16 lengthy balls and a 113 wRC+, in addition to a 28.9% strikeout charge. Requested about his wheels, he informed me that he’s “twitchy for [his] dimension,” which he acknowledged was at present 6-foot-7 and 235 kilos.
He has tweaked his stance and swing since attending to professional ball. Making a shorter path to the ball has predictably been a precedence for the tall slugger, and he’s achieved so by reducing his fingers and getting his bat “much more vertical within the setup.”
Jones has obtained high quality instruction since signing with the Yankees, however he maintains a robust relationship with the one that helped him construct his basis.
“I’ve had the identical hitting coach since I used to be 9 years outdated,” Jones informed me. “He’s out in Encinitas [California] the place I’m at. We go into the YMCA collectively and he’s been nice. His title is Joe Pimentel. He labored with me after I was a bit of child, after which in Little League — All-Stars and stuff like that.
”He was the primary man who taught me that my dimension is my benefit, that I can use my leverage and my bodily instruments as a bonus,” added Jones. “He’s all about environment friendly strikes and ensuring the whole lot is patterning collectively. It’s not tremendous technical, it’s extra feel-based stuff. That’s how I used to be raised to hit.”
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A quiz:
Two gamers have stolen a minimum of one base yearly since 2009. Who’re they?
The reply might be discovered under.
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NEWS NOTES
The Corridor of Stats web site, which debuted in 2012, formally shut down on December 28. Co-founder Adam Darowski wrote an explanatory column that may be discovered right here.
The Detroit Tigers have reportedly employed Dylan Axelrod and assigned him the title Pitching Efficiency and Integration Coordinator. The 38-year-old former Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds hurler has spent the final 4 seasons teaching within the Los Angeles Angels system.
Two former Detroit Tigers scouts have filed a lawsuit in opposition to the staff, alleging that they have been fired in 2020 because of age discrimination “amid a shift by the staff and Main League Baseball towards youthful scouts who use analytics and video to judge gamers.” (per The Detroit Information.)
Carlos Pulido, a left-handed pitcher who noticed motion for the Minnesota Twins in 1994 and once more in 2003 and 2004, died Thursday at age 52 (per Baseball Participant Passings). Per his B-Ref bio web page, the Caracas native was paired up in opposition to Wilson Alvarez of the Chicago White Sox on June 12, 1994 in what was the primary sport in MLB historical past that the beginning pitchers from each groups have been each from Venezuela. Pulito additionally pitched professionally in Mexico, Japan, and Taiwan.
Larry McCray, a distinguished baseball historian whose main focus was the sport’s origins, died earlier this week. McCray obtained two of SABR’s highest honors in back-to-back years, the Henry Chadwick Award in 2017 and the Bob Davids Award in 2018.
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The reply to the quiz is Elvis Andrus and Andrew McCutchen. (hat tip to @BillyBall for the stat/reality.)
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Buying Estevan Florial from the New York Yankees in change for right-hander Cody Morris earlier this week has the makings of a shrewd transfer for the Cleveland Guardians. Morris has a great arm, however at age 27 and with a short-and-middling big-league resumé, he’s much less of a necessity than what Florial doubtlessly supplies. The Guardians badly want offensive oomph, and whereas the recently-turned-26-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is himself largely unproven, he did put a 130 wRC+ with 28 dwelling runs and 25 stolen bases in Triple-A this previous season. With the caveat that his handful of big-league cups of espresso have been wholly uninspiring, he retains sufficient upside that the transfer is smart for a Cleveland membership that struggled to attain runs in 2023. In comparison with nearly all of groups, they possess sufficient pitching.
Eric Longenhagen may have extra on the Morris-Florial swap within the coming days.
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Which of Invoice Freehan, Thurman Munson, and Yadier Molina is most Corridor of Fame-worthy? I requested that query relating to the three former catchers in a Twitter ballot on Friday, and the outcomes have been kind of what I anticipated them to be. Together with being recency-biased, they have been very a lot debatable.
Molina received the ballot simply, garnering a wholesome 57.3% of the 1,293 votes solid whereas Munson completed second with 31.9% and Freehan obtained a mere 10.8%.
Here’s a snapshot of their respective numbers and awards:
Freehan: 1,591 hits, 200 HRs, 113 wRC+, 44.8 bWAR, 5 Gold Gloves, 11 All-Star appearances.
Molina: 2,168 hits, 176 HRs, 97 wRC+, 42.3 bWAR, 9 Gold Gloves,10 All-Star appearances.
Munson: 1,558 hits, 113 HRs, 116 wRC+, 46.1 bWAR, three Gold Gloves, seven All-Star appearances.
Word that the above WAR totals are bWAR and fWAR. The latter consists of framing — a Molina power — whereas each Freehan (1961-1976) and Munson (1969-1979) performed previous to framing being measured. By and huge, evaluating catcher WAR over eras is a tenuous train. That stated, Molina’s edge in fWAR is evident, 55.6 to Freehan’s 44.8 and Munson’s 40.9. Make of it what you’ll.
Given the dearth of catchers in Cooperstown, one might fairly argue that every one three benefit enshrinement. As for which ones is most deserving of the respect… let’s simply say I’m not satisfied that it’s the longtime St. Louis Cardinal. The late Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees stalwarts — themselves one-franchise gamers — have been each bit pretty much as good.
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Alex Skepton is slashing .375/.444/.675 with six dwelling runs in 88 plate appearances for the Australian Baseball League’s Brisbane Bandits. The 22-year-old outfielder — a local of Queensland — leads the ABL in BA, OBP, and SLG.
Riley Unroe has 15 stolen bases in as many makes an attempt and is slashing .267/.387/.302 in 143 plate appearances for the Mexican Pacific Winter League’s Sultanes de Monterrey, The 28-year-old infielder within the Seattle Mariners system had 19 steals and a 101 wRC+ this yr between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma.
Victor Morales is 4-2 with a 1.05 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 25-and-two-thirds innings for the Mexican Pacific Winter League’s Venados de Mazatlan. The 22-year-old right-hander hasn’t pitched in affiliated baseball stateside.
Victor Reyes has signed with the KBO’s Lotte Giants. The 29-year-old outfielder performed for the Detroit Tigers from 2018-2022 earlier than spending this previous season with the Chicago White Sox Triple-A affiliate.
Kazuto Taguchi signed a three-year deal this week to stay with NPB’s Tokyo Yakult Swallows, and in doing so acknowledged that he hopes to maneuver to MLB within the not-too-distant future. The 28-year-old left-hander, who will receive worldwide free agent rights after subsequent season, had 36 saves and a 1.86 ERA over 50 reduction appearances for the Swallows this yr.
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Jay Jaffe’s wonderful look at Bartolo Colon’s profession included the next within the column’s feedback part:
There’s completely nothing mandating that gamers elected want to fulfill sure scientific standards past having performed 10 seasons. It’s nice to know the place a man like Colon stacks up traditionally; however I might like to see extra voters shifting ahead vote on guys that have been fan favorites.
It is a legitimate opinion IMO. I significantly thought of placing a checkmark subsequent to Colon’s title, and the recognition/fame quotient was a part of the rationale why. Paired with a Cy Younger Award, 247 wins, and a hefty-for-this-era innings complete, it makes “Huge Horny” an intriguing, if unfit, candidate.
I’m of the opinion that Tommy John deserves a plaque in Cooperstown for comparable causes. The southpaw’s numbers (outdoors of the longevity-related ones) might not rank with one of the best of one of the best, however to say that he’s a family title can be stating the plain. That issues. Or a minimum of it ought to.
Tommy John is undeniably an necessary a part of baseball historical past. When it comes to reputation inside this era’s fanbase, Bartolo Colon is fairly darn necessary himself. Whereas I didn’t discover room for him on my poll, I’ve no quibbles with anybody who did.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
Longtime Orioles scribe Wealthy Dubroff wrote a fan letter to a comparatively obscure big-league pitcher in 1971, and greater than 5 a long time later they met for the primary time over lunch. Dubroff wrote about the expertise at Baltimore Baseball.
Twinkie City’s John Foley took a nuanced look at platoon splits.
San Diego Padres broadcaster Jesse Agler addressed topics comparable to Yuki Matsui’s arrival, Fernando Tatis’s future, and MLB’s guidelines tweaks, in his Past the Sales space e-newsletter.
MLB.com’s David Adler gave us a rundown of Statcast’s high performs of 2023.
Pitcher Checklist’s Paul Michaud delved into whether or not Chris Martin might need had one of the best 2023 season of any reliever.
Younger-and-eager job-seekers yearly attend the Winter Conferences to chase the dream of working in baseball. Travis Sawchik wrote about it at The Rating.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Mitch Garver — signed by the Mariners earlier this week — is 0-for-31 at Seattle’s T-Cell Park. He’s 9-for-23 with 4 dwelling runs at New York’s Citi Subject.
Henry Aaron had three five-hit video games in his 23-year MLB profession. Luis Arraez had three five-hit video games this season, all within the month of June. Barry Bonds by no means had a five-hit sport. He had three video games with 5 walks.
Ty Cobb had 4,189 hits and scored 2,245 runs. Rickey Henderson had 3,055 hits and scored 2,295 runs.
Harold Baines had 2,866 hits, a 119 wRC+, and 38.4 fWAR.
Brian Giles had 1,897 hits, a 136 wRC+. and 54.8 fWAR.
Ernie Banks and Rod Carew mixed to play 2,443 video games as first basemen. They mixed to play 2,259 video games as center infielders.
Dizzy Dean went 134-75 with a 132 ERA+ in 1,737 innings as a St. Louis Cardinal. Harry “The Cat” Brecheen went 128-79 with a 133 ERA+ in 1,790 innings as a St. Louis Cardinal.
The Pacific Coast League’s Sacramento Senators bought Dazzy Vance from the New York Yankees on at present’s date in 1919. The Corridor of Fame right-hander later led the Nationwide League in strikeouts yearly from 1922-1928 pitching for the Brooklyn Robins.
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Fred McGriff as a free agent on at present’s date in 2002. The “Crime Canine”went on to log 13 dwelling runs and a 98 wRC+ with the Dodgers in what was his penultimate big-league season.
Gamers born on at present’s date embody Joe Simpson, an outfielder who logged 338 hits, together with 9 dwelling runs, whereas enjoying for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, and Kansas Metropolis Royals from 1975-1983. Simpson has been a part of the Atlanta Braves broadcast staff since 1992.
Additionally born on at present’s date was Corridor of Fame catcher/outfielder King Kelly, whose big-league profession comprised the 1878-1893 seasons. A two-time Nationwide League batting champion with the Chicago White Stockings, Kelly was — per his SABR BioProject biography — “skilled baseball’s first matinee idol: the primary ballplayer to “writer” an autobiography, the primary to have a success music written about him, and the primary to have a profitable performing profession outdoors the sport.”