By way of rankings and projection, Mick Abel is way the identical pitcher he was 24 months in the past. When the now-22-year-old right-hander was featured in February 2022 throughout our annual Prospect Week, he was No. 1 within the Philadelphia Phillies system and No. 20 on our High 100. Quick ahead to the current, and he’s No. 2 within the Philadelphia Phillies system and No. 22 on our High 100. As Eric Longenhagen defined in his latest writeup, “Abel didn’t have an particularly good 2023… [but] nonetheless has most the entire components wanted to be an influence starter, he simply isn’t completely baked but.”
How has the 2019 first-rounder out of Beaverton, Oregon’s Jesuit Excessive Faculty matured probably the most since our dialog two years in the past? I requested him that query at Philadelphia’s spring coaching facility in Clearwater, Florida on Friday.
“I’d say it’s the separation of over-the-rubber and over-the-plate mentality, realizing easy methods to distinguish between the 2,” replied Abel, who had a 27.5% strikeout fee but additionally a 13.5% stroll fee in 108-and-two-third innings with Double-A Studying final 12 months. “Whether or not it’s within the bullpen or on the game-mound, realizing when and easy methods to make changes with out getting too deep in my head about it.
“Staying extra direct and realizing that if I get too lengthy with my arm motion in again I’m going to be somewhat later to the plate,“ Abel stated when requested to elaborate on the precise mechanics. “I need to ensure that every thing is on time happening the hill.”
Not constantly staying in sync is one thing the high-ceiling righty attributes to not realizing his physique effectively sufficient and “not paying too shut consideration to the way it was transferring.” He feels that he’s been making good progress with each tempo and timing, “shortening up somewhat” being an element within the strides he feels he’s making.
As for repertoire changes, Abel added a two-seamer final 12 months, and this previous offseason he tweaked his greatest breaking ball.
“The slider has gotten extra right into a gyro form,” Abel defined. “We had been sort of indecisive final 12 months on whether or not or not we wished a sweeper or a gyro, and I sort of had the ultimate say. I made a decision, ‘All proper, I’m far more snug with the gyro.’ I’m not involved with the way it’s going to brush, and might management it much more within the zone.’”
He’s additionally not over-stressing on what number of inches of carry he’s getting on his four-seamer… or on pitch metrics normally. That’s one other change from two years in the past. Paying an excessive amount of consideration to analytics tended to “get into [his] head somewhat bit” so now he’s largely simply specializing in “getting outs,” an endeavor which incorporates studying from observing. How he’s going about that’s yet one more means he’s developed.
“I’ve all the time watched pitchers after I’m watching baseball,” defined Abel “Usually, I’d take a look at the mechanics, eager about how they transfer and the way I might probably incorporate some form of motion sample to make me transfer higher. Now I do know what I must do higher, so it’s extra about pitch choice, understanding easy methods to pitch to hitters in sure counts. Principally, I’m taking a look at what they’re throwing and why they’re throwing it. That’s the main focus now.”
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Claudell Washington went 4 for 25 towards Reggie Cleveland.
Scott Brosius went 3 for 25 towards David Cone.
Dave Henderson went 2 for 25 towards Bert Blyleven.
Bob Aspromonte went 1 for 25 towards Tom Seaver.
Torii Hunter went 0 for 25 towards Roger Clemens.
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Matt Krook had a loopy 2023 season. The now-29-year-old left-handed reliever was known as up by the New York Yankees in late Could, solely to be returned to Triple-A on the primary of June with out having gotten right into a recreation. Then got here a second call-up, on June 8, and one other stint of sitting within the bullpen ready for a chance. When it lastly got here on the sixteenth, he’d spent a mixed 12 days on a big-league roster, chomping on the bit to make his long-awaited debut.
The Yankees had been at Fenway Park when the College of Oregon product lastly took the mound, and it so occurred that I spoke to him previous to that recreation. In doing so, I realized that he depends totally on a sinker and a sweeper-slider, the latter a pitch he started growing in 2019 when he was within the Tampa Bay Rays system. I additionally realized that his angle towards his inactivity was admirable.
“I’m simply attempting to remain as prepared as I can, treating each recreation as, ‘All proper, that is the sport I’m going to be in,’” Krook informed me. “I’m retaining that mindset. You possibly can’t go on the market, get beat, and say, ‘Oh, I spent 12 days simply sitting.’”
Outcomes-wise,he took a beating — albeit one by which unhealthy luck performed an element. Krook entered with none out and runners on second and third, and proceeded to retire the primary two batters he confronted with out a run scoring. Then got here a low-exit-velocity infield single adopted by one other low-exit-velocity infield single… after which the roof caved in. Krook gave up a grand slam to Justin Turner, whose 105.6-mph blast traveled 429 ft and into the centerfield bleachers.
At season’s finish, Krook had a glowing 1.32 ERA over 27 aid appearances with Triple-A Scranton, and an unpleasant 24.75 ERA over 4 aid appearances with the Yankees. His BABIP-against in 4 big-league frames was .412.
The Baltimore Orioles acquired Krook from New York in alternate for money issues final week.
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Listening to the information that Eric Hosmer has determined to retire after 13 big-league seasons elicited this thought: Is he some of the underrated-by-advanced-metrics gamers of his technology? A very good argument might be made.
A primary baseman by commerce, Hosmer accrued simply 9.9 fWAR over his profession, and whereas his 18.6 bWAR is sort of double that complete, it’s nonetheless nothing particular given his baker’s dozen years in MLB. His 107 wRC+ can also be unimpressive given his place.
These issues stated, Hosmer had a five-year stretch the place he hit 157 doubles and 94 house runs, had a 115 OPS+, gained 4 Gold Gloves, and was price 14.4 bWAR. Furthermore, he performed a giant position in a World Collection-clinching recreation, was an All-Star Recreation MVP, and by all accounts was a revered crew chief on the groups he performed for.
Hosmer had a great profession. An excellent profession.
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A quiz:
Three managers who had been on the helm for 3,000 or extra video games by no means performed within the massive leagues. Jim Leyland and Joe McCarthy are two. Who’s the third?
The reply will be discovered under.
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NEWS NOTES
Ben Wagner — inexplicably let go by the Toronto Blue Jays in November — has joined the Baltimore Orioles broadcast crew for 2024. Former Orioles Brad Brach, Mike Devereaux, Dave Johnson, and Brian Roberts are additionally new additions, all as visitor analysts.
The total schedule is now out for the SABR Analytics Convention, which will likely be held in Phoenix from March 8-10. It may be discovered right here.
Tom Qualters, a right-hander who went with out a determination whereas making 34 appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago White Sox from 1953-1958, died on February 15 at age 88. Often known as “Cash Baggage,” as a consequence of his having been a bonus child, Qualters debuted as an 18-year-old and was taken deep by the primary batter he confronted, minor-league legend Steve Bilko.
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The reply to the quiz is is Buck Showalter. Joe Maddon and Earl Weaver, who additionally by no means performed within the majors, managed 2,599 and a couple of,541 video games respectively.
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It’s well-known that Wade Boggs’s 24-homer 1987 season was an outlier. The Corridor of Famer’s second-highest complete was 11, and that was the one different time he reached double digits. All informed, Boggs left the yard simply 118 occasions in 18 seasons.
After which there may be Wally Moses, who went deep 89 occasions in a 17-year profession that stretched from 1935-1951. Taking part in for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1937, the left-handed-hitting outfielder not solely batted .320, he hit a team-best 25 house runs. It was his solely double-digit season and, curiously, it got here in a 12 months that wasn’t homer-happy for both the league or his house ballpark. Solely two of his teammates — “Indian Bob” Johnson (additionally 25) and Frankie Hayes (11) — joined him within the 10-or-more class.
It wasn’t Moses’s solely outlier season. In 1943, enjoying for the Chicago White Sox, he swiped 56 bases, 40 greater than his earlier excessive. Take away his theft-happy season, and Moon averaged simply 7.4 steals yearly. An attention-grabbing profession certainly.
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Henry Davis, Jack Leiter, Jackson Jobe, and Marcelo Mayer had been the primary 4 picks within the 2021 draft. Which ones will go on to have the most effective profession?
I requested that query in a Twitter ballot earlier this week, and far as I anticipated, the No. 3 and No. 4 picks dominated the voting. Davis and Leiter acquired simply 15.1% and 11.2% respectively, whereas what was initially a horse race between Jobe and Mayer completed with the pitcher at 40.2% and the shortstop at 33.5%. That well being performed an element within the outcomes caught me as significantly attention-grabbing,
Mayer was hampered by a shoulder harm final season, and attempting to battle by means of it contributed to an underwhelming stat line and in the end a dampening of enthusiasm for his potential stardom. Conversely, Jobe returned to full well being and displayed an influence arsenal that has top-of-the rotation-starter written throughout it. The righty’s dominating array of choices earned him a 55 FV and a No. 16 rating in our recently-released High 100.
Drafting pitchers — particularly highschool pitchers within the first spherical — has lengthy been thought-about dangerous. And for good motive. The volatility of younger arms is well-known, main many groups to be hesitant, if not averse, to going that route.
Longtime Oakland A’s scouting director Eric Kubota is aware of the do-we-or-don’t-we conundrum in addition to anybody.
“In case you take a look at our historical past, we haven’t taken a ton of pitchers within the first spherical, and that displays our emotions considerably,” Kubota informed me. “That being stated, you continue to want pitchers. You really want pitchers. Sandy Alderson used to all the time say that they’re like greenback payments. You could have loads of pitchers, and you should use them to get no matter else you want.”
Kubota’s crew didn’t have a chance to take both Jobe or Mayer — each had been gone earlier than Oakland made its first decide in 2021 — however what if they’d been accessible? Which ones may the A’s have gone with?
“I imply, there may be analysis, after which there may be the historical past of how we draft,” replied Kubota. “In case you take a look at our historical past, we most likely would have taken Mayer. However that doesn’t imply we gained’t take a pitcher.”
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A random obscure former participant snapshot:
Steamboat Struss — his given title was Clarence — was tagged with the loss in his solely big-league look, a 7-5 Pittsburgh Pirates defeat by the hands of the Chicago Cubs on September 30, 1934. The precise-hander allowed 5 earned runs over seven innings and helped his personal trigger, albeit to no avail, with a two-run double. His transient time with the Bucs was bookended by minor-league seasons with groups together with the Rock Island Islanders, Peoria Tractors, Fort Value Cats, and Dallas Steers.
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Freddie Freeman is a seven-time All-Star who has gained a Gold Glove and an MVP Award.. Joey Votto is a six-time All-Star who has additionally gained a Gold Glove and an MVP Award. Furthermore, their résumés embrace these numbers:
FF: 2,114 hits, 1,142 RBIs, 142 wRC+, 58.3 fWAR.
JV: 2,135 hits, 1,144 RBIs, 145 wRC+, 58.3 fWAR.
Freeman continues to be going robust at age 34, whereas the 40-year-old Votto might or might not have performed his final recreation. In all chance, the separation between their respective numbers will develop, giving the previous a transparent profession edge. For now, the left-handed-hitting future Corridor of Fame candidates are strikingly related in a number of significant classes.
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Corbin Burnes fielded standard-fare questions following his first outing of the spring yesterday afternoon… with one notable exception. The Baltimore Orioles right-hander was requested about MLB’s new uniforms, a topic that has not solely elicited criticism, but additionally created a buzz on social media.
“The one factor that’s totally different for me could be the pants,” stated Burnes. “They’re undoubtedly lighter [and] undoubtedly far more clear than I’d need them to be. Gamers have, for years, requested about lighter, breathable jerseys. They could have taken it possibly somewhat bit too far.”
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
Girls outnumber males as followers at skilled sporting occasions, together with baseball, in South Korea. Jason Coskrey has the story at The Japan Instances.
Hyun Jin Ryu is heading again to the KBO, having signed an eight-year contract with the Hanwha Eagles. Jee-ho Yoo wrote about the the 36-year-old southpaw’s return house for the Yonhap Information Company.
At Bleed Cubbie Blue, Mike Bojanowski introduced us with a comparability of the baseballs utilized in MLB and NPB.
MiLB.com’s Josh Jackson wrote about Birmingham, Alabama’s historic Rickwood Subject, which opened in 1910 and went on to host Negro League greats for years to come back.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Vida Blue confronted 13,837 batters and allowed 2,939 hits and 1,185 walks. He had 209 wins and a 3.27 ERA. Billy Pierce confronted 13,853 batters and allowed 2,989 hits and 1,178 walks. He had 211 wins and a 3.27 ERA.
Pablo Sandoval had 1,279 hits, a .278 batting common, and a mixed runs scored/RBI complete of 1,185. Keith Moreland had 1,279 hits , a .279 batting common, and a mixed runs scored/RBI complete of 1,187.
John McGraw, whose 2,763 managerial wins are third most in MLB historical past, had a .586 profitable proportion. Connie Mack, whose 3,731 managerial wins are probably the most in MLB historical past, had a .486 profitable proportion.
In 1962, Willie Mays had 49 house runs, 130 runs scored, 141 RBIs, a 163 wRC+, and 10.5 WAR. Maury Wills had 104 steals, 130 runs scored, 48 RBIs a 103 wRC+, and 5.3 WAR. The Giants gained the NL pennant. Wills gained NL MVP.
The Cincinnati Reds claimed Dernell Stenson off waivers on in the present day’s date in 2003. The erstwhile Boston Pink Sox top-rated prospect went on to make his MLB debut with the Reds in August, solely to lose his life two months later whereas enjoying within the Arizona Fall League. Stenson was murdered in an tried car-jacking.
The Pink Sox signed Mark “The Chicken” Fidrych to a free agent contract on in the present day’s date in 1982. The eccentric right-hander — a sensation with the Detroit Tigers earlier than hurting his arm — spent two uninspiring seasons with Boston’s Triple-A membership, by no means once more taking a big-league mound.
Gamers born on in the present day’s date embrace Ken Szotkiewicz, a shortstop whose profession comprised 47 video games and 98 plate appearances for the Detroit Tigers in 1970. The Wilmington, Delaware native went 9-for-84, along with his .108 batting common rating because the lowest in franchise historical past amongst non-pitchers with as many at-bats.
Additionally born on in the present day’s date was César Cedeño, an outfielder who performed from 1970-1986, primarily with the Houston Astros. A four-time All-Star, Cedeño had a 9 12 months stretch the place he amassed 43.5 WAR, logged a 135 wRC+, and had 141 house runs and 438 stolen bases. He performed within the World Collection with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985.