Josh Rojas has turned himself right into a plus defender. My colleague Ben Clemens chronicled that development final month, citing the Mariners infielder’s improved potential to go to his left as a major cause for his markedly-better metrics. Precisely what sort of changes have allowed the 30-year-old third baseman to show the proverbial nook together with his glove? I occurred to be in Cleveland when Seattle started a highway collection towards the Guardians on the day Ben’s article ran, so was in a position to get the reply proper from the horse’s mouth.
“It was a matter of adjusting what works greatest for me reacting to balls left and proper,” Rojas advised me. “It has to do with my preset. Not getting down too early, not getting down too late. Selecting up contact factors. One other factor that helps is realizing how the ball normally comes off guys’ bats when sure pitchers are throwing. There may be fixed communication between me, the pitching coaches, and Bone [infield coach Perry Hill] on what the plan is for the collection.”
The preset is what I used to be most inquisitive about, so I requested the erstwhile Arizona Diamondback — Rojas turned a Mariner eventually July’s commerce deadline — if he might elaborate.
“It’s the identical as base-running, or some other means you’re attempting to be explosive,” defined Rojas, whom Seattle acquired together with Ryan Bliss and Dominic Canzone in alternate for Paul Sewald. “It’s discovering a superb place to begin that permits you to transfer shortly. Final yr, I performed with a setup that I believed labored for me, and as you possibly can inform from the numbers it was solely environment friendly going a method, which was to my backhand facet.
“I used to be extra strolling into it,” Rojas added. “I’d form of go left-right-hop, and attempt to time it up from there. It felt good, but it surely was a little bit late for going left. This yr, I’m simply beginning at a standstill, attempting to get my toes as shut as I can to the place I would like them to finish. Then it’s only a easy hop and timing up the pitch.”
The diploma to which Perry Hill deserves credit score for Rojas’s enchancment isn’t completely clear. The participant defined that whereas he had conversations with the highly-regarded infield teacher throughout spring coaching, no particular preset was pushed upon him. As for Hill’s clarification, let’s simply say that getting him to take credit score is like pulling enamel. Requested how a lot of a job he performed, the 72-year-old “Bone” would solely say that it’s all concerning the participant, and that Rojas labored onerous.
He did contact on a few of the changes that have been made.
“Prior to now, after I noticed him in Arizona, he performed too shallow,” stated Hill. “He’s taking part in deeper now, which permits him to get higher angles. You subject and throw together with your toes, so it’s a must to get the angles, get to balls able the place you’re able to throw. He’s labored actually onerous on that. He’s additionally picked up an space at house plate to take a look at, particularly to right-handed hitters, which helps him get a greater first-step bounce. That down-and-in pitch is normally going to be what will get hit onerous in his course.”
In Rojas’s opinion, the emphasis on contact factors has performed a fair greater function than his setup.
“One factor Bone did counsel was specializing in that,” stated Rojas. “That means, when the ball is inside that contact level, I do know that it’ll finish as much as my proper, and if it’s exterior of that contact level it’s in all probability going to finish up proper at me, or to my left. I feel that was the largest factor he prompt that has labored for me rather well this yr.”
And for those who’re questioning, sure, Rojas learn Ben’s article. As a matter of reality, he’d achieved so by the point I approached him in Cleveland’s visiting clubhouse. I discovered as a lot after I requested if it’s good to take a look at his defensive metrics and see simply how good he’s been.
“I haven’t really checked out them but, however Bone has advised me that they’re higher this yr,” stated Rojas. “I additionally learn the article that got here out at the moment and noticed that a few of the numbers are higher. However I attempt to not get too caught up in that. I simply attempt to put together, and make all of the performs I can for our pitching workers.”
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Ossee Schrecongost went 3 for 3 towards Harry Kane.
Ollie Brown went 7 for 10 towards Joe Decker.
George Watkins went 10 for 14 towards Mace Brown.
Skip Schumaker went 2 for 4 towards Taylor Jordan.
David Bell went 2 for five towards Kevin Pickford.
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Rob Refsnyder was first quoted right here at Sunday Notes on July 12, 2015, at some point after he’d made his MLB debut with the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. The veteran outfielder now performs for the Crimson Sox, so I ventured into Boston’s house clubhouse to ask him concerning the nine-years-ago expertise — not a lot his 0-for-3 first sport, however relatively his next-day 2-for-4 on the similar venue.
“It was an thrilling time,” Refsnyder advised me on the anniversary of that two-hit effort. “With the ability to get the primary hit, and first house run, on my second day was fairly cool. Then there was the All-Star break. I spent a few days in New York, performed in two video games towards Seattle, then bought despatched down [to Triple-A} for Brendan Ryan. It was a whirlwind weeklong period.”
In some respects, nine years is a short period of time. In other respects — this is especially true in baseball — it qualifies as a long time. Refsnyder appreciates that he’s still wearing a big-league uniform at the no-longer-young age of 33, and the arc of his journey is one of the reasons why. As he pointed out in our recent conversation, he’s been designated for assignment five times. Of course, his days of worrying about job security are mostly a thing of the past. Since signing with Boston prior to the 2022 season, Refsnyder has a 123 wRC+ while filling a valuable platoon role. On the eve of this year’s All-Star break, he is slashing .304/.399/.466 with a 141 wRC+.
Also notable in the former fifth-round pick’s journey is that he is the only player drafted and signed by the Yankees in 2012 who remains on a big-league roster. Moreover, the only other players from that draft to debut in pinstripes were Nick Goody, James Pazos, and Brady Lail. New York’s scouting department has hit some home runs — they brought Aaron Judge into the fold the following year — but their 2012 yield serves as ample proof that crystal balls are in short supply throughout draft rooms.
Refsnyder hasn’t paid much attention to the amateur draft since entering pro ball, but he did offer a few thoughts when the subject was broached.
“I think it’s cool how fast guys are coming up now,” said Refsnyder. “It’s a testament to how much better the development is at the college level. The technology, the information, better coaching. I think the [scouting] departments know what they’re searching for information-wise, and what they’re focusing on. It’s much more environment friendly than after I was drafted. I feel they’re higher in a position to quantify what’s going to work.”
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A quiz:
Which participant has probably the most hits in trendy period (since 1901) Chicago Cubs franchise historical past?
The reply will be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
Iowa Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen will make his MLB regular-season debut at the moment, filling in for Jon Sciambi on Marquee Sports activities Community when the Chicago Cubs play the St. Louis Cardinals. Cohen, who was honored as Baseball Digest’s 2023 Broadcaster of the 12 months, was a visitor on FanGraphs Audio in June 2021.
A reminder that this yr’s nationwide SABR conference shall be held in downtown Minneapolis from August 7-11. The listing of featured audio system, which incorporates a number of Minnesota Twins luminaries, will be discovered right here.
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The reply to the quiz is Ernie Banks, whose 2,583 profession hits all got here with the Cubs. Billy Williams, who recorded 2,510 hits with Chicago’s North Facet membership, ranks second in franchise historical past. Candy Swingin’ Billy additionally logged 201 hits with the Oakland Athletics.
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Which is best, baseball on the radio, or baseball on TV? I requested that query in a Twitter ballot earlier this week, and the outcomes got here as little shock. TV obtained 62.9% of the votes forged, whereas radio bought simply 37.1%.
Lengthy a staple of baseball fandom, following video games over the airwaves has misplaced a lot of its luster within the digital age. Not that individuals don’t nonetheless select to pay attention — or are compelled to due to blackout guidelines (a few of that are illogical) — however the days of transistor radios beneath pillows are a factor of the previous.
Simply what’s the way forward for baseball on the radio? I requested that query to longtime Oakland Athletics broadcaster Vince Cotroneo, who has shared a radio sales space with the esteemed Ken Korach for practically 20 years.
“I don’t know the place it’s going to go, however to me this sport is about up on a tee for radio,” replied Cotroneo. “It’s daily, spring, summer season, fall. It takes you thru the seasons, and it’s a cushty match for individuals. You possibly can take it with you — you’re within the automobile, you’re within the again yard — and benefit from the sport in that method. I hope that attract retains it going.
“Radio is completely different from TV,” continued Cotroneo. “You don’t have the image, so it’s a must to ship the image. And the wonder is, when the rating is 9-1 within the fourth inning, together with telling listeners what’s occurring, you will have an opportunity to go down no matter path you need. You possibly can inform tales. You possibly can delve into the historical past. You will discover issues that make individuals smile or snort. You determine easy methods to make it entertaining. I inform younger broadcasters on a regular basis, ‘Don’t ship me your best hits; I must know what you sound like when the crew has misplaced seven in a row, it’s the fourth inning, and also you’re behind 9-1.’ Ken and I’ve enjoyable collectively. I feel that when individuals activate the radio, they need to hear a cushty pay attention.”
A’s followers received’t be listening to Cotroneo for for much longer. As he introduced on social media on Wednesday, this shall be his closing yr behind the microphone for the crew he joined in 2006.
“I had 19 nice years,” the favored broadcaster advised me the next day “If that is my final yr doing baseball, anyplace, so be it. I’m grateful. And I’m humbled by the response when individuals noticed my assertion [saying] that I’m not coming again.”
Leaving Oakland’s radio sales space after this season wasn’t Cotroneo’s resolution. The A’s are selecting to not deliver him again.
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Sticking with the A’s, the membership’s press notes have not too long ago included a listing of the franchise’s milestone house runs, starting with the primary — Lave Cross in 1901 — and persevering with with numbers 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and so on, by 13,000. A brand new milestone looms, as the present complete is 13,999.
Lots of the names on the listing stand out. Amongst them are Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Carney Lansford, Gene Tenace, and Miguel Tejada — a set of Corridor of Famers, house run champions, batting champions, MVPs, World Collection MVPs, and perennial All-Stars.
Traditionally talking, the A’s are a proud franchise. What current possession has achieved to it’s each embarrassing and unhappy.
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Kenta Maeda recorded the 1,000th strikeout of his MLB profession earlier this week. The 36-year-old Detroit Tigers right-hander joined Yu Darvish and Hideo Nomo as the one Japanese-born gamers to succeed in that mark.
Hiroto Takahashi continued his domination of NPB hitters on Friday when he threw eight shutout innings with 11 strikeouts because the Chunichi Dragons blanked the Hanshin Tigers 3-0. The 21-year-old right-hander is 6-1 with a 0.58 ERA over 78 frames on the season.
Six completely different Chiba Lotte Marines batters recorded three hits on Wednesday because the NPB Pacific League membership clobbered the Rakuten Eagles 18-5. Former Cincinnati Reds infielder Neftali Soto, who has performed in Japan since 2018, was amongst them.
Taek Yeon Kim has eight saves to go along with a 2.48 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 40 frames for the Doosan Bears. The 19-year-old right-hander had an immaculate inning — reportedly the primary ever for a KBO rookie — earlier this week.
Robert Inventory is 8-3 with a 3.80 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 85-and-a-third innings for the Mexican League’s Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos. The 34-year-old erstwhile San Diego Padre final pitched in MLB with the New York Mets in 2021.
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A random obscure former participant snapshot:
Jeff Grey was having an impressive 1991 marketing campaign with the Boston Crimson Sox when tragedy struck. A 28-year-old right-hander in his second full big-league season, Grey had a 2.34 ERA over 50 reduction appearances when he suffered a stroke on the finish of July. He improved sufficient to aim a comeback in 1993, however by no means once more was in a position to play professionally. Later a minor league pitching coach within the Crimson Sox group, Grey had 4 wins, 10 saves, and a 3.33 ERA in 96 big-league video games, 91 with Boston and an preliminary 5 with the Cincinnati Reds.
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FARM NOTES
Hao-Yu Lee is slashing .296/.365/.505 with 12 house runs in 329 plate appearances for the Double-A Erie Sea Wolves. No. 17 on our Detroit Tigers Prime Prospects listing, the 21-year-old second baseman from New Taipei, Taiwan was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in alternate for Michael Lorenzen eventually yr’s commerce deadline.
Hyungchan Um is slashing .293/.396/.457 with 5 house runs in 165 plate appearances between the Arizona Complicated League and Low-A Columbia. The 20-year-old catcher from Seoul, South Korea is No. 24 on our Kansas Metropolis Royals Prime Prospects listing.
Sann Omosako has pitched 29 innings and allowed 23 hits and two runs within the Dominican Summer time League. A local of São Paolo, Brazil, the 18-year-old right-hander within the Toronto Blue Jays group has fanned 25 batters and has but to give up a free cross.
Austin Peterson is 10-2 with a 2.34 ERA, a 2.30 FIP, and 107 strikeouts in 103-and-two-thirds innings between Excessive-A Lake County and Double-A Akron. The 24-year-old right-hander within the Cleveland Guardians group was drafted out of the College of Connecticut within the ninth spherical two years in the past.
Chase Meidroth is slashing .289/.438/.376 with three house runs in 370 plate appearances for Triple-A Worcester. No. 20 on our Boston Crimson Sox Prime Prospects listing, the 22-year-old infielder has 70 walks to go along with simply 40 strikeouts.
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Which of Elly De La Cruz, Bryce Harper, and Shohei Ohtani is the Nationwide League MVP at this level of the season? I requested that query in a Twitter ballot a number of days in the past, with “different” as a fourth choice. The outcomes weren’t shut. Ohtani garnered 62.6%, whereas Harper obtained 23.9% and De La Cruz simply 9.8%. One other 3.7% went to “different.”
Ohtani leads the senior circuit in WAR (5.0), wRC+ (183), and residential runs (28), so it’s completely comprehensible that he’d win the ballot. Few would argue that he’s not the very best participant in baseball. Harper is a celebrity as nicely, and this yr’s 3.9 WAR, 166 wRC+, and 20 house runs main into the All-Star break are definitely exemplary.
As for De La Cruz, few gamers in both league are as dynamic. The Cincinnati Reds shortstop has comparably less-impressive wRC+ (125) and residential run (15) totals, however his 4.4 WAR is second-best behind Ohtani, and his 46 stolen bases are by far probably the most within the majors. As MLB.com’s Mike Petraglia wrote earlier this week, the Reds’ All-Star Sport consultant is “simply the third Main League participant with 15 homers and 40 steals over his crew’s first 85 video games.”
De La Cruz has been far and away Cincinnati’s greatest participant this season. Furthermore, it will be honest to say that he means extra to his crew than do Ohtani and Harper to theirs. These issues stated, “most precious” is a subjective time period.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
The Los Angeles Angels took pitchers with all 20 of their picks within the 2021 draft. Sam Blum regarded into how that’s understanding for the AL West membership at The Athletic (subscription required).
Pitcher Checklist’s Nate Schwartz wrote about how Tobias Myers is one more Milwaukee Brewers pitching success.
At First and Pen, Yusuf Khan advised of how a 1930 doubleheader between a pair of Negro League groups — the New York Lincoln Giants and the Baltimore Black Sox — at Yankee Stadium was about extra than simply baseball.
At The Sydney Morning Herald, Vince Rugari wrote about how Travis Bazzana isn’t well-known in his native Australia, however he’s about to develop into a giant deal.
A Minnesota man is reviving the misplaced artwork of repairing baseball gloves. Rachel Hutton has the story at The Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
MLB crew have mixed to hit 3,120 house runs and steal 2,051 bases this yr. At this level within the 2019 season, groups had mixed to hit 3,791 house runs and steal 1,309 bases.
The Houston Astros are 50-45 with a plus-51 run differential. The St. Louis Cardinals are 49-45 with a minus-34 run differential.
Luis Arraez has come to the plate 416 occasions and has 15 walks and 43 strikeouts. Ezequiel Tovar has come to the plate 414 occasions and has 13 walks and 119 strikeouts.
Paul Skenes has pitched 93-and-two-thirds MLB innings this season. In 51 of these innings, the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander has not allowed a success (per @BillyBall).
Chicago Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks is 14-4 with a 2.51 ERA in 179 profession innings towards the St. Louis Cardinals.
Kansas Metropolis’s MJ Melendez is 22-for-54 with eight house runs in 15 profession video games towards the Crimson Sox. He’s 3-for-53 with one house run in 15 profession video games towards the Toronto Blue Jays.
On at the moment’s date in 1991, the Kansas Metropolis Royals hit six house runs, together with two every from Mike Macfarlane and Brian McRae, whereas thrashing the Detroit Tigers 18-4. George Brett and Todd Benzinger additionally left the yard, whereas Alan Trammell, Lloyd Moseby, and Travis Fryman went deep for the Tigers.
On at the moment’s date in 1965, the Chicago White Sox scored three runs within the prime of the tenth inning, then held on to beat the Cleveland Indians 12-10. The groups mixed to hit seven house runs, with Cleveland’s Chico Salmon going deep twice. Eddie Fisher, who will have a good time his 88th birthday on Tuesday, bought the win to boost his document to 10-3. The appropriate-hander completed the yr 15-7 with 9 saves and a league-best 82 reduction appearances.
Gamers born on at the moment’s date embrace Danny Walton, an outfielder who performed for six completely different MLB groups over components of 9 seasons from 1968-1980. A member of the enlargement Seattle Pilots in 1969, Walton logged 102 of his 174 profession hits, and 17 of his 28 house runs, with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970.
Additionally born on at the moment’s date was Ed Hug, a catcher whose profession comprised one sport, and one plate look, for the Brooklyn Superbas in 1903. The Fayetteville, Ohio native drew a stroll towards Cincinnati Reds southpaw Noodles Hahn.