 the Orioles for Steve Fuckin' Trachsel.
We got Steve Trachsel for the tail end of the 2007 season. 4 games started, 17.1 IP, 1-3 record, 8.31 ERA and a 1.846 WHIP. The beginning of Hendry's tenure was much better than the end.
Bryant having a rough game so far (0-3, 2 SOs, 5 LOB) as Mesa trails Surprise 0-1, Dallas Beeler in line for the loss despite 5 solid innings of 1-run ball.
at least he's AFL MVP...
at least he's AFL MVP... soler is 0-3 through 7, himself...1 K...a swinging K on a wild pitch.
Dallas Beeler anyone to look forward to?
he's battled injuries...but after this AFL performance, his age (24), throws 93mph, slider, changeup...well, someone might take him as a rule5. he was signed overslot after TJ, so it's not like he's a 41st round talent over-achieving (though he wasn't a round 1-10 talent). it was viewed as a nice gamble at the time. his game produces ground ball outs rather than Ks. he seems to be a rick porcello or rick reuschel type at best.
Rick Reuschel's WAR is 97th of all time. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR...
...and 32nd in pitching WAR.
...and 32nd in pitching WAR no one's clamoring to put long time cub bill dahlen in the HOF for his 74th all-time WAR as a SS yet...he fell 2 short in the vet vote this year. all that aside (and i realize you're just adding to the information base), i just threw reuschel and porcello out there cuz they're 2 guys who throw innings with decent stuff, yet do most of their game on ground balls rather than Ks.
I'm guessing it was the "at best" part of the comment that made it sound like you were quantifying his overall value as a pitcher, rather than just making a comparison about their pitching styles. I took it the same way as QuietMan seemed to. BTW, I'm clamoring about Bill Dahlen not being in the Hall of Fame, but then again, I pretty much fit the definition of "no one".
r.reuschel's WAR stats is something i see as a combination of his longevity and the era he pitched in (which played greatly into how effectively he pitched). i also have a bit of an issue with using WAR to evaluate some talent to begin with (especially over different eras). reuschel being the 97th best player based on this stat is odd...being the 32nd best pitcher in the game's history with pWAR is eye-rolling. without a good D behind him reuschel is not as good as the stats he earned. his game relied heavily on others to make the outs he sets up. he also got to pitch to a slew of other players on teams that valued infield D over production with bat+power in his era, too. if you insert him into the style of play we have had for almost the past 20 years where infield D can be somewhat tossed to the side for a better bat his game most likely doesn't look so slick. he played in an era and for teams where infielders who couldn't hit didn't matter that much as long as their D was solid. he'd have the same game with different results on many teams if he came along in today's game. in 2012, rick porcello had the 4th best gb/fb ratio in MLB...he also gave up the most hits in all of MLB (226 h in only 176.1 ip) thanks to his leaky low-D infield. if he had adequate D behind him, not only would the hits be lower, but his IP would be higher, and his ERA/whip lower, too.
Well, first, BR's WAR adjusts for eras, since it is based on relationships to league averages and replacement players computed annually. You don't think they would anticipate that obvious criticism and account for it? Everyone knows the game has changed over time, so they control for the type of baseball played when calculating player values. Second, they also take into account team defense when calculating pitcher war. Everything is right here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/war_e... Finally, if you insert any player from one era into another they would have different results. Duh. Cy Young would pitch every 5th day not every 3rd. Players who walk a lot now would be benched in previous eras. Power hitters would have WAY fewer home runs in the deadball era and would fly out a lot. Catchers who can't throw can pass in some eras but would see their defensive metrics take a huge hit and would be benched in other eras where stolen bases are high. Etc.
"Daniel Bard has retired one of 13 batters faced over three outings with Caguas in the Puerto Rican Winter League. Yikes. Bard has actually yet to allow a hit, but he's given up seven earned runs on nine walks, three hit batters and four wild pitches."...well, that's special.
That kind of performance only gets it done AGAINST the Cubs. We'll just go ahead and mark down that 40-man roster to 36.
he's lost 3+mph on his fastball the past couple of seasons along with an increasing lack of control+command, but this is just silly. before BOS cut him last year he put up 27bb in 15.1ip in RK-AA ball (as a 28 year old). he wasn't much better in 2012, but not this bad.
article on minor league pitching coordinator d.johnson http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/johnson...
per muskat... "Luis Valbuena made his third straight start at second base on Saturday for Cardenales de Lara in Venezuela, and for the first time, was hitless."
the cubs seem to be cornering the market on crappy AAA IF'rs this offseason... "Cubs sign INF Chris Valaika to a minor league contact."
Well at least it's another guy who can play ahead of Logan Watkins...
When you start a drive from the 16-yard line, you have a 13 percent chance, probably, over the last five years to score a touchdown. And you have to take that into consideration when you go into the game.
"Jeff Niemann has elected to become a free agent." hope the cubs are in on this if his medicals check out.
CRUNCH: The Cubs could have claimed Jeff Niemann last week when he was on Outright Assignment Waivers (as they did with Daniel Bard in September and Mat Gamel last month) if they were interested.
Even if they didn't want to risk having to go to aribitration with him (despite the shoulder surgery Niemann will likely make $3M+ in 2014 if he is tendered), the Cubs could have claimed him and then non-tendered him on 12/2 with the possibility that they could work-out a pre-arranged minor league deal with him to avoid aribtration.
BTW, with the way he has pitched in Puerto Rico, it's very possible that the Cubs might not even wait to non-tender Bard. They might just outright him tomorrow when the MLB and minor league reserve lists are filed.
yeah, i'm still not sure (aka, don't know) how his shoulder is...he's supposedly playing catch, but he's not expected to throw until feb/march at the earliest. his career may take him to the pen rather than starting when he gets back into playing shape.
Latroy Hawkins signs 1/2 with Rockies. Will be the closer. Ahem...hahahaha hahahaha!
Hawkins will be 41 yrs old next season. Mr. Longevity.
His 1.05 for the Cubs in 2004 was his second lowest in a nearly 20 year career if you don't include a cup of coffee with Houston in 2008. His 2.3 WAR in 2004 was his second highest. Unfortunately, his 9 blown saves were epic. Which makes the 2.3 WAR a head scratcher. I guess I could look up how they calculate that, but to me it doesn't matter. It's meaningless. They could have put anybody into that role and they would have done better.
the crazy thing about it (besides being a 41yo closer when r.brothers is around) is how well he's pitched at coors field over his career.
Your'e crazy. 
I have a facebook friend who says Cano to Cubs is a sure thing. Does that help?
sounds legit..10/300 with no-trade i assume.
I smell a Hendry! The NTC gave it away. Hendry whispers in Cashman's ear...Can You Cano?
ROB, you said this last year.
it's exponentially growing..
it's exponentially growing...where's Kevin Towers when you need a rumor leaked?
Hardy Elementary School is located in South Lyon, Michigan, just south of Milford. It is the goal of Hardy Elementary to allow their students to grow, learn and engage in an exceptional learning and safe environment. Hardy Elementary loves when parents are involved in their child’s education and wel