Comments
The last twenty comments in true blog fasion, with the links to their authors and the player commented upon.
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Here's the Google doc for the XFL 1999 retro draft tomorrow at 8, if you want to follow along.
Given present testing capacity, I can see the optics of devoting so much of it not only to baseball but a returning NBA and NFL training camps resulting in a public backlash.
The problem for MLB is that they are going to be the guinea pig.
I completely understand the dollars involved and there is something to be said for the return of baseball being a national feel-good moment. Imagine opening day on the 4th of July! We could all use a shot of endorphins.
But is resuming the season at this point even practical? I'm no medical expert, but how does MLB keep testing everyone to make sure everything is going well? Where do the test kits come from? Are the tests for MLB at the expense of needed tests for someone else? Does all the extra testing create backlogs for results and the problems that might create?
And what happens if September comes rolling around and C-19 makes a return? If a small percentage of players start testing positive does the season end or do they keep moving forward?
What if MLB has to suspend play because of positive tests...does that affect the NFL, NCAA, etc?
I'm glad smarter people than me have to make these decisions. I hope they do this right.
The minors are in such trouble!
MiLB.com has got its head in the sand. Even Baseball America, no doubt in a state of equal shock, isn't saying much. This is the most recent article i could find.
I waded through this whole long Q&A and I'm left wondering: why don't the players accept a 50-50 split of revenue?
Passan's "back of the napkin math" makes a convincing case the players could actually get more in a split of this year's loot.
And they would get to see the books. That's the big gain.
I'm not even totally clear how revenue-sharing is a salary cap? If the business of baseball keeps growing, don't salaries keep growing?
The key is the owners would have to open their books. I'm surprised the owners are willing to do that, am skeptical they actually are.
Tyler Chatwood (P) CHI-N - May. 11
https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player.php?id=740911
Chatwood said he feels like he can carry momentum from a strong finish to 2019 and a good spring training into the regular season, Scot Gregor of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Chatwood is widely expected to be the Cubs' No. 5 starter when the season gets underway, which could be in July if a proposal from MLB owners is approved by the players' union. The righty had a 2.84 ERA in 31.2 innings after the All-Star break last season and looked sharp in spring training before play was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Chatwood has some sleeper potential this year, though it's best to temper expectations in the early going.
Austin Romine (C) DET - May. 11
https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player.php?id=740913
Romine could end up staying in Detroit past this season after making a strong impression in the offseason, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Romine agreed to a one-year, $4.15 million contract with the Tigers back in December, with the idea that he'd serve as a veteran stopgap until Jake Rogers was ready. However, the 31-year-old looked good in the spring, and now it's uncertain if Rogers will be able to continue his development in the minors this season. That could all lead to Romine returning as Detroit's starting catcher in 2021.
Make sure you watch the video for the sound effects.
https://nypost.com/2020/05/11/mlb-free-agency-matt-harvey-fears-his-baseball-end/
Hard to get too enthused until it appears there is an agreement between owners and the players on this, but a few thoughts. In NL league bump up NL Central players because they play 12 games against Det. and KC, discount NL West pitchers for having to pitch not only at Col, but now against an improved LAA, Hou, and at Tex (though not sure of the new park). I know my leagues will only permit a player to be drafted if he has actually signed a contract with an MLB team; without a minor league team to play on, I'm not certain the new MLB draftees will be quick to sign, unless they are ticketed for one of the taxi squad spots.
So reading through the mlb layout of a 30 man roster and 20 man taxi squad makes for some interesting thoughts on the reserve roster draft. Picking players who aren't on the taxi squad is a commitment to next year. Picking players off the taxi squad is of course a middle ground, especially if there are some top or even secondary prospects. The taxi squad to me is going to be a lot of those NRI players who were signed.
I think it's going to be fun to scout.
LVW -- That would make it worse for me. Then we'd be losing this whole season plus real-life trades and free agency "mid-season" would be odd.
One interesting thing for dynasty leagues is that we may know which college juniors got picked in our respective leagues since the MLB draft will likely be before the roto draft.
In my local league I've recommended we combine whatever part of this season gets done with next season.
What does the single league proposal (3 10 team divisions and universal DH) do to the concept of single league roto? DH definitely lowers hitters values and vice versa for pitchers, how would it be to not worry about losing your players to the other league? I'm afraid this year, if they play (which they will), will make for a low grade roto experience.
But only 79 strikeouts, if I remember correctly, making it hard to compete in that category.
He doesn't even rate being included in the Top Peformers on this day (Cueto thread).
Other Notable May 11 Events
2016: Max Scherzer records 20 strikeouts in a Washington Nationals 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers.
Note Sandy's K total in 1963.
Other Notable May 11 Events
1932: Future major league catcher and manager Joe Schultz gets his first professional at bat at age 14 with the Houston Buffaloes of the Texas League (managed by his father).
1956: Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Danny Kravitz hits a walk-off grand slam, returning his team from a 3-run deficit to a win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
1963: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax throws a 2-walk, 4-strikeout no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants. That's the 2nd of his 4 career no-hitters.
1971: Cleveland Indians pitcher Steve Dunning hits a grand slam against the Oakland Athletics. Due to the adoption of the designated hitter in 1973, Dunning is the last grand slam by an AL pitcher until Felix Hernandez in 2008.
1977: Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner decides to take managerial duties for a game, but the team loses anyway. After the game, the National League enforces a rule that prevents an owner from being the team's manager as well and forces Turner to give the reins back to Dave Bristol.
1999: Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Bobby Jones and New York Mets starting pitcher Bobby Jones take the mound in the same game. The Rockies emerge victorious 8-5.
2001: St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Rick Ankiel is sent back down to the minors after a May 10th appearance with 5 wild pitches.
2016: Max Scherzer records 20 strikeouts in a Washington Nationals 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers.
In 2009, 72 percent of his pitches were fastballs. They averaged 93.9
Last year: 44 percent, averaging 90.4.
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Jung Ho Kang (3B) - May. 12
https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player.php?id=740921
Kang is expected to pursue a minor-league deal after his return to the Korean Baseball Organization was blocked by suspensions, Jason Lee of JaysJournal.com reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was reported about two weeks ago that the 33-year-old was attempting a return to his home country as he removed himself from the "voluntarily retired" list, but KBO rules dictate a minimum three-year suspension for a third-offense DUI, which Kang was found guilty of in December 2016. He had a strong showing over his first two seasons in Pittsburgh with an .838 OPS, 43 doubles and 36 homers in 229 games between 2015 and 2016, but he's since faced numerous legal issues. Kang has only 191 plate appearances and a .618 OPS over the past three years, and any potential minor-league deal is further complicated by the uncertainty of the MLB and minor-league seasons in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.