Lol obviously it's not over. After making tens of millions of dollars, and earning a world series ring, he's still playing baseball. Because Jackie Fucking Bradley Jr loves to play baseball. The fans of Long Island are in for a treat!
Following Former Red Sox 2024...
- Thread starter YTF
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Hell yeah, 2015-16 were incredible. He had a 833 OPS those two years, rest of his career was 643. Obviously pretty great defensively throughout. Really interesting career.
Short time Red Sox Robert Stock pitched for Long Island last year and it was interesting following his experience via his Twitter. He even threw a no-hitter for them. There are a lot of "let's remember some guys" playing in that league and in the past playing for the Ducks in particular.
If Cedanne has JBJ's Sox career, that's an easy win. Right? Just skip the bringing him back and giving him a starting job when he's obviously cooked part?
His wife was the Twitter user to follow. Her witty wryness was a bright spot in the dismal 2020 season/year. It may sound silly, but for that alone I will aways root for Robert Stock's success.
I remember someone made a joke that Stock looked like a twice-divorced plumber and she said "Not divorced yet, but if he keeps walking the leadoff guy I will consider it."
They are great follows. They had a baby, he pitched a year in South Korea and last year pitched in Nashville and Long Island. He's pitching in Mexico right now.
100% for me. I know it's a somewhat simplistic way of looking at it but he was drafted 40th in the 2011 first round, and finished (as of now, some are still active of course) with the 12th most WAR of all first & second rounders rounders. Hell, it looks like about half the players drafted in the top 90 (1st round, supp 1st round, 2nd round) either finished with a negative WAR or never made it to the show. Baseball is hard.
For sure. JBJ had a top-tier Major League career: ten seasons in the bigs, All-Star, starting center fielder on a World Series winning team, Gold Glover. He was no Hall of Famer, but that's the career you want when you're a rookie. If Cedanne does even half of that, that's terrific.
Holy shit that is awesome. Too bad they have had to move all over the globe but at least the kid is young I suppose.
His wife posted an adorable vid of their baby celebrating when Stock picked up a save in the WBC for Israel. They are very cool people.
Bard out for the season for flexor tendon surgery: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/04/daniel-bard-to-undergo-season-ending-flexor-tendon-surgery.html
I'll always rooting for him but his contract's up this winter and he'll be 40 next year. This may be the end.
I'll always rooting for him but his contract's up this winter and he'll be 40 next year. This may be the end.
James Paxton walked 8 batters in 5 innings tonight and somehow only gave up 3 runs (2 scored after he was relieved by Ryan Brasier).
Andrew Benintendi has somehow already accumulated -1.1 BWAR this season. 10 (10!) OPS+. He has 1 extra-base hit. This is fresh off a season in which he was essentially replacement-level. Dude is looking extra cooked at the moment.
Will Reinsdorf allow it?
Friend of mine saw the White Sox last week and said Benintendi looked like an absolute shell of his former self.
I wonder what happened. He went to my daughter's smallish suburban Cincy high school and was just locked in from a very young age. His family is good people and he has never come across as entitled. I am happy that we had him for 2018. I have a lot of his signed stuff and I wish I had flipped it like immediately. Like his BWAR, I may have to pay someone to take it off my hands now.
We should have a gallery of "Guys We Can't Live Without!"
Three weeks later.
Christian Vazquez - .598 OPS last year, and ice-cold so far with a .310 OPS.
Up to .490 OPS.
Xander - .790 OPS last year, .601 this year as a second-baseman.
.607 OPS
E-Rod - a convincing 2023 campaign of 26 starts, but yet to take the field this year.
60-day IL
Renfroe - .710 OPS last year (two clubs), and doing nothing (literally) for KCR so far - a .000 OPS in 4 games.
.492 OPS
JDM - A good 2023 when healthy which was not even 3/4 of the season (.893 in 113 games). Maybe he'll play some games for the Mets soon.
Maybe he'll play some games for the Mets soon.
Eovaldi - in JDM's boat with 25 starts and a 3.63 ERA, but healthy for an excellent post-season. His only start this year was good.
4 starts, 2.63 ERA
Enrique Hernandez - rebounded in 2023 for LAD, but off to a cold start this year: .413 OPS.
.543 OPS
Wacha - A most-of-the-season starter for SD in 2023 (24 starts) his absences did not help the Padre cause. He's off to a rocky start in KCR with a 5.40 ERA.
5 starts , 3.81 ERA
Guys not in the majors: JBJ, Plawecki, Pham (FA), Arroyo (minors, Brewers).
Three weeks later.
Christian Vazquez - .598 OPS last year, and ice-cold so far with a .310 OPS.
Up to .490 OPS.
Xander - .790 OPS last year, .601 this year as a second-baseman.
.607 OPS
E-Rod - a convincing 2023 campaign of 26 starts, but yet to take the field this year.
60-day IL
Renfroe - .710 OPS last year (two clubs), and doing nothing (literally) for KCR so far - a .000 OPS in 4 games.
.492 OPS
JDM - A good 2023 when healthy which was not even 3/4 of the season (.893 in 113 games). Maybe he'll play some games for the Mets soon.
Maybe he'll play some games for the Mets soon.
Eovaldi - in JDM's boat with 25 starts and a 3.63 ERA, but healthy for an excellent post-season. His only start this year was good.
4 starts, 2.63 ERA
Enrique Hernandez - rebounded in 2023 for LAD, but off to a cold start this year: .413 OPS.
.543 OPS
Wacha - A most-of-the-season starter for SD in 2023 (24 starts) his absences did not help the Padre cause. He's off to a rocky start in KCR with a 5.40 ERA.
5 starts , 3.81 ERA
Guys not in the majors: JBJ, Plawecki, Pham (FA), Arroyo (minors, Brewers).
He made it, though. Came back, pitched well, got the big money. He can live the rest of his life knowing he could pitch in MOB and overcame insane adversity to do so.
It's a real-life fairy tale.
His power, which was never that great to begin with, just completely vanished. His SLG has gone from 442-399-356-188 the last four years. And he’s still only 29. Just really weird. A 5 win player at age 23.
He hasn’t really been the same player since the hamate bone injury with the Yankees- he’s slugging like .345 since.
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It was a 2 HR game for Beni with 6 RBI. Nice to see.
White Sox have won 2 in a row against Tampa. 5-22 now, look out here they come!
White Sox have won 2 in a row against Tampa. 5-22 now, look out here they come!
Kimbrel just blew his second save against Oakland.
Don't sleep on Oakland. Those kids just won a series against the Os.
Don't sleep on Oakland. Those kids just won a series against the Os.
Meanwhile, Xander is slashing .213/.278/.287 for a .565 OPS over 122 AB. What happened to this guy? Looks like the Sox dodged a bullet there.
One thing to watch for Bogaerts.
He was in the 47th percentile for HH% in 2022, hitting the ball hard 39.5% of the time. Not great, but he puts the ball in play a lot and is a skilled hitter, so you can live with that. In 2021 he was in the 65th percentile, at 42%. 2018-2019 he was in the 70th percentile. Very good. But you see the trend.
Last year he was in the 18th percentile with a HH% of 34.6. Not good, but he's a skilled hitter, so he more than got by.
This year? 6th percentile, at a HH% of just 25.5%. That's horrific, worse than Pablo Reyes. 5th worst in baseball for qualifying hitters. (Last year he was 20th worst in baseball, sandwiched between the likes of Eddie Rosario and Thairo Estrada).
Still plenty of time for him to turn it around, obviously. I think he gets by because he's such a skilled hitter. And he's played a fantastic 2b so far. So long as he continues to play an excellent second-base, he can still be a 3-4 win player or better, I think. But those are his lowest percentages since, like, 2016.
Speaking of ex-Red Sox, Benintendi's HH% last year was 26.8%. Yuck.
And what do they have in common? Hamate injury.
He was in the 47th percentile for HH% in 2022, hitting the ball hard 39.5% of the time. Not great, but he puts the ball in play a lot and is a skilled hitter, so you can live with that. In 2021 he was in the 65th percentile, at 42%. 2018-2019 he was in the 70th percentile. Very good. But you see the trend.
Last year he was in the 18th percentile with a HH% of 34.6. Not good, but he's a skilled hitter, so he more than got by.
This year? 6th percentile, at a HH% of just 25.5%. That's horrific, worse than Pablo Reyes. 5th worst in baseball for qualifying hitters. (Last year he was 20th worst in baseball, sandwiched between the likes of Eddie Rosario and Thairo Estrada).
Still plenty of time for him to turn it around, obviously. I think he gets by because he's such a skilled hitter. And he's played a fantastic 2b so far. So long as he continues to play an excellent second-base, he can still be a 3-4 win player or better, I think. But those are his lowest percentages since, like, 2016.
Speaking of ex-Red Sox, Benintendi's HH% last year was 26.8%. Yuck.
And what do they have in common? Hamate injury.
Yeah, he's shown an ability to post high BABIPs despite declining HH%'s. Which is a testament to his ability to put the ball where he wants it to go. A 120 wrc+ last year with a 35% HH? Hard to do.
But it's certainly something to watch. I'm not sure any hitter can survive for very long with a HH% south of 30%.
But, as I noted, he managed better than that last year, so there's no reason to believe he won't again this year. And the defense means his bat doesn't have to be perfect or even especially good for him to generate three to four wins.
Seriously; Bard could be on the corporate motivational speaking tour. Not that he needs the money which is good, but what a story! Add in his faith based life and he’s set.
Nationals Designate Matt Barnes For Assignment - MLB Trade Rumors
Fastball average is down to 91 for Matt, so this seems like the end of the line. He might have had another couple of chances if he were a lefty, but not as a righty who doesn't miss bats.
Fastball average is down to 91 for Matt, so this seems like the end of the line. He might have had another couple of chances if he were a lefty, but not as a righty who doesn't miss bats.
We should have a gallery of "Guys We Can't Live Without!"
Five weeks later.
Christian Vazquez - .598 OPS last year, and ice-cold so far with a .310 OPS.
Up to .441 OPS.
Xander - .790 OPS last year, .601 this year as a second-baseman.
.550 OPS. Still a second-baseman. Maybe.
E-Rod - a convincing 2023 campaign of 26 starts, but yet to take the field this year.
60-day IL.
Renfroe - .710 OPS last year (two clubs), and doing nothing (literally) for KCR so far - a .000 OPS in 4 games.
.483 OPS
JDM - A good 2023 when healthy which was not even 3/4 of the season (.893 in 113 games). Maybe he'll play some games for the Mets soon.
.635 OPS in 45 ABs.
Eovaldi - in JDM's boat with 25 starts and a 3.63 ERA, but healthy for an excellent post-season. His only start this year was good.
7 starts, 2.61 ERA. On the IL since 5/2.
Enrique Hernandez - rebounded in 2023 for LAD, but off to a cold start this year: .413 OPS.
.573 OPS
Wacha - A most-of-the-season starter for SD in 2023 (24 starts) his absences did not help the Padre cause. He's off to a rocky start in KCR with a 5.40 ERA.
8 starts, 5.15 ERA
Pham - signed late with the CWS and is off to a blistering .814 OPS in 54 ABs. He also has played 100 innings in CF.
Guys not in the majors: JBJ, Plawecki, Arroyo (minors, Brewers).
Five weeks later.
Christian Vazquez - .598 OPS last year, and ice-cold so far with a .310 OPS.
Up to .441 OPS.
Xander - .790 OPS last year, .601 this year as a second-baseman.
.550 OPS. Still a second-baseman. Maybe.
E-Rod - a convincing 2023 campaign of 26 starts, but yet to take the field this year.
60-day IL.
Renfroe - .710 OPS last year (two clubs), and doing nothing (literally) for KCR so far - a .000 OPS in 4 games.
.483 OPS
JDM - A good 2023 when healthy which was not even 3/4 of the season (.893 in 113 games). Maybe he'll play some games for the Mets soon.
.635 OPS in 45 ABs.
Eovaldi - in JDM's boat with 25 starts and a 3.63 ERA, but healthy for an excellent post-season. His only start this year was good.
7 starts, 2.61 ERA. On the IL since 5/2.
Enrique Hernandez - rebounded in 2023 for LAD, but off to a cold start this year: .413 OPS.
.573 OPS
Wacha - A most-of-the-season starter for SD in 2023 (24 starts) his absences did not help the Padre cause. He's off to a rocky start in KCR with a 5.40 ERA.
8 starts, 5.15 ERA
Pham - signed late with the CWS and is off to a blistering .814 OPS in 54 ABs. He also has played 100 innings in CF.
Guys not in the majors: JBJ, Plawecki, Arroyo (minors, Brewers).
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Thanks! (Updated the post.)
I don't know what to boggle at more - that he's essentially the CWS's best hitter, or that he's their starting CF. I suspect the second will not age well.
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Wise decision as they've gone 8-7 since I started the thread about how historically bad they are and now I'm praying for the Guardians to win back-to-back games just to salvage a series split.
This isn't what this thread is usually for, but Posnanski's recent blog post about the greatest players has this part about Yaz, and I love it, especially the baseball cards, and the part about how absolutely insane his 1967 season was.
Joe Posnanski:
By the time I was old enough to see Yaz play, he was already a legend… and he seemed to me like a very old man. By 1978, his baseball card made him look like he had to be in his late 50s.
By 1981, he looked like a retired legend who returned to spring training to teach the kids a little somethin’ about baseball.
By 1983, he was clearly just a coach.
So, while I sort of knew that Yaz was great—he kept showing up at All-Star Games—I didn’t really know. Yaz was pretty meh the last half-dozen years of his career, and those were the only years I saw him. I didn’t appreciate then that Yaz’s 1967 season might be the best season any position player has ever had.
Start with bWAR:
Still, statistically, we know Yaz’s season is up there with the very best.
Then, you add in his impossible dream September performance, when the Red Sox were trying to win their first pennant in more than 20 years. Yaz hit .417/.504/.760 that month. On Sept. 17, the Red Sox were tied with Minnesota for third place, a game behind Detroit and a half-game behind the White Sox.
In the final 12 games, Yaz hit .523/.604/.955 with four doubles, five homers, 14 runs and 16 RBIs. When you put the greatest clutch performance in baseball history at the end of one of the greatest individual seasons in baseball history, yeah, you have an argument for the best season of all time.
Joe Posnanski:
By the time I was old enough to see Yaz play, he was already a legend… and he seemed to me like a very old man. By 1978, his baseball card made him look like he had to be in his late 50s.
By 1981, he looked like a retired legend who returned to spring training to teach the kids a little somethin’ about baseball.
By 1983, he was clearly just a coach.
So, while I sort of knew that Yaz was great—he kept showing up at All-Star Games—I didn’t really know. Yaz was pretty meh the last half-dozen years of his career, and those were the only years I saw him. I didn’t appreciate then that Yaz’s 1967 season might be the best season any position player has ever had.
Start with bWAR:
- Babe Ruth, 1923, 14.1
- Babe Ruth, 1921, 12.8
- Babe Ruth, 1927, 12.6
- Carl Yastrzemski, 1967, 12.5
- Rogers Hornsby, 1924, 12.1
Still, statistically, we know Yaz’s season is up there with the very best.
Then, you add in his impossible dream September performance, when the Red Sox were trying to win their first pennant in more than 20 years. Yaz hit .417/.504/.760 that month. On Sept. 17, the Red Sox were tied with Minnesota for third place, a game behind Detroit and a half-game behind the White Sox.
In the final 12 games, Yaz hit .523/.604/.955 with four doubles, five homers, 14 runs and 16 RBIs. When you put the greatest clutch performance in baseball history at the end of one of the greatest individual seasons in baseball history, yeah, you have an argument for the best season of all time.
ATL won a tight game over CHC yesterday, 2-0. Both runs came in the same inning, and the guy in the middle of it (driving in the first and scoring the second) was legendary ATL slugger...
Zack Short.
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cubs-vs-braves/2024/05/13/747128/final/box
Zack Short.
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cubs-vs-braves/2024/05/13/747128/final/box