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Who was higher, Joe Mauer or Chase Utley? I requested that query in a Twitter ballot earlier this week and the result was… nicely, lopsided. The erstwhile Minnesota Twins catcher/first baseman garnered 79.5% of the 1,362 votes forged, whereas the previous Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman acquired simply 20.5%. With each debuting on subsequent yr’s Corridor of Fame poll — one that may embody quite a few notable holdovers — that breakdown may very well be telling. Whereas it appears unlikely that Utley will be part of the likes of Bobby Grich and Lou Whitaker as a one-and-done snub, would possibly he ballot simply as poorly, and even worse, with BBWAA voters as he did within the head-to-head matchup with Mauer?
Utley completed his profession with 61.6 fWAR and 64.5 bWAR.
Mauer completed his profession with 53.0 fWAR and 55.2 bWAR.
Adrián Beltré, who may also debut on the poll, is a shoo-in to be elected in his first yr of eligibility. It’s a lot for that cause that the Mauer-Utley comparability is significant — at the very least for the phase of voters that features yours really. Eight of the ten candidates I voted for this yr will likely be returning, and Beltré is a no brainer. That leaves one open slot. Furthermore, I’m not alone on this conundrum. A complete of 54 voters put checkmarks subsequent to 10 names, with eight ballots being an identical to mine.
Voting for each Mauer and Utley is clearly an choice (and there may be robust chance that I’ll do exactly that) however who then would I drop? Many would possibly recommend Bobby Abreu, however I’m firmly in his camp. Manny and A-Rod may very well be candidates, however I’ve grudgingly determined to not play PED cop (let’s not neglect that Bud Selig is within the Corridor of Fame). Gary Sheffield? Subsequent yr will likely be his final on the poll, and whereas the prospect of him getting the requisite 75% are distant, he hit 509 bombs whereas logging a 141 wRC+. Andruw Jones? That may imply incurring the wrath of Atlanta Braves followers, however in contrast to Sheffield he has a number of years of eligibility left and is in no hazard of falling off the poll.
Which brings us again to Mauer and Utley. I’ll be shocked if Mauer will get lower than 50% of assist in his first yr on the BBWAA poll, and I anticipate that he’ll finally achieve election. Which he ought to. As for Utley, let’s simply say that I’m far much less assured. Once more, the possibilities of his struggling the identical destiny as Grich and Whitaker (each of whom had the next WAR) are fairly low. As we speak’s voters are much more liable to look below the hood than they have been a couple of a long time in the past. On the similar time, the quantity of assist Utley will get will seemingly be far lower than he deserves. No matter how he compares to Mauer, Utley may be very underrated. For my part, he’s worthy of a plaque in Cooperstown.
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Mike Trout is 0 for six in opposition to Buck Farmer.
Billy O‘Dell went 1 for five in opposition to Jay Hook.
Collin Cowgill went 2 for six in opposition to Anthony Bass.
Troy O’Leary went 0 for 4 in opposition to Doug Creek.
Grover Lowdermilk went 0 for 7 in opposition to Ray Fisher.
Darwin Barney went 5 for 22 in opposition to Jake Westbrook.
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Terry Francona is nicely on his method to the Corridor of Fame. The Cleveland Guardians skipper ranks sixteenth all-time with 1,874 managerial wins, and this yr he’ll transfer previous Bill McKechnie, Gene Mauch, and Casey Stengel. Francona has led groups to a pair of World Collection titles, and one other to further innings of a seventh sport.
I requested A.J. Hinch for his ideas on Francona final season.
“He’s sneaky new-school,” the Detroit supervisor informed me. “I believe he’s developed, in any other case he wouldn’t nonetheless be managing. He’s managing one of many extra progressive organizations round and doing it fairly nicely. So, I believe he’s a mix, as you’ll anticipate from somebody who has lasted and been examined throughout time. I’ve by no means coached or managed with him — even spent a ton of time round him — however he’s nonetheless relatable. That’s an important ability to have with immediately’s gamers, to be simply as relatable as he was when he first began managing.
“His success is unimaginable. A few of it’s measurable. A few of it’s not. However while you’ve had the influence on the gamers, and the organizations that he has, the best honor ought to be bestowed upon him. He’s 100% a Corridor of Famer.”
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A quiz:
The highest three all-time leaders in on-base share in Phillies franchise historical past (“Sliding Billy” Hamilton, Roy Thomas, and Elmer Flick) debuted within the 1800s. The participant who ranks fourth is much more moderen. Who’s it?
The reply will be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
The Oakland Athletics have added Johnny Doskow to their radio broadcast staff. Doskow, who has been the voice of the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats since 2000, joins the top-notch duo of Ken Korach and Vince Cotroneo.
Gary Peters, who pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 1959-1969, and the Boston Pink Sox from 1970-1972, died earlier this week at age 85. A left-hander, Peters went 20-8 in 1964, and logged one of the best ERA within the American League in 1963 and 1966. A very good-hitting pitcher who went deep 19 occasions, he had at the very least one residence run yearly from 1963-1971.
Sal Bando died on January 20 at age 78. Among the finest third basemen not within the Corridor of Fame, the four-time All-Star amassed 56.2 WAR and had a 121 wRC+ whereas taking part in for the Oakland Athletics and the Milwaukee Brewers from 1966-1981. Bando was the A’s captain once they gained three consecutive World Collection titles within the ‘70s.
SABR Day will happen subsequent Saturday, February 4, with quite a few chapters all through the nation holding get-togethers, each digital and in-person. Info will be discovered here.
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The reply to the quiz is Bobby Abreu, who logged a .416 OBP in his 9 seasons with Philadelphia. Ed Delahanty (.415) and John Kruk (.400) ranks fifth and sixth.
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Brayan Bello was throwing primarily four-seamers after I first talked to him for FanGraphs in June 2021. The 23-year-old right-hander, who was in Double-A on the time, now throws the next share of two-seamers. That transition started final season.
“My fastball doesn’t have numerous spin,” reasoned Bello, who debuted with the Boston Pink Sox in July. “I can throw my fastball up, and typically inside or exterior, however my two-seam is best.”
The numbers again that up. Bello’s four-seamer, which he threw 186 occasions in his 57-and-a-third big-league innings, was within the 89th percentile for velocity (97.0 mph), however solely twenty seventh percentile for spin (2,202 rpm). The Samana, Dominican Republic native informed me that his arm angle is extra conducive to a two-seamer, however that he’s wanted to study to command the pitch higher.
Bello, who entered final yr as arguably Boston’s prime pitching prospect, additionally incorporates a plus slider and what our lead prospect analysts Eric Longenhagen has referred to as “a sneaky good changeup.” After which there may be the pitch that Bello threw to big-league hitters simply 5 occasions final season.
“My curveball is a brand new pitch I’ve developed,” mentioned Bello. “My different pitches are all 85 and up — they’re all laborious — and I’m hoping {that a} comfortable little curve will assist throw some hitters off.”
Bello’s new curveball is within the 77-79-mph vary. He’s anticipated to start the season in Boston’s beginning rotation.
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A glance again at a participant who had a pair of massive seasons, back-to-back, within the Seventies:
In 1977, Larry Hisle had 28 residence runs, 119 RBIs, and a 141 wRC+ for the Minnesota Twins. The Portsmouth, Ohio native then signed with the Milwaukee Brewers as a free agent and proceeded to hit 34 residence runs, drive in 115 runs, and log a 153 wRC+ in 1978.
Hisle dislocated his shoulder in April 1979 — he was 32 years outdated on the time — and by no means absolutely recovered. His profession fizzled and was quickly over. He completed with 166 residence runs and a 123 wRC+.
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Hirokazu Sawamura has signed with NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines, considered one of two groups he performed for (the Yomiuri Giants are the opposite) earlier than spending the final two seasons with the Boston Pink Sox. The 34-year-old right-hander appeared in 104 MLB video games and went 6-2 with a 3.39 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 103-and-two-thirds innings.
The Adelaide Giants and the Perth Warmth will play within the Australian Baseball League’s three-game championship sequence, which is able to start on Friday. The Giants superior by beating the Auckland Tuatara, whereas the Warmth bested the Brisbane Bandits.
Bandits catcher Alex Hall led the ABL in OPS through the common season, ending with a .360/.440/.626 slash line and eight residence runs in 159 plate appearances. The 23-year-old Perth native performs within the Milwaukee Brewers system.
Tuatara southpaw Jason Blanchard made 13 reduction appearances and allowed seven hits and one earned runs in 21 innings. The 25-year-old Austin, Texas native performs within the San Diego Padres system.
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Quinn Priester was a visitor on Friday’s episode of FanGraphs Audio, and among the many matters the 22-year-old right-hander touched on have been a pair of his fellow Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospects. Priester is rated by Baseball America as having the system’s finest curveball, so I requested him how his compares to the one thrown by 23-year-old righty Mike Burrows.
“It hurts to say, however Mike has received a greater one than I do,” Priester mentioned on the pod. “He spins absolutely the crap out of it. And it’s extraordinarily sharp. Taking part in catch with Mike, when he throws his curveball, it comes out, one, like a fastball, so that you virtually flinch, as a result of it seems prefer it’s coming at your face. After which there’s a second flinch the place it seems prefer it rolls off the desk and simply drops straight down. It virtually drills your ankles… I’ve received to think about that it’s actually not enjoyable to see within the field.”
Requested if any of his different teammates have left him considering, “Man, I want I might throw that pitch,” the 2019 first-rounder named a newly-turned-24-year-old right-hander who some evaluators now think about the group’s prime pitching prospect.
“All the pieces Luis Ortiz does,” replied Priester. “I’m like, ‘Dang, I want I might throw 101-mph sinkers.’ Ortiz is a type of outliers the place he simply form of goes out and is simply so gifted. He’s so good…. I want I might steal his velocity.”
Priester and Ortiz are High 100 prospects. Burrows, a High 10 within the Pirates system, is coming off of a 2022 marketing campaign that noticed him earn a midseason promotion to Triple-A after dominating at Double-A Altoona.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
MLB.com’s Molly Burkhardt talked to former Boston Pink Sox and Cincinnati Reds right-hander Bronson Arroyo about his music profession and forthcoming album, “Some Would possibly Say.”
At Seattle’s MyNorthwest, Shannon Drayer talked to former FanGraphs editor Dave Cameron about how he went from a younger Mariners fan, and blogger, to his present function because the membership’s director of participant procurement.
USA As we speak’s Gabe Lacques wrote about how after a long time of complications, the steroid period is nearly over for Corridor of Fame voters.
Tokyo’s Meiji Jingu Stadium, the place Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig as soon as performed on a tour of Japan, is slated to be torn down… until a petition can put it aside. Elaine Lies has the story on the Reuters information company.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Sadaharu Oh slashed .333/.532/.761 with 49 residence runs for the Yomiuri Giants in 1974. He had 158 walks and 44 strikeouts.
Jeff McNeil was born in April 1992 and has 564 profession hits.
Manny Machado was born in July 1992 and has 1,597 profession hits.
Nolan Ryan walked 204 batters over 299 innings in 1977. Greg Maddux walked 199 batters over 1,430-and-a-third innings from 1996-2001.
Kirk Gibson, Warren Cromartie, Terry Puhl, and Todd Benzinger all performed for the Royals in 1991. Gibson hit 16 of his 255 profession residence runs with Kansas Metropolis that season.
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Pete Alexander led the NL in wins, ERA, and innings pitched every year from 1915-1917. His common season over that stretch was 31-12 with a 1.54 ERA, and 384 innings pitched. In December 1917, the Phillies traded HIM to the Chicago Cubs in change for Pickles Dillhoefer, Mike Prendergast, and money. Alexander’s profession was fascinating, and his SABR BioProject biography is nicely price your time.
The Minnesota Twins signed Chili Davis as a free agent on immediately’s date in 1991. Davis hit 41 residence runs and had a 133 wRC+ in two seasons with the Twins, a part of a profession that noticed him go deep 350 occasions and log a 118 wRC+ from 1981-1999.
Gamers born on immediately’s date embody Bobby Bolin, who pitched for 3 groups, most notably the San Francisco Giants, from 1961-1973. A right-hander who labored each as starter and out of the bullpen, Bolin went 10-5 with a 1.99 ERA for the Giants in 1968.
Additionally born on immediately’s date was Morgan Burkhart, a primary baseman who debuted with the Pink Sox in 1990, two years after being signed out of the unbiased Frontier League. Burkhart performed 42 big-league video games — 36 with Boston and 6 with the Kansas Metropolis Royals — logging 30 hits, together with 5 residence runs.
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