Mostly MLB Notes: Miggy can still be trusted, but not so with Tulo
After hitting 44 homers in back-to-back years from 2012-2013, Miguel Cabrera has totaled 43 over the past two seasons, but he’s been consistently hobbled and still managed to hit an MLB-high .338 last season despite basically playing on one leg. Cabrera turns 33 years old in April, so his best days might be behind him, but last year’s injury was the first ever to cost him more than 15 games in any season during his career, so while he’s been banged up of late, he typically plays through it. And he’s supposedly entering 2016 feeling great, stating this offseason was the first time in three years in which he was able to work out normally.
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From 2010-2014, Miggy averaged a line of 107-36-123. Of course, you don’t need me to tell you Cabrera is a terrific hitter, but batting average can get overlooked at times (he’s hit .330 or better in four of the past five seasons). There’s a big four this year (Trout, Harper, Kershaw, Goldschmidt), and on my board Cabrera is the obvious next pick, especially with Giancarlo Stanton already dealing with knee soreness.
In case you missed them from last week, here’s my recap of NL LABR, and here’s my first edition of MLB Stock Watch.
Here’s a slam dunk with a surprise ending.
This tailgater gets brake checked and then crashes.
Joe Ross is one of my favorite starting pitcher targets this year. He has a strong fastball (93.4 mph), a devastating slider and is now incorporating a splitter, which will hopefully be an upgrade over his shaky changeup. It wasn’t a large sample, but Ross’ peripherals were impressive last year (1.47 GB/FB, 15.3 K-BB%, 11.9 SwStr%), and he’s 22 years old. The 11.9 SwStr% mark would’ve ranked top-15 had he qualified, ahead of Matt Harvey, Jake Arrieta and Dallas Keuchel, to name a few. Ross’ Yahoo ADP is 246.7, making him the No. 107 SP off the board, which is mind blowing. I have him ranked as a top-45 starter for 2016.
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This bizarre footage features an ostrich chasing down a cyclist.
This reporter was nearly hit by a car on live TV. And what’s up with the guy with the brown bag?
I’m hardly going out on a limb telling you to be cautious with Troy Tulowitzki, but it’s surprising he remains a top-60 pick and is typically the third shortstop off the board. Since 2010, he’s missed an average of 52.5 games over six seasons. He still plays a physically taxing position, and it’s hard to see him becoming more durable as he ages, and Tulo is now 31 years old. After leaving Coors Field last season, he hit .239/.317/.380 over 163 at-bats. Maybe he settles in with Toronto in 2016, and he’ll be hitting in a loaded lineup, and while it’s no Coors, Rogers Centre isn’t a bad hitter’s park. And this is a player with a career .877 OPS eligible at a premium position, so I get the appeal. But with Tulowitzki’s major health concerns and now out of Coors Field, I'd draft Corey Seager and Xander Bogaerts ahead of him.
Here’s someone mugging a cab driver with a cop car directly behind them.
This woman can see detail from more than a mile away.
Here’s a news anchor making an awkward joke.
I’d ignore Michael Pineda’s 4.37 ERA last season, as he was otherwise dominant. His 20.2 K-BB% would’ve ranked top-10 had he qualified, and among those, only three had a higher GB/FB than Pineda’s 1.62 (Clayton Kershaw, Jake Arrieta and Carlos Carrasco). Moreover, Pineda’s 7.43 K/BB ratio would’ve ranked second in all of baseball to Max Scherzer’s 8.12. He gave up too many homers, and it’s tough to say it won’t remain a problem since he calls Yankee Stadium home, but curiously, he served up more to right-handed batters than lefties despite throwing a slider 34.5% of the time. Pineda has obvious durability concerns, and it’s always a handicap pitching in the AL East, but his stuff is so clearly filthy that even with those caveats he’s a top-25 SP on my board.
Headlines of the Week: Man Stunned As Wife Who ‘Died’ Two Years Ago Is Spotted On TV Show...Girl Blows Safety Pin Out Of Her Nose After Six-Month Mystery Illness...BMW Unveils Shape-Shifting Concept Car With Computers That Can Predict Your Every Move...Naked Dancing Woman On Top Of Big Rig Ties Up Traffic In Houston.
Quick Hits: Hector Rondon doesn’t have the longest track record, but he’s the clear closer for a team projected to win the most games in baseball. He posted a 1.67 ERA last year, as his control continues to improve. Rondon is the 13th closer off the board right now, but I’d be surprised if he didn’t finish top-five...Matt Duffy went 77-12-77-12 with a .295 BA last year in fewer than 150 games. He’s been batting third in spring, right behind Joe Panik (.378 OBP last year) and ahead of Buster Posey. Don’t overlook Duffy being 2B eligible in Yahoo leagues (while not actually having to play the tougher MI position). Duffy could easily be a top-seven fantasy second baseman this year...Trevor Story has been hitting well this spring, and with Jose Reyes staring down what could be a lengthy suspension, there isn’t a better late round MI flier. Story could very well open the season as the Rockies’ starting shortstop.
Police Blotter: Driver Arrested For DUI After Police Spot Car Driving With 15-Foot Tree In Grill...Joseph Randle Hit People With Car Over Beer Pong...Brink’s Worker Stole $200,000 In Quarters...Deputy’s Dash Cam Captures Video Of Drunk Passenger Falling Head First Into Creek...Bald Man Sought In Rogaine Thefts.
Longread of the Week: The Devastating Story Of Washington’s Peeping-Tom Rabbi
Quick Hits Part Deux: Patrick Corbin has to pitch in Chase Field and throw to a poor framing catcher, but he posted a 4.59 K/BB ratio during his first action since Tommy John surgery last year and has an ADP outside of 180. He’s someone to target...Jered Weaver is reportedly topping out at 80 mph in spring. To put this in perspective, R.A. Dickey, who primarily throws a knuckleball, had the lowest average FB velocity last season at 81.4 mph...Johnny Cueto led MLB with four balks and hit eight batters last year, yet he was one of only three starters who didn’t throw a single wild pitch...Shelby Miller got by far the worst run support last year, as his 2.54 RS/9 was more than a full half run worse than the next lowest (3.12). Conversely, Mark Buehrle was the most fortunate, getting 6.89 RS/9...Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch 30 times last season. The next most was Starling Marte with 19.
