Mostly MLB Notes: Talking Billy Hamilton, Xander Bogaerts and a look around the league
I owned Billy Hamilton in every league I was in last year, but after experiencing a .200/.254/.257 second half (and being caught a surprising 23 times on SB attempts on the year), he ended up on zero of my teams this season. So it’s been especially annoying to watch him swipe seven bags (without being caught) over the first six games, even adding a homer Sunday to boot. He’s struck out in seven of his last 19 at bats, so I’m not ready to call him a star exactly, but Hamilton could easily prove to be one of the most fun players to own. Take Friday’s sequence for example, when he reached on a walk, stole second, got to third on a ball in the dirt and then scored on this short sac fly hit to one of the best defensive outfielders in all of baseball. Among his rapid SB start, one happened during a pitchout, and he’s basically 8-for-8 when you factor in this balk. He’s also doing things like this on defense. This is a 24-year-old who very well could get better who attempted 79 steals last year despite a .292 OBP. The upside remains immense.
I’m regretting coming away with no shares of Xander Bogaerts. He disappointed last year, but this is a SS who posted a .297/.388/.477 line over 444 at-bats across Double and Triple-A as a 20-year-old the season prior. He’s already matched last year’s SB total with two over six games so far with an encouraging 3:3 K:BB ratio. Bogaerts is slated to hit low in Boston’s lineup, but it’s one that’s likely to score the most runs in baseball, and no park other than Coors Field has boosted BA more other than Fenway over the past three seasons. It’s crazy to come to any conclusions after one week, but I’ll say I’d prefer Bogaerts ROS over shortstops such as Alexei Ramirez, Elvis Andrus and maybe even Starlin Castro.
Here’s a Jeopardy answer that might land someone in jail.
This twin turbo crash is no joke.
This news reporter will let nothing, including a live report, stop him from ordering a fish sandwich in the morning.
Jered Weaver’s average fastball velocity has declined in four straight years, and while it’s one thing to defy the odds by posting a 3.59 ERA with an 86.3 mph mark last season, he’s been all the way down to 82.6 mph over his first two starts in 2015. That’s the lowest in baseball other than R.A. Dickey (the former has thrown the pitch 54.4% of the time, while the knuckleballer has thrown it 16.0%). This is a problem, especially since Weaver is an extreme fly ball pitcher. It’s just two starts and often pitchers have lower velocities in early April, but the trend here is beyond worrisome. There’s a real chance Weaver is done.
Headlines of the Week: Bride Walks Out Of Wedding After Groom Fails Her Math Test...Someone Took A Dump So Disgusting They Had To Cancel This Long-Haul Flight Due To Health Hazards...Boy Wakes From Coma Addicted To Cheese And Swearing...Scientists Invent Hangover-Free Booze, Deserve All The Awards...Groom Knocks Bride Out At Mom’s Request...Chess Grandmaster Thrown Out Of Tournament And Facing 15 Year Ban After Being Caught Cheating On His Smartphone In The Toilet...And here’s the early favorite for Headline of the Year.
Prince Fielder is batting .379 while walking as many times as he’s struck out, although just two of his 11 hits have gone for extra bases (both doubles). It’s obviously a small sample, but this is someone coming off neck fusion surgery who had just three XBH over 44 ABs in spring training as well. Then again, I recently questioned Miguel Cabrera (also coming off offseason surgery) about having eight of his first nine hits this year being singles only to see him go yard twice the very next day.
This might be the world’s worst driver. Amazing.
This woman was mildly excited about her arm wrestling match.
Here’s riveting footage of a completely incompetent knife thrower risking his assistant’s life on live television.
Jimmy Nelson was dominant during his season debut, and while it’s just one start, and he disappointed after getting called up to Milwaukee last season (when he posted a 4.93 ERA and 1.46 WHIP), he does have some intriguing minor league numbers (he had a 1.46 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with a 114:32 K:BB ratio over 111.0 innings in the extremely hitter-friendly PCL last year), and he’s produced a 9.8 SwStr% throughout his brief major league career. He’s definitely worth adding and is on the radar as a possible major breakout candidate.
This pop-a-shot player is no joke.
Dr. Phil with no dialogue is amazing.
Here’s Miss Finland bluffing a pro poker player like a boss.
I was extremely high on Trevor Bauer entering the year, but I’m not exactly sure whether to be encouraged or discouraged after his first start. On one hand, he has yet to allow a hit this season and struck out 11 batters over six innings, but he wasn’t able to go any further because it required 111 pitches, and after he seemingly improved his control problems while walking just one batter over 27.2 innings in spring training, he issued five free passes to Houston. Moreover, the Astros finished with the second most strikeouts in MLB last year and have the third most in 2015. Still, Bauer didn’t allow one line drive during this outing, as 60% of the balls in play were pop ups. And he produced a 14.4 SwStr%, so it’s not crazy to get excited about his 2015 prospects.
Police Blotter: Man Arrested For Ninth DUI While Wearing Shirt That Proclaims ‘I Do Dumb Things’...Man Confesses To Killing, Brings Body To Lawyer’s Office...Teen Burglars Mistook Remains For Cocaine...Akron Police Seek Serial Pooper...Student Dies In Drinking Competition After Swallowing 25 Shots Of Vodka In 60 Seconds...Woman Busted After Marrying 10 Husbands Without Divorcing Any Of Them... Bank Robbery Suspect Arrived in Taxi Drunk...Accused Bank Robber Says Virgin Mary Told Him To Eat His Feces. And He Did. In Court.
Quick Hits: The Nationals entered the season as Vegas’ highest over/under win team, yet they’ve scored the fewest runs in all of baseball through one week. Things will get better with Jayson Werth and eventually Anthony Rendon returning, but they are going to be in a ton of low scoring games all season...I liked Shane Victorino as a sleeper, but after ditching switch hitting, he’s sitting far too often to be anything other than AL-only worthy...Since he opened the year on the DL, Josh Reddick is owned in just five percent of Yahoo leagues. He’s two years removed from a 85-32-85-11 campaign and even in a down year, hit .280/.330/.510 with 12 homers in just 264 ABs against right-handers last season, so pick him up, especially if you’re in a daily transaction format...Fernando Rodney, Cody Allen and Steve Cishek have combined to allow 13 earned runs over six innings with a 4:8 K:BB ratio to open 2015...Speaking of closing situations, Adam Ottavino should be owned in 100 percent of fantasy leagues (as should Joel Peralta)...And how is Miguel Castro still owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues?
Songs of the Week: Of Monsters and Men: “Crystals,” The National: “Sunshine On My Back" and Sufjan Stevens: “The Only Thing."
Quick Hits Part Deux: Considering Andrew McCutchen’s recent injury revelation, it might not be the worst idea to trade him after Sunday’s big game. I’d prefer Clayton Kershaw, Giancarlo Stanton, Miguel Cabrera and Jose Abreu moving forward...I highly doubt he’ll stay healthy, but while playing, there’s little reason Adam Lind can’t hold similar value to Freddie Freeman...Kyle Lohse has posted a 6:0 K:BB ratio over 9.2 innings to open the year. That’s been accompanied by 12 earned runs unfortunately...Howie Kendrick somehow has just two RBI and one run scored despite batting .292 while hitting cleanup in a strong Dodgers lineup (the player hitting in front of him currently sports a solid 2.058 OPS). Now is the time to try to trade for Kendrick...This George Springer catch with the bases loaded in extra innings was pretty legit...Colby Rasmus has hit 51 homers over 973 ABs against right-handed pitchers since 2012 and should get regular playing time while calling a home park similar to the one he used to play in Toronto (when it comes to LHB HR). He’s just 28 years old, so don’t forget about the former top prospect in daily formats/leagues when a RHP is on the hill.
Longreads of the Week: The Strange & Curious Tale Of The Last True Hermit and The Tragic Extent Of Monique And Milton Bradley’s Violent Relationship.
