Rotosnips

[Edwards Kings]

Mets recalled RHP Hansel Robles from Triple-A Las Vegas.
He'll take the place of Jerry Blevins (arm) on the active roster. The 24-year-old has mostly pitched as a starter in the minors, posting a 3.11 ERA with 8.1 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9, but he'll pitch in middle relief during his first stint in the majors.

[DOUGHBOYS]

'Jose Reyes (rib) is back in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles.
Reyes is dealing with a small fracture in his left rib cage and will reportedly try to hit exclusively from the right side of the plate for now. There's no telling if things will get worse or whether his production will suffer, so we wouldn't say he's out of the woods yet. Still, he has at least avoided a trip to the disabled list'...............

What could possibly go wrong?

[DOUGHBOYS]

And as everybody (but the Blue Jays) figured out from the get-go, Reyes will go on the disabled list.
His owners getting a weeks worth of crap numbers while he was hurt and his dl time, most likely, extended.

I know nothing about the inner workings of the Blue Jays or Orioles.
Nothing.
But from an outsiders point of view, are there two teams out there that seem as diametrically opposed as these two?

The Blue Jays run players out there with injury.
Bautista has a shoulder problem? -Rub some dirt on it!
Reyes a cracked rib?- Play until it heals!
Saunders needs months on the dl?- Let's change that to weeks!

Baltimore has Matt Wieters who can hit. but not throw or catch- Lets sit him till he can do both!
JJHardy was thought to miss a few days. A month later, still getting shots in his shoulder.

Their philosophies don't stop with injury.
The Orioles are still grooming Kevin Gausman.
They've been grooming him for 10 years.
Ok! Exaggeration! But it It seems that way!
Bud Norris and Miguel Gonzalez do not seem like colossal road blocks.
But, to the Orioles, they are.

The Blue Jays have a Closer who is 20. Another young guy setting him up.
They have no problem with that.
Daniel Norris, a Starter who flew from 'A' Ball to the Bigs in one year.
Another Starter in Aaron Sanchez who has a lot of potential, once the Blue Jays define his role.
Devon Travis, a young fella who is tearing up the American League.
All, still minor leaguers if they were in the Orioles system.

The Orioles are the 'slow and steady' team.
The Blue Jays, a part of the 'I want it now' generation.
Which is the way to go?
The Orioles won their division last year.
So, it is hard to say they are doing anything wrong.
From a fantasy perspective, the Blue Jays are the team.
They let their kids live and die at the top level. They (and his fantasy drafters) have been rewarded with the play of Travis while the pitchers have had ups and downs.
In fantasy, the Blue Jays give drafters a chance.

The Orioles?
When was the last time we started Kevin Gausman?
Do we even know if he's that good or not?
The Orioles do not have to be like the Blue Jays.
They don't have to play every kid who shows as a prospect.
At the same time, it seems like kids like Dylan Bundy and Gausman are just names.
They have to wait until mature.
And the Orioles hold those maturation rights.
Kids and injuries, slow-played.
It still may be awhile before seeing Gausman on a regular basis.
Dylan Bundy?....Good luck.

[Bronx Yankees]

It seems like the Orioles are way too cautious with some of their top talent. They won't give them a chance at the big league level until they are good and ready (and maybe a few years after that). Also, with pitchers, when they get a chance, they most likely will start out in the bullpen, even if they are a starter, because they do not want to rush things. If there is any failure, boom, go back to start.

While they won the division last year, I'm not sure I would attribute that to their approach. They got steady pitching from their rotation, but I think it really was some key and highly-successful signings that carried them over the top (Nelson Cruz, Steve Pearce).

Even with the Orioles' cautious approach - or maybe partly because of it - they let a real talent like Jake Arrieta slip away to the Cubs.

As an aside in response to the Blue Jays part of your post, my man-crush on Devon Travis is growing by leaps and bounds. Love having him on a few of my teams and kicking myself for not having him on all of my teams!

Mike

[Edwards Kings]

From Rotoworld: Stephen Vogt is not in the A's starting lineup on Thursday afternoon versus the Angels. Josh Phegley will start behind the plate and bat ninth against Angels right-hander Garrett Richards. Vogt has a tremendous .348/.421/.606 slash line in 76 plate appearances this season, but he'll get the day off.

Rotoworld, more so seemingly than other years, has been doing a better job (catering to the daily leagues I am sure) of letting us know our guys are out for a day of rest, not out due to injury. Drives me crazy. I believe in the long run it is better if the players get regular rest, but I want those points TODAY. Not to be sacrilegious, but per Genesis 2:3 - By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. It seems like baseball has added a 2:3(a) and (b):

(a) And thou that catcheth the ball frequently as ifth thou were an armored toad shall rest by not-eth squatting during day games after night games or ifth not the chosen one for whom slingith their balls raised half a cubit higher than the many;

(b) And thou player of balls shall have a day of rest ifith in the whim of the tribal chieftan appoints thee, but in honor of thou chieftan, thouest must sprawl, scratch and spit with copious regularity (or when thouest is sure the cameras are on thee).

[Atlas]

I prefer Genesis 1986: Invisible Touch Album:Land of Confuison

Ooh Superman where are you now
When everything's gone wrong somehow
The men of steel, the men of power
Are losing control by the hour.

[DOUGHBOYS]

This one had me laughing. The last sentence is classic.

'Joey Votto was ejected from Wednesday's game against the Pirates for spiking his helmet.
Votto made contact with umpire Chris Conroy while arguing the ejection, which is likely to draw further punishment (perhaps even a suspension). Votto also exchanged words with Pirates starter Gerrit Cole before heading into the visitors clubhouse at PNC Park. It's rare to see such an outburst from the thoughtful 31-year-old first baseman.'

We may see this later....

'Aramis Ramirez missed a sign and got Carlos Gomez thrown out stealing on an obvious hit and run play.'

This is not like Ramirez. He observes every traffic signal and is a very good driver. It is very unusual for him to miss a sign.

[Edwards Kings]

"Diamondbacks signed C Jarrod Saltalamacchia to a minor league contract.
Saltalamacchia was designated for assignment by the Marlins on April 27 and then officially released eight days later. Now the Diamondbacks get him at a major discount to help upgrade their catcher position, which has produced a rough .219/.276/.250 batting line so far this season. Salty didn't do much in his year-plus with Miami, but he's moving to a much better environment for offense and could take on legitimate fantasy value in deeper mixed leagues. What remains of his three-year, $21 million contract will be eaten by the Fish."

Rev up those FA bids!

[Edwards Kings]

"Russell Martin homered in a fourth straight start Wednesday as the Blue Jays beat the Yankees 5-1.
Martin finished up 3-for-4. He spent almost the entirety of April below the Mendoza Line, but he's gone 12-for-19 over the last five days to raise his average from .185 to .284."

I have Martin on my Main Event team so I love this and hate this. Because I know how fast a hot streak can turn a loser into a winner early in a season, it only takes one story like this to "make" me stick with guys, usually too long (i.e Asdrubal).

[Edwards Kings]

"Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that Troy Tulowitzki will decide in a meeting Thursday with his agent, Paul Cohen, whether it's time to ask the Rockies for a trade.
"To say that it is not a possibility would be silly," Cohen told The Post by phone. The Rockies look like a non-contender again, so it's no surprise that Tulo might have finally reached his breaking point. Sherman notes that the Mets, Pirates, Mariners and Padres all have needs at shortstop, which could potentially create a bidding war for Tulowitzki. He adds that the Yankees are not expected to have interest. Tulo began this season with six years and $118 million left on his contract."

Trevor Story time in Colorado?

[DOUGHBOYS]

[quote="Edwards Kings"]"Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that Troy Tulowitzki will decide in a meeting Thursday with his agent, Paul Cohen, whether it's time to ask the Rockies for a trade.
"To say that it is not a possibility would be silly," Cohen told The Post by phone. The Rockies look like a non-contender again, so it's no surprise that Tulo might have finally reached his breaking point. Sherman notes that the Mets, Pirates, Mariners and Padres all have needs at shortstop, which could potentially create a bidding war for Tulowitzki. He adds that the Yankees are not expected to have interest. Tulo began this season with six years and $118 million left on his contract."

I found this to be very interesting.
Living in Colorado, most here know the bond that Tulo has with Rockies ownership. Almost at the hip.
Rockies ownership look at Tulo as the franchise player. And he is, in a way.
At the same time, he is not the draw that he used to be. Injuries have curtailed what he can do on a field. His swing not near as violent as in the past.
He is staying healthy without the violent swing, but his power statistics have felt the change.
Other players on the Rockies are becoming fan favorites.
Nolan Arenado, with the bat and especially the glove is becoming more of a 'must watch' than Tulo.
Blackmon and Dickerson as dangerous with a bat in their hands.

It is said that there are two kinds of General Managers.
Proactive and reactive.
Colorado's is neither.
Colorado is inactive.
They are content not to spend money or making moves. They are happy with the 30,000 fannies in the seats without pushing buttons.
They know they are not contenders. Nor, seemingly care.

If I were the Yankees, I would be VERY intereted in Tulo. He fits their mold. An aging player that when healthy, can carry a club for weeks. Not many shortstops can do that.
The Colorado General Manager has also failed to make ANY deal of consequence.
Possibly, the largest deal on his resume being the Kyle Kendrick signing.
I am betting that if Tulo, indeed wants traded, that the deal will more benefit the other club more than the Rockies.

Changing the subject a little bit....
Whatever happened to the Phillies dump? Amaro can't even do that right?
Utley, Howard, Papelbon, Hamels were all supposed to be traded, yet here they are, wasting time in Philly.
Utley and Howard's bats are looking slow. The more they play, the tougher the trade.
Do you think Amaro was on the phone, the minute Cishek blew up?
I don't think so either.
What does Ruben Amaro have on those owners? Why isn't he out the door?
They are dying a slow death there. Moving Franco to the Majors is their bold move?
How long can Philly fans suffer under his rule?
If Amaro is trying to 'win' in deals for these players, he won't. Other teams know the drill. They know that the Phillies have players for sale. And if it is a sale, other clubs will only pay sale prices.
Amaro doesn't get that.
Philadelphia fans are not like Rockies fans. Rockies fans will pay to see a Rockies game for the sake of watching a baseball game. Philly fans need a reason.
A few short years ago, they had reason and led the Major Leagues in attendance.
Just four short years ago leading all of baseball in drawing 45,000 fans a game.
Now, 19th of 30 teams, 25,000 fans a game.
Amaro has hit Philadelphia owners where it hurts worse...and still, he keeps his job.
Unbelievable.

[Edwards Kings]

Living in Colorado, most here know the bond that Tulo has with Rockies ownership. Almost at the hip.
Rockies ownership look at Tulo as the franchise player. And he is, in a way.
At the same time, he is not the draw that he used to be. Injuries have curtailed what he can do on a field. His swing not near as violent as in the past.

Haven't watched Tulo play as much, so not trying to be insulting, but is Tulo dogging it a bit to try and grease the skids out of town (a la Randy Johnson when he wanted out of Seattle)?

[DOUGHBOYS]

Living in Colorado, most here know the bond that Tulo has with Rockies ownership. Almost at the hip.
Rockies ownership look at Tulo as the franchise player. And he is, in a way.
At the same time, he is not the draw that he used to be. Injuries have curtailed what he can do on a field. His swing not near as violent as in the past.

Haven't watched Tulo play as much, so not trying to be insulting, but is Tulo dogging it a bit to try and grease the skids out of town (a la Randy Johnson when he wanted out of Seattle)?

In my mind, Tulo did a little growing up over the off season. He is no longer putting himself in a position to get hurt as often as past seasons.
If not knowing Tulo's playing style and seeing his statistics this year, I can see how the thought of 'dogging it' may come into play. But, I don't think so.
For his owners, they are not getting the prodigious Tulo. They are trading health for less productivity.
This could be good or bad. In the drafts when selecting Tulo, I expected the old Tulo. The guy who produces then disappears. I made sure my secondary shortstop was one I could live with WHEN Tulo got hurt.
Now that he is the less potent Tulo, those teams are suffering a bit.

Rockies Management couldn't dream of a better time to trade him.
He is healthy.
He is producing, though not like past years. But, those past years are still fresh in other GM's minds.
It really is the optimum time to trade him.
Still, I don't expect the Rockies to win the deal.
Colorado is where pitchers go to die.
And I suspect that the Rockies will ask for pitching in return.
Eventually, any pitcher coming to Colorado follows the lemming effect and throws himself over a cliff.

Edit-
If any player in baseball is 'dogging it' this year, my money is on Carlos Gonzalez.
Gonzalez has the talent of Carlos Gomez and more.
This year though, he has made Robby Cano look like a fireball of energy.
He lazily goes about his job. Jogging any chance he gets.
His at bats looking like he can't wait to get back to the dugout to sit.
Talent-wise, he is the best player on almost any field. Realistically, he is playing like he can't wait for the off season.
In 96 at bats, he is hitting .188, has two homers, and he has not bothered to steal a base.
Is he hiding injury?
Gee, I hope so. It would give him an excuse.
If any player needs a jump start by being traded, CarGo does.

One more edit-
Folks have to remember that Rockies Management is not bent on winning like most other franchises.
That opens the doors to ANY team to trade for Tulo as long as they want to chase a pennant.
A trade within the division? That is ok by Rockies standards.
With that in mind, can you imagine the look on AJ Preller's face upon seeing that Tulo could be had in a deal?
I would not be surprised at all to see Tulo traded to the Padres or really, any team with an aggressive GM.
Preller needs a shortstop and he still has chips like Venable, Ian Kennedy, Jedd Gyorko, Joaquin Benoit, Quackenbush, Austin Hedges, Rymer Liriano, and even BJ Upton to offer up to Colorado.
It would not surprise me at all to find out that Preller has already called the Rockies.

[Cocktails and Dreams]

Side note, but since the topic of the Rockies is being discussed what about this as a viable strategy? Obviously it is tough to get good starters to come. And they just end up getting destroyed way too often. What about a really bizarre strategy of having somewhere between 0 and 2 actual starters. Then load up the bullpen with power arms, which would actually have a chance at coors. Guys would be designed to throw 1-2 innings depending on pitch counts. If you have a good compliment of righties and lefties, you can also play matchups in the process. You also take away teams trying to use the platoon strategy against you. 12 position players, 1 starter to help give the pen a little breather, 12 bullpen guys. Would also need to have some additional major league capable guys at triple a in the pen to "shuffle" in and out for tired bullpen guys some. I am not sure if this could actually work or not, but it seems like what they are doing now is never going to work. Was just thinking outside the box. Obviously, you need to spend good money and have great scouting to get really good bullpen arms, not average bullpen arms.

[Donacion]

Side note, but since the topic of the Rockies is being discussed what about this as a viable strategy? Obviously it is tough to get good starters to come. And they just end up getting destroyed way too often. What about a really bizarre strategy of having somewhere between 0 and 2 actual starters. Then load up the bullpen with power arms, which would actually have a chance at coors. Guys would be designed to throw 1-2 innings depending on pitch counts. If you have a good compliment of righties and lefties, you can also play matchups in the process. You also take away teams trying to use the platoon strategy against you. 12 position players, 1 starter to help give the pen a little breather, 12 bullpen guys. Would also need to have some additional major league capable guys at triple a in the pen to "shuffle" in and out for tired bullpen guys some. I am not sure if this could actually work or not, but it seems like what they are doing now is never going to work. Was just thinking outside the box. Obviously, you need to spend good money and have great scouting to get really good bullpen arms, not average bullpen arms.

I don't recall the year but 5-10 years ago the Rockies tried a pitch limit of 75 with as I recall disastrous results. They had guys throwing 3 innings. I get a preview of what thin air does to pitching. The Vegas AAA team has bloated ERA's with some really good pitchers getting batted around. The hitting gets all screwed up also because you see power that just won't play in the majors. The best minor league hitter for power I have seen in 12 plus years was Nick Swisher he had light tower power in AAA. Another hitter was Jose Lopez for the Mariners he was Baez before Baez. As an example DeGrom was just a pitcher in AAA certainly not on radar screens. I bet if he was included in any package for Tulo he would not fair well in Denver.

[ToddZ]

I don't recall the year but 5-10 years ago the Rockies tried a pitch limit of 75 with as I recall disastrous results.

It was actually much more recently and was an unmitigated disaster, brought on by a dearth of injuries failing due to the quality of what was left.

Gray and Butler are supposed to be the new wave, and still might be.

On paper, the reliever plan could work but good luck getting the quality of arms to come in when the league is already paying excellent coin to non-closing relievers.

[DOUGHBOYS]

For the Rockies, it begins at the top. They have the worse kind of ownership.
Dormant.

If a genie appeared at my doorstep and I was stupid enough to ask to be GM or even owner of the Rockies, I would...

1. Have a rotation of number 3's, 4's, and 5's.
I would give in with my starting pitching.
Porcello, Chavez, Gee, Happ, type pitchers.
Or in other words, like the Red Sox staff.

2. Overpay for a set-up guy and Closer. Top of the line. If leading a game after seven, those games need to be theirs.

3. Sluggers at each position. The Rockies will have to Blake Street bomb teams. Playing seven innings, they have to be on the winning side of 8-6 or 10-8 type games.
With sluggers at every position, they's have the ability to come back if trailing after seven innings also.
Their starting pitchers will each have ERA's above five. It's a fact with this imaginary team as it is now.
The hitters should know that going into every game even now, but don't.

4. Speed in the outfield. They still need defense. Coors outfield is expansive. Possibly more square feet than any outfield in baseball. It is noticeable when a Juan Pierre or Dexter Fowler type is replaced by somebody slower.
Any time Corey Dickerson or Carlos Gonzalez play center field, the Rockies give up even more hits.

5. And still have to hope for LA, SF, ARZ, and SD to have off years.
Once getting to the playoffs, any team that is hot can win.

Just what I would do......

[DOUGHBOYS]

Speaking of the Rockies attempt at 75 pitches or less for pitchers....
I was working for their low minor league team. Opposing Scouts would come up to the press box and laugh themselves silly at the Rockies attempt.
They laughed because the idea came with no thought to their staff. Their thoughts were that even if a Rockies pitcher was good or even thought he ws good, they would never have a real chance to show it.
They smirked at a pitcher throwing a shutout after four innings, only to be taken out of the game because of the 75 pitch limit.
They were incredulous at how much undo pressure it put on the backend of their rotation. A backend that was already below average by most of baseball's reckoning.
To be kind, it was not very well thought out.

[COZ]

Side note, but since the topic of the Rockies is being discussed what about this as a viable strategy? Obviously it is tough to get good starters to come. And they just end up getting destroyed way too often. What about a really bizarre strategy of having somewhere between 0 and 2 actual starters. Then load up the bullpen with power arms, which would actually have a chance at coors. Guys would be designed to throw 1-2 innings depending on pitch counts. If you have a good compliment of righties and lefties, you can also play matchups in the process. You also take away teams trying to use the platoon strategy against you. 12 position players, 1 starter to help give the pen a little breather, 12 bullpen guys. Would also need to have some additional major league capable guys at triple a in the pen to "shuffle" in and out for tired bullpen guys some. I am not sure if this could actually work or not, but it seems like what they are doing now is never going to work. Was just thinking outside the box. Obviously, you need to spend good money and have great scouting to get really good bullpen arms, not average bullpen arms.

I love outside the box thinking and love this idea. In fact, former Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd recently on MLB Network discussed this type of idea and said he thinks its the direction the Rockies need to go, to try something different with their pitching because he said what they're doing is not working. He got into specifics about how the elevation affected pitching but I forgot what exactly he said or what program he was on, but I remember my ears perking up to listen to it because it was as shoccking as Chad's idea. The unfortunate thing is he got mocked when he tried to implement the 75 pitching limit rule, when it was not so much the pitching limit he wanted to enforce, but to prevent his pitchers from facing a hitter a 3rd time through the line-up as well as from fatiguing. Interesting idea. I would think if they don't do something as drastic as Chad suggested that they do something along the lines of what the Red Sox attempted this year, target a bunch of sinker-baller, ground ball-inducing types but with more of a control pitcher profile a la a Dallas Keuchel. He should be the profile of what they target, and then build a line-up of mashers similiar to what they have. I always feel GM's should focus on building teams that play to the advantages of their home ballparks. As much criticism as Dayton Moore takes, I don't think he gets enough credit for building a pitching/defense-first team that plays to their ballpark. I also think the genius of what Theo has done in building the Cubs is making the conscious decision to build an offensive/power hitting team that plays to the advantages of Wrigley, especially at a time in the post-P.E.D. era when power is at a premium & most NL teams were trending back toward speed/defense. While everyone was focusing on the speed/defense types & building through power pitching, Theo went in the opposite direction and was stock piling power bats so that when the speed/defense/pitching teams come to Wrigley, they are severely overmatched for that ballpark vs. the Cubs power batss, and especially in the NL. I think these type of big picture, global philosophical decisions need to come from the executive level with complete buy-in at all levels but especially from the coaching staff. I would love to see the Rockies attempt this type of outside the box approach to address their pitching staff because, as Dan O'Dowd said (and this I remember him saying), the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over & over and expecting a different result.

COZ

[COZ]

For the Rockies, it begins at the top. They have the worse kind of ownership.
Dormant.

If a genie appeared at my doorstep and I was stupid enough to ask to be GM or even owner of the Rockies, I would...

1. Have a rotation of number 3's, 4's, and 5's.
I would give in with my starting pitching.
Porcello, Chavez, Gee, Happ, type pitchers.
Or in other words, like the Red Sox staff.

2. Overpay for a set-up guy and Closer. Top of the line. If leading a game after seven, those games need to be theirs.

3. Sluggers at each position. The Rockies will have to Blake Street bomb teams. Playing seven innings, they have to be on the winning side of 8-6 or 10-8 type games.
With sluggers at every position, they's have the ability to come back if trailing after seven innings also.
Their starting pitchers will each have ERA's above five. It's a fact with this imaginary team as it is now.
The hitters should know that going into every game even now, but don't.

4. Speed in the outfield. They still need defense. Coors outfield is expansive. Possibly more square feet than any outfield in baseball. It is noticeable when a Juan Pierre or Dexter Fowler type is replaced by somebody slower.
Any time Corey Dickerson or Carlos Gonzalez play center field, the Rockies give up even more hits.

5. And still have to hope for LA, SF, ARZ, and SD to have off years.
Once getting to the playoffs, any team that is hot can win.

Just what I would do......

I was typing my post while this was posted, but I completely agree with the philosophical thoughts on team-building you laid out here. Interesting stuff.

COZ

[Edwards Kings]

"Giants signed RHP Tommy Hanson to a minor league contract.
Hanson hasn't pitched in the majors since 2013 and had a 6.16 ERA in 10 minor league starts last year. He's a former top prospect but isn't being counted on to provide much these days."



Man, he WAS something when he first came up with Atlanta....