- Jon Heyman take a look at which teams have had the best offseason so far. Coming in at number one are the Seattle Mariners.
- Tom Verducci looks at which teams have put their money to the bet use. He dubs the Florida Marlins the most efficient team over the past decade, and the New York Mets the least.
- Beyond the Boxscore looks at how the top hitters from next year’s Hall-of-Fame ballot stack up. Of the four players mentioned, I think Jeff Bagwell and Larry Walker both deserve a nod.
January 21, 2010
Links: Best Offseasons, Most Efficient Teams
November 11, 2009
Random Notes
- General Managers discussed tweaking the draft to account for not only regular season standing, but how teams perform in the playoffs. The new system would mean the first 22 picks would be fixed after the regular season and the last 8 would depend on how far teams advance in the playoffs, with the World Series winner getting the 30th pick.
- General Managers decided to pass on making any changes to the current instant replay system. The postseason saw a number of blown calls and expanding instant replay was being considered to fix those issues.
- The Milwaukee Brewers are renovating Miller Park to fix the glare that is caused during day games. The team removed ivy that had been growing beyond the center field wall, and painted the green batter’s eye with glare-resistant, black paint.
- Colorado Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd was named executive of the year in a Sporting News vote by his peers.
- The nominees for Hall-of-Fame consideration have been announced and will be voted on by the Veteran’s Committee on December 9.
- The Pittsburgh Pirates are moving their High-A team to Bradenton, Florida. The Cincinnati Reds will move their high-A team to Lynchburg, Virginia.
April 23, 2009
Miscellaneous Notes
- Chien-Ming Wang threw 7 innings while allowing 3 earned runs in an extended spring training game in Tampa, Florida on Thursday.
- John Sickels takes a look at interesting college hitters for the 2009 Amateur Draft. Among those he profiles include Dustin Ackley and Grant Green. Sickels also looked at a few more.
- Commissioner Bud Selig named Hall-of-Famer Frank Robinson as a special assistant to the commissioner.
- Dodgertown gets a new tenant:
The governing body for Minor League Baseball agreed to a five-year contract Wednesday to take over operations of the storied Dodgertown complex in Vero Beach, Fla., bringing tournaments and fantasy camps back to one of baseball’s most hallowed grounds.
April 21, 2009
Miscellaneous News and Notes
- The New York Mets started utility man Fernando Tatis at second base on Sunday in order to get the bench player some more at-bats. The occasion marked Tatis‘ first time playing the position.
- Mark Sheldon gives his take on whether he thinks Micah Owings is better suited as a pitcher or hitter.
- The New York Yankees have reached an impasse in negotations with Cuban defector Felix Perez. The Yankees also have interest in 19-year-old left-handed pitcher Noel Arguelles, another Cuban defector.
- A Florida high-school senior named Patrick Schuster threw four consecutive no-hitters for his high school baseball team. Schuster’s fastball tops out at 90 mph. The lefty has signed on to play at the University of Florida, but has not ruled out going straight to professional baseball.
April 16, 2009
Notes on Rotations, Draft, Keppinger
- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are considering turning to left-hander Darren Oliver to start a game on the mound.
- The Arizona Diamondbacks will skip Yusmeiro Petit’s next start. Petit took Brandon Webb’s place in the team’s rotation.
- The St. Louis Cardinals will have right-handed pitcher P.J. Walters make his major-league debut on Friday.
- MLB.com previewed their next set of draft prospects and give us an update on Stephen Strasburg.
- Later this week, the Cincinnati Reds will announce the player-to-be-named-later they will receive from the Houston Astros in the trade for Jeff Keppinger.
- Forbes ranked each baseball stadium based on intangibles, accessibility, food, fan participation, and affordability.
April 11, 2009
Miscellaneous Notes From 4/11/09
- The Arizona Diamondbacks were selected to host the 2011 all-star game.
- According to investigators, Troy Glaus used steroids in 2003 and 2004. Scott Schoeneweis, Ismael Valdes, and Todd Greene were also implicated.
- Concerns from insurances companies over Brandon Webb’s right arm caused the Arizona Diamondbacks to nix a proposed extension to the right-handed pitcher.
April 7, 2009
Notes on Clement, Gaudin, and More
- Right-handed pitcher and former all-star Matt Clement is calling it quits after 9 seasons. The 34-year-old failed to make the Toronto Blue Jays after signing a minor league deal with them this offseason.
- The Chicago Cubs released pitcher Chad Gaudin. The Cubs acquired Gaudin along with Rich Harden from Oakland last season.
- The Chicago White Sox signed left-handed reliever Jimmy Gobble to a minor league deal.
- Outfielder Jonny Gomes did not make the Cincinnati Reds 25-man roster.
- The minor league affiliates for the Texas Rangers have set their starting pitching rotations.
April 4, 2009
Notes on Lineups and More
- Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon has decided to hit outielder B.J. Upton leadoff upon his return.
- Second baseman Chris Getz could see time in the leadoff spot for the Chicago White Sox if Dewayne Wise struggles.
- The Milwaukee Brewers lineup is set.
- The Milwaukee Brewers released Scott Thorman and Joe Bateman.
- Rotoworld predicts the lineups, rotations, and bullpens for all 16 National League teams.
March 31, 2009
Phillies Notes
A few note about the Philadelphia Phillies:
- Chan Ho Park has won the fifth starter job over J.A. Happ.
- Happ, Gary Majewski, Jack Taschner, and Bobby Mosebach are competing for two bullpen spots.
- Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said he has contacted Gary Sheffield’s agent.
Notes on Roster Moves, Chipper
- Right-handed pitcher Jonathan Albajadejo has made the New York Yankees bullpen.
- Jose Morales will serve as the Minnesota Twins backup catcher.
- The Cleveland Indians signed left-handed reliever Juan Lara to a minor league deal.
- Emmanuel Burris will start the season as the San Francisco Giants starting second baseman after the team optioned Kevin Frandsen to AAA.
- The New York Mets will announce their 25-man roster later today.
- Dayn Perry analyzes the big decisions of the spring.
- The Atlanta Braves signed third baseman Chipper Jones to a three-year extension worth $42 million. Jones would have been a free agent following the 2009 season.