With Rangers right-hander Scott Baker’s May 1 opt-out date fast approaching, MLB Daily Dish’s Chris Cotillo hears that both the Indians and White Sox could have some interest in the former Twins and Cubs right-hander (Twitter link). Baker’s career has stalled since 2012 Tommy John surgery, and Cotillo reported yesterday that he’d only opt out if he were to receive a big league opportunity elsewhere. Baker’s strong performance in Triple-A — a 2.81 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in his first 32 innings — could be enticing to teams with rotation issues. Elsewhere in the AL Central…
- Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN has a couple of draft-related items for Twins fans (Twitter links), as he reports that Minnesota “loves” Texas prep right-hander Tyler Kolek, though the team is fairly certain he’ll be taken prior to their No. 5 overall selection (MLB.com has Kolek ranked third among draft prospects, while ESPN’s Keith Law ranked him second last month). Also, Wolfson reports that the Twins and Blue Jays are both interested in Minnesota prep left-hander/first baseman Sam Hentges.
- Wolfson’s colleague Phil Mackey takes on the MLB All-Star nomination system, blasting it for its failure to keep up with technology. Mackey uses Chris Colabello, who is not on the ballot, as a prime example of the system’s failures. He asks why MLB can’t adjust on the fly after projected starters are submitted early in Spring Training, concluding: “Presumably because they already printed out millions of hanging-chad paper ballots to be distributed throughout ballparks in an era where two out of every three adults owns a smartphone in this country.”
Fans should start writing in Chris Colabello’s, Jesse Chavez’ name…yeah, I don’t think they will sustain their fantastic Aprils, but they certainly deserve a nod.
While I agree with Wolfson in concept, does he really think that fans will vote in Calabello over Miguel Cabrera? All star voting is and will remain a popularity contest regardless of who is on the ballot.
True, though for everyday fans that might not know of anyone outside their home team, they might want to get behind a Cinderella story like a Colabello or anyone else that isn’t on the projected roster that might deserve it. Smaller names are never going to get the recognition that Miguel Cantera gets if they’re never shown in highlights and placed on popularity ballots.
Also, Colabello would probably be for OF or DH, since Joe Mauer is the starting first basemen and has a real shot at starting even if he doesn’t deserve it right now.
What was the news on Abreu, and is it Jose or Bobby?
No mention of Abreu in the article?
The fact that ASG balloting begins at the end of April is the bigger joke. It’s how the Bryan LaHairs of the world end up making All-Star teams.
The All Star game as a whole is a joke and has been ever sense the vote was taken from the players and coaches and turned it into a popularity contest. It’s a shame that to give the game more legitimacy MLB decided to allow the outcome to determine WS home field advantage.
I added Colabello as a write in.
I don’t vote until near the end, but if Colabello is still deserving near that time I will definitely be writing him in.
And I definitely wouldn’t mind if Kolek fell to the Twins. He’s one of my top three choices if he drops. I doubt he drops though.