Highlights from the latest edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- Teams are again reaching out to Roy Oswalt, including the Red Sox and Cardinals. The Red Sox's needs are obvious and the Cardinals' needs can grow depending on whether Chris Carpenter returns and if they decide to move Lance Lynn back to the bullpen. Oswalt, according to a source, is throwing bullpen sessions every other day.
- The White Sox might look at the trade deadline differently than they have in the past. The extra wild card could dissuade them from moving veterans but the new CBA could make them more inclined to trade potential free agents such as A.J. Pierzynski. It's extremely doubtful that they would extend the qualifying offer to the catcher in order to receive draft pick compensation as it could cost them $12MM. The Rays and Dodgers could both be potential landing spots for the veteran.
- The Rays spent the entire winter trying to upgrade their catching situation and it remains a work in progress. However, Tampa Bay was able to win 91 games without major production from the position last year and the club believes that they are better all-around than in 2011.
If the Rays are in the middle of the playoff race come trade deadline (which they probably will), then I see them making a play for a guy like Soto, Suzuki, etc.
Tampa has the young pitching also, problem? Does anyone really see
Friedman paying him 11m over 2012-13? Granted Suzuki is worth it, but
not Tampa Bay via salary scale wise.
Suzuki may be a bit unlikely, but if they really want an upgrade…why not
And, pretty clearly, Beane’s open to dealing. The Rays have the spare parts to ship back to the A’s.
AJ Ellis is underrated, the Dodgers don’t need AJ Pierzynski. Paul Konerko on the other hand would look very good back in Dodger blue. One of the worst Dodger trades ever giving him up for a relief pitcher!
How about a deal centered around starting picher prospects (The Dodgers have quite a few) with James Loney thrown in? Loney would not be the important part of the deal, but he would be able to replace Konerko for a few months, perhaps auditioning for a future role with the Sox. He can hit righties pretty well, and he performs on the road. Getting out of Dodger Stadium may help him.
Sorry boys but I think the Sox are contenders and will hold on to everything they have. I think Rosenthal is counting them out too early! Ok , I going to say it. Mark this date down I think we have what it takes to win the whole thing ! This is a good baseball team, pitching ,hitting and bullpen. With Ozzie here we would lose, but with Robin I think we got what it takes !
I think they are contenders too until they prove otherwise. They are playing better baseball than the Phillies who is supposedly picked to win the NL every year. I know its early but they have just a good a chance as any especially with the new Wildcard.
Would the D’Backs be in on Pierzynski if they could sign him to an extension & if they know that Montero won’t come back?
I wonder if Rosenthal realizes AJ has 10/5 rights.
I’m also wondering why the Cards would pursue Oswalt if Lynn has 3 starts all being quality starts and is 3-0.
They probably aren’t unless Oswalt was to come play for peanuts.
St Louis would be foolish to bring in Oswalt. I don’t care how good he is, he’s been sitting on the couch for many many months now and would be very rusty. Plus Lance Lynn is pitching outstanding so far this year and movement back to the bullpen would be a silly. The rotation overall looks fantastic and spending extra money on a pitcher that they don’t even need would be completely stupid. Stay away STL
Lynn’s BABIP is .182 and his LOB% is 98.2% – very unsustainable. I’m not saying Lynn is going to end up being a bad starter but lets not shut the door on Oswalt quite yet.
I’m sorry, but I guess I just don’t get the BABIP stat. A lot of Sabr-heads say that if this is low, the pitcher is lucky and if it is high, the pitcher is unlucky. But doesn’t a good pitcher make pitches that he wants the batter to put in play (such as a pitcher throwing a sinker in order to induce a groundball)? Maybe I misunderstand how the stat is calculated, but it would seem to me that a low BABIP is sustainable with a pitch-to-contact type pitcher.
I guess my point is the only way to judge whether a pitcher is lucky or unlucky is to do a ratio of line drives and deep fly balls vs grounders, strikeouts, and weak fly balls. I’m sure there’s a sabrmetric for that, but I’ve never seen it quoted.
there’s an average, around .280 that over time it regresses to. low BABIP just doesn’t stay low for a large sample size. it’s like when a basketball team shoots 60% for game. it ain’t staying that way for long.
AJ Ellis has the 5th highest WAR out of all Major League catchers and Pierzynski would likely take over as the main catcher with Ellis being backup. Doesn’t sound smart, especially considering Ellis’s ability to get on base.