Over at Fangraphs, David Laurila provides an interesting look at the concept of African-American ballplayers serving as role models. Angels prospect Jo Adell has expressed an inclination to be just that; Laurila asked a variety of professionals what advice they have for the recent draftee. The post is well worth a full read.
Here’s more from the American League:
- It’s not clear whether Zach Britton will pitch again for the Orioles this year. He’ll sit for at least three to five days after receiving an injection in his balky knee, as Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com was among those to tweet. With the O’s all but mathematically eliminated from the postseason race, there’s little reason to push a pitcher who has struggled all year long to gain traction. Instead, it seems likely the club will allow Britton to begin the healing process in hopes of a healthier and more productive 2018 season.
- While the Orioles can control lefty Wade Miley through a club option, and certainly need arms in the rotation, Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com writes that it’s time to bid adieu. The 30-year-old has struggled for the bulk of the season, making the $12MM price tag seem steep. Instead, Connolly urges, the O’s ought to pay him a $500K buyout and go looking for alternatives.
- As the Athletics sort through their young position-player options, Joe Stiglich of CSN Bay Area writes, the club could consider giving Franklin Barreto some time in center field. Oakland seems to have a rather wide-open situation up the middle in the outfield grass. In the infield, though, there are several options at second base — including veteran Jed Lowrie, assuming he isn’t traded (and that his option is picked up, as appears likely). Stiglich runs through some other options; while there are a few internal players that may warrant consideration, it’s also conceivable that the team could use the opening to try an outside acquisition. (As I noted recently, Oakland could have a chance to take advantage of some outfield gluts in other organizations.) Regardless, as regards the 21-year-old Barreto, the key consideration is likely whether the team feels he’s best served taking on major league pitching or going back to Triple-A to iron out his strikeout issues.
- The Twins have been making some scouting and development changes, as do many teams this time of year. International scouting coordinator Howard Norsetter was fired, La Velle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune reports. Norsetter had run the team’s efforts to find amateur talent abroad, excepting Latin America. The club also added a new part-time scout in Japan, Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN tweets.
- Royals righty Peter Moylan tells Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star that he hopes to return to the organization next year. As Dodd explains, Moylan has been quite dominant against opposing right-handed hitters. He still generates tons of groundballs and throws his sidearm sinker at the same velocity. Given the seeming comfort level between player and team, and K.C.’s need for affordable roster pieces with a challenging offseason coming, a reunion wouldn’t be terribly surprising.
The O’s not trading Britton looks even worse now.
If the best package we got offered featured Colin Moran as the centerpiece I’ll take my chances w Britton bouncing back next year. No thank you on colin Moran
Couldn’t agree more with Connolly regarding Wade Miley. O’s have had him long enough to understand he’s the LH version of Ubaldo Jimenez – 2 bad starts for every quality start if they’re lucky. Move on and take your chances with a SP who you feel can be effective at least 51% of the time.
Pretty sure the Dbacks, Red Sox and Ms already found that out… serviceable if you dont plan on winning
Miley gets a $500k buyout. Didn’t he already steal enough money from the Orioles? He should tell them to keep it.
Who is closing for the O’s? Brach again?
I just read (per Jim Souhan in the Mpls. Star-Tribune) that the Twins offered longtime Twin and esteemed minor-league manager Doug Mientkiewicz the Manager post for the Twins team in the upcoming AZ Fall League. (That’s usually a sign that a guy has done a fine job and is on the fast track for advancement in the organization. )
Mientkiewicz had to turn it down because his wife was about to have heart surgery.
Shortly thereafter, the Twins FO fired him.
The Twins used to be known for loyalty; sometimes too much so, as with keeping Gardy as Manager too long. With the ongoing slew of scout and organizational firings, plus this sad affair, it looks like there’s no room for that quality in their new regime.
If it helps them win, so be it. If they keep putting up mediocre results, then it’s a problem.
Let me see if I understand you. Firing a guy — a longtime Twins player, respected organization man, and successful minor league manager — because he declines a seasonal promotion in order to take care of his wife, who is having heart surgery … that is okay with you if it helps them win, you say? And it’s only not okay if they don’t win?
Remarkable.
I love Mientkiewicz, but I highly doubt the ONLY reason he was fired was because he wouldn’t coach the AFL. I’m not even confident that was the reason at all. He’s a hot head. He’s known to not follow pitch counts, especially on guys who just had big injuries. And the new front office likes analytics while Doug thinks it’s garbage.
I don’t agree with them not renewing his contract (wasn’t fired, contract was up), but there is definitely more to this. It was unfortunate timing with the hurricane and his wife’s medical problems.