Veteran slugger Edwin Encarnacion is expected to open camp with the Mariners after trade talks surrounding him failed to gain traction, per Jon Morosi of MLB.com (Twitter link). Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto is expected to continue exploring potential deals over the course of Spring Training as needs arise throughout the league, he notes. Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times wrote over the weekend that interest in Encarnacion had faded. Encarnacion, among the game’s steadiest sluggers, has one year remaining on his three-year, $60MM contract and is almost certainly limited to American League clubs at this point of his career. An injury to a contender’s DH this spring could create some additional interest in Encarnacion, but a trade at this juncture doesn’t seem all that likely.
More from the division…
- Angels manager Brad Ausmus addressed the health of right-hander/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani today (Twitter link via Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group). While Ausmus didn’t want to get too specific in terms of providing a timeline for Ohtani’s return to the club following Tommy John surgery, the first-year Halos skipper indicated that the team expects Ohtani back at some point in May. He’ll be strictly limited to DH duties, of course, and it’s not yet clear exactly how often the Angels plan to get Ohtani’s bat into the lineup in the early stages of his recovery. One can imagine that the team will want to be particularly cautious, but the Angels will also want Ohtani in the lineup as often as possible after he hit .285/.361/.564 with 22 homers in just 367 plate appearances last season.
- Matt Chapman underwent thumb and shoulder surgeries this offseason, but the budding Athletics star looks to be on track for the season, writes Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Chapman took 50 swings in a batting cage Monday, and while he might be limited early in camp, the expectation is that he’ll be ready for the season opener. Perhaps more interesting, Slusser writes in another column that the organization has “no qualms” about putting top prospect Jesus Luzardo in the rotation on Opening Day if he’s deemed the best option. If that is indeed the organization’s stance, it’s a departure from the manner in which many clubs think. Luzardo, just 21, is considered to be among the game’s most elite pitching prospects, ranking inside the game’s 20 best all-around prospects on multiple publications. Last year, at just 20 years old, he skyrocketed from Class-A Advanced to Triple-A, working to a combined 2.88 ERA with 10.6 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 over the course of 109 1/3 innings. Presently, the A’s will have Mike Fiers, Marco Estrada and Brett Anderson (assuming he passes his physical) in the rotation, with a pair of spots up for grabs, barring further additions.
- Infielder Matt Davidson chatted with MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan about his role with the Rangers this coming season. Davidson, signed as a corner infielder/reliever, indicated that he’s not expecting to be one of the team’s top seven or eight relievers. Rather, he’s aiming to be an option to pitch in the same capacity he did with the White Sox last year — as a mop-up reliever in blowout games. “I want to be the pitchers’ best friend,” said Davidson. “Nobody wants to go in when it is a 7-0 blowout. I want to be the guy that helps them out.” Davidson did toss three shutout innings last season, and it’s not out of the question entirely that he pitches more effectively than some would expect if given a few more opportunities. However, it sounds as if the early plan is for him to try to make the club as a bench piece and emergency option on the mound more than any type of regular bullpen piece.
If the AL has a DH where pitchers can’t hit, then hitters should not be allowed to pitch. You are either on the roster as a hitter or pitcher. Or, do away with the DH and there won’t be an issue regarding hypocracy.
?
So do you mean pitchers can’t PH like madbum?
Bumgarner’s career OPS is .540, that is SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER than even the worst tier of MLB hitters. I absolutely hate pitchers hitting and want the NL to be as entertaining as the AL. Pitching changes and mound visits mess up the tension and rhythm of a baseball game.
Yes this is what ruins the games pacing not the hitters striking out 130+ times a season.
Tension and rhythm? Doesn’t that naturally occur with every single pitch?
Bumgarner goes up there and tries to hit a bomb every time. He’s just outspoken about how much he loves to hit that’s rrally the only reason he’s brought up. But it’s just the nature of the game. No pitcher who gets 1 sometimes 2 starts a week is going to be l able to hit well. Position players do it everyday. They’re in the cage everyday. You’ll find your occasional Michael lorenzen but there’s no way you’d ever see a notable amount of major league pitchers who could hit.
Strategy is entertaining for intelligent people and no strategy is entertaining for stupid people
And bumgarner actually hits home runs…
Exactly.
So how about the guys in college who are split between sp & the field. They pitch their 1 day and play in the field the other games. They hit multiple times EVERY week. When they get drafted as a pitcher are they automatically going to forget how to hit?
There’a plenty of strategy in deciding when to pinch hit in the AL. Look at Cora’s moves this postseason in the games with Boston. And then you dont have to watch the pitcher consistently pitch around the #8 hitter anytime there’s someone on base because your pitcher swings a wet noodle behind him. Where’s the strategy in that? It takes a very intelligent man to understand the strategy of the constant avoidance of a real major league hitter. Just so you can pitch to the pitcher who can’t hit his way out of a paper bag. I’m fine if they want to keep the pitcher hitting but it’s not some great game of chess your watching just because you have a pitcher in The lineup
Prospect— I don’t understand what your point is here at all. Have the current crop of ML pitchers not gone through the same thing (if) they went to college? They can’t hit now. Is that going to change? Very few guys go from the college to the pros. These guys have stopped hitting on a regular basis long before they made it to the ML’s where they’re trying to make it as one of the best pitchers in the world.
And Bumgarner actually hits home runs. Yes he does knock a couple out over the course of a. Long season. But he’s trying to do that every time he’s up there. A 49 OPS+ is an anemic batting line. Rather solid for a pitcher but that’s his career number. The guy can’t hit. If he did it and played everyday could he hit? He’d get a lot closer to ML average but he’s so far below it’s not funny.
He’s also 0-27 with 1 walk in the postseason in case anyone was curious. I wouldn’t normally put in any stock to such a small sample size of ABS but I think it shows you when a pitcher is really locked in IE. A postseason game Bumgarner’s not helping you out with the bat.
There is no rule forbidding American league pitchers from hitting.
@jordan4giants. I disagree , pitching changes and mound visits are integral to baseball and I believe a game in and of itself regarding opposing managers and players alike.
Managed to be rude and offensive
Pitchers strike out more than hitters though. Watching pitchers bat is not fun, its as simple as that. I will say though, if a pitcher is able to consistently get his bunts down that provides serious value to his team.
I’m sorry I disagree – on the first part at least…
For example – I enjoy every Bartolo Colon at bat. I’m always disappointed when he signs for a team in the AL. His baserunning resembles an angry hippopotamus. who has found a cheetah sleeping with his lady wife.
If you want pitchers to improve in the box, make them practice more..
Tension and rhythm sounds like something you pay for in cash.
Why buy when you can rent?
That doesn’t make any sense.
That’s dumb. Ohtani is a generational player (not since Ruth) who can do both. Don’t be jealous. They’re not bending or breaking any rules.
Just enjoy this GREAT player.
Othani is great. I’m just annoyed they are talking about bringing the DH to the NL. So I’m venting about the AL.
The AL plays a more watchable game of baseball than the NL, with the constant breakup of tension by mound visits and stepping out of the box etc. Plus the free out pichers make every 8th hitter is infuriating and has killed more rallies than any other position by a million miles.
Either be a 2-way player or strictly pitch. This is the future whether you old fogeys like it or not, for once can you just admit you hate changing than making something better for everyone? Selfish. All you are.
I’m a Yankee fan and I can tell you since the 90’s I’ve dreaded Yanks-Sox games which last 3 plus ours. It’s great theatre as a fan but if you don’t like either of the teams it’s dreadful to watch.
get on with times!
Ours shows ownership.
Hours = 60 minutes
not entirely true. I’m not a fan of either but I love every minute of it.
Strike Four-You have already struck out knucklehead.
Go sit on the bench with the rest of the trolls.
Even old fogeys have a right to their opinions.
Your arguments are awful through out this thread. “The AL plays a more watchable game of baseball than the NL, with the constant breakup of tension by mound visits and stepping out of the box etc” the AL has no mound visits and players always stay in the box…. you have no clue what your talking about.
Babe Ruth wouldn’t even be a AA player in today’s game
with illegal drinking and associating with mobs he wouldn’t even be in organised baseball.
He’s starting to sound presidential in fact. Just trade amphetamines with alcohol
I think you meant to say Micah Owings. Not since Micah Owings.
205ABs and 9HRs over 6 years doesn’t qualify as a 2 way player.
Owings was a good hitter. When he attempted to go down in the minors and do that full time he scuffled. Of course he was 30 then. It just makes you think also if the reason he was so respectable at the plate as a pitcher was because no one really analyzed him and found the hole in his swing. Or maybe he was just a really solid hitter who could’ve had a career there had he chosen that route. Who knows
It’s a better comparison than 714HR over 22 years.
Get real, the guy pitched 10 games and then blew his arm out and wont touch a mound for another year. And who knows what he’ll be after the TJ. Comparing to Ruth after one season of barely doing both things is a joke.
I’m sure this seemed like a good idea in your head
Old man yells at cloud
Hitters are allowed to pitch, and only an absolute moron thinks hitting and pitching are the exact same skill.
The rule isn’t that pitcher’s can’t hit…you can DH for the catcher if ya want
False. By rule, the DH can only hit for the pitcher. They can, however, forfeit the DH and let the pitcher hit for himself.
The DH can only hit for a pitcher, I have no idea where you came up with that prospect.
Pitchers can kit if they want, they just have to give up the DH for that game. There is no rule against them hitting, just as there is no rule against a position player to pitch.
They don’t have to give up the DH in that scenario but they can substitute a different position other than the pitcher for that game and maybe use the DH to replace a defensive player who perhaps is worse than the pitcher at the plate.
You’re wrong…
22 Leo…..Ace is right
5.11 Designated Hitter Rule….link to the Official Rules (2018 edition)
mlb.mlb.com/documents/0/8/0/268272080/2018_Officia…
Right you are, Cat.
The DH is ridiculous, but it applies to any position, not just pitchers. Any baseball fan should understand that fact. It is generally used for pitchers, but there is no rule which says it has to be.
None of these three sentences are facts. Come on, know the rules before you talk about what any baseball fan should know.
then why all the pro leagues have dh’s except nl?
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Featured snippet from the web
The Designated Hitter, commonly referred to as DH, is a player in the batting order to hit only but not play defense. He hits in place of the pitcher. If the DH is replaced by a player who then takes a position, the pitcher must bat in the designated hitter’s place.Jun 15, 2018
*****************************
baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Designated_hitter
Ace of Diamonds…Sorry, I didn’t scroll far enough to see you had posted before I posted the Rule
22Leo…..5.11 Designated Hitter Rule
Any League may elect to use Rule 5.11(a), which shall be called
the Designated Hitter Rule. (a) The Designated Hitter Rule provides as follows:
(1) A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher
and all subsequent pitchers in any game without other-wise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game. A Designated Hitter for the pitcher, if any, must be selected prior to the game and must be included in the lineup cards presented to the Umpire-in-Chief.
As an aside. It’s clearly outlawed but if you did actually have a pitcher who was a better hitter than your catcher I might not mind a scenario where you could hit the pitcher over the catcher. This will obviously never happen. Once you pulled the pitcher who could hit im relatively certain no team would have another pitcher who could come in and swing it better than the catcher. But Hypotherically I don’t think I’d have a problem with that.
He (Ohatani) doesn’t do both in the same game. That like saying someone on the roster that’s listed as a catcher can’t play 1B.
The Angels said Trout would bat second. WHY?
Not sure why you got down-voted but I asked the same question about Judge.
Apparently the idea is to get them more AB during a game. *shrug*
It is snart baseball. Your second hitter will get more AB over the season than the 3 hole hitter. You want an OBP guy first, and then best hitter 2, And do on.
yeah, but trout is a run producer as in rbi.
Because it’s been proven that the number 2 hitter comes up in higher leverage situations. He will also never come up with two outs and no one on in the first, well almost b ever. Bottom line, it’s smart baseball.
You usually want your best hitter to hit second in order to get them more at bats. I’m pretty sure each lineup spot gets about 18 or so more at bats per season than the one that follows it.
true. but angels need more who can drive in runs.
Because it’s scientifically proven that the best hitter (highest OPS) hitting 2nd creates more runs over 162 games?
Not sure where you get you facts, but at least for this team with these players, it should be Calhoun, Cozart, Trout. Calhoun OPS in 1064 PA as leadoff is .795, .752 in 1048 PA batting 2nd, Cozart batting 2 is .775 in 1093 PA, next best is leadoff with a .703 in 985 PA. Trout has 1.026 OPS in 1510 PA batting 3rd, .997 in 2289 PA batting second.
Science has ruined the joy of baseball.
Baseball will never ruin the joy of science, however.
‘Ignorance is bliss’ is a weird argument to make.
Aside from the 15-20 extra PAs, I recall previous studies showing that the 2 and 3 hitters are most likely to have the final PA of the game, with the 3 hitter having the most PAs with 2 outs and nobody on… While cleanup has the most PAs with runners on… So I’ve seen many suggest best hitter in 2 or cleanup, with an average of 30-40 PA difference between them. Of course, timely hitting anywhere in the lineup can blow any of this out of the water.
dumb?
Ohtani will not pitch in 2019 yet he will be able to bat after having Tommy John Surgery. Would hitting a baseball thrown by a pitcher traveling 92+ mph cause strain on his surgically repaired elbow?
Hitting does not put the same strain on the UCL that throwing (especially overhand) does.
It wont strain it as bad as throwing will, but given he hits LH, his extension arm is the surgically repaired one, so I do think they should be extra careful in trying to rush him back.
Every doctor I heard from says there will be less strain on his right elbow since he hits left handed. Eppler has stated the same thing more than once also.
The torque from swinging at bat is mostly on the leading arm, and since Ohtani bats left but throws right, it shouldn’t be a problem for him to DH while rehabbing his elbow.
He had the injury last year he was still able to hit.
Ohtani is a fine player, and can make any team better. Unfortunately, Ohtani or no Ohtani this Angels organization is going nowhere fast.
maybe, just maybe, your negative energy drags it down.
How you expect the players to focus on the game with all that fine SoCal scenery in the seats?
a lot of players’ wives come to games and shoot eye lasers at wandering eyes. or so i guess!
Matt Davidson should be thankful to have a job and hope to have a role, any role, with the Rangers.
Nothing against Matt Chapman, but I hope that the Athletics fans do not expect too much from him. Expecting .240 BA, .320 OBP, 20’s HR, 30 doubles with 180 strike outs personally. Maybe less.
Matt Chapman has had minor league career that does not bode well for high average hitter in majors, and last year’s average was propped up by BAbip that was .060 higher than league average. Does draw walks and has pop. Considering last year’s Performance trumps minor league history, I would not bet for a repeat performance…much less greater results.
If teams are smart they’ll use a guy for two-three innings and sub them out for a ph’er.