When addressing his group’s acquisition of Garrett Crochet on the Winter Conferences, Craig Breslow mentioned that the 25-year-old southpaw’s relationship with the Pink Sox’ analytics group will likely be vital, in order that he “can proceed to grasp how he can get the perfect out of his stuff.” I subsequently requested Boston’s Chief Baseball Officer if, based mostly on their pre-trade homework, they’ve recognized any particular changes Crochet may need to make, or in the event that they plan to largely simply let him maintain doing what he does.
“I believe the reply might be each,” replied Breslow. “Proper? We need to lean into what he does significantly properly, and he does lots of issues actually, very well. You have a look at the strikeouts, and particularly the strikeouts relative to the walks; that’s a fairly good underpinning for a extremely profitable beginning pitcher. As soon as we’ve an opportunity to get to know him, have conversations with him, we’ll lean on [pitching coach Andrew Bailey] and the remainder of the group. Nevertheless it’s most likely not honest to speak about what changes we would make earlier than we’ve had an opportunity to have that dialog with him.”
Crochet is wanting ahead to the dialog. He expects it to happen within the coming week, and he’ll go into it with ideas he’s been formulating since final summer time. Once I talked to Crochet in late August, he spoke of utilization percentages and the way he’d begun tinkering with a sinker. I reminded him of that earlier alternate when he met with the Boston media over Zoom on Friday, then proceeded to ask about his forthcoming discussions with the Pink Sox pitching division.
“I’ve executed a bit little bit of considering on it, by myself, simply by way of [having] integrated the sinker later within the yr,” replied Crochet, whose repertoire additionally features a changeup and a slider. “I really feel like I really have 5 pitches that I can throw at any second, so it’ll positively be a fine-tuning recreation. There are lots of methods to pores and skin the cat in that regard. In the end, I don’t assume I’ll change the fastball-cutter utilization a complete lot — that’s sort of my bread and butter, and an enormous cause I had success final yr — however the addition of the sinker is a dialog price having.”
The conversations that came about between Breslow and White Sox GM Chris Getz are additionally price mentioning right here. Additionally they date again to final summer time.
“These are the kinds of issues the place conversations sort of ebb and circulate,” Breslow mentioned of the commerce discuss. “There’s lots of checking in, lots of feeling such as you’re getting momentum and traction, after which issues begin to diverge or diminish a bit, [or] actually begin to decide up once more. Over the previous few days, the overall ideas possibly had all been mentioned, it was only a matter of determining how we might put the items collectively.”
In accordance with Getz, the Pink Sox had been one in all “most likely 5” groups within the working to amass the All-Star left-hander. Boston’s pursuit was particularly earnest. It started previous to the commerce deadline, recommenced after the season, then got here to fruition on Wednesday afternoon in Dallas.
“Discussions actually heated up final evening with the Pink Sox,” Getz mentioned after the deal was introduced. “We took that into the morning, and it was very clear that they had been motivated. They wished to get one thing executed, and we made a match. Each golf equipment ought to really feel actually good in regards to the return.”
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Nomar Garciaparra went 1 for 20 towards Brandon Webb.
Elias Díaz is 1 for 22 towards Logan Webb.
Spider Jorgensen went 4 for 7 towards Elmer Riddle.
Freddie “The Flea” Patek went 6 for 7 towards Paul Thormodsgard.
Craig Grebeck went 8 for 14 towards Matt Younger.
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Tyler O’Neill has been Baltimore’s most notable acquisition up to now this offseason, however he isn’t the one doubtlessly impactful participant approaching board. Gary Sánchez has additionally been inked to a free agent deal, giving the Orioles a power-hitting backstop to caddy for Adley Rutschman, and infrequently function a right-handed-hitting DH. Mike Elias addressed the acquisition when he met with a small group of reporters in Dallas.
“Frankly, we wanted one other catcher, with James McCann being a free agent,” the Govt VP and GM defined. “I believe it’s profile to match with Adley. He’s a man that throws properly. It’s good to have a Spanish-speaking catcher to pair with an American catcher. There are lots of constructive issues about bringing him into the combination. He’s a veteran… who [was with] Milwaukee final yr, and drew lots of good evaluations from their gamers and training employees.”
Energy has lengthy been Sánchez’s calling card — his résumé contains 33- and 34-home-run seasons — whereas his work behind the plate has by no means been considered as a energy. That in thoughts, I requested Elias if he might elaborate on the constructive evaluations.
“I believe his protection has been bettering constantly, particularly in the previous few years, as he sort of matures right into a veteran catcher,” Elias replied. “He modified a few of his receiving ways just a few years in the past. He’s attending to be a better, savvier participant. We heard actually good issues about the best way he was working with pitching staffs. And like I mentioned, it’s not one thing that you simply all the time must do, however it’s all the time good when you have got one English-speaking catcher and one Spanish-speaking catcher. It’s a pleasant function.”
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Scott Harris is bullish on the Tigers’ catching combo. Jake Rogers and Dillon Dingler aren’t precisely juggernauts with the stick — the previous logged a 71 wRC+, the latter a 37 wRC+ in his first 87 big-league plate appearances — however their general skillsets are to the manager’s liking.
“It’s honest to say that we really feel actually good about our catching group,” mentioned the group’s President of Baseball Operations. “I believe Jake and Ding evaluate very favorably to most catching tandems within the league from a blocking, framing, game-calling standpoint. Defensively, I believe they’re nearly as good, if not higher, than the catching tandems across the league. Offensively, they will each change the rating with one swing, which is one thing you may’t actually discover at that place very recurrently. I believe they’re each bettering offensively.
“Ding’s efficiency in Triple-A didn’t fairly translate to the massive leagues, nevertheless, we threw loads at him,” continued Harris. “He got here up in the midst of the season and needed to all of a sudden handle a serious league employees, name a serious league recreation, deal with main league stuff behind the plate, and hit the perfect pitching he’s ever seen earlier than. I’m not stunned he struggled, however that have will enable him to regulate for subsequent yr. I really feel actually good about these guys.”
Dingler had 17 house runs and a 139 wRC+ with Triple-A Toledo previous to getting known as up on the finish of July. Rogers has gone deep 31 occasions in 702 plate appearances with the big-league membership over the previous two seasons.
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A quiz:
The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays have every had only one participant win an American League batting title. Who’re they?
The reply could be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
The Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame introduced this week that Tom Hamilton is that this yr’s recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence. The 70-year-old “Hammy,” who grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, has been within the Cleveland radio sales space since 1990.
Thomas Boswell is the recipient of this yr’s BBWAA Profession Excellence Award. Now retired, the longtime Washington Submit scribe is the creator of seven books, together with “Why Time Begins On Opening Day” and “How Life Imitates the World Collection.”
Minor League Baseball honored Raquel Ferreira with this yr’s Sheldon “Chief” Bender Award, which is offered to a person with distinguished service who has been instrumental in participant growth. Ferreira joined the Boston Pink Sox group in 1999 and now holds the title Govt Vice President and Assistant Normal Supervisor.
Merv Rettenmund, an outfielder who performed for 4 groups over a profession that spanned the 1968-1980 seasons, died final weekend at age 81. A local of Flint, Michigan who gained World Collection rings with the each Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds, Rettenmund logged 693 hits, together with 66 house runs, and a 128 wRC+. He was a prolific pinch-hitter towards the top of his big-league tenure.
Rocky Colavito, an outfielder who logged a 132 wRC+ and made six All-Star groups whereas taking part in from 1955-1968, died earlier this week at age 91. In April 1960, the slugger was concerned in one in all baseball’s most well-known trades when he went from the Cleveland Indians to the Detroit Tigers in alternate for Harvey Kuenn. The earlier season, Colavito led the American League in house runs, whereas Kuenn gained the batting title.
SABR will likely be internet hosting a stay oral historical past interview with Frank Viola on Tuesday, December 17 at 7:30 EST. Will probably be held over Zoom and you’ll register right here.
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The solutions to the quiz are Frank Robinson, in 1966 (his Triple Crown season) with the Orioles, and John Olerud, in 1993 (his .363/.473/.599 season), with the Blue Jays.
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Which group would get the higher deal in a one-for-one Triston Casas–Luis Castillo commerce? I requested that query in a Twitter ballot on Friday, and the outcomes had been extra one-sided than I’d anticipated. Of the 1,149 votes forged, 75.0% went to the Seattle Mariners, who can be receiving a slugging, soon-to-turn 25-year-old first baseman, whereas the Pink Sox, who can be getting a just-turned 32-year-old right-hander, bought simply 25.0%.
A complete breakdown the professionals and cons of the rumored deal would require extra phrases than we’ve room for right here in Sunday Notes, however I’ll say that I agree with the bulk… albeit with a caveat. Beginning pitching is invaluable, and Castillo is a three-time All-Star who has averaged 3.3 WAR over the previous 4 seasons. He would comfortably slot into any group’s rotation. Even so, I’d be disinclined if I had been the Pink Sox. Casas has a brilliant future with the bat.
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What recommendation would Roki Sasaki’s agent give the 23-year-old Japanese right-hander as he ponders which MLB group to signal with this offseason? Joel Wolfe was requested that query on the Winter Conferences.
“Go into it with an open thoughts,” replied Wolfe, who represents the high-profile flamethrower for the Wasserman Media Group. “With Yoshinobu [Yamamoto] final yr, that was the very first thing I mentioned to him. Your whole preconceived notions, all the things you’ve seen on TV. Attempt to put it out of your thoughts and actually take heed to what the groups are going to current to you, and what they must say. Speak to different gamers and listen to what they must say from their experiences. Put all of it into the stew and type your personal opinions. I believe [Yamamoto] did a extremely good job of that.
“Belief your intestine,” continued Wolfe, who has negotiated a few of the baseball’s greatest contracts. “What I inform all my gamers is, ‘I need this to be your resolution. You will have lots of people providing you with recommendation, together with myself, however on the finish of the day, you realize it if you see it. Whenever you see it, inform me. That’s the path we’ll go.”
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Yuto Akihiro is slashing .319/.390/.478 with two house runs in 80 plate appearances for the Australian Baseball League’s Adelaide Giants. The 22-year-old outfielder, who at 6-foot-6 is likely one of the tallest gamers in NPB historical past, performed in 26 video games for the Yomiuri Giants this previous season, and in one other 96 for the membership’s high farm group.
Franchy Cordero is slashing .279/.429/.508 with two house runs in 77 plate appearances for the Dominican Winter League’s Leones del Escogido. The 30-year-old former MLB outfielder spent this previous season with NPB’s Seibu Lions.
Renato Núñez has a circuit-best 19 house runs and a .309/.405/.691 slash line over 205 plate appearances for the Venezuelan Winter League’s Navegantes del Magallanes. The 30-year-old first baseman has performed in Japan, and extra lately Mexico, since seeing motion with three MLB groups from 2018-2021. Nuñez went deep 31 occasions for the Baltimore Orioles in 2019.
Braden Nett has 23 strikeouts to go together with 11 hits and two runs allowed over 17-and-two-thirds innings for the Puerto Rican Winter League’s Senadores de San Juan. The 22-year-old right-hander within the San Diego Padres system had a 3.88 ERA, a 3.98 FIP, and a 25.5% strikeout charge over 65 innings between Excessive-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio.
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The Kansas Metropolis Royals had 52 wins once I talked to Matt Quatraro in mid-July, actually double the quantity that they had on the identical time the earlier yr. How was his group, which was eight video games over .500, performing relative to it’s true expertise stage? Quatraro opted to not reply that query straight, saying as a substitute that the main focus was on staying within the second and placing as many constant video games collectively as they may. At season’s finish, the Royals had been 10 video games over .500 and had edged out the Mariners for the junior circuit’s ultimate wildcard berth.
With the 2024 season now within the rearview, I requested the Kansas Metropolis supervisor the identical factor I’d requested on the eve of the All-Star break.
“It’s an fascinating query, as a result of I actually assume at occasions I used to be disillusioned that we hadn’t gained extra,” Quatraro instructed me in Dallas. “Whenever you look again and consider the place we had been, to the place we had completed the yr, general it was an enormous constructive. However I do assume we left some video games on the market, particularly with how properly our beginning pitching did. We might have gained extra video games, however everybody can say that. Proper? You truly must exit and execute it.”
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Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy selected to not give a definitive reply once I posed the query to him on the Winter Conferences.
“I don’t have a look at it that manner,” mentioned the 2024 Nationwide League Supervisor of the Yr, who led the Brewers to a 93-69 report and a playoff berth of their very own. “That’s for different individuals. I’m simply happy with the fellows, the best way they competed. I don’t know what individuals thought at first, however it feels like no one thought we might win the division, and we did. Might we’ve executed higher? Yeah. All people can do higher in something. There are methods to get higher, and we plan on that, however what occurred in 2024 serves as a reference to how we are able to be taught from some issues and transfer on, and get higher. That’s it.”
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A random obscure former participant snapshot:
Chicago White Sox infielder Tony Cuccinello fell proportion factors in need of profitable the American League batting title in 1945, ending at .30845771144, whereas New York Yankees infielder Snuffy Stirnweiss completed at 30854430379. The circumstances had been controversial. The White Sox had been rained out on the ultimate day of the season, whereas Stirnweiss went 3-for-5, with one in all his hits initially dominated an error, solely to be modified to a success by the Yankee Stadium official scorer. Cuccinello, who turned 38 a month later, was subsequently launched and by no means performed once more.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
Barry Bloom’s relationship with Ichiro Suzuki was removed from pleasant, however he nonetheless put a checkmark subsequent to the enduring participant’s identify on his Corridor of Fame poll. The veteran scribe wrote about it at Sportico.
Andscape’s Sridhar Pappu wrote about how Dave Parker is a father determine to Black MLB legends.
Detroit Tigers pitching coach Chris Fetter was named Baseball America’s 2024 MLB Coach of the Yr. The publication’s J.J. Cooper has the story.
At Our Sport, John Thorn wrote in regards to the historical past of the sacrifice-fly rule, together with how Ted Williams would have batted .413, and never the at present acknowledged .406, below todays’s guidelines.
The Scout of the Yr program celebrated its fortieth anniversary Wednesday night, and in doing so honored six individuals for his or her contributions to the sport. Jim Callis has the story at MLB.com.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
David Wright is the New York Mets’ all-time chief in hits, singles, doubles, whole bases, occasions on base, walks, runs scored, RBIs, and WAR. He’s second in house runs, behind solely Darryl Strawberry.
CC Sabathia had 251 wins, a 116 ERA+, and 66.5 WAR.Andy Pettitte had 256 wins, a 117 ERA+, and 68.2 WARTommy John had 258 wins, a 111 ERA+, and 79.4 WAR.
Pokey Reese and Dmitri Younger went a mixed 0 for 23 with 17 strikeouts versus Billy Wagner.
The Boston Pink Sox signed Hideo Nomo as a free agent on at the moment’s date in 2000. The correct-hander proceeded to throw a no-hitter in his first recreation together with his new group, then go on to complete the season 13-10 with a 4.50 ERA.
On at the moment’s date in 1900, the Cincinnati Reds traded Christy Mathewson to the New York Giants in alternate for Amos Rusie. The latter, who’d averaged 29 wins over his earlier eight seasons, pitched in three video games for the Reds, then retired. Mathewson, who was 0-3 in his younger profession, went on to win 373 video games, all however one in all them with the Giants. His ultimate win got here in 1906… with the group that had dealt him away 16 years earlier.
Gamers born on at the moment’s date embrace Ken Crosby, a right-hander who gained his lone resolution whereas showing in 16 video games for the Chicago Cubs throughout the 1975-1976 seasons. A local of New Denver, British Columbia, Crosby went 1-for-2 on the plate, his base knock coming towards San Diego Padres southpaw Brent Strom.
Additionally born on at the moment’s date was Doug Rau, who logged 81 wins whereas showing in 219 video games for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1972-1979, and in three video games for the California Angels in 1981. A left-handed starter on three Dodgers groups to succeed in the World Collection solely to lose, Rau had his finest yr in 1976, going 16-12 with a 2.57 ERA over 231 innings.
William Thomas went 383-347 whereas pitching for quite a few groups over a minor league profession that spanned the 1926-1952 seasons. The correct-hander’s time on the farm included stints with the Beaumont Exporters, Charleroi Babes, and Wheeling Stogies. He was suspended for alleged playing in 1946, a season through which he went 35-7 with the Houma Indians. Thomas by no means pitched within the majors.
