Billy Wagner has an opportunity to be voted into the Corridor of Fame this 12 months. As I kind these phrases on Saturday night, the erstwhile left-handed reliever — this in his penultimate look on the BBWAA poll — is polling at 80.0% with practically half of the voters having disclosed their selections. If he finishes at or above the 75% threshold required for induction he’ll turn out to be the ninth nearer enshrined in Cooperstown.
Many will argue that closers — no less than not these named Mariano Rivera — don’t belong within the Corridor of Fame. The reasoning, by and enormous, is lack of innings thrown (Wagner has simply 903), which components into comparably low WAR totals (Rivera has 38.6, whereas workmanlike starters corresponding to Kenny Rogers and John Lackey are north of 40). Add in a rule that enables for what may be deemed “low cost saves” and the argument towards closers is comprehensible.
Personally, I don’t assume there are sufficient closers within the Corridor of Fame. It’s not as if the function isn’t vital, and it definitely isn’t latest. The primary 15-save season got here precisely 100 years in the past, with Firpo Marberry doing the honors with the Washington Senators (the right-hander added two extra saves in that 12 months’s World Collection). Marberry subsequently logged the primary 20-save season in 1926, and by profession’s finish he’d led the American League in saves and appearances six instances every. Marberry isn’t within the Corridor of Fame, however if you think about his historic significance — ditto his larger JAWS rating than all of Rollie Fingers, Lee Smith, and Bruce Sutter — he arguably needs to be.
If a “nearer” with Marberry’s statistical résumé — he completed with 99 saves and 148 wins (56 of them as a reliever) — may very well be deemed Corridor-worthy, what a few Wagner up to date like John Franco? Whereas not as overpowering as Wagner, Franco did amass 424 saves — two greater than the on-the-doorstep Corridor of Famer’s complete, and probably the most ever for a southpaw. Furthermore, it ranks fifth-most all-time, whereas his 1,119 appearances ranks third-most. With the caveat that JAWS isn’t bullish on his credentials, Franco presents an intriguing case.
Which brings us to Joe Nathan and Francisco Rodríguez. The latter, who’s polling at 7.0% on the present poll, is compromised by off-the-field points. However for that motive, Rodríguez would possible be garnering much more help. With 437 saves, together with single-season document 62 in 2008, he has a strong argument statistically. As for the previous, my esteemed colleague Jay Jaffe discovered room for Nathan on his 2022 poll. That speaks volumes.
Names like Dan Quisenberry, Jeff Reardon, and Lindy McDaniel likewise belong in a dialogue of most-accomplished late-inning arms, as do still-active stalwarts like Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel. Are any of them worthy? Once more, I’m of the opinion that closers aren’t adequately represented within the Corridor of Fame. Hopefully Wagner turns into the ninth to be so honored when the outcomes are introduced on Tuesday evening.
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Troy Tulowitzki went 22 for 66 towards Matt Cain.
Dustin Pedroia went 22 for 45 towards Scott Kazmir.
Ian Kinsler went 12 for 19 towards Wandy Rodriguez.
Brian McCann went 12 for 23 towards Aaron Harang.
Russell Martin went 11 for 30 towards Adam Wainwright.
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Andrew Nardi had a strong first full season in 2023. The 25-year-old left-hander got here out of the Miami Marlins bullpen 63 instances and logged three saves, a 2.67 ERA, and a 3.60 FIP over 63 appearances. Pitching primarily in innings six, seven, and/or eight, he went 8-1 within the won-lost column.
Have been it not for rain and a rule determination, his document would most certainly have been 9-1. On September 28, with Nardi having completed the eighth body, the Marlins scored twice within the high of the ninth to take a 2-1 lead over the New York Mets at Citi Area… solely to later have these runs erased from the document. The sport was suspended resulting from unplayable climate situations, and with the result immaterial to postseason concerns it was by no means resumed. The Mets had been awarded a 1-0 win, with Nardi getting a no-decision.
His outcomes come courtesy of a two-pitch combine. Nardi depends nearly completely on heaters and sliders, the previous of which he prefers to function on the high of the zone. Studying that the pitch is efficient when elevated has performed a giant half in his success.
“[The Nationals] advised me that I get good vertical on my ball, so if I throw it belt-up, will probably be a superb pitch for me,” the College of Arizona product advised me when Miami visited Boston halfway by means of the season. “From there it was form of simply doing it and seeing the outcomes, after which when the analytics got here out it was, ‘Yeah, my fastball performs higher up.’”
His slider is comparatively new. Nardi used to throw a curveball — “it was actually extra of a slurve” — however considered one of his buddies again residence in Southern California (Shea Barry, who has pitched within the Houston Astros group) confirmed him a slider grip that he preferred. That was in 2021, and in August of the next 12 months Nardi made his MLB debut.
Deception is one other of his weapons. Nardi has been advised that he hides the ball properly, partially as a result of he “steps throughout [his] physique slightly bit” when delivering a pitch. Identical-sided hitters felt that impact final season. Lefties went simply 12-for-76 (.158) with 30 strikeouts towards Nardi final 12 months, whereas righties fared considerably higher at 33-for-135 (.244) with 43 strikeouts. Total, the southpaw’s Okay-rate was a formidable 30.8%.
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A quiz:
Rickey Henderson had probably the most stolen bases within the Eighties. Which participant had probably the most stolen bases within the Nineteen Nineties?
The reply might be discovered under.
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NEWS NOTES
The Boston Purple Sox have employed Kyle Boddy as a particular advisor to Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow. The Driveline proprietor/founder, and former Cincinnati Reds Minor League Director of Pitching Initiatives, will contribute to the membership’s pitching R&D arm.
The Cleveland Guardians have employed Dan Puente as an assistant hitting coach. The 42-year-old former Baltimore Orioles catching prospect has spent the final two seasons because the hitting coach for the Excessive-A South Bend Cubs.
Invoice Voss, an outfielder who performed for 5 groups in a profession that spanned the 1965-1972 seasons, died just lately at age 80 (per Baseball Participant Passings). A left-handed hitter, Voss logged 10 of his 18 big-league residence runs with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1971.
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The reply to the quiz is Otis Nixon, with 478 stolen bases. Rickey Henderson was second with 463. Kenny Lofton was third with 433.
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Left on the cutting-room ground from my latest interview with longtime scout Tom Allison had been his ideas on Matt Carpenter’s having lasted till the thirteenth spherical of the 2009 draft. A senior at Texas Christian College on the time, Carpenter went 399th total to the St. Louis Cardinals.
“I ended up seeing Matt Carpenter in a sport at TCU,” recalled Allison, who was then the scouting director for the Arizona Diamondbacks. “He was enjoying towards [Paul Goldschmidt’s] staff. If you recognize Matt’s story, his father was an amazing coach within the Houston space. And he’s a man that simply all the time liked to play. I can’t say that sufficient about Matt Carpenter: he liked to play.
“Matt didn’t carry out a lot in his junior 12 months [just eight games due to injury], however he got here again as a senior. You discuss having a bias… he was older, however he was acting at a excessive degree. He stood out on our metrics — our analysts had been singing his praises — however he’s one these guys who, as a result of he was a senior, saved getting pushed down the board. I give Jeff Luhnow and the St. Louis Cardinals credit score. Matt has had a very good profession.”
A Cardinal from 2011-2021 earlier than spending the previous two seasons with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres respectively, Carpenter is a three-time All-Star with a 125 wRC+ over his 13 big-league seasons. Now 38 years previous, he’s come full circle. Carpenter inked a one-year cope with St. Louis on Friday.
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Outdated good friend Travis Sawchik just lately identified one thing on Twitter that I hadn’t been conscious of. Whereas I knew that Todd Helton had good numbers away from Coors Area, I didn’t understand how they in comparison with these of his teammates. The distinction was eye-opening. Per Sawchik, Helton had a 121 street wRC+ in his 17 seasons with Colorado, whereas the Rockies as a staff had a 79 wRC+ over that span.
As Sawchik additionally identified, Helton is a Corridor of Fame expertise.
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Which of Bobby Grich and Lou Whitaker is extra deserving of the Corridor of Fame? I requested that query on Twitter this previous week, and the outcomes had been extra one-sided than their respective numbers and accolades would counsel. To wit:
Grich: 1,833 hits, 224 HRs, 129 wRC+, 69.1 fWAR, 58.7 JAWS, six All-Star nods, 4 Gold Gloves.
Whitaker: 2,369 hits, 244 HRs, 118 wRC+, 68.1 fWAR, 56.5 JAWS, 5 All-Star nods, three Gold Gloves.
As for the ballot outcomes, Whitaker garnered 73.8% of the votes solid, whereas Grich obtained simply 26.2%.
I’m an advocate of future induction for each of the erstwhile second basemen by way of an Eras Committee. That stated, which might I favor if compelled to decide on only one? With the caveat that the above snapshot suggests Grich might have been barely higher, I’m inclined to agree with the bulk and go together with the longtime Detroit Tiger. The explanation why is pretty easy.
In final Sunday’s column I introduced up the “fame” element because it pertains to Corridor of Fame third baseman Pie Traynor. On this case, Whitaker-Trammell is the most-storied keystone mixture in any of our lifetimes, arguably of all time. Alan Trammell has a plaque in Cooperstown, and Whitaker deserves to have one as properly. With apologies to Grich, who himself is worthy, “Candy Lou” Whitaker is a more-storied a part of baseball historical past.
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes introduced this week that they may submit Hye-seong Kim following the upcoming season. The soon-to-turn-25-year-old, left-handed-hitting second baseman slashed .335/.396/.446 with seven residence runs and 25 stolen bases in 2023.
Zac Rosscup is 2-1- with a 2.42 ERA and 26 strikeouts in the identical variety of innings for the Dominican Winter League’s Leones del Escogido. The 35-year-old former big-league left-hander spent final season with impartial Atlantic League’s Spire Metropolis Ghost Hounds.
Jesus Valdez is slashing .320/.353/.418 in 204 plate appearances for the Mexican Pacific Winter League’s Venados de Mazatlan. Now in his 18th skilled season, the 39-year-old outfielder performed within the Chicago Cubs group from 2003-2007, and within the Washington Nationals system from 2008-2012.
Yuhi Sako threw six-and -a-third scoreless innings on Thursday because the Canberra Cavalry topped the Melbourne Aces 2-0 in Australian Baseball League motion. The 24-year-old right-hander — talked about right here at Sunday Notes a couple of weeks in the past following an equally-stellar seven-inning outing — is 2-2 with a 2.21 ERA on the season.
Tayden Corridor is slashing .297/.383/.461 with 4 residence runs in 149 plate appearances for the ABL’s Brisbane Bandits. The recently-turned-21-year-old first baseman/catcher within the Milwaukee Brewers system had a 121 wRC+ this previous season between the Arizona Advanced League and Low-A Carolina.
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A random obscure former participant snapshot:
Billy Grabarkewitz batted .289 with 17 residence runs and a 135 wRC+ over 640 plate appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1970, his first full big-league season. Hampered by accidents, Grabarkewitz proceeded to play in simply 276 extra video games, by no means coming near his rookie exploits. The flash-in-the-pan second baseman’s profession slash line over seven seasons was .236/.351/.364, whereas his residence run complete was a humble 28. His November 1972 departure from LA was notable. Grabarkewicz was a part of a seven participant commerce between the Dodgers and the California Angels that included Andy Messersmith, Frank Robinson, Invoice Singer, and Bobby Valentine.
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Kyle Teel is without doubt one of the sport’s high catching prospects. Drafted 14th total final summer time by the Boston Purple Sox out of the College of Virginia, the left-handed-hitting backstop burst onto the professional scene by logging a .363/.483/.495 slash line over 114 plate appearances between the Florida Advanced League (simply 9 PAs), Excessive-A Greenville and Double-A Portland. His wRC+ was a lusty 173.
Baseball isn’t his solely ardour.
“I like music,” Teel advised me at Fenway Park, the place he participated within the staff’s Rookie Improvement Program this previous week. “I play a bunch of devices. I taught myself methods to play the guitar once I was in eighth grade — that’s the place it began — and from there I taught myself methods to play the bass. I additionally play the ukulele. I like string devices.”
Teel plans to have a guitar in his locker this coming season, and in addition expects to be bringing it with him on most street journeys. And in case you’re questioning, sure, he sings as properly. As for kinds, the New Jersey native is a giant nation music fan, albeit one who enjoys a number of musical genres.
His favourite artists?
“That’s an amazing query,” stated Teel. “What I take heed to, and use for my DJ stuff — I do some DJing, as properly — is an actual combine. Greta Van Fleet is basically good. That’s extra rock. For EDM music, I like Disco Traces so much. For nation music, I’d say Morgan Wallen.”
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Alex Coffey wrote about how 27-year-old Cal-Berkeley alum Ani Kilambi is making an attempt to assist make the Phillies an analytics chief.
Sports activities Illustrated’s Emma Baccellieri and Stephanie Apstein teamed as much as talk about the belief the San Francisco Giants are placing into their pitching system with the Jordan Hicks signing.
Lookout Touchdown’s Becca Weinberg wonders if a second stint at Driveline will help resolve Taylor Trammell’s contact points.
Twinkie City’s John Foley wrote about how Eduoard Julien’s discerning strategy, and the analytics that again it up.
There may be rising hypothesis that 22-year-old pitching wunderkind Roki Sasaki will make a transfer to MLB after the 2024 NPB season. Yuri Karasawa has the story at JapanBall.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Robert Stephenson had 32 reduction appearances final 12 months by which he didn’t enable a baserunner. Twenty-two of these outings had been for a full inning, 4 had been two-thirds of an inning, and 6 had been one-third of an inning. Stephenson fanned all six batters he confronted within the one-third of an inning stints.
Ron Santo performed in 2,243 video games, had 2,254 hits, 342 residence runs, and three,779 complete bases. Aramis Ramirez performed in 2,194 video games, had 2,303 hits, 386 residence runs, and 4,004 complete bases.
Kenny Lofton had 2,428 hits, 130 residence runs, 116 triples, and 622 stolen bases. Jimmy Rollins had 2,455 hits, 231 residence runs, 115 triples, and 471 stolen bases. Every was awarded 4 Gold Gloves.
Mark Grace had extra walks than strikeouts in every of his 16 big-league seasons. He had 511 doubles, a .303/.383/.442 slash line, a 120 wRC+, and was awarded 4 Gold Gloves.
Jim Hegan obtained probably the most intentional walks amongst American League hitters every year from 1948-1951 (hat tip to @CooperstownDave). Batting nearly completely within the eight-hole, the Cleveland Indians catcher slashed .233/.302//.369 hitter over that four-year stretch. Cleveland pitchers slashed .198/.248/.299.
Charlie Bicknell’s big-league profession comprised 30 pitching appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies throughout the 1948 and 1949 seasons. The Phillies misplaced all 30 video games. (per Adam Darowski, by way of Stathead)
The Montreal Expos signed Lee Smith as a free agent on immediately’s date in 1997. The Corridor of Fame reliever, 39 years previous on the time, went on to document 5 of his 478 profession saves with Les Expos de Montréal in what was his final big-league season.
The New York Yankees signed Mike Stanley to a free agent contract on immediately’s date in 1992. The underrated catcher/first baseman proceeded to log a 135 wRC+ over 1,501 plate appearances for the pinstripers over the following 4 seasons.
Gamers born on immediately’s date embrace John Mohardt, who went 1-for-1 with a stroll in his two big-league plate appearances, each for the Detroit Tigers in 1922. The College of Notre Dame product additionally performed within the NFL, suiting up for the Chicago Bears in 1925.
Additionally born on immediately’s date was Josh Wall, a right-handed pitcher who went 1-1 with a 15.15 ERA in a profession comprising 13 appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers throughout the 2012-2014 seasons. Wall’s ERA is second highest in MLB historical past amongst pitchers to document no less than one win. Fernando Hernandez went 1-0 with an 18.00 ERA in three appearances with the Oakland Athletics in 2008.
