“You see, I bounce back quicker than most”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9lkga4yF1Q
Nice tune!
November 8, 2011
November 7, 2011
Kevin Goldstein reviews “the most epic scouting promotional video in the history of the human race”
I knew I was in for something special once I saw the email.
It was forwarded to me by a big league exec with a simple “You’re welcome.” The original email was sent to nearly 200 people, a veritable who’s who of the international scouting community. It’s from Edgar Mercedes, a Dominican-based agent who is often involved with Cuban defectors. The message, written in all caps, thanks the readers for coming to the showcase and links to a YouTube page with the video presented at the event. The video concerns Yeonis Cespedes, a 26-year-old outfielder who is currently in the Dominican looking to sign with a big league team. His resume from Cuba is significant as he hit .333 during the 2010-11 campaign while joining Jose Abreu in establishing a new league record with 33 home runs. He’s a tremendous talent—arguably the best all-around player to come out of Cuba in a generation. He’s a legitimate centerfielder with plus power and speed and is in his prime. Much like Aroldis Chapman was the best pitcher from the island, Cespedes is the best position player, and Mercedes will be expecting (and likely getting) a Chapman-like deal in the neighborhood of $30 million.
I was expecting a standard scouting video. A few minutes of hitting—shot from different angles—some shots of him chasing fly balls in center and throwing, and then some base running. Once I opened the video, however, I saw that it was over 20 minutes long, and knew I was in for something much different, but I could never imagine just how good it was.
Now if I was a nice person, I’d just embed the video right here, but I’m not going to do that. Before you watch it, I actually want to walk you through this majestic work. I want you to continue to read my description of what you are about to see, and figure out at what point you think I’m making some of this up. To be clear, I’m not. …
UPDATE: Kevin Goldstein’s update.
Other White Sox links:
November 5, 2011
Free Live Webcast of the AFL Rising Stars Game [UPDATE]
Watch here:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?topic_id=23943936&content_id=19973181
UPDATE: Doyle was the first ‘AFL East’ pitcher that didn’t allow any runs. They should had let him start. Now the East is losing 10-2.
AFL East Rising Stars Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Cole 0.2 4 5 5 1 1 2 67.50 Ames 1.1 3 1 1 0 2 0 6.75 Brewer 1.0 5 4 4 0 0 0 36.00 Doyle 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
Pitches-strikes: Doyle 14-9.
Groundouts-flyouts: Doyle 1-0.
Batters faced: Doyle 4.
AFL West Bottom of the 4th
- Pitcher Change: Terry Doyle replaces Charles Brewer.
- Michael Choice singles on a line drive to right fielder Robbie Grossman.
- Joe Terdoslavich singles on a ground ball to right fielder Robbie Grossman. Michael Choice to 3rd.
- Jaff Decker strikes out swinging.
- Christian Bethancourt grounds into double play, third baseman Nolan Arenado to second baseman Brian Dozier to first baseman Ben Paulsen. Joe Terdoslavich out at 2nd.
| Inning | Batter # | Pitch # | Speed | Break in. | Pfx in. | Pitch Type | Pitch result | AB result |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 82 | 10 | 2 | Slider | Called Strike | |
| 2 | 83 | 10 | 2 | Curveball | Foul | |||
| 3 | 92 | 4 | 10 | Fastball | In play, no out | Single | ||
| 2 | 1 | 92 | 4 | 8 | Fastball | Ball | ||
| 2 | 83 | 9 | 8 | Changeup | Ball | |||
| 3 | 92 | 6 | 10 | Fastball | In play, no out | Single | ||
| 3 | 1 | 79 | 11 | 6 | Curveball | Called Strike | ||
| 2 | 92 | 4 | 10 | Fastball | Called Strike | |||
| 3 | 80 | 12 | 7 | Curveball | Swinging Strike (Blocked) | Strikeout | ||
| 4 | 1 | 81 | 9 | 3 | Slider | Foul | ||
| 2 | 83 | 8 | 4 | Slider | Ball In Dirt | |||
| 3 | 93 | 3 | 10 | Fastball | Foul | |||
| 4 | 79 | 12 | 7 | Curveball | Ball In Dirt | |||
| 5 | 81 | 11 | 4 | Curveball | In play, out(s) | GIDP |
I count 5 fastballs, 3 sliders, 5 curveballs, and 1 changeup. Average fastball was a bit more than 92 mph.
UPDATE: Pitch F/X data:
| Pitch Statistics | |||||||||
| Pitch Type | Avg Speed | Max Speed | Avg H-Break | Avg V-Break | Count | Strikes / % | Swinging Strikes / % | Linear Weights | Time to Plate |
| FA (Fastball) | 92.06 | 92.5 | -3.97 | 8.25 | 5 | 4 / 80.00% | 0 / 0.00% | 0.8192 | 0.403 |
| CH (Changeup) | 82.60 | 82.6 | -8.22 | 1.56 | 1 | 0 / 0.00% | 0 / 0.00% | 0.0613 | 0.451 |
| SL (Slider) | 82.10 | 83.3 | 2.19 | 0.30 | 3 | 2 / 66.67% | 0 / 0.00% | -0.0565 | 0.454 |
| CU (Curveball) | 80.34 | 83.1 | 2.72 | -3.95 | 5 | 3 / 60.00% | 1 / 20.00% | -0.9005 | 0.467 |
| Pitch classifications provided by the Gameday Algorithm and may be inaccurate.Pitch Type LWTS correspond to how many runs were likely to score on a particular pitch based on average run expectancy when each pitch was thrown and what happened as a result. Negative scores indicate more effective pitches.Time to Plate is the time, in seconds, that it takes an average pitch of this type to reach the plate. This is strongly correlated with velocity, but also factors in movement. | |||||||||
| Inning-by-Inning Pitch Totals | ||||||||
| Inning | Pitches in Inning | Strikes in Inning | Strike% in Inning | Cumulative Total Pitches | Pitch LWTS in Inning | |||
| 4 | 14 | 9 | 64.29 | 14 | -0.077 | |||
November 4, 2011
Rick Hahn declined Baltimore’s interview request
The Rays’ Andrew Friedman and Chicago’s Rick Hahn both turned down interview requests, which was to be expected.
So ends this brief ‘Hahn to Baltimore’ speculation.
That doesn’t sound good
New White Sox hitting coach Jeff Manto has a different view when it comes to taking pitches. telling The Mully and Hanley Show that walks set up double-play balls.
“Do we want Adam Dunn taking a ball (when it is) off the plate with a man on third and the infield back and you got (Justin) Verlander throwing and he walks him? I don’t know,” Manto said.
“What happens is that you set up the double play. If you (hit) into a double play, you get out of the inning. We give high five for taking the walk, but we have arguably the most prolific left-handed hitter in the game at the plate. He can drive that run in.”
Great! More swinging outside of the zone.
Terry Doyle is going to the AFL Rising Stars game (AFL’s All-Star game)
Rising Stars Rosters
East division Player Org Pos. Terry Doyle CWS P
The Rising Stars game will be played tomorrow Saturday, November 5, at Surprise Stadium at 7 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on MLB.com and MLB Network.
Maybe Philadelphia is moving to the American League next year…
Sources said Friday evening that the Phillies and Thome have agreed on a one-year contract, pending Thome passing a physical. Terms of the deal were unknown, although it seems likely to be a low-risk signing.
… since there’s no DH in the National League.
Other White Sox links:
Smells Like Mascot: Buehrle Bird Special
Carl’s latest:
http://smellslikemascot.blogspot.com/2011/11/buehrle-bird-special.html
Don’t let Buehrle leave Jerry!
November 3, 2011
Baltimore wants to talk to Rick Hahn about it’s GM opening [UPDATE]
For anyone keeping score at home, #orioles will interview Proefrock, requested permission for Friedman, Hahn and Radcliff.—
Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) November 03, 2011
UPDATE: Maybe it doesn’t. Dan Connoly of the Baltimore Sun writes:
… The Orioles did have interest in Chicago White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn and Tampa Bay GM Andrew Friedman, but neither will interview.
November 1, 2011
Mark Buehrle just won the AL pitcher Gold Glove award [UPDATE]
It’s Buehrle’s 3rd consecutive AL Gold Glove. A.J. Pierzynski didn’t get the catcher Gold Glove award. Looking at BTB’s catcher defense ratings makes you wonder why he was nominated.
UPDATE: As James points out, Buehrle, also, won his 3rd Fielding Bible Award on Monday.
