General baseball writing
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Starting 9: Draft pick compensation and draft bonus pools
In this week’s Starting 9, we’re going to dive into an area that’s getting more attention right now as we bear down on the MLB draft, which begins exactly 2 weeks from today. The subject for today is draft pick compensation and draft pools and how they influence the way teams draft and also how they make decisions outside of the draft as well. Let’s dig in! Uno – The basics: what is a draft pool and what is draft pick compensation? Before the 2012 draft, the draft was truly a free-for-all. That is why it is truly hard to compare drafting tendencies for a team from before that time…
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Minor League Baseball Daily Thread for May 20, 2019
A handful of huge games highlighted Sunday’s action, but like we do each Monday, let’s look at the leaders for each level and then overall as well (stats through Saturday): AAA AVG – Yordan Alvarez .413, Jake Elmore .380, Austin Dean .372, Corban Joseph .372, Yonathan Daza .369HR – Kevin Cron 18, Yordan Alvarez 17, Adam Duvall/Austin Riley 15, Matt Davidson/Jacob Wilson 14SB – Monte Harrison 16, Oscar Mercado 14, Christian Colon/Myles Straw/Rajai Davis 13ERA – Zac Gallen 1.16, Elieser Hernandez 1.25, Jake Woodford 1.74, Cole Irvin 2.25, Hector Noesi 2.31IP – Zac Gallen 54 1/3, Jerry Keel 51, Tommy Milone 49 1/3, Dietrich Enns/Mike Shawaryn 47K – Zac Gallen…
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Minor League Baseball Daily Thread for May 19, 2019
A Fire Frog threw a no-hitter, 6 players hit multiple home runs, and 11 players had 4 hits or more in Saturday’s action. Hitters AAA Eric Campbell, Las Vegas, 4-8, R, RBI, BB, 2 K, 3 2B Jason Coats, Durham, 3-4, R, RBI, 2B, HR Yonathan Daza, Albuquerque, 4-6, 2 R, 3 RBI, K, HR, SB Travis Demeritte, Gwinnett, 2-5, R, 3 RBI, 2 K, 2B, HR Josh Fuentes, Albuquerque, 3-4, R, 2 RBI, BB, K Ryan Goins, Charlotte, 2-3, RBI, 2 BB, K Deivy Grullon, Lehigh Valley, 4-4, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB, 2B, 2 HR Domingo Leyba, Reno, 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR Nick Longhi, Louisville,…
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2019 MLB Draft team-by-team strategy – NL East
This is part 3 of my team-by-team review of each team’s strategy for the 2019 MLB draft. Today, we focus on the National League East, a division that entered 2019 with hopes of 4 of the teams fighting for the division lead. That hasn’t played out this year so far, but much like the division race the rest of the way in this division, the draft among these teams could be very intriguing to watch! Atlanta Braves 2018 Record: 90-72 (lost NLDS)Bonus Pool: $11,532,200Day 1 selections: 3 (9, 21, 60)Day 2 selections: 8 (98, 127, 157, 187, 217, 247, 277, 307) Draft Strategy This draft could be a very interesting…
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Minor League Baseball Daily Thread for May 18, 2019
Incredible offensive performances were scattered throughout the minor leagues on Friday. However, one thing to highlight recently is the incredible amount of debuts that have occurred this past week! Debuts since Sunday: Shaun Anderson, RHP, San Francisco, Wednesday, May 15 Anthony Bemboom, C, Tampa Bay, Sunday, May 12 Keston Hiura, 2B, Milwaukee, Tuesday, May 14, #14 in my preseason top 150 Cole Irvin, LHP, Philadelphia, Sunday, May 12 Nicky Lopez, IF, Kansas City, Tuesday, May 14 Parker Markel, RHP, Seattle, Sunday, May 12 Corbin Martin, RHP, Houston, Sunday, May 12, #105 in preseason top 150 Oscar Mercado, OF, Cleveland, Tuesday, May 14 Austin Riley, 3B/OF, Atlanta, Wednesday, May 15, #54…
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Minor League Baseball Daily Thread for May 17, 2019
Yordan Alvarez‘s season is getting to be absolutely ridiculous at this point as he continues to rake through the Pacific Coast League with numbers that make video game numbers look weak. Hitters AAA Yordan Alvarez, Round Rock, 3-5, 3 R, 6 RBI, 2B, 2 HR Braden Bishop, Tacoma, 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K, HR Christopher Bostick, Norfolk, 3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 K, 2 2B, HR Lewis Brinson, New Orleans, 2-3, R, 3 RBI, BB, K, HR, SB Kevin Cron, Reno, 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, K, 2 HR Isan Diaz, New Orleans, 4-7, 2 R, RBI, 2B, SB Garrett Hampson, Albuquerque, 2-5, 2…
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2019 MLB Draft Team Strategy – NL Central
This is the second of our divisional reviews of team-by-team strategies for the upcoming MLB draft. We’ll continue with the NL Central… Chicago Cubs 2018 Record: 95-68 (Wild Card, lost Wild Card game)Bonus Pool: $5,826,900Day 1 selections: 2 (27, 64)Day 2 selections: 8 (103, 132, 162, 192, 222, 252, 282, 312) Draft Strategy The Cubs have a very small pool to use this year, so they’re not likely to go crazy spending on any of their selections, but then again… Those who I’ve talked to keep suggesting that the Cubs have their eyes on about 3 players that they are willing to “spend big” for with their first pick, essentially…
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Minor League Baseball Daily Thread for May 16, 2019
A big debut for Austin Riley in the major leagues highlighted a big Wednesday of performances: Hitters AAA Christopher Bostic, Norfolk, 2-5, R, RBI, 2 2B Daz Cameron, Toledo, 2-4, RBI, 2B, 3B Jason Coats, Durham, 3-5, 2 RBI, 2 2B Danny Espinosa, Syracuse, 2-4, R, RBI, 2 BB, HR, 2 SB Ryan Flaherty, Columbus, 2-3, R, RBI, 2 BB, HR Rafael Ortega, Gwinnett, 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, K, 2B, 2 HR Scott Schebler, Louisville, 3-4, R, 2 BB, 2B Matt Skole, 2-3, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB, 2 HR Nick Solak, 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, HR DJ Stewart, Norfolk, 3-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB,…
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Minor League Baseball Daily Thread for May 15, 2019
Getting things rolling a bit late today, but plenty to review from Tuesday’s action as a rush of call-ups are leading to more big-time major league debuts! Hitters AAA Yordan Alvarez, Round Rock, 3-5, R, 2 2B Humberto Arteaga, Omaha, 4-5, R, 4 RBI, HR Abiatal Avelino, Sacramento, 2-4, R, K, 2 2B Matt Beaty, Oklahoma City, 3-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, K, 2 2B Braden Bishop, Tacoma, 3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, K, 2B, 2 HR Michael Cantu, El Paso, 2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, K, 2 HR Kevin Cron, Reno, 3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR Drew Ferguson, Round Rock, 2-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2B,…
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2019 MLB Draft team strategy: NL West
With the MLB draft now a short three weeks away, we break through our first divisional outlook on draft needs and draft strategy for the upcoming 2019 MLB draft. Arizona Diamondbacks 2018 Record: 82-80Bonus Pool: $16,093,700Day 1 selections: 7 (16, 26, 33, 34, 56, 74, 75)Day 2 selections: 8 (93, 122, 152, 182, 212, 242, 272, 302) Draft Strategy The team with the most money in the draft by over $2 million over the 2nd-highest team and nearly $3 million over the 3rd-highest bonus pool, the Diamondbacks will be able to have a lot of paths to their 2019 draft. With a farm system that is on the rise, but…
