WHAT, ME WORRY?

Noah Syndergaard posted a 10.68 K/9 rate last season which is stupendous. He had a 5.07 K/BB ratio which is tremendous. He allowed just 11 homers last season in 183.2 innings. Pretty dang impressive. His 1.88 GB/FB ratio was 11th best in the world of baseball. Those skills are mouthwatering. Alas, he reminds me so much of Stephen Strasburg with the looming health concerns. I so hope he can stay healthy. If he does, and I still think his arm will blow up at some point, the results will be otherworldly. To reiterate something I’ve previously written, no human being has consistently done what he’s doing. He threw his slider at 90.8 mph last season according to PITCHf/x. That was the highest mark in baseball. His fastball was clocked at 97.9 mph last season. That was the highest mark in baseball. His average change up was 89.7 mph. That was the highest mark in baseball. Does he have the greatest arm in baseball history or is doom awaiting on the horizon? Note that his slider was faster than 23 men who tossed at least 162 innings last season --- threw their fastball. Think about that. Twenty-three of the 73 men who threw 162 innings last season, nearly a third, didn’t throw their fastball as fast as Syndergaard’s slider.

Tick, tock, tick, tock...

THIS AND THAT

Matt Adams went from 395 lbs to 370 this offseason as he has lost 25 lbs this offseason. He’s in the best shape of his life! We will hear that many players are reporting in the best shape of their lives, it’s that time of year, and I don’t doubt that Adams is in better shape than he has been (I may have added well over 100 lbs to my assessment of his weight loss). Adams real issue isn’t getting in shape as a 28 year old, it’s that he’s nothing other than a league average hitter (.270/.314/.455). Adams has hit just .246 the last two seasons with a .298 OBP as his performance has worsened with age. There’s also the fact that he simply cannot hit lefties (career: .212/.243/.352). A moderate platoon bat is all he is.

Why didn’t he kiss her?

Darren Daulton was born today. If you don’t remember him, three things you need to know. (1) He had a sweet mullet. (2) From 1989-1995 he was married to Playboy Playmate Lynne Austin. (3) He was a heck of a player who, as a catcher, had back-to-back seasons of 24 homers, 100 RBI and 80 runs scored in 1992 and 1993 (he was a top-7 vote getter in the NL MVP race both seasons).

Jung Ho Kang might be removed from the roster of South Korea’s World Baseball Classic roster after being arrested, for a third time, for a DUI. Kang might be a hell of a baseball player, but the man’s life appears to be out of control. It’s why he’s ranked so low in the Fantasy Baseball Rankings at the moment. I can’t even trust that he will be on the field on Opening Day for the Pirates. That guy needs to get his life straightened out. Sounds like he might be replaced by Seung Hwan Oh on the roster, though Oh has gambling charges against him and a 72 game ban is awaiting him he if he ever returned to play in the KBO. Guess it’s not just the NFL that has problems with their players.

I’m sorry, but this is pretty hilarious, if irreverent.

Joey Rickard could end up being the starting left fielder for the Orioles. This sounds like the plan if Mark Trumbo doesn’t return (yes, the slugger is still looking for a team). Rickard went .268/.319/.377 last season with five homers and four steals over 85 games with the Orioles last season. He hit .303 at home, but a mere .239 on the road. What a boring move if that is the direction the Orioles go.

How easy is this to explain at a cocktail party?

George Springer will not play in the World Baseball Classic. Is this really news? It was all over Twitter this morning. Guess it matters, though it really doesn’t. At least to me. Does it to you?

 

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