mvp 78

^^^

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/new-pickoff-rule-coming-to-minors-after-indy-ball-success-in-2019/ Major League Baseball is in the final stages of finalizing a plan that will change pickoff rules for a significant portion of the minor leagues. Two farm directors confirmed that they have been told that when the 2020 season begins, MiLB pitchers will be required to step off the rubber before they can throw to a base on a pickoff attempt. As such, the new rule will eliminate the Andy Pettitte-style pickoff move where a lefty hangs on his back leg before either stepping toward first base and throwing over or stepping toward home to pitch. Inside moves at second base are also prohibited by the rule change. Deciding at which levels the rule will be enforced has not been finalized, although the expectation is that it will at least cover Class A and below, and it is possible it will include Double-A. The Florida State League is set to use automated ball-strike calls (ABS) at a majority of its parks for 2020, and there is some thought that the pickoff rule is at least tangentially related to ABS. This pickoff rule was enacted for the independent Atlantic League (which implemented rule changes at MLB’s request) last season at that league’s all-star break, at the same time that the league began using an automated strike zone fueled by Trackman data to call balls and strikes. MLB officials said at the time of the rule change in the Atlantic League that they hoped such a move would encourage more basestealing. It also was seen as having a balancing effect. Since catchers no longer have to worry about framing pitches with a computer calling balls and strikes, there has been some concern that they can set up and receive in a better position to throw. In the Atlantic League last year, the pickoff rule change did lead to a dramatic increase in stolen base attempts. Stolen bases attempts went from 1.03 per game in the first half of the season before the rule change to 1.69 per game in the second half of the season with the rule change. The success rate also increased. Atlantic League basestealers were successful 75 percent of the time in the first half and 81 percent of the time in the second half. Double plays also dropped from .82 per game to .63 per game with the new rules. According to coaches in the Atlantic League, runners could almost always get enough of a lead to make it much harder to turn two on anything other than a ball hit right at an infielder.

Why ride a horse if you're out of contention (which was my original assertion)?

@alexspeier With the return of a 15-day injured list for pitchers, and the ability to backdate spring training injuries to 3/23, the earliest Sale could be activated would be 4/7 vs Tampa Bay.

Sox are having some of their pitchers (including Sale) wear high tech sleeves that relay information to staff. The hope is that this tech can help prevent injury. Link: (subscription required) https://theathletic.com/1627501/2020/02/22/chris-sale-high-tech-sleeve-red-sox/

If he's solid and healthy, there could be a market for him. If not, they are stuck with him.

Lineup today vs. PHI: Benintendi LF Bradley Jr. CF Martinez DH Moreland 1B Vázquez C Pillar RF Lin SS Dalbec 3B Arauz 2B Mata RHP

I bet Bloom thinks he could find a better way to spend 17M.

Left in FA this year? No. I'm not advocating moving Eovaldi today, just that it could be a midseason deal.

@alexspeier Roenicke says Sox could consider opener for two spots while Sale is on injured list, but team interested to see if someone emerges for a starting spot. Tanner Houck.

At least they'll be able to avoid pitching Webber on the first homestand.

Ruh Roh! @OverTheMonster Usually you can manipulate the rotation a bunch in the beginning of the year because of off days, but the Red Sox start off with eight games in a row this year.

So you think Clay is just an opener now?!?!?!??!?

@alexspeier Roenicke says Sale’s season-opening delay is entirely due to his recovery from pneumonia. Says he’s doing great with buildup of his arm now that he’s healthy. Sox want him to get 6 starts this spring before he pitches in regular season.

I'm so glad the Sox didn't get that self important dink.

Ockimey to platoon with JD at DH.

Two openers to start the year? I know games are spread out more in April, so maybe they can get by with just 4 starters (one being an opener)?

@alexspeier Roenicke says Sale will be on injured list to start season. Says he’s about 2 weeks behind.

They could have just traded him 6 years ago.

I bet Eovaldi has a better market than JD if they are both healthy. JD is very limited in where he can play (DH only cuts out 50% of trading partners). He's also overpaid for what he'd get on the open market today. I think you move Eovaldi because of injury concerns and the need to reduce payroll for future signings and extensions.

MLB isn't against gambling. It's against gambling for current players and coaches. That seems fine to me.

@alexspeier From Bob Hohler: Red Sox lawyers cited cases against the Patriots and Mike Tyson in arguing for the dismissal of a class-action suit against the team for alleged electronic sign stealing in 2018 Being sued by DraftKings fantasy baseball owners.

If they fall out of contention, they'll try to move Eovaldi and JD, but I don't know if they'll have any takers.

What he does this year in AA will say a lot about his future. If his OBP remains low, he'll just be another speed guy that gets traded at the deadline to a contender who needs SB's. He did start off really slow in AA, but had a 337 OBP over the final 41 games.

@ChrisCotillo Red Sox pitchers today: Mata, Mazza, Darwinzon, Valdez, Poyner, McGrath, Alvarez. Kyle Hart starts vs. Twins tomorrow. Taylor, Brice, Velazquez, Hildenberger, Leyer and Hall to follow.