Agenda

1. Another Deadline Deal
2. The Daily Grind Invitational and Leaderboard
3. Daily DFS
4. SaberSim Observations
5. Tomorrow’s Targets
6. Factor Grid

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Today’s prospect stock watch focuses on a name that’s been mentioned in trade talks, a prospect with a skill set that generates polarizing views, and a sleeper prospect that you’ve probably never heard of — but should get to know.

Tanner Scott | LHP | Orioles
ETA: 2017
Value: Rising

Scott’s name has been bandied about throughout the July as the Orioles continue to look for ways to improve their club. And it’s understandable why clubs would be intrigued. The southpaw can hit triple-digits with his heater — a rare feat for a left-handed pitcher. However, the reliever — and 2014 6th round draft pick — faces a significant challenge to improve his control. He’s walked 47 batters in 50.2 innings this year between single-A and double-A. Relievers can often survive plus control but Scott will need to develop at least average control if he’s going to develop into a high-leverage reliever. As we’ve seen with players like the Yankees’ Andrew Miller, it can take quite some time for this to happen.

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Lord have mercy, the trade winds are rising. From the depths of Wade Miley to the stars of Jonathan Lucroy, the rumors are flying fast and furious, and the Roto Riteup will be here every step of the way, provided those steps are taken at a certain time in the morning.

On the agenda:
1. Eduardo Nunez to the Giants
2. Hello Homer
3. Streaming Pitcher Options

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If you’re a sucker like me, you constantly pin your hopes on the latest Rockies phenom hoping that he will finally be the one to tame the beast that is Coors Field. After all, there are only 29 other teams full of pitchers playing in exponentially more friendly ballparks, so why not intently focus on the toughest pitching environment we’ve ever seen in the game and hope to find the diamond in that rough?! (Cool life, Paul.)

The latest Great Coors Hope is Jon Gray.

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A pair of bullpen arms that could be on the move this weekend — Jeremy Jeffress and Jeanmar Gomez — continue to lock down saves for their respective clubs as the trade deadline quickly approaches. For the Brewers’ right-hander, tonight’s 19-pitch effort resulted in his 24th save in 25 opportunities this season. He fanned one and induced two consecutive worm burners to seal the 6-4 victory over the Diamondbacks. Philadelphia’s Jeanmar Gomez surrendered an earned run on a pair of hits and a walk, but escaped with his 27th save in 30 chances.
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• Brett Lawrie has a minor hamstring strain. The White Sox will be playing some interleague games, so to have a bigger bench, he was placed on the DL.

Lawrie hasn’t played since leaving a game on Thursday against the Tigers. Infielder Carlos Sanchez, who was removed from Triple-A Charlotte’s game Tuesday night, was called up to replace Lawrie.

“It just seemed like he was going backwards today,” manager Robin Ventura said of Lawrie on Tuesday. “There’s no way you can go over there [to Wrigley] and play the National League rules with nobody on the bench.”

• Trevor Rosenthal will be out with an inflamed shoulder.

Following an appearance in the Cardinals’ 9-6 loss to the Dodgers on Sunday, Rosenthal asked to have his shoulder looked at, and the right-hander was checked out on Monday.

“It was news to us at the time,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “We let him get it looked at, and he’s going to continue to get some more tests [done].”

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After an incredible first half of week 14 — 0.90 ERA, 3-for-3 in quality starts, 17-2 K/BB ratio and 0.55 WHIP — we’re feeling pretty good heading into week 15. Here’s how things have shook out so far this season:

30-27 record
3.87 ERA
8.2 K/9
3.0 K/BB
1.30 WHIP
45 quality starts

Here’s a look at this week’s recs, with team wRC+ in parentheses:

RHP Jimmy Nelson – 21.6% ESPN – @SDP (92), @ARI (95)

It might be a tough sell on Nelson, who has decent enough numbers this year but is a) coming off getting absolutely rocked by the Diamondbacks (whom he sees on the back end this week) and b) walks way, way too many batters. He’s got the third most walks in the NL (55) and has given up his share of extra-base hits as well, so while his .255 BAA looks impressive, he’s sporting a triple-slash against of .255/.344/.403. So while that doesn’t look all that appetizing, it came down to him or Adam Conley (Cubs and Rockies both at home), Archie Bradley (also getting largely rocked; will likely face Nelson on Saturday) or James Paxton (Red Sox and Angels). So….we’re playing the matchups here, kind of. Read the rest of this entry »

Chat went well, catch up here!

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We’re in the final days of July, and understandably much of the conversation has centered around the trade deadline. Trades are a great circus in many different ways, touching on a plethora of interests we fans have for the game. The deadline is the genesis of many of the greatest discussions in baseball, and it certainly deserves the mantle it has been given. However, the trade deadline, and the All Star Game for that matter, while fascinating, both occlude another interesting aspect of this game we love: July is the point of the season where both pitching and offense peak. Pitchers are, generally speaking, throwing at their highest velocities, with the greatest movement. Home runs are hit with the highest frequency and the longest distances. We are deep enough into the season that everyone is warmed up and locked in, but not quite deep enough for players to really begin suffering from fatigue. July is a great month for baseball.

It is important to keep in mind that the game goes through this natural peak towards the middle of the season, especially now that we have such a focus on increasingly abstract measures of the game coming from Statcast. We have exit velocities, angles, route efficiency, top speeds, on and on. This is all great information, you know that I love this stuff, but it is important to take a step back and recognize our own limitations when it comes to analyzing this information.

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Agenda

1. Outside the Rumors
2. The Daily Grind Invitational and Leaderboard
3. Daily DFS
4. SaberSim Observations
5. Tomorrow’s Targets
6. Factor Grid

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