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A few thoughts on the games from Opening Day, April 7th.

Added after this went live: I’m going to play with some different formats over the next few days until I land on exactly what I want. I greatly appreciate the feedback already in the comments and would love more especially once you see the different formats that I try out!

MIL 4, CHC 5

• Corbin Burnes wasn’t terribly sharp (5 IP-4 H-3 ER-1-HR-3 BB-4 K with the cutter just not looking like the 2021 iteration. It has just a 53% strike rate and 6% swinging strike rate, down from 72% and 17% last year.
• Kyle Hendricks meanwhile was excellent (5.3 IP-5 H-1 ER-0 HR-3 BB-7 K) and his 17 swinging strikes (21%) was higher than anything he did in 2021 and highest of the day by 5 (Ohtani).
• David Robertson (1 IP-1 H-0 ER-1 K) looked sharp while notching a save as the knuckle curve was in vintage form.
• Rowan Wick (0.7 IP-2 H-1 ER)
• Of course, Nico Hoerner hit the 1st homer of the 2022 season, his first since September 21st, 2019 (324 PA).
• Ian Happ got off to a fast start, going 3-4 with 2 2B and 2 RBI.
• Seiya Suzuki got on base three times in his MLB debut including a base hit (1-2, 2 BB, R, K).
• Willy Adames, Andrew McCutchen, and Rowdy Tellez had 2 hits apiece.

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What a great start to the season!

BEER! #walkoff pic.twitter.com/aD4tEfjOex

— MLB (@MLB) April 8, 2022

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The 2022 version of Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

1. Notable Workloads: Primary closers or valuable members of a closer committee who have been deemed unavailable or likely unavailable for the current day due to recent workload.
2. Injury News 
3. Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day.
4. Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group.
5. Losing A Grip: Struggling closers who could be on the hot seat.

The “RosterResource” link will take you to the corresponding team’s RosterResource depth chart, which will give you a better picture of the full bullpen and results of the previous six days (pitch count, save, hold, win, loss, blown save.)

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

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It’s Bold Prediction time. Here are mine!

Akil Baddoo goes for 30 HR and 30 SB

My love for the 23-year-old Rule 5 pick is well known, and I really think he could be this year’s Cedric Mullins in terms of a breakout 30-30 player, though he certainly didn’t come as cheaply as Mullins did a year ago. Baddoo started out hot last year (1.070 OPS after 2 weeks) but with a 44% K and 3% BB rate in April, it felt like a mirage. His improvements were evident over the remainder of the season with a 24% K and 11% BB rate from May 1st on. Upping his competence against lefties will be required (.523 OPS last year) for this to come through, though the AL Central features just three projected lefty starters so he might see a smaller starter/reliever split for his lefty plate appearances (78% v. SPs last year). Lefty SP count in the ALC matters because so many games come against the other four teams in your division.

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Ahh, an April tradition like no other. With real baseball just scant hours away, it’s time to fulfill the obligation that every good tout must provide for our loyal constituency.

Let’s get weird.

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4/6/22

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is live. Support the show by subscribing to our Patreon!!

Follow us on Twitter

• @sporer – Host
• @PitcherList – Nick Pollack

PATREON

• Join our Patreon for live video feeds of each show

FIRESIDE CHAT

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One more sleep…

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┻┳| •.•) Opening Day is officially tomorrow
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— MLB (@MLB) April 6, 2022

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American League

Angels

• For now, Brandon Marsh, Jo Adell, and Taylor Ward will be splitting time between two outfield spots.

Marsh might have to start taking better care of it, because odds are it’ll get plenty dirty in 2022. After the Angels designated incumbent Justin Upton for assignment, Marsh, former top prospect Jo Adell and fifth-year grinder Taylor Ward are the only outfielders aside from Trout left on the roster.

Three days before Opening Day — by manager Joe Maddon’s own admission — there still isn’t much of a set plan for the Marsh-Adell-Ward carousel.

“To be honest with you, I think it’s going to be a group effort,” Marsh said. “I don’t know what the positions are. I know Trout’s in center … we’re going to fill in the corners.”

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Anticipating injury and frequent platooning, Maddon said it’s likely the three end up with a similar number of at-bats once the season ends.

Here is how the trio is projected to hit this season:

It’s interesting to see Ward projected to hit better than Adell.

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4/5/22

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is live. Support the show by subscribing to our Patreon!!

Follow us on Twitter

• @sporer – Host
• @justinmasonfwfb – Co-Host/Producer

PATREON

• Join our Patreon for live video feeds of each show
• Watch the video feed replay on YouTube

INJURIES/TRANSACTION NEWS

• Austin Meadows trade
  • Josh Lowe getting the call
• Julio Rodriguez makes the M’s
• Nick Lodolo makes the Reds
• Johnny Cueto signs with White Sox
• Max Scherzer likely starting Friday

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This was a really cool look into J-Rod getting the call:

A dream realized.

Can’t wait for Episode 1 of The J-Rod Show.

🎥: @Mariners
pic.twitter.com/9rRygr5P4d

— MLB (@MLB) April 5, 2022

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