Spring Training Notes: 2/27/18

by
February 28, 2018

Today’s notes are me catching up on news and games after getting a couple other articles finished.

2/26/18 Games

Mets vs Tigers

Noah Syndergaard was hot during and after his last start.

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Some people worried about him throwing so hard, so soon. At this point in spring training, pitchers are throwing at their game velocity. Right now, they are trying to build up their arms to do it for 30 pitches, 40 pitches, etc. For relievers, the rest days are being altered. It’s the same routine for coming back from injury. Fellow fantasy writer, Walter McMichael, said it best:

Would you be more concerned with him hitting 100 or only touching 93?

Cubs vs Mariners

Albert Almora Jr. is leading off. I could see it be boom or bust with Almora where he is either leading off or batting 8th before the pitcher. Huge value difference.

Angels vs Padres

This was the first game Ohtani hit with great results.

My approach when evaluating hitters is to watch at least 10, possibly 20 plate appearances, to get an idea of their approach and skills. I’ll dive into his hitting later.

2/27/18

Tigers vs Phillies

Both of Miguel Cabrera batted balls were on video yesterday since he got an RBI each time.

 

From his at-bats with available video, he has yet to put a charge into any batted ball. The sacrifice liner to the centerfielder seems like a solid hit but went 250 feet at best.

Mets vs Astros

Steven Matz

FB: 92-94 mph (straight)
CB: 78-80 mph (no feel)
CH: 84-85 mph

After going on the DL (elbow x2) twice last season, I wanted to see how he looked. He had no swing-and-miss in his game with his breaking balls being off. There’s nothing above average in his game besides maybe his fastball velocity. He looked like a pitcher who will put up a 6 K/9, 3 BB/9 and a 1.5 HR/9.

Reds vs Brewers

I watched Anthony DeSclafani’s start to see what he looked like after returning for Tommy John surgery. He threw a rising fastball and an effective curve (no velocity readings for this game). He had a third pitch (2-seam or change) which seemed a bit slower and broke to the release side. It’s a nice start.

Other information

Mark Melancon’s dead arm was really dying.

While a week old, this news is crazy:

When doctors began a procedure designed to allow the muscle to “breathe,” they found something they did not expect.

“It was actually dying off,” Melancon said.

“It had turned gray. When they went in, they literally saw it. The muscle was dying from being restricted,” Melancon said. “The doctor said he hadn’t seen that too much. He said he had seen it, but not there, and not often. Very rare. It was definitely a surprise. I know he was shocked.”

I targeted him often this offseason as my #2 closer. This news scares me until he gets up to speed.

Injuries tracker

Injury reports and guesstimated return times are rolling in.

Fred Zinkie and the boys over at MLB.com have made it easy for us this year to track injuries. They’ve created a single page which tracks all the relevant information fantasy owners need.

Fastball Velocities: From pitch tracking system installed at Salt Rivers (Rockies and D-Backs home park), teams with a broadcast radar (Mets, Nationals, and Yankees home games), and Twitter. Complete spreadsheet.

Kevin Gausman

Michael Fulmer

Justin Verlander

Jose Berrios





 

Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.

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Anonymous
7 years ago

It hurts to see Miggie like this. Never easy to watch a guy go Full Pujols.

-2
AzizalMember since 2017
7 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

way too soon for any kind of certainty on this.

7