CLOSED NEWS/RUMORS Thread

That's really cool. Obvious he's playing for just pure love of the game, as well as to fuel the competitive fires within that are still raging.

 

I can't believe Padres have caught the Phillies and Cubs. Definitely didn't see that coming.

 

@Deanciriaco
The current state of the Tarik Skubal trade:

• Zyhir Hope (AA): .269 AVG, 6 HR, 24 RBI, .822 OPS
• River Ryan (AAA): 3.86 ERA, 4 K in 4.2 IP
• Brady Smith (High-A): 2.84 ERA, 5 K in 6.1 IP

• Tarik Skubal (MLB): 2.52 ERA, 57 K in 50.0 IP

​

 

@DodgerBlue1958
Josue De Paula said he works on outfield defense "every day" and "I'm going to shut a lot of people up with my defense very soon."

 

@nicktalkingball
Mookie Betts last 162 games played:

.273 AVG | .337 OBP | .467 SLG | .804 OPS | 31 HR | 99 RBI | 121 wRC+ | 5.2 fWAR

Here’s where he ranks among all shortstops in that span:

AVG (5th)
OBP (8th)
SLG (2nd)
OPS (5th)
wOBA (6th)
wRC+ (6th)
HR (T5th)
RBI (4th)
fWAR (T5th)

​

 

My thoughts/observations on Mookie:

1. I noticed this last year with the illness and this year with the oblique. When he misses time, it takes him a ton of games to get his timing back - seemingly more so than other players. Based on last season, I had confidence he'd eventually get it going again this year.

2. He's always been a very streaky player. When he's on a tear, he can be deadly at the plate. It will end, unfortunately... I'm just hoping unlike last year it lasts through the postseason.

3. I like him batting leadoff. I don't like Shohei there. Wish Roberts would do something like Betts, Ohtani, Smith, Freeman at the top of the lineup.

 

It's hard to predict what JDP's role will be next year, since barring a trade of Teo or Tucker, he'll be blocked at DH, RF, and LF. But in theory, he should be the leadoff hitter.

And eventually it should be Quintero or Davalan.

 

reggie was always one of my favorites

 

@ParagonMLB
In 2020 the Red Sox traded Mookie Betts to the Dodgers

In return for the former MVP they got

Jeter Downs: -0.6 WAR
Played 14 games with the Red Sox with a .427 OPS. Hasn’t played since 2023

Alex Verdugo: 8 WAR
avg hitter for the Red Sox, only played 4 seasons with them.
Currently not on a team

Conner Wong: 4.0 WAR
1 pretty good season. Career .656 OPS

Total: 11.4 WAR

The Dodgers got Mookie Betts: 36.2 WAR
3x WS Champ, 3 seasons top 5 MVP, 2x GG, 4x SS, 4x AS

David Price 1.4 WAR

Total: 37.6 WAR

One of the biggest fleeces in the history of MLB

​

 

De Paula's plate discipline is crazy good!

His chase rate is 18.6. Average among all MLB players is 32.9%. I tried to look up who the top 5 are and for some reason I got a range for two of them. Here they are:
Juan Soto 15.0-18.1%
Triston Casas 16.5-17.5%
Andrew MCutcheon 17.1%
Mike Trout 17.2%
Lars Nootbaar 18.0%

His walk rate is 26.2%. League average is 8.9%. Top five are as follows:
Murakami 17.1%
Jake Bauers 16.8%
Trout 16.7%
James Wood 16.6%
Taylor Ward 16.4%

His strikeout rate is 11.9%. League average is 22.1%. Top five lowest rates are:
Luis Arraez 4.4%
Chandler Simpson 7.7%
Nico Hoerner 8.4%
Ernie Clement 9.3%
Steven Kwan, Jung Hoo Lee, and Liam Hicks 9.8%

I know in some ways this is silly because 42 plate appearances is way too small a sample size to compare to players over just about a full season. It's likely unsustainable to that degree because pitchers will adjust, it's a given. But at the same time, he's still growing as a player and will continue to learn and improve. The fact that he's showing this level of discipline as a 21-year old fresh-from-the-farm rookie is simply astounding.