Daily Notes: Introducing a Sixth Detroit Starting Pitcher
Table of Contents
Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of the Daily Notes.
1. Featured Game: Cleveland at Detroit, 13:08 ET
2. Today’s MLB.TV Free Game
3. Today’s Complete Schedule
Featured Game: Cleveland at Detroit, 13:08 ET
Two Facts Regarding the Detroit Tigers
One fact regarding the Detroit Tigers is that they’ve used only five starting pitchers over the season’s first two-plus months. A second, entirely related, fact is that those same Detroit starters this season have recorded a league-best strikeout rate (26.5%), park-adjusted xFIP (71 xFIP-), and WAR (12.5).
Now a Third, Less Encouraging, Fact
A third fact is that right-hander Anibal Sanchez — himself the leader among all qualified starters by park-adjusted xFIP — has been scratched from his start today with a sore shoulder, and will be replaced by 24-year-old left-hander Jose Alvarez.
Regarding Jose Alvarez, Briefly
Here are some salient facts regarding today’s starter for Detroit.
• Originally signed by Boston as international free agent in 2005.
• Traded to Miami before 2010 season.
• Signed to minor-league contract by Detroit this November.
• Has recorded second-highest strikeout rate among qualified IL starters.
• Has recorded highest strikeout-walk differential (20.7%) among same group.
• Appeared, it seems, on zero organizational prospect lists this preseason.
• Has recorded zero major-league innings/appearances previously.
Regarding Jose Alvarez, His Repertoire
A very thorough and recent scouting report by Tigers blog Bless You Boys’ Nick Galea reveals the following regarding Alvarez’s repertoire. For each pitch, both the average velocity (in parentheses) and grade on 20-80 scouting scale are provided.
From Galea’s report:
Fastball (86-90): 40-45
Changeup (76): 50-55
Curves (72-75): 60
Slider/Cutter (82-84): 35-40
Command: 65
Control: 70
Endurance: 60
Ceiling role: Could handle a month or two of starts, pitch as the last man in a bullpen for a few years, or be a LOOGY for as long as he can spin a curveball.
Action Footage: Alvarez’s Curveball, Probably
This is probably footage of Alvarez throwing his curveball to Cincinnati prospect Billy Hamilton for a swinging strike — unless it’s footage of Alvarez throwing his changeup, that is:
Readers’ Preferred Broadcast
Per the results of our crowdsourcing project from the 2011-2012 offseason, FanGraphs readers prefer Cleveland Radio (link).
Today’s MLB.TV Free Game
Atlanta at Los Angeles NL | 16:10 ET
Mike Minor (78.2 IP, 92 xFIP-, 1.4 WAR) faces Matt Magill (24.0 IP, 145 xFIP-, -0.6 WAR). Yasiel Puig Status Update: 24 PA, .435/.458/1.000 (.400 BABIP), 307 wRC+, 0.7 WAR.
Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Los Angeles NL Television.
Today’s Complete Schedule
Here’s the complete schedule for all of today’s games, with our very proprietary watchability (NERD) scores for each one. Pitching probables and game times aggregated from MLB.com and RotoWire. The average NERD Game Score for today is 5.1.
Note: the following table is entirely sortable.
| Away | SP | Tm. | Gm. | Tm. | SP | Home | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Grimm | TEX | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | TOR | Josh Johnson | 13:07 |
| Justin Masterson | CLE | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | DET | Jose Alvarez* | 13:08 |
| Tom Koehler | MIA | 6 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 3 | NYN | Jon Niese | 13:10 |
| Joe Blanton | LAA | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 5 | BOS | Ryan Dempster | 13:35 |
| Scott Diamond | MIN | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 9 | WAS | Jor. Zimmermann | 13:35 |
| Chris Tillman | BAL | 5 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 3 | TB | Matt Moore | 13:40 |
| Lucas Harrell | HOU | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | KC | Luis Mendoza | 14:10 |
| A.J. Griffin | OAK | 5 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 | CHA | Hector Santiago | 14:10 |
| Jonath. Pettibone | PHI | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | MIL | Kyle Lohse | 14:10 |
| Jeff Locke | PIT | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | CHN | Edwin Jackson | 14:20 |
| Mike Minor | ATL | 8 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | LAN | Matt Magill | 16:10 |
| David Phelps | NYA | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 10 | SEA | Felix Hernandez | 16:10 |
| Clayton Richard | SD | 2 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 3 | COL | Juan Nicasio | 16:10 |
| Chad Gaudin* | SF | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 8 | AZ | Tyler Skaggs* | 16:10 |
| Samuel Deduno* | MIN | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 7 | WAS | Nate Karns* | 19:05 |
| Lance Lynn | STL | 7 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | CIN | Bronson Arroyo | 20:05 |
To learn how Pitcher and Team NERD Scores are calculated, click here.
To learn how Game NERD Scores are calculated, click here.
* = Fewer than 20 IP, NERD at discretion of very handsome author.
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
2013 Draft Cool Name Discussion Thread!
What cool names have you seen come off the boards, gents?
I personally noticed that the Washington Nationals (helmed by Mike Rizzo) drafted Delaware first baseman Jimmy Yezzo.
Indians picked up Sicnarf Loopstok
Well “Sicnarf” is just “Francis” backwards
(All from DAY 2)
Cleveland also snagged Dace Kime. Appears gringo in photographs, so I guess we should assume it’s pronounced long A, long I?
Cord Sandberg (PHI) ain’t bad. Isaiah Kiner-Falefa (TEX) benefits from the hyphenation. There are several half-goods, where you have a bland first and sound last (like Skulina, Slegers, and Slania, or Voth and Rumbelow) or vice-versa. Buddy Borden (PIT) has a nice flow. Hard to beat Forrestt Allday (BOS) and his consonants. Malik Collymore (STL) is worth a mention.
We must give a nod to the eminently employable skilled laborer, Mason Smith (SD).
Presumably, the one that will most delight the NotGraphs crowd is KC’s Amalani Fukofuka.
Pirates drafted Erich Weiss. How cool is that. I know I know it is a letter off (Ehrich Weiss) from being exceptionally great but you have to admit it is still very cool. Not too often you have Houdini drafted.