Offseason Notes: Rule 5 Is Alive

by
December 9, 2010

This edition of Offseason Notes is all multi-media-cated.

Marginally Important News
In which the author tells the truth, but tells it slant.

J. Rodriguez Is No. 1 Pick (in Rule 5 Draft)
With the first pick of Rule 5 Draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Cleveland shortstop Josh Rodriguez. The video at the top of this post is of Rodriguez batting, and the link just above these words will take you to a couple more videos, courtesy of Rum Bunter. What’s the deal with Rodriguez? Well, he’s kinda like the Platonic Rule 5 Pick, having no standout tools, but offering some plate discipline, some power, and some defensive skills. With Cord Phelps and Jason Kipnis around, though — i.e. slightly better versions of Rodriguez — it probably became unrealistic to protect yet another middle infield-type. (Note: Vlad at Bucs Dugout had provided a brief analysis of Rodriguez about a week ago.)

Rockies Name C. Iannetta Starting Catcher
I’m quoting myself when I say that Chris Iannetta is “a damn beast.”

Rivers McCown of SB Nation Uses Passive Periphrastic
I don’t know that I’ve lobbied for it specifically — probably because it’s so obvious — but baseball writers absolutely need to incorporate Latin more often into their work. Thankfully, Mr. McCown does just that, as he attempts to make sense of Ed Wade in a piece called “Ed Wade Defenda Est.”

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Projections: ZiPS for Baltimore and Colorado
Beloved Pole Dan Szymborski has published his ZiPS projections for the Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies. Below are some of the notable ones. (All numbers assume major league competition. OPS+ and ERA+ are park-adjusted.)

Behold, the future:

• Mark Reynolds, 3B, 27: .222/.321/.469, 108 OPS+. Reynolds batted under .200 last season and still managed a league-average wRC+.
• Matt Wieters, C, 25: .271/.339/.412, 100 OPS+. “Matt Wieters will sport an exactly league-average OPS” is one of the less interesting Matt Wieters Facts.
• Carlos Gonzalez, LF, 25: .306/.354/.533, 121 OPS+. This, despite a project 44:127 BB:K.
• Charlie Blackmon, CF, 24: .273/.324/.412, 86 OPS+. Bah!
• Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP, 27: 3.06 ERA, 34 G, 34 GS, 220.7 IP, 13 HR, 93 BB, 214 K, 153 ERA+. By comparision, Josh Johnson and Cliff Lee were at 147 and 141 ERA+, respectively.

Semi-Obscure Player Update
This is need-to-know information.

M. Antonelli: Still Free Agent
Matt Antonelli is writing the songs of our lives.

M. Smith Left Unpicked in Rule 5 Draft
Marquez Smith is still a Cub and is also sporting 14th-best SCOUT rating (of 50 or so) in the Venezuelan League.





 

Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.

8 Comments
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Anon
14 years ago

I think the author meant to title the article “Ed Wade Delenda Est”

0
Carson CistulliMember
14 years ago
Reply to  Anon

On the one hand, yes, probably; on the other, let’s call it a step in the best direction.

1
Preston
14 years ago
Reply to  Carson Cistulli

True. But it is a little confusing for the scholars amongst us when he says “Ed Wade must be defended” after bashing him for an entire article. Also, unless Wade underwent a sex change operation, it should be “Ed Wade delendus est.”

0
Carson CistulliMember
14 years ago
Reply to  Carson Cistulli

Unless, of course, Ed Wade is a neuter plural!

1
Preston
14 years ago
Reply to  Carson Cistulli

Multiple Ed Wades? Perish the thought!

0