NL Division Series Games 1 Chat

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October 3, 2019

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How They Were Acquired: The Washington Nationals’ NLDS Roster

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October 3, 2019

The Nats have had a winning record in each of the last eight seasons and have reached the playoffs five times during that span, and yet it feels as though they’ve fallen short of expectations year after year. With the departure of Bryce Harper last offseason, a bullpen that’s mostly been bad, and a staff ace who has battled through a back injury for months, this could be the year they’re overlooked. Well, not by me or the three others at FanGraphs who picked them to win it all. But most people aren’t buying that they can take down a Dodgers team that might have more talent and depth than any team in baseball.

Here’s how every member of the Nationals’ 2019 NLDS roster was originally acquired. The team’s full RosterResource Depth Chart and Payroll pages are also available as a resource.

Homegrown (8)

Total WAR: 22.6

Signed in Free Agency (9)

  • Max Scherzer, SP: January 2015 (DET) — Signed to seven-year, $210 million contract.
  • Kurt Suzuki, C: November 2018 (ATL) — Signed to two-year, $10 million contract.
  • Patrick Corbin, SP: December 2018 (ARI) — Signed to six-year, $140 million contract.
  • Aníbal Sánchez, SP: December 2018 (ATL) — Signed to two-year, $19 million contract ($12 million club option for 2021).
  • Matt Adams, 1B: December 2018 (STL) — Signed to one-year, $4 million contract ($4 million mutual option for 2020).
  • Brian Dozier, 2B: January 2019 (LAD) — Signed to one-year, $9 million contract.
  • Gerardo Parra, OF: May 2019 (SF) — Signed to minimum salary contract for remainder of season.
  • Fernando Rodney, RP: June 2019 (OAK) — Signed to Minor League contract.
  • Asdrúbal Cabrera, INF: August 2019 (TEX) — Signed to minimum salary contract for remainder of season.

Total WAR: 17.8

Acquired Via Trade (8)

Total WAR: 10.6


How They Were Acquired: The Los Angeles Dodgers’ NLDS Roster

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October 3, 2019

As should probably have been expected from a team with a ton of young talent and more help on the way that has made back-to-back World Series appearances, the Dodgers’ front office didn’t have to do much during the offseason. And they didn’t. Maybe that decision will be second-guessed if they get knocked out of the playoffs early, but they did win 106 games during the regular season and had all but wrapped up the division title by early June. Regardless of what happens, this team’s run of seven consecutive seasons with at least 91 wins and a playoff appearance isn’t likely to end here.

Here’s how every member of the Dodgers’ 2019 NLDS roster was originally acquired. The team’s full RosterResource Depth Chart and Payroll pages are also available as a resource.

Homegrown (13)

Total WAR: 31.6 Read the rest of this entry »


Postseason Preview: Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays ALDS

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October 3, 2019

Tampa Bay cruised past Oakland in the Wild Card game and enters the divisional round for the first time in six years. Their reward is a best-of-five date with the Houston Astros.

Rays vs. Astros Series Details
Game Date Time
Game 1 October 4 2:05 EST
Game 2 October 5 9:07 EST
Game 3 October 7 TBD
Game 4 (if necessary) October 8 TBD
Game 5 (if necessary) October 10 TBD

The Rays aren’t exactly limping into the postseason. Tampa Bay won 96 games in what passes for a competitive division these days, and they’re solid in all aspects of the game. In Houston though, they’re meeting a 107-win behemoth, a club that looks like one of the two or three best teams we’ve seen this century.

Series at a Glance
Overview Rays Astros Edge
Hitting (wRC+) 102 (6th in AL) 125 (1st in AL) Astros
Defense (DRS) 54 (3rd in AL) 90 (1st in AL) Astros
Starting pitching (FIP-) 76 (1st in AL) 85 (2nd in AL) Astros (wait… what?)
Relievers (FIP-) 89 (4th in AL) 94 (7th in AL) Rays

You may have noticed something weird in the “Edge” column of the table above. Ultimately, the yearly totals don’t adequately reflect how dominant Houston’s rotation is as currently constructed. After all, the Rays won’t be facing Collin McHugh or Corbin Martin or Brad Peacock out of the gate. Instead, they’ll get Justin Verlander (73 FIP-), Gerrit Cole (59 FIP-), and Zack Greinke (66 FIP-). No American League club can unleash a better rotation this October, and even if the Astros only let their horses gallop through the lineup twice each start, they’ll still have an advantage in that department. Read the rest of this entry »


Nelson Cruz Talks Hitting

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October 3, 2019

Nelson Cruz was 25 years old when he made his major league debut in 2005. At the conclusion of the 2008 season, he was 28 years old and had a .743 OPS in 611 career plate appearances. By and large, he was little more than a fringe player with an uncertain future in the game, his third decade on planet earth looming on the horizon.

Since that time he’s been one of the game’s most prolific hitters. From 2009 through this past season, Cruz has slashed .280/.349/.537, with 379 home runs. No player in either league has gone deep more often over that stretch. And he’s showing no signs of slowing down. At age 39, the Fountain of Youth firmly within his grasp, Cruz just banged out 41 home runs, and logged a career-high 1.031 OPS, in his first season with the Minnesota Twins.

Cruz sat down to talk about his career path, and his overall approach to hitting, when the playoffs-bound Twins visited Fenway Park in early September.

———

David Laurila: Is hitting simple, or is it complicated?

Nelson Cruz: “When you do it good, it’s really simple. When you’re struggling, it’s really difficult. In my case, it’s about how my body feels. If I wake up and feel energized and fresh, I know I’m going to have a good day because my swing is going to be fluid. On days where my body isn’t rested enough, I feel like I have to force my swing to go through the zone.

“That said, you do the repetition every day, so even without thinking your swing goes through the same path — it does what you practice over and over. So it’s easy, but at the same time, it can get complicated on you.”

Laurila: Your career didn’t take off until you were in your late 20s. Was the impetus for that breakthrough more mental or physical in nature?

Cruz: “I think everything, but the mental part is the one… just to be able to have an approach every day, to have a routine to follow. You wake up and you know what you’re going to do to prepare for that game. You know what you’re going to be thinking at the plate — you’re going to have an idea of what to expect from the pitchers, and the situations, you’re going to face that day.”

Laurila: Were you an immature hitter early in your career? Read the rest of this entry »


How They Were Acquired: The Atlanta Braves’ NLDS Roster

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October 3, 2019

The Braves’ playoff roster includes seven players who joined the team during the 2019 season and two others who were acquired near the end of Spring Training. That’s pretty significant turnover in a fairly short amount of time for a team that won the NL East in 2018 and had pretty much wrapped up their offseason by the end of November after signing a former AL MVP to play third base and bringing back a catcher who was a seven-time All-Star during his first stint in Atlanta.

When the team struggled out of the gate, it became clear that the roster might not be good enough to reach the postseason once again. While the four homegrown players on the playoff roster did a lot of the leg work, combining for 18.2 WAR, second-year general manager Alex Anthopoulos made a lot of good moves that helped turn things around and has the team once again playing October baseball after a 97-win season.

Here’s how every member of the Braves’ 2019 NLDS roster was originally acquired. The team’s full RosterResource Depth Chart and Payroll pages are also available as a resource.

Homegrown (4)

Total WAR: 18.2

Signed in Free Agency (9)

  • Nick Markakis, OF: December 2014 (BAL) — Signed to four-year, $44 million contract; re-signed to one-year contract extension (2020 club option) in January.
  • Tyler Flowers, C: December 2015 (CHW) — Signed to two-year, $5.3 million contract (included $4 million club option in 2018).
  • Brian McCann, C: November 2018 (HOU) — Signed to one-year, $2 million contract.
  • Josh Donaldson, 3B: November 2018 (CLE) — Signed to one-year, $23 million contract.
  • Rafael Ortega, OF: January 2019 (MIA) — Signed to Minor League contract.
  • Josh Tomlin, RP: March 2019 (MIL) — Signed to Minor League contract ($1.25 million salary).
  • Dallas Keuchel, SP: June 2019 (HOU) — Signed to one-year, $21.21 million contract (prorated rate is $13 million).
  • Adeiny Hechavarría, INF: August 2019 (NYM) — Signed to minimum salary contract for remainder of season.
  • Francisco Cervelli, C/1B: August 2019 (PIT) — Signed to minimum salary contract for remainder of season.

Total WAR: 10.6

Acquired Via Trade (11)

Total WAR: 10.3

Acquired Off Waivers (1)

Total WAR: 0.1


How They Were Acquired: The St. Louis Cardinals’ NLDS Roster

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October 3, 2019

Not only is the Cardinals’ division series roster filled with homegrown talent, the number three and four hitters in their lineup were acquired in successive offseasons for a total of seven prospects who all began their professional careers with the organization. The ability to develop talent in their farm system is a big reason why St. Louis has had 12 consecutive winning seasons, although they’re making their first playoff appearance since 2015.

Here’s how every member of the Cardinals’ 2019 NLDS roster was originally acquired. The team’s full RosterResource Depth Chart and Payroll pages are also available as a resource.

Homegrown (12)

Total WAR: 23.0

Signed in Free Agency (4)

  • Dexter Fowler, OF: December 2016 (CHC) — Signed to five-year, $82.5 million contract.
  • Miles Mikolas, SP: December 2017 (Japan) — Signed to two-year, $15.5 million contract; signed four-year contract extension (2020-23) in February.
  • Andrew Miller, RP: December 2018 (CLE) — Signed to two-year, $25 million contract ($12 million club option for 2021).
  • Matt Wieters, C: February 2019 (WSN) — Signed to Minor League contract ($1.5 million salary).

Total WAR: 3.3

Acquired Via Trade (7)

Total WAR: 9.5

Acquired Off Waivers (1)

Total WAR: 0.1

Acquired Via Rule 5 Draft Triple-A Phase (1)

Total WAR: 1.3


Postseason Preview: New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins ALDS

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October 3, 2019

Let us dispense with this first, so that we can move on: Derek Jeter isn’t here, and neither are the rest of the Core Four. For that matter, there’s no Johan Santana, Michael Cuddyer, Francisco Liriano, or Joe Mauer. The four Yankees teams that manhandled the Twins in the 2003, ’04, ’09 and ’10 Division Series by a combined total of 12 wins to two are no more relevant to this series than Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig. Aside from “Yankees Bullpen: Still Very Good,” there’s no point overthinking the results of the 2017 AL Wild Card Game, either. These 101-win Twins and 103-win Yankees are a pair of excellent, evenly-matched squads here to write new stories instead of extending old ones.

Some thoughts on the series, which begins at Yankee Stadium on Friday at 7:07 pm ET.

Keeping It 100

This year was the first in major league history with four 100-win teams, and while that seems impressive, it’s an indication of the game’s competitive balance issues (a topic worth revisiting on another day). While 33 teams have won at least 100 games in a season during the Wild Card era, only three previous times have two of them crossed paths in the postseason, all within the past three years: the 2017 World Series between the Astros (101-61) and Dodgers (104-58), the 2018 Division Series between the Red Sox (108-54) and Yankees (100-62), and the subsequent ALCS matchup between those Red Sox and the Astros (103-59). Inevitably, one of these teams will be the unlucky 13th 100-game winner to make a first-round exit, after the 1998 Astros (102-60), 1999 Diamondbacks (100-62), 2001 A’s (102-60), 2002 A’s (103-59), 2002 Yankees (103-58), 2002 Braves (101-59), 2003 Braves (101-61), 2003 Giants (100-61), 2008 Angels (100-62), 2011 Phillies (102-60), 2015 Cardinals (100-62), and 2017 Indians (102-60). It’s going to hurt.

Not all 100-win teams are created equal, of course. This pair had similar levels of scoring and runs allowed, and both similarly overachieved relative to their Pythagen records. However, the Yankees distinguished themselves in a few ways:

Read the rest of this entry »


How Mike Foltynewicz Got Himself NLDS-ready

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October 3, 2019

It is some kind of fall to go from earning a top-10 finish in Cy Young voting to being demoted to the minors in just an 11-game span, but that is exactly what happened to Atlanta right-hander Mike Foltynewicz this summer. A 2.85 ERA, 3.37 FIP, and 3.8 WAR in 183 innings in 2018 led to an eighth-place Cy Young finish and set him up to become the ace that would guide this next generation of great Braves teams. Then this season got started, and Foltynewicz looked like a disaster.

He missed the first four weeks of the season due to a bone spur in his pitching elbow, and when he returned, he allowed a 6.37 ERA over his first 11 starts. Twice he allowed eight earned runs in fewer than five innings. He had two other starts in which he allowed five earned runs, and two others in which he allowed four. When Dallas Keuchel joined the rotation near the end of June, the choice for who would be the odd man out to make room for him was clear: Foltynewicz had to go.

That was just three months ago, but just as quickly as he lost all direction, Foltynewicz has re-established himself as a formidable starter. Since returning from the minors, he’s held opponents to a 2.65 ERA in 57.2 innings. Take away his first two starts, and he’s been even better: A 1.94 ERA since August 17 that ranks sixth-best in the majors. Even in a Braves rotation that looked very strong for much of the season, Foltynewicz has pitched well enough to just about lock himself in to start one of the first two games of the NLDS against the Cardinals. Without a doubt, it’s been an impressively quick return to form, but there are still a few questions surrounding how he stacks up against the rest of the Braves’ pitching staff as a playoff starter. Read the rest of this entry »


Job Posting: MLB Diversity Fellowship Program

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October 3, 2019

Position: MLB Diversity Fellowship Program

Location: Various

Description:
This latest venture in Baseball’s efforts to competitively recruit the most talented individuals and brightest young minds entering the workforce will provide the opportunity for young, diverse professionals to experience front office positions that have been traditionally influential in baseball operations decisions. Fellows will have the opportunity to work in baseball operations and see the inner workings of a front office. Areas of baseball operations include player development, scouting, research and development, and beyond.

The MLB Diversity Fellowship Program will allow MLB to stay true to the ideals of equal opportunity while solidifying Major League Baseball as an organization of choice for all recent graduates, including people of color and women.

MLB’s Diversity Fellowship Program is a rewarding opportunity to start a career in baseball and be a part of growing a world class, global sports business. The 2020 Fellowship has two tracks: the Club Fellowship and the MLB Office of the Commissioner Fellowship.

MLB Club Fellowship Program

  • Selected candidates in the Club Fellowship will be placed in one of our 30 Clubs in the United States or Canada for a minimum period of 18 months.
  • The Fellows will not have the option to choose a Club or location, so, applicants should have flexibility to relocate for any of the assignments.
  • During his or her tenure, Club Fellows will be appointed to an entry-level role in either the front office or baseball operations department.

MLB Office of the Commissioner Fellowship Program

  • The selected candidate for the MLB Office of the Commissioner Fellowship will be placed in New York City for a minimum period of 18 months.
  • The Fellow will rotate through MLB’s baseball operations and labor economics departments under the supervision of respective department heads.

While all disciplines are eligible to apply, MLB strongly encourages candidates with degrees or knowledge in economics, analytics, computer science, applied mathematics, law, and business to submit applications. The Fellowship will begin post-graduation (if applicable) on a mutually agreed upon date between the Office of the Commissioner and/or Club and the chosen fellow.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Open to people of color and female candidates.
  • Candidates must be recent graduates (spring 2017 graduates to upcoming spring 2020 graduates) with either a bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or related advanced degree.
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0
  • A passion for and knowledge of baseball is helpful but not required.
  • Former professional baseball and softball players (including national team members) who have earned a degree(s) and do not meet the graduation date requirement but have ceased playing within the last two years will also be eligible.
  • Exact locations are up to the discretion of Major League Baseball and participating Clubs.

To Apply:
To apply, please complete the application, which can be found here.

More information about the Fellowship program can be found here.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by Major League Baseball.


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