AL East Thread

[bksballer89]

Having Fried here and getting Gil back in the summer doesn’t have me as down about the news as I would have been last season.

 

[chappee11]

Having Fried here and getting Gil back in the summer doesn’t have me as down about the news as I would have been last season.

Objectively, there just aren’t a lot of good teams in the American League. There aren’t even many teams that seem to be trying at all. That includes the entire AL Central and basically the AL west, too. A team like the Mariners could have probably been dangerous if they were willing to spend some $$. Houston seems to be downshifting from what they have been over the past decade. Texas blew their budget on degrom, Seager and Simien a few years back. They could still be good, though.

That really leaves the AL East. The Orioles have not spent in a way that would supplement all their young talent. Toronto could be decent, but doesn’t look like a real contender. The Red Sox aren’t ready yet, but might be a wild card team. The Rays can probably win 80 games and be competitive. Even without Cole and without Gil for 3 months, I think the Yankees might still be the favorite to win the pennant.

 

[chillerdab]

Objectively, there just aren’t a lot of good teams in the American League. There aren’t even many teams that seem to be trying at all. That includes the entire AL Central and basically the AL west, too. A team like the Mariners could have probably been dangerous if they were willing to spend some $$. Houston seems to be downshifting from what they have been over the past decade. Texas blew their budget on degrom, Seager and Simien a few years back. They could still be good, though.

That really leaves the AL East. The Orioles have not spent in a way that would supplement all their young talent. Toronto could be decent, but doesn’t look like a real contender. The Red Sox aren’t ready yet, but might be a wild card team. The Rays can probably win 80 games and be competitive. Even without Cole and without Gil for 3 months, I think the Yankees might still be the favorite to win the pennant.

Hard to argue with much of this.

The Orioles apparently decided that a deeper team was what they were going to go for.

They signed Sagano from Japan and Morton for SP, are counting on Rodriguez who is already injured, and also shored up their bullpen with kittridge who is also already injured and our for a few months if not longer.

They sre counting on big stepa forward from Holliday and Kjerstaad, and Tyler O’Neil to hit lefties over the new brought in left field fence.

They get The Mountain back as closer.

To me, this seems like a wild card team unless a lot breaks right for the O’s

 

[TheGoodMan19]

Gerrit Cole to have TJ Surgery. See you in 2026. I'm not a Yankee fan but I don't like to see this

Yankees ace Cole will have Tommy John surgery

On Tuesday in Los Angeles, Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole will undergo Tommy John surgery, the team announced, ending his season before it began and leaving New York staggering from another blow as it prepares to defend its American League pennant.

www.espn.com

 

[redseat]

Gerrit Cole to have TJ Surgery. See you in 2026. I'm not a Yankee fan but I don't like to see this

Yankees ace Cole will have Tommy John surgery

On Tuesday in Los Angeles, Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole will undergo Tommy John surgery, the team announced, ending his season before it began and leaving New York staggering from another blow as it prepares to defend its American League pennant.

www.espn.com

It's amazing how many pitchers are getting hurt and they haven't played a meaningful game yet

 

[TheGoodMan19]

It's amazing how many pitchers are getting hurt and they haven't played a meaningful game yet

It's amazing how old time pitchers could throw hard, as hard as now, and never have catastrophic injuries. Bob Feller, Steve Carlton, Don Drysdale, Bob Gibson. Sandy Koufax had arm issues but his was arthritis. Carl Hubbell threw the damned Screwball, which forces a lefty to throw against the arms natural movement, and never missed any significant time. And no pitchcounts.

 

[chappee11]

It's amazing how old time pitchers could throw hard, as hard as now, and never have catastrophic injuries. Bob Feller, Steve Carlton, Don Drysdale, Bob Gibson. Sandy Koufax had arm issues but his was arthritis. Carl Hubbell threw the damned Screwball, which forces a lefty to throw against the arms natural movement, and never missed any significant time. And no pitchcounts.

How about more recently. Did Roger Clemens, Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson or Curt Schilling ever have TJ surgery? It seems like it’s a prerequisite for every pitcher now. Many even have it multiple times. I can’t get a sense of why just about every pitcher is hurt all the time now. Cole was one of the last fireballers to dodge this surgery for so long.

 

[TheGoodMan19]

How about more recently. Did Roger Clemens, Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson or Curt Schilling ever have TJ surgery? It seems like it’s a prerequisite for every pitcher now. Many even have it multiple times. I can’t get a sense of why just about every pitcher is hurt all the time now. Cole was one of the last fireballers to dodge this surgery for so long.

Are pitchers training too hard or too "modern"? I think Steve Carlton's only real training method was shoving his arm into a huge barrel of rice (someone did, I think it was Lefty). No computers, no specialists, no ergonomics. You would think modern sports medicine would prolong careers. I know some pitchers had careers derailed by bad medical decisions, Koufax, Herb Score, Smoky Joe Wood, JR Richard, Mark Fidrych. I bet no team doc ever heard of a ulnar collateral ligament back in the day

 

[Pastafazul]

Players today come into spring training not in game shape and go right into a spring season schedule they did not have years ago

Thats your answer as to why so many injuries

They may train during off season , lift , run, but they do not pitch live infront of an audience

It’s all about the mighty dollar, fuk the athlete , fill the seats , Consume the beers, buy the memorabilia .

 

[molsaniceman]

The rise in Tommy John surgery (UCL reconstruction) among baseball pitchers is primarily due to the increased pressure for pitchers to throw harder and more frequently, often leading to overuse injuries and ligament damage.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• Overuse and Strain:
  The repetitive, high-velocity throwing motions of baseball place significant stress on the elbow and the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), which is the focus of Tommy John surgery.
  
  
• Increased Emphasis on Velocity:
  The modern game of baseball places a strong emphasis on throwing speed, leading to pitchers being pushed to throw harder and more often, increasing the risk of UCL injuries.
  
  
• Year-Round Playing and Lack of Rest:
  The trend of year-round baseball leagues and a lack of adequate rest between seasons can further exacerbate the risk of overuse injuries and UCL damage.
  
  
• Youth Baseball:
  The number of Tommy John surgeries is also on the rise in young pitchers, often due to the pressure to throw harder and faster at a younger age, along with a lack of proper training and recovery protocols.
  
  
• Pitch Smart Initiative:
  Organizations like MLB have implemented initiatives like "Pitch Smart" to help prevent injuries by promoting proper pitching practices, pitch counts, and rest periods. However, compliance with these guidelines can be inconsistent.
  
  
• Advanced Diagnostic Techniques:
  Improved diagnostic tools allow for earlier and more accurate identification of UCL injuries, leading to more pitchers undergoing surgery.

 

[molsaniceman]

Roger Clemens' four-seam fastball averaged around 91-94 mph in his later years, with the ability to reach 95 mph when needed.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Fastball Range:
  Clemens' four-seam fastball typically landed in the 91-94 mph range, but he could reach 95 mph in certain situations.
• Other Pitches:
  He also threw a two-seam fastball, a slider in the mid-80s, a splitter (which he called "Mr. Splitty"), and an occasional curveball.
• Movement:
  His fastball had good movement, and he was known for throwing inside to batters
• Splitter:
  His splitter was a key part of his arsenal, and he was known for its effectiveness
• Retirement:
  Clemens retired from Major League Baseball in 2007.

 

[bksballer89]

 

[navamind]

Gerrit Cole to have TJ Surgery. See you in 2026. I'm not a Yankee fan but I don't like to see this

Yankees ace Cole will have Tommy John surgery

On Tuesday in Los Angeles, Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole will undergo Tommy John surgery, the team announced, ending his season before it began and leaving New York staggering from another blow as it prepares to defend its American League pennant.

www.espn.com

Welp, there goes Devers' numbers...











Seriously though, as a baseball fan this sucks.

 

[steveringo]

No reason except to post random Spring Training developments (from Fenway South).

Wilyer Abreu: severe stomach virus, still not cleared to swing a bat... Nate Eaton is the only player to appear in all games for Boston and has an OPS of 1.135... Trayce Thompson leads all teams in Spring homeruns and has an OPS of 1.794...

Trevor Story OPS: 1.355... Alex Bregman OPS: 1.469

As noted above - Rafael Devers showed up with bum shoulders and has been pushed back for games multiple times... Masataka Yoshida in 5 games: .250/.250/.313...

Brayan Bello & Lucas Giolito are also pushed back... Sean Newcomb in 6.2 IP: 0.90 WHIP, 6.8 K/9 - Quinn Priester in 6.2 IP: 1.80 WHIP, 6.8 K/9 - Richard Fitts in 6.1 IP: 1.58 WHIP, 12.8 K/9...

Liam Hendrix in 4IP: 2.75 WHIP, 6.8 K/9 (13.50 ERA)... Aroldis Chapman in 3.2 IP: 1.91 WHIP, 14.7 K/9 (4.91 ERA)...

Garrett Crochet has 14K in 6.1 IP...

Nick Sogard: .346/.452/.654 - Marcelo Mayer: .350/.409/.600 - David Hamilton: .231/.375/.385 - Mickey Romero: .667/.714/1.333 (4H, 6AB) - Kristian Campbell: .154/.290/.192 - Romy Gonzalez: .333/.333/.444...

 

[chappee11]

No reason except to post random Spring Training developments (from Fenway South).

Wilyer Abreu: severe stomach virus, still not cleared to swing a bat... Nate Eaton is the only player to appear in all games for Boston and has an OPS of 1.135... Trayce Thompson leads all teams in Spring homeruns and has an OPS of 1.794...

Sounds like a bunch of guys fell victim to that nasty stomach virus. Roman Anthony was another. He said he lost 10lbs in just a few days.

As for Wilyer, he had that issue more than 3 weeks ago. That really should be enough time to get back into a game. Maybe there is more going on with him. Seems fishy.

Pretty sad that Trayce Thompson is going to make the team, but he’s clearly earned a job.

Who is Nate Eaton? lol. Never heard of him.