Marianne Helm - Getty Images
about 1 month ago: WINNIPEG, CANADA - JANUARY 21: Mikael Samuelsson #26 of the Florida Panthers shoots the puck past Ondrej Pavelec #31 of the Winnipeg Jets for the winning goal during a shootout in NHL action at the MTS Centre on January 21, 2012 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Marianne Helm/Getty Images)
While Brooks was educating us on injuries I was putting together these links to finish off your weekend.
How Sarah Burke would have wanted to be remembered - espnW
By Alyssa Roenigk
Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | MLB Rookie Prg: Paul Clemens, HOU RHP - Video | astros.com: Multimedia
2012 MLB Rookie Career Development Program: Houston Astros prospect Paul Clemens on being traded and joining a new organization
What the Heck, Bobby?: Interview with Rafy Valenzuela
Q&A with utility Minor League player Rafael Valenzuela
What the Heck, Bobby?: An Interview with Jarred Cosart
Q&A with Astros Minor League pitcher Jarred Cosart
As 2012 MLB Season Approaches, Blackout Policy Likely to Remain
File this one in the “broken record” department: prepare for yet another season of MLB’s blackout policy remaining in place. This probably doesn't affect those of you in the Houston area. For those outside the Houston area: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
The Die Hard Astros Blog: Loyalty: A Response to Maury Brown
Matt has some issues with some of Mr. Brown's thoughts on the Astros fan base. He makes a good point.
Creative Destruction and Scouting in Baseball - Beyond the Box Score
Technological breakthroughs typically bring about disruptive effects on industries and labor pools. It's no different when it comes to scouting and evaluating talent in baseball.
Do Coaches Shape Pitchers in Their Own Images? - Beyond the Box Score
It makes intuitive sense that a pitching coach's own playing experience would affect how he mentors his staff. But does such an effect actually exist in baseball?
The Platoon Advantage: Leave other fans aloooooooooooone
By Jason Wojciechowski
0 recs | 23 comments
I liked both interviews by What the Heck. Don’t really hear that much about Valenzuela.
clack - January 22, 2012
I've been following What the Heck, Bobby
Since her first time on the Podcast, and I really like some of the stuff they have. Climbing Tal’s Hill was another one that I really like.
Its Gonna Happen - January 22, 2012 via mobile
An interesting note
MLB.com is doing a top 10 prospect list for each position, Deshields rated #6. It was encouraging to see, but I still can’t believe it.
Its Gonna Happen - January 22, 2012 via mobile
I haven't payed a lot of attention to him
So I looked up his stats last season, looking for a couple positive things to say. Here’s what I came up with.
His Strikeout Rate was only 21% last season, which isn’t great, but it’s better than Austin, Mier, and Nash (three other guys at Lexington that can be called prospects). And aside from Santana (who only got 76 plate appearances), DeShields was the youngest guy on the team, at 18 years old.
His Walk Rate was a great 9.6%, which was bested by only two guys on the team with more than 300 Plate Appearances (Nash and Burnett). Considering Burnett is an old-for-the-league 22 with an additional year of minor league experience, and that Nash has been in the minors for three years compared to DeShield’s one, I think that’s pretty positive.
Low K rate and High Walk rate indicate that DeShields’ problem may be contact rate (which I don’t have stats for). So his approach appears to be sound, he has not grown his big-boy muscles yet, and his contact rate will likely improve.
I think there’s a lot to like here, but he’s definitely a long way away from the major leagues. If he makes it, it will probably be about the time that Altuve starts getting expensive, so he looks like the natural successor to me.
CRPerry13 - January 23, 2012
He may have been better than his slash line indicated
Given that all his peripherals were strong for an 18-year old (except K-rate which was probably average), I have a suspicion that he got a bit unlucky on balls in play.
OremLK - January 23, 2012
In keeping with that B-Pro series on age and MLB success, it’s worth noting that DDJ is the prospect who is “extra young,” so to speak. (As you might recall, that study indicated that a prospect who is, say, 3 months younger than other prospects his age has greater probability of success.) He didn’t turn 19 last year until mid August, which means he will play most of this next season at age 19. The SAL is not a hitter’s league either. (League Average: .259, .332, .382). So, you have to read his performance stats in the context of being not just young, but very young, for a league, which also happens to be a low offense environment.
clack - January 23, 2012
Yeah, I remember that article
It’s next to impossible to find anything on BPro without a treasure map though, so I don’t feel like looking it up. Their search functions are terrible!
But yeah, a lot of people have been down on DDJ (among the fans, I mean), but I don’t see any reason for concern at this point. Looks like he has a pretty good plate approach, from the numbers.
CRPerry13 - January 23, 2012
Here is Part 1 of the article.
Here is Part 2 of the article.
clack - January 23, 2012
Deshields had a decent season last year, for all of the reasons that you and others listed. However, one thing that might be worth noting in the context of his youth is his attitude.
I read reports from a few Sally League observers who said that Deshields exhibited very “low effort” body language that put some people off, and that he generally appeared to have a very haughty temperament. There’s no way for us to verify any of this, of course. But the point I’m trying to make is that if his attitude or make-up is a concern, I hope he doesn’t let any disappointment over last season affect his game negatively.
Stupendous Man - January 23, 2012 via mobile
I’ve also heard the opposite in some respects. I heard that he worked extremely hard on his defense at 2B and displayed a great work ethic in the field. Although, i have seen some mention of possible make-up issues. Hard to judge a 19 year olds attitude at this point though.
Subber10 - January 23, 2012
His fellow players talked well of him, including Jio Mier
Of course you wouldn’t expect them to rag on their teammates in interviews, but what I remember reading seemed genuine and factual rather than the kind of kind-nothings you say when you don’t really believe your words.
OremLK - January 23, 2012
I asked someone who is very familiar with the organization, extremely strong work ethic, but gets lazy in games and needs to still mature. It’s pretty much the opposite of what you expect. Most players, especially young ones, will sell out during games because that is what people see. The fact he has a strong work ethic is very encouraging.
Subber10 - January 23, 2012
True
We were all douchebags at that age, weren’t we? :)
CRPerry13 - January 23, 2012
TRUTH!!!!! lol i definitely had my douchebag moments growin up
Subber10 - January 23, 2012
You should have linked to the video of willis mcgahee getting his knee destroyed in the national championship against ohio state in his last game at Miami instead of my article…by far the most horrendous injury i have ever seen. It’s just nasty
Subber10 - January 22, 2012
Holy Jesus!
That was just sick!
Its Gonna Happen - January 22, 2012 via mobile
Wow, that is disturbing.
Brad E - January 23, 2012 via mobile
FYI. Tatum claimed by D-Backs.
clack - January 23, 2012
I saw that. I guess its not a big deal one way or the other, but I was kind of hoping he would pass through waivers and accept his assignment. Its not a big loss, but defensive depth behind the dish would have been a good thing.
conroestro - January 23, 2012 via mobile
Stros reduced ticket prices and allow outside food, now.
That should really help people with families, or just on a tight budget. http://footer.mlblogs.com/2012/01/23/minute-maid-park-in-2012-cheaper-tickets-cheaper-beer-new-outside-food-and-beverage-policy/
MadMartygan - January 23, 2012
And 5 dollar beers!
MadMartygan - January 23, 2012
allowing fans to bring in outside food and water is long overdue.
clack - January 23, 2012
Agreed. That’s cool that they did that.
conroestro - January 23, 2012 via mobile
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