The Tampa Bay Rays’ season got here to an finish the day prior to this, and in consequence, so did Stan Boroski’s training profession. An underrated a part of the A.L. East membership’s luck for over a decade, Boroski joined the workforce previous to the 2010 season — he’d prior to now tutored pitchers within the Houston Astros group — and become the bullpen trainer in November 2011. He introduced final month that he’d be retiring on the finish of the season.
I lately requested individuals of Tampa Bay aid corps about their highly-regarded trainer. What’s made him so just right at his process?
“I really think it’s his presence,” mentioned Pete Fairbanks, a mainstay within the Rays bullpen for the previous three-plus seasons. “It lends itself to the environment that we’re in down there. It’s a very loose and unfocused group, and Stan does a great job of managing that. There is also his ability to put across our message of attacking the strike zone, and just how valuable that is. That’s something he has preached all of the time I’ve been here, It’s like beating a dead horse, but it’s a horse that needs to continue to be hit, over and over again. It’s that important.”
The message has resonated neatly. Rays relievers walked simply 2.79 batters in line with 9 innings this 12 months — handiest the Dodgers had been higher — and their 2.96 stroll fee since 2018 is the bottom in both league. In order to succeed in base towards Boroski’s bullpen, you’ve normally had to hit your means on.
Jimmy Yacabonis is new to the group. Tampa Bay claimed him off of waivers from Miami in August, and the journeyman reliever’s early impressions of Boroski are in accord with those that’ve recognized him longer. In his view, the erstwhile Ohio University Bobcat “keeps everything simple, focusing on getting ahead in the count and having an attack mindset. He’s short, to the point, and concise.”
“He knows the shorthand of what to prep you with when you’re going into the game,” agreed JT Chargois, who joined the Rays bullpen finally 12 months’s business closing date. “There’s also his presence. The confidence of his presence spills over to all of us.”
Presence is a phrase you listen ceaselessly when Boroski’s title comes up. Unassuming is every other, which is a huge reason why that his communique abilities are of prime quality. His messages don’t come heavy-handed, however slightly in a devoted and suggestive method. The affect of his game-planning recommendation is corresponding to the outdated EF Hutton advert: When Boroski talks, pitchers concentrate.
Asked what he considers his largest power a trainer, the personable 59-year-old pointed to not relationship-building, however slightly to his ever-evolving quest for wisdom.
“Open-mindedness,” responded Boroski, who in 2015 used to be interviewed right here at FanGraphs at the Rays’ use of PITCH/fx information. “The willingness to look at the different technological advances that are out there to help us with the mechanics and pitch design. Taking the analytical data, the KineTrax data — all of those things — and diving in to see how they actually help. It’s the willingness to do that, to try to take it all in and understand it.”
Tampa Bay pitching trainer Kyle Snyder is definitely conscious about the ones qualities, however similar to the relievers I spoke to, the facility to ship data in a concise method used to be at the leading edge of his overview. Presented with what I’d been listening to, Boroski said that it’s been an integral a part of his M.O.
“Yeah, I’m pretty good at dumbing it down,” mentioned Boroski. “When I first came over in 2010, that was pretty much my job: taking whatever analytical data we had at that time and seeing how we could use it at game-speed. I’ve tried to keep doing that, year after year, hopefully becoming better and better at it as I go.”
Given the luck of Tampa Bay’s heavily-relied-upon bullpen all the way through his tenure — person who has ceaselessly incorporated a revolving door of relievers — it’s protected to mention that he’s excelled at his process. And up to his presence will probably be ignored, he’ll pass over the bullpen much more.
“Every day,” mentioned Boroski. “I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family — I’ve been doing this for a long time — but I’m going to miss this every day.”
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Raul Ibanez went 6 for 11 towards Glen Perkins.
Bip Roberts went 8 for 14 towards Shane Reynolds.
Jay Buhner went 10 for 15 towards Chris Carpenter.
Ichiro Suzuki went 12 for 19 towards Aaron Sele.
Tony Gwynn went 14 for 25 towards Hideo Nomo.
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I discussed in my September 4 Sunday Notes column that Cal Quantrill had a profession report of 12-0 at Progressive Field, and 5 weeks later his house ledger stays unblemished. Following a W on Tuesday the Cleveland Guardians right-hander is now 14-0. What does Quantrill take into accounts his spotless mark?
“I’m not avoiding [the subject], but I also don’t want to jinx anything,” Quantrill informed me previous to his most-recent win. “I feel like it’s a combination of things. I’ve pitched well at home. We’ve scored runs. There have been a couple times where I probably shouldn’t have got off the hook, but did. I enjoy pitching here. Most importantly, I’d like to finish strong and head into the playoffs.”
Quantrill would had been at the mound later lately had the Guardians and Rays wanted a deciding Game 3 to settle their first around sequence. Instead, he’ll try to stay his streak going towards the New York Yankees within the ALDS.
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A quiz:
Roger Clemens has probably the most wins (354) of any pitcher now not within the Hall of Fame. Which non-Hall of Fame pitcher (trendy technology handiest) has had the second-most wins?
The solution can also be discovered underneath.
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NEWS NOTES
Early registration is now open for the imminent SABR Analytics Conference, which will probably be held from March 10-12, 2023 in Phoenix. More data can also be discovered right here.
On a comparable notice, nominations are actually being authorised for the 2023 SABR Analytics Conference Research awards. Information can also be discovered right here.
The finalists for the 2023 Frick Award, which honors baseball’s largest broadcasters, had been introduced. They are Dave Campbell, Joe Castiglione, Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Tom Hamilton, Jerry Howarth, Pat Hughes, Ernie Johnson Sr., Duane Kuiper, and Steve Stone. The winner will probably be introduced all through December’s Winter Meetings.
Chaz Scoggins, an legit scorer at Fenway Park for the previous 44 years, retired following the general recreation of the season. All informed, Scoggins scored 1,895 regular-season video games, 54 postseason video games, and 3 All-Star Games. He first labored the click field as a beat author, masking the April 6, 1973 Red Sox-Yankees contest by which Ron Blomberg become the primary designated hitter in MLB historical past.
Tommy Boggs, a right-hander whose big-league profession spanned the 1976-1985 seasons, died previous this week at age 66. Drafted moment total in 1974 by way of the Rangers out of an Austin, Texas highschool, Boggs logged 12 of his 20 wins with the Atlanta Braves in 1980.
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The solution to the quiz is Tommy John, with 288 wins. Bobby Mathews, who performed from 1871-1887, had 297 wins.
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Which of the 4 Wildcard Series broadcast groups will you maximum, and least, experience listening to? I requested the ones questions in a couple of concurrent polls a couple of days in the past, and the most well liked grouping used to be Jon Sciambi/Doug Glanville/Jesse Rogers. The trio tallied 55.4% of the vote for many, and simply 4.4% for least.
There used to be an much more clearcut winner — loser, if you’re going to — within the LEAST ballot. The Michael Kay/Alex Rodriguez/Alden Gonzalez trio won simply 4.3% of the MOST votes, whilst 74.3% tabbed them the least fascinating concentrate.
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FIVE SNAPSHOTS FROM THE REGULAR SEASON
Two groups completed this season with a report of 81-81. The San Francisco Giants did so whilst going 44-37 at house and 37-44 at the highway, whilst the Chicago White Sox went 37-44 at house and 44-37 at the highway.
The Los Angeles Dodgers had a plus-334 run differential and received the NL West. The Cleveland Guardians had a plus-64 run differential and received the AL Central.
The Boston Red Sox had a minus-52 run differential, the most efficient amongst last-place groups. The next-best run differential for a group that completed on the backside of its department used to be minus -167
The Baltimore Orioles had been the one group with a successful report (83-79) and a adverse run differential (minus-14). The Minnesota Twins had been the one group with a shedding report (78-84) and a good run differential (plus-12).
Cleveland’s Amed Rosario led all avid gamers in each singles (134) and triples (9).
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
In NPB, Yuki Yanagita hit a three-run homer in Game One and a grand slam in Game Two because the SoftBank Hawks swept their first-round sequence over the Seibu Lions with 5-3 and 8-2 wins. SoftBank will subsequent face the Orix Buffaloes in a seven-game sequence. The Hanshin Tigers and Yokohama BayStars break up their first two video games and can play a deciding Game 3, the winner getting the Yakult Swallows.
Chunichi Dragons outfielder Yuki Okabayashi completed the season with 161 hits, tied with two different avid gamers for probably the most in NPB. The 20-year-old left-handed-hitter had 25 doubles, a league-leading 10 triples, 24 steals, and a .291/.329/.373 slash line.
Orix Buffaloes outfielder Masataka Yoshida had a .447 OBP, second-best in NPB at the back of Yakult Swallows famous person Munetaka Murakami. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter had a .335 batting moderate, a .561 slugging proportion, and 28 house runs.
Over within the KBO, LG Twins right-handers Casey Kelly and Adam Plutko have 16-4 and 15-5 data respectively. Their ERAs are 2.54 and a pair of.39. The Twins are 86-55-2, 2.5 video games in again of first-place SSG Landers.
SSG Landers’ most sensible pitchers are Wilmer Font, who’s 13-6 with a 2.69 ERA, and Kwang Hyun Kim who’s 13-3, with a 2.13 ERA. Shawn Morimando is 7-1, 1.67.
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Jumping again to polls, I requested which of Nolan Arenado and Manny Machado is best. The effects weren’t as shut as I anticipated.
Here is a snapshot in their 2022 numbers:
Arenado: 30 house runs, 103 RBIs, .381 wOBA, 151 wRC+, 7.3 WAR.
Machado: 32 house runs, 102 RBIs, .382 wOBA, 152 wRC+, 7.4 WAR.
And a moderately other snapshot in their profession numbers:
Arenado: 1,384 video games, 1,520 hits, 299 HRs, 124 OPS+, 52.2 bWAR.
Machado: 1,445 video games, 1,597 hits, 283 HRs, 126 OPS+, 52.0 bWAR.
As for the ballot, Arenado captured 57..3% of the votes solid, whilst Machado garnered 42.17. Given the coin-flip statistical comparability, the margin most definitely must had been smaller.
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FARM NOTES
A complete of 32 pitchers threw a shutout within the minors this 12 months, without any of them having multiple. Tyler Herb, a 30-year-old right-hander within the Milwaukee Brewers device, had the lone save amongst them.
Parker Dunshee allowed 117 runs and 38 house runs, the best totals for every class within the minors. The 27-year-old right-hander within the Oakland Athletics device went 5-11 with a 9.22 ERA for the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.
Brewer Hicklen had 57 singles and 62 extra-base hits for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers. The 26-year-old outfielder within the Kansas City Royals device had 30 doubles, 4 triples, and 28 house runs. He slashed .248/.348/.502 with 202 strikeouts.
William Bergolla had 83 plate appearances and fanned simply 3 times within the Dominican Summer League. No. 12 in our Philadelphia Phillies prospect scores, the 17-year-old infielder drew 11 walks and slashed .380/.470/.423.
Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Braiden Ward drew 34 walks and reached base 33 occasions by way of a HBP between Low-A Fresno and High-A Spokane. The 2021 Sixteenth-round select of the University of Washington had a .402 OBP and a 121 wRC+.
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Hampered by way of damage, Mike Trout performed in 119 video games and had 499 plate appearances this season. The numbers he publish in his truncated marketing campaign had been a reminder of simply how nice he’s when wholesome. The long run first-ballot Hall of Famer went deep 40 occasions, had a 176 wRC+, and used to be value 6.0 WAR. At age 31, he stays arguably the most efficient participant in baseball.
Which brings us to Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. (If you’ve grown bored with this debate — it’s comprehensible when you have — be at liberty to scroll right down to the following segment.)
Judge had an undeniably-brilliant, and ancient, season. He’s the odds-on favourite to be named AL MVP. Meanwhile, Ohtani had 34 house runs, 304 general bases, 95 RBIs and a 142 wRC+. He additionally had 15 wins, a 2.33 ERA, and 219 strikeouts in 166 innings. Despite his two-way efforts, the Los Angeles Angels completed the season 73-89, neatly out of rivalry for a postseason berth.
What if Ohtani had a greater supporting solid and his membership had complicated to the postseason? In this author’s opinion, it will be Ohtani, and now not Judge, who will be the odds-on favourite to win the award. Truth learn, he most definitely deserves the glory both means. That’s no disrespect to Judge. Look at Ohtani’s numbers yet another time and take a look at to reason why how a participant may well be extra precious to his group. I’m now not positive you’ll be able to do it.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell wrote about Yu Darvish, who can reflect any pitch.
The Red & Black’s Alexis Derickson interviewed C. Trent Rosecrans, who covers the Cincinnati Reds for The Athletic.
Bradford Lee regarded again on the Kansas City profession of Seventies outfielder Jim Wohlford at Royals Review.
Munetaka Murakami earned a spot in NPB historical past with a dominant season, and Jason Coskrey wrote about it for The Japan Times.
Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper regarded into whether or not one-knee catching has ended in extra wild pitches within the minor leagues.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
There had been 36 whole video games in MLB this season. Bob Feller had 36 whole video games in 1946.
Sandy Alcantara and Julio Urías every have 47 selections during the last two seasons. Alcantara is 23-24 with a 2.71 ERA. Urias is 37-10 with a 2.57 ERA.
Paul Goldschmidt had a 145 wRC+ in his 8 seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He has a 144 wRC+ in his 4 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.
David Peralta has 1,001 profession hits, together with 202 doubles.
Scott Brosius had 1,001 profession hits, together with 200 doubles.
Chicago Cubs moment baseman Billy Herman had 57 doubles in every of the 1935 and 1936 seasons. His strikeout totals in the ones years had been 29 and 30. Herman completed his profession with 486 doubles and 428 strikeouts.
In 1967, 3 MLB avid gamers hit 150 or extra singles and all performed for the Pittsburgh Pirates: Maury Wills (162), Matty Alou (156), and Roberto Clemente (150). The subsequent two best totals belonged to Curt Flood (142) and Lou Brock (141), each St. Louis Cardinals.
On lately’s date in 1973, the Oakland Athletics beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in 11 innings to win ALCS Game 3, whilst the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 2-1 in 12 innings to win NLCS Game 4. Campy Campaneris and Pete Rose hit deciding house runs within the respective contests.
On lately’s date in 2005, Chris Burke homered within the 18th inning to provide the Houston Astros a series-clinching 7-6 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the NLDS. Roger Clemens were given the W with 3 innings of scoreless aid.
Players born on lately’s date come with Steve Gibralter, whose profession comprised six video games for the Cincinnati Reds within the 1995 and 1996 seasons. Gibralter singled in his first plate look for his lone big-league hit.
Also born on lately’s date used to be Brian Downing, who logged 2,099 hits, together with 275 house runs, in conjunction with a .370 OBP and a 124 wRC+ in an underrated profession that spanned the 1973-1992 seasons. The catcher/outfielder spent 13 of his years with the California Angels.