The past few months have been tough for my family. I decided to write about how the men whose lives have impacted mine and how baseball has been a main part of our journey together. Please take a moment to read it as I honour both Lorne and Rick.
Dave Funnell (
@sportz_nutt51
) has been fortunate to have two incredible men influence his life, and pays tribute here to their greatness. Lorne and Rick, here's to you both.
@RexChapman
People were worried that wearing a mask was detrimental to the children’s well-being, yet here we are preparing them for the potential of death at a moment’s notice.
We need to stop the acquisition of these guns, and also figure out why people are doing this in the first place.
@WorldWideWob
So, after they traded away assets and pieces for Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook to appease you, that's when you do your re-assessment and decide that the players you were with weren't good enough for you? Way to kick down everyone that's done everything for you.
@RonFilipkowski
Crazy, because vaccines have been needed to get into most of not all schools, Catholic included, for years, with never a complaint until now.
The animosity between the Mariners and Angels dates back almost thirty years, where the actions of one umpire in a game led to one of the biggest basebrawls of all time.
A Thread
@RexChapman
I’m all for masks. But a serious question. The mask will be off during the cleaning/procedure. What’s the safety protocol for dentist offices? I get that it’s for the waiting room.
@undisputed
@RealSkipBayless
LeBron calls a play for Lue in a time-out: he’s a cancer, he’s overpowering and overstepping his boundaries.
Jordan threatens players who under perform and takes food away from them: vintage Jordan and there’s nothing wrong with that at all.
@SethDaSportsMan
@ThePointGodNBA
It’s amazing how a city and its teams can feel like a deserving underdog (Knicks) and an evil empire (Yankees) all at once.
Over the last week, a lot of injury news has come out. Here are some of the bigger items, and ones that need to be monitored.
Big thread incoming.
#MLB
Injury Report
Happy birthday to the biggest twelve year old
@AZCardinals
and
@LarryFitzgerald
fan that I know. This kid has brought me more joy and happiness than I could have ever imagined and fills my heart daily. Here’s to you Harrison.
#HappyBirthday
So far today:
- Acuna will see a doctor on Monday in LA due to irritation in his meniscus
- Grissom could miss Opening Day
- Manoah has shoulder soreness
- McNeil is shut down with bicep soreness
- Happ has a hamstring strain
Happy birthday to my son Daniel, who today turns nine. He’s overcome obstacles, such as having ADHD & ODD, but his love of wrestling and Johnny Wrestling has never wavered. Enjoy today, keep being you and continue on your journey of someday being a pro wrestler.
@JohnnyGargano
@RexChapman
Being a a country that is an island helps this happen.....however, that’s only one piece of the puzzle. Understanding that sacrificing now to enjoy the future is something everyone needs to believe.
I'm usually a private guy, but....2022 kicked my ass.
I lost four important people in my life and have been struggling to deal with it. The loss of my dad was the biggest and most unexpected. It still gives me big moments of grief. I wasn't close to being ready for any of this.
Financial State of
#MLB
Teams
Picture 1 - Population per MLB city
Picture 2 - Attendance per MLB team
Picture 3 - Cost for a family to go to a game
Picture 4 - Projected payrolls and financial commitments
Note: CBT set for $233M+
Note: each team also gets >$100M for TV rights
I'm excited to announce that I will be writing for
@RotoBaller
this season. I will be doing a once-a-week piece and can't wait to get started.
I'm humbled and grateful for the opportunity.
@RexChapman
Weather “experts” are working with the government to track us through evacuation.
The evacuation plan was rushed.
It’s just rain. It’s just wind. How many people die from rain and wind?
It’s my body and my right to stay where the “storm” is.
Random Spring Training stats:
Jo Adell has struck out twelve times and walked twice.
Whit Merrifield has been caught stealing three times.
Will Benson has five steals and a .455 batting average.
Darick Hall has four home runs, five strikeouts, and three walks.
🔽
Worst Case Scenarios
Here are the lowest-ranked players per position that I'd feel comfortable drafting and using as my number one at that position. These players are the last before I start to have many concerns.
ADP from November 1 - December 3
#FantasyBaseball
🧵
A list of players who could miss Opening Day. (My guess):
Nick Lodolo✔️
Matt McLain✔️
Jonathan India✔️
Justin Verlander✔️
Robert Stephenson✖️
Braxton Garrett✔️
Brandon Marsh✔️
Andrew McCutchen✔️
Yuki Matsui✔️
Tommy Edman✖️
Josh Lowe✔️
Corey Seager✖️
With a new balanced schedule in 2023, there will be a change in games played:🧵
52 games vs divisional opponents (down from 76)
64 games vs non-divisional opponents (down from 66)
46 games vs inter-league opponents (up from 20)
Looking at 2022 divisional stats and records:
Trevor Rogers did an entire refresh on his mind and body this season and off-season. He stepped away from the game until January when he met with team officials to throw. Here's what happened.
- per Christina de Nicola's team newsletter
Update: my mom is DTD with a contusion on her back/ribs. X-rays revealed that nothing was broken or fractured. Given her age and condition, she will be on the IL since bed rest is what’s best for her recovery. Home at 2am. Thank you to everyone for their kind words of support.
Scary moment earlier when my mom fell and hurt her back. She's 81, post-polio, and has fought her entire life as she's not that physically mobile. She's at the hospital getting X-rays and in good spirits, or at least better now than she was. It still sucks.
#hugyourparents
The Offseason Surgery Chart is updated with information on:
Alcantara
Ashcraft
Bautista
Buehler
Burleson
Buxton
Carlson
Cavalli
Cobb
Cruz
Edman
Kirilloff
Machado
Ohtani
Seager
Woodruff
This free document is located here:
Teoscar Hernandez couldn’t see the pitcher correctly when he played in Seattle. These sorts of things are huge and often forgotten when analyzing players. They’re human beings. Every stadium is different. They all have their little quirks.
The Surgery Updates document has been updated with news on:
Graham Ashcraft
Walker Buehler
Jacob deGrom
Riley Greene
Gavin Lux
Vinnie Pasquantino
The free document is listed here and in my bio:
List of notable Tomm John Surgery returnees for 2023.
Joey Lucchesi
Spencer Turnbull
Jimmy Nelson
Tejay Antone
Kenta Maeda
These players had surgery at least 18 months prior to the start of the 2023 season. While 12 months is usually an approximate timeline for getting back....
@WorldWideWob
And that's not to mention he did this while putting everyone at risk by travelling abroad to the clubs and then giving up on the court. Wow.
New and significant pitching concerns since Spring Training began:
AL East
BAL - Bradish, Means
BOS - Jansen, Giolito
NYY - Cole
TBR - Bradley, Baz
TOR - Gausman, Romano, Manoah
AL Central
CHW - none
CLE - Williams
DET - none
KCR - none
MIN - Duran, DeSclafani, Thielbar
1/3
Remember this when you want to draft Byron Buxton next season.
The
#MNTwins
have designed their entire lineup to protect him from getting hurt. They haven’t allowed him to play in the field.
He’s now on the IL for the second time this season.
.207/.294/.438
Hitters with an ADP > 300 that I like in 2023.
These aren't players to be trusted as starters but as depth on your roster in case they hit. They're cheap enough that you can cut them loose if need be.
Key things to look for:
Opportunity
Track record (MLB or MiLB)
2022 context
Injury Updates - A🧵:
- Adam Duvall left Saturday's game with a sore wrist and is DTD.
- Robinson Cano left Saturday's game with dizziness and is DTD.
- Enrique Hernandez was moved to the 60-day-IL for his hip.
- Rafael Devers went to the 10-day-IL for hip inflammation.
1/11
This season was my worst season, by far, while playing fantasy baseball. I didn't cash in any of my leagues. Thinking back on it, I know where I went wrong and I know what I could have done better.
Here's an examination, to show full transparency:
🧵
Which SP is the lowest-drafted pitcher you'd want as your SP1? And, the lower you get, who would you want to pair him with?
Below is P ADP since February 1.
Interesting Spring Training stats:
Bobby Dalbec is batting .324 yet has struck out 15 times.
Jon Berti has more walks than strikeouts and has 4 stolen bases.
Bo Bichette has been caught stealing more often than he's been successful.
Tyler O'Neill has 13 hits and 11 strikeouts.
@davenewworld_2
Inexcusable.
Accommodations and modifications could have easily been made. Every child matters and all need to be given the chance to shine and succeed.
The Offseason Surgery Sheet has been updated with news on:
Shohei Ohtani
Gavin Lux
Walker Buehler
Alex Kirilloff
Jose Miranda
It can be accessed from the link below. It has been updated all offseason, has over 40 players, and all of their progress.
@nut_history
I used to subscribe to the notion that we should just experience the moment. And I still agree, but I've eased up on my stance on that. My dad passed away last year and I don't have as many pictures and video clips of him as I wish I did right now. I chose to live in that moment.
Fantasy-relevant rehab assignments that have started or will start soon:
Wyatt Langford
Royce Lewis
Steven Kwan
Jordan Wicks
Miguel Sano
Bobby Miller
DL Hall
Jeffrey Springs
Yariel Rodriguez
Lane Thomas
Luis Robert
Evan Phillips
David Peterson
Jasson Dominguez
@FTFonFS1
@getnickwright
I don’t want to say it’s over, but it’s bleak, as stated.
I don’t have a problem with Kawhi leaving. He wanted to play in California. That’s fine. It was his indecision and then his request to trade for Paul George that will forever handcuff this team.
@undisputed
@RealSkipBayless
LeBron vs MJ: MJ is better because he could shoot free throws, has a better Finals record and his per game numbers are better.
Shaq vs Kareem: Shaq is better despite not being able to shoot free throws, has a worse Finals record and his per game numbers are worse.
#huh