The magic of The Simpsons is that any side character can deliver a memorable quote at any time. The characters and quotes selected below may not have a clear correlation with their given MLB team. Just trust that it makes sense in my strange mind. First, a few rules:
AL East
AL Central
AL West
NL East
NL Central
NL West
The post Previewing All 30 MLB Teams with a Simpsons Character appeared first on Off The Bench. via Off The Bench https://www.offthebenchbaseball.com/2023/03/22/previewing-all-30-mlb-teams-with-a-simpsons-character/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=previewing-all-30-mlb-teams-with-a-simpsons-character
0 Comments
The players on the field get most of the credit during championship wins. That said, the coach is right there, ensuring that the athletes are in the best position possible to impact the game. A few coaches stand above the rest of the fray, making their mark on their respective games. These are the best coaches of all time. John Wooden The legendary UCLA head coach is not only one of the greatest coaches ever, and he may very well be the greatest college basketball coach of all time. Wooden’s UCLA Bruins won a whopping 10 NCAA National Champions in 12 years, with seven of those coming in a row. That is a feat that is safely considered untouchable, cementing the place of “The Wizard of Westwood” in the history books. Vince Lombardi It’s a good indication of how great a coach is when they name the championship trophy after him. That is precisely what happened with Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi and the NFL championship trophy. Though he only coached the Packers for seven years, he won five NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls. Now, the Lombardi Trophy is handed to the NFL’s best each season. That is the kind of indelible mark that every coach hopes to leave on the game they love. Scotty Bowman Though they don’t get the recognition that basketball and football coaches have, the value of a great hockey coach cannot be overlooked. That is never more evident than it was with the legendary Scotty Bowman. Bowman won a record nine Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings, helping bring the latter out of a decades-long slump. He is also the only coach in NHL history to win Stanley Cups championships while at the helm of three different franchises. That shows longevity and consistency of excellence that no other coach in NHL history can come close to matching during their time. The post A Few of the Best Coaches of All Time first appeared on Louis DeTitto's Sports Blog. via Louis DeTitto's Sports Blog https://louisdetitto.net/a-few-of-the-best-coaches-of-all-time/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-few-of-the-best-coaches-of-all-time Ad hoc reporting is in place to help answer the most critical business questions. This is through the effort of creating real-time reports through autonomy. It is part of business intelligence, capable of delivering the most agile insights to any business. Static reports may still have a place, but they can only show desired metrics. Ad hoc reports, on the other hand, can help answer any questions you have as soon as they arrive. What Is Ad Hoc Reporting?It derives from the Latin term for “as the occasion requires.” This type of analysis is meant to answer questions that any existing dashboards and reports couldn’t answer. Ad hoc reports are instant, so it is considered a self-service. There is no need to ask another department to generate them. With the help of ad hoc reporting, businesses can make line-of-business decisions far faster since both executives and managers can access that data more quickly. They are also precise and are generally considered to be single-use. There aren’t any significant bells and whistles in formatting and design. Making Data-Supported DecisionsAny business will need to make critical decisions in a short period. One of the significant benefits of ad hoc reporting is that those decisions can be made with all the relevant data backing. Making those decisions based on data and not a hunch can make all the difference in the world. Even drag-and-drop actions can help quickly and easily build the necessary reports for the job. More Comprehensive Than Broad ReportsMany comprehensive reports are acceptable for forecasting and projects, which can carry on for weeks, months, and years. But ad hoc reports are more thorough and detailed than the average report. For that reason, decisions can be made in good faith with the proper insight needed to go forward with the decision in question. It is a must for any business. The post A Valuable Business Skill: Ad Hoc Reporting first appeared on Louis DeTitto | Business. via Louis DeTitto | Business https://louisdetitto.com/a-valuable-business-skill-ad-hoc-reporting/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-valuable-business-skill-ad-hoc-reporting One of the major changes in Major League Baseball last year was the Designated Hitter coming to the National League on a permanent basis. It had previously been used in all MLB ballparks during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, then not used in NL ballparks in 2021 before returning last year. With the DH coming to the National League for good in 2022, we can analyze how different teams used the lineup spot last season, the production they received, and what they might do in the upcoming season. We can start by looking at team totals. ![]() The Philadelphia Phillies had the most productive DH spot based on weighted runs created plus (wRC+, where 100 is league average, above 100 is better than average and below 100 is worse). The Phillies’ 132 wRC+ meant their DH spot was 32 percent better on offense than the league average hitter. The Washington Nationals had the least productive DH spot, with a 74 wRC+, or 26% below league average. With one eye on last year and the other looking ahead to next season, here is a breakdown of each NL West team’s use of the DH in 2022 and what to expect in 2023. Arizona Diamondbacks—2022 DH Usage![]() The Diamondbacks spread the love around at the DH spot last year. Ketel Marte had the most plate appearances at the spot and hit well when he was in there. His ongoing injury issues contributed to his playing so often at DH. He was also below average in the Statcast fielding metric Outs Above Average for second basemen. Number two on the list is Seth Beer, who was used as a DH because he’s not very skilled on defense. Unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, he didn’t hit much as a DH (48 wRC+). It was a similar story for Pavin Smith (54 wRC+). Along with his DH games, Daulton Varsho started 18 games at catcher and 103 in the outfield. His time at DH was to give him a partial rest from playing in the field and he took to it, with a 112 wRC+. Arizona Outlook for 2023The FanGraphs Depth Charts expect more of the same from the Diamondbacks at the DH position. They don’t look to have one main DH. Instead, the Depth Charts project Emmanuel Rivera to have 175 PA and Evan Longoria with 140 at DH. Kyle Lewis could figure in the mix if he can stay healthy for five minutes. He was the AL Rookie of the Year with Seattle in 2020, but has only played in 54 games over the last two seasons, hitting .215/.301/.366 (92 wRC+). Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo has shown the same pattern in the two years he managed the team with the DH in place in the NL (2020 and 2022). He didn’t settle on one player for the position. Instead, the DH plate appearances have been spread around the roster under his management. Colorado Rockies—2022 DH Usage![]() Charlie Blackmon was one of just six NL players to have 300 or more plate appearances at the DH spot in 2022, so it’s likely that his days as an outfielder are numbered as he plays out the final year of his contract with the Rockies. His 93 wRC+ as a DH was not impressive, but it was better than his overall 89 wRC+ and better than the team’s 88 wRC+ from the DH spot last year. The team numbers were driven down by the ugly performance of C.J. Cron when he was in the lineup at DH (.170/.233/.396, 51 wRC+). He was much better in his starts at first base. Connor Joe rounded out the top three in DH plate appearances for the Rockies in 2022 and his 95 wRC+ was the best of the three. Colorado was one of five NL teams with three players with at least 100 plate appearances at DH. Colorado Outlook for 2023It should be more of the same for the Rockies at DH in 2023—a copious helping of Charlie Blackmon, who will try to extend his streak of barely-above-replacement-level play to four straight seasons. Blackmon has spent the last three years struggling to keep his Wins Above Replacement (WAR) above 0.0 and is projected by ATC for 0.1 WAR in 2023. When Blackmon isn’t in the lineup at DH, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more C.J. Cron in that spot. Connor Joe has been traded, so he’s out, but the Rockies could also use the DH spot to keep Kris Bryant healthy and productive. Los Angeles Dodgers—2022 DH Usage![]() The Dodgers had the second-highest wRC+ in the NL from the DH spot, with three players accounting for nearly 70 percent of the team’s plate appearances. Justin Turner and Max Muncy were slightly above average at DH, while Will Smith thoroughly crushed the ball when he was in the lineup at the position. In fewer plate appearances, Edwin Rios and Jake Lamb hit well when they were in the lineup but not in the field. Los Angeles Outlook for 2023Free agent signee J.D. Martinez is ready to be the Dodgers’ primary DH in 2023 after not playing a single game in the outfield for the Red Sox last year. Justin Turner is off to Boston and a healthy Max Muncy shouldn’t need much time at DH, so Martinez will be the main man. This is likely to cut into the DH time for catcher Will Smith, who had 107 plate appearances there in 2022. The ATC projections at FanGraphs have him with about 50 fewer plate appearances than last year. San Diego Padres—2022 DH Usage![]() In the first half of the season, Luke Voit was the most often used DH for the Padres and was essentially their primary DH when he was healthy. At the trade deadline, he was dealt to the Nationals in the Juan Soto trade that also brought back Josh Bell, who then became the main DH for San Diego. Both Voit and Bell were slightly above average, while Manny Machado and Brandon Drury were way above average at the DH position but in fewer plate appearances. San Diego Padres Outlook for 2023The Padres signed a couple of veterans in the offseason who should get plenty of time at DH for them in 2023. At 42 years old, Nelson Cruz is coming off his worst offensive season since 2007. It was reported in October that Cruz struggled with an eye issue for the last year and a half. He had surgery to correct it and hopes to get back to being the incredible late-career hitter he’d been prior to last season. Cruz has hit 437 home runs after his age-27 season, which ranks ninth all time behind such hitters as Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, David Ortiz, Jim Thome, and Willie Mays. As impressive as that is, he faces long odds to be an above average hitter with significant playing time at the age of 42. Since 1960, just seven players have had 300 plate appearances and a wRC+ over 100 in their age-42 season. They’re all Hall of Famers except for Barry Bonds and Ichiro (who will be when he’s eligible). ![]() The other veteran signed by the Padres is 37-year-old Matt Carpenter, whose 217 wRC+ was the highest in baseball for hitters with 150 or more plate appearances. That’s obviously a small sample size, but his numbers were truly incredible–.305/.412/.727, 15 HR in 154 PA. He should get time at DH against right-handed pitchers when he’s not playing in the field. Along with the veterans, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Fernando Tatis Jr. get some time at DH because he’s coming back from wrist and shoulder injuries. And Juan Soto finished last in Outs Above Average among all MLB right fielders in 2022, which could mean some time at DH for him in 2023. San Francisco Giants—2022 DH Usage![]() The Giant tied the Cincinnati Reds with 10 players with 25 or more plate appearances at the DH position. It was very much a “spread the wealth/spare the health” strategy for an older roster. Tommy La Stella had the most plate appearances at the spot and he was one of the worst hitters there. Behind him, Wilmer Flores and Darin Ruf were second and third on the team in DH plate appearances and both were also below average in the role. The team salvaged a league-average 100 wRC+ thanks to terrific hitting from J.D. Davis, Brandon Belt, David Villar, and Lamonte Wade Jr. when they were the team’s DH. San Francisco Giants Outlook for 2023Joc Pederson had his best offensive season in 2022 (career high 144-wRC+), but he gave much of his value back on defense, where he ranked 37th among 40 left fielders in Outs Above Average. The Giants signed outfielders Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto in the offseason, which should push Joc Pederson to the DH spot for a good chunk of his time in the lineup, which will mostly come against right-handed pitching because of his career-long struggles against lefties. With their injury histories, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Haniger and Conforto also get time at DH in the hopes of keeping them healthy. Beyond those three, look for the Giants to once again spread some DH plate appearances around in order to maximize the production of the whole roster beyond the sum of its parts. The post <strong>How will the Los Angeles Dodgers and the other NL West Teams Use the DH in 2023?</strong> appeared first on Off The Bench. via Off The Bench https://www.offthebenchbaseball.com/2023/03/01/nl-west-teams-use-dh/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nl-west-teams-use-dh One of the major changes in Major League Baseball last year was the Designated Hitter coming to the National League on a permanent basis. It had previously been used in all MLB ballparks during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, then not used in NL ballparks in 2021 before returning last year. With the DH coming to the National League for good in 2022, we can analyze how different teams used the lineup spot last season, the production they received, and what they might do in the upcoming season. We can start by looking at team totals. ![]() The Philadelphia Phillies had the most productive DH spot based on weighted runs created plus (wRC+, where 100 is league average, above 100 is better than average and below 100 is worse). The Phillies’ 132 wRC+ meant their DH spot was 32 percent better on offense than the league average hitter. The Washington Nationals had the least productive DH spot, with a 74 wRC+, or 26% below league average. With one eye on last year and the other looking ahead to next season, here is a breakdown of each NL Central team’s use of the DH in 2022 and what to expect in 2023. Chicago Cubs—2022 DH Usage ![]() For the first four months of last season, first string catcher Willson Contreras served as the team’s most-used DH when he wasn’t behind the plate. This saved some wear-and-tear on Contreras’ body, as he had his fewest starts at the catcher position of any full season of his career. It also meant that nearly 35 percent of his season-long plate appearances came as a DH. Frank “Flash In the Pan” Schwindel also spent a good amount of time at the spot, as did Rafeal Ortega. This all changed when the Cubs selected Franmil Reyes off waivers in August and made him their primary DH for the rest of the season. Reyes was a below average hitter for the Cubs as a DH (.238/.302/.395, 96 wRC+) and is now a free agent. Chicago Outlook for 2023 The Cubs’ most exciting prospect in 2022 was Matt Mervis, who crushed 36 homers and drove in 119 runs across three levels of the minor leagues while hitting .309/.379/.606. He continued to mash at the Arizona Fall League, which further raised expectations among Cubs’ prospect watchers who were hoping he would get a chance to play every day at first base for the Cubbies in 2023. Then the team went out and signed veterans Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini and seemingly blocked Mervis at first base and DH. Fear not, Cubs fans! If Mervis continues to mash, he will get big league playing time. The FanGraphs Depth Charts expects all three players to get at least 300 plate appearances, with much of their time divided between first base and DH. Think of it as three guys sharing two spots when Mervis is on the big-league roster, with Mancini likely leading the team in DH plate appearances while also playing some outfield, as needed. Cincinnati Reds—2022 DH Usage ![]() Mike Moustakas led all Reds players in plate appearances at the DH spot, but he also made 21 starts at first base and 22 at third base, so he wasn’t a dedicated DH. In fact, he had the lowest percentage of his team’s DH plate appearances of any team leader in the NL. The range went from Nelson Cruz, with 75% of his team’s DH appearances to Moustakas, at just 17%. The Reds had more players with at least 50 plate appearances at DH than any other NL team and all six of these players were above average on offense. Overall, the Reds’ 126 wRC+ from the DH spot was third in the NL, behind only the Philadelphia Phillies (mostly Bryce Harper) and Los Angeles Dodgers (mostly Justin Turner). In a disappointing 100-loss season, the Reds had success at DH. Cincinnati Outlook for 2023 Nearly 40 years old and coming off the worst season of his career, it might be time for Joey Votto to transition from first base to DH. Because he’s been in the NL for the entirety of his long, Hall of Fame worthy career, he’s only had 121 plate appearances as DH, compared to 8316 at first base. In those 121 plate appearances as a DH, he’s hit .262/.347/.486, good for a 121 wRC+. He’ll be playing his age-39 season in 2023 and he ranked among the worst first basemen in Outs Above Average on defense last year. He’s also recovering from shoulder surgery after being limited to 91 games with a torn rotator cuff and torn biceps. These are all reasons that he should get plenty of time at the DH spot. During the Reds Caravan kickoff in January, GM Nick Krall said the team wasn’t expecting Votto to be healthy and ready to go by the start of spring training. Based on his Instagram posts, Votto’s been working hard in between chess matches to get ready for 2023, but his 39-year-old body will have the last say on the topic. All that being said, Reds manager David Bell gave at least 20 plate appearances at DH to 11 different players last year. If that pattern holds, Votto will be part of a mix that could include just about anybody. The FanGraphs Depth Charts have the spot primarily split between starting catcher Tyler Stephenson and outfielder Jake Fraley but, it should be noted, Stephenson had very little time at DH last year and missed two-thirds of the season with injuries. Milwaukee Brewers—2022 DH Usage ![]() At 35 years old and not nearly the defender he had once been, Andrew McCutchen received the lion’s share of DH plate appearances for the Brewers last year. He was a below average hitter in the role, as was Christian Yelich, who had the second-most plate appearances at DH. One bit of good news for Yelich was his health allowing him to stay in the lineup for 154 games. Ongoing back problems had limited Yelich’s playing time in previous seasons, which is one reason he played one-quarter of his games at DH in 2022. The one guy who propped up the rest of the Brewers’ DHs was Keston Hiura, who hit .277/.375/.578 in 96 plate appearances in the role, which was enough to drag the rest of the DH bats up to a 95 wRC+ overall. That’s still short of league average but better than five other NL teams. Milwaukee Brewers Outlook for 2023 Six weeks out from the season, the DH spot in Milwaukee looks to be the domain of a mix of players that will include Jesse Winker, Keston Hiura, Christian Yelich, and, at times, catcher William Contreras when he’s not behind the plate. Winker should get a big chunk of the time against right-handed pitchers. In his career, he’s hit .289/.389/.497 (137 wRC+) against righties, but just .205/.321/.339 (87 wRC+) against lefties. Unfortunately, even though he hits right-handed, Keston Hiura has also hit better against righties (.253/.332/.508, 122 wRC+) than against lefties (.201/.283/.323, 65 wRC+), so they don’t make natural platoon partners. Should they both continue to struggle against lefties, it would open the door for Contreras, who has crushed lefties in his short career (.308/.400/.534, 158 wRC+). Yelich will also get time at DH to keep his back healthy. Pittsburgh Pirates—2022 DH Usage ![]() Dan Vogelbach appeared in 67 of the Pirates’ first 93 games, exclusively as a DH in the games he started, before being traded to the Mets at the All-Star break. Once he left town, the position was used by multiple players, most often by Ben Gamel, Bryan Reynolds, and Yoshi Tsutsugo. Reynolds had the best performance as a DH among the players with more than 20 plate appearances, while Gamel and Tsutsugo were horrible. Pittsburgh Pirates Outlook for 2023 In November, the Pirates acquired Ji-Man Choi and Carlos Santana. Then they signed Andrew McCutchen in January. McCutchen has been an outfielder for most of his career, but was used more often at DH than in the outfield by the Brewers last season. All three of these players should get some time at DH this year. Choi has been well below average against left-handed pitching in his career, so he should play first base against right-handed pitching, with Santana at DH and McCutchen in the field. When a lefty is on the mound, Santana can shift to first base and McCutchen can take the DH role, both to take some pressure off his 36-year-old body and to get a younger outfielder on the field. St. Louis Cardinals—2022 DH Usage ![]() The Cardinals collection of DHs finished fourth in the NL with a 121 wRC+. More than one-third of their plate appearances came from Albert Pujols, who had his highest wRC+ since 2010. That goes back to his second-to-last year with the Cardinals, meaning he never had a wRC+ with the Angels that was as high as he just had with the Cardinals in his age-42 season. The vast majority of players just don’t do what Pujols did at that age. In fact, only one player has since 1960--Barry Bonds, with a 157 wRC+ a the age of 42 in his final season (see chart below). ![]() Along with Pujols, the Cardinals used the DH spot to give some time off from playing in the field to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and third baseman Nolan Arenado. Juan Yepez and Corey Dickerson both had more than 50 plate appearances at the spot, and rookie Nolan Gorman had 48. St. Louis Cardinals Outlook for 2023 Of the Cardinals outfielder types, Juan Yepez is the least accomplished with the glove, so he should get time at DH if he continues to hit. Free agent signee Willson Contreras played in 113 games for the Cubs last year, 72 at catcher and 39 at DH (with two pinch-hit appearances). It will be interesting to see if the Cardinals handle him the same way considering they look to have more good options for the DH spot than the Cubs had last year. Nolan Gorman seems to be a man without a position at the moment and Jordan Walker is a young prospect who is knocking on the door. Both should see time at DH. The post How will the Chicago Cubs and the other NL Central Teams Use the DH in 2023? appeared first on Off The Bench. via Off The Bench https://www.offthebenchbaseball.com/2023/02/28/how-will-the-chicago-cubs-and-the-other-nl-central-teams-use-the-dh-in-2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-will-the-chicago-cubs-and-the-other-nl-central-teams-use-the-dh-in-2023 One of the significant changes in Major League Baseball last year was the Designated Hitter coming to the National League on a permanent basis. It had previously been used in all MLB ballparks during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, then not used in NL ballparks in 2021 before returning last year. With the DH coming to the National League for good in 2022, we can analyze how different teams used the lineup spot last season, the production they received, and what they might do in the upcoming season. We can start by looking at team totals. ![]() The Philadelphia Phillies had the most productive DH spot based on weighted runs created plus (wRC+, where 100 is league average, above 100 is better than average and below 100 is worse). The Phillies’ 132 wRC+ meant their DH spot was 32 percent better on offense than the league average hitter. The Washington Nationals had the least productive DH spot, with a 74 wRC+, or 26% below league average. With one eye on last year and the other looking ahead to next season, here is a breakdown of each NL East team’s use of the DH in 2022 and what to expect in 2023. Atlanta—2022 DH Usage ![]() Marcell Ozuna was the primary DH for Atlanta in 2022, but he didn’t do the team any favors with his below average bat (75 wRC+). His 11 home runs were fine, but they came with an ugly .259 OBP that greatly cut into his productivity. Ronald Acuña Jr. was used quite a bit at DH because he was still recovering from offseason knee surgery to repair a torn ACL. He hit slightly better at DH than when he played in the field. William Contreras hit so well at catcher that he picked up significant time at DH just to keep his bat in the lineup. Those three players accounted for 82 percent of the DH plate appearances taken by Atlanta hitters in 2022. Atlanta Outlook for 2023 Ozuna has two years and $36 million left on a big contract he signed prior to the 2020 season, so he’ll get another shot playing left field and DH even though he’s been a below-average hitter in each of the past two seasons (a combined .222/.278/.397 in 715 PA, 84 wRC+). A fully-healthy Acuña should spend most of his time in right field, which will open up the DH spot to one of the team’s two catchers, Sean Murphy or Travis d’Arnaud, when they aren’t behind the dish and Ozuna is in left field or on the bench. Unlike many teams, Atlanta did not have their regulars--Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson (now with the Cubs), Austin Riley, or Michael Harris II spend time at DH when not in the field. Miami Marlins—2022 DH Usage ![]() Garrett Cooper and Jesús Aguilar split first base and DH duties for the Marlins last season, with Cooper being 23 percent above average on offense and Aguilar being 21 percent below average on offense when each was in the lineup as the DH. They combined for 64 percent of the team’s DH plate appearances. Outfielders Jorge Soler and Avisaíl García also picked up some DH time, with wildly different results (Soler—good; García—bad). Cooper is back with the Marlins in 2023, while Aguilar has moved on to Oakland. Miami Marlins Outlook for 2023 The Marlins are expected to play Jazz Chisholm Jr. in center field this year. Should the move take, it will push Jesus Sanchez and Bryan De La Cruz to left field, with Avisaíl García in right field, leaving the DH spot for Jorge Soler. In his career, Soler has hit .253/.348/.541 in 969 plate appearances as a DH, which is significantly better than he’s hit as a left fielder or right fielder. For a player who doesn’t shine on defense, it would probably be best if the Marlins just plug him in at DH and let him play. If he can reach the 113 wRC+ he’s projected for by ATC, it would be a great improvement on the 87 wRC+ by Marlins’ DHs last season, which ranked 13th among the 15 NL teams. New York Mets—2022 DH Usage ![]() After joining the Mets in a trade with the Pirates in July, big Dan Vogelbach started 46 of the Mets’ last 67 games and hit well in the DH spot. Before Vogelbach arrived in the Big Apple, one of the regulars at DH was J.D. Davis, but he was traded to the Giants about a week after the Vogelbach deal. Davis was also above average in the role. Pete Alonso, not known for his glovework, had 27 games and 115 plate appearances and tied for the team lead in home runs as a DH, while hitting .250/.330/.500, which was slightly worse than his overall .271/.352/.518 batting line. New York Mets Outlook for 2023 Dan Vogelbach, with his career 127 wRC+ against right-handed pitching, is slated to be the Mets’ primary DH against north paws. He makes a good platoon partner with Tommy Pham, who has a career 132 wRC+ versus lefties. If the two of them can continue to hit well against opposite-handed pitchers, the Mets will have one of the most productive DH spots in the league. Others who may get time at DH include Pete Alonso, Darin Ruf, and young Francisco Álvarez. Philadelphia Phillies—2022 DH Usage ![]() The Phillies had the most productive DH spot in the National league thanks to Bryce Harper’s injured elbow, which prevented him from playing in the field other than eight games in April. The injury meant Harper was the team’s primary DH when he was healthy. When Harper was on the IL with a fractured thumb from late June to late August, Darick Hall took the bulk of the playing time as the team’s DH and he was also above average on offense in the role. Harper and Hall combined for roughly three-fourths of the team’s plate appearances at DH, with a few of the team’s regulars getting some time there as well. Philadelphia Phillies Outlook for 2023 The big unknown in Philadelphia is how soon Bryce Harper can get back in the lineup after having elbow surgery in the offseason. He’s expected to be out for most of the first half. Will he return in early July? At the All-Star break? In early August? We just don’t know yet. When he does return, though, he will likely be the team’s DH in order to protect the elbow. Before Harper gets back from the IL, the DH spot is expected to be split between Darick Hall, who hits lefty and will face righties, and Nick Castellanos, who hits righty and will face lefties. Castellanos will also play in the outfield when he’s not at DH. Once again, a few of the team’s regulars will get some plate appearances there as needed. Washington Nationals—2022 DH Usage ![]() The Nationals had by far the lowest wRC+ from their DH position of all the NL teams. They also had the fewest hits, fewest runs scored, and lowest slugging percentage from the DH spot. Sadly, Nelson Cruz was a big part of the problem, as he had his worst season in 15 years. He signed with the Padres in the offseason and is optimistic that eye surgery will help him get back to the basher he’d been before last year’s difficulties. Luke Voit was second on the Nationals in DH plate appearances last year and was even worse than Cruz. He’s also gone now, currently a free agent still hoping to sign somewhere. The team has a ton of playing time available at DH with the departures of Cruz and Voit. Washington Nationals Outlook for 2023 One of the few bright spots in a dismal season for the Nationals was the incredible performance of Joey Meneses. This was a guy who originally signed with Atlanta and played his first professional season in 2011. It took him five years to reach AA, then another two years and a new organization (Philadelphia) to reach AAA. The Phillies released him in October of 2018, so he played with the Orix Buffaloes in the Japan Pacific League in 2019 until he tested positive for a banned substance and was suspended. The Red Sox signed him before the 2020 season and he played AA and AAA ball over the next two seasons before he was granted free agency in November of 2021. The Nationals signed him last January and sent him to AAA Rochester, where he hit 20 homers in 96 games. After the team traded away Juan Soto and Josh Bell, the 30-year-old Meneses was brought up to the big leagues for the first time and went on to hit .324/.367/.563, with 13 homers in 56 games. His 156 wRC+ was right there with Freddie Freeman and Manny Machado, although in about 400 fewer player appearances. He should get plenty of time this year to prove he wasn’t a total fluke, with many of his plate appearances coming at DH. Of course, if he flames out the way 2021 fluke Frank Schwindel did, then the Nationals will be looking for DH playing time from Dominic Smith, Stone Garrett, Alex Call, and other players many people have not yet heard of. The post The Designated Hitter in the NL East appeared first on Off The Bench. via Off The Bench https://www.offthebenchbaseball.com/2023/02/27/the-designated-hitter-in-the-nl-east/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-designated-hitter-in-the-nl-east Meta Description: Want to draw in a crowd for the next high school baseball game? Social media is an amazing platform to get the word out. In this article, we will reveal some excellent tips to promote your baseball game on social media. IntroductionOne of the best parts of any sports event is the crowd there. No matter how crucial or close a game is, it can be utterly bland if the crowd is not excited enough. Even the athletes in the game need the crowd’s support and cheer to make the game more energetic and fun. However, bringing in enough crowds for sports events can be challenging. Social media is a very efficient and cost-effective marketing tool. Even if you have a limited budget for marketing, you can use social media platforms to highlight an upcoming event to ensure that all your supporters are there. All you need is some interesting and well-curated content that you post regularly ahead of the game, and you are likely to reach your audience. So if you have a big high school baseball game coming up, here is how you can strategically utilize social media to market your game. How can you get the word out via social media?Let your audience have a peek behind the curtainTo get people more invested in your team, you need to show them how much effort the team is putting into the upcoming match. So take the audience behind the scenes and post highlights from training sessions. You can post stories or reels of how the athletes train. Also, add some fun clips of the teammates and coaching staff having fun with each other while on the field. It would be best if you highlighted the team’s dedication and positive attitude. Make your athletes the star of your campaignYour athletes are your biggest asset. You must post them all, from short clips showing their personalities’ fun and relaxed side to videos and highlights of their best performances. You can even have interviews ahead of the games and during training sessions with individual players that you can post regularly ahead of the big game. The idea is to let the audience get to know the team so that they feel invested in supporting the team. Create buzz ahead of the game by posting regularlyYou must post regularly ahead of the big game to remind people about it. While the other content makes people more interested in the team, you must post about the upcoming event throughout the weeks before the game. You can post a variety of different things to do so. You can create baseball posters with bright and eye-catching visuals to garner attention. The posters should highlight all the important information regarding the game, like the teams, location, date, and time. You can post posters across multiple platforms and pin them on your feed so that anyone who visits your social media handles instantly sees them. You can also post polls to get people’s predictions of the big game and increase engagement. You can also post a countdown ahead of the game to remind people of it. Let the fans in on the actionFan support is crucial, and you must show that. Get your fans to send in pictures from old games and post them on your social media platform. You can also have Q&A sessions with the fans and the team ahead of the game so that the fans can interact with the team more. You can ask fans to create posters and banners that you can post on your platform. You can also create hashtags that fans can use to post content related to the team, game, or their preparation. Collaborate with influencersCollaborations with influencers can bring more eyes to your game and social media presence. You can collaborate with local influencers so their fan base can support your team and be there at the event. You can also have the collaborator join training sessions and get to know the team. You can do posts for their platform and redirect your fans to their platform. Recall previous clashes and post highlightsAhead of the game, you should post about the rivalry between the two teams and any clashes they have had previously. You can post things like the previous results and highlights from the last games that the teams played together. Such content can highlight the upcoming game’s stakes and make people more invested. The bottom lineHigh school sporting events already bring in big crowds, but you can get in even more of your supporters if marketed right. Social media strategies like these are easy to implement and can bring you much attention if done right. Even if you are new to this, you can create custom baseball posters to get started and get some creative ideas. You can take help from friends and have all hands on deck to create fun content. The post 6 Ways You Can Use Social Media To Advertise An Upcoming Baseball Game appeared first on Off The Bench. via Off The Bench https://www.offthebenchbaseball.com/2023/02/26/6-ways-you-can-use-social-media-to-advertise-an-upcoming-baseball-game/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=6-ways-you-can-use-social-media-to-advertise-an-upcoming-baseball-game Dating back to Connie Mack‘s earliest ballclubs, the Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland/Las Vegas Athletics have been a franchise of extremes. The A’s have almost always been either a great team or a terrible team and rarely in between. In 122 seasons, they have just two .500 records to go along with nine championships, 15 pennants… and 34 last-place finishes including last year’s 60-102 outfit. What will the coming year have in store for the A’s? If history is any indicator, they’ll either be among the very best or very worst in MLB. As a guidepost, let’s compare them to the 1973 A’s, who finished 94-68 and won their second of three consecutive World Series championships. Catcher1973 Ray Fosse vs. 2023 Shea Langeliers Fosse was one of baseball’s best up-and-coming catchers in the early 1970’s, but after Pete Rose collided with him in the 1971 All-Star Game, he was never the same player. He slashed .256/.291/.354 in 1973, his first year in Oakland and last as a starting player. Langeliers was acquired from Atlanta in the Matt Olson trade. A year later, the A’s cleared his path to playing time by sending away Sean Murphy (also to Atlanta). He’s one of the team’s best young players— faint praise, indeed— but he posted just a .261 on-base percentage in his 40-game debut last year. Advantage: 1973 Ray Fosse First Base1973 Gene Tenace vs. 2023 Jesús Aguilar Tenace was primarily a catcher over the course of his career, and a damn good one at that. Some exceptionally good-looking writers have even argued that he belongs in the Hall of Fame. Fresh off winning the 1972 World Series MVP, the A’s moved him primarily to first base to get his bat into the lineup more regularly. He rewarded them with 24 home runs and 101 walks while playing 134 games at first and 33 behind the plate in 1973. Aguilar signed with Oakland on January 27, which was surprising on two counts. First of all, it was strange that the club would sign anyone at all to a $3 million contract. Secondly, Aguilar wasn’t guaranteed to get a major-league contract from any team whatsoever this winter. The Marlins released him at the end of August 2022, then the Orioles picked him off the scrap heap for the final month of the season. He may match Tenace’s power (though he probably won’t), but his on-base percentage will be nearly 100 points lower. Advantage: 1973 Gene Tenace Second Base1973 Dick Green vs. 2023 Tony Kemp An even matchup! Green played 12 seasons in MLB, all with the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, but 1973 was his second-to-last. He hit a soft .262 with just 12 extra-base hits in 315 plate appearances. Nevertheless, he displayed strong defense and accumulated 1.7 bWAR. Kemp became a full-time player in 2022 for the first time in his career at age 30. He split his time about 60/40 between second base and left field and hit .235/.307/.334. Over 558 plate appearances, he managed just 1.1 bWAR. Second base isn’t a strong position for either club, but Green has the bWAR lead thanks to his glove work despite much less playing time. Advantage: 1973 Dick Green Third Base1973 Sal Bando vs. 2023 Jace Peterson or Kevin Smith 1973 was one of the best seasons of Bando’s excellent career. He played all 162 games and led the American League in doubles (32) and total bases (295). He also finished fourth in MVP award voting. Peterson was Oakland’s biggest offseason splurge. He signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract on December 13 after setting a career-best in home runs last year with… uh, eight. He will play lots of third base, but can also fill in at several other positions around the diamond. Kevin Smith, who was their biggest get in the Matt Chapman trade (believe it or not), will also vie for playing time. He has a .164 career batting average in 187 plate appearances. Advantage: 1973 Sal Bando Shortstop1973 Bert Campaneris vs. 2023 Nick Allen The Athletics have employed many great hitters over the years from Eddie Collins to Rickey Henderson, but Campaneris owns the franchise record for most career hits (1,882). He amassed 150 of them in 1973— the great majority of which were singles— and stole 34 bases. He also made his third of six All-Star Game appearances. Allen played commendable defense in his rookie year, earning nine Outs Above Average at shortstop and second base. However, his .207/.256/.291 slash line wouldn’t be good enough even if he had Ozzie Smith‘s glove. Advantage: 1973 Bert Campaneris Left Field1973 Joe Rudi vs. 2023 Seth Brown 1973 was actually a down year for Rudi. He would finish as the AL MVP runner-up in both 1972 and 1974, but a thumb injury limited him to only 120 games played and a 109 OPS+ in 1973. He made up for the lost time by going 9-27 in the World Series. Brown plays all three outfield positions as well as first base. He blasted 25 home runs last year, but his career on-base-percentage is under .300. It is certainly possible that he has a better season than Rudi did 50 years ago, but don’t bet on it. Advantage: 1973 Joe Rudi Center Field1973 Bill North vs. 2023 Esteury Ruiz The A’s traded for North from the Cubs in November 1972 and he earned the starting center field job early in the 1973 season. The switch-hitter responded to the opportunity with a .376 on-base percentage and 53 stolen bases. Ruiz was traded from San Diego to Milwaukee on August 1, then from Milwaukee to Oakland in December. He’ll turn 24 this month, and in a way, his upside resembles North’s. He stole 85 bases across Double-A and Triple-A in 2022 while hitting .332/.447/.526. Most scouts seem to doubt whether his power spike will sustain itself in a full season of MLB action though, and he only has 36 plate appearances in the bigs so far. Advantage: 1973 Billy North Right Field1973 Reggie Jackson vs. 2023 Ramón Laureano Reggie won the 1973 AL MVP award. He led the league in home runs (32), RBI (117), slugging percentage (.531), OPS+ (161), and runs scored (99). He also won the 1973 World Series MVP by hitting .310/.355/.586. Not a bad year, all in all. Laureano had a .287 on-base percentage last year. He will not lead the league in anything in 2023, nor will he win any awards. Advantage: 1973 Reggie Jackson Designated Hitter1973 Deron Johnson vs. 2023 ??? The A’s traded for Johnson from the Phillies on May 2, 1973, for a player who would never reach the Majors. He became their primary DH in the first season the AL adopted the DH rule, achieving a .330 on-base percentage with 19 home runs after the trade. Who will be the main DH for Oakland in 2023? Does it really matter? Johnson was a pretty good hitter, but not a great one. This year’s A’s might not have anyone at all who can even match his production at any position. Advantage: 1973 Deron Johnson Starting Pitching1973 Ken Holtzman, Vida Blue, Catfish Hunter, and Blue Moon Odom vs. 2023 Paul Blackburn, James Karprielian, Shintaro Fujinami, Drew Rucinski, and Ken Waldichuk Holtzman, Blue, and Hunter all won at least 20 games in 1973. Hunter finished third in the Cy Young voting that year and Blue received down-ballot consideration as well. The vaunted Oakland lineup powered their dynasty, but the front three of the rotation certainly held their own. Blackburn is the nominal ace of the 2023 A’s. He started 21 games last year with a 4.28 ERA and 1.4 bWAR. Kaprielian started 26 games but struck out only 98 batters in 134 innings. Rucinski and Fujinami signed this offseason from Korea and Japan, respectively, though the bidding wars don’t appear to have been very competitive. Waldichuk threw 34.2 innings after he was added at the 2022 trade deadline in the Frankie Montas deal. Advantage: 1973 Rotation Bullpen1973 Rollie Fingers, Darold Knowles, Horacio Pina, and Paul Lindblad vs. 2023 Trevor May, Zach Jackson, A.J. Puk, Dany Jiménez, and Domingo Acevedo Times certainly have changed. The 1973 A’s used only 12 pitchers all season. It was a typically strong season for Hall of Famer Fingers, who posted a 1.92 ERA. Pina featured a 129 ERA+ and Knowles’ was 116. The three main relievers combined for 313.2 innings. The 2023 A’s bullpen actually isn’t that bad! May signed a one-year $7 million contract even though 2022 was an injury-riddled season. Jackson, Puk, Jiménez, and Acevedo all pitched well last year. However, the group lacks the star power of peak Fingers, who was arguably the best reliever in baseball at the time. Advantage: 1973 Bullpen It seems that the 1973 A’s were better than the current iteration in literally every way. Even after this exercise, it isn’t clear who their best player will be in 2023. Maybe Seth Brown or a youngster like Shea Langeliers? Perhaps an okay-ish starter like Blackburn? It’s something of a catch-22 because if anyone plays too well, they will likely get traded. The 2023 Athletics resemble their predecessors of 50 years ago in name only. The franchise has enjoyed several great seasons like 1973, but just as many truly awful campaigns. Their 60-102 record in 2022 was their worst since the 108-loss 1979 team. Perhaps the 1979 team is a better comparison for this year’s A’s. The post Which Team Is Better: 1973 A’s or 2023 A’s? appeared first on Off The Bench. via Off The Bench https://www.offthebenchbaseball.com/2023/02/06/which-team-is-better-1973-as-or-2023-as/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=which-team-is-better-1973-as-or-2023-as Baseball might be as American as apple pie, but nowadays it’s become a much more global sport. One of the continents where baseball has been truly surging in popularity is Asia, which has seen a number of leagues pop up in a variety of different countries in the region. These include the Chinese Professional Baseball League, which despite its name, is actually the top-tier in Taiwan; the China National Baseball League, which is China’s number one league; and then there’s Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, which could very well be a rival to the Major League. It’s not just in their own countries that players from the continent have impressed though, as there’s also been a number of Asian athletes who have made their mark over here in the MLB. Let’s take a quick look at some of the most memorable then, as we discuss our picks for the top Asian players in MLB history. Shin-Soo Choo Known as the star of South Korean baseball, Shin-Soo Choo is definitely in the number 1 spot when it comes to naming the top 5 MLB players from Korea. He first became noticed by MLB scouts when he was selected as both the MVP and the Best Pitcher of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, when he helped power South Korea to victory. This then lead to him being signed to the Seattle Mariners, with him getting a $1.35 million contract. He didn’t get to play in the MLB straight away mind, with him spending most of his first season and a half in the minor leagues. Choo didn’t let this set him back too much though, and he worked hard at impressing those he needed to, converting to the outfield during this time. His tenacity paid off, and he went on to enjoy a 15-year career in the MLB, playing for the Mariners, the Cleveland Indians, the Cincinnati Reds, and then the Texas Rangers. Despite being plagued by injury problems at times, Choo won many fans at the Rangers, and was voted into the All-Star team in 2018. Hideo Nomo A true trailblazer, Hideo Nomi started the Asian invasion of the MLB, when he signed for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995. Despite the fact that he wasn’t technically the first Asian player to play in the league (with that being Masanori Murakami, who turned out for the San Francisco Giants back in the 1964-65 season) Nomo was the one that made everyone sit up and take notice of the potential of players from that part of the world. Thanks to his ultra-unique ‘tornado’ style of pitching, Nomo became one of the most adored players in the league, helping ignite a passion for baseball in a slew of Asian countries. That’s why it’s now watched in places like Thailand, where viewers enjoy devouring MLB games, and even betting on results, with the rise of online bookmakers allowing bettors to take a punt on every ball game. The best of these can be found over at Asia Bet, who have the leading online sports betting (พนันกีฬาออนไลน์) sites in the region. Their experts have found out just how to bet using Thai baht, and give visitors all the information needed to do this safely. Plus, with every website being carefully examined, and thoroughly reviewed, there’s no need to worry about a thing. Ichiro Suzuki However subjective at times these kinds of lists can be, it would have been an absolute crime against baseball not to include Ichiro Suzuki. The now retired Japanese outfielder began his special career in Japan, where he played for the Orix Buffaloes. He then became the first ever position player from Japan to sign for an MLB team, when he moved to the Seattle Mariners in 2001. However, there was a lot of doubt from American pundits and fans, who felt that his relatively small stature would make him too frail when facing off against MLB pitchers. Well, Suzuki didn’t half make all the doubters eat their words though, as he had an exceptional debut season for the Mariners, producing an immense rookie record-breaking 242 hits. He also became the only player in MLB history to start in the All-Star game, win the Silver Slugger Award, the Rookie of the Year, the Gold Glove Award and the MVP, all in one single season. No wonder he became such a hero for not just Japanese baseball fans, but baseball fans worldwide. The post <strong>The Top Asian Players in MLB History</strong> appeared first on Off The Bench. via Off The Bench https://www.offthebenchbaseball.com/2023/02/02/the-top-asian-players-in-mlb-history/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-top-asian-players-in-mlb-history Baseball is a legendary sport. Dubbed “America’s favorite pastime” it has seen its fair share of incredible players and record-breaking successes throughout the years. Only the best of the best can play Major League Baseball (MLB) and work their way to the championship. Feel free to check out MLB spreads for current statistics about the next MLB season. One of these legendary players is Juan González. If you’d like to learn more about this impressive player, all you need to do is read on. Early LifeBorn in Puerto Rico on October 20, 1969, Juan González was destined to be a baseball star. He grew up hitting bottle caps and corks with the handle of a broomstick but had dreams of making it big in the baseball world. And he delivered! Juan González spent a total of 16 years in the MLB and played as an outfielder for four teams. However, he is most remembered for his time with the Texas Rangers (1989–1999 and 2002–2003). MiLB CareerAt just 16 years old, González was signed as an amateur free agent with the Texas Rangers. He made his baseball debut in 1986 with the GCL Rangers to relative success, further improving with the Gastonia Rangers just a year later. He moved to the Charlotte Rangers in 1988 and the Oklahoma City 89ers in 1990. During this run, he was also recognized as the top prospect in the American Association. Notably, during the 1989-90 season while playing for the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League, González managed .269, .345, and .500 with the Criollos de Caguas. He also hit nine home runs, just behind Greg Vaughn, the former league leader. MLB CareerTexas RangersIn 1992, aged 22, Juan González became the youngest baseball player to dominate the majors since 1970 when Johnny Bench was in charge. González achieved true stardom in 1993 with the Rangers, proving that all the MLB rumors are true. He managed to lead the AL for a second consecutive year with a total of 46 bombs. He also increased his batting average by 50 points to a total of .310, alongside a slugging percentage of .632 that saw him lead the league. During his time with the Rangers, González also became the first five-time Rangers Player of the Year Award. Moving AroundGonzález also experienced his fair share of team changes while playing in the league. We’ll discuss these moves below. Detroit TigersGonzález was traded to the Tigers following the 1999 season. After a pretty disappointing season with the Tigers, González refused a move to New York and went on to see a huge production dip to an all-time low. He was granted free agency at the end of 2000. Cleveland IndiansIn 2001, he signed with the Cleveland Indians. González had a season-best 15-game hitting streak from August 29 – September 19 at .345 (20–58) and successfully regained his MVP form. Back to TexasHis performance was enough to warrant the interest of the Rangers who were eager for a reunion. So, in January 2002, just one season later, he made his return to Texas. He hit eight home runs in a total of 70 games and became the first-ever Puerto Rican player, and the overall MLB player, to hit a total of 400 career home runs in June 2002. In 2003, he had one final solid season with a total of 24 home runs. Despite being on track to recapture his form from 2001, this season was cut short due to a tear in his calf muscle. He was granted free agency in October 2003. The Beginning of the EndHe signed with the Kansas City Royals in January 2004, playing 33 games with the team. Unfortunately, his back worsened and his season quickly ended in May. He played a single game with Cleveland in 2005 just before his career came to a close. He officially retired from the MLB following this season with nearly 2,000 hits, a .295 batting average, and 434 home runs. Post-MLB CareerJuan González was recognized as the manager and head coach of the National Puerto Rico team in 2018. He debuted in this position at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2018. Then, in 2019, he was announced as the manager of the Puerto Rico national team to prepare for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. He is currently the owner of Vega Baja, his hometown baseball team, which compete in Puerto Rico’s Confederative Baseball League. Here, he also plays as DH. A Lasting LegacyGonzález’s consistency on the baseball field has established him as one of the greatest names to ever play the sport. He left a lasting legacy on all the teams he was signed to throughout his career. For his efforts, he has received plenty of recognition. In 2012 he was inducted into the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame, and then the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013. González is also the Rangers’ all-time leader with a grand total of 372 home runs, a .565 slugging percentage, and 1,180 RBIs. In 2015, he was Inducted into the Rangers hall of fame. The post <strong>MLB Legacies: Juan Gonzalez</strong> appeared first on Off The Bench. via Off The Bench https://www.offthebenchbaseball.com/2023/02/02/mlb-legacies-juan-gonzalez/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mlb-legacies-juan-gonzalez |