Thursday, February 15, 2018

McCABE MAGAZINE This Week In Baseball

McCabe Magazine TWIB NOTES

McCabe Magazine’s “TWIB notes” This Week In Baseball.

Flip Gibson (COL) record setting hit streak ends at 36 games at Wrigley Field in a 9-4 lost to the Cubs. Sam “NSC” Willie of McCabe Magazine, ESPN’s Peter Gammons, Tom Verducci color analysts at Fox Sports, and several local media beat writers waited for Gibson outside the Rockies locker room for 45 minutes when Colorado PR director informed the media that Gibson had left the ball park after smashing a Cubs water cooler on his way to a waiting Uber.

Walt Betancourt (CLE) a 24 year-old second-basemen playing for the Columbus Clippers (45-25), an AAA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, has hit in 38 games this season. Betancourt told us in a 55 minute telephone interview about each hit in mind-numbing detail. I would love to share his account of the hit streak, however that would be virtually impossible because I didn’t write any of the crap down and couldn’t wait to get off the phone, talk about LONG WINDED, my goodness. We also included a minor league Stat of the Day listed below.

A look back at the McCabe Magazine Season 35 Predictions

With 69 games played, we here at McCabe Magazine though it would be nice to "pat ourselves on the back"  and look back at our season 35 preview issue to see what great baseball minds are laboring here at the Robert E. McCabe Magazine. In the American League we correctly predicted 3 of the 4 division leaders, Milwaukee, Washington, and Anaheim. St Louis was our selection to win the AL South division is currently in third place 9 games behind division leader Kansas City. In the National League we also accurately selected 3 of the 4 division leaders with Pittsburgh, Richmond, and Seattle. Cleveland, our preseason choice to win the NL North is presently 8 games behind division leader Chicago Cubs. Our Wildcard selections in the AL are looking really good with Kansas City and Houston making the playoffs if the season ended today. However in the National League our picks of Colorado and Philadelphia would be on the outside looking in if the season finished today. Those two wildcard spots would go to Arizona and Cleveland.

Who is the Highest Paid Player?


Today I was sitting in my office when I got a call from one of my more reliable league sources who informed me that cash strapped Boston Red Sox was looking to dump salary by trading highly paid pitcher  Santos Rodriguez who is on the last year of a contract that pays him a whopping $17,000,000.00. I could say a lot about that contract, however league rules prevent me from doing so, and I really don't want to get in trouble with the commish. That said, Rodriguez salary got me to thinking, who is the highest paid player in major league baseball, well you ask and you shall receive, Listed below you’ll find the top 50 paid player in the major leagues.  

Rank
Player
Level Pos Age ML Years Pro Years Annual Salary
1 Al Oliva (R) Florida Marlins P 31 9 13 $20.0M
2 Mariano Elcano (L) Anaheim Angels P 34 11 16 $18.9M
3 Santos Rodriguez (R) Boston Red Sox P 36 13 17 $17.0M
Olmedo Espinoza (R) Boston Red Sox RF 29 8 11 $17.0M
5 Lastings O'Brien (R) Colorado Rockies P 37 15 19 $14.8M
6 Storm Weaver (S) Tampa Bay Rays RF 34 12 15 $14.4M
7 Kordell Watson (R) San Francisco Giants P 35 10 14 $13.0M
8 Richie Brush (S) Houston Astros 3B 31 9 13 $12.6M
9 Carlos DeRojas (R) Philadelphia Phillies P 39 18 21 $12.3M
10 Charlie Graves (L) Los Angeles Dodgers P 31 7 9 $11.5M
11 Don Fujikawa (R) Kansas City  3B 32 9 13 $11.4M
12 Vasco Marquez (L) San Diego Padres P 32 10 14 $11.3M
13 Wilkin Lopez (R) Kansas City  2B 31 9 12 $10.3M
14 Benj Winn (R) San Diego Padres P 35 10 13 $10.0M
Bartolo Hernandez (L) Washington Nationals  3B 30 8 11 $10.0M
16 Andres Figureoa (R) Anaheim Angels P 34 8 13 $9.6M
17 Charley Reynolds (R) Milwaukee Brewers 2B 32 12 14 $9.5M
Jerry Huskey (R) New York Yankees 2B 29 5 9 $9.5M
Lorenzo Vega (R) San Francisco Giants P 34 12 15 $9.5M
20 Kid Richard (L) Milwaukee Brewers P 35 14 17 $9.3M
21 Raymond Wall (L) Washington Nationals  RF 34 13 16 $9.1M
22 Mike Nessy (R) Cleveland Indians RF 28 5 10 $9.0M
Adam Bradford (R) St Louis Cardinals P 35 13 16 $9.0M
24 Juan Pena (R) Anaheim Angels P 31 10 11 $8.9M
25 Hulk Gumbs (R) Cincinnati Reds SS 26 4 8 $8.8M
Juan Benitez (R) Houston Astros SS 28 7 10 $8.8M
Pascual Fuentes (S) Houston Astros LF 32 8 10 $8.8M
28 Timothy Mays (R) Florida Marlins P 32 9 13 $8.5M
Birdie Bolick (L) Kansas City  1B 29 7 11 $8.5M
Danny Gordon (L) St Louis Cardinals SS 29 6 11 $8.5M
31 Louie Rosa (R) St Louis Cardinals 1B 26 6 8 $8.4M
32 Andres Padilla (R) Arizona Diamondbacks SS 28 6 10 $8.3M
Trey Browne (R) New York Mets 2B 29 6 9 $8.3M
Domingo Liriano (R) Oakland Athletics 3B 32 8 11 $8.3M
Marino Martin (S) Richmond Virginians  P 24 3 6 $8.3M
Sammy Petersen (L) Rochester Broncos CF 31 9 13 $8.3M
Jose Valdes (R) Seattle Mariners LF 30 6 8 $8.3M
38 David Oliva (R) Oakland Athletics 2B 27 6 9 $8.2M
39 Willie Fernandez (R) Arizona Diamondbacks RF 33 8 12 $8.0M
Bryce Smalling (L) Chicago White Sox LF 28 7 10 $8.0M
Robinson Blume (R) New York Yankees 2B 31 8 13 $8.0M
42 Luke Hudson (L) Richmond Virginians  LF 28 5 10 $8.0M
43 Alejandro Gonzalez (R) Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 32 12 14 $7.9M
44 Al Garces (L) Oakland Athletics P 33 10 14 $7.8M
Pedro Manuel (R) San Diego Padres P 38 14 15 $7.8M
Tim Nixon (L) Seattle Mariners RF 28 5 10 $7.8M
47 Del Wulf (L) Cincinnati Reds SS 31 9 13 $7.7M
48 Bartolo Hernandez (R) Arizona Diamondbacks CF 30 7 11 $7.5M
Terry Campbell (S) Washington Nationals  P 30 8 12 $7.5M
50 Paul Stafford (L) Milwaukee Brewers LF 33 12 15 $7.4M
  
Other Major League Rumors

The Anaheim Angels or trying to move fan favorite 23 year-old Pedro Ynoa (LF). He debuted in season 34, hitting 19 HR with 51 RBI in 90 games and stole 12 bases in 13 attempts. This year he has recorded 16 HR, 48 RBI and 12 SB in 14 attempts. This rumor has been circulating for some time and he hasn’t been dealt. Which means the Angels are asking too much, or they are being low balled. He is the best player on the major league trading block.

The Cardinals want to move season 31 Cy Young award winner Dioner Vizquel (P). In season 33 Vizquel has worked mainly out of the bullpen in a long-relieve role. The only thing we think is holding this transaction up is the 3 years remaining on his contract that pays him $5.4 M. St Louis is looking for younger starting pitching.   

Wilin Gonzalez (CF) of the San Francisco Giants was on the trade block earlier this season. When the club didn’t get any suitors he was designated for assignment, cleared waivers and demoted to AAA in order to make room for season 33 first round draft pick Breland Taijeron (L). The rookie has 2 HR 7 RBI 242 BA in 18 games with a .777 OPS since the call up. 

The Cubs are shopping Carlos Solis (LF). He has hit 26 or more Home Runs every season since his season 31 since joining the big club. Solis has 21 HR this season in 74 games and should easily hit the 40 HR plateau.

 Paul Stafford (LF) was added to the trade block by the Brewers. He is a career 300 hitter and stolen 355 bases in his 12 major league seasons. They are looking for prospects, or a LF with a better glove.


Toronto is shopping AAA prospects Maicer Borbon (RF) and Giancarlo Cisnero (LF). We think the light hitting Borbon is the better prospect of the two. However, both players have played 5 seasons in the minors with Cisnero hitting 213 HR 692 RBI 3 SB 17 CS and a minor league career BA of 297, 960 OPS. He has zero All-Star appearances and no awards at that level. Borbon has 87 HR 442 RBI 298 BA 914 OPS and an eye popping 171 SB 49 CS. He also has 2 All-Stars appearances and one Silver Slugger award at AA.    

STAT OF THE DAY DOWN ON THE FARM

Minor League Leaders OPS
TOP 10 
Rank PlayerLevel AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI OPS
1 Cy Welsh (ROC) Low A 271 93 104 33 12 22 87 1.323
2 Shawn Camp (LAA) AAA 284 87 105 16 0 36 109 1.262
3 Jeimer Bennett (TEX) AA 236 52 92 18 2 22 54 1.229
4 Jorel Chiasson (CH1) Low A 283 75 97 35 5 25 79 1.204
5 Paco De Aza (RIC) Low A 263 64 100 33 3 19 74 1.170
6 John Nunnally (LA) Low A 214 56 75 20 1 17 66 1.163
7 Robert Kirkman (TB) AA 201 38 71 25 0 16 49 1.154
8 Edgar Alvarez (PIT) AAA 306 70 119 28 0 23 74 1.152
9 Zachary Nilsson (DET) Low A 266 47 105 25 0 16 64 1.140
10 Rusney Diaz (PIT) AAA 271 68 87 14 2 27 73 1.134
The Next 15
Rank Player Level AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI OPS
11 Trace Garvin (SEA) High A 244 66 83 31 4 14 63 1.130
12 Chad Venters (CH1) High A 276 65 93 15 0 28 81 1.129
13 Harvey Taylor (STL) AA 286 58 88 14 1 39 94 1.127
14 Joe Gaillard (RIC) Low A 231 59 87 19 4 12 60 1.112
15 Russell Maas (WAS) High A 245 62 82 16 0 23 77 1.108
Braulio Perez (MIL) Low A 277 77 83 16 1 32 94 1.108
17 Jeimer Andujar (MIL) High A 214 39 73 20 1 20 73 1.107
18 Hunter McLemore (ATL) AAA 205 47 64 6 1 24 54 1.099
19 Freddie Osborne (COL) Low A 187 43 63 18 1 14 48 1.095
20 Nash Matthes (NY1) AAA 251 58 77 4 2 30 77 1.093
21 Louis Barkley (MIL) AAA 289 60 101 25 1 23 69 1.089
22 Alex Javier (CH1) AAA 264 64 87 17 6 18 60 1.076
23 Clarence Kramer (ARI) Low A 264 53 88 21 2 23 87 1.074
24 Mike Park (CIN) High A 278 53 92 22 4 23 76 1.068
25 Red Dunham (BAL) High A 260 54 84 19 0 25 78 1.063

Minor League Leaders WHIP
TOP 10 
Rank Player Level GS CG W L WHIP ERA
1 Victor Diaz (SEA) AA 14 0 11 2 0.80 1.90
2 Gerry Counsell (PHI) AA 15 0 12 1 0.95 1.39
3 Tony Park (SEA) AA 14 0 7 2 0.97 2.25
4 Harvey Schrenk (CIN) Low A 12 0 7 2 0.98 2.85
5 Wilking Reynoso (NY1) AA 14 0 9 3 0.99 1.52
6 Fergie Sauveur (SEA) High A 14 0 8 4 1.00 2.51
7 Aaron Jackson (RIC) AA 15 3 13 1 1.01 2.00
8 Victor Kydd (STL) AAA 14 1 8 1 1.02 2.46
9 Jerome Gibson (CH1) AAA 14 0 9 1 1.03 2.64
Marvin Hooper (LAA) AA 13 0 8 2 1.03 1.84
The Next 15
Rank Player Level GS CG W L WHIP ERA
11 Willie Perez (CIN) High A 12 1 9 1 1.03 3.16
12 Karim Espinosa (PHI) AAA 12 1 1 0 1.04 2.65
13 Nate Gardner (RIC) AA 14 0 6 1 1.05 2.63
Jhonatan Bethancourt (KC) High A 12 0 5 3 1.05 3.23
Elian Hernandez (ARI) Low A 14 0 8 2 1.05 3.45
16 Andres Arias (KC) Low A 14 0 7 2 1.06 2.47
17 Roy Cloud (MIL) Low A 10 0 6 2 1.07 2.39
18 Eddie Brinkley (NY1) AAA 12 2 4 0 1.08 4.06
Jerry Cron (FLA) Low A 14 0 4 5 1.08 1.80
Buddy Bell (MIN) Low A 15 4 10 5 1.08 2.54
21 Paul May (LAA) AA 12 3 4 4 1.09 2.02
Geovany Tabata (CH1) AA 15 1 6 4 1.09 3.10
Francis Gattis (MIL) AA 12 0 6 3 1.09 2.65
Jose Diaz (ARI) High A 13 1 9 4 1.09 2.65
Rubi Pineiro (CIN) High A 12 0 11 0 1.09 2.24



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