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Watchlist Player Reports Are Finished

Just a quick note to pass along word that the 2020 Watchlist Reports are now complete. There were very few edits, perhaps because the folks at 20/80 Baseball and Fangraphs are just as good (if not better) than the boys in Durham, whose reliance on team sources is sometimes painfully obvious – especially on IFAs.

The “donuts” have been made. Pitchers and catchers report on Thursday. Don’t forget to brush up on your clichés.

10 Commments

  1. Thanks Luke. Thinking of what you said about the folks in Durham non activity so far; are they in some kind of financial trouble? I mean, keeping up with minor league signings, etc. Is what they do and they’re not doing it.

    Sounds troubling.

    1. I’m not sure that’s the case. What seems more likely to me is that this information is being embargoed as part of an overall strategy of radio silence. What I’m not sure is why anyone might think this is beneficial. The minor-league teams are churning out press releases — the Grizzlies had an “MLB Jr. HR Derby” on Saturday; the F-Nats announced a partnership with Germanna Community College — and we all know that they don’t (and shouldn’t) do much marketing that’s player-centric. So they’re not hurting the teams very much.

      The only people losing out are the fans, and maybe the calculation is that only the diehards like us are noticing. And in a few days all eyes will be on Florida and Arizona — even ours. But again, what purpose does it serve? The PBA doesn’t expire until September. Rosters will have to be filled. Why not report on who’s going to play where?

  2. The new FanGraphs projections are out. They have Carter Kieboom hitting at a .800 OPS rate this year. If he can play a passable 3rd and hit that much as a rookie, I’ll take it.

    1. If he plays a passable third and puts up an .800 OPS, I will…hmm. Someone suggest some form of ritual humiliation that won’t land me in jail. I’ll do something.

      1. It’s my understanding that there’s a local football team (not in Baltimore, but plays in Maryland) for which you can root and achieve that end.

        1. Ha! Yes, every time someone complains about a Rizzo trade from several years ago, I just mention the team in Ashburn/Landover. Yes, Rizzo has had a few clunkers, but he also has five playoff appearances in eight years and a shiny new trophy.

          I’m cautiously optimistic about Kieboom, but I suspect that his 2020 season will be much like Robles’s in 2019 — a lot of ups and downs. The Nats rode out the Robles roller coaster largely because they didn’t have another viable option. It will be interesting to see whether they stick with Kieboom through slumps because they do have other options at 3B (Cabrera, Kendrick, Castro). The one skill that Kieboom has that should keep his slumps from being too damning is plate discipline, as he’s always had a high walk rate.

          I think an .800 OPS is ambitious. Vlad Jr. posted .772 last year, to the disappointment of many. That’s the ballpark I see Kieboom as a rookie, with a 10+% walk rate and 15-20 homers. He’s certainly capable of more, but I’m trying to be realistic.

  3. Yes, we’re all backseat GM’s here, that’s what make this fun.

    I’m definitely more bullish on our upper tier starting pitching than FanGraphs and other than Rutledge I also expect at least 1 and maybe 2 breakouts this year.

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