Scouting The Scouting Directors, Part Two

In Part 1 yesterday, I didn’t mention the work of scouting directors with three years or fewer on the job. That’s because directors with such limited work are prone to wild swings and outrageous bWAR+ figures based on a single player. One way to remedy this is to look at individual drafts. Let’s look at the top individual drafts now. (Since most recent draftees haven’t even started their major league careers, these data will exclude drafts from 2009 and later.) Here are the 10 best using those criteria. This is for total talent drafted (signed and unsigned), relative to league:

The Hardball Times

John Smoltz, Troy Percival, & Julian Tavarez On The 2015 Hall Of Fame Ballot

The 2015 ballot of candidates for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame will deliver another brushback pitch of reality that an era marked by home runs and slugging really was one flush with great pitching.

MLB Official Site

Near No-Hitter By Alan Benes Became Crushing Loss

Just halfway into May, the 1997 Cardinals had experienced much adversity, including six consecutive losses to open the season and a mid-April stretch in which they never scored more than two runs in five straight games. But Alan Benes may have absorbed the cruelest blow.

Retro Simba

Overthinking It: Springer Springs Eternal

Those of you without Google Alerts set for “Russ Springer” may have missed a startling development in the ever-changing middle-relief landscape this past Sunday, as one of the few bullpen constants of the last two decades gracefully passed from the stage. If Springer's official retirement announcement escaped your notice, you needn’t feel inattentive; the news caught my eye only because in an indirect way it made me look good—or more accurately, saved me from looking bad.

Baseball Prospectus

Checking The Numbers: Relievers & The Value Of Perfect Information

One of the most interesting aspects of baseball transactions is that every move carries a certain level of risk. Without perfect information akin to an extreme level of accurate prognostication, teams can never be 100 percent certain how a player will perform. The best investment is a player who will produce at a very high level, but who comes as close to guaranteeing that high level of production as possible. Albert Pujols personifies this idea, as a bad season for him still involves above-average defense and a TAv north of .310. I will say right now, with as much confidence as I have in my mind and body, that Pujols will hit, at worst, .310/.370/.530 next season. He has proven himself capable of production far beyond that slash line and is as close to a sure thing as we have.

Baseball Prospectus

White Sox Release Reliever Alan Embre

Cross Alan Embree off the list of possible left-handed relief options for the White Sox. The 40-year-old had not impressed during his six relief appearances with Triple-A Charlotte, posting an 8.22 ERA. He appeared in 39 games with the 2001 White Sox, finishing with a 5.03 ERA.

White Sox Official Site

Minor League Transactions April 27-May 3: Josh Dew Released

Dodgers released Justin Knoedler.
Twins placed Mike Maroth on the 7-day disabled list.
Nationals reinstated Ron Villone from the 7-day disabled list.

St. Louis Cardinals
Released: RHP Josh Dew
Optioned to Triple-A: C Bryan Anderson
Option transferred: RHP Francisco Samuel (Double-A to high Class A)
Reinstated from DL: RHP Josh Dew, RHP Francisco Samuel, 1B Mark Hamilton
Baseball America

Josh Dew: Dropped

Red Sox Reassign Jorge Sosa To Minors Camp

Meanwhile, the roster size continues to shrink. Michael Bowden, Aaron Bates and Ramon A. Ramirez were optioned to Pawtucket today and Jorge Sosa was re-assigned to Minors camp. That leaves 40 players in Major League camp, 39 if you consider that Dice-K is all but certain to begin the season on the disabled list.

Browne's Points

Joe Nelson Understands The Situation

So Alan Embree walked in this morning, heating up the competition in the bullpen. Among those on the bubble are Joe Nelson, Scott Atchison and Brian Shouse. As manager Terry Francona mentioned, some of the pitchers' "radars might have gone up a bit".

Brownie's Points

Jason Marquis Files For Free Agency

That figures to include their two biggest free agents, right-handed pitcher Jason Marquis and first baseman Jason Giambi. Marquis and Giambi were the first two Rockies to file Thursday.

Rockies Official Site

Angels Plan To Look At Aroldis Chapman

The Angels plan to take a look at Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban defector with the 100-mph fastball . . . if he is willing to face a hitter.

LA Times

Tony LaRussa Angry Over Bullpen Mound's Height

What the Cardinals alleged was a problem Friday bubbled into an angry conversation Saturday involving a pitching coach, a manager and a groundskeeper.

Denver Post

Angels Interested In Aroldis Chapman

Though it could be a year or more before he signs with a major league team, Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman already is generating plenty of hype.

Orange County Register

Clint Hurdle Knows The Spark Behind Red-Hot Stretch

When Clint Hurdle managed the Rockies, he would joke about the lack of national attention they received. All he had to do was get fired to give it to them.

Denver Post

Randy Flores Could Help Rockies Earlier In Season

The pitchers in Colorado Springs who could help the earliest are left-handed reliever Randy Flores, who is recovering from a shoulder surgery he underwent at the end of last season while with the Cardinals, and righty Josh Fogg, who struggled with the Reds last season and is still searching for his form.

Rockies Official Site

Julian Tavarez Arrives In Nationals Camp, But Has Visa Issues

Nationals reliever Julian Tavarez arrived in camp Sunday morning, but he will likely be unable to pitch in an exhibition game until later in the week due to visa issues.

Nationals Official Site

Nationals Sign Julian Tavarez To Minor League Deal

The Nationals agreed to terms with right-hander Julian Tavarez on a non-guaranteed, minor league deal that includes an invitation to big league camp.
Washington Post

In need of bullpen help, the Nationals signed reliever Julian Tavarez to a non-guaranteed Minor League contract on Friday.
Nationals Official Site

Jason Marquis Sets Good Example In Debut

New Rockies right-hander Jason Marquis joined fellow pitchers Josh Fogg and Huston Street in the video room at Hi Corbett Field on Saturday morning to watch some golf and study a few pitchers and hitters between shots.

Rockies Official Site

Rays Add Jason Isringhausen To Closer's Mix

Jason Isringhausen's signing of a minor league contract does not change the ninth-inning situation in Tampa Bay - for now.

Mass Live

Rockies Sign Randy Flores

No go for Joe. But the Rockies are ready for Randy.

Bent on adding left-handed relief depth, Colorado signed Randy Flores to a $600,000 minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training, according to contract information obtained by The Denver Post.
Denver Post

Randy Flores: Signs Minor League Deal With Colorado