Daily Notes, With a Completely Stirring Hyperlink
Table of Contents
Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Daily Notes.
1. Stirring Hyperlink: BA’s Midseason Top-50 Prospects
2. Notable MLB Games (Including MLB.TV Free Game)
3. Today’s Complete Schedule
Stirring Hyperlink: BA’s Midseason Top-50 Prospects
Regarding What Happened Yesterday
The thing that happened yesterday is, is Baseball America made available to Navigators of the Internet its midseason top-50 prospect list.
The Reader’s Likely Reaction to That
Rendered in video form, here’s how the reader is likely reacting to that sort of information:
In Terms of Navigating to the Aforementioned Prospect List
In terms of navigating to BA’s midseason prospect list, it’s necessary to follow this hyperlink.
Regarding Whether It’s Dangerous to Do So
Very, one assumes.
Regarding Whether It Requires Courage
Of course, is the only possible answer.
What the Reader Is Likely to Find There
The reader will find, among other things, the following players ranked one through ten (accompanied, in this case, by preseason top-100 ranks):
| Rank | Name | Pos | Team | Prev |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dylan Bundy | rhp | Orioles | 10 |
| 2 | Jurickson Profar | ss | Rangers | 7 |
| 3 | Wil Myers | of | Royals | 28 |
| 4 | Taijuan Walker | rhp | Mariners | 20 |
| 5 | Danny Hultzen | lhp | Mariners | 21 |
| 6 | Gerrit Cole | rhp | Pirates | 12 |
| 7 | Tyler Skaggs | lhp | Diamondbacks | 13 |
| 8 | Jose Fernandez | rhp | Marlins | N/A |
| 9 | Manny Machado | ss | Orioles | 11 |
| 10 | Zack Wheeler | rhp | Mets | 35 |
Idle Observation
The author actually saw the previously unranked Fernandez pitch this spring in Jupiter, even capturing very poor video of the right-hander in game action on the backfields.
Notable MLB Games
Minnesota at Texas | 20:05 ET
Rangers left-hander Martin Perez, 21, with (a) what is widely considered an advanced repertoire and (b) decidedly underwhelming minor-league numbers. Thus it was with some anticipation that the Baseballing Public awaited his start, which, on the whole, was a success. To wit: 5.1 IP, 23 TBF, 5 K, 1 BB, 7 GB on 17 batted-balls (41.2%), 3.13 xFIP. Here’s what Perez threw, according to Texas Leaguers’ PITCHf/x data (usage and velocity in parentheses): two-seam fastball (35.0%, 92.3), changeup (27.2%, 81.8), four-seam fastball (24.3%, 92.7), curve (12.6%, 75.1).
Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Texas Radio.
Miami at St. Louis | 20:15 ET ***MLB.TV Free Game***
The Cardinals continue to have the highest WAR winning percentage (.570) in the their division by kinda a lot (the Reds are next, at .526) and continue not to be in first place in said division (currently 2.5 games behind NL Central-leading Pittsburgh).
Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: St. Louis Radio.
Today’s Complete Schedule
Here’s the complete schedule for all of today’s games, with our very proprietary watchability (NERD) scores for each one. Pitching probables and game times aggregated from MLB.com and RotoWire. The average NERD Game Score for today is 4.7.
Note: the following Game Scores include the poorly conceived playoff-odds adjustment discussed in a recent edition of Daily Notes. Also note: the following table is entirely sortable.
| Away | SP | Tm. | Gm. | Tm. | SP | Home | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Hudson | ATL | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 2 | PHI | Kyle Kendrick | 19:05 |
| Drew Pomeranz | COL | 2 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 10 | WAS | Stephen Strasburg | 19:05 |
| Jonathan Sanchez | KC | 0 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | DET | Drew Smyly | 19:05 |
| Barry Zito | SF | 0 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | PIT | Erik Bedard | 19:05 |
| Alex Cobb | TB | 7 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 5 | CLE | Justin Masterson | 19:05 |
| Travis Wood | CHN | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | NYN | Johan Santana | 19:10 |
| Hiroki Kuroda | NYA | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | BOS | Josh Beckett | 19:10 |
| Yovani Gallardo | MIL | 5 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | HOU | J.A. Happ | 20:05 |
| Francisco Liriano | MIN | 5 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 15 | TEX | Martin Perez* | 20:05 |
| Aaron Laffey* | TOR | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | CHA | Jake Peavy | 20:10 |
| Ricky Nolasco | MIA | 4 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 6 | STL | Jake Westbrook | 20:15 |
| Clayton Kershaw | LAN | 9 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 7 | AZ | Josh Collmenter | 21:40 |
| Undecided | BAL | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | LAA | C.J. Wilson | 22:05 |
| Bronson Arroyo | CIN | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | SD | Kip Wells* | 22:05 |
| Kevin Millwood | SEA | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | OAK | Tommy Milone | 22:05 |
To learn more about Pitcher and Team NERD scores click here.
To learn how Game NERD Scores are calculated, click here.
* = Fewer than 20 IP, NERD at discretion of very handsome author.
Martin Perez with a 15 NERD score, huh?
Discretionary NERD.
Objective NERD
Astros game’s merely a 4? I’ve got that on tap for this evening; possibly a clever stroke to have filled the minifridge with beer.
On the plus side, the stadium is (I think) air-conditioned.
I meant televisually.
My equipage:
- 4 Rahr and Sons Ugly Pug black lager
- 3 Alaska Amber
- 21 Shiner bock
- 1 St Bernardus Abt 12
so that’s what it takes to get through a Houston game
So, if you get back to this page, how’s the Alaska Amber? I love amber ales, but have not gotten to try that one yet.
Also, hype aside, how do you feel about the St. Bernardus? I mean, I like it, but I’ve had other ones that I prefer.
Pregaming not yet having commenced:
- The Alaska Amber is not especially flavorful or remarkable, no wow, but goodness is it ever smooth and pleasing. I am under the impression that I could drink, say, 7 before wanting to taste something else. In a (specifically chosen) word, “nice.”
- St Bernardus is scrumptious, though better on tap (not being pretentious – “better on tap” is perhaps my least favorite phrase in the English language). Of the Belgians my favorite is Rochefort 10, if that gives you an idea of where I’m coming from.
I will add that my favorite St Bernardus tasting experience was after having been very well-served by a couple imperial stouts already, inc. Old Rasputin. Some beers taste better when you’re pissed because they’re bad; some beers taste better when you’re pissed because they’re good. A phenomenon worthy of scientific research?
Yeah, that is kind of what I expected from the Amber. I like them for their drinkability, but many of them do not have a truly stand-out characteristic to their flavor.
And with St. Bernardus, I recognize that it’s good, but I just can’t see me wanting to drink it all night. I will have to try it on tap sometime. Also, my friend said that he was wondering if you were prepared for the cork to have so much force coming out. I suggested he try it and he said he almost shot himself with the cork.
I could see how having other beers might enhance the experience. Old Rasputin definitely is higher on my list of preferred drinks. Just had a couple on the 4th, haha. And now sitting back to the Cubs winning with a Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout, which I really enjoy. (If you have a chance, I would definitely suggest having some of Bell’s stuff. The Two-Hearted is a favorite of many, although I am not a huge fan of IPAs.)
Sounds like you have a realistic expectation for the Alaska Amber – had another tonight and it was again exceedingly drinkable.
St Bernardus is not a go-to or the first beer I’d drink, since the flavours are so dense and varied. I think drinking up to the St Bernardus makes it easier to ‘go with the’ flavour barrage rather than trying to consciously work it out. I didn’t have the cork issue because I managed to find normal-size bottles with conventional bottle caps, at a gas station in Austin TX.
Thanks for the Bell’s tips! Their stouts have been on my want list for some time. Here in TX it can be much harder to find beers from Michigan and the northeast (Dogfish and Brooklyn excepted) than to find stuff from Colorado and California. Not that I’m complaining: thank god for Left Hand.
That’s gotta be an amazing gas station. Would never have guessed you could find St Bernardus there. Also, that’s a good description of why I probably didn’t appreciate it as much as other beers. I was definitely trying too hard to work out the flavors.
And best of luck at finding some Bell’s. They really do make good beers all around. But I definitely get where you are coming from with only being able to find certain regions’ beers. I live a little south of Chicago, so that’s not a problem between stuff like Three Floyds (also awesome, but probably even harder to find than Bell’s) or even Goose Island. But I have heard good things about all sorts of stuff from the western half of the country, and never see those anywhere. Luckily, my local liquor store will try to get ahold of whatever you ask for, so after I run out of new stuff to try from the midwest, I will take them up on that offer. I did, however, see something from Left Hand today when I went to get my Kalamazoo Stout, so I may have to try that out next time I go.
It is known colloquially around Austin TX as ‘The Best Gas Station in the Universe,’ and should you ever be in town, it’s a bona fide tourist attraction at the corner of 45th and Duval. Next on my visit-list when I’m there is Whip-In, a gas station, microbrew store, and Indian curry house gastropub.
I’ve heard great things about Three Floyds in addition to Bell’s, enough that a friend and I contemplated road-tripping. Perhaps some day. In the mean time, enjoy sampling Left Hand – I’ve recently seen their Milk Stout Nitro appearing in stores, which is exciting. I have a love-hate relationship with the beer (very mood dependent), but it is like little else…
Well, I’ve never been to Austin, so eventually I will have to make a trip out there. Especially since I know someone who moved there not too long ago. I guess I will just go say that I am visiting them and then spend the whole time traveling to gas stations.
Thanks for the advice on the Milk Stout Nitro. I’ll definitely be checking for that. I love stouts, and ones that stand out from the crowd are exciting for me. Also, I can see why you’d make the road trip for Three Floyds. With Dark Lord Day, there is a good reason to head there. As long as I am in the country at that point, I will be there next year. If not, my buddy will go for me and pick some up for me, haha. There are tons of great brewpubs and beer bars in the general area (Three Floyds is probably something like a half hour from the city of Chicago) so it’d be a great place to take a trip for some beer tasting. I’ve spent too much time in Atlanta over the last couple of years,and the situation is much worse there. Very few good breweries in Atlanta for some reason.
Dr C, in case you’re still reading, I just had company arrive bearing large quantities of beers from Illinois’ Big Muddy Brewing – a dunkel, pale ale, vanilla stout, “India-style brown.” Any thoughts?
Also: Miguel Gonzalez announced for the Orioles. “Gonzalez, 28, has done well in limited action during his first season in the Majors, posting a 2.31 ERA in 11 2/3 innings as a long reliever.”
His relief appearances for the Orioles have been in two separate stints.
11 MPH difference between Perez’s FB and CH, eh? Impressive.
Aaron Laffey has 21 IP, Mr Very Handsome Author person. You are no longer allowed discretion under your own proprietary NERD system. Unless you allow yourself discretion in your allowance of discretion.
I know Hultzen is a great prospect, but I haven’t heard anyone claim any concerns about his walk rate. Wasn’t his control/command supposed to be his forte?
Undecided = 5? That’s a cool benchmark of sorts.
The 0-10 scale is a real problem; surely Jonathan Sanchez is -5 and Stephen Strasburg +11.
Does Mike Trout have a nickname? This should probably be discussed on here at some point (seems more of a Cistulli issue than a Cameron issue, or possibly even Notgraphs).
Last night, he put up an epic box score line – 2/2, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 3 SBs, 2 SFs – which, to me, suggests productive, as in, Mike “Productive” Trout. While amusing, there is likely something better out there… but where is it going to come from?