Sickels scouting report

Jordan Milbrath, RHP, Indians Age 26, 35th round pick in 2013 from Augustana College in South Dakota; 3.02 ERA in 57 innings between High-A and Double-A with 63/25 K/BB; former mediocre A-ball starter converted to bullpen in 2016 and saw velocity pick up, in mid-to-upper-90s now, command can wobble but stuff is attractive.

sounds like Milbrath could develop into a middle reliever, always happy to have more strong arms available in the pen. Never sure who will pan out: e.g. Austin Adams seemed likely but couldn't manage his control; CC Lee seemed to be a closer in waiting but never amounted to much; etc.

He likes my favorite, which is fortunate for Johnnathan, since my young favorites tend to fall on their 5-tool faces; of course JRod has only 4 tools plus a great walk rate

Johnathan Rodriguez, OF, Grade C+: Age 18, third round pick in 2017 from Puerto Rico, played pro debut at age 17, hitting .250/.381/.333 in 96 at-bats in rookie ball, drawing 21 walks; no power yet but the 6-3, 185-pound switch-hitter should develop more pop as he matures; 60-arm, 50-speed fit nicely in right field; possible breakout guy although probably more in 2019 than 2018. ETA 2022.

Wait a second, how did this get here, should in minors folder.

Thanks buck!

Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani drawing early Babe Ruth comparisons
Japanese import continues to shine as both pitcher and hitter
Ohtani flirted with perfect game for six-plus innings on Sunday
Reuters

Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani continued to display Babe Ruth-like brilliance in the early stages of his Major League Baseball career as he flirted with a perfect game while pitching for six-plus innings in a Los Angeles Angels victory on Sunday.

The 23-year-old rookie allowed just one hit and struck out 12 over seven scoreless innings as he improved to 2-0 as a pitcher in his team’s 6-1 win over the Oakland Athletics.

The performance only increased the buzz that Ohtani, who hit home runs in three consecutive games last week, could become the highest-profile player since Hall of Famer Ruth to succeed on both the mound and at the plate.

“I think he’s mature beyond his years,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters when asked about the right-handed pitcher before Sunday’s game.

“He’s been challenged at a young age, so he’s seasoned to what a lot of players have to get acclimated to. He’s been playing at a very high level of baseball from a very young age.

Ohtani showed plenty of that talent when he retired the first 19 batters he faced, throwing a perfect game until Marcus Semien lined a fastball into left field for a single with one out in the seventh.

Nicknamed the Babe Ruth of Japan because of his dual threat, Ohtani became the first Major League player with two wins and three home runs in his team’s first 10 games.

Ohtani homered in his first ever at-bat at Angels stadium last week and has continued to thrill fans with a .389 batting average at the plate, where he has three homers and seven RBIs.

On the mound, which is where the Angels plan to use him primarily, Ohtani has 18 strikeouts in two games, helping to push Los Angeles to an impressive 7-3 start.

Harold Reynolds said that Ohtani's week was the best in the history of baseball.

Hard to argue with those 2 pitching performances added to 3 home runs - including one off Kluber no less??

OK, wow, crazy!!

Still, I prefer Babe Ruth so far.

Hard to argue that fact Civ. Times are different between now and then but the Babe's record stands for itself.

It's still early for Ohtani - we will see. But as a pitcher, his stuff is really good and he has command.

That said, there's no comparing modern day athletes to guys in the early 1900s. Amongst his peers, Babe stood out.

Babe pretty much invented the home run.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Report: 974 Fans Attended Rays vs. White Sox Game at Guaranteed Rate Field
ROB GOLDBERG
APRIL 10, 2018

The Chicago White Sox play the Tampa Bay Rays at an empty Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, on Monday, April 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Haynes)
Jeff Haynes/Associated Press
The 2018 baseball season is not even two weeks old, but it appears Chicago White Sox fans are already disinterested.

Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays had an official attendance of 10,377, but the number of spectators actually at the stadium was much lower. According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, only 974 people showed up.

Rick Tarsitano of WGN provided a picture of a nearly empty Guaranteed Rate Field:

#WhiteSox paid attendance 10,377

The teams played again Tuesday in front of an announced crowd of 10,069, but Sporting News showed the stadium wasn't close to full:


The White Sox ranked 28th in the majors last year with an average attendance of 20,117, but after a 3-7 start to the year, including 0-5 at home, the problem seems to only be getting worse.

Wow

Bad Baseball + Bad Weather = Bad Attendence

We've all had that experience in past April and September days in Cleveland.

This one cracks me up! Good choice.

Nolan Arenado was removed from the Rockies' starting lineup on Saturday and will begin serving his suspension.
There has been no word on whether his appeal was able to lower his suspension or not, but he'll get it out of the way beginning on Saturday. It isn't the worst idea to take a day off while Max Scherzer is on the hill for the opposition.



He just saved himself some grief and batting average points.