Here are some of the stories that I’ve been tracking in my Spring Training Notebook. Camps have gotten underway across Major League Baseball.
There’s no doubting that George Springer was the Blue Jays biggest offseason acquisition. The one I’m most fascinated with, however, is Marcus Semien. He’s had a really good career with one spectacular season in 2019.
George Springer and Marcus Semien are Toronto Blue Jays ? pic.twitter.com/7Lp904sqRl
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) February 23, 2021
It was kinda like Homer Simpson saving the power plant. It worked but can he do it again?
Thinking about Semien’s breakthrough season got me thinking. Where does it rank among the best WAR seasons among active players? Well, I geeked out and looked it up.
- Mookie Betts 10.6 (2018)
- Mike Trout 10.5 (2012)
- Trout 10.5 (2016)
- Bryce Harper 9.7 (2015)
- Albert Pujols 9.7 (2009)
- Trout 9.6 (2015)
- Betts 9.5 (2016)
- Pujols 9.2 (2008)
- Cody Bellinger 9.1 (2019)
- Alex Bregman 9.1 (2019)
And that’s it. Semien’s 8.9 WAR in 2019 tied him with Trout’s 2013 season. Looking through this list made me think Bregman or Semien probably should’ve won the AL MVP in 2019. Trout recorded an 8.2 WAR that season. His team was out of the race by June as usual.
AND STILL.
— MLB (@MLB) February 19, 2021
@MikeTrout continues his reign as the No. 1 player of the #Top100RightNow. pic.twitter.com/DuVOaC3Ap6
Trout was voted first (again) by MLB Network. I think it should’ve been Betts but I don’t get a lot of people to agree with me. Trout is great but his team is consistently irrelevant.
Mr. Anderson
Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson is not a player who lacks confidence. He provided some bulletin board material for the Minnesota Twins with his comments recently.
Tim Anderson on the AL Central rival Twins
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) February 22, 2021
“We’re way more athletic than them. That’s just true facts. But at the end of the day we know we’ve got to go out there and prove it.”
That’s great, Tim. It also has a “my dad is tougher than you dad” kind of feel to it. A phrase I’m sure many of us have heard on the playground.
Also, it’s baseball, not football or basketball. The most athletic team doesn’t always win.
Athletic Additions
The Oakland Athletics made a couple of impressive late adds to their roster last week. They signed veteran relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal and 1B/DH Mitch Moreland. Rosenthal is coming off a season that saw him pitch to a 1.90 ERA in 23 appearances for the Royals and Padres.
Mitch Moreland & Trevor Rosenthal…. that’s more like it! Hopefully puts a bit of spring into the players steps given recent departures! pic.twitter.com/q9qGEwrsEG
— ??? (@surf_n_waves) February 18, 2021
For me, Moreland is one of the most underrated players in MLB. He’s hit at least 15 home runs eight years in a row (he had 10 in 42 games last season) and should fit into an A’s roster that always seems to maximize their talent.
Rays Lurking
The Tampa Bay Rays have had an interesting offseason. They let Charlie Morton walk, traded Blake Snell, and brought back former ace Chris Archer. They added to that intrigue with a pair of trades last week.
First, they sent catching prospect Renaldo Hernández and minor league infielder Nick Sogard to the Red Sox. In exchange, they received Chris Mazza (RHP) and Jeffrey Springs (LHP), who were both fairly unimpressive last season.
The fact that the Red Sox got absolutely anything for Chris Mazza and Jeffrey Springs is pure wizardry by Chaim Bloom. pic.twitter.com/4BKscR1Z7g
— Matt McCarthy (@MattMcCarthy985) February 17, 2021
The Rays then sent right-handed reliever John Curtiss to the Marlins for first-base prospect Evan Edwards. Oliver Drake was also re-signed.
Curtiss was a big part of their run to the World Series last year but I’ve watched the Rays for too long to question their judgment. They’ll find a way to get the most out of Mazza and Springs.
Chris Mazza has a wide array of pitches: His SI and CH get a ton of drop, his 4SM gets good whiffs at the top of the zone, and his SL and CT have been effective as well.
— Rays Metrics (@RaysMetrics) February 17, 2021
He has a career 3.21 minor league ERA and was great at inducing weak contact in 2020 (83rd %ile EV allowed): pic.twitter.com/QPTXAziT1T
Last Outs
Happy to see Shane Bieber back at Cleveland’s camp, fully recovered from a bout with COVID-19. He’s a big reason why I think they won’t fall off the face of the earth this season.
Cleveland ace Shane Bieber reports to camp after COVID-19 bout.
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) February 20, 2021
by @twithersap
https://t.co/QJEv2PZhW1
Ugly but entertaining interaction between Trevor Bauer and Noah Sydergaard.
Also, @Noahsyndergaard, try to treat the fans better. They’re what makes our game go. No place for personal insults, especially about someone else’s wife. pic.twitter.com/I3FaZbR224
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) February 20, 2021
