“Launcher and Catcher Reports” feels a little different this February from previous years for obvious reasons, but even in these weird times we live in, spring training is a special time.
It officially begins with the first report date of the pitcher and receiver. So as players begin to infiltrate the Florida and Arizona camps, let’s evaluate the eight most important stories of the spring.
1. Set of adjustments
To the litany of safety and health measures that players, coaches and staff had to comply with during the reduced 2020 season, we added a new code of conduct that includes contact tracking devices and a quasi-quarantine throughout spring training. . Attendance at the exhibition will be limited, access restricted.
On the field, this spring is the time for National League pitchers to pick up a bat again in the hope that the universal designated hitter rule will cease to apply (unless the MLB and MLB Players’ Association return). to publish this topic on Opening Day). Florida teams will play a more regionalized schedule than in previous years and administrators may agree to shorten display games if nine entries are not considered necessary.
So, like so many things in our world, Spring Training will look very different this year.
2. Thin stretch?
Injuries (especially throwing injuries) are an unfortunate inevitable side effect of these good Spring Training vibes. But teams are gearing up to overcome the usual number of dubious arms this spring, simply because of how the 2020 calendar was affected by the mid-spring break and the mid-summer rise.
The starters will be preparing for a 162-game season after an unprecedented 60-game season (Astros Framber Valdez’s 2/3 regular season 2/3 regular season and postseason tickets go be the maximum in MLB), and each team will have its own approach.
Those who can successfully navigate this challenge and step on the camp in something akin to their maximum strength will be much better positioned for the regular season.
3. Too many arms?
No team seems better equipped to handle the above than the Dodgers, who expanded their already deep set of weapons with the signing of Trevor Bauer. And if health cooperates, World Series defenders will have some tough decisions to make.
Julio Urías, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin deserve a chance to start, but there is only a lot of space in the inn. Does LA put any of those arms in the bullring, or are May and Gonsolin now Triple-A tied up after their strong debut seasons? Is this David Price? Does Bauer have a desire to start every fourth day? (The latter seems rather dubious.)
4. New treasures along the treasure coast
There’s a lot of star strength walking around the Cardinals ’clubhouse in Jupiter, Florida, and the Mets’ clubhouse in Port St. Lucie. Nolan Arenado is the best player in the National League, for bWAR, in the last seven seasons. Francisco Lindor is bWAR’s MLB’s shortest field in the last six. It’s a great thing that even a player of this caliber fits into a new squad, let alone two, and both Arenado and Lindor bring leadership along with their gloves and wood.
Except for the injury, the success of these blockbusters will obviously not be dictated by the results of the Grapefruit League. But for the fan bases involved, these first images of Lindor and Arenado throwing balls to the ground and taking BP on their new ones will be a big thrill. And due to the grapefruit regionalized schedule, the Cards and Mets will face off in six of their 24 games, so those two stars will be seen a lot this March.
5. Meet the new boss
In a couple of cases, the new boss is the same as the old boss. Alex Cora regains control of the Red Sox after a year in baseball exile and the organization’s main goal will be to get the pitch, which now includes Garrett Richards in the rotation and Adam Ottavino in the bullring, back on track.
And Terry Francona returns to the tribe after losing most of 2020, including the Wild Card AL series, due to health issues. Francona is a well-known face in Goodyear, Arizona, but her Cleveland club looks very different (and younger) with Lindor, Carlos Carrasco and Carlos Santana missing. There are many options for sorting in midfield, short and first base.
The only two legitimately new contracts are in the Central AL. AJ Hinch takes over an increasingly interesting Tigers team with a growing rotation talent. But Spring’s most important management story is in Glendale, Arizona, where Tony La Russa, 76, returns to work with the White Sox nearly a decade after his “retirement” and seven years after his entrance to the Hall of Fame. How will you connect with the young and growing Sox?
6. The recovery group
Spring training is a time when players returning from an injury regain their groove.
That’s what new Yankees expect from new additions Corey Kluber, who threw just one inning last year for a shoulder problem, and Jameson Taillon, who threw zero due to his recovery from Tommy surgery John. Nationals expect the second year of Stephen Strasburg’s megaextension to go much better than the first, when carpal tunnel surgery limited him to five entries. Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez returns from major knee surgery, Cardinal right-hander Miles Mikolas from forearm surgery, Braves right-hander Mike Soroka returns from a terrible Achilles injury and the new Blue Jays reliever Kirby Yates will return from an elbow procedure.
7. Youth will be served
The lack of a Minor League season in 2020 drastically altered the development paths of many prospects. And obviously, service time stipulations are known to affect players ’promotion schedules. But there are plenty of well-known young players who could be on the Opening Day lists if they arrived at the camp.
Atlanta’s Cristian Pache (No. 12 in the overall outlook, for MLB Pipeline) could destroy the Braves’ central work after scoring four bats in the 2020 regular season and showing a dazzling defense in the postseason. White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn (No. 14 overall) and his powerful bat could be employed in the role of DH. Third Pirate Base Ke’Bryan Hayes (No. 9), Cardinals camper Dylan Carlson (No. 13) and Twins champion Alex Kirilloff (No. 26) should have a place in the day’s lineups. ‘opening.
Meanwhile, a lot of Top 100 Prospects pitchers are listed on list sites or can claim one if injuries or performance dictate, including Blue Jays’ Nate Pearson (No. 10 overall), Casey Mize of the Blue Jays. Tigers (No. 11) and Tarik Skubal (No. 24), Sixt Sanchez of the Marlins (No. 15), Luis Patiño of the Rays (No. 19), Logan Gilbert of the Sailors (No. 33), Michael Kopech of the White Socks (39), Astros Forrest Whitley (41), Phillies Spencer Howard (42), Indians Triston McKenzie (51) and Yankees Clarke Schmidt (88).
8. The free agency is not over.
Let’s not forget that as we write this, three members of our list of 25 free agents are still available: Jackie Bradley Jr., Jake Odorizzi, and Taijuan Walker. The same goes for Trevor Rosenthal, Rick Porcello, other pitching pickups and dozens of role-playing players or usable pieces (Yasiel Puig, anyone?).
Therefore, clubs that encounter injuries or unforeseen circumstances have options available. And, of course, the trade market could leak again, especially at the end of the field. This does not necessarily mean that there is an overproduction of Kris Bryant, but it does mean that the transaction cable is still very open for companies.
And luckily, so are spring training camps.