The Man in the Springy Mask

A new type of catcher mask may reduce concussions due to foul tips.

The mask has done well on safety tests. The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment test — 70 mph with softballs — went well, and the manufacturer followed up with a test using a 100 mph fastball. “On average we reduced the severity index of impacts by up to 50%” said Klein, “and reduced the peak g’s inflicted as well. Our results were so impressive, that one independent test facility wouldn’t certify the results because they thought their machine was broken. They had never seen scores that low.”

Nice to see progress on this front.

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A Need for Netting

Via BBTF, the Washington Post provides an excellent look at why Tony Clark‘s intelligence and personality made him perfect for his job as head of the MLBPA. Buried in the story, however, is why there needs to be more netting in the ballpark:

When the Tigers were moving into Comerica Park before the 2000 season, club officials were planning on putting the family section down the third base line. Typically, those sections are behind home plate – and therefore behind screens, where people weren’t as susceptible to foul balls. Pitcher C.J. Nitkowski, a teammate of Clark’s in Detroit as well as in the minor leagues, was concerned about the safety of his young family.

“I was furious about it,” Nitkowski said. He drafted a letter to top Tigers’ officials and shared it with Clark.

“He was like, ‘All your points are really great,’” Nitkowski recalled. “‘But you got to soften it a little bit, dude. You’re coming off way too angry.’”

“He had an understanding of the way you approach something like that, even as a player,” Nitkowski said. “He understood the value of being civil and the right way to have that conversation from player to management.”

If ballplayers don’t think their families are safe, then you probably are not.

Do read the article for insights into Clark as the CBA negotiations approach.

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Dozier on the DP

Brian Dozier does not like the new rule on the neighborhood play:

“A lot of time, I straddle the bag, meaning I don’t ever touch it,” Dozier confessed of his pivot-play habit. “Throughout the course of the year, you have umpires who [say], ‘Hey, at least make an attempt,’ or ‘You weren’t anywhere close, let’s clean it up.’?”

That latitude is gone now, with video available to overturn close-enough out calls. But in Dozier’s opinion, the spirit of the law was being followed; there was no need to invoke the letter of the law.

“I guess I can say I don’t really like it,” he said. “I love replay, it’s good for the game. But the neighborhood play, there’s always a fine line. You don’t want to take away from the game itself.”

The new rules took away aggressive slides so we’ll see if that’s enough to keep fielder from getting their legs broken.

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Desmond has a Barrow in the Market Place!

The Rangers signed Ian Desmond to a one-year deal to replace Josh Hamilton in leftfield:

With Josh Hamilton starting the season on the disabled list, the Rangers made a move Sunday, signing free-agent shortstop Ian Desmond to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports.

The team is expected to convert Desmond, 30, into a left fielder, with Elvis Andrus remaining at shortstop.

If Desmond has to replace Hamilton for a full year, that’s a huge downgrade for the Rangers. If Hamilton misses a month, the move gives Texas some veteran depth in the infield.

Desmond had a very short peak offensively, his seasonal age 26-27 season his best with the bat. His power at age 28 kept him from totally tanking, at age 29 in 2015 everything was down. Maybe moving to an easier defensive position will give him more time to concentrate on his offense and get his swing back.

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Cole the New Kiner?

Gerrit Cole is not happy over his salary negotiations:

As the team set his salary for 2016, however, Cole feels he was treated like a second-class player.

On Saturday, Cole grudgingly signed a deal for $541,000 in base salary. That’s the same amount he made last year — $531,000 in base pay play a $10,000 bonus for making the All-Star team.

According to Cole, the team’s initial offer last week was for $538,000 – which was less than his total pay last year. The team refused to go higher than $541,000.

“They even threatened a salary reduction to the league minimum if I did not agree,” Cole said.

No doubt the Pirates felt they already paid for his performance:

The Pirates gave Cole an $8 million signing bonus after they made him the first overall pick in 2011. At the time, it was the largest bonus ever given an amateur player.

“I would think Bob would want to reward a guy for a special performance,” Boras said. “Other teams have that system. If Gerrit was with the Mets, he’d get well over $650,000. If he was with the Marlins, he’d get more (than the Pirates will pay).”

I understand both sides here. I suspect if Cole were a low bonus player and pitched like he did in 2015, then the Pirates would have paid more. The Pirates took a risk with the $8 million bonus, and they are reaping that reward. Cole is hardly Ralph Kiner:

The 1952 Pirates lost 112 games, the worst record of any major league team since 1935. Home attendance dropped by about one-third, and Kiner’s batting average fell to .244. Despite his league-leading home-run performance, Rickey cut his salary to $75,000. When Kiner objected, Rickey told him, “We can finish last without you.”

And Branch Rickey was a saint!

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Sacrifice Fly Situations

Tom Tango posts a series at FanGraphs on how to build WAR, taking input from readers how how to treat specific situations. Today is the Man on Third, One Out situation:

The worst time to strike out is with a runner on third base and less than 2 outs. In fact, it’s runner on 3B and exactly 1 out. The pitcher knows it, the batter knows it, the fielder knows it, the runner knows it. The fans know it. Everyone is extremely aware that getting the second out changes the entire dynamic of the situation, since now only a positive event can score that runner on third base.

Since batters and pitchers bear down more in the one out situation, I thought it would interesting to see who wins the battle:

Percentages per Plate Appearance

2012-2015	3rd No Out	3rd 2 Out	All other < 2 out situations
PA	10615	27432	461026
Hit Pct	24.8	23.6	23.3
BB Pct	7.9	10.8	6.9
SF Pct	13.5	12.8	~0.0
K Pct	17.2	17.5	19.6
Extra Bases/PA	.376	.355	.368

Comapring the one out to the zero out situation is a mixed bag. The pitchers do record a higher percentage of strikeouts and allow fewer sacrifice flies, but they also walk more batters, which forces them into the same situation. Overall, however, batters clearly win the SF situation. They strikeout much less, collect more hits and walks, and don’t lose much power. This makes me think the way to categorize the Kansas City Royals offense is that they always bat as if they are in an SF situation.

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Plating up the Infamy Miniatures Full English Pledge - Part 4: Brunch

Welcome to the final part of my Infamy: Welcome to the Big Smoke Kickstarter unboxing. I've titled it Brunch, as it crosses the divide between the Full English pledge I picked up in the Kickstarter and the new, pre-release toys that have arrived courtesy of the recent Infamy One Shot Kickstarter (which was unboxed earlier in the week by Shamikebab here)

I'd also like to take a moment to say sorry for the delay! This has been the largest unboxing I've done since I received all of my Guild Ball Kickstarter models and it's been quite spread out. If you missed any sections, here are Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. 

For the beginning of the end, I thought I'd start with the Beast of Bakerloo. I initially received a Master Cast of him in my Infamy Ton Unboxing but I thought I'd try and get some better shots of the regular cast of him that arrived with the KS.

Pa March is a big fan of American Western films it appears. 

Big Brother is much like the Quaker in the previous installment - a walking metal menace, though as suggested by its name, it is a lot bigger!

The join on one of the weapons is, shall we say, delicate. Those three prongs in the middle of the wrist?

They match up with the end of the chain here. 

One of the late additions to the Kickstarter, Alice is rather creepy, though possibly not quite as creepy as the Paranormal. 

Captain Brindie! This is my second Captain Brindie as I also have one from Warploque Miniatures' initial ArcWorlde Kickstarter.

Next we have Sgt Crookes...

Not to be confused with Alternate Sgt Crookes!

If I'd have posted this unboxing in full when I received my pledge, this is where it would end. However, as I was lazy and spread it out, I can now take advantage of that and show off miniatures received post kickstarter!

As my pigeons were late leaving Infamy HQ, I was able to add a couple of miniatures from the store to arrive with them. First of which was Badger. I wasn't initially a big fan of him, but after seeing the amazing job John Keys did on him for Infamy in the flesh, I decided I wanted him.

Pesky Pigeons!

Errant Pewbe. He has a scooter, with his initials adorning the handlebars. He can join Oscar in the "I look like pretentious arse" club. And by that, I can safely say they have great personality. Not every character you come across is a hero or villain. Some just come across as an arse, of which I feel Mr Pewbe is one :)

Now we come to the final section - those that arrived with my Goblin Chieftain. 

Firstly is the free miniature. Shamikebab got Mad Pete, I got Doctor Umber, armed with a rifle, sword and mad scientist hair.

What's this? Pre-releases? If you fancy some and are heading to Salute, you can go pre-order them now from the Infamy Website to pick up on the day and save yourself time you can instead use to bother James with questions about his awesome range. 

I appear to have become distracted. Here are Mr Dorian and Mr Grey. Same Clothes, Same Stick, slightly different appearance...

Edwin Gorr - Hunchbacked Henchman. 

The final miniature in this unboxing, and thus concluding the series, is Mrs Hudson. 

Except she doesn't really remind me of Mrs Hudson, more of a certain Miss Adler when portrayed by Rachel McAdams in the RDJ Sherlock film - 

Anyhow - here is the part breakdown.

What way could be more apt to finish an Infamy unboxing but with a cup of tea?

And that, readers, is the end of what has been a rather long winded (ok, less long winded and more an experiment in how many pictures I can fit in a post without breaking Blogger) unboxing. I hope it helps anyone on the fence about picking up some lovely Infamy resin make up their mind.

Now it's all photo'd and unboxed, I can finally not paint it all!

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