Sunday Notes: Scott Harris Likes Reese Olson’s Ceiling

Reese Olson has an opportunity to be a top-of-the-rotation starter in Detroit, and it’s notable that the Tigers acquired him through commerce. On July 30, 2021, then-general supervisor Al Avila dealt Daniel Norris to the Milwaukee Brewers in trade for the now-24-year-old right-hander, who on the time had a 4.30 ERA in High-A and was flying under most prospect radar. Talented however uncooked, he ranked seventh in a system that wasn’t significantly well-regarded.

Olson made his MLB debut this previous June, and by season’s finish he was displaying indicators that he might emerge as a No. 1 or a No. 2.on a promising younger employees. Over his final six begins, the plain-spoken Gainesville, Georgia native allowed simply 18 hits and 6 earned runs in 35-and-two-thirds innings. On the yr, he had a 3.99 ERA and a 4.01 FIP to go together with a 24.4% strikeout charge and a .214 BAA. He fanned 102 batters in 103-and-two-thirds innings.

Scott Harris doesn’t imagine in labels like No. 1 starter or No. 2 starter. He does imagine within the fast-rising righty.

“Reese has three distinct secondary pitches that miss bats,” Detroit’s President of Baseball Operations instructed me at this week’s GM conferences. “That’s really hard to find. He also has two different fastballs that reach the upper 90s. I also think he did some things this summer that reminded me of what other really good pitchers do in their first year in the big leagues. I’m not going to throw those expectations on him, but his ceiling is as high as anyone’s.”

Asked if he might elaborate on “what other really good pitchers do in their first year,” the exec defined that Olson had stretches of dominance inside video games that didn’t essentially translate right into a dominant line. Like many younger pitchers, he would string collectively “three, four innings of truly dominant stuff, then make a couple of mistakes in the zone that lead to home runs.” Harris seen that as a supply of optimism. To him, it advised that the younger hurler was an adjustment away from having dominant stretches for complete begins, if not months or longer.

Olson was coming off of a stellar begin — six scoreless innings towards the Minnesota Twins — after I talked to him at Fenway Park in mid-August. I’d first spoken to him a handful of days after he’d been dealt to Detroit, so I requested him what has modified since his 2021 stint with the West Michigan Whitecaps.

“I added a sinker this year,” mentioned Olson, who was then 175 kilos and is now a sturdier 185. “Other than that, the arsenal is the same. I’ve just got much better command. That just comes from getting older and stronger and not having to put as much effort into it. I don’t know that I’d say I used to force effort, but I was a little smaller, trying to throw hard.”

Olson averaged 94.8 MPH with each his two- and four-seam fastballs, with the previous serving as a major weapon towards right-handed hitters. His slider, which he spun at 2,989 RPM, was his most-used pitch general. Augmenting these choices have been a 2,800-rpm curveball and a changeup. All 5 pitches in his repertoire yielded a .280-or-lower wOBA.

His strategy on the mound is principally to assault hitters along with his five-pitch combine, balancing scouting stories with how nicely each is engaged on a given day. His demeanor on the mound is far the identical as what it’s is off the sector.

“I like to keep it simple,” mentioned the even-keeled Olson. “Calm down. Don’t get too jacked up. That’s kind of me out there.”

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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS

Matt Olson is 10 for twenty-four towards Kyle Gibson.

Jeff Kent went 5 for six towards Gregg Olson.

Greg Olson went 6 for 9 towards Jeff Brantley.

Asdrúbal Cabrera went 6 for 11 towards Garrett Olson.

Adam LaRoche went 9 for 16 towards Scott Olsen.

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I had a query for Chicago White Sox Senior Vice President/General Manager Chris Getz at this week’s GM Meetings that required a longish preface. I instructed the previous big-league infielder, and University of Michigan graduate, that six years in the past I’d requested quite a few folks inside the sport if at the moment’s analytically-inclined gamers are the subsequent technology of top-level front-office executives. Referencing that 2017 article after I wrote in regards to the Red Sox’s current hiring of Craig Breslow, I cited Sam Fuld, Brandon Gomes, and Chris Young — however not Getz — as examples of how that has since begun to occur.

I requested the 40-year-old GM if he suits in the identical bucket because the players-turned-executives I did title.

“In terms of analytics and integrating them into our organization, it’s certainly a priority of mine,” replied Getz, who earned a BA in Sports Management from U of M. “Without question. I think the work, and the output, that we have will speak to what bucket you want to put me in. But in regard to utilizing analytics, whether it be in our scouting approach, with our major league roster, in-game in terms of leveraging situations, it’s a huge part of who I am and what we’re going to set out to do. But I’ll leave it to you what bucket you want to put me in.”

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A quiz:

Three gamers drafted first-overall have been elected to the Hall of Fame. Who are they?

The reply may be discovered under.

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NEWS NOTES

The Kansas City Royals have employed Dave Holtzman as their Baseball Information & Communications Strategist. Holtzman has labored in skilled baseball, in a number of roles, since 2000. He’s been with Bally Sports KC for the previous 10 years.

The Kansas City Royals have additionally employed Christine Harris, this for the place of Director, Research and Development. The University of Virginia (BA) and London School of Economics and Political Science (MS) graduate has been the Assistant Director, Research and Development for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bobby Guindon, an outfielder whose big-league profession comprised 5 video games with the Boston Red Sox in 1964, died on October 28 at age 80. The Brookline, Massachusetts native went 1-or-8, his lone hit being a double off of Detroit’s Joe Sparma at Tiger Stadium.

Lee Richard, a speedy utility infielder who performed for the Chicago White Sox from 1971-1975, and for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1976, died again on August 6 at age 74 (per Baseball Player Passings). According to his B-Ref bio web page, the Lafayette, Louisiana native was on the plate in 1974 when Nolan Ryan threw what was believed to be the primary pitch clocked over 100 mph by a radar gun.

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The reply to the quiz is Harold Baines, Ken Griffey Jr., and Chipper Jones.

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COACHING/FRONT OFFICE NEWS NOTES

The Tampa Bay Rays named Michael Johns their new first base coach. It is the primary big-league task for the 48-year-old Johns, who has coached and managed within the system since 2007, most just lately because the supervisor at Triple-A Durham.

The Cleveland Guardians have employed Craig Albernaz as their main league area coordinator. The 41-year-old Fall River, Massachusetts native has spent the final 4 years because the San Francisco Giants’ bullpen and catching coach.

The Philadelphia Phillies have promoted Brain Barber and Preston Mattingly to assistant GM positions. Barker is answerable for newbie scouting. Mattingly runs participant growth.

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The Tigers introduced the hiring of Jason Benneti as their new TV play-by-voice earlier this week, and the information got here as music to the ears for Detroit sports followers. Nothing towards Matt Shepard, who was given his strolling papers final month after 5 years within the place, however Benneti, who’d known as Chicago White Sox video games since 2016, is extensively considered the most effective broadcasters within the nation (in a number of sports, no much less). With Benneti within the TV sales space and Dan Dickerson on the radio aspect, the Tigers arguably have the very best play-by-play duo in baseball.

Benneti met with the Detroit media through Zoom shortly after Thursday’s announcement — I joined in for the primary quarter-hour earlier than leaving for a dedication — and far of what I heard was basic Benneti. Here are three snapshot quotes from the Tigers’ new TV play-by-play voice.

“In the interview process, I felt, and knew, that I was surrounded by people who want to be so extraordinarily great, and forward-thinking, and do this in a smart analytical way that was beyond the scope of anything I would have expected in terms of what they want from their television announcer. They want somebody who is going to think about the game from all facets.”

“[Calling games] is like doing a crossword puzzle every day. There is a solution, and it’s different every day.”

“I think we all know that the American League Central has been the land of opportunity, just in terms of [best] winning record of the division. I think the Tigers are on the move upward… every time we had the Tigers, whether it was with the White Sox, or Fox, there was an aura. There was an energy. I sensed that with Baltimore a couple of years ago.”

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The LG Twins took a three-games-to-one lead within the Korean Series on Saturday with a 15-4 routing of the KT Wiz. Ji-hwan Oh, Bo-gyeong Moon, and Hyun-soo Kim went deep for the Twins, who’re are one win away from their first title since 1994.

The first three video games of the Korean Series have been all determined by one run, with the third that includes a ninth-inning, two-out, three-run homer by Ji-hwan Oh to present the Twins an 8-7 win. Former big-leaguers Byung-Ho Park and Austin Dean hit two of the 4 dwelling runs that preceded Ji-hwan’s blast.

The Australian Baseball League’s 2023-2024 season begins this coming Thursday with all six groups in motion. The Adelaide Giants are the defending champions.

Alex Hall is returning to his hometown Perth Heat for what will likely be his seventh ABL season. The 24-year-old catcher/outfielder/first baseman within the Milwaukee Brewers group had 11 dwelling runs and a .729 OPS this yr with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Max Murphy is slashing .381/.469/.750 with seven dwelling runs in 98 plate appearancesfor the Mexican Pacific Winter League’s Mayos de Navojoa. The 30-year-old former Minnesota Twins and Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect has spent the final three season with the impartial American Association’s Winnipeg Goldeyes.

Alex Liddi is slashing .239/.309/.421 with 4 dwelling runs in 98 plate appearances for the Mexican Pacific Winter League’s Venados de Mazatlan. The 30-year-old Sanremo, Italy native performed for the Seattle Mariners from 2011-2013.

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Based on the smattering of Minnesota Twins video games I noticed this yr — ditto some broadcaster commentary I heard — the quantity of platooning the workforce did was nearly at a Seventies Earl Weaver Orioles stage. More than as soon as I noticed supervisor Rocco Baldelli pinch-hitting within the early innings to achieve a platoon benefit. Did the A.L. Central champions truly overdo handedness matchups? I requested that query to Derek Falvey earlier this week.

“I don’t think so,” the President of Baseball Operations replied. “To define overdid… when we look at how it worked for some our young players getting established at the big-league level, building on some success, the likes of Matt Wallner and Edouard Julien didn’t see as much left-handed pitching. I feel like that was good for them. They got some development against lefties, but our second-half offense was really what we hoped it would be from the get-go. Our first half offense was not what we thought it was going to be, but our second-half was and I think a lot of that was owed to Rocco really utilizing the matchups to the best of his ability.”

Julien logged 360 plate appearances versus RHP and 48 versus LHP, whereas Wallner had 208 versus RHP and 46 versus LHP. Meanwhile, right-handed-hitting Donovan Solano pinch-hit a team-high 33 occasions (and went 8-for-29 with three walks and a sac fly).

Those issues mentioned, whereas the Twins did combine and match usually, it wasn’t as as usually I anticipated after I regarded on the knowledge. While above common in share of platoon benefit plate appearances, they have been solely ninth amongst MLB golf equipment. Their 186 pinch-hit plate appearances have been third-most in MLB behind the Giants and Athletics.

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FARM NOTES

The Peoria Javelinas superior to yesterday’s Arizona Fall League championship sport by rallying from a 9-0 first-inning deficit to beat the Scottsdale Scorpions 12-9. Cleveland Guardians prospect Kyle Manzardo went deep twice for the winners.

The Surprise Saguaros held on to beat Peoria 6-5 final night time to seize the AFL title. The Javelinas scored 4 runs within the ninth inning earlier than Milwaukee Brewers prospect Justin Yeager got here on to fan the one batter he confronted to seal the win for Surprise.

Caleb Durbin completed his Arizona Fall League season with 21 stolen bases, three wanting the AFL file held by Rick Holifield (24 in 1994). The 23-year-old infielder within the New York Yankees group — featured right here at FanGraphs again in May — slashed .304/.395/.427 with a 132 wRC+ and 36 steals this yr between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset.

Davis Daniel had 25 strikeouts and allowed simply 10 hits, 5 walks, and 4 runs over 19 innings for the AFL’s Scottsdale Scorpions. The 26-year-old right-hander made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels in September and logged a 2.19 over three video games comprising 12-and-a-third innings.

Adam Laskey had 15 strikeouts and allowed simply six hits, two walks, and one run over 9 video games comprising 9 innings for the AFL’s Mesa Solar Sox. The 25-year-old left-hander within the Chicago Cubs group went 4-1 with a 4.33 ERA over 54 reduction innings between High-A South Bend and Double-A Tennessee.

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The Washington Nationals farm system is presently strong, rating because the third-best in MLB on The Board. High-level place participant expertise is a major motive, with outfielders James Wood and Dylan Crews ranked as the sport’s No. 2 and No. 4 prospects respectively. Third baseman Brady House can also be in our Top 100 at No. 61.

Mike Rizzo has been within the group since 2006, nearly completely on the prime of the entrance workplace meals chain. The likes of Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, and Stephen Strasburg have been drafted and developed throughout his tenure. I requested the membership’s General Manager & President of Baseball Operation how the present crop compares to the very best of his 17-year tenure.

“It’s probably as exciting of a group of young players, prospects, that we’ve had since I’ve been here,” replied Rizzo. “It’s as good as we’ve had, but I’ll qualify that with prospects are prospects until they compete and win in the big leagues. There are still steps to take, and progress to make.”

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold was within the small scrum, and he requested Rizzo about how constructing the workforce towards its 2019 World Series championship included signing free-agent starters at excessive value. Rizzo’s response, partially, was that you just draft and develop a few your individual starters, then end the method with trades and free agent signings. That served as a great segue to one thing else I used to be planning to ask: How happy he’s with the highest of their pitching pipeline?

“We like it,” mentioned Rizzo. “We’ve got three good young starters already at the big league level, cutting their teeth and getting experience at the big league level. We’ve got [Jackson] Rutledge who just joined them for a couple of starts. And we’ve got several guys down in the pipeline that I think will be the next wave. When you can put together a list of eight to 10 prospects that you think can be part of your big-league rotation, that’s a big part of the rebuilding process.”

Rizzo gave 4 examples when requested about notables inside that group. Cole Henry and Mitchell Parker have been Nationals draft picks, as was Jake Bennett who underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in September, whereas DJ Herz was acquired from the Chicago Cubs at this summer time’s commerce deadline. The highest ranked is Henry, whom Eric Longenhagen has assigned a forty five FV. “Those guys are all part of the depth we have at starting pitching,” Rizzo mentioned.

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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE

The metropolis of Osaka erupted in celebration when the Hanshin Tigers broke a 38-year title drought by profitable this yr’s Japan Series. Joel Tansey wrote about it at The Japan Times.

MLB.com’s David Adler launched us to Yokohama DeNA BayStars left-hander Shota Imanga, who is predicted to signal with an MLB workforce this offseason.

Texas Rangers nearer José Leclerc was raised in poverty — his household might by no means afford a tv — in Esperanza, Dominican Republic, and now he’s a World Series champion. José de Jesus Ortiz has the story at Our Esquina.

At Bless You Boys, Brandon Day checked out the Detroit Tigers’ coaching-staff shakeup, which incorporates the hiring of Joey Cora.

R.J. Anderson ranked all 30 groups’ probabilities of buying and selling for Juan Soto (assuming that the San Diego Padres choose to maneuver the slugger) for CBS Sports.

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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS

Cincinnati Reds pinch-hitters had 9 dwelling runs and a 138 wRC+ in 146 plate appearances this yr. Cleveland Guardians pinch-hitters had no dwelling runs and a 15 wRC+ in 92 plate appearances.

Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber got here to the plate 720 occasions this yr and batted .197 with 47 dwelling runs, 108 runs scored, 104 RBIs, 126 walks, 215 strikeouts, and a 119 wRC+. In 1956, Phillies outfielder Richie Ashburn got here to the plate 719 occasions and batted .303 with three dwelling runs, 94 runs scored, 50 RBIs, 79 walks, 45 strikeouts, and a 115 wRC+.

Norm Cash had 41 dwelling runs and 19 intentional walks in 1961. Roger Maris had 61 dwelling runs and no intentional walks.

Ted Lyons threw an entire sport in all 20 begins he made in 1942. The 41-year-old Chicago White Sox right-hander went 14-6 with a 2.05 ERA.

Pat Hentgen was named American League Cy Young Award winner on at the moment’s date in 1996. The Toronto Blue Jays right-hander completed 20-10 with a 3.22 ERA and led the junior circuit in innings pitched (265-and-two-thirds), full video games (10), and shutouts (3).

The Red Sox bought Dom DiMaggio from the San Francisco Seals on at the moment’s date in 1939. A defensively-gifted outfielder, The Little Professor had a 112 wWC+ and was a seven-time All-Star in 10-plus seasons with Boston.

Players born on at the moment’s date embody Bruce Bochte, a primary baseman/outfielder who logged a 112 wRC+ whereas taking part in for 4 groups from 19741-1986. He made an All-Star workforce with the Seattle Mariners in 1979 when he slashed .316/.385/.493 with 16 dwelling runs and 100 RBIs.

Also born on at the moment’s date was Moonlight Graham, who performed one inning within the outfield for the New York Giants in 1905. Immortalized in “Field of Dreams,” the Fayetteville, North Carolina native’s given title was Archibald Wright Graham.