#pitching-development

#pitching-development

Aroldis Chapman and the Red Sox agreed to a one year extension valued at $13.3 million, with a mutual and/or vesting option valued at an additional $13 million for 2027. Is this a smart move? On one hand, Chapman is one of the greatest relievers of all-time and is having one of the best seasons of his career, posting a near-career best strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.29 and an ERA+ of (holy shit alert) 401. That's pretty good!

On the day Jonah Tong was born - Thursday, June 19, 2003 - the Mets lost 5-1 to the Marlins at Soilmaster Stadium. Mike Bacsik gave up an early three-run homer to Mike Lowell, things got worse in the fifth, and a dreary game eventually expired. I'm sure I was watching and also glad I don't remember wasting that particular two and a half hours of my life. The win let the Marlins leap-frog the Mets, leaving them last in the NL East.

This week, host Darragh McDonald is joined by Pirates general manager Ben Cherington to discuss... What attracted Cherington to a smaller market like Pittsburgh (2:40) Why have the Pirates been so much better at developing pitching than hitting? (5:10) The choice of picking Paul Skenes first overall in 2023 (9:05) The Pirates not having signed a free agent to a multi-year deal in many years (13:45) Is there a sense of urgency for the Pirates to make something happen in the near future? (16:20) The balance of subtracting pitching to add hitting (18:45) What percentage of rumors that make it to the public are based in fact? (22:30)

The Blue Jays have struggled to develop starting pitchers, with only two homegrown players starting playoff games in ten years: Marcus Stroman and Alek Manoah.

Control is everything for Noah Schultz because inconsistency in his command has raised concerns about his development as he faces tougher competition in Triple-A.

The White Sox's selection of Hagen Smith as the 5th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft surprised many, highlighting their focus on pitching over position players.