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Diamondbacks Extend Torey Lovullo
After a surprising playoff appearance in 2017 and spending most of 208 in first place, before falling flat in the final season of the month, Torey Lovullo’s first two campaigns as a manager have resulted in a combined record of 175-149. That performance was enough to convince Mike Hazen to extend Lovullo, 53, through the 2022 season. This prevents Lovullo from entering the upcoming season as a lame duck manager. Details are not yet available. Lovullo has his work come out for him as he enters the 2019 season. Gone now are Paul Goldschmidt, Patrick Corbin, A.J. Pollock, Daniel Descalso, Clay Buchholz, and Jeff Mathis, key contributors to the team’s recent success. He’ll also be opening the season with Starter Taijuan Walker on the DL, recovering from Tommy John Surgery.
MLB to Honor Jackie Robinson Throughout 2019
Robinson was born on Jan. 31, 1919. This Thursday, on his 100th birthday, MLB will begin its yearlong celebration of the man who ended the most egregious injustice in the game’s history: segregation.
The Offseason Recap for Each Team
The best pitcher on this year’s free agent market, Patrick Corbin, signed with Washington. The best non-Harper outfielder on the market, A.J. Pollock, went to the reviled Dodgers. Both of those player signings have helped to clear the picture of Arizona’s future. However, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado both remain unsigned, leaving the rest of the baseball landscape still murky, cloudy enigma.
Giants Still Seeking Veteran Outfield Help
Entering the offseason, the Giants were picked by many as one of the more likely landing spots for A.J. Pollock. Apparently the execs in San Francisco missed that memo and are still looking for a veteran outfielder while allowing the Dodgers to scoop up Pollock on an affordable deal. (Seriously, SF. Couldn’t you at least have kept him from going to the Dodgers?)
Baseball’s Highest Velocity Rotations
Some of these are likely to change before pitchers and catcher report. Also, Tampa Bay get away with having only three starters defined, so their average velocity tops out higher than it would with a typical fourth and fifth starter added to the mix. Still, here are the top 11 starting rotations as ordered by average fastball velocity.