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Team News
[Lookout Landing] Mike Leake to the Diamondbacks? A Deep Dive
“But frankly, a lot of [Leake’s] value doesn’t lay in posting sensational numbers. His value is in being a guy who you can count on to throw 185+ innings and save bullpen usage. Some of Leake’s poor numbers look the way they do because he’s a sacrificial arm some days. Servais has been far more willing to leave him out there when he doesn’t have good stuff in an effort to carve out five innings of work. Leake is a veteran, and Servais knows a terrible start or two won’t effect his confidence going into his next outing.”
(Related: Dbacks nearly traded for RHP Mike Leake, AZ Snakepit)
[AZ Central] Diamondbacks hoping draft strategy pays off, praise is warranted in long run
“With their huge pool of money, the Diamondbacks had the theoretical option of trying to overpay a handful of selections, driving some of the most highly regarded (and highest-priced) players down to their selections, then making cost-cutting selections later in the draft.
Instead, the Diamondbacks took, it seems, the top prospects they had on their board with just about every pick. They say there could be a player who comes in a little above or a little below slot value, but, by and large, they played it straight.”
Around Baseball
[MLB.com] Braves, Keuchel agree on 1-year deal (source)
“A source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand that the Braves and Keuchel have agreed to terms on a one-year, $13 million contract. The deal is pending a physical, which will be performed on Friday. News of the deal was first reported by The Athletic’s David O’Brien. The Braves have not confirmed the reports.”
Guessing Boras’ rationale will be that Keuchel will earn $13M for essentially a half season’s work, then go back on FA market without qualifying offer attached and get the deal he deserves. For that plan to work, Keuchel must excel - no easy task after an eight-month layoff.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 7, 2019
Or to put it another way, the 2019 offseason finally has drawn to a close.
[Forbes.com] Major League Baseball’s 10 Biggest Marketing Problems
“Major League Baseball has been called the National Pastime, but as changes in how we consume entertainment have altered the landscape, baseball’s ability to hold the attention of the masses has dwindled. Yes, it is largely the #1 ranked programming in prime time, but questions about whether that’s just a lack of original summer time TV content comes into play. With the league already surrendering to another drop in attendance with just two months into the 2019 season, it’s time to ask what challenges baseball has around marketing. Not all are Commissioner Rob Manfred’s doings, but many are the league’s.”
No solutions here, but some issues MLB faces from a marketing standpoint
The injury-plagued-yet-first-place Yankees are about to get one of their key players back. Per manager Aaron Boone, shortstop Didi Gregorius (via SNY.com) is ready to return to the lineup and it’ll happen Friday against the Indians. Gregorius, 29, has been on the injured list all season while recovering from offseason Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.
Old Friend Alert
Snake Bite
[USA Today] ‘Sell By,’ ‘Best By,’ ‘Enjoy By’: FDA seeks to address food label confusion
“U.S. regulators are urging food makers to be more consistent with labeling terms like “Best By” and “Enjoy By” that cause confusion. By clarifying the meaning of such dates, they are trying to prevent people from prematurely tossing products and to reduce the mountains of food that goes to waste each year.”
Figured I hadn’t done a Fang Food article in over a year, so this the least I can do!