2026 Misc MLB News Thread

[owbc]

5 hours ago, SeaBass said:

Mike Maddux is still the best on-field massage therapist in the game.

The freaking Angels fired Maddux after less than a year, even after he worked his magic on Reid Detmers. 

[wiguy94]

2 hours ago, owbc said:

The freaking Angels fired Maddux after less than a year, even after he worked his magic on Reid Detmers. 

I don't know if this is sarcasm or not but the Angels pitching took off after he was fired including Detmers. 

Team Numbers

With Maddux - 4.51 ERA, 4.34 xERA, 4.30 FIP, 4.29 xFIP

Post Maddux - 3.73 ERA, 3.82 xERA, 3.50 FIP, 3.83 xFIP

Detmers

With Maddux - 4.00 ERA, 3.50 xERA, 3.47 FIP, 3.60 xFIP

Post Maddux - 1.62 ERA, 2.70 xERA, 1.78 FIP, 2.74 xFIP

Urena 

With Maddux - 2.83 ERA, 3.40 xERA, 3.82 FIP, 4.30 xFIP

Post Maddux - 3.28 ERA, 3.05 xERA, 3.19 FIP, 3.17 xFIP

Rodriguez 

With Maddux - 7.20 ERA, 6.84 xERA, 5.10 FIP, 4.79 xFIP

Post Maddux - 4.53 ERA, 4.41 xERA, 4.89 FIP, 4.39 xFIP

Johnson 

With Maddux - 6.71 ERA, 5.58 xERA, 6.48 FIP, 5.48 xFIP

Post Maddux - 3.00 ERA, 3.96 xERA, 3.92 FIP, 4.85 xFIP

[Playing Catch]

14 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

I don't know if this is sarcasm or not but the Angels pitching took off after he was fired including Detmers. 

Team Numbers

With Maddux - 4.51 ERA, 4.34 xERA, 4.30 FIP, 4.29 xFIP

Post Maddux - 3.73 ERA, 3.82 xERA, 3.50 FIP, 3.83 xFIP

Detmers

With Maddux - 4.00 ERA, 3.50 xERA, 3.47 FIP, 3.60 xFIP

Post Maddux - 1.62 ERA, 2.70 xERA, 1.78 FIP, 2.74 xFIP

Urena 

With Maddux - 2.83 ERA, 3.40 xERA, 3.82 FIP, 4.30 xFIP

Post Maddux - 3.28 ERA, 3.05 xERA, 3.19 FIP, 3.17 xFIP

Rodriguez 

With Maddux - 7.20 ERA, 6.84 xERA, 5.10 FIP, 4.79 xFIP

Post Maddux - 4.53 ERA, 4.41 xERA, 4.89 FIP, 4.39 xFIP

Johnson 

With Maddux - 6.71 ERA, 5.58 xERA, 6.48 FIP, 5.48 xFIP

Post Maddux - 3.00 ERA, 3.96 xERA, 3.92 FIP, 4.85 xFIP

I heard on some podcast that Maddux and the Angels FO has been woefully behind the technology curve, and that upon his firing one of the first things they did was use commonly used technology that's been around for years now. Basically the assertion was that, (as we have suspected), that the Angels have been operating their major league pitching as if it were 2006.

But at the same time, this could all just be a symptom of an attitude bump from the coaching change, or the result of playing poor competition, or small sample, or any of those types of factors.

[wiguy94]

1 hour ago, Playing Catch said:

I heard on some podcast that Maddux and the Angels FO has been woefully behind the technology curve, and that upon his firing one of the first things they did was use commonly used technology that's been around for years now. Basically the assertion was that, (as we have suspected), that the Angels have been operating their major league pitching as if it were 2006.

But at the same time, this could all just be a symptom of an attitude bump from the coaching change, or the result of playing poor competition, or small sample, or any of those types of factors.

I think I read something about Johnson that he had a pretty unique between start routine that he’d been doing his whole career as a pitcher and Maddux made him ditch it and do things the way Maddux wanted. After Maddux was fired Johnson went back to doing what he was comfortable doing. Sometimes you need to just let guys be themselves.

[Brian]

Jose Rameiez hitting  .294 postseason. Pretty darn good. Go Cleveland. Steven Vogt youngest manager postseason. 

[markedman5]

 

[TURBO]

Let the poaching commence...

[RWeeksFan23]

I consider myself a hardcore Brewers fan, and somehow i've never heard of this dude even though he's been in our organization for almost two decades.

[markedman5]

We did not lose Matt Klein …..at least not yet

 

[markedman5]

From the Athletic 

The Astros offered Kleine the job shortly before the Brewers won the World Series on Wednesday night, according to multiple sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing process. Throughout the week, some league sources said Kleine had sought either a higher salary or a president of baseball operations title in Houston

[RubenQuevedoFanClub]

I wonder if Kleine will get the gm job here with Arnold as pobo

[Joseph Zarr]

I wonder aloud today: What are the Seattle Mariners doing? I mean, on one hand, I get it. BUT, on the other hand, I find their hire of a young man who has never led a clubhouse at any level...how shall I put it: a huge risk?

[Samurai Bucky]

25 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I wonder aloud today: What are the Seattle Mariners doing? I mean, on one hand, I get it. BUT, on the other hand, I find their hire of a young man who has never led a clubhouse at any level...how shall I put it: a huge risk?

I don't know how the Mariners could package to a more experienced person?

[Jopal78]

18 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

I don't know how the Mariners could package to a more experienced person?

It’s the Mariners. They have two playoff appearances in the last 25 years, 11 different managers and 7 seasons of 90 or more losses. 

[tmwiese55]

1 minute ago, Jopal78 said:

It’s the Mariners. They have two playoff appearances in the last 25 years, 11 different managers and 7 seasons of 90 or more losses. 

Sure, but they also probably have the best on paper roster in the AL. Or at the least its on par with TB/NYY if Judge is healthy.   6 solid starting Ps, good closer, several good proven hitters (though Arozarena is likely gone). Two top rated prospects who just came up. Get to play in the very bad AL West.   It really was crazy they had such a bad year, you'd think many more established names would've wanted this job so they must have really liked something about this guy

[owbc]

1 hour ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I wonder aloud today: What are the Seattle Mariners doing? I mean, on one hand, I get it. BUT, on the other hand, I find their hire of a young man who has never led a clubhouse at any level...how shall I put it: a huge risk?

As the resident Mariners fan here, I'm a big fan of this move. This was a good time to take a risk and they are bringing in an analytically-minded guy who will mesh well with Dipoto but is known for being a great communicator. There are plenty of hitting coaches who have become managers.

I'm honestly surprised it's taken this long for Dipoto to move the Mariners in this direction. It's not a coincidence that Kanzler and the new hitting coach Gilman are both Driveline guys and it's not a coincidence that the Brewers have a decent number of Driveline alums working in their minor leagues. 

So -- reading between the lines -- let's say you just watched the Brewers tear up the MLB and you wanted to emulate their hitting philosophy. These are exactly the guys you would hire if that's your thought process. I have no idea if they will succeed or not (and T-Mobile Park is one of the hardest ballparks to copy the Brewers at) but I guarantee that's what is happening here.
 

[Joseph Zarr]

36 minutes ago, owbc said:

As the resident Mariners fan here, I'm a big fan of this move. This was a good time to take a risk and they are bringing in an analytically-minded guy who will mesh well with Dipoto but is known for being a great communicator. There are plenty of hitting coaches who have become managers.

I'm honestly surprised it's taken this long for Dipoto to move the Mariners in this direction. It's not a coincidence that Kanzler and the new hitting coach Gilman are both Driveline guys and it's not a coincidence that the Brewers have a decent number of Driveline alums working in their minor leagues. 

So -- reading between the lines -- let's say you just watched the Brewers tear up the MLB and you wanted to emulate their hitting philosophy. These are exactly the guys you would hire if that's your thought process. I have no idea if they will succeed or not (and T-Mobile Park is one of the hardest ballparks to copy the Brewers at) but I guarantee that's what is happening here.
 

I understand that part of this equation. What I don't understand, however, is this is also ostensibly a deeper and continual committed wrinkle within the third consecutive iteration of hiring a manager with little to zero experience leading an MLB clubhouse. In this case, well, he hasn't led any clubhouse. This could be my own calcified thinking and I readily admit that. I just tend to leave these types of guys - in my own thinking processes (likely quite flawed. Ha!) - behind the clubhouse doors and in the personnel departments. A guy like Kanzler? I would have him moving and shaking among the various Minor and Major League Development Ops. Leading big contract personalities in an under-performing clubhouse? That's a recipe for another disappointing season. It also smells a bit of Dipoto desperation knowing after last season his days are being scrutinized more heavily. Regardless, I hope it works out for you Mariners fans! 

[owbc]

35 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I understand that part of this equation. What I don't understand, however, is this is also ostensibly a deeper and continual committed wrinkle within the third consecutive iteration of hiring a manager with little to zero experience leading an MLB clubhouse. In this case, well, he hasn't led any clubhouse. This could be my own calcified thinking and I readily admit that. I just tend to leave these types of guys - in my own thinking processes (likely quite flawed. Ha!) - behind the clubhouse doors and in the personnel departments. A guy like Kanzler? I would have him moving and shaking among the various Minor and Major League Development Ops. Leading big contract personalities in an under-performing clubhouse? That's a recipe for another disappointing season. It also smells a bit of Dipoto desperation knowing after last season his days are being scrutinized more heavily. Regardless, I hope it works out for you Mariners fans! 

I generally agree with you, I had low expectations for the hire given the last two and was hoping for a fresh direction so it checks that box. The short list candidates with experience that I had some interest in (Baldelli, Lovullo) withdrew and Espada didn't really excite me. You outline exactly how it might fail -- maybe what the clubhouse really needs is a motivator and not an analytics guy. Kanzler is certainly no Murph! 

[markedman5]

 

[markedman5]

 

[RWeeksFan23]

cam Castro... Matt Klein... who the hell are these guys? How have we never heard of these guys while they were in our organization? lol

[sveumrules]

2 minutes ago, RWeeksFan23 said:

cam Castro... Matt Klein... who the hell are these guys? How have we never heard of these guys while they were in our organization? lol

Because it takes a village to build what the Brewers have built over the last decade since Stearns / Arnold arrived.

Here is the link to their staff directory page from MLB.

[titanrick]

We have a Cas Castro and a Cam Castro?  Here's to hoping they got confused and hired the HR guy.

[wallus]

Heard of Kleine, not of Castro.