Boyd Is Back

 

     Pitcher Matthew Boyd is returning to the Detroit Tigers for the 2023 season according to several sources including The Athletic, the Detroit Free Press, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and many other reliable news outlets.  Matthew Boyd will most likely earn a spot in the Tigers starting rotation along with other projected starters like #57 Eduardo Rodriguez, #25 Matt Manning, and #56 Spencer Turnbull.  

     #63 Beau Brieske, #49 Alex Faedo, and #43 Joey Wentz are also expected to compete for a spot in the Tigers starting rotation.  #12 Casey Mize could miss the entire 2023 MLB season recovering from Tommy John surgery.  #29 Tarik Skubal could miss most of the 2023 MLB season recovering from flexor tendon surgery.

     Matthew Boyd played for the Detroit Tigers from 2015-2021.  Boyd started on Opening Day for the Detroit Tigers in 2020, and in 2021.  Matthew Boyd started the 2022 MLB season with the San Francisco Giants, but he finished the season with the Seattle Mariners.  Matthew Boyd was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 6th round (175th overall) of the 2013 MLB Draft. 

     Leave a comment or email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  Click on the links below for more information about the Detroit Tigers, or Major League Baseball.  Click on past months to see all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material.  Check out Game Notes. 

                                                                                         Game Notes

-  Matthew Boyd wore #48 with the Detroit Tigers.

-  Matthew Boyd is listed at 6'3, 223 lbs.  

-  Matthew Boyd is currently 31 years old.  

-  Matthew Boyd played college baseball at Oregon State University.

For more information about the Detroit Tigers click on  https://www.mlb.com/tigers  

For more information about Major League Baseball click on  https://www.mlb.com 

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Blog of the Month 5/11/2022

 

                                                                              Blog of the Month  

                                                                  https://baseballsavant.mlb.com

                                                                            Blog of the Month

     Baseball Savant has an excellent sports blog for fans of baseball sabermetrics.  Baseball Savant includes articles, statistics, and a "Statcast Glossary" that explains the definitions of terms like "Exit Velocity", "Launch Angle", and "Spin Rate".  Some of the writers on Baseball Savant include David Adler, Thomas Harrigan, Sarah Langs, and Mike Petriello.   Baseball Savant is owned and operated by MLB Advanced Media (Major League Baseball).  Baseball Savant can be found via MLB.com.

     Leave a comment or email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  Click on the link below for more information about Baseball Savant.  Click on past months to see all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material.  Check out Game Notes.  

                                                                                       Game Notes  

  

-  The "Statcast Glossary" on Baseball Savant also has definitions for terms such as "Active Spin", "Batted Ball Event", "Catch Probability", "Distance Covered", and "Pitch Movement".

-  Reid Detmers, Brandon Drury, Aaron Judge, Josh Naylor, Shohei Ohtani, and Mike Trout are all currently trending on Baseball Savant.

-  MLB.com is the official site of Major League Baseball. 

-  Analytics in baseball are typically referred to as sabermetrics.

For more information about Baseball Savant click on  https://baseballsavant.mlb.com  

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PitchCom Expalined

 

     PitchCom is a new technology that is being used this season by several MLB (Major League Baseball) teams.  The PitchCom device is a wearable, lightweight communication system that can be utilized by players (and coaches) to communicate with each other in a covert manner.    

    The PitchCom device can prevent opponents from stealing the signs while speeding up the pace of play.  MLB players do not have to use the PitchCom communication system.  PichCom is scheduled to be available in 2023 (at an affordable price) for colleges, high schools, and travel baseball teams.  John Hankins, and Craig Filicetti are the co-creators, and co-owners of PitchCom.   

     Leave a comment or email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  Click on the link below for more information about PitchCom.  Click on past months to see all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material.  Check out Game Notes.  

                                                                                        Game Notes   

-  Most MLB teams are using PitchCom this season.  

-  Some of the MLB teams that used PitchCom early this season include the Cincinatti Reds, the Cleveland Guardians, the Chicago White Sox, the Colorado Rockies, the Kansas City Royals, the New York Mets, the New York Yankees, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Toronto Blue Jays.

-  Some of the MLB teams that have recently embraced PitchCom include the Boston Red Sox, the Chicago Cubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Washington Nationals.   

-  The Detroit Tigers are one of the few MLB teams that are currently not using PitchCom.    

For more information about PitchCom click on  https://pitchcomsports.com 

Leave a comment!  Email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  

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Blog of the Month 10/15/2021

                                                                                  Blog of the Month

                                                                          https://www.mlbdailydish.com 

                                                                                  Blog of the Month

     MLB Daily Dish is an informative sports blog for fans of Major League Baseball.  MLB Daily Dish features postseason analysis, and all of the latest trade rumors, and signings.  Some of the writers for MLB Daily Dish include Cristiana Caruso, Eric Cole, Patrick Karraker, and Andersen Pickard.  MLB Daily Dish is one of 324 blogs on SB Nation.

     Leave a comment, or email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  Click on the link below for more information about MLB Daily Dish.  Click on past months to see the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material.  Check out Game Notes.  

                                                                                            Game Notes  

-  Eric Cole is also a Manager for MLB Daily Dish. 

-  Justin Bopp is also listed as a Manager for MLB Daily Dish. 

-  Matt Powers is also listed as a contributor for MLB Daily Dish.

-  Wayne Cavadi is the Social Media Director for MLB Daily Dish. 

-  SB Nation is owned by Vox Media. 

For more information about MLB Daily Dish click on  https://www.mlbdailydish.com 

Leave a comment!  Email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com 

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MLB On YouTube

     Select MLB (Major League Baseball) games can be seen all season long on the MLB YouTube channel.  Thursday's  MLB Game of the Week Live on YouTube featured the Atlanta Braves at the Washington Nationals.  Atlanta Pitcher Drew Smyly was named the YouTube Player of the Game in the Braves 3-2 victory over the Nationals.  Smyly pitched for the Detroit Tigers from 2012-2014.

     The next MLB Game of the Week Live on YouTube is scheduled for next Thursday at 1:30 p.m.  The Milwaukee Brewers are scheduled to host the St. Louis Cardinals.  The Minnesota Twins defeated the Cleveland Indians 10-2 last week, and the Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Angels 8-2 the week before that.  The MLB YouTube channel also features Game Highlights from all 30 Major League Baseball teams.   

     Leave a comment, or email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  Click on past months to see all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material.  Check out Game Notes.   

                                                                                             Game Notes  

-  The MLB YouTube channel is scheduled to show the San Francisco Giants at the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, May 20th, 2021.

-  The MLB YouTube channel has almost 3 million subscribers.

-  MLB joined YouTube in 2005.

-  MLB is also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Leave a comment!  Email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com 

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Success In San Diego

Jake Cronenworth played college baseball for the University of Michigan Wolverines. (Photo was taken in 2015).

     Jake Cronenworth played college baseball for the University of Michigan Wolverines.  Cronenworth is now a Major League Baseball player for the San Diego Padres.  Cronenworth has played all over the infield this season including six games at the Shortstop position.  Jake Cronenworth is currently batting .360 with 3 home runs, and 12 RBI (runs batted in).  On Friday, August 22nd, Jake Cronenworth hit a grand slam against the Houston Astros.
     Jake Cronenworth was an Infielder, and a Pitcher for the University of Michigan Wolverines for three seasons before being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 7th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft.  Jake Cronenworth played high school baseball for the St. Clair Saints. 
     The San Diego Padres are currently in 2nd place in the National League West standings with an overall record of 19-14.  The Padres are four and a half games out of first place behind the division leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
     Leave a comment, or email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  Click on the links below for more information about Major League Baseball, or the University of Michigan athletic program.  Click on past months to see all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material.  Check out Game Notes.

Click on the links below for more information about this stuff.

                                                                                           Game Notes








-  Jake Cronenworth was known as Jacob Cronenworth when he played for the University of Michigan.



-  Jake Cronenworth wears #9 for the San Diego Padres. 



-  Jake Cronenworth wore #2 in college for the University of Michigan Wolverines.



-  The Detroit Tigers defeated the San Diego Padres in the 1984 World Series.











For more information about Major League Baseball click on  https://www.mlb.com



For more info about the University of Michigan athletic program click on  https://mgoblue.com



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Memory Lane: Berry

This photograph was taken in July of 2012.

     Quintin Berry played for the Detroit Tigers during the 2012 season.  Berry was known for his incredible speed, and his unbelievable diving catches in the outfield.  I was at a Tigers game to see one of those catches in July of 2012.  Berry also found early success as a hitter with the Tigers, but Berry struggled at the plate during the 2012 World Series against the San Francisco Giants.  Quintin Berry was designated for assignment by the Detroit Tigers in 2013.
     Quintin Berry played for several MLB (Major League Baseball) organizations, but Berry spent a lot of time in the Minor League.  Quintin Berry won a World Series ring with the Boston Red Sox in 2013.  Quintin Berry currently works for the Milwaukee Brewers organization as an Outfield and Base Running Coordinator in their Minor League system.
     Leave a comment, or email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  Click on past months to see all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material.  Check out Game Notes.











                                                                                Game Notes








-  Quintin Berry is from San Diego, California.



-  Quintin Berry began the 2012 season with the Toledo Mud Hens.



-  Quintin Berry was 27 years old when he played for the Tigers back in 2012. 



-  Quintin Berry is on Twitter.











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Error Stats For Umpires?

     I was watching the Tigers game a couple of weeks ago during their west coast trip to Los Angeles when I noticed a blown call at second base.  Omar Infante was called out on a force play at second, and it was clear while watching the play live that Infante should have been called safe.  Jim Leyland came out to argue the call to no avail, and several instant replays showed that Infante was clearly safe.
     I'm sure that the umpires review controversial calls after the game, and when Jim Joyce blew the call that robbed Andres Galarraga of a perfect game a few years ago, Joyce owned it the following day.  This is rare in the game of baseball, and rarely do umpires admit fault, especially at levels where there is no instant replay.
     The game of baseball keeps statistics on everything.  Every pitch, every catch, every out, and every error are recorded, and even when a player doesn't make the spectacular play, he can still be charged with an error.
     I propose that error stats should be tracked for umpires at the Major League level.  This could also be enforced in the minor leagues, and in the SEC division of college baseball.  Basically, error stats on umpires could be tracked only when there is access to video review after each game.
     The point of keeping error stats on umpires is not to degrade umpires, or to somehow lessen the smug attitude that some umpires have developed.  The point is to hold umpires accountable to their mistakes, while improving the game by allowing the umpires with the fewest errors to work the most important games, like the post season, and the All-Star Game.  The umpires' union protects its bad umpires, and by keeping track of error stats, the umpires union could promote their better umpires by letting them work the games that matter most. 
     Many people insist that adding more instant replay is the answer, but the human element, along with the occasional mistake is the way baseball has always done it.  Slowing down the game, and asking managers to officiate the game like the NFL does by issuing challenge flags is not the answer.
     Anyone who as ever played the game knows that plenty of double plays occur where the second baseman never touches second base before throwing to first.  Sometimes the runner beats out the double play ball at first, but if the double play looks good, the umpire will credit the defense with the out.  My point is, where do you draw the line when reviewing or challenging calls?  Catchers will sometimes frame a pitch, meaning they take a pitch thrown outside the strike zone, and pull it back into the strike zone and hold it.  Should these plays be reviewed?   Adding more in game reviews is not the answer for baseball, but maybe adding error stats for umpires is.











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