The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Taylor Williams got cut by the Giants after getting killed in four straight appearances at AAA (9 runs in 4 IP), but got signed by the Mariners and assigned to Tacoma (AAA), where he is pitching well so far (0 runs in 4 IP).

A quick update on how a few players are doing.

Andrew Chafin was a subject of rumors at the trading deadline, but no deal got done and he will remain on the Tigers. He is having a very good year. He has a 2.38 ERA, 14 holds and has only allowed 2 of 19 inherited runners to score. He also hasn't allowed a run in his last 17 appearances (17 IP). He hasn't pitched as much as you might expect because the Tigers are awful and days go by when the game isn't close enough to justify using one of your top relievers. He has a player option for next year.

Eric Lauer went through a rough stretch in mid-June giving up 8 HRs in 17.1 IPs. In his last 7 starts, he has settled down giving up just 4 HRs in 39 IPs with a 3.00 ERA. Lauer's performance continues to be dictated by not giving up the long-ball. When he does, he isn't good; when he doesn't, he's a good starting pitcher.

As the season ends for Kent players with none going into the expanded post season, it's time for the review. Let's start with the two current active major leaguers:

Eric Lauer (11-7; 3.69 ERA) - Lauer had a strong year, ending the season with 6 no-hit innings (anyone remember when they didn't take out pitchers that had a no-hitter going) on Tuesday. He had a brief stint on the DL in September missing two starts, but otherwise was healthy and out there every 5th day. I'd say the entire year was strong, except for a stretch of 4 starts in June where he gave up 20 ERs and 8 HRs in 21.2 innings and a horrible start in Colorado in September where he gave up 8 ER in 2.7 innings. The funny thing is that Lauer has a career 15.91 ERA and an 0-5 record in Colorado, so I would just not let him pitch there. Basically, Lauer is a very good #3/#4 starter on most clubs, but he just gives up too many HRs to be an elite starter, which hasn't really changed much in the last 5 years. I think this will continue and probably make him very rich, very soon (2 years away from FA).

Andrew Chafin (2-3, 2.83 ERA, 19 holds and 3 saves). Chafin started the year on the DL, but once he got going, he was very strong for the first half of the year and faded a bit in the second half of the year, like he has done his entire career. More of the same from Chafin - he isn't an elite reliever, but he's in that next tier down as one of the best left-handed setup men in the game. He has a club option to stay with the Tigers for one more year at $6.5M or he might elect free agency and see if he can get a bigger contract. I think he could get 2 years/$12-16M, but he may stay with the Tigers because it is close to his Ohio home. I'd love to see him with the Guardians, but that's a pipe dream.

Chafin's option is a player option not a club option, but by how you described it I think you knew that and it was just a typo. It'd be cool for him to come to Cleveland but honestly that bullpen is absolutely loaded and no one is hitting free agency. If we spend money this off season I don't see it being on the pen. Hell, with how not spending money last off season worked out, I kinda just hope they stay put and start working on extending some of these young guys. Our only free agent is Austin Hedges.

Always wished these guys found their way to Cleveland, but they seem to groom their own starters and haven’t seemed to care to have a lefty in the rotation for years, and there’s no way Cleveland pays a setup guy what Chafin earns.

(10-06-2022 04:19 PM)anti-zip Wrote:  Chafin's option is a player option not a club option, but by how you described it I think you knew that and it was just a typo. It'd be cool for him to come to Cleveland but honestly that bullpen is absolutely loaded and no one is hitting free agency. If we spend money this off season I don't see it being on the pen. Hell, with how not spending money last off season worked out, I kinda just hope they stay put and start working on extending some of these young guys. Our only free agent is Austin Hedges.

Yes, thank you for the correction. I'd like Chafin to have the strong leftie (maybe Hentges is that guy, but Chafin's been doing it for 8 years and Hentges has one good year). But, big picture, if I were to spend money on a free agent for the Guardians, I'd be looking for a live bat (1B/DH). I can live with a Kwan/Straw/Gonzalez outfield with the potential upside and strong D and I do think Bo Naylor is the solution at catcher, maybe sooner than most, but the lack of a big bat at a traditional big bat position has been an issue for years.

I agree that 1B/DH is where you spend money if you're going to. However, despite all the successful young guys already in the lineup we still have more that need a chance. If I'm the front office I move Nolan Jones to 1B and plan to start next year with him an Naylor rotating at first (Naylor DHing otherwise). The OF is very crowded (Brennan has forced his way in there too) so Jones isn't likely to see real time there. They've experimented with Benson at 1st too. Physically he's quite special then stats just always seem to lag behind by a year every time he gets promoted a level. Jones spent most of his minor league career as a 3B but they converted him to OF when it appeared to be a weak spot (isn't anymore). So 1B would probably be a pretty natural fit. Arias and Freeman are two more that deserve a shot. Not sure either would be a good fit at 1B though.

It's a pretty awesome problem it have. Can't find at bats for all your top 100 prospects because they're blocked by talented guys a year or two older than them. The other nice part about giving the young guys a chance at the beginning of the year. If it's not working out you can use this excess of prospects to trade for a 1B mid season.

Shame Reyes didn’t put the work in and fell apart, for a moment he was the big bat they always needed.

(10-06-2022 08:37 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  Shame Reyes didn’t put the work in and fell apart, for a moment he was the big bat they always needed.

Eh, would've been nice if he did. But he was a tough fit. He was never going to be a good defensive player and we don't like to have full time DH's. We like to use the DH to rest regulars while keeping their bat in the lineup. I feel pretty good about Jose, J Naylor, and Gonzalez in the middle of the order. Remember Naylor missed the first month+. If you extrapolate his numbers to 650 plate appearances he'd be at 26 HR and 103 RBI. Gonzalez extrapolates to 18 HR 73 RBI as a rookie. Plus often guys don't develop power until their mid 20's. Gimenez is a great example. He showed little power in the minors (32 Hr in 1890 minor league PAs). Never more than 10 in a season. Then this year (he's 24 now) he hits 17 in 557 major league PAs.

As a Cleveland fan I’m always guarded so the Guardians name is appropriate, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Happy about the unexpected success of the young OF this season, just hope they fare better than previous youngsters that were very good their first season and then quickly flamed out in Cleveland.

Eric Lauer has struggled this season, he’s suffered an arm injury, got lit up while rehabbing and was ultimately shut down.

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseba...tive-list/

(06-28-2023 07:11 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  Eric Lauer has struggled this season, he’s suffered an arm injury, got lit up while rehabbing and was ultimately shut down.

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseba...tive-list/

And now outrighted.

Quote: Left-hander Eric Lauer has passed through waivers unclaimed and been outrighted by the Brewers to Triple-A Nashville, per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Lauer has more than three years of service time, which gives him the right to reject this outright and elect free agency.

Quote: Left-hander Eric Lauer will be heading to the Pirates on a minor league deal, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The CAA Sports client will presumably be invited to major league camp.

Lauer has a decent chance to make the team and even better chance to end up called up with the inevitable injuries - the Pirates do not have a lot of starting pitching. I'm glad he picked a team he has a good chance to contribute to provided he's cleared up whatever problems he was dealing with last year. His injury situation was never very clear, but I think there was more wrong than his non-pitching shoulder giving him trouble.