http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/players/josh_johnson/62059 Recent articles about Josh Johnson en-us Stolmy Pimentel gave up one run in five innings the other night. Stolmy Pimentel came to the Pirates organization this off-season in the Joel Hanrahan trade with lots of question marks. Not long ago, he was a highly regarded pitching prospect. Then the Double-A Eastern League happened, with Pimentel posting a 9.12 and 4.59 ERA in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Now on his third tour of the league with Altoona, Pimentel is pitching a lot better, and on Thursday night had has third consecutive good start to begin the season. Since I haven’t had a chance to catch Pimentel live yet, below is breakdown of his Thursday start. My typical disclaimer before getting started: Since I’m relying on video, I don’t have my typical vantage from behind home plate and I’m without the benefit of a radar gun. Pimentel throws three pitches, and they are pretty easy to identify, however. According to reports from this game, his fastball was hitting as high as 96, which has been common for him this year. First inning: 1 R, 2 H, Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:44:55 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/video_breakdown_another_promising_start_for_pimentel/13451128 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/video_breakdown_another_promising_start_for_pimentel/13451128 Video Breakdown: Another promising start for Pimentel http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/video_breakdown_another_promising_start_for_pimentel/13451128 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Today is one of those days where sports don’t seem as important and there were definitely a lot of touching stories of tributes around the country for those families affected by the Boston Marathon bombing. We saw this photo in New York, Ben Revere wearing a tribute on his glove (and making an amazing catch), the Canadiens (the Bruins’ bitter rivals) holding a moment of silence, Oakland fans organizing to chant “Let’s Go Boston!” instead of “Let’s Go Oakland!” and other countless reactions and support from athletes and fan bases across the country.Being from Boston and having lived there for the last seven years and worked in Copley Square for the past year this attack really definitely hit too close to home. There’s no reason to try and forget, but instead let’s distract ourselves for a couple minutes and recap Monday’s action.4/15 RecapDespite the gruesome end to Boston’s Monday, they were actually able to get in a baseball game where both Jeremy Hellickson (7 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 9 K/1 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:57:47 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/rapid_react_416_prayforboston/13409512 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/rapid_react_416_prayforboston/13409512 Rapid React (4/16): #PrayForBoston http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/rapid_react_416_prayforboston/13409512 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png There are very few top pitchers throwing twice in week 3, so I only ranked 19 pitchers below while listing the other two-starters just in case you’re in a deep mixed or NL- and AL-only leagues. Photo credit: Keith Allison Cliff Lee: 4/15 @ Cincinnati | 4/20 vs. St. Louis Jordan Zimmermann: 4/15 @ Miami | 4/21 @ New York Mets Matt Moore: 4/16 @Baltimore | 4/21 vs. Oakland Lance Lynn: 4/15 @ Pittsburgh | 4/20 @ Philadelphia Kris Medlen: 4/16 vs. Kansas City | 4/21 @ Pittsburgh Homer Bailey: 4/16 vs. Philadelphia | 4/21 vs. Miami Tommy Milone: 4/15 vs. Houston | 4/21 @ Tampa Bay Andy Pettitte: 4/16 vs. Arizona | 4/21 @ Toronto Derek Holland: 4/16 @ Chicago Cubs | 4/21 vs. Seattle Ryan Dempster: 4/15 vs. Tampa Bay | 4/20 vs. Kansas City Josh Johnson: 4/16 vs. Chicago White Sox | 4/21 vs. New York Yankees Barry Zito: 4/16 @ Milwaukee | 4/21 vs. San Diego Bronson Arroyo: 4/15 vs Philadelphia | 4/20 vs. Miami Rick Porcello: 4/16 @ Seattle | 4/21 @ Los Angeles Angels Chad Billingsley: 4/15... Sat, 13 Apr 2013 13:00:25 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/two_start_pitchers_and_sp_streamers_week_3/13389880 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/two_start_pitchers_and_sp_streamers_week_3/13389880 Two-start pitchers and SP streamers: Week 3 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/two_start_pitchers_and_sp_streamers_week_3/13389880 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Alex Rodriguez will make more this year than all the Houston Astros combined -- a lot more. And he won't even play the first half of the season, if at all. A-Rod's $29 million salary tops the major leagues for the 13th straight season, according to a study of major league contracts by The Associated Press. Rodriguez's Yankees are on track to have the highest payroll on opening day for the 15th straight year, climbing above the Los Angeles Dodgers to a projected $228 million with this week's acquisition of Vernon Wells. With teams due to set opening-day rosters Sunday, the Yankees' payroll will be nearly 10 times the spending of the Astros, who have shrunk their payroll to about $25 million. ''When we get on the baseball field with whomever the opponent is, they are not sitting there saying: `Well, their players make more money than us so therefore you're deemed a winner and we're deemed a loser,''' Astros manager Bo Porter said Thursday. ''Games are Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:37:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/a_rod_will_make_more_than_the_astros/13261342 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/a_rod_will_make_more_than_the_astros/13261342 A-Rod will make more than the Astros http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/a_rod_will_make_more_than_the_astros/13261342 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png I have a little mental tic where every time any big trade goes down involving any baseball team, I ask myself what it would take for the Pirates to complete the trade themselves. This was born, I think, during the Dave Littlefield era when the Pirates would only rarely target players I thought they should be interested in. I'd see players that I wanted the Pirates to acquire headed to other homes and I'd ask myself if the Pirates were even capable of completing the trades that I wanted to see them make. Under Neal Huntington, the Pirates have been much better about acquiring players that I'm happy to see them acquire, but I still evaluate a big chunk of baseball's biggest deals in my head this way.  When the Marlins traded a huge chunk of their roster to Toronto last night, my first thought was this: "The Pirates would be win the NL Central next year with Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson, and Jose Reyes." My second thought was this: "That is true, but cr... Thu, 15 Nov 2012 06:53:26 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/neal_huntingtons_approach_to_the_off_season/12222166 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/neal_huntingtons_approach_to_the_off_season/12222166 Neal Huntington's approach to the off-season http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/neal_huntingtons_approach_to_the_off_season/12222166 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Table of Contents Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Daily Notes. 1. Today’s Two Featured Games 2. Today’s MLB.TV Free Game 3. Today’s Complete Schedule Two Featured Games Regarding a Thing That Happens It is not uncommon, during a late-season game of some consequence, it’s not uncommon for an announcer to suggest that there is a “playoff-like atmosphere” within the relevant ballpark. A Note on Two Games This Afternoon Two games this afternoon, while unlikely to possess a “playoff-like atmosphere,” might at least offer a “playoff-ish-esque-like atmosphere” — which is to say, similar to playoff-like, just not as dramatic. What One of Those Games Is One of the games of note today is the Pittsburgh-St. Louis one at 2:15pm ET. Regarding That First Game, Its Credentials The Pittsburgh-St.Louis game features one team (in the Pirates) currently qualified for the second wild-card spot and another (in the Cards) just a single game out of same. Regarding That First Game, Anoth Sun, 19 Aug 2012 11:56:51 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/daily_notes_with_two_playoff_ish_esque_like_games/11494726 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/daily_notes_with_two_playoff_ish_esque_like_games/11494726 Daily Notes, With Two Playoff-ish-esque-like Games http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/daily_notes_with_two_playoff_ish_esque_like_games/11494726 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Texas finally caught a glimpse of MLB’s best Japanese starter as Hiroki Kuroda went 9 IP, 0 ER, 4 baserunners, 5 Ks vs. the Rangers.  Did they play this game in the Old Yankee Stadium?  The one that was 700 feet to center and had Red Ruffing’s mausoleum in dead left?  In new Yankee Stadium, usually a few balls get around the Pesci Pole in right.  Kuroda’s ERA is now at 3.06 and I’m still not a believer as you’ll hear in this afternoon’s podcast, but he’s done everything to make any rational man a believer.  Henceforth, ergo, vis-a-vis, I’m not rational.  Kuroda’s K-rate fell a tad this year, but he really hasn’t been any different than previous years when he was in the NL West.  Tell celebrity hairstylist, John Frieda, to color me an autumn shade of shocked with those Kuroda highlights.  (Sorry, I’m trying to expand our lady readership.)  Anyway, here’s what else I saw yesterday in fantasy baseball: Nick Swisher - 1-for-4, 2 RBIs and his 2nd homer in as many games.  He mak Wed, 15 Aug 2012 03:15:53 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/screw_yu_its_hiroki_that_completes_me/11461729 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/screw_yu_its_hiroki_that_completes_me/11461729 Screw Yu, It’s Hiroki That Completes Me http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/screw_yu_its_hiroki_that_completes_me/11461729 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Domonic Brown is a big part of the Philadelphia Phillies final 2 months.  What other regulars are expected to shine? TAL’S HANDY CAPS   WELCOME, NEWCOMERS: I will publish after every battle that is not washed out.  I will have many summer-long highlights of puzzle pieces, especially important after drubbings and defeats. If you were directed here by a feed and this review does not mention yesterday’s contest, please go to the Phillies page for my most recent coverage. (Early morning readers may arrive before the latest post.) Scroll down to Tal’s Handy Links at the bottom. Thank you.   Check out:  Philadelphia Phillies storyline: FA arms to pursue for relief   CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT:    4-1 Outcome TYPEPLAYERREASON The Penthouse Cliff Lee Chase Utley 2 K's To Escape A 1st-And-3rd, 1-Out Jam In The 1st Blew Up A DP To Plate A Run For A 1-0 Lead In The 1st     Chase Utley Stops DP, Scoring Dom In The 1st   NITECAP INSIGHT       Winning Thoughts:   The setbacks are magnif Sun, 12 Aug 2012 06:18:43 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/philadelphia_phillies_storyline_tude_to_conclude_12/11436364 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/philadelphia_phillies_storyline_tude_to_conclude_12/11436364 Philadelphia Phillies storyline: ‘Tude to conclude ’12 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/philadelphia_phillies_storyline_tude_to_conclude_12/11436364 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Jerry Crasnick of ESPN has three updates on Twitter, noting that the Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to deal starting pitcher Kevin Correia. Crasnick says that the Pirates are letting teams know that the right-hander is available. He adds that a source says they’re motivated to move Correia, even though he’s won six straight decisions. Finally, he notes that Correia is owed $1 M the remainder of the year, and could be a potentially low-cost option for teams who aren’t in the Zack Greinke/Josh Johnson mix. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:59:28 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/pirates_motivated_to_move_kevin_correia/11307514 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/pirates_motivated_to_move_kevin_correia/11307514 Pirates Motivated to Move Kevin Correia http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/pirates_motivated_to_move_kevin_correia/11307514 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png As games go, there's not much to talk about from this one, I don't think. The Pirates' offense was predictably inept against Josh Johnson (they scored in the first inning on the strength of an Andrew McCutchen walk and back to back singles Pedro Alvarez and Garrett Jones, but that was mostly it) and Kevin Correia had one terrible inning in the fourth that torpedoed the Pirates' chances to win. Correia was really bad and I think it's time the Pirates take a look at someone else for his rotation spot, but that's another post (for tomorrow, specifically), I think. What I think is worth mentioning here is that ever since the Pirates' offense had a mini-breakout against the Cardinals and Braves, scoring 6+ runs three times in four games, the Pirates haven't gotten back over the five-run barrier. In ten games since then, the Pirates have only scored 28 runs. Correia was bad tonight, but this offense just isn't going to cut it. Tue, 15 May 2012 22:33:49 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/game_36_marlins_6_pirates_2/10801328 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/game_36_marlins_6_pirates_2/10801328 Game 36: Marlins 6 Pirates 2 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/game_36_marlins_6_pirates_2/10801328 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Without going into the ridiculous things from the last few games that nearly caused a blood vessel in my forehead to burst, let's consider the Pirates' current situation: they're on a three-game winning streak, they're 17-18, and they're still in the NL Central and NL wild card races nearly a quarter of the way into the season. Those sorts of things are ultimately meaningless in late September, but they're true right now. They're true right now, without the Pirates having really played very good baseball at any point this year. So ... what would happen if the Pirates started playing better? Besides the cynical answer that their luck would run out and they'd probably lose a bunch of games anyway, of course. I'm not really counting on this happening, because the problems with the Pirates' offense run pretty deep and because they refuse to maximize the chances they do get on offense, but it's always nice to day dreamTonight, the Pirates shoot... Tue, 15 May 2012 17:13:50 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/a_streak_of_a_different_sort/10799450 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/a_streak_of_a_different_sort/10799450 A streak of a different sort http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/a_streak_of_a_different_sort/10799450 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Bruce Chen held the red-hot Texas Rangers to one run while picking up a win. Who would have thunk it? Jon Lester was the number one FanDuel pitcher last night, earning 19 FanDuel points. Meanwhile, John Danks was busy earning a fantastic negative two points for anyone gutsy enough to draft him last night. Today we have a lot of day games but there are still plenty (9) night games. I can assure you Vin Mazzaro won’t have the same luck against the Rangers that Bruce Chen did last night. David Murphy, Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinsler are all top picks for tonight. Weather may be a factor in the NYY @ BAL and/or MIL @ NYM games. No way I’m going to draft a pitcher with 50% chance of rain. This eliminates CC Sabathia and Zack Greinke from my thought process. I think Ervin Santana should finally get some run support and is not too expensive at most sites. If you want to really gamble, Josh Johnson might be a good pick as well. He’s been roughed up a lot this year but he’s due for a mons Tue, 15 May 2012 14:38:47 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/daily_fantasy_baseball_value_report_may_15/10797656 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/daily_fantasy_baseball_value_report_may_15/10797656 Daily Fantasy Baseball Value Report – May 15 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/daily_fantasy_baseball_value_report_may_15/10797656 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Table of Contents Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Daily Notes. 1. Crowdsourcing Radio Broadcasters: The First 29 Ballots 2. Final Radio Crowdsourcing Ballot: Arizona 3. Today’s Notable Games (Including MLB.TV Free Game) 4. Today’s Complete Schedule Crowdsourcing Radio Broadcasters: The First 29 Ballots Recently, we released the results of our television broadcaster rankings — itself the product of reader crowdsourcing that started in late November. Now, FanGraphs is asking readers to rate the radio broadcast teams for all 30 major-league clubs (Click here for more on this project.) Voting for radio broadcasts will end at approximately noon on Sunday. Below are links to the first 29 ballots (in the order they were made available, accompanied by the total number of ballots cast (as of last night) for each. Washington: 132 Toronto: 287 Texas: 70 Tampa Bay: 79 Seattle: 111 *** San Francisco: 689 San Diego: 27 St. Louis: 359 Pittsburgh: 26 Philadelphia: 85 Oakland: 34... Fri, 04 May 2012 10:00:28 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/daily_notes_vote_on_radio_broadcasters_stat/10718678 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/daily_notes_vote_on_radio_broadcasters_stat/10718678 Daily Notes: Vote on Radio Broadcasters, Stat http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/daily_notes_vote_on_radio_broadcasters_stat/10718678 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The answer to the pregunta, “Que es CarGo?” no longer requires an obligatory snail reference as he ended his 15 game homerless streak to start 2012 with 2 HRs against the Pirates, going 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs.   He’s never going to hit .336 again like he did in 2010 (doubt he’ll ever hit .300 with his K-rate) but he is one of the few players that has legitimate 30 HR/20 SB potential.  He had a similarly slow start last year before a great May/June (11 HR, 10 SB, .300+ AVG).  If you can get a CarGo owner to sell low for a 3rd round or later OF like Jay Bruce or Adam Jones, sign that waybill or stick your hand in one of their many pockets or some other strained metaphor.  Other fantasy baseball news…. Yu Darvish - Darvish out-samurai’d Kuroda with na 8 1/3 IP, 10K, 9 baserunner, 119 pitch effort against the Yankees.  That’s 3-0 now for Darvish with wins against the Tigers and Yankees.  Even better, he had only 2 BBs after entering the game with 14 walks in his first 3 outings.  He has the stu Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:51:04 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/cargo_finally_gets_to_right_destination/10638544 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/cargo_finally_gets_to_right_destination/10638544 CarGo Finally Gets To Right Destination http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/cargo_finally_gets_to_right_destination/10638544 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png What is your viewing pleasure tonight? Most Philadelphians are going Flyers, in the first round of the playoffs against Pittsburgh, Phillies with Roy Halladay on the hill and the Sixers trying to hold onto their slim playoff hopes. In that order. For me, it would be a no-brainer with the Flyers opening up against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins, but Doc Halladay is on the hill and he has the only win of this puzzling early start of the Phillies season. Claude Giroux is the star on the Flyers, but when you think of the Penguins, a healthy Sidney Crosby is paramount for the Penguins. The Phillies are bunting more and playing small ball more, stealing bases, but it doesn’t seem like enough. The Phillies have been outscored 15-8 and have a 1-4 record on the season. Halladay pitched a 1-0 shutout of the Pirates, a game that I attended in Pittsburgh. “Oh, he is not even cracking 90,” said a drunk Pirates fan. Yeah, but the man knows how to pitch. It will be a tough match-up against Josh Jo... Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:10:21 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/dvr_alert_flyers_phillies_and_sixers_playing_tonight/10536209 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/dvr_alert_flyers_phillies_and_sixers_playing_tonight/10536209 DVR Alert: Flyers, Phillies and Sixers playing tonight http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/dvr_alert_flyers_phillies_and_sixers_playing_tonight/10536209 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png