Baseball Unstitched

Baseball is a math problem off the field, we’re just here to show the context 🧮 | @evan6flax, @Mallyball9, & @jscud23

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

🚨Episode 107 - Coach Mike Deegan🚨

We are joined by the head coach of the D3 College World Series winning Denison Big Red on the podcast this week!

The 2025 ABCA1945/ATEC Coach of the Year was a special one for us. Give it a listen at the links below ⬇️

[The D3P DIII Baseball Podcast @d3ppodcast]

[ Play Along ] It's Region 4 Trivia time, people.

Eight (8) Region 4 programs have played for the Natty since inception of the College World Series. Can you name all 8 without missing one?

Click the time-stamped link in the comments to play along with Wyatt—he scored 7 of 8.

#d3baseball

@NJACSports @GoUnitedEast @gomacsports @CUNYAC

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

I mean Chief Baseball Officer was a ridiculous title to begin with

[Tyler Milliken @tylermilliken_]

Craig Breslow has had his title changed from Chief Baseball Officer to President of Baseball Operations, per @alexspeier.

He’s the first to hold that title for the Red Sox since Dave Dombrowski.

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

@RedsInFour Yeah I wouldn’t be shocked to see a team make that move just because of how thin the SP market is at the moment

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

After two straight seasons of 90+ IP and a sub-3.50 ERA, it might be time for Sean Newcomb to finally get a multi-year deal

‘25-‘26 Stats:
182.2 IP
2.91 ERA
3.12 FIP
3.4 fWAR
.244 BAA

I think the 33 year old LHP would be a great fit for the Nationals bullpen in 2027

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

Regardless of how you would’ve filled out the ballot, I firmly believe that to earn your voting rights for the next year you should have to provide what Brendan put together ⬇️

I can always respect a well thought out opinion

[Brenden Schaeffer🎳 @bschaeffer12]

As a BBWAA member, I had a vote for NL Rookie of the Year.

My ballot looked like this:

Wetherholt
Rumfield
Benge
McLean
Stewart

I didn't know before the results were unveiled last night how others voted. I didn't know I would actually be the lowest voter on Sal Stewart, the only person to place him 5th on their ballot.

I've gotten some flak from disgruntled Reds fans about where I placed the eventual winner of the award. I wanted to outline some of my thought process.

I had a Rookie of the Year vote once previously, when Corbin Carroll won it. Making out a ballot that year felt a lot more straightforward compared to this loaded list of worthy rookies.

Wetherholt led all NL rookies in Wins Above Replacement and was one of the top 20 players in WAR in the NL, not just among rookies.

He was the best defensive player in the sport aside from PCA. His defensive metrics seemed to back this up, though he didn't win the Gold Glove at 2B (and no, I didn't have a vote in that).

In addition to the superlative defense, he remained an above league-average contributor offensively, particularly in his role. Wetherholt led NL rookies in runs scored, which seemed to me to be a similar valuation to the way Reds supporters view Stewart, who led rookies in RBIs.

For a leadoff man, runs scored is the goal. For someone in Stewart's position in the lineup, the goal is driving in the runs. Both thrived at their objective. I, clearly, put weight into JJ's defensive value vs. where Sal didn't carry value on that side of the ball.

Carson Benge was a blend of strong offensive numbers with plus defense in the outfield. Probably the most well-rounded rookie, but perhaps without any standout characteristic to push up to the top of the ballot.

The order of the top three was a real challenge that I wrestled with. Benge drew the second-most 1st place votes and I can't argue with the logic behind those selections. Benge had 4.3 WAR, only narrowly behind Wetherholt (4.6), but admittedly ahead of Rumfield, who was only 2.6 per FanGraphs but 3.5 per Baseball Reference.

But the more I looked into TJ Rumfield's season, the more I was impressed. Did you realize he led the National League in OBP this season? Not just among rookies -- he led the entire NL.

Additionally, the Coors Field bump wasn't responsible for his standout offensive season. He had a better OBP on the road. His OPS was easily above every other name on my ballot.

Nolan McLean came next on my ballot. I struggled figuring out exactly where to draw the lines and place the only pitcher on my ballot. His numbers were really strong, and it's an age-old question how to weigh position players against pitchers in this award race. Logan Henderson merited consideration, too, but with only five spots on the ballot, he fell victim to the workload conversation. He didn't reach 100 big-league innings, as he spent a stint in AAA during the season.

Sal Stewart, of course, was worthy of the ballot. And truthfully, I wouldn't have had a huge issue with any of the five names I chose ultimately winning. Stewart's 30-100 season obviously won over enough of the voters for him to be selected as the winner.

But of the five players on my ballot, he was lowest in WAR (2.0) by a considerable margin. He contributed power and RBIs that exceeded the other candidates, but ultimately, landed fifth on my ballot due to some of the rate stats and other underlying numbers that pushed other candidates above him, for me.

At the end of the day, Sal Stewart is a deserving winner of the award and I enjoyed the process of putting together what ended up being an especially challenging ballot.

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

It is believed that Brad Ausmus will be the next manager of the Houston Astros. He’s following the Tito Francona career path

An early, maybe less than stellar, stint as a manager followed by a career reset as a bench coach for a number of years. It’ll be interesting to see if he continues down that path and finds success in Houston

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

For those, like us, who have struggled to find value in the AI slop content getting pushed…this will help avoid that

[Evan Drellich @EvanDrellich]

News: In what appears to be a first for a major sports league in the U.S., a group of workers inside the commissioner’s office at Major League Baseball has unionized.

https://t.co/35hDQpgLUN

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

@Mc6Dv This is a fair point of consistency as well! I’m more shocked Seattle doesn’t want Randy back and less surprised Seiya is the counter to that

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

Randy Arozarena is only the FIFTH player in MLB history with 6 straight 20 HR/20 SB seasons

At only 31 years old and an ability to hit in Seattle (138 home wRC+), I genuinely cannot understand the thought process from Seattle with this…

[MLB Deadline News @MLBDeadlineNews]

The #Mariners do not plan to pursue a long-term deal with free-agent OF Randy Arozarena, but are interested in free-agent OF Seiya Suzuki, per @A_Jude and @RyanDivish

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

@C2Cbsbl Which to be honest is not a statement I would’ve thought made sense in 2025 😂

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

Pat Murphy won his third straight NL Manager of the Year award coming off of his first World Series win

It’s crazy to think he’s pretty much put together a hall of fame managerial career through his first 3 years of doing the job 🤯

[Braves Blueprint @BravesBlueprint]

Brand new episode of Braves Blueprint is out NOW! This week we welcome FSU’s own and Braves Prospect… Alex Lodise on the show to talk about his journey through baseball and let Braves fans get to know him just a bit more!🔥
https://t.co/XeG6oyyuoN

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

Cal Ripken Jr.’s consecutive games played streak of 2632 games in baseball will never be broken

Matt Olson is the closest active player with 944 games played. He needs another 10.5 seasons straight to break that record

[Jaack @Jaack]

You know how since the dawn of time, sport records consistently keep getting beaten and bettered?

What’s one sport record (any sport) that you genuinely believe has the best chance of never being broken? No matter how much time passes.

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

If you haven’t yet, give our interview with Denison Baseball Head Coach Mike Deegan a listen!

Out now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube at the 🔗 in our bio https://t.co/Dsbgx3ITUd

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

Per @JonHeyman, the Tigers add Emilio Pagán to their bullpen for around $11M

2026 Stats:
42.2 IP
25/28 SV
3.38 ERA
25.9% K/6.3% BB

They’re grabbing Pagán for $1M less than Jansen would’ve cost the ball club. I like this move to get younger

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

@editti22 Have to wonder who and with what yardage is a long drive being won with in this thing

[Denison Baseball @DU_Baseball]

Check out Coach Deegan's interview with Denison baseball alum Evan Flax ’17 👇

#NotJustYet

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

Everyone is for sale at the right price

[Andy Kostka @afkostka]

Mike Elias: "We're talking to everybody about everything right now. ... It's part of our job, especially if a guy is not on a big, long-term contract, we've got to listen. But it doesn't mean we're motivated to trade players."

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

Your yearly reminder that there is no way another current MLB player has a silkier golf swing than Bryan Woo

🎥: @BenVerlander

[Ben Verlander @BenVerlander]

3 MLB players and one PGA Tour pro walk up to a Par 3…

[Baseball Unstitched @BaseUnstitched]

2024 Max Scherzer 🤝 2026 Kirk Cousins

[Coach 🔔 @TheCoachesDesk]

Fun Fact: Kirk Cousins is being paid by THREE teams in 2026. This man's agent is a full demon.