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The MLB Daily Dish is a daily feature we're running here at MLBDD and rounds up roster-impacting news, rumors, and analysis. Have feedback or have something that should be shared? Hit us at @mlbdailydish on Twitter.
Good morning baseball fans!
The Giants are being super aggressive in their search for both a reliever and an outfielder.
Eye surgery has potentially turned Wilson Ramos back into a hitting machine.
It's still not halfway through the season, so there's plenty of time for regression. However, Wilson Ramos underwent a material change immediately before a significant, logical improvement that has lead to him appearing atop the catcher hitting leaderboard. He appears to be better recognizing balls and strikes, and is making more solid contact on fastballs. It is something to review at the end of the season, but if he can maintain this pace, Ramos will rocket his way towards the top of top free agent lists before the end of the year.
Here is a roundup of news from around the National League West.
Also the MLB Week-in-Review and the Blog Review.
Ian Desmond’s outfield transition has been rather smooth.
We shouldn’t expect that hit to go for a double, and honestly, most outfielders likely hold Kinsler there. But you see some of the infielder instincts come out: he’s direct and quick to the ball, he keeps it in front of him, and early in his route, he begins positioning his body square with the bag to keep himself in a strong throwing stance. It’s easy to imagine a more heavy-footed left fielder taking a straighter path to the ball and needing a pivot step or two in order to get himself in position to throw.
Whether it has more to do with Desmond’s footwork or his pure arm strength, he’s kept runners at bay like few of his peers with far more experience in the outfield. That’s how, despite a seemingly pedestrian four outfield assists with three kills, Desmond’s arm has been the second-most valuable in baseball among outfielders this year according to a mix of DRS and UZR, being credited with four runs saved. We’ve seen Desmond’s arm have value in the past. Just not in this way.
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Today in Baseball History: In 1986, after a 26-38 start to the season, Tony LaRussa is fired as the manager of the White Sox.