Sunday Notes: George Lombard Jr. is Dialing In His Mindset and Swing

George Lombard Jr. is certain for The Bronx — or perhaps Motown? Based on the New York Submit’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees’ top-rated prospect is being focused by the Tigers in a possible commerce for Tarik Skubal. Swap or not, the 21-year-old shortstop has a vibrant future. A primary-round decide in 2023, Lombard Jr. has come to the plate 287 occasions this season between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre and is slashing .258/.387/.446 with eight house runs and a 124 wRC+. Furthermore, he was scorching the ball previous to being positioned on the IL with sprained fingers on his glove hand this previous Thursday. Over his earlier eight video games he had gone 11-for-30 with seven doubles and a pair of round-trippers.

How has the son of former MLB outfielder, and present Detroit Tigers bench coach, George Lombard modified since I interviewed him late within the 2024 season?

“From a bodily standpoint, the stance and setup are a bit of totally different,” Lombard Jr. informed me final month. “However it’s extra the psychological aspect. In comparison with then, I’ve a extra full understanding of my swing, how my physique strikes, my tendencies, and what I have to do to remain in place. A lot of the change has been psychological maturity.”

Requested to elaborate on the bodily, he replied that he has modified his hand positioning in an effort to get to ”the firing spot” extra effectively. That adjustment came to visit the offseason.

“They’d been up increased, form of behind my head, and now they’re a bit of bit decrease and away from my physique,” Lombard Jr. defined. “That offers me extra space to get into my load. I’m giving myself a bit of room off my physique in order that I can transfer and never really feel caught, near my hip. Technically, my palms are a bit of bit farther from the launch spot, but it surely permits me to get my load off extra persistently. The rhythm can be simpler when I’ve extra fluidity.”

Our 2024 dialog had included the teenager saying he’d had a loftier swing path in highschool, and that changing into flatter on the prime of the zone, and extra adjustable general, was one thing he was working towards. He’s continued in that vein. Being on-plane, extra direct to the oncoming pitch, stays a main purpose.

“My greatest focus proper now could be a mindset the place I’m pondering line drives,” he informed me. “I’m naturally going to get the ball within the air with my path, so I’m at all times pondering ‘degree to the pitcher’s head‘ — low line drives, with every little thing form of working from there. After I’m going nicely, I’m making onerous contact within the air. It’s about doing that whereas additionally with the ability to get to balls on the prime of the zone.”

And once more, psychological maturity has been paramount.

“An important half is knowing my swing higher, versus any bodily modifications,” stated Lombard Jr. “Bodily modifications don’t actually imply something if the method and mindset doesn’t mesh with it. Clearly, the mechanics are necessary, the swing is necessary, however as soon as the swing is in place it’s essential have method to go together with it. That’s in all probability been crucial factor for me, dialing within the method, dialing within the mindset and the plan. It’s essential have your plan and swing working in the identical route.”

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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS

Gus Bell went 16 for 31 towards Jim Wilson.

Buddy Bell went 16 for 37 towards LaMarr Hoyt.

David Bell went 14 for 36 towards Steve Trachsel.

Bret Boone went 13 for 39 towards Esteban Loaiza.

Bob Boone went 15 for 37 towards Mike Boddicker.

Ray Boone went 15 for 35 towards Leo Kiely.

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As Ben Clemens broke down in fantastic element a number of weeks in the past, Louis Varland is having a improbable season. As of in the present day, the Toronto Blue Jays right-hander has 15 saves to go together with a 0.86 ERA, a 1.48 FIP, and a 35.7% strikeout price over 37 appearances comprising 42 innings. He’s been nothing in need of dominant.

Regardless of my colleague’s having lately addressed his success, I made it some extent to speak to Varland this previous week at Fenway Park. 5 years after I’d first spoken to the then-Minnesota Twins farmhand, he was equal elements amiable and blunt.

Requested how he compares to the uncooked prospect I’d interacted with throughout his time within the low minors, the 28-year-old righty stated he’s “quite a bit totally different.” Elaborating, he informed me that he’s “a better pitcher; extra of a pitcher than a thrower, however not by a lot.” He additionally referenced an augmented arsenal. Whereas he’d then had a fastball, a slider, and “considerably of a changeup,” he now has each four- and two-seam fastballs, a slider, a curveball, and a much-improved changeup.

Our ensuing trade went as follows:

What’s your greatest pitch?

“I don’t know. It will depend on the batter.”

Have you learnt which one grades out as the perfect?

“You’re the FanGraphs man. I’m the thrower. Whereas I perceive that stuff, I don’t pay a lot thoughts to it. All people has their very own algorithm to spit out grade numbers. It varies by who you ask, what my greatest is.”

Do you think about your self an influence pitcher?

“No. I might simply say I’m a reduction pitcher.”

However you are attempting to overlook bats, proper?

“Oh, yeah. That’s the secret.”

Subsequently requested what has modified since he came to visit from the Twins finally summer season’s commerce deadline, Varland responded by saying that was query. (Fact be informed, our dialog, which included greater than is being included right here, wasn’t practically as contentious as what the above may counsel).

“They taught me a variation of a changeup that I’ve slowly change into extra snug with,” Varland informed me. “I throw it quite a bit now. It’s a bit of little bit of a seam-shift, one-seam changeup. I imply, I’ve in all probability had 12 totally different grips through the years. I’d thrown each changeup below the solar up till this level.”

With a .125 batting common towards and a 39.7% whiff price, his changeup might very nicely be his prime providing. Then once more, Varland’s four-seamer ranks within the 96th percentile for velocity, whereas his curveball likewise grades out as plus-plus. What do his supervisor and pitching coach think about to be his “greatest” pitch?

“All,” replied John Schneider. “Actually, I feel it’s his changeup. Once you’re defending towards 100-101 [mph] and may throw a changeup with the identical arm velocity, that’s fairly efficient… However yeah, it’s fairly distinctive arsenal for a man with that form of stuff.”

“I’ll at all times say it’s his fastball,” stated Pete Walker. “He instructions it nicely and it’s 100 mph. He may say it’s his changeup, which is ok. His changeup is outstanding. He can throw it at any level within the rely. He’s not afraid to throw it 3-2, 2-0, first pitch. It’s received nice motion, nice arm velocity. The metrics on it are great.

“After which he can nonetheless spin the ball together with his knuckle curve,” Toronto’s longtime pitching coach added. “He has a starter’s arsenal as a better, and three of his pitches are elite.”

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A quiz:

Two gamers have recorded greater than 2,500 hits over the previous 20 seasons (since 2007). Who’re they? (A touch: one remains to be lively, whereas the opposite isn’t.)

The reply will be discovered under.

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NEWS NOTES

Tickets are actually on sale for this 12 months’s Saberseminar, which shall be held in Chicago on August 29-30. Tickets will be bought right here.

For these of you who prefer to plan forward, subsequent 12 months’s SABR Analytics Convention shall be held from March 12–14, 2027 at Arizona State College’s Downtown Phoenix campus.Registration and lodge data shall be out there starting in Fall 2026.

Alan Closter, a left-hander who appeared in 21 video games whereas pitching for 4 MLB groups throughout the 1966-1973 seasons, died on June 12 at age 82. The Creighton, Nebraska native went 2-2 with a 6.62 ERA, with all 4 of his choices coming with the New York Yankees in 1971.

Al Worthington, who appeared in 602 video games throughout the 1953-1969 seasons, died earlier this week at age 97. Pitching primarily for the New York/San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins, the right-hander went 75-82 with 111 saves and a 3.39 ERA. A religious Christian, he was the Twins’ pitching coach in 1972 and 1973.

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The reply to the quiz is Miguel Cabrera (2,520 hits) and Freddie Freeman (2,507 hits).

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Dan Shulman is among the many world’s most completed play-by-play broadcasters. The 59-year-old Toronto native excels behind the mic in a number of sports activities, and that’s very true for baseball. Furthermore, expertise runs within the household. Not solely is Shulman the TV voice of the Blue Jays, his son Ben calls the workforce’s recreation on radio.

How comparable are the Shulmans within the broadcast sales space?

“I feel he’s comparable, however not as comparable as different individuals inform me they suppose he’s,” opined the patriarch. “Some individuals inform me we sound equivalent. I don’t suppose that’s true in any respect. I do suppose we’ve got sure methods of claiming issues, or cadences which are the identical. Our voices aren’t the identical. By way of the knowledge we put out, it’s comparable however not equivalent. We all know how one another researches; we textual content and speak each day. I’m sending him stuff and he’s sending me stuff.

“Our personalities are totally different, “ the elder Shulman added. “He’s funnier than I’m. He can even do popular culture references approach higher, as a result of he’s youthful and is aware of that stuff. He can do music issues, TV issues, film traces, and combine them into the printed. I’m not that man. I’m simply within the baseball lane.”

So, quite a bit in widespread, but in addition some notable variations?

“On the age he’s now, I might say it’s an eight-out-of-10 comparable,” replied Shulman. “However not definitely not a 10-out-of-10.”

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

At 43-24, the Seibu Lions have the perfect file in NPB. The pitching-rich Pacific League membership has been led by 29-year-old right-hander Kona Takahashi who’s 7-3 with a 1.23 ERA, and 26-year-old right-hander Kaima Taira who’s 5-1 with an 0.82 ERA. Hakua Iwaki, a 22-year-old southpaw, has 18 saves.

Sean Reynolds has 40 strikeouts to go together with simply six walks, 16 hits allowed, and 5 earned runs over 28 innings with NPB’s Yokohama BayStars. The 28-year-old right-hander appeared in 28 video games for the San Diego Padres throughout the 2024-2025 seasons.

Min Seok Choi is 6-2 with a 2.77 ERA and a 21.9% strikeout price for the KBO’s Doosan Bears. The appropriate-hander will rejoice his twentieth birthday subsequent month.

Shr Lun Chang has 21 hits in simply 60 at-bats for the Chinese language Skilled Baseball League’s CTBC Brothers. The 21-year-old infielder has performed in 16 video games and has six stolen bases with out being caught.

Brett de Geus is 3-0 with 16 saves and a 0.94 ERA over 28-and-two-thirds innings for Toros de Tijuana within the hitter-friendly Mexican League. The 28-year-old right-hander has made 61 MLB appearances, 47 of them with the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2021.

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A random obscure former participant snapshot:

Lew Krausse Jr. was talked about right here in Sunday Notes upon his dying 5 years in the past. Notable within the right-hander’s 12-year profession was his having began the primary recreation in Milwaukee Brewers historical past, in addition to the primary house recreation in Oakland Athletics historical past. In the present day being Father’s Day, we’ll give Lew Krausse Sr. his due.

The elder Krauss had a comparably modest MLB ledger. He appeared in simply 23 video games, tossing a complete of 68 innings for the Philadelphia Athletics throughout the 1931-1932 seasons. Have been it not for an arm harm suffered in an exhibition recreation towards the Interstate League’s Stroudsburg Poconos, he might need completed way more. 5 days earlier than the harm, Krausse Sr. shut out the Boston Crimson Sox, giving him a profession file of 5 wins towards one loss. Simply 20 years outdated on the time, he by no means once more toed a big-league slab.

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FARM NOTES

The perfect file within the minors belongs to the South Atlantic League’s Bowling Inexperienced Sizzling Rods. The Tampa Bay Rays’ Excessive-A affiliate is 48-19 and has a plus-119 run differential.

Joshua Báez homered 4 occasions for the Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A St. Louis) in a 12-5 win over the Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee) on Tuesday. Ranked seventh within the Cardinals system with a forty five FV coming into the season, the 22-year-old outfielder has 24 round-trippers to go together with a .276/.347/.625 slash line and a 140 wRC+ in 294 plate appearances.

On Friday, 5 gamers went deep in a 12-run eighth inning because the Myrtle Seashore Pelicans (Low-A Cubs) pulverized the Delmarva Shorebirds (Orioles) by a rating of 21-10. Henniel Alcala, a 19-year-old catcher who was promoted from the Arizona Complicated League in mid-Could, accounted for one of many bombs and went 3-for-5.

Luke Hill is slashing .267/.407/.551 with 11 house runs and a 143 wRC+ in 222 plate appearances between Excessive-A Lake County and Double-A Akron. Drafted within the fourth spherical final 12 months out of the College of Mississippi, the 22-year-old second baseman/third baseman got here into the season unranked on our Cleveland Guardians Prime Prospects checklist.

L.P. Langevin has a forty five.3% strikeout price to go together with a 2.57 ERA over 28 innings for the Excessive-A Quad Cities Bandits. The 22-year-old right-hander from Quebec garnered an honorable point out on our Kansas Metropolis Royals Prime Prospects checklist.

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This dates all the way in which again to final season — it was residing in my unused-material folder — however stays value sharing. The quotes are from Texas Rangers infielder Josh Smith.

“Your stance and your setup matter quite a bit,” he informed me “The extra environment friendly you will be earlier than the pitch comes, the higher off you’re. In my thoughts, the stance virtually issues greater than the swing itself. The swing clearly issues, however if you happen to’re not in setup, and you’ve got a variety of motion to get to the place you need to swing the bat… I imply, I feel it’s a giant deal.”

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Grover Cleveland Alexander gained 373 video games over a profession that spanned the 1911-1930 seasons, however life wasn’t at all times simple for the Corridor of Fame right-hander. “Previous Pete” battled each alcoholism and epilepsy. Hans Lobert, a teammate of Alexander’s in Philadelphia, touched on each when interviewed for The Glory of Their Occasions, Lawrence Ritter’s 1966 traditional.

“He didn’t actually begin to drink closely till he got here again from the struggle in 1919…Possibly two or 3 times a season he’d have an epileptic seizure on the bench… It was terrible. After we’d gotten him down, we’d put some brandy down his throat and in awhile he’d be all proper. It at all times occurred on the bench, by no means out on the pitching mound. We at all times stored a bottle of brandy useful as a result of there was by no means any warning. Alex wasn’t the one epileptic on the Phillies at the moment. Sherry Magee within the outfield had epilepsy, too. And Tony Lazzeri with the Yankees, afterward.”

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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE

The Guardian’s Joseph Palmer interviewed Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider, who “has at all times been totally different from the common baseball participant.”

Three years faraway from ESPN, Joon Lee is flourishing in his impartial sports activities journalism endeavor. Michael Grant talked to Lee for Terrible Saying.

On the College of Nottingham’s Taiwan Perception, Jerry Chen addressed the myths of Taiwanese baseball’s identification gaps.

Purple Row’s Joelle Milholm wrote about Brett Sullivan and the Tao of the pitching catcher.

Is “The Shot Heard ‘Around the World” traditional between the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants in 1951 the best recreation ever performed? MLB official historian John Thorn contemplated that query at Our Sport.

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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS

The highest two batting averages within the Nationwide League belong to Otto Lopez and Jung Hoo Lee. The previous is slashing .332/.364/.465 with 19 doubles and 5 house runs. The latter is slashing .331/.361/.462 with 18 doubles and 4 house runs.

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Aaron Ashby is 10-1 with a 3.18 ERA over 45-and-a-third innings. Miami Marlins right-hander Lake Bachar is 0-0 with a 3.10 ERA over 40-and-two-thirds innings.

Mookie Betts and Chuck Klein had been each born on October 7, the latter in 1904, the previous in 1992. Klein logged 7,172 plate appearances, 398 doubles, 300 house runs, and a 132 wRC+. Betts has 7,118 plate appearances, 400 doubles, 299 house runs, and a 135 wRC+. Every has a batting title and an MVP award on his résumé.

Carlos Santana has 335 house runs, a .351 OBP, and a .240 batting common.Robinson Canó had 335 house runs, a .351 OBP, and a .301 batting common.

Mike Witt went 117-116 with a 3.83 ERA. Kevin Gausman is 116-118 with a 3.83 ERA.

Ewell Blackwell threw a no-hitter towards the Boston Braves on June 18, 1947, and he practically repeated the feat 4 days later. On June 22, the Cincinnati Reds right-hander held the Brooklyn Dodgers hitless till Eddie Stanky singled with one out within the ninth. He completed with a two-hit shutout. Blackwell’s back-to-back gems got here amid a 17-start stretch the place he went 16-0 with a no-decision.

On in the present day’s date in 1970, Cesar Gutierrez went 7-for-7 to assist lead the Detroit Tigers to a 9-8 win over the Cleveland Indians in 12 innings. A Venezuelan shortstop who was nicknamed “Cocoa,” Gutierrez logged 128 hits and a 50 wRC+ over elements of 4 MLB seasons.

Jim Bunning celebrated Father’s Day in fashion on in the present day’s date in 1964, throwing an ideal recreation because the Philadelphia Phillies blanked the New York Mets 6-0. Six years earlier, Bunning threw a no-hitter for the Tigers towards the Boston Crimson Sox.

Gamers born on in the present day’s date embody Jay Pettibone, a right-hander whose MLB profession comprised 4 begins, and 4 losses, for the Minnesota Twins in 1983. The Mount Clemens, Michigan native is the daddy of Jonathan Pettibone, who made 20 begins and went 5-5 for the Philadelphia Phillies throughout the 2013-2014 seasons.

Additionally born on in the present day’s date was Crimson Barron, an outfielder who went 4-for-21 whereas showing in 10 video games for the Boston Braves in 1929. A member of the Georgia Tech Sports activities Corridor of Fame, Barron had his greatest minor-league season in 1930 when he batted .346 for the Southern Affiliation’s Atlanta Crackers, whose lineup included Corridor of Famer Luke Appling.